Hermione couldn't believe that she was finally out of Jane and John's house. She turned her head and looked up at the woman that held her hand. She smiled gently at her and then looked down at her copy of the paper informing Hogwarts that she was in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Edward McGonagall until farther notice. She was so happy for the first time in her life.

"Professor, what if I can't make any friends at Hogwarts?" asked Hermione as they walked down the street of Diagon Alley.

Minerva gave Hermione's hand a gentle squeeze. "Hermione please call me Minerva or Minnie outside of class all right? You will be staying with Richard and me."

"Yes, ma'am." said Hermione.

"Don't you worry you'll make friends soon enough. Who knows what fate might have in store for you wee one." said Minerva and smiled, "Life is full of surprises. Now, let's get this letter to the Headmaster. Then we'll meet Richard later for supper. I know your most likely hungry. So here eat this." She said pulling out a small box of ginger newts.

"Oh, thank you!" said Hermione taking the box and opening it up quickly. She stuck a cookie in mouth and held the box to Minerva. "Want one?" She said through the cookie.

Minerva shook her head and they continued down the road. She chuckled quietly at the young girl. She could tell that she enjoyed the cookies. She was now licking the box clean of crumbs.

The witches reached the large iron gates that lead to the legendary school of magic. Minerva pulled out her wand and tapped the gate several times and they swung open allowing them to enter the school grounds. They entered through the gates and they magically closed sealing itself behind the witches.

"Minerva, Albus asked me to meet you and to take you to his office." said Severus.

"Thank you Severus. Hermione, this is Professor Severus Snape. He will be your potions master. He is also the Head of Slytherin House." said Minerva introducing the dark wizard.

Hermione studied the tall man before her. He had chin length jet black hair, fare skin, deep brown eyes that looked nearly black, thin mouth, slightly crooked nose. He had a broad frame and wore black robes, was almost intimidating at the way he looked but his eyes were gentle.

"Hello Professor Snape. It's nice to meet you sir." said Hermione holding out her hand to the potions master.

Severus squatted down slightly until he was eye level with the girl. He gently took her hand into his larger one and brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly earning a giggle and blush from the girl.

Minerva gasped slightly at the magic that swirled around the couple. She knew that Severus felt the surge of magic around them, but he didn't let it on to frighten the young girl. She continued to watch in awe at the gray magic that was Severus swirl around Hermione's golden magic. She had heard of golden auras known to control the elements of plants. She had never seen it. She would have to discuss it with the Headmaster and now Severus since they were now tied to each, but she didn't know deep the connection ran for the Potions Master and her young charge.

"It's nice to meet you Miss Granger." said Severus in his slick baritone voice. He rose to his full elegant height. "Allow me to extort you to Headmaster Dumbledore."

"O-of course sir." said a slightly flustered Hermione. "Minnie, are you ok?"

This snapped Minerva out of her thoughts. "Yes dear. Let's go to the Headmaster. Then we'll get some dinner." Hermione nodded and followed them down the long road to the school.

The trio stopped in front of the large castle so Hermione could take in its wonder. She looked around in awe. It was like out of a fairytale she had read awhile back. It was amazing.

"This will be like your home for the next nine months." said Minerva with a smile. "I loved it so much that I became a teacher."

"What about Mr. Mc-I mean Richard doesn't he get lonely when you're here?" asked Hermione as they walked up the steps.

"He floos in during the evenings after dinner. He stays for awhile and then goes to the McGonagall Manor. Where we will be staying until the term starts. Richard knows it takes a lot to be a professor. He works all hours. He's always on call, because when it comes to children's safety it never stops." Hermione only nodded her head knowing that their arrangement must work because they seemed to be married for along time.

"Here you are Miss Granger, this will help you learn your way around Hogwarts." said Severus holding her out a piece of folded parchment.

"Oh thank you sir." said Hermione taking the map. "I'll learn it. Then I won't get lost on my first day of classes." She smiled at the map. "Sir I have a question."

"Yes Miss Granger?"

"Why don't you put maps in the first year's letters? Then that way they can learn the halls and were the classes are located."

"I'll bring it up to the Headmaster later." said Severus and smirked at her as they made their way down the many turns to the statue that guarded the Headmaster's office. "Snicker doodles," and the statue moved aside revealing a staircase. "Be careful it moves." he told the young witch.

Hermione nodded her head and they stepped onto the staircase. Severus gently grabbed Hermione's arm to keep her upright when the stairs begin to move. She looked up at the dark haired man and blushed slightly at him. The stairs stopped in front of a Mahoney door. Severus knocked on the door. They heard, "Enter," being called from behind the door. The Potions Master opened the door and allowed the witches to enter before him.

"Thank you sir." said Hermione and entered the large office followed by Minerva and Severus, who closed the door behind him.

"Ah, Professor McGonagall what brings you here this evening? I thought Richard was off this evening?"

Hermione slowly walked up to the man that reminded her of Santa but was thin and tall. He had fare wrinkled skin, blue eyes, crooked nose and wore strangely looking robes with a pair of half moon glasses. Hermione quietly handed him the paper.

"Albus this is Hermione Granger. Hermione this is Headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore." said Minerva introducing the older wizard to Hermione. "As you can see Hermione is in mine and Richard's care until farther notice."

The headmaster looked at the information and saw everything was in order. He hate to learn that another muggleborn had been abusive by their family because they were different. He flicked his wand and it magically filed in the young student's information.

"Well, Hermione it is wonderful to meet you, and I have known Minnie for a very long time. You are in wonderful hands. Now, I believe that is important to have you checked over by our nurse Madame Poppy Pomphery."

"Oh no sir. I'm fine really." said Hermione.

Minerva turned to her young charge and said, "Hermione Poppy will not hurt you. This isn't like the muggle doctors, everything is done with magic. I won't leave your side. I promise."

"You promise you want leave me." said Hermione in a small voice.

"I swear." said Minerva and sighed when Hermione nodded her head.

"We'll floo over because we don't want to cause any foreseen damage." said Albus causing Minerva to nod in agreement and they left through the fireplace after explaining it to Hermione.

00

Richard stood at the observing room behind the glass watching John Granger sit and wait for someone to enter. Richard crossed his arms over his chest grateful to be back in his black robes and out of the muggle suit he had worn at the Grangers house.

"Thank you Kingsely." said Richard taking the file from the black, bold man that wore purple robes. "This should be an interesting read. So this is from around the Granger's block?" Richard opened the folder and scanned the information it held. "Oh, so complaints were charged but nothing done."

"Will something be done now sir?" asked the rookie auror.

"Yes Kingsely much will be done. Hermione has been placed in mine and Minerva's care. And knowing Albus he has Hermione seeing Poppy as we speak. I want you to go over to Hogwarts after we question Mr. Granger and Mrs. Granger."

"But sir I can't be in there. I just graduated from the academy."

Richard up his hand on the tall man's broad shoulder and smiled, "Kingsley this is how you will learn. I want you to ask questions as you think it may pertain to this case."

"Thank you sir. I won't let you down." said the excited auror.

"I only ask you to do your best. This is why I requested you Kingsley. Your scores were very high now you just need guidance. Let's get to work." said Richard and Kingsely nodded his head grateful to be trained by a great auror and very caring man.

"Sorry I'm late Mr. McGonagall." said Beth Smith, who was apart of the muggle police force. "I got lost. This building is huge."

Kingsely chuckled at the woman. She had blonde curly hair, chubby figure and was short at 4'10 earning her handle Sortie. He shook his head at her playfully. He had worked with her several times over his short time with aurors.

"Let's get this man questioned." said Richard and trio entered the room. Richard placed the folder down on table. "Mr. Granger, you are here for charges of child abuse and neglect to one Hermione Granger."

John narrowed his eyes at the man before him, and sat back in his seat. He crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn't going to say a word. He had done nothing wrong, his daughter was freak.

Richard raised a questionable brow and opened the file of the muggle doctors. He flipped through the pages and found Hermione had gotten a broken right arm from falling out a tree according to Jane Granger. The list went on about a fractured ankle from stepping in a hole in the back yard according to Mrs. Jane Granger. Then one that stuck out was the broken fingers on her left hand from a door being closed on them. This too was reported by the mother.

"Hermione has a list of fractures and brakes, but I can see the excuses are well thought out Mr. Granger and all of them are from your wife. This is how I see it, you inflect the physical pain of the beatings and your wife breaks the bones. Am I correct?" said Richard waiting for answer.

John didn't answer the question. He sat still not caring what was being asked of him. He stared at the men and woman cross from him not caring in the slightest.

00

Hit the button and tell me what you think about chapter 2! You'll have to wait for answers in the next chapter!