Minerva turned to Hermione. "It's late and I'm sure you're tired but you need to eat before bed."

"But-"

"Nope, no 'buts'. You at least need to eat some toast. It'll help with anxious energy. And then I'll show you where you'll be staying."

"Can't I just stay in the Gryffindor Tower?"

"Not until Poppy has cleared you to go back to classes. Until then, you'll be staying with me so I can be sure you're safe."

Hermione thought longingly of the razors she had tucked into her trunk. "Is my trunk already here?"

"Yes, your trunk has already been moved. And there's toast that we can eat here or in the Great Hall. It's up to you."

"Can we go down to the kitchen to make the toast?"

McGonagall pursed her lips. "You may remember that students are not supposed to encroach on the house elves."

"I know, but I want to make it myself. Please?"

"No, not tonight. I'll send for toast to sent to my-our- quarters." McGonagall led Hermione through a door at the far end of her office. "We both have our own bedrooms, so long as you prove that you can be left alone, it will stay that way. We also have a shared living space. Now, why don't you go change into something more comfortable while I send for the toast?"

"Alright," Hermione went into the room that she had been shown and threw open her trunk.

"Professor?" she called as she pulled her robes over her head and threw them into the trunk."

"Yes?"

"I-um...can you come in here?
"Is something wrong?"

"No! Yes? I don't know."

Hermione stood awkwardly in her underwear while she listened to Professor McGonagall's footsteps getting closer. When she reached the doorway, Hermione was in tears. Professor McGonagall gently gathered the sobbing child into her arms and lowered them to the floor.

"Hush now, Mo Stoirín. I've got you. You're okay. You're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Gradually, Hermione's tears subsided. Professor McGonagall summoned a soft, red blanket and swaddled the nearly naked teen in her lap.

"Do you want to talk?"

Hermione sniffled and burrowed into the blanket. "It hurts."

"What hurts?"

"My heart. It aches." Hermione clenched her fist. "Professor Dumbledore brought me back here. I could've ended everyone's problems."

"That's nonsense! You are not a problem!"

"Then I am a burden."

"No!"

"Are you or are you not taking the time to care for me?"

"Yes, but-"

"Is another teacher covering for you until Madam Pomfrey deems me stable? If not, will another teacher be watching me while you teach?"

"Well, yes…"

"Then I am a burden."

"No!"

"Why not? Can you convince me otherwise?"

Minerva blinked, opened her mouth and then closed it again.

"Ha! You can't convince me otherwise. You should have let me jump. It would have ended my suffering and prevented the suffering of the child I am carrying."

"Miss Granger-"

"Professor, please. I want to be alone right now"

Minerva started to argue but thought better of it. "Very well. You have 10 minutes. I'll be right outside and when you're 10 minutes are up, we'll talk more."

Hermione nodded and watched the door close before she reached into her trunk and pulled out an ornate box that she had gotten on holiday. Inside it, lay a dozen razor blades. Selecting one, she double checked the door before sitting in the corner. She placed a hand on her belly.

"It's alright little one," she whispered, turning the blade in her hand. "You're alright."

Placing the blade against her wrist, she closed her eyes.

"It'll be alright," she said, drawing the blade down her arm. The blade hit the floor with a clatter.

"Hermione? Miss Granger, are you alright? Open the door, please. Let me in."

Hermione could hear McGonagall's tone becoming more and more frantic. The door slammed into the wall and she felt strong arms lifting her before she lost consciousness.