A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay in getting this posted. I've just started work and I'm in my last year of college, so I'm struggling to find time to write. I hope to have the next one up as soon as possible. Thanks for all the reviews, alerts and favs, they are what keeps me motivated! I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Seven: Second year Summer
Albus, Minerva and Hermione, were all glad to have finished the school year. Hermione was glad that she wouldn't be watching over her shoulder every five minutes. Minerva was happy that the stress of the past year would be forgotten for eight weeks. Albus was glad that he could now show his love for Minerva. However, all three of the 'family' were worried that Hermione would have to go back to her parents for the summer, so, the first thing they did when they arrived at McGonagall Manor, was make an appointment to see a member of the Young Witches and Wizards Caring Service, to see if they could adopt Hermione as her parents neglected her. The appointment was made for the very next day and Hermione sent a letter to her parents stating that she had to stay at school for a couple of days for an exam. They hadn't complained, but ever since Hermione was told of the appointment at the Ministry, she had been quite and her nerves and fears about her parents and what they would do to her when they found out that not only had she lies to them, but that she wanted to be taken away from them, where making her shake. Minerva and Albus were worried about her, but they didn't know how to approach her to find out what was wrong and how they could help her. That was, until the night before the appointment when Hermione found them in the living room curled up together at about midnight.
"Minerva," she whispered.
"Hermione." Minerva was shocked but happy to see the girl. "What can I do for you?"
"Can we talk, please?"
"Of course we can. Do you want Albus to stay?"
Hermione shook her head and Albus nodded and stood.
"I'll see you in bed, love." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and smiled at Hermione as he left for the bedroom.
Minerva patted the seat next to her and Hermione sat down.
"What do you want to talk about Kitten?"
"Tomorrow." She took a breath. "What's going to happen when my parents find out that I lied to them and that I want to leave them and live with you and Albus?"
"I'm not sure, but they won't be able to touch you, okay? I won't let them."
"Will you be with me for the whole time?"
Minerva nodded. "I will be. Now, it'll just be me adopting you okay?"
"Why?"
"Albus and I don't have a public marriage, so only I can openly adopt you, okay?"
Hermione nodded. "Can I have a hug, please?"
"Oh, dear, you don't ever have to ask." Minerva opened her arms and Hermione curled into her side. Minerva ran her fingers through Hermione's hair, keeping her calm and reassuring her. Hermione felt safe in Minerva's arms and she welcomed the motherly feeling. Sighing, she relaxed completely and finally managed to slip into sleep. Minerva stayed where she was for a few minutes, making sure Hermione was fast asleep before standing with Hermione in her arms and taking her to her bedroom. After tucking her in and pressing a light kiss to her forehead, she went to her own bedroom where Albus was already in bed waiting for her.
"Minerva, are you okay?" Albus asked as is wife got undressed.
"I'm fine Al. A little worried about tomorrow, but that's to be expected."
"And Hermione?"
"Very worried. I'm worried about her more than tomorrow though."
"I'm worried about her too love."
"Really?"
Albus nodded and pulled Minerva into his arms and held her tight. "How are you wishing to sleep tonight?"
Minerva turned on her side and pulled Albus to lay behind her, her back pressed against his chest.
"Ah, Min, you know how laying like this effects me."
"That I do." She wiggled her bum a little against Albus' hardening member and smiled, knowing that he wouldn't be able to hold out the entire night.
"You're torture woman!" he groaned and pulled her tighter.
Minerva just laughed and closed her eyes, wanting to be fully rested for the following day.
~0~0~
The next morning Minerva and Albus were up at the brink of dawn, both worried about the outcome of the days appointment at the Ministry. Albus could tell that Minerva was worried and stressed as she wasn't talking and was going through her morning routine automatically. Albus stopped her before she got into the shower and pulled her close to him.
"Calm down, love."
"I can't. Hermione's whole life depends on this and me being a convincing, loving mother figure and I'm worried that I won't be able to do that."
"Just be yourself. Leave Professor McGonagall at home and be who you have been here at the Manor with Hermione."
Minerva nodded. "Okay," she whispered and stood on her tip-toes to kiss Albus lovingly.
Albus wrapped his arms tightly around Minerva's waist and pulled her as close as possible to him. She moaned when she felt Albus' erection pressing against her lower stomach. Smiling, they stripped each other of their clothing and stepped into the shower together, the hot water already streaming quickly from the shower. They continued to kiss and caress each other in the places where they knew they would get reactions as the water fell around them.
In the room across from the master room, Hermione was still curled up under her blanket in a ball, with her teddy bear crushed to her chest. Tears were falling down her eyes and she didn't know what to do. She didn't want to hide her tears, yet she didn't want Minerva and Albus to see her like this. She sniffed and got her breathing under control and tried to move, but when she did, her feet met the cold floor and tears came to her eyes once more, so she curled back up under the sheets with her teddy and closed her eyes tight against the world, and delved into the world of her own which she had created when she was living with her birth parents.
Minerva and Albus had been sat down for breakfast waiting for Hermione to come down from her room, and when half an hour past and they hadn't heard a peep from her, Minerva decided to go and check on her. She knocked lightly on the door an quietly opened the door when she received no answer.
"Hermione?" There was a sniffle from under the bed sheets, she Minerva walked a little closer and sat on the edge of the bed. "Sweetheart, are you okay?"
"Minerva," it was a broken whisper coming from the sheets.
"It's me sweetheart," Minerva was talking just as quietly, hoping it would make Hermione feel a little better.
"Can I have a hug?"
"Well, are you going to come from under the sheets?"
"No!"
"Okay, well, then you're going to have to move over so I can join you under the sheets."
Hermione nodded and Minerva kicked off her slippers and shrugged off her outer robe so that she could slip under the blanket and hold the girl that she saw as a daughter.
Once Minerva was under the sheets, Hermione turned over and buried herself in Minerva's chest and let her tears flow once more.
"Shh, it's okay darling, I'm here. It's okay. Shh." Minerva ran her fingers through Hermione's hair and gently rubbed her back, soothing her. Once she had gotten herself under control, Minerva asked, "What's wrong, Kitten?"
"I keep getting flashbacks. I can't do this, Minerva. I can't."
"It's okay, chick. It's okay. But, we have to do this if we're going to get you to come and live with us all time, okay?"
Hermione nodded. "Please don't leave me alone," she whispered.
"I promise sweetheart, I promise." She pressed a kiss to her forehead before continuing. "Now, you go and have a quick shower and get dressed, okay? I'll stay right here and wait for you."
Hermione nodded. "Can you put some carpet on the floor first please?"
"Of course." Minerva waved her wand and a thick, lush beige carpet appeared on the floor. "What do you think?"
Hermione swung her legs over the side of the bed and rested her feet on the new carpet and sighed. "I love it, thank you!"
"Anything for you my darling."
Hermione smiled widely and headed to the bathroom to take her shower and get dressed, her teddy securely under her arm.
An hour later and the trio were sat silently around the kitchen table eating breakfast, well, Albus was eating and the girls were just pushing their food around their plates. Eventually, the trio decided that they had better get to the Ministry for the meeting with the service worker. Hermione was scared and worried, so clung to Minerva and her Teddy. Minerva picked the small girl up and held her to her while they flooed and held onto her hand tightly as they walked through the constantly crowded corridors of the Ministry of Magic. They reached the office in the Young Witches and Wizards Care department much quicker than either would have preferred and entered the office. They were told to sit by the tall witch with a small smile on her face and long hair which was tied up in a French knot. Hermione clung to Minerva a little tighter and squeezed her teddy just as hard. Minerva smiled down reassuringly at Hermione was cuddling the teddy that she had given her on her first night at the manor to keep her company at night, just as it had done herself when her father died, and then again when her mother followed shortly after.
Ten minutes later and Hermione, Minerva and the young services witch was joined by Albus and both Grangers. They smiled sweetly at the occupants of the room before going to try and sit next to their daughter. Hermione flinched and Minerva picked her up and placed her on her lap. Hermione wrapped her arms around Minerva's neck and closed her eyes tight, wishing that she was back at McGonagall Manor or Hogwarts, reading or doing some advanced magic with Minerva and Albus. The tall brunette who was sat in the corner observing the group noticed this and instantly became concerned. This wasn't the first case she had to deal with, with magical families wanting to adopt muggle born children. This one seemed different though, this one seemed to have a purpose and she was determined to find out that reason and make sure that the little girl went to the people or person that would most look after her. After watching every one in the room for a little while, Cynthia decided that it would be a good idea to start the meeting.
"So, may I ask, Miss McGonagall, why have you asked for this meeting today?"
"When I first met Hermione on the Hogwarts Express at the beginning of her first year at the school, she was timid and scared at every little movement or loud sound that was made. I kept a close eye on her throughout the school year and often tried to speak to her about her behaviour, but she would close herself off from me and we would end up talking about school work or the latest books we had read. During the summer of that year, I received a letter from Hermione saying that her parents were going on holiday for the last few weeks of the summer and were to be leaving Hermione on her own to heal from the injuries which they had inflicted on her. I instantly went to make sure she was okay, to find that she was on her own at the house. I stayed with her for the day until her parents arrived back before leaving back to by home for the evening. The next day was when Hermione had told me her parents would be leaving, so I arrived early and spoke to her parents, convincing them to allow Hermione to come and stay with myself and get advanced lessons from members of the Hogwarts staff during the weeks she was with me. She was so under weight and ate every little, that I was growing more concerned about her health and very nearly took her to see the school matron a few times, but didn't want Hermione to get any more upset and possibly make herself ill. I keep an eye on her through the holiday and again through the school year with the help of several other professors whom will remain unnamed for the time being. During the year, Hermione started having nightmares and ended up walking through the corridors of the castle at night. After having found her shaking with tears one night, I moved her to my spare bedroom and allowed her to stay with me so that she could get away from the world and have comfort if she needed any. At the end of the year, Hermione was injured by a magical creature and was put into a coma. Our head nurse looked her over and made a list of all injuries past and present and we were shocked to learn that she had received so many injuries in the past, some that were still causing her problems and that will continue to cause problems for her in the future. And just last night Hermione told me of what has happened between her and her parents, and she went as far to say that she was worried to what they would do to her if they found out that she no longer wanted to live with them and wanted to live with me." Minerva spoke as if the adult Granger's weren't in the room.
"And Hermione, why is it you would like to live with Miss McGonagall."
"Because my parents hurt me and I don't love them. Minerva doesn't hurt me and gives me cuddles and lets me read as much as I want. I think I love Minerva more than I've every loved either of my parents."
Cynthia nodded and turned to the Granger's. "You've both been called here as you are still Hermione's legal guardians, but I must ask if you understand what is going on here." Both nodded. "Good, then we can proceed."
"Hermione, would you mind if Professor Dumbledore took a look in you mind so that he can see what the Granger's did to you?"
"Will it hurt?" She was looking at Minerva.
"No sweetheart, it won't hurt I promise. But you'll be seeing everything that the Professor sees. Is that okay?"
Hermione nodded and clung on to Minerva as Albus sat next to them and looked into her eyes.
Hermione gasped as the first images came to her head. She tried to direct her mind, but Albus was too powerful and she wasn't able to do so. Every emotion she felt and every pain she had received was forced to the fore front of her mind and she was slowly losing the battle for consciousness. She felt a sudden weight lift and her mind instantly went to Minerva and she buried her face in her neck and held her tight.
Albus had a face of thunder. He had no idea how someone could people do so many hurtful things to their daughter, someone who they are supposed to love and protect for their entire lives. Albus pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind until later and turned to the Granger's. "Do either of you deny the accusations of you poor treated of your only daughter, Hermione?"
"No," she replied together.
"Then, for the record, could you please tell us why you did what you have?"
"Because she's a little brat that has the most perfect life." Mr Granger.
"Or she did until the old hag over there came and told Hermione she could go to a magic boarding school and not have to come home if she really didn't want to." Mrs Granger.
Both had a venom to their voice and an angry glint in their eyes that made Cynthia's decision so much easier. After going out of the room briefly to speak to Albus, she came back and adressed the occupants of the room.
"It has been decided that for the safety of Hermione Granger, she will be immediately put into the care of Miss Minerva McGonagall until such a time as she is considered an adult and no longer needs a guardian. Mr and Mrs Granger are not to have contact with either Hermione or Miss McGonagall."
Minerva smiled at Cynthia and whispered lovingly to Hermione as the Granger's walked past, a scary sort of look in their eyes that Albus just couldn't seem to shake. After all the paperwork was signed, Minerva took Hermione home to rest and make a plan for the holiday.
Over the course of the next few days, the trio went shopping for Hermione and decorated her bedroom to the way she wanted it. They also decided to get out of the country for a week or two and Hermione decided that she wanted to go to Russia, so that's where they went. They stayed in Russia until the last week of the summer when Minerva and Albus needed to go back to Hogwarts.
When they arrived, Hermione asked Minerva, "Can I change my last name, Minerva?"
"Are you sure sweetheart?"
Hermione nodded. "I don't want to be reminded of the Granger's every time I'm at school."
"We'll speak to Albus and see what he says, but I don't think that's a problem as long as you take my name."
"Okay," Hermione whispered. Reliving her emotions at the meeting at the beginning of the summer, really effected Hermione and it had taken Minerva a lot of work to get Hermione to open up and to trust Albus and the other members of Hogwarts staff by having them around on a regular basis before they headed to Russia, even then Severus continued to come for a weakly meal with them. Hermione was now a different person, yes she was still a book worm, but she was no longer out going, but shy and Minerva was anxious to find out what she would be like during lessons as she very often retreated into herself when she didn't like something and wouldn't speak unless she absolutely had to. Hermione too, was worried about starting up school again as she knew she couldn't just get up and walk out of a lesson when she felt it was too much for her to handle. As the days past she was growing ever more quiet and she couldn't wait for the year to be over already.
To Be Continued...