Hermione's Accidental Magic
Year 2005 - 4th Seventh of May - Chapter 2
Continuation
For the first time in the last five years, after deliberate and unintentional circumvention, Hermione is now finding herself trapped in the same function with Minerva McGonagall. And all she could do is to beg Merlin to have no one mention her daughter (their daughter) near the woman, at least until she could bloody escape the bloody Seventh Commemoration.
When Kinglsey Shacklebolt arrived, he immediately gave the green light to begin the program. As intended, the first part was all about the newly passed decree "The AWE".
Jinn Leroy spoke to the crowd of the promulgation as integral progress of their Wizarding world. He notably mentioned Hermione's name as the primary architect of such worthy course. When he went to underscore how relentless she had been that resulted win-win finality, she made sure to affix her countenance with a delicate balance of assuredness and modesty. Something she was surely beginning to perfect as she trudged forth in the labyrinth of politics in order to get things done.
Nevertheless, when Ron suddenly let out a loud whistle in sweet expression of adulation, she permitted herself a tiny grin at one of her best friends' antics. As she faintly shook her head at him in mock reproach, she heard the heartfelt applause everyone gave her, generally as affirmation for the words of commendation from Jinn Leroy.
Meanwhile, Harry gently jested to her ear, of how he would have to increase his Auror skills just to stave off her growing list of devotees, for he is certain that she will be gracing once again the front pages of their periodicals, including being hailed, for the Nth time, as The Sexiest Witch in the Wizarding World.
This time, the teasing from Harry had her softly chuckling. And in that moment of loosened sense of self-guardedness, her sight got drawn to one witch. Her heart stopped at the quick but unmistakable fervour that flashed in such distinguished pair of emerald eyes, directed at her.
"Oh Merlin, she's—" Hermione started murmuring words of captivation and simultaneously castigated herself, "No, stop you idiot."
Hermione realised that nothing has changed when she sees those emerald eyes. Well, if she'd be brutally frank about it, she simply confirmed to herself something she had always known— Still. And. Only. Minerva. In. Her. Heart.
But five years of navigating and controlling of utmost longing, enduring anguish, and intense discontent had molded Hermione with grit to maturity. And just like the exemplary student she had been, she has learned one art of adulthood like no other, which is self-preservation. And all at once, she had her walls up. She switched to a higher gear of Hermione Granger Ministry Officer public persona and formally followed the rest of the program with a bit of detachment.
Much later when Kingsley Shacklebolt shook the hands of the newly ordained Aurors whilst he congratulated each of them, Hermione internally went through the wisdom of skipping the rest of the night versus the excuse she will be providing Jinn Leroy come by Monday for her sudden absence.
By three-fourths of an hour into the program, Kingsley led the remembrance of the fight against evil during the last war, and their responsibility to uphold the lessons and sacrifices. When he referred to the fallen, especially the ones at the Hogwarts battle, the crowd suitably sobered a bit. And then in no time, Kingsley called the official program over and wished them to enjoy the celebration.
Hermione turned to her best friends to tell them that she's now gunning to depart when Harry beat her.
"I know you're leaving." He quietly told her unspoken intent. "Let me just give Gin a word, then I'll go with you."
Before Hermione could form a response, Ron hushed to them, "You can't both leave. Shacklebolt would note of Hermione's early exit but he may not say anything. But if you also leave Harry, both of your sudden absence would really catch attention." Afterwards, Ron counter-offered, "But I can go with you, Mione. It is less obvious, obviously."
Hermione's heart tugged oh so tightly. She was reminded that she has the greatest of best friends. That nothing in this world can convince her that she did not win the lottery of best friendship.
Earlier when Audrey drawn their attention to the arrival of Minerva McGonagall with Kingsley Shacklebolt, Hermione's entirety shook for the absolute disinclination to be in the same room with the older witch. Contrary to the noise at the banquet that dramatically dropped when most of the crowd took notice of the Minister and the Headmistress appearance, the thundering of her heart radically escalated.
Nonetheless, as these initial seconds of distress were passing by, Hermione did not miss how Harry and Ron discreetly drifted to each of her side… as if to shield her from probable torment, which both have been doing in abundance for the last five years…
Following that night of 'explanations', of when Hermione admitted about being pregnant by Minerva, and of how she had entreated for their support as she intended to have the baby and keep the truth from everyone else, the golden trio friendship took another range of consummate devotion. From thereon, she could no longer count the number of times the guys purposely and literally dropped everything to be there for her.
When she journeyed to Australia to tell her parents, both Harry and Ron had insisted to accompany her. She rejected their offer and explained that she is planning to spend a week abroad and do not want them to miss as many days away from their jobs and families.
When Ron asked the reason for her decision to spend 7 days in Australia, she gave the explanation that in case her parents embrace her back into their lives, she did not want to return to London hurriedly. That she wanted to spend the week with her parents and to get to know their lives over there. At the same time, she thought of visiting the Aurors who helped in finding and guarding her parents. After all, one of those Aurors had become a friend.
Similarly, Hermione confessed to Ron and Harry that in the event that her parents permanently disown her once she comes out as gay and impregnated by a witch, she wanted to bear the heat, at least for the whole 7 days, to try and try to reconcile with her family.
Harry and Ron all the more pushed her to let them travel with her to Australia… Highly claiming of how it would be better for their peace of mind. That they are likely to worry so much while she is far away if they're not there for her, especially that she's pregnant. And so, off they went to Australia sometime in July 2000.
That day as they approach the house of Hermione's parents in Adelaide Australia, she almost broke Ron's forearm as she grabbed him to solicit some sort of support. Considering her strained relationship with her parents, simply put, she was terrified to the core that one of her assumption would be true… that the Grangers would be disgusted of Hermione and decisively cut all ties…
However, to her utmost surprise, and far from the dreaded reception she expected, she could not believe to see her mom, closely followed by her dad, barging out and reuniting with her, right there in front of the house, enveloping her in the tightest embrace. Something she had thought could only happen in movies.
"Hermione, sweetheart, we are so sorry. We are the worst parents for not truly listening to you. Please forgive us."
Those were Jean Granger tearful greetings at the front lawn. John Granger, also with welled up eyes, uttered words of how they are returning to London and just concluding their business in Australia, so they can be near Hermione.
It turned out that the Grangers finally realized their faults for not looking beyond Hermione's actions that actually protected their own lives. They told her that when they first received back their memories, along with the truth of the war and everything that had happened, it invoked immense fear and anger in them, of how they did not and cannot possibly protect their only child. The reality slapped them hard of how downright useless they are, for not being like Hermione— for being non-magical people.
Eventually they ushered inside the house and Jean Granger momentarily went to another room and came back with bunch of clippings that had not only Hermione gasped, but had Harry and Ron visibly stunned… Handed over to them by Mrs. Granger were cropped copies of Daily Prophet, Quibblers, and other missives that reported the atrocities of the last Wizarding war, which explicitly featured Hermione's heroic role in winning against Voldemort.
"Mom, why… where… HOW did you get these?" Hermione asked in an almost panting disbelief.
"Your professor paid us a visit last April."
"What… did you say…?"
To say that Hermione was unprepared for such answer would be an understatement. Hearing the word 'professor' sounded off like a rushing storm against her ears.
"Your professor brought them and told us that we better stop being fools."
Minerva. Who else? Hermione inferred, and such immediate supposition supplied by her brain had her heart in outcry.
"Your father and I had been lectured, and deservingly so, of how we are failing to see how special you are, not only because you have magical abilities. But because without a doubt you are one of the bravest person in your world…that you literally placed your life in peril in order to fight evil…that despite possessing extreme intelligence to know that the odds of coming out alive is almost equal to none. You did not waver with your courage."
Minerva. No one else. But Minerva.
The turmoil that exploded inside Hermione made it hard for her to say something… to ask something… for a confirmation… of which she was already grudgingly certain.
Perhaps Harry understood her inability to actually voice anything, or he too felt, to a degree, the conflict of already knowing the name of the professor and what it meant to reach out to the Grangers. Notwithstanding the fact that the Grangers have in their possession of Wizarding items is a categorical breach of one of the sections of the Secrecy Law. But then again, there is this one witch who is powerful and influential enough in their world who can handle any repercussion.
"Mrs. Granger, who was the professor who visited you?" Harry finally gave voice to the unasked question.
"Professor McGonagall."
There. Jean Granger's plain response had left no room for misinterpretation.
And yet, Hermione had to ask, "Mom, are you sure?"
"Of course, sweetheart. Although, I did not recognise her right away, not with her wearing our clothes. I mean, she was not in your customary attire that you call robes. And by the way, NOW I know what you meant when you said that your kind would age slowly... But I would say that she is rather aging backwards… And…was she really that beautiful up close? I was unsure whether I couldn't just remember after so many years, or you know, she has magic make-up."
If her situation with the mentioned witch were anything but such tangled complications, Hermione would have probably rolled at floor with laughter for her mother's reference of 'magic make-up'. And most of all, at Harry's fallen jaw and Ron's red face after he let out a crisp, 'bloody hell'.
"I beg your pardon Mr. and Mrs. Granger, for errr… cursing." Ron instantaneous stammered his apology. "I just could not believe… of her decision… and actually traveling… and deliberately ignoring rules… and forgoing de-glamour charms… by the Headmistress and… and…"
Despite the entire unfinished sentences, Hermione perfectly understood what Ron was trying to say. And understood too of his utter bafflement. She is disconcerted as well for the actions taken by Minerva McGonagall. Her mother said the visit was paid last April. Why the hell the older witch did not mention to her when they were together last May? Was it because it was not something for Hermione from Minerva…? But part of The-Great-Minerva-McGonagall's labor to fix the wrongs caused from the last war…? How could Hermione determine if the actions were from the woman who would bare oneself raw while in her arms, or from the all-too-important-witch mending everything in their world…? Why was McGonagall moving her world to be better, yet Minerva was roughly breaking her heart into thousand pieces?
Then Hermione vaguely heard her parents' inquiry, "She's now Hogwarts' Headmistress?"
Harry and Ron both nodded in reply. Further, Harry supplemented how the woman is the most qualified of all to head Hogwarts. He also mentioned that had Minerva McGonagall wanted, she could have taken the highest post of the wizarding version of their government for she has the competence and with unquestionable character.
"Oh, wow, we didn't realise she is that important in your world, and not just in your school. For one, she didn't bother correcting us with her title." Mrs. Granger informed them and then added, "But what you've just said," As she gestured to Harry, "somewhat explains how she dared giving these articles despite telling us it was illegal to do so."
So, Minerva did tell her parents about the violation.
"Obviously, she reckoned we needed to see them. And she was right... Although, she did ask if we could keep it in confidence…even asked if we could refrain from telling you Hermione."
And told them not to tell her. Classic Minerva.
"But Sweetheart," Jean Granger's intense brown eyes, directed the focus to the very similar pair of Hermione's. "Your father and I have discussed that if we want to reconcile as a family, we need to be honest with you. We agreed to be wholly open about how we came to understand the enormous harm we've committed against you… That we were practically shoved with these" Jean waved towards the missives, "for us to wake up."
Jean Granger's talk of honesty served as the dousing reminder that slapped Hermione. All at once, she was tossed into reality of how she could be losing her recently reunited family the moment she finished being completely truthful with them…
How could she tell them that the Hermione written in those news clippings was all gone? That the Hermione in front of them now is not at all that brave, nor that intelligent? That she is frightened to the core to tell them of something so fundamental about herself…. That she is that foolish to fall in love with one woman who cannot afford to love her back… The same woman who they know as her former professor— has gotten their daughter pregnant…
Oh Merlin, how could she break her parents' hearts once again?
"What is wrong, Hermione?" Her mother's much-concerned question penetrated her consciousness. And she was shocked to realise that she probably lapsed into prolonged uneasy silence. And even more shocked when she felt her mother wiped tears that she did not know that have started tracking down her face. "Just tell us Sweetheart. We'll listen to you this time."
"Mom, dad… You just said about honesty in our family and… and…"
How could she get her parents back and just lose them in the same hour?
Hermione had to pause. She seems incapable of getting the words out; the constriction in her throat was too severe... Plus the drumming in her heart had turned full rampage that she vaguely thought she would dangerously palpitate and drop dead. She concentrated so hard to gain the courage she desperately needed in order to get out the truth… But what is the truth…? How bloody hell can her muggle parents understand, more so accept and support her? This is insane. Everything is insane. And yet, this insanity is her life…
"Just begin anywhere Sweetheart."
It was the same old formulated words that Hermione used to hear from his father when she was a kid and had trouble explaining the jumble thoughts in her head, mostly because of disbelief of things that happened in front of her… It was the same gentleness from his father that would entice her into sense of open reception, and secured station that her parents would not fail her no matter what she reveals to them.
For some strange reason, her childhood safe phrase reminded her of that one incident when she was about 7 years old… pre-Hogwarts/ pre-wizarding consciousness…
She had gotten into a fight in the school ground earlier that day, of which she did not want to tell her parents. Not only because she knew they don't approved of fighting, but also knowing how the peculiar details of the fight were something she cannot explain. But her parents had guessed that something had happened, shortly after dinner, they sat her down. And then her father had said those words, in the same tone, she started spilling everything about the fight she had with other children.
Some mean kids teased her for reading too much, wherein one particular naughty kid snatched her book, the Notre-Dame de Paris copy that they gave her. And when the said kid did not want to return her book, she demanded it in anger. Hermione blabbered how the book flew back into her hands after she spoke the order. And how the leaves at the kids' feet turned into frogs that freaked them all, herself included, which ultimately dispersed the said fight. She recalled waiting for her parents to laugh hard at her story, or be scolded for the outrageousness of it all. But she was simply asked by her dad if she has told them everything.
"I'm not lying."
"We did not say that Hermione."
"I did not make it up."
"We merely asked if you have told us everything about the fight."
Confused with tears cascading her 7-year old face, she promised her parents that she had told everything… And to her surprised, her parents simply checked and re-checked that she didn't get hurt and then lovingly put her to bed…
Of course, no matter how bizarre that certain event in her young life, which in hindsight was apparently Hermione's accidental magic, she knew that it was nothing in comparison with what she was about to admit to her parents now…
Hermione considered abandoning her intent to tell the truth. But then she felt her mom's hand reached out to hers and did not let go. She swallowed the lump in her throat and in a voice that shook, she dove in with the admission, exactly in order of things she had them lined-up in her head…
1— That she is gay.
2— That she was involved and had fallen in love with a witch.
3— That witch is none other than Minerva McGonagall. The witch who visited them last April. And no matter how beautiful or how aging backwards she might be, the woman is in fact, decades her senior.
4—That the woman was her former transfiguration professor, former head of Griffindor House, and now the Hogwarts Headmistress, and the one witch who is front and center anchoring their recovering wizardng world…
5— And that involvement is regrettably nothing but a mere affair for Minerva. And that the affair is over.
6— And she's now pregnant from that affair.
7— And she would be hiding such pregnancy because apart from the fact that Minerva would not be involved with the baby, the pregnancy itself, even in the magical world, was one hell of an extraordinary kind of magic and she cannot fathom the ramification…
At the end of Hermione's litany of confession, she could not hold back but beseech for understanding and acceptance from her parents. With cascading tears she could not help the extreme vulnerability and neediness she was enveloped with.
"Mom, Dad, please, please, don't disown me. I cannot—"
"So, you're pregnant? How far long are you Hermione?"
"What? About 9 weeks… Mom… Did you not hear—"
"Yes, you're gay… Did you already take some prenatal care?"
Afraid that her parents had failed to comprehend the crucial details of her revelation, she had to back-up and slowly repeat some of them.
"Mom, I am pregnant. By a witch. By Minerva. By her magic. By my guess, it was mostly by her uncharted magic. She is one of the handfuls with such potent magic. But she will not be part of this kid's life…"
"Why, Minerva doesn't want kids of her own? I highly doubt she disfavours children."
"Mom, it's not THAT…" Hermione momentarily closed her eyes to gather her wits and her emotions. The mixture of elation and stupefaction for the lack of negative outburst from her parents was making her consider that she was thrown into a spinning twilight.
"Mrs. Granger, if I may ask," Ron benignantly intersected, "With due respect, how are you not bloody flipped out about Hermione getting pregnant by another witch? Because I have known magic all my life, and I did not even know that there is that exceptional magic to make that…that…real between witches... And I did, flipped out, so much when Mione told us…"
Leave it to Ron to express one of Hermione's foremost concerns, in the most unsophisticated manner, and still deliver the point of the matter.
"Oh Sweetheart…" Mr. Granger this time took Hermione's hand and lightly demanded her utmost attention. "As we've said… after we got back our memories and drove you away, it was not you that we could not accept back. It was our notion of 'you having magic should have exempted you from danger'… You see, when we first learnt of your ability when you got your Hogwarts letter, it was more of a relief."
"Relief? What do you mean?"
"When we found out that magic is real and that you are a witch— believe us when we say that it turned our world-up-side-down. But it gave us a sense of closure for all the unexplained things that happened before we've known about your gift."
"What unexplained things?"
Jean Granger took over with the account and lovingly smiled at her daughter before she divulged, "Hermione, you have no idea how countless heart attacks I survived whenever I would find you magnetizing your toys through thin air. Or the many items that keep on mystically appearing and disappearing when you were a toddler…"
"What? I had so many cases of accidental magic as a kid? You never told me."
"We told you about your dead Rose plant that phenomenally bloomed after you cried and cried in front of it."
Yes, she knew the story. But she knew it not from memory but from hearing its narration from her parents. She was too young to actually remember the incident. And she was told of the story only after she got her Hogwarts letter, and how they said it finally made sense to them. But a dead rose plant blooming because of Hermione's accidental magic is far from the multi-intricate circumstance of being impregnated by one Minerva McGonagall, and she had to lay down her cards once and for all.
"Mom, Dad, I have to know… Are you going to disown me, now that you know that I am gay? And pregnant by a witch? And I would be a single mother, not to mention hiding the fact from Minerva and the whole Wizarding world...about the baby?" Hermione sputtered her issues and then held her breath.
"Listen Hermione, we were wrong to push you away after we found out that you once wiped our memories, even after being told that it was for our protection… But we will not commit the same mistake of abandoning our only daughter. For what, because your gender partner preference is not typical? You are a witch for heaven's sake, nothing is typical about you…"
The liberation from within Hermione was unexplainable. Tears escaped her eyes in gladness at her parents' words of acceptance. Then she heartily laughed when her Mom addressed Ron's earlier remarks.
"That is why we are not 'bloody' flipping out… Besides, several of these articles have mentioned Hermione being the Wisest witch of your age; she may not have gotten her magic from us, but Sweetheart, where do you think you got your impeccable deductive reasoning? Also, both you and Harry already mentioned Minerva as someone with paramount magic, why would we not think she can't get you pregnant when it's a given you had sex."
"Mom!"
"Sweetheart, what is the point of denying about having sex with the woman, the woman you already mentioned you've fallen in-love and had an affair with? And, Minerva is brilliant and beautiful, and precisely your type."
"You're not bothered that she was my professor?" Hermione had to ask. "You don't think something improper happened when I was her student?"
"Oh, I doubt you would compromise your study for anything. Plus, from the moment you came home from school on your first year, you've been combining grumble and admiration of Professor McGonagall about her upstanding character and your penchant to frustrate her because of your adventures."
Hermione could almost laugh at the bizarre bluntness. But her mother eventually targeted the detail of how she would keep the baby from Minerva. The rattling from the great trepidation inside her regarding her grievous situation started once again.
"So Hermione, for an intelligent lady, why would you think you could hide your baby from this so called powerful woman in your world?"
Hermione could not decide if she should be surprised or not when her parents argued the same argument that Harry and Ron presented when she stated her reasoning. They deliberated back and forth for almost the entire week while they were there in Australia. She knew her parents were not fully convinced, but in the end, they truly wanted to rebuild their relationship as a family that they elected to just support their daughter's decision.
When Mr. Granger brought up a valid point of what if Minerva pays them a visit to ask about the baby, Hermione's had a real terror at the possibility. And the temper of her parents got a bit tested when they discussed the risk of magic being used on them to extract the information. Once again, the adequacy of being non-magical people dangled in front of them. It nearly created a new blemish on a mending family, but thankfully, none was willing to let that transpire.
Further, Harry stepped in and debated that he has every faith that Minerva is above using Imperius curse. He explained to the Grangers that it was unforgivable curse in their world and what it was all about. Hermione knew that Harry had spoken the truth; Minerva will not abuse the use of magic, especially on non-magical people…
On the day they were about to go home, Hermione was shocked when his father asked her if there is a magic spell that would prevent him and her mother to reveal the truth about her baby until she so wishes to have it known. She was so stunned that her parents actually wanted her to cast it on them before they move back to London. They cited that since they are unequivocally vulnerable against magic, they might as well be smart and have Hermione use it on them in a defensive strategy. Then Mr. Granger extracted from Harry and Ron a solemn promise to be there for Hermione and the baby come hell or heaven, specially that they are not part of Hermione's bigger world— their magical world… A promise Harry and Ron assured the Grangers that they have long committed to.
And five years later, there at the Ministry banquet, her best friends are being over the top in demonstrating such promise.
"Lets all three leave." Harry strongly proposed while muttering only for Hermione and Ron's hearing. "Lets cash-in Kingsley's long ago deal that he won't hold it against us if we're not around for these things."
True, Kingsley stroke a deal with them about attending that miserable afternoon at a still ruined Hogwarts and afterwards never bothering to obligate them to any Ministry events. But Hermione knew that Ron was making sense right now than Harry. That her absence will surely be noted. But she could really make an excuse if it comes down to needing to make one... But Harry is still Harry Potter and he is always under the spotlight, no matter how hard her best friend tries to blend with the rest of the Wizarding population. But Ron had discounted the he too is one-third of the said 'Golden Trio', and departing with him is still equivalent to two-thirds of missing Golden Trio compared if she goes alone… But of course, she comprehended her best friends' outmost intention…
"Be smarter guys. I will go alone. And you both fill-in for the three of us here." Hermione murmured back to them. "And our senseless discussion is costing me precious timing."
She hurriedly kissed them both in cheeks and about to go when Harry took hold of her arm and said, "Mione, do you want to have night cap later? I know your parents have Rose for the night, Ron and I could drop by your flat, or you could come over, for you know…"
Harry's serious olive eyes sought hers and Hermione knew he was speaking more than having a cuppa. Of course, none of them is incognizant of the fact that it is the first time after five years that Hermione's Seventh of May had turned uneasy because Minerva McGonagall suddenly decided to come back into the living, scratch that, into normal circulation…
For fuck's sake, the older witch had practically shuttered herself in Hogwarts. Gil Williams once slipped that the Headmistress had asked Kingsley to instead have their regular meetings at the castle, which the Ministry agreed to. And so Minerva McGonagall barely attended anything outside Hogwarts apart from handful of highly mandatory Ministry meetings, which were normally outside Hermione's breadth and thus afforded them to avoid each other…
"It's alright, Harry." She squeezed his hand in assurance. "We'll have breakfast tomorrow like we planned, alright? I promise I am not that… you know…" She kissed him again on the cheek and ultimately started walking out of the banquet.
Hermione made sure to be as subtle as she can to avoid attention to her departure or any unnecessary intermission by others who would want to converge with her. She had a prepared pretext of just stepping out to get something from her office in case she gets stopped. At mere meters from the elevator she internally sighed when she heard her name being called and she recognised the voice as one of the newly officiated Auror earlier. She ran the list in her mind and sought the correct name to address the young wizard.
"Mr. Martin, she began without turning. "I will be right back."
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Leroy asked me to tell you—"
"I just need to get something from my office." Hermione gently cut-off but then she inwardly cursed when instead of Martin, it was Gil Williams that responded to her.
"Get it later Hermione." She turned just in time to see the Minister's chief of staff just catching up to her with the new Auror. "Kingsley wants you to be in the official photo with the elves who just arrived for the celebration, and of course with the Headmistress."
As she marched back towards the banquet wherein there's a woman she was attempting to escape from, Hermione tried to stifle her extreme aggravation. But in doing so, some unguarded energy got released, which manifested in a sudden perceptible flare-up from the lighted candle that she passed by.
"Woah Hermione, was that you? How did you do that wandless?" Gil mistook the display as deliberate.
"By magic, Gil." She quipped playfully to hide the fact that she just had an accidental magic, something that had not happened for a long time... Well, five years have been a long time...Hermione rallied herself to finally face the woman.
End of Chapter 2 - Year 2005
Do you have suggestions on how this face-off should be? Let me know.
posted 2020 July 28