A/N: Nothing to report. Working on getting these written ones out to you and working on new stuff all the time. Hopefully I still have a few of you left by the time I get it done lol

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Minerva felt Harry doze off and was about to order the other two to bed when there was a pop, and a flash of fire, and a figure appeared in the sitting room. Hermione didn't hesitate and shot off two spells, one from each hand. The spells were caught and redirected into the floor, exploding into a million bubbles.

"Miss Granger, Hermione? It is me."

"Oh shit," Ron whispered, peering out of the door.

"Profess -" Hermione looked at Minerva. "It's Albus."

"Let him in," she smiled tiredly. "10 points to Gryffindor. That was very impressive piseag. And with my wand too." [kitten]

"Indeed it was, 10 points from me too -" Albus said, patting her on the shoulder and frowning as he took in the scene before him. "I -," he took a step forward and stopped, taking in the scene. "What has happened?"

"She has a blood quill," Minerva ground out. "And it is his 7th night of detention."

"But -" Albus looked horrified.

"It is not your fault," Minerva said sharply, meeting his eyes. "But we must protect the children. They need Murtlap essence. Severus is brewing something stronger."

Albus nodded and glanced at Harry, his eyes widening as he truly understood.

"I'll see to it," he whispered, watching Harry's uneasy slumber. "Are they staying here?"

Minerva nodded, smiling sadly as he backtracked out of the room. The pain he felt seemed magnified as she met his eyes.

"I will make sure you are neither disturbed, nor found."

Minerva nodded and watched as he took a deep breath, disappearing from the room in another flash of fire.

"I thought you couldn't Apparate within Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, her head tilted to the side in confusion.

"Ordinarily, you cannot mo gradh," Minerva sighed. "Fawkes seems to be able to circumnavigate those rules in times of great need." [my love]

"Cool," Ron muttered.

"Makes sense," Hermione said, around a big yawn.

"Come and get into bed, both of you. We won't be disturbed tonight."

"Mathair?" Harry blinked as she shifted.

"I have you sweetheart," Minerva whispered, kissing Harry's forehead. "Ron, can you take his shoes off? I'll transfigure his trousers. Both of you go and brush your teeth, then come and get in okay? I," she frowned at the uneasy look on Ron's face. "If you want to, of course. I would prefer you to be close tonight."

"Of course Máthair," Hermione whispered, kissing her head and laying her wand by her side. "I'll be back in a moment."

"Ron?"

"I'll sleep in here, okay? Just for tonight," he glanced at Harry. "Just in case you need me."

"I'll transfigure the chair Ron, it's okay," she held out her free hand for him to take. "I understand."

He nodded and she let go, fumbling around for her wand. As she found it, she shifted Harry in her arm so she had one completely free. Concentrating as best she could, with Harry's bond wide open on top of all she felt otherwise, she managed to make the chair longer and little softer, which would suit Ron fine for the night.

"I'll fix it tomorrow sweetheart," she whispered as Harry moaned quietly. "Or you can have Harry's room?" She gestured to the table. "Can you push that closer?"

"It's fine," he said as he did as she asked. "But you need to sleep as well, McG," Ron said with a frown.

"It's okay," she whispered. "Albus will return later and help me. You both need some rest before tomorrow."

"You sure?" Ron asked, looking towards the door. "I -" he sighed. "We didn't think you were talking?"

"I know," Minerva smiled, reaching over to cup his cheek. "Adults are so very complicated sometimes."

"No kidding," he sighed. "Alright," he got up and went to the bathroom once Hermione got back, leaving the two women on their own for the moment.

"Want me to swap with you for a while while you change?" Hermione asked, before she got into bed. "That way you're ready to sleep when you can? You might need to do something with the sheets too?"

Minerva looked down and swallowed against the nausea. Harry's blood seemed to be everywhere.

"I," Minerva looked down at Harry sleeping, and at his hand, still dunked in the essence. "Is it still bleeding?"

Hermione peered in the bowl and frowned.

"I can't tell, it's," she winced. "There's a lot of blood in here."

"Dobby?"

"Mistress!"

His big eyes went even wider as he took in the scene before him.

"Dobby, can you go to Professor Snape and ask him if we should change the essence if it gets too bloody. He will understand. Repeat the message exactly, if you can."

"Professor, Master Harry -"

"It's alright Dobby, please do as I say. I know you are a free elf," she managed a smile. "As such, you are not bound to the Professors as the others are and so, I am asking you, as someone who cares for Harry as I know you do, please do not reveal anything to Professor Umbridge."

"Harry Potter is Dobby's friend Mistress. I's not be telling."

He popped out of view and came back, pulling on his ears not ten minutes later.

"Professor Snapes said," he frowned and she tried to stay calm as they waited. "Yous can, if there is too much," he gulped. "Blood. But after this long, it should no longer be bleeding. He -" he swallowed. "He said if it is still bleeding we is all in troubles."

Minerva glanced at Hermione and bit her lip.

"There's a first-aid kit in my desk. Third drawer, right at the back. Will you bring it here?"

Hermione nodded and came back a moment or two later, dropping it on the bed and pulling out a few things without Minerva's asking.

"Thank you, my darling," Minerva whispered as Hermione took a deep breath. "Are you ready?" Hermione nodded and Minerva tightened her grip on him so she could take Harry's hand carefully out of the essence. "Piseag? [Kitten]" she braced for the worst. "How does it look?"

"Painful, raw" Hermione winced and she dried the rest of his hand, carefully. "But," she waited a moment, prodding it gently. "Not bleeding."

"Thank Merlin," Minerva whispered. "Thank you Dobby."

"Mistress is welcome. Should I inform Masters Snape and Dumbleydore?"

"Yes please. If you could also keep an eye on Umbridge for us, let us know where she is and what she is doing, that would be helpful."

"I is always endeavouring to be helpful to Master Harry's Mistress," he said, bowing to the floor and popping out of view without another word.

"So we're okay then?" Ron asked, coming round the corner. "He's fine?"

"Until tomorrow," Minerva sighed, clenching her eyes shut.

"Let's get some sleep. We'll figure out the rest tomorrow," Hermione said, placing a piece of gauze over the wound and bandaging it like she'd been doing it her whole life. She blushed when she met Minerva's eyes but Minerva winked at her and looked over to Ron.

"Keep your wand close, darling. Just in case."

He nodded and placed it next to the bowl on the little table. Hermione stepped forward and held out her hand. Minerva smiled weakly and grabbed onto it, using it to leverage herself into a sitting position. She tried to syphon off some of the blood from the bed, but it was no use.

"Dobby?"

"Mistress?"

"I'm sorry to call you back so quickly, but could you change the sheets without waking Harry? Please?"

He snapped his little claws and tugged on his ears before disappearing again without another word. Minerva, though, was still covered.

"Will you stay with him, darling?" She asked Hermione as she took stock of herself. "I'll be right back."

"Don't rush. It's alright," Hermione nodded. "Do what you need to, it's alright."

She did rush, if only because she could feel his pain still throbbing through his bond. She was, however, covered in her son's blood and she spent a few minutes under the shower trying not to vomit at her feet as it ran down the drain. She was surely only a few minutes, but they felt like an eternity. She rushed back out of the bathroom in tartan pyjamas and carried a washcloth to remove the rest of the blood from Harry's body.

"Thank you both," Minerva whispered, leaning over to kiss Ron's head, and nodding for Hermione to get into bed. "Tha gaol agam ort." [I love you]

"I'll help," Hermione insisted, ignoring the look Minerva gave her. "It's alright. We're all tired, it'll go quicker with both of us."

She, and Hermione, spent a few moments wiping Harry down and eventually they both sat back satisfied he was clean enough. Hermione threw the cloth in the bath while Minerva got back into bed and settled Harry back into her arms. She waited for Hermione to slide in beside her and doused most of the candles. She smiled as Hermione rolled towards her, feeling the first sense of peace descend over them.

"We love you too Máthair," Hermione whispered, her hand slipping into Minerva's as she settled into the middle and pulled Harry back into her body. "We're not going anywhere."

With so many confusing emotions still in her heart that she couldn't seem to manage any words at all before she fell asleep.