A/N: Hello people. Told you Age was finished didn't I! And if you didn't get that message then you'd better get over to Facebook and join the EmPoweredBeing's FanFiction page hadn't you! lol
So I haven't disappeared, or been taken by aliens and I am still writing, but I am quite busy – something I'm working on. Although, I did get an interview for a full time job, so maybe I was subconsciously preparing you for that eventuality lol
As always, Spin is a genius and has done wonders for this, even though she's working tons and is generally pretty busy! Thanks Spin
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"Mama?"
Minerva groaned as daylight seeped into her consciousness, courtesy of the little girl pulling her eyelids apart.
"Yes Álainn?" she sighed.
"Cuggle."
Minerva opened her arms and pulled up the corner of the covers to admit her tiny beauty into her bed, unable to do anything but smile as the little girl crawled closer and wrapped both arms and legs around her.
"I have told you this three times this week, my darling," Minerva whispered. "You do not have to ask me, in fact, I would prefer it if you didn't. Just get in."
It was, however, too late for that as Álainn was already breathing softly in her sleep. It had become a ritual for Álainn to clamber out of her cot and up onto the bed, prying open Minerva's eyes and asking for a cuddle to start their mornings. The only issue was that Álainn had serious trouble working out what sort of time Minerva liked to wake up, and consequently, the morning before, they had been up before the sun.
Now that she was awake, Minerva knew she would not be going back to sleep any time soon. She'd been up late writing correspondence to St. Mungos about the prognosis of Hermione's parents. She understood the prospects to be quite bleak, however, any information they could give was more than that which she already had in her possession so she was grateful for their help. She looked down at the little cherub snoring softly in her arms. She was a little chatterbox now she was settled once more and Minerva often had to stop whatever she was trying to accomplish while talking to her in order to understand completely all the questions she was asked.
Albus and Severus had found it hilarious until she'd turned her attention onto them, and now they took great delight in disappearing whenever she turned away. Of course this had the opposite effect they had initially wanted, because now she thought they were playing hide and seek with her, so she would sit there for hours if Minerva let her, waiting for them to reappear.
It had amused Minerva greatly, and had amused Álainn for a long while too, allowing her to finish the accounts at least before the next thing on her to do list. Minnie the cat had settled in nicely, coming and going as she pleased and generally being well behaved. She'd been chewed on a few times before Minerva had realised what was going on, but Álainn just said that she was giving Minnie kisses. Minerva had shared a scandalised look with the cat, before realising what she was doing and telling Hermione that cats don't need kisses.
Today, however, would be interesting. With the help of Harry and Oliver Wood, she had arranged a Quidditch match between a team of graduated students and the current leaders of the friendly Hogwarts ladder, a team boasting Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy. Minerva had thought it a great idea, and secretly loved the thought of a few of her successful old students coming back to play for the crowd. The weather was set to be perfect, and the players would all apparate in after breakfast. Ronald Weasley, at Minerva's request, had not been invited, but Harry had made sure to invite Bill and George along, although she was not sure whether George would actually attend.
Draco, after much badgering by Harry, had agreed to play against him on the condition that they would shake hands in front of the crowd both before and after the game. Minerva had told them how proud she was, of both of them, and hugged them both, turning their cheeks a little pink. The feast that was scheduled after the match would be something to behold as well. The real reason for the match was that the final square foot of new turf was to be laid ceremonially in the middle of the pitch, signalling the end of the repairs to the castle.
The professors had done an amazing job while she'd been caught up caring for Álainn and she couldn't be more proud of them either. The only tendril of fear she held, was how many people would see Álainn, and recognise her as Hermione. They'd kept the secret for so long, and even though she really was looking forward to the game, she wished against it. She couldn't lose Hermione, Álainn, not now, not after everything they'd been through.
"Mama?"
Minerva blinked, a little shocked that Álainn had woken up without her realising. But there she was, sitting up and smiling toothily at Minerva.
"Hello baby," Minerva said, leaning up and kissing her rosy cheeks.
"Hawee?" she asked, rocking back and forth.
"Yes darling, Harry will be there today. And Ginny," she added. Álainn, adored them just as Hermione had done. Minerva had wondered whether Álainn somehow remembered them, deep inside her mind, but with no one that could confidently perform a Legilimens, she was not willing to risk finding out.
"Yey Hawee!" she sang clapping her hands.
"How about we get you in the bath and then we'll sit and dry your hair, and read a book, hmm?" Minerva asked.
It had taken Álainn much longer than Minerva had thought to discover the books in the sitting room. Having limited knowledge of Hermione as a child, she'd assumed it would be the first thing Álainn would go for, but it seemed that for the first few days simply being with Minerva had been more important.
"Shtory," Álainn clapped again. "Mama baff?"
"No darling, Mama will help you, but she won't come in, thank you," Minerva said, though how she was going to find the time for a shower before breakfast she wasn't sure. Harry was apparating in with Bill, so he wouldn't be there to help her with Álainn before the match, but she would figure something out.
"Come on then, sweetheart," she said, sitting up and laughing as Álainn climbed onto her back. "My little monkey," she said fondly, casting a sticking charm to Álainn so she wouldn't slide off. Bath time had become one of Álainn's favourite time of day and she loved helping Minerva with the bubbles and the towels – in fact she like helping with everything really.
"Which bubbles today, leanabh [baby]?"
"Wred!" Álainn yelled, laughing cheekily as she passed Minerva the green one. She really was an intelligent child and it was the most beautiful thing watching her learn.
Walking and talking seemed to have been deeply ingrained in her, and Severus had postulated that when she was next given the potion - not for a while at least, thank Merlin - that whatever age she ends up at then, she will have all the memories her old self would have had at that age, no matter what she learned previously. He did, however, say that even though she would eventually get back to her real age, she would undoubtedly have the memories from her time as a child, so told Minerva to do her worst. She'd laughed, but then realised that he was right. It was the perfect time to create some memories that Hermione could latch onto and remember she was loved when she got back to being nineteen again.
"Mama? Awlin get in?" Minerva shook her thoughts from her head and realised that the bath was indeed ready. She nodded and knelt before Álainn, pulling her pyjamas off and tickling her middle.
"Would you like to go to the toilet before you get in?" Minerva asked, the embarrassment of the previous times she'd had to ask the question disappeared in the wake of routine. She'd learned the hard way what happened, and that was one memory she was sure Hermione would not delight in remembering. She only hoped she was too young to really understand it.
"Yup," she nodded, going to the toilet herself and standing on the little stool Minerva had placed there. As she'd settled in, Minerva had realised just how independent little Hermione was. It had taken two tantrums and a frowning match - complete with foot stomping - before she realised all she wanted to do was go to the toilet on her own.
Minerva waited for a while before attending to the little one, helping her into the bath and sitting beside her on the floor, Summoning a cushion beforehand.
"Mama?" Hermione began as she sat playing with her squishy dragon.
"Yes, Álainn?"
"Mama has boobies?" she asked, looking innocently up at Minerva as if she'd asked the time.
Minerva was sure that if she was watching herself, she would look rather like a fish, her mouth gaping and her eyes wide.
"Um, all ladies do my darling," she tried, hoping it was enough for Hermione to agree with.
The little girl smiled and went back to playing with her dragon - a present from Draco.
"Mama?" she asked once more, making Minerva dread the next question.
"Yes, leanabh [baby]?"
"Minnie have baff?"
Minerva was thankful for the easy question, but couldn't help but shudder at the thought of the cat getting it's paws wet.
"No sweetheart, cats don't need a bath," she said. "I think it's time to wash your hair." She knelt up on the cushion and helped Álainn lay back.
"Mama?"
Minerva sighed, reminding herself that this was Hermione, and ultimately, it was only going to help her by asking so many questions.
"Yes, darling?"
"I gots water in my butt."
Minerva choked, and stopped what she was doing to look down properly at Álainn, lying with her head up and pointing at her belly button.
"What?" Minerva asked, suddenly feeling incredibly underqualified for life with a toddler.
"My butt," she said, sticking her finger in her belly button. "It got water in."
It finally dawned on Minerva that Álainn was in fact talking about her belly button and not her bottom and sighed, falling back against the cabinets in the bathroom.
"Where Mama going, you washes my hair!" she said, sitting up and putting her hands on her hips. Minerva couldn't help but laugh in relief, but with pride as well noticing that the stance was something Álainn had picked up from her.
"Sorry love," Minerva chuckled, getting back up.
Successfully getting through the bath and then adding another half an hour's play to it had made Minerva late for breakfast. She got Álainn out of the bath, and let her run around in the buff while she herself changed before tackling the issue of clothing.
"Álainn? Sweetheart, it's time to get dressed."
"Mama, Awlin doesn't want to!" she called from the sitting room, making Minerva laugh despite herself.
"Does Hermione want to then?" she asked, stopping in the doorway to the sitting room and finding Álainn looking at the pictures in one of her books.
"Nope," she said with a smile.
"Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to," Minerva explained. "We're going to watch Harry, Draco and Ginny play Quidditch today."
"Kidditch?" Álainn screwed up her nose. "H'ione don't like kidditch."
"I know sweetheart, but maybe Álainn does?" she asked, holding out a nappy. "Come on sweetheart, I'll even let you wear your green jumper."
"Dumper!" Álainn squealed, running over to a blushing Minerva as the portraits chuckled.
"For a small one, she is rather funny," Dilys said.
"She is indeed," Albus said, smiling as Minerva managed to successfully dress Álainn in an outfit that was more clearly aligned with Slytherin than Gryffindor.
"Interesting colours," Severus remarked, making Minerva roll her eyes.
"She seems to particularly enjoy wearing Slytherin green. I'm convinced it's Draco's fault," Minerva sighed.
"Good boy," Severus drawled, looking happier than he ever had.
Minerva merely rolled her eyes and turned back to Álainn, who was patiently standing at the door with Minerva's cap and coat over her head, apparently ready to go.
"Oh, sweetheart, how about I help you with your coat?" Minerva chuckled, relieving the toddler of the heavy things and getting her own. "Now, remember what Mama said about the name Hermione. Today, you are Álainn, only Álainn okay?"
"Yes Mama," she sang happily, twirling on the spot. "Mama, Awlin not H'ione, Awlin only Awlin."
"That's right darling," Minerva said, finally managing to get her coat on. "Can Mama please look at your hair?"
"Mama like Awlin's hair?"
"I love every bit about you darling, but today we just need to change it a bit, alright?" she explained, already cupping Álainn's chin in her hand and waving her wand to blacken her hair. "There we are."
Minerva summoned her hand mirror and showed Álainn. For a moment Minerva thought it might be a bit much for the little girl, but she clapped her hands to her cheeks and looked overjoyed.
"MAMA!" she said, pointing at the mirror.
"I know darling, it's darker, isn't it?" she said, kissing the newly black hair.
"No Mama," Álainn sighed, rolling her eyes - Minerva knew she picked that up from Severus - Álainn pointed at the mirror again. "Mama!"
Minerva held onto the mirror with one hand and drew Álainn closer to her.
"I don't understand darling," she said sadly. "What do you want?"
Álainn looked more like Hermione in that moment than she had in the whole time so far as she stepped back and put her hands on her hips as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Awlin like Mama," she said, reaching up and pulling on Minerva's hair.
"Oh," Minerva finally understood, laughing and reaching out to tug on one of Álainn's ringlets. "Yes, it is the same, isn't it?"
"Mama, we go now," she said, turning promptly and facing the door.
Minerva groaned and did as she was told, picking up her cloak and hat and reaching out to snag Álainn's hand before she could tumble down the staircase.
As it happened she hadn't needed to, as her fear of the moving stairs had not abated and she promptly held up both hands and screamed 'Up!' as quickly as she could, trying to climb Minerva's legs.
"Alright, alright," Minerva chuckled. "There really is nothing to worry about."
It didn't make any difference to Álainn, who wrapped her arms securely around Minerva's neck. She was content there waving happily to the students that they passed on their way down to breakfast.
"Tee Pop-pop!" Álainn yelled from Minerva's shoulder at Poppy Pomfrey, who waved back merrily as Minerva carried her to the highchair that was now a permanent fixture on the Head table.
Most of the teachers had now become surrogate aunts and uncles to the little tot, something Minerva knew would be just as good for Hermione, once she got her memories back, as it would be for Álainn while she was growing.
"Would you like some cereal for breakfast or some toast?" Minerva asked, draping her cloak on the back of the chair and sitting down.
"Toast!" she said with a grin.
It amazed Minerva that a little person could grow so much in such a short amount of time. She had come along in leaps and bounds since Draco had administered the potion, seemingly learning, and perhaps remembering things every day.
"Mama peesh?" Álainn asked, holding out a rather chewed on piece of toast.
"No my darling, you eat that," Minerva said, leaning back so it could be dropped on her. A few of the surrounding teachers giggled, causing Minerva to roll her eyes. She really had lost all credibility as a stern headmistress since Álainn's arrival.
It didn't take long for breakfast to be done with, especially as Álainn soon realised the students were leaving and she wanted to go too. Having one final sip of her tea, Minerva got up to facilitate the proceedings. She put on her cloak and hat and straightened her robes, knowing that outside the castle would be people from the Ministry at least. The only good thing was the fact that the Daily Prophet would not be reporting anything about it, as Harry had bought out the paper, and consequently fired everyone, putting Andromeda Tonks in temporary charge while Luna was finishing her last year at Hogwarts. It was a win-win situation for all those concerned; Andromeda could take little Teddy Lupin to work with her, and earn some cash now that she had him to care for, and Luna, or so Filius said, was already proofreading and approving articles when she had the time.
She heaved Álainn into her arms and nodded to the remaining teachers, joining Poppy on the walk from the hall.
"Tee Pop-pop!" Álainn said, throwing herself quite suddenly in Poppy's direction.
"Gracious child," Minerva said, thankful for her own years on the Quidditch team as she only just managed to hold onto her. "Go slow Álainn, ask me if you would like Aunty Poppy to hold you."
Álainn simply turned on her charm and poked her bottom lip out, undoing any sort of authority Minerva had over her. She passed her to Poppy with a grin, shaking her head at both herself and that precocious little girl.
"Who have we got money on today then?" Poppy asked as she carried Álainn on her hip.
"Oh I think Harry's team will win, but not by much," Minerva said, rubbing her hands together. "Draco is a good Seeker, not quite as good as Harry, but Ginny is a fabulous chaser and George," she sighed sadly, "he is without his other half."
Poppy nodded without saying anything further, following Minerva to the stands before passing Álainn back.
"Mama?" Álainn said as they climbed the many stairs.
"Yes, my darling?"
"Where Hawee?"
"He's getting ready to play Quidditch," Minerva replied, thankful when they finally got to the top of the stands to take their seats. "Do you remember watching him fly?"
Álainn screwed up her nose comically.
"Mama, Awlin not like flying."
Minerva chuckled, sitting down and arranging Álainn on her lap with both arms securely around her.
"I know my darling, I know."
She sat in relative silence as Minerva talked to a few dignitaries and parents that had turned up to watch the game. It seemed as though Arthur and Molly had not arrived, something that Minerva was both grateful but saddened about. Trying to explain the small child to the Weasley matriarch would have been as difficult as explaining why she had revoked Ron's access to Hogwarts. On the other hand, she hadn't seen them for some time, and she knew that a visit was overdue.
"Ooh Mama lookee!"
Minerva excused herself from her conversation with Ludo Bagman and turned to see the two teams striding out onto the pitch, each shaking hands cordially before mounting their brooms and flying into the air.
The crowd went wild, and it only took a few moments for Álainn to become a little bit uncomfortable and clamber around on Minerva's knee, standing in her lap and wrapping her arms around her neck so she could squash her face into her chest.
"It's alright sweetheart," Minerva soothed, clapping the two teams.
When the familiar call of Lee Jordan came over the loudspeaker, Minerva was transported back to the first time she had seen Harry Potter play Quidditch, and a small part of her rejoiced. Life would never be the same, but it was slowly getting back to normality.
-0-
"HAWEE!" Álainn screamed from her bed in Minerva's room.
She chuckled and waved Harry in, passing out the biscuits to the remaining ex-students taking tea in her office. Oliver had gone for dinner with his parents, but Bill, George and Harry had all stayed for a pot of tea, while Katie Bell, Roger Davies and Zacharias Smith had departed for The Three Broomsticks.
"She's taken a fancy to him then," George said, without smiling.
"Indeed she has." They watched as the young man came out of her bedroom with Álainn on his back, squealing as he galloped through the room.
"I reckon it won't be long after our Ginny graduates that he'll have a few of his own to look after," Bill laughed. "Mum will have kittens."
"How is she?" Minerva asked gently, knowing Molly had struggled in the wake of her son's death.
"She's getting better," George said before Bill could answer. "She's still not great, but we're working on it."
"Good," Minerva said, missing the way that the twins used to tag-team their sentences. "You know if ever any of you need anything, you can always come to me."
George was silent for a moment, watching Harry throw Álainn up into the air and catch her - something Minerva had nearly had a heart attack over a few days ago, but was now a little less neurotic about.
"Yeah," George said, breaking into her thoughts. "We know."
"Good," Minerva nodded, winking at George before concentrating back on her tea. "Bill, how is your lovely wife?"
"Um, well," Bill said, running his hand through his hair, "pregnant actually!" He grinned, smiling as Harry stopped what he was doing and came over to congratulate him. "It's really quite something."
"I'm so happy for you Bill," Minerva gasped, getting up to kiss his scarred cheek.
"Thanks, Professor."
"Mama?" Álainn said from where she was leaning tiredly on Harry's shoulder. "Mama kiss Awlin too?"
They all chuckled as Minerva stole Álainn from Harry, smothering her with kisses as she took her seat, only pausing when she realised both Weasley men were sitting and looking at her.
"It's something you get used to," Harry chuckled.
"It's pretty awesome," George said quietly, smiling when Álainn wriggled off Minerva's knee and went to stand in front of George.
"Where's you ear?" she asked, holding her hand over her own ear. "Awlin's ear go too?"
"No, sweetheart. I lost mine. You don't have to lose yours," he explained.
"Georgie wants mine?" she offered, tugging on her left ear.
"Well I'll be!" Minerva said.
It was something that was worthy of note, considering that Álainn had been fast asleep when the boys had finally appeared in her office, and since coming out of her room, nobody had called George by his name once.
"Maybe she remembers," Harry said, tugging on one of the little girl's ringlets.
"Possibly," Minerva conceded.
"Merlin, is that the time?" Bill asked as the clock in Minerva's room struck the time. "George, we have to go, Mum will panic if we're late."
Minerva hadn't realised the time, and got up to show the boys out of the Floo.
"Good game today boys," she said, hugging Bill tightly. "You did Hogwarts proud. And congratulations again Bill, you must write to me and keep me updated."
"Thanks," Bill said with a nod. "I will. George, I'll see you at home."
"Ooh!" Álainn said, only narrowly saved from going through the Floo after Bill by Harry's quick save.
"How are you really?" Minerva asked George as Harry ran to the other side of the room with an upside down Álainn.
"It's difficult," George merely said. "I turn to talk to him, and he's not there."
"I want you to come and talk to me whenever you need to," Minerva said, wrapping her arms around him. "Or even come and sit while I read to Álainn. You don't need to talk if it's not what you want."
"Thanks McG," he sniffed, wiping his nose on a hanky. "Can't talk to Mum, you know, she gets upset."
"Well, I'll tell you what I told Harry when he left here – Hogwarts will always welcome those who loved her as she loved them," she said, cupping his cheek. "Chin up."
George took a deep breath and then hugged her again, dashing through the Floo before anything more could be said, leaving Minerva looking at the now orange flames in contemplation.
"He's doing okay," Harry said. "We meet for drinks every week. Ron used to come, but he's more concerned about his next blonde at the moment," Harry said quietly, so Álainn couldn't hear him. "I swear when I see him, I'll deck him again."
"Harry," Minerva reproached gently, wishing she could do the same.
"Mama read to Awlin," Álainn sang, holding out her book.
"Up onto the couch then," Minerva said, squeezing Harry's hand. "If you wish to visit the Tower, I suggest you do so now before dinner. Thank you for keeping us company though."
"No problem Minerva," Harry said, bending to kiss her cheek. "I love coming home to see you both," he grinned, tickling Álainn on his way out of the room.
"Where Hawee going?" Álainn asked, her bottom lip starting to quiver.
"Now, now, none of that," Minerva said, picking her up and putting her on her knee and opening her favourite book. "Now, let's see, where were we?" she asked, thumbing through the book.
"Hopping pot!" Hermione exclaimed, bouncing a little in excitement, having already forgotten about Harry.
Minerva settled back on the sofa and sighed as she began to read the book of Wizarding fairy tales. This had been her great, great grandmother's copy, and had been passed down from generation to generation before her, all the way to Minerva. She knew Albus had left Hermione a version of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, she'd seen it in Hermione's belongings, now stored in the back of her wardrobe, but this original print copy was special. In it were the tales from before the Wizarding persecution by Muggles, and consequently, the stories were a little nicer, especially for a girl who was of Muggle birth.
She kissed Álainn's hair, now back to its hazel colour and held her against her chest as she read. The feeling of Álainn's fingers gripping her own was something so small and yet so powerful to Minerva that she had to concentrate very hard to read fluently. When she finally reached the end of the story, she expected Álainn to get off her knee and hop around on one foot, falling down and bumping into things, as she had done every other time she read this particular story, but she did not.
"Mama?" she said quietly, tipping her head back so she could look up at Minerva.
"My darling?" Minerva said, only a little frustrated with how many times she had to answer that particular question.
"Georgie sad?" she asked, fiddling with Minerva's clan ring.
"Yes darling, George is very sad."
"Is he hurted?"
"Yes, in his heart," Minerva replied, placing her free hand over Hermione's chest. "His brother has," she paused wondering how to word it, "gone away."
"F'evers?" she asked. "We makes it better?" Álainn said, cuddling Minerva's hand.
"I'm not sure sweetheart, but we can try," Minerva said, deciding that a little lie down would be nice, even if Álainn had only just had a nap. "Come here trouble."
She wrapped the little girl up in her arms and lay back on the sofa, widening it with a wave of her wand and arranging Álainn on her chest where she loved it best.
"Can I has bot-bot?" Álainn asked cheekily. She was still drinking from a bottle during the evening, and Minerva narrowed her eyes at the cheeky little witch.
"No darling, come and cuddle with Mama."
She did as she was told and snuggled under Minerva's chin. The Headmistress was in no doubt that if Harry did not return before dinner then one of the portraits or Winky would wake her, so had no qualms about casting an alert on Álainn before closing her eyes.
"Lub you Mama," Álainn sighed, playing with a few flyaway wisps of Minerva's hair.
"I love you too, my darling," Minerva whispered, thankful for every day that she got to spend with Hermione as a small child.