WOW!!! Over 200 reviews that's a lot for me. To answer some reviews
Nightangel1220: Harry will be coming in more now that Hermione is petrified
Kikky: It will be a secret from everyone for a while but Harry and Ron will find out soon.
Horcruxhorror: I have Sherlock Holmes I'll look
Ladygoddess8: Don't worry I will do OotP with this, probably the sequel but I'm will be doing it.
And you know what I noticed when I reread this chapter in the book I was amazed at how much Minerva paused when she talked to Harry and Ron and I couldn't help thinking about how well that fit. OK moving on here's chapter 18.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or the quotes I used to make this chapter. But I do own the book which they came from.
Minerva smiled at the picture perfect Quidditch weather. She was an avid Quidditch fan something most people didn't think of her as. She strode out to the pitch moving quickly to make sure she got up and settle before the crowds came out. She got settled into the teacher's seats next to the announcement booth to make sure Mr. Jordon doesn't make any inappropriate comments. She watched the students file into the seats and she wished Albus came to watch the games more, but she knew that when everyone was here is when Albus did his running around the castle. She noticed Madam Hooch walking towards the pitch with the truck of ball. Mr. Jordon came and sat next to her when a flash of fire appeared in front of her depositing a letter into her lap. Albus she thought why send me a letter though Fawkes. Shaking her head she opened the letter
Minerva I'm sorry this is brief but there has been a double attack. Please send all the students to their dorms and inform the heads of houses to go to their house common rooms. Instructions are there. The two students were Miss. Clearwater and . . . Hermione . . . I'm sorry dear, please hurry to do this before the game starts. Both of the girls are now in the hospital wing and were found with a mirror. Albus
Minerva felt her face go white and tears threatened her vision. She stared into space for a few moments until Professor Sprout brought her out of her trance.
"Minerva are you okay?" Minerva snapped out of it and looked down to the pitch where Madam Hooch was now standing in the middle of field. She knew that right now the students needed her to be strong and she had to act quickly. Taking the letter she quickly turned it into a purple megaphone. She turned to the teachers.
"Help get all the students back to the dorms there's been another attack." Then she left the stands quickly and marched down to the field. Reaching the field she told Madam Hooch to pack it away. She raised the megaphone.
"This match has been canceled," She told the stadium that started booing and hissing. She ignored them, she saw Oliver Wood coming towards her and shouting something at her. She ignored him too and she spoke into the megaphone again.
"All students are to make there way back to the House common rooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can please!" She finished and turned towards Harry and wondered briefly it he realized what happened. She mentioned him over. "Potter, I think you had better come with me . . ." Her heart ached and she just wanted to sprint up to the hospital wing and see Hermione. But the logical part of her knew Hermione wasn't going any where and that she would have liked her friends to come see her right away. She led Harry up to the Castle not speaking a word until she saw Mr. Weasley pushing his way towards him. "Yes, perhaps you had better come, too, Weasley . . ." She couldn't even finish the sentence. She just silently walked them up to hospital wing and she realized she never told either of them what to expect.
"This will be a bit of a shock," she was surprised at how soft her voice sounded. "There has been another attack . . . another double attack." She took a big breath to prepare herself and pushed the door open.
She felt her heart clench when she saw Hermione staring face up at ceiling staying completely still. She felt tears come to her eyes but she locked stares with Poppy and wiped her eyes quickly. She walked over and picked up the mirror from the side table and held it up to the boys.
"They were found near the library. I don't suppose either of you can explain this? It was found on the floor next to them." She felt her heart take another blow when they shook their heads. She felt it was horribley odd that they couldn't take their eyes off Hermione and she could barely bring herself to look at her daughter. She sighed again.
"I will escort you back to Gryffindor tower. I need to address the students. Please wait outside, I will be right there." She said dismissing them. She thought she saw Harry turn and stare at her but both the boys left quickly. With a quick look at Poppy, who turned her attention back to Miss Clearwater, Minerva bent down to Hermione's bed. She brushed Hermione's hair and gentle kissed her forehead. She looked into Hermione's glassy eyes and fought back another sob.
"I'm so sorry Hermione, oh what happened to you baby. I'll fix it I promise." That was all she could say now and once she straightened herself up she walked out of the wing.
Harry listened silently to Professor McGonagall's speech about the new rules and regulations. It seemed like only minutes ago that she had pushed his plate of food in front of him. All he could see is Hermione blank glassy eyes staring at him and he was watching Professor McGonagall and he thought she felt the same way. Professor McGonagall left them and Harry just walked up to his dorm and lay down on the bed. He had been very shocked to see how torn up Professor McGonagall had looked. He didn't think any one else noticed. He had been afraid at first that Professor McGonagall had thought he did something bad but he saw the look on her face when she saw Hermione. No matter what any one said about Professor McGonagall being a strict mean teacher, Harry knew now that she cared for all her students especially the Gryffindors. Yet he had to admit something was up with Professor McGonagall when she saw Hermione. That was more then just worry. Come to think of it, he thought, Hermione has been gone more and more nights lately. Is she meeting Professor McGonagall? Why though extra work? Maybe Hermione is getting extra lessons? No that's not it . . . maybe their related. Hermione did come back from Christmas looking a lot happier. He shook away the thoughts and started doing the homework that was assigned by Snape. Normally he would wait till the last moment but he thought about how Hermione should be here bugging him about it, and he started it.
Minerva McGonagall went straight back up to the hospital wing when she was done talking to her cubs. She saw how worried they were but she made her self focus on Hermione. When she entered the hospital wing Poppy wasn't there but Minerva didn't notice she just pulled a chair up to Hermione's bed and started crying. Every worry she had, every feeling she felt since that morning came out. She went to pull Hermione into her embrace and found that she couldn't even bend the girl's limbs. She couldn't even close her daughter's eyes. So Minerva grabbed hold of her hand and cried. Some small part of her prayed that no one would come in and she her like this. Only Poppy knew that Albus and she had gotten guardianship of Hermione. She didn't know how long she sat in there next to Hermione until Albus came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey Minnie, lets go back to our rooms okay." She shook her head not wanting to leave Hermione.
"We can't help her now Min, the mandrake daught will be done soon then she'll our happy little girl again. It's safer that she's like this anyway." She rubbed her eyes and turned to him.
"What do you mean?" She asked softly. She hated being seen as weak even by Albus.
"Now there's not a chance that she could get hurt any worse." He told pulling her up. She bent back down and gave Hermione a kiss.
"I'll be back later baby." She whispered even though she was sure that Hermione couldn't hear her. Minerva allowed Albus to lead her back to her rooms. When they got there she just sat on the couch and wiped her remaining tears away and accepted the cup of tea from Albus when he came back in.
"How are you feeling Min?" He asked letting her lean on his shoulder.
"Feeling better since you came in. It's just . . . " she got up and without warning hit him in the arm. "Really Albus a letter! You told me in a letter?" She asked anger flaring.
"Minnie, I'm sorry but I needed all the students back up at the school and I knew you were the only person who could do that." She sat back down.
"I'm sorry to Albus it's just . . . I knew something would happen. I told you I knew, I felt something wrong. I just wasn't quick enough. . ." she mumbled.
"I know and I wish we could change it but we can't it's to late. All we can do now is make sure Hermione is as comfortable as she can be. Maybe you can read to her." He suggested.
"Why she can't even hear us." Minerva told him. He chuckled softly.
"You never know."
Earlier that day:
Help! HELP! Why can't any one hear me. The Basilisk oh no I'm petrified. Ugh!! Wait I hear footsteps come this way come this way! The footsteps pounded against the floor.
"Oh my gosh! Hermione!" She heard a voice say.
Albus! Dad! Help us it's a Basilisk, that's how the students have been petrified, obviously. Oh what am I doing he can't hear me.
"Fawkes come here and take this letter to Minerva. Be quick about it before the game starts." Hermione felt him put a hand on her forehead. "Oh Owlet, I'm sorry we were to late."
It's not your fault; I probably should have stayed in the library. I wish I could talk.
Hermione felt herself leaving the cold floor and being disposed onto a bed. She guessed her father took her into the hospital wing. She felt Madam Pomfrey checking her. Yet the whole time she was aware that not only could she not move her body, she realized no one else could move her limbs either. For some reason she couldn't see either even though she felt her eyes were open. Then she heard the door open again.
"Hermione!" She heard Ron and Harry and although she couldn't see them she still felt their warmth and she felt someone grab her hand. Probably Harry.
Come on guys, look in my other hand that paper is crumbled up but it should still be there. You guys can figure it out from there. Come on look.
"They were found near the library. I don't suppose either of you can explain this? It was found on the floor next to them." A very familiar voice sounded.
Mommy! Minerva I'm here. It's a Basilisk. That's what attacking the students I figured it out.
"I will escort you back to Gryffindor tower. I need to address the students. Please wait outside, I will be right there."
No don't leave, I want to know what's going on. She heard footsteps getting softer and then she felt someone brush her hair and kiss her fore head. She thought she heard a sound of a cry.
"I'm so sorry Hermione, oh what happened to you baby. I'll fix it I promise."
It's not your fault Mommy. Oh I wish I could tell you. And my other hand please look at my hand.
Hermione felt Minerva leave and she felt so frustrated that if she could have groaned she would have.
This is a very long chapter for me. I'm proud of it. I hope every one understands Hermione switching back between Mom and dad and Minerva and Albus. It's to show she's stressed and that's when she switches back into their first names. Okay moving on if there are any grammar problems sorry, but it's late and my batteries about to die, and I have school tomorrow. If it wasn't for the fact I have double art and double band tomorrow I would stay up and reread it but I need to be awake to make a lamp sculpture.