A loud 'crack' disturbed the quiet house. It was dark, and dirt littered the floor. Hermione let go of Minerva and walked out of the kitchen, and into the living room. Her footsteps seeming to echo through-out the whole house, on entering the living room; she felt around the wall, in search for the light switch. She switched it on and instantly regretted it, things were all over the place. Broken glass was everywhere. Furniture over turned and blood droplets stained the white carpet. Hermione's eyes watered even more, but she refused to shed any tears. Not yet, there would be more time later for that.
Hermione shuddered a bit, 'this is where it all happened' She took her wand out of her pocket and placed a few cleaning charms to fix and remove any stains and replace everything in the exact same spot. Two pairs of footsteps made their way to the Living room, Hermione did her best to blink away her tears in time before Minerva and Severus walked in.
"I'll show you both to your rooms, if you'd like to rest a bit?" came Hermione's voice, barely over a whisper. Both figures nodded, so Hermione led them out of the room towards a main hallway that led to the main entrance where an oak wooded spiral staircase led to the next floor.
The staircase was very wide so Minerva and Severus walked next to each other as they fallowed the extremely silent girl up the stairs. They entered the landing, and she groped the wall for the light switch and after a moment she flicked it on, illuminating the hallway. She turned left and walked down until mid-hallway, Stopping, Hermione opened a door on her right revealing a haze colored room. A portrait of a boat lazily resting on the quite ocean surface, was hung on the opposite wall upon entering the room. Everything was a cream and tan color from the rug to the bed sheets.
"Professor McGonagall, this is your room, unless you would like to sleep in another room?" Hermione spoke again, barely above a whisper.
"No, Hermione this is perfect." Minerva said with a tight smile plastered to her face. Hermione nodded and she left the room. Severus waited outside of the room, knowing that he would have to change the coloring of the room before he would step into there. Hermione walked past the main staircase to the other side of the hallway and opened a door on the right side. The room was painted in a silverfish grey color, the bed sheets were black and the rug was a white grayish color matching the walls. Severus was quite pleased with the coloring of the room that he nodded in approval.
Hermione walked out across the hallway and opened the door and closed it quickly behind her. She leaned against the back of her bedroom door trying to calm herself down. She took in the surroundings of her room. It was painted a blue which reminded you of looking up at the bright blue sky. On one side of the wall was a merial of a beach and ocean that looked so real it was like you could walk right to the edge of the water. Hermione remembered when her mother painted it, she fell asleep while finishing the masterpiece. The whole family took a day trip to the beach and stole a box full of sand and had returned to throw it against the wet brown paint that was supposed to be the sand, Hermione smiled at the memory. The whole theme of her room was beach and she absolutely loved it. Hermione walked over to the French doors and opened them as she walked onto the balcony.
She hugged herself as she tried to hold in the tears. After a while a knock at her door drifted to her ears, and Hermione sniffled a bit as she turned on her heel and walked back into the room, closing the doors behind her as the door into her room opened. Minerva stood in the door frame and entered with Severus in tow.
"Hermione, your family lawyer should be here around one this afternoon. Albus has asked us to help you settle a bit until then, though tomorrow we think it's a good idea to go and get everything prepared. We are terribly sorry for your lost, I beg you if you need anything darling, please come to us and ask what ever you need. Okay?" Minerva was one of those women who didn't beat around the bush she got straight to the point when in situations such as these. Though Minerva's only response from the girl, was a nod. Hermione just seemed to be on lock down. They took their leave of her room and let her be for a couple of hours.
The young woman had refused to sleep the whole time she was in her room, because every time she tried to fall sleep the screams began to ring through her ears and the scene began to play through her mind. Hermione need something to get her mind off of everything, so what did Hermione Granger do best, she read. She made her way down back to the first floor sliding the closed doors open that led into the library. It was a medium sized one with dark redwood finish. When Hermione looked up she met Severus Snape's dark gaze,
He was surprised to see her but knew better then to think lightly on the situation. She was doing exactly what he had done when he was younger. "I am sorry Miss. Granger I did not mean to enter without your permission, I will leave you." He made a move to leave, but then Hermione spoke, this time her voice was a little bit above a whisper.
"No, it is okay, please don't leave on my account."
He nodded and continued skimming the book titles on the shelves. Hermione spoke again which made him jump a bit, at the unexpected sound breaking the silence. "Sir, why are you being so nice?" She asked very softly as she made her way to the shelf next to the section he was looking at.
"I am not Miss. Granger, I am not irritated enough to quarrel with anyone at the moment." He said with a silken tone. He looked at her and notices that she was trying to hold back tears. Again he did not expect a reply from her.
"Oh, good because I don't need you feeling sorry from me." Severus sneered at this response, he felt neither sorry nor cared for anyone but himself and sometimes if that.
"Miss. Granger, I pity no one, nor do I care. A tragedy has occurred and it just so happens that it involves you. I am only here on strict orders by the Headmaster, so do not thing that we are on friendly terms. I am your Professor and you are my student and I am to keep my students as protected and safe as possible, nothing more and nothing less. So don't let it go through your thick Gryffindor skull that I would ever pity or care what you are dealing with. Thank you for the use of your library I shall return any book that I barrow." Severus practically snarled at her, as he turned back to reading the spins of the many books on the shelf.
Hermione stared at him, to shocked for words, she turned back to the shelf she was looking at, grabbing a book she recognized, she turned on her heel and opened the door to leave, "Professor, I wasn't asking for pity, only someone who wont act different around me. Good day, sir." Severus looked up to see the door closing. He was surprised yet again on her response. Maybe he did under estimate her a bit.
An hour past, lunch was served. Albus had sent one of the house elves to help around the house; Hermione didn't even care to reject the help. She honestly had given up on caring. After lunch, the door bell rung. Minerva appeared in the main entrance, the library door opened, and Severus stepped out into the hall. Hermione peered into the side window and at once recognized the family lawyer, how could one forget a man who practically lived at the dentist office where her mum and dad worked, Mr. William Collins. Hermione unlocked the door and opened it. The short balding man stared at Hermione with a saddening look.
"Hello Hermione. I am so sorry to come on such bad terms. May I come in?" He spoke with a sad tone that matched his features. They walked into the small parlor room, and tension seemed to fill the room. "Right, I'll just get to the point then." He lifted his brief case unto the table and took out a document in a yellow filing folder.
" Miss Hermione Granger, if anything should happen to your family before the age of 18, you are to stay at Hogwarts and the Headmaster shall be appointed guardian until September 19 the date of your 18th year. You shall receive the dental practice, the house, and car's insurance money that is worth 10 million pounds. You will also inherit box number 168 at the British bank Express and everything that it contains inside. Your trust fund for schooling and university is paid in full to which ever you go to. Here is the copy of the original will and key to the box. I will leave you now. If you have any questions or concern, please do not hesitate to contact me Hermione. I shall show myself out, good day dear girl." With that he handed her the document and key, taking his leave from there.
"Tomorrow we can take care of everything if you like, dear?" Minerva spoke placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Hermione nodded her head yes, then got up to leave the room.
Hermione was not seen for the rest of the night.