A few weeks into the second year that Hermione was in the time of Founders, Rowena approached her after classes had finished.

"Lady McGonagall, couldest thou spare a moment of thy time and takest a walk with me?" The founder of Ravenclaw haughtily stated.

"Uh, sure." Hermione glanced at her messy desk. "Just let me clean up my papers."

"Canst thou hast thy elf doest that?" Rowena glanced at her nails.

Sighing, Hermione picked up the last piece of parchment. "I could, but I have a system. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to put these away. I'll be right back."

Rowena glared at the witch's retreating back. That was one of the many things she disliked about Transfiguration teacher, always doing things without magic. True Lady McGonagall was a muggleborn, but she acted almost like a pureblood, she why the aversion to using house elves for mundane chores?

"You wanted to talk?" Hermione asked when she got back to her office.

"Aye, I did. If thou wouldst follow me. I dost not wish our conversation to beest overheard." Lady Ravenclaw motioned for the animagus to follow her. "We shall continue this discussion in mine quarters."

"As thee lady wisheth." Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation. The only time that Rowena wanted to talk to her was when she wanted to chastise the animagus about something.

Rowena bit her tongue. As much as she desired Hermione to speak the King's English, the only time the irritating witch did was when she was mocking someone.

"Pray tell, how wast thy first day of classes." Rowena asked as a way to make conversation.

Hermione sighed, she was tired and didn't feel like doing this song and dance today. "Why am I here Ravenclaw?"

"So blunt and to thee point." Rowena clucked her tongue. "This morning, I wast attempting to teach Helena hitherto makest her bed. And with a flick of her writs, my daughter madest it with magic."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Hermione asked.

"It wouldst be, however, I hast not taught her the spell. Nor didst she use a wand." Rowena looked pointedly at the animagus.

"Oh, are you the only one who can teach Helena magic?" Hermione snapped, cat like eyes flashing.

"No." Lady Ravenclaw coolly stated. "However, I dost not appreciate thou teaching mine daughter magic."

"Because I'm a mudblood."

Rowena smiled at that. "No, thy blood hast nothing to do with it. When I questioned my daughter about thee magic she performed, she hath informed me that thou teachest her."

"I fail to see the problem then." Hermione sighed. If her blood wasn't an issue, then what was?

"Thou failest to treat Helena like a child shouldst be treated." Ravenclaw answered, settling further into her chair. "Thou allowest her to speak whenever she wisheth. Furthermore, thou hast yet to reprimand her when she doth shorten thy name and thou allowest her to climb on thee."

The animagus pursed her lips. "Lady Ravenclaw, I was raised very differently from what is culturally acceptable here."

"I hast discovered that fact." Rowena quipped. "Mine primary concern ist mine daughter hast calleth thou màthair. Dost thou knoweth what thee word means?"

"No, I have absolutely no idea what it means." Hermione dryly stated with a roll of her eyes.

Rowena's eyes narrowed. "It meaneth mother in Gaelic!"

"No, really?" Hermione smirked. "It's not what I called my own mother at all!"

"Thou shant speaketh to me in such a manner!" Ravenclaw snapped. "Why dost mine daughter callest you màthair?"

"She asked and I said yes." Hermione shrugged. "Why don't you asked her?"

Rowena growled. "I didst asketh mine daughter. She sayeth that thou art a better mother than I ist."

Hermione leaned forward and placed her elbows on her knees. "Perhaps if you treated your daughter like she's actually your daughter instead of a mistake…."

"She ist a mistake." Rowena snarled. "I hast coitus with a man and she happneth."

Hermione exhaled air through her nose. "There you have it, you treat your students better than your own daughter. Of course she is going to be looking for a surrogate mother. Who's the father?"

"I knowest not." Ravenclaw pursed her lips. Salazar Slytherin

Really, she slept with him too? Hermione chuckled. "Thou art a terrible liar; but your secret is safe with me."

"Lady McGonagall…."

"If you don't want the truth about Helena's parentage out, I won't tell." Hermione shrugged, before she stood up and left the Founder of Ravenclaw speechless in her own quarters.

Early on a Saturday morning before the sun was up, Hermione was approaching the Forbidden Forest – although in this time it was known as the Great Forest – when Godric approached her. "What bringeth thou to thee Forest at such an early hour?"

Hermione hummed. "The Forest is beautiful at sunrise."

"It ist." But Godric wasn't looking at the Forest, his attention was on a certain bushy haired witch.

"I wonder." Hermione murmured, before she started into the Forest. She didn't bother to look behind her to see if Godric was following, she could hear him crash through the underbrush. After a few minutes of listening to the Founder of Gryffindor bumble, Hermione could help but chuckle.

"Whatever doth thou findeth amusing?" Godric asked as he tried not to trip over a fallen log.

Hermione bit her lip. "You're crashing around like a herd of hippogriffs."

"I beggest thy pardon!" Godric had never been compared to a hippogriff before.

"You're making a lot of noise." Hermione shook her head. "Come on, we're almost there."

Lord Gryffindor shook his head. This witch was certainly a firecracker, he wondered which House she would have been placed in. He knew that Salazar wouldn't let her be in Slytherin. While Helga would love Hermione to be in Hufflepuff, Hermione seemed like she would fit into Ravenclaw or his own House better. "Pray tell, in thy time, which House didst the Sorting Hat placeth thou?"

"It debated between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, but said something about…." Hermione paused for a second. "My constitution being closer to that of a Gryffindor."

Godric nodded. "I ist pleased that thou were placed in mine House."

"Of course you are." Hermione laughed.

The wizard couldn't help but to smile. There was something about this witch that drew him in.

The Castle was left empty for the Christmas Hols, all the students had left, leaving only the professors. Hermione was walking to the Library when she stumbled across Terrence.

"If it ist not thee beautiful Lady McGonagall." The Baron gushed.

Hermione sighed. "It's nice to see you too Baron Bayler."

"Ach, why doth thou insisteth on formalities when we canst form a closer relationship?" Bayler smirked.

Okay, ew. Hermione grimaced. "No."

"Thou art a beautiful flower that…"

"Stop, stop right there." Hermione put up her hand. "You're not going to woo me with your 'charms' and 'looks'. So just stop trying. I will never, ever sleep with you. Go flirt with Rowena, you seem to be head over heels in love with her."

Terrence pretended to be upset. "She doth needeth me not. Learning ist her only love."

"And that's why she has a different man in her chambers at least once a month." The animagus quipped.

"Thou…" Baylor started, only to change tactics when he spotted Rowena. "Lady Ravenclaw, thou art looking very fine on the cold winter morn."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Thou thinkest that thou canst rain pretty words onto one woman and then do thee same to another." Rowena shook her head. "Lady McGonagall ist intelligent to turnest thou down."

Hermione snorted and left the stunned Baron standing in the cold corridor.

"Lady Hermione, hast thou considered that Baron Baylor wisheth to hast thou because thou hast rejected him?" Helga inquired.

"That's not why he wants me." Hermione shook her head. "It's because I'm of the female persuasion."

Helga burst into laughter at her friend's word choice.

"I don't see why Rowena can't sleep with him." Hermione muttered.

"Because Rowena ist not at the stage in her life where she wanteth a commitment." Hufflepuff sighed. "She just wanteth a good fuck and them to be gone in thee morning."

Hermione leaned forward. "And the Baron is looking for a commitment. But then why is he sleeping around with every woman he can get his hands on? Is it because he can't have her?"

"That ist exactly why." A pensive look crossed Helga's face.

"You don't fancy him, do you?"

The elder witch chuckled without humor. "No, I hast never fancied him."

"Oh." Hermione raised her eyebrows in shock.

"Ist wast a tryst." Helga shrugged. "And ist over. I saw you and Godric hast been spending much time together."

Hermione blushed and nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "He's nice."

"Lord Godric ist a good person." Helga smirked.

Hermione blush only deepened.

"Thou art sweet on him." The Founder of Hufflepuff cooed.

"I'm not!" Hermione exclaimed, jumping to her feet.

Helga raised an eyebrow. "Truly?"

"Fine." Hermione groaned. "I fancy him."

"Art thou enamored by his…" Helga teased, only to be smacked by the animagus.

"Helga!" Hermione chuckled.

"Thou shouldst tell him." Hufflepuff smiled gently at the other witch.

Hermione sadly shook her head. "I can't."

"Why ever canst you not?"

"Because I'm… I'm from the future." Hermione sighed, she hadn't planned on telling anyone else that important piece of information.

Helga's eyebrows rose into her hair line. "That wouldst explain thy different behavior."

"You're not mad?" Hermione asked, looking down at the carpet.

"No, I ist pleased that thou hast told me." Helga smiled. While Hermione was an extremely tough witch, she was also very fragile. Helga wondered what had made Hermione this way.

"Màthair!" Helena exclaimed as the young witch burst into Hermione's quarters.

"Hello beag Raven." Hermione smiled up from grading papers.

"What art thou doing, Màthair?" The younger witch asked as she climbed onto Hermione's lap.

"I'm grading research essays." Hermione sighed. "They are awful. I can't believe how atrocious they are!"

Helena giggled. "Perhaps thou ought to teacheth thy students to write essays."

"Maybe I should start a writing club." Hermione mussed.

"Couldst I be in thee club?" The young witch looked up at the animagus with bright eyes.

Hermione chuckled and dug her fingers into Helena's sides, tickling her. "Of course you can, mo beag Raven."

"Màthair." Helena giggled. "Stop."

Relenting her attack, Hermione grinned. "Beag Raven, how wast… was your day?"

"Mother hast her elves teacheth me?" The younger witch shrugged, snuggling up closer to the elder with.

The animagus grinned. "And… what did they teach you."

The young witch heaved a heavy sigh. "I learnt mine numbers and letters."

"What's with the heavy sigh?" Hermione sighed and pinched Helena's cheek.

"Stop it." Helena pushed Hermione's hand away from her cheek. "I wouldst prefer to lean magics."

A smile graced the animagus' face. "I know sweetie, but you need to learn your numbers and letters, so you can read and write. If you don't, then you can't learn magic."

Helena pouted.

"Don't be like that." Hermione chastised and popped Helena's lower lip. "You want to write good essays, right?"

Helena slowly nodded.

"Then you need to learn your numbers and letters, so you canst read and write." The animagus smiled slightly at her 'daughter'.

"Fine!" Helena huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

Hermione chuckled and poked Helena in the side. "Why ya so grumpy?"

"Mother sayeth that I canst no stay in our quarters on thee weekends." Helena rolled her eyes. "She doth not realize that I knowest she engageth in many trysts."

Hermione couldn't help it – she snorted.

"Whatever do thou findeth amusing?" The young witch mock glared at her elder.

"I'm sorry." Hermione giggled. "But I found how you just described your mother's exploits funny."

"She ist a whore." Helena muttered.

"Helena!" The animagus chastised. "Don't talk about your mother that way. While it may be true; since the definition of a whore is a person who engages in sex for money or some other compensation. You don't need to be calling her that."

"Sorry." Helena ducked her head. She had heard the Baron calling her mother that, to her face, and the young witch thought it was okay.

Hermione hooked her finger under the young witch's chin and lifted her head. "It's alright. I just don't want you to think it's okay to call someone a whore. It's a derogatory term, unless the person works in a brothel and then they are a whore."

Helena nodded very seriously. "I shan't call anyone derogatory names. Why doth Lord Slytherin calleth thou a mudblood."

"Because I'm a muggleborn." Hermione unconsciously rubbed her right arm.

Frowning the young witch pushed up the animagus' sleeve and sounded out the word carved into her skin. "M-U-D-B-L-O-O-D. Mudblood. Why dost thou hast that derogatory name on thy arm?"

"I fought in a war." Hermione sighed, contemplating removing Helena's roving fingers that traced the word. But she decided not to, on account of the younger witch's troubled face. "I was captured and tortured for information by a very dark witch."

Helena frowned. "I dost not understand."

"It's okay. This is one thing I'm glad you don't understand." Hermione gently smiled and ruffled the younger girl's black hair.