Chapter 7 is ready for you. Thank you for those who reviewed and encouraged me to update, it really means a lot to me. Obviously I do not own these characters, I wish! I'm just borrowing them from the lovely JK Rowling.

Hermione Granger was so frustrated that she felt she was turning into professor Snape. Being Slughorn's assistant, he wanted her to grade the papers, which she had no problem doing but reading over these papers she had to wonder if any of the student were even paying attention. She was slightly worried that there would an explosion while making this potion. Hermione then smiled as she remembered Neville who put the porcupine quills into the cauldron before taking it off the fire and was covered in boils for a week.

Sighing she looked back down at the paper she was grading that they've been talking about the first week of school and they still couldn't get the essay correct. No wonder Snape had an attitude problem with the students. Rubbing her head with her hand she crossed out ingredients that would be horrendous if they put them in the potion, there would be no classroom left! Even the sentences did not make sense and even the paragraphs!

Sitting back against the chair, taking a deep breath to calm herself, while looking up at the sky and seeing it darkened slightly, she sighed and looked down at the parchment and wrote on the side.

Good job explaining most of the ingredients for the cure for boils but don't forget to take the cauldron off the fire before adding the porcupine quills, and please Mr. Wills don't write down random ingredients to fill up the parchment... Miss H.

Rubbing her eyes with the heal of her palms she folded up the last paper and did a hallelujah and got up to get ready to go and pick up Tom from the Potters. Raising her hands above her head and stretching up until she was standing on her tip toes she inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. Putting her arms down, she walked towards Slughorn's personal cupboard and locked it, looking around the room and seeing nothing out of the ordinary she locked her door and walked out of Hogwarts to the apportion point.

Looking around her surroundings she closed her eyes and thought of the Potters house and she immediately felt a tug and felt cool air blowing passed her. She didn't open her eyes until she heard voices and Tom laughing out loud with Charlus. She smiled and opened her eyes to see both children on the floor playing with toys that Charlus owned.

Looking up when he heard a pop Tom smiled and jumped up and hugged Hermione tightly as she wrapped her arms around him. Feeling another pair of arms around her she opened her eyes and saw Charlus hugging her as well, she laughed and put her arms around him.

Letting go of both boys she sat down on the chair while they both took the couch right across from her, they both had on similar expressions of unease and hope she looked a them curiously but cautiously.

"Miss Granger." Charlus started, she expected in his serious voice and Hermione covered her mouth with her hand to hide the smile. Rolling her eyes at him using her last name. "Yes Mr. Potter." Hermione said in the same tone. "Um… Can Tom spend the night tonight?" He asked and Hermione was taken by surprise. She thought it was going to be something completely different. Seeing Hermione's shocked expression Tom jumped in.

"I know you probably had a long day, you can just go home and relax and, Charlus asked and, I really want to." Looking at both boys she was looking for something but couldn't see much as they weren't looking at her in the eye.

"what's the catch?" Hermione asked. They both looked at each other. "Can you ask my father?" Charlus asked and Hermione started to laugh at them. "Oh boys you make me laugh." she smiled at them and stood up. "Where's your father Charlus?" Hermione asked and both boys sighed in relief.

Walking towards the office she felt the warmth coming from the room and saw him in the chair smoking his pipe and reading the paper. Melancholy rushed through her as she remembered her dad doing the same thing. Shaking her head, she Knocked on the door and he looked up and took the pipe out of his mouth. "Miss Granger please come in." He said standing up. Hermione smiled at him and sat down on the chair across from him suddenly feeling the warmth of the fire, she relaxed in the chair.

"What can I do you for?" He asked pointing towards the drinks of whisky he had on the table. She declined with a shake of her head and a smile. "I came in here to ask if it would be possible for Tom to stay the night?" She asked. He looked at her for a minuet and looked out the door and saw both boys looking in. Gasping out loud and running from the room of getting caught. Hermione smiled at them as they ran down the hall into Charlus' room. He looked at her. "Did they set you up for this?" He asked. She smiled at him. "They wanted me to ask." She said.

Chuckling softly to himself he answered. "Of course he can, he's practically one of the Potter's." Looking down Hermione blinked back the tears. She was happy but overwhelmed of the hospitality that they gave them and didn't even ask for anything in return. Looking up when she was able to control her emotions, she smiled at him. He was looking at her and she saw the sadness there. She sighed and looked away before she lost it again.

"You know Hermione; you are an amazing woman for taking in Tom. Not many people would have and Tom adores you. You're always in Tom's conversation even if we aren't even talking about you." He stopped and chuckled. "Its always good to be strong but keeping in the feelings will not do you any good. Eventually its going to be to much and you are going to loose everything you built for yourself and Tom." He stopped and stared at her. Hermione looked up at him and tried to smile but came out more like a grimace. "If you need to talk I will always be here, so will the rest of the family." He finished softly. Hermione wiped the tear that escaped from her eye. She looked at him for a few seconds. Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly she nodded.

"Thank you for that. I appreciate it." She said softly. He smiled and got up as she did and Hermione hugged him and lost control. It felt good to be hugged. He was rocking both of them slightly back and forth. Letting go of at the memories of her time and the struggles and the pain she went through, it felt good to cry it out.

Finally, Hermione was just standing there in his arms, feeling his warmth and comfort she finally was able to control herself. Letting go and wiping her eyes she saw the wet spot oh his shirt and giggle a bit. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they both walked out of his office and into charlus' room.