Hogsmeade weekend was rapidly approaching, and Hermione was sure she wasn't the only one looking forward to the break. What she really wanted was the chance to have a nice, relaxed family day, though she was sure it wouldn't be as simple as that. Harry would be in town visiting Ginny, and she knew Ron was stopping by with him. She also suspected Bryan wanted to take Lia.

Knowing full well that Roman was too young to be allowed to visit, she had already discussed with all three boys the plan to sneak him in. What were a couple of broken rules, after all? After negotiating with Bryan, who adamantly wanted to spend the time with his girlfriend, he suggested that the portion of time spent with the boys would be done as Hildegard. "But don't use the accent, Mum. Please. Just pretend you're a normal British mum." Hermione laughed, waiting for Bryan to realize how embarrassing that suggestion would be.

3, 2….

"Wait, I take that back, do not come as Hildegard! No one else spends Hogsmeade weekend with their mum!"

"You forget that I was once your age too, Bryan. Have it your way—since I see you in classes every day, you can be with Lia. I'll just stay with Johnny and Roman. Happy?"

"Yes! Thanks, Mum! For not making a fuss."

Hermione ruffled his long hair. She liked seeing that smile. Besides, she did need to catch up with her two younger sons. Sometimes she wished that they were also in Gryffindor with her.

The awe and wonder in Roman's eyes made Hermione's heart swell. The village was nothing new to Johnny, as he had been in third year last year. But the Snape family had made a conscious effort not to venture out of Germany except to see family and friends, and that included any non-Hogwarts related Hogsmeade visits. Thus this was all new to Roman.

Hermione had placed a light notice-me-not charm on both of the boys—Roman because he wasn't supposed to be here in the first place, and Johnny because it didn't make complete sense for her and Johnny to be in the village together. To all passersby, it would look like Hermione was alone.

"Mum, it reminds me of Kronberg." Hogsmeade might've been the only completely wizarding village in Britain, but Germany by 2022 had many. Kronberg was the one closest to their home, and the family visited often.

"It does, doesn't it?" Hermione said pleasantly. "Although Kronberg is more rural and quiet, I'd say."

"True," Roman shrugged.

"Let's go to J. Pippin's, Mum! Also when are Harry and Ron showing up?" asked Johnny.

"The two lazy boys like sleeping in whenever possible, so they'll be here sometime in the afternoon. We still got a few hours before I'm meeting up with them. Alright, J. Pippin's Potions bound we are! Any other requests?"

"Ceridwen's Cauldrons," Johnny said quickly. "The stuff is probably old fashioned compared to what I know, but I want to check it out nonetheless."

"I don't really know what places are good," said Roman. "I'll trust your judgement. Or we can just visit as many as possible on the way!"

J. Pippin's was pretty empty. Most students didn't spend their precious Hogsmeade weekend at a potions store. Hermione undid the charm on Johnny so that the shopkeeper would be able to see and interact with him. The boy observed all the ingredients with wonder, wishing he could get his hands on them even though he knew he had little use—the basic ingredients were already provided to students for class.

It was odd for Johnny to see his favorite shopkeeper a whole twenty-four years younger. Still him, but just… less gray. He didn't really know how old he was, only that he had been the owner for ages. And of course he knew he had to be a stranger to the older man. Gerald Burrell was one of the kindest people he knew. People who weren't familiar with the shop always assumed he was a Pippin, but those who knew the history were aware that somewhere along the line, ownership had passed from a father with no sons to a daughter, thereby changing the family name.

"I see you have the spark, young man. Nice to know there are still some young ones who admire the craft. Third year?"

"No sir, fourth. I wasn't here last year. First Hogsmeade visit for me."

"Well, feel free to look around and tell me when you're ready." Johnny walked out of view, and Hermione walked up to Gerald.

"Why, if it isn't Hermione Granger! You look less crazy than the papers made you out to be," he said matter-of-factly.

She smiled shyly. "I'm sure you're just being kind. My ch—my friends know me to be quite mad. Anyways, would you be able to answer a potions question for me?"

"Professor Snape over at the castle not adequate enough?"

She shrugged. "He doesn't own his own shop."

Gerald blushed and chuckled. "Alright, try me."

"So I was trying to form my own hypothesis on countering lethal poisons—the kind that mixes and becomes part of the blood—and I was wondering what specific ingredients you'd consider to fight and negate those effects? Considering there's no way to remove the poison completely."

"It would help to know what kind of poison you're working with. Most poisons do mix with the blood automatically. Do you have a specific poison in mind?"

Hermione did a quick debate in her head. To tell or not to tell? According to Johnny, this guy was good and trustworthy to the bone. Shouldn't be a problem then. "Yes, I was thinking snake venom."

Gerald looked on in surprise. "That's not something you hear every day. I can't give you a comprehensive answer as there really isn't one, but I'll lead you in the right direction." He paused to think for a moment. "Snake venom is one of the strongest poisons out there. If you want to help someone afflicted, it would be a good idea to look away from the source and instead examine your victim. What ingredients are most compatible to them? Which would they react positively to? And it might sound soft of me, but sometimes you have to go beyond the traditional methods. Do you understand my meaning?"

"Not quite," said Hermione. She had an idea, because he had used the word soft, but she didn't want to make the wrong assumption.

"Love, young lady! Sometimes the most precisely brewed potion is topped by one that was made with the tenderest of care. Potions, like magic in general, is heavily rooted in intention. Never forget that."

Now that was something she hadn't heard before. The owl order potions business that Severus started after stepping down from his position at Hogwarts didn't have any focus on making potions for one specific person. Maybe that was why intention didn't play as great a factor. But if it were true, how lucky was she—for no one else did she harbor such absolute love. Well, maybe for her boys.

She felt the still-disillusioned Roman give her hand a squeeze. She'd almost forgotten that he was in there too. She squeezed it back gently, as if to say 'we'll move on soon, almost there.'

Finally, Johnny swung around. He had in his hands a couple of ingredients, and Hermione wondered what they were for.

"Find what you needed?" Gerald asked.

"Yup! Great quality back there. I wish I could get all of it, but I have neither the gold nor the use." He gave him a smile. "Just these today."

Hermione hovered around and waited until after Johnny had paid and left to thank Gerald and leave, so that it didn't seem like they were together. She found him waiting for them in a nearby spot and quickly joined him. Together, the three of them perused a couple more shops before it was nearing lunchtime. Hermione wanted to grab some food with them before meeting Harry and Ron, so they headed off for the Three Broomsticks. Unfortunately, they saw a lot of familiar faces. She had to pick a secluded spot in the corner and strengthen the charm on them, this time including it on herself.

"So… talk," she said once their food and drinks had arrived. "Tell me about what's happened since our last meeting!"

"Johnny got Dad to come over to my dorm and talk to me!" Roman said. It was still the highlight of his time here.

"What? Spill!"

"I was just feeling a bit low," he began, "and Johnny got Dad to show up!"

"Roman, you basically repeated what you just said…" Hermione said impatiently.

"I remember you saying before that Dad was good at comforting Slytherin first years, so I let it happen. Win-win," said Johnny. Hermione had a sudden flashback of Lavender's squeals of "Won-Won" and winced.

"Roman, if you ever do feel low again, don't hesitate to come to me, alright? I'm here too, and I'm more accessible than your father at the moment."

"But Draco—"

"Draco doesn't matter as much to me as you, Hun. I'd find some excuse. Same goes for you, Johnny. I try not to interfere with your lives because I know that you as a fourteen year old don't want me there all the time, but I'm always here when you need. Please remember that."

"Thanks, Mum. I know." That was Johnny.

"Even if I'm just nineteen instead of what you're used to?" she asked.

"Yes! You'll always be my mummy," Roman said sweetly.

Hermione felt as if she would lift into the air. She thanked Merlin again that the boys were also brought back into time with her. She needed them more than they'd ever know.

"Alright, what else has happened? How are classes?"

"They're fine. I think I kinda like flying. At least I don't hate it as much as Bryan and Johnny. McGonagall is intimidating, and Dad is still mean."

"It's Professor McGonagall, Roman."

"Yes, yes, I know. Sheesh, Mum."

"I'm doing fine as well," Johnny said.

"Oh that's right. What did you get those ingredients for?" Hermione asked.

"I've helped out Dad twice—once to prepare dragon hearts and the other time to brew some minor potions for the infirmary. I was going to make some more in my own time and give them to him. Another chance for interaction, you know."

"That's sweet! How did you get to that level with him? How come you didn't mention it earlier?"

"First was in detention. Before you ask, it was intentional. Second was me taking the chance to see him and ask about Roman after that day."

"What's he like to you? Is he different than he is in classes?"

"Sort of. I think he respects my ability. Other than that I can't really read him, which is quite a sad thought. Can't read my own dad."

"Mum! Do you have any ideas for how I can interact with him too? I like potions too but I'm not as good as Johnny…"

"I can't really think of any at the moment. Are there any Slytherin specific events or activities that involve him?"

"Not really," Johnny answered. "I've only found detention as the way to have some quiet alone time with him. Speaking of which, Bryan and I have one coming up."

"What now?"

"Dad sort of caught us out of bed after curfew…"

"And what were you doing so late?"

"Talking."

"About?"

"This and that. We're on the same page now, I think."

"Does this have to do with the slight beef you had with him that was brought to my attention?"

"What? Who told you that?" he asked indignantly.

Hermione kept her eyes on her middle child, but Roman's guilty look toward his feet gave it away. Johnny flashed him an annoyed look.

"I was just trying to stop something before it happened…" he said.

"And you did nothing wrong. Thank you, Roman." Turning to face Johnny, she said, "Why were you angry with him? Did he do something?"

"It was more how he was acting. He was being such a stuck-up jerk, flirting with all the girls and being so Gryffindorish… that normally already gets on my nerves, but I can tell that Dad would hate it more. I wanted him to know how his behavior was being seen by Dad."

"And what did he say?"

"That he knew. And that it didn't really matter, because Dad wouldn't have seen him as a son anyway."

Hermione could tell that really bothered him. "And?"

"It's true, isn't it? He's missed out on the first fourteen years of my life now, nearly eighteen for Bryan. We won't ever be as close as we used to be. All my efforts—what will they even amount to? I might as well be enjoying myself like him."

"First of all, you should be enjoying yourself. It's not your responsibility, and I gather from the look on your face that Bryan has told you that already. And I do believe that your efforts are not in vain. Dad is fond of you, is he not? With that same token, he is not fond of Bryan, so your time has been worth it. Maybe he won't be as close as you remember. Maybe he will. What's important is that he's alive and well, and we have the chance to be together again. Of course it will take time for him to know you. Patience, Johnny. Also… Bryan has his own struggles to deal with. He loves the popularity that comes from acting a certain way, but it's not him. We all know that. Sooner or later he'll have to deal with that."

"Where do we stand now?" asked Roman.

"I have been meeting with him… and before you get excited, it's nothing. I got him out of his comfort zone the other day with ice cream; by the way did you know that Turnage is staying in the kitchens? It was quite the surprise. Anyway, Dad still has a long way to go before… before anything, but I'm doing my best. And when… if I'm successful, I'll introduce you three and we'd go from there, I think."

"Of course it had to be ice cream. Silly Dad," said Roman. "And I've been talking to Turnage. She did mention at one point that she'd made some friends at Hogwarts. I'll have to visit her instead of calling her to me every time!"

"I'm sure she'd appreciate it."

"Wait Mum, what was with the question you asked Mr. Burrell? I heard bits and pieces of it, but venom? Any breakthroughs regarding that?"

"Not really… I was going to talk to you about that. I think our best bet now is to create a potion that will be strong enough to counter the remnants of venom in his blood. Seeing as I can't work with him on this, you're my best bet. You up for it?"

"Wait, what is this exactly?" He sat up straighter, looking at his mother with interest.

"It would entail doing more research, procuring ingredients that could be hard to find, and devoting a significant chunk of your time."

"Course I'm up for it! Most of my time now is already devoted to how I can be closer to Dad."

"I can do whatever you need me for too, Mum," said Roman. "He's my dad too."

Hermione smiled at her youngest. "Of that I have no doubt!" Addressing both of her boys again, she said, "We'll save him. If it's the last thing I do, and even if he completely rejects my affections… I'll see to it that he lives past sixty-two."

"Hey, don't stop there. You might as well say eighty. Or a hundred. Or two! Long live Dad!"

Hermione was sad to see the time with her boys cut short when she had to leave to meet Harry and Ron. Johnny and Roman were to stay together, the latter carefully disillusioned so as not to get caught.

She met up with Harry, Ginny, and Ron in the Hog's Head. Hugs and greetings were exchanged.

"I know we didn't really see much of you over the summer, but I still can't believe that we're not together every day!" said Harry.

"Well, that is something to get used to," remarked Hermione.

"How've you been? Your letter didn't say much."

"Probably because there was nothing to say! Same old, you know? And without you, Harry, there's absolutely no more excitement in my life," she joked. "The trouble always found you, not me. Tell me about Auror Training. Both of you."

"Meh, it's also not so exciting. You don't really realize how different the real world is until you enter it, Hermione! In Hogwarts it was just us. And the months on the run were as real as it could get, but still different. Now, it's basically you do a combination of what's asked of you and what you want, though the what you want part is always second."

"Oh? Is that how you see adult life?"

"I mean, Kingsley tells us to do something and we follow. And then when we're not working, we get to do life how we want."

She shrugged. Simple enough. Her adult life as she knew it had been much better, in her opinion. The iron curtain that had already been between them returned full force. It was even harder to take them seriously when they were so far from real adults.

"Gin tells me you've been a bit out of sorts," Harry began gently. "Something the matter?"

She gave Ginny a false look of hurt. "I'm fine, really. Just adjusting to everything. Events of the past hit me here and there and it takes a bit to get back on track."

"If you're sure… You could always send more post, you know. I'll always answer."

"I know. And I appreciate it."

"Tell me about Hogwarts. Is it the same as before? Different? I've heard all about it from Gin, of course, but I'd like your perspective too."

"It's much of the same, I'd think. The school has such a younger feel because I'm so much older than the average student body." What an understatement. "All the professors are the same people except for Dimeo, who teaches DADA, though I'm sure you know that through Ginny… It's nice living in the head dorms. Though it's not Gryffindor, I like the privacy it affords me. Not to mention the spaciousness."

"What's it like living with Malfoy? Is he being a jerk?"

"No, he's surprisingly docile. I've been trying to get through to him. He's a nice boy, and you would do well to give him a chance."

Harry and Ron made twin scoffs.

"As for you, Ron… daughter of the Czech prime minister? Catching hearts across the globe!" she teased.

Ron looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Tereza? She was just a—I'm sure I didn't manage to do anything to her heart," he amended. "Hermione, I—"

"Hey, is that Bryan over there?" said Ginny suddenly. "Did he get a date? I know so many girls were asking him, but he refused them all."

Hermione flashed her friend a thank you look before directing her attention to where Ginny was looking. Sure enough, it was her firstborn. He was seated with a dark-haired girl—that was all she could tell from where she was.

"Wanna go say hi? I sure want to meet the mystery girl who got Bryan to say yes." She got up, leaving Hermione to chance to refuse, not that she was going to.

Bryan spotted the two of them coming for him and immediately tensed before putting on a winning smile. Only Hermione spotted his initial nervousness.

"Hi there, Bryan. Got yourself a date?" asked Ginny teasingly.

With a start, Hermione realized that Ginny was probably closer to him than she was. Scratch that, her son was probably closer to all of his yearmates than her. Not internally, of course, but on the outside. Bryan was a big part of the scene, one she avoided at all costs. Her minimal time spent in Gryffindor didn't help either.

"I did, yes. This lovely young lady right here."

Lia smiled shyly but didn't say anything.

Ginny saddled closer. "So what's your secret? How did you do it?"

Lia looked to Bryan for prompting, her bright blue orbs nervous and downcast, but when he didn't say anything, she said, "I don't have a secret. He just came to me."

"That's even more impressive! You go, girl."

It was clear that Ginny's extroverted personality was uncomfortable to Lia's quiet nature. Ginny saw this too, so she backed off. "Nice meeting you, now I gotta go back to my table!" She headed back before Hermione got the chance to introduce herself, so she hung back without following her friend immediately.

"Hello. I wanted to say hi to the lucky girl too. My name's Hermione. You must be Lia."

"Bryan mentioned me?"

Shoot. Hermione gave Bryan a quick apologetic look, but Lia looked pleased. "Yes, in fact he did. He must be very fond of you."

"It goes both ways," she said bashfully.

Bryan coughed loudly then, and Hermione could've sworn he said 'Mum.' She smiled absentmindedly. As a mere acquaintance of Bryan's, she didn't have much reason to get to know Lia better.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Lia. I hope to see more of you. If Bryan treats you badly you can report back to me!" She heard Bryan groan behind her and flashed him an innocent smile.

She also heard Lia ask Bryan, "How do you know her so well?" Good luck explaining that, Bryan. That's what Mums are for.

"Ginny was just telling us about the Sawyers," Ron said when Hermione got back. "That's pretty neat, I didn't know Hogwarts took exchange students. Where'd they go before again?"

"They're transfer students, not exchange," Hermione butted-in helpfully. They're here to stay, not leave after one year."

"Bryan doesn't really elaborate, but I think he once said that he was home-schooled," said Ginny, attempting to answer the question when Hermione didn't.

"And why would his parents decide to put him in for the final year?"

"Beats me," said Hermione. "For the diploma, maybe?"

"But apparently they enrolled a first and fourth year too. So it can't just be for the diploma; we thought about that," said Harry.

"Who cares, though? Does it matter what their background is?" said Hermione.

"What's got your knickers in a twist? We were just wondering," said Ron.

"Do you know that Lia girl?" Hermione asked Ginny, ignoring Ron. "She's in our year, but that's technically your year."

"I didn't know her name, but I've seen her around a lot. Quiet Ravenclaw. She's almost the exact opposite of Bryan, from what I know of her, so it's very surprising to see the two of them in a room together, much less as each other's dates."

That's because you don't know what Bryan's actually like, Hermione thought. All the girls Bryan had previously been with were the ones Ginny would expect; thus they all didn't work out. This one? Hermione had a good feeling about it. Maybe Bryan would finally stop playing.

"Luna could give you more information. Same year, same house. You've barely talked to any of us: Luna, Neville, me… it feels like you're only making the effort with me."

And what an effort it was. Between Severus, the boys, the potion, research, Draco, her parents, Harry and Ron… there was just too much to keep up with.

"Right. Before he chickens out, I believe Ron has something he has to tell you," announced Ginny.

Hermione looked at him warily. However, the fact that he could say whatever it was he was about to say in front of Harry and Ginny too was a good sign.

"Ginny told me, more like slapped it upside my head, that you really, really were not interested anymore, and that I was just wasting my time still trying. And I'm not a complete fool. If I can't have you where I want you, I'd rather us at least still be friends."

Hermione almost wanted to stick her hands on her hips and say and where exactly do you want me before deciding that it was unnecessary. "That was surprisingly eloquent of you, Ronald."

"So? What have you got to say?" he asked.

"I appreciate it. I'd hate to deal with any unnecessary stress coming between our friendship." Of course, she immediately thought about Severus and what it would and had already meant for her friendship with Harry and especially Ron. "We good?"

"We've always been good, 'Mione."

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" said Ginny.

Ron shrugged. It had been pretty hard for him.

Hermione was plain relieved. She'd definitely been more forceful against him this time than last, and she hoped that didn't change anything for the worse in this new timeline.

Stay tuned for the next chapter later today! Reviews and plot requests are always welcome :)

aldernott-you weren't signed in so I couldn't reply, but I wanted to thank you for your review; it was the first I got for the last chapter and it really made my day :) I'm so glad you're able to picture Hermione as an adult and mother despite being in this young body. It's simply the version of her that feels most natural to me—I can't particularly see her as merely a young student, believe it or not! xx