"Apparate us NOW Minerva."
Hermione took hold of Minerva's other hand and a second later, a soft crack sounded in the silence of the lake… Then another from outside the Hogwarts gates…
Year 1999 | 2nd Seventh of May
Chapter 5
Still the same evening | The Second One (Part 1)
Swept by Hermione's strong urging, Minerva effortlessly shifted Hogwarts' wards and apparated the both of them outside of the castle grounds. However upon landing, she tried to let go and issued another protest, "Hermione, I don't think—"
"Minerva, hold tight." Hermione interjected and pulled the woman closer to her as she took them to London after sounding another crack.
The moment their feet securely landed, Hermione can read from Minerva's eyes her unvoiced question of where she had taken them. And as Hermione anticipated, mixture of reticence and worry also reflected in the older woman's face.
"Our old house." Hermione supplied the answer and she walked towards a door.
Specifically, they've landed at her parents' back garden, but the surrounding fences made it safe from prying eyes, muggle or even magical ones. With one hand not letting go of Minerva, her other rummaged behind one plank for the key she kept there.
"My parents are still in Australia." She casually added as she unlocked the door and stepped aside to let Minerva enter first and then she secured back the door. Afterwards, she reluctantly disengaged their hands as she traced her way to one kitchen closet to switch on the main power.
"But both of them alright?" Minerva inquired and she almost jumped as she did not realised that the older woman had followed and stood very closely behind her as she tried to push the utility gear. Minerva reached up and simply did it for her. "Are you parents alright?" Minerva repeated as the woman stepped away to give her space.
"Thanks." She gestured about the power box and added, "And yes they are okay."
Last year, Hermione told Minerva about what she had resorted to in order to protect her muggle parents. It was one of those things she blurted in between tears while in Minerva's arms after she woke-up from a nightmare full of memories of torture from Bellatrix's.
But she was unsure if the older witch knew what happened to her parents afterwards. Obviously this is the first time they are conversing after a year. Plus she knew that there were endless matters of import that Minerva was dealing with during those critical weeks. The daily news constantly ran details of how Minerva was repairing Hogwarts day and night... Of how Minerva was working with the Ministry to put order in their society here and there... Of how the witch is literally and figuratively front and center and in the gutter to propel their world to a more lighter tomorrow.
If she skipped the daily paper to escape reports about Minerva or surrounding Minerva, or leading to or from Minerva— there would be Harry to tell her about the woman doing this and that. Everyone would agree that the most occupied person that crucial time was no other than Minerva McGonagall. Even now actually as they are still in recovery… So it was really unlikely that the woman knew of her parents' situation.
"A day after we have finished our testimonies, the Minister extended his special contacts to locate my parents. I was planning to go when the boarders open, although I was unsure how to do the search. But I figured, it could not be more difficult than looking for horcruxes and dodging those who wanted to capture an undesirable. But he reminded me that there might be others out there still loyal to Voldemort, or simply want revenge, and I would only endanger my parents.
She watched Minerva paused and waited for her to precede their journey further inside the house. She could also tell how Minerva seemed to listen very attentively to her narrative so she continued with it.
"He assured me that he would only call his most trusted and competent comrades in Australia. Thankfully they found my parents and safeguarded them until it was determined safe. Then the Minister introduced me to the new St. Mungos Head Administrator – Healer Hypatia Allis who eventually traveled with me and performed the memory lost reversal. Its likely my parents would still be lost to me if not for their help."
"Memory loss spell is in of itself a complicated magic to cast. To say the reversal is ten-fold complicated is not just an understatement. It simply can't be done by anyone who does not have the proficiency in healing. Even then, it has no guaranty. That branch of magic is too complex especially if it was to counter a strongly cast memory loss. If the reversal is not done well, it may reduce a person's entire brain like a newly born baby…"
Hermione hid her smile at hearing Professor McGonagall. "I know, I've read about a dozen books on it. While I've learned to cast the spell, the reversal was surely beyond my skills."
"But Hypatia is highly skilled with that."
"She is. She successful restored my parents' memories. I owe her a massive debt. Do you know her?"
Minerva nodded to confirm knowing the healer but Hermione heard next the question she detested answering. "When will your parents return?"
"Not this year. Maybe next year or next next." She shrugged as she answered her usual response. But she could not help but be honest with Minerva, "My Mom does not want to leave several things there hastily just because... just because they received back their memories and discovered that they have a daughter— who is existing in another continent— who is actually a witch. They weren't exactly thrilled with what I did…"
Hermione wanted to sound nonchalant but failed to completely hide her distress surrounding the absence of her parents. It will be almost a year after their memories were restored and she had only seen them twice more, and both still much awkward for all of them.
Logically, she understood their initial aghast reaction; there were times she herself was appalled when she deeply contemplated what she had done. She knew time would help their family go forward. She could not really debate with her parents when they also wanted to make use of the distance by still staying in Australia, in order to deal with what had been revealed to them.
At any rate, she had managed to easily roll the issue over her shoulder whenever Harry or Ron or other Weasleys would inquire about her parents. Her fumble on displaying the true stinging emotion regarding the situation of her parents startled even herself. She inwardly cursed at the vulnerable state invoke by her current companion. She did not realize that she had lapsed into silence until she heard Minerva smoothly addressed her internal examination.
"Many families have more than geographical distance separating them after the war. But I am quite certain that you have grasped at such fact a long time ago. And found out that the consolation would not do. That the aching had demanded many times for relief. But as there is nothing else to do but let time do the mending, you leave it be and hope it comes sooner."
Hermione recognized the pragmatic and yet understanding manner Minerva had voiced the process she underwent to dealt with the situation. Actually, she staggered a bit at the uncanny precision of the woman regarding her struggle. But she reminded herself that the woman is Minerva McGonagall…
The woman who fought and survived three wars and therefore knows more than anyone else of war aftermath. This very same fact also made her utterly sad for the older witch. Hermione had one war and it was more than enough for her to almost go insane with the wretchedness that it brought.
Despite the busy ongoing in her life the last 12 months with her work, and with running away from Minerva, she is well aware how some things from the war would still afflict her. The damaged relationship with her parents is a dominant one undoubtedly. Just as her 'mudblood' scar, which at times would imprison her just by knowing its there on her arm, despite the well casted glamour. As she could not get it healed…
Hypatia informed her that it requires special ritual; one she cannot afford because it entails too complicated details. She had put it aside and even considered it as her permanent war souvenir. She supposed that everyone has one. Sometimes, invisible ones…
Apart from Minerva who she had told last year, only Ron and Fleur saw it at the Shell cottage following their escape. And she knew that both actually thought that she had long gotten it healed. But who is really fully healed of their war wounds and scars…?
She thought of Harry and not just about his forehead scar. With all of his moving on in life, of Auror and Marriage, sometimes he would share a certain expression with her over seeing a sweeping black robes or a shaggy dog. She would know that Harry was being swept with the ripped feeling of surviving the war while others did not… And Minerva had three times of that…!
"Anyway…" Hermione pulled herself from her rumination and continued with her update on her parents' whereabouts. "When they do come back it won't be here, not in this house, not even in London. Dad wants somewhere in Brighton. They want to sell this house. I get how it can't be that simple to just come back here and 'pick up' their old lives. Maybe not staying in London would be better for them. But we'll see…"
She sighed in resignation and in a way to end the topic. Minerva merely nodded at the dismissal and she was thankful for that. She paused and turned to face the older witch who had followed her further into the living room mechanically. "Do you want something to drink? Tea?" she asked.
"No, but thank you." Minerva responded distractedly as she moved towards one wall that held full-stacked bookshelves from floor to ceiling.
"They used to be in my room but when I went to Hogwarts my parents sort of brought it out here. They said it served to counter my absence. Actually I packed them away, before you know, before I took off. I retrieved them from the storage just few months ago. I thought I would bring them to my flat but I realized I don't have the space there so I brought them back here."
Hermione watched Minerva ran her fingers on the spines of her books. She inwardly cringed at the disparity of her collection compared to what had been extended to her at the McGonagall private library. But she shut her mouth and said nothing about it and instead just observed Minerva pulled one slightly abused volume. She smiled to see that amongst them, Minerva got the one she had read multiple times. Definitely the most number of times…
"Notre-Dame de Paris" Minerva read the title as she turned to face her.
"Yea, it's more popular as— The Hunchback of Notre-Dame."
"The Hunchback of Notre-Dame."
Hermione beamed when they both said the title at the same time. She moved closer to Minerva and peered at the volume currently held by pale long fingers.
"My parents brought me to France for the first time when I was just six. When I turned seven, I asked for that book. I barely understood the language but I read that and stubbornly refused the English version. As my French got better through time and I re-read the book again and again, I discovered happily some details I earlier missed. It became a habit eventually, which explains its worn state."
When Hermione looked back at Minerva's face, she found thin lips formed into a smile that rolled into a full grinning one. Then she realized that Minerva was actually straining to hold her laughter. Quite consciously, she asked the woman what she had found amusing.
"Most kids were just learning to read in their own language at that age, but you were already pushing into your second one." Minerva finally let out her laugher. "And why I am not really surprised to learn of such charming fact about you?"
"Hey, I am an only child who likes to read instead of watching television all day."
Hermione humorously protested and she could not help herself but playfully reached for Minerva's unoccupied hand. Likewise, her heart could not help the electric lurch at seeing the laughing beautiful face of Minerva. Oh how she had missed this Minerva.
"When television reached Scotland, I believe I was already working at the Ministry." Minerva grinned in retort. And shook her head partly in obvious age citation, and partly over Hermione's astounding diligence at such young age.
"So you also read all day… Tsk. Tsk. Tsk…" Hermione ignored Minerva's clear attempt to flag their age difference. Instead she smartly countered with one of their most commonalities— reading.
"And ran across fields and climbed stone hills in the summer…" With blithesome tone, Minerva poked at their differences with a challenge whilst she put back the cherished novel back into its place.
"Would you teach me how to climb hills…?" Hermione artfully responded to the posted challenge. Then she reached for Minerva's other hand and interlaced them and mentally observed if the woman would dislodge their hands. But Minerva actually held them tighter.
"I heard the brilliant Gryffindor is afraid of heights…" Minerva remarked with a good-natured jab.
"I'm not brilliant at flying if that's what you meant. Perhaps the only thing others could easily best me…"
"And Divination." Minerva deadpanned.
"And Divination." Hermione laughed loudly at the retort from her intentional coaxing of Minerva to call on her haughty answer. There's really nothing like jabbing with Minerva.
"You should have copied Harry and Ronald tactics of unleashing their creativity to pass the subject by inventing their readings." Minerva enjoyably revealed to her.
"Harry told you that?" Hermione gasped.
"He did. He also told me how he did not attempt to convince you to skirt through the subject. He said he wanted to save himself from your lecture on concept of true learning and not have extra lessons on Hogwarts: A History."
"That bugger! I'm going to hex him." She objected in mock aghast, which lead Minerva to let out more laughter.
"No, Harry did not say the last part but I knew that's exactly what you'd tell him had he found the courage to 'tutor' you in Divination!"
The rich sound of amusement and the gleaming emerald eyes crawled all over Hermione. The sensation led her to uncensored words that slipped past her lips. "I really wish I was a student the same time you were a student at Hogwarts…"
"In 1942?" Minerva wickedly teased her.
"In 1942." Hermione smilingly but seriously responded. She thought of how she would have been at Minerva's side from thereon. Grindelwald bloodbath included… Maybe then, Minerva need not teach herself to play self-sufficient role every damn minute in her life… Maybe then, the woman would have accepted the love she had long offered.
"But Miss Brightest Witch, you'd have a problem, my school marks would have gotten in your way… You would have hated me for the rivalry…" Minerva chuckled.
"Never." She shook her head in earnest.
What Hermione wanted to say was, 'I would never hate you because I am certain that I would have fallen in love with you regardless of what timeline or circumstances or dimension…' But she knew such confession would only make Minerva bolt. So she contented herself with obfuscation.
"Never my school marks would matter as yours would be all above them?" Minerva continued with her teasing.
Hermione again shook her head as Minerva's quip definitely had her heart deeper in splendid ride. At the same time, she knew she had walked backwards and pulled Minerva through the stairs quite astutely while they were exchanging banters. Despite the easy candor they are having now, Hermione is much cognizant of the more serious venture she had engaged from the moment she asked the older witch to leave Hogwarts with her.
"You want tea?"
"No, but thank you. And you asked me that already."
"I know. I was just making sure."
"I'm good."
"Good."
Hermione continued pulling Minerva in the hallway that would lead them to her bedroom. Suddenly midway, Minerva jerked back and dislodged the young woman's hold on her as she came into realisation of their destination and what was implied of such course.
"Hermione, I have no idea what… why I came here… I… I should…" Minerva wrapped her arms around herself in scuffle for preservation "…Should go back to Hogwarts."
Hermione watched Minerva slowly backtracked to leave…
End of Chapter 5 | Year 1999 | The Second One (Part1)
A/N:
- Hypatia Allis is my creation
- Thank you again for still reading and hopefully you're not so bored with the details! I really do not want to compromise them.
- Thank you too for your feedback! It does help :)
- Again, these are all JK Rowling's and I'm just borrowing and spinning them to my liking.