A/N: To Poppinswannabe! Happy exams?! Spin put it best - best of luck my dear. I'm sure it went perfectly and you'll do awesome! Terrible grammar but what the heck. So. Hi everyone. Welcome back, I apologise for the delay, but ... it's been a frantic time. Life has calmed slightly and the weather here is getting slightly cooler - by like a degree - so. Here's another chapter of Age for you. Hope you all enjoy it. Don't forget to leave a review - even to say you took too long!
Thanks as every to Spin, who is literally the best friend a person can have, I'm sure of it.
Spin's Note: Best of luck to Poppinswannabe in her exams!
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Minerva put down the quill she was using with a sigh. Álainn had been gone for three hours now, helping Filius with something that would challenge her and hopefully take her mind off things, but Minerva was worried.
Álainn had not been the same carefree child when they had returned home from St. Mungo's. The whole traumatic experience of seeing her parents had surely been detrimental to little Álainn and her heart was worried.
"Minerva?" Albus asked, watching over her as always.
"It is nothing," she muttered, picking up her quill again. "Nothing at all."
She worked for another ten minutes, until she literally threw the quill away.
"Damn it!"
"Minerva, what is wrong?" Severus asked, he too looking concerned.
"Álainn has not recovered from her visit to her parents and I am worried I have damaged her somehow."
"My dear, it is not your fault."
"I let her, I took her to see them. She is so young, and yet she obviously could not handle going to see them when she was older even though she had the tools with which to cope and… and I just don't know what I am doing."
The Floo activated and before Minerva could say anything, a head popped into the grate.
"Headmistress, if I may have a moment of your time."
Minerva sneered down at the woman, Annabelle Proctor, and clenched her fists.
"I am afraid I am busy. If you wish to speak to me Miss Proctor, you may make an appointment with the Minister and I will attend there. You are, and will not be welcome in Hogwarts again."
"Headmistress, I have here -"
"Quite frankly my dear, I couldn't care less. Good day."
She waved her hand and Miss Proctor was ejected from the Floo. She paced for a moment before hurling fire into the grate where her head had just been.
"I cannot deal with her as well, not today at least."
"She will keep," Severus drawled. "If, as you said, you have informed the Minister of what Álainn said about the conditions where she was being held, then Miss Annabelle Proctor will not be in his good books."
"I hope he acted on it. I thought Kingsley would be a good, solid Minister. I am most disappointed in his lack of backbone."
"The woes of office," Albus said sagely.
"He was such a good man. And now he's turned into a, a -" A knock disturbed her rant. "WHAT!"
"Minerva?"
"Filius?"
She looked beyond him and saw Álainn, head down and sniffing wretchedly.
"Oh Álainn!" She opened her arms but Álainn sobbed and shook her head. Filius backed out, leaving them to it, but Minerva could do nothing but stare. "Álainn?"
She shuffled over to the sofa and hauled herself up on it, pulling Minnie the cat under her arm and sobbing into her fur. Minerva just stared at her, wishing she could help. She glanced at Albus, who made a motion to calm down. Minerva knew he was right and so closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She nodded, trying to rein her emotions back until she was ready.
"Álainn?" she walked over and crouched beside her darling little one, her heart in pain at the tiny sobs. "Álainn, look at Mama please."
It took a moment, but she finally lifted her head, leaving Minnie the cat to slink out of Álainn's arms and clean her fur.
"Darling, I need you to listen. What you, what Hermione did, was to protect your parents. You needed them to go away so that nobody could hurt them. And you did leannan (baby), you really did."
"But they don't 'member me," she hiccuped.
"I know," Minerva said, unable to keep her distance any longer. She got up off the floor and sat beside Álainn, pulling her onto her knee and into her arms. "I know it's scary sweetheart, but Mama's here with you," she cupped Álainn's cheek. "We're going to get through this together, but if you want to cry leannan (baby) then you cry. There is nothing wrong with a good cry."
"You don't cry," she said forlornly.
"I do," Minerva nodded. "Not often, but when things get bad and I don't know what to do and who to turn to, I cry."
"You can turn to me Mama," Álainn said, shifting so that she was kneeling on Minerva's thighs before wrapping her arms around her neck. "I look after you."
"Oh sweetheart." She pulled away and kissed Álainn's face all over. "I love you Álainn, I love you so much."
"Love you too Mama."
-0-
The talk had helped immensely and all who knew Álainn had remarked on how much brighter she seemed. Minerva had discovered more than a few cheeky bones in her body and often had to retrieve the little one from something naughty. At night though, when her energy had run out and her melancholy set in, Minerva often found herself sitting in front of the fire, holding her little girl tightly. She didn't always cry, but she did call out for Minerva whenever she was sad.
There would be another week until the potion was ready, something she knew was getting more and more important as time passed. She had no idea what age Álainn would grow to be next time, but she enjoyed the childishness that Álainn had for now - even if she was mischievous.
"Álainn?"
She listened out, prepared for the giggle or two that she usually heard when Álainn was playing hide and seek, but Minerva didn't hear a thing.
"Álainn? Leannan (baby) where are you?"
Still nothing, and Minerva frowned at the prospect. Álainn was old enough to know that she was not permitted to go outside without being accompanied by another student or adult, and Minerva had not heard the door go. Her heart beat a little faster as she rushed into Álainn's bedroom.
"Álainn? ÁLAINN!"
She cast a quick spell, revealing that she was no longer inside the rooms and her blood went cold.
"Blast it Álainn, where are you?"
She opened the door in full glory with her hair sweeping out behind her only to nearly trip down the gargoyle's steps as her foot caught on something. Managing to grab the banister, she slid rather than tumbled down quite a few of them, coming to rest on her knees, looking back up the stairs.
"Álainn?"
"Mama! I gets stuck!" she cried, her face red and blotchy. "I twied to knock but my hands hurt."
Minerva glanced down at those little hands, her eyes popping when she saw them bloodied and grazed.
"What on earth were you doing out here?" she asked, getting to her feet with a wince and scooping Álainn up as she walked back into her arms.
"Someone knocked, so I opened it, 'cept nobody was there and the door closed on me."
Minerva was not so worried about someone knocking and running. It happened many times during her career, both as Head, and as a professor. What troubled her was that the door was unlocked for Álainn to open, and that when it had closed, it had locked her out. It was a heavy door, and she was not surprised that Álainn had banged on it and she not heard. Quite often she was warned of a student's arrival via the noise of the steps. It was a troubling thought.
Deciding she didn't need Poppy, Minerva sat Álainn down in her office chair and went to fetch her potions kit. She inspected the little hands for any permanent damage, and finding none, applied some ointment to keep the grazes clean. She winced and hissed as the ointment went on, but Álainn did not cry, although Minerva gathered her into her arms anyway.
"You've had a rough day," Minerva whispered, checking the time. "I think we might have enough time to visit Uncle Hagrid, if you wish."
"He have any specials?"
"Oh, he does indeed," Minerva grinned, having signed his request form a few days ago. "He asked me if you might want to see them."
"What is it Mama?" Álainn asked, perking up.
"No," she chuckled. "It is a surprise."
They pulled on hats and cloaks, the weather slightly milder than usual, and meandered down to Hagrid's hut.
"Will you please tell me Mama?"
"No Álainn," Minerva chuckled. "I told you, it is a surprise!"
Álainn groaned and leaned against Minerva's side, making it difficult for them to walk in a straight line.
"I promise that you'll like it," Minerva conceded.
They knocked on Hagrid's door and after the customary cuddles and greetings, Hagrid led them down to the outskirts of the forest.
"Oh," Álainn whispered, finally seeing what they'd come to visit.
Penned in a clearing were three unicorns, two adults and a young foal. The adults were standoffish as Álainn tangled her hands in the fence, but the foal trotted straight up to her and started prancing around. Minerva walked to the fence but stayed two paces away until one of the adults joined the foal. She looked at it for a moment, smiling sadly as it shook it's head.
"I understand," Minerva bowed her head. "Perhaps my daughter then?"
The unicorn came up to the fence and lowered it's head over the beam on the top and breathed in Álainn's scent. It paused for a moment and whickered gently.
"Álainn? They're going to let you go inside," Minerva said quickly, pulling Álainn to the gate. "You need to listen to me carefully. Do not touch them, you must not," she reiterated sternly. "But they might play with you and interact with you, as long as you are careful, okay?"
"Yes Mama," Álainn said, her eyes shining. It was Hermione's look, the look of learning and Minerva felt so privileged to be able to see her like this.
Hagrid opened the gate, and Álainn walked in, waving absently at Minerva. All of her attention was focussed on the three beings before her. Minerva didn't blame her, but she was sure that Álainn had not been listening and she did not want anything happen to any of them. The last thing Minerva wanted to do was harm a unicorn, but she would to protect her child.
"Careful Álainn," Minerva called. "Slowly leannan."
Her hands gripped the fence as Álainn got to the middle of the small clearing and plonked herself down, sitting cross-legged and watching the unicorns with wide eyes. They seemed to have gathered at the far end of the pen they had agreed to be housed in - purely for the safety of their foal - but the longer Álainn sat there, the more comfortable they seemed to be.
Eventually the foal broke away and trotted up to her, staying a safe distance, but prancing around like it wanted to play. Minerva's heart was in her mouth, thinking of all the things an adult unicorn could do to a person, let alone a small child. He whinnied and snickered until he pranced right up to her and butted her back.
"Mama!"
"It's okay Álainn, I'm coming -"
She had a bit of trouble opening the gate, but when she looked up her jaw near dropped to the floor. Álainn was standing in the middle of the clearing laughing and giggling as the little foal played keep-away. Eventually, as small children so often do, Álainn forgot her Mama's warning and ran after him. The unicorn that Minerva had determined was the foal's mother stepped forward, her eyes on the pair at all times, but did not interfere, and though her hands shook, Minerva did not either.
It was the most beautiful thing in the world, Minerva was sure, to watch a child playing with a unicorn foal. The ease at which both moved and cavorted, and the childish innocence both shared was a joy to be around, and Minerva found herself sighing as she watched. She could not have loved this child more had she given birth to Hermione herself. It was an intense feeling, to be sure.
As her child played with the unicorn foal the mare wandered over, keeping her distance before coming to stand next to her. She had not been this close to a unicorn for some time, and her heart was beating wildly in her chest. The usually distrustful animal was being incredibly kind to her.
"Thank you," she said, wondering if such a simple phrase would be adequate.
The unicorn turned to look at her, really look at her, and Minerva felt a smooth presence slip into her mind. It shocked her and she reeled back a little, physically and mentally.
"Do not be afraid Headmistress," the voice said. "I will not harm you or your daughter."
"I -"
"It is of no consequence. Your daughter brings my son happiness. That is something I can agree on, though he will never play with a 'black hand'."
Minerva had heard of this sort of thing, but had never experienced it. She wondered if Albus had.
"The Headmaster spoke often to us, my Sire and his father before him. He was gone before I grew enough to foal. For that, you have my condolences."
"Thank you," Minerva nodded.
"The little one is pure as snow. But not as she seems, and not yours."
"She, there was an accident. She is actually closer in age to an adult rather than a child, but she ingested a potion, we think. We really don't know anything for certain. And her parents are ill, they cannot remember her. I, she was my favourite pupil, and now I love her like a daughter."
"There was a potion. She drives hard, though her brain is more than capable."
"Aye, she does," Minerva smiled sadly. "But she has fought too long, and at too young an age. She has many scars; inside and out."
"The deeper the scar the more healing it needs," the mare said sagely. "She heals even now. And she has never taken a life - no matter what was done to her."
"I am glad to hear that," Minerva said, a tear gathering in her eye.
"You have healed as well, though your scars are old, and were never soothed fully. They might, with her help."
Again, Minerva nodded, but this time did not say anything. She knew her traumas ran deep. Stemming from her childhood she'd had scar upon scar until sometimes she could not feel at all.
"In time, it will heal," the unicorn said. "You must remain open again, as you were before. Your daughter will help."
"I cannot thank you for what you have allowed today."
"As you would do anything for your daughter, I would do for my son. He wished to play with the girl and who am I to stop it. She has a good heart and a clean soul. If you had not taken life, I would allow you to play also."
"I understand," Minerva said.
"War is something that has repercussions across our worlds. You protected us during the Darkness. That is not forgotten Headmistress, but as a foal, he must not be tainted."
The mare moved closer and blew softly as her head neared Minerva's.
"I have not those bounds."
Minerva closed her eyes and tears ran down her face as the mare nuzzled her cheek and blew out her breath in soft puffs against her neck.
"You may touch."
Minerva's hands had not stopped shaking, but she ran her hand along the mare's neck, the coat unbelievable, like the finest silk, like Álainn's skin, like a million summer breezes against her hand.
"You are doing good, every day of your life Headmistress," the mare said quietly. "Do not forget that in the mire."
Giving a small whinny, the mare bowed to Minerva, who remembered belatedly to bow back, before moving away to collect her foal.
"Álainn, it's time to go sweetheart."
"Aw, do we have to?"
The mare let out a sound not unlike a chuckle and nuzzled Álainn's hair, nudging her softly towards Minerva.
"Okay, okay. Can I come back?"
"We'll see," Minerva smiled. "Maybe."
The foal gave a loud call and started prancing again, his mood making Minerva smile. Her heart was still hammering and her tears had barely dried on her cheeks, but she was so happy, she could not wipe the grin from her face.
"Oh Mama, that was perfect!" Álainn gushed as they left the fence. "Did you see? Did you see?"
"I did sweet one," Minerva said, looking back at the little family. "I did."