Hermione was not sure how would she find the Masons. It seemed hopeless to search someone without a clue. She had no idea where they lived, she had no idea where they had gone to. It seemed that they had disappeared without a trace.

Harry promised that he would search for clues these days and he made Hermione continue her work without a single thought of it. But she was not those who were willing to sit back and let others work for her, she was determined to do something. Her mother could not be alone for her whole life, there had to be someone either than Olivia having contact with her, one could not live off well without any connection.

At first, she tried to ask Olivia about this, but she did not seem wanting to stay on the subject, Hermione did not want to use Legilimency on her, and surely Olivia had certain control of Occlumency. There was no hope in getting anything out of her. Though later Hermione asked to get into her family vault, Olivia became so irritated that she stopped talking to her.

But there had to be flaws of the plan, though she had tried to be perfect, Hermione knew nothing could be perfect. And finally, she came up with a funny idea, so funny that Hermione herself was shocked to see herself able to think of that.

She apparated to Hogsmeade. Though it was still autumn, she could sense the silent arrival of winter, and the weather was noticeably cooler. She walked along the path and headed to her destination.

"Miss Granger," greeted the strict female voice that Hermione had always loved and respected.

"Professor McGonagall," said Hermione.

McGonagall was a bit wearier than Hermione had last seen during the Battle of Hogwarts, but generally, she was happy.

"It has been years since we last met," said McGonagall, walking towards the castle with Hermione.

"I miss your lessons," replied Hermione, smiling warmly.

"Never have I met a witch with so much intelligence, up till now, no one has ever broken your record."

"My record?"

"120 marks in almost every exam."

"Obviously, I just get an 'E' in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"But still overall an outstanding result, no one can reach that level."

"Records are born to be broken by others, it's just the matter of time," said Hermione and she stepped into the castle.

"Any nostalgia?" asked McGonagall as they went into the castle.

Everything remained the same as the first time Hermione had entered Hogwarts. The moving staircases, people in portraits kept on visiting other portraits…

"I could still remember I was reciting Hogwarts, A History to Sue Li when we entered the Great Hall, watching the hovering candles and bewitched ceiling," said Hermione. "Then we got sorted. Sue Li went to Ravenclaw and I went to Gryffindor, with Harry and Ron…"

They went upstairs and settled down at the headmistress' office.

"This room was once Professor Dumbledore's…" said Hermione.

"I did not change a thing in this room," said McGonagall and she sat on her chair. "It's a reminder of him, being a wise wizard of all times. And I am sure you do not come here just because of Professor Dumbledore."

"Like what I have always said, Professor McGonagall can never be fooled."

"So what's your matter?"

"Have you ever taught my parents?" asked Hermione. "I mean, Helia Sutherland and Syrus Wilkes."

"Oh, they," said McGonagall, smiling weakly. "I did, but they were two very different people."

"What's she like?"

"Helia is a standard Ravenclaw, witty, love reading books, exceptional results, a perfect role model, I'd say. She was a prefect and all teachers knew that she would have a bright future. Most likely, she could be found reading in the library and carrying tons of books to classes as for reference, which made others raising their brows and wondered if she was a walking encyclopaedia. The Gringotts, the ministry, and many others had tried to approach her when she graduated. You looked a lot like her."

Hermione nodded.

"However, Syrus was a very special Slytherin. Unlike most Slytherin, he was not particularly in the big gangs, he was among the quiet ones and a good observer, not many Slytherin can be as good as him. But the Slytherin traits were obvious, he was smart enough to get into short-cuts and used his wits to get rid of homework and revision while still able to get a satisfactory in his exams. He spent most of the time meditating and went on missing for a couple of hours then came back in silence."

"They're really two different kinds of people, but I just don't understand how they got married."

"Neither do I," said McGonagall honestly. "Albus knew all about that, but he decided to remain in silence. He has his special reason and I never bother asking."

"I know he knew it," said Hermione. "But I really needed to know more about my parents, this is the only way that I can be free from the Malfoys…"

"I am sorry about that, Miss Granger," said McGonagall. "Never have I thought such a thing happening on you. Mr. Malfoy is just too different from you."

"From Mrs. Olivia Walker, I get to know that my mother was bound in the Unbreakable Vow, but she would not tell the whole thing. She just went on babbling about my nosiness and stopped talking to me."

"Olivia…" sighed McGonagall. "Perhaps I will talk to her later."

"You know her?"

"Of course, she's my friend those years when we were in Hogwarts. Though just four years younger, she was nevertheless brilliant, and she was sure to be an Auror. She had once asked me if I was going to be an Auror."

"But you turned up as a professor."

"I love teaching students, they are always beyond our imagination, especially when I knew that you brewed Polyjuice Potion in your second year."

"You know it all along?"

"A couple of years after that. Albus said there was no need of punishment, and so her you are."

"I know Dumbledore's a great man, but my father…"

"That's reminds of something that I ought to return."

McGonagall headed to the shelf and took out a leathered book. There was nothing written inside yet Hermione could feel its weight, heavy yet she did not want to let go.

"What's this?" asked Hermione, flipping the pages over and over, trying to the key to unlock its secret. "It looks a lot like You-Know-Who's diary…only that this looks more intelligent and trustworthy."

Hermione took out her wand and waved, nothing appeared on the blank pages. Then she tried to write something on it. The pages seemed to have absorbed the ink.

"I remembered that Harry once said he wrote greetings on that diary and it replied," said Hermione.

She wrote greetings on it, not surprisingly, nothing happened.

"Whose diary was this?"

"Your mother gave this to Albus before she went on hiding, telling us to return it to you when you go into Hogwarts. I asked if he would return it to you one day. Do you know what his reply was?"

Hermione raised her brow, expecting the answer.

"He said he would rather not give it back to you."

"He's a wise wizard, he knows the right choice."

"Not always, unfortunately," said McGonagall. "He tried to shield others from pain, so much that he went into the failure that he foresaw. Sometimes the minds are people's fatal flaw."

"You seem to be one of the victims."

McGonagall sighed and she went back to her seat.

"Want some biscuit?"

"No, thanks," said Hermione, knowing that McGonagall did not want to stay on the subject.

"But now things are different, and I believe that you should keep this. This does not belong to anyone but you."

"I wish I knew the key to open this."

"Helia seemed to conceal it well. But since you are her daughter, I guess you can open the secrets soon."

"Perhaps she has overestimated her daughter's intelligence."

"But I have never overrated any student's ability."

"Thank you, Professor."

"Best be going," said McGonagall, looking at the windows. "There's a storm in the air. It leads me into the thought of students wandering in the corridor during curfew again."

Hermione left the office and apparated back to her room once she was out of Hogwarts ground. For the whole night, she sat on the windowsill bed, examining the diary under the moonlight. Hawks flew into her room and titled its head, blinking at Hermione. She stretched out her arm and scratched its head. Hawks closed its eyes and purred.

"I wish I can get his letter."

Hawk gazed at the night, then took off, and Hermione watched it ascended to the moon, with her hand stroking the leathered book.