A/N: Just a quick update, while I get the plot sorted out in my head. I hadn't planned on making this any sort of 'ship fic. But…I have had a request for it to be Harmony. So…depending upon how many requests I get…it will decide the 'ship of this fic. I normally don't write Ron/Hermione, but if I get an overwhelming request for that, I will. I try to stay away from Draco/Hermione as well…but then again…we'll see. :)
Ah, Youth
Chapter Two
"Come again?"
Albus Dumbledore sighed, and sunk lower into the comfortable cushioning of the dark blue lounge. "I said, Mrs. Granger, that your daughter was involved in an accident at our establishment, and unfortunately the side effects of that happened to turn her and seven of her peers into toddlers."
"Then you will take me to her."
"I'm afraid that is impossible Mrs. Granger—"
"Jessica, please. And, I'm afraid I cannot take no for an answer." Jessica Granger stood and crossed her arms. "Give me a moment to ring my husband, and then you will take me to this school."
"You are a muggle, Ma'am. I simply cannot allow—"
Jessica, who had turned to exit her sitting room, turned back to face the Headmaster. "As I said, I will not take no for an answer." Her voice dripped with malice. "Hermione is my daughter, and there is nothing between heaven and hell that will stop me. If you try, Headmaster, I will hurt you." She turned on her heel, exiting the room.
Dumbledore sighed again, his face falling. This was unexpected. He had thought the woman would understand that she simply could not waltz into the wizarding school. It simply wouldn't do. He levered himself to his feet and followed the woman.
"Yes, yes, I know Jacob. I will give her a kiss for you. I should be home by dinner. I'm only going to make sure she is alright. I love you too, darling. Ta." Jessica hung the receiver back on it's cradle. "Give me a moment Headmaster, I will have to gather a few of Hermione's old things."
"Mrs. Granger…"
The woman turned, the corners of her mouth turned down. "It would be simpler for you to take me to my daughter than to refuse my request." She rested her shoulder against the wall and glared up at the older man. "Again, she is my daughter. My child. My only child, and not you, God, nor anyone else can keep me from her."
Albus sighed again. "As you wish, Madame." He did not want to argue with the woman, and it was true that he couldn't legally stop her from entering Hogwarts. Her daughter was a student, so she was entitled to the right, though it was frowned upon.
"Good, I shall be back in a moment."
Ginny felt like pulling her hair out. All the children were crying, and she didn't know what was wrong. From what she could tell, they all wanted their mums, but for some of them, that would be impossible. Like Harry. Speaking of…
Harry Potter simply sat on his bed and stared at the other children, emerald eyes wide. His lower lip trembled, but he didn't cry. Instead he simply rested his hand on Ron, patting the boy, and murmuring to him. Ginny couldn't hear his broken words, but apparently the worked because the redhead hiccoughed once, then quieted.
Setting Neville down to keep him out of harm's way, Ginny moved to pick up Hermione. The girl arched her back, and shook her head. "No…no no no!"
"C'mon Hermione, it's okay. Are you hungry? Do you need to use the loo? What's wrong?" Ginny babbled to her young friend. It was strange trying to comfort the toddler, after spending the last five years being under her tutelage. She shook off the feeling of oddness, and tried to calm her down.
"Mummy…" Hermione sobbed, her small hands fisted in the material of Ginny's robes, clinging to them tightly as she kicked her feet uselessly. She twisted and turned, stiffening and trying to slide out of Ginny's arms.
"I would appreciate it if you would set my daughter down."
The voice shocked Ginny, and she nearly dropped the screaming toddler. Hastily placing Hermione back on the bed, she turned to face the voice. A woman with curly brown hair stood at the infirmary door, Dumbledore hovering behind her. "Oh, it's you Ginny. Goodness, but they're loud aren't they?" Jessica took a few steps into the room, surveying the children.
"Mummy!" Hermione slid off the bed and nearly bowled Ginny over trying to get to her mother. "Mummy! Bad girl!" She turned to point at Ginny. "Get me!" She held out her arms and stamped her foot. Jessica laughed and happily obliged, swinging the toddler around to settle on her hip. The other children began to quiet down as soon as Hermione's tantrum leveled off.
"Shhh, Mya." The girl plastered herself against Jessica, as the woman strode to the center of the infirmary. Madame Pomfrey had bustled away as soon as she set Goyle on a bed, so was nowhere in the immediate vicinity. "So…you don't plan on keeping the children in this room, do you?" Jessica turned to face the Headmaster.
"Well, we are having a room prepared for them at the moment." Dumbledore acknowledged.
"Good, then we need to get these children to it. Would it be on the same floor?"
"No, we rather thought it would be better to house the children on the ground floor."
Jessica Granger pursed her lips, and looked around at the toddlers. "Alright then, I am assuming that you have yet to inform the other parents?"
"No, I actually have, I just thought it would be better if I explained things to you in person Madame, as you are a muggle, and it would be hard for you to comprehend."
Jessica nodded thoughtfully, then leaned down to heft a bag from the floor. She let Hermione slide to the floor. "Mya, will you be a good girl for Mummy, and help me?" Hermione nodded, clapping her hands. "Good, then let's see if we can get this group to their rooms." She looked at Dumbledore. "I assume you have no children of your own?"
"No Madame, I cannot say that I have had the good fortune."
Jessica laughed, loudly. "Good fortune? Are you sure you can handle eight toddlers?" She shook her head and shrugged off the question. "Alright you lot, let's get you going. Hermione, be a dear and stand there for me. Okay…let's get you…" She took Neville's hand, and placed it in Hermione's. "And you…" She walked around the beds to pick Malfoy up from his still pouting position, walking him over to Hermione and Neville, placing his hand in Neville's.
She then collected Harry, Ron, and Goyle, getting them to link hands. Finally, she settled Blaise and Pansy at the rear of both lines. "Ginny, would you be so kind as to grab…goodness, is that Harry?" At their nods, she shrugged. "Harry's hand then?" Ginny did so, while Jessica took hold of Hermione's hand. "Headmaster, lead us to the room."
Jessica sighed as she settled all the children, flitting back and forth, before finally lighting in an armchair and stretching her legs. The hike through the school had been a near disaster. The kids cried, kicked, screamed, and only her mothering instincts kept her from slapping the little blonde boy.
But, they had managed to make it to their suite in one piece, and from what Jessica understood, the children's lunch would be arriving shortly.
"Mummy?" Hermione hovered at the arm of her chair, a pudgy little hand laying on her knee. Jessica smiled at her daughter, before picking the girl up and settling the toddler on her lap.
"Mya, I'm going to have to go soon, but this is a good place, and they'll take care of you." Hermione's eyes began to water, but Jessica kissed the tip of her tiny nose. "It won't be for long, dear, I promise."
"Mummy, sing." Hermione nodded at her. "Sing me song pweez?"
"Hmmm, what could I sing you darling?" Jessica pursed her lips, and sighed. "The song?"
Hermione nodded at her.
"Alright then." Jessica Granger cleared her throat, cuddling Hermione closer to her. It had been a very long time since she and Jacob last sung the song to Hermione and she had to take a moment to remember it. It still unnerved her slightly to be holding her seventeen year old daughter in her lap. But Hermione wasn't seventeen…she was just three. She nodded at Hermione then hummed the opening lines for Lullaby in Blue.
As soon as she started humming, the room quieted. All of the children trained their gazes on Jessica, but she was oblivious. "Hushabye, Rockabye, listen to my lullaby in blue." Neville toddled over to her, placing his hand on her knee, and she turned to smile at him.
"How I love my pretty baby, sweet and precious pretty baby. How I love my pretty baby, honest to goodness I do." Hermione giggled. "See here, Sandman's a comin' and he'll be here mighty, mighty soon, and if you don't cry, he'll be droppin' by with a great big lollipop moon…" As she sang, Jessica noted that the children were crowding around her. "Dream, dream, dream, be an angel…Dream, dream, dream, be a darlin'. I love my pretty baby, honest to goodness I do…"
