Hey guys, firstly. I know a few reviewers have suggested I get a beta reader. I'm just gonna say now that I don't have any interest doing that. Mainly because I'm trying to smash this story out so you guys can read it. Yes, there's a few grammar mistakes but I'm more happy about you guys actually enjoying the story and it having a good plot. Also, I don't know if it's happening with any of you guys but when I right click on a word in these documents the first correction it comes up with is 'Emoji'. I don't particularly use this word but I have know idea why that's happening.
Spoiler alert: The next chapter will be a more Hermione/Minerva centric and how Minerva comes to be Hermione's mother, so stay tuned for that.
Don't forget to review.
Minerva and Poppy had spent the better part of an hour trying to coax Hermione out from under the bed. After Severus and Albus had left, the woman tried to soothe the poor girl, telling her that everything would be alright and that they would work it out. Still, though. The girl didn't believe them and the split second they had turned from her, the young girl had hidden under the bed again much to Poppy's worry over her injuries. She was still yet to remove the girls clothes and clean her up properly let alone treat her injuries. Poppy was quiet sure by the way the girl was dragging her leg and arm that she had broken something quite badly.
She had used up most of the calming drought earlier just trying to stop the girl from screaming so loudly that he ears felt like they were going to burst when Poppy tried to touch her. That was just contact alone.
"Ooch deary, please come out. I'm sure you'd like your teddy bear back, Ay?" Minerva watched as the girl's eyes lit up with fear. She could almost register the anxiety pulsating through the girl's skin as she attempted to crawl to the side of the bed and grab her teddy bear. However, her responses were very weakened and she was still in fair amount of pain. Minerva was able to gently grab the girl and place her onto her lap before tucking her arm around the girl's waist and place her on the bed as she squirmed to be released. She watched as the girl turned on her side quickly grabbing her bear and curling up into a protective ball. That's where she remained, scrunching her eyes closed, terrified she was going to be beaten for disobeying the woman's orders.
Minerva didn't understand how the girl she knew as her familiar 'Bear', a curious but shy kitten was an extremely fearful and traumatized girl. She deducted that the cat had provided an almost protection to the girl's vulnerable state. No one particularly took notice of her as a cat unless it was to pet and feed her. Whilst as a human, the girl had likely been severely abused and beaten for any wrong-doings.
"Hermione, dear?" Poppy tried to coax the girl again after placing a spell on her to stop her being able to remove herself from the bed.
"You're quite badly hurt and I really need to see your wounds. Would you please let me help you dear?"
Hermione shuddered at the word help. She had been told on many occasions that people were trying to help her but she always ended up in the same position; beaten to a pulp. She shook her head crying into her teddy as she felt Poppy's left hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her.
Minerva felt guilty for not recognising that her familiar was a traumatised girl.
"Hermione?" Minerva sat down on the bed next to the small girl.
"I'm not mad that you were a kitten" She placed a soothing hand through the girl's bedraggled hair feeling her sobs wracking her body. She felt the girls breathing slow down as soon as she mentioned that she wasn't upset. So she decided to take an alternative approach.
"What you did Hermione was very brave. If you hadn't of done what you had then Severus would not be standing here today. He'd likely be dead or very, very injured. You sacrificed your identity as a familiar to save Severus' life. I know that must have been a very, very difficult decision but Hermione-" She felt the girl's shudders cease.
"I'm so, so very proud of you" She felt the tension in the girl's shoulders relax.
"Y-you are?" She heard the small voice muttered into the teddy bear.
"Of course, dear" Hermione removed her teddy away from her mouth before looking back up into the older woman's eyes seeing the love in them.
"Y-you aren't mad t-that I-I lied to you?"
"Of course not, my dear. I know what you did to survive. When I first saw you as a kitten on the streets I knew that you were alone and were very ill. I took you in because I could see that you needed someone to look after you. You needed a home. Hermione even if you weren't a kitten I would've still taken you in"
"Y-you would?"
Minerva leaned forward brushing the tear running down the girls face.
"Of course Hermione, no child should have to live on the streets. You deserve to have a family, dear girl"
Forgetting the pain, Hermione leaned forward wrapping her injured arms around Minerva's waist in comfort as she cried into her lap.
"I'm wearwy sowwy I lied to you, Mimi" Minerva massaged the girls scalp deeming that as the only place the girl wasn't injured.
"I know sweetheart and whatever you think you've done you are forgiven"
"B-but what about Sev-rus. H-He's so mad at me. He, he looked so angwy!" Hermione cried into her. Minerva shushed the girl.
"Severus has never liked to be out-smarted before. He's just upset that he was out-smarted by a five year old. Nothing more" Minerva tried to joke but it didn't seem to amuse the girl.
"Believe me, my dear. Severus will get over it. Albus and I will be speaking to him about his behaviour towards you. He shouldn't have upset you. He had no right"
"I-I learnt how to t-turn into a t-tiger for him" Hermione tried to move her left arm to rub the tears away from her eyes but found it too painful. She resigned to letting her arm rest on Minerva's lap instead.
"Aye, I know dear and you are very smart girl. I can't think of many witches and wizards in all of history that could do that. To do what you are capable of is a gift"
Hermione didn't think so, considering the amount of times she had been beaten because of having powers.
"And especially at your age. Truly remarkable. You're a brilliant girl, Hermione"
Poppy came back into the room with a tray of potions, bandages and shiny utensils.
"Now dear. I need you to help me, okay?" Minerva asked her using the girls' Gryffindore sense of bravery to coax her into getting the treatment she needed.
"I need you to let Poppy heal your wounds" Hermione hesitated in her response before she nodded.
Poppy smiled thankful to her friend before she lit her wand and ran a complex history diagnostic spell over the girl to check her the dates in which the injuries had occurred.
"Oh dear" She scanned her eyes over the girls' previous history of abuse. Hermione didn't have to guess what she was looking at to know. She turned away from the woman as Poppy continued to read her notes. Hermione began to count the bricks to the side of the room as Poppy gasped and sat down in the chair beside the girl. She didn't know what to say. The girls must have been in a world of pain before coming here. Minerva reached over and scouped the sheet out of her hand, reading the diagnosis. She couldn't stop the gasp that escaped her lips. Tears ran down Hermione's cheeks.
"Where do we even start?" Minerva asked her long time friend. Poppy gulped before grabbing a pair of scissors.
"Hermione" She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder earning her a look of confusion. "May I please have a look at your back?"
Hermione hesitated but nodded before both woman assisted Hermione on laying on her side. Seeing the dark state in patches of Hermiones' grey clothing she could assume to cut around those parts.
"When's the last time you've been able to remove your clothes, dear"
Hermione shook her head.
"I-I was twying to take showers in t-the pwerfects bathwoom but my back hurt too much and felt like it was glued on" Poppy nodded. The girls guess was quite accurate. The wounds on her upper and lower back had been healing in between matted material of her shirt, meaning that in order the material to be removed from the wound, Poppy was going to have to perform surgery.
"Was it painful when you were in your cat form?"
Hermione bit her lip and nodded.
"It didn't hurt as much as it does in this form" She stated avoiding calling herself human. She didn't believe she was. Her uncle had drilled that into her brain that she was nothing more than an utter freak. A demon. A curse. A burden.
"I knew they were there and my back was weawy painful but I was able to ignore it for the most part. It Wreawy only hurt when people touched my back"
Minerva gulped. No wonder the she was always whimpering in pain when she tried to even place her hand close to Bear's back.
"Hermione?"
The girl looked over to Poppy to see her sunken eyes. It made Hermione even more fearful until she gave her a nervous but reassuring smile.
"I have to speak to Miner...Mimi for a second. Do you mind trying to stay very still for me, please. I don't want you in any more pain. Okay?"
Hermione looked towards the window to the side that was partially open. Her only escape. However, she thought better of it. She was in too much pain to run at this moment. The best she could do was nod and accept whatever was coming.
"Minerva please" They stepped out of from the enclosed curtains before casting a silenco charm.
"What is it Poppy?"
"Hermione's injuries are quite severe. She has a number of broken bones not to mention a number of bones that need to be realigned. I also need to remove the debris of her shirt from her wounds on her back so they don't get infected"
"I see"
"This will take at least two maybe three hours. I feel that we need to put Hermione to sleep in this time"
"I agree Poppy. The poor girl looks as though she's been through a war. Likely keeping her awake will just add to her trauma. She also doesn't look like she's slept in days judging by those dark patches under her eyes"
Poppy nodded in agreement.
"I don't think Hermione's going to let me put her to sleep willingly as she very hyper-alert state despite the calming drought Albus gave her earlier"
"If you can put it in a goblet. I can try convince her too" Minerva sighed rubbing her forehead.
"Thank you, Tabby" She smiled at her friend before taking down the charm and walking into the room to find Hermione on her right side, chewing on her teddy bears ear for comfort. Minerva made a note to scourify the teddy when Hermione drifted off to sleep. Poppy moved behind her to her tray of potions which made Hermione nervous and hunch into a ball more. It made both women feel even worse for the girl. She appeared to have lost all trust in people not to harm her.
"Hermione, dear" Minerva sat down in the seat her husband was sitting in not too long ago.
"I need you to take some medicine for me if that's alright with you?" She brushed a lock out of the girl's face and tucked it behind her ear.
"M-medi - sin?" Hermione asked hesitant.
"Yes dear. It's going to help you get better" She smiled down at the girl. The girl smelt the goblet before shaking her head.
"Please dear, would you do it for me?" Minerva asked feeling guilty but she needed the girl to get better as soon as possible. The girl looked into Minerva's comforting green eyes before making her decision. She agreed to take it but on one condition.
"W-Would you s-stay with me?" The girl practically begged Minerva. Of course, the girl didn't need to ask. Minerva was adamant on never leaving the girl's side after treating the poor girl like a familiar for over a fortnight.
"Of course dear" She gently lifted Hermione's head bringing the cup up to her lips and helping her drink the sleeping drought.
Within a minute, Hermione was trying her best to fight the mere exhaustion that was creeping in on her. Her eyes were closed and she was deeply breathing in Minerva's arms by the second minute.
"Okay Poppy. Whenever you're ready" She kissed the girls forehead before sitting down and holding the girls hand.
Poppy quietly placed on a pair of latex gloves before removing the blanket off the bed and turning the girl onto her side. She laid down a plastic sheet and pulled the girl onto the plastic with Minerva's help. Next, she began to carefully cut the girl's shirt down the middle trying to remove he foreign matter without disturbing her wounds. It took Poppy over 30 minutes to fully remove the girl's shirt so she could now see the heavy length of scarring from a whip that had practically taken chunks out of the girl's back.
"Oh my" Poppy stared in shock before running her gloved hand along the severed burns that had originally stopped the girl from removing her shirt. Despite the poor healing she could still make out the words 'TRAITOR' and 'FREAK'.
Poppy's blood boiled with rage. Who in their right mind could do something to a mere child?
She moved over to the bundle of potions Severus had given him in his concussed state - something she'd have to treat as soon as she was done with the girl. Due to the poor healing of the burned in words, Poppy had to remove the necrotic tissue via a surgical scalpel. She was forever grateful that the poor child was asleep for this. She disinfected the wound before placing a healing balm followed by a thick black jello-tin substance that created barrier against bacteria. In the muggle world, it was similar substance to Vaseline jell but assisted to accelerate healing.
She then placed a de-scarring balm on the already healed wounds hoping they would go down in time. She then grabbed a role of gauze cloth and began wrapping it around most of the girls torso before helping her lay onto her back.
"Hopefully that will feel much better" She mumbled to the girl but knew for a fact that she couldn't heel her.
"Lets start with her leg first then. She's got a few fractures and tears in her right leg. I will have to reset it so it heals properly. Minerva this process may make a bit of sound, do you wish to stay here or wait outside?"
Minerva shook her head still gripping the girls hand.
"No, no I'll stay" She nodded to the woman. Poppy waved her wand working quickly to mend her leg back together before placing a rather large splint over it. She did the same to both her arms before moving over to her ribs.
"I won't be able to splint her ribs but I can accelerate the healing process. She'll really need to lie still for a few days though so she doesn't end up re-fracturing them"
She waved her wand re-knitting the broken ribs back together. Next, she began working on the girls face, healing the cuts and placing a de-scarring balm on the girls cheeks, eyebrows and forehead. She did the same to the rest of her body making sure she had not missed any scar or wound.
The entire process took over three hours and Hermione was still luckily out cold.
"Due to her nutrient deficiencies, she'll be on a cocktail of potions for the next few weeks. We'll have to apply the de-scarring paste twice a day if we want any significant improvements. Massage for the scar tissue will have to be done on her back so that her skin is pliable enough to grow with the rest of her body as she gets older. Other then that, I want to put her on at least six small meals a day minimum and plenty of rests. As I recall from my St Mungos days, five year olds need at least 10-13 hours of sleep per day. However, I believe in the girls current state, she'll be up to at least 15-17 hours"
Minerva nodded running her fingers through the girls hair as Poppy placed a pair of striped hospital pajamas on the girl.
"How long will she be in the infirmary for?" Minerva licked her lips.
"I'd say at least a week minimum to ensure that's she's progressing along" She finished the last buttons of the girls top before wrapping several blankets around her.
"I have to start writing up my notes and looking up the appropriate dosage for nutrition potions for a five year old considering we've never had one grace our halls before"
"Thank you Poppy"
"No need. I'd of helped the girl no matter what. Just a shame we had to find out about her this way. I wished she'd of come up to us sooner" Poppy left to attend to her paperwork.
Minerva turned back to the girl in sadness.
"Me too" She muttered.
After an hour, the sounds of Severus complaining filled the air. Not enough to wake up the two sleeping residents but enough to annoy Poppy to her wits end. She had had a long day to say the least and was planning on having a class of wine later this evening. Perhaps a whole bottle if he had to continue listening to Severus.
"I feel fine you bloody woman now release me" He scolded her however, unlike the students Poppy was not afraid of the bat of the dungeons and immediately rounded on the man.
"You have a mild concussion Severus. You are to be kept overnight for observation until I deem you ready for release. Now quite complaining, put your pajamas on and hop into bed" She drew the curtains around the bed closest to the sleeping girl. As much as she could before returning to her duties. He rolled his eyes before removing his robe and lying back on the bed.
"Blood women" He seethed before removing a copy of Potions weekly and began reading.
Hermione heads pulsed with fog as her eyes began to flutter. Her head spun and it began difficult to remember where she was nor what had happened. She breathed out loud, playing with the fact that her previous 7 months of reality had may in fact been a dream. That was on the consideration that she was comfortably laying on a bed. She knew from the feel of her limbs that she was no longer in her kitten form. She smiled, maybe perhaps she was laying in bed, awaiting the morning sun to shed light on the fact that her parents were still alive and ready to wake her up. She still remembered her last few days with them.
"Hermione, wake up dear, you have school" Her mother gently shook her shoulders trying to get the five year old out of bed. Hermione was never a difficult child but she was quite stubborn when it came to her books. Usually by the evening,
Dr Mary Granger would have to be prying the books away from her daughters small hands in order to send her to bed. As much as she loved her daughter, the woman had been reduced to having to curfew her books as her daughter would often get lost to the world and be up reading too late. One time she had caught the girl up at 1AM.
Mary had nearly had a heart attack. She never raised her voice, never believed in corporal punishment. She did however, scold the girl before sending her up to bed. The had a very Aurthoritative parenting style and often discussed fair consequences with her daughter. Leading up to the end, Hermione had become quite the lawyer for herself.
"5 more minutes" Hermione groaned as she turned on her side. Her room was quite large for a girl her age. She had a massive collection of books that lined two shelves worth, a desk near the window (second story up) and a container of toys. Though, Hermione usually stuck with her books...either that or drawing. Her room was mainly a cream white, with one soft purple wall matching the colours of her bed quilt and pillows.
She cuddled her pillow up more as her mother drew back the blinds allowing the sunlight to grace the girl's face. She scrunched her eyes in displeasure.
"Now dear or you'll be late" She felt her mother kiss her head before running her fingers down her left cheek.
Hermione sighed, "Yes mommy". She didn't argue. Hermione was growing up to be quite resistant to mornings.
She pulled herself out of bed before quickly making it up again. She then hoped in the shower, put on her school uniform and jumped down stairs. An unconscious smile spread across her lips as she saw her dad quietly sipping his coffee on the breakfast counter next to a plate of eggs and toast.
"Daddy!" She ran up to him hugging him tightly around the waist like she did every morning. He chuckled, placing his coffee down and rustling her hair.
"Good morning, Cheeky Monkey" He pulled her up onto his lap and tickled her stomach making her laugh.
"How's my favourite girl in the world doing this morning" He brushed her frizzy hair out of her face so he could properly see her.
"Good daddy, I'm wreading 'thew the looking glass'" She smiled happily at him.
"Reading dear" He corrected.
"R-R-ee-ding"
"Good girl" He kissed her cheek before helping her slide into the seat next to him and let her eat her breakfast.
He turned to his wife who was pacing round the kitchen trying to tidy up.
"Do you think we should consult a speech therapist? I know our girl's teeth are coming in but she's still struggling with her words" David suggested sipping his coffee.
Her wife rolled her eyes. "She's just turned five David. I'm sure she'll grow out of it"
He scratched his chin thinking about it before agreeing with his wife. He knew some where along the line Hermione would need braces.
"Alright fine" He shrugged his shoulders before watching as the girl quickly finished her breakfast.
"Done mommy" Hermione smiled showing her mother her plate. The woman smiled back in an exhausted loving state.
"Good girl. Plate in the sink then you and daddy can go do your hair" She stared at the unruley almost untamable mess that she had gifted her daughter. She was hoping it would curl out and reduce over the years like her hair had but only time will tell. right now it stood like static was running through the girls body. Something along the lines of 'why did you decide to touch the electrical socket with a fork' kind of hair.
"Yes mommy" the little girl quickly grabbed her plate and walked briskly over to the sink as her dad got up and finished his coffee. He grabbed his daughter in his arms before kissing his wife and moving over to the bathroom with the giggling girl.
After 10 minutes of her dad brushing her hair, he was done. He had decided to go for a braided wavy pony tail with a green ribbon at the bottom to match her uniform. He helped her with her green striped tie before placing on her sweater.
"Thank you daddy" She smiled up at him. He resisted the urge to rustle her hair before standing up and moving back into the kitchen.
"Go grab your bag, Mione" He pushed her along as he came back into the kitchen area to find his wife with a letter in her hands. Old parchment. He gulped.
"What's this?" She asked curiously.
He shrugged his shoulders about to remove it from her hands but she moved back.
"Uh, Uh. This is the fourth letter that has came through the mail that's like this David. Why are you hiding these from me?" She asked concerned. Her green eyes trained on his. He smiled nervously at her.
"It's just some joke. Some pranksters saying I owe them money; nothing more"
"And do you?" Her eyebrow raised as she began opening the letter.
"Honey" He quickly snatched it out of her hands before shoving it in his pocket.
"I promise you it's nothing"
She leaned over the kitchen bench angrily.
"If you are putting our family in danger again David, I promise you that I will - "
"Mommy. Daddy. I'm weady"
Hermione came downstairs to see her mothers angry face leaning over the counter top and her father holding his hands up in the air in defense.
They turned to her, quickly removing themselves from the previous scene and moving over to their perfect daughter.
"Ready, dear" He corrected before taking the child's hand.
"Rrr-eady" She smiled up at him as he nodded.
"Good girl" He turned back to his wife. "Coming dear? We still have a business to run" He joked towards her. She shook her head before grabbing her briefcase before taking her daughters other hand.
A 25 minute drive later and they pulled up outside of Hermione's new school. It was a prestigious primary school for the gifted, as their daughter was. She had been tested at a young age. Her parents had found that their daughter not only possessed an extremely high IQ but also had an eidetic memory. Meaning she had a high level of ability to recall memories with concise precision despite a short period of exposure. A practically picture perfect memory.
"I love you so much dear!" She kissed her head as they stood on the walkway just outside the school. Around them several children walked with their parents carrying briefcases in their hands. An apple in the other in hopes of being the teacher's pet.
"I love you more" She told told her mother as she hugged her before her father knelt down. His short brown hair and deep brown eyes spoke of love and care to her with a slight hint of playfulness.
"Don't let the other kids give you any trouble, Monkey" He ran his thumb across her cheek. She tried to force a smile at him but it failed miserably. He noticed immediately and hugged the poor girl.
"You know your my special princess" He whispered in her ear. It made her smile.
"I'm not a pwincess daddy"
He pulled her back holding on to her shoulders.
"Your not?" He questioned playfully. She grinned at him happily.
"I wanna be a knight. I don't wanna have someone wescuing me all the time"
He smiled fondly at her, knowing she took exactly after both him and her mother.
"My fighter" He gently punched her on her shoulder before giving her one last hug.
"I bet you'll end up being our little saviour" He kissed her cheek before standing up and helping her put on her brown leather canvas school rucksack.
"Don't forget you have tutoring after school so we'll pick you up at five pm on the dot, okay?" Mary informed the girl. Her daughter nodded before turning back to the school. It was a sunny day despite the chilly wind that pierced the air. She took one last look at the school before turning back to her parents...but they weren't there anymore. It was only darkness. She scrunched her eyes closed and opened them once again to find green eyes staring back at her as her cheek was cheek brushed by an older woman sitting at her bedside in an old wooden chair and a dark eyed man laying across from her in a hospital bed with his feet up holding a magazine.
Her gaze trailed back to the woman's void of green eyes.
"M-mommy?"
She took one last breathe before passing out again, unable to take her gaze of the two intermixing colours.
Green and black.
(Car wheels screeched together...CRASH!)
Bada-Boom
There is a mystery surrounding Hermione's past and her abilities. The clue was subtly hidden in the first and second chapter ages ago.
In case you are wondering. Yes Hermione's past will be explored feel free to guess who stumbles across that 'secret' first.
And as Severus and Minerva would both say: Place your bets on what happened.
