Minerva watched carefully as Hermione summoned a well-worn wooden box, birch wood she noted. The Ross family crest was etched lovingly into the wood. Hermione pricked her thumb and firmly pressed it to the latch. "Blood wards," Minerva asked suprised.
"Isobel brought the box with her when she brought Hermione," Agatha said. "She explained Hermione and you would be the only ones able to open it. She left a treasure trove of knowledge for Hermione."
Suprised, Minerva looked back to the box and watched as the beautifully decorated box opened. Inside laid an album, a brass skeleton key and old muggle letters. Hermione picked up one of the letters and handed it to Minerva. Minerva was suprised to see her name on the envelope in her mother's familiar penmanship. With a deep breath, she opened the letter and silently read it.
My Dearest Minerva,
I'm afraid I must seek your forgiveness. I have undone all of the sacrifices you have made for your child but I still am unable to apologize for it. I did it all with the best of intentions. I couldn't stand by and allow her to grow up ignorant of her heritage.
You may wonder how I knew of her to begin with. I must say you were rather good at hiding your pregnancy and had it not been for a worried house elf, your secret would have remained a secret. Ada the house elf worried tremendously when she learned you had been captured by the dark side. Ada stayed by your side, invisible of course, once you were liberated. I didn't have the heart to ask her to leave you. Ada loves you so!
Once Ada discovered your pregnancy and your intentions to hide the child, she came to me distraught. We hatched a plan to save the child and give you a chance at a reunion when the child was grown. A chance for you to rightfully claim your child. Ada alerted me as soon as you gave birth and left the babe at the orphanage. I picked up the wee babe and brought her to Agatha. I knew Agatha would love the child as she loves you. You two are as close as any sisters regardless of the secrets you had to keep from each other.
Minerva I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I did questionable things in order to save Hermione and to improve her future. I hope you can accept what I felt I needed to do in order to save you both. More importantly, I hope you will embrace this chance and open your heart and life to your child. Hermione has a wonderous future ahead of her because you made the sacrifice to give your greatest treasure up to protect her.
Love Always,
Ma
Minerva ignored the tears flowing down her face as she folded the letter up and tucked it in her inner pocket. A pop sounded in front of her and she looked into a familiar face. "Ada," she said emotionally.
The house elf, clothed in her pristine tartan dress, handed Minerva a tissue and smiled widely. "Ada's wee one has finally came back home to Ada," the elf said and gathered the witch up in a hug.
"I was unable to find you," Minerva offered emotionally. "I called and searched for you after Ma's death without luck."
"Mistress gave Ada one last task," Ada answered honestly. "She made Ada promise to watch over our babe until you read her letter. Ada was unable to answer your calls. The little miss needed Ada more."
"You have been with Hermione this entire time," Minerva said suprised yet overwhelmingly grateful to the little house elf.
"Ada have," Ada replied. "Little Miss is as much trouble as you were as a babe. At least with you, Ada had Mistress to curb your accidental magic. Little Miss was a little she-devil!"
Minerva snorted in amusement as she listened to her beloved house elf talk. Agatha joined in Minerva's mirth as Hermione just looked offended. "I wasn't that bad Ada," Hermione argued.
"You set those mean girls hair on fire," Ada squeked.
"One time," Hermione said with a smirk on her lips. "They also left me alone after that."
"What about that time you summoned the books to you," Ada asked with a frown while shaking her finger at Hermione.
"Summoning books sounds like normal accidental magic," Minerva commented confused why summoning books would be so bad. She, herself, had summoned a many books while growing up.
"A few books," Ada clarified. "The little she-devil summoned the entire local library to her room when she was 5 years old."
Minerva snorted in amusement as she pictured the incident. "Maybe she was a little she-devil," she conceded with a smile.
"I wasn't that bad," Hermione muttered, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
"You most certainly were my love," Agatha added. "How about you let Minerva see the album?"
Hermione nodded and focused her attention back to the box before her. She gently moved the worn black leather album from the box and lovingly caressed it. "This has brought me peace many times throughout the years. Nan insisted I keep this with me. Mum wanted to put it away until I was older but Nan insisted I needed it," the young witch said as she handed the album to her mentor.
Minerva instantly felt the calming magic flowing from the book. "Ross family magic is flowing from it," she said in awe. "I haven't felt it since Ma passed away."
She delicately opened the book and gasped in suprise. The very first page showed her heavily pregnant and staring out of her Hogwarts window. Her cheeks were rosy and her long dark hair cascaded down her back in soft curls. The gown she wore was thin and showed her curves well as the morning sun hit her spectacularly. It was a lovely picture!
The next one showed an exhausted Minerva laying on her bed in her private chambers in Hogwarts. Her emerald eyes gazed lovingly at the baby laying against her chest. Minerva teared up as she realized the most important moment of her life had been captured. She was grateful by it.
"How did she get these photos," she wondered aloud.
"Ada's mind," the house elf said as she grasped Minerva's hand within hers. "You were Ada's babe and Ada refused to leave you. Ada hid from you but Ada was there for it all."
"Thank you Ada," Minerva said softly as she dropped a kiss to the elf's cheek. "You are my family and I am lucky to have you." Ada beamed at her.