See what a remarkable amount of reviews over the course of 24 hours gets you people? AN UPDATE! I'm making these chapters kind of short, but I imagine that will make me update more often, especially if you guys keep reviewing this much. 13 reviews in one day is pretty awesome, and certainly gets my creative juices flowing.


Minerva McGonagall had never told a soul that the night before he'd graduated from Hogwarts, Lucius Malfoy had raped his soon to be former professor, and certainly not that she'd become pregnant that night. With her teaching career on the line, she'd chosen to abort the child – a choice that she'd lived with in double regret since. Not only did she have to live with the regret of taking away that little life, but she also had to live with the consequences of that action – the abortion had been poorly done, and as a result, she had gone through the rest of her life knowing that she'd never have children. Lucius took that from her.

Minerva looked on Hermione with pity. Her star pupil, a girl she would reluctantly admit meant more to her than just an average student, was facing the same impossible choice that she had, all those years ago. Granted, the methods of abortion were far safer now, and Hermione was not likely to suffer the same fate she had in regard to an inability to have children later on. On the other hand, even a child conceived in such a brutal, demented way was an innocent, a fact that Minerva had not come to terms with until it was far too late.

The two made their way in silence up to Minerva's quarters, which were warded for privacy; a reasonable desire in the case of this kind of conversation. When they arrived, Minerva took a moment to fire call Filius, her Deputy, and inform him that she was not to be disturbed until further notice. The old Charms Professor had merely nodded; such requests were not that overly odd coming from Minerva. Sometimes she just got fed up with the daily drudge of Hogwarts and demanded the same thing. Filius undoubtedly did not suspect there was anything amiss.

"What do you plan to do, Hermione?" Minerva asked softly, gesturing for the younger witch to sit down, just as a House Elf arrived with the tea the Headmistress had silently requested.

Hermione sighed, sitting down. "All of my life, I have told myself that even if this where to happen to me, that I'd become pregnant with someone I did not love, that I will still not have an abortion. I think all life should be respected; every man, woman, child, and creature. I don't even believe in capital punishment! But now…"

"You find yourself questioning your convictions, as the reality of the situation is far more difficult to face than you'd imagined?" Minerva finished, remembering her own feelings on the matter having mirrored Hermione's.

"Yes," Hermione nodded sullenly. "I know that if I go through with the pregnancy, I could never bring myself to give the baby up, especially since at that point, I'd have been through the hardest part of facing the public, and the truth of what happened at Malfoy Manor. I mean, you are the only one who knows, Minerva. I Obliviated the bloody memory from Harry and Ron."

"You can use the Obliviate Charm?" Minerva asked incredulously. Would wonders never cease…

Hermione nodded. "My parents are in Australia, because I made them forget I existed. I needed to keep them safe…even if I could do the same for myself. The charm is easy to do once you know how. Harry and Ron…they just wouldn't stop asking if I was okay…and I…"

"Didn't want to talk about it," Minerva concluded miserably.

"I didn't," Hermione whispered. "But I find I don't mind talking about it with you."

"Surely you are closer to other women," Minerva argued. "I can understand not wanting to talk to the boys about it, but perhaps Molly…"

"Oh hell no," Hermione laughed. "She'd mother me to death. I don't want that."

"Poppy then," Minerva tried. "You two grew quite close over the years, as you were so often in her care…"

"I don't want a clinical dissertation of what happened to me," Hermione countered.

"Ginny?"

"She wouldn't begin to be able to understand. She's too young."

"Err…" Minerva couldn't think of any other reasonable suggestions. She might have said Tonks, but the young Auror had died in the final battle, same as her husband. Hermione just wasn't close to many people, particularly women.

"What wrong with talking to you?"

"I'm biased," Minerva snipped. "I've been exactly where you are, which means I already know as much as you could tell me, and upon telling me, I fear I will become so enraged that I will go kill the bloody bastard who did this to you…"

"Because it will make you relive what happened to you?" Hermione questioned.

Minerva shook her head. "No Hermione, not because of that."

"Then why?"

"Because the Gryffindor in me won't be able to stand by and let him get away with hurting you, because I care for you far more than I should."


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