Chapter Seventeen

"Father?"

Melok looked up from the book he was reading on the sofa as Filius walked toward him. It was his week with the boys, and he was enjoying having them around, although after lunch today Filius and Caelum had run off to Caelum's bedroom to play, and he'd not seen either in the hour since. The addressment his sons used - Father - half annoyed Melok. Of course, he was their father, and that wasn't an issue, however he was a Goblin and Hermione was human, so why was it that he'd been given the human parental title and she the Goblin? It made far more sense that he'd be Vater and she be Mother, but no. The boys were dead set on him as Father and Hermione as Mernte.

If there was one law of child rearing Melok had gotten down by now, it was that one had to pick their battles. If it was going to be an issue of the boys conceding to he and Hermione's routine preferences versus what they called the pair of them, then Filius and Caelum could call him whatever they bloody well pleased, so far as he was concerned. "Yes, Filius?" he asked, putting his book down and giving his son his full attention.

"Why don't you and Mernte live together?" the boy asked, frowning a bit. "Do you not love each other? I mean, Bella's parents live together, as do Arthur's, and Molly's, and all the other children me and Caelum know."

Melok sighed. He didn't want to lie to his son, but he also knew that the full truth was beyond his understanding at this point in his young life. So, he'd have to work with a middle ground, and made a mental note to speak with Hermione about this conversation so she was aware of Filius' concerns, knowing full well that if he was asking these questions, it was likely Caelum was thinking about it as well.

"Your Mernte and I love one another very much, Filius," he began softly, ushering the boy to sit beside him. "However, before you and Caelum were born, I was married to your biological mother…"

"Genia," Filius supplied.

He nodded. "... and your Mernte was married to your Uncle Sirius. Now, while your mother has died and that means that, in theory, it would be alright for someone to live with me in that manner, Sirius is still living and that means your Mernte is not free to live with somebody other than him."

The boy crossed his arms, looking thoughtful. "So if Uncle Sirius died, then Mernte could come live with us?"

Melok sighed. "If she wanted to, then yes, but Filius, losing your mother was one of the hardest things I ever had to go through, and it is a very sad thing that you and your brother will have to grow up never knowing her. As much as I do understand that you would like to have your Mernte around all the time, it would be dishonorable to wish ill fortune to your Uncle Sirius just so you could gain, especially when he's been so generous as to allow her to be such an active part of you and your brother's lives. He is not required to, you know. He could be making things far more difficult for her, potentially even dissuading her from spending time with us."

"So because Uncle Sirius isn't being a prat, I shouldn't be a prat?" Filius questioned, raising his eyebrow and tilting his head in a way that made it very clear he'd been spending extensive time with Hermione.

He laughed. "Son, you shouldn't be a prat just because you shouldn't. I mean to raise sons who are honorable because honor is a value to them, not because being honorable is easy when those around them are also men of honor. That won't always be the case, Filius. Sometimes, you will need to be the better man, just because you are."

"Like you, Father?"

"Like I try to be," Melok corrected, not willing to paint himself as perfect. "Nobody is without flaws, and no matter how much you try, there will be moments that you look back on and wish you'd been strong enough to make a different choice. Sometimes, you look back and just wish you'd never been put in that position, because you know full well you'd never have been strong enough to make another choice than the one you did. That's just life."

"Sounds complicated," his son said, sounding resigned.

"More and more so as you get older," he replied.

"Oh," Filius replied, a chipperness returning to his tone, "then I'll just stay a child forever. Mernte says she wishes I would, anyhow."

He smirked. "I'm afraid no matter how much you or your Mernte wish it, you will grow up. It's just a factor of time, and the willingness of the Gods."

Conversation came to a halt as the front door opened, and in barreled Anna Griffin and her mother Jeanette. "Anna!" Filius exclaimed, grinning as he hopped off the sofa.

"Hi Filius," the little girl said, smiling brightly. "Where's Caelum? Let's play hide and seek."

"Hide and seek is no fair!" Filius pouted. "Not when you can go invisible!"

"Fine," she shrugged. "How about we play on the playset then? Mum had me stuck inside all morning. I just want to run about."

"CAELUM!" Filius hollered. "ANNA'S HERE! WE'RE GOING OUTSIDE!"

Caelum came running down the hall moments later, much to Melok and Jeanette's amusement. "Hi Father, bye Father, going outside Father!" his younger son said as he dashed by his position. Half a minute later the room was silent as all three children were out back. He turned to Jeanette. "Tea?" he offered.

"Please," she said with a soft smile. "Are you off right away or did you have a few minutes to chat?"

Melok looked at the clock on the wall. "I have about twenty minutes before I need to go. I've an appointment with Angus today regarding one of Hermione's projects. She has a gentleman who she wants taught some advanced warding, and while not Goblin, he's not entirely human either, so she feels my training would be best suited to him than any other's."

Jeanette smiled indulgently, although he knew that magic was not really her wheelhouse, being Muggle. "I am certain you will be very helpful," she said as she fixed her tea as she liked it from the setting on the coffee table in front of them. "Now, I wanted to talk a bit about, well, my employment with you."

He frowned. She frequently hemmed and hawed at him for paying her as much as he was - too much, she said - so he didn't imagine there could be an issue about her feeling underpaid, and it was clear as day she viewed him and the boys very like an extended family after all these years, so he couldn't imagine she felt like they weren't getting on well. Rather than attempting a guess, he just asked. "What is it, Jeanette?"

"Anna is really manifesting her father's gifts," she said with a wry grin. "The problem is that she has difficulty controlling it, not unlike the boys and their accidental magic. She needs training, which means she needs to be with her father more regularly. The issue here is I could not be away from my daughter day in and day out. It isn't that I don't trust Nigel to care for her or anything - I certainly do - it's just that children grow up so fast, and I don't want to miss it. I don't want to be so busy focusing on caring for your children that I miss what is one of the most important periods of my daughter's life."

He nodded in understanding. "It's not a choice. Jeanette, I'd respect you less if you weren't willing to prioritize Anna."

She let out a sigh of relief. "I'd hoped you'd feel that way. I thought you would, but you know I love Filius and Caelum, and you for that matter. We'll still be in your lives, and visit when we can, but I can't be committed to being their caretaker any longer."

"How long do I have to find a new Nanny?" he inquired.

"The New Year, at latest," she said firmly, "although sooner would be better, Melok. We had an incident last week where we were in London, shopping, and Anna shifted into invisible form unintentionally in front of other Muggles. I had to call in a favor at your Ministry to have them Obliviated to protect her. At this point Nigel and I have agreed she can't be taken into Muggle environments until she gets control, essentially it's her freedom on the line. The sooner I can begin having her work with Nigel full time, the more ideal."

Melok sighed. "Let me talk to Hermione, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Gods know we took our sweet time selecting someone when we got you, but part of the delay then, I'll admit, was the fact that I was disinclined to trust anyone. I'm more used to the idea of a Nanny at this point, so with proper references, even if it is a total stranger, I think finding someone new will be more expedient, although Hermione is a bit more paranoid now with Voldemort growing in power, so she may have a stricter vetting process than she did four years ago. Flip of a Galleon, really."

Jeannette chuckled. "What a pair you two make. Honestly. Dare I remind you that technically it's your decision alone? That you are their father and she is merely Godmother?"

He shook his head. "Godmother by title, yes, but she's their mother in every way that matters. I've accepted that. The reality is that if I was a big enough idiot to select someone without conferring with her, I'd be paying for it dearly for months and months. Hermione is not someone to upset without thinking the thing through very carefully."

She smirked. "Yes, James says similarly in regard to Helen. They are the picture of grace, both of them, with exception to when they are not getting their way."

Melok laughed. "True, but if you tell her I said so I'll deny it to my dying breath!"

Hermione was in her office going over some Arithmancy equations regarding October of eighty one, and as usual things were not looking the way she wanted them to. No matter how many ways she tried this, how many variables she attempted to consider, it still appeared as though the deaths of James and Lily Potter were paramount to the downfall of Voldemort. "Damn, damn, damn!" she cursed.

"That sounds like it's going well," Lycoris said.

Her head whipped around, and in her doorway stood her daughter and Melok. "Oh," she greeted. "Sorry. Having an issue."

"I can see that, Mum," Lycoris replied, looking amused. "Melok is here."

"And I can see that," she countered, smirking a little. "The question is why. Are the boys alright?"

"Fine," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "However, I need a word."

She waved him in, which her daughter took as dismissal, and Melok closed her office door behind him before taking a seat in an armchair close to where she sat at her desk. "What can I do for you?" Hermione inquired.

He sighed. "First, I went to meet Angus and…"

"Oh, right!" she said cheerfully. "How was that?"

"You were correct in thinking he has an aptitude toward warding," Melok said, shaking his head in amusement. "His magical core will specifically lend to being able to easily cast certain wards which others find very difficult, as the shields he'd need to be holding in concert of his casting would only need to be minimal, if he needed them at all."

Hermione's eyes shone. "I'd wondered about that. So you'll teach him?"

Melok rolled his eyes. "Already set up a schedule. Every other Friday afternoon, although I may need to ask you to help out with the boys in order to fulfill that commitment, as I made it in consideration with Jeanette's availability, and that brings us to our second issue of the day."

She frowned. "Is Jeanette alright?"

"She is, however Anna is beginning to really manifest her father's gifts, and it's become unpredictable to the point that she's needing to be isolated from Muggles until Nigel can train her a bit more. Anna needs to be full time with her father for a while, and Jeanette is unwilling to be away from her daughter for that long."

Hermione sighed. "So we need to replace Jeanette."

"Yes."

"Shite."

"We knew it would happen eventually, Hermione," Melok reasoned. "It wasn't realistic to expect her to be there until both boys had gone off to Hogwarts."

"Hoping never hurt anyone," she ribbed, "although you're right. Okay, hold up a minute, let me think."

Her fingers tapped on the desk absently, and by the wear on that particular part of the desk surface, one could only conclude this was a long established habit of hers when trying to sort out a problem. Sirius told her that he found it more than a little endearing. Then, after a few minutes, the tapping stopped, and Hermione sat up a bit straighter in her chair. "What?" Melok asked.

"I have an idea," she said slowly.

"I figured that much out when you stopped tapping," Melok teased.

Hermione offered a half hearted glare, and then launched into explanation. "For the last little while, Poppy and I have been working on slowly getting Eileen Snape acclimated to the idea that she might have allies in the Wizarding world, should she think to leave Tobias at any juncture. While I'd absolutely not want the boys at her place, I do have the house on Baker sitting there doing nothing, and if I can convince her to take up the job of watching the boys, she could do so at the house on Baker so she wouldn't have to leave the Muggle world and Tobias couldn't accuse her of going back to the Wizarding one, leaving her safe. Further, it would give her access to a safehouse should she ever be under threat from Tobias and need an escape. Baker would be open to her, and baby Severus, any time."

He raised an eyebrow. "What could possibly motivate her to take the job, though?"

"They're family, Melok," she reasoned. "That, first and foremost. Genia was her cousin. Octavian and Anette are brother and sister, so the boys are her first cousins, once removed. Further, half Eileen's problem in getting away from Tobias is that she won't accept charity - she's too bloody proud - and doing this would give her a proper job. She'd be earning money, and if she saved, that would mean that in time, she'd have the means to get away from Tobias and make her way in the world, Muggle or Wizarding."

Melok seemed to think about the idea. "Hermione, this is a woman who is willingly in a relationship which is clearly abusive. From what you've told me of Alpha and of Beta, it does not seem like she did much to protect Severus from his father, so what assurances would there be that she would protect Filius and Caelum from him, if it came to it? Or that she'd protect the boys from any other attacker?"

Hermione nodded. "I considered that. Baker is warded up the arse already, but I can easily add another ward to alert either of us if physical violence is occurring on the property, of any sort. I can also charm some pendants for the boys to wear which would act as a shield charm in the instance of an adult physically assaulting them. It wouldn't activate against another child, otherwise it would be going off every single time Caelum hit Filius over the head for taking his toy trucks."

He offered her a wry grin. "You hate using Charms."

"And yet to protect my sons, I'd do so," she said pointedly.

"What about the fact that Eileen is expecting?" he inquired. "She'd be giving birth in only a few months and need time off for that."

"Part of the contract in hiring her would be pre and postnatal care," she reasoned. "That's going to be one of my selling points when talking to her. As for the time she needs off, I figure that she won't need a ton of time off because she can bring Severus with her to work. Her time off will just be an issue of a couple weeks before the birth as she'll feel properly awful at that juncture, and a couple of weeks after to heal. I think between you and I, and perhaps some short term help from Cor, Cedrella, and Svetlana, we can make it work. I may even recruit Constance. After all, in a roundabout way she's their great great grandmother."

Melok frowned. "Well, if you've got all those options, why not just consider Lycoris, Cedrella, Svetlana, or Constance as long term Nannies? I'm still not certain how I feel about Eileen. She doesn't exactly have a great history of good judgment, and frankly, I don't have a great history with the Princes."

Hermione crossed her arms, irritated. This was a perfect solution, and he was just being stubborn. Of course, Melok being stubborn and thinking he knew best was nothing new. In fact, it made her think of other decisions he'd made as if her opinion was invalid. She eyed him critically. "They all have other commitments which make a long term position as a Nanny impractical, aside from Lycoris, and we opted against using Cor when we decided to get a Nanny four years ago for good reason, Melok. If you're so set against Eileen, I suppose we could always ask the Goblins to recommend someone. Exposing the boys to a Goblin caretaker might do them some good, culturally speaking, and besides, it's not like they're going to say no to me. After all, I hear I'm a Goblin Princess."

Silence ensued. Melok closed his eyes and appeared to be counting backward from ten before responding, seeming to know she was more than a little mad at him. "How did you find out, Hermione," he asked wearily, "and how long have you known?"

"Constance told me," she said crisply, "and the day I met her."

"That was weeks ago!" he snapped. "Why wait to bring it up?"

"Was hoping to get less pissed before talking to you about it," she grumbled.

"Did it work?"

"Not really," came an annoyed admission as she kicked the underside of her desk. "Why the bloody hell didn't you tell me, Melok?"

"Because I know you, love," he said softly. "I know you and I know you'd see the political capital for what it is, and be willing to pay whatever price to gain it, and I need you to trust me when I say it is not a price worth paying!"

"What on earth could the Goblins ask of me that is so dastardly that it wouldn't be worth giving up in order to secure their allegiance, or at the very least their neutrality in this war, Melok?" she demanded. "That's what this boils down to, you know that right?"

"I do know, dammit!" he grumbled. "As much as I would love to be able to walk into Gringotts tomorrow, tell them who you are and demand that the Goblins deny any support for Voldemort's cause, I have yet to see any evidence to suggest that you have it in you to grasp the greater good to the point of sacrificing your husband's magic for the cause! Not when there could be another way to secure the Goblins in this war!"

Hermione's heart lurched, and temper fizzled. "Sirius' magic? Melok… okay, I'm listening. What would they ask of me that would lead to Sirius losing his magic?"

He sighed. "They'd ask, first. If you didn't comply, then they'd demand in a very underhanded way. You are a Goblin Princess. By our laws, you cannot wed someone who does not have Goblin blood. You just can't. Sure, a common Goblin can, it's not that we're prejudiced or anything, but the royal bloodlines are more than just a bloodline. There is real, measurable, increased magic. Whereas in Wizarding society, the powerful are determined by wealth, in Goblin society, power is determined by that - power. In the old days, the first Royals were those among our kind who were the most magically powerful, and the way those bloodlines were kept alive were by ensuring that they only wed those who had at least some Goblin blood."

Hermione nodded in understanding. "So you're saying that because my marriage to Sirius isn't valid in the eyes of the Goblins, they'd ask me to divorce him, and because of the old vows we married with, he'd lose his magic as a result. But wouldn't I as well?"

Melok shook his head. "You're part Goblin, Hermione. Your magic is inherently protective by nature. Even if you were purposefully attempting to destroy your magic, you couldn't manage it. Sirius would pay the price, you wouldn't. The Goblins would know this."

She rubbed her temples. "What else would they ask of me? Hypothetically, if I could grasp the greater good, could ask Sirius to give up his magic for the sake of securing the Goblins, what else would be demanded of me by them if I claimed the title?"

"They'd want you to propagate the line, Hermione," he replied softly. "Because of how diluted your lineage is, they'd likely prefer you wed someone who is fully Goblin, or half Goblin. Given our history and standing connection as Mage and Master, they'd likely push for you and I to wed."

Hermione felt like she'd been kicked in the gut. While a marriage to Melok would be far from a burden, and Merlin knew she'd love living with him and the boys, asking Sirius to lose her, give up his magic, and then go on to watch her marry the man he was already having to emotionally share her with was like sticking the knife in salt and twisting it. To watch her then go on to have children with Melok would be sheer torture for Sirius. "What else?" she whispered.

"Most of the other responsibilities and asks are minor. You'd be on the Royal Council," he went on, "and you'd be entrusted with a master key of Gringotts. You'd have meetings to attend here and there, and major decisions made for the Goblin Nation would be made with your input, for the rest of your life. Your children would inherit those responsibilities. That said, Hermione, I ask you to consider this: even if you could bring yourself to do this to Sirius, understand now that if you alert the Goblins of your bloodline, they will know from go that your younger counterpart is a Goblin Princess. The moment she steps into the Wizarding world, her future will be decided. She will wed a Goblin or half Goblin. They won't give her a choice in the matter. They may indulge her a personal life while she's young, but if she fell in love with some Wizard or Witch who did not have significant amounts of Goblin blood, she wouldn't have a chance of getting them to accept that person as her life partner. Can you do that to her?"

Hermione ached to consider it. She ached at the very idea her younger counterpart might have any freedom taken away from her. She was reshaping the whole damn future so that Harry, Ron, Ginny, Luna, Neville, and so many others would never have to be child soldiers, and would never have to make choices like this, so was it so wrong of her to want the same for her own younger counterpart? For her to want young Hermione to have the chance to find a healthy relationship with who she pleased, and be able to pursue that to the fullest extent without some prat of a Goblin telling her she could not because he or she didn't have the proper bloodline? "No," she finally answered. "I couldn't. I don't know I could have asked it of Sirius either. If it was just the issue of magic, I might have been able to, but the rest…"

Melok seemed to understand. "Asking him to watch you and I wed and have children?"

She nodded. "I fear he'd grow resentful and ask himself, if not us, whether that was what we wanted all along."

He nodded. "And if he ever found out about that night, he'd never trust either of us ever again, and presume everything he lost was a conspiracy against him. I know. It's buggered."

Hermione offered a sad smile. "I do love him, Melok."

The Goblin shrugged. "I loved Genia, too."

That they loved each other was left unsaid, and Melok left shortly after. It was a week later before Hermione managed to find time to plan a visit to Eileen Snape. She was set to meet Poppy there in half an hour, and in the meantime she was stopping by Gringotts with Svetlana. The Lestrange girl had been cut off by her family, and while Hermione did intend to set her up her own account in due time, she wanted to wait until the young woman had settled on her new name. She, of course, knew what it was meant to become, but she couldn't exactly tell Svetlana that. The young woman had to get there all on her own, and Hermione was certain she could. In the interim, about once a month she took Svetlana to Gringotts and got her out an allowance to get her by.

They were just finishing up at the bank, and walking back through the main atrium, when Hermione spotted a familiar face and smiled brightly in recognition. "Mister Feliz!" she called.

The young man, now graduated from Hogwarts and working an Internship at Gringotts, grinned broadly when he spotted her and began walking their way. "Lady Black," he greeted, offering his hand.

She shook it. "Hermione, please," came an easy offer. She was all but certain this young man would come to be a friend in due course, and really, how often did she run into other people with Goblin blood?

"Richard, then," he agreed. She watched as his gaze flitted over to Svetlana.

"Ah," she said, smirking. "This is Svetlana. We're going to hold that thought on surname for the moment."

He shook her hand as well. "I'd normally consider it rude to address a lady by her first name until I got to know her better, but I don't seem to be given a choice."

Svetlana shrugged. "My family tried to kill me. Hermione is hiding me. It's safer for all involved if you don't know."

Richard nodded, seeming to understand. "So, Hermione, I had been hoping to run into you at some point and thank you properly for getting me this internship. An Owl just seemed so impersonal. How did you know, though? That I had Goblin blood? I didn't even know."

She smiled brightly. "When one has Goblin blood, one tends to study the Goblin houses a bit more than others typically do. On my mother's side, I also descend from a Goblin line, so when you told me your name…"

"You realized Feliz was Goblin," he said, nodding in understanding. "What line do you descend from?" Richard wanted to know.

She supposed she should have expected the question, but she hesitated in answering. "Are you an Occlumens, perchance?"

He almost looked affronted. "Of course! Third level."

"That's actually impressive for someone your age," Svetlana remarked. "I've been at it since I was fourteen and I'm only level one."

Richard smirked. "My grandmother - Mum's mum - is a natural Legilimens. I started Occlumency when I was seven. She says I'll likely be fourth level by next year if I keep at it. Why are you asking about Occlumency anyhow?"

Hermione smiled. She was inclined to trust Richard, in part because it was just her instinct, and in part because he was part Goblin and Goblins were predisposed to keep their word. Perhaps, she mused, that was why she was predisposed to trust this young man. "I'm inclined to give you the name," she admitted, "but for reasons I imagine you can guess, I am disinclined to allow the Goblins to learn it. They know I have Goblin blood, but they don't know what bloodline and that's how it needs to stay. Do I have your word?"

He eyed her curiously. "Yes ma'am. You have my word."

"Konig," she said softly.

His jaw dropped. "Well, shite."

"See why the hush hush?" Hermione inquired cheerfully.

"Well, yes!" Richard said firmly. "I'll lock that one away for certain."

She smiled. "That said, I do need to get going. I'll be in touch, Richard. I think we ought to properly catch up away from the eyes and ears of Gringotts, if you're amenable."

He smirked. "Are the rumors true about the leader of the Death Eaters and the opposing faction?"

Hermione had to admit it. He spoke like a true Slytherin, giving nothing away about his allegiances in the question. Still, she knew full well what he was asking - he was asking if the rumors about her leading the opposing faction were true, as he was interested in joining. "They are," she replied. "Shall I Owl you for a meeting?"

He nodded. "Good day, Lady Black. Miss Svetlana."

As the two women walked away, Hermione caught her companion blushing a little bit. "What's this? Do you fancy Mister Feliz?"

She huffed. "He's barely out of Hogwarts."

"But?"

"He works at Gringotts, and humans only work at Gringotts if they're either incredible at curse breaking or crazy good at Arithmancy," she remarked. "That you insinuated he had Goblin blood suggests the latter, as while Goblins tend to be good with warding, curse breaking isn't their greatest strength typically which is why they bring in outside help for that."

"Astute deduction," she praised. "And?"

"And he's obviously a Slytherin," Svetlana went on. "And obviously not a Voldemort supporter. So points and points."

Hermione smiled. "And?"

"And he's really cute," Svetlana admitted.

She shrugged. "So see if he's interested. Merlin knows he was stealing glances at you as well, and he doesn't even know you're working on an Arithmancy Mastery. He'll likely swoon once he learns that. I just advise taking it slow, if you pursue it, because yes, he is young."

"Slytherins don't typically do anything with speed," the other woman pointed out. "That's a Gryffindor trait."

"Ah, forgive me," she smirked. "My mistake. That said, I shall see you later. Give my love to Cedrella and Septimus, will you?"

"Of course!"

A minute later, Hermione found herself outside the Snape residence, walking up to Poppy, who'd beaten her there. "You're late," the Healer stated.

"Sorry, got held up at the bank," she excused herself. "Ran into someone and it ended up evolving into the beginnings of a recruitment. Those things hardly get planned for and I can't help when they throw me off schedule."

Poppy shrugged. "It's not as though Eileen is expecting us. I just enjoy being difficult."

"Your father's daughter, in other words," Hermione ribbed.

"I assure you, the Princes enjoy being difficult on principle as well," Poppy countered. "I got it honestly from both sides."

"That's the truth," she muttered, thinking of Severus and knowing full well that his tendency to be a difficult arse had absolutely come from the Princes. She'd done some stalking of Tobias Snape in this reality, and thus far he'd proven to be fairly agreeable and easy, especially once he'd had a few at the local pub. The fact that he was violent with his wife, and would be with his son was an anomaly to his personality that could only be attributed to a poor reaction to magic in general, which sad to say was not a terribly uncommon response.

Eileen was pleased to see them, and certainly beginning to show in her pregnancy. Hermione couldn't help reaching out with her magic and sensing her brother growing in there, smiling a little as his mother rested her hand on her stomach as the child within her began to move about in response to the encounter. "Easy there, darling," she whispered. "So, what brings you two by today?"

"A job offer," Hermione said, not beating around the bush. "My Nanny has had a shift in priorities and needs to take her leave, and therefore I have two sons who are in need of a new Nanny. I was thinking you might be quite perfectly suited."

The other woman chuckled. "Oh really, why's that?"

"Because they're family, Eileen," she said softly. "Those boys are my sons by choice. Technically, I'm their Godmother, but I'm the only mother they can recall, as their biological mother died birthing the second of the pair. Their biological mother was Genia Flitwick."

Eileen looked shocked, so much so that she had to sit down. "Genia's dead?" she finally said, looking grieved.

"Four years gone, come February," Hermione replied. She pulled out a photo from her pocket, and handed it to Eileen. "The older one is Filius. His little brother is Caelum. They have her surname as Goblins don't use surnames."

She nodded. "Her and Melok were dating when I left. They hadn't married. I presume Melok is the father."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, although he and Genia used a surrogate for Filius' conception, so he's not genetically Melok's. Caelum is, however."

"Which is why she's dead," Eileen concluded.

"Don't blame Caelum for that," she countered firmly. "Nor Melok. Genia certainly didn't. The pregnancy was an accident, Eileen, and even then she didn't regret it. As she put it, of all the ways to go out, dying while bringing life into the world was how she'd want to go."

Absently, Eileen put her hand on her stomach. "I think I can understand that. As for being their Nanny, how would I even manage that, Hermione? I mean, I presume the position would be paid and I can certainly see the advantages in that both short and long term, but you can't possibly be suggesting either having the boys here or me going into the Wizarding world. Tobias would go spare in either case."

"A compromise," she said, smiling a bit. "I own a house over on Baker Street. It is warded, as I have it as a safehouse in case things get, well, bad, but it is completely Muggle otherwise. I would insist Tobias not have access to it, so what I'd suggest is that you tell him you have a job as a Nanny in the neighborhood, which would be true, and you'd be able to walk from here which he could witness, suggesting no influence from magic to him. If he tried to come in the house, you'd merely lock the doors and inform him that it was private property and that he was not authorized to be there, although I may add a ward attuned to him that would be a modified Muggle repelling charm if he becomes a problem down the road. That way, if he did show up he would just feel inclined to bugger off right away, but not understand why nor think to be bothered by the fact."

Poppy jumped in. "Part of the advantage here, Eileen, is that taking the position would mean I could see to your prenatal care more easily. I could meet you there, instead of risking the trip here. I could also be caring for your son after he's born in the same manner, as well as your own after birth care. The house on Baker would further serve as a safehouse for you and your child in case of emergency, as you'd be keyed into the wards all the time. If Tobias grew too troublesome at any point and you feared for your safety, you could get to the house quickly. Hermione keeps a stock of food and medical supplies in the basement for emergency situations."

Hermione shrugged. "Like I said, it's a safehouse, so yes, there are provisions in the basement, which you'd be welcome to in such a situation, as you'd be welcome to the bedroom space. Further, I know you aren't interested in charity, my friend, but this isn't charity. I need a Nanny. I am a woman with trust issues…"

"Understatement," Poppy breathed.

"... but I do trust you to take care of my sons. Anyone else I'd trust as much as I trust you to do this either have other obligations or I have other reasons I'd prefer not to put them in this position," she finished, rolling her eyes at the Healer.

Eileen looked at her critically. "At some point in late December or early January, I will give birth. I'll need some time off in the few weeks before and after. Will that be a problem?"

Hermione shook her head. "Already considered that, and no. Like I said, I do have others I trust, and those people I could turn to in short term arrangements like during your leave, but I do need someone long term, and I think that should be you."

The other woman eyed her for nearly a full minute, looking as if she was trying to sort out what other angle Hermione could possibly have. Finally, she spoke again. "Alright. I'll do it. I'll have you know, though, I'm doing this for Genia, not for any of the other fancy incentives you tossed on."

"The incentives didn't hurt though, did they?" Poppy teased.

Eileen shrugged. "I didn't say that."

Poppy and Hermione visited with Eileen for another half hour before they excused themselves, Poppy having to get back to Hogwarts and Hermione wanting to swing by the house on Baker to check on a few things before heading home for the evening. After she had checked that the wards were still secure on Baker, added the one to protect the boys from adult on child violence to appease Melok, and that the provisions were as stocked as she recalled, she made her way out the front door and down the walk, intent on checking the perimeter one more time before leaving.

She was almost around the yard when she spotted what could only be a young Petunia Evans, crouched over the garden bed, and she paused, sneaking over to see what the child was up to. Hermione leaned forward a little when she saw the little girl holding her hand over the wilted flowers, damaged from the cooling autumn air, and as the seconds passed, the flowers came back to full health. "Oh, wow," Hermione muttered, impressed by the intentional magic at such a young age.

The little girl gasped and turned toward her voice, looking fearful. "I didn't do it!" she yelped, clearly worried she'd be in trouble if someone spotted her bringing the flower back to life.

"It's okay," she whispered, kneeling beside Petunia and mirroring what the girl had just done. "I can do magic, too. You're not a freak, sweetheart. You're special."

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