A/N: Whew! This is getting to be a long story!


Hermione knocked on the dark wood door. Sunshine warmed her back as she fiddled with her blouse and skirt to check that she was presentable. It was still quite early in the morning. She had already been to work to speak with Evan, her boss, about the letter.

The door opened and a smiling woman with dark hair stood in the entry.

"Ms. Granger? What a surprise to see you? How are you? Please come in, come in," Kyla said as she stepped back. Hermione smiled and walked into Oliver's home.

I am sorry if I'm intruding upon you too early, Mrs. Wood," Hermione apologized.

"Please, Kyla," she asked, as she closed the door.

"Thank you, and please call me Hermione," she responded as she followed Oliver's mother into the kitchen.

"Now, what brings you by?" Kyla asked, moving to the table to sit down to her morning tea. It was still steaming.

"I am here to speak to Oliver about a book that he recently purchased. Is he here?" Hermione asked.

"I am sorry, he isn't here right now," Kyla stated. "He will be back shortly. He was to see the healer this morning."

Hermione's spirits sank; she really wanted to talk to him and then get back to her office to make arrangements.

"Ah, well would you mind terribly if I waited for him? This is a bit urgent," Hermione asked.

"Not at all, please, sit down," Kyla replied, placing another cup of tea in front of one of the chairs.

Hermione sat down. As she prepared her tea, Kyla asked about her work.

Hermione loved to talk about books and her job at the bookstore, so this was an open invitation.

They were still talking an hour later, as Oliver apparated into his living room to hear two women laughing in the kitchen.

Figuring it was just Mrs. Weasley, he hollered, "MUM! I am going to the spare room."

His mother walked out of the kitchen, her face bright with humor. "Oliver, how many times have I asked you, oh never mind. You have a visitor."

Oliver's brow rose as he looked into the kitchen. His eyes rested on Hermione and he smiled softly. His mother caught this but said nothing. He looked at his mother and cleared his throat. Hermione stood up and walked to him.

"Good morning, Hermione." 'Good-nice level, no tension in the voice-'Oliver thought to himself.

'Relax, breathe in, out,' Hermione thought, as she said, "Good morning. I have some more information about the book if you have time."

Oliver breathed easier. "Yes, certainly. Would you excuse us, Mum?"

"Actually, I would like to speak to you both if I may?" Hermione inquired.

"But, of course, dear," Kyla said, looking at Oliver. He extended his arm and then followed the ladies to the library.

Once the Woods were settled in the armchairs, Hermione stood in front of them.

"Well, I heard from Dean Sporodov yesterday evening," she began.

"Um, Hermione, before you start in the middle, let me bring my mother in on what this is about," Oliver interrupted. She nodded.

"Mum, you know how I am always bringing things home from traveling with the team, right?" Oliver asked his mother.

"But, of course. Our library would not be as full as it is without your contributions, dear," Kyla said with a smile. She adored the fact that her son was not as single-minded as when he was in school.

"Right, well, I have a new text that I wasn't sure about, so I asked a friend to examine it, but he is no longer participating in that area, so I was directed to Miss, uh, Hermione, and we have been trying to get background information about this particular text," Oliver finished.

"But, of course," Kyla said with an air of authority. "We were discussing her work before you returned. She is quite the accomplished young lady," Kyla said, smiling widely at Hermione.

"Uh, well, thank you, Kyla," Hermione said, her eyes looking down. Compliments sometimes made her uncomfortable.

"Is that all?" Kyla asked.

"Yes, I think that has us up to the moment," Hermione stated, looking to Oliver for confirmation. He smiled and gestured her to continue.

"Okay, well, I heard from Ivan yesterday evening. He has found some very interesting leads as to substantial resources of information that will be at my disposal when I arrive at the Bulgarian Conservatory," Hermione said. She began explaining the facilities there, and what measures would be taken to preserve the privacy and integrity of the collections she was to work with.

Oliver and Kyla listened quietly to her, until Hermione came upon the reason she needed to speak with both of them.

"Now, this part of the research may take some time, but I have been given leave to pursue this by Evan, and will be traveling to the Conservatory at the earliest opportunity," Hermione stated, "Which brings me to my need to speak with you both. Ivan referenced another collection that may be quite valuable to the research and asked for my help in obtaining access. It is located in Scotland."

Kyla and Oliver exchanged glances and immediately Hermione felt the change in the air.

"No," Oliver stated. Kyla looked at him.

"No?" Hermione asked, looking back and forth at Oliver and his mother.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let just anyone in our home to pick over our things," Oliver stated.

"But," she began, "this could be the difference between knowing and not knowing." She was getting angry. 'Just anyone, am I?'

Oliver saw the fire leap into her eyes and cleared his throat. "Look, Hermione. This collection has been in our family for centuries, long before my grandfather's grandfather. We are constantly bombarded with requests to purchase, look over, or borrow some item or book. Only recently, we were approached by another researcher, or so they said, to acquire some of the most mundane texts imaginable. They were offering everything but a ransom for them, but we still turned them down."

"And you see me as someone who would try to obtain information from these things for any purpose other than that which you have hired me to do?" she asked, a slight edge to her voice. The insult was hard to take, implied or not. He had just grouped her in with a perhaps unscrupulousgroup of people,and she didn't appreciate it, not one bit. Her eyes pinned him to the chair.

Oliver shifted a bit, but held his ground. "I am sorry, but even for my own purposes, I just cannot allow-".

"Oliver, this is your book, correct?" Kyla asked, her voice interrupting the glaring contest going on.

Oliver looked at his mother. "Yes."

"And, you have hired Miss Granger to research it?"

"Yes, but still-"Oliver said.

"Then I don't see the problem. This is not an unknown person or establishment looking to steal our secrets if you will," Kyla explained. She had a plan working in her head, and wanted to see if her suspicions were founded or not.

"Mum, we have never allowed anyone to look at our collection, simply because of what is contained," Oliver said. "Why would we start now?"

Kyla looked at her son. "Oliver, just because you always do something, doesn't mean it is always the right thing."

"But," he began.

"I think we should allow her to examine the things that are necessary to your research, with supervision, of course," Kyla explained, looking at Hermione. "She is not going to jeopardize her own reputation by hieing off with our things, Oliver. Really, I am surprised you don't have more faith in her than that." Kyla was standing now, her arms folded. She wasusing a tone thatOliverhadn't heardin years.

Oliver shifted again and looked down to the floor.

Hermione walked over to his chair and knelt down. "Oliver, I will treat the Wood Collection like it is my own child. I wouldn't dream of taking something from someone that is so precious and rare." Her eyes looked into his, freely. She was quite determined to let him know how serious she was.

Oliver looked at her and was stuck again by the things her eyes told him. The excitement of finding out something new was there, sparkling, along with something else. Pain, sorrow, and, surprisingly, hope and passion. 'She is determined to do this,' he thought. He was silent for a moment as he looked into the depths of her and found only the purest motives. They were locked in their gaze until Kyla cleared her throat.

"Now, Hermione, you will be able to guarantee that none of the information contained or the knowledge of how extensive the collection is will be divulged to anyone else?" Kyla said. Two sets of eyes blinked quickly and turned her way.

"Well, I can guarantee that any information found would be kept by me, once I have concluded my research. New policies have been implemented by the Conservatory itself, to keep others from acquiring information that may be hazardous," Hermione stated, as she stood. "It is a slightly modified form of secret-keeping, but not as severe as a Memory Charm. I am unable to tell anyone specifics about anything I have been privy to, other than acknowledged facts."

"Well, then. I guess that settles it. Oliver?" Kyla stated, looking pointedly at her son.

Oliver looked at his mother. He could tell she was up to something, but he wasn't sure what. He looked up at Hermione, who still had the sparkle and hope blazing in her eyes. He really was outgunned here, and he wasn't sure if he liked it.

"How does Thursday sound?" Oliver said with a sigh.


A/N: I am sorry for the short chapter. I am really getting into the details of the next few chapters and this seemed a logical stopping point. I must thank all those that have read. I am so thrilled that you all like my story.

Shout out to my reviewers!

Atomic Elf, vagrantben, Kari-Hermione, mandy g, Lily Evans Potter Black Lupin (can you imagine her stationary!), Lioness96, world-below, Gaby B, YoursAlwayS, and lazyllama101. Your reviews have given me such drive and help me to push on, even on the hard days. Thx, again.