Minerva blinked, screwing her face up at the pain in her head and the taste in her mouth.
"I can't believe he was drugging Molly!" she heard Hermione's voice say. She peeked through her cracked eyelids and saw Harry Potter sitting cross legged on the bed, nursing a mug and shaking his head.
"Does that mean you caught him? Minerva groaned, rolling towards the edge of the bed to ease the ache in her back. "I feel like I've been trampled by a herd of Hippogriffs."
"William said that you would," Hermione said, and Minerva could hear a touch of reproachfulness in her voice.
"It was a long day and an even longer night," Minerva sighed.
"One I would have not made it through if it wasn't for you," Hermione said, squeezing her hand.
"You wouldn't have had to do it at all if it wasn't for me," Minerva whispered, leaning away.
"Rubbish," Hermione chuckled. "If I hadn't shut myself off from everyone, I could have shared my fears with you, or Harry, or Ginny," Hermione sighed. "Anyone would have listened. I understand that now. I was so concerned with doing my best, doing better than anyone else, because," she hiccuped. "Because I'm a mudblood and I know that maybe the world might have changed for a while, but it'll go back. It'll be pure-bloods above everyone else at some point once more, and all that was so overwhelming in the face of everything," she swallowed another sob. "Everyone we lost."
Minerva shifted and Hermione rolled to lay her head in Minerva's lap, Minerva's hand running through her hair automatically. This was normal. This, they knew.
"But then you happened," Hermione whispered. "You, who I already loved so much, picked me up when I knew nothing, and taught me once more, a lesson I didn't know I needed."
"I only took care of you, Hermione," Minerva said finally.
"No," Hermione said sharply, looking up at her. "You healed me."
"It was you, my dear, that healed me," Minerva admitted. "You gave me something so precious that I can never repay you."
Hermione rolled over and Minerva saw the grimace of pain she tried to hide.
"It's okay," she said quickly before Minerva could speak. "Uncle William said I'd be sore for a long while yet. I'm bruised, but I'm fine."
"You really remember when you were Álainn?"
"Completely," Hermione said with a sparkle in her eye. "I can't wait to study what happened. Will," she blushed, then tutted at herself. "Will you help me? I think there might be some use for what I went through," she grimaced again. "I hope so at least."
"I would like that," Minerva said, meaning it. "Draco too, I shouldn't wonder."
Minerva chuckled and they fell into silence, only realising belatedly that Harry had left them to talk. The boy had grown into a fine man and she was so proud of how he had turned out.
"Thank you," Hermione said suddenly. "For loving me, I mean. I know it wasn't easy."
"On the contrary," Minerva smiled down at Hermione. "It was the easiest and most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life," Hermione looked skeptical. "Truly, it was the most fulfilling experience of my life," Minerva paused. "Thank you for choosing me."
"Min," Hermione said squirming a little. "I didn't choose, you chose me."
"You obviously don't remember much about what happened just after I found you," Minerva smiled. "Poppy took you in and attempted to care for you. She returned two hours later as you would not stop crying no matter what she tried." Hermione looked bewildered. "She passed you to me, and you sighed a great sigh, and promptly fell asleep."
Hermione laughed and Minerva thought it the most beautiful sound in the world.
"I guess I did choose you," she said happily. "Clever Álainn."
"Yes you are," Minerva said gently.
"What happens now then?"
And there it was. The question Minerva didn't want to ponder, for fear of losing everything she had gained.
"Well," Minerva said quietly. "You and the rest of your peers graduate in three weeks. Exams begin next week and then the world is your oyster my dearest."
She tried to make it all sound positive, she really did, but she saw that she had not succeeded and she remembered how discerning Hermione had been before she had grown up in her care and knew she would never get away with bending truths again.
"Before we get to the part about exams beginning next week, that wasn't what I meant and you know it."
"I -" Minerva faltered.
"You don't want me?" Hermione said, stuttering.
"No," Minerva said, shaking her head as she realised how that sounded. "I mean, you are wrong," she clarified. "You have quite become my..."
"Child, I had hoped," Hermione finished for her, looking up at her expectantly.
"Quite," Minerva said. "Though that does not mean you should not pursue your plans and dreams beyond school - I shall be where I always am."
"You're hopeless," Hermione sighed. "I was asking about our continuous relationship of course. Would it be appropriate for me to continue thinking of you as," Hermione paused as her voice trembled. "My Mama? After this point, as that situation was very much not of your choosing and I am aware that you are an incredibly private person and I have encroached on your space for a long time."
"She has spent the last six months fretting because of just that," Harry said, banging through the door with two heaped trays hovering behind him. "Sorry, took me forever to work out how to turn the oven on. Wizarding ovens are weird." He shook his head. "I thought a simple soup would be good."
Both their stomachs rumbled, making Harry grin. He put the trays down on the dresser and helped Minerva assist Hermione to sit up.
"So, I don't have to leave?" Hermione asked after a time. "You don't want me to leave?"
"Gods no, Álainn," Minerva sighed cupping her cheek. "I would be content to have you as my little Álainn for the rest of my life."
"Me too," Hermione said, tears gathering in her eyes.
"Honestly, you're both as bad as each other," Harry grinned. "Eat before it gets cold."
Minerva hummed happily as she tasted the chicken soup.
"I did not know you were a chef, Mr Potter," she cracked, looking at him with only a hint of prying.
"I cooked a lot for the Dursley's," he shrugged. "Probably the best thing I got from them."
She heard Hermione snort and made a mental note to ask her about it later. It didn't take long for them to scrape the last from the bowl and sit back with a sigh.
"A perfect ending to a rather difficult few days I think," Minerva said, mopping up the remaining juice with her last corner of bread.
"Now, I believe you have news for me Mr Potter?" she asked, dabbing the corner of her mouth daintily. "Have you told Hermione already?"
"I do wish you'd stick to calling me Álainn," Hermione huffed.
"Hush child," Minerva soothed, kissing her hair. "To you, I will always, but Harry does not call you that."
Hermione looked mollified and groaned as she slid back under the covers. "I feel like I've been run over by the Knight Bus."
"Did William not give you anything for the pain?" Minerva asked, trying unsuccessfully not to sound panicked.
"He did," Hermione said grimly. "This is after I've taken them."
"Settle down and let Harry tell his story then we'll call him and see if he can do anything else."
"It's fine," she sighed. "I think I've taken all the potions I care for now. He said I should feel better, the longer I rest."
Minerva wanted to say more, to threaten her with an early bedtime before she realised how silly that was. She sighed and banished all their dishes to the kitchen.
"It will get easier," Hermione said quietly. "It took a while for us to find our rhythm each time, and we will again."
"Of course, darling," she said, nodding her agreement. "Proceed Harry," she smiled.
"Well, as you know Minerva, there were rumours that he'd gone to Bulgaria," Hermione snorted, but apologised when Minerva gave her a look. "But like you said Min, he isn't me or Hermione, so I started to think like Ron and the one thing I kept coming back to is that he is lazy in his work. He never really tried anything for himself except quidditch so I tracked down the informant and he told me a scarred up blonde had given him twenty galleons to tell us that and when I showed him a picture, he confirmed it."
"Lavender," Hermione snorted. "I knew it."
"She was easy to track, and led me to a flat in Surrey. He was sitting in the living room, putting bets on a Hippogriff race, of all things."
"Did he come quietly?" Minerva asked, sensing some added information Harry wasn't revealing.
"Not really," he grimaced. "Caught Shelby with Snape's curse, Sectumsempra, then jumped out the window and attempted to apparate half way."
"Oh no!" Hermione gasped, her hand slipping into Minerva's. He's not -"
"No, but you're right in thinking he didn't quite get around to apparating. He's got two broken legs, four broken ribs and a splintered eye socket from where his knee shot up into his face." Harry grimaced, and Minerva could only imagine.
"I'm glad you caught him," Hermione said with a shiver. "We nearly got married you know," she said absently, making Minerva goggle at her. "Oh, well I mean, he was really pushing for it, but I told him I wanted to finish school first."
"Good instincts," Harry grunted. "He'll spend a few days healing, then go to trial. He'll be in Azkaban before the weekend. Carter gave me the report yesterday."
"You didn't -"
"I didn't even go in. Just led them there." They all fell quiet before Harry spoke again. "I don't understand," he said after a time. "What happened to him that didn't happen to us?"
"You moved on," Minerva said quietly. "Happy to be out of the limelight," she squeezed his hand. "And you were his hero," she shook her head at his repulsed look. "No, his literal hero. He was, even at his best, simply Harry Potter's best friend. So when Harry Potter wanted to get on with his life quietly, and Ron didn't, he wanted to punish you. But," she said with a frown.
He wanted to do it in a way that ensured his presence beside you when you returned to the limelight."
"How are you so wise?" Hermione mumbled, around a yawn.
"Old age and countless hours in debate with Albus," she chuckled, making Harry smile. "Good night dear sweet Álainn." She bent to kiss Hermione's forehead and smiled as the young woman sighed. "Are you staying my lad?"
"Can I?" he asked sheepishly. "I don't feel like going home to an empty house after today."
"Of course," she said, pulling him into an embrace. "Thank you for staying, sweetheart."
"Always," Harry mumbled. "Hear that Hermione? You're not the only one Min loves."
"Shut up," Hermione smiled even in sleep.
"Give over, the both of you."
Minerva showed Harry to the guest room and tucked him in as well. It was only when she returned to Hermione's side that she let the warm feeling of love wash over her.