Chapter seven
Hermione, Minerva and Albus held their breath, waiting for Severus to tell them who were Hermione's biological parents.
"Minerva and ... Albus."
"Oh thank Merlin," Minerva sighed and hugged Hermione close to her.
Hermione smiled and hugged Minerva back. She looked over to Albus and slowly hugged him too. She knew that he was nothing like John Granger, but the results had just given him the title that John once held, 'father'.
The days went by and Hermione was still a little hesitant around Albus. She spent all her time either alone or with Minerva. One day, Hermione woke up and decided that she would spend the entire day with Albus. She wanted to get used to him, to be able to talk to him almost the way that she could Minerva. She wanted to be able to give him a hug when she was upset without flinching and remembering John Granger. So, she skipped down the stairs as she did every morning and kissed Minerva's cheek and then kissed Albus' cheek. Albus smiled and kissed her cheek as she sat next to him. Minerva sat shocked.
"How are you this morning kitten?"
"I'm good Min." Hermione helped herself to a few pancakes and fruit and smiled.
"Is there anything you would like to do today?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "I'd like to spend the day with Albus. Perhaps walk across the grounds and then go to Honeydukes?"
"I'm up for it." Albus smiled and hugged Hermione, she hugged back, pushing all thoughts of the Granger's from her mind.
"If that's what you want. But please, don't eat any of those sweets before dinner."
"Okay Mom," Hermione whispered in her ear as she hugged Minerva before running off to her room to get ready.
"Look after her Albus."
"I will Tabby. But, I'm going to be myself, she needs to get used to me."
"I know, I'm just worried about her," Minerva whispered.
Albus held his wife close. "I am too, but we have to help her heal and raise her to be a good, beautiful and intelligent woman."
Minerva nodded agreeing before pecking his lips and going to bid Hermione good bye.
An hour later and Albus and Hermione where sat at the edge of the lake, Hermione skipping pebbles across the surface.
"So, what made you want to spend time with me, Kitten?"
"I decided last night that I can't keep thinking that you're like John Granger. I know that I have to push him and what he did to me out of my mind, but to do that, I have to force myself to get to know you and make good memories to cover the bad ones."
"Sounds like a plan. But you don't have to force yourself."
"I want to do this Albus. Please."
"Okay. But if you want to come and hide behind Minerva, just tell me and we will. Okay?"
"Sure."
Albus brought Hermione into his arms and she snuggled close, enjoying the feeling. They both sat and spoke for hours both getting to know the other.
"Can we go to Honeydukes now?"
"Of course." Albus stood and held Hermione close as he apperated them straight to the door of the sweet shop.
"Go and chose as many and as much as you wish."
"Really?"
Albus nodded. "No limit."
Two hours later and Hermione and Albus arrived back home.
"There you two are. I was just about to send my patronus to get you home, dinner's ready."
"Sorry love," Albus whispered as he kissed her before handing her a few shrunken bags. "A gift from me."
Minerva brought them back to size and smiled when she saw tins of ginger newts and her favourite chocolates. "Thank you." Minerva kissed her husband before turning to Hermione and bringing her into a tight embrace. "Enjoy your day out."
"Very much."
"So how much did you buy from that damn shop?"
"Not too much." Hermione opened her bag and showed the many shrunken bags inside. "I've never had sweets before, so I thought I would try as many that appealed to me."
"Ok, I'll let you off; just don't spoil your meals."
"Promise." Hermione kissed Minerva's cheek and ran up the stairs to wash and put her bag in her room.
September first came quicker than what any of the little family thought possible.
"Are you ready Hermione?" Minerva called up the stairs to her daughter.
"Yes," she whispered as she came walking down the stairs at a slow pace. Her eyes were puffy and red.
"Are you okay kitten?"
Hermione nodded but went straight to Minerva and snuggled close to her. Minerva rubbed her back and whispered to her. Hermione wasn't crying, but she was close to it.
"I don't want to go on my own."
"You don't have to love."
"Really?"
"I'm coming on the train this year, why don't you sit with me?"
"Could I?"
"You are my daughter, there's nothing wrong with it."
Hermione nodded. "Okay." She took a deep breath and stepped back. "I'm ready."
Minerva smiled proudly at her little kitten and took her hand. "Let's go and find Albus then."
Half an hour and the trio were stood on platform 9 ¾.
"Have fun Kitten."
"I will Albus." Hermione hugged her father and smiled with tears in her eyes.
"You can come and see us whenever you want. And if you want you can even write to us every day as I'm sure the other children do."
"I will."
Minerva smiled, and even though she too was going on the train, she hugged her daughter close. "I love you kitten," she whispered.
"I love you too Mom," Hermione whispered back.
Standing straight, Minerva turned to Albus and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Be safe my love," Albus whispered and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"I promise Al. And please try and stay in one piece."
"I shall." Albus smiled down at his wife and brushed away the single tear that had slipped down her cheek.
"Take care of her Hermione."
"Promise Dad."
Albus smiled, that was the first time that Hermione had called him 'Dad'.
The girls said one last goodbye to Albus before climbing onto the train. Minerva headed to their compartment and waved out the window, while Hermione stayed at the door waving until the train station was out of sight.
Hermione soon found her mother and sat next to her. Minerva had a few tears falling down her cheeks. She hated to leave Albus knowing he had a tendency to wonder off for days at a time without telling her anything. Albus had told her one night not long after Hermione had taken the paternity potion that he thought that Voldemort was rising to power again. Ever since, Minerva had hardly left his side. He barely made it out of the past two wars in one piece, she didn't want to lose him.
Hermione held her mother as she cried. Hermione could tell something was going on between her parents, but every time she had asked she had been told that everything was fine. She smiled when her mother looked up at her smiling.
"What's wrong Mom?"
Minerva sighed heavily, knowing she wouldn't be able to get out of telling her daughter, but she knew that Hermione wouldn't be very happy afterwards. "You remember when your father and I told you about Voldemort that morning by the lake." Hermione nodded. "Well, your father thinks he's back and gaining power. I don't want to lose either of you to this war."
"You won't Mom."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Afterwards, the atmosphere greatly improved and Hermione and Minerva were soon into a deep debate on transfiguration. Hermione hadn't asked much about Hogwarts, wanting to see everything in Hogwarts: A history for herself when she arrived.
When the station was less than half an hour away, Minerva turned to Hermione who had her nose in her book.
"Hermione, I want to warn you that the students may not act too kindly towards you."
"Why?" Hermione paused and answered her own question before Minerva had a chance to. "I'm your daughter."
Minerva nodded. "You'll be known as Miss McGonagall not Miss Granger."
"Will people know who my father is?"
Minerva nodded. "Our marriage isn't a secret but we don't go around acting married."
Hermione nodded and turned back to her book, her stomach was rolling and all hopes of having friends were just dashed by her mother. She couldn't stay mad at her mother however and knew that she told her out of love not to crash her dreams.
"All firs' years this way!" Hagrid called.
"Go on kitten."
Hermione looked at the half giant man and shook her head. "I can't do it," she whispered.
"There's nothing to be worried about love."
"I can't do it." Hermione wrapped her arms around her mother as the crowd around them started to get bigger.
"Okay love." Minerva picked Hermione up in her arms and balanced her on her hip.
"I'm sorry."
"Whatever for?"
"For not being able to go with the others."
"I don't mind love. But will you tell me why?"
Hermione just shook her head and buried her face in her mother's shoulder.
Albus appeared next to his girls once the students started off to the castle. Minerva turned and smiled at him.
"Pass her here love." Albus held Hermione close and she sighed.
"Is she okay?"
Minerva shook her head. "She can't stand being in a crowd."
Albus shook his head. "If I ever get my hands on the monster that did this to my daughter ..." Albus trailed off.
"Please don't do anything foolish Albus. We need you in one piece." Minerva meant that in more ways than one and Albus knew it.
"I promiselove." They briefly kiss before turning and holding on to each other, apperated to the castle.
To Be Continued ...