A/N: Okay, confession, I could have had this up yesterday, cos Spin's amazing, but I forgot about it and so here we are now. Something happened in this chapter that was a bit different than I was expecting and that comes from procrastinating on Wikipedia until you find something of interest. lol Anyway. As always thank you to Spin, who is amazing, even though she would much rather be living it up here, than back in snowy, chilly, dismal England…

Anyway. Love you all. Hope you all enjoy. Thanks for being THE most awesome fans anyone could ever ask for. And make sure you review so I know your names!

-0-

The last few days had been trying, to say the least. Harry and Severus had been back and forth, trying to find someone to brew the potion that wasn't dead, missing, or just untrustworthy.

"I really do not like the idea of having Horace near my -" Minerva closed her eyes, berating herself for the slip, "Hermione, while she's in this state. Who knows what he would attempt in his quest for 'excellence'?" Minerva said tersely when Severus suggested him.

"Yes, but Minerva, our options are running out," Severus shot back just as forcefully. "I am trying to find you someone that is capable of brewing an extremely complex potion who isn't a dunderhead, a former Death Eater - or even a current one for that matter - OR someone who has skipped the county."

A knock at the door tweaked Minerva's ire just a little more.

"Come!" she instructed, grinding the word between her teeth while hoping the intrusion wouldn't wake her child.

Álainn - Hermione - hadn't been sleeping well, and they had spent several hours in the hospital wing trying to get some sort of diagnosis. It had all eventually come to a head when Poppy suggested that if she would just calm down, then so would the baby.

Minerva wasn't very proud of herself for what had occurred afterwards.

"Sorry Professor, is now a bad time?" Draco asked from behind the door, leaning around the edge as though half-expecting to be hit with a hex.

"Yes, Draco, I mean, no, come in," she sighed. "It has been a long couple of days and I am tired. Please, you do not have to ask to come here, I've told you that before," she said, trying to smile.

"That's okay Professor, I just needed a book I happened to glance at the other day. I'm doing some extra work for Ancient Runes and it looked fascinating," he mumbled, walking over to her private bookshelves and searching for the tome.

Minerva stilled as she played back the conversation in her head. She glanced at Severus, who seemed to be thinking the same thing as her; her theory was proved correct when he nodded with something as close to a smile as she'd ever seen on him.

"Draco, could I borrow you for a minute?" she asked casually, taking a peek at Álainn who was still sleeping peacefully in her bassinet beside the desk.

"Okay," he said, turning to stand in front of her.

She looked at him critically. He looked well rested, and had a glint in his eyes she'd not noticed before as she took stock of him.

"Professor?" he asked, no doubt wondering what was going on. "Severus?"

"I believe the Headmistress has a plan, one which I think will work quite well," he said cryptically, allowing Minerva to explain.

"What was your last Potions score on your practice N.E.W.T.s, Mr Malfoy?"

Draco raised a brow and glanced at Severus, who was watching on in interest.

"Um, well -" He ran his fingers through his hair and Minerva noticed that it wasn't slicked back like usual. "I got an Outstanding actually," he said a little shyly.

"Perfect," she said, feeling a little sad that the first part of Hermione's journey back to normal was now in place. "I have a proposition for you," she began, getting up and leaning on the desk in front of him. "Before I tell you that though, have you thought more on what it is you want to do after school?"

They had discussed it briefly once before. The Slytherins of course now had a new Head of House who was extremely efficient and had discussed career options with all returning Seventh Years and the Fifth Years as well, but Draco had found it more useful to talk to Minerva about it.

"Yeah, I, well I was thinking maybe about running a, well, I like the idea of brewing potions for a living," he finished quickly.

"That is a fine choice, young man," she said with a wink, moving to sit next to him. "And so I really would like to make you a proposition," she said seriously.

"What?"

"I need an expert potions brewer to brew the draft required for Hermione. It needs to be someone we, but especially I, trust; someone who is capable of intricate brewing and someone I know will work well with Severus."

"You want me to do it?" he asked, looking between her and Severus. "I can't, I'm not, I mean, I don't -"

"You'll do fine, boy," Severus said sternly. "Let Minerva finish."

Draco snapped his mouth closed and turned back to face Minerva, who had just picked up a softly mewling Hermione, who was in the final stages of waking up.

"In exchange for your help, which will be considerable and time consuming, I will provide you with the capital to start a business venture of your choice," she said in the most professional fashion she could muster while Álainn's fingers were pulling at her lips. "And if you are as good as I think you are, I will be your first, and probably most regular customer."

"I -"

Minerva watched as his brain processed all the information he'd been given. If he agreed to the terms he'd no doubt be just as likely to offer to do it for free, but that wasn't Minerva's plan. She had surmised not long ago that Draco had come to detest money and with his background Minerva wasn't surprised. She knew they would have to discuss the particulars further, but after she had persuaded him then she would get a contract drawn up by her lawyers so he could check it over and engage his own to triple check her conditions.

"How about you think about it?" she suggested , taking his hand and squeezing gently. "I have to feed Álainn, would you like some tea?"

"Yeah," he replied, clearly not really listening.

"Winky?" she called, smiling as the elf presented her with a warm bottle and a bowl of mushy vegetables. "Thank you," she smiled, "could we also have some tea please?"

"Of course, Headmistress."

Minerva propped Álainn on her hip while she sorted out the logistics of feeding her. Severus had suggested weaning her off bottled milk in preparation for her growth, but Minerva had only reluctantly agreed to try. She would certainly not stop the morning and evening feeds; she enjoyed them far too much and wasn't going to give them up without a fight.

"Right, come on trouble," she said, shifting Álainn again and pressing a kiss against her cheek. Winky had supplied her with a high chair and while Álainn preferred to be on someone's knee, it was extremely messy and Minerva had learnt that lesson extremely quickly.

"Draco, tea," she called when it appeared on her coffee table.

She gathered some of the vegetable mixture onto the spoon and dropped a bit on her hand to check the temperature. Álainn preferred her food on the colder side, and her bottles a little warmer. As usual, it was perfect.

"Right my beautiful, let's have a go at this one, shall we?" she said spooning a little more before offering it to Álainn. They were doing it one vegetable at a time. So far Álainn - Hermione - had developed a dislike to cauliflower and pumpkin, although according to Harry, Hermione didn't like pumpkin anyway. It always caused her heart to hurt when she thought about the fact that Álainn was actually Hermione and vice versa. She must try harder to remember that.

Her spoon feeding went off without a hitch, the only thing that really suffered was the rug, which was easily cleaned anyway. Draco hadn't moved from his seat in front of Minerva's desk and she knew that she would have to snap him out of his stupor in a moment so that he at least drank something.

"Draco, your tea is getting cold. Come and sit down," she instructed, putting just a touch of 'professor' into it. It worked and he walked absently to the sitting area and dropped onto the sofa opposite her. Minerva smiled at Álainn as she waved her arms impatiently, waiting to be picked up.

"Alright my darling, alright," she said quietly, picking Álainn up and resting back against the sofa with the baby on her chest.

The little one seemed content to lay quietly, chewing on the collar of Minerva's robes, something that Minerva had given up trying to prevent after two tantrums and an almost swallowed button. Besides, if Álainn, Hermione, both of them were happy, then Minerva was as well.

She ran her finger over the little head tucked under her chin, resting peacefully against her neck. Álainn was happiest when she had a full tummy, a clean nappy and was skin on skin with Minerva - as though she needed the contact.

Minerva had to wonder, as she had done every day since she had found out that Álainn was in fact Hermione, what on earth the girl had been doing to get herself into this state. So many times Minerva recalled how Hermione had looked the last time she had seen her. It was etched, almost punishingly into her mind: Friday afternoon after lunch. The assembled Seventh Years were on their way to Potions with Hermione moving slowly behind them. Minerva was walking in the opposite direction and smiled politely as the girl passed by, but she hadn't even quirked her mouth like she used to when she was younger, before the year that she had disappeared with Harry and Ronald. Minerva had paused for a moment, and was in the process of turning around when she caught sight of someone doing something so trivial she was ashamed to say she had disciplined them instead of doing what her heart was screaming for her to do.

"Oh, why didn't I turn around?" she whispered against Álainn's wispy hair.

"Maybe you weren't meant to," Draco offered, now sipping his tea and looking a little more alert than before.

"Welcome back, Draco," she smirked, happy when he mirrored her smile. "I trust that everything is in order?" she asked, purposefully not asking for a decision from him this early.

"I, I will definitely think about it, but it's a rather big deal. I mean, I'll make the potion for Hermione, Álainn, but if I can have more time to think about the other offer then that would be good," he said while glancing at the baby, who was gurgling happily. "But I mean what I said. There are loads of things we maybe could have done to make sure Hermione was alright, but we didn't, and now," he looked uncomfortable for a second, as if suddenly realising he was talking to the Minerva McGonagall, "well, now you get to take care of her, and make sure she knows you love her."

"I -" Minerva sat speechless and wondered how many students she had let leave this place without getting their true measure, as she almost had with young Mr Malfoy. "Thank you, Draco," she whispered, smiling against Álainn's skin. "I will make sure to remember that."

"Severus, do you know how this potion works?" Draco asked, clearly still thinking about the huge responsibility that had been thrust upon him.

"I, it has not been brewed in a very long time, and is," he rolled his eyes, "quite illegal."

"When has that ever stopped you?" Draco said with a smirk, making the corners of Minerva's mouth twitch a little as she made faces at Álainn, who was quite content to sit in her arms and press her tiny hands against her cheeks.

"I believe that it ages a person dependent on how much potion is given. To begin with I think we will give only the barest amount, and thereafter we will have to experiment a little with doses," he said, looking apologetically at Minerva.

"Oh little one," she sighed, already resigned to the fate that would befall both her and Álainn. Minerva glanced outside to see the sun shining, despite the snow on the ground and suddenly felt the need to be out there. "I'm going for a walk around the grounds so that you two can discuss this without me being here and having to listen to it. I might even visit Albus in the owlery," she said with an evil grin.

Severus chuckled as she Summoned Álainn's things and put on her own cloak and hat.

-0-

"Come along baby," she said picking her up and holding her carefully as the staircase wound itself down.

"Professor?"

Minerva turned around rather annoyed at being interrupted, only to find Lavender Brown looking worn and tired and more than a little unhappy.

"Miss Brown, Lavender," she corrected herself, "I was just about to take Álainn for a walk around the grounds, would you care to join me?"

Lavender looked uncomfortable for a moment before she shook her head. Minerva decided then and there that she wasn't going to accept anything other than yes for an answer.

"Lavender, come for a walk please," she said with a tone that brokered no argument. "Come on, it will help."

"No Professor, I can't, I'm not -" She fell silent and moved a little closer. "It's the full moon tomorrow and I, I mean, I'm," she sighed, "I'm really, REALLY angry."

"Come along, my mother always said that a brisk walk was good for solving your problems. Just come for a quick one with me and you will work some of it out."

They walked in silence out of the great doors of Hogwarts and into the deserted grounds. Minerva didn't speak but as they walked she could see Lavender biting the inside of her cheek, as if she was holding back.

"Lavender, if you would like to talk, you are more than welcome," she urged, shifting Álainn on her hip.

"I'm afraid," Lavender said, standing absolutely still. "The last full moon was horrible. I, I can't -" She sighed, wiping the tears from her face angrily. "I can't control it."

Minerva stopped as well, looking sadly at the young woman who was once thought to be quite pretty, though not a classical beauty. Now she was thin, drawn, and covered in scars.

"I'm not a werewolf!" she sobbed. "I'm not a real werewolf; I can't change into a wolf, but it hurts," she cried, "it hurts so much."

Feeling a little stuck Minerva summoned Álainn's carrier and placed a warming charm over it while she took Lavender in her arms. She was constantly amazed at her own capacity to care now that there was no impending doom upon her world. Lavender gripped her tightly and continued to sob against her.

Minerva didn't say anything, but the hairs on the back of her neck started to prickle uncomfortably for a moment as they were standing there. She frowned as Lavender went very still, her crying stopping immediately. Minerva's eyebrows shot up as the young woman growled against her shoulder and she wondered just who was currently in control, realising how much danger she could be in.

"Lavender?" she asked quietly, leaning back a little to see the girl's eyes flecked with gold and looking a little confused. "Lavender, can you hear me?"

The hairs on Minerva's whole head were practically standing on edge as the growling continued, getting louder and more savage as the seconds ticked by. Stepping away slowly, Minerva picked up the carrier, praying Álainn wouldn't make a sound as she backed away carefully, keeping an eye on Lavender the whole time.

"Pr'fessa'?"

Minerva turned to see Hagrid looking out over the grounds in surprise.

"Hagrid, I'd like you to make sure the whole castle knows no one is to come into the grounds for the time being, please," she said quietly as the big man appeared at her side. "Take Álainn, give her to Poppy or Draco -" Lavender was downright snarling now, though her concentration seemed to be fixed on the Forest, not them. "Just give her to someone you know I would trust her with, then lock up the castle, so nothing can get in," she paused, laying a hand on his arm, "hurry please."

Hagrid did as he was told, moving quickly to the castle with the baby and shutting the doors behind him. Minerva turned around, wondering how she was going to get Lavender to snap out of it.

"Lavender?"

Minerva moved in front of her and looked at her properly. Her teeth were elongated and her eyes were lost, glaring at something over Minerva's shoulder. It was then that Minerva wondered whether something else was going on. She turned slowly and peered into the shadows, and set back from the tree line she saw it. A pair of gleaming eyes were staring right at her. She took a step back, almost smiling when Lavender let her, before side-stepping around her so she could be in front, protecting Minerva with her body.

The creature seemed to have seen enough and took a few steps forward, causing Lavender to snarl viciously. Clearly, this was not a friendly creature and Minerva collected herself, squared her feet and took out her wand, only to almost drop it when the creature stalked out of the trees.

"Oh, it can't be," she whispered, suddenly wondering if she was dreaming. Standing before her was a Cù Sìth, something she had only read about in books. The legends told of it being a fairy dog, green in colour and the size of a calf.

The legends weren't wrong.

It was huge, and it didn't seem able to take its eyes of Minerva and she realised just how much trouble they were in.

"Lavender, come on, we have to go," she said quietly, taking the girl's hand and pulling her back towards the castle. Lavender, however, had other ideas and pulled her hand from Minerva's grasp, crouching in the snow. "Lavender, no, this isn't something you want to be doing, come on!"

Another part of the legend popped into Minerva's head as the creature suddenly realised what Minerva was doing and it bounded to a safe distance between them and the castle. She recalled something about it howling and being overcome by terror, but she had always considered that similar to the silly myth of the Grimm. However, a third thought became startlingly clear as the creature refused to look away from her; a Cù Sìth was said to steal away nursing mothers so that they could feed the fairy children.

Minerva didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It must have heard or smelt Álainn and followed its nose here, assuming that a baby that young would still be nursing. She almost felt sorry for it, until he took a step closer, causing Lavender to start a little and move forward as well in an effort to protect her. Every single thought about Lavender being fickle and shallow flew out of her head as the beast suddenly charged, meeting Lavender, who seemed to morph mid leap into something close to a werewolf. The fight was scrappy and it seemed that Lavender was winning until the big hound clipped her with its paw, tumbling her over and causing her to lose her form, and she slipped back into the girl again.

The creature huffed a little, sniffing at her before turning immediately and stalking towards Minerva. She absolutely refused to be taken by this beast, not only because she knew she would be of no use to it, but because she needed to spend every available second with Álainn before she became Hermione again.

"I'm not nursing." She glanced at Lavender to see she still wasn't moving. "I'm not her mother, please, you have to see that," she insisted. "I, I am old, I am old and I am not a mother, you do not need me."

She wondered if she was losing her mind as it walked closer, slowly and carefully until it was standing before her. Minerva had never been so scared in all her life. Fighting Wizards was one thing, but creatures were not her forte. She was a cat Animagus for goodness sake, built for jaunts around the corridors and sly trips to the kitchens. Quicker than she could blink the creature reared up and pushed her backwards, making her fall backwards into the snow. She had tears rolling down her face as it came closer, sniffing and huffing with its teeth bared. It seemed to be examining her and then, just left.

Minerva was in a state of shock and she could hear her heart beating in her ears as she sat up, looking back at the forest in total surprise.

"Pr'fessa'! Pr'fessa' McGonagall, are you a'right?" Hagrid bellowed, making her wince. "You're hurt, aren't 'ya?" he asked, standing her up and turning her around, bringing her back to her senses.

"Hagrid, no, I'm fine, honestly. Help Lavender please," she said, patting his giant hands.

She stood staring at the forest when she was suddenly joined in a flurry of snow by Draco, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Dean Thomas.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked, taking her hand. "You're freezing."

"What?" Minerva asked, still a little dazed. "No I'm fine," she said, looking at their faces all giving her a stare that she would be proud of herself. "Honestly, I'm fine. Ginny, go and help Miss Brown please, she's had, well, it was an ordeal."

"We know, Professor," Neville said, taking her arm gently and turning her towards the castle. "We were watching from the windows."

"That was wicked, Professor!" Dean said with a grin, making her smile.

"Thank you Mr Thomas. I believe a nice cup of tea would perhaps settle these ridiculous shakes."

"I've got something better," Draco said from her left and she turned to see Álainn smiling, happily pulling at Draco's hair, until she saw Minerva.

Minerva beamed as she squealed, squirming to get out of his arms and into Minerva's as quickly as possible.

"Thank you," she said sincerely to Draco, cupping his cheek then looking at all of the boys, still watching her carefully. "All of you, thank you. I know Albus was rather fond of a feast, so I think maybe we should cancel classes for the rest of today and have an early dinner, don't you?" she said, smiling when everyone inside the Entrance Hall cheered. "Go on, everyone go and do something constructive for a few hours before I change my mind," she said laughing as people scattered.

"Minerva?" Poppy stood behind her looking serious.

For once, Minerva couldn't even bring herself to argue, especially after her abysmal behaviour towards the medi-witch earlier.

"Fine, lead on Poppy, I would like to see Miss Brown anyway."

Poppy stood for a moment with her mouth ajar, looking gobsmacked until she stalked off in the direction of the hospital wing, expecting Minerva to follow behind without argument.

Minerva did so, taking her time so she could whisper to Álainn as she went, feeling all the better for the little cooing noises she was getting in return.

"I was always going to come back to you. There was never any doubt of that," she said quietly, kissing a rosy cheek. "I would never leave you Álainn. Hermione. You are my baby and we'll get through this." She looked down again at those beautiful brown eyes, realising for the first time that they actually belonged to Hermione. "I promise," she winked, cuddling her close and stepping into the Hospital Wing. It would no doubt be a long evening.