Hermione and Ron both gave a crestfallen Harry a slight smile.
"Don't worry, Harry." Ron thumped him on the back. "I promise to bring you something from Zonko's and Honeydukes."
"Don't you worry about me, I'll be fine." Harry gave them both reassuring smiles.
Ron turned and started walking toward the path that led toward Hogsmeade.
Hermione placed a gentle hand on his arm and gave him smile. "Take care, Harry."
The third year practically skipped down the path.
"Where are you going?" Ron sidled up next to the busy haired girl.
Hermione folded her arms across her chest. "There is this really old bookstore in Hogsmeade that I want to look at."
"Ew." Ron wrinkled his nose. "I think I'll pass."
Hermione shrugged and turned toward the older part of the village, a part that most students never ventured. The young witch ambled toward the Grimoire: Tomes and Scrolls, Hermione gently opened the door. She wandered toward the back.
Sirene Gwendolyn was the young new proprietor of Grimoire: Tomes and Scrolls, her grandmother had owned the store and once she passed the elder witch passed the store to her granddaughter. The grandmother had known Minerva when she was a little girl.
Gwendolyn smiled at Hermione. "Tis good ta see ya lassie."
"Do I know you?" Hermione frowned.
"Níl* lass." Gwendolyn shook her head. "Bit, me faimily hae bin allies wi' th' McGonagall clan fur centuries."
Hermione cocked her head. "You know professor McGonagall?"
"That she does, kitten." Minerva smiled at her daughter. "I have known Sirene since she was a wee bairn. And her seanmháthair** knew me when I was a lassie."
A small smile appeared on Sirene's lips. "I hae aye loved this shop. Me seanmháthair bequeathed it tae me whin she died. God rest her soul. Now whit did ya want?"
"Hermione is looking for Skrifter af Knos. The book was written by the fourteenth century witch, Cajsa Knos." Minerva smiled. "It tells of the hardships she faces in society controlled by men and the magicks that she used."
"I ken th' tome. Tis in th' back. Let me gang git it fur ya." Gwendolyn smiled to herself. It had been years since she had seen Minerva. It was good to see the older witch, she had never seen her so happy.
Hermione smiled up at her màthair. "Thank you for buying me the book."
"Ach, it was me pleasure lass." Minerva's Scottish brogue was thicker after talking to Sirene. "I hae been looking for tha' book for a while."
"'ere it's. Sorry it teuk sae lang. It's yin o' mah rarer books." The proprietor smiled as she wrapped the old tome carefully in brown paper. "It wull be fifty galleons."
Hermione's eyes widened. "That's expensive!"
"Aye, wee kitten, it's an old tome." Minerva smiled as she pulled out the appropriate amount of coinage. "Thank you fo' ya help, Sirene."
"Ma pleasure" Sirene handed Hermione the book. "Ya be careful wi' that book."
"Yes ma'am." Hermione nodded. As the two witches left the store the younger witch turned toward Minerva. "Professor, do you think that you could sign Harry's permission slip?"
Minerva sighed, "I'm afraid I cannae, as much as I would like to."
"He really wants to come." Hermione pressed, hoping her mother would change her mind.
"And I want him to, but unless a guardian signs it there is nothing I can do." Minerva smiled at her daughter.
Hermione sighed; she knew that Minerva was right. "Màthair, do you have anything you need to do today?"
Minerva smiled. "I am supposed ta be chaperoning this trip. Bit, I think that the Deputy Headmistress can play hooky."
Hermione felt her face spread into her Cheshire cat grin. She was going to spend the whole day with her màthair!
As Hermione and Ron walked back to the school, Ron gave Hermione a detailed account of his day. He never asked her how hers went nor did he pause to let her ask him questions.
Ron spotted Harry walking toward the staircase that led toward the common room. "Harry!"
The boy-who-lived turned. "How was your day? Did you two have fun at Hogsmeade?"
"I had a blast!" Ron grinned, "I went to Honeydukes and Zonko's!"
Hermione slapped Ron on the back of the head. "Honestly Ron, I doubt Harry wants to know what we have done while he has been stuck in the castle."
Ron scowled and rubbed the back of his head.
Before the two Gryffindors could get into it, Harry bumped into the person in front of him.
"What's going on?" the bespeckled boy asked.
Ron sighed, "Probably Neville's forgot the password again."
"Hey!" Came the indignant cry from Neville.
"Sorry." Ron had the good grace to blush.
"What is happening?" Hermione asked, craning her neck to see around the throng of people gathered in front of the Gryffindor common room.
"The Fat Lady is missing!" Seamus cried. "Her canvas was slashed!"
Hermione watched the chaos that followed discovering that Sirius Black was in the castle. Hermione grabbed a purple sleeping bag and was about to go lay down with the other Gryffindor girls in the Great Hall, when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Miss Granger, I need to ask you a few questions." Minerva's eyes were hard. "The students said that you disappeared today and no one saw you till you met up with Ron late this afternoon."
"Professor, I went to…" Hermione began, only to be interrupted.
"Miss Granger, please follow me." Minerva grasped Hermione's upper arm and all but dragged her to the Deputy Headmistress quarters.
"Màthair, what is going on?" Hermione cocked her head. "You know where I was."
Minerva enveloped her daughter in a hug. "I am not letting you out of my sight until I know he is out of the castle."
Hermione relaxed in Minerva's arms. "Màthair, could we practice working on strengthening my Patronus. I know that you aren't going to sleep tonight anyway."
"You need to get your sleep." Minerva raised her eyebrows.
"It will be fine." Hermione grinned cheekily at her mother. "I cram about one and a half days into one day every school day; and sometimes on weekends when I need to study and work on homework."
Minerva laughed. "Alright, kitten, we can work on strengthening your Patronus."
Hermione and Minerva worked through the night and into the early morning. It wasn't until Albus came in and let them know that the castle was safe, did Minerva and Hermione collapse into bed. Both witches were exhausted and magically drained.
Albus looked at his two sleeping girls and smiled. He knew things were going to get worse before they got better. He just hoped that they survived the coming storm.
A/N: Two updates in two days! I feel so accomplished!
*níl – no
** seanmháthair – grandmother