AN: Thanks y'all for making this story mean something more than just a bunch of words.

HOUSE OF CARDS

Chapter 15

The following morning as the sun cast it's rays over the tall buildings of Diagon Alley, a smattering of shop keepers prepared for another day of business. The tranquility of the early morning was interupted by the loud, echoing crack of Minerva McGonagall's apparation.

Knowing that George Weasley did not live on the premises had given the Headmistress the idea that if she showed up early in the morning, then perhaps the perimeter wards would not be in place as George wasn't there to reinforce them.

Not so.

The moment she stepped one booted foot across the imaginary line, the tall witch was knocked on her lovely backside.

"Oomph! Bugger!" She grumbled as she stood and wiped the dust from her robes. Spying the tree she'd climbed last evening, she quickly morphed into her animagus form and trotted over to the alley. Growling when she reached the base of the large tree, she leapt up sinking her razor sharp claws into the bark. Making short work of the climb, the silver striped tabby climbed to the branches that were over hanging the building's roof. A graceful leap later, she was on the roof and padding over to the chimney.

Jumping up onto the bricks, emerald feline eyes peered down into the darkened depths of the floo. Another growl and she was off, carefully shimmying down the inside of the chimney.


"Aye that's it! Give us another push darlin'." Doctor McGregor coaxed Hermione into bearing down as another contraction approached.

"I'll give you darlin' dammit!"

George glanced nervously back and forth from the doctor to his soon to be ex sister-in-law, "Uh.."

"SHUT IT GEORGE!"

Blue eyes widened as a littany of swear words that would make a sailor proud flew out of Hermione's mouth.

Doctor McGregor grinned as he glanced down at the crowning baby appearing from between his young patient's legs, "Ooooh there's the wee bairn now. Right on time."

"On time my arse! Figures this baby would do things her own way!"

George grinned and whispered, "Her?"

"YOU DON'T THINK MINERVA MCGONAGALL WOULD SIRE ANYTHING LESS DO YOU!"


FOOM! POOF!

A silver tabby rolled out of the floo in a cloud of soot. Tiny cat sneezes broke the eerie quite of the flat as she slowly rose up on all four paws. Shaking her head and blinking soot out of her eyes, Tabby Minerva cocked an ear listening for any clue that would lead her to the current whereabouts of the occupant of said flat.

Hearing nothing but the sound of her own breathing, she lifted her nose to sniff the air.

Something earthy and briney caught her interest. It was coming from somewhere towards the bedroom. Softly, she padded towards the odor that was tickling against her basic cat instincts. A few steps from the loo, she came across a drying bit of fluid. Tail shooting straight up as she recognized Hermione's scent along with something else. Something primal.

Sniffing at the mysterious fluid caused her emerald cat eyes to dilate and her whiskers to quiver. Lips pulled back exposing her canines, ears pinned as a tiny growl escaped. This was more than just Hermione's base scent, this was...

Birthing fluid and blood.

Hair standing on end and tail puffed up to three times it's normal diameter, the cat yowled loudly before racing into the bedroom in search of her mate.


"Give us another push luv." Doctor McGregor stated in a calming voice.

Hermione was having none of it as she screeched, "YOU PUSH DAMMIT I'M TIRED!"

"Just a wee bit more."

"THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID FOUR HOURS AGO FOR PITY'S SAKE!"


Minerva McGonagall frantically raced out of the front door of the flat and clattered down the steps. She burst through another door at the bottom and out onto the main sales floor of the joke shop all the while bellowing, "George Weasley? You better bloody well be here!"

There was a shuffling sound coming from the back room that caused Minerva to whip her head around to see Angelina Johnson coming out.

"Headmistress?"

Marching over to the lovely dark skinned witch, the elder woman growled, "Where is George?"

Coffee brown eyes widened at the vehemence in Minerva's voice, "I honestly don't know. He's usually here before I get here."

"Bloody hell." Minerva griped pausing for a moment to think. Last night she remembered Hermione and George talking. Hermione had said she wasn't going to go to St. Mungo's. She was going to the hospital in Glasgow. Her doctor was named McGregor.

Looking up and straight into Angelina's curious eyes, she stated, "St. Andrew's Hospital, Glasgow." With that, she raced out of the main doors of the joke shop and apparated with a booming clap of thunder.

Angelina watched awestruck as the Headmistress departed, "Damn. When I grow up I wanna be just like her."


"Oh Hermione, she's just gorgeous!" Molly Weasley gushed as she gazed down at her soon to be ex daughter-in-law. George had hastily cast a patronus charm informing his mum about what was going on. The older red head had dropped everything and raced to Glasgow as fast as she could. Even though Hermione was not her blood, Molly loved her as if she was.

Now, adoring blue eyes gazed down at the heart warming scene of a young mother nursing her newborn daughter. The baby girl was beautiful with a head full of curly ebony hair. The moment the little one opened her eyes all the adults in the room had been mesmerized by the sharpest emerald orbs they'd ever seen.

George stepped into the room blushing as he saw Hermione breast feeding her daughter. Seeing his discomforture, the young witch pulled her blanket over her nursing child. The tall man smiled at her consideration, then asked the question of the hour, "What are you going to tell McGonagall?"


Aiden McGregor sat in his office filling out some reports on Hermione Granger-Weasley and her newborn daughter. The handsome Scot smirked as he recalled how fiesty the little witch truly was. There was a soft knock on his door that pulled him from his thoughts, "Yes?"

The door opened and standing on the threshold was the most out of place woman he'd ever laid eyes on. Long green robes fell over a slender but pleasing figure. Ebony hair tucked into a tight bun lay partiallty hidden by a tall witches hat.

Witches hat?

"Hello?" He inquired as the older woman stepped fully into the room. She looked very familiar to him.

For her part, Minerva thought for a moment that she might very well be seeing a ghost as the man before her bore a startling resemblance to Dougal. She stood there and stared for a full minute before she asked, "I was wondering if you might be able to help me locate..."

She never got to finish her statement as the man before her smiled as he recognized Minerva McGonagall from the faded photo in his wallet. He rose from his chair and stated, "Hermione?"


"What are you going to tell McGonagall?"

Molly's question whispered out into the corridor as Aiden and Minerva entered the recovery room on the maternity ward at St. Andrew's.

"What indeed?"

Everyone in the room looked up upon hearing that unmistakeable cadence.

Immediately Molly and George closed protective ranks in front of Hermione's bed as they faced Minerva. There was a firm look of resolution brewing in identical sets of sky blue eyes. They knew they were no match for the fierce witch standing before them but...

They would protect Hermione no matter what.

Minerva saw this and fought down her anger. Stormy emerald eyes gazed at the Weasleys for long charged moments.

"It's ok. Just let her in." Stated a quiet voice from the bed.

"Are ya sure lass?" Came from Doctor McGregor. The question earned him a scathing hiss from Minerva as he thought, 'What a witch!'

Dark choclate eyes connected with the stormy green ones for but a moment and that was all it took for the maelstrom swirling within to pass. Intense emerald once again gazed at her with desperate longing.

Seeing this Molly and George exchanged a "look".

The red haired woman turned to Hermione and asked in a soft voice, "Are you alright with her being here?" Receiving a nod from the bed, Molly grabbed her son's arm and said, "We'll be right outside." On the way out, she grabbed McGregor with the other hand, "And so will you."

As the door closed behind them, Minerva took an uncertain step towards the bed.

Hermione could see the anguish and heartache clearly written all over the older woman, "I'm sorry Minerva. I thought I was doing the right thing by honoring my wedding vows."

She watched as those mesmerizing green eyes became cloudy with unshed tears. Feeling shame wash over her, the young witch continued, "It wasn't until recently that I learned that Ron had received a hex from Bellatrix during the final battle. It was the same hex that ended up killing Charlie."

Hearing this new bit of information brought out the Headmistress in the older woman, "Will he be alright? Do they know what kind of curse it was?" Her shoulders straightened as she took another step closer to the bed.

Hermione shook her head, "The Department of Mysteries has a sample of what oozed out of Charlie's head during his autopsy. All they have learned so far is that it basically compelled you to act of feelings and impulses already present."

Hearing this Minerva's eyes narrowed as the storm within her began to return, "Then Ronald was acting out his innermost desires? To hurt and punish you? For what?"

"Easy Minerva." The voice from the bed stated soothingly.

A frustrated growl was the older woman's response.

Not willing to speak of her soon to be ex husband, a small smile turned up Hermione's plump lips. Patting the bed with her free hand, she whispered, "Come."

It was this motion that made Minerva realize that the young woman's other arm was occupied, "Are you alright?" She asked staring at the covered lump at Hermione's chest.

Smiling lovingly, the younger witch carefully uncovered her nursing child, "Oh yes, we're just fine. Tired and sore, but fine."

There could be no denying the parentage of the babe nursing at Hermione's breast. Downy soft ebony curls, long dark eyelashes, Hermione's nose, Minerva's chin and a tiny hand wrapped firmly upon a full breast. The tears that the Headmistress had been fighting finally escaped to roll unhindered down an elegantly chiseled cheek.

Hermione invited Minerva to the bed once again by patting a spot of the mattress. This time the elder woman complied, gingerly and carefully settling next to the mother of her child.

The mother of HER child.

The reality was finally sinking in.

"Oh Hermione." Minerva sobbed as she completely broke down. Shoulders shaking as her heartache poured itself out. Sniffing, she begged through her tears, "Please dinnae send me away."

"Please don't take my child from me."

Hermione's simple statement caused the older witch to fervently exclaim, "Never! I would never do that ta ye!" Tearful emerald peered into fearful chocolate. "I would never." Came a heartfelt whisper.

A small hand carefully reached up and wiped away tears from chiseled cheeks as Hermione whispered, "We've both been so wounded from the war and all the shit that happened after. I couldn't help or stop what was happening to me."

Nodding, Minerva slowly rubbed her face against that small soothing hand, "I've been so bloody angry at ever' one. I could'na stop myself." She closed her eyes and sighed as she added, "I only ever felt whole was when you and I were together." Her brogue was thickly lacing her words due to her emotional state.

The chestnut haired witch didn't care one bit. In fact, she loved it. Almost as much as she loved Minerva.

Turning her gaze down to the baby, the older witch slowly and tentatively reached a trembling hand out and gently stroked those thick ebony curls. Tears once again sprung to her eyes as she whispered, "So soft."

She felt a hand reached into her own tresses as the young mother whispered, "Like your's."

Minerva pulled her gaze away from her child to look into eyes that were suddenly open and showing so much love. Her heart melted once again as she whispered, "Please dinnae send me away."

Hermione saw the vulnerability clearly on display as she replied softly, "I won't."

A tender smile brightened Minerva's face as her gaze once again fixed on the baby who had finished nursing and was resting her face against her mother's soft bosom. This time a single finger reached out and stroked the alabaster skin of her daughter's pudgy cheek, "A wee butterball are ya?"

Softly chuckling, Hermione rolled her eyes, "I'll say. Ouch."

Immediately green eyes focussed on the younger woman, "Aye. Are ya alright?" Curious eyes travelled over Hermione's features to finally rest upon her still exposed breast which was pillowing the baby.

Minerva then noticed eyes that matched her own were fastened upon her. Gasping, she smiled and spoke to her daughter, "Aye wee one, I'm yer..." She stumbled over a word as she didn't want to say "father" even if that was kind of what she was...

Hermione rescued her with a single word, "Mum."

A brilliant smile lit up the Headmistress's features so well that Hermione felt a wave of overwhelming joy wash over her. She grinned as she watched Minerva turn back to their daughter and state with conviction, "I'm your mum." A single tear rolled down her face as she heard Minerva playfully add, "And this beauty here is yer mummy."

"I love you."

Widened emerald eyes shot up to gaze into dark chocolate. The hand that had been stroking the creamy skin of their babe rose to gently cup Hermione's cheek, "I love ya too." There was such a depth of emotion layered in the Headmistress's words that it caused a purr to erupt from within Minerva's chest.

This caused a tiny giggle to burst from their daughter. Both witches looked down and smiled tenderly.

"Och ya think my purrin' is funny do ya now?"

Another giggle.

"I've only been knowin' ya but for a few minutes an' already ya got my tale wrapped right around this wee pinkie right here." Minerva reach down and gently tweeked said pinkie finger causing delighted laughter to burst from the newborn.

And from her mother.

Hermione watched totally captivated by the ebony haired witch. She had somehow found a way through the shield of anger that Minerva had built around herself and was seeing the woman behind the facade of Headmistress. Something she had glimpsed before during their time spent together.

She KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt that this woman would NEVER harm her or their child.

"Will ya let me help with her?"

Minerva's heartfelt question pulled Hermione from her thoughts.

"I want ta be a part of her life."

Raising a dark eyebrow, the young witch responded, "Just her life?"

A hopeful expression laced the older witch's noble features, "Your's too if you'll have my wretched self." Her heart began to pound with hope and fear. Hope at the idea that this beautiful young woman would want to spend the rest of her life with the older woman's ornery self by her side and fear that the idea just wouldn't be so.

A long emotionally charged moment passed before Hermione replied, "I love you Minerva McGonagall and I want you to be a part of our lives but only if you behave yourself. Let me help you be whole again."

Tears slid down proud cheeks, "Aye. Please be with me. Both of ya. I dinnae want to go on without ya." She traced her shaking hand down Hermione's cheek and added softly, "I'll put my stubborn pride on the shelf I promise."

That was all Hermione needed to hear as she leaned over and gently touched soft plump lips to a trembling thinner pair. The kiss was easy and careful but as a curious tongue tapped against full lips, they opened invitingly. Needy tongues caressed the other in a long overdue kiss that left their souls singing.

As the need for air pulled them apart, Minerva rested her forehead against Hermione's and whispered, "You make me whole my darlin'. You complete me." Looking down at sweet, innocent eyes gazing up at the pair of them, the Headmistress added, "You both do."


ONE YEAR LATER...

Kingsley Shacklebolt gazed at the two witches standing before him and smiled warmly. His deep brown eyes reflecting his personal joy at seeing two witches whom he held the utmost respect and admiration for finally pubically declare their love for each other...

"I now pronounce you joined."

The crowd behind them erupted in joyous noise as Minerva and Hermione sealed their vows with a very passionate kiss.

No one clapped harder or screamed louder than the curly haired little girl bouncing on Rolanda Hooch's lap. Rose McGonagall proudly proclaimed what the huge crowd in the Great Hall already knew. That her mothers belonged together.

For always.

The End


AN: I want to thank all of you for your unfailing patience and faith in me during a most turbulent year. This story ripped me to my soul as I wrote it and it was with stubborn determination that I've managed to finish it at the beginning of the new year. I'm bound and determined to make 2014 a better year than the previous one and I hope that all of you do the same. Best wishes to all of you.

On a lighter note, with the completion of this story, I can now turn my full attention back to "Family Ties". Hopefully very soon, I can begin putting out new chapters for a series that lies near and dear to my heart.

Thanks again.