Minerva McGonagall had watched her pupil during breakfast and noticed that she had barely touched her food. Now, as the girl stood up to leave the Great Hall, she finished her meal as well and quickened her walk to catch up with her charge right outside the Great Hall. "Don't look so sad, Miss Granger," she said not unkindly, as she finally reached Hermione.

"Good morning, Professor," Hermione greeted, lacking her usual enthusiasm.

"She is not even gone yet," Minerva tried to comfort the sad girl. Hermione tried to smile, but Minerva saw immediately that the smile didn't reach her doleful eyes.

"Who isn't even gone yet?" The voice of the old woman instantly brought a smile to Hermione's face.

Hermione turned towards the sound and discovered her granny right behind her. She had been so busy forcing a smile on her face that she hadn't even noticed the woman coming towards them.

"Granny!" Hermione threw her arms around Emma, holding her in a tight embrace.

Emma returned the hug just as fierce. "Hey darling, what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," Hermione replied half heartedly, but Emma didn't quite believe her. A glance at the shaking head of her daughter confirmed her suspicion.

"Come and take a walk with me, my little one," she invited her granddaughter, then looked back at Minerva. "We can have a late lunch after we come back."

"Very well. Enjoy your walk." Minerva turned to leave, knowing that Hermione and Emma needed some time together.

"Come now, darling." Emma put her arm around Hermione's shoulders and guided her through the high doors, out of the castle, towards the lake. They walked in silence, each witch lost in her own little world of hope and sorrow. Seeing where Emma had lead her to, Hermione smiled softly. The bench where they first met and where they formed the initial shy bond between them.

Emma sat down, pulling her granddaughter with her, who rested her head on the old woman's shoulder, settling into her loving arms. For a while they just sat there, enjoying their closeness. It would be the last time they could share that kind of affection and the sense of loss was lingering in their minds. Emma would leave in the afternoon and while she was looking forward to sleeping in her own bed, it was painful to leave her girls behind. Especially Hermione's sadness ensured her that their goodbye wouldn't be a happy one and tugged at Emma's heart. It was still a mystery to her how she could love the girl so deeply, only having known her for such a short time, but she did.

Kissing the brown hair, highlighted by the sunlight peeking in through the old trees, she whispered, "We'll see each other again, my little girl."

Hermione nodded, but remained silent. She knew her voice would break if she tried to speak. She had come to love Emma so much that it hurt her deeply that they would have to part in the afternoon. They might see each other again, but with the upcoming war and the mission she would accompany Harry on, together with Ron, her future was uncertain at best. There was no way of knowing if she would find comfort in her granny's arms ever again. Her hand went up to the pendant hanging around her neck. A Celtic tree of life, a symbol of hope. She would give it to Emma as a farewell present, hoping that it would comfort the old woman in dark and lonely hours to wear something so personal from her granddaughter close to her heart. Maybe it would be the only thing left to remind Emma of her love, if she wouldn't make it through the war. Hermione tried hard to keep her tears at bay, knowing she was fighting a lost battle.

Emma held her granddaughter securely in her arms, gently rubbing the girl's arm until she felt the dampness of Hermione's tears through her pullover. "Oh darling, please don't cry. This is not a goodbye for very long and in the meantime, we can write each other as often as you like." Tenderly she kissed the girl's head before she pulled back to look at Hermione. As soon as she laid eyes on Hermione's red and puffy ones, she felt her own eyes water and gathered her girl back into her arms and held on tightly. "I love you, my little one. That will always remain. You will write me, won't you?"

"I love you too, Granny." Hermione took a deep calming breath and placed a soft kiss on Emma's cheek. "I'll write so often that you'll get sick of me. I promise."

Emma stood and Hermione followed suit, slowly walking back to the castle with her. "I doubt that very much. It can get rather lonely when you live alone in a big house. You know you are more than welcome to visit and stay with me any time you want, don't you?" She stopped momentarily to make sure Hermione understood what she was saying. "Minerva and now you are my only family left and it is very important to me that you know that you'll always have a home you can return to when you feel like it. There are several rooms for you to use and decorate to your taste."

Hermione's face lit up with joy at the thought of having a family in the magical world. She loved her parents, but they were not part of her world and would never truly understand who she really was. They were visitors in her world as much as she was a visitor when she was with them. It was painful to feel the gap that had formed between them, but it was a truth neither she nor her parents could deny. Very soon she would have to send them away to keep them safe and thinking of her soon empty childhood home she whispered, "Rooms don't make a home, Granny. It is the people who wait there for you. It will be my home because you will be there."

Emma was so deeply touched by Hermione's words that her eyes were brimming with tears again until the first drop started running down her wrinkled cheek. She pulled her granddaughter into her arms and tightened her arms around her. "My sweet little darling, it is a piece of heaven to have you in my life now. A piece of heaven."

Xxx

"Minerva, please stop fretting. I am fine and if I need help, I will make sure to let you know."

Hermione's lips twitched in amusement at seeing Emma roll her eyes at her daughter. Their discussion had already lasted all the way through lunch and understanding both of them, Hermione made sure not to side with either of them, even when they asked her to. Emma had lived alone for so many years and now that she was able to see again, there was no reason to assume that she would need assistance now. On the other hand she could understand Minerva's concern all too well, because she felt very much the same. Emma wasn't young anymore and although there was a House Elf to run the manor, it was a big house with many stairs. It didn't feel right to allow Emma to live there all alone, but Hermione knew it was more because of the guilt nagging at their hearts, than Emma's ability to return to the life she was used to.

With an annoyed huff, Minerva followed her mother in standing up. "Are you sure you've packed everything?"

A tender expression graced Emma's face as she reached out to stroke her daughter's cheek. "I've everything I need and now it is time for me to go. Will you two walk with me to the gate?" She turned to look at Hermione, who moved to stand beside her grandmother now. The girl just nodded, not trusting her voice. She didn't want to cry again, but it was hard work.

Hermione was glad that Minerva stepped in. "Of course we will." With a flick of her wand she sent the bags ahead of them to the gates.

Emma put her hand gently on Hermione's shoulder, keeping her close to her. She would miss her girl terribly and wanted to make every moment until her departure count. When they left the castle behind and it became unlikely that a pupil would see them, Emma took her daughter's hand and squeezed it tightly.

Having both of her girls so close by, Emma took the chance to make sure both of them would be all right without her. "My darlings, I want you to promise me something."

Minerva and Hermione simultaneously raised an eyebrow, causing the old woman to chuckle softly. "You two are so alike," she stated amused and stopped walking to make sure her girls paid close attention. "I know your teacher-pupil situation is a little awkward, but you are family now. I want you to promise me that you will continue to see each other outside of the classroom. I know the two of you shared a bond before I arrived here and I would very much like to see it blossom. Can you promise me that?"

Hermione didn't know what to say. She would love to spend more time with her mentor, but she didn't want the busy woman to feel obliged to spend time with her. She was surprised when Minerva McGonagall took her hand for a moment to squeeze it. "I would suggest tea on Saturday evenings if you have time," she said, secretly pleased at the prospect of spending more time with Hermione.

"I'd love to come," the girl confirmed, a shy smile on her lips. It was somehow surreal to be so at ease with the stern Head of House, but in any case, very special in a good way.

"So you promise?" Emma asked, needing to hear the words from her girls.

Hermione was the first to say them. "I promise." She placed a quick kiss on her grandmother's cheek before listening to Minerva's promise.

Once they reached the grand gates they stopped and Hermione reached around her neck to remove her chain with the Celtic tree of life symbol. Wordlessly she put it around her grandma and hugged her tightly. She couldn't hold back her tears anymore. "May it remind you of how much I love you, especially when you feel lonely," she whispered, not letting go of the elder woman.

Emma started rocking her little girl. "My sweet darling, I know I am in your heart as much as you are in mine." She wanted to say that she didn't need a reminder, but having lived through many a lonely hour, she knew it would be a lie. "It means very much to me to have something from you with me every day." She pulled back and took Hermione's face between her hands and gave her a loving kiss on her forehead . "I love you very much, my darling, and I am counting the days until you come home to me. In the meantime I've got something for you." The elder witch held out her hand and a cute little Tawny Owl landed on it with a soft hoot. As if she knew that Hermione would be her new friend, she looked at the girl with big, wise eyes.

"This is Holly. I know you don't have an owl and it would be too suspicious to use my owl and have it flying in first to you and then to Minerva during breakfast. With the upcoming war in mind, we don't want to make it common knowledge that you are so close to Minerva and me." Emma knew it was just the right thing to get for her granddaughter when she looked into her astonished eyes.

"Granny, that is..." She was at a loss for words. All she could do was stare at the beautiful small animal. "Thank you so much." Obviously wanting to get closer to her new owner, Holly spread her wings and hopped onto Hermione's shoulder.

Hermione reached up and stroked Holly's soft belly with the back of her index finger. "Hello there, little one," she greeted her small friend who moved a little closer to Hermione's cheek in return, pressing her soft head against Hermione's face.

"It looks like you'll get along very well." Emma gently patted the owls head. "I expect to see you soon with my first letter."

Now it was Minerva's turn to say goodbye to her mother. They embraced each other for a long moment, whispering words of farewell Hermione didn't understand. Emma kissed her daughter and stepped back to look at her. "Take care of our little girl, Minerva. She is still so young and will need your guidance." Then she turned to look at Hermione. "And you, my little darling, keep an eye on Minerva. Don't let her push you away and frighten you off by all the high walls she built around herself. She needs your care as much as you need hers."

Minerva was about to protest when she was stopped by Emma's raised hand. "Don't, my love. We both know Mummy is always right."

The old woman took a deep breath then. "I think I should go now."

"Hang on," Minerva interrupted. "I've got something for you, too." She pulled two framed photographs out of her robe pocket and handed one of them to her mother and the other one to Hermione.

"I never knew you took a photo of that," Emma whispered, wiping a tear away at the sight of the captured scene: Hermione sleeping trustingly in the arms of her peaceful looking grandma. The old woman placed another tender kiss on her daughter's cheek. "I can't thank you enough for that, my love."

Hermione looked at her professor with teary eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse from the emotions she felt.

"I'm leaving now before I change my mind. I love you both very much, my darlings. I can't wait to have you home with me." She reached out and tenderly wiped Hermione's tears, kissed both of her girls one last time and then she was gone.

New tears were running down Hermione's face. She hated goodbyes.

Seeing the girl's misery, Minerva gathered her into her arms, careful not to disturb Holly who cuddled a little closer to her new friend's cheek to comfort her.

"It's all right, Hermione. You'll see her again," she tried to comfort.

When the girl calmed down a little, she took her hand and started walking up to the castle with her. "Seeing as we are both orphaned now, it seems we'll have to stick together from now on." Minerva squeezed Hermione's hand. "I suggest we start with some tea."

That brought the first real smile in two days to the young woman's face and a satisfied hoot from Holly. They were family now after all.

~ The End ~

I'd like to thank Bola for all her work and time. I wouldn't be able to write without her greatly appreciated help. Thanks dear! Xx

I really hope you enjoyed the story and before you ask, yes, there will be a sequel. Thank you to all the very nice people who left reviews :)