Prologue Part II
August 1991
David was enjoying the simple normality of being at home with both of his darling girls. He and Jane had had some major hiccups in their journey thus far, and neither were under any illusions that this state of affairs was likely to end any time soon. But as hard as it was to try and forget the past, David was revelling in the fact that today was the day when Hermione would receive her Hogwarts letter. Dumbledore had given David leave to return home to Jane and Hermione for a precious week and slough off his more familiar visage. Standing behind Jane, his hands wrapped loosely around her, their heads pressed close together as they watched the little brown speckled owl picking at the occasional insect in the potted herbs on the kitchen sill, the owl hampered at times by the large piece of parchment rolled against its leg. Talking quietly lest they disturb their visitor, all the while voicing the occasional fear and hope for their only child, the antics of the little owl kept the pair of them entertained as they waited for Hermione to arrive home from a birthday party at a friend's place just up the road.
As much as David had occasionally hoped that Hermione would not be magical, he did have to admit to a remarkable amount of pride when he found out that her name had been added to the register of future students in Albus Dumbledore's office. He and Jane had discussed the whole issue in depth at various times over the years, and any doubt over Hermione's magical ability had been nullified when Hermione had been found one day reading all sorts of books that she could have only have removed from David's 'magical' bookcase by summoning them. It was one of the very few times where both of them had found it hard to punish Hermione for touching those special books without their permission. From that moment, both Jane and David recognised that when Hermione went to Hogwarts she would have to try and separate Snape from her indulgent and loving father, a state of affairs that neither of them were looking forward to in the slightest. It seemed the wheel of David's life had come full circle and he had no idea how to defend against it.
For all that Voldemort had been supposedly defeated by the infant Harry Potter, David was all too aware that as his dark mark had not faded completely which meant that his expertise in certain areas could again be called on. Dumbledore had hinted as much on several occasions in the last eleven years since that fateful night in Godric's Hollow. David, once he realised that young Potter would be a classmate of Hermione's, seriously considered sending her to France for her education, but once he'd examined his guilty feelings over Lily's death, and everything that those thoughts entailed, it was all too clear that he wanted to keep Hermione close for her safety. Aside from his own confused thoughts, Jane had vetoed the idea of Beaubaxtons almost as soon as David had suggested it.
A wry smile reminded David of just how well that conversation had gone as he moved his head and kissed Jane softly on the side of her jaw.
"So many mistakes, Jane, so many. If only I'd rebelled against mum's plans and just been myself. We wouldn't...I wouldn't be facing the prospect of teaching Hermione and making her hate me. He's hated, you know - Snape. They all hate him. Dumbledore only tolerates him because he's...I'm useful. He knows every grubby secret about what I've had to do, and he constantly holds the threat of it all over me like a treat he can withdraw if I try to leave."
"We could move, go to Australia. You've always said you wanted to go and we'd be free - you'd be free. No more subterfuge, no more secrets and I can find work. There's one constant here - dentists are always in demand."
"I don't deserve you. I don't think I ever did."
"Oh stop being so maudlin. It's like I'm married to two men at times when you're like this. You've said yourself that Hermione would have to be taught to manage her gift, and the only way to do that is for her to go to school somewhere. Sending her to Hogwarts is almost too far away, but if you think I'll agree to send our daughter to France for her education, you can think again!"
"I often think it would have been far better if she'd been born without magic."
"No, it wouldn't, David. Then she wouldn't be our Hermione. I do reserve the right to teach her all the subjects she'll need to know in the Muggle world, should she choose to have a non-magical career. You...your mum didn't give you a choice, but Hermione deserves to make her own choices when the time comes."
Any further introspection from David ended abruptly when the front door banged shut and excited footsteps hurried towards the kitchen. Both David and Jane turned towards the door to see Hermione running through the door, only to stop suddenly as soon as she saw the little owl on the sill.
"Is that for me?"
Both Jane and David nodded their heads simultaneously and all three of them turned to in time to see the owl shake himself and ruffle his feathers self importantly. Hermione walked slowly towards the window just as a small leg extended, the parchment resting on the edge of one of the pots.
"How do I do it, dad?"
"Well, you'll need this sickle for the pouch," David said as he pulled the small silver coin from his pocket and placed it into Hermione's open hand.
"It's always best to thank a post owl, even a Hogwarts owl, for delivering your mail, otherwise they can be creative about how and where they bring mail to you in the future. Once you've thanked him, you can approach slowly and untie the thong on his leg, then open the pouch just there and put the coin inside."
Hermione followed her father's instructions and was soon clutching the parchment letter, smiling broadly. Ripping open the envelope, Hermione squealed in pleasure and then waved the letter in front of her parents.
Sharing a private smile of pleasure as their daughter started talking rapidly about everything she'd need for the new school year, Jane and David held each other close and enjoyed the excited happiness of their own little witch.
