AN: Anyone who's ever had to paint anything should know it goes by a whole lot quicker and a whole lot more fun when you have friends helping. Thanks to the Butterfly for letting me bounce ideas back and forth.
PAINT PARTY PART ONE
Albus Dumbledore munched on a butter cookie. Minerva and Hermione had gone to change almost an hour ago. He had a feeling he knew what they were doing but was much too polite to say anything. The same could not be said for the others in the room. Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley sat on the comfortable sofa in front of the floo whispering and giggling quietly. Angus McGonagall paced the length of the room muttering about Minnie not being able to keep her hands to herself. Finally he threw his hands up in the air, "Bloody hell... what are they doing?" At that moment, the two missing witches entered. "If you have to ask, then it's been way too long." Minerva hissed in his ear as she passed him. To the rest of the room, she said, "Sorry about the delay... unavoidably detained." Albus stood and moved closer to his best friend. He pushed aside the older witch's collar exposing a love bite, just as Hermione entered the room. Seeing the older professor, the young witch's eyes widened as she blushed. "You might want to put these somewhere no one can see." Albus giggled madly at Minerva's embarrassed expression and Hermione's bugging eyes.
"Oh just stop." Ginny admonished Dumbledore for his teasing as she moved closer to her best friend and her fiance'. Taking Minerva's hand, she stood on tip-toe and pecked her cheek. Then she pulled Hermione into a huge Weasley bear-hug. "I'm sooo happy for you!" She gushed enthusiastically. The youngest Weasley stepped back and shook her head sadly, "I wish what I have to say next will be good, unfortunately it isn't." Both Hermione and Minerva looked at Ginny curiously. "What is it Gin?" Harry made his way over to the group, "Perhaps we should all sit down." His brilliant green eyes were encouraging. Nodding, Minerva sat herself on the love seat that was angled off the sofa in front of the floo. Hermione joined her love. Harry reseated himself on the sofa with Ginny and Dumbledore saying, "We were at the burrow with Ron and Dawn..." He trailed off gazing at Ginny, who continued, "We were just talking about this and that..." Harry scratched his head frowning, "We didn't realized that Mrs. Weasley was in Mr. Weasley's office writing a letter." Ginny ran her hand through her long red hair, "The subject of you two came up..." Dumbledore reached for another butter cookie saying, "What they're trying to say is..." Minerva interupted him, "That Molly knows about Hermione and I?" She took the younger witch's hand in her's. Hermione watched as the other three people nodded at the same time. "Was she mad?" She inquired nervously. Dumbledore scratched his beard and replied, "That's putting it mildly." Ginny's blue eyes widened, "She yelled so loud that some of the paint in the kitchen peeled right off the wall!" Minerva shook her head and rubbed her hands over her face, "Oh Merlin..."
Angus floated over holding a flaming red envelope by two fingers. "I guess that would explain this..."
It was a howler.
From Molly Weasley.
"Oh my God." Hermione whispered.
As if it had a life of it's own, the letter, floating in the air, opened itself...
"MINERVA MIA MCGONAGALL!! YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF. SEDUCING A STUDENT! HOW DARE YOU DO SOMETHING SO, SO AWFUL! I'M WRITING TO JEAN GRANGER TONIGHT! AND HERMIONE?? I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU THREE YEARS AGO. I JUST KNEW IT! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? HAVE YOU GONE MAD?"
With that the letter burst into flames.
Hermione had her face in her hands. Minerva sat with her mouth hanging open. She looked up into Dumbledore's sky blue eyes. They were twinkling with humor. "I fail to see what you find so amusing." Minerva's voice took on that familiar cold "Professor McGonagall" tone. Chuckling, Albus reached for another cookie. "Right after Molly sent that howler, I showed up to talk to her about young Ginny here." He nodded to the younger Weasley and continued, "I wanted to speak to her about Ginny's ability to see your bond. She can see it's aura. I wanted to talk with Molly about it... possibly give her a few ideas about how Ginny's ability could be used for possible employment in the future." The youngest Weasley smiled, "Professor Dumbledore thinks I would make an excellent therapist." Hermione nodded, "You would. You've always been so easy to talk to." Ginny blushed at the compliment as Harry smiled and placed his arm around her shoulder. Smiling at the young couple, Albus continued, "Anyway, Molly proceeded to rant at me about allowing deviant professors to teach the children..." Minerva's jaw fell open at that statement, "Deviant?... I AM NOT DEVIANT!!" The older witch thundered, loosing her composure. Tears formed in her emerald green eyes. "I have never gotten involved with a student before Hermione... NEVER!" She raged emotionally. Hermione grabbed the older witch's hand, "Hush..." Minerva took a deep breath. Exhaling, she bowed her head. Hermione stroked her back in soothing circles, "You are not a deviant. You are a good witch... and you are the witch I love."
Dumbledore watched as Hermione soothed his best friend. It was amazing to see how Hermione's gentleness affected the fierce older witch. It was a profoundly beautiful display of love and exactly the reason the two of them belonged together. He cleared his throat and said, "I explained to Molly about the bonding you have." He grinned and added, "She was quite shocked I might add." Minerva nodded, wanting him to continue. "I also told her that I was the one who encouraged you to pursue Hermione." He nodded at Angus and said, "Well, Angus and I that is." The ghost grinned brightly, remembering the conversation he'd had with his cousin three years ago. Dumbledore leaned over and patted his friend on her knee."Molly was quite a bit more reasonable after that." Harry and Ginny nodded their agreement, with Ginny adding, "I think mum was more mad because you never confided in her about it." Hermione frowned, "We were trying to keep a low profile. The less people who knew about about it, the better. Especially with Delores Umbridge running around." Hermione shook her head, her unruly mane bouncing slightly, "She would've gleefully fired Minerva and that just wasn't a possibility!" Hermione's chocolate eyes darkened as she remembered all the trouble Umbridge had caused. Seeing this, Minerva squeezed her hand, "It's all in the past." Frowning, Hermione reached into the open front of Minerva's blouse and exposed one of the four scars decorating her upper chest. "Maybe in the past, but here will always be a reminder of that evil bitch." Harry's eyes widened as he saw the scar. "I never realized that you'd be scarred." He whispered. Ginny's pretty face saddened as she too beheld the mark on her Professor's chest. Minerva gently pulled Hermione's hand away and closed her blouse. She reached her hand to her love's face and gently caressed Hermione's cheek. "It's all in the past." She repeated quietly.
Seeing the direction the conversation was going, Dumbledore decided to steer it back to where it all began. "Anyway. I think young Ginny here is right. Molly is more upset over the fact that she wasn't included in the "secret" and two of her children were." The young couple seated next to the elderly professor nodded vigorously. Minerva cleared her throat, "I guess I will have to explain it to her." She was still irked that Molly Weasley would accuse her of being a deviant. Hermione knew what her fiance' was thinking. "I think I will explain it." Minerva frowned grumpily. Grinning, Hermione added, "I don't want to have to explain to Arthur why his wife suddenly has a pile of dragon dung on her head." With that the group, including Minerva laughed heartily.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Meanwhile, at Hermione's flat in London. A tall woman with wavy sandy blonde hair and familiar chocolate brown eyes frowned at the letter she was reading. Calling to her younger daughter and the young man currently visiting her, "Dawn? Ron? Can you come into the kitchen?"
Dawn Granger, Hermione's sixteen year old younger sister stepped into the brightly lit kitchen of "The Flat". Right behind her was the tall, red haired Ron Weasley. The two young people had been dating since the infamous dinner not too long ago. "You wanted to see us mum?" Jean Granger nodded, rubbing a hand over her weary face. Her soon to be ex-husband had been making her life a living hell as of late. She wasn't sleeping, she wasn't eating.. and now this...
"Can you explain this?" She asked, handing the letter to her daughter. Dawn reached for the note frowning. Her mouth fell open as she read it. Behind her, Ron gasped as he read the letter from his mother to Jean Granger. Frowning angrily, he gazed into Jean's tired brown eyes, "It's not like that at all!" He was emphatic. Dawn shook her head, "Minerva is not some wierdo! She is a wonderful woman who deeply, deeply loves 'Mione." Ron nodded, backing up Dawn's words. "My mum should never have said such things... Don't think she won't hear about it from me either!" He was angry. Livid. Dawn took a deep breath and patted his large hand. "I think we can get this all straightened out once and for all." Jean sighed, "I just don't want to see Hermione get hurt." Dawn ran her hand through her short wavy hair, "She won't. Minerva loves her. She loves Minerva. I wouldn't be surprised if they get married." Jean's eyebrows shot up her forehead, "Married? What? Is that legal?" Ron grinned, "In the wizarding world it is." Jean shook her head, "Your world is so much different than mine." There was deep sadness in her voice. Dawn leaned down and kissed her mother's cheek. "It'll be alright. You'll see." Ron reached down and patted Jean on the shoulder, "Maybe we could visit my parents and talk about this?" Jean brightened considerably, "Could we?" Ron grinned, "Sure. This Flat has a floo that's connected to the network. We can get to my parent's house from here." Jean Granger looked totally mystified. Dawn threw her head back and laughed impishly, "This is just one of the things that makes the wizarding world so bloody cool!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Arthur Weasley paced the cluttered kitchen of the Burrow quite agitated with his wife. "I can't believe you sent a howler to Minerva McGonagall!" Molly sighed and hugged her arms around herself, "I was angry. I know I should've waited. It was impulsive." Arthur whirled around, "Impulsive?? It was down right mean!" He waved his hands in the air, "Why would you do that? To Minerva of all people?" Molly stepped to her husband, "I thought she was taking advantage of Hermione!" She blustered. "I just wanted to make sure Hermione was alright." Arthur shook his head, "Just like three years ago when you were ready to believe everything that awful Skeeter woman wrote about her too." Molly bowed her head in shame. Arthur was right about that. She had believed Rita Skeeter's wicked lies about Hermione. It had led her to treat the young witch with callousness and disdain until finally Hermione had blown up at her. It was during that explosive conversation that Molly had learned that Hermione was gay. The young witch had been mortified that she'd blurted that out and had tried to back out of the conversation. Molly was having none of it. She'd pulled the young woman into a motherly embrace and that had been the end of it... Or so she thought. Now, she'd found out that three years ago Minerva McGonagall and Hermione Granger had started having an affair. A steamy one, based on what she'd overheard. Overheard her own children talking about. Her own children had known! "Why couldn't Minerva say something?" Molly asked her husband, great tears filling her deep blue eyes.
"Probably because she thought you'd gossip about it."
Husband and wife whirled around to see Ron standing there with his hands balled into fists. Standing behind him was Dawn Granger and... holy Merlin!... Jean Granger.
Molly placed a trembling hand over her mouth as Arthur walked over to the elder Granger, "Hello Jean. Welcome to the Burrow." The tall, chocolate eyed muggle woman nodded her head and shook his outstretched hand. "Thank you." She replied quietly, her gaze never leaving Molly Weasley. She took a deep breath, she too was trembling, "Are you saying that Professor McGonagall and my daughter have been involved for three years?" She whirled around to face Ron. "Three years?" The young man nodded his head. "Just leave them be." He whispered, narrowing his blue eyes seriously. Molly reached for Jean's hand in quiet support. "Dumbledore says they have a bonding." Ron added, watching surprise and understanding make it's way across his father's features. "Well that would certainly explain a thing or two wouldn't it?"
Molly led Jean to the kitchen table. Together they sat side by side and Molly proceeded to tell Jean everything that had transpired after she had written that impulsive damaging letter. Jean sat quietly digesting the information the red haired witch was telling her. "So this bonding they have is very important?" She asked, wanting to be clear on her understanding. Arthur nodded and joined the conversation. Ron and Dawn sat at the other end of the table listening quietly. "A bonding is one of the oldest forms of magic." Arthur began, "Nearly a thousand years ago, magical folk were killed because of their abilities. Fear induced riots spread all over Europe. It was choas in it's finest form." He rubbed the stubble on his chin, cursing the fact that he hadn't shaved that morning. He must look like a crumb-bum to Jean. Shaking his head, he continued, "Magic itself created the bonding as a means of surviving. It is as tangible as the elements themselves." Jean nodded, "So you're saying that magic itself is an entity?" Arthur nodded, "In a very basic way. It can't do things itself, other than try to survive. Those that have magical ability are able to use magic to do their bidding. Be it for good or evil." Jean nodded in understanding, "Go on." Arthur tugged his ear thoughtfully, "Anyway... magic, in order to survive, evolved a special connection between two people with identical magical signatures. The purpose being to continue that specific signature." Dawn perked up and asked, "What is so special about magical signatures?" Molly smiled at the young woman, "Well that's how a magical person is identified... sort of like a fingerprint. No two signatures are ever alike... except in a bonding." Dawn nodded and asked, "So Hermione and Minerva have an identical magical signature?" Arthur nodded, "Exactly!" Jean scratched her nose, "But why?" Molly laughed, "Boy that certainly is the question of the century!"
Everyone chuckled. Arthur grinned, "Well, according to Dumbledore it's because they are so much alike and so very, very powerful." Arthur grew serious, "Minerva McGonagall is probably the most powerful witch alive." He leveled a gaze at his wife, "You'll do well to remember that the next time you decide to send her a howler." Molly blushed, hoping Minerva didn't hex her. Arthur fixed his gaze on Jean, "Hermione is equally powerful. She just hasn't reached her apex yet." Seeing the question in Jean's eyes, he continued, "An apex is like a peak. Hermione has much more learning to do. What makes her so powerful is that she will learn eveything years before her peers. She is that brilliant." He smiled, "Another tool at her disposal is her unlimited intelligence. I daresay that it far surpasses Minerva's." He looked at his wife, "Don't tell her I said that either." Molly chuckled, "That is probably one of the things about Hermione that attracted Minerva in the first place." Arthur grinned, "I agree." He looked back at Jean, "The purpose of a bonding is like I said, Magical survival. Procreation. Off-spring bearing the same signature to continue that particular strain of magic." He looked like he suddenly had an epiphany... "Holy mother... Minerva is a direct blood descendant of Merlin. That means that somewhere along the line, so is Hermione." Molly gasped and gazed from Dawn to Jean and back again. Jean was flabergasted. Minerva McGonagall was related to the great wizard Merlin. Even Muggles had heard of him. Somehow so was Hermione. Which meant so was she. She knew it wasn't John. Bloody blockhead! Then something hit Jean, "Wait a minute... we are talking about two women producing a child together. Isn't that impossible?" Molly laughed, "In your world it is. Not in our's." Chuckling, Arthur clarified, "With certain charms and potions, anything is possible."
"Are there magical people in our family?" Dawn asked curiously. Jean shrugged her shoulders, "Must be. Look at your sister. That ability had to come from somewhere." Dawn grunted angrily, "Hopefully not from dad!" Jean frowned sadly, "He's still your father. No matter how childish he is being." Molly squeezed her hand in sympathy. "Is there no chance of reconciliation?" Jean shook her head, "He told me that Hermione couldn't possibly be his daughter because he wouldn't sire a freak like her!" Tears sprang into her mournful chocolate eyes. Eyes so very familiar. Molly's own gentle eyes welled up at the pain in the other woman's voice. Even Arthur was stunned. To turn your back on your own child? Unforgivable! He reached across the table and took Jean's other hand, "You and your daughters will always have a place here with us. We don't have much. But what we do have we'll gladly share." Jean burst into tears at his kind words. These were truely good people. Molly took the distraught woman in her arms and held her tight.
Arthur brightened, "I know! How about you all come with Molly and I? I have to deliver some paint to Minerva. She's supposed to paint her boat house. Molly and I offered to help. Why don't you come along too?" He smiled and added, "You need to get to know Minerva. You'll like her." Jean wiped her tears away saying, "Actually I've already met her. Three years ago Hermione introduced us." She smiled ruefully, remembering the day at the train station when Hermione had dragged the older woman over to meet her mother. "I think maybe Hermione might've been laying the ground work for a future meeting." Molly laughed, "Knowing the way that young woman thinks... she probably was!" Molly sobered suddenly, "And I need to apologize to Minerva. I said some vile things to her and about her. Things I don't mean." Arthur nodded, "Well, there's no time like the present."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A whine could be heard coming through the floo. That meant someone was coming to call. Dumbledore, Harry and Ginny looked at the floo curiously. "I think that may be Arthur with the paint." Minerva stated, standing. Hermione joined her fiance to greet the newcomers. As Minerva's wife, she would have a duty to do just that.
Ron Weasley stepped out of the floo. Dusting himself off and greeting his best friend, "Hey mate! I didn't know you were gonna be here?" Harry grinned and shook Ron's hand. Ginny grinned at her brother as he winked at her, "Hey girl." The young man noticed Dumbledore sitting serenely on the sofa stuffing his face with butter cookies. "Professor." The red haired young man nodded to the crumb covered elderly wizard. Hermione pulled her Ron into a hug and whispered, "More to come eh?" Ron nodded, "You have no idea." Minerva nodded to him.
Another whine was heard and Dawn Granger stepped out of the floo. "That is soooo cool!" She gushed, wiping soot off her black t-shirt and red capri pants. She looked around at the group. Spying Dumbledore, she immediately lit up and squealed, "Santa!" Laughing, Dumbledore rose and engulfed the young woman in a huge bear hug. Grinning, Dawn tugged on his beard, "How have you been you gorgeous hunk." Hermione gazed at her sister in shock. When did she get so cheeky? Dawn saw her older sister's expression, "Oh lighten up woman!" She pulled her sister into a hug, then moved over to where Minerva was standing, "Hey big sister!" Minerva grinned and embraced the young woman, "Cheeky brat." She whispered into Dawn's ear. Laughing, the younger Granger turned as another whine sounded through the floo.
Arthur Weasley stepped out of the floo. He was pulling a cart that held a crate holding several dozen cans of magical paint. "I couldn't shrink the blasted stuff or the magic would be nullified." He grumbled tugging the cart through the floo. "Wouldn't the floo itself damage the paint?" Hermione asked, her mind working overtime. Arthur smiled, "No. Floos work on a different frequency than all other types of magic. For some reason, it doesn't affect the paint. Thank Merlin, otherwise I would've had to transport this by truck!" Ron and Harry stepped forward to help him pull the cart out into the front entryway of McGonagall Manor.
Another whine was heard. Minerva wasn't sure who this might be. She had a sneaking suspicion and narrowed her emerald eyes accordingly. Sure enough Molly Weasley stepped through the floo, only she wasn't alone. Standing next to her was one Jean Granger...
"Oh Shit."
Everyone looked at Hermione. Blushing, she glanced to her Fiance. Minerva was looking at her, mouth hanging open, in shock. Jean stepped close to her daughter with a raised eyebrow. "Excuse me?" Hermione locked eyes with her mother. Chocolate to chocolate. "Mum?" She whispered anxiously. Minerva stepped closer as well. Protecting Hermione even with just her presence. The older Granger noticed this. It impressed her. She leveled a piercing gaze at Minerva, "I would like to speak with you." The older witch nodded her head and indicated that Jean follow her out of the room. Hermione trailed after them, glancing back at Ginny who muttered, "Double shit."
-to be continued
AN: Uh Oh... Mum's here! Tell me what y'all think. Remember, be nice.