Summer arrived quickly for the McGregor family. They had travelled to Caithness and enjoyed time to themselves and with their extended family. Robert and Isobel were frequent visitors and spoiled Hermione with attention. Minerva enjoyed the freedom of being herself and taking her daughter to places she enjoyed as a child.

In early August, Dougal and Minerva took Hermione to see the Potters and their new baby. Minerva grinned as she witnessed her daughter's face light up in pure joy at seeing the baby. "Harry," Hermione said and reached for the baby.

"She seems excited to meet Harry," Dorea Potter commented.

Minerva smiled at her friend. Charles and Dorea Potter had a bout with Dragon Pox a few months ago but pulled through with the quick thinking of Severus Snape. He had been researching in the Potter library with Lily when he noticed the symptoms and convinced them to seek medical attention. James Potter had been devastated by the near death experience of his parents and profusely thanked Severus for his intervention. James had also apologized to Severus for every ill-fated prank pulled on him.

Minerva sat Hermione down on the floor and watched as the girl walked slowly towards Lily Potter who was holding Harry. The not quite one year old peered at Harry and then grinned at Lily. "Harry sleeps," she whispered.

"He tends to do that alot," Lily replied and watched as Hermione giggled.

Hermione leaned down and kissed Harry's forehead gently. Before Minerva could scold her for it, a pale white mist enveloped them. "What's that," James asked suprised.

"I'm not certain," Minerva replied suprised. "Soul bonds are golden in color."

"That's a familial bond," Sirius answered as he stared wide-eyed at the babies. "Legend states fate will grant that bond to help when an unbearable task is set on another. They form a familial relationship to help shoulder the struggle and balance the emotions. Legend also states those bonds only initiate after the unbearable task is nearly finished."

"There's a prophecy and Albus believes it is referring to Harry," Lily admitted. She looked back at the small girl. "Are you meant to help Harry?"

"Already did," she commented matter-of-factly. "Harry's my brother!"

"Don't correct her," Dorea cut Minerva off as she saw Minerva's expression. "If fate seemed fit to give them this connection then no one else will disregard it."

Minerva nodded her acceptance to Dorea. Already did! Did Hermione remember the other timeline? Minerva watched as Hermione moved towards Severus and demanded to be picked up. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed dramatically. Severus chuckled at the brown eyed beauty before asking, "Do you require something Hermione?"

The baby grinned at him before uttering, "Book?"

"I don't have one with me," he answered. "I shall read to you this evening."

Hermione frowned sadly and silent tears coursed down her cheeks. Before a word could be said, a book floated to Severus. He started to scold Hermione for using magic to get a book that didn't belong to her but she seemed as startled by its appearance as he did.

"Hermione didn't do that, did she?" Minerva asked as she saw his expression. Severus shook his head no.

"Mione sad," Lily said as she stared at her son suprised. "Harry flashed an image of Hermione's teary-eyed expression in my mind and then the words. I felt a push against my magic and the spell plucked from my mind."

"The bond must work both ways," Charles Potter said. "Hermione did say she already helped Harry. Maybe it was in a way we won't know about." Charles chuckled at the impatient look on Hermione's face. "It looks like Severus will get to read to young Hermione afterall."

Severus frowned at the girl's excitement but settled down in a chair, pulled her up in his lap and opened the offered book. Before he started to read, Harry apparated into Severus' arms. The dark-haired wizard said nothing as he tightened his grip on the baby and started to read Hogwarts: A History to the children. The others in the room stared wide-eyed at the days old baby that managed so much magic within minutes. It was unbelievable!

Isobel McGonagall looked at her daughter after she had thought about the familial bond. "My visitor said her bestfriend was destined to stop Voldemort. She said Albus kept too much information to himself and you were too broken to help like you should have. Maybe you completing your soul bond corrected enough to enable the familial bond to occur."

"What am I supposed to help with though?" Minerva questioned in frustration.

"Of that I am unsure," Isobel said. "However I feel the familial bond is important, too important to not protect. I think you, Dougal and the Potters need to discuss worst case scenario. Change your will and have custody of Hermione switched to the Potters if something were to happen to Dougal and you. Ask the Potters to do the same regarding Harry."

Minerva stared at her mother in confusion. "Do you think that's wise? To have the bond made public knowledge?"

"It doesn't have to be," Isobel answered. "Silently have your wills adjusted and copies given to each other for safe guarding. It wouldn't hurt to have a plan for the muggle world too!"

"I shall speak to them," Minerva promised.

Dougal was sitting on a blanket enjoying the warm weather as he watched his daughter play on her new tree house. He had had it built on the Hogsmeade property while they were staying in Caithness and suprised Minerva and Hermione with it. The girl loved it and immediately went to investigate it. Minerva loved the safety wards he asked Severus to install on it. Hermione couldn't climb yet so the tree house was very low to the ground with a long ramp with rails to ensure Hermione was able to utilize it independently.

"Evening love," Minerva said as she sat down on the blanket beside of him. She gently laid baby Harry on his tummy on the blanket.

"When did you get Harry?" he asked suprised.

"Lily needed to help Severus with a few orders and I volunteered to watch him," she answered. "Hermione is always happy to see Harry."

As if on cue, a tiny voice yelled, "Harry!"

"I rest my case," Minerva said with a grin as Hermione rushed over to lay with Harry.