Hermione

3 - Hermione

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what

is essential is invisible to the eye.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Granger entered the room but didn't sit down. She acknowledged Liesl with a brief nod and smile and then addressed him. "Minerva said you need someone to look after the children until you make a more permanent arrangement. I'd be happy to help out for a couple of months until you find someone."

Severus considered briefly. It would solve his dilemma. He wouldn't have to impose on Narcissa, not that she'd ever refuse him. And he'd have enough time to vet any applicants. What was best, he had no doubt Miss Granger would take over some of the magical education, something Arabella had never been able to. It would free him to engage in more research. "Miss Granger, I'd be most grateful."

That hint of a smile he'd noticed on the boat darted from her lips to her eyes and back again. "I'll get ready then." She left as quickly as she'd arrived.

"Some more tea?" Liesl held the teapot above his mug, ready to pour.

He nodded. "Thank you." Gathering resolve, he asked, "Tell, Liesl, what is it about Avalon that turns awkward girls into such self-assured women?"

He was surprised when she laughed. She quickly turned serious again, though, and said, "It's everything. The revelation that this planet is a matriarchal one, contrary to what most of the world is trying to tell us. It's the fact that I can speak about anything; I don't need to hide. And, oh, Severus, it's love! Hate, even indifference, is entirely absent here on Avalon." Her expression was one of passion...a kind he'd never seen on anyone before.

The Granger girl reappeared, this time wearing ordinary, everyday clothes. Her cloak displayed a few strange symbols at first sight, but when he looked again, it was a plain dark blue. "I'm ready whenever you are," she said.

Severus stood and addressed Liesl. "Well, I'll be on my way then." Awkwardness engulfed him. She'd been gone two years and had only spent a total of two years with him, but he felt somehow connected to her, just as he felt to all of his children these days. But then, his life had never been ordinary.

"Goodbye, Severus," Liesl said softly and rose to embrace him. Then she turned to face Hermione. "I'll miss you."

The girl smiled. "I'll miss you, Liesl. But I'll be back in no time."

Liesl closed her eyes as she embraced the young priestess. "Yes," she whispered, "though not for long."

Hermione frowned, but relaxed almost immediately. "Keep practicing your scrying," she said and smiled at the younger girl. "You've seen the troubles ahead, yes?"

Liesl nodded, her expression grave. "How could I not? Though I have no doubt the Lady will know what to do..."

"Yes. Keep in touch, Liesl," Hermione said and joined her former professor on the boat, waving goodbye.

Hermione learned quickly that Severus ruled his home with a firm hand, but at the same time had managed to garner the trust of the children. He'd taught them well, instilling the joy of learning in every single one. The ones too young to wield a wand knew nearly as much as the older children about magical subjects, and Hermione soon stopped wondering why the teenagers had never attended Hogwarts; they'd learned more from Snape than they could have done at school.

She grew used to being surrounded by inquisitive children and enjoyed sharing her knowledge of earth magic, especially with the girls, and Transfiguration, with Louisa. "Have you looked into becoming an Animagus, Louisa? You surely have the talent!" she said a few days after her arrival and was rewarded with a bright smile.

"I would love to become an Animagus," admitted Louisa. "I've not taken the subject up with Severus because I know he's not very interested in it. I think Transfiguration was his weakest subject at school." She grinned sheepishly when he cleared his throat.

"I heard that, young lady." The smirk on his face belied the severity of his tone. He turned to Hermione. "I have no objections if you wish to guide Louisa in that respect."

The doorbell interrupted the conversation, and he muttered, "That's Narcissa. Excuse me," leaving Louisa and Hermione alone to discuss how best to approach their Animagus studies until Gretl appeared with Hermann, demanding to go for a walk to watch the harvest moon rise.

The days were becoming shorter, and Earth was busy readying herself for the months of sleep ahead. Hermione waved her wand to listen to any children's sound, but all was finally quiet. She donned her cloak on her way out into the grounds, towards the stream that formed the boundary of the property.

Reaching its bank, the young priestess pulled a small candle from a pocket and lit it, then placed it on the ground. She raised her arms to summon the wind and knelt in front of the candle, breathing deeply the cold air the northerly breeze was generating. "Goddess, grant me clarity of mind." Hermione continued to plead silently. Breeze from the North, help me disperse my untoward feelings, uncalled-for jealousy, and animosity towards an undeserving one.

Gretl's voice jerked her out of her prayer. "Hermione? I'm in love. Hermann and I will get married as soon as we're grown up. What are you doing outside so late?"

Hermione, ripped out so unceremoniously from her meditative state, was unable to hide a smile. Gretl sounded so serious, but she could never stop her natural curiosity about everything from taking over. "What are you, young Gretl, doing outside so late?"

Unperturbed, the girl replied, "I was looking for you to tell you all about my handfasting plans, but you weren't in your room, so I thought you might have gone outside. And then I saw the candle light when I opened the door, so I came here."

Glad she'd had the insight of conversing with the deities in silence, Hermione blew out the candle, blessed the earth and the stream, and turned to Gretl. "Right, Gretl. Now, tell me while we walk back inside. I'm all ears." She steered Gretl away from the stream onto the path that led back to the house.

"I love Hermann. He is very beautiful, and I think he loves me as well." Gretl sounded matter-of-factly, and Hermione marvelled at her straightforwardness. The youngest of the Karkaroff children had proven to be the most knowledgeable about elemental magic save Liesl, and she already knew a number of rituals her older siblings did not.

"I told Marta earlier, but she laughed at me," Gretl continued. "But what does she know? I don't think she's ever been in love before."

Hermione suppressed a laugh. "And you have, Gretl?"

"No, but I am now," the girl supplied in a serious voice. "What were you praying for, Hermione?"

Hermione wondered how long Gretl had been watching her and was again glad most of her prayer had been silent. "Oh," she said lightly, "just general things." They'd reached the door now, and Gretl's eyes widened as light fell on them.

"Hermione, look at your cloak! It's showing runes!"

Hermione looked down and nodded. "So it is. Now, off to bed with you; it's late!"

Thankfully, the girl did not protest and cheerfully bade her good night.

Back in her room, Hermione examined the runes, which were slowly fading again. Gebo... a gift? I wonder... Hagalaz... oh, no. The last time this rune showed up was in the last month of the war. What is destructive now? Unless it means my obsession with Professor Snape... But no. That wouldn't make sense... Raido, reversed. Disruption in travel? She perused the cloak, but there were no other runes, only these three repeatedly until they faded completely, and the cloak looked once more like an ordinary piece of clothing.

Hermione smiled politely at Narcissa when she entered the living room and turned her attention to Severus. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes," he said and motioned for her to take a seat. "How is the Animagus training coming along?" He cast a wry smile her way. "Is Louisa still up to it?"

"She's doing great. Perhaps we'll both manage to transform before the year ends." Hermione chose a chair, since Narcissa was occupying the sofa. Why is she here again? No day passes without her popping in, she thought and immediately made an effort to suppress her irritation at the Malfoy woman and instead concentrated on what her employer had to say.

"Narcissa and Lucius are hosting an informal dinner party on Halloween. They'd like the children to attend as well so Hermann has some playmates. Would you be able to join?"

Hermione's mind whirled. Why is he asking me in front of her? Surely he knows her sister tortured me there! Her smile a very tight one, she said, "I am able to, yes."

His face was a mask of indifference. "Miss Granger, my apologies. I should have pointed out that Malfoy Manor has been completely refurbished since... your ordeal some years ago. And the dinner event will take place in the grounds."

How very thoughtful... "Yes, I'll accompany the children," she managed to say, then rose in a hurry. "If you'll excuse me, please." Hermione rushed out and barricaded herself in her room, glad it was late in the evening and all children were asleep or at least not wanting her attention.

What is happening with me? I have no reason to dislike Narcissa. She's been nothing but courteous to me, and she clearly looks after Hermann very well; he's such a lovely boy. Hermione sighed. I must not have this silly crush... My destiny is with Avalon.

It was hard to find sleep that night and even harder to rise in the morning. The hardest task was to purge the blonde, regal witch from her mind.

Halloween dawned, the weather was unusually cheerful, and Hermione dreaded the evening. What will I wear? The solution to that problem came from an unexpected source.

"Hermione?" Louisa knocked on her bedroom door.

"Come in, Louisa," Hermione said more optimistically than she felt.

The girl entered hesitantly and sat down on the edge of her bed. "I... I was wondering if you would wear your burgundy robes. I, too, want to wear my burgundy ones, but Severus is all about green, and if you wear yours, I'll feel so much stronger about wearing mine."

Hermione thought for a moment. "Yes, why not? In fact, I think that's an excellent idea. The Malfoys, I have no doubt, are all about green as well, and burgundy will provide a pretty contrast!"

Gretl burst into the room. "Hermione! Hermann so loves green! Do you think it's all right for me to wear my green robes?" She twirled, showing off her pine green robes.

"Oh, you look beautiful, Gretl," Hermione said, and Louisa nodded. Before she could utter another word, Kurt ran in and stopped abruptly upon seeing two of his sisters in the room.

"Uh... I was wondering..." He blushed furiously.

"Which robes to wear, Kurt?" Hermione asked, smiling. "I dare say you look dashing in these navy blue ones, sir."

Gretl and Louisa nodded. "You look simply fabulous, Kurt," Gretl said and giggled. "I'm sure Narcissa will notice you."

His blush deepened even further, and he made a beeline for the door, uttering, "Thank you," on his hurried way out.

Louisa and Hermione laughed, and Gretl grinned widely. "I think he likes Narcissa. I'm not surprised. She has such lovely hair and always says nice things."

Hermione held her tongue. "All right, girls. We've not had breakfast yet!" She headed for the kitchen with the girls in tow and was grateful and disappointed Severus was not there.

They ate buttered toast and drank tea in silence until Severus walked in. "Are you preparing for a funeral or something?"

"No," Gretl said sternly, "we were discussing clothing and became very hungry, so we focussed on eating."

"Oh, I see. I trust your clothing dilemma was resolved? We do not have time to buy new robes for you before tonight."

"It's all settled, Severus," Louisa said, smiling at him.

Hermione only noticed now that Louisa had changed the colour of her robes to a dark blue. She figured he really didn't like any shade of red.

As the sun set, everyone in the Snape household gathered by the front door, and together, they made their way to the front gate to Apparate to Malfoy Manor.

My beloved Gretl... I seem far too young to know my destiny, but I cannot help it; I was born with my memory intact, a blessing not many humans experience in this day and age, wizarding or not.

The wonderful thing is that Gretl is slowly regaining her memory as well.

The downside to the memory is that I know we are all in for a very rough time, some rougher than others. It saddens me, for it seems to make my coming into this life futile. But there is Gretl, and I shall be content for now.

A/N: For alpha- and beta-reading credits, please see first chapter.

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