You guys are great. I love the response I get whenever I post a chapter. You guys are great. You can all have some virtual cookies fresh from the oven. Though you may really get some cookies from this site ha ha . Just kidding. Please review this chapter. Also in an answer to a review I appreciate the kind words, however there are parts of the canon that I do want to keep the same, for my own purposes. The farther on we get with the story, is when things will start to change. Also thank you to eternal vampire, horcruxhorror, Puppylove 09, ladygoddess8, Hogwarts-Girls, , healer4ever, Areej, Poppinswannabe, nightangel 1220,
Spoiler: Some of you may hate me at the end of this chapter, but some of you will get some answers.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The few days after Christmas flew by for three residents of the house. Minerva finished grading all her work, and was answering parent letters she received from worried parents. Boxing Day Albus had to return to Hogwarts for half a day, to continue the search, so far they were having no luck at all. Hermione spent the couple of days in the living room with Minerva as she did her work. Hermione poured over the transfiguration text, and was continuing to master spells from the charms book. She even started practicing the Accio spell in her bedroom though she didn't let Minerva know. She could now make her book hover slightly though it didn't come to her. She was also very happy that when ever she had a question all she had to do was ask Minerva, who was happy to stop what ever she was doing and answer the question.
It was on December 28th that Albus came back from Hogwarts with a beaming smile.
"Minerva I have some news for you. Hermione would you like to go take your things up stairs for a minute?" He asked and Hermione took the hint and went upstairs.
"What's going on Albus? Did you find whatever's at Hogwarts?" She asked eagerly.
"No sadly, the thing I have to tell you about is a more personal matter." He told her. She looked at his face.
"Good news I hope?" She asked.
"Starting to be good news. Remember the letter I sent to Cornelius two days ago?" He said.
"Yes", she said sitting up eagerly. Excitement shone in her eyes.
"Well he wrote me back that you have a meeting with Miranda Hopchick of the Child care department tomorrow morning at 10 to apply for Hermione's guardianship." He said with a smile. She beamed and wrapped her arms around Albus laughing happily. Hermione came down a few minutes later to find them both staring her with happy smiles.
"What?" She asked confused, and they just shook their heads and laughed. After dinner they all settled back into the living room. Albus and Minerva were drinking some tea while Hermione sat on the floor reading her new history book. Minerva smiled at how the girl always seemed more eager to learn.
"Hermione do you read any fiction books?" Minerva asked. She had only seen the girl reading her textbooks. Hermione nodded.
"I haven't read many since starting Hogwarts, but I did like this one book my old muggle teacher gave me. Pride and Prejudice." She told Minerva. Minerva smiled.
"Well if you want to read something a bit different, I have all of Jane Austen's books you just have to ask." She said warmly. Ever since Albus had told her the news about the meeting tomorrow, she couldn't help smiling at every little thing.
"Oh yes, when I read it the first time there were parts I didn't fully understand. I would love to read it again." Hermione told her grinning. Minerva smiled at her and wrapped her up into a hug. Hermione and she had just gotten even closer after Christmas day. Hermione spent a lot of her time with the older witch, asking for help and just talking. Minerva was happy to realize that after a few days Hermione hadn't had any nightmares other than the one Minerva walked in on. It was to this happy scene of the three of them that the doors to Minerva's house burst open as a group of 4 witches and wizards entered the room.
"What are you doing?" Minerva asked. She recognized Kinsley Shacklebolt from the Auror department, but as for the others she didn't know them. Hermione had come to stand behind Minerva and held on to her robes.
"So sorry to disturb your holidays Professor," A short dumpy witch started. "I'm Helga Gryhop, secondary assistant of the Magical Child Care services. It has come to our attention that you recently took Miss Hermione Jane Granger (AN: I like Jane better then Jean.) from her home without properly notifying the Ministry of Magic. Her parents have recently been to Muggle Child Services requesting that their daughter be returned to them." Hermione grip on Minerva's robe's tightened. Minerva put her hands behind her and on Hermione's shoulders. "We are here to escort Miss Granger back to her parents."
"No." Minerva stated her sharp, stern teaching look on her face. "I will not let you take her." By this time Albus had stood up as well.
"I'm afraid you have no choice Professor." Gryhop said again. "Miss Granger belongs to her parents; you had no right to take her out of their home."
"Did her parents happen to mention that I found her there alone, and starving when they were in France." Minerva hissed at the women. Albus walked over and put a reassuring hand on Minerva's shoulder. Gryhop looked startled at Minerva's claim but only briefly before she glared again.
"Well they are home now, and are worried sick about their daughter. They claim you had no right to enter their home." Gryhop said.
"I had all the right to enter their home. I was visiting all of my students on a Hogwart's visit, and I sent notice home with Hermione at the end of the school year that I would be visiting and to give the note to her parents. But oh that's right . . . Her parents weren't there to get the note. Plus you can not pin me for caring for my students and taking care of them when their parents won't." She was getting very angry by now and if it wasn't for Hermione's grip on her and Albus standing beside her, she might have done something she regretted. Gryhop stepped back carefully. One of the Auror's behind her started forward. Albus took this chance to cut in.
"Madam surely this is all a bit rash, I have just come over for tea and Minerva has told me all about Hermione's situation. I feel as Headmaster I have to agree with her actions. She also informed me that she has scheduled a meeting with Miranda Hopchick for tomorrow morning regarding Hermione's guardianship." Albus said calming lying and telling the truth in the statement. However Gryhop could not be swayed.
"However Headmaster, Professor McGonagall had no right to take the girl." She stated for what seemed to be that 15th time. "However noble her intentions, she should have gone straight to the Ministry to get the problem, if there was one to be fixed. As Professor McGonagall has an appointment tomorrow I'm sure she'll take that time to get it straightened out. However I must take Miss Granger back to her parents." Gryhop stated. She unrolled a piece of parchment. "This is the law Professor, even if Miss Granger was abused as you stated, she remains in her parent's custody until a formal trial. As such I need to remove her from this house." The women sounded like this was the hardest thing for her to do. Minerva felt something in her break; she knew she didn't have much luck against the law. And although she could take the Aurors down, that certainly wouldn't let her keep Hermione.
"Please, don't send her back there." Minerva heard the plea in her voice. "Please I'll show you my memories, I'll take Veritaserum, I'll do anything." She begged. She looked to Albus for help, and saw him barely shake his head. If they hadn't been able to sway the woman now, and they kept pushing it not only would they still get shot down, but it might go against Minerva when she applied for custody tomorrow. Feeling tears come to her eyes she nodded at Gryhop who smiled triumphantly.
"NO!" Came a voice form behind Minerva. Minerva looked down at Hermione and saw tears going down the girl's face. "No I don't want to go back there, I hate them!" She shouted. "They left me home by myself for a week with barely any food, or heat, or electric. I want to say with Minerva!" Hermione shouted hooking her arms around Minerva sobbing. Minerva rubbed her back and held her.
"I'm sorry Miss Granger." Gryhop said with fake sympathy, "but the law is the law, you need to come with us." This just caused Hermione to cry more. Minerva mumbled something about getting Hermione's clothes and took Hermione upstairs. When they got to Hermione's room Minerva crouched down to Hermione's level fighting the urge to cry as the girl was.
"Please don't make me go back, I'm scared." She sobbed. "He hit's me Minerva! He started hitting me ever since I got my Hogwart's letter. I'm scared I don't want to go back. They'll blame me for you taking me and he'll hit me and starve me. And . . . and. . . ." but Hermione couldn't bring herself to finish. Minerva picked her up and sat on the bed holding Hermione tightly. She let Hermione cry and tried to comfort her, knowing that she would have to give Hermione over to them.
"I promise you Hermione, that I will do everything in my power to gain custody of you." She pulled back so she could make Hermione look at her. "I will go to that meeting and get custody as soon as I can. I just need you to be brave for me Hermione. Two days give me two days and I promise you, you will be back in this bed to sleep in. I swear Hermione." She put her hands on the girl's face and wiped the tears away.
"I'm just so scared." She said pitifully. Minerva kissed her forehead, and smoothed her hair back.
"I know you are sweetie, but you are one of the bravest people I know. Just be smart, you'll have a trial in a day or two. The evidence is in our favor, just a couple more days and you will never live with them again. Okay?" Minerva felt part of her was trying to reassure herself and not Hermione. Hermione nodded and snuggled closer to Minerva, trying to stop her tears. Minerva flicked her wand and Hermione clothes zoomed out of the dresser and made a nice neat pile. Minerva started to put them in Hermione's trunk when the girl stopped her.
"I'll just take my backpack. Since I'm coming back right?" Hermione asked. Minerva nodded and hugged her again.
"Yes your coming back." She whispered. Minerva handed Hermione her backpack and picked Hermione up and carried her downstairs. Albus it seemed had been polite and given the 4 wizards tea. Gryhop stood up immediately on seeing Minerva and Hermione enter. Hermione gripped Minerva tightly and started to cry again though not as much as before. Minerva kissed her head and whispered.
"I love you Hermione remember that." Hermione nodded.
"Two days?" Hermione asked. Minerva nodded.
"Two days." Minerva confirmed and set Hermione down. She locked eyes with Shaklebolt as Hermione walked to the Gryhop. Please watch her, she mouthed. He nodded understanding.
"Well we'll be off Professor's, Good bye." Gryhop said, and with one hand on Hermione walked out of the house and apparated away. When all of them finally left, Minerva let her tears flow freely. She dropped down and just cried and cried. Albus got her up onto the couch and embraced her.
"I'm sorry Minnie." He whispered to her. She snorted.
"What are you sorry for? I'm the one that got her into this mess." She said bitterly.
"No, Minnie. You wanted to go straight to the Ministry and I told you to wait. If you hadn't listened to me then Hermione would still be in here with us." He said this softly. "I'm sorry dear." She just cried into his shoulder. After the tears stopped flowing freely she spied the scrapbook out of the corner of her eye. She ran to it and opened it up. She stared at the picture of Hermione on the ice so happy, so innocent. So different from the face that had only a few minutes ago stared at her. Her tears started again and hit the picture, she quickly wiped it away. Looking at that picture she decided that, the girl in the picture was coming back. She would make sure of it.
Please don't hate me and please review.