Chapter 2

The girls, it seemed, were in for a nasty surprise in the week that the teachers returned. Hermione was absolutely alarmed to see her two children rush, breathing heavily, into her arms. Behind them came a tall, dark haired man, looking very, very annoyed.

"I'd be appreciative if you would keep your meddling rats out of my rooms," Snape snarled at her from the doorway. Hermione felt her vision begin to go red, before she caught herself, breathed deeply and stood slowly.

"Hello, Snape. I haven't seen you since… well, since my days as an Auror. You remember those days?"

Snape's mood instantly changed. His face instantly drained of all colour, before filling again with a shameful flush. He looked at the two little girls shaking behind their mother's legs. He looked back at Hermione. He gulped and turned, fleeing the now-silent room. Hermione shuddered and sat down, pulling her girls into her lap.

They knew better than to say anything.

~*~

"She'll tell us when she thinks we're ready, Li. There's no point in rushing her. I don't think I want to know just yet, anyway."

"Oh, but Ri! Maybe she kicked his butt, or something! He's not very nice, you know. Maybe…"

"Maybe nothing. Kicking his butt wouldn't make him look like that. And I don't want to know what would. Stop thinking about it, Li. Go to bed." Lianna slunk out of her sister's bed, trying not to think about what had happened between her mother and that scary dark man ('surely she'd have kicked his butt?').

Hermione pretended she didn't hear this conversation. She knew she'd have to tell the darlings one day, but not today. Not this year. Not this century, if she could help it.

~*~

Now that all the teachers were back, they took dinner with the entire staff body. The Great Hall still looked empty, but the teacher's table was as full as ever, with three extra faces in addition to those who were normally there.

Hermione was surprised to see the teaching body almost exactly the same as when she had left. The one addition was a greying woman called Marjory Varimont. She was taking over Minerva's classes, as Minerva had taken on Headmistresship this year. Albus had handed it to her a year earlier than he had planned. But then, who plans for death?

They were the talk of the table for many a mealtime. Hermione noted with malicious delight that Snape shrunk down in his seat at the darkest end of the table whenever her little family was talked about. She was careful to hide this, however: it just wouldn't do for her to be seen displaying open dislike for one of her fellow staffmates.

So Hermione enthralled herself in the little conversations of the table, and the girls allowed themselves to be spoiled shamelessly. They'd smile a little to each other, in between being complimented by whichever teacher was seated beside them at that moment. Lianna took a particular liking to Flitwick, who was almost as tall as she was. She'd wait until he was leaving just so that she could give him a big hug, just so she could see how much she'd grown. Hermione let the girls lap up the attention- next week, the entire castle would be packed with people, and they would hardly get a word in edgeways.

All too soon, the week was up, and it was the Monday night of the Sorting Feast. Hermione had already conversed with Minerva as to what to do about the girls, and it had been decided that they would stay with her. After all, they would be in less mischief if they could be seen, Minerva had said with a smile.

So, here they were, facing the Great Hall full of children. Lianna and Adrienne were peering over the table so intently that Hermione had to remind them not to disturb the dishes- she remembered the time she had moved a plate before the dinner feast, and the pie that was supposed to be resting on it had somehow landed where the plate had been, not where it was. A mess, surely enough, and one that didn't warrant repetition.

The First Years were herded in under the watchful gaze of Varimont, and the Sorting Hat began its song. Hermione didn't hear much of it, as she was trying to identify the children standing in line.

It was a bit of a game, but one that took her attention off the staring faces of the children off the dais. A little strawberry-blonde girl that could be the child of Percy and Penelope was the only child that she could recognise. Of course, eleven years hadn't elapsed yet- her year had yet to produce old enough offspring to sort, even if they'd been married and borne children their first year out of school. Hermione nearly snorted at the image of Pansy Parkinson hanging off the arm of a stony-faced Draco Malfoy, begging to let her marry him. Her face was streaked with tears, and someone should have told her that she didn't get any prettier when she cried.

Finally, the Sorting Hat finished its annual song, and it settled back onto the stool. Varimont called the first name ("Andrews, Ingrid"), and they were off. The tables were soon roaring ("Ravenclaw!"), and Hermione's girls were amazed at the noise. Lianna put her hands over her ears within the first two minutes, and it wasn't long until Adrienne followed suit. Hermione felt her own ears begin to shudder under the strain of the noise. Soon enough they were done; and after Minerva stood and welcomed them all, the plates on the tables filled to overflowing with food.

The house elves had outdone themselves this year, with just about every food imaginable present; the house elves seemed to have found international cookbooks. If they knew how to read, Hermione whispered to herself. The girls were eating almost faster than they normally did, and Hermione herself felt compelled to eat a little of everything. She reminded the girls that there was dessert too, and their plates miraculously pushed food back onto serving trays. Hermione ghosted a smile at them.

The puddings were spectacular also, and before long, Hermione and her little family were very, very full. "We'll have to go swimming tomorrow!" Hermione whispered to the girls, who giggled. Then, the feast was over, and Hermione was standing.

"This is Professor Granger, your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. She has two daughters who will be staying with us, so, if trip over them, you'll know who they are. This is Lianna, and this, Adrienne." Minerva introduced them, and they waved to the polite clapping from the floor. Then they seated themselves, and proceeded to ignore Minerva's other comments. They remembered to rise again when the students did, and watched as the houses filed out neatly. Hermione remembered her first feast with a grimace- she had been so annoying!- before grasping her daughters by each hand and leaving.

The room was cosy-warm when they arrived there. Hermione tucked the girls in, kissing them goodnight gently before retiring to her own bed. She'd have her work cut out for her tomorrow; better get a good night's sleep at least.

~*~

Another chapter. Another day. The dream lives.

*kitten