One hundred and forty four reviews as I write this. You know if people had read my other stories I would update them more. I should be writing my 5 page essay on Greek Mythology but . . . it's 11 at night so I don't want to start that. Oh well.
The next day Hermione waited impatiently for Harry and Ron to come down stairs for breakfast. They were going to make them late for breakfast and then potions. You would think I would be use to this by now, Hermione thought Ron always sleeps in. When Harry finally managed to get Ron downstairs, they had to skip breakfast and go straight to potions. That's a horrible class to be in on an empty stomach, and a full stomach really. The fumes can make you drowsily and not eating before hand makes you have a headache. It only makes the class worse. Hermione was glad she was paired with Harry. Ron with no food equaled drowsily and cranky and he was paired with Neville. Hermione expected a bad ending to this.
With her help, Harry and she made a perfect potion. They bottled it and took it to the front. Feeling pleased Hermione turned towards Ron and Neville just in time to see it explode. It sent blue liquid every where. It plastered the book shelves, it splattered on Snape's desk, and Harry and Hermione both received a face full of it. They wiped it off quickly but it was starting to sting and Hermione felt her face get badly itchy. Her eye's had been avoided and she saw other students had been hit two, though for some odd reason Ron and Neville hadn't been hit. Hermione thinking quickly grabbed Harry and they tried to find their way to the hospital wing. Harry had been hit in the eye but his glasses took the hit; however that led his glasses to melt so now he was pretty much blind.
"Hermione I can't see." Harry complained. She continued to pull him along.
"I realize that Harry." She said trying to get up to the 4th floor. She had no idea what the heck Ron and Neville made, but it was taking all her control not to itch. She was also feeling drained as if she had just run a mile and with every step it was like she was still running. They finally made it to the hospital and had barely walked in before they both collapsed on the floor.
Minerva McGonagall was having a dreadful first day back. It started first thing in morning when she tripped over her trunk that had been dropped there last night. Grumbling she went to breakfast where she noticed that Hermione wasn't present. Really Minerva thought, I just spoke to her yesterday. She had better not be in the library again, she doesn't need to miss any more meals. When Hermione never showed up she started to get worried but headed back to her classroom for her class. If she wasn't at lunch she decided that's when she would go looking for her. Yes she probably slept in, Minerva thought. I told Albus we shouldn't have let her sleep in so long yesterday now she's messed up.
However it seemed as if the fates had decided to work against Minerva. As she started her 4th year class she realized half the class didn't do their Christmas break homework. When she asked them about Fred and George Weasley claimed they felt essay's and reading didn't grade their knowledge well. Minerva decided that since they were so smart they could perform today's spell with out any of her teaching. She put the spell on the board and gleefully told them that those who didn't do the essay and couldn't perform the spell would be given double homework. The double period was soon over, and half the class walked out grumbling with extra homework. Minerva relaxed and started to grade papers during her free period. She had finished the small stack when a memo flew in. Madam Pomfrey and Minerva often communicated this way to keep Minerva updated on any Gryffindor's who hurt themselves some how. She groaned it was the first day who possibly hurt themselves already. She opened it.
Minerva,
There has been an accident in the 2nd year potions class. A potion exploded and hit many of your students. Most I have already taken care of however two students are still here. Mr. Harry Potter and Miss. Hermione Granger. The potion some how managed to drain their bodies like they had been running for hours. It also gave them a horrible rash on the parts of the skin it hit. Now for the other students I just gave them a pepper-up potion and they were fine. However neither Mr. Potter nor Miss. Granger had breakfast, as a result the potion caused them to pass out. They will be okay they just need to rest I want to keep them overnight. Unless you have other ideas.
Minerva moaned. This just tops of the prefect day she thought. She started putting her work away and walked to the hospital wing. If Hermione had been seriously hurt she would have been there right away. Poppy never lied though, she thought, if Hermione just needed rest that's what Poppy would say. Maybe I can convince Poppy to let me put Hermione in the spare bedroom in my quarters, she knows I'm Hermione's guardian. She had reached the hospital wing and walked right in. She saw that almost all the beds were full. Colin Creevy, Justin Finch-Fletchly, and even Nearly Headless Nick took up the left side of the room. Harry and Hermione were fast asleep in two beds on the right side. Madam Pomfrey had come out of the office when she heard Minerva enter.
"Good you got my letter." Madam Pomfrey said meeting Minerva halfway across the room.
"Yes, are they alright?" She went to stand next to Hermione's bed. Hermione seemed alright, she was sleeping peacefully.
"Yes their fine, I don't know what Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Weasley managed to make but it completely drained both of them. They'll be able to go tomorrow." Minerva pursed her lips.
"I need to talk with Severus about this. This happened at the end of the period right?"
"Yes they made it here right before the class ended."
"I really need to talk with Severus then, he should have been walking around looking at all their potions to make sure they weren't mixing the wrong ingredients. And with Mr. Weasley and his wand, and what I'll heard of Mr. Longbottom's potions skills that was poor judgment."
"I completely agree." Madam Pomfrey nodded.
"And they are completely asleep?" Minerva asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, I just gave them a sleeping potion."
"Good." Minerva said sitting next to Hermione's chair. Madam Pomfrey took the hint and went into her office. Minerva started stroking Hermione's hair. "You love to make me worried don't you?" She chuckled softly. "Maybe I can take you back to my quarters. You'd be better there." She whispered. She had no idea why she was talking to Hermione when the girl was sleeping but it made her feel better after the day she had already had. She heard the distinct bell ring for lunch and she sighed. Minerva knew she should go to lunch; she started to get up and sat back down. I'll have Twinky bring me something later she thought. She smiled at Hermione and looked over at Harry. She wished Albus would take Harry out of his current living situation. Albus did explain the blood sacrifice though so she knew Harry couldn't be moved. Would she become Harry's guardian if she had the chance yes, adopt no. She looked at Hermione and smiled again. Harry had much of his mother in him; he would be the perfect husband for Hermione when she was older. Stop it Minerva, she scolded herself I will not try to match them up. She looked between the two again. Until their least in 5th year she thought with a smirk. The doors to the hospital wing burst open and Minerva jumped up and away from Hermione quickly. It was Albus with two students a ravenclaw and a slytherin. One had giant pulses covering their body, the other had purple hair and one foot was swollen to about the size of his leg.
"Ah here you are Minerva." He said as Madam Pomfrey came running out.
"What happened" she said looking at the two students. The girl with the pulses had been trying to cover her face. Minerva noticed a problem immediately but stayed quiet.
"A normal house dispute I'm afraid." He explained. "Right in the middle of the great hall they sent the spells before anyone on the High table knew what had happened." He explained. Madam Pomfrey had noticed the problem to.
"We don't have enough beds." Madam Pomfrey cried.
"Well do they have to stay the night?" Minerva asked. "Can you just fix them now?" Madam Pomfrey shook her head.
"We need to clear a bed some how." As soon as Minerva heard this she turned and smiled at both of them. Albus laughed recognizing her face, Madam Pomfrey looked confused. The two hurt students were staring at her; they had never seen Professor McGonagall smile like that. It scared them a little bit.
"Very well Minerva." He said, and she smiled and started gathering Hermione's school things. Madam Pomfrey realizing what was going on took the two students to the back and started performing spells on them. Minerva got Hermione into her arms and smiled at Albus. He gave her a secret smile.
"Go now before lunch lets out." He said. She left quickly. She made it to her room right before the bell rang for the second half of classes. She laid Hermione down on the couch they had both sat on the night before. She made sure Hermione had a pillow and covered her in a blanket.
"Twinky." She called and the house-elf appeared with a pop.
"Hello Mistress." Twinky replied.
"Hello Twinky, I need you to watch Hermione while I teach. She should sleep the whole time but if she wakes up get her some food and send me a note. I'll be back briefly in between classes." She informed the house-elf who nodded eagerly. Minerva kissed Hermione on her forehead and went out to teach.
The 2nd year had been very weird to teach with Hermione or Harry in it, Minerva reflected after the class had left. She actually had to force people to try to answer the questions she asked. She went and saw Hermione briefly while her 6th year NEWT class came in. Hermione was still sound asleep. She went back and taught her class, they were learning the basics of human transformation today. They should have done the theory work over break; today they were going to try to change a couple of their features. At the end of the lesson only two girls a Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor, had been able to grow whiskers and pointy ears. She assigned them homework that involved changing their eyes and ears. She was happy when they left and she went into her quarters.
Hermione's eyes were open when Minerva entered the room. They were only half open though which made Minerva think Hermione just woke up. Minerva smiled at her.
"Hello, sweetie how do you feel?" Minerva asked sitting on the edge of the couch. Hermione looked confused.
"How'd I get in here? Last thing I remember was pulling Harry into the hospital wing." Hermione told her. Minerva put her hand on Hermione's forehead checking for a fever. Madam Pomfrey had told her that Hermione might catch a cold because her defenses were low. Minerva was glad to feel that Hermione's head was cool. She moved her hand back up to push Hermione's hair back.
"The potion that exploded on Mr. Potter and you caused it to drain you of all energy and made you get a rash. Your skins still a little pink from where the rash was. And because you didn't eat breakfast," at that Minerva glared at Hermione. "It caused you and Harry to pass out. Madam Pomfrey wanted you to stay the night at the hospital wing however there was a little incident at lunch and Madam Pomfrey needed the bed so I brought you here." Minerva told her.
"Won't people wonder where I am?" Hermione asked.
"If any one asks we're telling them you're in an extra room away from everyone else because you just need to rest." Minerva told her. They heard a bell ring in the distance.
"Was that the lunch bell?" Minerva shook her head.
"No that was the dinner bell." Minerva told her. Hermione looked at Minerva like she was crazy.
"I slept that long?" Hermione asked and she groaned. "I missed your class!" Minerva laughed.
"Don't worry you're excused." Minerva told her smiling. Only Hermione would be more concerned with missing class then her own health. "However since I missed lunch I am expected to be at dinner, I'll have Twinky bring you up some food." She hugged Hermione and kissed her head again. "Though you have to stop scaring me." Minerva told her.
"This wasn't my fault." Hermione said loudly, which just caused Minerva to laugh again and smile fondly.
"You eat all your food." Minerva told her before leaving the room to go to dinner.
When Minerva came back up to the room she was happy to see an empty tray. Hermione was sitting up reading the transfiguration book Minerva had given her for Christmas. Hermione looked up and smiled when she came in.
"Hi." Hermione said. Minerva came and sat by her.
"How are you feeling?" Her mother asked. She was happy to see Hermione had eaten all of her food.
"Still a little drowsy, but I feel fine." She told her.
"Good." Minerva said sitting on the other edge of the couch and summoning her work to her. They sat in silence of a few minutes till Albus came into the room.
"There are my two favorite girls." He said walking into the room. He kissed Minerva and ruffled Hermione's hair. "How are you feeling owlet." He asked Hermione sitting in the armchair.
"I'm fine." She told him. "I don't really remember much."
"Which reminds me Albus, you need to do something about Severus. He should have been patrolling to make sure nothing like that happened." Minerva told him. Albus sighed.
"I know my dear, and I will have a talk with him tomorrow." He said.
"Professor Snape was walking around." Hermione added. "But when he saw Ron and Neville's potion he just insulted it." She said this softly and quickly turned back to her book. Minerva raised an eyebrow at Albus trying to pointy tell him that she was right. He nodded.
"I will take care of it." Albus told them. He jumped back up suddenly and changed the subject. "So how about we play a game? I brought Disney Sorry." He said which caused Hermione to smile and claim the heroes' team. Minerva took the animals and Albus took the Disney Princesses.
"I swear Albus if I was not married to you I would think you are homosexual." Minerva said sighing. Hermione burst out laughing and Albus looked offended.
"I just like to have fun. And I don't want to be the villains." Albus pouted. They played the game till around nine. It was only after Hermione had beaten them two times and started yawning loudly that they stopped.
"Bed time missy." Minerva said helping Hermione up. She took Hermione to her bedroom. It was pretty blank because no one had stayed in it before but it did have the customary Gryffindor colors. Hermione yawned again and walked to the bathroom changed her clothes and crawled into bed. Minerva felt her forehead again. It was thankfully still cool.
"What are you doin?" Hermione asked sleepily.
'I'm seeing if you have a fever, you're okay though. Do you need anything sweetie?" Hermione shook her head no.
"I'm glad I'm here now. I'm don't like the hospital wing." Hermione told her. Minerva hugged her and tucked her in.
"Just try not to get hurt tomorrow." Minerva begged her. Hermione nodded sleepily and closed her eyes.
"Night." She mumbled.
"Good night honey." Minerva whispered.
"Night Owlet." Albus whispered from behind her causing Minerva to jump and knock a chair over. Hermione gave a tired laugh as Minerva hit his arm and started chasing him out. Hermione stared at the door and smiled and she quickly fell asleep.
I told you it would be a week. But I have finished my English paper. I feel confident about it. Now I just have to worry about the SAT next week and I'm golden till May. Thank you again to all the people who reviewed and please keep it up I'll take any suggestions to if anyone has any ideas.