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Chapter 26: An Irlen Assessment

Hermione was outside the Leaky Cauldron in her Honda CRV when Poppy appeared with Greg Goyle and Headmaster Snape in tow. So the former Slytherin Head of House wanted to keep an eye on his snakelings. She tooted her horn to get their attention and Professor Snape opened the door to guide Poppy into the front passenger seat. Headmaster Snape instructed Gregory Goyle about entering a car and provided the visual cues for the correct procedure for engaging a seat belt.

When Hermione had heard the clicks and looked in the rear vision mirror for confirmation from Professor Snape that all was well in the back seat she put her indicator on and looked for a break in traffic before swerving out into the flowing line of cars. It was a 10 minute drive and Hermione parked in the disabled car park. Exiting the car she was using her calliper crutches and Greg was unfamiliar with the devices. After remotely locking the car Hermione directed her party into the specialist optician.

After an hour there was a marked surprise in Greg Goyle the optician had done a standard Muggle eye test first and confirmed that he had 20/20 vision before going on to do the Irlen filter testing. With the different filter coloured lens being dropped in to the glasses Greg was asked which colour produced the better effect for him. Did it hurt to look at the screen? There was a couple of combinations that Gregory Goyle was most appreciative of never having to see them every again that raised a chuckle from the optician who said he was not the only one who responded in that manner. A script was prescribed, frames picked and a follow up appointment was made. Hermione then drive everyone back to the Leaky Cauldron entrance where everyone disembarked before Headmaster Snape transferred into the front seat previously occupied by Poppy Pomfrey. Driving through the rush hour traffic back to Grimmauld Place where after locking the car up in the garage Hermione let Severus into the private entrance and said hello to Kreacher and Winky. After a quick chat to the house elves she asked them to come and visit her if they wanted some company before wheeling herself to the fireplace to floo back to Hogwarts.

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The afternoon had a significant impact on the wizard who had undergone the Irlen assessment. It had been the first time he had been in a Muggle car driven by one of his age peers. It was the first time he had encountered this type of Muggle transport, as he had never been on the knight bus so automobiles were a new form of transport for the large pure blood wizard. Headmaster Snape had come along to the assessment and given him moral support for his foray into a world he was woefully inexperienced in.

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Talking to Hermione on the drive back to Grimmauld Place she highlighted that she needed to get her NEWTS out of the way before the rest of the students or she would not be able to help the Greg's she had been allocated. Severus was surprised and glad that she had something to motivate the fire she used to have back into her. It was interesting to watch her transfer from the car in her crutches.

Greg Goyle had been shocked that with her use of the contraptions and thinking about it Hermione was really pushing the magical world to accept that not everyone was the same. What would she bring for the future of minority groups in their society? She had already made an incredible impact already and she had not even finished her education. What was next?

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The rest of the week was exciting and challenging for Hermione. Why did pureblood families home tutor their children for their primary years? There were several more occasions she had consultations about Slytherin students with their former Head of House, Professor Snape.

Meeting Bonnie Thompson after the first week of teaching was a nice occasion for Hermione. She had an interesting discussion with the woman and the development of a wizarding AOL network seemed to be a go. Harry and Draco had placed some funds in an investment company that the Twins were working with to help Hogwarts to get their cut out of the Research and Development. Hermione had seen the Twins one night midweek and discussed using a magical financial manager to improve her nest egg. Fred had set up an appointment with Clinchknot their banker to her their friend set up her own vault and deal with getting her pay from the school into her account. Talking to Clinchknot had been therapeutic for Hermione as it was a step towards her independence and a recognition that she needed to take control of her finances.

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Harry's first week of training had been exhausting he had not made it out of London and up to Scotland. Basically the trainee flooed home to crash into bed if he was lucky after a shower if not, it was straight into his bed. Ronald Weasley had failed to show up to the first week of training so he was officially identified as refusing his entrance to the Auror Corps. Oh well it was better it happened now rather than after 3 months of training. The program was designed to weed out those who should not be in the Corps.

Harry made it up to Hogwarts late on the first Saturday where he then took himself into the library to get a start on his revision. Between seeing Teddy and Mia he mostly spent the weekend in the Library doing revision for his first examination Defence Against the Dark Arts. He was putting himself under incredible pressure taking the exam in less than month from the start of the school year. Harry was not on his own in the Library as Hermione and Luna plus many of the other 8th year students like Neville were taking up residence in there as well.

Severus Snape was doing some of his own research in the library on Sunday afternoon where he observed the 8th years in residence. Looking at them it was hard to believe that 2 years ago this group had been at each other's throats now they were working together to finish their education.

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Playing Chess that night Minerva McGonagall teased Severus Snape about how effective his initial grand plan implementation was. "We can only judge it effective at the end of the academic year".

"So now that you have started to get the school back on its feet what is next?" she inquired with a merry twinkle in her eye that reminded him of Albus.

"Gads woman can't I have a chance to breathe," he snapped at her before joining her in a chuckle over her last move. As Severus pretended to take his time he listened to her natter on at him about living his own life now that he did not have two masters.

"No I now have a board of School Governors, and some 1000 children and their parents. Added to that the Ministry who want results and to ensure that we are moulding model citizens rather undesirable reprobates. So I don't have two masters but many," he snapped as he moved before grinning to have a sip of his scotch "Check".

"Bugger Severus, you are just a sneaky bastard you know" cackled the witch as she admitted defeat dropping her King why make him tease her any longer she was going to be in mate in two moves no matter what she did.

"Slytherin is the House of cunning remember you foolhardy Gryff".