The carriage ride home was far more comfortable and relaxed than the one to the café had been. Hermione found that she had rather a lot to think about and while she was alone seemed like the best place to do so. Lavender would have more than a few questions for her, as would Molly and she needed to get her head around what he'd told her before she answered any of them. That they would see his invitation to visit as inappropriate crossed her mind; perhaps it would be better to keep that fact from them… thing was how? Alright, maybe not. They had been friends before, that much had been made obvious and so would there be anything wrong with visiting him again? She shook her head. Damn being here was so confusing; the rules of their society were so different from everything she knew. Back home, she would be able to do as she pleased, not have to have a man's permission or an accompanying woman to make sure there was nothing going on.

She let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. Then there was the reason why they'd fallen out in the first place. Severus had said that they'd fallen out over something small and inconsequential but she got the idea that it was more than that. Maybe she would find that out when she visited. Pressing her lips together, she also wondered what he would want to know about her world, and what she would be able to tell him. Surely there were things that she should keep to herself; she didn't want to do anything that might damage the time line. She had seen Doctor Who; she knew the dangers of time travelling!

The carriage continued to rattle along down the cobbled street, bringing her ever closer to the place that was now her home. Although there were a hundred questions zipping around her head, she knew she had to seem calm and clear when she faced Molly. She dearly wanted to be able to meet Severus at his Manor, convincing Molly that there was nothing more going on other than friendly exchanges. She could do that.

When the carriage door opened, she hopped out with the aid of the footman and headed into the Weaseley household. The lounge was where she found Molly, time to get this over with. She offered the older woman a bright smile when she looked up.

"How was it?" she asked. Her tone was neutral, good!

"It was good," Hermione replied as she walked into the room.

"And how was Mr Snape?" she asked. Hermione smiled, aware that there was never any preamble with Molly.

"Quite the gentleman," she replied, "We have managed to set aside our differences and have resumed our friendship as before." Hermione watched the expression on Molly's face darken for a moment, "What is it?"

"I don't like it," Molly said, "I never liked it. It's not right for a young woman and a man of Mr Snape's standing to be friends."

"Why?"

"We've been over this a hundred times Hermione," Molly said, her voice becoming short. "His intentions aren't clear, he's already engaged to Ms De La Cour, why should he want to speak with you too?"

The first thing that shot through her was that Fleur was an ill-conceived match; she would never be able to satisfy Severus' intellectual needs but she refrained from speaking that. Molly wouldn't understand and it would just cause more of an argument that she wanted. Hermione was smart enough to know that she would need Molly on her side if she was going to succeed.

"We discuss all manner of magical elements," she said instead, "Mainly potions and how they can be altered to be more effective," she added. She could already see the older woman losing interest so she continued this line of conversation, "We're going to look over some of his older books and see what we can come up with, nothing more adventurous than that," she said.

"I still don't see why he needs you for that, surely he has enough older, male companions he could do this with." Hermione resisted rolling her eyes, reminding herself that this was just the nature of the time she was now in and gave a little shrug. "I doubt your father would agree with me, but I don't see the harm in you going there to look over some old books."

She let out a small sigh of relief, "Thank you," she said.

"Just for a couple of hours mind you, in the afternoons, returning here no later than four," Molly added her expression stern. Hermione knew better than to argue right then, it was something she could work on as time went by. When Krum was out the way, she knew it was only a matter of time. She nodded her understanding to Molly and smiled.

"Thank you," she said again. Rising from where she had sat, she bade her farewell and headed upstairs. She needed to let Severus know that she had gained permission to visit and the conditions under which she was able to do so. The moment she was inside her room and the door shut, she let the triumph show on her face for the first time. It felt as though she had taken a huge step forwards in making her plan work. There were so many questions she still had and this felt as though it was making the answers all the nearer. Settling down at her desk, she penned a quick note, handed it to her owl and relaxed.

She didn't hear anything until Krum called at the house seven days later. Hermione and Lavender had been playing a game of draughts when there was a light knock at the door. Molly answered it and before Hermione could object, Krum was ushered into the room. He was dressed in the smart uniform of his country, his hair combed and his expression grim. Lavender let out a little squeak when he strode in. Hermione turned her face up to him, knowing her eyes did not reflect the emotion that he had so much wanted to see in them.

"Mr Krum?" Hermione asked.

"Can you give us a moment?" He said turning to Lavender. Hermione looked to her friend, who gave her an apologetic glance and practically fled the room. Victor took her place on the seat opposite Hermione and pressed his lips together. Moments later, he spoke.

"Something has happened at home," he said, "I must return there."

Hermione made a show of widening her eyes, "What is it?"

"My mother is sick, according to a letter I got. I apologise for not speaking with you sooner," he said. Hermione shook her head.

"No, you should go," she said.

"I do not know how long I will be gone," he said. He shifted, looking more uncomfortable by the moment. Was he seriously worried about her reaction? Was he so blind to her lack of affection that he was scared she would become emotional?

"What do you mean?" she asked, playing along with the charade for the moment.

She watched as Krum swallowed, here it came, the words that were supposed to break her heart. She sure hoped that she was able to put on enough of a show to make it believable. He took her hand in his then and she forced her eyes up to him. "We should annul our attachment," he said, "I do not know how long I will be gone and I don't think it fair to make you wait that long." Hermione turned her eyes back to the floor and slowly nodded her head. "No, don't get upset Hermione, it is for the best." His clipped tone told her that he was waiting for her to disagree, to say that she would go with him and nurse his poor mother back to health with him. He was bound to be disappointed.

"I see," she said softly. It was her turn to press her lips together and she nodded again.

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "I will write to you," he said.

Hermione turned her eyes back to Krum and put on a little smile, "I'd like that," she said, keeping her voice low, as though she was sad. "Do you want this back?" she asked, running her finger over the engagement ring on her hand. Krum shook his head.

"Wear it and remember me," he said. He then turned her hand over and pressed his cool lips over her palm, "I need to go," he said. She nodded again, not saying a word. When he rose, she did and walked him to the door.

"Thank you," she said finally. He turned in the doorway and offered her a small smile.

"I hope you have a happy life," he said. She was touched genuinely by his sincerity and she returned the smile.

"You as well,"

"Farewell," he said. With that, he turned on his heel and strode off back to the waiting carriage. She watched him go, waving a little as he passed and left her life forever. When the door shut, she let out a sigh and sagged against it. Strengthening herself, she pulled the ring off her finger and smiled, a genuine smile for the first time in what seemed like ages. All she had to do now was convince the others that she was genuinely upset about this turn of events; something that might prove difficult.