THIS CHAPTER IS NOT BETA READ!!!!

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Love's Last Refrain Ch. 3: Home Sweet Home…Or Not

The trio sat in a comfortable silence for a good half an hour into the ride back to London. Harry was browsing through one of his quidditch magazines, admiring the new equipment and broom models that were due out on the market within the year. Ron, on the other hand, was dozing lightly against the glass windowpane. Hermione was tied up in her own thoughts about actually having to bear her aunt, uncle, and cousin's presence for longer than five hours.

"So you're going to be staying with your aunt and uncle for the summer, Hermione?" Harry questioned, rolling up his magazine and tucking it into his robes.

"I wish it were just them. Their daughter, Eliza, is there too. It's hard to say it, but she is more spoiled than Malfoy."

"Is that possible?!" Harry blanched, surprised that anybody could be worse than Malfoy or Dudley, who were both closely tied in his opinion. When Hermione only nodded, Harry added, "But don't worry 'Mione, Ron and I'll try to get you to the Burrow or Grimmauld Place, wherever we are."

"Thanks, Harry." Hermione replied and leaned against the wall of the train and pulled her legs up under her. Giving him a reassuring smile, Hermione went back to staring out the window.

By the time 8:30 came around, Ron had awoken and snared the other two compartment occupants into to a conversation until Hermione excused herself to go change out of her school uniform and into muggle street clothes. 'Screw them,' she mused as she pulled on pair of blue jeans. 'They can deal with my appearance. I'm in no mood to abide by their rules.' She concluded as she pulled her shirt on over her head, and shrugged her robes back on. Leaving the lavatory, Hermione strolled casually back to their compartment, and greeted Ginny and Luna when she passed them in the corridor.

'It's not so much I don't want to live with them as it is being force to endure their sniping comments,' Hermione thought to herself as continued toward her compartment to spend the remaining half hour of freedom with her friends before her torture began. 'They never really paid me much mind before, but that's all going to change now. Eliza took pride in mocking me before, but now it's going to be pure torment and I'll have no way of contacting anybody. Well, maybe I can manage to mail Harry, just without an owl. I just hope he doesn't try to owl me. If he does I don't even want to think of the consequences…' Lost in her muse, she walked right past the compartment she was sharing with Harry and Ron. Backtracking, she reentered the compartment to bask in the last amount of happiness she would probably feel for the next couple of months.

"Bye, Hermione! See you again soon!" Harry and Ron called to her as they were hustled away by Molly Weasley, who had expressed her condolences and reassured Hermione that she was more than welcome at the Burrow. Hermione sighed outwardly as she grabbed her trunk in one hand and picked up Crookshanks in his carrier with her other hand. Slowly she began to mingle with the crowd of travelers walking back and forth through the station. She took a moment to glance at the clock mounted on the wall and vaguely registered that it was ten minutes after nine. 'Well I'm off to a good start. I'm late.' She mused after struggling to pull her trunk through a rather large group of stationary people. Grumbling silently, she spotted her relatives near the entrance of the building, and mentally braced herself before she made her way over to them.

"You're late," her Uncle Roland pronounced, his voice void of any emotion, before she even stopped before them.

"I was saying goodbye to my friends," Hermione responded without hesitation.

"That's no excuse. When we say be here at a certain time, we mean be here, not keep us waiting," Roland replied before adding, "And don't for one moment think that any of those ruffians will be visiting at our home."
"No, Uncle. I never assumed that. However I was hopping that-"she was cut off before she could finish her statement.

"You will not be visiting them either, Hermione. End of discussion," Alexandra spoke up, her elegant voice projecting itself around them as she held herself regally before circling Hermione to scold her.

'Reminds me of Malfoy's mother,' Hermione thought to herself.

"What is this you are wearing anyway?" she questioned, plucking at the cloth of Hermione's robe. "This hardly constitutes proper dress."

"It's my robe," Hermione indignantly replied and tired to pull out of the reach of her aunt.

"Don't use that tone with me, young lady. Now remove that horrible piece of fabric you call clothing and I never want to see it on your person again," Reluctantly, Hermione unbuttoned her robe and slid it off her shoulders to reveal her jeans and a low-cut baby blue tank top. To her delight, Hermione heard the three of them gasp at her attire.

"What is this?!" Roland roared, taking in Hermione's appearance. "I will not have my niece gallivanting around London like some easy tomboy, tainting our good name."

Before Hermione could say anything, Alexandra began ordering her again. "Put that coat back on, Hermione. When we get home I want you out of those cloths and into something befitting of a lady. Then I want these cloths put away and never in my sight again. Do you understand me?"

"Really, Aunt Alexandra," Hermione attempted to protest, "there is absolutely nothing wrong with what I am wearing. There's worse muggle clothing out there than what I have on," Falling quiet she shrugged her robe on again.

"Do not use that word. You will refer to it as 'normal' and as we're acting as your guardian we will not tolerate any back talk. Eliza doesn't get away with it and neither will you," Roland commanded and turned to leave. "Grab your things, we're leaving."

Together they all left Kings Cross, Hermione and Eliza hanging back a little ways from Alexandra and Roland. Eliza came up behind Hermione and whispered in Hermione's ear, "Slut," and before Hermione got a word in edgewise, she continued, "So tell me, do your teachers like it when you dress like that for them before you shag them?"

"I-" Hermione attempted to retort but was stopped by Eliza interrupting before Hermione could draw Alexandra's attention to them.

"I see you brought that flea ridden puff mop with you again. I thought it would have died by now," Eliza sneered, relishing in the realization that Hermione couldn't retort to her derogatory comment without drawing attention to herself. But it wasn't like her parents would believe Hermione over her anyway. After all, Hermione was part of what they despised the most. She just wasn't normal and never would be again. For all they knew she could know something that would help her lie.

Hermione and Eliza hadn't always been so despising of each other. No, not by a long shot. The two used to be the best of friends during primary school until Hermione got her Hogwarts letter a few years back. Was she jealous? No, of course not. Eliza wanted nothing to do with living a secret life she needed to keep away from normal people. Yet it never occurred to her that Hermione was a minority in the wizarding world. No, she just believed that people like her cousin merely had a defect in their DNA and that all magical people had come from normal families like hers. They were mutants, nothing more or less and had to be kept hidden, less anybody find out and look down on their whole family because they had a freak in their line and could produce another at any time.

Nor did they acknowledge the fact that there was a whole separate world for Hermione to belong to that paid absolutely no heed to the parliament or the Queen. And as far as Eliza was concerned, her and her family would stay oblivious to this until they needed to be otherwise.

"Crookshanks does not have fleas!" Hermione retorted, the rage in her eyes displayed in her tone of voice. Hermione glared viciously at Eliza, silently fuming over Eliza's insinuations that she was a scarlet woman who sleep with just anyone, including her teachers.

"Hermione, do not yell at Eliza. She didn't do anything to you," Alexandra commanded when she heard Hermione shout. Either she hadn't heard Eliza's comments, or she simply choose to ignore them. If Hermione were a betting person, she would have placed every last knut she had on the later of the two.

Hermione shot daggers at Eliza when the younger girl tauntingly stuck her tongue out at Hermione. Without another word, Hermione stuffed her trunk into the car and climbed into the back seat behind her aunt, settling in for the short drive to the London suburbs.

Hermione stepped slowly out of the vehicle and took in the house. Nothing had changed since she had last been there. Located in a quiet, posh neighborhood, stood a two-story white paneled home. The well yard seemed to scream 'prim and proper', reflecting the attitude of its owners. 'No surprise there,' Hermione thought and walked around to the back of the vehicle and waited for her uncle to open the trunk. When he did she set Crookshanks carrier down and struggled to lift her heavy trunk to of the back and onto the ground. After several moments of trying different angles she finally maneuvered it out and it slid from the back and onto the ground with a resounding crash.

Roland glared at her and icily spoke, "Be more careful with your things, Hermione. I refuse to buy you new school supplies just because you re too careless to take better care of the ones you have."

Hermione said nothing and merely nodded before turning her attention to Eliza. In the nicest tone she could muster she asked, "Eliza, would you please take Crookshanks for me? My trunk is to heavy to carry along with Crookshanks carrier."

Eliza gave her a disgusted look before answering, "I'm not touching that dirty thing."

Hermione was about to protest Eliza's statement, but Roland interjected. "Take your…" Roland trailed off for a moment, trying to decipher if cat was the right word for the creature. "…cat upstairs to your room. Last room on the left. I will take your trunk."

Hermione did as she was told and walked up the porch and into the house. Climbing the stairs she ambled down the hall and opened the door to the room. Inside against the back right wall was a small twin bed with a purple duvet over it. Across from the bed was a small desk that looked like it had seen better days, and to the left of the door was a small wardrobe. Adoring the opposite wall were a few shelves and a bare bookcase. Coming from her aunt and uncle, these accommodations didn't surprise her. But one thing did surprise her. On the bedside table sat a framed picture. In it was a picture of her and her parents, taken just before she had gone to stay at 12 Grimmauld Place. She smiled at the memory, let Crookshanks out of his carrier and walked over to the bed and sat down on it.

Gingerly she picked up the picture, curling her fingers around the cherry wood frame. Looking longingly at the photo she blinked back tears as she recalled the day the picture hand been taken. She missed them so much, words just couldn't describe it. Sadness tugged at her heart, and she suddenly wished that Professor Snape were there to comfort her. Pushing the thought aside to dwell on later, she wiped away the tears that had unconsciously been streaming down her face. Placing the picture back, she stood and descended the stairs. She entered the living room silently, not noticing Eliza going through her trunk. Walking over to her aunt, she thanked the older woman. "Thank you, Aunt Alexandra, for the picture."

"Picture? What picture?" She asked, not looking up form her book.

"The one of me and my parents on the stand by my bed," Hermione replied, believing her aunt may have just forgotten having placed it there.

"We never put a picture next to your bed. Are you hallucinating, Hermione?" She inquired, allowing her unconcerned eyes to wander to Hermione's confused face.

"No, but if you didn't place it there then who-"

Eliza gasped loudly from the other side of the room and then nosily insisted, "Severus? Who's Severus?"

"Whaaa…?" Hermione mumbled and turned to where the voice had come from and finally noticed her cousin splaying her belongings around herself. In her hand she held a piece of parchment that Hermione didn't recall putting in her trunk the other night. Enraged, she stomped over to her cousin and snatched the parchment from her hands. "Get away from my things! You have no right to go pawing through my personal property!"

Ignoring Hermione's rant completely, Eliza retorted, "I was reading that!" Standing on her feet, Eliza made a grab for the paper Hermione had paced behind her back.

"I don't care! It was never yours to read in the first place! My personal life does not concern you!" Kneeling Hermione began to pick up her cloths and robes that had been strewn asunder, along with some of her textbooks. She had just tucked the note securely between the pages of 'Moste Potente Potions' when Roland snatched the book from her hands and let the book fall open to the page the note was safely tucked into. He took it out and carelessly tossed the book onto the floor. "Be careful with that! It isn't mine!" Hermione demanded and picked the book up and held it to her chest.

"Whose is it then? Your boyfriends?" Eliza shot back, still mad that Hermione had snatched the note from her.

"It's Professor Snape's," she quietly answered, knowing what Eliza's comment would be. Surprisingly though, she said nothing. Instead, her Uncle spoke up.

"Indeed. Regardless, I would like to know who this Severus fellow is. You boyfriend perhaps? Well, no matter. Even if he is you will not be seeing him this summer," At that point it occurred to Hermione these people had no idea who her teachers were. But then again, they probably wouldn't have cared anyway. Roland held the note out to Eliza, who she took it, more than happy to have the note back in her grasp. "Read it aloud, Eliza. Lets see what it says," Hermione's face betrayed her worry. She didn't even know what the note said!

Clearing her throat, Eliza began to speak:

"Hermione,

I hope this finds you in good spirits. From your reaction earlier this afternoon I would be prompted to say otherwise.However, I know you will endure these next few months with the most superlative disposition an individual in your state can. Though being as privileged as I am with the information of how much you are dreading spending the summer with your relatives, you must understand how this is the best alternative for you under the given circumstances. Yet I have no doubt that both Potter and Weasley will attempt to lighten the burden on your shoulders and somehow contact you, even if you Aunt and Uncle forbid it. Take this note for example; I took the liberty of having Winky place it into your trunk before it was placed onto the train during the leaving feast. Overcome these blockading obstacles and you will persevere, owing mostly you to your stubborn Gryffindorism. Also, the Headmaster will be directly contacting you soon. He requests that you schedule a time to travel to your home and set your parents affairs in order, as well as collecting your personal belongings. Please, for the sake of preserving your wand, do not curse your cousin, Miss Eliza Granger, I believe you told me her name was, no matter how overbearing she may become. Do not allow these people or the events of the past few months to spoil your summer. Do not fret, however. I will be checking in on you periodically. If you require anything at all, do not hesitate to contact me. You know how.

Yours,
Severus

P.S. Enjoy the photograph and keep it near to you. I hope it offers you much comfort through this time."

"Planning secret communications?" Alexandra implied and continued, "So, this Severus dose seem like you boyfriend. Tell us."

"He-he's NOT my boyfriend," Hermione stressed and looked at the floor before mumbling what sounded like, "Esmiofser."

"What was that, girl?!" Alexandra commanded stepping in front of Hermione and jerking her head up harshly. "Do not speak to the floor, or mumble under your breath. I would have thought Leon and Diana would have taught you better manners than this. Either that or the disgraces at that school have taught you differently."

Glaring at her aunt, rage boiling under her skin and deep within her veins, Hermione repeated herself in a flat, hard tone. "Severus is my potions professor. Professor Snape," As soon as these words were uttered out of her mouth, Hermione had no time to react as Alexandra's hand shot out and slapped her soundly across the face.

"It may have been many years ago that I myself was a student, but I do know that even today teachers and students are not on a first name basis," Her aunt spoke in a deadly tone and began to walk around Hermione. "There is something going on between you two, isn't there?" She wrongly deduced and paused momentarily before accusing, "You're sleeping with him, you harlot! I will not have it! Give me that book! It's going in the fire!" She commanded and attempted to pry Professor Snape's book away from Hermione, and drew blood with her nails as they sunk deeply into the girls flesh. Roland and Eliza made no move to help, only stood back and watched. Being younger and better fit physically than her aunt, Hermione pulled out of her grasp and backed up into the doorway of the living room.

"You don't know what you're talking about," Hermione argued in her defense and pulled her wand out from the pocket of her jeans, holding it tightly in her grasp at her side.

Afraid of what she may do, Roland attempted as calmly as possible to get Hermione's wand. "Give me your…" Roland hesitated for a moment and flinched at his next word, "wand." He was surprised, actually at the insinuation that his wife had made, not really seeing where she had drawn such a conclusion. Sure, he'd insinuated that his niece slept around, but that was because she looked like she did. He certainly hadn't meant to imply that she slept with her teachers as well. Regardless of how much he loather the girl he knew his flesh and blood better than that to realize that she wouldn't do something like that with her teacher.

Hermione didn't put up a fight and merely handed said object to her uncle, afraid of what she may do with it. Roland promptly tossed it haphazardly into the trunk as if even the shortest contact with it would kill him instantly.

"Eliza and I will sort out your trunk and give you your proper necessities tomorrow," Alexandra informed Hermione, still adorning her cold hearted tone. "Now get out of my sight."

Too enraged to argue further with the boisterous woman for fear of causing somebody bodily harm with her fists or wandless magic, Hermione turned on heel and disappeared up the stairs in a flurry of robes. Slamming the door to her bedroom shut, Hermione dropped onto the bed and sighed. Then she mumbled aloud, "This is going to be a LONG summer."

A/N: Sorry I haven't posted in a while guys and girls, but I had completely lost my muse for some time. I hope that now I'm back on track, but in that time I've also started a different fic, so I don't know how often I'll be updating but be on the lookout.

Anybody who would like to beta let me know please. Also if anybody has any ideas for this story let me know and I'll try to use them. I have a few main points, but I need others to build the story.

dama-de-tinieblas