This chapter sort of ran away with me. Total word count of over 6k. A LOT packed into this chapter - I did warn you - but as always I do hope you enjoy!
Hermione was en route to the Head Tower, just after lunch the next afternoon. It was Saturday and a very nice day outside, so most of the students were somewhere on the grounds. Some of the older students were in Hogsmeade - Filius and Pomona were on chaperone duty - and since Hermione didn't have any detentions to oversee, she had spent the day trying to work out the clues left by her friend William, or whatever he was calling himself these days.
"I am sorry…"
Hermione paused her step, hearing Minerva's voice around the corner, and knowing the tone of voice she was using and how it usually meant she was on round three or four of saying those particular words.
"You hit me," Remus Lupin's voice sounded, hard edge to it.
"Again, I say, I'm sorry," Minerva pleaded. "It will not happen again."
"Do you expect me to just forgive and forget?" he asked, sounding a bit more nasal than usual, probably because he'd been in the hospital wing all night under Skele-gro for the broken nose that Minerva had given him the evening before.
"Ten pounds of Honeyduke's chocolate waiting in your office is hoping that's possible," Minerva said. "Truly Remus, I'm trying to make things right here."
There was a silence between them for a moment, before Remus replied in a decidedly more chipper tone. "I think I find that when good chocolate is presented to me, my memory gets a bit hazy," he reported.
"Does that mean I'm forgiven?" Minerva inquired.
"It means the fact that you slugged me is forgotten," he countered. "Which means I have no idea what on earth you need forgiving for. I'll admit that for future references I'll be sure to be ready to duck before trying to reach out and comfort or calm you."
"I'd consider that fair."
The two continued to chat, or so Hermione presumed, as she turned around and headed a different direction home, ensuring Minerva and Remus had an opportunity to resolve their differences in privacy without feeling rushed by her arrival. Ten minutes later Hermione had made it to her office on the Library level of the Head Tower, and with a heavy sigh placed Arithmancy and Magical Physics, by one William Jinks, in front of her. She'd read the book cover to cover three times now, and while a very interesting book that she'd likely hold onto for reference material, she was no closer to figuring out what clues might be there for her to find. Hell, she'd even resorted to looking at page numbers to see if there were certain ones missing that might be a key to an Arithmancy equation. Still nothing.
Frustrated, Hermione opened up the table of contents, thinking that perhaps if she looked at the chapter titles in order, it might give a frame of reference or spark an idea. She didn't usually bother looking at a table of contents for a book, given she was going to read the whole thing one way or another, but at this point she was decidedly desperate. Of course, knowing him… bloody hell, he'd probably been banking on her habit of not reading the table of contents.
Must and Must Not Rules of Arithmancy
You and They and Everything In Between
Over the Rainbow To Pots of Gold
Think Until You Know the Numbers
Every Time You Make a Mistake You Learn
Thing or Things Unknown Until You Know
Or Chaos Will Be Order and Order Will Be Chaos
Might and Weakness as Variables in Time Travel
You Now and You Then in Perspective
Consider and Contrast Before Determination
Just and True if Not a Little Temperamental
Sending Messages Through Space and Time
An Uncontested Right to Ask Questions
Owl or Numerology in Proper Context
Hermione stared. And then she stared some more. Confusion, an unusual expression for her to be wearing, was etched on her face in full measure. While the chapter titles… sort of related to the contents of the book, the order was all wrong. While there had been a chapter about how to communicate messages through time, that had been chapter four, not chapter twelve. There had also been a section that spoke of Numerology, but not once in the entire book was communication through Owl Post mentioned. For probably fifteen minutes she looked for something, anything out of place, before she saw something that was a bit too in place.
And then she laughed. She laughed and laughed until there were tears rolling down her cheeks, and as soon as she was able to pull herself together she grabbed a bit of parchment and wrote down the first word of each chapter.
Must You Over Think Every Thing Or Might You Consider Just Sending An Owl.
Typical, just typical of the man! He'd presented the most obvious means to contact him, and frankly, Hermione knew she should have thought of that from the off. Owls could find anyone, anywhere, so long as they were living. It was part of the enchantments woven into each common owl egg that would ultimately hatch a magical post Owl. And, Hermione now remembered, it was a method of magical communication that Salazar had come up with some years before Hermione had ever met her eventual husband, so William would certainly have known then that the means of communication, even if not commonly used a thousand years later, would at least be something she'd have known how to make happen.
William.
Hermione had mixed feelings about the name. Like herself, William had been a person with many names, and while she did know that his name changed every few decades so that he could blend in with the changing times, she was also well aware of the name he was born with, though precious few did. William had not even shared his true name with Salazar, Rowena, Helga, or Godric.
Grin firmly in place, Hermione scrawled a quick note, using her dear friend's true name for the recipient, knowing that no matter what he was calling himself these days, that was his name and a magical Owl would be able to identify him as such. She drew her wand and cast a series of enchantments on the parchment which would turn it into a portkey directly to a room in the Three Broomsticks which Hermione kept constantly rented in her name, for if ever Emma felt the need to spent time in the place she'd spent her early childhood. From there, he'd be a short walk from Hogwarts, and he'd know how to find her, even if he was not a wizard of the typical sort. He didn't use a wand, anyway, though he did use magic from time to time, and could not be fooled by muggle repelling charms and the like that typically kept the wizarding world hidden from the muggle one. A simple activation key, the name of the third member of their team, would bring him from wherever he was to her doorstep in an instant.
She made her way toward the Owlery, intent on using one of the school's more long-distance ready birds given that she had no idea how far away William actually was. For all she knew, he'd migrated to America in the last thousand years. Thoughts of William were mixed with joy and anticipation for seeing him again, and with sadness for their long lost companion. The working relationship she and William had shared had ended upon Joseph Literman dying in the line of duty. With the loss of his life, Hermione had chosen not to stay with the establishment that William had introduced her to, even if it meant losing two dear friends in one fell stroke.
Ultimately, by that point she'd been on track in finding a way back to her true timeline, and knew that she couldn't stay with William much longer in any case. Still, it had been heartbreaking. In some ways, Hermione felt like she'd loved William even more than she'd loved Sal and Rowena. There had been no romance between them - Hermione wouldn't allow for it and neither would he - but that didn't mean their relationship had been entirely platonic for the eight years they'd worked side by side. Such was the benefit of how open sexuality was at that time.
Hermione had just finished ascending the flight of stairs leading to the Owlery when she bumped into Harry, who was in muggle clothing for the weekend, and was likely sending off a letter to Sirius, with whom he did keep fairly regular contact. "Hey, mum," he said cheerfully.
Hermione smiled. While it had been decidedly shocking to hear Harry call her that in the midst of her violent argument with Minerva, it had led to a conversation that probably should have happened months ago. Harry had admitted that he felt that way toward her for some time, and that given most of his friends - Neville Longbottom being the exception - had people to call mum and dad, that he often felt out of place for not using the word to describe what she'd become to him. If she was honest with Harry, and she had been the evening before, it wasn't as if she didn't think of him as a son just as he thought of her as a mother. Conversation had, the pair had agreed to stop pretending to be something less than they were; parent and child.
"Hello, son," she replied, earning a grin from Harry that warmed her heart beyond measure. "What are you up to today? Sending a letter to Sirius?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah. I'm meeting the other Order Kids down at the Quidditch pitch in about half hour. Not sure what we're doing today, but we did agree to hang out."
The self proclaimed Order Kids were the children of Order members who most often attended meetings with their parents. At last count, the core group included Harry, Emma, Dudley, Neville Longbottom, Ethan Giles, Luna Lovegood, along with Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George Weasley. There were other children of Order members who did join that group of friends, and now and then a student whose parents were not in the Order joined the group as well. Colin and Dennis Creevy spent considerable time with the Order kids as well. Draco Malfoy, oddly enough, had taken to Dudley very quickly after Dudley had been sorted to Slytherin. Given the Vow that Hermione had made with Narcissa to urge Draco away from following in Lucius' shoddy footsteps, this had been a friendship that Hermione and Minerva agreed to encourage.
"I'm sure you'll figure something out," she told Harry as the fifteen year old tied a roll of parchment to an Owl's leg, and she did the same with her own letter.
"We will," Harry agreed. "Did you and Minerva sort things out?"
Hermione sighed. "More or less. We both agree we each need to make some changes in the way we relate to one another, and in how we communicate. Our biggest issue, I think, is that I believe she needs to try to understand that I am Head of the Order and that I can't always make decisions she approves of. I don't try to tell her how to run Hogwarts, and yet she continually acts as though her approval is needed on all Order related decisions. On the flip side, when I don't inform her about things, or do things I know would not meet her approval, she believes me to be keeping secrets."
Hermione had not meant her answer to Harry to have turned into a vent, and she felt a bit guilty for it. It was not his burden to carry, nor should he be put in the middle of a discord between his parents. Regardless, he was looking at her in a thoughtful manner, and to her surprise did not simply pretend to understand. He actually offered advice.
"It's hardly fair for you to act angry over whether or not she approves of something you do. You're acting like you don't care about her approval, but that's not true," he said evenly, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You've always wanted to live up to her expectations, from the day we got to Hogwarts. So that means your anger is more about you than her."
For the second time in the same amount of days, Hermione looked at Harry in complete and utter shock. It wasn't that he was offering advice, though that was surprising enough, but it was what he said and what she knew he meant. '...from the day we got to Hogwarts…'
He knew the truth.
"Harry are you saying…" she asked carefully, not wanting to tip her hand if she was wrong.
"That I know you're a twice over time traveler who used to be my best friend?" Harry concluded. "Yeah."
"How long have you known, Harry?" she asked with a bit of an edge in her voice.
He shrugged. "I started wondering beginning of last year, though I was pretty sure I was barking mad. Then over last New Years, I overheard you and Minerva and Emma's mum talking. I'd just figured out the egg clue…"
Hermione remembered the day in question, and remembered the conversation Harry must have listened in on. If he was already suspicious by that point, well, they should have been more careful that day but there was nothing she could do about it now.
"I wanted to be mad," he confessed. "I thought about storming in and making a scene and being a total tosser about it, because all I could think about was the day you told me that Hermione… my Hermione, was dead. I couldn't think about anything but that you'd lied to me. But then I thought about why I'd even come to find you. I realized that it was something I wanted to share with you - my mum - and I realized that if I'd never met this version of you, if you'd never gone back in time and grown up without me and Ron… well, I'd have wanted to share that moment with that other version of you just as much. So I decided to appreciate the fact that I hadn't really lost my best friend, and that I got a mum out of the whole mess. If I blew up, I stood to lose her all over again, and lose you in the process."
"That's a very mature way to look at things," Hermione said softly. "I am sorry for that lie, but you must understand that who I am… how I became who I am, more accurately, breaks too many laws to count. While Miss Granger lived, I was only begging for people to realize that she and I were one and the same."
"Yeah, that's what Ron figured was your reasoning," Harry admitted.
Hermione groaned. "Who else have you told, other than Ron?"
"Just Dudley and Emma, though neither of them knew you before so it was less of an adjustment for them. I just didn't want to keep it from my brother and sister. Ron said he wouldn't have kept something like that from his brothers and sister if he'd discovered that one of his parents was a time traveler who he'd been mates with."
"So… is everyone… alright with this knowledge?" Hermione asked, understanding Harry's reasoning for telling who he'd told, and appreciating that it had not gone further. "Have you, any of you, got questions?"
"Yeah, we're fine," Harry shrugged. "The only things we couldn't put together were how you went back and how you came forward, and then how long you were there. Oh, and we are pretty sure the Ghost of Ravenclaw Tower is our sister but we don't know for sure and we didn't want to ask her and put her in a position to betray your trust."
"I fell in the corridor on my way to Potions, end of third year. I'd been using a timeturner all year so I could take extra classes. The time turner broke, and I ended up going back in time to before Hogwarts was even built. It took me thirty years to build a new time turner which would send me forward instead of just further back. It's one of a kind. And yes, Rowena is my daughter, and by extension your sister. I told you a bit about her before."
He nodded in understanding. "So can you use it to check out events that haven't happened yet, to help with the war?" Harry asked, looking interested.
"In theory, yes, but it is a dangerous thing, to meddle with time," Hermione replied. "I learned that the hard way - and the cost was high. Every time you move through time you are risking both minor and major changes that are all but impossible to predict. I have several good books in our Library if you'd like to study the subject further."
"I'll think about it."
Hermione decided, on the spot, that given this new information it was time for a family meeting. In fact, it had been too long since she and Minerva had managed to both be at dinner with all three children. There was no reason they couldn't pull that off this evening. In fact, she'd invite Severus as well, as he'd become a father to the children and was just as much family as any of the rest of them. "Harry, plan on having dinner in the Tower tonight. We're overdue some family time, I think."
"Shall I tell Dud and Emma?"
"Please do. Let's plan on half past six," she said, setting a time and mentally going over what needed done before then. "I believe I should seek out Ron and have a conversation with him now that who I am… who I was, is out in the open between us. If he's late to your meet up with the Order Kids that will be why."
"I think he'd appreciate that," Harry agreed. "And just so you know…"
"Yes, Harry?" she asked.
"This doesn't change anything," he whispered. "You're still my mum, even if you were my friend before that. I need a mum more than I need my friend back. I think that you were right… even though I know you're the same person, my friend Hermione Granger did die at the world cup. I miss her, but I love you."
Hermione pulled Harry into a tight hug, both of them sniffling a bit as the high emotions blanketed them both. She'd always known one day Harry and Ron would learn the truth, and while she had wanted to be the one to break it to them, a part of her was glad they'd figured it out on their own.
Harry headed off to meet his friends, and a quick Point Me charm had Hermione headed toward Ron. She found him near the Room of Requirement a short while later, and as she approached she suddenly felt unsure of herself for the first time in years. She didn't know how to act around Ron now. Before she'd gone back in time, he'd been her friend. After, she'd kept emotionally distant from the red haired boy, only allowing herself to see him in a manner befitting any other parent and how they'd see a friend of their child. Her and Harry's relationship had evolved by way of her adopting him, but with Ron, there had really only been surface changes.
"Ron?" she called out timidly.
The teenager looked at her in confusion for a moment. "Amelia?" he responded in a worried tone, obviously sensing something was off.
She froze. He'd called her that a hundred times, and it had never felt wrong until this moment. Hermione couldn't stop herself as her head shook side to side, denying the name and the way it had changed the dynamic between them. With Harry, even before she'd had the urge to mother him because of his lack of parental figures. Ron had a solid family life, and so they had been able to be nothing more or less than simply friends. It had been something normal that stood out because it was normal and everything else in her life had been anything but.
Ron's shoulders relaxed and he walked toward her slowly, a single tear for remembrance sliding down his cheek as he opened his arms to offer a hug. "Hermione," he whispered.
And just like that, she fell into his embrace. He was still so young and she wasn't, but he was taller than her now and somehow despite his youth, his strong arms made her feel innocent and safe, if only for a moment. "I've missed you," she whispered. "And I am so sorry, for everything."
"I never believed you left us on purpose," Ron tried to soothe her. "And really, 'Mione, you came back. Yeah, it took a while from your perspective but for whatever reasons, you came back. Far as I'm concerned, you've got nothing to be sorry for. Gods, I've missed you too, though. I missed my friend, no matter how awesome you are at being my boyfriend's mum. I couldn't hug her, not like this…"
"We'll have to find a happy medium of some sort," she sniffled, pulling away as their hug ended. "I wish I could just snap my fingers and we could be just as we were before, but honestly Ron, I'm a grown woman and you are still a child. We can't just… hang out, not that way."
He nodded. "Yeah, I know. I was just kind of thinking that on the days where you're really feeling the weight of the world, maybe coming to someone who knows the girl you were at the beginning wouldn't be a bad idea."
"That's too much to put on your shoulders, Ron," Hermione argued.
"The weight of the world was on my shoulders the day I decided to be friends with The Boy Who Lived," he said with a shrug. "I get that I'm still a kid and that stuff like that shouldn't be my problem and all that, but bloody hell, five years standing by Harry's side has kind of made me grow up fast, if you know what I mean. I wish I was still an innocent kid, but I'm not and you know it."
The idea of Ron not being innocent caused Hermione to arch an eyebrow and give him decidedly motherly glare, question dancing in her eyes.
He knew exactly what she was wondering. "No, we have not had sex. Get that 'I'm about to lecture you' look off your face!"
They stared at each other for a few seconds before they both burst out laughing. "I know you were headed to meet with Harry and the rest of the Order Kids," Hermione reminded him gently. "How about you go on before your boyfriend starts to worry. If you want to talk more later… today or otherwise… you know where to find me, Ron."
"Okay, 'Mione," he agreed. "See you around."
Hermione uttered a quick charm to clean her face off after Ron had vanished around the next corner. She needed to pop by Severus' quarters and ask him to dinner, and after two emotional conversations in a row, she was not in the mood for a third. If Severus saw she'd been crying, he'd ask what was going on, and she'd likely break down again. It was just one of those days.
The chill of the dungeon felt nice after being above ground level where the castle was warmest. As the seasons were shifting toward summer weather, some days Hogwarts didn't quite keep up a comfortable temperature in all areas of the castle. In crossed Hermione's mind as she made her way toward Severus' quarters that he and Rupert were dating, so she supposed that it would be appropriate to extend the dinner invitation to the elder Giles brother along as well. Given that this evening was supposed to be about her own liberty to talk about all of her past without fear, and Rupert was unaware of the final piece of the puzzle, Hermione was not inclined to invite him even if she did like the man very much. Of course, just because she could be open about the full truth of who she was didn't mean she had to be tonight. She'd put the offer out there for Rupert to join them, though who even knew if he was available.
"Enter!" she heard the Potions Master call out harshly.
Well, he wasn't in a great mood, that was certain. "Severus?" she called carefully, stepping into his quarters. "You alright?"
"Oh, it's just you," he said coming around the corner from where his personal lab was situated into the main living area. "Sorry for being snappy, I have a sixth year Hufflepuff who keeps popping by. I utterly loathe it when students develop crushes. Am I not mean enough? I could be meaner."
"You could," she agreed. "But I'd really rather you weren't. Fancy coming to dinner tonight for a family get together?"
"What's the occasion?" he asked. "Did Em finally talk the boys into turning in their homework on time?"
Hermione laughed, thinking some things never did change. For all of the improved work ethic Harry and Ron, and now Dudley had gained, none of the three boys could be counted on to turn something in on time more than once per week. Emma, however, usually turned in assignments a day or two early, and often nagged at the boys for their decided lack of give a damn over timeliness. "No. I discovered this afternoon that the children have known the full truth of my identity since the beginning of last year. Harry made a comment that tipped his hand, and then admitted Ron had helped him figure things out, and that he'd told Dudley and Emma because they were siblings and he didn't want to keep things from them. It's gone no further than that."
Severus frowned. "I'll have to redouble my efforts with the children - perhaps even include Mister Weasley from here on out - in Occlumency lessons. If any of them were captured by the Dark Lord, your secret would be out."
Hermione groaned. "Damn, I'd not even considered that. I guess I was just relieved that I no longer needed to hide it from them."
"That's why you keep me around," Severus commented. "It's helpful to have the captain of worst-case-scenario-planning around during wartime."
"Yes Severus, that's exactly why I keep you around," she deadpanned. "So, dinner? Rupert can join you if you'd like."
"If you mean to be gracious by way of our romantic liaison, then you needn't worry about that any longer," he replied. "While we certainly remain friends, we've discontinued our sexual relationship. We agreed that we've both changed and our reasons for coupling are no longer valid in such a case. There was consideration on seeking new things over which to bond, but then we factored in the war and that he's a Watcher and could be called away to Merlin knows where at any point… well, neither of us were interested in a long-distance relationship, and I'm not leaving Hogwarts."
Hermione nodded in understanding, honestly not surprised. "Just you then? Six thirty?"
"If I must," he muttered, as usual feigning disinterest at the notion of spending time with what had become his family.
"Alternately I could catch the entirety of the sixth year Hufflepuff class doing something or another wrong and send them to your office for detention at seven," she offered.
He glared. "You wouldn't dare."
"Don't forget, no one thought I'd ever punch Draco Malfoy in the face," she reminded him. "And yet…"
"I'll be there at six fifteen," he promised rapidly. He was learning quickly not to call her bluff. Especially since she so rarely did bluff. Grandiose claims were merely precursors to grandiose and well thought out plans. Hermione Granger Slytherin liked planning.
"See you then," she said cheerfully.
From Severus' quarters, Hermione made her way back up to the Head Tower, checking the time as she reached the stone Gargoyles. Half past five. "Min?" she called as she stepped into their living room. "Are you home?"
Home.
It felt good to call it that again. When Hermione had first arrived, it had been surprisingly upsetting. She found that whereas when she was a student here, she'd felt Hogwarts was her home, and then when she'd been there at the castle's construction, it had become home all over again, but when she'd come back to her proper time the castle had seemed… alien. It wasn't her Hogwarts anymore. She was not a student there, nor was she a teacher at first, though the latter had been remedied fairly quickly. Hermione had been the first Defense Professor to last more than a single year in several decades; there had even been a small article in the Daily Prophet to note the occasion, this past September.
"In the kitchen, Hermione," Minerva called. "I was just starting to think about what to make for dinner."
"The children and Severus will be joining us for the evening meal," the younger woman informed her lover. They'll be here in about an hour."
"Well that rules out the smaller meal I'd been thinking of," Minerva mused, though she didn't sound displeased at the notion of having company. "What prompted this?"
"Family?"
"That explains it all," the older witch said sarcastically.
"I was informed this afternoon by our middle child that he, Ron, Dudley and Emma have known for some time the truth of my origins," Hermione explained. I've spoken to Harry and Ron, but not Dudley or Emma. I alerted Severus of the development, and of course his first thought was that the children need to step it up with the Occlumency lessons. He also believes it would be prudent for Ron to begin joining our three."
"Which means you'll need to speak with Molly," Minerva concluded.
"I'll need to speak with Molly," Hermione agreed. "While perhaps this development prompted my desire for a family dinner, in context of our other conversations the last few days, I think I'd like to make this a regular thing. Perhaps bi weekly, Saturday dinners as a family?"
"That would leave the alternating Saturday evenings free for us to work on us," the Headmistress concluded. "I think it's a solid plan, though perhaps it would be wise to make it an open thing that Severus or the children can opt out of if other things come up. I wouldn't like it to become a dreaded event or resented one, because one of the children was forced to miss an activity in favor of the set dinner."
Hermione nodded. "I agree that we should be flexible with them, but I don't think it too pushy to stress to the kids that I feel like playing Quidditch is not an acceptable excuse for missing. This should be a lesson to them on the subject of priorities."
"And we're supposed to be the priority?"
"Family is supposed to be the priority. This is just as much about them spending time with each other as it is them spending time with us. They're all in different houses," Hermione reminded her lover. "They see so little of each other."
"I think they spend more time together than either of us realize," Minerva suggested. "That fort of theirs we supposedly don't know about is coming together nicely. I think they've been sneaking in and out of the tower when they know we're both elsewhere. Oh, speaking of sneaking, I'd be willing to bet that Harry had been using the Marauders Map to track you while he was seeking confirmation of your identity. In fact, the fact that the map lists you as Hermione and not Amelia was probably one of his first clues. Given that he no longer needs to lie to you, I suppose it's time to return the article to him."
Hermione pouted. "Must I?"
"I do believe you gave him your word that when he came clean you would," Minerva reminded her. "And I'd like to consider us the sort of parents who keep their word, as to set an example of behavior for our children."
Grudgingly, Hermione agreed to return the Marauders Map to Harry after she'd had a chance to speak to him about some rules for its use and under what conditions she'd take it away again. The conversation then shifted to decisions about what to prepare for dinner, then then the following forty-five minutes was spent working together to prepare a meal. Severus, of course, was the first to arrive, though Dudley was not far behind him and Harry and Emma arrived together only a few minutes before six thirty.
Dinner conversation was highly relaxed. Emma pointed out that Hermione could be referred to as Hermione when they were not in mixed company, and the time traveling witch grinned widely at the thought. Harry was now calling her Mum, but Dudley and Emma decided that they simply wished to shift from calling her Aunt Amelia to Aunt Hermione. Severus and Minerva - mostly Minerva - were just pleased they didn't have to use the name Amelia around the children anymore. The Order members all knew her as Hermione and so using her true name among Order members was a given. The children however were not in the Order, and Hermione had been too afraid of tipping her hand regarding the children knowing the truth of her origins that she'd built into the Order contract that if members were discussing Order business away from meetings, they were magically bound to referring to herself as "The Head", rather than using any name. This saved her the trouble of worrying about eavesdroppers.
During dinner, the children all shared a bit about what was going on in their lives with their pseudo-parents. Emma had evidently been spending a good deal of time reading books well above her grade level, which prompted Hermione to suggest that Emma look into Mastery programs which could be completed remotely so that someone who was still technically a student at Hogwarts could get a jump start on a degree. Emma expressed an interest in doing so, though she was undecided if she wanted to go after a Mastery program, or if she wanted to look into Muggle degrees. Hermione encouraged her to look into both and then make a decision.
Harry shared that he was really starting to enjoy Potions, now having a better grasp of the basics since Severus had gone back and helped him address issues he'd been having which had led to difficulties later. The Potions Master spoke up, and said that he expecting nothing less than an Outstanding on Harry's upcoming Potions OWL. All three children groaned at the mention of the impending horror of sitting for the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams. Severus chuckled and told them to just wait till they got to their NEWTs.
Dudley talked about his continued interest in business. It was a bittersweet thing for him to have such an intrigue. It had been something Vernon was good at so a part of Dudley wanted to be interested in anything else, but at the same time it was something that Severus was good at, and it was obvious to everyone in the room - including Severus and much to his startlement - that Dudley had begun to see Severus like a father and looked up to him greatly.
Conversation was winding down as the group began banishing plates to the kitchen as dinner concluded when there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it," Hermione said, moving toward the door and wondering who would be calling on them.
She let out a gasp when she saw the man standing there. He was rather tall, with a full head of white hair and piercing hazel eyes. He wore a muggle, grey three piece suit with a white shirt and a green tie. It was him. It was William. It was… "Galahad," she breathed out her friend's true given name.
He raised an eyebrow at her then stepped through the threshold and planted a firm kiss on her lips, which she returned for old times' sake despite the fact that she knew Minerva was going to give her hell later. When he let her go, he took a step back to allow for a more appropriate distance between them, at which point he cocked his head and dipped it down in a slight nod. "Guardian," he greeted, the sound of his deep timbre as he called her that, just like all those years ago; all those centuries ago from his point of view. "It has been far too long, Hermione."
It was at this point that Hermione turned around and noticed that everyone else in the room was staring at her in shock, likely each of them for a different reason. She could see the anger in Minerva's eye, but also saw an effort to be understanding, or at least to hear Hermione's side of the story before assuming some kind of betrayal. The children looked more confused than anything, and Severus…
Severus looked like he was trying not to outright crack up. Ah, yes, Hermione thought. There was the snort. Finally, the Potions Master just lost it and let out a laugh. "So much for the pure knight," he commented.
Hermione and Galahad both gave him a stern glare, at which point he promptly ceased in his mirth, though the fact that Severus was made to shut up with a mere look caused all three children to start laughing in his stead.
Minerva was not laughing, but she was remaining calm so Hermione counted her blessings. "My love," she said firmly. "I do believe introductions are in order."
I had one reviewer speculate from hints in the last couple of chapters that I was pushing for, in addition to the Buffyverse Crossover elements, I was pulling for a Warehouse 13 crossover element. SO CLOSE, but not quite. The secondary cross over goes to "The Librarians" - and if you have not watched that show you absolutely must. The Galahad character introduced is of course "Jenkins" from The Librarians show, who is played by John Larroquette. See facebook group for more details on this merging. I simply could not resist the idea of, in a story so wrapped around magical artifacts, not adding Galahad/Jenkins to the mix. Also, yes I did in fact have him call Hermione "Guardian", and yes that implies what you think it implies. :)
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