Hermione grimaced at her hair as the brush ripped through her curls making the few intact ringlets she had become frizz-addled locks like the rest of her bushy hair. She had wanted to look nice for Hiro when she saw him, but as always, she had no luck.

Nearly fourteen and I still don't know how to manage this. It wasn't as if Hermione wanted to spend forever on her appearance, nor did she want straight hair. But she wondered how Angelina Johnson and Hannah Abbot and other girls managed their curly hair.

Though Hermione at least knew to start from the bottom up, she shuddered as she remembered her father tearing through it with a brush and water when she was four or so.

She rolled her eyes and decided some effort was better than nothing. Hermione remembered fondly Luna saying that she was pretty with flowers in her hair. Blush rose to her cheeks as she recalled Luna's insistence she wasn't teasing her.

Luna, I'm almost jealous of you, Hermione thought, wishing she could pursue things so sincerely. She pinned her fringe to either side of her face with the sakura clips Miyuki gave her back in her first summer in Japan. Hiro's favourite flower.

Good enough, Hermione thought, shaking her head at her reflection. It was too much effort to do anything more. She glanced down at her copy of Koneko Mahou Shoujo! and remembered Saiyaka telling her that Hiro had a crush on the fictional cat girl.

Hermione could see why. The girl on the cover of the manga had long flowy pink hair and bright pink eyes and a radiant smile. Hermione joked she looked like Tsukino Aiko when she was transformed in second year, but she wasn't nearly as cute as the manga character or the rest of Nekomusume Senshi.

You're jealous of a bloody drawing! Hermione scolded herself. By noon she would be gone and in Japan with Hiro, Saiyaka, Miyuki, Toshio, Sam and Kaori.

Kaori. Hermione bit her lip. She grew giddy inside when she thought of Hiro, his intense hazel eyes, casually untidy black hair and mischievous smile. Hermione's heart skipped a beat as she remembered their kiss in the bamboo forest, or the sound of his laugh. She hadn't a doubt in her mind that she loved Hiro. But her stupid crush on Kaori, his sister, persisted.

Hiro was Hermione's boyfriend, and far better than she deserved if she were honest with herself. How was she supposed to be a good girlfriend to someone so incredible when she kept having thoughts about his sister?

Stupid sexy thoughts! As of recently she had a lot of them about both siblings. Stupid, stupid teenaged hormones!

"I know!" Hermione whispered to Crookshanks. "I'm the worst. I'm sorry I have to leave you."

Crookshanks leapt onto her shoulders, draping himself about them, barely fitting. The massive ginger cat's paws fell past her chest and his bottlebrush tail past her navel. Hermione nearly buckled under his weight before adjusting her posture to accommodate him. He'd never done that before.

"I don't remember you being so damn clingy," she whispered before leaving her room.

Did I take so long to get ready?

Hermione was greeted by a scene she hadn't expected. She rose with the sun, it being her last day she had wanted to make her father and herself breakfast. She felt it would be good to leave on a positive note, even if she was still upset at his decision.

However her father sat in his chair before an untouched assortment of plates, dressed in his usual black robes and his long black hair nearly touching the book he read. The manga he read. Hermione thought she'd only given her translation notes to Luna. Could he understand it.

Embarrassment racked Hermione as she thought about Aiko's romantic exploits with many boys, what seemed to be a crush with her friend, and the silly girly names for the attacks. If her father teased her for still liking the Son of Hermes series, he would likely criticise her for liking Koneko Mahou Shoujo!

How did he even get a hold of my copy of volume 4? Hermione took a deep breath and counted to three before approaching and kissing him lightly on the cheek. "Good morning, Dad."

"I simply do not understand your generation," he sighed, putting the book down. "This is popular among your friends?"

Hermione took in three breaths before sitting and forcing a smile. "Just Hiro, Saiyaka, Kaori and Luna," she then ventured for a joke. "But as someone who spent six months as a cat hybrid, I've never felt more seen."

"Should I keep my eyes open for vigilantes in frilly frocks?" he shook his head. "I feel like the more I try to understand you the stranger you become."

"I'm a teenager," Hermione shrugged. "Rumour has it we're all very elusive. Also, you've started with the fourth volume. I didn't know you could read Japanese."

"I can't," he admitted. "Remus was kind enough to translate for me when you left this lying around. I wanted to know what you were reading."

You could have asked me! Hermione mentally counted to three once more. She remembered the fourteen-year-old boy in the pensieve terrified to be sent home. He had no idea what he was doing and Hermione had to be patient.

But neither do I! You were supposed to—and now I—but it's not your fault is it? Hermione averted her gaze wishing she knew what she felt at that moment. Anger? Pity? Guilt? Shame? Her bubbly excitement over Hiro vanished when she once again wondered if her father's life would have been better if he didn't have to raise her.

"Are you alright, love?" He placed his hand on her head.

"Sorry," she shook her head. "I must have zoned out for a moment. I–erm-I haven't been sleeping well."

"If only someone had been supplying you with sleeping potions to prevent such moments," he sighed. "

"Sorry, sir," she muttered, staring at her bare feet.

"Just don't make me regret not sneaking it into your drinks at supper, yes?" he moved his hand from her scalp to her forehead. "Are you feeling well enough to go? Headmaster Yamato did say that if you're too ill it can't be helped and—"

"Dad, I'm fine!" Hermione groaned.

"Don't interrupt me!" he snapped,lifting her face. "Though clearly you're well enough to give me cheek. Now—"

Salvation came by way of a gentle knock on the door and Hermione remembered that her father invited Remus over for breakfast on her last day. After asking her if she would be okay with it, many, many times. She wondered which response he was hoping for when she said 'yes' and each time he paused as if torn.

"I'll get the door," he said, resting his hand on top of her head once more. "Eat something, yes?"

"Good morning," Remus smiled at the two of them as he walked in. "Love the flowers, Hermione, you look cute."

Hermione felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she hoped Hiro would also find it cute. Wait, what type of cute did he mean?

"A little girl's more than her appearance, Remus," her father sighed. "I'll thank you not to remind her that she can coast by evoking the essence of a fawn or other infant creature."

Definitely the wrong type of cute, Hermione looked to Crookshanks who moved into her lap. Though they are old so…wait, they're not even forty. Hermione pet Crookshanks and thought about the fact that that was the closest her father had ever come to complimenting her appearance, and it was to liken her to 'infant creatures'.

The meal was more awkward than any of the parties hoped for after that. Uneasy silence passed between them. Hermione placed three melon slices and an orange on her plate, she noticed Remus opened his mouth when she began dividing it into thirds. She thought she wasn't supposed to see her father mouth 'this is normal' to him.

So damn neurotic…Why am I like this?!

As he predicted Severus was not ready to let Hermione go. It never got easier. The girl recovered from the awkward breakfast with new zeal. She all but skipped out of her bedroom with trunk in hand (I forgot to go through it!), pink flowers still in her hair clad in a muggle sailor uniform lest muggles see the children at the drop off point.

So happy to be leaving, what can I do? "I'm not to receive any letters this month explaining you've been in detention, am I understood?"

"Yes, sir," she nodded, posture stiffening.

"And you remember the spells I taught you in case something happens?"

She nodded again.

Severus scanned his daughter for anything wrong. Exactly the same as the year before, perhaps a tad taller. Hermione stood on exhausted feet clutching her trunk, her small frame nearly vanishing beneath her bushy brown hair. Though this time he could see her round olive face, large almond shaped brown eyes, and small rounded nose thanks to her pinning her hair out of her face. She still looks like a little doll…Must I send her away?

"Yes, sir."

"And you will write me daily, yes?"

A sigh escaped Hermione with an eye roll and weak smile. "I remember the spells you taught me, I won't go looking for trouble, I'll eat every meal and I'll even look both ways before crossing the street."

"Spare me the cheek, Hermione Elizabeth," he warned.

"I just mean that I'll be fine, Dad," she looked up at him.

"Hermione," Severus placed his hand on her head. "Are you certain you're ready?"

Hermione smiled and tilted her head. "I'm not little anymore, Dad. I'll be okay."

He wished he could believe that. He remembered the tiny girl that curled up in his lap clutching whatever book she could get a hold of. The one who buried her face in his knees when Filch demanded he "control his brat". Hermione didn't look so different from that girl. Even if she was convinced otherwise.

"You'll take care of yourself, right?" Hermione asked.

"And to think I was worried about you," he drew her into his arms and lifted her face.

What is that? Severus examined her small face and found white powder under her eyes. He wondered if she had been working with chalk at some point in the day. Perhaps it's an attempt to hide the rings under her eyes?

"Just a moment, Hermione," he said, licking his thumb. "You have some schmutz on your face."

"Dad!" Hermione cried, screwing up her face.

"Silence, you silly little girl. And stop squirming."

To her credit, she did. He cleared whatever the white powder was from her face and examined it for other marks. Hermione stood still, but her eyes drifted to the portkey, as if she couldn't wait to leave.

"You won't be late, stop fretting," he sighed and ran his hand over her head.. "Write me when you arrive, yes?"

"Of course, Dad," she hugged him in return and looked up at him. "I love you."

"And I love you," he kissed her forehead.

The two said their goodbyes, and Severus wished they had more time as he reminded her once more she was not to be alone with the Yamato boy. To watch herself, to monitor her health to...as he told Remus, he would never be ready to let her go. But he had to as he watched her smile and wave goodbye to him.

"Have a great summer, Dad," she smiled, touching the stone fox and vanishing.

Crookshanks yowled, sniffing around the area Hermione once stood. Archimedes watched the sad, giant cat pace the area sadly.

"You'll get used to her leaving…"