Minerva arrived outside of the wards to her cottage, making her way into her small garden and rushing into the house. She felt an intense amount of anxiety that was difficult for her to control, even though she knew she was not experiencing her own feelings here.
"Hermione?" Minerva called, hoping to alert Hermione to her presence instead of catching the younger witch by surprise.
"Thank Merlin you're back." A voice rushed out from seemingly nowhere, before the owner of the voice appeared before Minerva. "You can't leave me for that long again."
"Well perhaps next time you can be the one to talk to your family." Minerva snapped, instantly regretting it. "I am sorry for that." She spoke quickly. "That was not fair."
"It's fine-" Hermione started.
"It is not-" Minerva tried to reply, stopping her speech when Hermione held up a hand.
"I imagine you had a... Stressful time at my mothers, and I don't think my rather intense feelings being piled on top of your own was helpful." Minerva sighed.
"That does not excuse what I said." Hermione smiled, her hand finding Minerva's arm and squeezing slightly for a small moment.
"No, but it explains it." There was a long pause as Minerva took of her cloak, draping it over the back of a chair before moving to make herself a cup of tea. Hermione watched, finding the woman's movements comforting.
"Tea?" Minerva asked, looking up momentarily to see Hermione nod, and then she resumed her task. "It is rather unsettling to be stared at, Hermione." Minerva teased, handing a steaming mug to Hermione and gesturing for the two of them to sit down.
"Sorry," Hermione started. "I find it calming to watch you." Minerva smiled warmly and waved a hand dismissively.
"Then by all means, do continue." The two women shared a laugh before the mood turned serious. "Naturally, I was asked when you would be back. Or at least up to visitors." Hermione nodded, tucking a strand of unruly hair behind her ear.
"I thought as much... I think... I think maybe I'd be up to seeing my parents." Hermione's voice cracked as tears sprang to her eyes. She coughed to clear her throat and wiped her face. "How are they?" She asked tentatively.
"They are well. Your mother is aware of our bond." Hermione's eyes widened in surprise and Minerva felt a surge of fear strike through her. "Do not worry, she seems accepting."
"And my dad?" There was a long pause in which Minerva avoided making eye contact with Hermione. "Minerva? Just tell me the truth." There was a sigh before Minerva spoke.
"Your mother had the impression that he would have been at the pub." Hermione pulled a face.
"He doesn't drink, really. Maybe a glass of wine with the Sunday dinner but... He's just not that kind of person..."
"Apparently your father has taken to drinking in recent months." Hermione pulled another face and Minerva continued. "In order to cope with-"
"Me. My disappearance." Hermione interrupted. "It's my fault."
"You must not blame yourself Hermione." Hermione shook her head and pushed herself away from the table, knocking her chair over in the process.
"How can I not?!" Her hands raked their way through her unruly hair as she paced the kitchen. "I need to see them." Minerva's eyes widened in shock but she schooled her features back into unreadable. "Will you take me to them?" Minerva nodded and within moments they were outside The Granger's house.
"Are you certain about this?" Minerva asked, feeling Hermione's anxiety pulsing through their bond. Hermione nodded resolutely and raised her hand to knock on the door, before pausing and letting her hand fall to the door handle, her anxiety heightened as she let herself into her childhood home.
"Hello?" Mrs Granger called from the living room, "John, is that you?" Hermione didn't respond, she couldn't. The sound of her mother's voice had rendered her speechless.
"Mrs Granger-" Minerva started, wanting to fill the silence, but not needing to carry on as the woman herself came to the front door. She stopped dead in her steps once she saw her daughter, tears sprang immediately to her eyes.
"Hermione..." The whisper barely crossed the room, but to Hermione it was almost deafening. It silenced all of her thoughts and before she knew it she had taken the final steps towards her mother and wrapped her arms around her tight. Minerva felt as though she was intruding, so she quietly slipped outside to give the women some privacy.
A short walk around the side of the front garden found Minerva a small bench, shrouded by bushes and flowers arced above her, and despite the night air carrying a chill, she couldn't really feel it as she sat and contemplated. She hadn't had much time to really stop and think since she had set off to find Hermione, which had been just over a week ago. She knew that her primary concern now was to help Hermione overcome the impact the last few years of her life had had on her. She also knew that, somehow, the two of them were now bound, and that was a union that would last a lifetime. It brought with it some perks, but also some cons. Having the ability to share emotions could come in useful, but currently it was taking a huge toll on Minerva. Hermione's emotions were often unstable and always intense. Minerva knew that in time, the girl would settle and learn to control her emotions, and it was just a waiting game to see when that happened. She had no idea how long she had been sat there, but a spike through her bond brought her out of her musings and a sense of dread that wasn't her own filled her. She heard Hermione call her name, acute hearing noting the panic laced in the girls voice. Minerva rushed back inside, finding Hermione on the doorstep with her wand drawn.
"What is it?" Minerva asked as Hermione wrapped her arms around her, an intense surge of relief rippled through the two women.
"Where did you get to?" Hermione asked, attempting to avoid Minerva's question but answering it all the same.
"Apologies. How is your mother?" Hermione once again didn't answer, but wrapped her fingers around a slim wrist and pulled Minerva inside, gently leading the woman to the living room.
"Minerva... I can't begin to thank you enough for everything that you have done-" Mrs Granger began as soon as Minerva entered the room. The Scottish witch opened her mouth to argue that she didn't need thanks but Mrs Granger continued. "'Mione has been telling me about your bond, and what that means... I know it doesn't mean much but I wanted you to know that you have my blessing." Mrs Granger took a rattling breath as tears spilled down her face. "I cannot think of anyone else I would trust more with my daughter, and I want you to know that you will always have a place in this family." Minerva let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding.
"I cannot tell you what your words mean to me, Mrs Granger." Hermione's mother laughed and threw her arms around Minerva.
"Call me Jean!" She said, before lowering her voice. "Thank you." She whispered with complete sincerity. Minerva hugged Jean back before the two women separated. Hermione stood watching them with a rare, genuine smile on her face. The smile faltered at a noise at the front door, and Jean moved to the window to see what was making the noise.
"Is that dad?" Hermione asked, her voice small. Jean nodded.
"Yes... Now, 'Mione, you need to remember that he is not himself right now." Jean rushed out and Minerva felt a surge of adrenaline that, this time, actually originated from her. She tried to focus on calming thoughts, and by doing this, push calming feelings through the bond in order to calm Hermione. Jean moved past the two women towards the front door, opening it and talking to Mr Granger in hushed tones. Minerva couldn't make out what was being said.
"You're lying!" A shout resonated through the house, making both Hermione and Minerva start. More hushed talking came from Jean, which seemed to get clearer and louder as the two Granger's walked further inside the house. The talking, and footsteps, stopped at the threshold to the living room as Mr Granger noticed his wife was not the only person in the house. "No..." He whispered, "you really are here..." He continued.
"Hi dad." Hermione spoke quietly, watching as those two words seemed to sober up the man before her, he walked slowly towards her as though he didn't want to scare her away, before he stretched his arms out, and, like she always had, she walked right into them. Minerva looked on as Jean cried behind her husband and daughter, their reunion was very moving and Minerva found herself wiping a tear from her cheek.