Christmas day passed quietly. The three women spent time admiring their gifts from each other and from others. Such as Hagrid, who always remembered gifts on the holidays to everyone! The only thing on the agenda for the day was a Hogwarts holiday party that took place that evening. Hermione and her mother spent time just talking and relaxing, as did Minerva.
"Isn't this wonderful; my girls here with me!" Jean said. She was glowing from ear to ear. Jean was busy on the floor gathering up all of the Holiday ribbons and working on their knots.
That night Hermione was curled up on the sofa wither her new journal and a quill. Jean and Minerva were both busy running here and there within the living quarters getting ready for the holiday party.
"You best start getting yourself ready, hun." Jean said to her daughter. "You have only got about 15 minutes or so."
Hermione looked up from her notebook, "Ha, I am not going to that holiday party!" She said.
"Oh yes you are, it will be fun!" Jean said. "come on now."
"Mum, there is no way I am going to the party, with my mum…." Hermione said a bit reluctantly.
Jean sat down next to Hermione. She put a hand on Hermione's leg. "Please dear, don't be difficult, we've had such a nice time this holiday."
Hermione just looked at her mother. Yes, it is true, they had had a very lovely time. Hermione, however, was thinking of what all had changed. She thought of her dad. Alone, wherever he was.
Just then Minerva walked into the living room area.
"What say you both if we try and get there a bit early hmm? I know Maddam Houch wanted a word with me about something or another." Minerva asked and then she noticed the look on Jean's face.
"What is going on?" Minerva asked as she fiddled with her pendent.
"Hermione, here, doesn't seem to be much in the mood for a party." Jean said with a significant tone.
"Hermione dear, you don't have to, but we would love-" Minerva was unable to finish her sentence as Jean talked over her.
"Of course she has to go with us! I want to finish out this wonderful holiday with both of my girls." Jean said stubbornly.
" Mum," Hermione started but her mother stood furiously and turned on her. "Hermione, you are coming with us, end of discussion!"
Minerva saw the almost horrified look on Hermione's face from her mother's outburst. Wanting to ease the situation she hesitantly spoke. "come, now dear, why don't you help me with this pendent." Minerva tried to change the subject. She gently took Jean by the elbow and lead her to the foyer.
Hermione jumped up from the sofa and fixed her hair and retrieved her shoes. Meeting her mum and Minerva in the foyer only seconds later. The three of them silently looked at each other, a little tension still hanging in the air, and decided they should head up to the great hall.
As they entered the great hall Hermione realized that she was one of the few students left in the castle and who was attending this party. She knew that this was probably going to happen. Her mother and Minerva went straight away to mingle with other staff members, so Hermione found an empty chair off to the side next to the drink area. She settled herself and pulled out one of the many books she had brought with her.
"You never do rest do you." Came a dark, heavy sarcastic voice. Hermione looked up and there was her potions professor standing next to her, helping himself to a beverage.
"Surely, you must know me by now professor. Not much for a party…" She said. "But I do read."
"Oh Yes, Have book will travel" Severus said. "Care for a drink?" He asked the girl lazily.
"Oh, no thanks, it smells absolutely… uh" Hermione struggled to find the right word.
"The word you are looking for is horrid." Severus said casually. "I can assure you, this may look like an ordinary substance but it is anything but… pumpkin juice definitely not." He said as he risked a small sip.
Hermione had to stifle a chuckle.
"So how do you do with your mother here?" Severus pried.
A bit taken by her potion's professors interest in her life, Hermione took a minute to ponder her response, then realized, it best she didn't at all.
"That good hmm?" the potion's master mused.
"Well, it isn't grand." Hermione said a bit too forthcoming. She glanced up at her professor.
"Look, quite a few things have happened since this year's start." Hermione said. "It has taken some time to… get used to the idea". She said, a bit sarcastically.
"I know, Minerva told me." Severus said flatly. Hermione's eyes shot up from her book. "She, she did?" She asked cautiously and with little air.
Merlin, did people actually know about them? Hermione thought to herself.
"Separations are difficult." Severus stated. "Ha, I should know; I went through it, twice."
Hermione just looked at her professor who seemed to be staring straight through his cup of the mysterious substance of a beverage. She knew his life had to have been troublesome, just about anybody could see it in his eyes, if they looked hard and long enough. And without another word he simply walked away. Hermione watched as the always in black figure retreated away from her. She watched as he quietly greeted Minerva McGonagall, who was standing next to Jean across the way, in the middle of a conversation with Professor Dumbledore and Professor Flitwigg.
He leaned in close to Minerva and whispered in her ear, "A word." And then easily walked past the group of adults and out of the great hall, closely followed by a slightly un-eased McGonagall.
Later, the party seemed to be dying down a bit. Hermione however, had not moved from her chair and was still captivated in her book. It wasn't until she realized the house elves were starting to clear the drink table next her that she noticed her mother had gotten caught up in a conversation with Professor Trelawny. No doubt discussing dreams… Mum loved to talk about her dreams. Hermione scanned the room for Minerva but couldn't seem to locate her. Curious, Hermione quietly got up and left the great hall, unnoticed. As she wandered the vacant halls of the castle she wondered where Minerva could have gone, and why? Come to think of it, she hadn't seen her since professor Snape requested a word with her earlier… The pair of them were gone.
Hermione came to the transfigurations classroom where she almost missed the small sight of a tabby cat sitting atop the desk, the cat seemed to be gazing at a book. Hermione knew she had found Professor McGonagall.
"Professor?" Hermione hesitated as she slowly entered the room. Immediately the cat's yellow eyes flung in her direction. After a moment Minerva, the woman, appeared standing in front of the desk, facing Hermione. "Hermione dear, hello." Minerva said, a bit weary.
"Professor is everything alright?" Hermione asked.
Hermione could tell, Minerva didn't want to talk about things it seemed. Trying to gather her thoughts Minerva sighed and as she walked around to sit behind her desk she said, "How many times must I tell you to call me Minerva?"
Hermione smiled a small smile, she walked up and took a seat at a small chair that was positioned at the side of Minerva. "Please, sit." Minerva said. And that was all. For the next hour, the two women just sat in silence. Hermione wasn't quite sure what was happening… What had happened? What should she do? Just about that time Minerva began to speak.
"I have a son, Hermione. Two in fact." Minerva stated.
Hermione just looked at her professor.
"Hermione, I need you to give me your word that you will not repeat a word of this to your classmates, do you understand me?" Minerva asked, looking at the young girl. Hermione just nodded silently.
"Twins."