Hey guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Firstly, thank you to those who reviewed!
Guest: Minerva and Albus are both half-bloods. Minerva's mother, Isobel married a Muggle and Albus' mother was muggleborn.

Chapter 33: The Toad, The Protege and The Tutors


Minerva's next few days had been frought with, what felt like, many meetings with Poppy going over her daughter's medical needs before she was allowed to go home. One of which being that Hermione was watched and monitored when she took her medication. Minerva was expecting this and could only nod at Poppy's passive aggresive tone of voice when she had mentioned it. The other issue being whether or not they were to put the girl on more medication for her flashbacks. Minerva and Albus had been hesitant to put her on anything more considering she was already on a cocktail of medication. Poppy had reluctantly put the issue to the side for a later time and focussed on getting the girl home.

On Wednesday, Poppy checked Hermione's temperature with a thermometer to see the steady drop in her feverish symptoms. She was happy that the small girl was recovering. She had then proceeded to check the bandages of the broken arm before checking the wound on her forehead from the glass.

Visitors had been coming in and out over the next few days. Molly had visited for a few hours, accompanied by Ginny and Ron who had played board games on the girls bed. Much to Albus' dismay, his small child had not showed much enthusiasm as he would've liked. It was rather after half an hour the girl was barely able to keep her eyes open and he had had to put her to bed whilst the other children played quietly in the corner, not quite understanding why their friend couldn't continue to play with them.

On Thursday, Aberforth had paid an awkward visit, giving the girl a stuffed toy tiger and messing up her hair before coming to sit opposite his brother in visitor's chair. "Albus" He nodded stiffly before looking at his niece as she ran her fingers through along the soft fabric of the tiger.

"I, um, saw it at the toy store down at Kent Street. Thought you might like it" He flicked his eyes up to the girl's face and noticed the curls of brown hair. He smirked as her lips quivered into a smile and she leaned over to hug her uncle.

"I'm glad you like it, little one" He kissed her forehead as he held her.

"I love it. Teddy's been dying for a fwend...f-rrr-end" He chuckled as she leaned into his chest and curled up into his lap. Abeforth was still quite hesitant with the girl, seeing her as a mixture of a glass of china, given how many injuries she has had, an alien, considering her ability to change into different types of animals and something he yearned for. Her golden locks reminded him so much of Ariana. True, her eyes and facial features were somewhat different but Ariana had gone through a torturous ordeal around Hermione's age, six, and had never recovered from her muggle attack. When he had heard that a muggle had done this to his new niece, well he wanted revenge.

"How have you been holding up then?" Aberforth in a casual conversation to the young girl as she petted and played with her new toy. "Bored, uncle" She said bluntly. Albus smiled gently to her. Aberforth could see from the tired, dark bags underneath his brother's eyes that it had been a hard few days.

"Your father said you had a fall?" He asked as he ran a soothing hand in circle around her back. She nodded meakly before looking at her father. "Does everyone know? I said I was so-rry"

"I know your are dear, however your family is allowed to be concerned over your health and well being" Hermione brought the cat into her chest and hugged it before leaning her head against Aberforth's chest. He smiled, holding her closer and running his stubby fingers through her curly brown hair.

The two brother's didn't speak to each other for a few minutes and an awkward silence crept over them as they watched the girl slowly fall asleep in the man's arms.

"She hasn't been very happy in days. Thank you, Aber-" Albus

"She didn't deserve this" He interrupted his brother who looked slightly shocked at his words but not surprised that he had interrupted him. "She shouldn't be here, she didn't deserve what happened to her"

"Indeed, however if none of that happened, she would not be with us"

Aberforth raised his eyes in anger, "so you think she should have been attacked by a muggle, like Ariana"

"You know that is not what I meant"

Aberforth looked back down at the girl, her cheek pressed against the crook of his forearm as she drooled down his sleeve. He had to gulp down his anger for what happened over Ariana in fear of waking Hermione.

"I know," He replied quietly. "I just hope that you do a better job taking care of this Little Barn than you did with our sister" Albus didn't bother arguing with his brother, especially not with his daughter in the room.

Aberforth ran his finger along one of the scars on the girl's cheek before looking down at her bare feet. "Still not interested in wearing socks?" He grabbed one of the nearby blankets and wrapped her up as gently as possible.

"Unfortunately, not. I don't know if she ever will"

"She needs to learn how to fight"

"She is six"

"I want to teach her" Aberforth glared at Albus giving him the 'this-is-not-up-for-discussion' look that his wife usually gave him.

"Once a week, at least, I'll teach her how to box and then, when's she's old enough, how to dual" Albus didn't look to happy about the thought but he knew why Aberforth wanted to teach her. Firstly, to not have another repeat of Ariana and her attach, secondly, to bond with his only niece and thirdly,

"She looks so much like Ariana"

He wanted her back again.

"Headmaster!" Filches voice rung through the halls of the hospital wing.

"You have guests" His voice was high, almost rushed. From the sound of the panic, Albus deduced that it wasn't any normal visitors. He immediately flicked his wand towards his daughter wrapped in Aberforth's arms and placed her usual glamour charm on.

"Professor Dumbledore? Albus? Oh there you are!" The sounds of a man's boots and a woman's high heels echoed through the halls. He turned towards the sound in time to see the caretaker limping a few steps in front of the other man wearing a green bowler hat and a woman wearing pink.

Just Great!

"Afternoon Cornelius, Delores"

"Albus, was wondering where you were" Cornelius said in a rather flabbergasted tone as he approach Albus sitting opposite a grizzly man protectively cradling a small sleeping child in his arms.

"Did my message not reach your door?" Albus said simply, ignoring the looks from both Delores Umbridge and Fudge as they stared at the scene. Delores face seemed a tinge red as well as Fudges. It was clear they had walked in on a private family matter.

"I had gotten your message relating to your unexplained reason for leave for the next few days. Naturally, I felt I should investigate. I had not imagined that you would...well..be here...with...um...well, one of your staff member's said that you were here and I just wanted to check everything was-"

Hermione sneezed before sniffing earning a look of disgust from Delores.

"-okay" Fudge coughed, "y-you remember my lovely assistant, Ms Delores Umbridge"

"Pleasure as always, Ms Umbridge" Albus said before standing walking over to the two of them. "Is there something you were wishing to discuss?"

Fudge couldn't help but stare like a goldfish as the angry looking bearded man sat wiping the girl's nose as she finally awoke, "Um...yes, it's about the illicit materials that entered Hogwarts last year. I was hoping to discuss a more appropriate punishment for those who violate our new policy..and of course..I err, umm..you're the owner of the Hog's Head Inn are you not? I thought I recognized you from somewhere"

Delorus shot Aberforth a repulsive look at the grubby man coddling the girl, "I am" Aberforth replied back his eyes glaring back at Umbridge. "Aren't you the skiddish bastard whose supposedly running the Ministry"

"W-Well that's a-"

"Aberforth enough. It is obvious the Minister has come to speak to myself regarding school regulations, not politics" he glared back at his brother who spat at the man's feet.

Albus, deciding it was a good time to remove Fudge from the situation, gently placed his hand on the Minister's back and began pushing him towards the large doors of the hospital wing.

Aberforth looked over to the woman who had decided on staying to chat to him, "what?" He spat at her.

"That is not the correct way to address the Minister. I hope you will show more respect in the future, or has rutting goats rattled all the brain cells out of your head" She glared angrily at him.

Aberforth snorted at the accusation, "Ah, and your the woman whose father buggered a toad to have you?"

"How dare yo-"

"How dare I!" Aberforth raised his voice louder forgetting the small child in his arms who had started to whimper. "How dare you, you disgusting hag of a wo-"

"Aberforth!" a shrill voice cut him off from continuing the rest of his speech. He turned his head to see the two women rushing out of the office.

Minerva immediately rushed over to her daughter and pulled her into his arms.

"For merlin sakes, what on Earth is going on here?" Minerva pulled Hermione's chin up to see the tears pouring down her tired face. "O mo nighean bhochd, dè thachair" (Oh my poor girl, what happened?).

"b-bha i-iad a 'sabaid!" (they were fighting!). Hermione's small fingers curled into fists around Minerva's robes. She immediately glared at the two of them in anger.

"Do you two understand that this is a hospital for the sick and injured. Whatever dispute you are having is better served outside of these halls" Poppy snapped at both of them.

"Speaking of which, I demand to know why this child is here, using school property?"

"Under the Medical Confidentiality and Privacy Laws, you are not privy to that information, Ms Umbridge. Now please leave my ward" She glared at the three of them before her eyes landed firmly on Minerva holding her child.

"What do you want, Delorus?"

"Oh nothing, however I do see a problem with you utilising these facilities for your own personal gain"

"I have no idea what you are referring too"

"Delorus, if you are not a patient then leave" Poppy tried to disrupt the dispute between the family members before it got out of hand.

"The Ministry is allowed to-"

"No they are not. Now please leave the premise before you are escorted out of this facility" Poppy crossed her arms. Delorus huffed before glaring at Minerva and her child.

"Well, if you will excuse me. I need to go and have a very important meeting with the Minister"

Minerva rolled her eyes before her eyes caught site of Albus and the Minister of Magic walking back in. She felt Hermione wriggling in her arms, uncomfortable with the amount of people in the room. "Aye, kitten, it's all okay" She kissed her daughter's cheek and held her close.

"Minister?" Delorus turned to see the two men walking towards the two of them. "Minister, there is a child abusing the system"

Minerva rolled her eyes, turning and beginning to walk away if not for the man with the green baller hat calling after her. "Ah, Deputy Headmistress"

"Merlin sàbhail mi" (Merlin save me) Minerva muttered under her breath before turning back around to her husband and the Minister.

"Minister" She forced a small but stern smile his way.

He smiled back genuinely before noticing the hold the small girl had on the Deputy Headmistress. Hermione had her head tucked into the crook of her neck as her good arm remained locked around her neck.

"And this must be your daughter. I have to say, she does have your nose Minerva. May I see her, I feel as though she is a family secret"

Delorus glared at the two brothers, "would not be the only secret the Dumbledore family has kept" She muttered under her breath before looking over to the man she adored now walking over to the mother and child.

"Ah, she is a wonder, what is her name" he smiled about the to touch the girl if not for Delorus coming forth in a hurry. "Minister, the girl is ill. I heard her coughing earlier"

"Ah, oh, I am so sorry to hear. I hope all is well?"

"Which is what I must speak to you about Minister, they are abusing this facility, using ministry equipment, for free might-I-add, to treat her. They are mis-using the system for their own personal gain" Delorus spat mainly towards Poppy in retribution for demanding she leave earlier.

"Well now, I am sure that is not the case...um Albus is this true?"

"Hmmm...Ah, I can't see how that is possibly true considering Hermione here is a future student"

"Oh, she is a witch. How brilliant to hear. I know you and Minerva both had some difficulty with...well..." he couldn't help but flick his eyes towards Minerva's belly before looking up at the child. "...having one. I know the war had not been kind to either side"

Minerva shuffled Hermione a little in her arms from the weight and Aberforth offered her his seat. She shot a small smile towards Aberforth knowing he was trying to be helpful but she was hoping to make an exit as soon as possible. Hermione was certainly not ready for strangers.

"Yes well, muggle means did prove superior in this regard"

Umbridge scoffed before crossing her arms at the Minister who couldn't help but coo the small girl from a safe, cough free distance.

"And she's grown up healthy? No deformities from this 'muggle means'?" the minister asked not really believing muggle means such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Surrogacy.

Minerva glared at him before looking down at her daughter who had finally bothered to pay some attention to the two other strangers in the room.

"Hello?" Fudge smiled gently at the small girl with brown and gold speckled eyes.

Hermione immediately looked up at her mother wondering whether or not he was safe to speak to. Minerva gently wrapped his arms around her body and held her tightly. "H-Hello" Hermione licked trying to not seem afraid as to not seem abnormal.

"And what is your name, young girl?"

"H-Hermione," she replied gently in a slightly French accent that her parents had taught her to make people believe she had grown up in France.

"Ah, what a pretty name? An interesting one at that. Where did you think of that one?"

Minerva was about to answer but was cut off by Hermione speaking, "màthair and papa named me after W-William S-Shake-spears, Un V-W-inter's Tale. Zay use to wer-r-ead it t-to me when I vous a baby"

Minerva couldn't help but be smile and kissed her daughter's head. "Your French and is that a hint of Scottish?"

Her mother couldn't help but be proud. "Scottish Gaelic. Our wee girl is fluid in three languages including Gaelic, French and English"

Fudge couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in wonder, "Three languages and still a mere child. Merlin! but what can I expect from the child of a very powerful and beautiful witch-"

Umbridges' face reddened in anger and jealousy.

"And of course, extraordinary wizard" He threw a flicker of a smile over to her husband trying to get on Albus' good side.

"Ah, now, what happened to her arm?"

"Our poor dear decided to play chase around the manor whilst under the weather," Minerva placed her hand on Hermione's forehead still feeling the heat and clammy sweat building up. "Unfortunately, the wee girl did not look where she was going and took a tumble down the stairs. Poppy was luckily getting ready for the new school year and was able to treat Hermione for the day, however," She looked down at her daughter, still exhausted and struggling to stay awake. "Our dear needs to return home for some much needed rest"

She looked towards Poppy who had nodded, "I will get the discharge paperwork ready," She turned to leave.

"Well, Cornelius I believe our meeting must come to an end. I need to get my family home and make sure my child remains in her bed" He looked down at her with glinting eyes. Hermione nodded her head as though she was in trouble, well, she was wasn't she. She had refused to take her medication, attacked a child and cost Severus a chance at a somewhat normal relationship.

"Alright, well it was lovely to see you of course, Minerva. Albus" He nodded his head before smiling down at the small girl

"And of course to finally meet you, Harminny" He brought forward his hand to shake hers but thought against it when the girl wiped her nose with her hand and sniffed from her cold.

"Hermione" She corrected earing a glare from the toad like woman for having the nerve to correct the Minister of Magic. Cornelius coughed awkwardly before moving back to his Personal Assistant.

"Good to see you all again. Aberforth" He tilted his hat at the growling man before placing his hand on the arch of Delorus' back and leaving together. In the background they could hear the high pitched whisper of the toad like woman.

"Their relationship is utterly vile and disgusting. He was sleeping with her when she barely graduated and he is forty years older than his wife. And the child! How do you even know it's theirs? It doesn't look like-"

"Delorus, please, they might here us"

The hospital door slammed shut.


Three more days passed and Hermione was starting to look a bit better. Minerva and Albus had spent a lot of time chatting to Poppy and Andy regarding Hermione's hallucinations and paranoia which was yet to improve. She still continued to follow any family member to go anywhere as though she was attached to them like a shadow. As much as Severus enjoyed the girl's company, the basement where his potions stores and equipment were kept at the manor, was his safe haven in which Hermione had utterly refused to enter.

Albus and Minerva had still yet to get Hermione to sleep in her own room, even when Isobel had suggested she would sleep in her cat form throughout the night to keep the girl company. The girl had refused outright and her parents were left with them constantly waking whenever Hermione yelped, mewled screamed, cried or had an accident at night time as a result of any sound made at night.

"We should tell her about the elves" Albus recommended to Minerva as the two sat down on the couch one sunny afternoon post putting her down for her afternoon nap. Minerva placed her head back against the red settee and thought about it before objecting. "It's not worth it, she would be utterly devastated if she knew the history of house elves"

Albus sighed rubbing his forehead, she would sleep better. She would at least know what the noise was. We can't keep her on sleeping draughts forever"

"Momma?" Minerva looked over to the doorway to see Hermione rubbing her eye as she dragged her blanket and new toy tiger with her towards them. Minerva placed her tea down on the coffee table before opening her arms to allow the girl to snuggle up to her. "Can't sleep, kitten?" she shook her head as she wrapped her small arms around her mother and rested her head on her stomach. Albus adjusted her blanket to rest on her, "we have the tutor coming around soon, my dear. You will need to get changed" He thumbed his daughter's cheek.

Hermione groaned and tucked her head into her mother's stomach. Minerva smiled tiredly before looking up at her husband.

"Perhaps a pepper upper potion may do the trick and honney can you get Hermione's clothing for this afternoon"

He hummed before getting up and walking out to the kitchen. She sighed as she rubbed her daughter's back. Hermione, please don't fall back asleep dear, we have to talk about your sleeping habits" Hermione groaned in annoyance before pushing herself off of her mother's lap and giving her as much attention as she could muster.

"Kitten, I know it has been hard for you since your spell in the hospital wing" she placed her hand under the girl's chin and thumbed her cheek. "You haven't slept very well and you have had a few...accidents since you have returned to the manor"

Hermione's lip stiffened. She didn't want to be kicked out of their bed and left to sleep on her own. "I-I'll be good" Tears were threatening to spill down the side of the girl's face but Minerva gently soothed her. "I know kitten, however your father and I have been discussing the possibility of you perhaps wearing some... dry night padding to ensure you are a little more comfortable in bed"

Hermione arched her eye brow before thinking what it was.

"It'll be like wearing underwear during the night"

Hermione's face darkened at the realization, "they're nappies" she immediately shook her head, flustered and embarrassed with the situation. She removed herself off the couch and grabbed her new toy and blanket before trying to leave the room.

Hermione struggled as her mother held her upper arm and shushed her, "Hermione you are having night terrors worse than before. I would like you to at least try the Huggies"

"They're for babies" Hermione retorted shaking her upper body and trying fruitlessly to wrench herself from her mother's gentle yet stern grip. Minerva sighed before wrapping both arms around her daughter and leaned against the wooden panel of the living room wall. "They are rated five to eleven years and they are only temporary until we can find a better solution"

Like kick her out of the bed and leave her to rot alone across the hall.

Hermione gritted her teeth in both anger and stubbornness as she avoided eye contact with her mother, rather remaining on almost glaring at the fibres of the red and gold rug next to the fireplace, "Hermione, look at me" her golden eyes narrowed towards the coffee table. She didn't want to, it was plain and simple. She had spent so much time and energy trying to get better that nothing had helped in the end. At her uncle's home she was petrified of doing something wrong she would most often then naught end up soiling herself. And now, she had a hard distinguishing the periods of time between when she was with her family to when she was with her uncle. She knew it was in the past but it didn't feel that way. The memories were as fresh as yesterday. Her dreams and her reality remaining were all mixed up and wearing these...these Huggies was just icing on top of the cake for her vulnerability.

"Hermione", she felt her chin being pulled and forced to stare into her mother's emerald green eyes.

"Say something. please my piseag ('kitten')" Minerva practically begged the girl worried she was going to go down into have another episode.

Instead, the girl blinked and cast her eyes back to her mother. She could see the raw emotion, pain and fear mixed into one intense gaze. To Hermione, she couldn't stand seeing the utter disappointment and had cast her eyes back towards the the carpet thinking of the 'Huggies' or so her mother had called them.

"It's just until I'm feewin..." She paused thinking about her words. "Fee-le-ing bet-ter?"

Minerva couldn't help but smile at the girl, "yes dear" she wrapped her arms back around the girl, hugging her as tightly as possible.

"Just until you are feeling better"

Hermione fisted her mother's robes in worry.


'Knock, Knock'

"That's probably the tutor. Severus do you mind getting the door?" Severus glared at the older man before he stood up and went to the door.

Minerva wrapped her arms further around Hermione as she leaned her chin on Hermione's head.

"Albus, I really don't believe that was the smartest idea"

Hermione looked up at her mother curious as to what her mother said, "whose at the door?"

Albus smiled as his eyes twinkled as his little girl, "You'll seen soon enough, dear"

Minerva scowled at him before hearing the door slammed closed and Severus walk back into the room.

"And where is our guest" Minerva asked as the dark man walked over to the pitcher of brandy and pulled the cork out before placing it into a glass and swallowing the brandy back in one gulp.

"Gone"

"Severus!"

The door bell rang again causing Minerva to sigh, "Albus would you please. I don't think it's appropriate to keep him waiting all day"

He could only smile at his wife before kissing her cheek and standing up as Severus poured his second gulp of brandy.

"Honestly, Severus. It's barely two o'clock"

"And if you didn't invite that bastard into this house,"

Minerva instantly placed her hands over Hermione's ears.

"-which you have agreed: I have an equal part to, I wouldn't have to drink"

Hermione winced her eyes closed catching his attention. He immediately gritted his teeth and took another sip of alcohol before slamming it down on the table.

"Severus, that is not funny. We've reviewed several tutors and Albus has requested he at least be seen"

"Oh please, Hermione doesn't need a tutor like him"

Minerva rolled her eyes, "Severus, he is coming in and I expect you to act at least somewhat decent"

"I'll be in my lab"

"No, you need to get over this history"

He snorted in response.

"Oh, you are acting childish. You are going to sit here and be polite to him then when he leaves you can return to your lab, alright?"

He muttered under his breath before he filled another glass of Firewhiskey before sitting down on the single couch glowering.

"Come in, come in" Albus guided the brown haired man, wearing a patchy brown suit and tie to sit down on the couch.

"Would you like a drink, my boy?"

He sat down nervously on the couch, placing his briefcase to the side of the couch opposite Minerva and Hermione and adjacent to Severus.

"I'm fine, thank you"

"See you invited yourself in Lupin?" Severus grunted, clutching on his glass of firewhiskey harder.

"Severus!" Minerva growled at him in a warning tone.

"Yes and a good afternoon to you too, Severus" Lupin tried to force a smile at the pale, dark haired man only just as surprised to see Severus in the same house as his old professors.

Albus gently smiled at the two before sitting down next to his wife and child, "Remus this is our daughter Hermione. She is almost seven in three months time"

Remus seemed a little flabbergasted by the girl as her brown and golden flecked eyes widened at the man. She wore a simple white buttoned shirt with a blue skirt and black shoes. Her hair had been plaited back making her look quite formal. He could instantly tell she was inspecting the scars along his face, curious to figure out what had caused them and whether she should be afraid of him. He coughed, breaking eye contact with Hermione.

"Nice to meet you, Hermione" He extended his arm awkwardly for Hermione to shake. She breathe in and gulped hesitant to be near a stranger.

"Hermione, be polite" He mother coaxed her forward making Hermione reach forward and shake his hand. Severus couldn't help but smirk at her reluctance to touch this stain of a man.

"So, Hermione is needing a private tutor in English, Mathematics and Science"

Remus adjusted his tie as he sat back in his chair. He had been unable to get any employment since leaving Hogwarts and had moved to the muggle world and had been completing a Masters in Engineering at Cambridge university.

Needless to say the world had not been kind to him after he had taken a rough hit in loosing all his friends. Since then had remained in both the muggle and magic world.

He had been working a few menial jobs since he had been studying until his old headmaster had contacted him in regards to teaching...his daughter. He hadn't even realised Dumbledore had a daughter and looking at her now, she didn't particularly look like her parents. He mean if anything, maybe she had a bit of the Headmaster's nose, being that it wasn't completely straight. It was button nosed but her nostrils didn't particularly line up from what he could see. She was either born like that or she had broken her nose, like her father. And her eyes, they were bright and stunning, similar to McGonagalls stunning bright emerald green eyes or Dumbledores' ocean blue eyes. He wondered if his old Headmaster had curly brunette hair given that the Deputy's was jet black and straight.

"I have just completed a Bachelors Degree in Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering and have just started on my Masters Degree"

"-And is meaningless if you simply, cannot teach a child"

"I do know mathematics and I have had to score quiet highly in English" Remus replied politely as he sat back on the couch.

Severus scoffed before turning to Albus and Minerva, "this is ridiculous, are you really going to trust this..this..." He gritted his teeth not wanting to tell Hermione that the man was a werewolf and couldn't be trusted.

"...to tutor her,"

"Severus, please!" Minerva scolded him before holding her daughter close and turning to Remus.

"Remus, do you have a resume, perhaps?"

"Y- Yes!" He immediately opened his case and pulled out his CV to give to his ex-professor. She leaned over and grabbed it and much to Hermione's curiosity she tried to grab it.

"Not, now dear," Minerva whispered kissing the girl's forehead causing Hermione to push her hands into her lap to keep her hands to herself.

"What makes you suitable to work with children?" Severus questioned.

Remus coughed slightly before readjusting his tie, "I will admit, I have not tutored a child before, however I did assist Siriu-" he noticed the dangerous glare Severus was giving him.

"- I have helped my classmates when I was younger through school and have babysat my friends childr-"

"What friends? As I understand, Lupin all your friends are either in prison or-"

"Enough, Severus. If you cannot be civil then please leave" Minerva growled finally having enough of the young man's anger.

"Thank you, Hermione come! You don't want to be in the presence of this man"

Remus gulped as he watch Severus extending his hand for Hermione to grab. She reached out and took his hand not understanding what was happening. Minerva sighed, letting Hermione go with her godfather not wanting to start an argument in front of the potential tutor. They watched the two of them leave before beginning their conversation again.

"Remus, I do apologies for Severus' behaviour. He's had a bit to drink I'm afraid"

Lupin checked his watch, checking the time and wondering when Severus would have thought it prudent to begin so early, "that's quite fine profes...Minerva, I understand Severus' reasons, given our history"

"That is not an excuse to act. I will speak to him afterwards regarding his behaviour. In any case, I believe you are a great candidate to teach Hermione. What days do you study?" Minerva asked.

Remus smiled, relaxing further now that his rival had left and continued on the conversation with the couple. They had continued chatting for over an hour before Hermione came padding into the room now with her shirt slightly tangled and her feet bare. She walked over to her mother wanting to say something but Albus had picked her up and pulled her onto his lap.

"And what have you and Severus been doing, my dear?"

"And where are your shoes?" Minerva asked sternly.

Hermione looked down at her bare feet and shrugged her shoulders innocently pretending they had slipped off her feet.

"Sever-rus agus bha mi a-muigh a 'dèanamh deoch èibhinn airson s-s-sgi-ath an os-padail. Leig e dhomh cuid de na lusan a tha-ghadh airson an-n cleach-dadh (Severus and I were outside making a funny smelling potion for the hospital wing. He let me pick some of the plants to use in the potion) She showing her dirtied hands to her mother as her father wrapped his arms around her, hiding her scared feet from Remus as he let his daughter curl up on his lap. Remus took Albus pulling his daughter in and covering her feet as a sign to protect her from the cold draft that came through the open glass windows. Still, he couldn't help but notice a few keloid scars on her feet he had caught at the corner of his eyes. Only just on the side but enough for him to notice the thick knotted and buldged scarring. Minerva noticed his eyes and nervously coughed capturing his attention back.

"Do you have any further questions?"

"Um..." His eyes flicked over to the small girl again playing with her father's beard.

"No, no. Well it was lovely to see you both. I really should be going" He stood up grabbing his briefcase and stretched his back. Minerva and Albus stood to shake his hand as Hermione remained clutching up to her father. Remus couldn't help but smile at her before shaking their hands and hers.

"Nice to meet you Hermione, I'm sure we'll see each other in future" She leaned over from her father and shook his hand politely.