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Chapter 53: After The Storm
The couple continued to collaborate in the potions laboratory and Hermione was developing her own research project as part of her preparation for her dissertation. She did some further consultations for the Weasley twins to develop a couple of new products. With the Easter break the couple was able to visit Japan and Hermione competed in the Tokushima Prefecture Open Kendo Tournament where she reclaimed her title. Phillip and Hélène walked them through the restoration project in Kyoto and the Granger-Snapes had to make some decorating decisions. Anique found the travelling experience with her family to be interesting and enjoyable. While in Japan for the two weeks, Hermione caught up with Harry and the two of them did a little hit-wizard job on a side trip to Seoul for two days, where they picked up a former Death Eater who was attempting to set up a new movement in South East Asia.
There was the mandatory attendance at a Madam Sakura Cherry Viewing Party in Kyoto, where they watched her work her magic on another couple of sets of couples. There was time just to be themselves and to soak away their troubles in the hot spring baths. There was a visit to University of Tokyo and a further joint organization research project was set up and it looked like that they had a lead for the Cruciatus exposure cure. The development and testing had a long way to go before it could be applied to people like Neville Longbottom's parents but there was hope for the future there.
Returning to Ghent for the rest of the second semester Hermione kept her head down and continued to focus on her studies. Both campus newspapers were required to pay damages to her, which she promptly donated to the local magical hospital facility along, with the printing of an apology and story retraction. The local Belgian Aurors' office had charged several individuals over the hate mail and Hermione showed no mercy by demanding that all concerned were charged. No, this young Madam was not going to allow people to think that she was a pushover.
It was similar situation for the local non-magical paper, as the Ghent Chronicle also had to pay damages and write a retraction for their earlier story where they had alleged misconduct. The Ghent police also found that they had a specific workload increase due to the resource requirements require for dealing with the hate mail generated from the local paper's story. As a side effect, the local prosecutor also sued the paper for the costs of dealing with the hate mail and the agency managed to recover most of the annual budget for the whole prosecutors' office.
By May, Hermione had an individual authored charms journal article published but she did not notify Severus of her triumph straight away. This year they were able to celebrate their wedding anniversary on the day it fell, as by the 23rd of May Hermione had finished her exams for the year. Part of the present she gave her husband in their celebration of their second wedding anniversary was a copy of the charms journal that included a special dedication to her beloved husband.
The couple attended the departmental end of year barbecue and Hermione noted that those who had ignored her or treated her like she was irrelevant last year now seemed to be currying her favour with the hope that they could tack onto Severus' coat tails. God, she hated the greasy pole of office politics.
This summer Hermione and Severus decamped with Anique to Kalymnos for the whole of the summer break. Before they left Ghent for the island, Anique had sternly informed the Granger-Snapes that she wanted to have little elflings and she would like them to take another elf called Iri into the household. Iri's family was originally from the Bavarian Elf Colony and he was a most welcome addition to the Granger-Snape household when it was found he was a wonderful curry and spice cook. Now they had a house elf that was familiar with their favourite type of cuisine: spicy. The potions lab at the beach cottage was turned back into a serious research environment. There were visitors to them but most recognised that the couple were busy this summer doing the research for Hermione's third year dissertation and Severus' on-going joint project with the University of Tokyo.
Some of Hermione study peers who had supported her side of the equation during the turbulent weeks in November were invited to visit the couple's island retreat. The beach houseguests provided some lively conversation and several ideas were bandied about which would lead to further investigations in the laboratory. A couple of papers were generated from the inspiration and Hermione was steadily working on her first draft of her third year dissertation.
By the end of August it was with great reluctance that the couple packed their potions lab up again. It was the last week of August and they were going to miss the social community life that they had here on the Island.
With the return to Ghent, Anique duly announced that she was going to a little elfling in early December. Hermione and Severus again received some gibing about when they would have similar news. Hermione's Kendoka practice was going well and she was now the local regional champion, thanks to her residence as a student with the University. She was working hard to complete as many modules as possible, as she so wanted to be able to defend her World Champion status next July in Santa Clara. She won at the Europeans in Sofia. It was like being before a home crowd at the Six Nations this time round as the event was held in Angers at the University. Poor Jérôme, he was seriously conflicted. Phillip, Hélène and the D'Angers were present, leading the Scots Kitten's cheer squad. Of course Severus was there as her bag holder and personal security advisor. Would you like to go up against a dark tall man who looked like he could kill you with just his glare if you pushed your pen too hard at your favourite Kendoka when trying to get her autograph? Nope, I didn't think so, smart move.
Christmas this year was hosted by the Weasley-Krums where they presented their new daughter, Emiliana, as a surprise to the rest of the family. The month old infant had struck the jackpot for doting family members. Not only were Viktor's parents there as her number one fans, there was also the Grangers, the D'Angers and all the aunties and uncles that came from everyone else. There were some other babies for the large family to dote over but these were mainly little elflings from the various households.
The various business enterprises had been highly successful and when the dual band phone system had been released into the market the previous October, the idea had taken the magical world by storm, providing all the developers and investors with a very nice profit margin. Further products were jointly developed over the Christmas break with the family think tank bouncing a number of ideas around. For New Year's Eve, everyone received a portkey invitation from Minerva to attend a Highland Hogmanay. The Hogmanay party turned out to include a binding ceremony for the Transfiguration Professor and the Unspeakable. There at the celebration was a muggle Dame who could knock back firewhiskey with ease. Phillip was in complete awe of the silver haired pixie. When Harry let it slip that she was the current head of MI6 there was even more admiration. "So the Bond films got it wrong; she doesn't drink bourbon and she wasn't a bean counter."
Mémé set Madam Sakura on to the case of Jeff Coe, since she had been so successful for the Minister of Magic who was getting married in Kyoto during the Cherry Blossom festival next April. The Scottish Championship was retained and Hermione again defended her Tokushima Prefecture Open Kendo title as part of her preparation for the World Championships being held in Santa Clara. The last six weeks of the second semester were extremely tense as the witch seemed to think her whole academic grade depended on the amount of work she put into her studies at the time. She had submitted her dissertation back in January so there was no reason for her to go into hyperbole mode. Severus just brewed calming drafts that he disguised in a number of products, including massage oil and Hermione's chapstick.
When Graduation rolled round in June, the witch found that she had attained an Honours Degree with Distinction in Potions, Charms and Transfiguration. As the Dux of her cohort she received several attractive offers but the witch rebuffed all thoughts concerning her next career move until after the World Championships. There was a particularly large graduation party held in the university quarter, reflecting the pride that the Professor had in his Mimi for completing her degree. It was a well attended event with both magical and muggle guests attending from many diverse walks of life.
