The weeks passed quickly and in relative ease for Hermione. She still had trouble sleeping indoors and was often plagued with nightmares, but she knew that she would get better. Her mother supported her and helped her as much as Hermione would allow, and Rolanda did everything she could to help ease the young woman's fears and her anxiety. More often than not the two of them ended up in that little clearing, talking, laughing, and and sleeping side by side. Often Hermione would wake up with Rolanda wrapped around her from behind, acting as the big spoon and the thick blanket they used to protect them from the dew on the grass.

They hadn't slept in the clearing last night. Rolanda had been on patrol around the perimeter of the school, keeping watch for any stray Deatheaters that might decide to pick a fight with anyone left behind the walls of Hogwarts. Hermione had slept in Gryffindor tower, alone, and woke in the wee hours of the morning clawing at her throat, desperate for air. It was a quick, flawless change that had her hurtling through the portrait opening and tearing down the stairs, which seemed to move exactly where she wanted to go, as if the school was trying to help her escape her fear. She stopped in front of the doors, panting, but turned and headed in the opposite direction. Her mother's rooms weren't far and she knew that the older woman would welcome her with open arms. She had soothed many nightmares before.

She made it in record time and Godric's portrait, recognizing her even in her animagus form, swung open without even asking for the password. Within seconds Hermione had leapt into her mother's bed and was cowering against her chest.

The sudden weight and brush of fur on Minerva's chest woke her and she glanced down. The kitten huddled against her was unfamiliar, or was, until familiar brown eyes turned to her and she knew without doubt who was curled against her. Her daughter was terrified and all thoughts of scolding her for being an animagus and not telling her left her mind. She sat up carefully and folded her arms around the shivering creature. She could feel the terror rolling off of her child and did the only thing that she could think of. She held her close and rocked with her until she felt Hermione's breathing begin to even out and she felt the feline begin to purr in her arms.

"Can you change back, love?" Minerva asked. There was a soft pop and Minerva found herself with her arms full of her daughter, a half asleep daughter.

Hermione pressed her face into her mother's neck and breathed deeply, feeling the effects of her nightmares fade and discovering that she was still incredibly tired. "Thank you."

"Hermione, Darling, you don't have to thank me. You can always come to me if you are frightened." Minerva brushed her daughter's thick hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. "I will always be here."

The young woman hummed and nestled closer into the warmth of her mother, content to stay in the circle of safety that she felt in Minerva's arms. It had always been this way. She had always sought out Minerva when she was scared or lonely or just needed someone to talk to. The change in their relationship hadn't changed that.

"Are you alright now?" Minerva asked and felt her child nod against her neck. "Then we should talk about this new ability of yours that you didn't tell me about."

"Or we could not, and you could just forget that you saw it." Hermione murmured, shifting away from the older woman. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell her, it was that she was afraid of what Minerva would say about it.

"Hermione, I don't think I need to tell you how dangerous it was for you to do this."

"You don't. I know exactly how dangerous it was. I did it because I honestly didn't think I was going to survive the war. If I was going to die one way or another, I might as well have died learning something that could be useful to surviving." The brunette stared at her hands as she spoke, not wanting to see the look in the older woman's eyes.

"Hermione," Minerva sighed. "I am not angry with you."

The young woman's head snapped up. "You're not?"

"No, I am disappointed," She placed a finger over her daughter's lips when she tried to speak. "Not in you. I am disappointed that I won't have the opportunity to teach you myself. I am proud of you for managing to accomplish it on your own. I am also proud of the form that you take." She ran her hand over the bushy curls and cupped the girl's chin in her palm.

"You aren't upset?"

"Oh I am upset with you, you could have died, but I am not angry, and I am not disappointed. I simply wish that I could have taught you to do this myself, rather than you doing it alone."

"I honestly didn't even think about it. I knew we had to have an advantage, and everything that could be used in our favor, needed to be used. I did it myself because I didn't think you would have the time to teach me. Not with everything that happened at the end of 6th year. I didn't want to burden you with it."

"You, Hermione, have never been a burden. You are my child, my daughter. I could never see you as a burden."

"I didn't know that then, but even if I had, there was so much that happened that year, you had so much on your plate, I wouldn't have asked you to teach me because you already had enough to deal with."

"Hermione I want you to promise me something." Minerva said.

"What?"

"If you ever, and I do mean ever, need something you will come find me. Especially if there is a skill that you want to master. Being an animagus is a huge step and I couldn't be prouder of you for becoming one, but the thought of you doing this by yourself terrifies me. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you because of this." she wrapped her arms around her daughter and held her for a moment.

"I promise."

"Good. Now, come. We should dress and then get breakfast. I have a meeting with Filius this morning so I can't stay and have breakfast with you." They both stood and the older woman grabbed her own clothes and headed for her bathroom, but before she passed through the door, Minerva flicked her wand at Hermione's nightgown, transfiguring it to a light summer dress. She didn't miss the the flinch on her daughters face when her wand was pointed at her and she tutted. Dropping her clothes she opened her arms to Hermione and wrapped her up when she flung herself into them.

"Thank you, Mom." Hermione heard Minerva gasp above her head, knowing that it was the first time that she had ever called the older woman by the word.

"I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too, Mom."

A/N - ANOTHER ONE!? WHAAAAT? Could I really be back? Maybe for good this time? YAAAAY! Read and Review my lovelies. I live for R&R. I love you all! Let me know what you think!