Hey guys, I'm glad you're all liking the story so far. I do plan to expand it out into Hermione's years at Hogwarts.
This current chapter goes into Albus and Minerva's struggles and introduces Charlie Weasley into the mix. If you guys have any suggestions for the story feel free to comment. I'm more than happy to add in some snippets with of course acknowledgements to the reviewer who suggested it.
Of course, if you like the story please leave a review.
Just a note. Hermione's words in her Animagus forms are translated in brackets.
And without further adue.
Chapter 7: Adopting?
Hermione couldn't help herself as she saw the teenager wearing black and red walk through the door. He had long ginger red hair laced back in a low pony tail, with high cheek bones and blue eyes. There was a type of happy/cheerful aurora that surpassed him as he beamed into the dark potions classroom, smiling at the frowning man and sitting down at the desk. Hermione arched her eyebrow wondering what book was clasped in the boys hands.
"Good morning Professor. How are you?"
Sev-rus is a professor? Hermione's eyes lit up in fascination.
"Fine, Mr Weasley. I hope you are ready to serve your detention in silence" He walked past the boy before flicking his wand. Hermione moved back under her blanket watching in wonder as a cauldron landed on top of the first years' desk.
"As you deem it appropriate to brew a Draught of Peace in the Prefects bathroom, then I'm sure you are more then capable of handling brewing some Pepper upper potions for the infirmary" Hermione watched as the boys eyes widened with wonder.
"You will have one hour to complete the potion. I will return shortly" The potions master left the room only to return with a book in his hand.
'Transfigurations: From baby to beast'
Hermione shivered hoping against hope that had nothing to do with her. Rather than dwell on the bad thought, she turned her head to the red headed boy silently brewing the 'so called' potion.
Hermione couldn't take her eyes off his meticulous skill. The fluency of his movements. Hermione was caught in a world of wonder. She wanted to learn too. She wondered if the boy might take it upon himself to allow a cat to brew.
Her thoughts brought her back to the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. Her favourite book from her time round her uncles. She wondered if something like that existed here.
An hour went by quite fast for all three of them.
Severus had been scribbling notes as he flicked through the pages of the book, Mr Weasley had been conscientiously working on his potion and Hermione had been avidly watching the potion being made.
She watched as the young boy removed his wand smoldering out the flame then getting a tray of flasks and beginning to fill them with the green liquid before looking over to the front table to her professor.
"All done, Sir" Mr Wealsey smiled as he placed the tray of potions on his desk with 15 minutes to spare. He only then took notice of the small animal curled up under a blanket watching him.
"Thank you, Mr Weasley. You're free to leave, however be sure not to be brewing unsupervised" He rolled his eyes as he stood up inspecting the potions individually for any signs of them being incorrect.
Mr Weasley nodded unable to take his eyes off the small creature wrapped in the blanket.
"Hello there?"
Severus turned to see the Gryffindore coaxing Minerva's familiar. He rolled his eyes, picking up the potions tray and moving to the storeroom.
Hermione felt the blanket pick up from her head and body as she noticed more and more of the Weasley boy.
"Mew" ("Hello!") Hermione replied happily.
The boy chuckled as the kitten stood up on the pillow now that the blanket was removed.
"Aren't you a cute little thing?" The boy bent down running his hands on top of the cats head and rubbing her chin. Charlie had met many animals in his lifetime being after spending so much time with Hagrid and Professor Kettleburn. Some magical, some not so much. However, he knew some magical creatures could posses quite high levels of intelligence that would, in some cases rival a humans. Being that the kitten was in his potions professors possession, he assumed the animal was both magical and intelligent.
Hermione purred in delight.
"I'm Charlie by the way" The boy chuckled as Hermione rubbed her head against the boys palm.
"Mew" ("I'm Hermione") Hermione chirped.
"Aaww" Charlie cooed at the animal before noticing her splinted leg.
"Oh you poor thing. What happened?"
"Mew" ("A bad man hurt me").
"Do you want a hug?" Charlie couldn't help but pick the adorable kitten up and hold it in his arms. Hermione was delighted by the boy holding her into the crook of his neck. She instantly felt safe and wanted to go with his to see the rest of the school. Hermione thought that perhaps they could even be friends. She had always wanted friends but she was never that socially inclined.
As her mother had told her once after a rough day of school from being teased: 'Intelligence brews isolation'. Hermione shivered trying to get her thoughts off her parents. As much as she missed them and wished they'd come back, she knew they weren't. Not after her uncle, not after being homeless.
She rested her head onto the boy's chest, feeling his steady heartbeat.
"Sorry Sir," Hermione opened her eyes to see dark man with his arms folded glaring at them.
"I couldn't help myself. She's utterly adorable. Is she yours?"
Severus sighed, scratching his forehead. He had taught Mr Weasley for a few years now and in that time had known the boys since he began teaching at the school. He didn't particularly excel in potions but he knew he put the work in.
"No, Mr Weasley. That honour happens to befall upon the Deputy Headmistress. It is your head of houses new bedraggled familiar. I am only caring for the animal as a favour until she returns later today" He sat down in his chair before clasping his arms over the book he was reading trying to stop the boy from taking notice although it appeared that kitten seemed to be reducing his perceptiveness by a great deal that he didn't need to worry.
"She's gorgeous. Although I am curious as to why she's wearing a cast. Was she injured?"
"Obviously!" Snape rolled his eyes.
"Oh you poor, poor thing"
Hermione purred loving the comfort and sympathy the boy gave her.
"May I hold her for a few minutes, Sir. Please?"
He groaned.
"Fine, Mr Weasley. If it would stop your feverishness and make yourself useful you can feed the blood thing"
He summoned a warm bottle of milk.
His eyes picked up in excitement like it was the best day of his life. Severus rolled his eyes knowing the boy was practically another Hagrid in personality.
"Here" He passed Charlie the bottle of milk.
"Professor McGonagall has informed me she requires feeding every three to four hours. You may feed her, Mr Weasley. Be sure she finishes off the bottle" Severus returned back to his scrawlings as Charlie excitedly sat into the closest desk and fed the kitten.
"Does she have a name, Sir?" He sighed in anger. No rest for the wicked He thought.
"I believe Professor McGonagall named her 'Bear'" He rolled his eyes.
"Aww, what a brilliant name for such a beautiful Maine Coon" Severus stopped his scrawling and looked up.
"Maine Coon?" Severus looked up arching his eyebrow.
"Well yes Sir. My mates mother has one at home. They're usually really big domestic cats that are really fluffy. Bear looks exactly like one"
Severus put his pen down in thought.
"I was informed that she was a Kneazle?"
"Well yes Sir. Kneazles and Maine Coons are really similar. Really, the only difference between them is perhaps their ear size, their usual spotted/striped fur and whether they possess a magical core or not. That's what Professor Kettleburn told us in any case"
Severus nodded his head.
"And what pray tell, is Professor McGonagalls' cat?"
"Well Sir, it is difficult to tell. I mean. Bear has pretty much the exact same characteristics as both a Maine Coon and a Kneazle. In fact, Bear even has the strips to match the common Kneazle trait although they are quiet faint in comparison to her brown fur"
Severus arched his eyebrow and stood up before walking over to the cat. He had not noticed such black lines and wished to know what the idiotic boy was referring too.
Charlie seemed to be able to read his professors face and instantly showed him one of Bears' paws so he wouldn't have to fully shift the creature.
"See Sir, when her fur is spiked up like it is now you can't see them but if you smooth her fur down you'll be able to see them" Charlie completed the movement before taking her paw gently which she was reclutant to yield.
"See Sir?" He arched. Severus straightened his back before looking down only now noticing the faint black lines that intermixed her fur.
"I see, so you're saying she is a Kneazle?"
"I'd have to do a diagnostic test to confirm that she has a magical core but most likely Sir"
Severus moved back.
"No need. Madame Pomphrey has already confirmed that the mudane creature does in fact possess a magical core"
Charlie nodded before turning back to the kitten in his arms. Her sleepy eyes opened and closed as she focussed on the bottle, paws wrapped around the glass as struggled to stay awake. He chuckled brightly as noticed the milk foaming out of the corners of her mouth.
Charlie spent over ten more minutes feeding her before he removed the empty bottle from her lips and wiped her mouth. He couldn't believe his potions master having a baby Kneazle in his care. After this day, he could not longer imagine the cruel bat of the dungeons as anything but well... perhaps not so cruel...and as big of a git as he so thought.
"Lousy bloody spell. Would good is half an hour duration" Severus muttered gloomily to himself as he scrunched the piece of paper up into a ball and lit on fire in his hand.
Charlie stood up staring at the sleeping kitten in his arms.
"She's all fed Sir, anything else you need me to do?"
"Unless you would like another detention, then I'd suggest you leave" Ignoring his teachers snarky remarks, he placed the kitten onto the soft pillow before nodding.
"That's okay, Professor. I was really meaning about assisting you with Bear in any case"
Severus stood up. He knew the boy was going to ask about that. How predictable of a boy who was so infatuated with dragons and mythical creatures to want to spend more time with them.
"Any further inquiries involving the Kneazle may be spent on your head of house" Severus walked the boy to the door.
Charlie nodded smiling brightly as they got to the door.
"Thanks profes-"
Severus slammed the door on the boy before returning to his desk to continue his studies before the next student decided to interrupt him.
Meanwhile Albus and Minerva were sitting at Holland Park, comfortably relishing each others company. They wore winter muggle clothing. Minerva, a white blouse and a long black skirt with husbands overcoat on her shoulders. Albus, a bright blue collared shirt with dark blue dress pants. It was a different change of pace compared to his Hawaiian shirts he so proudly wore in the Summer.
"Perhaps we need to reconsider our options, Tabby" Albus sighed watching as his wife caressed his hand in her own, rubbing small circles along the back.
"We could consider adoption" He suggested turning to his wife and staring into her saddened eyes. They had been trying for a child for over 12 years of marriage but had failed after several miscarriages. They had spoken to many healers and muggle doctors about options. After the first war between Voldemort and his army, Minerva had taken a slicing hex to her abdomen. They didn't find out until years later that she had been rendered infertile due to the curse.
"I always saw us as having our own but perhaps you are right, Albus"
"There several orphanages that we can look at, though the chances of a magical child are quiet low. We can also check the Hogwarts registry and get the names of any children residing at the orphanges as you wish"
Minerva nodded, tears threatening to spill down her face.
She rubbed her husbands arm in comfort.
"I wouldn't mind either a magical or non-magical child Albus. I think we should broaden our scope" She kissed his cheek before resting her head on his shoulder.
She knew Albus had always been undecided about having children due to the wars they had faced together. She couldn't particularly blame him before being even a little apprehensive and nervous in consideration to the amount of psychotic wizards they had faced over the years. She considered that the thought of losing one of his own would be the straw that broke the camels back.
"When would you like to start looking?"
"I'll start asking around come Monday, my dear"
"Thank you, Albus" She closed her eyes relishing his company.
Six days later sought Hermione practically catching up on all the sleep she had missed from her time at her uncles. She had remained in Albus and Minerva's quarters at night to sleep where she would usually end up curling up into a ball in the crook of Minerva's neck. Time and time again, she would be brought down for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the 'Great Hall' where she would usually sit on Minerva's or Albus' lap depending on the circumstances. She found that even after a week her body was beginning to fill out again and she felt a lot less tired and more stronger as the days passed by. She had regular check-ups with Poppy and would time and time again she Severus.
Throughout most of the evenings she sat on the couch near the fire, she would watch the couple in their quarters sort through paperwork on different children from orphanages.
They had many of paperwork out a lot of which seemed to both stress and excite the couple. If Hermione had to guess, the woman seemed more excited than the man. Hermione did not realise what they were doing until Severus had visited Minerva one afternoon to have tea together. The young girl found their relationship interesting to say the least.
Minerva seemed to treat the man almost like both a son and a colleague. She wondered if they were both. Somewhere along the lines, Minerva had stated that she was interesting in adopting a child. It made Severus choke on his drink and Hermione stand up on her legs.
Adoption. Like take in a child?
Hermiones' eyes filled with wonder.
"I have realised that you've always wanted children Minerva but I thought you and Albus were trying for your own kin?"
"We were but we exhausted all our options. We think it's for the best that we consider adoption"
Severus nodded.
"What gender did you have in mind?" Severus drawled, swirling his drink.
"I think Albus and I both want to have a girl"
Hermione pranced over in her kitten form jumping on Minerva's lap.
"Mew" ("I'm a girl!")
Minerva chuckled which excited Hermione even more.
"Yes my dear you will of course be apart of the family as well. Don't worry" She hugged Bear. Hermione groaned in annoyance.
"Mew!" ("That's not what I meant").
"Ooch you are such a lovable cat" She placed Hermione down to her side next to her teddy bear.
"Mew!" ("But I want a mommy too") Hermione pouted thinking of changing into her human form but reconsidered after pulling the stunt in front of her uncle who had not only beaten her but burned her skin. She flinched away from the thought. Still remembering the smell of her own flesh burning as he forced her to endure the pain.
Severus watched as the cat jumped down off the couch, removing itself from the room likely having a hissy fit. He rolled his eyes. The burden of intelligence. He took a sip of his drink. That's what you get for being a Kneazle. Jealously and the bottom of the hierarchy in a family. No doubt the creature would be crawling back to him when the child arrives.
"What age were you thinking?"
"Albus and I are still considering. I want a baby, Albus however is more leaning towards a toddler. So anywhere between zero to three.
Severus heard howl coming from the kitchen area of the headmasters quarters. They ignored it at first but as soon as Minerva had mentioned that she was more than willing to take on a non-magical child, such as a squib or muggle, Bears howling worsened.
"Ooch, I knew cats were jealous creatures. I hope she's not going to be a problem when the child comes"
Severus shook his head.
"I'll take her if she's going to be a problem, however I do require a favour in return of course"
Minerva rolled her eyes taking a sip of her tea. Classic Slytherin tactics.
"And what may you wish for?"
"I've been scouring my books for days and have come up empty. I wish for you to transfigure Bear into a tiger"
Minerva spluttered.
"A tiger. What ever for?"
"You suggested Bear be my familiar. I hardly think a Kneazle kitten is suitable let alone appropriate"
"And a tiger is"
"Yes, I believe so"
"Ooch you -" She stopped herself from picking a rather unflattering name.
Severus finished his drink.
"That's my offer, Min. Take it or leave it"
"Albus would never allow a tiger to be a teachers familiar Severus"
"Obviously. She won't be a tiger. She will simply be impersonating one. She'll still be your 'so called' lovable cat" He drawled.
Minerva huffed.
"I will consider it, Severus but mark my words if so much as harm a hair on Bear I'll"
"Yes I'm quite aware that you will turn me into one of your matchboxes you use for first year transfigurations"
She groaned finishing off her tea before placing her mug down.
"I just need to know if you can make it a permanent fixture?"
"I only know of temporary spells that will last from 24 hours to a week at most"
"That's fine, I'll just ask that you teach me the spell so that I may renew it every so often"
"Fine" She nodded.
"Always nice doing business with you Minerva" He smirked.
She scratched her face deciding to change subjects.
"Onto the next agenda. Slytherin and Ravenclaw face off next weeks. Lets talk bets?" She smirked to him.
Minerva didn't understand why but Bear had spent the rest of the day mopping in solitude by the fire not wishing to be disturbed. The green eyed woman had considered the fact that Kneazles, like cats, were solitary creatures and did not like sharing.
Let alone, likely wanting their tail pulled and their body squished against a small toddler. She decided to allow Bear some time alone to herself in order to get over her childish temper tantrum.
Hermione had spent the whole week as a cat and she was aching to get back into her human skin. It's not that she minded being a kitten but it was daunting being man-handled all the time, especially when everyone was a lot bigger than her. Not that it made much difference, Hermione had deduced that she barely came up to Minerva's hip if she were a human and even then that was a stretch.
After spending a day mad at Minerva, she had decided to calm down and go back into pretending she was nothing more than a happy kitten. Much too her enjoyment, Minerva seemed happy that Bear had stopped whining after a decent sleep and a meal later.
The woman, Poppy, had met Hermione and Minerva in the morning on Thursday down at the Hospital Wing in order for the cast to be removed. Hermione was grateful to have her arm back, chirping at Poppy and purring happily as the woman patted her head.
"Now you don't go around getting into any fights with the other student's cats. No need for you to end up back here, my dear"
"Ay, I'll take her to Hagrid later today for her to be looked at. He may know if she's what type of special requirements Kneazles need" Minerva smiled as the sat opposite each other at Poppys' desk.
Hermione turned her head in confusion. These people had very strange names. Not only that, they could do magic. Hermione bit her lip nervous as she sat on the desk flicking her tail. She had only imagined these people as very powerful compared to her uncle. She remembered her mother telling her the story of Hansel and Gretal in which the two children escaped from a cannibalistic witch. Hermione gulped, if these people were to find out she were a child, not of their kind, would she be eaten too.
Hermione didn't want to know the answer, instead pretended to act like her previous next door neighbours cat and lick her paw.
"I'm sure Hagrid would be thrilled to see your new familiar. He does have a soft spot for all baby animals"
Minerva laughed.
"Remember how the baby Chimaera turned out" Both women were laughing. To Hermione, hackling like witches do. She gulped bending down on her paws with her senses heightened.
"Oh my, how that ended well with Silvanus losing his hand" The woman chuckled. Hermione's eyes widened in fear backing away onto the corner of the desk. She gulped not wanting to know exactly how he lost his hand.
Minerva walked quietly down the steps of halls quietly noticing a few of the student's beginning to head into the Great Hall for an early dinner. She had bumped into Charlie Weasley just outside of the courtyard on her way down to see Hagrid.
"Good evening Mr Weasley how are your studies going?"
"Great Professor McGonagall. I was actually wondering if I could ask you something?"
Charlie instantly, spotted the kitten popping it's head out of Minerva's cloak pocket.
"Hey Bear" Charlie smiled.
Minerva arched an eyebrow.
"You know Bear?" She inquired politely.
"Yes, ma'am. Professor Snape introduced me to her and let me feed her"
"Did he know?" Amazed that Severus would entertain a Gryffindor.
"Yes, ma'am. He said if I wanted to play with Bear that I was to ask you?"
"Seeing as you have a fascination for magical creatures. I am more than happy for you to see to Bear" She pulled the kitten out of her pocket who instantly pounced on Charlie greeting him. He chuckled.
"Hey Bear! Oh did you get bigger. You feel heavier. Oh and your casts off. I was worried about you" He beamed holding the Kneazle in his arms happily.
Minerva smiled warmly, watching the two definitely reinforced the reasons why she taught the youth.
"I was just on my way to see Hagrid about caring for a Kneazle. I do have to take Bear for a quick check-up with him but you are more than welcome to take her for a walk provided you take the utmost care with her and return her to me no later than eight o'clock, Mr Weasley"
He smiled happily.
"Of course professor. I'll be in the Great Hall when you come back" He kissed the kitten on the head as she chirped at him before handing her back to Minerva.
She smirked, strolling off to Hagrid's hut as she glanced down at the cat.
"I see you're already making friends" The cat's eyes widened upon her comment.
"Mew" ("I have a friend!") Bear chirped.
Thank you to all those who have reviewed last chapter especially.
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