Author's Note

Well, finally getting to where I want to be with this—and that's to Severus' children attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—almost! *grin*

Sorry to those who want to read about the characters of the actual books...I'm trying to slip them in here and there...but, like I said, this isn't really their story this time.

Again, if anyone is interested in my "family tree" document, I'll gladly email it to you (though I do keep changing it around, names, dates, etc..., as I learn new things).

Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 3,803

Hermione Jean Weasley (August 2008)

Hermione Jean Weasley stared blankly across her kitchen table at Minerva McGonagall. Ron was over at the Burrow visiting his parents—and quite likely Harry and Ginny Potter as well—and she'd just put two-year-old Rose down for a nap, and she'd been hoping to catch one herself. Sliding her hand over her bourgeoning belly—she still had a two weeks before she was due, but she felt like she was ready to pop—she raised a brow.

"Come again?"

"Your cousin, Holly, is residing in America and—"

Hermione held up her hand. "I got that part," she interrupted. "Look, I don't mean to be rude, Headmistress, but...you say her children have received letters from Hogwarts?"

Minerva pursed her lips, then nodded. "Yes, that is correct."

Hermione laughed. "That's impossible, because...my cousin Holly doesn't have any children."

"Well, that's where you're wrong, Mrs. Weasley. She, in fact, has two children. Twins. A boy and a girl, who were born on the thirty-first of July in 1997."

At this, Hermione blinked—then she stood up, rubbed the small of her back, and turned toward her Muggle stove. "Tea?"

"I would love some," the older witch said as she watched the younger woman scurry around—keeping herself busy so that she could think about what she'd just been told.

"I realize this is a shock, Mrs. Weasley, but—"

"Hermione, Headmistress," Hermione cut in. "There are far too many Mrs. Weasleys running around."

The older witch smiled. "Yes, and please do call me Minerva. It's silly to be so formal. I've known you far too long."

Hermione nodded. It would feel strange, but, after all the years, she had to admit the other woman was right. "I don't understand...Minerva. Why is this the first mention of this?"

"Well, it's quite the long story, actually. In short, Holly got herself involved with...a wizard, wound up pregnant and married."

Hermione frowned. "In that order?"

Minerva nodded.

"I see." Biting her lip, Hermione continued to frown—then she shook her head. "No wait. I still don't understand. She's my cousin. My parents never mentioned anything about her marrying and having children, or moving to America for that matter. I mean, I've hardly seen her and her parents over the years, because they travel so much, but...Uncle Henry and Aunt Elizabeth visited Muggle London two Christmases ago and they suppered with us twice. They never once mentioned Holly's children. Or Holly, come to think of it." And, she'd not asked after her either, which was quite strange.

Minerva nodded. "I'm not surprised. Holly's parents don't know the particulars about her marriage."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "How is that possible? My aunt and uncle aren't at all stupid and...there's no way I could have kept this life from my parents."

"It's slightly different in this case, Hermione. You yourself received a letter from Hogwarts, but Holly did not. She has no magical abilities...that we know of. Her husband, however, did."

Hermione's brow shot up again. "Did?"

Minerva nodded. "He was killed in the war."

"Oh!"

For a moment, Hermione just sat there, her mind going over the list of casualties of the war. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out who her cousin might have been married to. "Might I have his name?"

Minerva sighed. "I'm afraid not."

"Why not?"

"We have been sworn to secrecy."

"We?"

"Yes," Minerva said with an uncomfortable nod. "There were five of us to begin with. Now there are only two. Three of us were killed in the war."

"And yet you are here telling me about...all of this," Hermione said with a wave of her hand. "I'm afraid I'm very confused."

"As am I," the older witch agreed. "You see, her...husband, put her London home under the Fidelius Charm and therefore, as one of those present that day, I am unable to disclose any information."

Hermione frowned again, her mind going to Holly's London house. She hadn't thought about it in...years, and...couldn't seem to remember exactly where it was, actually, now that she thought about it. She could see, in her mind's eye, the house, inside and out, but she couldn't remember where it was—now she knew why. "Of course, the Fidelius Charm!" But she still didn't understand.

"Does she...know about me?" Hermione whispered, suddenly feeling even more curious.

Minerva gave a clipped nod.

"Then...why wouldn't she contact me? It seems I'm the one person she could have turned to."

"She was terrified, dear. I'm sure you remember how dark a time it was."

Hermione shuddered, then nodded, her eyes slightly glazed. The running. The fear. The physical pain. And later the heartbreak of losing so many. Remembering still hurt.

"She discovered our world," Minerva went on, "became pregnant, and got married, then lost her husband, all in a space of about eighteen months. Can you imagine?"

Shaking her head, Hermione sighed. She felt somewhat numb. "So, what is it that you want from me?"

"We need you to go to her," Minerva said. "Several owls have been sent and...they've been ignored. I suspect she's terrified again. I dare not send Hagrid, like Dumbledore did with Mr. Potter."

Hermione giggled at this. "No, best not send Hagrid. America, you say?"

Minerva nodded. "A town called, Newbury Park. It's on the west coast in Southern California."

"And, how am I to get there? I'm afraid my Apparating skills are a bit...off, right now. I had no trouble Apparating when I was pregnant with Rose, but...this one," she said with a pat on her belly, "doesn't seem to like it much. Ron's worried he might be a Squib."

Minerva waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, I highly doubt that. I've known several witches who've experienced that and not one of them has had a Squib," she said. "Just between us, I think that happens when there's too much inbreeding."

Frowning slightly, Hermione nodded her understanding. It made sense to her that inbreeding caused problems—it definitely did in the Muggle world, but she'd not considered it in the magical community. The pure-bloods who consciously restricted themselves to only pure-blood marriages didn't have many choices—there were very few pure-blood families left—and so sometimes there were problems.

"The same thing happens with Muggles," Hermione said. "Not the Squib thing obviously, but other problems. It's called inbreeding depression, I believe. Could be why the relative size of pure-blood families is less; one of the results of inbreeding depression is reduced fertility.

"Humph. Interesting," Minerva said, her already beady eyes narrowed even further.

"Increased genetic disorders and loss of immune system function could result, among other things," Hermione continued, "but natural selection tends to remove individuals who...share bloodlines."

"That's fascinating!" Minerva said with a smile. "You really are a very bright young woman, Hermione."

"Thank you."

"Where ever did you learn this?"

Hermione shrugged. "My parents are dentists; the sciences were big in our home."

Minerva nodded. "I see."

Then, reaching into a fold of her robe and pulling out the most gaudy necklace Hermione had ever set eyes upon, Minerva went on. "I've brought you a portkey. It will work twice. Once to get you there and once to bring you back. Put it on to travel there, then take it off when you're ready to return. As soon as you put it down, you'll come back, and it will be rendered a useless piece of Muggle jewelry."

Hermione nodded her understanding.

"But don't put it on until you're ready to go," Minerva warned, "because you'll be transported immediately."

Hermione nodded again. "All right."

"And, as difficult as this will be," Minerva said with a frown, "I'll need you to keep this to yourself."

"I can't tell Ron?"

"I'm afraid not. It will because clear when you see the children, but even then I need you to...mind your tongue. Unless, of course, you can get Holly to agree to less secrecy. I'm afraid her husband scared the devil out of her...and we weren't much help."

Hermione narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to ask more questions—typical Hermione.

"And, before you get it in your head that her husband harmed her in any way, let me just tell you that he did not. The man loved her deeply, but...circumstances being what they were, he couldn't do any better for her. Financially, she's been well-cared for; he left her quite the hefty account at Gringotts, though I dare say I've heard she transfers a significant amount to another accounts every month."

"Well, that's good to know, I suppose...about the money," Hermione clarified. "When should I go?"

Minerva shrugged. "As soon as possible, if it's all right with you. I've brought the children's Hogwarts letters for you to hand-deliver," she said as she pulled out a single envelope and placed it on the table.

Glancing down at the envelope, Hermione frowned—it didn't seem to be addressed; it just said, 'Holly' on the front—she'd been hoping to get a glimpse of a last name.

"It's that way for the sake of Holly's privacy," said Minerva as she got to her feet. "The portkey will take you directly to her back yard. And, I imagine that she's expecting someone, but she'll be surprised that it's you."

Hermione nodded—then glanced toward the living room when the fireplace burst brightly with green flames indicating that someone was flooing in.

"Everything 'kay, Hermione," Ron asked. He was out of breath, as if he'd run all the way home from the Burrow. "Hello, Professor McGonagall," he said when he noticed the older woman there.

Minerva nodded. "Mr. Weasley." Then to Hermione she said, "I'll leave you to explain...but remember what I told you."

Hermione nodded.

"Good day, Mr. Weasley," Minerva said—then Disapparated.

Ron blinked, then turned to his wife. "What the hell was that about? Harry and I were in the middle of a game of Wizard's Chess and an owl came telling me I was needed at home. I thought maybe you'd gone into labor early, or that Rose was hurt, or that—"

"No, Ronald, Rose is fine and...it's not labor," Hermione said, one hand on her belly, the other on her lower back.

Sighing, Ron wrapped his arms around his wife and squeezed her lovingly. "Oh, good. I'm going back then."

"Umm. No. I need you to stay."

"What!" he nearly shrieked.

"No need to get so upset, Ronald," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "Minerva just came to...offer me a job."

"McGonagall wants you to teach at Hogwarts?" he asked with surprise.

"Don't look so shocked, Ronald! I'd be a great professor at Hogwarts, but...that's not what she wants me to do."

Ron frowned. "Well, what is it then?"

"I...umm...can't say," Hermione said, then bit her lip. "Minerva asked me not to."

"Minerva? Since when are you on a first name basis with McGonagall?"

"Since...today, actually," Hermione confessed. "Look, she's asked me to do something and to keep it quiet...for now."

"She's got you keeping secrets?" Ron asked.

Hermione nodded.

"Is it dangerous?"

Hermione shook her head.

Sighing his relief, Ron dropped into a chair. "All right. Is there anything you can tell me?" he queried as he threw his arms up in the air.

Hermione shrugged. "I have to go, by portkey," she said as she reached for the envelope and necklace still sitting on the table, "to the United States, to hand-deliver this letter." Stuffing the envelope in a pocket, she crossed the room, snatched her robe from a peg on the wall, and flipped it over her shoulders, then turned to face her husband. "I shouldn't be gone too long, but if I'm not going to be back by...let's say, breakfast, then I'll call you on the phone."

Ron frowned. He hated the Muggle phone that she'd had installed on the kitchen wall. "Breakfast...tomorrow?"

"Obviously."

"I don't like it," he said with a shake of his red head. "Maybe...maybe Harry and I should go instead, and you and Ginny can stay home with the kids. You'd like that right...if Ginny and the kids came over for the night? Or...you and Rose could stay at the Burrow with mum and dad? I'll go floo them now," he said, on his feet and heading to the fireplace.

Hermione rolled her eyes again, then physically stopped her husband from leaving the room. "Yes, I would love a nice long visit with Ginny and the kids, or a night with your parents, but...Minerva didn't ask for you and Harry to do this job. She asked me to do it."

"Can't the woman see that you're pregnant?" he all but whined.

"That's pretty obvious, Ronald, but...it's not dangerous, I promise you," she said as she leaned down and kissed her husband. "Now, I'll call you if I'm going to be late." Then pulling out the necklace she said, "I love you, Ron," then dropped it over her head and disappeared.

"Oh bugger!"

XxXxXxX

Holly stared at the growing pile of Hogwarts letters that she'd intercepted and stashed so that Hunter and Savvy wouldn't see them—not yet anyway. Before she could let them see the letters—and find out about their father—she needed to figure out what she was going to do. The thought of sending them away to school was...devastating. And, she had to admit that she'd worried about this happening—them inheriting their father's magical abilities—so she'd even gone so far as to take them to someone who'd claimed he could bind their powers. Obviously it hadn't worked. For the most part it had; they'd shown no signs of magical abilities, but obviously the power was still there, even if it was latent. How was she going to explain this to her parents? They'd just never understand—not that she'd seen them much lately; they were off on an around the world cruise.

Sighing, she glanced at the clock up on the wall. Both Hunter and Savvy had stayed at friends' houses, but they had a baseball game—they'd joined a summer league—this morning and it was her turn to take them, along with a few of the other boys.

And then she heard a light tapping on the door that led to her small backyard. Thinking it was just the adjacent neighbor, coming to borrow some sugar, Holly immediately got up and opened the door—then frowned at what she saw.

"Hermione!" she whispered in astonishment.

"Hi cousin. It's been a while, huh?" the younger woman said with a grin as she stepped over the threshold with a flourish and folded her into an embrace.

Holly hugged her back, then backed off. Her blue-green eyes went to the Hogwarts letters on the table, then back to her cousin. "Umm. What...what brings you here...to the United States? How did you find me?" Nervously, she circled the table, then picked up something on a shelf and shoved it into a drawer.

Ignoring her cousin's movement—and the Muggle photograph she'd hidden—Hermione smiled, then slipped out of her robe, making sure to not dislodge the ugly portkey necklace, and draped it over a chair. "Are you in hiding or something?"

"Ahh. No. Not particularly. It's just..." She let her voice trail off, because she didn't know what to say.

"I received a very interesting visit today...from a Minerva McGonagall," Hermione said, studying her cousin. "I see that you recognize the name."

Holly nodded, her eyes going around the room.

"And, how is it that you know Minerva?"

"Umm. She came to my house in London...to help me...about ten years ago."

"During the war?" Hermione asked.

Holly started. Then sighing, because she realized Hermione knew at least something about what had gone on with her, she slumped into a chair. "Yes, Hermione, d-during the war."

"You could have called me," Hermione said as she too dropped into a chair.

"I was...scared. Sev...my husband thought it best that I hide. And then he...was killed."

Hermione blinked. Something made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end, but she didn't know quite what it was. "And so, you're still hiding? Ten years later?"

Holly shrugged. "Not really, but..."

"But the Dark Lord has been defeated. He's gone now. You don't have to hide."

"Yes, that's what they told me, but..." She shrugged.

Hermione's eyes went to the papers on the table. "Minerva said she'd sent letters. May I?" she asked curiously, her hand moving to pick up a letter.

But she didn't have a chance to pick one up because Holly's hand shot out and slammed down on top of them. "I...I haven't shown them to the kids yet, so...I'd rather you didn't."

Hermione frowned. She was dying to find out what name was on the envelopes, but pulled her hand back.

And then the front door opened and slammed shut again.

"Mom, we're home!" a boy called out from the entry hall. "I'm gonna shower!"

Holly's eyes went wide with terror. "All right, Hunt," she called out, then plastered a smile on her face when a black-haired girl walked into the room.

"Hey mom," the girl said, then eyed the stranger somewhat warily—her mother almost never had anyone over. "Hi."

Hermione grinned. "Hi there."

"Ahh, mom. I'm gonna go change into my uniform. I showered at Claire's house."

"All right, darling. Sounds good," Holly said, trying desperately to keep her voice level. But when her daughter didn't actually go, Holly decided she'd better introduce her to the woman. "Umm, Savannah, this is...my cousin, Hermione."

"Oh. Well, hello then, cousin Hermione," Savannah said as she reached out a hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

Hermione watched the somewhat tanned, black-haired, black-eyed girl turn and leave. She was absolutely beautiful, stunning actually, but...something was too familiar about her. If only Holly would let her see one of the letters. "So, I brought you another letter...from Minerva," she said as she fished it out and pushed it across the table.

Holly blanched. She didn't want another letter, but slowly reached out and picked it up—thankfully, it had just her first name on the front. "Thank you," she mumbled as she placed it with the others.

"Aren't you going to open it?" Hermione asked.

"It's just another one, isn't it?"

Hermione shrugged. "Minerva wanted to make sure you got it."

"I don't...I don't want them to go," Holly whispered. "Your world killed my husband," she accused. "I can't lose them too."

"It's not like that, Holly, I promise you. The Dark Lord is gone."

Holly bit her lip as tears welled in her eyes. "It was awful, Hermione. I was alone most of the time. I didn't know what was happening. And then they came and told me that...that he was dead. I had so little time with him." She let out a sob, then melted into her cousin's arms. "And my children never got to know him. That's the worst part; he was so wonderful and they'll never know it."

"I know," Hermione said. "I mean, I don't know what it was like for you, but...I fought in the battle. I was...held prisoner and tortured." She shuddered at the vivid memory of Bellatrix Lestrange using the Cruciatus Curse on her. "Trust me, I know how awful it was. I lost friends...family." Her voice hitching on the words as her mind went to the Lupins and then Fred Weasley.

Holly sniffled. "And still you expect me to send my children there...to your horrid school of witchcraft? You'll send your son or daughter there?" she asked with a gesture at Hermione's obviously pregnant tummy.

Hermione smiled through tears of her own. "You can't keep them from their future, Holly. If they've received letters, then they belong there. And yes, when this one here," she said with a pat on her belly, "and the one we already have at home are ready, they will be going to Hogwarts. It's different now than it used to be, but...there's always danger out there, Holly...not just at Hogwarts."

Holly knew that. She'd seen some pretty strange things while raising her children. American society was...different. The places. The people. The way they spoke. The way they acted. It had taken some getting used to. But she'd done it and now felt at home. And now she was being asked to send her children away to some strange school—and she didn't like it.

"Hey mom! Sav says we have company," a boy with shoulder-length black hair said from the doorway.

"Ahh. Yes, Hunter," Holly said as she tried to hide her tears. "This is my cousin, Hermione. She's here from London. Hermione, this is my son Hunter."

For a second, Hermione just stared at the eleven year old boy—a slight shiver going through her—then she seemed to recover. "Hello, Hunter."

"Hey," he said in greeting, his black eyes glittering—then he looked at his mother. "Our bags in the car?"

Holly nodded. "I think your gloves are on the credenza though...which is not where they belong."

Hunter blushed. "Oops. Sorry."

"Yeah. Uh-ha. And your muddy cleats are on the back stoop. Please do try to bang those out, I don't want mud tracked through my house."

The boy grinned sheepishly, then started across the kitchen to the back door.

"And, don't you dare put those on in my house," Holly warned.

"Wouldn't dream of it, mom," he said, rolling his eyes. Opening the door, he picked up his shoes, then left the two women alone.

Hermione was still staring. Then quickly, so that Holly couldn't stop her, she snatched an envelope from the pile and turned it so she could read it.

Mr. H. Snape

232 Asta Avenue

Newbury Park, California 91320

"Snape?" she whispered, her nose wrinkling up. "You were married to Professor Snape?"

Holly bit her lip again, then nodded.

"Eww."

Holly chuckled at this. "He did mention that you hated him."

Hermione rolled her eyes—which reminded Holly of her own children. "I don't hate anyone."

Holly grinned. "That's what I told him."

"Mom. You coming?" Savannah Snape said from the doorway. "Hunter's in the car and we need to pick up Patrick, Alex, and Nick in fifteen...and I dare say, if you don't hurry, he'll start the car and back it out again, and we don't want that!"

"Oh yes. Of course. Too right you are." Standing quickly, Holly glanced at her cousin. "Care to come to a baseball game with us."

Shrugging, Hermione stood up. She'd never been into sports, aside from watching Quidditch now and again, but she'd really like to catch up with her cousin, and she needed to persuade her to allow her the twins to attend Hogwarts. "Right then, let's go."

Post Script

Just in case anyone's wondering...the address I used in Newbury Park (a RL city/town), California is the house in which I grew up. *grin* I don't, however, live there now.