It had been raining mercilessly since the very morning, it seemed as if someone had forgotten to turn off the tap, high overhead, and now the water was flooding Spinner's End and the surrounding area. However, such weather was hardly a novelty for this place, forgotten by the forces of goodness and light.

Hermione, cursing in every way possible, wandered along the washed-out road, now and then losing her way and trying not to fall on her face into the mud. Spontaneous Apparition with a not-too-sober head has never been her forte. Pulling her worn-out boot out of an ankle-deep puddle once more, Hermione sat down on the pavement and pulled her wand out of her pocket, drew an arc in the air, and yelled at the otter who sped away: "Severus, damn you, if you don't want the Black family to curse you for twenty years starting from today, then you will come and pull me out of this hole this very second!"

There were days when she hated magic, jokes with time, and her own inability to refuse her husband's intrigues. She wanted to sleep, have coffee, and punch someone in the face. Optional in the order listed.

While she mourned her sad morning, her nose buried in her knees, a polite cough sounded over her head, and in a second she was enveloped in a cocoon of cleansing and warming charms. Wiping her runny nose on her sleeve, Hermione lifted her head and glared at Severus from under her thick bangs. He smiled brightly for no reason. And held out his hand to her. She slapped the outstretched limb, jumped to her feet, and shook herself angrily: give or take - a wet cat.

"Good morning!" Severus continued beaming. Hermione stamped her boots, trying to get rid of the dirt that was hopelessly stuck to them, and straightened up.

"And what are you so happy about, may I ask?"

"I managed to brew Polyjuice Potion! Master praised me!"

Granger rolled her eyes, and this was the future thunderstorm of Hogwarts! "The master praised me!" No, everything in this world definitely annoyed her.

"I think someone didn't get enough sleep," Snape concluded, looking her up and down critically.

"While you're currying favor with the master, my head is swelling over with how to save Regulus. And how to tell the Blacks about the Horcruxes! And it is desirable to do this in such a way that the venerable Lady Walburga does not Avada us on the spot! Their family was never distinguished by rational thinking..." Hermione spoke into the void, following Snape moving away from her. "Hey, wait! How dare you walk away? I'm talking to you!"

Severus turned and arched an eyebrow in his trademark gesture.

"What do you want? If you came to be indignant, then get out. And if not, then speak up."

Hermione was so taken aback for a moment that she didn't immediately come up with an answer.

"Severus, where are you going?"

He shrugged his shoulders and continued on his way through the mud. And nothing stuck to him, the bastard! Hermione rushed after him and ran ahead.

"Severus, I want to help! Yes, I didn't get enough sleep and my head is cracking after the last night, but I can help."

"Let it be known that while you were there curing a hangover or whatever you were doing, Reggie came to his senses, and the older Blacks, and his brother, and even Bella had already visited me."

Hermione choked on her breath.

"Bellatrix?!"

"Well, yes, and what about her? She is only two years older than us, I am practicing with her at the Master's."

"She's crazy! Absolutely insane witch!"

"I think all the Blacks are a little off," Snape agreed, turning the stunned Granger in the other direction and pulling by the sleeve. "But that didn't stop us from finding out some very interesting details, including ones about the Horcruxes."

"Wait a minute! Are you saying that you and Sirius dumped everything we could find out on the Blacks?"

Snape stopped and looked at Hermione carefully. It was annoying. She angrily pushed him away from her.

"What are you staring at? It's annoying."

"Listen, junior Auror, where did you get such manners?"

"That's what a man who grew up in a working-class neighborhood is telling me!"

"Mind you, in the working-class neighborhood, not in the pigsty. And you came here in the morning, dirty, with a hangover, cursing, and ready to tear everyone apart."

Hermione sighed, whatever one may say, he was right.

"Sorry… I don't know what came over me. I feel like the world has been turned upside down and I still can't catch up with the reality that's happening."

Snape shook his head and suddenly smiled a genuine smile. Hermione raised her eyebrows.

"Let's go to my place. I have warm soup and coffee, I even have some clothes for you to change into. You will rest and I will tell you everything. Maybe you could help me chop up the ingredients for the Veritaserum. And for healing potions. Reg is already moving around the house but he is still very weak. I need to go to the Knockturn for herbs.

Hermione furrowed her brow. What did her husband say? Yesterday Severus was supposed to eavesdrop on the Prophecy, but yesterday they merrily destroyed the Horcrux, and after that, for half the night Hermione mourned her plight. The Blacks were not part of her plans either, but then Snape and Sirius decided everything for her. Two zero for Granger.

"So what's up with Bella?"

Snape diligently dragged her in the direction of his house, without ceasing to comment.

"No, you're crazy, witch, I swear. Here I am telling you about the Horcruxes, and you are bothering me with Sirius' cousin!"

"Did you have an affair with her, or do you, was or will you?"

Now it was Snape's turn to cough into his sleeve.

"No, you're definitely not normal. And if I did, what do you care? Have you come to help? Now you can start helping."

"Do you have people who annoy you with the very fact of their existence?"

"Oh, yes, I do. For example, one angry witch who is now following me and asking all sorts of nonsense. Instead of thinking about more serious things!"

"Such as...?"

"You know, for example, that we know the whereabouts of a very interesting cup that Voldemort entrusted to Bella for safekeeping. How about that news?"

"Bella took the Mark?"

"Yeah, two months ago. She hasn't managed to kill anyone yet, and Master Orion is simply tearing up and down, trying to figure out how to get her out of there."

"Do you know, my dear friend, that one doesn't simply leave sects and cults? Oh yes, you are pureblood!"

"Some prejudices, Maya, only prejudices. And I am the Half-blood. They get out of cults, and very quickly, but you need to know how exactly this can be done."

"And you, of course, already know how to do it?"

"Of course."

"And you managed to figure all this out in just twelve hours, between potions, Regulus' treatment, and talking to the Blacks?"

"Don't underestimate the Slytherins, little witch. This is not taught in France."

"I think I overestimated you," Hermione muttered as she walked around the puddle.

"Why so?"

"Because you are way too smart."

"Since when is this a disadvantage?" Severus smiled as he opened the front door for her. "Don't grumble, come in, let's have a coffee. And we'll talk."

"Well, if only for the sake of coffee."