A/N: Hello! I posted a few stories way back when and while I haven't kept up with writing, I have been a loyal HG/MM reader for years. This is an AU piece with these wonderful witches (family fic with Minerva McGonagall/Amelia Bones) I've been thinking about writing for a while. I'm not at a point where I can write much, but I do hope to come back to this piece with more chapters in the future.
Disclaimer: I'm using JK Rowling's characters with my own spin on things. I haven't read the books in ages, so apologies for any inconsistencies. Any grammar mistakes are my own.
Her afternoon office hours had ended, and Minerva McGonagall was getting some marking in before dinner when she heard a knock at the door. It was early in the term and the few students that did stop by usually did so at the start of the hour. The knock was more hesitant than most of her colleagues so she knew she would likely find a student standing outside her door. Slightly annoyed and ready to send the student back on their way in the hopes that whatever this was could wait, Minerva set aside the parchment on her desk and went up the answer the door.
What she didn't expect was to see Hermione Granger shifting on her feet with a worried look on her face. Then again, she knew her daughter would come to her with questions about her parentage eventually. The fourth-year student had unintentionally pieced together the details surrounding her parentage when reading banned biographies of witches and wizards in the Restricted Section of the library while doing research to help Harry Potter during the Triwizard Tournament. Minerva had fervently hoped the secret would remain as such until the girl had come of age, until the threats and reasons why they couldn't be a family were finally out of the way. Of course, someone had written a trashy biography of her, rather unflattering if she did say so herself, insinuating that she had given up a baby for adoption in the exact same dental practice where Hermione's adoptive parents worked. Thankfully, only a witch raised in a muggle family would be able to figure out the details and Minerva wonders if a vindictive squib wrote the piece. No mention was found of the other parent in her entire biography, for which Minerva was grateful.
Two weeks ago, Hermione had come to Minerva to carefully bring up this bit of information she learned and Minerva decided there was no use lying to the girl. Hermione was hesitant to ask Minerva about the details, especially knowing the dubious credibility of the piece, but it was too close to home (literally) for her not to say something to Minerva in private.
Returning her thoughts to the present, Minerva shepherded Hermione into her office.
"Professor, I'm sorry I didn't stop by earlier, but I wanted to talk to you about a question I have."
"That's ok, come in and take a seat. I suppose it was only a matter of time before you came by," Minerva responded, trying her hardest to wipe any annoyance out of her tone of voice left from the badly timed interruption. She always tried her best when it came to Hermione.
Once the door was firmly shut and both witches were seated, Hermione launched into her question.
"I know this is rather personal and this topic obviously requires discretion. I understand this may be difficult or upsetting and I don't expect a lot of information, or any, for that matter, but I'd appreciate if you could maybe tell me about my father. Erm…Do you know him? Is he still alive?" Hermione looked down at her hands in her seat, eager for any information the older witch could give her but wary of how Minerva would respond.
Minerva supposed this question would come up eventually, but it was the one piece of information she could not tell Hermione. This very detail was the reason why they had to give Hermione to the Grangers all those years ago, for a terrible law that prevented two witches from getting married or legally claiming their child as their own. The toll of Azkaban was too high a price to pay, so Minerva was tasked with gifting the Grangers' their dream of a daughter and Amelia the biggest heartbreak of her life.
"My dear, I know you have many questions, but I'm afraid I can't say much about him, I'm sorry."
Hermione looked at her a bit confused and worried her father would remain anonymous both to her and her mother.
Minerva continued, "I took great risks to even tell you that you are my child and confirm your suspicions. I cannot afford to give you any details that would lead you to uncovering who your father is. Please know that I love him very much and you father loves you. He really does. We're both so proud of you." She looked at her daughter with a pleading look in her eyes, hoping she would understand.
"It was enough to make Hermione crack a smile. "Yes, that makes sense. I suppose on a practical level it would be good to have any pertinent medical information. Do you think…do you think I'd be able to meet him eventually? Gosh, have I already met him?"
Minerva appreciated her daughter's practicality on the matter and said, "I'm sure I can update your medical records, although you need not worry. I can't make any promises, but I do fervently hope you will one day have a chance to properly meet him.
Hermione smiled, "I'd really like that. I hope I can get to know you better too."
Minerva furrowed her brow and stood up. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but we … I…cannot be the parent you were hoping for right now. Believe me when I say there is too much to risk. You cannot tell a soul about me and we can't arouse any suspicion. The burden has been mine to bear, and I mean it when I say I do think we can talk openly about this one day, once you are of age and there is less to lose. Until then, there isn't much else I can do."
Hermione stood up and started walking towards the door, rejection written all over her face. She had told herself this wouldn't matter, but it did. "Sorry…professor" was all she managed to say.
Right then Minerva knew immediately that she screwed up, but she also hoped Hermione would understand some of the danger she was under if the truth were revealed. She walked quickly over to Hermione and exclaimed, "Wait!"
"I know this isn't what you imagined or hoped, I really do. Please, you must know that your father would like nothing more than to be part of your life. I want to be part of your life, even if it is just as your professor for now."
Hermione bit her cheek to keep her emotions in check. "You're right, I didn't intend to corner you with questions or expect you to immediately act like my mum but I do want a relationship, gods, something. Last year with the time turner I enjoyed our weekly teas and I'd love to keep that up again. Even if you weren't related to me, I'd want to spend time with you." Hermione couldn't call her mother, not yet, but she hoped against hope that could be a possibility in the future.
Closing the gap between them, Minerva opened her arms, a hesitant invitation to hug her daughter. She remembered only giving her a hug once before, during an exciting transfiguration debate they had the year before in which Hermione excelled enough to make her seriously consider teaching the girl to become an animagus. This was different, Hermione emknew/em, and for that Minerva really was grateful the proverbial cat was out of the bag.
Hesitantly, Hermione stepped closed and pulled her into a brief but comforting hug.
"I meant it you know; your father loves you very much." Hermione smiled and took it as her cue to leave.
"Thanks, I can't wait to meet him. I can't wait to one day get to know you."
Hermione quietly walked out, leaving a very emotionally conflicted Minerva in her wake. Emotions that she had held back every single time Hermione came to talk to her bubbled up and hurt her heart more than they had before, as much as the day she gave her up and took a long walk through muggle London, unable to return to Amelia with the true shame of what she had just done.
Once Hermione was gone, she repeated, "It's true, she loves you very much."