Chapter 8

Minerva lays out a blanket on the ground behind her desk to the left and summons some of the toys that she'd bought for Hermione. Casting a quick cushioning charm as she does. "All right Hermione, you need to stay on the blanket while Máthair teaches her class okay? I don't want to trip over you and hurt us both." Hermione, who had already sat down on the soft quilted blanket and started playing with the new toys, nods. "Okie, Máthair"

"That's my good girl." Minerva smiles and kisses her head gently. "Máthair loves you." She whispers before turning to greet her first class. Sixth year Gryffindor and Slytherin. The students file in and take their seats, pulling out their Transfiguration book and placeing their wands at the top of their desks. There is a great deal of whispering and speculation as they all look at Hermione, who is currently playing with the toys Minerva had brought.

"Good morning class." Minerva smiles and starts to write the day's assignment on the chalkboard. When she turns around and one of the Slytherin girls has her hand raised. "Yes, Miss Pentagast?" Minerva nods her head towards the girl.

"Um, well, we were just wondering who the little squirt is? And what's she doin in your classroom?" She asks looking Hermione over. "That 'squirt' is my daughter Hermione." The Slytherin has the good sense to blush and murmurs an apology. "And as for what she's doing in my classroom, well Hermione can tell you that." Minerva crouches down by Hermione.

"Hermione, darling. Can you tell the class why you're in Máthair's classroom?" Hermione smiles brightly up at Minerva and nods eagerly. She stands and straightens out her clothes.

"Hello." Hermione greets the classroom. "I'm Hermione, and that's Máthair." She says pointing to Minerva. "She's the bestest ever and I didn't wanna be away 'cause I love her so much!" Hermione hugs Minerva's leg tightly, causing most of the girls and some of the boys to awww. "So I begged and begged Máthair to let me stay and I pwomised to be good so I gets to stay! Has a good class and don't be a meany poo poo head to e'tudher." With that said the entire classroom erupts into laughter, Minerva going a little pink at her daughter's eloquent way of saying be nice.

Minerva clears her throat. "Yes, thank you." She kisses her head once more and begins the lesson. Hermione stops playing to watch as Minerva teaches her class. Loving the way her hands move as she demonstrates the transfiguration. Hermione watches as the class attempts human transfiguration. She giggles loudly as one boor boy turns his nose/mouth into a dog's snout. Minerva quickly undoes it and corrects his method. Hermione continues to giggle softly as the students try and fail, clapping when one manages to get it right. Minerva walks back over after a moment.

"Darling, you need to be quiet. I don't want you to disrupt their focus." She says softly but sternly. "But it so funny." Hermione giggles, placing her hand over her mouth in an attempt to muffle it. Seeing the look her Máthair sends her, Hermione nods slowly. "I try to be quiet." Hermione whispers. "Good girl." Minerva walks back around the class, correcting and helping where needed. Meanwhile, Hermione turns back around to her toys and begins to play with them once more. Stacking her blocks up as high as they'll go before knocking them over. Only to stack them up again and again and again.

"Hermione!" Minerva snaps after the fifth time. "No." Hermione shrinks in on herself and her lip trembles. "I sowwie." She whispers to no one, as Minerva had gone back to teaching. She slowly crawls over to the corner of the blanket and curls up with her blankie. "I sowwie mama, I no mean to be a meany poo poo head." A soft whimper escapes her lips and she buries her face in the blankie and drifts off to sleep. Once the class has been dismissed Minerva walks back over to her desk and smiles when she sees Hermione asleep. Picking her up, Minerva sits down in her desk chair and cradles Hermione to her chest. A soft, gentle hum emanates from Minerva's chest as she hums a lullaby, a smile on her face as she does. When it nears time for her next class, Minerva transfigures a book into a cradle and places Hermione down in it after putting the blanket down for padding. Minerva carefully tucks the blankie around Hermione to keep her warm, and casts a silencing spell around the cradle so the students won't wake her.

"But Máthair." Hermione whines as Minerva places some beef on Hermione's plate. "No buts, you'll eat the beef and potatoes then you can have the raspberries." Minerva says firmly. Hermione's mind flashes back to how Minerva snapped at her in class and, not wanting to get in more trouble quickly shovels the beef and potatoes into her mouth and eats them. Minerva sits there slightly stunned. That was easy… too easy. She shrugs and mutters, "I'll take it." before turning back to her own plate.

"Abus!" Hermione leans towards Albus and hisses. He smiles his twinkle in the eye smile and leans towards Hermione. "What?" Hermione immediately covers his lips with one of her small fingers. "Shhhhhhhh." He nods slowly and Hermione removes her finger. "Can we do more magic?" She whispers. "Peeeeeeas? It was so fun." She glances back to make sure her Máthair was still talking with Septimia. Hermione turns her head back to Albus when she sees that Minerva is otherwise occupied. "Well?" She says slightly impatiently. Albus strokes his beard and thinks about it, creating just enough suspense. "I think we can do that, little one." Hermione cheers and claps her hand. "YAY!" She gasps and quickly covers her mouth, glancing up at Minerva who is looking at her with one eyebrow raised. "H-hi Máthair." She smiles like nothing just happened.

"That was a rather loud yay. Care to let me in on what's got you so excited." Hermione gulps and nods. "Well, you see. Um, Abus is gonna let me see him a-and give me candy!" Minerva's eyes narrow, knowing that Hermione is lying. "Is he now?" Minerva looks over Hermione to look at Albus who is decidedly ignoring her gaze. "Yeah… He is…" Hermione nods.

"Well, I happen to know that the Headmaster is very busy today and doesn't have time in his very busy schedule to see you today." Albus winces slightly at her tone. "Actually, Minerva-" Albus starts. "Very, busy." He nods quickly. "Oh, yes. I've just remembered my little one. I have a very important meeting that I have to go to. So I won't be able to see you." Hermione lets out a whine.

"But Alllbuuuuus." Minerva picks Hermione up out of the highchair and sets her on her hip and walks out of the Great Hall through the teacher's entryway and towards her office. "M-Máthair?" Hermione stammers at her mother's behavior. "Quiet." Minerva says firmly. Once at her office Minerva sits down in her chair and puts Hermione on the desk. "Why did you lie to me? I will not stand for lying, young lady." Hermione wrings her hands and looks anywhere but at Minerva. Minerva gently, but firmly, grips her chin and makes their eyes meet. "Hermione." Minerva warns.

"I-I-I don't know what you're talking about m-mama." Hermione stammers. Minerva sighs as she stands and walks over to the corner and sets Hermione down. "Another lie. Time out for five minutes. No talking." Minerva says when she sees Hermione open her mouth to protest. Hermione nods quickly and curls into herself, rocking slowly as she waits for the five minutes to be over. Minerva sits at her desk and grades a paper for the five minutes, completely ignoring Hermione. Internally, Hermione is freaking out absolutely hating it when Máthair ignores her. Oooooh, no. She's ignoring me. Hermione internally bemoans. Don't panic. She'll give you her undivided attention in just five minutes… Five minutes! That's foreever! I-I can't not have her pay me attention for five whole minutes. She hates me. Hermione whimpers softly. S-she hates me and d-doesn't want me no more, a-and isn't gonna let m-me be in class anymore, or eat fruit, or cuddle! By now, Hermione has worked herself into a full blown panic. "Máthair!" Hermione sobs and runs over and grips her mother's teaching robes, tears pouring down her face. "I-I-I so sowwie! I a meany p-poo poo h-head and n-now you hates me a-and don't wan me or g-give me 'tention or c-cuddles!" Hermione sobs hysterically into the darkening green fabric.

Minerva looks down at the sobbing mass that is her daughter in complete bewilderment. "What on earth." She murmurs as she picks Hermione up and holds her closely, trying to calm her down. "Shh, shh, socair sìos mo leannan prìseil." (calm down my precious darling) Minerva rocks back and forth slowly, whispering softly in Hermione's ear as she gently runs her fingers through her hair. After nearly ten minutes Hermione calms down completely, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

"Now, what was all that about?" Minerva asks gently still stroking her hair comfortingly.

"Y-You were ignoring me." Hermione whimpers and cuddles closer, threading her small fingers into the back of Minerva's hair. "That's because you were on time out, darling." Minerva says. "I-I know I was, b-bu I no wike when you ignore me!" Minerva winces slightly at the volume. "Don't yell." She chides softly. "That's why I only ignore you when you've been bad. You're not supposed to enjoy your punishment." Hermione rubs her eyes as she nods pitifully. "Now, are you going to tell me why you lied or am I going to have to put you back in time out?" Hermione tenses up so suddenly in Minerva's arms, she afraid she'd hurt something. "Easy darling." Minerva whispers.

"P-please don't send me back. I-I'll tell you." Hermione stammers. "I lied because I didn't want you to know." Minerva barely holds back a chuckle. "I gathered that, what didn't you want me to know." Hermione nibbles on her lip, only to have Minerva gently pull it from between her teeth and gently tap her lips. "That Albus was gonna let me do magic wif his wand again." Minerva frowns. "Play magic?"

"Noo, real magic like mama can do!" Hermione pulls back excited now. "He crouched down beside me and let me hold his wand and I pointed it at the fireplace and said incendio and then a nice big fire warmed up the whole room. It was so cool! But Abus said not to tell you."

"It worked?" Minerva says disbelievingly. "Yep! I did it all by myself." Hermione says proudly. "Can I shows you?" Hermione says. Minerva nods slowly and walks over to the fireplace with Hermione and crouches down behind her, placing her ebony wand in Hermione's pale hand. Minerva reaches around and gently braces her daughter's hand and make sure she's pointing the wand at the fireplace. "Incendio!" Hermione says clearly a jet of red and orange flame leaping from the end of the wand to the fireplace. Minerva's jaw drops. "You did it." Hermione squeals and throws her arms around Minerva's neck. "I did!" Minerva wraps her arms around Hermione and sits back down.

"I need you to listen very, very closely." Hermione looks up at Minerva with her dark green eyes. "You may never ever use a wand and do magic unless Máthair or one of your aunts and uncles is there. Is that understood?" Hermione nods slowly. "Yes, Máthair. No magic wif out grown up." Minerva kisses her head. "That's right. No magic wif out grown up." Hermione curls closer to Minerva, snuggling so her head in tucked under Minerva's chin.

"Are you mad?" Hermione whispers softly. "T-that I lied." Minerva strokes her hair gently "I'm sad that you lied to me, but only because you didn't trust me. I wouldn't have been mad that you wanted to do magic with Albus. He knows to be very careful when it comes to little witches or wizards who want to do magic. In the future always answer my question without lying, please." Hermione nods slowly and cuddles a little closer. "Okie, mama." Hermione agrees. "That's a good girl." Minerva places a final kiss on her head and just holds her for several more minutes. "How about we go see if Albus can manage to squeeze a few minutes out of his schedule for his favorite niece?"

"Really?!" Hermione gasps. "Yes, really."

Once Hermione is safely in Albus' care Minerva walks to her room and rummages around in Hermione's bag, looking to see if there's a paper on punishments.

As for punishments, I absolutely refuse to hit Hermione. End of discussion. In my timeline, after father found out that mother is a witch he became a very violent man, resenting anything and anyone that was magical. Mother tried her best to shield us from his wrath, but when she died from influenza there was nothing to stand in the way of his fury. I couldn't let him hurt the boys and when possible I would take the beatings for them. Sufficed to say, the thought of physically punishing Hermione makes me sick, so I use other methods. Mainly I take away her toys or blankie if she's misbehaved. She is very attached to her blankie and usually comes to realize what she's done wrong when I take it away. I'll also use time outs when I just need a moment's piece and she's done something wrong. I caution you, however, Hermione is very, very sensitive when it comes to attention. Unless she distracted or occupied she must have someone's attention or she starts to worry that she's done something and starts to think that she's no longer wanted or loved. When she is on time out, I make sure to let her know the halfway mark so she knows that while it is a punishment, I still love her. I've only ever once ignored her as a punishment and it was only after she'd deliberately done something I'd told her not to do and she got hurt. You must judge what her 'love meter' as I call it is at. Has she had lots of cuddles? Has she been told several times in the last hour that she's loved? Have I snapped at her or been short with her? Is she curling in on herself and trying to be as small and unnoticeable as possible? Those are the sort of things I use to gage where it's at. If it's high, I could ignore her for the duration of her timeout if she's warranted it. If it's low, I make sure to let her know that while I am being quiet, I'm still focused on her and that I love her.

Minerva put the paper down and groaned. When she'd given Hermione a timeout and ignored her, her 'love meter' was very low. "Gah!" Minerva says frustratedly as she tosses her glasses and the paper onto her desk. "No wonder she dissolved into a sobbing mess… I am such a bad mom." Minerva whispers to the empty room and rubs her eyes. "I should have read this paper as soon as I found the stack." A soft sigh escapes Minerva's lips. She'd do better. She had to.

TBC

A.N. Yep, I'm not dead. The plot bunnies just like to take their time between bouts of inspiration. Please R&R