A/N- well thank-you for all the reviews! I'm sorry I haven't updated as quickly as what I would like to have but at the moment I have 3 internal assessments that are the first step to gaining my qualifications, so can understand why I need to concentrate on my school work this year! Anyway I will try to keep updating as often as possible it will be every couple of days at the least hopefully.

means a change in time

meanwhile in another place

On with the story!!

Over the next few weeks Hermione slipped into Harry's bed every night after only being able to sleep a couple of hours by herself. Every night over that couple of weeks Minerva McGonagall got up to check up on her daughter. Harry did not mind Hermione sharing a bed with him, it was not like they were doing anything, just comforting each other. In 3 weeks all 3 members of the house would return to Hogwarts.

Minerva knocked on Harry's door one morning, the headmaster had arrived and wished to speak with harry.

"Harry. Are you awake yet?" Minerva called through the door.

Harry just turned over and hugged Hermione tighter.

"Harry if you don't respond in 5 seconds I will personally come in and get you up myself!"

Still no answer from within the room. Minerva opened the door and looked at the site in front of her. Harry was holding Hermione protectively in his arms, they looked so cute she wished she didn't have to wake them. Walking over to the bed she carefully shook harry awake trying desperately not to disturb the peaceful figure of her daughter.

"Harry you have to get up now, the headmaster is here."

"Wha's mat'er?" harry asked slowly

"Potter, Professor Dumbledore is here to visit you and I suggest you do not keep him waiting!" she said sternly, goodness that boy can be dense. She had raised her voice too loud though and Hermione had awoken.

"I'll be there in a second then just let me get dressed" Harry's mind slowly started ticking over. I'm holding onto Hermione, the headmaster is here, and professor McGonagall is in the room. PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL IS IN THE ROOM. Harry jumped apart from Hermione something in her mind must have clicked as well because she suddenly leaped away from him as well.

"Professor it's no-" harry didn't get to finish his sentence.

"Harry, Dumbledore is waiting I suggest you get down to the living room. Fast." Harry exited the room as fast as his legs would carry him. Minerva would have laughed at the sight that unfolded in front of her if she wasn't so tired.

"Minerva" Hermione was aware of the way her mother had caught them.

"Hermione it is ok"

"It's not what it looks like. I promise nothing has happened"

"Hermione calm down I believe you" Minerva sat at the foot of the bed.

"Y-you do?" Hermione sat a little straighter.

"Yes of course I believe you. Hermione I trust you. If I didn't trust you I would have kicked you out when this first happened a few weeks ago."

"I didn't mean for this to happen it's just…I feel so peaceful with harry and I had been having nightmares about what happened to them. I was actually heading for your room when I dunno…I just ended up here."

"Hermione I trust you and I know you would not take advantage of my trust like that. I have no intention of making you return to your own room goodness knows you are looking a lot healthier with a little bit of sleep, I have also noticed Harry looking a lot less tired."

"I would never do anything without speaking with you first. I have no intention of doing anything yet anyway."

"Well I cannot say that I'm aren't extremely pleased to hear that! Hermione I would like it if you spoke with me before anything happens though so thank-you."

"I love you" Hermione said sincerely.

"I love you to Hermione" the mother and daughter leaned in and hugged each other.

"Mum?"

"Hermione… uh do you feel comfortable with that?"

"You mean calling you mum? Yes I do, please let me"

"Of course I would be honored, but do not have to. I know it is still recent." Minerva stood to leave the room when Hermione asked yet another question.

"Mum?"

"Yes dear?"

"Don't mind harry today he'll probably try to avoid you." Hermione smirked

Minerva smiled as she slowly left the room and made her way down stairs thinking about how lucky she was to have a daughter like Hermione.

Meanwhile in the living room.

Dumbledore turned when he saw Harry running into the room. Cheeks tinged in red and still in his pajamas, harry sat down on the sofa.

"You know harry, I don't mind if you want to get dressed and freshen up"

"Oh no professor it's ok I'm fine like this" harry replied "plus I do not want to see professor McGonagall for about another thousand years" harry added under his breath.

"Oh I see and what has the lovely professor done now?" amusement dancing in the headmasters eyes.

"Nothing, it doesn't matter" harry could feel himself heating up again.

"Okay well on with business then" Dumbledore said making a mental note to ask Minerva about it later. "Harry I know you know everything. Soon I will let you know everything about the order as well. If you wish to join the order I will allow you to, however it is vital that you learn occlumency."

"Please professor not with Snape." Harry was deadly serious there was no way he was going through all that again with Snape!

"No Harry PROFESSOR Snape will not be training you. If you wish I will teach you."

"Yes please professor" harry was extremely relieved to hear this, he knew it would be hard work but he was prepared to give it his all, especially if it wasn't Snape.

"Harry you will need the occlumency so Voldemort does not know what the order is planning. It will stop him entering your thoughts and knowing what you are doing. Your training will begin tonight at 7pm.

"Yes I understand"

"Also if you wish to join the order you may do so"

"I would thank-you professor"

"I understand that Minerva was thinking of letting Hermione join too as you will tell her everything I assume. However Mr. Weasley will not be permitted to join, he is underage and his mother…well does not want him to."

"Didn't think she would"

"Yes…well I shall be back at 7 for your training"

"Okay well see you tonight professor"

"Oh and Harry"

"Yes"

"Professor McGonagall is coming down the stairs." Dumbledore watched Harry's expression change from delight to horror. Something must have happened in this household.

"Oh man…thanks professor" harry whispered so only Dumbledore could hear before hiding behind the couch until professor McGonagall had gone past to see Dumbledore off. Harry rushed up the stairs and back into his own room where Hermione was still laying on his bed.

"Hermione what are you still doing here?" harry asked with a bemused expression, his voice was hushed as if he was scared of being caught.

"She didn't care harry. Actually she was really good about it, she knows that nothing is happening so she doesn't mind as long as it stays that way"

"Of course it will. Anyway Dumbledore is going to teach me occlumency tonight at 7 because I'm allowed to join the order and Voldemort can't know about their plans. "

"Yes well that makes perfect sense" Hermione moved over so harry could sit down.

"Yea I suppose it does. Ron still isn't allowed to join, Dumbledore didn't say much but I got the impression she didn't want me or you joining either."

"What did you say? Am I allowed to join?" Hermione smiled

"Uh…he said McGonagall was thinking about it." Harry knew Hermione would be a real asset to the Order if she were to join. She was smarter than a lot of the wizards there.

"Well I'm sure mum will let me."

"Is she letting you call her mum now?"

"Yea I don't know why I asked her if I could…it just felt so right you know?"

"Yes Hermione and I'm happy that you feel comfortable with it"

"I know you are Harry. Hay do you want to go for a walk today?"

"Yea sure. I could do with the fresh air plus it's a good way to keep away from your mother."

Harry and Hermione spent all day in the local town. They went to the movies and visited a mall. Returning at about 5 just in time for tea.

"Ah Hermione, Harry there you two are."

"We are fine, we are like 16 now Min" Hermione shrugged carelessly.

"Yes well that's fine dear it's just that we have a visitor for tea."

"Oh who?"

"Professor Dumbledore will be stopping by for tea."

"Oh okay. C'mon harry lets go do some more of that potions essay" Hermione started making her way up the stairs with Harry following behind her. When Minerva called after them

"Harry, I don't mind please just forget about it" Minerva asked hoping he would talk to her again soon. She couldn't help but smile, not at Harry's blushing face but about the way he was squirming.

"Okay Minerva sorry" harry couldn't look her in the eyes it was still to embarrassing. Harry quickly followed Hermione.

"Minerva that was a lovely dinner thank-you very much. We may have to give cloths to a few of the house elves and have you replace them in the kitchens" came Dumbledore's voice filled with amusement.

"Ha my cooking skills are nowhere near those of a house elf."

"Too right" Hermione said cheekily "plus you wouldn't get paid anything, none of the other house elves do except for Dobby"

"Well Hermione I assure you I have asked them many times yet all refuse" Dumbledore's eye's were still twinkling, he didn't mind getting Hermione a little worked up, especially if it meant she gave up the SPEW stuff in the process.

"Yes I'm sure you have professor, but they have been treated wrongly for centuries they have no idea about the way they should be treated."

"I agree however it is extremely hard for a leopard to change its spots as I'm sure you will agree."

Well yes…but they are not leopards hang on…that's a muggle saying where did you hear that?"

"I like to keep up with the muggle world."

"Yes well anyway I think you should just give them the mon-"

"You cannot force them to take something they do not want to"

"They do want it they just DON'T KNOW IT!"

"I am going to start cleaning up" McGonagall interrupted the argument.

"I'll help" Hermione volunteered.

"Well Harry you and I should get started" Dumbledore got up and left the room

"Yes Professor" harry followed the man who was like his grandfather.

IN THE KITCHEN

"HERMIONE! You cannot yell at your professor like that!" McGonagall said sternly, clearly a little embarrassed by her daughter.

"I know mum but I couldn't help it. He can be so difficult sometimes"

"Don't I know how you feel, I've known him for 60 years" said McGonagall exasperated.

"Must have been a hard 60 years" Hermione said a hint of laughter in her voice.

"Yes it was. But it has also been the best 60 years of my life" Minerva said this so quietly it was almost as if she was saying it to herself. With that Hermione left the room.

Hermione stopped briefly outside the lounge to hear Dumbledore's instructions to harry.

"Now harry on the count of three I want you to concentrate" Hermione kept walking up the hall to Harry's bedroom. "1…2…3 Legilimens" immediately the memories began the time when Dudley and his gang beat up harry until he was unconscious. His aunt was cutting his hair and it kept magically growing back. His hogwarts letter had arrived and uncle Vernon wouldn't give it to him. Harry was under the stairs yet again and Dudley was jumping up and down on them. The sorting hat was whispering in his ear telling him he would have done well in Slytherin. Sirius was holding him Ron and Hermione captive…Sirius was falling through the veil, Remus was holding him while harry screamed his name Sirius…SIRIUS.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter I would appreciate more reviews pretty please!! Maybe some suggestions for a story line I'm starting to get a little bit of writer block lol cya!!