Pre-Warning: This is an extremely long chapter

Chapter 38: The Kitten


"Say Ah"

"Ahhh, ah Ew" Hermione scrunched her face in disgust as Poppy placed a popsicle in her mouth trying to see down the girl's throat. However, despite her mother's bribery, the girl was having none of it today.

"Dear please sit still. You know how important these check-ups are"

"I have one every second week. I don't want to be poked and stabbed with needles" Hermione huffed, crossing her arms as she sat on the edge of the hospital bed.

Minerva sighed in the background before rubbing her temples. Her daughter always had good days and bad days and she couldn't imagine this day was looking up. Her daughter had slept with both herself and Albus last night having several night terrors - they were becoming less common for the girl but from time to time, they still crept up. It mainly involved monsters and her hiding from them.

"Ow"

Minerva sat up to find Hermione rubbing her arm as Poppy checked the girl's blood sample by waving her wand over it. "It's alright dear" Minerva pulled her daughter in for a tight hug and rubbed her upper arm as Poppy checked over the results. "No changes needed in your medication dosage however, I will still send your medicine blood levels to Andy to confirm she's happy for you to stay on those dosages. Are you still having any hallucinations or delusions?"

Hermione raised her eyebrow before pausing in her answer, "I-I don't know" Hermione rubbed her arm nervously. Poppy sighed as Minerva rubbed the girl's fringe out of her face. "Hermione, you had a nightmare last night. Are you still seeing any signs of your uncle or any monsters around the halls when you are awake?"

Hermione shook her head causing Poppy to scribble on a piece of paper. "You're finally up to a healthy weight for your age which is a great milestone for you kiddo" the mediwitch smiled brightly to the girl who could only look down at her hands. "And I spoke to Andy who said your mental states been improving dramatically over the last few months since you've started to school. You must be enjoying your classes" Minerva smiled down at her. Hermione had been doing very well in her classes despite a previous rocky start. She had become less dependent on Minerva around as well, something the older witch had been struggling to come to terms with. Though, she was still glad, Hermione was at least able to get through the morning before wanting to see her parents which mainly involved them eating in the Great Hall together.

"Any pain on your scars?" Poppy checked the triangular scars on Hermione's wrists seeing that quite a lot of the once inflamed scaring had gone down. Though the patterns and dark redness still remained on her skin. Minerva moved round to pull the small girl's shirt up for the Medi-Witch to check her back. "The scar tissue is still needing a lot of work"

"Sometimes it hurts. It feels like it's pulling" Hermione muttered under her breathe as Poppy placed a hand on her back, tracing some of the thick scar tissue that appear to be settling as well as the rest of the scars that laced her body.

"Does it still say...Do I still have words on my back?" Hermione asked cautiously. "It is fading, kitten" Poppy cooed to the girl, trying her best to make the girl smile however Hermione knew it was a lie. The wounds on her back had been infected previously and that psychopath of a man had debrided the infection on her back several times. Enough for the small girl to pass out from the amount of pain.

"Cough for me dear" She followed instructions as the Medi-witch finished the check-up.

"Your health is becoming more and more on track each passing day, my sweet girl" She smiled down at Hermione before offering her a sugar-free lollipop and asking her to change into her school clothes. Hermione watched as her mother and aunt began talking after the session as they normally did. About her real progress and anything that the family had observed from her over the fortnight. It was nothing knew but Hermione always felt left out of the discussion about her welfare. She didn't know if she was truly improving or her family thought she was crazy...maybe. She had been taking her medication diligently since the accident that rendered her sick for over a month. She had attended all her lessons and had not been acting up in too many ways. Give or take a few small tantrums along the way. Hermione pulled her teddy bear close to her body before looking over to a refined stick on the table. Poppy's wand. She must have left it when she went to speak to her mother. Hermione thought back to Draco doing magic and she...she couldn't. She leaned over picking the wand up and twirling it in her fingers. For some reason, the wood felt soft and warm. It was weightless and so different from what Draco's granddad's wand had felt.

"Hermione!"

She looked up in shock to see Minerva coming practically running over to her before grabbing the wand out of her hands. "I've told ye off before. Do not touch wands - they are incredibly dangerous in untrained hands. Apologies to Poppy. You do not touch another witches wand without permission" Minerva crossed her arms as the young girl gulped and mumbled an apology to her aunt before jumping off the bed and being practically dragged out of the hospital wing by her mother, teddy in toe. Hermione looked back to see Poppy wave a quick good-bye.

"How many times do I have to tell ye dear. Wands are dangerous. Ye could start a fire without anyone knowing or hurt ye'self. I don't know what I'd do if anything were to happen to ya" Minerva continued to berate the girl as they rushed down the halls to her mother's first class. Hermione, having a period off was to sit at the back of the class and study however, she never could when her mother taught. Magic was so very interesting she couldn't help but watch the older children struggle to transfigure birds into needles or goblets into rats and so forth. She had asked her mother countless times if she could try but her mother always came to the same conclusion. 'You're too young. Students do not start using a wand until they are eleven'.

"What if I'm not magical?" Hermione practically blurted, pulling her hand from her mother.

"Pardon?" Minerva turned to see the stubbourn girl crossing her arms. "I-I know you'd think I would hurt myself b-but I don't know if I'm able to do magic. Like you and papa. What if I'm not magical? What if I'm just able to turn into a bunch of an-ani-aneminals" Hermione struggled to produce the last word, tongue twisted by the thought that she would not be able to attend Hogwarts later on. Minerva stared at her for a minute before bending down. "What if I'm not special?" She looked away, tears in her eyes.

"Of course you are magical! You are our daughter"

"I'm not by blood. You constantly point that out"

"We do not"

"Every time you talk about me behind my back you do it. Hermione's still ill. Hermione's still sick. Hermione's not like everyone else is at her age. Hermione's not normal" She mocked her aunt.

"I did not realise you were bothered by adults chatting about your welfare?"

"I know I'm not well. I know I'm still sick - you don't have to rub it in my face every time"

"Hermione!" She tried to walk off but Minerva grabbed her. "I didn't realise this was hurting you. If I had known I wouldn't of-" Minerva slowed her speech. What would she of not done. She thought she was doing what was best for her. "I-"

"If I can't do any magic when I'm of age, are you and papa gonna get rid of me" Hermione crossed her arms and looked away defeated. "Of course not. Why would ye think that?"

She shrugged. "I-I can't do magic"

"Of course you can't, you've never tried"

"No, I-" She looked away and gulped "I tried with Draco's grandfather's wand and it didn't work"

"You did WHAT?"

"Draco was able to use it and I wasn't"

"Of course you couldn't that is Draco's heritage and you do not choose the wand you are given. Dear, the wand chooses you. You cannot expect something to bend to your will just because you've decided it"

"But Draco-"

"Was able to produce magic because that wand would likely more suit him because of who he and his family are. Not you. Your heart is very different from Draco's"

"But mommy and daddy weren't magical"

Minerva hesitated before gently smiling. "What's really bothering yah dear?"

Hermione avoided eye contact with her mother, tears threatening to spill down her face until Minerva held her chin gently in her fingers, stroking the small girl's face with her thumb.

"I-I'm not like you and papa. What if I don't get into Hogwarts? I want to be like you. I don't want to leave. I don't-"

"Hush dear" Minerva cut her off by wrapping her arms around her only daughter and kissing the top of her head. "You don't have to be magical to be a part of our family. Wands, Animals, pointed witches hats or not. You are family dear and you are our perfect daughter so please-" She pulled the girl away in arms grip. "Don't ever say you aren't good enough, kitten"

Hermione breathed deeply, tears spilling down her face before she nodded and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "O-Okay, momma"

Minerva smiled before grabbing the girl's hand and pulling her along. "Now come along, dear. We have classes to get to. Oh and do not think I have forgotten about you using a wand" Hermione gulped.


Severus' alarm went off making him groan in pain. It had been over five months since his accident with the beast and his recovery felt as though it had slammed to a holt. Everything hurt. He dragged himself up out of bed, grabbing a bottle of pain relief along the way before hearing the sounds of knocking at the door.

"Merlin, what now?" He growled angrily. He had been teaching classes all day and worse yet- had to put up with Slughorn's afternoon evaluation of his work. The man was as worse as Albus most of the times.

'Knock, Knock'

If it was a student out of bed; he was going to murder them in cold blood at this rate.

He swallowed the pain relief down before slamming the bottle down onto the counter and ripping the door open.

"WHAT?" His black locks swinging in front of his vision making it difficult to see who was in front of him but he didn't need bothering with sight. He could smell the foul creature from a mile away.

"Lupin"

"H-Hello Severus" He smiled nervously, holding something behind his back. "You look like you've been resting? Funny, it's only five o'clock"

"What do you want, Lupin?" Severus sneered in distain.

"Um, well" Lupin coughed as he removed the bundle of white flowers behind his back earning a rather dark snarl on his lips.

dressed in black and looking ever eager to give you a good jinx when your back is turned.

"What do you want, Lupin?" Severus growled glaring at the bundle of flowers in the man's hand, "believe it or not but I do not accept flowers"

"They're ghost orchids. They're for your potions...and here..." He extended his hand to present a small vile of vampire blood he had managed to obtain from the local apothecary store, "I wanted to apologies to you for everything that happened between us. May I come in?"

He asked as Severus placed the vile up to the light to expose the almost black boiling blood, "fine but don't get comfortable"

"Wouldn't dream of it" Lupin muttered under his breath.

He moved out of the way and let Lupin enter, "you can place the orchids on the table" Severus muttered as he walked over to his liquor cabinet.

"Why are you really here, Lupin?" Severus snarled at him as he poured two glasses of Firewhiskey.

"I've told you" Lupin removed his jacket and placed it on the coat hanger, "I want to make amends for mine and my friends actions years ago and I am hoping we can move passed this"

"Why?" Severus walked up to him with a glass of Firewhiskey.

Lupin extended his hand to take the glass, "For Hermione, so she can have an education". Severus sunk the drink down in front of the man, earning a glare before walking back to refill the glass.

"What does a truce have to do with anything that girl does?"

"It is obvious you speak to her, Severus. She doesn't trust me"

"And what is there to trust Lupin? You are nothing but a spineless, good-for-nothing mutt" Lupin was taken aback by Severus for a second before recovering from the shock of the man a second later.

"She just seems traumatised and she's very hesitant to do or say anything sometimes. I fear she does not feel safe and secure in class. It is made worse with someone whispering in her ear all the time"

"She's a child, Lupin. She constantly whines to be with her parents. Of course she doesn't feel safe- not with a mutt like you around anyway"

Lupin rolled his eyes before snatching Severus' glass from his hands and sitting down. "Minerva and Albus appear, more often-then-naught, extremely guarded when she is around. Oh, and lets not mention you of all people, seem to be in a lot of pain lately" Severus rolled his eyes before sitting opposite him.

"If you only came here for information Lupin, then I'd suggest you leave. There is nothing going on and you should keep your muzzle out of other people's business unless you enjoy being fired"

"So something is going on then! Is someone threatening the family? Did they hurt Hermione? That would make sense wouldn't it"

"Lupin, I mean it. Your starting to dance on thin ice"

"That maybe someone poisoned Hermione and that's why Albus and Minerva won't let her out of her site"

"You are spiraling in your own deluded thoughts"

"That's why she's so sick and you're injured. It all makes sense now"

"Does it?"

"What other truth is there?"

Severus sipped his drink before looking at the glass vile in his hand. "There is none you need to know of Lupin and it most definitely is not any of your business to know. Now, I believe my hospitality has ended. Leave"

Lupin glared at him before gently placing his empty glass down on the coffee table. "I apologies if you feel I have violated your privacy but Hermione is still my student and if someone is hurting her. I want to know. I could help protect her"

Severus thought for a moment before shrugging. "Fine, you want to know the truth" Severus drawled, chugging his drink.

"Yes! Please,"

"Someone had wanted to harm the great Albus Dumbledore and as revenge they had went after his daughter" Lupin leaned forward. "They left her disfigured and close to death's door. It is why she is covered in many scars. Some too difficult and complex to cover" Severus glared at the man. "Hermione is now left on medication for the remainder of her life"

"And the people who did this?"

"Still out there. Alive and well" Severus thought of the painful events. "And the Aurors, do they know? I'm surprised they haven't found them and bought them to justice. Harming a child; that's sick"

"Indeed, however they have yet to be caught. Miss Dumbledore's to remain inside the castle walls until they are found and bought to justice" Severus sipped his drink. "Is that why you're injured? You tried to bring them to justice" Severus slowly nodded. "You didn't win"

"Obviously"

"We need to find them"

Severus shrunk back at the thought of going after the man...animal...creature again.

"Look I get that you are scared-"

"I AM NOT SCARED!" Severus glared at the man in utter anger, his fist shaking with rage. Still, Lupin ignored it. "But I think we stand a good chance together"

Severus shook his head, "I believe you underestimate these people's abilities"

"They won't stand a chance against us though! Severus? Severus? Where are you going?" Lupin turned to see the dark haired man polishing off his drink as he made it to his door. "I think you should leave Lupin"

Lupin watched as the man opened the door, beckoning him out. Remus' lip shook for a second, shocked at the man. "Y-you really don't think we stand a chance" Remus stood and walked towards the door. Severus leaned forward, directly in the man's face.

"Find someone else" He slammed the door on the werewolf.


The dinner table was quiet as Hermione stabbed harshly into her food in anger. Minerva bit her lip worried the dinner plate would shatter if the girl tried to hit it any harder.

Hermione had half of her day attending classes and the other half with her mother. Minerva had to admit, they may of not been a good idea considering Hermione had been watching people around her do magic with just the flick of their wands. Hermione had tried to grab one of the student's every now and again much to Minerva's disapproval. She had told the girl off several times and she had eventually ended up disrupting the class trying to prove that she could do magic. She had ended up dropping Hermione off with Albus for the remainder of the day.

"She just wants to prove she is belongs in our world Min" She could still hear the argument she had with her husband earlier about Hermione trying to ascertain a wand. "She is not old enough and could end up killed. Please just ensure she studies for the remainder of the day. No more headaches" She rubbed her temples.

Hermione had been very quiet and withdrawn for the rest of the evening. Minerva and Albus couldn't tell if Hermione was okay or not but from the way she angrily ripped into the potato salad, but they had a pretty good idea.

"Hermione dear, it isn't the potato's fault"

The girl's golden eyes flashed towards her mother before she placed her knife and fork down and pushed the food away, "why can't I just be normal" she muttered under her breath before pinching herself in the corner of her elbow again. Minerva sighed, gently rubbing her daughter's back deciding whether or not to ring Andy for a third session this week.

"You are normal, kitten"

She shook her head before pushing her chair back, "may I please be excused"

"Of course dear. Your father's going to run you a bath and we'll have a cuddle tonight"

"No!"

They both looked at her in shock at her refusal. She had never refused before, "I-I just want to go to bed. I'm tired" She rubbed her eyes before standing, "We'll you still need a bath regardless. Albus please!" She prompted her husband by nodding her head to him.

"Of course Tabby, come kitten" He took her hand and walked her to her door, "I'll put some lavender in the bath. I know you like the smell of that one most"

Minerva looked nervously at the back of her daughter's crumpled white shirt as the two left, before sighing. She stood up, cleaning the plates off the table before noticing Hermione's school bag in the corner. She rubbed her temple, Hermione really needed to be more tidy with her stuff. She picked up the school bag, still containing majority of the girl's books. She rummaged through before finding several pieces of paper. Reasons why I should have a cat: 1. I am repond-able, Minerva smirked and sat down reading the rest of the girl's careful structured debate. She could image the girl sitting on her bed giving Albus and her a heated debate about the topic.

"What are you reading?" Albus asked. Minerva, not realising the time, looked up at the two of them. Hermione was dressed in her pajamas, her hair wet and dripping. She looked horrified to find that her mother had gone through her belongings. She let go of her father's hand and leaned forward trying to grab it from Minerva. "That's mine" Hermione snatched it from her mother before trying to shove it under her shirt. Minerva smiled, I thought it was a rather interesting read" Minerva smiled and leaned back in her chair. Hermione arched her eyebrow, "r-really?"

Minerva nodded and patted a spot for her husband to sit. "In fact, I would love to hear about it. Perhaps you do bring up a decent enough argument" Hermione's eyes lit up in excitement. "Of course, your father and I would have to agree. Perhaps you should let us know your thoughts of why you should own a cat and we'll make a decision"

Albus smiled at his wife before sitting down as their young daughter removed the pieces of paper from under her shirt. She smiled tiredly before cleaning her throat. "Well, I res-peh-on-dable"

"Responsible dear"

"Re-speh-on-seble"

"I take care of Sev when he's sick..." Hermione continued on as her parents listened. Hermione continued to get better at her spoken language and more confident as she continued speaking. She smiled at them by the end as the couple had been listening for well over 20 minutes.

"Well?" Hermione asked nervously. Minerva and Albus couldn't help but smile. "Very well done, kitten"

"Indeed dear,"

"Can I get a cat now. I'll take care of it and feed it"

Albus turned to Minerva, a look in his eyes saying: it's likely to keep her out of trouble. Minerva sighed, "alright, yes, fine. We will go tomorrow. However, the rules still stand. You will need to care for the animal" Minerva spoke strictly. She recalled Andy chatting about pet therapy for Hermione, considering she bonded so well with the dog her uncle had owned, she could imagine the girl having someone that depended on her, gave her cuddles when her parents couldn't.

"YES! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" Hermione wrapped her arms around her parents. Minerva chuckled as she held the girl tight in her arms. Maybe Hermione wasn't having a bad day after all.


Three days later:

Minerva smiled down at her daughter enjoying her ice-cream as they walked through the streets of Diagon Alley. It had been such a peaceful day shopping and Minerva was happy to get out of Hogwarts for a while. After all, it had been some time since the two of them had left either their home or Hogwarts. Not that it made much of a difference to Hermione. She was still happy to explore Hogwarts grounds with supervision of course.

Hermione had picked out a great ball of ginger fur as her familiar called Crookshanks. The beast had been sitting near the counter swiping and hissing at all those who attempted to pat the animal - those of whom included Minerva. Hermione, however, despite being clawed and hissed at by the animal, took no notice and decided to pick the ginger fur ball up and cuddle it as though it were her teddy bear. It had made the store clerk get up from behind her counter in an instant and try and sell the animal as quickly. Minerva could only assume that the cat had been at the pet shop for such a long time that she was desperate enough to sell it to some poor, unwitting person whose child had decided to challenge it's behaviour. Much to Minerva's unsurprise; it was her daughter.

"Can I keep her?" Hermione had pouted the second she had cuddled the animal, it's claws digging into Hermione's arm as it tried to escape. Minerva, her stern self, had attempted to re-direct her toward any of the animal's however the store-clerk was insistent.

"Him and I'll throw in food, a litter box and everything else you'd like free of charge" An awkward, desperate smile passed the blonde haired, green eyed woman's lips. Her hair ruffled to one side. Minerva noticed the heavy amount of scratches on the woman's arm and could only assume the animal currently clawing at her daughter's was the same.

To Minerva, the kitten was already a grumpy sack of ginger however, her daughter had picked the animal to be her companion. Minerva had even attempted to put the animal in a box for transport however, the brunette had insisted on carrying to darn thing and the cat could only agree. Still, Minerva was happy that her daughter was happy. The two of them began to move towards the alleyway. "How about we stop in Hogsmeade for a Butterbeer" He ran a thumb over her daughter's cheek before seeing something out of the corner of her eye. A dark figure of a man. Minerva stood from and turned towards the lonesome figure. "May I help you?" the lonesome figure began to approach and Minerva felt the girl grasp her sleeve in fear. Minerva immediately removed her wand from her sleeve before beginning to move back. "Hermione let's go"

"STOP!" The man began to pelt after them, his jacket flailing behind as the two began to sprint away from the man and down the alleyways twists and turns attempting to find another exit from the one the man had blocked. Minerva swished her wand behind her attempting to knock the man off his feet but the two steps became a thudding four steps. She quickly glanced over her shoulder again and gasped. A dark creature, running on all fours chased after them. Minerva grabbed hold of her daughter before they hit the end of the line for the dark alley.

Bright golden orbs glared at the older woman.

"mommy" the young girl's voice broke as she held onto the back of her mother's robes. "Stay behind me" Minerva removed her wand. The tiger's mouth salivated, eyes slit as though it were a starved beast eyeing a delicious meal.

"LEAVE NOW!" Minerva's raised her wand towards the beast scars covering it's body as though it had seen war. He growled back in anger, roaring as loudly as possible in an attempt to scare the woman off. Minerva knew exactly what he was trying to do and she was having none of it.

She aimed a hex at him, he dodged his tail cracking the air like a whip as he pounced into the air and landed right next to Minerva. The large tiger retracted it's claws before taking a swipe at Minerva who was crouched down covering the girl as she forced a shield up. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Minerva screamed as she tried to protect the girl who was cradling her new pet in her arms. How could this day of gotten from bad to worse so quickly?

The monster stopped attempting to get through the shield and took a step back. Bones cracking back into place before the creature turned into a man in an instant. "Give me back my daughter" His fanged teeth still gleamed at her. Minerva stared in shock, "W-Who are you?"

The man arched his eyebrow, a look disgust and anger still present on his face. "Daddy?" His eyes became fixated on the small girl in an instant. "Hermione, baby! Daddy's here" He kneeled down and extended his arms. Minerva's face dropped the second the girl called to the stranger. "Daddy?" She called again as she removed herself from the older woman's arms. Tears were streaking down his face as Hermione ran into his arms.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her. Minerva could hear Hermione's beginning to whimper and cry. She kneeled down on the ground opposite the man. "You are Hermione's father" He nodded, tears streaming down his face as he cradled his daughter in his arms. "I was informed you had passed in a car accident. That you were being chased by Death-" She couldn't continue the conversation knowing the child she had come to care for was in the arms of another. "I didn't and I am taking Hermione back"

"Back? Y-You were wanted by the Mafia, Death-Eaters-"

"I don't care. I should not have left you with my shit-for-brains brother. None of this would have happened" He pulled her away and looked at her. "We're going to go home. Okay Hermione?" He smiled desperately at her. Hermione's eyes bulged for a second, "I want to go live with my Momma"

"Mum? Hermione I'm sorry but that's impossible. Mommy passed away"

"No! Mommy" She pointed at Minerva.

The man's face turned from happiness to a murderous frown in an instant as he stared up at the professor. "You can't go live with her Hermione. She kidnapped you and took you away from me"

Hermione shook her head. "No, she raised me. She made me not feel sick anymore. She gives me cuddles when I'm feeling sad and tucks me in at night"

"Enough!" He was stoic towards his daughter. "You are coming back with me this instant. There are no butts. I have fought for way too long to get back to you" David's voice was soft, almost a whisper as he stared at the little girl in his arms. She had definitely changed. There were bags under her eyes, white lines of scars that were littering her face and her hair was pulled back into a braid, where it had usually been a mess of wild curls and tangles. It had been nearly two years and he barely recognised his own daughter.

"David, please Hermione is safe where she is now. She is cared for and loved"

"But she's not with me. I can protect her"

"Can you?"

"I-I'll take her into hiding then. We'll go to the Carrabian or Australia or Alaska or somewhere that is not here nor America" He grabbed her as she attempted to pull away to Minerva and the cradle where her new familiar howled with anxiety. "Hermione Stop!"

"She won't be able to receive a proper education"

"She doesn't belong with you"

"She does! She's a witch"

"She's a-a what?"

"A witch. She is able to produce magic. She belongs at Hogwarts"

"You're lying"

"I have seen it with my own eyes. She produced magic when she was living with Jack at the time. She made the lights burst from-" She stopped herself. "I saw it in a memory" David released his grip on his daughter before resting back on his knees. "A witch? In my family? My parents would be rolling in their graves" His fang like teeth glowed to Minerva.

"Your wife?"

"A human. Well no-mag as you might say. Did Hermione inherit my gifts?"

Minerva was silent before she wrapped her arms around the girl. "No," she lied. Why did she lie? She didn't want to lose this beautiful girl. His lip trembled. "That's a shame but I didn't get my gift until I was thirteen so maybe she'll be just her old man" It sent a shiver down Minerva's spine. You only had to glance at him to know he had killed and murdered people.

"I'm still taking her home though. She belongs with family and I'm her only family left"

Minerva wrapped her arms around the girl, "I can't let you take her"

"That is my daughter! My only child" He spat, grabbing hold of the girl's arm and instantly dragging her in. Hermione squirmed as his grip tightened, "Daddy you're hurting me" but the words still didn't seem to resonate with the man who began running out of the alleyway with her in his arms. Minerva raised her wand hesitant and failing by the second to strike the man down but she couldn't. What if Hermione saw her attack her father? What if she hurt her in the process?

"STUPEFY" The man was thrown into the wall, shielding the little girl in his arms. Minerva screamed, racing towards her only child who was now rendered motionless on the stone of the alleyway. "Hermione!" She raced towards her, only to see Albus and Severus appear from the corner of the alleyway. Severus' wand was aimed at the man as he laid sprawled on the ground. Minerva quickly bundled Hermione up into her arms and held her tight.

"Min are you alright?" Albus hurried towards them before wrapping his arms around them. "I think so," He knelt down to Hermione who he couldn't notice look more petrified by the second as she stared at the scene that was unfolding. Severus and her father were talking. "Enjoy the wounds I gave you, Snape. That's right. I know your name. I know where you live" Her father spat at Severus' feet. "Surprised you survived"

Severus' face twisted in anger as he flicked the wand back. It was obvious he wanted revenge after everything that had happened.

"NO!" Hermione screamed as he was about to cast down on the man but made him falter.

"Please don't hurt my daddy" Tears were streaking down Hermione's face. The potions master looked over to the girl, seeing how torn apart she was by the unfolding scene. Severus straightened himself. "Severus" Albus grabbed his daughter's hand and tried to pull her away from the scene.

"You know what to do"

Obliviate him. His eyes spoke the words. The man nodded before turning back to the sunken man who watched as his daughter fought not to leave his side. She was always loyal. She screamed, yelled and cried bloody murder as they pulled her away from the scene, picking up whatever they had dropped previously before leaving in a zap.

Severus smile turned crooked as they left. "I have been waiting for this for quite some time" Severus smirked causing the man's face to twist, his sharp teeth baring and eyes glowing bright yellow.


Hermione kicked and screamed as she was transported away from the scene and back to the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts. Minerva grabbed her, her daughter's face was cold, pale and clammy. "I think she's going into shock," Minerva called to her husband who instantly waved his wand at the fire place. They removed Hermione's thick jacket and checked her over for injuries, if she needed potions or anything. They sat her on the couch and put a glass of water in her hand trying to make her drink something. "Perhaps a calming drought" Albus spoke to his wife as the girl remained sitting on the couch staring into the fireplace and unresponsive to the two. She was still shaking and pale from the encounter.

Minerva thrust a vial into her arms before staring down at her daughter. "Hermione, drink dear" She was frozen still unable to concentrate and staring almost passed Minerva. "Hermione" The elder witch was becoming increasingly worried. What was happening to her? "Hermione?" She cooed the girl's name, brushing a fallen look of her hair behind her hair but the girl continued to shake and rock back and forth. "Albus, she's freezing"

The man sent Faux to quickly get Poppy before coming beside his wife and child. "Hermione you need to breathe" Her lips were beginning to turn blue. Minerva wrapped her arms around her trying to warm the girl. She felt so helpless.

"Come back to me dear" She held the small girl tighter as tears began to streak down her face. "Min, I think this event has been too much for the girl" Albus placed his hand on his wife's shoulder before they heard a bang and saw Poppy emerge from the doorway. "Where is she?" She hurried over to the couch only to find Minerva holding her. "Is she breathing?"

"I don't know. Her lips are blue" Tears streamed down Minerva's cheeks as she pulled her daughter away before cradling the girl's cheeks with her hands. "Hermione Please! Say Something!" Poppy swished her wand, illuminating the tip and checking her eye dilation. "Her pupils are extremely dilated" She checked the girl's breathing to find it extremely shallow. "She's not getting enough oxygen into her lungs. She sweating profusely"

"She's freezing, Poppy"

"What happened?"

"Hermione...Hermione saw her biololgical father"

"Did he attack her"

"No, just attempted to take her but she's hasn't been responsive. We think she's in shock"

Poppy attempted to squeeze her shoulders but received no response. Poppy pulled at her hand and asked her to grasp it but she received no response. "She is experiencing an episode of catatonia"

"What?"

"She is not responding to stimuli"

"Why? I don't understand how did this happen? People can experience catatonia symptoms if they have experienced some type of emotional trauma. It can be common with people with schizophrenia or bi-polar disorders due to the dysfunction of serotonin, dopamine, glutamate and gamma-aminobyric acid in their brains as well as having complications from medications"

"So that's why Hermione's like this? We have to do something!"

"It is a result of underlying mood disorders like schizophrenia. I would consider the main course of action being to treat the underlying cause"

"Like, forget. Just forget what happened?" Minerva asked sounding shocked and taken back by Poppy's suggestion. "I don't think Hermione is going to snap out of this. It might be-"

"ALBUS!" They heard Severus' voice echoing through the halls. Albus jumped to his feet in time to see a bloodied and beaten potions master emerge, his clothing torn to pieces. "He escaped" Severus winced, holding his arm as he came and stood by the fire. "He escaped and flew away. He's not going to stop coming after her. It's not safe"

Poppy stood up, quickly assessing him. "You are bleeding"

"How astute"

She rolled her eyes, "sit down preferably out of site from Hermione" They turned back down to find Hermione staring up at Severus covered in blood. Tears streamed down her face as she stared at the beaten man.

Shit!

She's was shaken more now, her mind unable to process everything that was happening. Everything that was unfolding in front of her.

Severus could see the words echoing through her head as she stared at him, W-Where's my daddy? Is he alive? Have I been kidnapped?

He pulled away and winced his eyes in pain. Too many questions. She was a kid.

Hermione began to hic-cup, almost as if chocking as Severus stumbled away stumbling as he left the scene. "Hermione, Hermione you need to breathe...Poppy, Poppy do something"

"I don't"

Albus pulled his wand from inside his robes and aimed it down at the girl. "I am so sorry, Kitten"

"Obliviate"


Well this was one of the longest chapters I have ever written. I hope you guys enjoyed and hope it was worth the wait.

Please excuse the bad gramma, it has never been my forte and I definitely write a lot slower then I think XD

I know you guys might have a lot of questions about this chapter. Please feel free to leave a review and I will attempt to answer all questions on the next chapter.

Also the next chapter will be set once Hermione begins Hogwarts. I thought this chapter was best as a pre-cursor to it and build up.