The Great Retrieval Quest

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 62 o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Great Retrieval Quest

On the first Monday after the students left Hogwarts for the summer holiday, Hermione and Severus had risen early and dressed in casual robes to go to the Ministry of Magic. Severus had reviewed her memories in a Pensive with her several times in the last few days, as well as read the books she'd used to bind her parents memories and listened to her explanation with amazing patience. She showed him her transfigured shoe box, which contained about a hundred blood-drawing tubes with red stoppers, each holding a memory thread, and a dozen shrunken photo albums full of pictures of Hermione or her and family. It was a treasure trove of memories, but hardly helpful if the binding of her parents' memories couldn't be undone. Severus had his doubts in regards to their being able to remove what she'd done without help.

They had already had been to St. Mungo's to have a conference with Healers Michelle Rearrick and Timothy Lin, two of the top Mind Healers from the Spell Damage ward, and Alfetina Penchuck and Gerald Faulkner, two of the Memory Restorers from the Obliviator's Office who were highly recommended by Kingsley Shacklebolt. Together they had spent half the afternoon reviewing Hermione's memories several times and discussing the spells she'd used on her parents.

The Healers had both been very sympathetic, but could not offer any assistance unless her parents were brought back to England and both Memory Restorers fully agreed. Mrs. Penchuck said they'd have to perform tests on her parents before any attempt of retrieval could be attempted, which Healer Lim offered to perform.

But in a surprise move, Kingsley offered the Memory Restorers permission to travel to Australia in an official capacity to help Hermione and Severus in the restoration of Hermione's parents' memories.

So now Hermione and Severus stood in the long line in the International Magical Transportation Office waiting to receive their Portkey, map and instructions. Hermione had no idea how it would all work; Severus had been the one to come to the Ministry earlier in the week to obtain the necessary authorization for the international transportation. She'd sent her parents by plane to Melbourne, Australia, and that had been an eighteen-hour flight plus a two-hour layover in Dubai and one in Perth. Her unease grew as the line moved forward. She had no idea how she'd be able to hold her breath for eighteen hours. Sure enough, Severus and Madam Pomfrey had managed to use a potion and stasis charm to allow her to float fully asleep under the lake, but that had only been for a few hours at best. Thankfully, her Muggle passport was still valid.

Behind them a woman hissed, "It is him, Merle. I'm certain of it."

Up ahead a little boy leaned around his father's legs to stare at them. Severus raised an eyebrow, and the little boy promptly disappeared behind his father's legs.

"But this girl is too petite to be her," the woman's companion behind them said. "She rode a dragon, after all, Arleen!"

The little boy with the family ahead of Hermione and Severus peered around his father's legs at Severus again, and Severus made a slight scowl, making the boy's eyes widen before he ducked back. "You're going to traumatize the boy before he even gets to Hogwarts," Hermione said as the child leaned around his father for a third time.

"Hardly," Severus stated as he curled his lip in a sneer at the child. This time his sister, a girl Hermione recognized from Hogwarts, pulled him back and mouthed an apology to Severus, blushing like any first-year student. He nodded once in acknowledgement, and the father clamped a hand on his son when he tried to do it again.

Behind them a woman hissed, "It is him. I'm certain of it."

The woman, Merle said, "Where do you think they are..." then flushed as Hermione turned around to look at her. "Merlin's stars, it is you! See, Arleen, it's Mrs. and Mr. Snape!"

"Yes, I'm Hermione Snape," Hermione said, trying to be polite, but really, she hated being famous at times.

"I've – you've – I can't believe I'm meeting you!" Merle stammered. Severus turned, and both ladies giggled nervously. "Are you going on a honeymoon?" she asked boldly.

"They're not married, Merle – it would've been announced in the Prophet if they were," her friend Arleen said. "Are you going somewhere for holiday?"

"Next?" the clerk called out as Severus drawled out, "Obviously."

Hermione turned back to the front, stifling a laugh, seeing a very thin witch with very short blonde hair watching her. Severus touched her elbow to urge Hermione forward.

"Do you have your passport and papers?" the clerk asked, extending her bony hand when they stopped before her window.

Severus handed the woman their passport and their authorizations. The clerk opened the small booklets and peered at the pictures and personal identification information. "Destination?" she asked expectantly, setting the booklets on her desk.

"Melbourne, Australia," he said softly. "Prepaid and Ministry approved."

The witch looked up at him. "Reason for travel?"

"I'm going to go retrieve my parents," Hermione stated. The clerk's eyes narrowed, so Hermione quickly elaborated. "They went to Australia for their safety. Now that it's safe to come back, I'm going to go get them and bring them home."

"Your papers indicate only two people – round trip," the clerk stated.

"The travel documents for Mr. and Mrs. Granger have already been arranged," Severus stated. "They will be traveling from Melbourne back to London with us on our return."

"Very well," the clerk stated, handing them their passports. "Please follow the orange line for the Victoria Room."

Hermione thanked her and followed Severus to a door with a plaque that read, the Victoria Room and listed the destinations of: Australia, Antarctica, Indonesia, New Zealand and the Philippines.

The Victoria room looked like a typical office. Several cubicles lined one wall and benches filled up the waiting room. Severus pulled a ticket from the dispenser before sitting next to Hermione on a bench. They didn't wait long. A balding wizard with tufty hair and black-rimmed glasses called out their number. Once Hermione and Severus were seated, a tepid cup of tea appeared as the wizard at the desk checked their passports and asked them to weigh their wands on his scale. He then made several notations on his ledger and handed them their wands. "All seems in order. Have you traveled abroad before?" he asked.

"Yes, to France," Hermione stated, but Severus shook his head.

"My fiancée has traveled the Muggle way," Severus stated. "I have only ever been to the continent."

"Haveyoureally?" the wizard gasped in shock at Hermione. "I mean, okay, yes, Muggle transportation. Have you used Portkey transportation before?"

Hermione nodded in assent as Severus answered, "Naturally."

"To travel outside the country?" the wizard asked Hermione.

Hermione shook her head. "Only within the country."

"Very well. To travel as far as Melbourne, you will have to make several layovers. Each Portkey will carry you for three to four minutes, and you will have to recuperate for at least an hour, although a lengthier stay is highly recommended, before moving on to your next destination. Otherwise you can suffer from time and spatial displacement distortion, which can lead to magical depletion or temporary magical instability. Each destination will be in a receiving area in the Ministry of Magic for that country or within twenty meters of the local Magical Customs Office. You will have to check in with the Magical Customs Officer upon arrival and have your wands registered. Don't forget."

He laid two lanyards with several badges on it on the counter. Each badge looked like a tourist souvenir from several countries. Hermione immediately recognized one that had a picture of the Grand Mosque of Dubai, another the limestone pillars of Pinnacles Desert in Perth, and the third was definitely the Thai Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok. "Each Portkey will activate by saying, profectere, so you must be holding the proper Portkey for each jump. If you hold the incorrect Portkey, you may suffocate from the length of the transport duration. Even wizards can only hold their breaths up to four minutes at a time in a Portkey vacuum."

Hermione nodded, examining the first badge with an ornate picture of a Catholic icon, wondering where that one would take them. The small boomerang at the end clearly said Melbourne in it, and there was one that resembled the London Bridge on the left side all by its self. "So we make five stops with an hour layover in each... city?" Hermione asked, looking up.

"Exactly," he said. "Now in order, be sure to activate the Portkeys from the first one," he tapped the icon with his pudgy finger, "on downward. Your Portkeys will land you in close proximity of each other, but if the international reception area is crowded, you may get separated so keep your passports with you at all times."

He looked up as Severus scowled. "Just a precaution – but it happens," the clerk said, holding up his hand. "I have to give you all warnings." He dropped his hand. "Now, here are the lists of your potions. Submit your form to St.... er... What?" he asked as Severus slid the sheet back.

"I've already brewed all the necessary potions," Severus stated as if addressing a student, and Hermione stifled a laugh at the clerk's expense. "Madam Pomfrey, the Healer at Hogwarts, has already confirmed that we've taken them on the requisite forms."

"Very well," the clerk said, placing a tray of stamps and an inkpad. He opened their passports and selected a rectangle stamp. However, after firmly pressing it on the passport, only a faint impression of 'MAGICAL CUSTOMS' with the word 'approved destination' underneath and below that 'SOFIA, BULGARIA'.

"It's magical, Hermione, the ink will darken once we are in the country and not before. The customs office will likewise validate our arrival in each country," Severus explained as the clerk used an oval stamp for Dubai, U.A.E. on the opposing page, and then added a circle-shaped stamp for Bangkok.

The clerk added two more stamps on the next page, then handed the passports to them. "All right, everything is in order. Your first Portkey is scheduled for eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Please do be on time or there could be complications or a very long delay. Enjoy your trip."

Hermione and Severus left the International Portkey office with their multi-jump international Portkeys in hand, and once in the Ministry atrium, Severus led her by Floo back to the castle. "That's it?" Hermione asked as they entered his office. "We're not leaving until tomorrow?"

He laughed. "I thought you'd want to pack something."

She held up her beaded purse.

"Oh. Well, I have to pack," he started to say but she raised her eyebrow, still holding the beaded bag aloft. "You packed my things?"

"Kirch did," she replied. "I've everything you and I could possibly need."

He walked to his desk and pulled his calendar toward him. "Have a seat." They sat in the chairs facing his desk. "Now, I want to discuss our Portkey itinerary." He began to outline a rough schedule on a piece of parchment. "I propose dividing our departure times every four to six hours, allowing time for sightseeing..."

"Sightseeing?" Hermione gasped. "We have to find my parents, and we only have a week! Narcissa was frantic when I insisted on going to find them and bring them back before the weeding," she said, recalling the conversation they'd had the second time Hermione, Ginny and Narcissa had met to talk about the wedding. "Both Ginny and I had to assure her we still had plenty of time, but I don't know – I've only two weeks to find them and get their memories restored."

"Hermione, you said they are in Melbourne. They are dentists. How hard do you think it will be to trace down two dentists by the name of Monica and Wendell Wilkins in one city?"

"Melbourne is huge!" She gaped at him, hardly believing what he was saying. "It could take days – weeks! They could be anywhere in Melbourne – they could have moved!"

His eyes narrowed. "You do know to whom you are speaking."

She nodded and he relaxed. "Lucius has sent a couple of investigators to Melbourne; they have been there for weeks now, searching for your parents."

"He what?!" she gasped.

"Lucius is my friend. Considering that you would like to have your parents at the wedding, Narcissa insisted that we expedite things as much as possible to find them, so Lucius sent a couple of investigators to Melbourne for me. Lucius wrote to me last week to tell me that he thought that the investigators were close to finding them. We discussed it, and he and I agree that you and I should be in Melbourne for a few days to assist the investigators," Severus said calmly. "I had meant to locate your parents for you as a surprise for you at the end of your exams, but it's taking longer than we'd anticipated."

Hermione sat there for a moment, taking in everything he'd said. He wanted to have her parents at their wedding. He arranged all this for her. For her. She recalled that Severus had asked about her parents one evening not long ago: what they looked like, how old they were, what suggestions she'd given them regarding their new lives in Melbourne. "My family photos on the mantel," she said softly, and he shrugged slightly, nodding once. It all made sense now. He'd arranged this, and now... now they would go find her parents. She stood up and threw her arms around him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said as he pulled her onto his lap. "But I know another way to thank me."

"I thought you wanted to plan our trip?" she said, snuggling closer on his lap.

"Right now, I can think of something else I'd rather be doing with you." He looked up at the portraits. "I'd appreciate some privacy."

The painted denizens who had been pretending to sleep, opened their eyes, nodded and walked out of their frames; the two who had actually been asleep, were nudged gently by their neighbors and quickly left as well.

"Now, where were we?" Severus asked, sliding his fingers down her buttons, and she gasped when she felt the air on her skin. "We just have to divest you of your clothing."

"What is it with you and your office? Do you really want to have sex here?" she asked as he tried to pull the bodice of her gown down to expose her breasts.

"Yes, here," he said in his silky smooth voice that sent chills down her spine as his lips grazed the swell of her breast. "Don't tell me you've never fantasized having your professor bend you over his desk and take you?"

"Er, no... but then I didn't like you that way when I was your student" she said as his hands cupped her, squeezing her gently and trying to pinch her through her robe. "Ah – and the other options were Professor Flitwick or Hagrid." His hands roamed down her sides, and she felt the seams give, although she'd not heard a tearing sound. "Are you ripping my robe?"

"Removing it off your person," he replied as his hands slid inside the open seams, hot and firm against her skin, and then moved up to cup her breasts again.

"Well rather than destroy my robe," she said, pushing at him so she could stand up.

He tried to restrain her but she managed to gain her footing nonetheless as another seam came undone. "Stop," she insisted, and he looked at her as if affronted. "Let me." She let what was left of the robe fall to the floor at her ankles. "Now add your silencing charm on the portraits, and I may just let you take me on your desk."

He whipped his wand out, and said, "Muffliato" without taking his eyes off her. He set his wand down and cupped her breasts, feeling the weight, her nipples pressed to the center of his palms. He squeezed them gently, massaging her breasts with his long fingers, occasionally pulling on her nipples or passing his thumbs over them in lightly enticing circles. It was incredibly tantalizing, and it surprised her that she was being turned on simply by his slightly calloused hands and agile fingers on her breasts.

As if mesmerized, he kissed her one breast, enveloping the areola into his mouth and slowly pulled back, sucking hard on her soft flesh escaped, then letting her nipple go with a pop, and Hermione inhaled at the intense pleasure it gave her. He flicked his tongue over her nipple and then repeated the action on her right side, using his fingers to pinch and pluck the now damp nipple on her left, sending arousing shocks jutting to her core.

Shifting once more, he grasped her one breast with his hand while he raked his tongue over the other; simultaneously sucking hungrily and nipping gently on one while mimicking his actions with his fingers, stroking and pinching the other. It was maddening. Hermione closed her eyes and concentrated on the sensations he aroused, making her quim pulse with want.

As if sensing her need, his free hand slid down under her knickers, expertly tantalizing her and increasing her arousal, making her gasp in desire, "More."

"Turn and face the desk," he said, his voice thick with lust.

She turned slowly and placed her hands on his desk. She felt him move closer to her and smiled at the light tickle of his leg hairs on the back of her calves. He caressed her silently, cupping her bum, then sliding down her thighs and back up. One of his hands stopped at her core while the other cupped her chest and continued his fondling.

"Open up," he said softly, "spread your feet apart and lean forward." She spread her feet, bending forward so her arms rested on the hard wood and heard his intake of breath. As his hands moved up her back, sliding up to her shoulders, she could feel more of his warm skin along her legs. He pressed his groin firmly against her, his penis rigid, and she felt a bit of wetness on her skin, evidence he was as aroused as she. He leaned forward more, pressing down on her and brushed her hair to one side. "You're exquisite."

"So you've said," she responded boldly.

He rubbed his penis against her bum, leaving a hot, sticky trail on her skin. "Will you let me take you this way?" he asked, sliding the head along her crack.

"From behind, yes," she said, trying to hide the sudden flicker of panic, hoping he didn't mean in her little hole, and felt him slide his penis between her legs with relief. After a few strokes, he penetrated her, burying himself fully, and she couldn't hold back her moan at the sensation. He drew back and pushed forward, making her moan louder. "Harder," she brazenly demanded, and he grasped her hips.

He complied, moving faster and harder, and she leaned down more on the desk, allowing him to be able to penetrate her deeper. His scrotum swung with his movements, slapping her with each forward thrust, teasing her cunt with each miss of her clitoris. "Gods, fuck, Hermione, you're – I-I'm going to...to..." he stammered through gritted teeth. His pace quickened, his movements became jerky.

She rose up on her toes, jutting her hips higher, and his scrotum patted her clitoris, its impact both startling and stimulating her. Again and again he pounded into her, the soft pat on her clit with the fierce thrust sent her reeling, and she tried to arch her back more, tried to push herself higher, straining to increase the contact with his scrotum on her clit while giving him easier access to fully fuck her senseless. "Yes, harder, gods, harder," she panted to his guttural, "Almost, so close, fuck you, so – come."

She wanted to come – she was so close, so close – the building tightness clenching and drawing her upward, almost there.

"Come with – come," he said through clenched teeth, the feral sound of his voice exciting her more, knowing he was losing control and begging her to orgasm with him. "I'm going to..."

She stopped thinking and allowed herself to become lost in what she felt, and the tension deep within her shifted. She cried out as it turned and crashed down, taking her with it, and Severus growled out above her, burying himself into her while holding onto her hips with a tight grip she knew would leave marks. He shook once, then twice and seemed to collapse onto her back.

After her heart began to slow, he moved, bracing his hands on each side of her as he lifted his weight off her back. "Thank you," he breathed as he kissed her shoulder.

She stood and turned, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly, making him chuckle. "So do we take this upstairs?" she asked.

He swatted her bum playfully. "You're going to be the death of me, you little minx."

She pouted at him. "If you're not up for it, I could always go read something."

"Oh, I'm up for it," he snarled and lifted her up in his arms and started to walk for the stairs. "Or I will be shortly."

~o0o~

Early the next morning at 8:00, Severus and Hermione activated the Catholic icon, which took them to a roped off colonnade in the Bulgarian Ministry of Magic at 10:05 due to the two hour time difference. The Bulgarian Aurors in sharp red uniforms, directed them to the Magical International Customs Office. "Vill you spend time in Bulgaria?" the customs clerk asked in rough English as she weighed their wands.

"No, I'd like to move on after the hour waiting period," Hermione said, eager to see her parents.

"We will go to the Vitosha Aleya while we wait," Severus stated.

The clerk nodded. She stamped their passports and gave them a magical map of the Vitosha Aleya while an Auror inspected her beaded purse for illegal possessions and substances with a probe. "You're departure is set for five minutes after eleven," the clerk stated as the Auror handed Hermione her bag. "Please do not be late," she said, handing them back their passports.

When Severus and Hermione exited the building's visitor's exit, they found themselves in Vitosha Aleya off the Vitosha Boulevard in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Bulgarian version of Diagon Alley. It was nice, strolling along past the shops, but after a while Hermione wanted to go back to wait till they could activate the next Portkey and move forward, so they returned to the colonnade to depart.

When they activated the Portkey with the picture of the Grand Mosque of Dubai, they found themselves standing in a cordoned off section of the plaza of the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Magic at 12:09 in the afternoon, and they were herded to the Magical International Customs Office with the other arrivals. U.A.E. Aurors in green robes with white sleeves checked Hermione's bag again, then directed them to the right queue. After having their wands verified and weighed, and their passports stamped, they were told to return at thirteen minutes after one to activate their next Portkey. Severus stopped at the Ministry exchange office and purchased a magical map at a small kiosk. Severus led Hermione out into the balmy heat. They found a place nearby and ordered shawarma wraps with tahini sauce and had very soothing strawberry and banana drinks. They then wandered through some shops before heading back to the Ministry Plaza.

At precisely 1:13 they activated the Portkey with the picture of the Thai Royal Grand Palace, arriving in Bangkok at 4:17 in the afternoon. The Thai Aurors in gold-trimmed robes standing guard at the Thailand Ministry of Magic's magical customs terminus were surprised due to their 'late arrival,' a timing glitch because the previous customs officer hadn't accounted for the three hour time change. The customs officer, who spoke fairly poor English, weighed and registered their wands and provided them with a city map and several brochures of both the local tourist destinations as well as magical ones. "Your activation time will be at five-seventeen this evening. Do not be late," he said stiffly and waved the next traveler over.

At first the sprawling expressways and overpasses of the Skytrain system and crowded streets full of vendors strongly reminded Hermione of the city depicted in the movie, Blade Runner, and it seemed as overwhelming. They decided to ride the new Lavalin Skytrain along the Sukhumvit Line from Mo Chit to On Nut to see the city. Afterwards they Apparated back to the Thailand Ministry of Magic, arriving at the departure terminal with only a minute to spare.

The Portkey with the picture of the limestone pillars of Pinnacles Desert in Perth landed Severus and Hermione in the Fremantle Satellite Offices of the Australian Ministry of Magic at 6:21. The security wizards checked Hermione's bag, asking if she had anything to declare, and then directed them to the queue for the Magical International Customs Office. But being this close to Melbourne, and yet all the way across the Australian continent from her parents, was making Hermione antsy.

Severus suggested going to see the limestone pillars of Pinnacles Desert, but Hermione bit her lower lip and checked her watch and shook her head. "I don't want to miss our departure time," she said, growing impatient as the line slowly progressed. By the time they had finished with the customs officer twenty minutes had passed, and Hermione was reluctant to go anywhere or miss their designated departure time.

Severus asked again once they cleared customs. "I can easily have you back here in time to leave," he said, scowling at a family of five who had two fussy young children.

"But won't there be a queue for wherever they want us to activate the Portkeys?" she asked, eyeing some of the other families and travelers waiting in the annex.

"If you don't want to go, we don't have to," he said, but she could tell that he did, so she agreed. Even though the winter air was chilly, she enjoyed her walk in the desert. She had to admit that the huge jagged pinnacles jutting up out in the yellow sand were very impressive and created a unique landscape that seemed as if they were walking on another planet. And as Severus had promised, they returned back to the annex in plenty of time to activate their boomerang-shaped Portkey.

They arrived in Melbourne at 9:34 exhausted and thirsty. The customs clerks simply stamped their passports and welcomed them to Melbourne. When they exited the terminal, Hermione paused to take in the beautiful high Victorian architecture. The Magical Transportation Department had ornate archway entrances for the reception rooms. The first was designated for Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone, and another for Darwin, Dampier and Cairns, but Perth, Sydney and Adelaide each had their own reception areas. But it was the five story grand foyer that really impressed Hermione. The open sided walkways on each floor of the Ministry looked down upon the atrium designed in the old Second Empire style. Across the way on the ground floor, Hermione could see the grand staircase and the queues for the large Floos.

Severus laughed softly. "The Melbourne Branch of the Australian Ministry of Magic is in what used to be called a temperance hotel. It was converted into the Melbourne Ministry of Magic in 1889, and is naturally protected by spells to ward off Muggles. They simply see an old, rundown, private senior residence building. Lucius told me several of the old hotels have been converted for magical use."

"Much like St. Mungo's," she said, "People only see an old department store front." Once out on the street, Hermione smiled at the familiar feel of the city as trams rattled past in the street.

"Are you hungry?" Severus asked.

"Shouldn't we find a hotel first?" Hermione asked, feeling more drained than hungry.

"Lucius keeps an apartment in Melbourne. He suggested we use it until we find your parents," Severus said.

Hermione nodded. "So food first then bed. I'm exhausted."

Severus smiled and they hailed a cab. The cabby's suggestion of a local restaurant turned out to be a delight. Afterward Severus hailed another cab and gave him the address to the Malfoy's Melbourne residence. The apartment was in a tall apartment building with spectacular views of the city, not that Hermione was surprised.

Their love making was unhurried and slow that night. Tender caresses, light touches, gentle kisses and a slow easy rhythm. Severus let her explore him, caress him as she wanted, kissing, licking and nipping in places she knew made him react, made him hiss in pleasure.

She suckled his cock, running her tongue on his length, stroking him. His hand played softly in her hair, keeping it up and out of his line of sight as he watched her bring him pleasure.

He rose up, before he came, rolling her onto her back and entered her easily, moving in a slow easy rhythm. She ran her nails lightly down his back and arms, her fingertips tracing his muscles and down the ridge of his back. He brought her to climax slowly, teased it from her and then followed her into bliss, collapsing beside her. With a sweep of his hand the covers slid up and covered their bodies, and he pulled her to him and kissed her temple. "I love you," she whispered.

"As I do you," he replied softly.

~o0o~

The next morning, Severus took Hermione to the Melbourne branch of MIC – the Malfoy International Conglomerate. The building was another temperance hotel, and the ground floor had an arcade with various shops and cafés, which provided the perfect ruse for the wizarding employees and clients in their wizarding robes or unusual Muggle attire combinations. The front desk receptionist directed Hermione and Severus up the wide marble stairs to the first floor lobby and instructed them to take the lifts marked with the Malfoy 'M' on the left to the third floor reception area.

A very pretty witch greeted them by name when they stepped out of the lift and asked them to take a seat.

Within a few minutes, two wizards in well-tailored robes approached them, followed by a man in more casual attire. "Mr. and Mrs. Snape, I'm Albert Roland," the first wizard said, extending his hand to each of them. "These gentlemen are my associates, John Fitzroy and Curtis Woodford," Mr. Roland added as each man shook their hands as well. "If you'll follow me, we'll take this into one of our conference rooms."

The conference room with its exquisite, tasteful furnishings and lovely views gave off the impression of being much larger in scale than it appeared, yet the lovely mahogany table that sat only six hardly seemed out of place. A woman entered, placed several folders on the table, and demurely departed.

"Please have a seat," Mr. Roland said as Severus pulled out a chair for Hermione and tucked it under her as she sat down.

"As I'm sure you're aware, we have been assigned with the task of locating your Muggle parents, Mrs. Snape," Mr. Roland said as another young lady set a lovely tea service for five on the table and left. He slid a folder over to Hermione. "Mr. Malfoy was quite specific in regards to when your parents immigrated to Australia, and we have some general information about them, but our search has had a few complications."

"Complications?" Hermione echoed as she looked at Severus in confusion. He shrugged, so she turned to Mr. Roland.

"With what limited information Mr. Malfoy had for us, we have searched through the greater Melbourne area, including all further thirty municipalities, and it yielded us several possibilities."

"Possibilities?" she asked, opening the file. The first page had a picture clipped to it of a couple getting out of a car. Not her parents. The second page likewise had a picture of two people exiting the house and stopping, staring at – probably the photographer – in stunned surprise. They were not her parents either.

"That file has every couple, man and wife, with the surname of Wilkins, Wilkerson or names that seemed similar," Mr. Roland was saying as Hermione flipped through the folder. "None match with your description or the non-moving picture that was sent to us."

The next couple in the file was Nora and Albert Wilkins. Albert was her father's middle name, but Mr. Wilkins was a manager at a grocer. The next couple was Walter and Jamie Wilkerson and looked like a nice young couple, but they were not her parents. He worked for the Melbourne Museum, and she volunteered at the Carlton Gardens.

"So we had John," Mr. Roland was saying, indicating the wizard in the casual robes, "and his partner, Gus, look up every dentist in the greater Melbourne area that started doing... whatever dentists do – in 1997. That file contains the..."

But Hermione wasn't listening as she flipped through the wizarding pictures and brief bios of the local dentists. None of the pictures in here are of my parents, she thought as she flipped through page after page. "How hard could it be to find Monica and Wendell Wilkins?" Hermione asked in frustration. She turned the page, and her breath caught and heart nearly leaped out of her chest. Dr. Dell Watkinson. "This is him!" she said, her voice louder than she'd intended with her relieved excitement.

"Excellent," Mr. Roland said, summoning the file to him with a flick of his wand. "We'll notify Mr. Malfoy immediately and then we can proceed." Mr. Woodford got up and left.

"But why – why would their name change?" Hermione's hand covered her mouth and then lowered to her chest. "Unless I did the Nom de Guerre Alias Charm wrong?" she asked.

"Hermione, I seriously doubt that you did the spell incorrectly. Altering another's mind is very difficult and complex. In addition, you altered your parents' conscious mind," he pointed out. "You blocked all memory of yourself and that might have also included the specifics arrangements you made for their relocation."

Hermione nodded, remembering what the books she'd found in the Restricted Section had said about layering the mind-altering spells.

"We will have to wait until we go see them to access the extent of the alterations," Severus said.

Hermione read over the brief biography as Severus, Mr. Roland and Mr. Fitzroy discussed the best way to approach her parents. She wondered why there wasn't any mention about where her mother was working when she reached the part in the bio about the baby – a baby that was barely eighteen months old. "Mum... she was pregnant." It didn't say if it was a girl or boy, but either way, she had a sibling.

Severus stopped speaking and turned to look at her. "Hermione...?"

She looked up at him, fighting back her tears. "May we go?" she asked, her voice cracking.

Severus nodded and turned to Mr. Roland. "If your report to Lucius stated you've completed your search, I'm sure he's notified the Minister of Magic back home as I requested. We have already made arrangements with Healer Lim and Memory Restorer Penchuck. They are both familiar with the particulars in this situation and have reviewed all pertinent information, and they already know what actions will need to be taken. Either way, they are expected to arrive in Melbourne tomorrow morning at the latest to assist me and my fiancée with her parents." He rose from his seat and stepped over to assist Hermione from hers.

"I understand," Mr. Roland said flatly, indicating anything but. "If you should have need of us, you may contact me at any time."

Hermione thanked the wizard and left the building with Severus, wondering what she should do. She wanted to go immediately, but her logical mind told her to wait for professional assistance.

When they were out on the street, Severus gently touched her arm. "What happened in there?" he asked.

"My mum – she was pregnant – when I... She had a baby," Hermione said softly. "I didn't know my mum was pregnant. I need to know if the baby is – if I could have harmed my – her baby!" She turned to face him. "I want to go and see her."

Severus smiled. "And I assume you memorized their address?" he asked as Hermione hailed a taxi.

"I memorized their home address and the office where my father works," she stated as she climbed into the car before he did. Hermione gave the address to the driver and then told Severus everything she could remember from the bio. Hermione's emotions were in such turmoil that the ride seemed to last for hours, but finally the taxi came to a halt in front of a lovely two-story brick home.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Severus asked as they approached the house.

"She's my mum," Hermione said and rung the bell. "I've waited two years to see her again – and I now I find out I have a little brother or sister." She rang the bell again. No one was home. Hermione sighed. "He is a dentist and comes home at seven every night. She is a stay at home mother. The bio said the baby is nearly eighteen months old."

Hermione looked around at the other homes as she and Severus walked back out onto the pavement. It was a nice neighborhood with lovely homes for families. A car approached and turned into the Watkinson's driveway. Hermione stopped and stared at the woman who exited the car. Janet Granger, now Veronica Watkinson, was thinner and her curly chestnut hair was lighter, but there was no mistaking the laugh and the voice. "Here you go, Hermione, we're home now," she said as she took a baby out of a car seat. "It's time for your lunch, sweetie."

Hermione took a step back and collided into Severus. He wrapped his arms around her, and she turned to face him, fighting back her tears. "I've been replaced."

"No, I don't think so," he said smoothly.

Veronica Watkinson smiled politely at them. "May I help you?"

Severus calmly approached, but when he stood before Veronica, neither spoke for several heartbeats.

"I – um... I-I have to – to go?" Veronica stammered, taking a step backward with a confused look on her face. She looked at Hermione, her face puzzled, her eyes searching, staring at her as if – Hermione held her breath – as if possibly trying to place her face. It was hopeful thinking, but the look was unmistakable. Veronica backed away, not from fear, but definite uncertainty.

Severus drew his wand, holding it casually. Mrs. Watkinson's eyes widened for a second when she saw it and then nervously she said, "I have to get Hermione inside," and turned and walked quickly to her house.

Severus walked up to Hermione with a thoughtful expression, and Hermione couldn't believe he had the audacity to look smug. She stormed after him as he casually walked away. "You've scared her. We should have waited until..."

"I think restoring your parents' memories may be easier than you believe," he interrupted her, and Hermione's mouth opened soundlessly. He stopped walking. "The mind is a very complex maze of neurons, and memories are not linear but tied to various emotions, sensory inputs and shared associations – that is why memory alteration is so difficult." He placed a finger under her jaw to close her mouth then, taking her arm, led her away. "I suggest we wait for Healer Lim and Memory Restorer Penchuck to arrive. And I strongly suggest that we should acquire a Pensieve. From what I saw in your mother's mind..."

"You used Legilimency on my mother?!" she exclaimed.

"...we will be able to restore her memories," he finished, then added flatly. "Yes, I did. It was the fastest way to find out the information I required." He paused before continuing. "She recognized you, Hermione. Not that she knew you were her daughter, but she saw resemblances in you, familiarity, and she was trying to place your face – like seeing a stranger you think you've seen before somewhere or meeting a relative you hadn't known before."

"I have seen that look on my mum's face when we would run into someone while shopping," Hermione said. "They would greet her by name, and my mum would pretend to remember the person until she recalled where or how she knew them... hazards of having a successful practice for years."

They continued to walk, looking for a safe place to Apparate. "Severus, I have a Pensieve," she said, then blushed when his eyes narrowed. "I took our – well Hogwarts' – the one from your office. Don't be angry. I brought the memories, memories of the conversations I had with my parents about the war and the dangers they were in and why they had to leave and... What?"

He kissed her. "My brilliant witch," he said, cupping her face. "You surprised me, that's all. Of course you thought to bring the Pensieve."

They Apparated back to the Malfoy's flat in the city, ate a leisurely lunch, and took in some sights as they waited to hear from Healer Lim and Mrs. Penchuck.

~o0o~

Severus had been right; from her mum's perspective, seeing Hermione was like looking at an older version of her daughter: her mother's curly hair, her nose and the shape of her face, but she had her father's eyes and her father's smile, something Hermione had heard for most of her young life. She was now as tall as her mother as well. When Severus, Hermione, Healer Lim and Mrs. Penchuck arrived on their doorstep, Veronica had been nervous, but her father, always more curious and adventurous then her mother, had welcomed them in and wanted to know why they'd come. He too sensed a familiarity upon seeing Hermione, asking if she was a niece or cousins' daughter that he hadn't met before.

Hermione had cringed, realizing that she'd forgotten to alter her parents' memories of her aunts and uncles. Walking from the kitchen to the living room, it was obvious that this was her parents' home. The furnishings might be different, but they were the same style and colors, and the placement of each piece so eerily similar. Even the still life in the dining room and the paintings of Venice in the living room were similar. Her parents both agreed to having Healer Lim, a 'medical practitioner', brought to their home specifically to help them regain memories they didn't know had been tampered with. Both parents sat stiffly as first Healer Lim and then Mrs. Penchuck 'examined' them, then pronounced their diagnosis.

"Let me get this straight. You're wizards, magic exists, and she's my daughter?" Dell asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion, after Hermione and Mrs. Penchuck tried to explain why they were there.

"Yes," Hermione said with a nod. "You were in grave danger, there was a war – a horrible dark wizard who hated people like me – people with non-magical parents. You – because of who I knew, people I made friends with – it was the only way to keep you safe."

"As difficult as it may seem, as improbable as it sounds, yes. However, I assure you, what Hermione did saved your life," Severus stated assuredly. "If I may..."

Hermione sat on the chair facing her parents while Severus explained the events of the war from his perspective. Listening to his side of the war, how Muggle-borns and their families were targeted and eliminated, sent a chill through her. She could only imagine how hard it had to be for her parents to absorb.

Even Mrs. Penchuck added in her recollection of the war and the horrors they faced and endured. "My dearest friend, Emily, and her family were sent to Azkaban, along with hundreds others. People I worked with – people I'd known for years. It was horrible. Many didn't survive."

When Severus pulled up his sleeve and showed them his Dark Mark, her father shook his head. "Rather gruesome tattoo."

"It had magical properties that bound me to this Dark Lord," he said.

"Voldemort." Hermione added and squeezed Severus' hand, knowing he still hated hearing the name. "I spoke to you about him. There are – I have several memories of yours about our conversations about him. My teacher, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of my school, names that don't mean much to you now, kept telling you I was perfectly safe, but in the end... I had to go on the run – into hiding for my life. I couldn't take you with me... this," she indicated the room, "was our solution – the choice was made by all three of us. I assure you dad, mum, I would never have raised my wand against you! I love you."

The Pensieve sat on the coffee table, casting a soft glow that baby Hermione found utterly fascinating, but made her mother nervous. "And the stick – sorry, wand – he has, do you have one too?" her mother asked.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, I have one – you bought it for me when I was eleven. It's all in here, these are your memories," she said as she reached into her bag and pulled out a magically altered shoebox and removed the lid. The box contained one hundred blood glass tubes with red rubber stoppers held in Styrofoam and several shrunken photo albums. "These are tubes are – were from your office – before we, er, I modified your memories." Hermione pulled out a tube. "You helped me with these. You and mum. These are ones you wanted back, so..." Hermione handed Dell a tube with his name on the label. "The spell I used to extract the memory – this silver substance – can be viewed in this." She pointed to the Pensieve. "I read that these memories can be reintroduced," she looked at Healer Lim, who nodded, "after you view them, and you'll remember this happening."

"It's a good thing your daughter did this," Healer Lim stated with a warm smile. "Even though the block can be reversed, with your existing memories fractured as they are, it would be impossible to restore them."

"So all I have to do is put my face in the bowl...?" Veronica asked, looking at the four people holding wands with skepticism. "Won't I drown?"

"It's not really a liquid, it's an airy substance, a medium for the memory thread – it's quite harmless," Mrs. Penchuck assured her, although her mum didn't look reassured. "If it at all helps, Healer Lim can go in with you the first few times."

"Can we go together?" Dell asked.

Severus smiled. "Of course you may," he said but Hermione looked at him questioningly.

"It might be best to view it individually since we are trying to restore your memories. Some of these memories are yours, dad, fifty of them, but the other fifty are mum's. If you go into one of mum's, you'll be seeing the memory from her point of view."

"You can always view them together at another time. It's what a Pensieve is for," Mrs. Penchuck stated.

In the end, Hermione's father chose to go first. Hermione and her mum watched on anxiously, for different reasons, and waited as her father watched five memories sequentially, then had them magically restored in his mind by the Healer and Memory Restorer. He was then asked to let them settle before proceeding. "It's not so bad, Veronica. It's a little disorientating, but not... It's hard to explain. But you'll be all right."

Veronica agreed and watched her first two memories, then had them restored. "These really are my memories," she said, looking at Hermione.

Hermione nodded.

"Okay, then," she said and leaned in to see the other two in procession.

It took three days to assimilate all fifty memories back into her parents' minds. Mrs. Penchuck only allowed her parents to view four or five memories at a time, less if they were long ones, then insisted that her parents wait, let the new memories settle and to give Dell and Veronica time to reflect and accept. Healer Lim checked her parents progress, pleased that with their logical minds and reasonable acceptance of the reintroduced memories that everything was going well. That was a huge relief to Hermione. Severus and Hermione spoke quietly with her parents in turn, answering questions about the school, the war, his and Hermione's involvement in it, even having to repeat themselves more than a few times. That in of itself pleased Hermione – that he would be so patient with her mum and dad since she knew how much he hated repeating himself.

Hermione also took some time to play with her little sister, Minnie, as their father called her affectionately. It was awkward to be called big Hermione and her sister baby Hermione, so having her parents fall back on familiar pet names seemed only logical. Little Minnie was a sweet baby. She seemed fascinated with her big sister's hair and the necklace around her neck, and Veronica and Dell kept staring at the pair in wonderment.

That second night, Healer Lim and Mrs. Penchuck left to their hotel to give Severus and Hermione time alone to get better acquainted.

"So why now," her father asked when they all sat down together at the dinner table for dinner.

"Well, I have news," Hermione said. "I'm getting married. To Severus."

"Your teacher?" her mother asked astounded.

"I assure you there was no impropriety perpetrated while Hermione was a student of mine," Severus said. "Hermione didn't pursue me until, well, she was eighteen. I refuted her at first, but then... well, she won me over."

Hermione's eyebrow rose at his comment. "I won you over? You were horrible at first."

"They don't need to know that," Severus said with a scowl.

Hermione turned to her parents, who were both eyeing them with suspicion. "It was a spell, dad," she said, blushing. "This may take awhile."

~ T B C ~>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o0o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's notes:

I want to thank Arabellabloodgood, my alpha-reader, Proulxes for adding a bit of British flare to my chapter, and my beta, FrankQ, for giving this a read and helping me clean up all my mistakes. I really appreciate it very much.

Thank you also to Jay for my beautiful banner. I really love it!

I created a new spell using my favorite Latin translator:

profectere means: to start forward , set out, depart; to arise or spring from an origin.