A/N: Wow, here we are again! Aren't you all spoiled! :D Should that be spoilt? Whatever, this is an Authors Note and in it you can see why Spin is such an important part of this here slightly less than well-oiled machine (being me, not her…or something.)

ANYWAY

Moving swiftly onwards. So here we are, 'nother Age of Healing. Um…a few of you were wondering when Min is going to find out…weeellllll…I kinda don't have much of a plan. I mean, well no I don't really have one. I know what's going to happen sort of, but I imagine that it will take up a few chapters…cos I started this off thinking it wouldn't be that long, and I'm three chapters through and haven't really got anywhere yet. So, sit back and settle in for the ride…

That's really all I have to say so I shall go…hope you all like it :D Don't forget all you people not in the 'cool club' to check out the Facebook Page lol ….no but really ;-)

-0-

Minerva sighed as she rubbed her eyes. She loved little Álainn with all her heart and she was now – on the eve of the start of a new term – able to admit that to herself. She knew she shouldn't, especially when tomorrow all the students would return. There was a very good chance that the mother, or perhaps even both parents of the amazing child would be amongst them, but to Minerva it didn't matter. She smiled as she thought of how much she loved her little one, even if waking her up at three in the morning was putting that love to the test.

"Oh my baby," Minerva whispered as she picked the infant up with well-practiced ease, cradling her to her breast as she snagged the blanket she had made with only a little help from Pomona. "What are we going to do with you, hmm?" she said, pressing a kiss to little Álainn's face and Summoning a bottle. "Easy baby, it's coming, it's coming," she said tiredly, bringing the bottle to the baby's lips and smiling as she suckled strongly.

As she had done every night since she 'inherited' the child she sat against the headboard, her feet tucked up and her knees helping her hold the baby as close as possible, leaving her hands free to stroke and comfort. And every night Álainn's tiny hands clung to Minerva – her right wrapped up in her nightshirt, and her left gripping the long plait tightly, as if she was afraid Minerva would leave her.

"I'm here, baby," she said around a yawn. Tonight would be a night when she would not get up again and she waved her wand in preparation, casting the necessary spells.

She had panicked the first time she had fallen into slumber with Álainn asleep on her chest, but Winky was quick to assure her that it was all right and it was good for babies to do that sometimes. Minerva hadn't been too sure, but after discussing it with Poppy as well, she understood that it could help with the bonding process, though the medi-witch had admitted so with a degree of worry. However, in order to assuage both Poppy's and indeed her own apprehension, she made certain to have every kind of charm upon both herself and the baby to make sure nothing happened. She smiled as the sucking stopped and she looked down to see her little one fast asleep with the bottle still in between her gums.

"Funny baby," she chuckled quietly, lifting her up to her chest, nestled perfectly under her chin. "Let's go to bed, my little Álainn."

Minerva smiled as she wriggled down as lady-like as she could without waking her small companion. Finally getting into a position she could be comfortable in for the remaining hours, she lay for a few minutes looking at the baby as she did most nights. She had a dusting of fuzz on her head now and Minerva loved stroking her fingers over the impossibly soft hair.

"Good night my Álainn, beautiful girl," she whispered, her hands holding the child in place as her eyes drooped, soothed by the snufflings of the tiny baby.

-0-

"Good morning," Minerva said happily as she entered her office early the next day. "I trust you all slept well?"

"Minerva, we are portraits, we always sleep well," Severus replied snidely, casting his eye over the beaming Headmistress and the child asleep on her shoulder. "Should she not be in bed or something?"

"Severus, let her be," Albus chided, smiling at his best friend with a twinkle in his eye.

"Thank you, Albus."

"And what if her parents should come forth, what then will you do?" Severus asked plainly, ignoring the quiet huff from his former employer in the adjacent portrait.

"Then I shall show them a side of Minerva McGonagall not many people have seen when I rend their flesh from their bones, before I hand them their child and be done with it."

She smirked at Severus, but despite the miniscule pull on the corner of his lips he looked less than happy.

"We all know you would not do such a thing, Minerva," he said softly, causing her to stop shuffling her papers with one hand and turn slowly to look at him, her free hand cradling the small head on her shoulder.

"Yes, well," she said, pressing a kiss to her Álainn, "that cannot be helped." She looked at Albus who was watching on with a strange look on his face. "This is a child that was left – ABANDONED – in a corridor, and yet she is so sweet, so beautiful and innocent." She turned back to Severus, who was looking suitably chastised. "How could I not love her?"

"Minerva, my dear, he was merely making sure you are not travelling towards a heartbreak, do not fret," Albus said quietly. Minerva sighed, rolling her head around, trying to work out the kinks in her neck.

"I apologise, Minerva," Severus said sincerely.

"I, too, am sorry Severus. I know you are only looking out for my wellbeing and I thank you, but," she looked down at the baby and then back at Severus. "I feel she should be here, and not just here in my arms, though that is where I wish her to stay; here, at Hogwarts, in this castle."

They did not speak again as Minerva left the room to go down to breakfast, baby in tow and head held high, looking every bit the formidable witch she was, aside from the child in her arms.

She did not hear Severus remark dryly that for all her distrust of Seers, she was doing a fair job of acting like one.

"Good morning, Professor," Ginny Weasley said with a wave as they entered the Great Hall.

"Good morning, Miss Weasley. I trust you had a good Christmas with your family?" Minerva smiled as Ginevra realised what she was seeing.

"Um, yeah it was… Professor, whose baby is that?"

Minerva chuckled as she shifted the child gently, letting Ginny peek at the babe.

"Wow, she's beautiful. I didn't think that –"

Whatever Ginny was going to say clearly was not nearly as polite as it should have been and Minerva outright laughed as the teen went as red as her brothers used to.

"Miss Weasley, calm yourself. She is not my child; at least, she is not mine by birth. Over the holiday she was found in the castle, alone and without clothes, so I have taken it upon myself to care for her until her parents return to their senses." She looked at Ginny critically, noticing that she was fidgeting under her stern gaze. "You do not have anything to tell me, do you Ginevra?"

The use of her first name was strategic and Minerva was glad to see the twitch when she mentioned it.

"No Professor, it's not mine if that's what you think. I –" She looked around, noticing more than a few people staring. "Never mind."

Clearly she had something on her mind so Minerva ushered her back out of the Hall and into a nearby classroom, locking the door behind them.

"Ginny, can you tell me what is bothering you?" she asked gently, rocking Álainn as she grumbled in her sleep.

"I had a scare," she said quietly, looking bereft. "But I'm not, I'm just, well after the war ended we all got kinda –"

Minerva tried to keep her face neutral for she had been through more than one war, and she quite remembered the days following the end of the first. Well, she remembered what she could – there was a lot of fire whiskey consumed in the weeks following. She watched as Ginny's face paled as she seemed to realise she was rambling so Minerva conjured a cradle for Álainn before moving to Ginny's side and sitting her down.

"Ginny, what is it?"

"I'm worried about Hermione," she whispered.

Minerva's heart dropped as she thought about her favourite student. She had not come through the war unscathed and despite being with Ronald Weasley, if the rumours were true, she tended to keep to herself, her head down and engrossed in her studies. This was not unusual for the Head Girl, but Minerva had noticed her worn appearance and her tired eyes, eyes that did not shine anymore. She knew she missed the boys as well; both Ron and Harry had opted to go straight into Auror training and Minerva received regular letters from Harry - sometimes about nothing at all. Recalling his last letter, Minerva realised he had mentioned that he thought Ron and Hermione were fighting, but she had paid no heed to it. At the time she was neck deep in correspondence with Kingsley and had replied with a rather generic, 'they'll be fine'. Now, though, she was worried and truthfully she perhaps could have made some time for her protégée, though she was not sure Hermione would have taken her up on the offer.

"What about Hermione?" she prompted, trying to keep the worry from her voice.

"Well, she and Ron are supposed to be together, but Ron came back from Auror training with Harry but Hermione didn't show up the Burrow," she said looking confused. "And I just found out from Lavender that she didn't stay here either. Except –"

Minerva found herself at the end of a very worried look from Ginny and she leaned forward, taking the youngest Weasley's hand.

"What?"

"She wasn't on the train."

-0-

By the time Minerva got back to her rooms it was well after lunch and her hair had come loose from her bun, not to mention that Álainn was screaming her little lungs out.

"Good gracious woman, what in Merlin's name is wrong with her?" Severus yelled over the top of the din.

Minerva slumped in her seat and Summoned a bottle. The portraits blinked in owl-like fashion as silence reigned over the room once more; the only noise anyone could hear was the little huffs that Álainn was making as she sucked on her milk.

"I fear I was a little longer than I thought I would be," she finally replied, leaning her head back on her chair as she held the bottle for the baby. "Remind me to applaud Molly Weasley for having seven children, Albus. I do not know how she did it, and I especially don't know how she coped with twins, particularly those two."

Her heart squeezed painfully as she thought of Fred and she fell silent again as she turned over all of her thoughts from the day.

"My dear? What troubles you?" Albus asked quietly, shaking his head at Severus when he looked as if he was about to talk.

"I," she looked down at Álainn and stroked her cheek, taking a deep breath. "Hermione is missing."

The room erupted in a cacophony of noise as the portraits began questioning her left, right and centre. The baby was extremely unimpressed and screamed as the noise disrupted her feeding.

"That will teach you all to ask me one at a time in the future," she smirked as they all fell silent and Álainn went back to her lunch.

"What do you mean she is missing?"

"I mean she was invited, but did not go to the Burrow for Christmas with the Weasleys. She apparently owled Ronald and told him that she was going to stay close to St. Mungo's." She looked up at the portraits, all of whom were staring at her intently. "Her parents are still receiving treatment for their Obliviation and she said that she already had a place to stay and that she would be fine. It is curious to note, however, that Harry believes they are not able to receive visitors and that Hermione was told to wait until their memories were a little more stable. Nevertheless, that is where she has said she was going, and according to the other students, she was seen getting on the train at the end of term."

"But?"

Minerva smiled tiredly at Albus' question.

"But Ginevra was quite sure she was not on the train and has since been told by Miss Brown that Hermione was definitely not here for the holidays, a fact I can attest to having not seen her for the last two weeks."

"So where is she?" Severus pondered, looking puzzled.

"I do not know, it is hard to believe that she could have confounded a few people to see her getting on the train, but it is possible that she simply cast a Notice-Me-Not charm while on board," Minerva said sadly. "I only hope she is safe. We have looked all over the castle and I can say with certainty she is not here. We have checked everywhere she would go, and Harry has looked in a few places Ron was sure she would not, but there were no signs there either. I have owled St. Mungo's, but if what Harry says is true then she would not have been allowed in."

"I imagine she is simply taking some time, Minerva," Albus said with a smile. "She is an incredibly intelligent young woman, and I imagine the recent movements of the Ministry have hurt her sensibilities of equality within the Wizarding World," he said sadly. "As it has done for most of us, of course, but as the Muggles say – Rome was not built in a day."

"Aye," Minerva said, pleased to see Álainn finish her dinner. "I should have spoken to her. I recognised the signs; she was retreating into herself and yet she did not seek me out." She sighed, shifting Álainn to her shoulder and rubbing her back gently, smiling faintly as a little burp made a few of the portraits chuckle. Muttering an incantation, she turned her chair into a rocker, relaxing as she felt Álainn's little hands gripping her robe and her breath on her neck, gurgling happily. "I have failed her."

"Minerva, she may be a know-it-all, and your favourite student, but you cannot help one who does not want your support," Severus said quietly, refusing to look at her. "You should know that from past experience."

"Oh Severus," she said, looking at him with tears in her eyes. "I had promised myself I would not fail another as I had failed you, and yet I have failed once more. Not just Hermione, but everyone. The castle is un-finished, the children are all hurting. Ginevra indicated to me that she and Harry had recently had a pregnancy scare. What kind of Headmistress am I if I do not help the children who had to fight in this war get through the effects?" she said, standing suddenly and disturbing the baby.

"Shh, easy," she muttered apologetically, rubbing Álainn's back. "It is all right child."

"Minerva, you are but one woman. You cannot expect to fix all the world's ills in one sitting," Albus said gently, but firmly. "Start with what you can do. Call a meeting, delegate the work. I know you must be the one to set the wards on repaired work, but, my dear, you do not have to do it all yourself."

"You used to," she said petulantly, desperately wanting to poke her tongue out at her best friend but resisting.

"And look where it has got me, my dear," he said poignantly, leaving a tense silence.

"We will start with the children," she said after a time. "They are the ones most in need of help, and perhaps with their assistance, we can correct those atrocities that our Ministry is so loathe to change."

"Good idea, Minerva," Albus said quietly as she turned back to her desk, placing Álainn in the cradle beside her.

"I need to call a meeting, friends," she said looking up at all of the portraits in the room. "If you would be so kind as to summon my colleagues?"

A number of portraits emptied as they disappeared to tell others of her request, but she chose to ignore Albus' pause before he, too, disappeared. She knew what she would see in his eyes, as she felt it herself. Hope. She could feel it warming her heart and her weary bones and she smiled down at the babe that was, in part, responsible for that development.

"I will do my best to make right, my Álainn," she whispered, tickling the rounded belly of the child that was quickly becoming hers alone. "Just you watch."

Álainn opened her mouth wide, her red gums showing as she giggled at the sensation. Minerva got lost in the bright brown eyes and the carefree happiness that the babe offered until a knock at the door pulled her back to the present.

She stood for a moment, soothing the apparent fear in Álainn's eyes before opening the door with a wave of her hand.

"You had all better come in. We have a lot to talk about."