A/N: I am so sorry!
Life has a funny way of getting in front of things you mean to do. So many of you kept telling me to update and while I didn't get back to all of you, I read all of your PM's and took note of them. As if happens, my brother, his girlfriend and their 10 month old all moved into our house, then my grandmother visited from England, which meant Mum is staying with me in my room, and it's all gone hectic.
Not that I'm looking forward to it, but my grandmother leaves on Saturday, so it should get back to normal after that.
Thanks go to Spin, who, despite being not all that well has done a fabulous job with this (as usual!) and has made it all pretty for you.
-0-
Minerva smiled as the first notions of wakefulness crept into her brain. She could feel the solid weight of Álainn on her chest, and she wrapped her arms around the little body a smidgen tighter as she became more aware.
Glancing over at the clock she knew it wouldn't be long until the others arrived to discuss getting Álainn back, but Minerva had a much better plan. She would find out who leaked the information, and then she would make them - and Miss Annabelle Proctor - pay dearly for taking what was hers.
Álainn stirred in her arms and she soothed her gently, hoping her baby would sleep for a little longer after yesterday's traumatic experience. She was anxious to ask Álainn what had happened once she had been removed from Poppy's care. She'd already asked an elf to contact Filius about barring Ministry officials from the grounds, to which he'd agreed. She had a feeling she had not heard the end of it, especially when they discovered Álainn had disappeared, but she was beyond caring.
It was a funny situation to find herself in. Many, many years ago, at one of her lowest points, she had come to the conclusion she would never be a mother, and so had focussed all her attention on caring for the Gryffindors under her charge. She had quite often been described as a lioness, more to do with her famous Scottish temper, and her willingness to stand by her Gryffindors no matter what, but now she had Álainn. She had often understood the concept of a 'mother bear'; she had seen enough of it in battle, the mothers of men too young for war sacrificing everything to keep the boys they loved so dearly safe, regardless of their usual character, and though she had understood the concept, she hadn't quite understood the logic.
She did now.
Álainn sighed as she hovered between the last tendrils of sleep and the first moments of waking, and Minerva smiled as she wrapped her little hand in Minerva's long hair. She thought back to that moment in Kingsley's office, when she had let loose her magic, overcoming the wards in the Minister's office and physically attacking the woman she refused to name in her head. She had always been powerful, she knew that, but that moment had startled her more than any other. She had momentarily lost control and had almost watched herself do it, without thought or regard for anything except getting her child back.
Her child.
She smoothed Álainn's riotous locks from her forehead. As Álainn grew, she could see Hermione more and more in her. Her hair was getting thicker, causing it to stand out from her head as it had when Hermione had first entered the castle which seemed like three lifetimes ago now. The freckles on Álainn's nose charmed Minerva, especially when she scrunched it up, thinking about something difficult, be it a particular word or a feeling.
She marvelled at how perfectly Álainn fit in her arms, and wondered if Hermione would ever allow her the same comfort. It was something she thought of more and more as Álainn grew older. Hermione had changed after her year on the run, and with the knowledge she now had of what the young woman had gone through, she couldn't blame her. She desperately hoped, however, that the time she had, and would spend in the near future with Álainn would help her realise that she was not alone, and she did not have to spend so much time trying to prove herself.
"You are already perfect my darling girl," she breathed, pressing a kiss to Álainn's head.
"Mama?" The little girl blinked owlishly as she lifted her head from Minerva's chest, smiling beautifully when she realised it wasn't a dream. "Mama!"
"I am here precious one," Minerva whispered, accepting the tight hold with a smile.
"They took me Mama, they took me away. And they tried to take your book. They took my ribbon and Melinda stole my pencil, but I didn't let them take your book."
"I promise I won't let anyone take you ever again."
"Can we go to the hall for breakfast?" Álainn asked, sitting up on Minerva's stomach.
She groaned and tipped the small child off, tickling her as she fell into the covers.
"Not today sweet one, perhaps tomorrow. Today everyone is coming here so they can get you back, but now you are back I think we can all just have a celebration instead."
"With cake?" Álainn asked, sitting up comically with her hair sticking up at funny angles because of the static.
"Cake for breakfast?" Minerva scoffed.
"Yes Mama!" she said in a voice that Minerva groaned at. "Pleeeaasssee?"
Minerva peered through her eyelashes, fearing the worst, and found it. There was little Álainn perched on her knees, leaning against Minerva's legs, turning out her bottom lip in a pout and looking so piteous she could do nothing but roll her eyes.
"Yes! Thank you Mama!" she cried, jumping forward and hugging Minerva tightly once more.
"Yes, well," she mused, shaking her head at herself. "Perhaps we should get up and shower before everyone arrives. I would hate to entertain all the people who had vowed to get you back in nothing but my nightie."
Álainn giggled and raced into the bathroom first, laughing as Minerva called her objections.
"Love you Mama!" she cried as the door closed.
Minerva rolled her eyes once more, but couldn't bring herself to feel anything other than delight at Álainn's joyful demeanor. She had no doubt that once the happiness had worn off there would be issues, but Minerva already had an idea on how to make sure something like this would never happen again. It was going to take some rule bending however, and that was something Minerva was not overly comfortable with.
-0-
"Hawee!"
Minerva turned to watch Álainn run into Harry's outstretched arms, his face a picture of astonishment as he swung her around.
"Merlin!" he said, shaking his head. "Hermione, Álainn, how did you get back here?"
"She apparently wished for me," Minerva said quietly. "Accidental apparition." She shook her head. "She is an incredibly powerful witch."
"I'll say!" he laughed, swinging her around again. "I'm so glad you're home."
"Mama read me Wind in the Willows," she said proudly, smiling so beautifully over at Minerva. "I wanted her to read to me."
"She was pretty desperate to read to you as well," Harry mock-whispered. "She was on her way to come and get you."
"Really Mama?"
"Nothing would have kept me from finding you," Minerva said quietly at Harry's side, taking Álainn into her arms and holding her tightly. "You are my baby, my little Álainn."
"Your H'ione too?" Álainn asked innocently.
"My everything."
Minerva glanced up, finding Harry pouring himself a cup of tea from her pot while she had her moment with Álainn.
"I guess an all out offensive isn't on the cards for today then?" he asked.
"Not so much, no."
"That's good. I would have done it, for you and Hermione, but I do enjoy my job."
"They would have welcomed you back with open arms Harry," she chuckled, feeling her sorrow lift. "You're the saviour of the Wizarding world; they'd have to take you."
"Comforting," he said sarcastically.
"I have in mind a plan, but I would like as few people to know about it as possible. I will of course detail it to you, but the less people I tell, the less accountability we'll have to face."
"That sounds ominous," Harry said seriously, sitting down on the sofa. "What do you have in mind?"
"I would like to," she paused, cringing at the terrible situation Annabelle Proctor had placed her in, "I would like to make Hermione's parents sign a document that gives me custody of Hermione if they are incapacitated. Pre-date it, so then should Miss Proctor try again, we will make her swear an oath before revealing Álainn, Hermione's real parentage."
"Minerva, that's, are you sure that's what you want to do?"
"I can't barr them from Hogwarts indefinitely. While we do have a certain degree of autonomy from the Ministry, we cannot destroy what little relationship we have with them."
"How are you going to do it?" Harry asked, looking more curious than upset.
"I know the St. Mungo's director," she said slyly as the Floo started up. "Ah, right on time. Poppy, William, thank you for joining us. Harry, I'd like you to meet William Pomfrey, Head Healer at St Mungo's, Chairman of the Board and Poppy's husband."
"Oh, um, wow. Hi," he said awkwardly, suddenly remembering his manners and jumping up off the sofa to shake the much taller man's hand.
"Mr Potter," William said kindly. "I love it when Min here surprises students with the revelation of professors actually having lives."
"Yeah, I. Sorry Poppy, I don't know why I didn't just assume."
"Because everyone gives me gripe about how private I am, and Poppy just sits back and smirks," Minerva said good naturedly hugging both of them in greeting. "Did Poppy explain the plan to you?" she asked William as he sat down.
"She did, and I had a think about some other angles we could take but I think that is the correct one, no matter how grey it might seem. The only other thought I had was adopting her the Muggle way, but that could take months and if you are being persecuted now, then the quicker way is preferable."
"Thank you," Minerva said, sitting down in her chair and only realising at the last minute that Álainn had disappeared.
"Álainn?"
She looked around with a tendril of worry causing a cold sweat to break out down her back, before she spied the riotous curls peeping out from behind the curtain. Walking quietly over to her, she knelt on the floor so she was level with Álainn and peeped behind the curtain.
"Are you alright leanabh [baby]?"
"'s the man going to take me away again?"
"No, this is Uncle William," Minerva soothed quietly. "Aunty Poppy's husband. He's going to make sure I can keep you forever."
"F'ever and ever?" she asked, her eyes shining.
"And ever," Minerva chuckled as the little one forgot her fear and leapt into her arms.
"Hi Unc'a Will'am," she said cutely, waving from the safety of Minerva's arms.
"Hello little one," he boomed, making her giggle at how deep his voice was. "I hear you've had quite an adventure."
"Mama got tricked and they tooked me, but I back now and I not leaving again."
"I can believe it," he said kindly, shaking her hand with one of his fingers.
"I have alerted Filius that I am leaving for the morning, but Harry, if you could perhaps help Poppy watch Álainn? We have a few residents in the Hospital Wing that I would prefer Álainn didn't disturb."
"Oh course, I don't have anything on this morning, expecting an invasion," he grinned.
Minerva scoffed and placed Álainn in his lap.
"Mama has to go with Uncle William my darling, but Harry and Aunty Poppy are going to stay with you," she said gently, fending off Álainn's grabbing hands. "No, baby, it's okay. Nobody can come and get you this time, I've made sure of it. Okay?"
"Don't go Mama!" Álainn cried. "Please Mama, Álainn not be bad anymore."
Minerva's resolve crumbled.
"Oh leanabh [baby], no, you're not bad," she soothed, letting Álainn fall into her chest. "Mama just has to go to somewhere that little girls aren't allowed to go."
"But Mama coming back?" Álainn sobbed.
"Do you remember when I said I'd never let anyone take you from me again?" Minerva whispered, tracing the lines of her perfect little ear.
"Uhuh?" she sniffed, nuzzling into Minerva's neck.
"I promise you."
"Mama never breaks a promise?" she asked, looking up with her big brown eyes.
"Never," Harry, Poppy and William all answered for her, making Minerva's heart beat a little painfully in her chest.
"Okay," Álainn nodded. "I stay with Hawee."
Minerva nodded, getting up and pulling on her cloak, kissing Álainn and Harry on the hair before following William through the Floo to St Mungo's. Time was of the essence.
-0-
"I cannot promise you how lucid they'll be," William said quietly as they walked down the hall of the Janus Thickey Ward.
"I confess to be very uncomfortable about being here," Minerva said as they came to a stop outside one of the rooms.
"I understand Min, but as you said, this needs to be done to protect Hermione, or Álainn. Sorry, Poppy wasn't very clear."
"It's okay," she said, patting his arm and placing her other hand on the door handle. "Wish me luck."
"I'll be back in half an hour to check on you," William said quietly, unlocking the door with his wand and allowing her entry.
She stood there, her heart beating in her chest as she observed the two people in the room. She had not seen Hermione's parents since the day she knocked on their door and told them Hermione was a witch. It seemed so long ago, not the scant few years that it had truly been. Perhaps all that had gone on in those years affected her feelings on the matter.
"Ooh a visitor," Hermione's father said happily, getting up and leading her into the room by the hand. "We've not seen you here before, what's your name?"
"I'm Pro- Minerva," she replied, changing course at the last minute. "My name is Minerva McGonagall."
"That sounds familiar," Hermione's mother said quietly as she looked out of the window at the small garden below.
"We have met before," Minerva said just as quietly as the woman turned to face her.
She wanted to weep at the pathetic look on the woman's face.
"Sometimes I remember things I don't know," she whispered. "I remember a girl with curls and I wish I could hold her, but I don't know her name."
"Hermione," Minerva said, a tear running down her face, "her name is Hermione."
"I like that name," she muttered, looking back out of the window.
"You gave it to her."
"You were wearing a hat." Minerva nodded, but let her continue. "You told me she was special and I was so happy."
"I remember."
"I don't," she said, making Minerva want to curse herself.
"Mrs Granger, I need to ask you to do something for me. Hermione, Hermione needs my help. She's safe and well, but someone is causing problems, and it would be beneficial for her to be protected by me."
"Wilkins." Mr Granger called from the kettle, "our name is Wilkins."
"She's my child, isn't she?" Mrs Granger whispered.
"Yes, and your name really is Granger." Minerva said honestly. "I would love to be able to explain it to you but I cannot fully fathom it myself, however, whatever you choose to call yourself I need you to know that she's safe with me. Hermione is safe and I will protect her like she's my own."
"You love her."
"I do," Minerva nodded.
"What do you need us to do?" Mr Granger said sadly from behind her.
"I need you to sign a form granting me custody of her well being."
"Will you bring her here?" Mrs Granger asked, a tear appearing on her cheek as she looked at her hands.
"I, I will try," Minerva said gently.
"Then we will sign what it is we must sign," she said, nodding decisively.
-0-
William had been a darling, pouring her some tea in his big office while she composed herself, but all Minerva wanted to do was take Álainn in her arms and cry her heart out. As she sipped on her piping hot tea, she mused on how much her life had changed. Gone were the days when her hours were filled with correspondence and the monotony of running a school, even one as amazing as Hogwarts. After meeting Hermione's parents again, she had already resolved to start bringing Álainn to see them. Their memory problems were clearly not as deep as she had been led to believe, and she wondered if that was why Hermione had persisted in visiting them for so long.
"Can I get you another?" William said quietly, breaking her revery.
"No thank you William, I think I shall go back and hug Álainn."
"Of course," William said, helping her up and towards the Floo. "Will we see you and your delightful Álainn for dinner soon?"
"We'll see," Minerva said, squeezing his hand. "I will let Poppy know."
"Do you have the papers?"
"I do. I shall call my cousin to officiate them. Thank you for all your help William."
"You know as well as I that you are family Minerva. Poppy and I will never forget all you've done for us."
"And you know, as always, it's my pleasure. Thank you again William. Goodbye."
She stepped into the flames, calling out the address and popping into her office grate in time to see Álainn giggling madly as Harry tickled her on the sofa.
"Now there is a sight that warms my heart," she said over the din.
"MAMA!"
Álainn launched herself off the sofa, only narrowly avoiding crashing into the chess table before leaping into Minerva's body and pushing her back a few steps.
"Easy Hermione," Harry said with a grin. "Calm down."
"Hi Mama," she breathed as Minerva picked her up and squeezed her tight, revelling in the simple pleasure of those trusting arms.
"Hello my darling. Have you been good for Harry?"
"Yep," she grinned, kissing Minerva's cheek. "Can I stay with you now?"
"Yes my darling you can, but then I have to talk to you about something very important."
"Okay," she said happily, settling back against Minerva's shoulder with a sigh.
"I'm off then," Harry said, kissing them both on the cheek. "Let me know how it went later," he asked, patting her arm.
She barely nodded as he left in a fiery burst, leaving Minerva in the living room, rocking Álainn slowly.
"Mama tell me a story?"
"A little later," Minerva said. "First, I need to write some letters and send an owl. Would you like do some reading while I do so?"
"Can Awlin sit wiv you?"
"Of course you can baby," Minerva smiled, pleased that she didn't have to give up the cuddle just yet. "Come along precious, let's get to work."
"Mama?" Álainn asked after Minerva had sat down and arranged her on her knee.
"Yes child?"
"When are you going to shout at the matron?"
Minerva frowned, looking down at Álainn as she lay against her body.
"Who?"
"The matron. She was mean and was very rude and didn't mind her manners."
Minerva nodded as comprehension dawned on her, smoothing Álainn's hair back with her spare hand.
"I think it best if I do not shout at the matron my darling, but I will be shouting at the lady that asked the men to come and take you away. I will be shouting so loudly you will have to cover your ears."
"Good," Álainn said with a nod, slipping her thumb back in her mouth. "She be's naughty and deserves Mama shouting. Lub you."
"I love you too, baby," Minerva said, turning her attention back to the missive she was sending her cousin. He was a Muggle barrister and would hopefully sign off the papers from the Grangers as soon as he received her owl. She let him know she would be expecting him and sent it off, leaning back on her chair and watching the bird fly away as she combed her fingers through Álainn's hair.
It would be alright now. Nobody could take her away again.