Practical Magic

Early the next morning, Hermione was walking up the garden path to the back door of the Burrow. Every time she approached the house her mind was flooded with memories of staying there. She knocked on the door and Molly called for her to come in. She was bringing a pot of tea to the table where there were already fresh scones waiting. "Good morning," Hermione said.

"Hello dear," Molly took seat at the table. "You just missed Arthur. He went in early to prep for a meeting. Now that he runs the meetings, he likes to be in first thing to make sure they go smoothly."

"I can understand that," Hermione said.

"So, what can I do for you?" Molly took a scone and split it before spreading clotted cream on both sides followed by jam. "I assume you didn't come out so early on a work day just for my scones."

Hermione was spreading jam on her own scone. "Actually, I would come out just for one of these, but you're right, I have an ulterior motive today."

Molly smiled. "And you're a jam first person." She shook her head. "I'll never understand that."

"That's how everyone does it in London." Hermione dropped a dollop of clotted cream on top of the jam and took a bit. She closed her eyes and savored it for a moment. "I don't know if Ron's mentioned what's going on with my family…"

"Ron hasn't, but I ran into Hestia the other day and she mentioned it."

Hermione nodded. Of course, Molly already knew about it. She'd expected that. The magical community was so small, it was impossible to keep secrets, and news that wasn't meant to be secret moved almost as fast. "Right. Well, in dealing with all this, the reality of the plight of Squibs and Muggleborns really hit me. Not that I didn't already know how difficult it was to come into this world as a Muggleborn, but I was lucky enough to become friends with Ron and to spend so much time here."

Molly smiled warmly. "And we were lucky to have you."

"You helped me so much, I was wondering if you would consider helping others."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"I was talking to Professor McGonagall and suggested Hogwarts should offer an elective class for Muggleborns to learn domestic magic, the kind of stuff the other students learn at home. She thought it was a good idea, but the school is still recovering from the battle and she didn't feel like she could ask any of the professors to take that on given that they're already stretched thin. She said if I could find someone from outside that would be willing to teach, she'd be willing to give them space to work."

Molly set down her teacup. "And you want me to do it?"

"I don't know anyone better at domestic spells than you, and I know you teach really well because you taught me, not to mention your own children."

"I suppose that's true." Molly sat back in her chair and pondered the idea while Hermione continued eating her scone. "I have to say since Ginny moved into Grimmauld Place, I don't have nearly as much to worry about around here. How often would I need to go up to Hogwarts?"

"Probably not more than once a week. Obviously, we'd have to talk to McGonagall, but given the course load at Hogwarts, I can't see students having time for more than a once a week enrichment class.

Molly nodded. "Let me think about it, and I'll send a note to Minerva. Would you be willing to help me come up with a curriculum?"

Hermione smiled. "Absolutely."

Molly nodded. "Okay then. I'll let you know what Minerva says."

"Fantastic." Hermione finished her tea and stood. "I need to get to work. Do you mind if I take some scones for Ron and Harry?"

"Of course, dear, take all you like."

Hermione took four scones and wrapped them in napkins. "I look forward to hearing from you."

Molly nodded. "I'll see you later."

xXx

Hermione hurried out past the protective wards and Disapparated to Diagon Alley at the rear entrance to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. She knocked on the door. A face appeared in the door and blinked at her. "You're not the delivery."

"No," Hermione said to the door. "I'm Ron's wife. Could you let me in, please?"

"One moment." The face disappeared and she could hear it hollering on the other side that Ron's wife was there. A moment later, Ron opened the door and stepped into the alley. "Is everything all right?"

"Everything's fine. I brought you some of your mum's scones. There are two so you can share one with George if you like. She handed him a couple of the wrapped scones."

"As if," he said. "Thanks."

She stood up on her tiptoes, and he leaned down, so she could kiss him. "Have a great day."

"I will, you too."

xXx

"Thanks." She Disapparated to the Ministry and went to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to the Office of House-Elf Relocation where Purdy was waiting for her.

"Any issues this morning?" Hermione asked.

"No, Miss," Purdy said.

"All right then." Hermione set one of the remaining scones on her desk. "I'm going to run this other scone up to Harry. "When I get back, we'll finish up the paperwork on Tempy."

"Yes, Miss."

Hermione went back out to the bank of elevators and took one to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She walked down to the Auror Division where she found Taylor and Brown tossing jinxes at each other. They stopped when she came in.

"Hermione," Taylor called. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"I just need to drop this off for Harry. Is he around?"

"He went to the head," Brown said. "Should be back in a tick."

"Have you recovered from last night's festivities?" Taylor asked.

"Oh, I didn't drink that much," Hermione said. "I was fine this morning."

"Hey," Harry said, coming into the room. "What brings you up here?"

Hermione handed him the wrapped scone. "I saw Molly early this morning. I brought you a scone."

His face lit up. "You really are my best mate."

Hermione laughed. "Of course, but I've got to get back to work."

"I'll see you later." He was already unwrapping the scone.

xXx

Two days later, the Weasley's new owl, Edine, arrived with a note from Molly asking Hermione to come over Saturday to help craft a curriculum for the Domestic Magic for Muggleborns class. She went into the parlor where Ron was playing chess with Harry while Ginny lounged on one of the sofas reading Witch Weekly. She and Harry had come over for dinner.

Ron looked up when she came into the room. "What's got you grinning?"

"Your mum agreed to teach the class and Professor McGonagall has added it to the curriculum."

"What class?" Ginny sat up and tossed the magazine on the coffee table.

Hermione explained about the class for Muggleborns.

"That's a good idea," Ginny said. "Why has no one thought to do that before?"

Hermione shrugged. "Prejudice would be my guess."

"Ah," Ginny said. "Right."

"Now we just need to do something for the Squibs."

"Really?" Ginny said. "I wasn't gone that long, but I feel like a lot happened."

Ron chuckled. "Doesn't it always?"

"Yeah. But this seems like a lot even for you three."

"Hey, don't blame me," Harry said. "This is all Hermione's idea."

Hermione crossed her arms. "I thought you said you'd help."

"I did." Harry held up his hands. "And I will. I don't know what I'm meant to be doing, mind you, but I will certainly help."

"Help with what?" Ginny asked.

"We need to try and keep more Squibs in the Magical community, and to do that, we need families to stop seeing giving birth to a Squib as shameful."

"Why do we need more Squibs?" Ginny asked.

Hermione frowned at her.

"I'm just asking. The only Squibs I know are—"

"I know, I know," Hermione said. "But now that computers are so pervasive in the Muggle world, we need people who can safely interact with them to maintain communication between the two worlds."

"Oh," Ginny said.

"So, I was thinking maybe we could run an ad in the Prophet," Hermione continued.

While Hermione brain stormed ad ideas, Ginny leaned over and whispered to Harry, "What's a computer?"

Harry scratched at his late day stubble. "That's kind of a complicated answer. It's a communications box with information in it, like a library combined with a phone and an atlas and a bunch of other stuff."

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Cool. Aren't Muggles clever?"

Harry shrugged. "Dudley had one in his room, but I wasn't allowed to touch it."

"So, if we run an ad letting people know there's a club to help people raise Squibs then we can—"

"That's not going to work," Ron said.

"Well, only a few people might show up at first. But over time—"

"No will show up for that," Ron said firmly.

"Why are you being so negative?" Hermione said, clearly irritated with him.

"I'm not. I'm being realistic. No one will show up, because there's still a stigma attached to having a Squib. If someone shows up, that's admitting to it. You have to get rid of the stigma before you can have a club."

"How are we supposed to do that if we can't get people together to talk about it?" Hermione huffed.

"Simple. You invite them to something they do want, and then you talk about the Squibs as part of that."

"And what do you imagine they want?"

"I reckon they want Harry," Ron said.

Harry had been whispering back and forth with Ginny desperately trying to answer her questions about computers with his very limited knowledge. "What?" he said when he heard his name.

"I reckon if you advertised something like a Night with Harry Potter, loads of people would come to hear him talk," Ron said.

"No way!" Harry said. "I know I said I'd help, but I'm not standing on a stage talking to people and letting them ask me questions. Forget it."

Hermione ignored Harry's refusal. "I see your point about needing something to draw people in, but I don't know how we'd segue from that into the needs of families with Squibs anyway."

"Well," Ron said, warming to his idea. "How about this? You two write up something about growing up in the Muggle world and you present it together."

"That still sounds like me on a stage talking to people," Harry said.

"But Hermione would be with you," Ron said. "You know how she is. She'll end up doing most of the talking anyway."

Hermione frowned at him, but there was no real anger in it. He was probably right.

"How about this?" Ron continued. "You call it Growing Up Muggle: A Night with Harry Potter and Hermione Granger."

"I'd go see that," Ginny said.

"Right?" Ron rubbed his hands together, pleased with his idea. "You advertise it in the Daily Prophet, charge admission, and the proceeds can go to a charity that helps families raise their Squib babies."

"There's a charity that does that?" Hermione asked.

Ron snorted. "No. Of course not. I reckon we'll have to start one."

"I don't know anything about raising a Squib baby in the magical world," Hermione said. "Nor do I know how to start a charity."

"Well, someone has to know. Is Filch's Mum still alive?" Harry said.

Ginny shook her head. "I doubt it. Filch is as old as dirt."

"What about Terry?" Ron asked. "Are his parents alive?"

"Maybe," Hermione said. "I don't know how to ask about that though. This is such a sensitive issue."

"But that's what you're trying to end right?" Ginny said. "How sensitive people are about it? How are you going to do that if you don't talk to Squibs?"

Hermione sat down on the sofa next to Ron. "You're right. How am I going to do this?"

"Think about it," Ron said. "It's not like you have to have it all figured out today."

She nodded and leaned back lost in thought. Ron and Harry returned to their game and Ginny picked up her magazine again.

xXx

When Harry and Ginny left to return to Grimmauld Place. Hermione looked at Ron. "I'm in over my depth."

Ron was putting the chess pieces away. "What?"

"With the Squibs. That's so much more complicated than getting an extra class for Muggleborns at Hogwarts. I don't know where to start."

Ron yawned. "Dunno. Filch is out because he'd likely never admit he was a Squib in the first place. So, Terry then?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know Terry that well. He places phone calls for me and sometimes we chat a bit, that's all. I wouldn't feel comfortable going to him."

"You have to start somewhere."

"I know. I just don't know where."

"How about your granddad?"

"He's not a Squib."

"No, but isn't he what you're really looking for. He and his wife had a Squib."

Hermione frowned. "And gave her up."

"They meant to keep her, but then his wife died."

Hermione shook her head. "No. That's a minefield."

"A what?"

"Never mind. I don't want to ask him. It's too soon. He's only just come back into the Magical world. I don't want to chase him out again with painful memories."

"Where do you start then?"

She sighed. "I don't know."

He held out his hand. "Let's go to bed. Sleep on it. Maybe something will come to you."

xXx

The next morning, Hermione hadn't come up with anything. She sat down at the kitchen table across from Ron. Purdy sent a plate of bacon and eggs floating toward her. "Thanks, Purdy." She leaned forward with her elbow on the table and her chin in her hand and poked at the eggs with her fork.

Ron poured her a cup of tea from the pot that was on the table. "I had a think about your problem."

She sat up straight. "Yeah?"

"I reckon you ought to talk to Bill and Fleur."

"Why?"

"They go to charity events, don't they?" He broke off a piece of bacon and popped in his mouth.

"Do they?"

"I've heard mum say something about this or that charity ball that Bill was attending, so I reckon they must know something about how those things work."

Hermione took a bite of toast. "I suppose it doesn't hurt to ask."

"Right? Although, I think Bill left for Sudan yesterday. Something about a new tomb being found, so curses to break, mummies to stop."

"Is Fleur at the Burrow then?"

"Not that I know of, but I suppose she could be."

"I'll pop over to Shell Cottage then. And if she's not there, I'll try the Burrow."

"Good idea. I'm playing Quidditch this morning, remember?"

"With Harry and Ginny and George and Angelina." She finished her eggs.

"Right, and Oliver Wood."

"Three on three, that sounds fun."

"Should be."

"Who gets Ginny?"

"Harry and me, of course."

"Kind of unfair though, isn't it? Since she's a professional."

"So is Oliver. Puddlemere United. Thank you very much."

"But isn't he reserve team? Ginny is first string."

Ron grinned. "Yes, she is." He stood, and plucked the last piece of bacon off his plate. "Good luck with Fleur. I need to get going."

Hermione smiled and shook her head. "Have a good match."

He leaned over and kissed her, lightly squeezing her breast as he did so.

"Hey," she said, laughing and pulling away from him.

"For luck," he said cheekily and strolled out of the kitchen.

She shook her head at him again and finished her breakfast.

xXx

A little while later, Hermione Apparated to Shell Cottage. There was a fierce wind blowing off the water as she made her way up the path from the beach to knock on the green door.

A moment later, the peep hole opened. "Hermione?" Fleur said, opening the door.

"Hello. Are you busy?" Hermione asked.

"No, come in."

Hermione was grateful to be out of the wind. "It's blowing a gale out there."

"Yes, it's been doing that all morning. We're sure to have a storm later."

Hermione could smell raspberries in the air. "What are you making?"

Fleur walked into the kitchen. "Just some potions for the house."

Hermione followed. "That smells like contraceptive potion."

"It is."

"Oh. I thought…well…"

Fleur turned away from her and stirred the cauldron. "I was, but now I'm not."

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. It was early. I'm fine." Fleur continued to stir the potion. "We're supposed to wait to try again, so I thought I'd brew some of this." She flicked her wand and the flame disappeared. "It just needs to cool now."

"Wouldn't the charm be easier?"

"No. It's easier just to take a drop of this every day rather than to have to say the charm in the moment. I…" She shook her head. "You wouldn't understand."

"I do though."

Fleur looked at her sharply. "How could you? You and Ron are both completely human."

"True." Hermione sat down at the table. "But we're two humans who've taken an inordinate amount of magical damage."

Fleur's mouth dropped open.

"We haven't cast the charm in quite a while." She shrugged. "Not that it seems to matter."

Fleur sat across from her. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that was an issue."

"Apparently, it is. Ron says we should give it five years before we start looking into other options."

"That's wise. You're both very young. Much younger than Bill and me."

"Did the healers have any suggestions?" Hermione asked.

Fleur sighed and sat down at the kitchen table. "Not really. According to them our magic just needs to align. Supposedly, if we can get that to happen once, it will be easier after that, but getting it to happen the first time is proving very challenging and very heartbreaking."

"I'm so sorry."

"Me too." Fleur sighed. "This is the third miscarriage."

"Three?" Hermione said. "I didn't realize."

"We only told the family about the one that looked like it would go to term. The other two happened early."

Hermione felt awful for her and couldn't help worrying that her own future might be the same should she manage to get pregnant at all. "Ron said Bill was in Sudan. Are you going to stay at the Burrow?"

Fleur shook her head. "I don't think so. Arthur and Molly are very sweet, but they cannot help but talk about children. I just can't listen to that right now."

"Of course not. But you shouldn't stay here on you own. Come stay with us."

"I wouldn't want to impose. You already have Harry living there."

"Nonsense. You're no imposition. You're family. Besides, Ginny is on a two-week break, so Harry's at Grimmauld Place with her."

Fleur raised her eyebrows hopefully. "You're sure you wouldn't mind?"

"Are you kidding? I'd love it. I'll take a few days off. We can go shopping in London, Muggle or magical. I don't care which."

"You can do that?"

"Yes. I'm essentially on twenty-four-hour call for house elf emergencies, but I only have to go into the office to handle paperwork or if there is a free elf that comes in looking for work."

"That happens?"

"Now that there are a dozen or so free elves out there, it does occasionally."

"Wow."

"So, you'll come stay?"

"I will."

"Great."

Fleur looked at the cauldrons cooling on the counter. "I have some things I need to finish up here first."

"Of course."

"Is that why you came out? To invite me stay?"

Hermione shook her head. "Actually no. I had a question."

"Ask away."

"Ron said you and Bill go to a lot of charitable functions."

Fleur cocked her head. "I don't know about a lot, but we go to some. Gringotts hosts a charity ball to raise money for Hogwarts scholarships every year. Along with the community, they invite the top students in their seventh year. It's a good way to stay in the good graces of the wizarding community while also getting a chance to recruit the best and the brightest. Bill got his start with the bank at that ball."

"Really?" Hermione said, frowning. "All the top students?"

Fleur gave her a sympathetic smile. "Well, not the ones that break into vaults, steal valuable artifacts, let loose dragons, and then destroy part of the building on their way out."

"Oh. How short-sighted of them."

They both laughed.

"The Triwizard Committee also does a charity event every year, and as a former champion, I'm expected to attend."

"Really? Harry doesn't go, does he?"

"Not so far, but every year they hope he will. It seems he's been quite busy the last few years."

Hermione smiled. "A bit, yes."

"So, why do you ask?"

"Well…" Hermione cleared her throat. "The thing is, I'd like to do something to help magical families who have non-magical children keep their families together."

"Really? How would that work?"

Hermione sighed. "I'm not entirely sure. I need to talk to some non-magical people who've stayed in touch with the magical world, but it's proving rather difficult."

"The Order had Squibs working for them."

Hermione had forgotten all about that. "Oh, right. Like Harry's neighbor?"

"Exactly," Fleur said. "And several others. Did you ask Molly or Arthur? They would probably know."

"I haven't, but that's a great idea."

"But what does that have to do with charities?"

"We thought it might be beneficial if there was a charity that people could go to for help, but I haven't the slightest idea how to start a charity or who we could get to manage it or what they would tell families if they did come. Essentially, I know nothing. I'm starting to think this is hopeless."

Fleur sat back and cocked her head as she pondered the issue. "You know, Gringotts has been trying to get the wizarding community to hang on to their Squibs for over a decade now."

"That's not surprising with computers being such a big part of Muggle banking."

"Exactly. You should take this to the goblins.

Hermione laughed.

"Seriously, I bet they would support an initiative like that."

"Not from me they wouldn't. You should see the looks they give me when I go into the bank. I've seen people happier to see a Blast-ended Skrewt."

Fleur winced. "I can see how that would be a problem."

"Besides, before I can start a charity, I have to figure out who these families can talk to for help."

Fleur nodded. "Yes. That does seem like the first step."

Hermione stood. "I should get going. What time do you think you'll be at ours?"

"I only need a few hours."

"I'll see you before dinner then."

"Yes." Fleur smiled as she walked Hermione to the door.