A/N: I think I'll be dividing the scenes into chapters. Please enjoy, readers

After dinner, the little family and Hermione congregated on the porch. A cool summer breeze rustled the leaves of the treetops and a luminous moon lit the sky. Minerva reclined on the porch swing while Hermione sat at a little table with Johnny and Ian. Edward walked out onto the lamplit porch with a boardgame. The little plastic pieces rattled noisily as he emphatically dropped the thin box onto the table. "Why don't we play a game?" he called out enthusiastically.

Little John stuck out his tongue. "What do you mean play games? We never play games. This is stupid." He stayed put, but did not spare his mother a critical glower.

Minerva suddenly rose from her perch on the porch swing, dramatically wrapping her elegant frame in a thick tartan blanket. "Yes, of course Edward" she said, with a voice airy with wine. "I know a game. Let's pretend that we're the Ramsays."

"I don't know that one" Edward replied, absently entertaining Minerva's current whim.

"Well, of course Edward, you're a literary ignoramus" Minerva sneered and began to pace the porch in a sort of lilting dance. "Okay, who can name the novel where there is a family called the Ramsays and there is a lighthouse-"

"The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf" Hermione said quickly, hoping to calm whatever storm was brewing within Minerva. Frankly, she was surprised that Minerva had read muggle literature. Then again, being cooped up in the Scottish isles unable to do any magic...

"Very good, Hermione." she twirled around Hermione, grinning at her with a sickly sweet grin. "See now Edward? She dwarfed you!"

"How do you play, mom?" Ian asked, eager to take part in whatever game his mother was so excited about.

Minerva knelt next to her son, sincerity suddenly flooding her features: "We're going to pretend that we're a family called the Ramsays. And we're going to go to the light house.." she explained in a soft voice that she reserved for Ian alone. Hermione found herself wondering what it would take to get Minerva to talk to her like that.

Returning to her former tones of sardonic grandeur, Minerva rose dramatically and stood next to Hermione, "Now I'm Mrs. Ramsay, of course, because all the action revolves around me." Hermione, temporarily intoxicated by Minerva's scent, blinked at her. Minerva gazed back with a feverish intensity that made Hermione's lower abdomen quiver. "You, you're going to be Lily, the young, impressionable artist who is fixated by a painting with me in it." Hermione blushed and stumbled over one of the legs of the table.

Little Johnny groaned and pushed his chair out from the table, rattling the game. "Can't stand this stupid game." The door slammed shut as John stomped up to the little room he shared with his younger brother.

Hermione did her best to diffuse the tension. Crossing her arms over her chest, she addressed Edward and Ian: "Would anyone like a cup of tea?" Minerva's frame suddenly stepped in front of her. Hermione could feel the gentle grip of Minerva's slender hands against her shoulders.

"Oh Lily, Lily, you're so kind!" Minerva bubbled in a light brogue as she swung her blanket around Hermione, engaging her with her smile and sparkling eyes. A strand of ebony hair fell loose from her bun and gently brushed Hermione's cheek, tickling a smile from the bushy-haired girl.

Edward saw how his wife looked at Hermione, and how his family was already threatening to fall apart. He swallowed nervously. "I think that's enough Minerva."

Minerva halted immediately and her arms dropped to her sides. "Hermione, please put the kids to bed." Minerva looked at Hermione with longing while Edward fixed her with a stern expression.

"Are you Hermione or Lily?" said Minerva, taking one of Hermione's hands in her own. "Because if you're Lily, you're my friend. But if you're Hermione, you're my slave." Hermione gazed at the floor. Though Minerva's words dripped in cynicism, there was a grain of truth there. "So which is it?" Hermione saw the conflict clearly, and knew that she was going to end up a pawn either way.

"That's enough," Edward bellowed.

Minerva leaned in at Hermione's downturned face, "Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?" Minerva looked at Hermione insistently. Hermione hesitantly met her gaze,

"I, I don't know what to say Mrs. McGonagall." She didn't know if she should be embarrassed or sorry for Minerva. Her tongue was in knots.

Edward stepped between the two women. "Now, Hermione, you don't have to answer that." Edward blocked Minerva from Hermione's view. "Don't worry, don't say a thing." Hermione averted her eyes yet again and turned away from Edward's imploring look.

Hermione took Ian's quivering hand and led him inside, leaving Minerva and Edward to sort out their differences...if they ever would.

"Let's go sweetie"