Family bonds and an Unsettling Disclosure
~ 1996/1997 - Hogwarts Grounds ~
The September of Hermione Grangers fourth year at Hogwarts saw a much quieter, sadder girl enter the school gates.
Although outwardly Hermione looked as flawless as ever those that knew her well could spot the sadness in her eyes, the sheen of concealed tears and the weariness she carried in her body and honestly it worried them.
One such individual who had noticed was Professor McGonagall. McGonagall didn't realise straight away that something was wrong with Hermione. It started as a subconscious desire to go and find the girl. She couldn't say why specifically she had to go see her. Just that she did. When she finally lay eyes on the young gryffindor her heart squeezed painfully.
Sitting at her house table surrounded by her friends was a rather somber looking Hermione. Minerva studied her quietly. The way her movements were slower. How her smile didn't reach her eyes. How she had entirely avoided eating and sat quietly waiting on her friends.
Album Dumbledore also noticed and he noticed his deputy notice as well. Leaning in close to her he squeezed her hand gently. Drawing her attention.
"Do what you have to Minnie" he whispered. "We both know how important that little witch is too you"
Minerva smiled gratefully at her long time friend and boss before refocusing on Hermione. With a flick of her wrist the young Gryffindors plate filled with food and her goblet filled with pumpkin juice.
Both Albums and Minerva chuckled quietly as the girl startled slightly and threw a glare in the direction of her transfiguration professor.
"It looks like someone is more in tune with the bond than we realised Min" Album chuckled.
"Indeed it does" McGonagall replied without taking her eyes of Hermione, raising an eyebrow in challenge at her as the young witch sat glaring at her.
After an intense stare down Minerva was pleased when her Gryffindor cub broke eye contact, blushing slightly, rolled her eyes and picked up her fork to eat the food on her plate.
"Perfectly handled" Albus laughed.
"Yes well if she hadn't given in when she did I would have used mind link to scare her into submission" minerva murmured. Smiling sweetly as Hermione glanced up at her again.
"You can't use that until you explain the bond Minerva, you'll terrify the girl and she'll probably close off from you. You can't risk that" Dumbledore replied, patting her hand gently before turning to converse with Professor Sprout.
McGonagall pulled a piece of parchment from her robe and scribbled a quick note to her star student before flicking her wrist and having the note materialise beside Hermione. The deputy head smiled again, holding in her laughter when Hermione hid her face in her hands in response to the note.
Hermione's POV.
If she never had to go back home again for the summer Hermione had decided she would be perfectly alright with that. She had never before in her life felt more uncomfortable or unwanted than she did being around her parents this past summer but even their avoidance of her was nothing compared to the beatings she had received from her grandmother when she found out that Hermione was a witch.
Her parents and her were keeping it a secret from her fathers mother because they didn't think she would react well to the news at all. They had managed to keep it a secret up until that summer when her grandmother had turned up out of the blue one night. Hermione was in her bedroom practicing transfiguration the second week of the summer holiday and hadn't heard her grandmother come into her bedroom.
The beating that followed was one of many that summer that Hermione would never forget. To make it all so much worse? Her parents didn't do a thing to stop it. They smiled in sympathy and simply left the room each and every time and it broke hermione's heart.
Never before had she felt so worthless and honestly just wanted to emerse herself back into the wonderful world of Hogwarts and forget all that happened. But as she sat in the great hall her first day back she couldn't convince herself that nothing had happened. As she listened to her friends teasing and conversing lightly Hermione felt so alone. So lost in her own head she almost had a heart attack when her plate suddenly filled up with food on its own accord and her goblet filled.
McGonagall she thought. She should have known she'd never get away with skipping the meal with Minerva around. Ever since they had first met Professor McGonagall had been unfailingly kind to her and taken it upon herself to always be there whenever Hermione needed her. She couldn't be more thankful to her professor. Shooting a glare at the older witch seated at the teachers table. For some reason she was unable to look away. She felt as if she was having a silent argument with the older witch. One she knew she would lose but still. Hermione eventually felt herself blush and give in. There was no doubt about the message those emerald eyes were burning into her - Hermione was not allowed to skip her meal. She rolled her eyes. But smiled a little. Professor McGonagall made her feel cared for and she really needed to feel that right now.
As if Minerva was actually in Hermione's head a note appeared infront of the young Gryffindor, written in the unmistakable green ink that McGonagall always used.
Hermione,
See me in my chambers after the welcome feast. There is a few things we must discuss together. Please do not attempt to get out of this, I will issue it as a detention if I have to.
M. McGonagall
Hermione sighed softly covering her face with her hands.
"Mione are you alright? You seem a little down" questioned Harry from across from her.
"Yeah you've been quiet all day mione, talk to us" agreed Ron placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Its alright, im not okay right now but im not ready to talk about it" Hermione explained softly "I'll tell you when I can but I have to go see McGonagall about it after the feast. She won't let me out of talking will she?" She queried, grimacing at the thought of having to explain to her teacher just why she was so out of sorts because Hermione wasn't stupid there was no way Minerva would let her away with lying to her.
"Let me guess threatened a detention again if you refuse?" Hermione nodded.
"Then nah mate you're screwed. You know one way or another she will get the information out of you" Ron laughed and Hermione smiled slightly in response. It was true. If there was one person in this world that new Hermione better than Harry and Ron it was Minerva McGonagall.
Hermione sat for the rest of the meal and throughout Dumbledore's welcome back speech where it was explained that they would be hosting the Tri-wizard tournament and would have two schools staying with them throughout the year, in silence contemplating whether or not to be totally honest with her Professor. She didn't know how she was going to verbalise what she had gone through nor did she know what the consequences would be but she knew she couldn't lie to her. She respected and cared for Minerva far too much to ever disrespect her by lying to her.
As everyone started to clear off Harry placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder squeezing gently. "It'll be alright Mione whatever it is just be honest" Hermione nodded already not trusting herself to speak as she was filled with anxiety at what was to come.
Making her way to Minerva's chambers seemed to be a much shorter journey than she remembered it to be.
"Come on up Ms Granger" Minerva said as she met Hermione infront if the statue guarding the entrance to her chambers. Speaking the password quietly she placed an ushering hand on Hermione's back and guided her infront of her.
Entering the cosy main room of McGonagall's Chambers, Hermione was ushered onto the sofa beside the fire and supplied with a cup of tea.
"Now Hermione there is two reasons as to why I have asked to speak with you. The first is news I have to share with you and second is whatever is going on with you and dont even think of denying anything because I will know if you are trying to lie do we have an understanding?" Asks Minerva, tone clearly leaving no room for argument.
Hermione nods in response not trusting herself to verbally reply.
"Do you know much about wizarding bonds Hermione?" Minerva quizes and at Hermione's puzzled look she chuckles softly.
"I'll take that as a no then, wizarding bonds are exactly what they seem to be. However there is two types of known bond. The soulmate bond and the familial bond. Now while I dont doubt the possibility of you having soulmate bonds, yes it is possible to have more than one soulmate, the bond I want to talk to you about is the familial one" she explains.
Hermione now that she had something other than her own trauma to focus on had calmed enough to engage in the conversation. "I'm guessing that you are telling me this because we share a familial bond?" She enquired raising an eyebrow at her professor.
"Indeed Hermione we do. We share a maternal bond. That is in regards to our relationship my magic has claimed you as a pseudo-granddaughter. I have no children of my own biologically. However I do have a pseudo-daughter. So that would make me your grandmother in the wizarding world for all intents of purposes, if you may."
"Oh.." Hermione responded quietly, turning her head quickly away from her now professor turned grandmother, hoping she would not notice her tears.
"Hermione what is it child?" Minerva whispered moving in closer to her grandchild. Sighing as Hermione's body trembled even as she shook her head in response.
"Is it a case of you can't quite figure out how to put any of it in words?" Her grandmother enquired gently. The young witch nodded.
"Okay then I have a solution. Part of this bond we share allows us to ha e a deeper connection with each other. Part of this is a mind link. It means in simple terms I can access your mind relatively easily as you can mine and we can also communicate telepathically if we so wish, does that make sense?" Again hermione could do nothing but nod in response.
"Would it make telling me easier if I simply used our connection to access your mind?" Minerva's gentle tone and the reassuring hand she had placed on Hermione's arm had helped ground the young witch significantly.
"Yes" she whispered.
"Alright dear heart all I need you to do is keep your mind open, focus on what you'd like me to know and look me in the eye" minerva explained, gently grasping the young gryffindors chin and turning her face towards her.
Minerva truly was not ready to play witness to the horrific scenes flashing through her grandchilds mind. She was heartbroken to witness the abuse Hermione had endured over the summer and left Hermione's mind outraged at the treatment she had experienced from her own family. Minerva could not understand how anyone could ever lay a finger on the girl infront of her because she was simply so pure and good. Merlin! she did not know even how to verbally respond in that moment as her own eyes filled with tears of pain and outrage. All she could do was grab hold of the little witch and pull her into her arms tightly. Holding Hermione close and rocking her in a comforting manner.
They sat like that for a while, Hermione encased in the older witches strong protective arms as Minerva clutched her tightly, reassuring herself as much as Hermione that the girl was with her and safe.
When Minerva had collected herself enough to think she realised that Hermione's disclosure had to be shared with the headmaster and the ministry. Quite simply Hermione could not go home to her parents again and they would quite possibly face (along with her biological grandmother) a wizarding trial for the abuse and mistreatment of a minor witch. How she was supposed to share this with Hermione and reassure her that everything was going to be alright she simply did not know but she knew she would have to try.
'It's okay I heard your mind loud enough. I understand Minerva.' she heard in her head and couldnt help but chuckle at the little witch in her arms.
"Only you would figure out how to use the mind link only minutes after learning of its existence Hermione" she said fondly.
"now I can sense how unbelievably tired you are and im not comfortable letting you wonder of too far from my sight right now so why don't I get you some pajamas and you can curl up here with me for the night while I talk things over with Album hmm?" Minerva asked. Not at all okay with the idea of a very emotionally vulnerable Hermione having to sleep in the dorms so far away from her after finding out what the girl she loves as a grandchild had experienced over the summer months.
"Okay" she whispered in agreement because truthfully she couldn't remember the last time she had felt this safe since before she found out she was a witch.
Twenty minutes later Album Dumbledore arrived at his friend and deputees Chambers to find an asleep pajama clad Hermione Granger curled up with her head on Minerva's lap.
"Evening Minnie, I'm taking it from what I'm witnessing infront of me that whatever has happened with our gryffindor princess that it is not good news and has brought out your protective urges?" Asked Albus quietly as he sat in the lounge chair opposite his friend, tilting his head in curiosity and concern.
"You'd be right Albus. To put it simply we need to contact the ministry. Hermione is not safe to return to her muggle family as they have spent the entire summer abusing the girl both physically and emotionally" Minerva growls in response. Halting herself as she feels Hermione stir in her lap.
"Surely not Minerva, why?" Albus asks having to grit his teeth to temp down on his fury.
"Her grandmother found out she had magic and proceeded to beat her for it. Her parents saw and left the room every time without even trying to intervene and if that wasn't bad enough they did nothing but avoid or ridicule their daughter the entire holiday."
"There will most likely be a trial Minerva, can Hermione deal with that?" Albus queried.
"She can, she won't be alone. She knows what must be done and has taken it quite well. I won't have her living with some random family, I want her with me Albus" Minerva responded seriously. The determined glint of her emerald eyes reassuring Albus that his friend would not let the brightest witch Hogwarts had ever had pass through its doors suffer a moment longer. He was glad Hermione had such a bond with his friend. It would go in Minerva's favour with the ministry because after all, wizarding bonds were so rare these days they were seen as sacred.
"I'll support that. It infuriates me that she has had to suffer. If only that family of hers knew that they were harming the brightest witch to ever exist im positive they would never have dared harm her" Albus gritted. Barely containing his anger at the situation.
Minerva nodded her head in agreement.
"She's powerful Albus, she's already mastered the mind link. Had it figured out within minutes of learning about it. Im almost positive that she is a lot stronger than she lets on as well. I can sense it in her magic. Her signature is extremely strong"
"It is indeed my friend. Even Filtch has commented on the presence of her magical signature. He can feel it as well and as he is a squib her magic must be extremely potent for him to feel it" agreed Albus smiling brightly. He was glad Hermione was such a powerful witch because not only would it help her survive the coming years but it also meant that young Harry and Ron had a much higher chance at surviving what was to come also. He had a feeling that their wasn't a witch or wizard alive who could stand up to this little witch once her magic fully matures.
"Alright, ill be off for the night, I will contact the ministry first thing in the morning and arrange a meeting. It is important you get custody as soon as possible my friend. We cannot risk her safety in the slightest and those muggles are a danger to her" Albus said as he stood, patting his friends arm as he passed her on his way out of her chambers.
He was furious and come hell or high water he would ensure that she saw justice and was kept safe. She was far too pure a soul to be treated in such a hideous way by anyone let alone her parents.