Chapter 2

She was sitting up in bed and nervously going through her things. In fact, in the last few days she had been going through the contents of her suitcase once again. She wanted to be sure that if she finally decided to reduce her luggage, nothing would be damaged. It was important to her. This would be a way to show her parents what she learned during the past school year.

Normally, there was a Trail on every juvenile to regulate the use of magic by children who hadn't yet graduated from Hogwarts. This was to help comply with the Statute of Secrecy. However, as she learned from the Tour Regulations, after paying all costs and submitting several applications to the Ministry, this Trail was deactivated to facilitate the journey of visitors. She was excited. More than if she were going to the Quidditch World Cup with the Weasleys.

Pensive, she didn't even notice that her mother had entered the room. - "What kind of tea do you want to drink today?"

"Mum! You scared me!" - Hermione tried to look outraged but she failed. When she noticed that the smile on her mother's face was still there, she quickly said, "The same as always. Black with a little sugar and milk."

"Get down in ten minutes. We have to agree everything. We're leaving tomorrow, and your father is a mess. He doesn't really trust wizarding ways of communication."

She nodded. Until now, she remembered the fright in her father's eyes when he realized that the passage about going through the wall to go to Platform 9 and ¾ was no joke. She closed her trunk once again, took a breath and turned towards her purse with a firm movement of her hand, waving her wand saying - "Capacious extremis!"

She was pleased to see that her beaded bag hadn't fallen apart under the spell. On the contrary. She became so flexible that she was able to easily fit her trunk in it, but also didn't feel its weight. She was proud of herself and she couldn't wait to show the effect to her parents. While it wasn't the spell she wanted to use in the beginning, it was just as impressive. And it posed no risk of destroying her belongings.

She stormed out of the room and ran down the stairs, not caring that her footsteps could be heard throughout the house. Every time she saw her parents sitting at the kitchen table she couldn't stop but felt relieved. It was a shock to find out that she was adopted. This shock was compounded by the fact that she found out about it on the same day she got her letter to Hogwarts. From that day on, she sometimes woke up to the thought that Jean and Reggie Granger would disappear. She was afraid she would find out that they didn't want the witch to be their daughter.

"You are finally." her dad sighed, nervously adjusting the collar of his shirt.

"I came five minutes early." - She grimaced, noticed that her father was more than upset, so she decided to add - "What's going on? We're not going? Are you staying at work? But I have already packed..."

"Sit down first."

She carefully sat down in the chair. She was concerned. She sighed. Her mother sat down in the chair next to her.

"Nothing happened. As usual, your dad is panicking."

Hermione turned quickly towards the man. The mother's words contrasted strangely with the behavior of the other parent. She didn't know which one to look at right now.

"I'd like to talk to you about boys and your mother thinks I'm exaggerating."

"WHAT? About the boys? But why now?" - She crossed her arms in a defensive gesture, during the last conversation about menstruation in girls at which her father absolutely wanted to be present, she set fire to the curtains in the living room.

"We are going to a school where, according to a leaflet given to us at the Ministry of Magic, eight out of ten students are boys. You grow up and..."

"Reggie is afraid that you will like one of the Bulgarians and decide to live there in the near future."

Hermione rested her forehead against her hands. She tried not to show her parents how quickly she had gone from anxiety to a state where she was barely hiding her laugh. After a moment, she raised her head and said couple sentences. - "You can be calm about that. My sophomore defense teacher successfully knocked out of my head any quest for romantic experiences for the next few years. Where did you get this from?"

"I saw Victor Krum in the picture, who will play for the Bulgarian team at this year's championship. In a Durmstrang leaflet, he is described as one of their students. Assessing the appearance of Mr. Krum, I came to the conclusion that if at least ten percent of the students of this school will look like him, I may lose you. I'm so bad at not having you arounf most of the year."

The Gryffindor felt her mother's hand on her back. It was a gesture that soothed her. But this time, she knew Jean wanted her to remain silent. They had talked about it before. It was because of Reggie's infertility that they had to reach for adoptions to enlarge their family. This defect in his body greatly undermined his self-confidence. Instead of saying anything, she walked over and hugged the man who meant so much to her. She didn't have to say anything, the most important thing was that he would know she was there.

xxx

He looked at the Potions Master's quarters at Hogwarts for the last time. He usually spent his vacation at his home at Spinner End, but he had to change his plans after a friend of his came to visit. Lucius Malfoy didn't understand his willingness to spend his free time in a way so far removed from his routine. Besides, Lucius wasn't the only one. A smile flashed across his face at the mention of a lemon drop dropped from Albus Dumbledore's hand. The elderly wizard froze when he saw his application for part of the outstanding vacation.

He jumped when, leaving his chambers, he saw an elf belonging to the Malfoy family. He wasn't expecting it and therefore almost stepped on it.

"What happened?" - Severus Snape felt more at ease in the castle when there was no risk that he would be caught by one of his students talking to the house elf. - "Your master sent you here?"

"Effie was going to ask if you could have Lady Malfoy for tea when you got back." -The wizard noticed how upset the creature was, Effie must have been the new elf in this family.

"I'll send the invitation. When I return, I will notify Narcissa of my arrival with the help of an owl. I hope this will be the right thing to do."

A broad smile appeared on the elf's face. Which widened even more when Severus reciprocated his smile. A thought popped into his mind. If any of his students saw him with a smile on his face, they would have thought that he was mad with the excess of darkness and dampness in the dungeons.

After the elf disappeared, Snape shrunk his trunk and put it in his carry-on bag. After years in the wizarding world, he felt uncomfortable wearing Muggle clothes. And even more so, clothes in which he didn't look like a funeral director.

He snorted at the sight of the surprised Headless Nick and headed for Hogsmeade from which he will be able to apparate to the Ministry of Magic. He wanted to leave to rest. Now he wanted to leave, not only because of the rest that he deserved. Despite all the sympathy he felt for Lucius, he wanted nothing to do with what he had planned with Nott. He was young when he joined Tom Riddle's organization. Back then, he thought it was the right way to ensure himself and his loved ones. After all, he couldn't count on Albus Dumbledore's help. He made a mistake. He would have to pay for it for the rest of his life, but he had no intention of committing it again. If anyone asked him for his opinion, he would do everything to prevent the Dark Lord from returning. It wasn't needed by anyone.

xxx

When Lucius told her about Severus' plans, she didn't know whether to believe him. She got used to Severus following her husband. However, after Narcissa considered situation, she knew the younger wizard had made the right decision. She hoped to that he finally invest his time in social life and she will see the next generation of the Prince family. Not many people knew that Augustus Prince had changed his mind and, unlike her mother, brought his grandson back into the bosom of his family.

It was extremely painful for her to know that she had never had the opportunity to meet her sister's child. Over the years since she came out of her mother's power, she has sent letter after letter of apology. Andromeda didn't reply to any of the letters. She had no choice but to support her mother on the day her eldest sister was disinherited. She was underage then, and because of her backwardness, at least in comparison to the Muggle world, position of a woman in the family had nothing to say. She was engaged to Lucius. And she knew that if she hadn't supported her mother, she would have taken her sister's place in the engagement deal with the Avery family.

Fortunately, Severus' grandfather came to his senses in time and managed to get his grandson back. Her mother never saw Nymphadora. Just like herself.

From school years she had been trying to get Severus Snape in relatioshop with her friends. She didn't want him to spend his whole life immersed in memories of a certain red-haired griffon. However, recently, on her husband's birthday, something happened that became a mystery to her. A mystery she absolutely wanted to solve. Seeing Lady Parkinson's new hairstyle she heard a sentence from Severus' lips, a sentence was made which he later tried to deny. Deny by covering up with memory loss.

From that day on, she wondered who Helen was. Who was the woman whom the gloomiest wizard she knew called "his extraordinary, charming witch." She needed more information. She hoped that she would be able to get them during the tea. But she was afraid that the Potions Master would sense the diluted veritaserum in the cup.

xxx

How did you like this chapter? I know I have a tendency to start new stories but I can assure you that any story started that has been posted on this profile will be completed. Regards, katie-krum