8.
A.N. yeah, an extra long chapter (well for me). sorry it's no as much good as the last chapters through.
A.N. thanks to my bear of beta-reader fade9wayz.
A.N. thanks too to all my reviewers : ariesjade1374 but especially to allthesame and nightwing509 my loyal reviewers. Allthesame you made my day with your comments. Thanks you very much.
After breakfeast, it was decided that Minerva would go and shop for some groceries while Hermione would call some relatives of the family to announce the news. The visit to the lawyer would wait until the third day. It would give the research team the time needed before they officially declare Hermione's parents's death.
"Are you sure you don't need help with the calls? I could stay. After all, there's still frozen food ." She knew it was the bad thing to say the moment she said it, but it was too late.
Hermione answered with a forced but humorous smile and a shake of her head.
"Go and save us of the evil food, oh my hero, I will keep the fort, waiting with eagerness for your return." Straightening herself, Hermione continued in a more normal tone.
"It will be boring anyway : I'll tell them what the policemen said and stay silent for the rest of the conversation while they will certainly talk endlessly. Besides I will only call the close family and they live in another country, so no danger of seeing them coming soon."
Minerva nodded but didn't seem much reassured nonetheless. "You'll have to lie to your family. I know it won't be this easy. I understand you'd rather do it alone, but I'm here to help. So don't forget me, okay?"
Hermione's heart tightened painfully. "Thank you so much to be there... And don't worry it would be very difficult to forget you, Minerva." The latter smiled at that. It made her feel good to hear that. She surprised herself wishing that they could play hooky with their duty.
Surely Hermione didn't need to call the first day already... but of course she had to. They had only one week to organize her departure. It was rushed but it would appear more normal than if they octroyed only a day to the family.
When Minerva came back at the Grangers house, she was confronted with the sight of a silencious Hermione sitting on the stair near a ringing phone. According to her expression, it could keep on ringing as much as it wanted, she wouldn't move.
It was enough to take in the stone face and her tightened jaw. A storm was brewing. The murderous glance she threw to the phone would have made any sane people think twice before calling. However, the phone being just an object didn't stop its unpleasant shrill, unaware of its owner's mood.
Minerva decided to take down it before it suffered an early demise. Then she sat next to her pupil and a little awkwardly massaged her back. When she talked it was in a soothing voice. "Hermione dear, look at me, please."
However the younger woman made no move, nor sigh to show her professor that she'd been heard. It made the Scottish woman uneasy. She was known for her temper when situations became difficult. And she knew that it was the case to her pupil too. She even slapped Malfoy during the third year, for Goddess 's sake.
What happened to put her in this state? With her hands under Hermione's chin, she forced the younger woman to look at her. She was crying again. Minerva decidedly hated it. It made her chest constrict painfully. Even more so, since this cries were not happy ones, more a mix of anger, impotence and frustration.
She engulfed her in her arms and rocked her.
After a long time, Hermione raised her eyes full of furious tears to her professor and talked with a hocketing voice. "I'm sorry Minerva. It's the second time now..."
The older woman smiled gently and tightened her grip. "It's alright Hermione. I'm glad to be here. Could you tell me what put you in this state?" her voice was hesitant when she asked that, but it was necessary.
"It looks like the visit to the lawyer can't wait. We weren't the first informed about my parents. The crash was close to the Italy border, so they first talked with our relatives living in this country."
She took another strangled breath before continuing with a broken voice. "Some of them think it would be best for me, and their valet, if they adopted me. It's completely stupid. We're in bad terms with this part of the family since I'm ten years old! But the authorities are discussing it."
Minerva kissed the forehead of the distraught woman in her arms and tried reassuring her. "Hermione dear, calm down. Your parents's testimony is very clear on this subject. I'm the one who'll be put in charge of you and no one else. We will talk with the lawyer tomorrow. Everything'll be fine you'll see."
She wiped her tears and gave her a handkerchief from her blouse. "Now, you'll need to take a warm bath and everything will be a lot better. I will cook something light and then to bed early."
Minerva was really angry with the relative of the Granger and with the world in general. Her favorite student since becoming a witch had affronted many troubles that most at less ten times her age and it would seem that even the muggle put themselves at it.
'Wait a minute. Hermione said something... ten year old... she become officially a witch at the same time than the family dispute.' Minerva clenched her fists and tightened her teeth. It didn't do any good to dwell on that now.
She took a long breath to calm her frayed nerves. Then she went to the kitchen and seized a knife. Soon she was cutting with a revenge all vegetables that have the misfortune to cross her way.
She finally calmed down and blushed a bit when she saw the mess she'd done. Really it was most undignified for a woman of her reputation to act like that. She decided on doing an enormous salad with all those sacrificed vegetables... Then she thought that it would be a good idea to use chocolate for dessert. It was a tested and approved medicine for sadness after all.
She knew it was one of Hermione's sins thanks to the house elves. Often after a hard day or a contrariety, she would be found in the kitchen with a mug of hot cacao. The boys bribed forgiveness with Honeyduck chocolate, the best quality ever.
She chuckled while thinking about that. It was rather endearing.
"Hermione, dinner's cooked. Are you ready yet?" All Minerva heard was a flutter of moves behind the bathroom closed door. "Hermione? Are you alright in there?"
A disheveled and wet young lady, partially covered with a towel finally opened the door while blushing. "I'm sorry I took so long. I didn't see the time pass."
"It's quite alright. I'll wait for you in the kitchen." With that, the flushed woman went down. She was a little angry with herself and embarrassed from seeing her pupil like that. It made her see her in an altogether different light, that of a young and beautiful woman.
It should have been obvious since quite a time now. But in her head, her students remained the young children full of awe from their first year. It was silly, really.
They became teenagers under her eyes. With all the snogging going at Hogwarts, it was hard to miss. And then adult when they left school. Well, officially anyway, even if she had doubts about some supposedly 'mature' people.
Dinner was pleasant and company very good. It was not everyday that they could relax and talk about whatnot. Hermione even remarked that the older woman didn't talk about Quidditch like the boys. Hearing that, Minerva hastily rectified this capital crime, which caused Hermione to make a face.
The not-so secretly fan of Quidditch laughed heartily seeing that. Her laugh was rich and pleasing to hear. She was quite the sight with her head thrown back, her face colored and her sparkling eyes.
Hermione couldn't stay mad. Her mentor was too beautiful to resist. So she did the only thing possible and laughed with her, although it was more restrained.
When dessert time came, they were rather full, but seeing the chocolate mousse, they managed to make some space for it. Hermione's eyes were sparkling. It was a success! Indeed, the dinner had been delicious and the young woman wouldn't stop praising Minerva's skill.
Modest, the latter just shook her head and said it was nothing complicated. To prove her point, her mentor decided that next time Hermione would help. The younger woman shook her head in furious denial but she was smiling and really couldn't say no long to her professor.
It was agreed that she would do the breakfeast tomorrow. After what they would go to the Grangers's lawyer and settle the upsetting question of Hermione's garde.
The day had passed quickly and they were quite tired. They retired in good mood to their respective bedroom with smiles on their face. Everything would be alright. The visit to Mr Garott was sooner than expected, but it would do more good than bad. With a bit of luck, their trouble would be over by the end of the week...
A.N.
It's not turning at all like I thought it would, but if you like anyway tell me so.
If I manage to finish the week, the rest should be very crazy and ooc, well if I get there...