Note- okay, the story took a sharp turn in the last chapter. It's going to be about more then Hermia, but she is going to be a major character in it. But its still mainly about Minerva and Albus to some extent
Oh, and if you read my other stories, there is a slight shout-out to two of them, but just to remind you, the stories are not related in any way.
Minerva sat completely still in bed for hours. Thoughts ran through her mind, of Hermia. Little Hermia. She had never spoken of her to anyone, not even Albus. She kept tabs on Arabella, and she had moved back to England many years back. The only owl she received from her was to confirm that Hermia had been adopted. Arabella was a member of the Order, though she was a squib, and looked after Harry when he stayed at the Dursleys over the long summer months.
But what had happened to Hermia? She would be 36 years old now. Did she have a family? Did she have children? Did they show signs of magic? Minerva had not thought so deeply of the girl in over 20 years. But somehow, the motherly instinct she had to abandon when she left the girl at the orphanage had reemerged.
It took all her energy to turn her head when the door opened. However, when Albus entered the room, her face broke into a smile.
"Albus, is that you? Am I dreaming?" she said softly. Albus smiled back at her.
"No, my sweetheart. I'm here sweetheart, I'm here." And for the first time in days, he smiled as he sat down beside her.
Albus had awoken in the morning, and had been informed by owl that Minerva was at St. Mungo's. It had taken him all day to send owls, and find out how Harry was. Flitwick wrote that he was in the astronomy O.W.L class that had seen Minerva stunned. Umbridge was thrilled that Minerva was gone, and therefore, the biggest threat to her running Hogwarts School had been defeated. Once all this was found out, Albus took some polyjuice potion Molly kept on hand in case of emergencies. He had been changed to look like Severus Snape. It allowed him to get through the hospital wards unnoticed, and allowed him access to Minerva's hall, it was only expected that Hogwarts would send someone to check up on the Deputy Headmistress. Once he was in the ward, he cast a spell for the polyjuice to wear off. Then he walked in her room, hoping she was awake, and was going to be all right. He also enchanted the window on the door so it looked as if it was Severus Snape talking to McGonagall, not Albus talking to Minerva. He was on the run after all.
"How did you sleep darling?" he asked her softly. She whispered her reply.
"Not well. Too many dreams, rather, they were very vivid memories surfacing. Things I had not thought about in quite a long time."
"Like what?" Albus murmured.
"Voldemort's Ascension, my sister's death. Those terrible times sending the children home in Voldemort's reign. The only thing that kept me going through those times was you, Albus. I love you."
"As did you, my love. Minerva, I have loved you since you walked into my class as a student all those years ago. I will love you until the day I die."
After awhile of sitting in silence, Minerva finally spoke.
"Albus, I have a confession to make. I, I've never told anyone this, and its been 26 years. I am sorry, Albus. I am so very sorry." She rambled quietly, sinking back into her memory.
"Minerva, what is it? It's alright, whatever it is, Tabby, I promise." Albus whispered to her. He was concerned though. These emotional thoughts were tiring her, and at that time Minerva did not need tiring. She was fighting for her life as it was. It sounded like they both had a night clogged with past memories. His heart sank, remembering what Molly Weasley had shared with him.
"Albus, that first summer, the year that Voldemort came, and we had to put all the children on the train, I kept one girl off. I couldn't do it Albus, I failed.
And with that, she told the rest of the story.
