"Severus!" Hermione snapped. "Why don't you go and make sure the guest room is cleaned up?" She gave him a piercing look and gestured up the stairs with her head.
"Fine." Looking angry beyond reason, he stomped up the stairs.
Hermione had watched the boy shrink back from the outburst, and he looked near to tears. She kneeled down in front of him. "What's your name?"
The boy's blue eyes met with her own briefly, then looked at the floor. "Garry."
"Ah. I have a friend named Harry. Are you hungry?"
He shook his head.
"Are you sure? Maybe some hot chocolate..."
He looked at her once again, and nodded shyly.
"My name's Hermione," she said evenly, and stood. "You can just ignore Mr. Snape. He likes to yell." Though Garry didn't respond, he followed her dutifully back to the kitchen, clutching his knapsack to his chest. Hermione conjured up some truly magical hot chocolate along with a variety of cookies. "Help yourself."
Hermione watched in silence as he drank from the mug and nibbled on the cookies. He actually reminded her a little of Harry, with his wide, guileless eyes and tousled black hair. The look of innocence.
From overhead, she could hear Severus stomping about angrily. He certainly couldn't be mad at this poor boy, but he had little else to vent his frustration at. The Ministry would just shake its collective head and inform him it was his duty, and if he refused, then there was no doubt a comfortable cell he could rest in until his trial for treason.
"How long do I have to stay here?"
Looking away from the ceiling to her guest, Hermione didn't speak. An excellent question. "I don't know, Garry. Do you know why they wanted you to stay here with us?"
The boy shook his head, his eyes sad and scared.
"I suppose we'll just have to wait until tomorrow. Do you think you might be able to get some sleep?" Get the boy to sleep, then try to settle Severus down somehow. Hermione had a busy night ahead of her.
"I guess."
Hermione affixed a pleasant smile to her face. "Are you scared?"
A shy nod.
"Crookshanks!" After a few moments, Crookshanks wandered into the kitchen with Kitsune close behind. "Crookshanks, this is Garry," she said gently. "This is Crookshanks--" She placed her hand on the larger cat's head. "--and this is Kitsune." She went to put her hand on Kitsune's head as well, but the kitten responded to her movement by sinking claws and teeth into her.
"Ow! Son of a--"
Taking offense at the attack, Crookshanks whopped the kitten with one paw, and knocked her roughly to the floor. Kitsune assumed this was an invitation to play, and rolled to her back, batting at the air.
Garry giggled.
That brought a genuine smile to Hermione's lips even through the sting of the attack. "We just got Kitsune yesterday. She's a bit rambunctious." Not daring the kitten's wrath further, Hermione stood. "Crookshanks, you'll make sure Garry is all right, won't you?"
"He understands you?"
"Of course. Why, don't you have a familiar, Garry?" After having Crookshanks for so long, the idea was absurd. Why wouldn't anyone want one?
He shook his head.
"How old are you?" Strange that he wouldn't. He looked old enough for one.
"Ten."
Putting one hand on the shoulder of the boy, Hermione steered him out of the kitchen. "Almost old enough to get a wand then. What about school?"
A shrug.
Well, if Hogwarts was in his future, he wouldn't receive that letter until his eleventh birthday. "I went to Hogwarts," she continued. "Have you heard of it before? The headmaster is a very powerful wizard; some time in the future I'm going to teach there. And Mr. Snape used to teach there. What's your favorite subject?"
Garry shrugged again as they went slowly up the stairs.
"Charms? Transfiguration? Potions? I liked them all. The teachers at Hogwarts are the best. Mr. Snape, before he left, was the most brilliant Potions Master in Scotland, maybe on the whole British Isle." Hermione was babbling, but without any response from Garry, she had to fill the silence in some way.
Thankfully the upstairs was silent and the hall empty. Severus had already retreated to the bedroom. "Would you like Crookshanks to keep you company tonight? He's a very good watchcat." She watched the boy lift his fingers to his mouth, then jerk them away as if just realizing his age.
"OK."
Severus had given the guest room a quick cleaning charm, and switched out the light floral bedspread for one that was grass green and smelled lightly of pine. The picture of the beach that hung over the bed and was usually silent was now audible with the gentle breaking of waves. "You can sleep in here. I'll be across the hall, and the bathroom is right next door. Crookshanks and Kitsune will stay in here with you." Hermione glared at the kitten, whose green eyes were fixed on the expanse of green blanket.
"Crookshanks, make sure Kitsune behaves," she said sternly for the tiny terror's benefit. "And if there's anything wrong..."
The cat just turned his back and jumped up on the bed. Kitsune was close behind, climbing up covers.
First tapping a small covered light with her wand and bringing it to life, Hermione pulled back the covers. "Do you want me to wait, or do you want to do this by yourself?" She looked behind her to see Garry watching the two cats make themselves comfortable.
"I-I can do it," he said quietly.
"Right across the hall if you need anything. Good night." Hermione pat the boy on the shoulder, then left, closing the door. Being supportive was a lot more difficult than she had believed it to be. Her lips curled upwards as she heard the grumbling even through the closed door across the hall.
"The story they feed me had better be worthy of a literary prize," Severus snapped as soon as she entered the room. "They have me by the ba--"
"Stop it. So they're leaving this boy here for a little while. It's not like we're actually responsible for him." That wasn't true, but to phrase it as she had originally meant to hadn't felt right.
He's not our child.
Severus just scowled and turned back the covers. Apparently he could understand what she hadn't said. "We are responsible. Not completely, but we have to take care of him, put up with his presence until whoever it was that dumped him here decides to put him someplace else." Every movement was performed with a degree of hostility as he got into bed.
Hermione managed to be a bit more pragmatic about it. "Yes, but I'm sure this was all for a good reason. They really can't expect us to actually raise him." She hoped. The possibilities raced through her mind as she got ready for bed. "How are supposed to go to work if we have to watch him? They have to do something."
A snort from Severus as she climbed into the bed. "They need do nothing. They are the Ministry, and if something they want inconveniences people like us, then that's unfortunate." His voice climbed in volume as he spoke.
"Not so loud." Hermione tried to find a comfortable position, but she was too concerned to relax. "This is the Ministry's fault, not Garry's. Don't treat him like a cockroach."
Next to her, Severus just grunted, then rolled to his side.
They were in the middle of a quiet and somewhat tense breakfast when the visitors showed up again.
"Too much to ask for them to take him..."
"Severus!" This was futile. "Garry, why don't you go on upstairs while we deal with this? That's a good boy." Hermione watched him retreat up the stairs and sighed, mostly in frustration. Apparently adding one child to the house meant she'd have to take care of two, and there was nothing worse than Severus acting childishly. "Perhaps we should go into the library," she suggested, regaining some of her composure, "where we can be sure the conversation is kept private."
As soon as the door was closed and the silencing charm in place, the shorter of the two Ministry officials began talking. "We have the full details here for you to read at your leisure," he said, and the second man handed over a thick folder.
Severus snorted, but took it. "Full details indeed."
"He'll have to stay for an indeterminate time. For that period, you will be compensated for--"
The silky, professorial tone was engaged at full intensity. "Are you gentlemen aware of what I do exactly?"
They looked at each, then at Severus, who was eyeing them dangerously.
"You work at the Ministry. Any leaves you--"
"But you're not aware of what I do for the Ministry then. I'm sure the Minister of Magic would be pleased to know exactly where you're leaving this child."
The short man blinked. "But it was the Minister that assigned him here."
"Why?" Hermione blurted out. Severus wasn't trusted by the Ministry really, and to actually put the care of a child in his hands...
Swearing under his breath, Severus snarled at the men. "That fool. Doesn't Willthorpe have an ounce of sense?"
"I'm sure the Minister had his reasons. I don't know why here specifically, and it's not my place to ask, but I can tell you that as the grandson of the former Minister of Magic, and as a target of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named--"
"Doesn't that get tedious?" Severus asked dryly.
"What?"
"Always saying He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I pity the quill forced to write that in any correspondence. Try Voldemort; it's shorter." He gave a nasty smile at the looks of horror on the men's faces.
The taller one looked a bit green, and when the other resumed talking, it was with an audible stammer. "Yes, well, as I was saying, the boy's been made a target, and because of his relation to the former Minister of Magic, he's been given--"
"Special consideration. Yes, isn't that so comforting to all the others murdered and not given such thought. Gentlemen, good day and get out. Do not return until you plan on removing that... boy from my house."
As if whipped, the two men slunk out with Severus maintaining a steady glare at their backs. "Willthorpe leaves Fudge's grandson with me. Pardon me for a moment."
Hermione looked at him quizzically.
Severus began to laugh. Loudly. "The irony is too rich to ignore, my dear. You must know how much Fudge hated me."
"Severus, he's just a little boy," Hermione said evenly, not liking the gleam in his eyes at all. "Don't take anything out on him. He's scared witless, and you're not helping at all." Now it was time to assume her mistress of the house mode. "I will take the time off to watch him; you don't need to worry your pretty head over it. Besides, you'd probably damage him."
He raised his eyebrows. "Of course I would, the better to get him out of my sight."
Hermione rubbed her forehead. "This isn't going to be fun."
"I never heard anything about this..."
Hermione flipped back a page, then forward a page. If the Ministry was actually holding anything back in the report, she would have been surprised.
The Ministry had ceased surprising her a long time ago.
She looked up at the boy currently focused on a piece of parchment in front of him, an orange quill scratching over it. He glanced up, but not to look at her, but at the orange cat perched, to Hermione's disapproval, on the table as well. Garry looked back at the parchment, the quill moving again; his tongue slowly peaked out from between his lips in a show of concentration.
"Garry," Hermione said slowly, "did anyone ever tell you why they wanted to put you here?" He had said he didn't know before, but things were slightly different now.
Not looking away from his effort, he shook his head.
"Nothing at all? Didn't they think you'd be afraid if you had to be away from your parents?"
"Dad said I was old enough to live away from home for a little bit, so I'd get used to it for when I go to school." He was still looking at the parchment. His words were easy, without concern.
Without knowing exactly what the boy was capable of, Hermione wasn't sure what to ask him to find out if it was true, but... "Would you mind if I tried something, Garry? I might be able to figure out why they sent you here."
The quill paused, and he looked up. "I... guess. Mr. Snape doesn't like me," he said hesitantly, but at normal volume. "If he doesn't like me, why do they want me to stay here?"
This was a dilemma Hermione didn't really want to deal with. "I'm going to tell you some things, Garry, and I want you to listen closely. Have your parents every told you about Voldemort? Or You-Know-Who?"
"I heard them talking about You-Know-Who before, but... I didn't know who." Garry frowned.
"His name is Voldemort, and he's an evil wizard. Your parents sent you here to protect you from the evil wizard." Best not to say the evil wizard was after him. "Mr. Snape and I work for the Ministry--"
"Where granddad was?"
"Yes, where your granddad was. So Mr. Snape and I are going to look after you for a little while. That way, your parents and your granddad and the Ministry will know right where you are." Hermione tried to give him her most reassuring smile. "You can be strong for all those people, can't you?"
It appeared an effort, but Garry nodded. His eyes sparkled suspiciously.
"And don't you worry. You'll get to see your mum and dad. Can I try that little test now?" She took his hand when he nodded. "All right, let's try..." Mentally she riffled through her library of spells and decided on the absolute most basic. Her fingers positioned themselves automatically on her wand in her pocket. Oh, to be a duelist now. "Something simple then." Taking a breath, Hermione drew out her wand and pointed it at her empty mug on the table. "Win--"
Something she could imagine to be a lightning bolt shot down her arm, through her wand, and with a very visible ray, struck the mug. It hit the ceiling and shattered, raining pieces all over the kitchen.
"--gardium... Wow." For a few stunned seconds, Hermione could only stare at the spot her mug had been. The words hadn't left her lips, but the thought of the spell had been very clear. "Wow." Carefully, she placed her wand on the table and held her hand palm up. "Lumos." Her hand glowed with a pale blue light.
"Garry," Hermione said very calmly as the light faded, "have you ever done magic without a wand?"
"Sometimes."
"Have your parents?"
"Sometimes, but only when I'm around. That's what they say."
"Wait here, Garry." With effort, Hermione removed her hand from his shoulder, then hurried out of the kitchen.
Severus looked unaffected. "That would certainly be a motive to kidnap him."
"That's all you have to say?" Such possibilities and all he was doing was sitting there. "Aren't you at all amazed at this? It's beyond anything I've ever seen, or read, or even really dreamed of!"
"And this," he said holding up one finger, "is the exact reason we must never tell anyone about it. Unfortunate enough that the Ministry already knows, and Voldemort of course." He lowered his hand and tapped on the tabletop with that one finger. His eyes stared fixedly at Hermione, lost somewhere in thought. "There's nothing to be done. He must stay. With luck, this ability is rare, and Voldemort isn't able to locate any others. If he does... I'm sure we'll know."
"That makes me feel lots better. Thank you for the words of confidence." Powerless. There was nothing they could do. With a disgusted sigh, she stood and busied herself with making a sandwich for Garry. Annoyance, frustration, and exasperation at the situation made looking at everything rationally impossible. "What are we supposed to do?" Hermi9one asked, still wanting a definitive answer. They could keep Garry there forever; there needed to be a solution to the situation.
"We wait. Moves will be made by one side or the other. There is nothing we can do directly."
She hated when he was calm and correct. "This just seals it. You had better get used to the idea of me being at Hogwarts because I am not putting up with this again." The chef's knife in her hand sliced cleanly through the sandwich. "Maybe if only one of us worked for the Ministry, they might consider our situation before they just dumped their problems on us."
"Doubtful."
Thoughtful, but not put out at all by her declaration. He wasn't taking her seriously. Hermione sighed. "I hate it when you do this."
"Do what?"
"Ignore me. I mean it. I'm going to teach at Hogwarts." But she couldn't look at him, couldn't meet his gaze. The sandwich was accusing enough.
"Of course you are."
With an angry snort, Hermione grabbed the sandwich and walked out, not looking at Severus. This was not the time, especially when she put up with his little tantrums so well, and he just condescended to her. Bastard.
Crookshanks hopped up on the table and looked calmly at Severus. There was a scrabbling noise as Kitsune attempted to make it to the chair.
"Don't look at me like that," Severus said, scowling at the cat. "She didn't mean it, even if she thinks she did."
Crookshanks just blinked his yellow eyes slowly. The very end of his tail flickered.
"She's just worked up over this. Give her another day and she'll be so wrapped up in analyzing that boy she'll forget today ever happened." He paused, resisting the urge to squirm under the cat's gaze. "It doesn't help to get emotional. It needs to be reasoned out. Everything I said was perfectly logical, and she'll see that." He stood suddenly, the chair squealing. "Stop looking at me like that."
As if he were completely innocent of any accusation, Crookshanks tilted his head to the side and yawned.
Outside, Hermione had triple strengthened the wards, testing out Garry's amazing... ability? Capacity? Whatever it was, she could cast the wards that had taken four well-trained wizards to put in place all by herself. Not an ounce of fatigue after, either. "You don't feel a thing?"
Garry bit into the sandwich and shook his head.
"Amazing," Hermione mumbled to herself, and looked at the canopy of trees above them. The sun was bright through the skeletal branches, and thanks to a minor warming charm, she and Garry were enjoying the bright, snow-free day. Taking a sip of her hot chocolate, Hermione leaned back in her chair.
There was no rest for her mind any longer. Every spare moment was spent considering the this development. Surely wizards and witches like Garry had existed before, but simply had never been discovered. If only Professor Binns were a bit more... well-versed in history outside goblin rebellions; there was the slight possibility he could tell her a little something. It was hard to accept that she had to stay outside of this mystery, and put up with a very grouchy Severus. Patience, which had been one of her strong suits, was going to be running low over the next while.
"Ready to go back inside?" she asked. The excursion into the waning Scottish winter had been just long enough for her to have her talk, and now it was better to be inside. She was confident in her security measures, but she had more to worry about than just herself now. Guilt and self-recrimination were mentally barking at her for leaving Garry alone for even a short time.
It was starting to feel frighteningly natural as Garry took hold of her hand. At first, she had put it as a friendly face in a confusing situation, and then doubt at why a boy his age would do such a thing, and now... simple acceptance. Hermione was starting to believe that the boy didn't have the type of home life she was familiar with.
"We can go write a note to your mum and dad. Would you like that?"
Garry nodded, giving her one of his rare smiles.
"Then that's what we'll do."
The next week, Garry sent and received and sent once more a letter to his parents. Everything was fine on both ends, everyone was missing one another, Mrs. Granger was nice and Mr. Snape was best avoided, and Crookshanks and Kitsune were cute and Garry wanted a familiar just like them.
Garry shared his letters with Hermione, to her relief, as she could see the boy's parents didn't hold animosity for the situation. Or, if they did, they never revealed it to their son. Whatever the reason, it did indeed seem that Garry Fudge had been purposely left in their care.
"Done?"
Garry set aside his quill and rolled up the parchment. "Yes."
Lorenz waited dutifully, and while the bird allowed Garry to fix the letters to his leg, the boy was intimidated by the flat stare and had Hermione do it.
"There you go, Lorenz." Hermione stroked the owl gently with the back of her hand and received an affectionate hoot in response. With the niceties finished, Lorenz stretched his wings, giving the humans warning of his impending flight for a moment, and took off.
Most likely there would be no answering letter until the next day. It was not a short flight to London, and it was already dark outside. "I think it's time for dinner," Hermione said as the noise of Lorenz's flight from the house faded. The two were still alone, but she knew that was Severus' way of "dealing" with their visitor. The less he was around, the less he would have to deal with having the child in the house. Secretly, Hermione knew his real reasoning: the more Severus worked, the less he would frighten Garry. "What should it be?" Of course, Garry would have one dinner while the adults had another. The idea of having bangers and mash or beans on toast again was not a pleasant one.
Just looking at those sausages made her gain weight. Naturally a boy like Garry would love them; he seemed to exist on a diet that consisted of anything and everything fattening. The kitchen had been bare of anything sweet from the third day Garry had been there, and there was at least one request per day for wine gums or custard or a Swiss roll.
Wine gums maybe, but none of the others. Hermione's sweet tooth was too hard to control with so much temptation around. "Shepherds Pie, how about that?" she suggested while Garry was still considering his options. "Won't take too long." Neither Garry nor Severus ever seemed to notice that the potatoes she used were instant anyway.
As per the dinner ritual, after Garry had agreed to Shepherds Pie, Hermione got down the jar of pickled onions. Two would hold the boy until the food was done and allow her to finish with a minimum of distractions.
The plan worked, but as the hour grew later, nine now, and dinner long finished, Hermione grew worried. She always got worried if Severus was too late. When he had his... duty to attend to, she was nervous, but it was a situation she could plan for. This waiting, not knowing, was enough to drive her mad.
Half past now, and Garry was starting to wilt. "Let's get you into bed, shall we?" Hermione said suddenly. Slowly she got him up and steered him to the stairs. "I'm sure you'll get a reply tomorrow from your parents."
The door crashed open, and in swept Severus. He appeared merely irritated, but that entrance was trouble, and Hermione knew it. Sparing the two on the stairs watching him the barest glance, he removed his heavy cloak with rare flourish and hung it up. It was as he started to remove his lighter cloak that Hermione got her idea.
She was still holding Garry's hand as she took out her wand. "Accio Severus," she whispered, and grinned.
With a cry of surprise, Severus was yanked across the room with a speed that was definitely not safe for the conditions. Hermione's grin disappeared as Severus flew at her, and she yelped when he crashed into both herself and Garry. They ended up in a painful heap at the bottom of the stairs, Hermione groaning beneath two other bodies.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Severus yelled, struggling to his feet unmercifully dumping Garry to one side and knocking her arms apart. "Of all the stupid... Where's my wand?"
It felt like someone was banging on a pan right next to her ear and sending the vibrations right into her brain. Focusing on Severus was an effort at the moment, but she didn't need to see his face to know he was mad. "I was just..."
He continued to rant on about the little prank, though Hermione wasn't listening. She was trying, in fact, to not listen. The volume of his voice was making her head throb worse. If he'd just shut up for a minute...
"Snape! What in the bloody hell did you do to them?"
Things were moving very fast now, and Hermione wasn't quite sure what all these 'things' were. Severus turned around to look at the originator of this new voice. Off to her left, Garry was huddled on the floor looking scared, and she was still trying to get her muddled thoughts in some sort of order.
"Not a damned thing, Black," Severus hissed in return. "I didn't invite you here, and I certainly didn't invite you to interfere in personal business!"
Black. Sirius then. Strange that he would show up. There was a rough caress of her hand, and Hermione saw Crookshanks lick it, watching her with concern in his yellow eyes. Kitsune looked more confused than anything.
"Personal business?" Both of the men's voices were at maximum volume now. "If your personal business includes beating up Hermione and scaring the piss out of a kid, then you better believe I'm going to interfere!"
"Stop," Hermione said, but her voice was weak, and was lost in the shouting.
"Piss off; you have no idea what's happening."
"I have idea enough, you bastard!"
From her vantage point on the floor, leaning partially against the stairs, Hermione saw Severus reach for his wand, but came up empty-handed. His entire body tensed.
"Ha! Take your body-bind quietly and I might not hurt you, Snape."
So Sirius must have had his wand out and pointed at Severus. This was not good. "Sirius, wait."
At the sound of her voice, which could finally be heard now that the men had stopped shouting, Severus tensed. Reacting to the subtle body movement, Sirius' yelled, "Expelliarmus!"
Even at such a short distance, Severus' reflexes were lightning quick, and where there had been a man standing, there was now a snake quickly moving between Sirius' feet and out the door.
"What the hell...?" Sirius spun around, ignoring the fact that his spell had only missed Hermione by a foot, and looked into the darkness. "It won't be that easy," he growled, and transformed with equal speed into dog form.
That was bad, and Hermione forced herself, ignoring the swimming of her head, to sit up, then get to her knees. "Stay here, Garry." And then she began crawling to the door. The sounds of growling came from the yard, and running. Still chasing... "Sirius! Stop!" Why was it men never listened to her until she had to knee them in the balls to get their attention?
Holding on to the doorjamb, Hermione pulled herself to her feet and walked unsteadily outside. It was hard following the quick moving shape of the black dog, and she couldn't actually catch him on her wobbly legs. "Sirius!" she yelled again, hoping he'd hear her.
The shape of the dog headed in her direction. More than likely, Severus was attempting to get back inside. Hermione would be able to stop Sirius at that point. But that point never came.
At the edge of the cone of light spilling form the doorway, she saw a snake followed closely by a dog, and the dog lunged. A small, frightened shriek escaped Hermione as the dog's paw caught the snake beneath it, hissing madly. Without care for herself, Hermione practically threw herself at the dog, grabbing him around the neck and trying to pull him back.
"Let him go, Sirius! Stop it! You'll crush him!" Hermione was fully aware that as she had aged, she hadn't maintained her youthful slimness. But a little extra always looked healthier than not enough, no matter what Lavender and Parvati had always declared back in school.
And a little of that goes to your breasts.
Straining, Hermione pulled with all her might at the dog, putting even those beginnings of love handles into it. "You let him go!"
With a casual shake, Sirius tossed her aside and lowered his head, jaws open wide, to the snake struggling under his paw.
"SIRIUS!" Hermione screamed, and at the start of the third syllable, her scream turned into the ear-splitting shriek of an enraged tigress.
As if kicked with great force in the ribs, Sirius skittered away, his ears flat and tail between his legs. Eyes wide with fear and confusion, he stared at Hermione. With bared teeth, ears flat as well, and legs bent in preparation to pounce, the white tiger stepped forward slowly, the green eyes never leaving Sirius.
The snake had not moved, and there was a threat that passed from tiger to dog. He dies, so do you. Utter silence except for the low growl coming from Hermione.
Dog shimmered, outline blurring, and became man. "Hermione? You almost gave me a heart attack."
Hermione didn't change her posture at all. She didn't plan on it until she could be sure Severus was safe.
"Come on, Hermione. It's me, Sirius."
In response, Hermione took two steps forward, pushing Sirius back. She was most satisfied that she could smell the fear on him.
Injuries didn't translate very well through the animagus transformation. A broken finger on a human could end up completely insignificant in the transformed state. An injured wing that prevented a bird animagus from flying might only be a strained shoulder in a human. This didn't mean that transforming through these injuries was painless. Far from it.
Writhing about in the grass, the snake transformed with great effort back into a man. Severus immediately curled in upon himself, clutching his sides. There was a little blood down the back of one hand, but that was the only visible injury. "Need... wand. Ribs... splintered."
Sirius was now a non-issue, and Hermione was human once more, crouching over Severus. "Garry?" she called to the open doorway. "Get my wand and bring it here, will you?"
Shy and slightly withdrawn maybe, but obedient. Garry emerged with Hermione's wand and stood silently at her side.
"Severus? I'm going to bind..." Hermione looked at Garry suddenly. What the hell? She knew her share of simple healing spells, repairing broken bones being one of them. With Garry's special assistance, she could probably make them stronger than ever. "Oh no," she said softly, to herself, before taking Garry's hand and repairing Severus' crushed ribs.
Stronger than ever. Wards strong enough to repel even a dragon, cover a house, and cast by only one person. Simple charms magnified many times their power. What if someone cast an Unforgivable? What if... Someone could almost become invincible with this power under their control.
"You're here," Hermione said coldly, looking back at Sirius, "to talk about Garry?"
Sirius nodded.
"Then we'll talk. Let's go inside." Making sure she wasn't touching Garry, she cast a minor sleeping charm on Severus, then levitated him. Without looking back, she went in the house.
TBC
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