A/N: I am sorry for the long update! College is insane! On top of college my therapy grew more intense and I simply could not handle writing. I focused my writing on my poetry. My therapist had me do some Exposure Therapy – literally took all the energy out of me! I started having night terrors and flashbacks like crazy! With the help of my dog and my therapist though, I can proudly say that I have not had a flashback for two months now! I have not cut in even longer than that! Not cutting is coming up to about four months now :)

Anyway, college is out, I'm feeling stronger and better, and so here is your long awaited chapter!

Again, sorry for the wait. I am so glad that you are all so patient!

~Severus Addicted

Chapter Nine: Tough Love

Gently shaking Hermione's shoulder, Minerva said, "Hermione, dearie, you need to wake up now. Breakfast will be served in a half an hour."

Groaning, Hermione rolled over to her other side, "Please do not make me go!"

Minerva sighed, "You cannot hide from your problems, Hermione. Eventually you will have to see Mr. Weasley."

Pulling the blanket up over her face, Hermione muttered, "Eventually, yes, but not today!"

Smirking, Minerva gently pulled the blankets back off her face, "Would you rather eat breakfast here, then?"

Quickly sitting up, Hermione nodded her head vigorously, "Please!"

Sighing gently, Minerva said, "Alright. I will contact Headmaster Dumbledore and see if he can take over my morning rounds."

Hearing about her Headmaster, Hermione smiled mischievously, "Speaking of Headmaster Dumbledore, Mr. Hains mentioned that you and Headmaster Dumbledore had dated."

Minerva laughed, "We did, yes."

Leaning in towards her, Hermione pressed on, "So you are no longer together?"

Minerva shook her head. Before responding to her, Minerva sent out her patronus with a message to Albus. Turning back to her, Minerva answered her, "Albus and I had decided that our relationship was best based on friendship."

Hermione nodded in understanding, "Oh, alright."

Patting the child's knee, Minerva asked, "Is that all?"

As an answer, Hermione nodded.

"Alright. Then, I need you to get out of bed and get dressed. I will have a house elf bring breakfast for us."

Outraged, Hermione shook her head, "No! You can't do that. Can we not make our own breakfast?"

Remembering Hermione's disgust in the use of House Elves, Minerva tilted her head slightly, "Yes, I am sorry. We can make our own breakfast. What would you like to eat for breakfast, Hermione?"

"Can we have pancakes and bacon?" Hermione asked.

Minerva nodded, "I will start them while you get ready for the day."

Hermione groaned, "I don't want to get ready for the day."

Minerva shook her head, "Hermione I realize that you would much rather not get ready for the day. That is what depression does to you. However, you need to get out of bed and continue to take care of yourself. Do you understand? If you do not get dressed and shower then you will simply feel worse."

Hermione sighed, "But I'm not going anywhere anyway."

Minerva shook her head and headed for Hermione's bedroom door, "I want you dressed, your teeth brushed, and completely ready for the day in fifteen minutes. Do you understand?" Turning around, Minerva stared at her to make sure she completely understood.

Huffing, Hermione threw her hands up, "Fine."

Raising her eyebrows, Minerva placed her hands on her hips and said sternly, "Mind your attitude, Hermione. What I am telling you is the truth. I do not appreciate you throwing a fit, Hermione!"

Biting her lip, Hermione lowered her eyes to her lap, "I'm sorry." She could not help but feel terrible.

Minerva sighed, she hates being so stern with her but she needs to learn! "I forgive you. Now, please, just get ready for the day. By the time you are dressed and ready, I bet the pancakes will be almost done."

Hermione nodded and crawled out of bed, "Okay. . ."

Nodding, Minerva exited the bedroom.

Sighing to herself, Hermione quickly stripped and threw on her clothes for the day. Leaving her bedroom, Hermione hurried in to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

Finished, she met Minerva in the kitchen, "Do you need any help?"

Glancing over her shoulder, Minerva offered her a small smile, "How about you set the table?"

Hermione quickly set about doing what Minerva asked of her. Setting the table, Hermione asked, "Today is the Hogsmeade trip, my parents had signed my permission slip for the Hogsmeade trip. . . I just want to make sure I can still go."

Minerva sighed as she put the bacon on the plate and spelled the grease away, "I am not sure if that is a good idea, Hermione."

Halting her movements, Hermione looked at her in shock, "What do you mean?"

Bringing the food to the table, Minerva sat down, "I said, I do not believe that is a good idea."

Dropping the silverware on the table, Hermione allowed them to clatter, "Why not?"

Minerva sighed, "I have already spoken with Madam Pomfrey about the issue. We both firmly believe that it would be best if you did not attend the trip."

Hermione felt as if she could stomp her feet, "WHY?!" Hermione shouted, "That's ridiculous!"

Folding her hands over the other, Minerva thinned her lips, "If Madam Pomfrey does not believe you should go than that is a good enough reason."

Losing her self-respect, Hermione stomped her feet, "Well that's not good enough for me!"

Calmly, Minerva stood from her seated position, "Hermione Jean Granger, you are acting like a toddler!" Pointing to the corner, Minerva said in a no-nonsense tone of voice, "Go stand yourself in the corner until you can mind your manners."

Huffing, Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head, "No."

Shocked, Minerva's eyes went wide, "Excuse me?"

Feeling as if she could scream, Hermione threw her hands wildly into the air, "IT'S NOT FAIR! My parents already signed the papers!"

Minerva shocked herself as she felt her anger starting to boil, "Hermione Jean, calm yourself!"

"You're not even giving me a bloody reason!" Hermione yelled.

Closing the gap between herself and her ward, Minerva grabbed her hand and led her to the corner, "I do not want to hear another word come from your mouth until you have closed your eyes, counted to ten, and focused on something calming. After you are relaxed we will continue this conversation calmly."

Pulling out of her grip, Hermione shouted, "NO! I'm tired of being calm! I want to go to Hogsmeade! This is not bloody fair!"

"Hermione Jean watch your language!" Minerva reprimanded. "Here, I will make this easier on you. You cannot go on the Hogsmeade trip because you are grounded."

Hermione's face fell in complete shock, "What?"

Hands on her hips, Minerva told her sternly, "You are grounded, Hermione Jean."

Furrowing her brows, Hermione huffed angrily, "That's not fair!"

Minerva felt at a loss of what to say, "You need to accept things for how they are, young lady. If Madam Pomfrey does not believe it is a wise decision to let you go to Hogsmeade than I believe her."

Feeling so angry, Hermione felt tears sting her eyes, "But why is it not a good idea?! It would be so much fun!"

Minerva sighed, "She feels it might be too much of an adventure so soon after returning from the hospital."

Clenching her teeth, Hermione muttered darkly, "I hate this."

Minerva shrugged, "You are allowed to hate this but the decision is final, Hermione Jean. You are grounded and you will not be attending this trip."

Crossing her arms, Hermione huffed and glared at the floor, "This is so not fair."

With thin lips and an even thinner patience, Minerva sat down at the table, "Sit down and eat, Hermione. The breakfast is getting cold."

Glaring at the floor, Hermione stomped her way to her bedroom. Once there, she slammed the door shut and screamed into her pillow.

Rubbing her temples, Minerva groaned, "I am not doing so well with this parenting thing. . ."

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An hour later, Minerva opened Hermione's bedroom door to see her reading her Potions textbook. Sighing gently, Minerva sat down on the bed, "I am sorry I lost my patience with you, Hermione. Your anger and attitude took me by surprise."

Hermione glanced at her over her textbook then returned to reading. "The fact that you grounded me took me by surprise!"

Minerva thinned her lips, unamused, "You deserve this grounding, young lady."

Hermione blushed, "I said I was sorry."

Minerva sighed, "Saying that you are sorry does not magically get you ungrounded, Hermione. You need to learn a lesson."

Hermione's face fell, "I just want to go to Hogsmeade."

Minerva nodded gently, "I have made other plans for you."

Hermione looked at her confused, "But I'm grounded?"

Minerva nodded, "Yes, you are grounded but at least you will have company while I am gone."

"While you are gone?" Hermione asked, confused.

"Albus needs me to attend a meeting with him at the Hog's Head. While I am gone, I figured Harry can come and stay with you seeing how Harry cannot go on the trip either," Minerva explained gently.

Hermione smiled, "Alright! Thanks!"

Minerva nodded, "This is a one-time deal, Hermione. For future reference, when you are grounded you will not be allowed to see your friends."

Hermione's face fell, "Okay."

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Minerva said, "Harry will actually be arriving shortly. The students left about five minutes ago for their trip." No sooner had she told her this, there was a knock on the door.

Smiling, Hermione jumped from the bed and ran for the door. Throwing it open, she threw her arms around Harry excitedly, "Oh Harry! Thanks for giving me company!"

Laughing, Harry hugged her back, "Anytime, Herm."

Patting Hermione's shoulder, Minerva told them, "I am going to take my leave. I want you to behave. I will be back in an hour."

Hermione quickly nodded her head, "We will behave! Thanks for letting him come over."

Minerva smiled, "You are welcome." With that, she left the room.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Harry pulled out a folded up parchment from his pocket, "Do you really want to stay here or do you want to go to Hogsmeade?"

Hermione bit her lip, "Would we get caught?"

Harry shrugged, "I doubt it. The map has a perfect passageway."

Nodding, Hermione hugged him again, "You're a life savior! I don't think I could handle being in this house much longer today!" Suddenly she said with a glare, "She grounded me, Harry!"

Harry gasped sarcastically, "Oh no she didn't!"

Smirking, Hermione hit his shoulder playfully, "I'm serious! She grounded me!"

Harry laughed, "What did you do?"

Biting her lip, she muttered, "I threw a fit."

Smirking at her, Harry said, "Be glad you got grounded and not got your backside smacked."

Hermione blushed at the thought, "True."

Opening the map, Harry tapped it with his wand, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Hermione watched in awe as the map slowly appeared.

"Are you ready to break some rules?" Harry asked her with a wink.

Nodding, Hermione muttered, "Definitely."

A/N: I know this was short but I just wanted to get the update out there for you. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review and let me know!

Thanks,

Severus Addicted

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