Keeping an Eye Out
The girl inhaled deeply, allowing a thousand aromas to waft into her nostrils. Rosemary, garlic, roasted potatoes, onions, honeyed ham, and, her favorite, warm apple pie, blending together in the warmth of the kitchen. Her grandmother was an Olympic skater on the rink of culinary arts.
She wandered towards the scents, hearing the soft footsteps of her grand mother and the gush of water in the sink. Loving arms engulfed her, reigning her in from the sharp knives and hot stoves of her dreamland.
"No, honey, leave the cooking to Grammy." Her mother's voice was soothing, her hug warm and soft. She felt the soft curls of her mothers hair fall around her own.
"Herms, should Molly really be that close to the kitchen?"
"It's alright Ron, I've got my eye on her…" Hermione trailed off as she finished the phrase. The couple was silent for a moment.
"Mommy, when can I work in the kitchen with Grammy?" The girl's voice was airy and innocent, her childish naivety showing through with every word. It hung in the air as her mother formed a response slowly on her tongue.
"Maybe when you're older sweetheart." Molly felt her mother's hands stroking her hair, pulling it out of her eyes.
"Ronald, come carve the ham, will you dear? Oh, put that wand away, I will not have it in my kitchen!"
"Mommy, when will I get my own wand?"
"When you go to school honey. When you turn 11."
"Will they let me into the school you went to Mommy?"
"Why wouldn't they sweetie?"
"Well, it must be hard to do magic when you can't see." Her mother stroked her hair again.
"You'll go to Hogwarts, Molly, and you'll do fine."
The girl smiled, her pale eyes lighting up. Her red curls bounced as she leaned her head back to receive her mother's kiss on the forehead. Footsteps entered the room, and the aromas followed closely behind. Molly and her mother stood, and the girl felt her way to her chair. Together they sat, and shared their precious time. This is what families are for, Hermione thought. To keep an eye on each other even when others can't return the favor.