Chaper 8:The Value of Family

Disclaimer: The characters you recognize belong to the brilliant J. K. Rowling; I owe her an immeasurable debt of gratitude for her creation, a new kind of Camelot.

Author's Note: My beta reader sent back the last chapters of this story this morning, and asked me if I am excited that it's finished. I am, I'm totally thrilled in fact, but one of the reasons for my elation is the chance to work with her, and the wonderful, talented admin on this archive who has been helping me with html and other stuff. These two ladies, and my totally wonderful original beta reader have given me encouragement, support, suggestions, and help beyond what I could imagine in my wildest dreams. I owe them a debt of gratitude that rivals what I owe J.K. Rowling. Thanks to all who are enjoying this story:) I am going to try posting a longer chapter next time, also, and thanks for the suggestion.

Chapter Eight: The Value of Family

Potter's Hollow, Hogsmeade, Scotland

Hermione looked around sleepily at the sound of the door opening. The guest room was dark, but the hallway was well lighted, and she blinked at the sudden change in light level. There were two childish figures silhouetted in the doorway; one was her daughter, Rose, the other her niece, Lily Potter.

"Mummy?" "Auntie 'Mione?" The two girls stepped into the doorway and drew closer to the bed, smiling a little uncertainly when they saw Hermione was awake, but not up yet.

"Girls, it’s alright. Come in, I'm awake."

She sat up in bed and murmured 'Lumos' to turn on the lights, then patted the bedside. "Did you want to talk to me?"

They both nodded and came to sit down on either side of the bed, pulling their feet up under their voluminous flannel nightgowns to stay warm. Hermione looked at their bare feet, but didn't make the obvious comments about slippers. Instead, she scooted forward and hugged her two visitors. And that was all it took for Rose and Lily to begin to cry.

"Mummy, why did Granny Min have to die?" Rose asked when the storm of weeping had passed.

"Sweetheart, it's the natural order of things. We're born, we live our lives, and then we die. This phase of our existence ends, and we go on to the next one."

She swept Rose's curly red hair back from her face and pressed a tender kiss to her daughter's forehead. She wanted to weep, not for herself, now, but for the pain her little girl was feeling.

"We shall miss her so much." Lily got a hug and kiss on the forehead too.

"I know, dears. I And Granny Min will miss us, as well. But she gets to be with Professor Dumbledore now, and the other people she loved, who've already died. I absolutely believe that we shall see her again when we die. And I promise she will still love us, and will be glad to see us again."

"That's what mummy said yesterday; Daddy too,” Lily agreed. "They talked to us last night when they tucked us in."

"Well, then. We do all feel sad, and this first bit of time will be hard because we aren't used to Granny Min being gone. But it will get better. We need to remember how much she loves us, and try always to make her proud of us, don't you think?"

"Oh, yes, Mummy."

"Yes, Auntie 'Mione. You sound an awful lot like my dad."

"And Aunt Ginny, and Grandma Molly too."

'That's the good thing about families. We all mostly believe in the same things, and you always know what to expect from us."

The blessing of being friends with someone for a very long time, Hermione thought, was that you did have the same standards, and it made for a wonderful, comfortable feeling of security at times like this.

"Mummy?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Shall we have to wear black for a whole year? You know, in mourning?"

Hermione chuckled at her daughter's question. They had never discussed mourning customs with the children; Rose had to have found that old rule in a book someplace.

"Where did you read that?"

"Oh, this old Muggle book on etiquette.” Rose paused for a moment and Hermione knew she was dredging up the memory of the exact book. "It was by this very sneakily funny woman called Miss Manners. She wrote a whole chapter about funeral customs."

"I do remember those books. Grandma Granger has them."

"Yes, Mummy."

"Well, it's not the custom any longer. Your everyday dress and robes are already black, so you can say they're for mourning if that comforts you, dear heart."

'Well, no, I shan't do that. But look, Mummy. Show her, Lil."

Rose pulled back the sleeve of her nightgown to reveal a bracelet that looked like a thick black rubber band.

"I transfigured my old Muggle school bracelet, Mummy, and I did Lily's, too."

Lily pulled back her sleeve also, and looking closer, Hermione could see words embossed into the band. In bold block letters, the band said "Granny Min, In Memoriam."

Hermione's eyes filled with tears at the loving gesture.

"What we were wondering was whether this is alright for wearing at school."

"Yes, I think so."

"Cause we loved Granny Minerva and we shall miss her so much."

Hermione looked into their earnest tender faces and felt her own heart breaking for them.

"I know Granny Minerva would be honored that you would wear them as a remembrance of her."

Lily and Rose both nodded their heads. That, it seemed, was all they wanted to know, for they began to fidget. A moment later they excused themselves.

"We need to get dressed for school. Daddy told us last night that he would take us back to Hogwarts this morning, but we would need to get ready early, so we don't make him late."

"Of course. Off with you both, I need to get up and get ready, myself."

Both girls gave her another hug and left the guest room. Hermione got slowly out of bed and made her way to the bathroom, wanting a long hot bath, but deciding she needed to settle for a bracing shower, instead. She would save the bath for tonight when she needed to relax and sleep. It didn’t take a talent for Divination to predict that it would be a difficult day.

~OoO~

Prompt Information

My modifications: The story is written about a portrait and not a ghost. I only borrowed Hermione being in love with Severus from prompt 8.