A/N: Good morning people! Or afternoon if you happen to be living in the same country as me…I have it on good authority that today (or tomorrow depending on your timezone) is gerr-bear's birthday. Woo! Happy Birthday to you! Hope you all like the chapters. We have a few in a row here…again…I know you're all trying to kill me with your close birthdays hahah, but I will prevail, then we have a little gap, then a bigger gap and then I've got nothing kids! Absolutely nothing until we start again in November, so, while I don't want you to lie…I might have to wrap it up for a while after August… see what happens.
Anyway, Spin magically managed to look through this…and do all this other stuff as well ALL while ENGLAND was playing Italy in the Euro competition and we lost anyway LAME! Anyway, thanks be to Spin! She's a goddess and I bow to her awesomeness. Love yah hun!
-0-
Hermione awoke on Christmas morning with a smile. She loved Christmas, it was one of her favourite celebrations and she lay for a moment cuddling Crookshanks, just enjoying that magical feeling of Christmas Day. Few people remained at Hogwarts for the holidays; Ron had of course stayed to be with Harry, and she had been of the same view. In fact she had debated for a while on whether to accompany her parents skiing or to stay and enjoy the yuletide with the boys, and by extension Minerva. Her favourite professor had won in the end and her parents had been very understanding. Crookshanks had finally had enough fussing, walking up onto her chest and sitting heavily over her ribs.
"You want to get up?" Hermione asked, ticking his ears. "Yeah, I do too," she said pushing him off and giggling at the growl he gave her. "Come on its Christmas," she said catching his tail. "I want to see Minerva."
In fact, Hermione couldn't wait to wake Minerva up, just like she usually did with her parents. Giggling, she pulled on a pair of socks and her new jumper from Mrs Weasley over her pyjamas before she opened her arms, letting Crookshanks get comfortable in them. She walked briskly through the corridors and slid to a stop in front of Godric, who looked decidedly worse for wear in a Santa hat, leaning on his sword tiredly.
"I'm not even going to ask," he grumbled, opening the portrait and letting Hermione through.
"Merry Christmas!" she called happily as witch and cat walked up to Minerva's office.
She dropped Crookshanks by the fire, who purred his delight before she tiptoed into Minerva's room, stopping awkwardly when she saw that Minerva was not the only occupant of the bed.
"Oh," she breathed out loud, kicking herself for not thinking about the fact that Minerva and the Headmaster would be together. She turned around, feeling slightly disappointed.
"Hermione?" Minerva mumbled, making the teen turn back towards a sleepy looking Minerva McGonagall. "Hermione, what are you doing here?" Minerva said, looking around confused. "Did something happen?"
"I believe Miss Granger is excited about Christmas and did not anticipate my presence here," came a rather gruff voice from behind Minerva.
Hermione hadn't been this embarrassed since she had walked in on her parents last year, and she was quite sure that her face was as red as Ron's had been a few days previously when she and the boys were talking about Minerva and Albus being together.
"Hermione?" she vaguely heard Minerva's voice again, but she ignored it, turning to leave as quickly as she came and wondering what had possessed her to surprise her like that.
Of course she would be with the Headmaster.
"Hermione!"
Hermione stopped as the door snapped closed in front of her and she turned to look at her Transfiguration professor, who was leaning back on one hand, holding out her other in front of her in a vague sort of summoning gesture to Hermione.
"Come here please, we were up quite late and I'm too tired to come and get you."
Hermione's blush darkened and she looked straight at the floor, refusing to move.
"Not like that you silly girl. The Staff Christmas party."
Hermione refused to look up but she heard Albus mutter something, and Minerva huff. "It never ends well." Minerva muttered and Hermione heard her huff once more. "Fine, don't say I didn't warn you. Levicorpus."
Hermione squealed as she felt herself lift off from the floor and float gently over to the bed.
"Put me down! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to barge in, I just," she went silent as she folded her arms, being turned slowly in the air until she was facing the right way. "It's Christmas." she whispered, wondering if this was what it felt like to outgrow Christmas.
She squealed again as she was dropped unceremoniously on the bed, bouncing a few times before Minerva took her in her arms and pulled her close.
"I know it is, sweetheart. Merry Christmas," she said, kissing Hermione's temple. "Now go back to sleep for a few minutes, I got rather drunk last night, and my head hurts." she grumbled "But don't tell anyone, all right?" she said, smiling against Hermione's cheek.
"I won't tell," Hermione whispered, feeling slightly better now that she was in Minerva's arms.
"I might…" Albus said cheekily from behind them, causing Hermione to giggle a little.
"Be quiet both of you. Just for another half an hour," Minerva pleaded. Hermione heard her sigh as she and Albus came to an unspoken agreement to remain silent and give Minerva another half an hour.
Hermione merely lay still and let Minerva's steady breathing lull her into a doze, smiling when Minerva wrapped her up closer, mumbling about something or other in a dream she was no doubt having.
She wasn't sure how long they had lain there, but when Professor Dumbledore peeked over Minerva's shoulder she smiled, more than ready to do something, anything other than lie in bed.
"Shall we, Miss Granger?" he said with a wink, and Hermione nodded, despite still being a little uncomfortable in his presence.
She slid from Minerva's arms, giggling quietly at her moan of protest, and crept into the living room, scratching Crookshanks as he lay by the fire.
"I apologise if I made you uncomfortable this morning, Miss Granger." Albus said after he called for a pot of tea. "We were out quite late last night, and I did not plan on staying."
Hermione chewed her lip and played with Crookshanks' tail, trying to catch it as he swished it in front of her face.
"No, I'm sorry," she said finally, refusing to look at the Headmaster. "I should have realised that you could have been here." Hermione conceded. "I just, it hadn't occurred to me and I really shouldn't have barged in like that," she said awkwardly.
Seeming to understand, Dumbledore chuckled a little while thanking the elf that popped into view with their tea.
"It would have been unfortunate," he conceded, still laughing.
Hermione rolled her eyes and went to sit near him, taking her cup with a smile.
"It would have been awful."
"Your parents?" he asked, and Hermione was once again left wondering whether the man really could read minds.
"Um, yeah," she confessed, turning red once more.
"Most of us have been there, baby," Minerva said from behind her, leaning over the back of the sofa to kiss her head. "Good morning, darling," she whispered. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Hermione replied, watching Minerva make her way over to Albus, mumbling her greetings in between kisses.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh when Albus passed her a small bottle that she knew must be a headache potion, even if Minerva did glare mockingly at her.
"Don't laugh, my dear," Minerva said, dropping to the sofa next to her favourite student. "When you leave school you will understand. You'll go to a party – or a function perhaps, you don't quite seem the partying type – have a few too many glasses of wine or something and the next day you'll feel like death warmed up."
Hermione was giggling openly now as Minerva swallowed the potion with a grimace.
"I shall remind you of this instance when that happens," Minerva swore, rubbing her temples.
"Minerva? Tea?"
Minerva sighed in gratitude and smiled sweetly at Albus.
"Thank you."
They sat in a comfortable silence, sipping their tea and smiling at each other sillily.
"Come here you," Minerva said opening her arms and letting Hermione snuggle into them. "Let's open some presents, hmm?"
Hermione nodded excitedly and her eyes lit up as a number of presents appeared on the table in front of them.
"This is for you sweetheart, it's from Albus and I." Minerva whispered, levitating a present into Hermione's hands so she wouldn't have to move from Minerva's embrace. Hermione smiled and kissed Minerva's forearm which was conveniently wrapped around her shoulders, eagerly ripping off the paper and gasping as she saw what she had been given.
"Oh wow!" she whispered as she opened the box to reveal the most exquisite quill set she'd ever seen. There were two quills – one of red and gold to match her House, which she guessed Minerva had given her, but the other, the other took her breath away. "Is this?" she looked up at her Headmaster, a man she rarely felt truly at ease with, despite his wonderful character.
"The gift is more appropriately from Minerva, myself, and Fawkes," he conceded with a gentle smile. "He decided that you would be a worthy owner."
Hermione was speechless; she was in possession of an actual Phoenix feather quill. She had read about them, and they sounded amazing, but to hold one in her hand was amazing.
"Thank you," she whispered, looking up at Minerva, who was leaning back in her seat, watching her with an easiness that made Hermione smile in response.
"You're welcome," Minerva said, nudging Hermione from her knee and nodding towards Albus.
"Really, Professor – Albus – thank you. I'll treasure it always." Albus Dumbledore smiled his acknowledgement, and then chuckled loudly when Hermione leapt into his arms. "Thank you," she whispered.
"You are most welcome, my dear." he said, hesitating for a moment before pressing a kiss to her hair. "Always," he whispered.
The two of them were interrupted by a flash and both turned to see Minerva putting a camera down with a cheeky smile.
"Hey!" Hermione cried, leaving Albus' side to reclaim her position at Minerva's. "I didn't know you had a camera. Is it different to a Muggle one?"
"A little, but the basic principle is the same." Minerva said, pulling Hermione into her side and handing her another present. "This one is just from me," she said happily.
Hermione opened the present and had to try really hard not to scream.
"OH MY G-"
"Young lady you do not need to finish that sentence," Minerva said sternly, but quietly.
"But it's,"
"I know,"
"But,"
"I know," Minerva said, a smile creeping onto her features.
"Is, is it real?"
"Oh yes my darling, it's real," she said, kissing Hermione's temple.
"But it's-"
Hermione couldn't believe it: a first edition of Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration.
"It's amazing!" Hermione whispered, running her hands over the bindings reverently.
"I thought you might like it," Minerva said quietly.
"It must have cost a lot of money," Hermione said softly, suddenly realising how woefully pathetic her gift to Minerva would seem.
"It didn't cost me a Knut." Minerva insisted, correctly realising why Hermione had suddenly gone quiet.
Hermione felt herself being rolled onto her back so her head was resting in Minerva's lap, the woman's long fingers now running through her hair.
"That book has been in my family for generations. It was passed from my great-grandfather to my grandfather, then from my grandfather to my mother – his first born, then from my mother, to me, her first born, now," Hermione watched as Minerva paused and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Now I pass it to you, who, for all intents and purposes, are my first born." she said with a smile.
Hermione could feel her lower lip trembling as she fully realised what Minerva was saying and she opened her arms, letting Minerva sit her up and hold her tightly.
"I love you, Min," Hermione managed to sob between her tears.
"I love you too, Hermione," Minerva whispered back, rocking her gently as she did.
-0-
When Hermione walked back to her dormitory she knew the boys would already be up. Remembering her lesson from this morning, she knocked before pushing open the door and smiled as she saw Ron and Harry poring over something or other, sporting their new jumpers from Mrs Weasley and eating some of her wares.
"Merry Christmas Ron, Harry," she said, placing Crookshanks on Harry's bed before giving the boys a hug.
"Merry Christmas Hermione," Harry said, Ron following shortly after with some sort of garbled noise around one of his mother's toffees.
"Did you get some good presents?"
"Harry got a Firebolt!" Ron said quickly, swallowing whatever it was that he was eating.
Hermione quirked her eyebrow, looking at her other friend who was holding the broomstick out to her proudly.
"Who from?" Hermione asked, mentally running through all the possibilities. The only two people she knew with that much money were Minerva and Albus, but neither had spoken to her about it. Not that they necessarily would, but surely they would have said something.
"There wasn't a note," Ron said, running his hands over the handle. "It's beautiful. Fastest in the world, an international standard broom," he said proudly.
Hermione bit her lip, her brain finally making the connection to another person that could have bought that broom.
"Harry, you," she sighed, rubbing her forehead, wondering why it was always her that had to be the voice of reason. "You need to show this to Minerva," she said, wincing at the sudden outburst of protests from the two boys.
"Are you insane Hermione? It's an international standard broom!" Ron repeated as if that fixed all apparent ills. "Oh, Harry, imagine Malfoy's face! Wait till he sees you on this! He'll be as sick as a pig," he said with a laugh, making Hermione feel a little ill.
"Harry, I-" she was shocked when Harry turned to her looking as defiant as ever, and she watched his grip tighten around the handle.
"Rubbish Hermione, McGonagall probably sent it to me, she's done it before. Or perhaps Dumbledore; you said yourself that he and I are close."
"But Harry, I don't think they did, you need to hand it in."
"Hermione, how about you just let Harry enjoy his present, huh?" Ron said accusingly. "He's already having a pretty bad year, so try not to make it worse for him, yeah?"
Hermione's heart shuddered. She wasn't trying to make things worse for Harry, she just had a terrible feeling that Sirius Black might have got his hands on a broom and sent it to Harry in order to complete his insane mission.
"Harry, I-"
They were interrupted by an almighty yowl as Crookshanks practically launched himself off Harry's bed and onto Ron's, scratching at the covers and trying to get to Scabbers, who was trying to hide himself under Ron's pillow.
"GET THAT BLOODY CAT OUT OF HERE!" Ron screamed, diving on Crookshanks and pushing him off the bed as he gathered his rat.
Hermione saw red as Ron aimed a kick at the cat and swooped down to rescue him just in time, with Ron's foot missing her hands by mere centimetres.
"DO NOT KICK MY CAT!" she shrieked, trying her very best to avoid said cat from jumping out of her arms. "It's not my fault Scabbers is always out! Try keeping him in a cage why don't you, like a normal person."
"Get out," Ron said looking murderously at Crookshanks, who was still spitting and hissing at the shivering lump in Ron's arms. "Get OUT!"
Hermione was ceremoniously pushed from the boy's dormitory and consequently burst into tears, racing all the way to Minerva's rooms where Godric opened the portrait for her as soon as he saw her coming.
"Hermione, whatever is the matter?"
"I HATE HIM, I ABSOLUTELY HATE HIM!" she cried, placing Crookshanks gently on the sofa and running her hands over him, whether to calm herself or the cat she couldn't be sure. "It's not my fault he refuses to lock up his bloody rat," she said, ignoring the concerned looks from both her Headmaster and her Transfiguration Professor. "I just, it's not my fault!" she wept, hugging Crookshanks to her chest and sobbing into his fur.
-0-
Crookshanks was a rather intelligent cat and he knew that his mistress was upset, but he also knew he really hated having wet fur, so he turned his gaze upon his mistress' human-cat and yowled pitifully.
"I know mister, I know," the human-cat said, manoeuvring his mistress to let go of him and cry on her instead. He purred, rubbing himself along their hands before stalking off to sit by the fire until his mistress had dried out.
He really did hate having wet fur.
-0-
Minerva didn't know what the matter was, but Crookshanks had clearly had enough, so she took Hermione under her arms, making her stand, before angling them both onto the sofa. Hermione seemed distraught, crying into her shoulder with Minerva doing the only things she could. Rocking Hermione slowly, she desperately wanted to tear whoever had hurt her baby limb from limb, but she remained silent as she kept up the gentle swaying, knowing that all this hysteria was likely a combination of tiredness, excitement and perhaps a little ignorance on someone else's part.
As Hermione calmed, Minerva stroked the girl's head, waiting for the inevitable moment when Hermione would collect her thoughts and tell her what was wrong. She didn't have to wait long.
"Ron attempted to kick Crookshanks, because Crookshanks was trying to eat his rat again. I don't know why he can't just put him in a cage," Hermione said, shuddering with the after effects of her tears. "I don't think he hurt him, but he was so, URGH!" she groaned, letting her head fall back on Minerva's shoulder.
"Perhaps it would be wise to keep Crookshanks away from Mr Weasley's dormitory from now on, hmm?" Minerva suggested soothingly. "Although I shall have to have a word with him about kicking the young master," she said with a grin. "No matter how precocious he might be, he does not deserve that."
Hermione nodded, but Minerva could see that she was not finished yet, and she leaned back on the couch to look at Hermione.
"What else is there, hmm? What else is wrong?"
She could see that Hermione was trying to decide what to tell her, and she sighed, thinking they had finally got beyond that by now.
"Young lady, I thought we had discussed this." Minerva frowned as Hermione dropped her head. "I thought we weren't going to lie to each other anymore?"
She watched as Hermione struggled with herself, before hearing a sigh. She tried not to smile as Hermione took a breath.
"Did you get Harry a Christmas present?"
Minerva had to try very hard not to gape at Hermione. Of all the things the girl could have asked that was not what she had expected to hear.
"Well yes, it's over there on the bookshelf. Why? What's this about?"
"Did Albus get him one?"
Again, Minerva was shocked and shook her head with a knitted brow, unable to work out where Hermione was going with this.
She watched as Hermione disentangled herself from their embrace and paced in front of the fire. She couldn't help the little lift at the corner of her lips as she noticed how similar Hermione and Albus were. Whenever there was something bothering either of them, they would come to her and pace endlessly across her hearth rug. It felt more than a little gratifying to know that she was the one they turned to in their hour of need.
"Hermione, sweetheart, we've been through this before. You can tell me anything, you know that," Minerva said, hoping to coax the information out gently from the girl, who on closer inspection was showing signs of severe exhaustion. "Hermione-"
"Harry was given a Firebolt," she said quickly, without pause. "I think Sirius Black might have given it to him, but there was no note," she finished lamely, refusing to look at Minerva and it suddenly dawned on the older woman what Hermione had just done.
"Darling, darling, think carefully now, there was no note? Nothing at all with it to suggest who it was from?" Minerva said, standing quickly and donning her cloak.
Hermione shook her head, and she knew at that moment that she had perhaps just lost her two best friends.
"Come with me, Hermione." Minerva instructed, slipping into her Professor McGonagall role seamlessly as they alighted the stairs.
"Yes Ma'am." Hermione whispered, following with her head down, watching the professor's feet as they hurried to the Gryffindor common room.
They rushed up to the boy's dormitory with Minerva rapping sharply on the door before opening it with a flourish, waving Hermione back with a hand so that the girl didn't have to come in with her as she did this.
"Mr Potter, I understand you received a rather special Christmas present this year?" she said innocuously.
"Yeah,"
In any other situation Minerva would have smiled at the wary response, but right now she had to remove the best broom known to the Wizarding world from the hands of a thirteen year old boy who had barely any worldly possessions to be proud of.
"May I see it, Mr Potter?" she asked nonchalantly.
She could see Ronald Weasley glaring at her, as if he already knew what she was doing here, and she had to give him credit. Clearly Harry trusted her just a little more than Ron did, however, and it was his undoing as he handed over the broom.
"Thank you, Mr Potter. Am I correct in thinking that you received this gift anonymously?"
She watched as the knut dropped for Harry and he glared at her dangerously while Ronald muttered a swear word, followed closely by something that sounded like Hermione's name.
"Yes, Professor," he replied sharply.
"I am afraid that I am confiscating this broom," she said, pulling it out of the way as Harry lunged for it. "Myself and Professor Flitwick will make sure that it is curse-free before you have it returned to you, Mr Potter."
"WHAT?" Ron screamed, making her wince a little. "Professor, that's an international standard broom. You can't just go around casting spells on it!" he said incredulously.
"Nevertheless, you will not be receiving this back until we are sure that it is not a dangerous artefact. I am sure, especially after the events of Halloween, that you understand why I have to do this."
By now she was trying to ignore Ronald's impression of a guppy and concentrated purely on Harry, who although looked murderous, she was sure she could spy just a hint of reason behind his eyes.
"Professor, it, it might be from Professor Dumbledore, don't you think" Harry said hopefully, and she felt her heart clench at the look he gave her.
"Mr Potter… Harry," she amended sadly, "I know you know that Professor Dumbledore and I are close." She waited until he nodded. "Professor Dumbledore did not send you this Harry," she whispered, imploring him to see reason.
"But I-"
"I know, Harry," she said, leaving them as she walked from the room, smiling encouragingly at Hermione as she passed her and left the common room in a flurry of emerald robes as she raced to Filius' office.
-0-
"Harry?"
"YOU!" Ron screamed. "You told on him, and now she's taken it! What is wrong with you, it was a bloody Firebolt! An international standard broom!"
"OH FOR GODS SAKE SHUT UP!" Hermione screamed just as loudly. "I DON'T WANT HARRY TO GET HURT!"
"Well he can't now, can he, 'cos HE HASN'T GOT A BROOM!"
Hermione was close to cracking and she turned to look at Harry, who couldn't meet her eye. Her heart was in her throat as she bit back a sob and tried to reason with him.
"Harry, I didn't want you hurt. I know that you want it, and I'm sure that you will have it back, but you need to trust Minerva. She'll get it back to you Harry, I know she will," she said, "I just thought-"
"You didn't think at all though, did you?" Ron said nastily. "You only cared about how you could get in MINERVA'S good books and went running off to her instead."
"It wasn't like that!" Hermione cried looking to Harry, who looked awfully close to siding with Ron. "Harry, I -"
He finally looked up at her and her heart broke with the anger she saw in his eyes, and she knew that she'd lost. Hanging her head, she let a tear fall to the carpet.
"I thought maybe Sirius Black might have sent it to you," she whispered, leaving just as the door slammed behind her.
She now had no friends, none, and what's more Minerva would now be busy all day with Harry's broom. Sobbing a little she stumbled along the well-travelled path between the common room and her Head of House's rooms. She didn't even acknowledge an anxious-looking Godric as she climbed the stairs and stumbled into Minerva's bed, crying violently as she let Minerva's scent wrap around her like a warm blanket. At least she'd be safe here, where she'd be loved.
At least, that's what she hoped.