Chapter 34

Hermione was very glad that Molly and Arthur had taken the news as well as they had. Both of them accepted her decision not to get back together with Ron yet keep the baby, as well as her very late job switch, from the Ministry to Hogwarts. She hadn't had much time for Rose and Hugo in later years due to her job and her, absolutely unmatched, work ethic. Everyone knew. This change would only be in the Gryffindor's benefit, as well as all three of Ron's and her children.

"Right," Hermione spoke to catch both of her children's attention, and two pairs of Weasley blue eyes looked right at her ── both Rose and Hugo had inherited their father's eyes.

She hadn't really minded Ron's silence, as Hermione thought it would be best that they didn't risk a new fight when the children were right there. Their father had made sure that Rose and Hugo were ready to go upon her arrival, so she hadn't had to stay a minute longer than necessary at any rate, for which she was... very grateful right now.

The brunette's heart hammered in her throat as she extended a shaky hand to one of her children each. She could only hope for the next conversation to go over smoothly, too. "Today, I thought we should visit someone together," she announced. "If you'll both take a hand and──"

"You'll Apparate with us?!" Rose interrupted, clearly excited.

Despite herself, Hermione couldn't help but smile at Rose's thirst for knowledge. She recognized so much of her younger self in her daughter. "Indeed," Hermione confirmed.

"Where to?" Hugo asked.

"You'll see."

Determination. Destination. Deliberation. A clap.

Seconds later, Hermione and the children stood in Hogsmeade already, a few yards from Hogwarts' entrance gates. When her eye fell upon the castle's many towers and turrets, the word 'home' somehow popped into Hermione's mind. She let her gaze travel down, eyed Rose and Hugo with worry. Neither of them had Apparated before, after all. "Both of you okay?" she asked.

"That felt so weird..." Hugo sounded, and his ginger-haired and blue-eyed thirteen-year-old sister agreed with him with a nod.

"No nausea?" Hermione asked. Neither Rose nor Hugo shook their head, and Hermione was relieved and glad that her children's first travel with Apparition had gone this well.

Both followed their mother when she began the brief walk to the enchanted iron gates, but neither of their gazes was upon Hermione as they let their eyes slide over the many shop windows of Hogsmeade ── Rose Weasley wasn't yet allowed to go visit town, after all ── and thus failed to notice how Hogwarts Castle only became bigger, with every step they took in their mother's wake.

"Mom, where──?" Hugo began, but then small gasps sounded and Rose interrupted him, as both gazed in wide-eyed fascination at Hogwarts from this angle. Hermione Granger was certain that a look similar to theirs adorned her face many years ago as well. When she first set foot in Hogwarts, she had known all about it already from Hogwarts: A History, but to see it for real had been a whole other experience in itself.

"She's Apparated us to Hogwarts!" Rose exclaimed.

"That's right," Hermione confirmed, a small smile on her lips at Rose's accuracy just as the tall enchanted gates opened at the brunette's touch upon wrought iron ── Hogwarts Castle recognized her. "I'd like for you both to meet someone. Then, I should tell you a few things," she added.

"What kind of things?"

"I'll tell you very soon."

The rest of their walk passed as quietly as possible. Rose thought that Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry looked strange, as opposed to how it usually did ── when it was full of magic students. She couldn't determine the differences exactly, though.

"I thought we could go and see Professor McGonagall today," Hermione announced as she set foot in Hogwarts' entrance hall and the tall, oak doors fell shut, "When I first attended Hogwarts, she was my Head of House as well as professor in Transfiguration. When I returned to Hogwarts for my last year after the war, Professor McGonagall had taken on the Headmistress position. She's been retired for several years already, though," Hermione added when she saw her daughter's mouth open, "but I am certain that you've seen her on old photos of mine or elsewhere," she said. Or at least an older version.

Hermione and the children didn't come across anyone ── even ghosts ── as she lead them the way to Minerva's and soon their rooms, through Hogwarts' abandoned hallways. Hermione's brow didn't furrow until she still didn't hear any sounds come from within the former headmistress' rooms after four knocks on the hard-wooden door. Where can she be? Professor Flitwick might know, she considered. That is, if he is at the castle, himself, because he's undoubtedly busy, with the new school year so close now.

She was taken a bit aback, as she turned to go to the Headmaster's office and was surprised at Nearly Headless Nick's appearance; a gasp left Hugo's mouth as the Gryffindor spirit materialized, so to speak. Nearly Headless Nick nodded at Hugo politely, then repeated the gesture towards Rose and, at last, Hermione herself. "Good morning, Hermione," he greeted.

"Good morning, Sir Nicholas," Hermione offered. "Would you happen to have any idea at all of Minerva's whereabouts?"

"Ah... I've seen her in the library earlier, I believe."

"The library?"

"Indeed," Nick confirmed. "Would you like me to inform her of your arrival?"

Hermione Granger bit down on her lip and thought. "Eh... No," she decided. "I do not wish to be a disturbance. We'll return later, and I'll send her an owl then or..."

"Nonsense," came a strict, authoritarian voice, and Hermione's gaze fell upon the woman to whom the voice ── a voice that she would recognize anywhere ── belonged.