Within seconds Minerva had the young girl wrapped up in her arms, hands cradling her head to her shoulder and rocking back and forth slowly. She tenderly stroked the pools girls bushy hair as she tried to comfort her.

"Hermione, Hermione, what happened? Hmm? What made you so sad?" asked Minerva as hermione a sobs subsided.

Hermione could feel the ball in her throat and knew she couldn't talk. Silently she raised her hand from where it was clutching Minerva's waist and pointed to the letter that was resting, partially folded, on the bed. With a small crinkling noise Minerva picked it up and started to read.

'Dear Hermione,
Your father and I are going to cancun for the entirety of your break so you have to stay at that awful school. Also we are going to Paris and traveling throughout Europe during summer and you are not allowed to come with so you need to arrange for accommodations with one of your freaky friends.
Lastly do not contact us ever again. We apologize for the tardiness of this letter but it was something we felt had to be said.

Goodbye forever, Jean and Terrance Granger."

In that moment, for only the third time in her life, Minerva McGonagall felt herself capable of murder. Honestly, for some one to renounce their child, and by letter no less, just because they were different was despicable.

"Oh you poor child. I am so sorry your parents are so foolish that they would do this to you. You are a wonderful, brilliant girl and I would love to have a daughter like you."

That last part piqued Hermione's interest. She had of course assumed that her professor hadn't born any children but she had always thought it by choice rather than other factors. Minerva spotted the wheels in Hermione's head turning again, see her wonderment at the simple fact that she hadn't gone without children by choice.

"However, that is a story for another time. If you would like though, you could possibly stay with me during the summer, but right now I think I shall go speak with the headmaster about this recent progression."

Hermione looked up at her with a twinkle in her eyes before releasing her and crawling off her lap.

Minerva gave her a quick hug before she left and stepped into the floo, headed for the headmaster's office.

...

"Albus Wolfrick Brian Dumbledore, how on earth am I supposed to not kill them for this?" she asked as she brandished the letter in a vague gesture. For his part Dumbledore was less than amused by what he knew must be in the letters contents.

"Oh, and the idiots are not only renouncing her but they are going on vacation while they do it!"

"Minerva, calm down. I understand that you are... disheartened to say the least and more than a little angered however, you cannot do anything rash. Think of how Hermione would react if you harmed them. Now I assume that you have extended an invitation for Hermione to come stay with you during breaks if she so wishes?"

"Of course she will be staying with me after what those imbeciles did to her."

"Ok then, I will put the papers in front of wizengamot tomorrow."

"Thank you Albus."

...

Minerva arrived back at her rooms and headed for 'Hermione's' room, but when she opened the door it was empty inside. Slightly puzzled she went back further in to her chambers in search of the girl only to stop in front of her own door at the sound of light snoring.