"What are you going to do about your parents?"

Hermione gave a start at the question which had come from nowhere. They had both finished their meals and the plates had vanished magically, replaced with sticky date pudding. Her spoon dropped back into the bowl and she stared at it for several moments.

"I don't know."

"Are you going to find them?" McGonagall continued to eat, watching as her student struggled with her thoughts.

"I want to, but I can't."

"Why not, dear?"
"They could be anywhere, I don't know where to start. And I don't have the time, and it's too big a job for me, and…" she trailed off. The older woman reached across the table and patted her hand comfortingly.

"And?"
"And… what if they're happy without me?"

How could she take them away from a life she had forced them into if they were happy? It was hard to imagine that even if she did manage to find them and could reverse her spell that they would understand why she did what she did. All her life they loved her and cared for her and were so joyous when they found out that she'd been invited to Hogwarts. It was strange to them, but they accepted that she was a witch with the same love that she could expect coming out as a lesbian (in fact they often joked that she had come out of the broom closet). However, she never quite revealed to them the extremes of what would happen year to year. If they found out that by going to this school and being friends with Harry she was constantly putting herself in serious danger they never would have let her continue learning. So, she had kept them in the dark, and even if she gave them their memories back they wouldn't understand why. It'd just hurt them.

"Hermione, the happiness they feel in their new life is not true joy. Knowing that they've held their new born baby and dropped you off on your first day of school and remembering all the times they've seen you smile- that's what a parent's happiness is. If they're happy now, it is a lie and a part of them will know it. Besides, you need your mother and father more now than ever, and they would want to be there for you."

McGonagall squeezed Hermione's hand and the teenager looked at her, swallowing self-pity. The girl wondered how much this private woman knew about family. Did she have any children herself? Had she known those little joys she mentioned?

"But how can I find them?"

"You have many friends, dear, even if you don't realize it. Even if Ron and Harry aren't able to help, I promise I will. We will make a plan and you will be reunited with your family. I promise."

The promise was a big one, Minerva knew, because they couldn't even be sure that the Grangers were still alive and well in the same country, but it was important. She reminded herself that she did have contacts in Australia too, and the Australian Bureau of Sorcery would most likely be able to help. Together two of the greatest witches of their time could certainly complete this mission. Time was the only element that stood in their way.

Hermione was still uncertain when she left Professor McGonagall's office, but there was a small light of hope that at least she wouldn't be alone. She trudged from Headmaster's Tower towards Gryffindor Tower on the seventh floor. It was dark enough that she needed to use magic to light the way and portraits woke long enough to chide her for it. She had only gone two floors when Nearly Headless Nick came barrelling from the direction of the library screaming, "There's been an attack! An attack on Hogwarts!" Startled, Hermione lost her footing on the stairs and slipped. She landed on the stairs, scraping her knees, but Nick kept coming and passed right through her.

"Nicholas, wait," she yelled as she pulled herself up, "what happened?"

He stopped as if surprised to see her and came back to her side. "In the library," he said, "the books are ruined, the walls a soaked: it's an attack." All around them the portraits murmured and yelled back.

Hermione's heart hammered in her chest. No one evil could have gotten into the school unnoticed, she was almost certain of that. The almost was the part that worried her. Her mind flickered to Bellatrix Lestrange and she felt fear rising like bile in her throat. She had to stay calm. To ground herself she gripped her wand as tight as she could and forced herself to breathe deep breaths.

"Was anyone hurt?" She asked.

"No," Nicholas answered.

"Did you see anyone?"

"No."

"Then it must have been Peeves." Hope loosened the tightness in her muscles.

A deep, frightening voice from behind her made her squeal in fright. "It wasn't Peeves." The Bloody Baron had emerged from the wall. "He's been in the Dungeons." Hermione shivered. She wasn't sure if it was because she was surrounded by bone-chilling ghosts or because she was afraid.

"Go get the headmistress," she murmured, hugging herself tight, "she'll know what to do."

As the ghosts floated through the floor, Hermione sat on the stairs and waited. She didn't want to go into the library alone if there was a chance a death eater was waiting. Could they have known she would be here alone? No, she told herself, no.

Minerva ran from her office the moment the Bloody Baron had arrived there and she appeared on the stairs shortly after. Seeing Hermione rocking slowly, she bent to put a hand on the young witch's shoulder. The girl was breathing short, shallow breaths.

"It's okay Hermione, you wait here," she said quietly.

"Don't leave me alone."

"I'll be right back."

Despite her fears Hermione got to her feet and grasped McGonagall's arm. "I'm coming with you," she said fiercely. Minerva just nodded and led the way to the library.

Inside it was a mess. Books had been torn apart and tossed around, the walls were covered in a wet goo that seemed be have come from the bottom of the lake and there was a message written in what seemed like blood on one of the bookshelves.

I'm back.

Hermione stared around, eyes jutting to dark corners as if seeking out the person who did this, but McGonagall seemed to relax. They stood in silence for a minute when movement and yelling came from a hole where a wall used to be.

"STUDENTS OUT OF BED, STUDENTS OUT OF BED," Filch roared. He stopped when he saw McGonagall he reached up as if searching for a hat to remove. "Professor. You caught one." He said, gladly.

"Filch, there are no students in the school other than Hermione, and she is with me." McGonagall seemed annoyed, "She certainly did not do this." She indicated towards the writing on the wall, making Filch turn.

His face went white. Whiter. He sputtered. "I'll kill them," he said under his breath before repeating it loudly, "I'll KILL THEM."

"You won't be killing anyone, Argus." Minerva managed to keep her head despite all of it. "Ask the portraits if they've seen anyone lurking around."

There were a couple of portraits just now poking their heads around their frames. They pulled back again when Filch glared their way. "Yes ma'am," he muttered.

"Come on, Hermione, I'll see you to the Fat Lady." Minerva said kindly and Hermione nodded. She had been quiet this entire time, but now she was glad she wouldn't have to walk the rest of the way alone.

They didn't speak much as they walked, but when they reached the entrance to Gryffindor tower McGonagall promised to tell her if anything came up. Hermione nodded and said goodnight before slipping inside. It had been a long night, but she couldn't sleep knowing there might be someone lurking in the castle waiting for her. When she finally drifted off she had nightmares about the different people who might want to hurt her.

-notes-

((editted))