A/N: Surprise lol Some of you knew I was thinking about doing this one, and now, I can tell you, that in fact...I did do this one. SO…Happy Birthday to Gypsygel, a last minute entry. I hope you have a wonderful day, and that you and everyone else is ENJOYING THE OLYMPICS. I tell you, not even when I was writing a chapter a day during Births and Deaths have I slept this little lol I only wished that I still lived in the UK so I could get so many channels of it. I have two…and they're both the same -_- lame.
Oh, speaking of me, and Spin (even though we weren't but we are now) we're both suffering from some GOD AWFUL virussy thing. She seems to be hovering on the edge of death, and I feel like my head is about to explode, but hopefully, we'll be fine. As it is, we both trenched through this, for your viewing pleasure. Two left people, just two, I'm not taking any more, cos I tell you, it's a struggle. I'm done with this story, for now at least. But, we have sesfx3 and potterhead1997 to go :D. So get to it :D
-0-
The exams were finally here and Hermione was doing her level best to remain calm. However, Sunday night saw her in tears and standing before Minerva's door.
"Darling, whatever is the matter?" the professor said when she opened the portrait, still laughing at something Albus had just said.
"I can't do it," Hermione said, barging in, irrespective of who was with her teacher, and marching over to the sofa where Albus was watching on with rapt interest. "I can't do it, I'm going to fail and I just can't do it anymore."
Minerva sighed, closing the door before joining her lover and her surrogate daughter on the couch.
"Hermione, listen to me please," she began sternly, tipping the girl's chin to make her look at her instead of staring at the spot on the carpet where Albus had tipped over that candle earlier. "Darling, you can do this, and you will. No doubt you will be amazing, as you always are."
"Indeed, Hermione; I am yet to meet a person who is as amazingly bright as you are," Albus pitched in, making Minerva smile. "In fact, I believe you can give Minerva a run for her money this year," he said, winking at her with his bright blue eyes.
"Really?" Hermione asked, making Minerva shake her head. Trust the girl to come around when she hears that she's most likely going to beat Minerva at something.
"Really. Now, seeing as you're here, I want you to eat something and have a cup of tea with us, because I know that you won't have eaten properly today."
"Hey," Hermione said, as Minerva plonked a plate of sandwiches down in front of her and glared mildly until she picked one up and took a comically big bite.
"She's only doing this because she knows what she was like back when she took her exams," Albus whispered conspiratorially, making Minerva glare for real.
Hermione looked up at Albus as if she thought he was lying to her. Minerva rolled her eyes and sat next to Hermione, making sure she couldn't get out from between them and passed her the plate.
"Yes its true, now eat," Minerva instructed, while giving Albus another hard stare over Hermione's head, making them all laugh when Hermione looked up to see them glaring at each other.
Minerva did her best to keep Hermione occupied but after an hour had passed she was clearly ready to get back to the books, and Minerva really didn't want to push her tonight.
"You make sure you sleep well, I don't want to hear you've stayed up all night. And call one of the elves if you want something to eat," she added, tucking Hermione's hair behind her ear. "Make sure you take lots of breaks and don't sit in the same position all night, because I know you won't listen to me and –"
"Min?" Hermione said as she covered Minerva's mouth with her hand. "I've done this before you know."
"Not like this," Minerva said pulling her in for a hug. "Nobody has ever attempted this many exams before. Just, rest okay?"
"Yes Mum," Hermione said rolling her eyes, missing the euphoric look on Minerva's face at those words. "Now I have to go. I love you. Bye Albus," she said, running off with a wave.
"I'm worried," Minerva admitted as Albus closed the portrait door.
"I don't know why, she's the brightest witch we've had here since you, I'm sure of it," he said, kissing her neck. "I have a meeting, but I'll be back later."
Minerva smiled coyly at him as she turned and kissed him, deepening it as his hands rested on her hips.
"I love you Albus."
"I love you too Minerva. I'll see you later."
-0-
"That's it," Harry said throwing down his quill. "I just can't do anymore."
"Oh thank Merlin's balls!" Ron said flopping back onto the sofa. "I think my head was about to explode."
Hermione merely glared at them and went back to her Arithmancy books. The boys had come to the understanding that she was doing something they weren't allowed to know about so they left her to it and sat in silence, poking each other and trying not to laugh too loudly.
"Urgh, alright, I'm done," Hermione growled after the boys laughed loudly once again.
"Probably for the best mate," Ron said wrapping his arms around Hermione's shoulder. She didn't know why, but she suddenly forgot everything she'd just learnt and she was quite sure that she had butterflies in her stomach, and made a mental note to ask Minerva about it.
"Um, I might, I think I might have some sweets upstairs," she said, standing quickly. "I'll go and grab them."
Hermione took some deep breaths as she crept into her room. Most of the Tower was already asleep, but she didn't see the harm in spending a little time with the boys, especially considering how tumultuous their relationship had been of late.
"So, ready for tomorrow?" Harry asked, smiling at her when she returned.
"I just hope it goes well. We have Transfiguration first, so that should be okay."
"You'll ace that one anyway, won't you Hermione?" Ron said with a laugh.
"What do you mean? Are you saying that Minerva will pass me because of my relationship with her?" Hermione demanded, looking affronted. Ron just rolled his eyes and ate another Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Bean.
"As if McGonagall would do that," Harry said punching Ron's arm. "If anything she'll mark her harder, just to prove that she's not favouring her."
"That's right, so there," Hermione said, giggling as she poked out her tongue.
They all laughed and joked for another hour or two as they slowly relaxed after their frantic revision. Hermione had worried about stopping before midnight, but they soon got carried away in their merriment. Minerva had said to rest, but Hermione figured that this was just as good. She wouldn't be able to sleep for a while yet, so she simply took another chocolate frog, and giggled along with the boys.
"So, Transfiguration first but then what?" Harry asked, trying to find the piece of paper with his schedule on it.
"Honestly Harry!" Hermione chided, recalling the information she needed. "Tomorrow we have Transfiguration in the morning, then Arithmancy, and finally Charms."
"Arithmancy?" Ron asked. "Who does Arithmancy?"
"Well, I'm just saying," Hermione snapped back, going a bit red.
"What's on Tuesday?" Harry said, quickly heading off the argument he was in no doubt would happen.
"Care of Magical Creatures, Potions and Astronomy," Hermione rattled off, successfully diverted from Ron's questions.
"Well, I think I'm going to go to bed then," Harry said waving to them both. "Goodnight."
Hermione let the boys go off to bed before turning back to her books.
"Just another half an hour I think," she said to herself, getting out her Transfiguration notes to go over first.
-0-
Minerva smiled to herself as she wandered into the Gryffindor common room. She did it every night before exams started, knowing the ones that stayed up were the ones who wouldn't let her reputation go to ruin as she sat with them, listening to their fears, and calming their souls.
As it was, tonight there was only Hermione still studying by candlelight.
"I thought I told you to rest my darling girl?" she said, sitting next to her star pupil and wrapping an arm around her.
"I just wanted to get another hour in," Hermione said, without looking up. Minerva snorted when she saw what Hermione was reading and reached across to close the book.
"You, sweetheart, do not need another hour of revision."
Minerva's eyebrow rose as Hermione merely let her close the book and sat back tiredly, leaning against her.
"What is it my darling?" Minerva asked, pressing a kiss to Hermione's temple.
"I, well –"
Minerva frowned as Hermione huffed and stood, pacing the common room in front of her, something clearly on her mind. The Transfiguration Mistress knew that whatever it was troubling her now would also prevent Hermione from resting properly, and so she resolved that they needed to be done with it before Hermione fell asleep, or she would be in a state for her exam the next morning – and that was something that Minerva was not going to let happen.
"Hermione sit down and just tell me please."
The young woman flopped down on the sofa, falling dramatically onto her side, so her head landed in Minerva's lap and her arms wrapped around her waist.
"I think, I don't know what's wrong with me," she said pressing her face into Minerva's stomach. "I, I just felt weird earlier, like I forgot everything I'd just read, and then I got butterflies, and –"
Hermione rolled over slightly to look up at Minerva and the woman couldn't help but smile as she brushed Hermione's hair back.
"And what sweetie?"
"I, he hugged me," she whispered pushing her face back into Minerva's stomach, and suddenly Minerva felt what every mother feels when she realised that her baby wasn't quite a baby anymore.
"Oh darling," she whispered, pulling Hermione up into her arms, determined to get a few more cuddles out of her girl before she had to admit to herself that Hermione was getting too old to enjoy cuddles anymore. "You know that's perfectly normal. I, as you already know, felt that for a long time baby. It's okay to feel that, it's all part of growing up." Hermione didn't look convinced and so Minerva shifted slightly, casting a Disillusionment spell on herself and Hermione as she lay back on the sofa, holding her close as they got more comfortable. "Do you remember when you and Harry schemed to get Albus and I together?"
Hermione giggled and so Minerva took that as her answer.
"Well, do you remember helping me get dressed beforehand? How nervous I was, how scared?" Hermione shrugged. "Don't you remember telling me to calm down, helping me pick my dress out, letting me borrow your beautiful necklace?"
"Yeah," Hermione said quietly. "But, its Ron," she said looking forlorn. "He's my friend, I just, I don't –"
"Baby, would you like me to tell you a secret?" Minerva asked, running her fingers gently through Hermione's hair. "Albus was my best friend for years; sometimes the best partners are the people you love as your friends first," Minerva said quietly, recognising the tension leaving Hermione's shoulders as her head became heavy and rested on Minerva's chest.
"Thanks Min," the young woman whispered as she yawned.
Minerva wished for one desperate moment that she could stop time and enjoy a few more moments with Hermione as she was, before she inevitably grew up into the amazing young woman that Minerva had to admit she was already becoming.
"Goodnight baby," she breathed, placing a kiss in Hermione's hair and waiting just a moment before moving.
She cast her favourite charm over Hermione and lifted her gently into her arms. She took longer than she would usually to tuck her in, smiling as she wanted to spend as much time as possible just kissing Hermione's forehead, her nose, mapping her face with her finger. She felt a little foolish, but she vaguely remembered her mother once doing the same.
"I love you Hermione, I know I have to acknowledge you're growing up, but just don't grow up too fast, hmm?" She gave the girl an Eskimo kiss, before placing a real one on her head. "Goodnight baby."
She stood for a moment listening to the sounds of all the girls sleeping, but couldn't take her eyes off Hermione. Tomorrow the exam week would start and Hermione would be more frazzled than ever, but hopefully this was one less stress upon her. Smiling, she dimmed the lights and left them to sleep in peace. She would need her own sleep too if she was to supervise Seamus Finnegan transfiguring a teapot into a tortoise.
-0-
As it happened, the next day passed fairly smoothly.
"How did you go?" Hermione asked the boys on their way to lunch. "I'm fairly sure mine looked more like a turtle, but I hope it was okay."
Hermione didn't really hear Ron's answer, only saw him open his mouth to say something before she was whizzing back a couple of hours so she could complete her Arithmancy exam. It was difficult, but she couldn't help but feel once she'd walked out of the room that she'd accomplished something, that she'd achieved what she had set out to do. But she knew not to get complacent. Next was Charms and she smiled as she remembered practicing cheering charms with Minerva.
" – and mine had smoke pouring from its tail, do you think I'll get marked down for that?"
"Well, have you ever seen a tortoise with a steaming tail?" Hermione asked, startling the boys as she joined in the conversation she had momentarily been absent from.
"Blimey, where did you come from?" he said, spinning around quickly.
"What?" she said, smiling smugly. "I was here the whole time."
"Right," he said, seemingly forgetting his suspicions almost immediately. "Well hurry up, I'm hungry."
They all laughed as they entered the Hall and Hermione, besides the constant feeling of being on edge she always got when taking exams, felt good. She could do this, she could, and she was going to. There was absolutely no way she would let Minerva down.
"Ready for Charms?" she asked the boys as she finished off her Pumpkin juice. "Just remember not too much swing; you don't want to make each other hysterical."
"Yes Hermione," Harry said rolling his eyes at her back as she led the way to their next exam.
-0-
The week passed by in a flash. Hermione had spent most of the Care of Magical Creatures exam talking to Hagrid and the boys. Not that it was the hardest exam she'd ever taken, but the big man was definitely feeling down after been notified of the date of Buckbeak's execution.
"Jus' got'a keep his spirits up, y'know?" he said with a sad shrug. "Don't want 'im to get down."
"We'll be there Hagrid, don't worry," Hermione said with a sad smile.
"You mos' certainly will not!" he said, startling a few people from their quiet exam – well, from sitting on the grass talking anyway, on account of their rather independent Blast-Ended Skrewts. "Dumbledore's already said he's comin' down t' be with me. Great man Dumbledore."
"Well, that's it, well done, go on back to the castle now," he said suddenly, realising the time. Hermione and the boys stayed with him for a moment, but really didn't want to miss lunch, and therefore be late to Potions. It was going to be hard enough as it was to pass, without having Professor Snape in a mood before they even started.
History of Magic seemed to go better for Harry than it had Hermione. He strolled out of the room looking quite happy with himself, but Hermione couldn't help but think she hadn't explained why the Goblin wars were so crucial to Wizarding economy. However, she soon forgot about it, travelling back to attend her Muggle Studies exam, which, even she had to admit, was quite easy.
She wasn't naturally talented at Herbology, at least, not like Neville was, but she finished in good time and got to leave early, beaming happily when she reached Minerva's portrait to find that she was in.
"Hi!" she said with a smile. "I can't stay long, but I just wanted to see you."
"Come in darling," Minerva said, making Hermione smile.
Hermione sighed as she was gathered up in Minerva's hug and she squeezed tightly as she relished the opportunity to let go a little, knowing that Minerva would be there for her.
"How are you going baby? You look tired."
Hermione smiled, pressing a kiss to Minerva's cheek.
"I'm fine. I'm going to pass everything. I'm going to make you proud, and I'm doing really well I think. I'm a bit worried about History of Magic, but I think I did all right in everything else."
She looked up to see Minerva's frown and she checked all around to see what was wrong.
"What is it?"
"Baby, Hermione, you make me proud every single day. You passing an exam couldn't make me more proud of you than I already am," she said, making Hermione blush.
"I know, I do know that, I just… I wanted to make sure that I didn't let you down. I know what it cost to get me this and well, I think maybe next year I want to do it differently, but I want to finish my exams first."
"I love you Hermione, and I couldn't be more proud of you, but I think that is a wise decision."
Hermione couldn't help the little smile she got on her face when she heard this, and she nodded, accepting another cuddle.
"I have to go," she said reluctantly. "Can I come and see you when all of my exams are over?"
Minerva laughed and tweaked Hermione's nose.
"You never have to ask to come and see me," she said. "You know that, but there is a Hogsmeade visit this weekend, and I thought perhaps we could go and send an invitation to your parents to come to the Manor for dinner during the holidays."
"REALLY?" Hermione squealed, throwing herself back into Minerva's arms.
"Yes really, I'd like them to come and meet Poppy and William."
"They'd like that," Hermione said, allowing Minerva to rock her gently. "I'd like that too."
Minerva smiled as she pressed one final kiss on Hermione's head and winked as the teenage witch waved goodbye.
"Hermione?"
Hermione stopped just before she opened the portrait and turned to look back at Minerva, who was standing quite awkwardly, her arms wrapped around her middle and if it wasn't for the serene look on her face, Hermione would have thought she was in pain.
"Yes Min?"
"Just, I love you sweetheart, remember that okay? No matter how old you get, and who you are with and where you go. I love you."
Hermione's heart squeezed painfully as she heard Minerva's tone, and she rushed back to her side, throwing her arms around Minerva's neck.
"You know I will, always," Hermione said, leaning back and planting a rather large, comical kiss on Minerva's cheek. "When I said the other day that you were my 'mum away from mum, mum' I wasn't kidding. I love my Mum, but I love you too," she said, hugging Minerva tightly. "Really and seriously, Min."
Hermione grinned as she felt Minerva smile against her cheek.
"Now I really have to go. Love you!" she said, kissing Minerva once more before dashing out of the room, worried that the boys would be looking for her, but also, in the back of her mind, worried about Minerva.
She didn't have much time to think about that though. As soon as she found the boys they insisted they practice their Defence Against the Dark Arts, and no doubt she would need it if Professor Lupin's lessons were anything to go by, so she bunkered down with the boys and studied.
There would be time for worrying after exams were over.
