Disclaimer: I own nothing!
So it hasn't been that long, but I felt the need to write. Just FYI my finals are coming up so I'll have less time to write, but I'll at least try to update once a week. Anyway I hope you like it!
BTW - CB is now my way of abbreviating Christmas Break.
Hermione and Minerva had gone down to the kitchens after the color of the young Gryffindor's face finally returned to it's original color instead of the tear stained red it had been. It had been the older witch's idea to go down to the kitchens for some tea. Her protégé didn't have the will to protest after her emotional venting so she went along without complaint.
Hermione had never been to the kitchens before. She hadn't even known where they were located until Minerva took her down there. They were situated behind a portrait along the side of the Great Hall.
The portrait was of a plump looking witch with mounds of food surrounding her. When she asked Minerva the password, Minerva answered calmly stating, "Roasting Chestnuts."
The picture swung open easily like all the portraits in the castle. They were always so well kept and never creaking when they swung open. Inside the frame held a view of busy house elves running about getting things ready for no doubt a very delicious dinner. Hermione seemed stunned by the little elves which she had only seen once upon occasion cleaning the dorms.
Minerva smiled at the young Gryffindor taking her hand and guiding her around heaps of plates being floated through the air by house elves waiting to clean them.
The Transfiguration Professor made the tea herself not bothering the house elves with her trivial task. Hermione seemed to be lost in thought of her parents for the entirety of the tea session with Minerva, which was perfectly fine with her mentor. It seemed comforting in some aspects to just have someone else's company for once.
After they're quiet tea Hermione decided to head to bed early for she was far too tired to do anything else. This had been very agreeable with Minerva considering she was keen on talking with Rolanda about what she was going to do about the girl's parents. The older witch walked Hermione to her dorm's the girl immediately falling on her bed as soon as her knees hit the edge.
Minerva just smirked at the youth as she leaned against the door to the girls' dormitory. "So you're just going to sleep like that? On top of the covers, in the clothes you were wearing all day, and hanging half off the bed?"
"Ugh...yes, I was planning to do so. Do you have a problem with it?" asked Hermione half muffled for her face was buried in her pillow allowing little sound to escape its fluff.
"Hermione you'll be more sore and tired when you wake up than when you first went to bed. Now you don't have to change but at least take off your shoes and socks then climb under the covers."
"I don't want to," was Hermione's muffled response.
"Miss Granger, would you rather me make you or will you be cooperative and do it on your own?" asked Minerva in her sternest teacher voice.
Hermione lifted her head from her pillow just enough to look at her mentor, "You wouldn't dare."
"Is that a challenge?" asked Minerva striding into the room. With a flick of her wand Hermione lifted a couple inches off her bed.
The young Gryffindor had thought her mentor to be bluffing, but as soon as she started to be lifted off the bed she quickly changed her tone, "I'll do it myself…just put me done now!"
"Now was that so hard?" asked Minerva sitting herself on the bed next to her star pupil.
Hermione gave her a sleepy glare as she removed her sweater and tie leaving on her white polo. She also removed her skirt leaving on her shorts that were underneath. They were muggle shorts, but nobody ever saw them so it wasn't like she was really breaking the rules.
As she did so Minerva asked, "Those shorts really aren't regulation Miss Granger."
"Oh are you going to give me a detention?" inquired Hermione although she was just joking as was her mentor.
"We'll see," answered Minerva, a glint of mischief so rarely seem appearing in her eyes.
The younger witch's eyes were closed as she sat on her bed to remove her socks and shoes. The young Gryffindor couldn't help but shut her eyes lids; they already felt like sand bags to keep open.
As soon as her socks were off she collapsed back onto the bed effectively curling up into a ball in an attempt to keep herself warm. A content smile spread across her face at the prospect of finally being able to sleep, but it quickly disappeared at the sound of Minerva's voice, "Hermione you have to move so I can tuck you in under the covers."
Hermione was too tired to responded so instead she simply choose to ignore Minerva in hopes she would just let her sleep. Which unfortunately was not the case, "Hermione…sweetheart," Minerva said pushing a stray hair out of the sleeping girl's face as she tried to coax the girl into moving. "Sweetie, please just get up for a second so I can pull down the covers."
Minerva's plea was asked to deaf ears as Hermione continued to ignore her. The older witch finally relented getting her wand and using as spell to float Hermione off the bed.
After pulling down the covers and setting the young girl back down, Minerva pulled up the covers over the half-sleeping girl. Hermione looked so peaceful that Minerva felt compelled to lean in and give the girl a small kiss on her forehead before casting a spell around the youth's bed that would keep her warm all night.
Minerva walked to the door. It was only nine o'clock but the young Gryffindor had really worn herself out emotional and needed a good rest. Before walking away Minerva turned around in the doorway. As small smile played across Minerva's mouth as she watched the peacefully sleeping Gryffindor before she left leaving Hermione to get a well deserved nights sleep.
Rolanda's Quarters
After seeing Hermione to bed, Minerva had gone to visit Rolanda. The spiky haired witch had been more than pleased to see her friend and had invited her in. Now they were sitting in Madame Hooch's living room talking about the best way to go about things with the young witch's parents.
"Ro, I will not hex them!" said Minerva angrily at Rolanda's suggestion of giving the Grangers a nice hex to set them straight.
"Oh come on Minnie, you can't say that idea hasn't crossed your mind," argued Madame Hooch.
"Yes, the idea did cross my mind, but it won't solve anything. Although, it would help get out some of my anger towards those retched people. How can those people not appreciate what a wonderful girl Hermione is? I can't fathom why anyone wouldn't want her as a daughter."
"They are rather vial muggles aren't they?" mused Rolanda. "Min, what are you going to do if you refuse to hex them. Which I think won't be the case considering how temperamental we all know you get."
"I am not temperamental!" retorted an indignant McGonagall.
"Yes you are, but that's not important at the moment. What's your plan going to be?"
"Well that's why I'm here. I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do," sighed Minerva rubbing her face with her hands in frustration as she leaned back in her chair. "On one hand if I convince them to let her stay with them she would probably end up getting abused all over again. On the other hand if I make things worse and they decided to give her up then she'd be stuck in an orphanage."
"Min, I can't help but think the latter seems like a much better option. After all wherever she ends up is better than with those people."
"How can you say that? She'd be stuck in some terrible muggle orphanage or in foster care," said Minerva through frustration and anger at her friend's lack of thought for the poor girl.
"Well she wouldn't be stuck in there if someone adopted her, right?" asked Rolanda a wicked grin spreading across her face.
"What are you getting at Ro?"
"I'm saying you could adopt her! It would be a perfect match. It's so obvious that you are getting at a mother/daughter relationship with her."
"I am not and I can't adopt her because she wouldn't want some old school teacher as her adopted parent. She would want someone young and fun."
"No she wouldn't. Have you seen the girl? Come on Min, we both know she'd prefer you over some young person who would always drag her out to do something when she's trying to read. Plus they couldn't challenge her mind like you could. Plus, I could be like the fun aunt. What child wouldn't want that? She'd have all she would ever need."
"I don't think your right, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I have an early morning tomorrow so as much as I'd love to continue to argue with you, I must be leaving."
"Why do you have an early morning? I thought you were supposed to relax on vacation."
"I am relaxing, but I'm planning to take Hermione out on a broom tomorrow morning before the winds pickup. I know she is an early riser so I plan to go surprise her in the morning."
"Well have fun. I can't for the life of me teach her how to fly on a broom, but maybe you'll have better luck."
So the next chapter will have the Quidditch. Which should be….interesting? I think that word fits what I'm planning. Anyway I hope you liked this chapter. Thanks to everyone who reviews; I love reading them. They always encourage me to write. Well I'll try to write the next chapter soon.
Before I forget….chailatteandmusic: I didn't get as far a I planned so give me a little more time and you'll get your firecrackers. I have the perfect spot to put them in. I just have to get to that part first.