Chapter Forty Eight - The Day Before

Once Kieran was safely tucked up in his pram sleeping off his latest bottle Severus relocated to his own living room to find the schedule he had drawn up.

He hoped that Minerva was wrong and he hadn't lost track of time. They had got the letters despatched to the students on time but it was unfortunately possible that the days had drifted by while he had been engrossed in dealing with other matters.

Severus shuffled through piles of parchments on his desk, still in disarray since Ron's latest outburst. There was the schedule, the passing days magically marked off. In the morning it would be the 3rd of September, a Monday and the first day of the autumn term.

Severus' next thought was of Harry, if he had managed to forget something, Severus reasoned, Harry would be completely oblivious. Then there was Hermione, he needed to remind her and break the news about Ron. He needed to break the news about Ron after he had sorted out some other things because she would surely occupy some of his time with an outburst. Then he had to get Will on board, could they run for the first few days without a Muggle studies teacher? When would he have the time to speak with Will if he didn't do it before the term began, he would be supervising Hermione throughout her first months and somebody would have to take Kieran.

Severus' mind was spinning already; he had to speak with Harry, which would certainly put things into perspective. Hadn't Minerva said that she would help? He had to find Harry and the potion would just have to wait.

Severus went straight down into the dungeon covering very familiar territory till he got to the Potions classroom and the office beyond. He found Harry charmingly covered in chocolate cake but looking a little down in spirits and Hermione immediately looked alarmed.

"Is there anything wrong?" Hermione asked.

Severus handed Kieran back to her, "No, he's fine, I just need Harry back."

Harry stood up, "What's going on?" he asked as they left the Potions classroom and headed down the corridor.

"Minerva is back for the start of school tomorrow," Severus announced, "I need your help with a few things."

Harry went white and Severus was glad it wasn't just him who had lost track of things. Harry followed Severus into the corridor and only then did Severus tell him what they had to do.

"I've seen Ron and Draco's swords, they are bonded together, we need to tell Hermione but first we have to see Will and persuade him to come back with us so that he can teach Muggle studies. We haven't got time to do it once term starts. Are you ready to go or would you like to go back upstairs first?"

"Oh," Harry responded after a few seconds to think as he was feeling rather overwhelmed, "Did you ever finish that speech?"

"No," Severus replied, "I will have to do it before bed tonight."

"Well I can go to Will's now," Harry offered.

"Right, we shall do that now then, I hope he doesn't need too much persuasion. Then we come back and tell Hermione about Ron."

Within half an hour Harry and Severus had portkeyed to just outside of Will's house.

Harry walked beside his Kin thinking as he put one foot in front of the other. Severus was quiet and he assumed he was lost in thought too.

"Hermione can't be with Ron anymore," Harry said sighing, "And there is no other wizard we trust enough to allow."

"I know, not looking forward to that conversation, maybe we should make Ron do it."

"Er no, different Kin bond, could turn dangerous if she takes it badly," Harry sighed again, "When she takes it badly. Ooh what if she seeks him out while we're gone?"

"They're in bed and our rooms still stink of alcohol, I think she'll leave them alone."

"Hmm, hope so."

"One thing at a time," Severus said gesturing towards Sgoil Dubh.

Harry and Severus found Will face down on the couch in the living room this time. He was in a dishevelled state again and Harry knelt at his side on the floor to coax him awake since he had reacted so badly to being sobered on the previous visit.

Will had clearly been drinking again but as he woke it became obvious that he was currently hung over but reasonably coherent, at least he started to make sense after a few minutes and a couple of drinks of water anyway. Will held up a hand to stop them from asking him anything, said "Bathroom," then left the room.

"We can hardly have him teaching the children if he is going to be permanently intoxicated," Severus complained about Will in his absence.

"He was all right when we knew him before," Harry said thinking as he went, "Every time we turn up here he is out of it, he seemed fine when he was at Hogwarts and... oh,"

"Oh?" Severus prompted.

"Hmm, you warned him off Hermione didn't you?"

"Of course," Severus replied.

"Does it have to be a wizard, can't we let Will loose in Hogwarts and let things take their course? Hermione seemed to quite like him." Harry suggested.

Severus thought it over, "Depends on why he's trying to drink himself to death I suppose, he did seem to follow her around a lot."

"Hmm we'll see, could be the bodies in the freezer," Harry said with a grin.

Will returned after not very long and although he had raked some water through his hair he had made no other effort this time.

"So," Will began with some bitterness to his voice, "Is this a social call?"

"We wished to make you a proposition," Harry announced brightly.

Will was immediately wary, "And?"

"We wish to offer you a job, at Hogwarts, teaching Muggle studies," Harry announced laying it on the table of discussion without any enticements.

"Muggle studies?"

"Teaching the students about the customs of non magical people, you would come to Hogwarts for lessons, you can continue to live here if you wish, " Harry continued, "You would be paid well."

Will laughed bitterly, "Well I wasn't expecting that," He admitted, "But, I'm afraid, intriguing though your world is I find I must decline."

"We can arrange for you to be paid in Muggle currency," Harry offered, "The schedule is less burdensome than some subjects."

"I don't think it would be a good idea, I'm surprised you thought of me considering. So how are Draco and Ron getting along?" Will asked trying to change the subject.

Harry smiled, he wasn't done with Will yet and he had just led him onto the very thing he wanted to talk about, "Let's make a cup of tea and I'll tell you all about it, there have been some changes since we last saw you."

They sat at the breakfast table in the kitchen and told Will a brief outline about what had happened with the new Kin. He looked as amazed as he always did when they told him fantastical things about their world.

They sipped their tea while Harry waited for Will to have a think about it, he knew that he was clever enough to add up what he had been told he just needed to then turn that information back to bare on his own prospects.

"So are all Kin like you two, pregnancy and sleeping together and stuff?" Will asked at last.

Harry smiled slightly holding back on the triumphant grin he wanted to emit. Will had taken the bait.

"Mostly," Severus answered seriously, "There are occasions when it has been resisted but the instinct is strong in all but very unusual circumstances."

"Are you drinking very often Will?" Harry asked, "We are concerned for you living here on your own. Sev used to drink a lot before we made Kin, we are both worried."

"Err, no I don't drink that much, you just caught me on a bit of run that's all," Will answered trying to play it down suddenly getting flustered about how he was perceived, "Have you not got anybody else for this Muggle Studies post then?"

"We're out of ideas, the war has taken its toll I am afraid. We thought of you because although you are a Muggle, you are still very separate from them, quite special."

"I see," Will said as he tried to wheedle his way round to not refusing to teach after all.

"You're also our friend, we would much rather we brought someone who was closely acquainted with us into the fold. We Kin are not ones for strangers." Harry continued.

"So when would this be, it's September now isn't it?" Will asked.

Harry and Severus managed to look suitably sheepish, "The term starts tomorrow, though we can delay Muggle classes for a week if we need to."

Will laughed, "You left that a bit late didn't you?"

Harry smiled, Will hadn't turned him down again yet, "That's nothing, Sev hasn't even made his start of term speech yet."

"I could come with you and see what you want me to do, no harm in that is there?" Will conceded.

"You could, we need cover for a while even if we end up looking for someone else," Harry suggested, this would allow Will to leave if his efforts with Hermione were a disaster.

"So would I wear robes then?" Will asked, the joy springing to his eyes the way it used to do when they lived at Sgoil Dubh.

"If you want to, you can come back here to sleep or we can find you somewhere at Hogwarts." Harry suggested.

"You may take our attic for while if you wish, Ron and Draco will be in the dungeons tonight." Severus added.

"The dungeons? You're not still punishing them are you?" Will asked.

"The dungeons are a lot nicer than they sound," Harry tried to reassure.

"Robes would be nice, might as well look the part," Will added.

"Good," Harry said beaming a smile at Will and Severus, "If you can make arrangements to come with us now we will make it back in time long before dinner. You can get settled in."

"I'll just have a bath and er put some things together," Will said leaving the room.

"Yes, completely besotted," Severus commented his expression still stern.

With the Kin gone from the castle Hermione decided to walk up to the library with Kieran, they could sit in front of the fire in better lighting. She could play with him and do a little bit of reading as well. She knew she should go make up with Ron before the Kin started to question her but she just couldn't find the enthusiasm for it.

She hadn't really realised what her relationship with Ron was like till she met Will. She wished that she had never met him, Will with all his charm and easy gallantry, it had been impossible not to get swept up in him. It had left a big empty hole that she didn't even want to think about.

Hermione was crossing the hallway nearest the library when she heard loud excited conversation, she thought it was Ron but it seemed like an echo from their past not the Ron of now. She stood still listening, she could hear Draco too, he was asking Ron to slow down and wait for him but he was laughing too.

Hermione frowned, they were coming down the stairs, she stood to the side waiting for them to pass.

It took them a while which Hermione wasn't surprised at, what did make her gasp was the joyous energy she saw in them when they came into sight. Ron strode across the hallway and Draco followed him leaning on Ron's walker with his leg stubbornly dragging as it always did now.

Ron stopped as he reached the edge of the hallway and went back towards Draco, he beckoned Draco to climb up and once Ron had lifted him up into a piggy back they both headed off down the corridor with Draco shrieking at the speed.

Her first instinct had been to tut at their immaturity but it was some time later that Hermione realised what had been naggingly odd about the situation, Ron had been walking un-aided. She resolved to tackle the Kin about it, if they had found a cure for Ron she was offended they hadn't told her and was rather put out that they had found something she hadn't.

Hermione went up to the Headmaster's quarters when her curiosity couldn't stand it any longer, she let herself in since she was now 'family'. She found the two Kin standing together by the desk in the living room and if she wasn't mistaken they seemed a bit put out to see her.

"Draco and Ron are running around the castle creating mayhem with Ron looking more fit than I have seen him in years, anything to do with you two at all?" She asked folding her arms and looking sternly at them, "Not sharing everything with those swords are we?"

Both Harry and Severus looked speechless.

Harry found his words first, "Did you speak to them?" he asked.

Hermione frowned wondering what that had to do with anything, "No, Ron was giving Draco a piggy back down a corridor, they didn't even see me."

"Hmm," Harry began, "Well there has been a development, yes."

Hermione saw movement out at the edge of her vision and when she turned towards it she saw Will emerging from Ron and Draco's attic dressed in a robe that followed the same style as Severus and Harry's but with more elaborate trim. He had freshly washed his hair and had shaved. Hermione stared at him.

"What do you think?" Will asked Hermione, a shy expression creeping onto his face.

"Very nice but what is the occasion?" Hermione managed to ask.

"Harry and Severus have offered me a job here, I am going to be teaching Muggle studies most of the week, these are my new robes," Will answered, "I was hoping that I would see you, would you like to give me the prospective teacher's tour?"

Harry grinned from ear to ear when Hermione left with Will. He really hoped that Will would break the news to her for them.

"Well that has never happened before, Grainger completely forgetting the purpose of her visit after one glance, interesting. He still thinks it's forbidden though," Severus commented.

"Oh, you think that will slow things down at all? If Will keeps up his usual act with Hermione she'll be glad when Will tells her that Ron is out of the running."