"Where is she?!" Hermione grumbled, as she raced around the kitchen of her quarters, attempting to give Charlotte her dinner while dressing herself and picking up the wooden blocks scattered across the kitchen floor that had threatened to break her neck several times already. The nanny Hermione had employed to take care of Charlotte while she was working was supposed to have arrived two hours ago and here it was, just twenty minutes before the Sorting Ceremony, and no sign of her.
"Well I'm not looking after her," Justin informed Hermione, his backside glued to the couch in front of the TV.
Hermione detoured via the couch on her way to the bedroom to find her shoes.
"You," she hissed at her husband, "can't even look after yourself!"
Justin shrugged, flipping channels.
Hermione didn't bother wasting anymore time on him, and hurried to the bedroom to grab her shoes. Searching around the disaster she finally found them under a pile of Justin's dirty laundry.
"Fireplace!" Justin bellowed from the other room.
"Well get it then!" Hermione snapped, her temper flailing. Not in front of Charlotte, she told herself.
There was a long pause and then Justin growled "It's that nanny!"
Hermione rushed back into the lounge, putting on her earrings as she spoke to the head in the fireplace.
"Katherine," Hermione said exasperatedly, "where on Earth are you?!"
"I am so, so sorry, Hermione, but something's come up. My mother is ill – I have to take care of her."
The woman looked genuinely sorry.
"Great. That's just fine!" Hermione snapped, then felt guilty. It wasn't the poor lady's fault. "Sorry, Katherine."
"That's all right, Hermione, I should have contacted you earlier." The image flickered in the flames.
"Now what am I supposed to do?" she sighed, bringing a hand to her forehead, trying to rub away the pressure that was building.
"Well, I found a woman who's willing to take care of Charlotte until mother is better. She's a little old, but she's really wonderful with children…"
Hermione's hopes lifted. "Really? Great!"
"I'll let her know – I'm sure she'll be there soon."
"Thanks, Katherine," Hermione sighed with relief.
"Not a problem. Sorry again…"
The image faded, and Hermione returned to her daughter in the kitchen.
"I want Katherine!" Charlotte wailed, thumping her hands on the table.
"Now, Char, I'm sure the new lady will be just as nice," Hermione said quietly to her daughter.
"No she won't!"
"Shh, Char, and eat your dinner. Mummy has to get ready."
"I don't want you to go!" the girl screamed.
Hermione gave her daughter a warning look, and she quieted down. "It's just for a couple of hours, Char. You'll be fine."
Hermione grabbed her robes and slipped them on, checking that her wand was still in the pocket, smoothing down the soft fabric. As Charlotte finished her dinner, Hermione grabbed a cloth to wipe the girl's face as she jumped down from her chair.
There was a sharp knock on the door, and Hermione hurried to answer it. There was an elderly witch, old enough to be Hermione's grandmother. She wore deep purple robes, her steel grey hair falling dead straight down her back. There was something oddly familiar about her features, but Hermione didn't have time to stop and wonder.
"Hi, you must be the nanny," Hermione bubbled, leaving the door open for the woman to follow her. "Charlotte's had her dinner, she needs a bath…"
"I don't want you to goooooo!!" Charlotte wailed again, taking hold of her mother's robes and refusing to let go.
"Justin's in the lounge, but don't expect him to be of any help," Hermione sighed, lifted her wand to clear away Charlotte's dinner mess. The elderly witch held her hand up, indicating for Hermione not to bother.
"I'll sort it all out," the witch said gently. "You go or you'll be late."
"Thanks…" Hermione drifted off, realizing she didn't even know her name.
"Ursula," the woman replied with a soft smile. Charlotte's screaming had stopped, and she was now watching the witch, absolutely intrigued. "Hello, Charlotte. How about I read you a story?"
"Yeah!" Charlotte exclaimed, forgetting all about her mother as she raced to her room to get a book.
Hermione relaxed a notch, and smiled at Ursula. "Thank you so, much…"
"No need for that, my dear. Now off you go!"
Hermione rushed into the Great Hall through the staff entrance just moments before the first years would arrive. As Hermione hurried to the empty chair she had spotted at the opposite end of the table, she paused to say to Dumbledore "So, so, sorry I'm late Albus…"
"Quite all right, Hermione. You're here, and that's the important part," the wise wizard said understandingly.
Hermione rushed to take her seat, and it wasn't until she had finally settled that she realized she was between Snape and Sybil Trelawny. Hermione gave a sigh in resignation to what would undoubtedly be a trying dinner.
"Nice entrance," Snape drawled, as the first years filed in behind Minerva.
"Nice hair," Hermione shot back under her breath, a smile on her face as she watched the nervous first years scamper up to the front of the hall, all trying desperately not to be the one standing in front. She caught Snape's glaring at her out the corner of her eye, and inwardly grinned – one point to Hermione.
The sorting passed quickly, and Albus, obviously hungry, kept his notices to a minimum. Hermione tucked into her meal, not saying a word to either of her dinner mates, wishing that the evening would pass quickly.
Out of no where, Sybil piped up, "I had a vision you would return to us, Hermione."
Hermione struggled not to roll her eyes. "Did you?" she muttered, not looking at the buglike witch, hoping she would take the hint. Apparently Sybil couldn't read body language either.
"Yes, and now you're here," Sybil prattled on in her distant, singsong voice. "Of course, I knew you would be…"
To Hermione's right Snape snorted. "Funny no one heard about this vision before Miss Granger arrived, wouldn't you say, Trelawny?"
"Well," Sybil snapped, batting her eyelids quickly behind her huge glasses, "sharing the future is not always a good idea, Severus. Terrible things could happen to people who knew their fate…"
"Is that so? Rather convenient," Snape sneered, spearing a carrot. "But I suppose you knew I was going to say that."
Hermione couldn't help it – she laughed, trying to disguise it with a cough.
"I only see things of great importance," Trelawny's far away voice and returned. "Oh…Oh my!"
Hermione ignored the woman hoping Sybil would take that hint.
"Oh, oh my!" the woman continued, until Snape finally snapped.
"What the bloody Merlin is it this time?!"
"I see a presence in this castle!" Trelawny wailed, her eyes slipping closed. Hermione looked at the half a dozen ghosts hovering over the banquet tables and rolled her eyes. "A mischievous presence!" Trelawny shivered and her bulging eyes flew open, focused on Snape. "And it's after you!"
Snape snorted again. "And I'm going to die a painful death, I suppose?"
"Don't take these things so lightly – or you'll be sorry!" Trelawny whispered, her eyes glazing over.
"I'll take my chances."
The rest of the meal passed in silence, but as she rose to leave, Hermione couldn't help herself. She leant down and whispered in Snape's ear "Be sure to lock your door tonight, Severus, wouldn't want the bogey man coming to get you now!"
"It's Professor Snape," he growled back. Hermione chuckled as she left.
"Thank you again, Ursula," Hermione said sincerely, pouring the two of them coffee from the end of her wand.
"That's quite alright, Hermione. In fact, being here is quite nice – I can keep an eye on my son."
"Your son?" Hermione asked, wrinkling her brow.
"Severus."
Hermione froze, then turned her head slowly to Ursula. The long limp hair, the oversized nose – no, surely, it couldn't be. "Snape?" Hermione managed to spit out.
"Yes. About time his mother sorted him out. He's obviously in need of a wife, and since he doesn't do a thing to attain one himself, I've decided it's high time I stepped in," Ursula rattled on, but Hermione barely heard the woman – Snape's mother was taking care of her daughter! Gods, and look how he had turned out. Hermione's mind raced, before deciding it would be fine – it was only until Katherine returned, and surely that wouldn't be too long. Certainly not enough time to have any sort of effect on Charlotte. Then the memory of finding Charlotte fast asleep in Ursula's arms when Hermione had returned to the rooms settled the matter for sure.
"So, perhaps you could suggest someone, Hermione," Ursula's voice broke through Hermione's train of thought.
"Sorry?" Hermione apologized, placing the steaming cups on the table. "Suggest someone for what?"
"For my son, of course. Honestly, that boy will be single for the rest of his life otherwise – and I would like some grandchildren!"
Hermione smirked at hearing Snape referred to as 'that boy'. A nasty thought jumped into Hermione's mind – no, she couldn't…
"Well, he does seem to quite like Sybil Trelawny." …apparently she could.
A/N: Thank you to my reviewers…(ahhh, I simply love reviews!)
Sammie Tonks – sorry about the sort of cliff hanger for this chapter, but I seem to be quite addicted to them! Thanks so much for your review – I'll check out your fic when I get a chance :)
Pseudonym – cheers for your review!
Snapecake – Here you go!
Minerva 7 – Thank you too for your review :)
DragonRose4 – tee hee, glad you found it funny. Thank you!
Deb – Hermione really should of thought better about Justin, but never fear, there is a happy ending!
Karen Detroit – Cheers!
Stolen-Simplicity – Thank you soo much! I'll have to check out Amythest9's fic sometime!
KdarkMaiden – Planning on updating this fairly often, hope that makes you happy!
"Well I'm not looking after her," Justin informed Hermione, his backside glued to the couch in front of the TV.
Hermione detoured via the couch on her way to the bedroom to find her shoes.
"You," she hissed at her husband, "can't even look after yourself!"
Justin shrugged, flipping channels.
Hermione didn't bother wasting anymore time on him, and hurried to the bedroom to grab her shoes. Searching around the disaster she finally found them under a pile of Justin's dirty laundry.
"Fireplace!" Justin bellowed from the other room.
"Well get it then!" Hermione snapped, her temper flailing. Not in front of Charlotte, she told herself.
There was a long pause and then Justin growled "It's that nanny!"
Hermione rushed back into the lounge, putting on her earrings as she spoke to the head in the fireplace.
"Katherine," Hermione said exasperatedly, "where on Earth are you?!"
"I am so, so sorry, Hermione, but something's come up. My mother is ill – I have to take care of her."
The woman looked genuinely sorry.
"Great. That's just fine!" Hermione snapped, then felt guilty. It wasn't the poor lady's fault. "Sorry, Katherine."
"That's all right, Hermione, I should have contacted you earlier." The image flickered in the flames.
"Now what am I supposed to do?" she sighed, bringing a hand to her forehead, trying to rub away the pressure that was building.
"Well, I found a woman who's willing to take care of Charlotte until mother is better. She's a little old, but she's really wonderful with children…"
Hermione's hopes lifted. "Really? Great!"
"I'll let her know – I'm sure she'll be there soon."
"Thanks, Katherine," Hermione sighed with relief.
"Not a problem. Sorry again…"
The image faded, and Hermione returned to her daughter in the kitchen.
"I want Katherine!" Charlotte wailed, thumping her hands on the table.
"Now, Char, I'm sure the new lady will be just as nice," Hermione said quietly to her daughter.
"No she won't!"
"Shh, Char, and eat your dinner. Mummy has to get ready."
"I don't want you to go!" the girl screamed.
Hermione gave her daughter a warning look, and she quieted down. "It's just for a couple of hours, Char. You'll be fine."
Hermione grabbed her robes and slipped them on, checking that her wand was still in the pocket, smoothing down the soft fabric. As Charlotte finished her dinner, Hermione grabbed a cloth to wipe the girl's face as she jumped down from her chair.
There was a sharp knock on the door, and Hermione hurried to answer it. There was an elderly witch, old enough to be Hermione's grandmother. She wore deep purple robes, her steel grey hair falling dead straight down her back. There was something oddly familiar about her features, but Hermione didn't have time to stop and wonder.
"Hi, you must be the nanny," Hermione bubbled, leaving the door open for the woman to follow her. "Charlotte's had her dinner, she needs a bath…"
"I don't want you to goooooo!!" Charlotte wailed again, taking hold of her mother's robes and refusing to let go.
"Justin's in the lounge, but don't expect him to be of any help," Hermione sighed, lifted her wand to clear away Charlotte's dinner mess. The elderly witch held her hand up, indicating for Hermione not to bother.
"I'll sort it all out," the witch said gently. "You go or you'll be late."
"Thanks…" Hermione drifted off, realizing she didn't even know her name.
"Ursula," the woman replied with a soft smile. Charlotte's screaming had stopped, and she was now watching the witch, absolutely intrigued. "Hello, Charlotte. How about I read you a story?"
"Yeah!" Charlotte exclaimed, forgetting all about her mother as she raced to her room to get a book.
Hermione relaxed a notch, and smiled at Ursula. "Thank you so, much…"
"No need for that, my dear. Now off you go!"
Hermione rushed into the Great Hall through the staff entrance just moments before the first years would arrive. As Hermione hurried to the empty chair she had spotted at the opposite end of the table, she paused to say to Dumbledore "So, so, sorry I'm late Albus…"
"Quite all right, Hermione. You're here, and that's the important part," the wise wizard said understandingly.
Hermione rushed to take her seat, and it wasn't until she had finally settled that she realized she was between Snape and Sybil Trelawny. Hermione gave a sigh in resignation to what would undoubtedly be a trying dinner.
"Nice entrance," Snape drawled, as the first years filed in behind Minerva.
"Nice hair," Hermione shot back under her breath, a smile on her face as she watched the nervous first years scamper up to the front of the hall, all trying desperately not to be the one standing in front. She caught Snape's glaring at her out the corner of her eye, and inwardly grinned – one point to Hermione.
The sorting passed quickly, and Albus, obviously hungry, kept his notices to a minimum. Hermione tucked into her meal, not saying a word to either of her dinner mates, wishing that the evening would pass quickly.
Out of no where, Sybil piped up, "I had a vision you would return to us, Hermione."
Hermione struggled not to roll her eyes. "Did you?" she muttered, not looking at the buglike witch, hoping she would take the hint. Apparently Sybil couldn't read body language either.
"Yes, and now you're here," Sybil prattled on in her distant, singsong voice. "Of course, I knew you would be…"
To Hermione's right Snape snorted. "Funny no one heard about this vision before Miss Granger arrived, wouldn't you say, Trelawny?"
"Well," Sybil snapped, batting her eyelids quickly behind her huge glasses, "sharing the future is not always a good idea, Severus. Terrible things could happen to people who knew their fate…"
"Is that so? Rather convenient," Snape sneered, spearing a carrot. "But I suppose you knew I was going to say that."
Hermione couldn't help it – she laughed, trying to disguise it with a cough.
"I only see things of great importance," Trelawny's far away voice and returned. "Oh…Oh my!"
Hermione ignored the woman hoping Sybil would take that hint.
"Oh, oh my!" the woman continued, until Snape finally snapped.
"What the bloody Merlin is it this time?!"
"I see a presence in this castle!" Trelawny wailed, her eyes slipping closed. Hermione looked at the half a dozen ghosts hovering over the banquet tables and rolled her eyes. "A mischievous presence!" Trelawny shivered and her bulging eyes flew open, focused on Snape. "And it's after you!"
Snape snorted again. "And I'm going to die a painful death, I suppose?"
"Don't take these things so lightly – or you'll be sorry!" Trelawny whispered, her eyes glazing over.
"I'll take my chances."
The rest of the meal passed in silence, but as she rose to leave, Hermione couldn't help herself. She leant down and whispered in Snape's ear "Be sure to lock your door tonight, Severus, wouldn't want the bogey man coming to get you now!"
"It's Professor Snape," he growled back. Hermione chuckled as she left.
"Thank you again, Ursula," Hermione said sincerely, pouring the two of them coffee from the end of her wand.
"That's quite alright, Hermione. In fact, being here is quite nice – I can keep an eye on my son."
"Your son?" Hermione asked, wrinkling her brow.
"Severus."
Hermione froze, then turned her head slowly to Ursula. The long limp hair, the oversized nose – no, surely, it couldn't be. "Snape?" Hermione managed to spit out.
"Yes. About time his mother sorted him out. He's obviously in need of a wife, and since he doesn't do a thing to attain one himself, I've decided it's high time I stepped in," Ursula rattled on, but Hermione barely heard the woman – Snape's mother was taking care of her daughter! Gods, and look how he had turned out. Hermione's mind raced, before deciding it would be fine – it was only until Katherine returned, and surely that wouldn't be too long. Certainly not enough time to have any sort of effect on Charlotte. Then the memory of finding Charlotte fast asleep in Ursula's arms when Hermione had returned to the rooms settled the matter for sure.
"So, perhaps you could suggest someone, Hermione," Ursula's voice broke through Hermione's train of thought.
"Sorry?" Hermione apologized, placing the steaming cups on the table. "Suggest someone for what?"
"For my son, of course. Honestly, that boy will be single for the rest of his life otherwise – and I would like some grandchildren!"
Hermione smirked at hearing Snape referred to as 'that boy'. A nasty thought jumped into Hermione's mind – no, she couldn't…
"Well, he does seem to quite like Sybil Trelawny." …apparently she could.
A/N: Thank you to my reviewers…(ahhh, I simply love reviews!)
Sammie Tonks – sorry about the sort of cliff hanger for this chapter, but I seem to be quite addicted to them! Thanks so much for your review – I'll check out your fic when I get a chance :)
Pseudonym – cheers for your review!
Snapecake – Here you go!
Minerva 7 – Thank you too for your review :)
DragonRose4 – tee hee, glad you found it funny. Thank you!
Deb – Hermione really should of thought better about Justin, but never fear, there is a happy ending!
Karen Detroit – Cheers!
Stolen-Simplicity – Thank you soo much! I'll have to check out Amythest9's fic sometime!
KdarkMaiden – Planning on updating this fairly often, hope that makes you happy!