Hermione's POV

'Miss Granger!' Hermione looked up from the crocodile of eleven-year olds that she'd been guiding out of the great hall to see the headmistress walking swiftly towards her. Hermione thought that Minerva McGonagall looked tired but her usual brisk, business-like air was back and she had a spring in her step again.

'Good evening, Professor McGonagall,' Hermione smiled tentatively at the older woman; in the past few months their relationship had evolved beyond all recognition and it felt quite odd to be back to being student and teacher; Hermione felt as though a stretched rubber band had just snapped back on her.

'Tansy, I mean, Miss Laverstock asked me to give you this.' Professor McGonagall handed Hermione a neat scroll of parchment, loosely bound with a piece of frayed scarlet silk.

'Mr Longbottom? Would you please guide these first years up to Gryffindor tower for Miss Granger? The password is Virtus Lupus.' Neville appeared at Hermione's right hand and one of the smallest first years took a step backwards while a couple of others whispered pointedly together. Hermione felt herself wincing with sympathy.

'It's okay,' Neville smiled pleasantly and gestured for the group to follow him out of the hall. They had almost reached the doors when Hermione heard a piping voice.

'Um, Longbottom, er Sir, how did you get those scars on your face?'

Hermione pulled one end of the scarlet silk and the parchment sprang open.

I'm sorry I wasn't at the feast. I've missed all of you so much. I'd like to spend the evening with you in the new common room. Will you come and fetch me please? I'm scared to be on my own in the corridors.

Hermione barely recognised her best friend's handwriting; Tansy's hand seemed to have been shaking so badly as she wrote the note that the writing was almost illegible in places. She felt her heart sink slightly in sympathy as she read the last, crossed-out line. She didn't blame Tansy in the slightest for being afraid of the Hogwarts corridors, especially after last year.

'Don't let her stay up too late, Miss Granger, you've both got class tomorrow. Ah...' A faint blush appeared on the Professor's cheeks. '…I'm sorry, Miss Granger, I keep on forgetting how old you are now.' She looked around, as though she was checking that nobody else was in earshot. 'It's just that I worry about her.'

'I know, I do too,' Hermione said, nodding in agreement. 'Is she any better, Professor?'

'Progress is slow. I… I hope so, but it's so hard to tell.' The older woman's voice shook slightly. Hermione made as if to put a comforting hand on the Professor's shoulder, then stopped, suddenly remembering they were pupil and teacher.

'I'm sorry, Miss Granger.' Professor McGonagall sighed heavily and then gestured for Hermione to get on. 'She's waiting for you upstairs.' She nodded to Hermione before making her way across the hall to where Severus Snape had waylaid Draco Malfoy.

'Ah Hermione, head girl I see. Great choice couldn' ask for no one better.' Hermione looked up to see Hagrid's bulk towering over her. He was flanked on either side by Harry and Ron. A burst of irritation swelled through her as she realised that this was where they had both disappeared off to at the end of the feast, instead of helping her with the first years.

'What have you got there?' Ron asked, pointing to the parchment.

'Tansy wants to spend the evening with us.' She handed Ron the parchment and he scanned it quickly.

'How's Tansy doin'? I haven't seen her since she got back. An' how's the baby?' Hagrid asked, a look of concern on his bearded face.

'We saw her the day before yesterday. Baby Hope is doing fine but Tansy…' Hermione trailed off and then looked up into his concerned eyes. 'I don't know, Hagrid. She's still really…' She struggled for the right word.

'She's ill,' Harry supplied, a fierce look on his face. 'She's struggling and we're going to help her to get through it, however long it takes. It's not her fault.'

'An' we'll do it! We'll get her through it!' Hagrid exclaimed, so loudly that several nearby students looked over at the group. Hermione nodded in agreement, suddenly feeling choked up. 'By the way, yer all invited ter tea next Saturday. I'll get the house elves ter make the cake. I know by now what yer think of my bakin'.' He sniffed and then ambled away from them, parting the crowd of students by the door easily with his bulk.

Harry looked down at the note and then shook his head slowly.

'McGonagall told me that we've got our own common room with a separate entrance next to the Fat Lady so we won't have all of the other years to worry about but I'd better go and warn the other eighth years not to make a fuss of her. She won't cope if they all come rushing over to see how she is.' Hermione nodded, surprised that he'd thought of this.

'I'll go and fetch her and the two of you can tell everyone to go easy on her.' The boys both nodded.

Tansy had clearly been waiting on the other side of the ugly stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance up to the headmistress's quarters above because as soon as Hermione reached it, it sprang aside and she appeared. She was carrying Hope securely in a baby sling on her front but she had also wrapped her arms tightly around herself and the baby, almost as if she was afraid that Hope would somehow slip out. Hermione was suddenly struck by how small and fragile her friend looked; her tightly wrapped arms gave the impression that she was holding herself together, trying to stop herself from falling apart at the seams.

'Hey, it's so good to see you.' She leaned in and gave Tansy a gentle hug, carefully avoiding squashing the baby.

'It's good to see you too Hermione,' Tansy's voice was so faint that, for half a heartbeat, Hermione thought that she'd imagined it. Hermione hadn't been expecting a verbal response and a rush of pride for her friend thrilled through her body. She struggled to keep the surprise off her face because she knew that it would only serve to embarrass Tansy. Instead, she peered down at the baby who was fast asleep with her head pillowed on her mother's chest.

'It's only been two days but she looks bigger. Has she grown?'

'Madam Pomfrey weighed her this morning. She's about four and a half pounds now.' Tansy replied in a quiet voice, using a finger to stroke the auburn fuzz that covered the top of Hope's head. Hermione could see in Tansy's face how much she loved her tiny daughter.

'She's growing slowly but steadily then; you're clearly doing something right.' Hermione said, pleased to see a faint flush of pride on Tansy's pale face at the praise.

They walked slowly together in a comfortable silence through the quiet corridors but Tansy's steps faltered slightly as they approached the Fat Lady. Hermione looked at her in concern; she could see from the expression on her friend's face that she was trying to say something.

'It's okay, Tansy. Take your time.' Hermione spoke in a low voice, trying to reassure her.

'Thank you for coming.' The words were barely audible and Hermione knew that this was not what Tansy had wanted to say.

'Don't be silly, it's fine.' She suddenly felt slightly awkward because there was something strained in their relationship now and she didn't seem to know what to say to her friend any more. 'What is it Tansy? Everything's fine.'

'Where are Harry and Ron? I… I thought…' Hermione could see a range of emotions playing across Tansy's face. She put a hand on her shoulder.

'What is it Tansy?' She repeated. 'The boys are fine; they're just going to meet us in the common room.' Tansy appeared to take a deep, shaking breath before she answered and, looking into her eyes, Hermione could see the depths of the other girl's panic.

'It's silly…' She mumbled.

'Tansy, whatever it is… I'll help.' Hermione took Tansy's shaking hand in her own and squeezed it. Tansy took another deep breath.

'Words… difficult… talking…' She muttered disjointedly. Hermione waited for her to elaborate, unwilling to interrupt. 'I haven't… it's stupid… people… I… there's so much fog in my head and I don't know…' Tansy bit her lip. 'People…' She repeated incoherently. Hermione had got the gist of what she was trying to say and nodded.

'Listen, it's okay. The eighth years have their own common room and no…'

'Nobody will fuss you; we've made sure of it.' Hermione whipped round and saw Harry, Ron and Ginny walking towards them down the corridor. She shook her head angrily at Harry, the one who had spoken; if there was one thing that Tansy hated then it was the thought of people talking about her. However, neither of the boys seemed to notice her frown.

'It's great to see you, Tan.' Ron closed the distance so that he could give Tansy a hug and then leaned in to inspect the baby.

'She looks great, can I hold her when we get inside?' Tansy nodded and smiled at him and Hermione found herself smiling too; she could see how the praise for the baby was helping the other girl and there was something very endearing about Ron's apparent interest in the baby.

'Just wait till you've seen the common room.' Ginny said, pushing her brother out of the way so that she could hug Tansy too.

'You mean that you've been in there too?' Hermione asked, 'I thought it was only for eighth years?'

'It is, but I'm an eighth year aren't I?' Harry said, hugging Tansy when it was his turn.

'Remus, I mean Professor Lupin is going to give you a detention if he finds Ginny in your bedroom.' Hermione warned him, as they walked the remaining few yards to the portrait hole. Harry blushed but Ginny looked unphased.

'He's got to catch us first, Hermione. Anyway, I can foresee Bill being more of a problem than Remus. He's overly protective of me, always has been.' She said, shoving her hand into Harry's.

Tansy's POV

Beside the portrait of the fat lady, a new painting of a majestic old oak tree had been installed. The tree's limbs reaching up and out of the painting rustled and swayed softly as though in a gentle breeze. The first hint of autumn had arrived both outside the castle and in this picture too and the tree's leaves were all starting to turn dry and brown. They would litter the bottom of the frame before the month was up.

'What's the password?' Hermione asked.

'There is no password. Watch.' Harry placed the palm of his hand on the fork where the main trunk of the tree split into two smaller branches. Immediately, a great wind seemed to shake the tree, then it fell still and a hole appeared in the trunk, big enough that they could all get through without ducking.

Cradling Hope protectively to her chest, Tansy followed Harry through into what looked like a miniature replica of the Gryffindor common room. Squashy old chairs and sofas were positioned round a huge fireplace and along the far wall there were large desks and several well stocked book shelves. The room was empty but for Lavender and Parvati who both waved from one of the sofas over by the fireplace but made no move to approach them.

'There are two corridors, one for girls and one for boys with individual rooms off them.' Ron explained, pointing to two wood panelled doors built into the walls on either side of the fireplace. 'We've all got our own study bedrooms. Do you want me to take Hope while you look at yours, Tansy?' Tansy shook her head because she knew that she would be staying with Minerva McGonagall for the foreseeable future. Barely coping as it was, there was no way that she could manage without her adoptive mother's help. Deep down she also knew that she didn't trust herself on her own with the baby.

'I'll just take a peek; you don't mind do you Tansy?' When Tansy shook her head, Hermione scuttled off towards the door on the right of the fireplace, calling, 'I won't be a minute!' Over her shoulder as she went.

Tansy sank down onto the nearest sofa and adjusted the sling so that it didn't cut into her side.

'So, I suppose you've heard about the new cause for celebration?' Ginny asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Harry swiped at her and she caught his hand and pulled him in for a kiss. 'Two head boys!' She announced, in a muffled voice, resurfacing again. Tansy looked up from her daughter's face in surprise; Professor McGonagall had not told her the news and Tansy had been too preoccupied to remember that the head boy and girl would probably be chosen from the returning eighth years.

'Hmm, I have no idea why McGonagall thought that I would make a good choice.' Harry mused, taking the chair next to Tansy's sofa and pulling Ginny down onto his lap.

'Or me,' Ron plumped himself down next to Tansy and extended his arms for the baby. Gratefully, Tansy unhitched the sling and carefully passed Hope over to his waiting arms, supporting her head and neck as she did so.

'Awwwww, Ginny cooed, reaching out to tickle the baby's face.

'Don't be so dense,' Hermione snapped, appearing behind the sofa. She leaned over to stroke baby Hope's forehead. 'You both helped to defeat Voldemort. You both deserve the honour of Head Boy. Good job she's made you share it though. Neither of you are responsible enough to manage it alone.' She flounced round the sofa and perched herself on the arm next to Ron and the baby.

'And I suppose you can manage it by yourself, Miss Straight-O-Student.' Ron said, reaching out to tweak the long, thick braid of hair that fell down the back of Hermione's robes.

'Of course she can, she's a woman, infinitely more ARGH…' Ginny suddenly found herself on the common room carpet. 'Right, that's it Potter!' Tansy found herself smiling at the banter.

'Pity she didn't make you joint head girl with Hermione, Tansy,' Ron said, his face the picture of perfect sincerity. 'Then we'd all get a share in the glory and Hermione wouldn't think she was twice as good as us.' Tansy stared at him for a second, realised from the mischievous look in his eyes that he was joking, and started giggling. Half a second later, Hermione and Ron joined in.

'Um why are Ginny and Harry on the floor?' A voice asked from behind them. Looking round, Tansy saw that Neville, Dean and Seamus had arrived. Dean and Seamus both had broomsticks over their shoulders. 'It's great to see you Tansy.' Neville continued.

'Good to see you Tansy. Your baby is so cute.' Seamus said, leaning over to inspect her. 'Anyway, come on Dean. You challenged the master; now it's time to get your ass thrashed!' He pointed out of the window at the floodlit Quidditch pitch. Prepare to go down. Neville, you're the ref.'

'See you tomorrow,' Dean said, following Seamus out through the portrait hole. Neville, looking thoroughly indifferent at the prospect of being a referee, waved at the group on the sofa and then followed them out.

'We just came over to see how you were doing, Tansy.'

Tansy looked round again and saw that Lavender and Parvati had crossed the common room. This was, in essence, exactly what Tansy had feared; exactly why she had seriously considered abandoning the idea of spending the evening in the common room in favour of a quiet night alone in her room. Now that she was here, however, she found herself coping better than she'd anticipated. It was obvious that Harry and Ron had warned the other Gryffindors not to fuss Tansy and the baby. Although she felt herself growing hot at the idea of them discussing her, Tansy also felt relieved; she knew her own limitations.

'She's very cute, but so tiny,' Lavender said, peering down longingly at the baby on Ron's lap.

'Do you want to hold her, that's okay isn't it Tansy?' Ron asked, checking before he handed the baby over. Tansy felt herself paling at the idea but knew that she was being paranoid. She nodded resolutely.

'Careful to support the head,' Ron said in a professional manner, as he handed Hope over to Lavender, who looked thrilled.

'She's so tiny. She's utterly gorgeous.' Parvati said, looking jealously at her friend.

'She's a lot bigger now than she was a month ago.' Harry said, having won the wrestling match against Ginny. He now had her pinned on the floor in front of him.

'She was three pounds when she was born. She was shorter than my forearm.' Ron said, holding up his arm to emphasize the point.

'She still is shorter than your arm, longshanks.' Ginny said grumpily, from the floor.

'She's perfect,' Lavender cradled the baby against her chest. 'You're so lucky Tansy.' Suddenly and abruptly a frost descended on the room and the mood changed instantly.

'Shit! I'm sorry, I didn't mean… Oh Merlin, what have I said?' Lavender choked suddenly, her eyes glistening with tears. 'I'm so sorry, Tansy, I didn't mean...'

Tansy stood up and looked the other girl straight in the eyes. A hush fell on the room as everybody waited for Tansy's reaction. Harry released Ginny and sprang to his feet, almost as if he thought that he'd have to restrain Tansy from hurting herself or the other girl.

Tansy took a deep, steadying breath.

'It's okay, Lavender. She is perfect. And I'm very lucky that she's here and that I'm here too.' Tansy said quietly, surprising everyone in the room, including herself with words.

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