A/N: I'm sooooo sorry for the delay in posting this guys! My A-Levels and new job have been snowing me under with work and I'm having to write in spare minutes. Thank you so much for sticking with me so far, and now that I have finally sorted out my schedule, I have been able to write more and am well on the way to completing the next chapter. Thanks for all the reviews and alerts; they make my day! I hope you enjoy this one. Take care and enjoy!

Chapter 8: The Prisoner of Azkaban

When the first of September came around, Albus wanted Hermione to travel on the train with Minerva so that she could start getting back into the routine of things. Minerva had agreed after thinking about it and Hermione had reluctantly agreed too, knowing that Albus was right, but her heart was screaming not to do it. But, at half past ten, Minerva and Hermione arrived on the train platform and quickly boarded the train, finding the same compartment that they had used the previous two years. Minerva sat down and waited for Hermione to do so. She could see her shaking a little so she opened her arms and Hermione instantly sat next to her and wrapped her arms around Minerva. Minerva smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Hermione looked up at Minerva and smiled a little. She was so glad that she had Minerva with her, otherwise she didn't think she'd be able to survive as long as she had. During the length of the train journey, the pair spoke about what was going to be taught at the school that year and Albus popped up in conversation every now and then. Hermione noticed that Minerva became a little quiet when he did and she worried and so wanted to ask something, but her confidence still wasn't what it used to be, so refrained from doing so. Minerva watched Hermione and noticed she was thinking about something.

"What's on your mind, Kitten?"

"What's going on between you and Albus?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, sweetheart."

"But I am worried. I've never seen you two like this before."

"We just need to talk some things through chick. We'll be back to normal in no time, you just watch." Minerva's reply was more to convince herself than Hermione.

"Okay," Hermione whispered. "I hope it happens soon."

'Me too' Minerva thought to herself.

The rest of the journey was supposed to have been peaceful enough for Hermione to catch some shut eye before arriving at the school, but things very rarely went to plan for Hermione and her rest was interrupted by a dementor. Minerva noticed it approaching the door and held on to Hermione as tight as she could, hoping and praying that it would realise there was a teacher in the compartment and move to the next, but there was no such look, the door opened and the dark creature floated in and looked around the room. Minerva had her wand out, but it was paying no attention to it, instead, it was focusing on a now awake and terrified Hermione. Her temperature was quickly dropping to match that of the small room and just as Minerva cast her patronus, her eyes rolled into the back of her head.

Hermione woke up ten minutes later jumping at every little sound, just as she did at the beginning of the summer holiday.

"How are you feeling, Kitten?"

"Horrible," she whispered. "What was that?"

"A dementor. They feed on happiness and bring forth our most darkest memories."

Hermione nodded and snuggled up to Minerva. "How long until we get to Hogwarts?"

"Another hour or two."

Sighing, Hermione closed her eyes, only to have them fly open again when she saw herself being beaten by the Granger's. She clung onto Minerva. "Can you talk to me please?"

"What about?"

"Anything, just to get my mind off the memories."

Minerva pressed a kiss to her forehead and nodded. She spoke mainly about transfiguration, knowing that it was Hermione's favourite subject next to potions, but she also spoke about her time at Hogwarts, making Hermione laugh and smile at times.

The train eventually pulled to a stop at Hogsmeade platform and the students started the scramble off and to the carriages. Hermione, however, didn't move.

"Are you coming sweetheart?"

Hermione shook her head. "I'm going to wait for the crowd to die down a little."

"Okay then, I'll stay with you, there'll be a carriage waiting for us any way."

Hermione nodded in thanks and smiled up at the woman she now called mother as they waited for the students to file off the train before they did so themselves.

~0~0~

Hermione and Minerva arrived a little before the rest of the school and were sat together at the Gryffindor table in the great hall, Hermione worrying about the school year, and Minerva trying to comfort her, even though she too, was unsure on what was going to happen. Albus was sat in his seat at the head table watching them, wanting to go to them, but not wanting to upset either of them any more than what they already were, so he vowed to himself that he would talk to Minerva after the feast and try and straighten things out between them, even though he was unsure as to what had gotten between them towards the end of their trip to Russia. Eventually the sound of the students started to grow close to the hall, so Minerva gave Hermione a kiss and cuddle and stood to go to her own seat ready for the sorting.

As the hall started to fill with students, Hermione moved over in her seat as much as possible so that she was as close to the head table as she could be and stared down at her hands. Minerva was sat next to her husband, but refused to look at him until all the students were immersed in their food and Albus had placed a hand on her thigh to get her attention.

"Min, are you okay?"

"I'm fine Albus."

"And Hermione?"

"She's scared about staying in her dormitory and worried about what this year is going to bring."

"Then she can stay in her room in out chambers."

"Really?"

"Yes, why do you sound so surprised?"

"Because for the past few weeks you have shown hardly any sort of emotion towards the two of us and we're both feeling a little rejected by you at the moment. Would you care to explain?"

"Not here, after the feast and once Hermione is settled, we'll talk, okay?"

Minerva nodded, understanding completely that conversations in the great hall were rarely private and whatever Albus had to say would either make her angry or make her cry, neither of which Minerva wanted the whole school body to see. So, once the students had been sent to bed and the heads of houses had given their speeches, Hermione followed Minerva to her chambers where all of her things were place in her bedroom. Hermione smiled at Minerva and hugged her in thanks before heading off to bed for the night. Minerva smiled as she watched her daughter head to bed before pouring herself a glass of wine and taking a seat in the living room to await her husband for the conversation he had promised her at dinner. He walked in half an hour later and sat next to her.

"Good evening love."

"Don't 'love' me. Now speak."

Albus sighed, he had been hoping that Minerva wouldn't be too angry at him and the conversation would be rather pleasant. "Let me start by saying, I'm sorry. I haven't been completely aware of my actions of late."

"You're telling me."

Albus carried on as if Minerva hadn't said anything. "I attended a meeting with the Order of the Phoenix half way through our holiday because someone had some information that couldn't wait until we came back, had I known that it would have effected me the way it did, I would have told you as soon as I knew."

"What information, Albus?" Minerva was getting impatient.

"Voldemort has started to rise back to his full power."

"But we've heard that before, what else did you hear, Albus?"

"Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban and told one of our spy's that he intends to come here. Starting tomorrow morning a selection of the dementors of Azkaban will be stationed at the entrances and exits to the grounds to make sure that he doesn't get in. But as he got passed the once, I don't think that they are going to do any good this time around."

"So what your saying is, is that the school is not protected from him and that the dementors are going to be at the school. Do you even remember how I react to them? How Hermione now reacts to them? Why on earth did you not tell me when you first organised it, and why did you not tell me that they would be checking the train?"

"Because I wanted to protect you!" Albus hung his head and took a deep breath, he didn't mean to shout. "I didn't want you going through all of it again, Min. And for some stupidreason, I though that if I kept away from you and Hermione then you would be safer when Voldemort comes back to power."

Minerva thought things over for a moment before saying anything. "Albus," she whispered. "The only way you can protect us, is not keeping secrets, letting us help you, and fighting for us when you need too, and we will do the same to keep you with us. Okay?" Albus nodded. "Good. Now, go and say good night to our daughter and apologise to her, I'll be in our room when you're ready." Minerva stood up and headed to their bedroom, a sadness in her eyes.

Albus watched his wife go to their bedroom, her posture slightly weaker than normal, before he stood himself and went to say good night and apologise to their daughter.

Minerva was already in her nightwear and under the heavy sheets of the master bed when Albus walked in. Minerva smiled at him a little before turning back to the book in her hands so that he could get changed. She fully expected him to dress in his pyjamas, but when he joined her under the sheets and moved to hug her, she felt his bare chest and legs and she was at a lose as to what to do as she realised that he was only in his thin sleeping shorts. Minerva put her book on the bedside table with her glasses and turned to face him. He smiled at her and held out his arms. She crawled into them and rested her head on his chest.

"I only want to protect you and our daughter, my love," he whispered.

"I know Albus, but please, no more secrets...between any of us," she pleaded back.

"I promise with everything that I am, I will not keep you in the dark unless I am bond not to tell anyone."

"I can accept that."

"Thank you."

Minerva nodded. "You still have some making up to do though," she whispered saucily and kissed his chest.

Albus smirked and cast a one way silence spell and started to beg for his forgiveness by kiss, touching, caressing and eventually thrusting into Minerva, until she could no longer think clearly. Both were more than happy to fall asleep in each others arms that night, sans clothing.

~0~0~

After the first week of term had passed smoothly, Albus and Minerva decided that it was time for the third years to decide on which lessons that wanted to take forward for their O. and start their lessons the next week. So, on Friday morning it was announced that all third year students would be meeting with their head of house during the day to choose their courses. Minerva and Albus were holding hands under the table as they watched over the students, knowing that many of them would be talking about the choices that would have to be made a some point throughout the day. Their eyes fell on Hermione at the same time, and they shared a look that said a million words. As usual Hermione was silent, but instead of eating the little she did in the morning, she was just pushing her food around her plate with her fork, obviously distracted by one thought or another. Although the week had gone smoothly, Albus and Minerva had watched Hermione slip into a slow decline with her health and Albus often had to spend his evenings with Minerva comforting her and reminding her that the both of them were there for Hermione to catch her when she falls and to help her stay on track, but nothing made Minerva feel any better, and in truth, it didn't Albus either.

~0~0~

An hour after dinner, Hermione arrived outside her mother's office ready to try and choose her lessons. She knew she was the last one and was grateful that the meeting wouldn't have to be rushed. She took a deep calming breath and knocked on the door. She smiled at her mother when she opened the door and was led to the sofa in front of the fire.

"Do you sit here with the other students?"

Minerva shook her head. "You and a select few members of staff."

Hermione nodded and sat next to her mother, not quite knowing what to say. She looked down at her hands which were entwined in her lap and fiddled with the edge of her robes. She wanted to start a conversation with her mother, but she was unsure on how to do so.

"Are you okay, Hermione?"

"I'm okay, just thinking."

"Want to share?"

Hermione nodded. "I'm not sure what to take for my O.W.L.s. I've been thinking about it all day and I just can't decide." She hung her head a little more and waited for her mother to say something.

"You know that's okay, don't you? I had the same problem when I was having this conversation with Albus."

"Really?" Minerva nodded. "What did you do about it?"

"Albus gave me his time turner so that I could take everything for my O.W.L.s."

"What was that like?"

"Tiring. And I lived the school year twice, really."

"Would I be able to do that?"

Minerva though for a moment. "We'll have to speak to your father and see what he says, okay?" Hermione nodded. "Now, let's talk about something else, shall we?"

Hermione smiled at her mother, happy to have the conversation brought away from her schooling.

~0~0~

Later that evening, when Albus eventually arrived back from his meetings at the Ministry, Minerva decided to once again bring Hermione's schooling up. Albus smiled at his wife and brought her into a loving hug and pecked her lips before turning the Hermione, hugging her and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"How're my two favourite ladies today?"

"I'm okay, dad."

"I'm glad to hear it. Have a good day?" Hermione nodded and returned to her book. Albus turned to Minerva and sat next to her. "And how about you, my love?"

"I'm okay, a little tired, but that's nothing unusual."

"Indeed, but we do need to change that."

"Yes, but we both know that's not going to happen any time soon."

Albus nodded grimly. "Anything interesting happen today?"

"Not really. Conversations were interesting at times, and I can finally see who is going to succeed and who is going to need a little more work on it."

Albus nodded. "As is your answer every year."

Minerva smiled and nodded. "Our little kitten over there wants to take everything, though."

"Ahh, just as your mother did. And I take it she told you about the time turner." Hermione nodded. "Would you like to do it that way, or another?"

"I'd like to try it that way, please."

"Okay, but there are going to be strict rules for you to stick by." Hermione nodded. "I'll speak with your mother tonight and We'll speak to you tomorrow as it's Saturday, okay?" Again Hermione nodded. "Good, now, what shall we do this evening?" Hermione shrugged but Minerva smiled and whispered in Albus' ear. "A brilliant idea, love. Hermione, do you feel up to making a cake or some cookies."

Hermione's eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically. "Can we make triple chocolate cake and cookies, please?"

"I don't see why not, come one."

The little trio spent nearly four hours in the little kitchen together making enough cake and cookies to last them weeks.

Once Hermione had gone to bed for the night, Minerva curled up to her husband in bed and sighed.

"What's on your mind, love?"

"I'm worried about Hermione. Are you sure it's a good idea for her to have a time turner? She's already not looking after herself properly, and I very much doubt she's actually sleeping of a night."

"If we're strict enough on her, then I think it'll be okay."

"Can't we just give her a rotating timetable?"

"We'll organise it, and give her a month on the time turner. We'll watch her and have Poppy check her over once a week to make sure she's okay."

Minerva nodded. "I still don't like it."

"I know Min. Can you remember what I was like when you started using yours?"

Minerva giggled. "You were frantic after a couple of weeks."

"I was and I know you knew so."

Minerva nodded. "You used to make me sit in your office every evening until I cleared my plate." she giggled. "I remember we used to use our bracelets to talk to each other in the great hall and when he got together, you became even more concerned as the years went on using it and I got more and more stressed."

"Yes, and the use of that damnable thing hasn't helped your health since."

"I know Al, I know, and looking back, I wish I hadn't have used it for so long." she sighed and tightened her hold on her husband.

Albus pressed a kiss to her hair and he too, tightened his hold on his wife. He let his thoughts drift to the past and then their daughter and before either of them knew it, they were asleep.

In the next room, Hermione had just managed to slip into sleep, traces of tears still on her cheeks and pillow.

~0~0~

The next morning Minerva clung to Albus, not wanting to face the day ahead, knowing that she would have to be strict on her daughter and also knowing that she could very well make herself ill from not looking after herself and doing too much work. To put it simply, she was worried.

Albus held on tight to Minerva and pressed a kiss to her head. "What's wrong, Min?"

"I don't want to start today."

"Why not?"

"I'm worried about Hermione. I really don't want her to have this time turner while she's not looking after herself with a normal time table."

"I'm worried too love, but this may pressure her into looking after herself a little more. We just won't know unless we try."

Minerva nodded. "Can't I just leave you to it, Al?"

"Afraid not, love, you're her head of house and mother, she's going to want you there. She's going to want to make you proud."

"I am proud of her Albus, as proud as I've ever been of any one."

"I know that, love, but why don't you tell Hermione that, let her know so she doesn't have to guess what we are feeling for her?"

Minerva nodded against Albus' chest and smiled a little. She closed her eyes, hoping that Albus would let her have a little more sleep, but there was no such luck, as Albus brought her into a heated kiss and flipped them over. Minerva let Albus go so far before stopping him and smiling. Albus had a confused look on his face and Minerva pecked his lips and pulled him close.

She whispered into his ear, "Time of the month."

He nodded and kissed her again before allowing her up to go for a shower and ready for the day while he did the same.

~0~0~

After breakfast that morning, Hermione went to her mother's office as she had been asked and sat on the sofa in the corner.

"Hello Kitten."

"Hi Mum."

Minerva cut to the chase and brought a box from behind her back and held it out to her daughter. Hermione looked at it and smiled a little.

"What's this?"

"Why don't you open it and find out?" Minerva handed the box to her daughter and sat next to her on the sofa.

Hermione held it lightly in her hands and slowly opened it. She gasped when she saw the shiny gold object lay on the black velvet inlay. "Are you being serious? Is this real?"

Minerva nodded. "I'm passing my time-turner to you to use this year. However, there are a few rules. I'm not going to read them out to you, so I've written them down, you may pay a little more attention to the if they are pinned up somewhere where you're not going to miss them. Now, don't take that the wrong way, Albus and I just want you to take better care of yourself, okay?"

"I understand, thank you," Hermione whispered and leaned into Minerva for a hug before standing and heading off for her lessons. She had decided that she would use the time-turner at the end of her last lesson and run through her day again. Taking a nap at lunch in both times as her strict rules stated.

Minerva sighed as she watched her daughter head out of her office and to her first lesson of the day, carefully reading her rules. She felt so much better knowing that Hermione was more likely to look after herself a little more now that she had Minerva's well used and trusted time-turner.

~0~0~

Everything at Hogwarts was going to plan for the first two and a half months. The dementors had stayed off of the school grounds and all the children were behaving as they should (bar a few pranks here and there). Hermione was even looking after herself, knowing that her body wouldn't be able to cope with a 48 hour day going non-stop, and the threat of her parents taking away the time-turner and cutting down her lessons kept her eating and sleeping and not constantly studying. Minerva and Albus had had a fairly easy first couple of months, there was very few hitches with students and only a few parents who had written in unhappy about the use of the dementors to help protect the school for the year. Both were impressed with the way their daughter was looking after herself and progressing. Husband and wife had had plenty of time with the other and were both feeling relaxed meaning that they were happy and Hermione was happy.

That is, until a defence against the dark arts lesson in mid-November when the 6th year Gryffindor and Slytherins were looking at boggarts.

Hermione was feeling unusually tired, but decided to stick it out instead of going to her mother to get the day off of school. Throughout the class she answered all the questions put to her and even learnt the spell and wand movements with perfection. However, as the class lined up to have a go at banishing the magical creature in the suitcase at the far end of the room. Hermione took her place ten people back, and laughed and smiled with everyone else, but her heart just wasn't in it. She was so anxious and unsure of what the boggart would morph into, that her mind wasn't focusing on the turns of the others in class. Her turn came around much quicker than she wanted, and as she stood at the front of the room with her want at the ready, her mind flew even quicker in even more ways, as every ounce of her brain power was focused on the morphing creature in front of her.

Slowly it changed, morphing and changing into herself and Minerva huddled together bruised and crying as Albus loomed over them. Try as hard as she might, she couldn't make the image funny and the tears started falling down her cheeks. She didn't noticed when she dropped to the floor or when Professor Lupin called for her Head of House and the Headmaster.

The pair were there within five minutes of being called. Minerva knelt next to her daughter and brought her into her arms whilst Albus spoke to Remus.

"Remus, what happened?"

"We were practising dealing with boggarts. Hermione's was pretty bad her. I'll let you ask her what it is about, it's not my place to say. But she froze and went pale, like she wasn't even in the room."

Albus nodded. "Thank you Remus."

"Of course, Albus. You'll have my incident report on your desk tomorrow."

"Thank you."

Remus nodded. "I'll leave you all alone." Albus nodded again and Remus headed to his office to do his paperwork.

Albus turned and headed over to where his wife sat with their daughter. He crouched down and went to brush a loose strand of curly chocolate brown hair behind Hermione's ear, but quickly retracted it as Hermione flinched.

"Are you okay Kitten?"

Hermione shook her head and buried herself into Minerva further. Albus looked to Minerva and their eyes connected, speaking volumes. Without saying a word, Minerva cast a father light charm on the girl in her arms and lifted her up. Hermione relaxed into her mother and closed her eyes, trying to calm her mind.

Ten minutes later and Hermione had been tucked into bed and was now fast asleep. Minerva watched her daughter for a few moments before joining her husband in the living room.

Albus was on the sofa in front of the blazing fire, his glasses were on the coffee table and his head was in his hands. Minerva took a seat next to her husband and put a hand on his thigh and made small circles with her fingers, hoping to sooth him. After a few minutes of silence, Albus pulled Minerva into his arms, pressing a kiss to her head.

"She'll be okay, Al."

"I know, but seeing her flinch away from me...What have I done wrong, Min?"

"Nothing. You are not to blame for this, Al. Merlin know what that boggart showed her."

"It doesn't feel like it."

"I know, love. How about we head to bed and try and get some sleep, and we'll speak to Hermione in the morning, it is Saturday after all."

Albus nodded and followed his wife into their bedroom, each holding the other through a night of little sleep.

Hermione had woken up half way through the night and went straight to Minerva's bedroom. She opened the door and saw Albus holding her mother, the one who she wanted to hold her, and hesitate. She closed her eyes and mentally chanted 'He is not my father. He is not my father.'.

"Kitten?"

Hermione eyes flew open and she looked at her mother who was smiling at her. "I'm okay," she whispered.

"Is there something you wanted?"

Hermione nodded and walked into the room and to Minerva's side of the bed. "I was kinda hoping you'd have room for me," she said, barely audible.

Minerva smiled and lifted the cover and Hermione crawled in. Minerva wrapped her arms around her daughter and Hermione snuggled close. Albus hesitated before turning over and wrapping an arm around his wife. Hermione stiffened for a moment, but Minerva assured her and she soon fell asleep, as did Minerva and Albus.

To Be Continued...