AN: I am so sorry for the delay but life and other things got in the way. This chapter is extremely short but it's a necessary transition chapter.

Chapter 4

Robert Granger was halfway through the sports section of the daily newspaper when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. His chocolate eyes narrowed knowingly; he was being watched. He lowered the paper just enough to peer over the top and scowled when he found the source of the scrutiny a mere meter away sitting on the coffee table staring at him with its enormous emerald eyes. "Bloody demonic beast." He spat and eerily human-like the cat glared back at him.

They stared each other down for a bit until the human male had enough.

"Oi, Jean!"

"Yes, darling." His wife answered from the kitchen.

"How old is this cat!?"

"Oh love, I don't know." Jean strolled into the room whilst carefully toting a silver tea tray in her hands."She showed up when Hermione was just a babe and was fully grown then so I'd have to say she should be at least twelve."

He humphed and glared suspiciously at the animal in question who merely licked her paw and stared at him with a look that screamed boredom. "Well, shouldn't she be showing some signs of aging by now?"

Jean merely shrugged. "She no doubt is but she's spends so much time with our Hermione that I couldn't tell you if she was."

Robert humphed in disbelief. He never liked cats. To him they weren't nothing but selfish moody beasts only wanting a hot meal and a cushy place to stay without contributing to the household like some sort of furry homeless person. "I still say it's something off about that cat."

Jean rolled her eyes heavenward. This was becoming a redundant argument between the two of them that was frankly getting more and more ridiculous as time went on. "Oh honestly, Robert, you've been saying that for years now."

"Well it's true, Jean. That creature," He gestured to the animal in question. "just isn't normal."

The woman sighed. "I still say you're being ridiculous."

"Jean, that beast only shows up at the beginning of each summer then leaves in autumn and winter months tell me what cat does that?"

"Though I admit that is strange I also know cats tend to roam." She pointed out.

"Yeah and come back pregnant." He huffed and went back to reading.

Seemingly having enough of tormenting the human male. The tabby jumped from her perch and sprinted for the stairs where she made a beeline to her little miss's bedroom. When she entered she couldn't help but grin inwardly when she spotted the girl in her usually spot by the open window nose deep in a book. It was a bittersweet moment for the cat knew deep down that her time was coming to an end. The elder Grangers were starting to notice and judging by the amount of accidental magical happenings going on around the girl it was nearly time for her to recieve a Hogwarts acceptance letter so with a heavy heart she decided right then it was time.

She trudged over to the girl and bumped her head against her arm, needing the love and attention in that moment like water.

Feeling the furry head nudging against her lower bicep, Hermione looked down and smiled widely when she seen her companion."And just where have you been?" She reached over and gave it a scratch behind the ears. "Messing with daddy again no doubt." The cat merely purred her answer.

The girl grinned at the animal."Naughty thing you. One of these days he's going to make you into a hat." She quipped as she rand her fingers through black and silver silken fur.

A horrified hiss sounded.

"Oh now, none of that you know I wouldn't let him do that to you." Hermione cooed, placing the book still held within her grasp beside her, she leaned over, bent down, and gave the feline a kiss right between the ears.

More purring ensued.

"Silly kitty."

Minerva spent the rest of the day beside the girl just listening to her speak, breath, and turn pages, trying to ingrain every little detail before she had to leave.

But when the night came and it was time to go all that mental preparation throughout the day seemed to abandon her. She felt as if her heart was tearing into. All those finely tuned animagi instincts were screaming at her just to go back. Go back to that house. Go back to that girl. Go back to your kitten. Still though she carried onward. Ignoring those thoughts and moving farther and farther away from the house, she took a deep painful breath disapparated away.

The next afternoon, Hermione walked down the street with her hands cuffed over her mouth. "Shadow!" She waited for a moment then continued. "Shadow! Here, kitty kitty kitty!" The child called out desperately for her lost pet unaware of the disillusioned woman standing nearby watching her with tears trickling down her cheeks.

A long seemingly endless year passed and Minerva was growing more and more anxious with each passing day. Until finally the day had arrived. What if the girl panicked when she learned of her magic? What if the girl took one look at her and decided she didn't like her? What if? What if? Unseen by Minerva, Dumbledore entered the Transfiguration Professor's office unseen and smiled as he watched his old friend pace back and forth.

"Nervous?"

Minerva startled and spun around with a hand firmly placed over her heart. When she spotted who it was she glared. "No, I'm not nervous I'm just," Her face fell and she darted her eyes away unwilling to show the emotions that swirled in them.

Dumbledore studied her for a moment before speaking once again."It's okay to be frightened, Tabby."

She opened her mouth to deny but decided against it and sighed. He was right of course. She was frightened, terrified even of losing her cub once again. The first time was hard enough and she didn't know if she had the strength to bare it a second time.

After a few moments passed Dumbledore smooth voice broke out shattering the silence and the illusion that it was just a normal day like fine glass.

"Are you ready, Tabby?"

Minerva took in a deep breath, steeled herself, then let it out slowly. "Yes."

They walked up the sidewalk to an all too familiar two story house where Dumbledore ascended the steps leaving Minerva behind but once he arrived on the doorstep the old wizard turned to his friend. "Just breathe, Tabby." He advised when he noticed just how tense her posture was. Surprisingly the normally stoic woman didn't protest just merely did as she was told, breathing in deeply she exhaled slowly through her nostrils.

Dumbledore gave her a reassuring smile then turned back to the door and knocked.

A moment later it swung open revealing Jean Granger dressed in a causal outfit with an friendly smile in place. "Hello, um may I help you?" The muggle women looked the two of them over and her smile dropped a bit. Probably wondering why they were wearing such odd clothing, Minerva concluded.

"Hello, Mrs. Granger, I'm Albus Dumbledore and this is Minerva McGonagall we are here to discuss a few things about your daughter Hermione may we come in?"

Although the woman's face screamed suspicion she agreed nevertheless and motion them in with a slight nod of her head. "Come on in, I'll make us some tea."

TBC...

AN: After this it's going to speed up and go back to Hermione's P.O.V. Here's my question though who do want Hermione to be paired with? I only do femslash only so please no hetero.