A/N: Long time no see people, though if you follow the Facebook page then you knew it was coming! Life makes writing difficult and I'm doing my best, just keep being patient with me! You're all awesome. There's nothing else really to report, Secrets and Lies I'm sure will be updated in no time.
Thanks, as ever, to Spin, who had this done yesterday - but then I forgot to upload it. My bad...
-0-
Minerva McGonagall sat rocking in her chair, her eyes unable to look away from the beautiful child in the bed beside her. Draco had given the latest potion to Álainn, and they had watched her grow before their very eyes once more. With the added age came more complicated medical matters and Poppy had called William to be with them when it was done.
"Mama?" called a little voice, disturbing her thoughts.
"Álainn my love, you should be sleeping."
"Will you please lie with me Mama? I don't want the night-scares to get me." Minerva smiled indulgently, pinning back her hair and toeing off her shoes as she stood.
"Just for tonight my darling," she whispered.
The potion had hurt tremendously if Álainn's screams were anything to go by, but she seemed to be suffering no after effects except exhaustion. William had concurred with Poppy's prescription of rest and recuperation and they had urged Minerva to take the day off from her duties.
"Sing to me Mama," Álainn said forlornly.
Minerva nodded and pulled the little girl closer. She took a deep breath, remembering when her own mother would hold her as such many, many years ago. Her voice was purposefully soft and her tone gentle as she started singing her lullaby, enjoying the song as much as Álainn.
She sang another two verses before taking a chance to rest her voice and look down at the little girl in her arms. She looked exactly like the young Hermione she remembered from their first day at Hogwarts. The hair was a little longer, and the face a little chubbier with what was left of the baby blubber she had yet to lose, but it was definitely Hermione. She knew that the little baby she had taken in would eventually turn into the Hermione she had schooled and watched grow into an accomplished young witch, but she was unprepared for the absolute match of their features after coming to think of her as Álainn for so long.
Seeing the little girl was now fast asleep, Minerva very carefully extracted her long limbs from the bed and retreated to the living room where she poured a large measure of scotch and stood by the fire.
"This is why I counselled we should not let her stay with you," Severus said pointedly.
"I would not have wanted it any other way," Minerva confessed, "but with a child that now looks, speaks and thinks as Hermione and not my own child, as I so foolishly believed Álainn to be, I find my thoughts swirling without hope of an end."
Minerva finished her drink, throwing the final drop into the fire and watching with satisfaction as the flames reared up with the added fuel.
"If you asked Hermione who she cared for most in the world then you would be on that list of people," Albus said gently. "I think if Hermione could converse with us lucidly, she would reveal that she had never been happier than when wrapped up in the arms of her Mama."
"Things will not always be easy though Albus," she sighed. "Eventually the real Hermione will return, as she is doing each day, and then what will I be left with? At best a former student who feels betrayed at her teacher's meddling with her life; at worst me, standing before the Ministry on Merlin knows what kind of charges."
"I think you underestimate the swot's obsession over your favour," Severus said, causing her to turn and look at him. "I believe Hermione to be an intelligent and fair person, though it pains me to say it. For all her perceived faults she is not fickle and shuns those who are. You need to get over yourself Minerva, for she needs you, more than she probably even knows."
"What of her parents?" Albus asked.
"When I spoke to William this morning he suggested I wait a little before I take her. He was unable to give a reason, which leads me to believe they've had some sort of setback."
"Memory charms are notoriously difficult to alter once cast," Severus muttered. "Especially powerful ones."
"And she Hermione is exceedingly powerful," Minerva mused.
"Exactly. So, my dearest friend, I suggest you enjoy yourself while it lasts."
Minerva rolled her eyes but nodded, appeasing them and herself for the moment.
-0-
"Good morning Mama," Álainn sang from where she sat in her chair, swinging her legs happily.
Minerva smiled at the adorable scene; Álainn waiting with her hands folded in her lap, wearing an outfit she'd evidently picked out herself. A little amusing - Slytherin green shirt teamed with a Gryffindor red skirt and the most hideous pair of purple wellington boots, complete with neon green spots.
"Good morning little one," Minerva said, kissing her hair as she joined her at the table.
"I told Winky that we needed breakfast," Álainn explained. "She said she'd be back in a min." With that, she began to giggle.
"What's so funny sweetheart?"
"That's your name, isn't it? Min!"
Minerva smiled at the easy laughter coming from the little girl and wondered at the momentary bout of darkness she'd felt the night before. How could she contemplate giving this up, even if it resulted in her spending the rest of her days in Azkaban. She simply couldn't.
"Winky made your favourites," Álainn said, bringing Minerva back to her senses as the small table filled with food. "Can I read later?"
Minerva buttered her toast and helped Álainn with hers, looking sideways at the little girl. She tried to remember all she knew about Hermione as a student and how this little girl was as Álainn.
"How about you and go and play outside for a while, then we can read."
"Aw, really? Do we have to?" Álainn pouted, her little lip poking out and her brown eyes blinking owlishly in the hope of changing her mama's mind.
"Yes, we do," Minerva smiled. "But I shall come with you, and perhaps we'll see some of your friends outside. It is a lovely day."
"Fine," Álainn said, rolling her eyes.
"Are you going to get dressed?" Minerva asked as she finished her breakfast and swallowed her last mouthful of tea.
"What do you mean Mama? I am dressed. Don't you like it?"
Minerva opened her mouth to tell her that she really didn't, until she caught the little tremble in Álainn's lip.
"I do like it my love, I was just unsure whether it was suitable outdoor clothing."
"I got stockings on," she said, pulling her skirt up so that Minerva could see. "I'm ready."
"Alright," Minerva chuckled. "I will go and change and then we can play."
She walked from the room hearing a quiet chuckle from Severus' portrait as she did. She pursed her lips, but didn't comment. Today she would spend the whole day getting to know Álainn - rather Hermione - as a six year old.
-0-
"Mama watch me!" Álainn squealed, running and then jumping over the little ditch between the Quidditch pitch and the path.
"Wow Álainn, that's really awesome," Ginny said, coming over with a smile. "Minerva."
"Ginny. How are you this morning?" Minerva asked, chuckling when Álainn ran up to her at full speed, crashing into Ginny's legs with a laugh.
"I see six year old Hermione is a little more excitable than our usual version," Ginny muttered, allowing herself to be pulled away by the young girl.
Minerva watched on as Álainn copied everything that Ginny did and she felt at ease knowing that by the time Hermione returned to normal, she would have some semblance of feeling accepted by the Wizarding World. Like Albus had said, it was the perfect opportunity to correct the only mistake Hermione had ever made in her life, believing that she had something to prove as a muggle-born.
"Mama?" Álainn asked, running over and hugging her tightly. "Can I go flying with Ginny?"
"You want to go flying?" Minerva asked, her face a picture of shock as she looked down at her.
"Ginny says we won't go very high, but I want to, please Mama, please!"
Minerva rolled her eyes as Álainn poked out her lip and blinked her big brown eyes.
"You do not have to pout young lady. If I believe it is something you are willing and capable of doing, I will allow it. If it is too dangerous, I will not. As beautiful as you are, you cannot sway my decisions."
Álainn dropped her head and looked at the ground, hugging her stomach. Her hand twitched and she bought it up to her mouth, but paused just as her thumb extended. It was a move that Minerva had seen her do many times in her younger self, but it seemed like this Hermione was no longer a thumb-sucker.
"Come here sweetheart," Minerva said quietly. She opened her arms, groaning when Álainn jumped into them. She hitched Álainn high onto her hip, ignoring the slight pain in her joints by doing so. "I love you Álainn. I'm not angry, I just want you to know that you don't have to pout like that. It's just something you should learn as you go."
"Yes Mama," Álainn whispered, resting her head on Minerva's shoulder.
"Don't you want to go flying with Ginny?"
"Yes please," she grinned, looking happier by the second.
"Alright then," Minerva said, sliding her back to the floor. "Ginny, I am an old woman, so no aerobatics if you please. Keep it low and slow."
"No problem McG," Ginny replied, taking Álainn's hand and walking over to where she'd rested her broomstick.
It was a feeling that was not so foreign to Minerva as she watched Álainn chatter to Ginny - the fear. She'd felt it many times over her career; not fear for oneself, but fear for the children in her charge. She had felt it for so many children, some of whom she wished she could have expressed that fear to: Severus, Draco, Harry, Neville, little Colin Creevey and all those that came before them. It was not dissimilar to the fear she felt now, but it was keener as she watched Ginny settle Álainn on the broom. She felt her heart beating loudly, her breath almost stopped and her whole body was tense, ready to dive forward at any moment as she watched Ginny take Álainn round the pitch.
To the young Gryffindor's credit, Ginny did everything she'd been asked to do. She was slow and careful, talking to Álainn the whole time, trying to get her to relax a little as they flew. Minerva couldn't have been more impressed with how she was conducting herself, but it did not stop the absolute terror coursing through her body.
"It never goes away."
Minerva spun around, startled, and found herself looking straight at Pomona.
"I'm sorry?" she said, glancing behind her for just a moment before returning to her colleague.
"The terror. It never goes away. I would say it's the hardest part about having babies Minerva, being continually petrified that they're going to get hurt."
"I had not expected the feeling to be so acute," Minerva muttered, turning back with the expectation that Pomona would join her.
"The irony is that it remains so, even when they are grown. I worry all the time, about each one of them. It is an interesting experience."
"I cannot imagine how you made it through the wars."
"Love, mostly and trust. I trusted Filius, and you, to protect Oli, while knowing the others were safe. I trusted Oli enough that he would not put himself in harms way." She chuckled. "I should have realised that as the only Gryffindor in the family he would be different."
Minerva smiled, but twitched as Álainn shifted slightly on the broom.
"Easy Min," Pomona said, taking her arm. "This may sound terrible, but she needs to learn how to fall, and then brush herself off and get back up again. They need to know they'll be alright."
"I don't want her to get hurt," Minerva said, feeling unbelievably vulnerable as she belied her inner fears to Pomona.
"No one wants their babies hurt, Minerva," Pomona said gently. "Welcome to motherhood."
Minerva snorted morosely, glancing back just in time to see Álainn slide off the broom sideways when rounding a corner and tumble onto the ground.
"Álainn!"
She had changed into her Animagus and sprinted across the pitch before she knew what was happening, and when she morphed back into her self, Ginny was just picking Álainn up off the floor and dusting her off.
"Did you see me Mama? I flew!"
Panting and out of breath, Minerva stared at the little girl grinning up at her.
"Can I go again?"
If Minerva had been twenty years younger she would have slumped to the floor in defeat. Instead she resigned herself to her fate, checked her watch and nodded helplessly as Ginny placed her back on the broom and kicked off again.
"Sorry Minerva," she called over her shoulder before flying away.
"You can certainly run when you want to!" Pomona huffed as she joined her on the pitch.
"I -" Minerva paused, having no idea what to say.
"Don't worry dear," Pomona said kindly. "Come on, let's go and sit down and maybe we can con someone into bringing us a cup of tea."
Minerva was helpless but to follow orders, allowing Pomona to guide her into the middle of the pitch where she transfigured a comfortable sofa for the pair of them. There they sat, quietly sipping their tea and waiting for the two girls to get bored.
It was getting close to dinner time by the time Ginny called a halt to the fun. Álainn grumbled a little before Minerva explained that Ginny would be tired as well. The little one gave in and hugged Ginny hard around the waist.
"I'm tired now too Mama, can we have dinner?"
"Well, lets go and have a bath first before dinner, then it's straight to bed. Everyone goes back to lessons tomorrow, and you are going to start as well."
"Really Mama? Yey!"
Ginny laughed.
"Only Hermione would be excited about starting school," she said with a smile.
"Thank you Ginny, for today. And for being so careful with her."
"I learnt from the best," Ginny said wistfully. "Fred and George used to take me up. They'd joke around at any other time, but not when they had me on the broom with them. They were so careful."
"And they continued to be so with you," Minerva said, cupping the young woman's cheek.
"Yeah," she smiled sadly. "See you at dinner."
Minerva nodded and patted the little hand that slipped into her own as she ambled back up to the castle. She was exhausted just from watching Álainn flying, and could not imagine how Álainn felt after all that outdoor physicality.
Minerva wasn't wrong and they were only on the third staircase when Álainn asked to be picked up. Having learnt her lesson earlier, Minerva muttered a featherlight charm over the little girl and scooped her up happily. She eased the charm off a little, so she could feel the weight of her in her arms as Álainn snuggled into her neck.
"I love you Mama," she whispered.
"As I love you Álainn," she whispered back, calling out the password to her private rooms and alighting the staircase. "Come on then, into the bath with ye'."
"Will you sing to me?"
Minerva smiled indulgently and nodded, carrying Álainn all the way to the bath and thanking whatever gods were listening for the discovery of magic. The large clawfoot bath was already filled with warm soapy bubbles, waiting for them.
"Will you come in?" Álainn asked tiredly.
"No darling, just you."
"Is it cos Hermione gets scared?" Álainn asked. "We could wear bathers?"
Minerva stared at the little girl, so startled and intrigued at the same time at the level of intelligence that belied her strange situation.
"Is this something you would really like?"
"Yes please," she said politely, almost turning it into a pout before biting her lip at the last minute.
"Alright then, let me go and see if I can sort something out."
Minerva walked out of the room, taking a deep breath and transfiguring her underrobe into a modest pair of swimmers. By the time she returned to the bathroom she was feeling a little uncomfortable at the situation. She stopped mid-stride as she looked at where Álainn was supposed to be, and where she was now.
"Álainn!"
There she was playing happily in the water, fully clothed (aside from her garish wellingtons, which were now laying in a puddle of mud on the floor).
"I got in Mama."
"I can see that," Minerva said, shaking her head.
"Are you coming in?"
"I, yes, but first we have to get you out of your clothes so you can have a proper bath."
She patiently helped Álainn out of the water, and with a little struggle, managed to remove most of the clothing now sodden with water. She conjured a little swimsuit for Álainn, who proclaimed it to be the best one ever, then slid into the bath with a sigh. It was not quite big enough for Álainn to sit on her own, so before long she had clambered up onto Minerva's knee and laid face down on her chest, the warm water soothing her into a light doze. Minerva leant her head back on the edge and sighed, unable to keep the smile from creeping onto her face. This was her favourite part of motherhood so far, the unconditional trust and love that such a small person can give to someone. It warmed her heart far more than anything else had ever done in her long life. Álainn snuffled a little, her little body shivering as the air cooled her body while it wasn't in the water, so Minerva slid down a fraction, making sure that most of Álainn's body was submersed.
"Merlin, I love you little one," she sighed, kissing the damp hair and closing her own eyes. She wouldn't sleep, but she could rest a little and it would help them both through dinner and then her work later. Tomorrow would be a big day for the both of them, even if Álainn was looking forward to it.
"Mama?" Álainn grumbled in her sleep.
"Shh darling, I have you," Minerva soothed. "I'm here."