Hermione had decided, much to Minerva's disappointment, that it would be best if the Scottish witch shared the news of Hermione's well-being to her friends and family while Hermione stayed in Minerva's small cottage in the Scottish tundra. While Minerva was happy that Hermione had found somewhere she so obviously felt safe, she was beginning to worry about Hermione's utter reluctance to step outside her haven.
This is what brought Minerva once again to Mrs Granger's house, only this time it wouldn't be just the two of them. Harry and Ron would also be in attendance, along with young Ginny Weasley, who had been quietly stewing about her best friend's disappearance.
Mrs Granger stepped aside silently to let Minerva in, before closing the door and walking towards the kitchen, the chattering stopped as soon as Minerva entered the room.
"I found her." She spoke, a smile pulling at the corners of her lips at the relief on everyone's faces. "She is taking some time to re-adjust at the moment, but wants you all to know that she is safe." There was a long pause.
"Where is she?" Mrs Granger asked, wiping relieved tears from her face.
"She is currently staying in my home." Mrs Granger nodded, having had some time to accept that her daughter shared an obvious bond with the woman before her.
"Why isn't she here?" Ginny asked, her voice holding a quiet fury.
"Ginny-" Harry began, placing his hand on her arm to quiet her.
"No!" She snatched her arm away and stood, beginning to pace. "She's been gone for almost a year! She's left us to worry ourselves half to death about her and she can't even be arsed to tell us herself that she's ok!"
"Gin you don't know what she's been through-" Ron began, trying to ease his sister's temper.
"No I don't, because she ran away. She left us all Ron! She wasn't the only one going through a bad time! We lost our brother!" Angry tears began to fall from Ginny's eyes as she turned to face away from the group. There was a long silence filled only with Ginny's rattling breaths as she tried to control her emotions.
"When do you think she'll be able to see us?" Harry asked, making Minerva momentarily take her eyes off Ginny's back.
"Regrettably I cannot give you an answer, Harry." She replied. "I wish I could." She admitted. "As soon as she is ready, but not a moment before, I will ensure that she reconnects with you all." Ginny scoffed and shook her head, turning to face Minerva.
"So she can 'reconnect' with you, her old teacher, but not us?! Her friends and family!" There was a charged moment as Ginny and Minerva held eye contact, neither of the two backing down, both Ron and Harry seemed shocked that Ginny had dared blow-up at someone they all respected. "Un-fucking-belivable." Before Minerva could even open her mouth, Mrs Granger stepped in.
"Ginny... You- we all need to trust Minerva." Ginny turned to face her best friend's mother. "Ronald was right, we don't know what she's been through, but I know my daughter best and for her to run away is very telling of just how scared she is. I, for one, am happy she is with Minerva, because I know she is safe and right now that is my primary concern. It should also be yours." Ginny shook her head in anger and apparated from the kitchen with a loud crack. Harry sighed and as Ron stood, he put a hand on his friend's arm.
"I'll go after her mate." Harry said, standing.
"You sure?" Harry nodded and wished both Minerva and Mrs Granger goodbye, before also apparating out of the room. "I suppose I'd better go to, I'll tell mum and everyone that Hermione's ok... I'll also make sure they keep it on the quiet for now." Minerva smiled.
"Thank you Ronald." He smiled and shrugged.
"The less fuss we make about her coming back, the more comfortable she'll be to actually come back... Or at least I hope that's how it works." He laughed slightly and apparated away, leaving Mrs Granger and Minerva alone.
Minerva lost her composure for a moment and let out a sigh, before turning to face Mrs Granger.
"How is she Minerva?" The woman asked, inviting Minerva to sit down for the first time since entering the room.
"She is well enough, considering." Minerva answered, taking a seat. "She is... Reluctant to leave the cottage. It seems as though her year in the wilderness has turned her somewhat wild."
"What do you mean?" Mrs Granger asked.
"She seems to have forgotten some of the basics, shall we say. She is constantly on high alert, I would wager that she has not slept for more than a few hours a night... I cannot tell if she is getting better or not, though it has only been a few days." There was a long silence. "One of her main worries was, in fact, you." Minerva began. "She admitted to me that she placed a memory charm on both you and Mr Granger shortly before the war, and sent the two of you to Australia." Mrs Granger nodded. "She was not the one to retrieve you."
"No, she wasn't... Someone from the Ministry, I can't remember his name now, found us and replaced our memories." There was another long pause.
"May I ask where Mr Granger is?" Minerva spoke, immediately regretting doing so at the look on the woman's face before her.
"I imagine he's in the pub... That's where he spends all of his time and money." Minerva's heart sank, before she remembered that Hermione would feel her emotions through their bond and she quickly clamped down on her feelings. "I hope that now 'Mione's back, he'll get his act together. He only started drinking because he couldn't cope with her disappearing..."
"Do you want me to be here when you tell him that she is back, Mrs Granger?" The other woman pulled a face.
"Call me Jean, and no, but thank you. I'll tell him after he sobers up tomorrow morning." Minerva nodded and stood up.
"I think perhaps I have been away from Hermione for too long." Jean nodded and reached her arms out to hug Minerva.
"Thank you so much for finding my daughter, I trust that you will keep her safe."
"I will." Minerva replied with absolute certainty, before apparating back to her cottage.