The icy wind made the trees shiver. The light on the front porch had an eerie silver glow from the struggling glow of the grey morning sky. Another morning might have been merciful to the battered figures struggling up the forgotten paths, but not today. The air was frigid with cold and frozen dew cracked sharply with each step. The atmosphere however compared little with the suffocating built of tension surrounding the odd couple.
Hermione fully aware of her potions Professors presence next to her felt at odds with her feelings. She should hate the man who knowing the perpetrator of the heinous crime committed against her still refused to act justly. However another part kept her thinking of the conversation she couldn't help overhear. Why had he changed the potion for her, what made her worth any consideration from the snarky man who held as much compassion towards his students as Crookshanks towards mice. Still she couldn't help feel grateful that he chose to escort her all the way to the property. The house was visible clearly from the top of the hill to which they appeared and he had no obligation to guide her once the route became obvious.
"Professor", she finally broke the empty silence "when will I be able to go home…to my parents," she added belatedly.
"When Professor Dumbledore sees you fit. We can't have you running of and terminating the pregnancy in the muggle world when you're carrying the "legend" child," he sneered.
"I see but Professor surely I can get in touch with my parents via owl, they have the right to know of my condition."
"That to will be up to the head master Miss Granger."
They had finally reached the frosty wooden porch and with out further ado the darkly clad man stepped forwards and spelled the door open. The inside of the house was just as dark and sterile as Hermione imagined and her sudden impulse to escape made her take an inadvertent step back.
"I would expect you off all people Miss Granger to recognize a glamour, but I guess even know-it-alls like yourself are bound to be out smarted sooner or later," he sharked coldly. Waving his wand off-handedly the room was instantly filled with light. Flowery curtains had suddenly draped the windows and a pink fuzzy carpet adored the previously frozen wood floor. A couple of country style flush velvet couches with stripped patterns appeared in front of a roaring fireplace that instantly started to fill the room with warmth. A single wall divider that partly separated the living room from what previously appeared as but a bare, empty, cold extension revealed itself to be a cozy wooden kitchen with a fridge and a silver basket of fruit.
"There are no knives in this house as the Head master fears in your current distress you might attempt something stupid. The fridge and pantries are fully stocked and are charmed to remain so through out your stay. The oven is electric and should be easy to operate with your muggle background. Before I leave I must have your wand."
"Why?" she exclaimed.
"Why? Silly girl for the same reason as the knives and the over have been attended to. You are not be trusted until your second trimester, now hand over your wand so I can leave and blissfully return to my normal duties of escorting muggle brained numb-nuts to the hospital wing with toad stool boil and turtle rashes on their clueless noggins."
Hermione having no problem envisioning the comic scenario gave a chuckle and gratefully handed her wand over as she managed to smile for the first time since the incident. Who new the old bat wasn't so bad after all?
"I guess you'll miss me in class Professor?"
Turning towards the exit he gave her one last slightly prolonged look before leaving unceremoniously from the house throwing an off-handed comment over one stiff shoulder.
"Don't flatter yourself Miss Granger"
Before he shut the door behind him with an audible click.