'See you for Yule.' Harry said, hugging her tightly with a conspiratory wink.

'Yeah, see you then.' Neville agreed, waiting nervously by the door of the train. His Gran waited just outside the train with the two boy's trunks hovering at her side. She had her lips pursed and kept checking her watch, seemingly eager to make an appointment.

'Yule, Longbottom.' Theo agreed, waving as he hovered his own trunk off the rack.

Neville left, Harry trailing after him. Ginny had already gone, swept up by a sea of redheads and a loudly critical mother who thought that Ginny's new hairstyle made her look like a savage. Hermione disagreed; witches were not meant to be demure trophies who remained at home to raise children. Witches were as powerful and wild as the magic that flowed through their veins.

'Coming?' Theo checked. Hermione jumped up to follow him to where Lord Nott waited for them. The elderly pureblood stood beneath one of the large supporting pillars, scowling at everyone who came close to create a wide berth around him.

The two children pushed through the crowd to reach him and Theo dipped into a quick bow. Lord Nott then bowed to Hermione; a brief movement, designed not to cause a spectacle whist still giving her the respect she was due.

'Ready?' Hermione asked bracingly. Lord Nott scowled and Theo swallowed nervously. Gellert had believed in a particularly primitive muggle; dirty and wielding pitchforks. Whilst some muggles were certainly grubby in that time, and perhaps farming technology often was primitive so were many of the wixen. Homeless and beggar wixen thronged the massive Unterhalb and the Grindelwald family were the owners of several large manufacturing plants where the dregs of magical society laboured to refine potion ingredients harvested from Grindelwald properties.

She very rarely discussed her parents in the wizarding world - she loved them deeply, but they were private and not really a part of her wixen life. She wondered what Theo thought of them - the idea clearly made him uncomfortable, and he sneered openly at any mention of Harry's parents. She also couldn't forget what Harry had shouted during their arguments; whilst she didn't want to judge either Nott based on historical actions, she couldn't now forget Harry's insinuation that Lord Nott had at least appeared to agree with Voldemort.

Lord Nott took her trunk from her, tapping it with his wand to recast the levitation charm and hovering it over to a trolley. Theo followed, piling his on top before positioning himself to push the magically lightened load.

They joined the queue for the barrier, standing in awkward silence.

'I don't see why you can't just come straight to us.' Theo grumbled and Hermione sighed in exasperation.

'Because they're my parents. They miss me and they didn't get to see me at all last year.'

The single weekend she would be spending with her parents this year was a somewhat poor effort to relieve that guilt.

They finally passed through the barrier, emerging into the bustle of King's Cross to find a whole gaggle of muggle parents waiting with false disinterest, chaperoned by a ministry worker in a loudly patterned jacket.

'Hermione!' Her father called, waving eagerly from where he'd been pretending to read a paper on a bench. His mother glanced up too, her face breaking into a grin as she jumped up and hurried to envelop Hermione into a hug. Hermione hugged her back, then offered the same to her father. She noticed that both had clearly made the effort to dress nicely in anticipation of the meeting.

She stepped back.

'Mom, Dad. This is Theodore Nott and this is his father, Lord Thoros Nott.' She'd warned both purebloods in advance that she would be using the barest minimum of titles to introduce them, considering that the titles meant nothing to most muggles who'd long dropped the concepts of family heads.

'Theo, Lord Nott, these are my parents - Jean and Richard Granger.'

For a while, there was awkward silence as the two purebloods dithered over what to do when they couldn't follow their usual etiquette lessons.

Then Theo stuck out his hand.

'Nice to meet you.' He said brightly. His fingers were splayed a little oddly, but her father was able to arrange his own hand so that the shake was somewhat normal.

'Nice to meet you too, Theo.' Her dad said warmly and Theo blushed. His father grumbled about undignified nicknames, unfortunately not quiet enough for Hermione's parents to overhear.

'Oh, we understand completely, don't we Richard?' Hermione's mother sympathised, 'Hermione is such a beautiful name but all of her old school friends used to insist on calling her "Mione"'

'If I'd intended for him to be called "Theo" I wouldn't have bothered to name him Theodore.' Lord Nott grumbled, surprised but hiding it very well. Copying his son, the Lord held out his own hand and both of Hermione's parents shook it warmly.

'The trunks are still in the car; we can walk, or Richard can bring it around whilst we wait?' Her mother said brightly after another moment of awkward silence. They turned, leading the way towards the street as Theo mouthed "car" in puzzlement.

'It's like a cross between a flying carpet and a carriage, I believe. We can walk.' Lord Nott decided dubiously, trailing after Hermione and her parents.

They emerged into the brightly lit street, orange overhead lights competing with glittering Christmas lights which were strung across the street on cables. Headlights glittered across the wet tarmac and a man dressed up as Father Christmas sat beneath a massive tree right in front of the station, bouncing a child on his knee for a photograph by a smiling parent. Hermione's parents led them down the street, past the invitingly warm shop doorways filled with jingling Christmas tunes. The muggles moved with a sense of bubbling excitement, breath misting in the cool air and limbs buried in thick wool and crinkly waterproof jackets.

Luckily the car was not far because Lord Nott looked more and more uncomfortable with every passing moment. They turned off the Main Street and onto a slightly less decorative side road where her parents unlocked the car and opened the boot. Crammed into the small space and protruding over the folded down back seats were four old looking trunks.

'Here you go.' Her mother presented as Hermione's father stepped forwards to grab onto the handle, ready to drag one of them out but Thoros Nott waved his wand before he could, levitating the four trunks out smoothly and easily.

'Ah. Much easier.' Mr Granger rubbed his hands together.

'You have my thanks for taking care of this.' Theo's father said solemnly.

'Oh, it was nothing. The least we could do after you've looked after Hermione all last Christmas and most of summer! We just hope your renovations went well?'

'Never-the-less, I must insist. The agent tells me that everything is in order with this, but I can't claim to have much knowledge of these matters myself.' Lord Nott pulled a thick parchment envelope from his robes and passed it to Hermione's mother, who opened it with great interest.

Out fell a thick parcel of glossy pieces of paper - the top was another shiny envelope which declared in large letters that it contained a luxury muggle holiday for two in an Italian chalet, booked for just after Christmas.

'Oh golly, this is far too much!'

'Nonsense. I'll admit it is not entirely generosity - Hermione is an excellent influence on Theodore's school marks. It is in my best interests to have her around him for as much time as possible.'

Both of her parents laughed, accepting the gift graciously.

'I can get Lady Grindelwald to drop me straight to Nott Manor.' Hermione offered and her parents agreed quickly - Hermione's parents loved her, but they weren't stupid. They knew that she really wanted to spend the holidays with her friends and when they had been granted such a generous opportunity they weren't going to turn it down.

Hermione hugged Theo goodbye as their parents finished organising Hermione's visit, then the two wizards grabbed onto the various trunks, Lord Nott took Theo's hand and they disappeared with a crack. Hermione winced at even the memory of apparition.

Her parents wrapped her into more hugs now that they were in private and her father joked that she'd managed to escape another family Christmas. They piled into the car, Hermione updating them with the abridged version of events over the term. She didn't mention the attacks, not wanting to worry her parents but she was more than happy to relate the story of Lockhart's disastrous first lesson.

It took about an hour to drive from King's Cross to their house and to Hermione's delight it began to snow just before they arrived, which made the huddled form in their porch all the more surprising. The figure stood up and Hermione initially didn't recognise him - tall and gangly, with almost coltish limbs and a flop of blond hair that fell over his pale skin. He was bundled up warmly, but she doubted even the thick coat was enough to have fully protected him from the snow.

'Sam?' Her mother asked curiously, 'Sam Whiteside? What are you doing out here on your own?'

'I was hoping to speak with Hermione.' He admitted, eyes running over her figure. She smiled awkwardly, realising that they'd barely spoken since she'd received her Hogwarts letter. Her mother glanced at her quickly to make sure that she was okay with it and Hermione shrugged - even without magic, Mordred had made certain that she could defend herself.

'Sure. Don't let us get in your way. We'll be inside, Hermione.' Her father said jovially, edging past Sam and unlocking the door. Her mother followed quickly, whispering cautiously to Hermione that Sam had been asking after her for months before leaving the two children out in the gentle snow.

Awkward silence fell.

'You don't come home often.' Sam informed her cooly, stepping out into the light. He looked freezing, his lips a deep purple in the artificial yellow.

'Boarding school.' She excused, waving her hand dismissively.

'You didn't come home for Christmas or Easter last year and you were only home for two weeks over summer.' Pointed out her fake ex-boyfriend... although, he wasn't really her ex because they'd never actually broken up. She was ashamed for admit that she'd forgotten him entirely when she started attending Hogwarts.

'I went to a friend's.'

'They must be good friends.' He glanced over her clothing - an expensive fur coat that could pass in both the muggle and wizarding world that had been a Christmas gift from Theo last year. 'Do you love them?'

'My friends?' The young witch queried, confused and startled.

'No, your parents. I already know that you don't care about your friends - you manipulated everyone around you to put yourself at the top in school. I don't think that's changed.'

'Of course I love my parents.' She hissed, outraged.

'Doesn't seem like it. You never visit, never write.'

'I do! I write ever week. You don't know me; I don't manipulate everyone.'

'You manipulated me.' Sam reminded, shoving his hands into his pockets. 'You asked me out just so that you could brag about it and you planned to use me to get out of a party.'

'You agreed to it!' Exclaimed the witch.

'I caught you. If I hadn't, you would have gone through with it.' Sam pointed out, shrugging. 'Besides, it's not a bad thing. I used you too, remember.'

'Oh.' Hermione said awkwardly. 'I do love my parents but they just... don't fit in.'

'Not fancy enough?' He asked, glancing at her coat again. She smoothed it self consciously, trying to figure out how to say what she meant without saying the truth.

'It's a very selective school. They all trace their attendance at the school back to the normans and stuff; it takes being the new kid to a whole new level.'

'Wow.' Sam's eyes were wide. 'Is it part of some secret illuminati society?'

'Basically.' Hermione laughed.

'So how did you get an invitation?'

'They keep an eye out for particular talents.' She replied evasively. Magic was a talent, if one looked at it from a certain point of view. 'Did you want something? I can't imagine you waited in the snow for me just to catch up?'

'Oh, yes.' Sam paused awkwardly, pulling his hand from his pocket and brushing snow from his hat with one hand. 'There's a winter ball at school and I need a date - technically, you're still my girlfriend and I could do with some of...' He waved his hands in her general direction, encompassing all of her, '... any of the other girls would go of course; it is pretty exclusive but they'd all just reinforce the scholarship kid thing I've got going on.'

'When?' Hermione asked.

'That's the thing. It's tomorrow - that's why I waited outside. Your mother said you'd be coming home today.'

'Tomorrow.' She deadpanned, 'and you expect me to get something to wear?'

'Er... We can go shopping on the way. It's in London?' Sam asked hopefully. Hermione scoffed.

'You have evidently never taken a girl out to a dance before. I'll sort something.'

'I'll come by at five thirty.' Sam informed her. 'Thanks, by the way.

'You owe me.' She drawled, turning her back and making her way up the path. If she flooed Anneken, the older witch would be able to charm one of her current dresses - muggles would be fooled by a reasonably simple glamour. Besides, she thought wryly, it wouldn't be all bad - Sam did have a scholarship to a very good school and having muggle contacts wouldn't be a bad thing. Sam was as Slytherin as she was and his ambition would take him a long way, especially if he had a bit of backing - which Hermione was willing to give if it looked promising.