36

"Hermione have you seen this?" Harry walked in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place, setting the muggle newspaper down in front of her. She stopped sipping at her tea that Severus gave her and read the paper instead, the headline instantly catching her interest.

"5 People Dead, 10 More Missing."

"Harry…" She started slowly, looking up at his worried eyes. "What is this?"

"Ron and I have been briefed on the disappearances of Wizard's and Muggle's alike, Hermione. Muggles that are connected in some way, shape, or form to Wizards, and Wizards that work for the ministry."

"Well, what can I do to help?"

Harry stared at her for a moment.

"I think you should find your parents, and I think you should protect them as best as you can."

"Harry," her eyes widened and she dropped her mug onto the floor, "Harry, I-I can't. I can't do that. They're safe, they have no memories of me or of the wizarding world. They're perfectly safe-"

"Hermione," Harry pressed his hands against the table, silencing her as he leaned towards her. That was what Severus walked in on was Harry leaning close to Hermione with her broken mug on the floor. "These people are going after muggle families of Wizards, memory or no memory."

"What about my apprenticeship with Snape? I can't just get up and leave for a month journey around Australia, Harry-"

"It can be suspended for a certain amount of time or I can simply go with you," Severus said from behind them. Hermione jumped in her seat and Harry looked at him with an uneasy stare.

"Professor," Harry greeted.

"Potter." Severus replied tersely, his back painfully straightened. "Hermione, these are serious concerns and ones you should not take lightly. If you are truly worried about our arrangement I can 'pause' our lessons where they currently lay- or, if you permit me, I may go and accompany you on your journey. That way there you can learn more about the herbs in foreign continents as well as larger beasts that can be used in potions and what their purposes may be."

"Severus…" Hermione's heart was torn as she looked between Harry and her old professor. She stood up quickly, stepping over her mess as she left the kitchen. She lingered in the doorway for a moment to look back at them. "I need to think about this, give me a day or two."

And with that she disappeared upstairs. Severus cleaned her spilled tea and shattered mug with a wave of his hand, and Harry stood in the kitchen awkwardly.

"Well, Potter, are you interested in the 51 different ways that Pickled Newt Heads can be used in potions as well as wand making?"

"I think I'll pass, Professor. I mean, that's all I did in your class, right?" He joked, coughing into his hand soon after at the raised eyebrow Severus gave him.

"You do have your father's humor, Potter."