Disclaimer: Alas much to my own disappointment i still don't own any of these characters dispite how many times i try and wave that replica magic wand.
A/N: I'm very sorry its taken me so long to update this i only hope you can forgive me crys i had a touch of writers block recently and i couldn't get round to writing anything.
hope you like it
xx minerva rulez xx
Chapter 9 : Going Back.
It had been a few days since Minerva had offered to take Hermione back home to collect the remainder of her clothes and belongings she had left behind when the Weasley's had collected her and brought her to Grimwald place. Hermione had also decided it was best for herself and her father if she did go to the muggle authorities and reported what had happened at home since her mother died. At least it would give her some sort of closure on the matter and well it would get her father the help she knew he so desperately needed.
Albus had in fact on several occasions since Hermione joined them at headquarters been past the Granger house just to check how Hermione's father was coping (this was of course at the request of Minerva and he was only too happy to oblige his dearest friend). He had in fact only gotten worse since Hermione had left, his drinking had gotten worse, pub brawls, aggressiveness in the streets and on a few occasions he had found himself on the inside of a police cell. It was painfully obvious to the skilled observer that there was something deeply wrong with this once kind and caring man and it seemed that the loss of his beloved wife had caused him to snap somewhat. He needed help.
Today was the day Minerva had decided to take Hermione to collect her things, it was still early, but she had been up for hours, unable to sleep out of worry for the still sleeping Hermione. Minerva didn't know how she was going to handle today, it could either turn out to be a complete success or turn out to be a complete and utter disaster of the worst kind.
It was nearly 7.30, she'd have to wake Hermione. Again last night Hermione knocked on her door and asked to stay, Minerva of course said yes, and now she had to wake her up so she would have time for breakfast before they left the house.
Minerva made her way over to Hermione and woke her up gently so not to startle her. Hermione groaned in protest a little but she got out of bed eventually.
"You better hurry up and get ready, we have a big day today" Minerva said
"Oh yeah, I um...forgot" Hermione said.
"Hermione" Minerva said quietly "Are you sure about this?" she asked
"Yeh of course why wouldn't I be" her tone was a little harsher that she had meant for it to sound.
"I know this is going to be hard for you Hermione, and I'll understand if you've changed your mind" Minerva said
"I Haven't changed my mind, I nearly decided last night to tell you I didn't want to go, but that wouldn't be true. It's the right thing to do………….isn't it?' she asked looking up at the older witch with a look on her face which let Minerva know the younger woman was seeking some sort of guidance.
"Hermione, this is a way to gain some kind of closure over what has happened to you this summer, and then will you truly begin to heal and get over it" Minerva said "And I'll be here to help you through it, I promise"
"But he is still my dad, I feel kinda bad bout going to the police"
"That's understandable, but only then will he get help, Hermione he isn't coping at all well with the loss of your mother, Albus checked on him a few days ago, he's always down the pub, getting into brawls his drinking has gotten work and he needs help"
Hermione nodded sadly, "How can I report my own father though Professor?"
"Hermione, how many times do I have to remind you, you can call me Minerva out of company?"
Hermione smiles "At least once more as always?" Hermione said, at least the smile had appeared back on her face however briefly.
Minerva sighed. "Well we can just start by going to your home and getting the last of your things?"
"Thank you" she said as she got up to go get changed. Minerva sat there thinking what if Hermione started to ask her questions, for she had mentioned she knew how she felt and what she was going through. It would only be a matter of time before she remembered that brief conversation and ask her the questions she so dreaded, it had taken her so long to get to where she was now. 'Face that when you come to it Minerva' she said to herself.
She had indeed gone through what Hermione had, under different circumstances. She was older than Hermione and had not long finished her university training when she joined the war against Grindelwald, she had met one of her old professors in Diagon Alley, and they had a long chat, caught up, and soon again were friends. Albus Dumbledore had been Minerva's Transfiguration teacher while she was a student, she had always looked up to him and when he asked her to help in the war she jumped at the chance. That was the biggest mistake she had made that year, she was still too young, and not the most experienced of fighters. She had been captured by Grindelwald himself and held as his 'personal' prisoner for …well she couldn't remember how long.
It was a longtime until she had gained her strength back but she was there at the final battle – it was her form of closure.
After the war had come to an end, Albus had helped her through her pain and memories while she still had the occasional nightmare they were few and far between, and the only scars that remained were the once that magic could not heal or remove.
"Professor?" Hermione asked resting her hand on Minerva's shoulder, startling her slightly "I'm sorry but are you ok? You're crying?"
"I'm fine dear" came Minerva's reply, she quickly wiped the tears from her face, and stood up, "Are you read to go down to breakfast?" Hermione nodded "Good come along then" she said as she quickly walked from the room. Hermione almost had to run to keep up as they made their way to the kitchen.
"Morning Molly" Minerva said as they walked in
"Ah Minerva, I trust you have enough time before breakfast?"
"Yes of course we do" She said as some of the others began to filter into the room "How is everyone this morning?" that was the last question or comment she had made while they were in everyone else's company. This caused Hermione to worry slightly, but she decided to wait until later or another time to ask about what it was that caused Minerva to change so rapidly. Conversation was steady and Hermione found herself enjoying herself in the others company for a while.
Half an hour later Minerva stood, "Come on Miss Granger, we should be going, go get your coat from your rooms and meet me by the door shortly"
Hermione nodded and said goodbye to everyone before going to get her coat, by the time she had gotten to the front door, Minerva had gotten changed, she was wearing a pair of black jeans and a white jumper. Hermione smiled and blushed slightly as she found herself admiring the older woman's figure while her back was turned (Hermione Granger had had a crush on the older woman for the last year, though she had never once admitted it to anyone).
"Ah Miss Granger there you are," Hermione's face went bright red she had been caught staring at her teachers rear end in those semi tight jeans and was still staring at her "Miss Granger………" Minerva repeated "Is everything ok? This is suitable attire isn't it?"
"Yes sorry Professor. Yeh its fine"
Minerva put her coat on and they stepped outside "We have to walk for a bit until its safe for us to apperate"
"OK" Hermione said
"Where do you want to go first Hermione?"
"Oh I don't know, I mean I brought my bag so I could get some more things from home, so I guess…. Can we go there?" she asked
Minerva gave her a slight smile "Of course" they walked for five minutes until they reached somewhere deserted enough. "Ok Hermione take a hold of my hand, I don't know where we are going so I am relying on you to guide us"
Hermione nervously took Minerva's hand and a few moments later they had dissapperated. They reappeared in Hermione's parents back garden.
Minerva looked across at the younger witch, she still had a tight grip of her hand and she had started to shake slightly, she was very clearly frightened. "Hermione, do you want to wait for a few minutes before you go inside?"
"No….. No I'm fine Min…. Professor" she said quietly "You um... will come inside yeah?"
"Of course Hermione" she said as they walked down the garden to the back door and Hermione started to fumble with her bag to get her keys.
"I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm so nervous" Hermione said her eyes starting the first tell tale signs of tears.
"If ok dear no need to apologise, its only natural to feel a little nervous, I would as well in your position, but your not doing this alone" Minerva gave her a warm smile and they stepped inside Hermione's home.
It was dark inside, they had entered the house into the kitchen, it looked as though it hadn't been tidied in weeks (not since I left – Hermione thought) beer cans littered the kitchen table and every surface the sink was full of unwashed dishes and.
"Come on lets get your things" Minerva said sensing the girls hesitation "Its ok I'm here"
Hermione made her way through the kitchen into the hall way the only light she could make out was the faint glow of the television shining through the gap from the living room door way, he was home. Hermione looked back at the older woman how just gave her a reassuring nod and the continued through the hall and up the stairs quietly.
Hermione opened her bedroom door to find that everything how she had left it "I half expected this to all be trashed" Hermione said quietly.
Minerva heard footsteps down in the hallway below, "Hermione we don't have much time, get your things quickly" Hermione nodded and moved around her room quickly. But she wasn't quick enough.
"WHO'S IN MY HOUSE" came a shout from the stairs
Hermione looked across at Minerva with a look of extreme panic on her face, she had never looked more frightened.
"It's ok Hermione" Minerva said "Just get your things, I'll …….. I'll" Minerva didn't get to finish her sentence before the door to Hermione's bedroom swung open knocking Minerva off her feet, for she had been standing just in front of the closed door. She knocked her head on the desk next to the far wall. Mr. Granger didn't seem to notice Minerva at all as he moved towards Hermione.
"YOU!" he yelled pointing a fist at Hermione "WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK IN MY HOUSE!"
"I…….I came to ………I wanted….." Hermione was terrified
"CAME BACK FOR MORE EH. SCHOOL NOT WANT YOU ANYMORE" Minerva could just make out his crazed expression reflected in the window as she got up slowly holding her hand to her forehead – a slight gash, 'Ah well' she thought.
"Mr. Granger" Minerva said calmly, causing him to turn around, his attention now away from Hermione "I brought Hermione back to gather the rest of her things"
"HER THINGS! HA, THE MINUTE SHE LEFT, EVERYTHING IN THIS HOUSE BELONGED TO ME, SHE GAVE UP OWNERSHIP OF ANYTHING IN THIS ROOM"
"There is no need to shout Mr. Granger I am not deaf"
"Who are you? And what do you want here"
"I'm Professor Minerva McGonagall, a teacher of Hermione's, and I want nothing more other than to help your daughter get the rest of her things" Minerva replied giving Hermione a nod and the young woman started to move quickly around the room again.
"Your one of them then are you, one of her lot?" he shot a disdainful look at his daughter then back at Minerva "Should have guessed she'd go running to her teachers".
"If your asking me if I'm a witch then yes I am sir, are you almost ready dear?"
"Yes Professor" Hermione replied
"She isn't going anywhere" Mr. Granger snarled grabbing Hermione's wrist as she made her way to the door.
"Dad please let me go?" she said, she almost sounded like a small child
"Mr. Granger would you be so kind as to let myself and Miss Granger leave" Minerva asked
"DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME SHE ISN"T GOING ANYWHERE" he said throwing his fist towards Minerva, he stumbled slightly but he managed to get Minerva in the stomach causing her to double over in pain and sink to the floor.
"MINERVA!" Hermione screamed, wriggling free from her fathers grip and making her way towards her professor, he was still laughing maniacally, glaring at the two women in front of him.
"Minerva are you ok?" Hermione asked "I'm so sorry" she said almost in tears
"Its all right dear, I'm fine, just a little winded that's all" before Minerva knew it Hermione had thrown her arms around her in a hug. "It's ok we're leaving, have you got everything" Hermione gave her a nod and they both stood up
"When I tell you to, make a run for it, I'll be right behind you" Minerva said
"But Professor"
"Just do it Hermione"
"Ok" Hermione nodded picking up a now very full bag of shrunken items of clothing, books etc.
"She isn't going anywhere"
"Well beg to differ Mr. Granger, both myself and Hermione will be walking through that door there in a few moments time, without your interference"
Minerva nodded at Hermione who started for the door only to be blocked by her father in the doorway
"Mr. Granger I don't want to have to use force, you have already assaulted me twice, hurt someone I care about and insulted my wizarding background, there is only so much more I can stand" Minerva said taking her wand out from her inside coat pocket "Now would you kindly step side and let us BOTH leave?"
He looked at her as if almost trying to measure his chances against her. He reluctantly stepped aside
"Thank you dad, I promise you'll get the help you need" Hermione said as she quickly ran down the stairs
"You've done the right thing Sir, I bid you good day" Minerva said passing him on her way out the door.
"I don't need help" he called after them
XXXXXXXXXX
Hermione had almost ran out the front door and down the path in her need to get away from her father.
"Are you ok Hermione?" Minerva asked her once she had caught up
"Yeh" was all the reply she got
"Come on lets get back to headquarters" Minerva said
"No I want to ……I need to get my dad help" she said "He was drunk, he needs help"
"Ok Miss Granger" she replied "I trust you can lead the way to the muggle authorities"
Hermione nodded and started to walk, Minerva walking instep next to her
"Um Pro…. Minerva?"
"Yes Hermione?"
"Did you mean that before?" she asked
"Mean what?" Minerva asked looking at Hermione with a little confusion
"When you said about hurting someone you care about?" she said "Did you mean it"
"Yes I meant it, I've come to care a great deal about you and what happens to you" she said
Hermione smiled at her "I'm so sorry about what my father did to you"
"Oh its nothing"
Before long they were both standing outside the police station "Your sure Hermione"
"Yes, I need to do this" she said. Minerva nodded and followed her inside.
Minerva was left waiting in a long gray decorated corridor while she waited on Hermione coming out of one of the rooms. She was waiting for nearly an hour before Hermione walked towards her.
"Everything ok?" Minerva asked
"Yeh, can we go now?"
"Of Course, we should find a safe place to leave from"
XXXXXXXXXX
Once they had arrived back at Grimwald place, Hermione went straight upstairs to put her bag away, Minerva headed straight to the kitchens in search of Molly Weasley, other than Poppy Pomfrey she was the only one she trusted with anything medically related.
"Molly?" Minerva called out when she entered the kitchen.
"Minerva what on Earth happened"
"Hermione's father is what happened, and this was only what? Ten minutes maybe" Minerva said
"Do we have anything that will treat bruising Molly?"
"I don't know how bad is the bruising?"
"I don't know Molly I haven't really looked" she replied "We've only just this minute got back"
"Where's Hermione?" molly asked as she made her way over to one of the kitchen cupboards
"She went upstairs to out her things away"
"Is she ok?' Molly had now began making her way back towards her with something in her hands.
"She is unharmed, but she feels a little guilty about what happened to me I think"
Molly nodded as she began to treat the cut on Minerva's forehead, "Now where are these bruises?"
Minerva looked around the kitchen making sure there was no one else in the room before lifting up her side of her Jumper. The bruises had developed quickly along Minerva's side. Neither witch had noticed that Hermione had now joined them both in the kitchen and was now standing next to the end on the table.
"This is nasty Minerva, what happened?" Molly asked as she began putting the bruise reducing paste on her side.
"A misplaced punch that's all, I'll live. Need I remind you, I have suffered a lot worse than this. I'm just glad it was me and not Hermione"
"I'm Sorry Professor" Hermione said watching her professor, so obviously hurting, hurting because she was protecting her.
Minerva looked around and saw the younger witch standing by the table, looking so very helpless "Hermione it's not your fault"
"But it is, he's my dad and he hurt you, cos of me, its my fault"
"I am only going to tell you this once Hermione, and then you will never speak of it again ok"
Hermione nodded
"Right, your father didn't do anything he didn't want to do, he may not have intended to be so violent, but the minute we stepped into your home I knew one of us would get hurt, and that was to be me, I wasn't going to let him harm you again Hermione or that would have been me breaking a promise I made to you when I first arrived her at headquarters weeks ago" Minerva looked at the Teary eyed Hermione "I am fine, and it is only a few bruises. None of this was nor will it ever be your fault"
"Ok, um thank you professor………." Hermione looked at both Minerva and Molly before she made her way out of the kitchen.
"your going to hate me for saying this Minerva, but I am not blind."
"Hmmm?"
"I think our young miss granger has developed a crush on one of her professors?" molly said
"Who?" Minerva asked
"Oh Minerva, you of course"
"What?"
"And I think you may have similar feelings for her? Have you not?"
"Don't be ridiculous Molly" Minerva said getting up rather quickly , she left the kitchen. Making her way through the halls to the small library she thought about what Molly had said, she may have felt a little more towards Hermione than maybe she should have, but she put it down to the fact she had been through a similar ordeal to Hermione when she was younger, nothing more than sympathy and friendship – well at least that's what she would be telling herself anyway. Besides she didn't need these thoughts swimming round her head, not now when she would have to teach the young woman once more in a weeks time.
a/n 2: Well um there you go :-)
let me know what you thought by reviewing this chapter. i know it took me a while but i did explain above.
i don't know where to go with this anymore to be honest i have plans for maybe 4 more chapters a couple during hermiones final year and a couple after? what do you think. shall i get them togethere (like i know we all want) or leave them as friends?
xx Minerva rulez xx