One
One
6 years later
“Miss Granger. It’s lovely to see you again.” Minerva McGonagall said with a smile as she reached forward, hugging the younger witch tightly. “Well, I must say, once I received your owl, it was hard to turn down such an offer. Hogwarts will always be my home.” Hermione ignored the familiar pang in her chest as she said the words. It was true, considering she had nothing left. Nothing except, Rosalee. Her parents never recovered and she was left alone by her own doing. Hermione glanced over at the young girl in the corner, her head tucked deeply within the thick spine of a book. “I was unaware that you had had a child.” Minerva stated as she sat in the stripped wingback chair, glancing over at the young girl. Hermione squirmed uncomfortably under the elder witch’s stare. She cleared her throat and nodded. “Rosalee.” She called, hesitantly. Hermione’s nerves were frantic as she watched her daughter lovingly mark her page before standing up and crossing over to her mother. “Rosalee, this is Headmistress McGonagall. She was a professor while I was in Hogwarts.” Rosalee smiled and Hermione bit the inside of her cheek. It was true that Rosalee favored her mother but there were moments, specifically when she smiled, that she looked shockingly like her father. “Pleasure, Headmistress.” Rosalee answered politely. Hermione patted her back and the girl resumed her place in the corner. “How old is she?” Minerva asked, Hermione hesitated but sighed before stating “She will be six this September.” Minerva nodded. “She has her grandmother’s eyes or should I say rather, her father’s.” Hermione’s mouth dropped open and she paled. There was no way, Hermione had erased the memory and told no one. No one even knew Rosalee existed. Minerva chuckled, “Oh darling, you forget, I knew all of you when you were young. I held her father when he was just a babe. She is his spitting image. My question is, why have you not told anyone, let alone him?” The tears burned as they spilled over onto her cheeks. “Ms. Granger…” Minerva moved forward, gently grasping Hermione’s hands in her own. “No one knows. I’ve managed to keep her hidden. Harry…well Harry and I were friends, I didn’t want to ruin that, I didn’t want to lose him. A lot of good that did me now.” She sobbed. Minerva handed her a Kleenex but said nothing. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone, especially Ron…or Ginny.” Minerva stood up, crossed the short distance and joined her on the small couch before wrapping her arms around her shoulders. “I oblivated him.” She whispered, shame flooding her as she admitted what she had done. “He has no idea anything happened that could have even produced Rosalee. By the time I found out I was expecting her it was nearly March, just before the battle…” Minerva gasped, “You were pregnant during the battle?!” She exclaimed. Hermione felt the blush fan across her cheeks as she nodded. “Nearly 18 weeks. Living on the run does wonders on the body and hiding a pregnancy.” She let out a humorless snort. “I skipped Ron’s wedding to Luna since I had no sitter, and honestly I was terrified to face Harry.” She dabbed at her eyes. She could remember so clearly receiving the wedding invitation for Harry and Ginny. She had cried and thrown up nearly all night. Rosalee was just barely a year old at the time, then Ron and Luna’s wedding invite came almost a year later. She would see Ron when she could, always out and about or at his and Luna’s place and only when she had a sitter. He was never the wiser. Luna however was a completely different issue. Her knowing eyes would follow Hermione as she moved about. The last visit, about nine months ago, she sent her home with books for the little one. Hermione had said nothing as she hugged her goodbye, placing a kiss on her god children’s cheeks and apparated without looking back. Through her visits with Ron, she learned Harry and Ginny had divorced about three years into their marriage, amicably at least. The most surprising, was that Ginny had married Draco Malfoy about a year ago. She did manage to attend that wedding and kept things cordial with Harry whenever she was forced to see him. “Well…I’m quite pleased that you’ve decided to join us here at Hogwarts. I’m sure Professor Longbottom is going to be very happy with your decision.” Hermione smiled and nodded, still dabbing her eyes. “However, that being said, I should prepare you for the beginning of the year feast. We also have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.” Hermione’s stomach dropped, her eyes darting to Rosalee before darting back to Minerva. Her heart already knew where this was going, and her blood went cold in her veins. “Professor Potter will be joining us starting tomorrow.”