Snape saw Hermione curled into herself with her hands over her ears. He walked towards her and she screamed. Hundreds of memories came rushing towards him and he found himself lifted off his feet as they sucked him in. His feet hit the ground and he looked around him. A 5-year-old Hermione sat on her bedroom floor, watching as her paper cranes flew around her room.
"Hermione!" a kind voice called out. "Where are you?"
"I'm in my room, mummy!"
A brunette woman poked her head around the corner. "There you are-HERMIONE JEAN WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!"
The paper cranes dropped to the floor as Hermione clapped her hands over her ears. "I'm sorry, mummy!"
"You had better be sorry! Get over here right now!"
Hermione slowly got to her feet and walked to the doorway. Her mother grabbed her arm and pulled her into the hallway. Snape followed and saw that Hermione's mother had a lit cigarette in the hand not gripping Hermione's arm. Snape braced himself for what he knew was coming and turned away. He listened to Hermione cry out and turned back to see the round cigarette burn on her arm.
"Mummy, I'm sorry!" Hermione wailed.
"You. Are. A. Freak!" her mother punctuated every word with another burn.
Hermione's screams and the smell of burning flesh was overwhelming. Severus closed his eyes and whispered: "You'll be safe with Minerva." before exiting her mind.
"Well?" Molly demanded the second Snape his eyes.
"You were right. So many horrible things have been done to her. It's a wonder she's alive. I believe she will best recover under the care of Minerva."
"Me? Why me?"
"Isn't it obvious, Minerva?" Molly said "You're the head of her house and the girl loves you."
"But...I don't know the first thing about parenting!"
"You know that's not true!"
"Why don't we wake her and ask her ourselves?" Snape sneered. "Ennervate!"
Hermione opened her eyes, tears still streaming down her face.
"Hermione," Molly said, "after you are removed from your parent's custody, you will require a new, preferably magical, guardian. Is there any one particular you would like the ministry to consider?"
"Yes, I do. But she may not want to."
"Who is it?"
Hermione blushed. "I was hoping that Professor McGonagall would be willing…"
"Well, then it's settled. I'll call in to prepare the paperwork. Minerva, I'll send an owl with the trial details." Molly walked over to the fireplace, too her floo powder and said "The Burrow!" leaving Minerva and Hermione on their own.