A/N: It's Minerva McGonagall's birthday today and I, for one, am glad of her creation and it is just in time for us to dredge up some of this Minerva's trauma. Ordinarily I'd write a little one-shot and tbh it's still early in the day but it probably won't happen. We live in hope.

In addition to that, it's Lib McGranger's birthday soon as well so if you see her in your travels, wish her a Happy Birthday!

-0-

Poppy was sitting reading a book at the little breakfast table when Hermione shuffled in the next morning. She boiled the kettle and poured two cups of tea before she turned around and smiled at the older woman.

"Thank you for staying with her."

"Oh," Poppy chuckled as she gave up the pretence and put her book down. "Sweetheart, I am just glad to see you up and about and even gladder to see her happy." Hermione nodded and finished making the tea before she sat down at the table with Poppy. "Did you wear her out last night?" Poppy chuckled. "She's usually an early riser."

"Would you like me to be honest?" Hermione grinned. "She's already warned me about you, you know."

"I daresay she did," Poppy mused as she took a sip.

"Then yes," Hermione smirked proudly over the top of her mug as she took her first sip. "I most assuredly did."

Poppy threw her head back and laughed.

"You are a firecracker, love. I'm so glad she has you."

"I'm so glad I have her," Hermione shrugged. "And that is all I will be discussing."

Poppy grinned.

"I won't pretend I did not say all of whatever she said I did. But I will ask, because I am unsure whether she took it as I meant. Did she tell you what I suggested, in lieu of things you have decided not to try, just yet?"

"She did," Hermione said quietly. "I have already told her I owe you a bottle of whatever your favourite is." Poppy laughed. "But she and I will discuss it in time. When she's ready." She gave a cheeky grin. "Alone." Poppy chuckled but then sobered.

"I only ask because I do not know how much of that," Poppy winced. "World she's ever been exposed to."

"I know," Hermione soothed. "I am well aware." Poppy stared at her for a moment and Hermione let her. "There are very few secrets left between us, Poppy. It's okay."

"I have just realised," Poppy smiled finally as she sat back with a sigh. "That I don't need to protect her anymore, do I?"

"No," Hermione smiled as she too relaxed and nudged Poppy's foot with her own. "You can, because you love her and to love her is to feel as though we need to protect her, but you absolutely don't need to. I'm also sure she'd hate to be talked about like that, because she's probably better at it than both of us combined."

Poppy hummed and sipped her tea.

"She has protected so many, during her life, love. I feel it is only fair that someone protects her for a change, in the few scant moments she needs it."

"I know," Hermione nodded. She reached out and held out her hand. Poppy looked at it for a long while then took it and sighed. Hermione decided a change of topic was in order. "Perhaps I should ask you about your experience with toys and things," Hermione grinned as she sat back. "So that Min will have someone to go shopping with."

Poppy laughed loudly and grinned mischievously, matching Hermione's grin back to her.

"I confess -" Hermione watched her hesitate and then stick her chin out defiantly. "For some time, I found them useful to bridge a gap. Truth be told I have not needed them in quite some time."

Hermione grinned at her and toasted her cup.

"Well then," she chuckled. "Congratulations."

There was a kerfuffle behind them as Poppy laughed and Minerva rushed around the corner, hair askew. She looked between them like a wild animal and Poppy laughed again as she got up.

"Sit down, love. Let me get you some tea."

Minerva glanced between them and Hermione beckoned her over. She pulled her onto her knee and pushed back her hair.

"You think I can't handle Poppy, hmm?"

"I know you can," Minerva winced. "I just didn't -"

"Trust me."

"No," Minerva shook her head. "That isn't it at all." She blinked awake properly and grinned mischievously. "I didn't trust Poppy."

"Hey!"

Hermione laughed as she pulled Minerva into her body and reached around for her tea. Minerva intercepted it, took a sip and grimaced.

"Urgh! Why is it so sweet?"

"Because it's mine," Hermione laughed. "Wait for your own."

"You are both so cute," Poppy chuckled from where she leaned against the kitchen counter.

"Cute!"

"Poppy!"

She chuckled and sat back down after passing Minerva her tea and kissing her forehead.

"I feel like a child," she grumbled as she settled on Hermione's knee.

"We just love you."

"Well," she said with only a little sass. "I suppose that's alright then."

Hermione sipped her tea until it was gone and then sat back.

"Alright, let's get it over with. Poppy, I assume that I'm fine?"

"Yes," she chuckled. "I haven't checked this morning, obviously, but when I left you with Min yesterday, you were magically exhausted but that is not really a surprise anymore is it?"

"No, between fighting Bellatrix and then coming here in the way I did, I think I was at the end of my reserves."

"She stunned you," Minerva muttered. "And it bounced off you like it was nothing."

Hermione thought back.

"She did, didn't she. As she came out of the room. Did you find anything?" She looked at Poppy.

"Nothing, no evidence of it at all, although Minerva healed your wounds afterwards, I'm told?" Hermione nodded. "Perhaps whatever that was healed whatever was left of that too?"

"Possibly," Hermione mused. "I hate not knowing the answers to questions."

"Minerva mentioned these," she shrugged. "Friends? Like you? Could you not ask them?"

"I haven't spoken to either of them since we had a falling out."

"What on earth do you have a falling out over?"

"Sex," Hermione muttered.

Minerva slapped her arm gently.

"I'll have you not reveal all my secrets, if you please."

"I wouldn't," Hermione chuckled. She kissed Minerva's bicep as her hand crept under her shirt and stroked her stomach with her thumb. Minerva's ramrod straight spine softened. "There was a difference of opinion and I got quite cross with them. I think they're laying low."

"Well, as far as I can tell, you are fine. Mrs Malfoy, however, is not so lucky."

"Oh!" Hermione sat up but held Minerva where she was as she wobbled. "What happened? I completely lost track of what was going on!"

"She's alive, but she has a long road to recovery ahead of her."

"Can you tell me a little about what is wrong with her?" Hermione asked genuinely.

"Cruciatus," Poppy sighed. "Continually. It is one of the worst tortures. It damages nerves and disrupts -"

Hermione tuned out as a shudder went through Minerva. She watched, in horror, as Minerva's mind dragged a memory from its depths.

"No!" Minerva hissed.

"Min, wait -"

She was up and running before Hermione could stop her and she followed. Hermione banged on the bedroom door as it shut in her face but when she tried the knob, it was locked. Poppy wasn't far behind her and she frowned as Hermione continued banging.

"What on earth -"

"Her thoughts and memories," Hermione muttered. "I can see them."

"Oh," Poppy sighed. "That is no doubt uncomfortable for both of you."

"I hadn't realised -"

Poppy hesitated and took Hermione's hand off the door. The quiet was almost oppressive as she held it for a moment and sighed.

"I doubt she'll be thankful I told you this, but I will, because she will not. Min was captured and tortured for about six hours in her late twenties. I don't really even know what she was doing at the time, but the Ministry gave her back to us on death's door. I had just married Will, we had no room, but we took her in and we coaxed her back to health. It was the last time she worked there and the beginning of a lifelong apathy for everything that goes on there." Poppy sighed. "Whoever had her, used the Cruciatus until she broke and then they healed her, over and over and over. It took her months to recover her body and a few years to come back to herself again. It was a very long and painful road even with both of us treating her. Will and I learned a lot about how to treat it. So much so that, had we got to -" She paused and Hermione watched her carefully. "Others, before the other healers, we could have saved them a life of torment."

"The Longbottoms?" Hermione asked quietly. Poppy smiled sadly.

"I wasn't sure you knew."

"After Arthur was attacked last year, we bumped into Neville," Hermione acknowledged. Poppy nodded. A sob came through the door and Hermione's heart squeezed painfully in her chest. "I had no idea she'd been through all that." She paused. "And how lucky she was to have you by her side."

"I am not surprised you didn't know; she never speaks of it. Even to me."

"Nothing else happened, right?" Hermione blinked as the worst of her imagination came to light. She absolutely did not want Minerva to see anything else and thought of a big black box and nothing else, concentrating hard on it instead of everything else and she held Poppy's arm while she waited for everything to stop.

"Sorry," she whispered. "I suddenly had all these thoughts and I didn't want Minerva to see."

"Just Cruciatus," Poppy said gently. "I checked."

"Do you mind, if I -" She nodded towards the door.

"No, love. I'm going to make us some breakfast with whatever you have. She will need it. You take your time. When this happens, sometimes it will trigger a bodily response so be gentle -" She interrupted Hermione's protests with a hand on her face. "I mean, be careful when you touch her. She may be hurting all over."

Hermione nodded in comprehension and waited for Poppy to retreat to the kitchen. She realised that she didn't need to bang on the door and she opened it with a quiet word and slipped inside. Her own thoughts had taken over but as she came around the bed and found Minerva curled up in the corner rocking she saw what Minerva was stuck with. There were tears running down her face as Minerva's memories came to light again.

Minerva remembered every second of her torture and Hermione's heart broke for her. She sat down beside her and pulled her between her legs. She very carefully wrapped her up in her arms, even though Minerva was wrapped around herself tightly. There was a moment of resistance before Minerva unwrapped her arms from around her legs and wrapped both around Hermione.

She broke down against her shoulder.

"I've got you," Hermione whispered.

She didn't say anything else, not aloud or in her mind. She held Minerva as tightly as she dared and sat through the shudders when they came.

"Breathe through it," Hermione whispered. "Your memories cannot hurt us. We are stronger than that now. Trust our love."

Minerva tightened her grip around Hermione's hips and shoulders and pressed impossibly closer. She was so tense. Hermione placed her hand on Mineva's back but withdrew it quickly when she winced. She was concerned she would have to just let this play out.

"I could -" She very carefully and deliberately placed her hand on Minerva's neck. There was a long pause while Minerva considered it and then shook her head. Hermione left her hand there, instead of finding somewhere else to place it and waited it out.

Will you try it now? Minerva asked after a short while longer.

Hermione breathed out over them and Minerva dropped some of her tension under the warmth. She adjusted her grip and then nodded against Hermione's neck. So Hermione squeezed gently.

Minerva groaned and collapsed against Hermione finally. The ramrod spine gave in and her arms and legs let go a little. Hermione held it for longer than she usually would and then finally let it ease.

Minerva sighed and pressed her face against Hermione's neck.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," she muttered when she could.

"I'm sorry that you had to go through that," Hermione whispered. "But it's okay. You don't have to hide things from me, not ever."

"I don't want to talk about it," she muttered. "Even now."

"You know I will be here when you are ready."

They sat for a while longer until Minerva groaned quietly.

"Do we need to move?"

Minerva shook her head, but she did release the hold she had with her legs. Hermione wished she could massage some of the hurt out of them but didn't dare just yet.

"There is truly no barrier between us, is there?" Minerva mumbled. "I have so many memories, Hermione. Good and bad. I don't know that I want you privy to all of them?"

"I know," Hermione whispered. "But for the most part, I am, I will be. And we're going to be okay with that, in time. Because there's nothing you can show me that will bother me, or make me love you less. And where possible, I will mind my business, okay? Even if I see."

"But I mean, I -"

"Did you think I would be angry? That I would demand answers? Why did you run, my love?"

"I honestly don't know," Minerva muttered. "I panicked. I didn't want you to see any more than I wanted to see, to be honest. And then as that was happening, I suddenly realised you could potentially see everything. All the times I was hurt. Or when I slept with someone or when I -"

"It's alright, that's totally okay," Hermione soothed. "We can cross those bridges when we come to them."

Minerva sighed again and Hermione felt her flexing her hands.

"Alright?"

Minerva nodded and adjusted her position so she could sit on the floor between Hermione's outstretched legs. She clenched her hands with a grimace as she sat back.

"Poppy told you what happened?" Hermione nodded. "Sometimes when I get these memories, my body reacts as though I had gone through it again. I think it's happening again." She was so sad that a tear ran down Hermione's cheek. "It's why my skin is beginning to hurt. But my hands were the worst off," she revealed. "If there's a storm coming, I will feel it. And my little finger on my right hand does not have much feeling on the outside."

"Really?" Hermione blinked. "I didn't know that."

She took Minerva's hands in hers and gently rubbed her thumbs in the palms.

"No," Minerva hissed. "I mean, I'm sorry, I -"

"Easy," Hermione whispered as she let go immediately. "It's okay. I am sorry."

"You were trying to -"

"Breathe," Hermione reminded her again. She tried to lift the mood. "If I knew it hurt less I'd lick your finger for a joke, but I think I'll reserve that for another time, hmm?"

Minerva didn't comment and instead, clenched her hands again. After a few more movements, she nodded to herself.

"They are going," Minerva muttered. "I can feel them."

"Come on then," she muttered. "Poppy will be able to help in the meantime."

Hermione got up and helped Minerva up with as little pressure on her as possible. She could feel enough to get the gist of what Minerva felt but as Poppy had mentioned, it felt like there was too much to be sure of anything.

"Poppy," Hermione called as she helped Minerva around the corner. "Pain potion? Or something?"

"What's the worst, love?" she called as she summoned her bag.

She got Minerva into a chair as she muttered that her hands were hurting the most, and her back secondary.

Poppy nodded and summoned a few bottles. She passed them to Hermione, who uncorked them and helped Minerva drink.

Poppy watched over her for a moment before she met Minerva's eye.

"Better?"

"No, it's coming," Minerva muttered. Poppy tutted and rummaged deeper in her bag. Despite her words, Minerva sounded a little more like herself now and Hermione was the one to breathe a sigh of relief. "For now, my back has eased just a little."

Poppy got a look of something across her face as she started lining potions on the table.

"Could you help her, perhaps?"

"I'd love to try," Hermione nodded. She glanced up at Minerva. "Want me to try? Perhaps we can head it off?"

Minerva nodded.

Hermione took her hands again, carefully. She thought about how much love she had for Minerva, and how much it hurt to see her in so much pain. She nodded as she felt them warming.

"Here we go, love," she warned quietly. "Deep breath."

Minerva groaned as they got white-hot and glowed between them.

"Fascinating," Poppy muttered. She cast a spell over Minerva and watched the readings as the healing continued until the light died.

Minerva flexed her hands and then cleared her throat.

"My hands, at least, are a little better. Thank you, Leannan."

"Most welcome," Hermione smiled. She kissed Minerva softly and got off the floor. "Do you want me to try your back?"

Minerva shook her head but didn't give a reason. Hermione kissed her hair as gently as she dared and turned to Poppy.

"What's your verdict, then?"

"It really is fascinating," Poppy muttered as she scribbled something down. "Next time you mean to do that, let me know. I need more data."

Hermione chuckled and wrapped an arm around Poppy's shoulders.

"I promise I'll let you know."

"Oh," she suddenly paused. "I wonder if you could help Mrs Malfoy?"

"I bet I could," Hermione nodded. She turned to Minerva. "Depending on how you feel, we could both try?"

Minerva nodded quietly.

"In case this lasts," she said quietly. "She's in the Chamber, in Draco's room. He has taken the 4th bunk bed in Harry's room."

"Good thinking," she nodded. "Kingsley and Moody get back okay?" She suddenly realised what they were talking about. "Wait - Poppy?"

"I -" Minerva cleared her throat and beckoned Poppy's hand closer. She turned it over and showed Hermione. "I did it."

"Oh," Hermione grinned. "That's awesome. Okay then, carry on. I just suddenly realised. Honestly I just assumed you were already involved. You medical personnel really do fly under the radar, don't you."

"Quite," Poppy grinned as she drained her cup. "Now. I've made you some breakfast, Min you know how you feel when you have a potion on an empty stomach, so you should eat something. And Hermione?" She nodded. "Minerva offered and invited us to dinner after Will gets off work tomorrow at midnight and if that's alright with you? Other than Will's work we are free wherever. Alec is the more difficult one to pin down; he is rather impetuous. I think he gets it from his Aunt."

Minerva snorted but Hermione nodded.

"Of course, I need a debrief from Moody and Kingsley and we need to go through what Narcissa brought with her but yes, whenever is fine with us, I should think?" She glanced at Minerva. "You can cook, right?"

Despite her pain, Minerva blanched and her mouth dropped open. Hermione laughed and got up, herself.

"I'm kidding, mo gaol. We'll either order something or, well, whatever, but we'll do it. Day after tomorrow?" She glanced at Minerva. Her pale face made the next words easier. "Actually, can we do Friday, I do have a lot on?" She looked back at Poppy.

"Sure," she nodded after a glance at Minerva as well. "That will give Alec enough warning to get up here. What will we do about them coming here."

"We'll have to come and get you, I suppose? Or Min can - I assume that's how -"

"Yes," Minerva nodded. "I was in a hurry."

Hermione grinned and Poppy leaned over to kiss her hair.

"I'm off, then. It has truly been lovely but I'm sorry it ended like it has done, love. Thank you for having me and Hermione, please mind how you go. Duelling with Bellatrix LeStrange is no mean feat. That you have come through it unscathed and only tired," she sighed. "You may be the only one who has, since she took this present form."

"I was really only actively defending myself," Hermione nodded. I didn't really give her an option otherwise."

"Still. Any lingering things, let me know. I will be back and forth to Hogwarts to check on Mrs Malfoy and if you want to meet me there one day this week, we can go over what we can."

Hermione just about caught Poppy's subtle nod towards the door and she quickly offered to walk her out.

"She gets nauseous on potions if she doesn't eat and her skin could hurt for days if this develops into what she thinks it might. You will have to be careful with her."

"I will be," Hermione promised. "We're going to stay here a little longer until it passes."

"You'll need food, there's not much of anything left, but I've left you all the potions I have. They won't be totally useless but they're not as effective for this. You will want to give her one every three hours, despite what they warn you about on the label, until she's had eight total. Then you will need to switch to muggle medicine if she's still hurting; we have found the best for this is the children's medicine, for whatever reason and I've left you a bottle on the table with the potions. Just follow the directions for it. If she's had eight potions and some children's medicine, you need to take a break for at least six hours. Usually that's when we try and make her sleep. She cannot take Dreamless Sleep much anymore, though sometimes it's useful in knocking her out, and I -" She paused as she looked at Hermione's face and laughed with a sigh. "Yes, OK. I'm hovering."

"And I appreciate it," Hermione smiled. "Thank you for the potions and the information. I promise I'll take good care of her and if I run into trouble, I'll come and find you."

"I know you will, love." Poppy chuckled. "I know." She took a deep breath. "Thank you for loving her, sweetheart."

"You don't have to thank me," Hermione smiled. "It's why I exist. And I should be thanking you for helping us."

"We'll call it even, shall we?" Poppy stepped forward and kissed her check. "Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need me. It could get quite bad and ordinarily, I would stay with her while it happened but," she shrugged. "I rather think that's on you, now."

"I will take excellent care of her," Hermione promised. "But now I have to go back in. Don't linger in the open," she reminded her. "Go straight home. I'll let you know if we need you."

Poppy winked and walked out of the boundary and disappeared with a pop.