Recommendation: This chapter's recommended fic is "Lily Potter and the Worst Holiday" by bobsaqqara. For 16 years Lily Potter has been mourning the murder of her son, Harry. On Halloween, 6 strangers suddenly appear in the middle of Hogsmeade, each bearing a very familiar face.

Chapter 16 - Hermione's Little Helper(s)

Sunday, December 27, 1994, Early Afternoon.

While walking to meet with Professor McGonagall, Hermione decided to bring up an issue that had been tugging at her for a couple of days. "Jasmine," she said, "do you... do you like Cho Chang?"

"What?" Jasmine asked in response, clearly surprised by the question.

"Cho Chang," Hermione said. "Do you like her? You seemed to be staring at her a lot during the Yule Ball, so, well, I was wondering..."

"No!" Jasmine said emphatically. "She's pretty, sure, and I guess I like her, but I don't fancy her. I had no idea that I was looking at her in any special way." After a moment's silence, she added, "Chang was wearing an interesting dress. Maybe I was looking at that a bit harder than other dresses, but I honestly don't remember."

Sighing softly with relief, Hermione said, "OK, thanks. I'm sorry, but I was feeling a little worried, I guess. I didn't mean to put you on the spot or anything."

"That's OK," Jasmine said, lightly bumping sideways into Hermione. "If I ever seem to behave that way, don't hesitate to ask." Hermione smiled appreciatively in response.

After they were sitting in Minerva McGonagall's office for tea and discussion, Jasmine decided to get things moving by speaking up first. "Professor McGonagall, what do you know about house elves?" Hermione's eyes widened in surprise, and she almost choked on her tea. Why didn't I think to ask a professor? she lamented.

Caught off guard, Minerva responded, "Well, I know a bit, though I'm no expert by far. What are you looking to know? And why ask me? I didn't expect this topic to come up."

Smiling at Hermione, who was still trying to clean up the tea she had spilled, Jasmine explained, "Hermione has been upset over what she considers to be the enslavement of house elves. Since they lack the freedom to leave a family voluntarily, "slavery" does sound like the correct term. We were told, however, that house elves need to be bonded to a family or magical institution to survive because they need the magic of wizards and witches. That sounds like a relationship that is too likely to be abused. So I was wondering what you knew of it."

Pausing for a few moments to gather her thoughts, Minerva took a drink of tea before answering. "You're right that house elves need the bond to survive. From what I can remember, though, it wasn't always that way. I vaguely recall reading a story about the house elves once being woodland elves, but they were cursed to depend on others for their magic. I'm afraid I don't remember the details, if in fact the story contained them. Perhaps the elves deserved it. Perhaps it was a lesser punishment for evil deeds. Or maybe the only evil was in cursing them."

Hermione piped up then, "So since this sort of existence was imposed on them at one time, does that mean that it can be reversed?"

Minerva considered this for a moment, then said, "In theory, perhaps. In theory, every magic has a counter, though the price one has to pay in order to achieve it might be quite high. Cursing an entire magical species in such an extreme way had to be difficult and costly; reversing such a curse would likely be at least as difficult and costly and perhaps more so, especially given how much time has passed. Even if you could find a way, though, you should take care to be sure that it would be the right thing."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked with a frown. "How could it not be the right thing to free an enslaved species?"

Smiling thinly, Minerva tried to explain, "Just because slavery is bad doesn't mean that the alternative couldn't be worse. House elves are powerful, and right now they are controlled. Uncontrolled, they might be capable of tremendous damage. What if the original woodland elves had become something akin to magical locusts? What if they were devouring magic wherever they went, and cursing them was a last-ditch solution to control them because they were too strong to kill or easily defend against?"

A horrified look fell upon Hermione's face as she considered the implications of that. "You're right, they wouldn't be the first species to destroy their own environment and thus harm other species."

"Exactly." Minerva was pleased that her student caught on so quickly. Stories had reached her ears about what Hermione was doing to the house elves, and she had been concerned that she'd have to step in; but now it looked like matters could be settled more peacefully. "However evil the binding of house elves might be, it's entirely possible that it's a necessary evil."

"Thank you," Hermione said. "I'll have to think about this a lot more carefully." Turning to Jasmine she said softly, "I'm sorry for being so pushy about the house elves."

Jasmine reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. "Like I said, if you didn't rashly charge into some situation or other, you probably wouldn't be a Gryffindor."

"Did either of you have any other questions — questions related to our earlier and ongoing discussions, that is?" Minerva asked. "Have you read from the book I gave you?"

Blushing suddenly, Hermione answered, "Yes, I've been reading and taking notes from that book. It's fascinating, and sometimes I can't get enough. I wish everyone could see this information because I think it could change so many minds." Sighing, she looked down at her lap before continuing, "But that would only work if they believed it. If they took such arguments and ideas seriously. But I know they don't. It's so... so depressing sometimes."

Minerva reached across and patted the young witch on the hand. "I understand, dear. The problem seems so very large — and it is, given how pervasive it is through all of society. When you look at it, you suddenly feel so very small and not at all up to the task of resisting the overwhelming power of popular bigotry. You know it's wrong, but you don't feel like you can fight it and think that it might be easier to go along with it. If you won't succeed in changing it, why make life difficult for yourself by fighting it?"

Looking up with widened eyes, Hermione said, "Yes, that's it. How did you know?"

Smiling wryly, her professor answered, "I've been around for a few years. I've picked up a few things."

Frowning suddenly, Hermione asked, "Is it true that inequality is inherent in magical marriages — that it can't be avoided?"

Jasmine looked surprised to hear this as Minerva sighed and leaned back again. "It looks like you've stumbled across one of the less savory aspects of magic and magical relationships, Miss Granger."

"So... it's true?" Jasmine asked, horrified.

"After a fashion," Minerva answered. "Like so many other things, it's not a simple yes-or-no answer. For one thing, the problem stems from the creation of magical marriage bonds. They bind the magics of two people together, and such a bond has both benefits and disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is that any disparity in strength of magical power or will can become impossible to ignore. The two people are always tied together, no matter how far apart they may be physically."

"Does it matter that much?" Jasmine asked.

"In magical society, we use magic for just about everything," Minerva pointed out. "So magical power and skill are constantly an issue. If people didn't use that kind of marriage bond, then they could probably ignore the differences a lot more readily, though they'd also be giving up the benefits of having a deep emotional link — a link that helps with emotional stability and magical control." She took a sip of tea before continuing, "I suppose that not using magic very often would help, but in magical society that would be unusual."

"But when one person is magically much stronger than the other, they will end up dominating in the relationship?" Hermione asked.

"If their magic is bound together, yes," Minerva answered. "I'd like to think that in many relationships the difference is quite small, which would mean that it wouldn't matter much — especially if they put in work to overcome it, though not many do. So while some inequality may be inevitable, it need not have much practical impact and the label "dominating" might be incorrect. You'd have a similar situation if a physically strong person was tied to a physically weak person, and every day all their work and leisure were conducted via physical exertion. The stronger one would dominate at least a little. The greater the disparity in strength, the greater the inequality and the less the disparity, the less inequality there would be."

"And I guess if you had two people whose brains were connected, the smarter one would probably tend to dominate if the difference is large enough," Hermione said dispiritedly.

Minerva nodded and said, "Indeed, and few bother to think about the disadvantages or advantages — they simply go along with what already exists."

Hermione sighed and said, "It's not a pleasant thing to think about — I mean, that magic can foster such problems with inequality. I had thought that it would make everything better, not worse." She made a mental note to look into how this influenced politics and culture before she remembered something else and asked, "Oh, Jasmine and I were talking a couple of days ago and thought it might be a good idea to go to Gringotts this coming weekend. Would that work?"

Minerva tapped her chin in thought for a moment before answering, "No, but Friday would. The Headmaster usually spends New Year's Day outside the castle, but the goblins don't close because they celebrate their own New Year at another time. Would you two be ready by Friday?"

"Yes," Hermione answered, "I'm sure we will."

"Good. I recommend sending an owl to them in advance, so they know you're coming in the morning and can be prepared," said Minerva. "Anything else?"

"Oh," Hermione said abruptly, suddenly remembering something. "Jasmine said that she got you something for Christmas. I'm sorry that I didn't think to, but she wouldn't tell me what it was. She said I would have to ask you. So... what did you get?"

Hermione knew she probably should have been content with ignorance when she first saw Jasmine trying to hide her giggles behind her tea cup, then noticed that Professor McGonagall was chuckling, too. "What's so funny? Did I say something wrong?" she asked.

"No, no," Minerva answered. "It's just that Miss Potter's gift was both thoughtful and unusually amusing. Here, let me fetch it to show you." With a wave of her wand, she summoned something from her private rooms. It looked like a….

"Is that... is that a cat bed?" Hermione cried out in surprise.

"Indeed," Minerva said with a great deal of mirth in her voice. "A deluxe, covered cat bed. Inside, Miss Potter included two fur-covered, catnip-filled mice, too."

"Jasmine!" Hermione said, completely scandalized.

"Oh, don't chastise her," Minerva was quick to say. "I actually like them! Few people have ever thought to get me any gifts specifically for my animagus form. I may get cat-themed gifts, like a cat-shaped pin, but that's it. These gifts give me some extra things to do while I'm in my animagus form — things I can't do as a human. In fact, I've shifted to my animagus form more often since I received these than I usually do, just because it's more fun now."

Sending the bed back to her private rooms, she turned to Jasmine and said, "So thank you very much, Miss Potter. I was touched at the thoughtfulness, and I laughed at the cheekiness."

Hermione had no idea what to think about that. It seemed completely inappropriate, yet her professor seemed to sincerely like it.

"I have a question," Jasmine said. At Minerva's nod to continue, Jasmine asked, "Why?"

Nonplussed, Minerva replied, "Why? Why what?"

"Why are you going so far out of your way to help us?" Jasmine asked. "You're giving up a morning or afternoon every Sunday, no small sacrifice to someone holding three important positions at a major school — and during a year when Hogwarts is hosting an international competition, no less. You gave us a rare, priceless book that you admitted you probably shouldn't have had to begin with. You said you'd do anything to help or protect us, which according to you might cost you your job and all your friends. I know you said you wanted to regain our trust, but the oath mostly covers that, I think. So... why?"

Hermione looked a little shocked that Jasmine would question their professor like that, but at the same time she looked equally curious. She couldn't deny that there was some validity to the question. McGonagall had gone still at first, then set down her tea and looked at her lap. After a couple of minutes, which felt like much longer, she looked up and responded, "I believe I also said that I thought it was the right thing to do and that I didn't share our society's prejudices. Isn't that enough?"

Jasmine nodded at that, saying, "Yes, and if you tell me that's all there is then I'll accept that. I just wanted to be sure because I've never had any adult go anywhere close to the lengths you're going for Hermione and me. I'm sorry if I sound ungrateful for being suspicious, but I can't help it. This much help feels... uncomfortable, somehow. I'm not trying to be obstinate or anything. I just wanted the truth."

Minerva remained silent for what seemed like minutes as she stared back down at her lap. Neither Hermione nor Jasmine dared speak, unsure what their professor was thinking about or intending to say.

Finally, she looked back up and announced, "I wish I could say that that was all there is, but it's not. If I'm going to be completely honest with you two — and I think I probably should — then I have to admit that there is quite a lot more to my motivations than what I've told you so far. That said, I don't think I'm prepared to discuss that information right now. It wasn't something that I had prepared myself to deal with today, and I'm afraid that I'm going to need a bit of time to do so."

"Professor," Jasmine started, suddenly filled with remorse. "I didn't mean... I... you don't need to say anything if you don't..."

"Nonsense," the older witch retorted. "You may have been a bit blunt in how you brought up the subject," — and Hermione glared at her girlfriend upon hearing these words, reinforcing the message — "but it is indeed a subject you are justified in asking about. You deserve an answer. I merely need a bit of time before I can give it. I'd like to revisit this, then, either next week or the week after. Would that be acceptable to both of you?"

The two witches nodded vigorously before Hermione grabbed Jasmine's hand and hurriedly exclaimed, "Yes, that will be fine. I just realized that we have to go. Sorry for leaving suddenly. Thanks for everything today, Professor McGonagall. You've been really helpful, like always. Gotta go. Sorry!"

Sighing as the door slammed shut on the pair of young witches, Minerva McGonagall slowly shook her head. "Those two..."

Dragging Jasmine into an unused classroom, Hermione erected her usual suite of privacy and silencing charms before she turned on her friend. "How could you do that? You shouldn't pry into her life like that! And act so suspicious! She's doing so much to help us!"

"Hermione!" came the loud, sharp response. Seeing that she was shocked into silence, Jasmine continued, "If you notice, she didn't seem to mind being questioned on this. It's a difficult topic for her, that was obvious, but she's willing to tell us. And I'm not going to stop questioning authority figures just because they are being nice or helpful. Just because a person helps dig you out of crap doesn't mean they're your friend."

Hermione was brought up short by this and stared at her girlfriend for a long moment. Then she flopped down in a chair and sighed. "I'm sorry. It's... it's still reflexive for me to get upset at that sort of thing. I may not approve of how blunt you can be when doing it, but I guess I can't disapprove of your motive or goal." Looking back up at her auburn-haired girlfriend, she asked, "Forgive me?"

Jasmine pulled her back up to her feet and into a firm hug before saying, "Of course I do."

Hermione smiled before undoing the spells on the door and leading them out. "C'mon," she said, "We've got to go meet an elf."

Sunday, December 27, 1994,Early Evening.

Arriving in the commandeered classroom on the seventh floor, Jasmine checked the map while Hermione silenced and sealed the door. Once they both were done they sat down and Jasmine called Dobby. With a pop he arrived, "Yes, Missy Jazzy?"

"Hi, Dobby," she said. "Is Winky sober and ready?"

"Yes, Missy Jazzy. Dobby be getting Winky sober, bathed and ready. Should Dobby be bringing Winky now?"

"Yes, Dobby, we'd like to see her now," Jasmine answered.

Dobby popped away then popped back again a few seconds later — this time with a female house elf in tow. She was easily the most pathetic creature either had ever seen. Smaller than Dobby had been even before his bonding, she had short brown hair and was dressed in a stained towel. Her red nose testified to the amount of butterbeer she must have been drinking.

"Oh, no!" the female house elf cried, "It's She-Who-Knits! We is being doomed! Doomed!" She then proceeded to sob uncontrollably, probably convinced that she was about to die a messy, woollen death.

Hermione paled in horror. Jasmine thumped her head on the table. Dobby yanked painfully on his ears, certain that this was all his fault somehow.

Finally, Hermione spoke up, "No, please, don't cry. I'm sorry. I was wrong and I'm trying to do better. Can you help me?" Apparently, asking for help was the golden ticket to getting a house elf to listen, because Winky immediately stopped sobbing and looked up at Hermione with big, confused eyes as a couple of tears rolled down her cheeks.

"You be wanting Winky's help? Why? Winky be a disgraced elf. Winky be wanting a family, but no family be wanting Winky." It was obvious to all that she was about to start sobbing hysterically again, so Hermione acted fast to stave off the waterworks.

"I don't think you're a disgraced house elf, Winky," Hermione tried to explain. "I think you were treated badly. I knitted hats because I thought all house elves were treated badly and I only wanted them to be treated well. I thought freedom would help them achieve that, but I learned that I was wrong. In fact, I learned that I was wrong about a lot of things, and I need a house elf to help me learn."

Winky stared and blinked a few times at Hermione. She had never encountered a witch or wizard who was interested in learning from a house elf.

"I don't think you're a disgrace. I think you are a good elf — a good and loyal elf. That's why Jasmine asked Dobby to bring you here this evening," Hermione continued, pleased to see that the female elf was still listening intently rather than sobbing. "I'd like to bond with a house elf who will teach me and do work for me. I'll bond with you, but only if you're sure that it's what you want. I don't want to force it on you. If you'd prefer to try to find another family, that's fine."

Winky looked a bit pensive at hearing this. She wasn't used to being asked her opinion; instead, witches and wizards usually just issued orders and expected those orders to be carried out. This witch had to be awfully weird to care about what house elves thought, but it wasn't as if Winky had any better families wanting to bond with her. Or any families at all, for that matter.

Fixing Hermione with a stern gaze, she said, "Winky be willing, but only if Winky able to be proper and respectable house elf. Winky not be taking pay like Dobby, here."

Looking at Jasmine, who gave her a nod of encouragement, Hermione responded, "Jasmine gave Dobby a list of standing orders that she required Dobby to be willing to follow as a condition of bonding with her. I'll want to use the same orders. One is that you'll get an allowance — it's not pay, it's an allowance. In families, family members often get an allowance so they can buy what they want. You can buy gifts for Dobby, Jasmine, me, or anyone. You can buy yarn to knit your own things. You can buy pictures to hang in your room. Or not even use it at all, if you prefer. Whatever you want."

Winky looked like she was going to flat-out refuse at first, but as Hermione explained, she started looking confused and then finally intrigued. She didn't want to be paid, but the idea of buying gifts or pictures sounded interesting. She wanted to be part of a family, so if an allowance was part of being a family, then maybe that would be acceptable. Giving Hermione a suspicious look, she said, "So long as it not be being pay for work, Winky be accepting. Is that all? Can Winky be bonded now?"

"That's not all," Hermione said, "but the rest are all simple. You must take a day off each week, either all at once or spread out. This is to ensure that you are well rested — a tired or sick house elf can't work as well." Hermione almost forgot to add the last bit, but then she remembered Jasmine's advice that couching the rules in terms of being able to work better would make the elves feel better.

Continuing, she said, "You must tell me if you ever want to bond to another family. I know you may not ever want to do so, but I'll feel better if I know that you'll ask. It's for me, not for you. Next, you should feel free to give me advice or let me know if you think that I'm going about things wrong. I know little about magical society, and you know tons more than I, so I'll need your help. Don't assume that I must know what I'm doing — speak up if you know of a better way of doing things."

Hermione had to stop to think for a moment to be sure she remembered everything. "Next, you're allowed to be creative when doing what I ask, but whenever possible you should check with me first. That ensures you don't interfere with what I have planned. Next, in order to keep my secrets, you'll need to work here and pretend to be a Hogwarts elf for the time being. You can't let anyone know that you're bonded to me. Once that is no longer needed, you'll get a uniform. That's not the same as clothes. Uniforms are worn by professional workers and let people know that they have important jobs. Finally, you're not allowed to punish yourself." Giving a wicked grin at Jasmine, she concluded, "Mistress is in charge of punishments." Even out of the corner of her eye, she could see Jasmine blushing furiously.

Winky took several long moments to think through all of these orders. It was confusing, because they sounded at first like orders that no respectable house elf would ever want to follow. Money? Time off? Uniforms? But as this witch explained them, they were somehow meant to help her do better work and be a better house elf. That sounded nice. Most witches and wizards didn't do much to help elves like that. Winky was skeptical, but this witch was friends with the Great Mistress Jasmine Potter, so maybe there was hope for her.

Looking at Hermione, Winky said, "Yes, Winky wanting to be you's house elf."

Following Jasmine's instructions, Hermione knelt down in front of Winky, reached her hands out, and placed them both flat on the top of Winky's head. Speaking in a clear, firm voice, she said, "I take Winky to be my house elf, to be my friend, and to be a part of my family."

Just as Jasmine described her experience with Dobby, a bright, magical glow enveloped Hermione and Winky both. When they could all see again, they found Winky standing straighter and a bit taller — just like Dobby had become, though she was still slightly shorter than him. Winky herself was amazed at how much stronger and healthier she felt. Never in all her years working for the Crouch family had she felt anything like this! It looked like working for Missy Hermy would be a very, very good thing.

"Did you have a magical, glowing light as well?" Hermione asked Jasmine, more than a little awestruck at the experience.

"Yep," Jasmine answered, "and I think it was about that bright, too."

"Huh," Hermione said absently, wondering what it might mean.

After answering a few more questions and telling both elves that they could take orders from either witch, they let Dobby and Winky go back to doing Hogwarts work. Once the two elves were in the kitchens, Winky grabbed Dobby by an ear and dragged him into a corner for some privacy. "Dobby!" she said in as stern a manner as her high-pitched voice could manage. "You be forgetting to tell Winky about those two witches. They be witchy witches! Do they know?"

Looking a bit furtive, Dobby tried to prevaricate by saying, "Dobby be sure that they know they be witchy. Heh."

Furious, Winky made a fist and bopped Dobby on the top of his noggin, making him flinch away. She had standing orders not to punish herself, but she hadn't been ordered not to punish Dobby when he was being foolish. Knowing him the way she did, this was probably going to be needed regularly. Fortunately, she also had permission to be creative, which was definitely going to come in handy with this fool of an elf.

"No, Dobby, not that. Do they know? Don't be making me say it!"

"Oh, that. Dobby not be thinking so. They not be knowing much about wizard history. Or witchy history."

Winky removed the threat of her fist from above Dobby's noggin so she could think about that for a minute. "That not be good. It be dangerous that they not be knowing." Pulling on her ears, she started to moan, "Oh, but we is not being able to be telling them!"

Trying to calm the upset house elf, Dobby removed her hands from her ears and explained, "Dobby be knowing. We is not being allowed to be telling, but we is being allowed to be helping. Missy Jazzy and Missy Hermy be telling us, we is being allowed to be creative. So Dobby be helping where Dobby can, like providing special ring set."

Winky gasped in surprise. "You's being responsible for the rings they's being wearing! Oh, Dobby being smart house elf! Yes, yes, we's being creative in helping our witchy witches!"

Dobby beamed at the praise. Most house elves called him weird or a disgrace, but he had always known that he had a higher calling — a special purpose that was suited just for him. When his time came, all the other house elves would be looking up to him, Dobby the Great!

And now it turned out that he was only partially right. He did have a higher calling and a special purpose, but he had been wrong in thinking it was just for him. He never expected to have help, but now he did: Winky. Two special, creative house elves for two special, witchy witches. It was better than he could have imagined it! He was so excited!

And better yet, tonight it was his turn to clean Snape's toilet! Life doesn't get any better than this, he thought with a smile.

Sunday, December 27, 1994, Late Evening.

As Hermione was climbing into bed to get some sleep... and maybe do a little light reading beforehand, she thought, she was suddenly joined by Jasmine, who climbed in behind her and quickly closed the curtains. "Jas," she asked, "what's wrong?"

Giving her brunette girlfriend a serious look, Jasmine explained, "I haven't forgotten that letter you got from your parents before Christmas. I haven't had a chance to say anything before, but I haven't forgotten. You looked kind of sad when you read it. Is everything alright? You can talk to me about it, if you want."

Getting comfortable by sitting on the bed cross-legged next to her friend, Hermione sighed and started picking at lint on her comforter before beginning to speak. "It's nothing bad, Jasmine, really. It's just… well, it's the usual, I guess. And not."

"Well, that's pretty specific."

Bumping up against the green-eyed witch's shoulder, Hermione said defensively, "It's hard to explain."

"I'm ready and willing to listen." Jasmine then proceeded to lay down with her head in Hermione's lap. Smiling back, Hermione ceased picking at lint and instead started stroking Jasmine's auburn hair. It was an action that calmed and relaxed both witches.

"My biggest concern right now is what to tell them about us," Hermione began again. "I don't know how they will react. Their politics have been generally progressive in the past, at least from what I know, but I can't remember them ever commenting on stories involving gays, gay pride, or anti-gay laws. So I don't know. They've always been supportive of me, but also distant, as you know. And on top of that, even if I were sure they'd be accepting, I'm not comfortable telling them via owl post. Even a phone call would be better, despite being less than ideal. But if I don't tell them, then that means I have to conceal so much about what's happening this year — more than usual, I think, which creates more distance between us." Sighing again, she said softly "I don't know what to do."

"Concealing more than usual?" Jasmine asked.

Frowning, Hermione explained, "I never give them the full story about any dangerous events here. However distant they may act, I'm pretty sure that they'd pull me from this school instantly if they had any idea how often my life has been in danger." Stopping for a moment, she moved from stroking Jasmine's hair to lightly stroking her cheek. "Once I made my first friend, a witch named Jasmine Potter, there was no way that I could allow that to happen." Smiling, Jasmine leaned into her girlfriend's hand.

Continuing, Hermione said, "As for the non-dangerous stuff... I never bothered to tell them everything, especially personal things because... I guess it felt too personal. We're not close enough for me to feel comfortable telling them personal things. Other stuff was stuff I didn't think they could relate to, like certain types of magic. What do muggles know or care about transfiguration theory? Since academics encompasses a lot of what I do, that means not much has been left to talk about. Ironically, there has been more to write about this year despite me having more to conceal. But it's been hard writing to them the last couple of times because I have to be careful in what I say about you."

Jasmine tried hard not to frown. She didn't want to let on what she was thinking, but she was starting to wonder how much of the estrangement between Hermione and her parents might be Hermione's fault. Originally she had assumed they shouldered all the blame because... well, in her experience adults were always to blame. And how could Hermione possibly be responsible for something like that? Now, though, she was seeing exactly how Hermione's behavior could at least contribute to it. And if she behaved similarly before coming to Hogwarts... well, maybe her parents were even more confused and lost than she was.

Not sure exactly how she would even begin to solve this, but deciding to take a page from her girlfriend's book by following the maxim that knowledge is power, she said, "Tell me about your parents."

Confused, Hermione responded, "I've already told you about them. They're dentists. They own their own practice."

"No, more than that," Jasmine said. "Where do they come from? Where did they go to school? How did they meet? What are their hobbies? Where does your family live?"

Still confused, she asked, "Why do you want to know all that?"

"Please, just humor me," Jasmine implored.

Not wanting to argue the point, Hermione leaned back with her pillow between her and the headboard and started to tell Jasmine more details about her parents and her family. Eventually the two witches fell asleep like that — Hermione leaning back against the headboard and Jasmine with her head in Hermione's lap. Neither position was comfortable, but neither witch would have traded their sleeping position for anything... except maybe to exchange places with the other.