The hazel eyed witch groaned as she stretched her arms above her head before getting out of bed. She had to meet her master in London today and Thimi was going to bring her there. The curly haired witch had spent most of the night reading the occlumency book he had given her.

Some of it sounded complicated and yet familiar. Most of it her father already taught her, it was standard practice among The Family. The more she thought about it, it was most likely a skill muggles could learn and the royal family had to learn to keep their mind secure for national security. They just didn't call it occlumency, but a 'firm mental frame of mind' that was important to keep. Mental practices she already did, mostly to keep from getting confused when she studied. It wasn't something she kept up all the time, not knowing it was something that had to be done. It was different than her mental wards.

Occlumency was a mind art that could hide thoughts and emotions. Her wards helped her hide thoughts, kept her safe from mental attacks, and helped her protect her mind under great bodily duress. Her emotions were still there to be read for any legilimens who decided to try. She would be able to observe them from inside of her mental ward, but due to the knowledge that her thoughts themselves were safe she was merely disgruntled that someone would dare try to enter her mind.

The Headmaster would be testing her occlumency shields, which were subtly different from her mental wards. The only benefit she could think of would be hiding her emotions, but as an emotional person, she wasn't sure how she felt about that from a personal stance.

Thankfully Moody had already tested her and with her father's help it was easy to do. Occlumency would be more of a proxy for her mental wards. She was surprised that the exercises were practically same her father taught her but with different terms.

Hermione once asked who taught him, he had said that Mamie Helen had taught him, and he wanted to pass that down to her. When she asked her mother, she said she learned because it was standard for The Family before they were allowed to look at the archives that were under heavy security.

Today she would have her master test her occlumency, leaving the more recent things outside of her wards. She would try to rely on the occlumency instead of just her wards. So she would have to hide Harry meeting Thimi, something small. She would tell him anyways, but it was something to use for practice.

"Thimi is to be taking Mistress to her lesson now."

Hermione sighed before she turned around and gave Thimi a piercing look.

"Try again," she said kindly.

"Th – I – I am to bring you to your lesson now, Mistress," Thimi rephrased her sentence, working hard on her grammar.

Hermione smiled at her house-elf, "Close. 'I am supposed to bring you to your lesson now.'"

"I am s-supposed to bring you to your lesson now, Mistress," Thimi repeated.

"Very good, Thimi! You're getting better every day," she grinned holding her hand out for Thimi to take.

The small house-elf grabbed Hermione's hand firmly and apparated her to her bedroom in London.

Landing smoothly they both smiled before looking at the beetle in the jar. The witch's smile turned wicked whereas her house-elf's dropped off her face, glaring.

"Thi – I may not be able to hurt a witch or wizard, but I still d-do not like her. It makes my blood feel hot," her voice holding what sounded like a growl.

"I don't like her either, but she will come in handy. Master knows of her, she is… alive," she walked closer to the jar and picked it up, "We will keep her that way until I feel we should let her go."

She silently waved her wand over the jar canceling all previous spells, before recasting the unbreakable charm. It was more in the event that Rita's magic had somehow accidentally reacted to her benefit. Hermione tapped on the glass jar with the tip of her nail before placing it back down on her desk. She looked over at Elara, leaving her owl at her London home was a conscious decision. The witch had decided she would have Elara stay to intimidate the pest in the jar.

"I hope you're enjoying the company, Skeeter," she said airily, "If there's one thing I can say without a doubt is that she pays attention and looks at you keenly. That attention is just so hard to find nowadays. People are just so… scatterbrained," she chuckled lightly, "I do hope you are appreciating the attention she provides."

Hermione reached over and started to pet Elara, giving her loving affection with soothing hum.

"I do have a letter I need you to deliver for me though," she said kindly, "Just give me a moment to write it."

Hermione turned back to her desk, pulling out a piece of parchment and grabbing a quill. She sighed with a small frown but knew it was in her best interest. The beetle was at the edge of her jar watching the schoolgirl. Hermione noticed with a small sneer and placed a thick book between the jar and her parchment before turning her attention back to the blank sheet in front of her.

With a small frown marring her face she began writing.

Dear Viktor,

I hope this letter finds you well. With Magical Britain on the brink of war with the recent resurrection of that foul dictator, I must apologize and decline your offer. I was looking forward to spending time with you in Bulgaria, more so since I've never been there. However with recent events it's just not feasible.

I have recently been offered an apprenticeship, and I accepted! I must dedicate my time to my lessons and my master. It is also for this reason that I must end the small relationship that we had. It was enjoyable while it lasted, and I hope that you will still consider me a friend (I still think of you as my friend).

I hope you won't be offended, but I also think that you should practice more defense skills. I admit that I was disheartened that you fell victim to the imperious. It was worse since you were forced to cast the cruciatus… I hope you aren't punishing yourself for it since you weren't in control of your body. You were caught unawares and it wasn't your fault.

I understand that it's not something people are put under often so it's hard to fight off, but it all comes down to a battle of wills. I learned how to fight it off. From what I learned the best way is to be strong willed at all times. I hope this will in help the future, even though I hope more that you'll never have to go through it again.

Please send a letter back with Elara so I know where we stand.

Thank you for everything.

Always your friend,

Hermione Granger

She looked over her letter twice, hoping that her words wouldn't cause adverse effects in her friend, but also relieved that she had ended the relationship. It simply didn't sit well on her conscious to be attracted to another while with someone else. It was silly she was sure since it was only human nature to find other individuals attractive even while in a committed relationship. However when it came to her master… it was different, it felt different. Instead of feeling unfaithful to Viktor is was more as though she felt unfaithful to her master, Professor Snape.

Sighing again she finished folding up her letter and placed it in an envelope. Elara hopped onto the desk and stuck her leg out ready for her journey. As soon as the letter was secure, Hermione opened up a window and Elara took flight.

Suddenly a ghostly blue panther emerged from a wall, landing in front of Hermione gracefully.

The familiar sensual voice came out of the panther's mouth, "Apprentice, it is time for our scheduled lesson."

"Mistress, shall I fetch your potions master now?" Thimi asked, her voice back to its normal chipper self.

A bright smile illuminated her face, "Yes. Please bring him to the living room, I shall meet him there. And then bring Crookshanks here to keep our guest company!"

"Yes, Mistress," As soon as the words left her mouth Thimi left and the witch turned tail, hurrying to the living room.

Thimi arrived at Spinner's End, on one knee.

Severus immediately saw the house-elf and waited to see what it would say. It wasn't one that he recognized on sight, and it was dressed too well for any of his 'cohorts'. He held his breath as it spoke.

"Potions master of my Mistress, it's time for Mistress Hermione's lesson. I will be bringing you."

He released his breath and rolled his eyes while it wasn't looking. The elf wasn't wearing the same toga she was wearing last time he saw her. He should have known his apprentice would provide different colored cloths for her house-elf.

"Then let us go, Thimi. Your Mistress can barely keep herself settled in a classroom setting, I'm sure being home makes it that much more difficult," he remarked with a smirk.

Thimi hid a smile as she reached for him and disapparated them from Spinner's End.

Rita had water and a leaf for food, so she wouldn't starve since it was something her form could properly eat. Still it was unsettling to not be able to eat real food. She had felt movement before she saw the hand pressed up against the glass that was her prison. The face of the young witch sent shocks of anger and dread throughout the animagus.

Anger at the audacity of a witch barely out of puberty holding her captive and dread at what her next course of action would be. Being suspended over fire wasn't something she had thought the witch would do to her. It was obviously a calculated move since she was still alive, instead of cooked alive, even though she felt as though she would be. Then she had that horrible owl watch her the whole time. It was like the creature didn't sleep! Just staring at her! Every time she looked at it.

When the young witch started talking Rita felt it would be in her best interest to pay attention. For all she knew at some point the witch would come to her senses or even make demands that would end with her being released from her glass prison.

"… appreciate the attention…"

'Appreciate the attention!? Is she mad!? She should know damn well I don't appreciate the attention of that damn predator that she calls a pet.'

At the mention of a letter however Rita was immediately interested at the possible dirt she could uncover about her captor. Needless to say, in a jar she couldn't be as discreet as she usually was and the witch placed a dictionary of all things between them.

'Of course the witch would have a dictionary on her desk. Frumpy know-it-all bitch.'

Rita listened as the young witch's quill scratched on the paper, internally pouting that she wasn't at least allowed to read the letter. It would serve to be something interesting as it was distracting her from the predator's unwavering gaze.

Severus felt himself land gently in the Granger's living room with his apprentice sitting properly in front of him. The sight warmed him as he was finally allowed to acknowledge her the way she was always meant to be.

"Miss Granger," he nodded.

"Master," she replied with a brilliant smile.

Taking a breath and flashing his apprentice a small smile he took the same seat he had sat in yesterday before waving his hand and casting a muffliato.

"Today we will go over recent events, then I'll ask you some questions that will be on your OWL. As much as I wanted to wait until the end of summer to have you take your OWL at the ministry, things have come up that it would be prudent for you to take it sooner rather than later."

Hermione's face blanched as he mentioned the test date being moved up. She felt extremely underprepared for it!

"B-but, Professor Snape –"

"Miss Granger, you will be taking your test based on the answers of the questions I ask you. If they are sufficient, we shall return to my home and you will practice by making potions in my private lab," he said in his teacher voice.

He took a calming breath, "I'm sorry I snapped at you, Hermione. Honestly though, you will do fine. You already answered most of the questions and more, quite sufficiently. You will do fine on the practical. I will show you a few different ways that will help make better use of the ingredients. I will ask you a few questions to refresh your memory, but overall you already know the answers. After you take the test, we can work on something different that is just as important."

The witch fidgeted in her seat. He raised an eyebrow at her antics since she had managed to control most of her antsy antics in his classroom.

"Yes?"

"Master, you said that things have come up and that was the reason for my test's changed date. Yet, you never told me the reason."

The corner of his lip twitched up.

"Were you still just a student I would have told you that it didn't matter since the reasons were beyond your reckoning, and to do as you were told. As my apprentice I encourage you keep asking questions."

She smiled shyly at his words. Being the exception was a lovely feeling. Normally she would have abhorred being treated differently. The witch had tried to fit in as best as she could growing up. Any time she was treated differently or praised she was sure it was to be done on her own merits instead of something she had no control over. She refused to tell anyone that she was rich, just as much as she refused to tell anyone about her social status. However being an apprentice was something she earned. She knew her master wouldn't ask an idiot to study under him. She looked at him waiting for him to proceed.

"The reason isn't particularly a good one," he frowned, "The Dark Lord has found out that you are part of the royal family. Lucius told him. When he asked me about you, I informed him that I had recently found out myself, lest I be subject to punishment," she gasped, "I also told him that I had just taken you on as my apprentice."

She frowned and bit her lip, thinking hard about what he just told her. She knew from Barty and Moody that it was something that was bound to happen when her status was revealed. The Dark Lord was always interested in The Family, even when the Death Eaters were the Knights of Walpurgis. It would only make sense since she was the first in The Family, of which they were aware of, to be magically gifted that he would want to meet her.

"I suppose it's better on friendly terms rather than hostile ones," she murmured.

Severus nodded, "I agree. It's better than being kidnapped and held against your will just to satisfy his curiosity."

"When would he like to meet me?" the squeak at the end betrayed her nerves.

"When I feel you are ready. That means that I have less than a year to prepare you. As my apprentice he will assume you are versed in the dark arts, so I will have to get you accustomed to them, while also keeping you from their pull."

Hermione could only nod in response.

The wizard cleared his throat, causing her to look back at him expectantly.

"He also asked about your interactions with Draco. Or rather Draco's interactions with you."

"Malfoy?" she asked, her nose crinkling in distaste.

"Yes. He obviously wanted a good step towards getting to know you from reports and it would have frankly been best from a fellow student. Someone you wouldn't have initially suspected."

"The boys would have," she said under her breath.

"I have no doubt that Potter and Weasley would have assumed something underhanded from Draco, but that's a kneejerk reaction I suppose over your yearly… interactions."

The curly haired witch bit her lip to keep herself from laughing, although it did nothing to stop the smile from blooming across her face.

"Regardless, Lucius has been ordered to have Draco apologize and try to get on your good side."

Her face scrunched up in confusion, "Why? If he could have answers from you directly, why have Draco change his ways?"

"Because Hermione, you are a Lady. Someone of importance even in our world. Some witches and wizards may overlook it thinking themselves above muggles in general, thus even some muggleborns, but the more respectable Houses respect the Royal Family regardless of their lack of magic. Those families with higher standards continue to respect the Royal Family, even if some of the members feel differently. The Black family was one of those who were split evenly. The Malfoy family has always been one to respect them. The Potters were also one of those. The Cormac family, did not."

"But wouldn't that make the Malfoys blood-traitors?" she asked, still trying to figure out the logistics of blood purity even now.

The dark wizard took deep breath, knowing it was an impromptu lesson, "No. They aren't what some would call muggle-lovers, but they are patriotic and love their country. The leader of our country, is the Royal Family, despite all the checks and balances with the Parliament and Ministry. To the rest of the world they still see a monarchy. We have a Queen. Even the Ministry of Magic bows to the Royal Family because they are the faces of our country. Ancient and Noble Houses of Magic are families who were originally around the time of Merlin and allied with themselves with Merlin or Morgana le Fey. Noble Houses are families who uphold the beliefs of Merlin or Morgana le Fey. Those who fell into ruin and are no longer, or never were in some cases, a Noble house are because they stopped aligning the family with Merlin or Morgana's beliefs."

"But Thimi said that the House of Granger was an Ancient and Noble House," she murmured, her eyes lit with curiosity.

"Your house-elf?" he asked in turn.

Hermione nodded firmly.

"Then I suppose somewhere your family allied with Merlin or Morgana. It's a fairytale, but they say that the Royal Family is what's left of the Pendragons… at least amongst the wizarding world. So it could be you are either related to Morgana or your family allied with Merlin, considering she was Arthur's half-sister," he finished with a nonchalant shrug.

Hermione laughed in response. It was a running joke amongst The Family that they were related to Arthur in some way should he have existed, but considering that Merlin was considered very real in the magical world she should have known. It was a humorous joke of speculation of how they were related to him. Were they direct from Arthur, were they from Morgana, or his lesser known sister Morgause, or were they from an incestuous mix of a pair; Mordred. It was made even more humorous in Hermione's perspective since there was now another facet to speculate on.

Severus looked at his apprentice, confusion coloring his face. He didn't know what he said that was so funny for her to laugh her face red with tears in the corners of her eyes. He tried not to let himself get angry as he did not like to be laughed at, but he was sure that he didn't say anything funny. Perhaps it was in the way he finished? He decided to take the opportunity to skim her mind and test her occlumency shields as he was supposed to. Finding nothing other than a glimmer of her mirth, which he couldn't fault her given her state, he found her shields acceptable.

The witch kept laughing, now holding her stomach from what was sure to be a stitch in her side, the volume not as loud as she seemed to be mostly out of breath at this point. The tall wizard crossed his arms as he waited or his apprentice to get ahold of herself.

"Whenever you're done," he grumbled.

She giggled in what could be termed a feminine fashion, taking deep breaths, before breaking down into fits of giggles.

The wizard's face started to take on a pinched look.

Finally the witch calmed down and leaned back into the couch, breathing heavily trying to catch her breath. Her chest heaving greatly from her efforts.

Severus blushed lightly at noticing his apprentice's ample chest. He quickly looked away, waiting for her to gather herself together.

"What was so funny?" he asked, still looking away from the young woman.

Hermione's face was bright with a silly grin, "It's an inside joke in The Family. You just added further speculations for us. It's okay, I wasn't laughing at you, just what you said," she said breathlessly.

Severus looked back at her in the corner of his eye, drinking in the sight of her red faced with a happy expression on her face. She was… quite a beauty when she was deliriously happy. It was something he hoped to be privileged with more often, especially since he was the cause of it… if indirectly. Still he was the reason she was so happy, especially after brining her bad news.

When she gathered herself together, her breathing more even, the red in her face looking more like a happy blush accompanied by a giant smile, he turned back and faced her.

"Since you are done. I think we can go brew some potions in my private lab," he stood up bushing off invisible dust from his knees.

"What about my occlumency?" she asked.

"I already tested your shields, and aside from the barest exuberance that seemed to be overflowing from within, you did excellent. Even while you were preoccupied, your shields held up. Now, shall we?"

Hermione took his cue and did likewise, "Yes, master," she said with a smile. Her nerves gone for the moment.

Luna was helping her father with some minor edits before publishing for the Quibbler. She smiled at some of the articles, knowing she wouldn't be able to read them all until the next issue was published. He published and edited the magazine, but he said he liked having a few surprises in there for her. He spoke with her at length about a few of the articles before and after publication. It was nice to have a soundboard, and some refreshing theories.

She was so similar to her mother in so many ways, but she was also part of him. The main difference was that she had no interest in making her own spells, merely using them. She was more interested in magizoology, like her father. She knew the dangers of untested spells, having lost her mother to one and witnessing it. Her spells would make special appearances in the Quibbler, but since her passing, they stopped. Once a year on their anniversary, her father would publish an archaic spell that Pandora loved.

In place they started publishing more articles about current politics, and their takes on it. She skimmed most of them, not taking in the words only changing spelling errors. During this skim she stopped when she saw a name she knew well.

'Hermione Granger'

Luna stopped and looked back up at the title of the article and read the whole thing.

Royalty in Hogwarts?

There have been sightings of Royal Family members in The Ministry of Magic. The Family was sighted at the Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black (or Stubby Boardman) trial. When one of the members of the Wizengamot asked why she wanted to know which courtroom they were having Pettigrew's trial in she merely responded, "We would like to see justice."

It wasn't until further inquiry that we discovered that the matron sighted was a muggle woman. "How would a muggle know how to get into the Ministry of Magic despite being allowed to have full knowledge of the Magical World?"

Simple: They have a muggleborn daughter; Lady Hermione Granger.

Muggleborn Lady Hermione Granger has been known as the Smartest Witch of Her Generation. She is also the best friend of Harry Potter. Whom she did not have any romantic relations with. There isn't much known about her as she is seen mostly with Harry Potter and one of the Weasley sons. She is a curiosity, perhaps she's a Fey come back reborn? Morgana Le Fey was known to be a brilliant and strong witch. Maybe Circe has seen many great things in her and decided to gift her with the original beginnings of magic. We must remember, dear readers, she is a witch first. But The Family gracing us with a witch? How? If you know anything, please send us letters on your theories and findings!

Luna's hands were shaking slightly as she read the article.

"Daddy?" she called quietly.

There was no response.

"Daddy!?" she called again, panic and worry in her voice.

There was a crash followed by loud fumbling, "What is it, Lulu?" he ran to his daughter.

"What is it?" he asked gently.

"Daddy we can't print this," she said firmly even as her hands continued to shake.

Xenophilius looked at the article his daughter was holding.

"Why? What's wrong with it?" he asked, gently taking it out of his daughter's hands.

"Hermione is my friend, Daddy. She's been taking care of the nargles for me. She has Crookshanks chase the wrackspurts from my bed. We can't do this to her, Daddy. Hermione doesn't like the attention. She didn't tell anybody, she doesn't want people to know… she doesn't want people to know and we have to protect her," she said firmly, her brilliant silver eyes steely.

Xenophilius's heart clenched as his daughter told him this. She wrote home about the nargles hiding her things, even about a handsome kneazle guarding her, but she never mentioned her friend by name. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

"We will protect her, Lulu. Inciendo," he lit the article in his other hand on fire, burning it to ashes, "Let her know she has friends at the Quibbler."

"I will. Thank you, Daddy," she said, turning around in his grasp to hug him tightly.

In turn her father wrapped his arms around her, his hand cradling the back of her head gently.

"Of course, Lulu, of course."

Hermione wasn't given time to look at her surroundings in her master's home. He apparated them directly to his backdoor. He then unlocked the door and steered her straight to his private lab not giving her a moment to really notice her surroundings. His pace was quick, much like the one he used walking down the halls of Hogwarts. He whispered a password to his private labs before nudging her forward.

"Watch your step," he said, not giving her a moment to gather her bearings.

They walked through the door and onto a brightly lit landing.

"Master?" she asked.

"I am… unused to pleasant company in my home. I remodeled so it is habitable, but we are here for my lab, not to gawk at my house for you to blab about to your friends."

Hermione frowned and turned around looking up into his eyes, "Master Snape, I would never betray your trust like that."

Severus stared back into her bright hazel eyes, the gold standing out with her sincerity. Since her potions accident he noticed that they weren't the chocolate brown they were when she was a first year. There were so many colors in her eyes now that he could spend hours memorizing them.

"My apologies, you're right. As I said, this relationship is new to me. There will be some bumps along the way, but your response was proper. I am unused to being here myself so I admit that I am not fond of it. I live more at the castle than I do here. I will give you a proper tour once you finish your test and have your official apprentice badge."

"Thank you, sir," she smiled softly.

"Severus."

"I'm sorry?" her face confused.

"My name is Severus. In private, you may call me Severus or Master Severus if it makes you feel better," he said, walking in front her down the steps to the lab.

"Thank you, Master Severus," she replied quietly to his back as she followed him down the stairs.

Molly wrung the hand towel again, her nerves reaching new heights. She had finally come to terms with what she had to do. First thing she had to do was talk to her husband, who would be coming through the floo at any moment.

She had already fixed an early dinner and sent her kids off to bed with full stomachs. She had dosed their pumpkin juice with a bit of sleeping potion she kept on hand for when they were sick. The plump witch didn't want any of her children eavesdropping on her conversation with her husband. She did fine with privacy spells, but she knew that her kids often found ways around it.

The floo flashed green before Arthur walked through. He proceeded to use his wand to dust off what little soot there was as Molly had kept their home clean. Arthur figured it was the least he could do to help his wife keep their house clean.

He looked up and saw his wife wring her hand towel, it was something he had come to recognize as a telltale sign that she wanted to have an important conversation. He also noticed there was a distinct lack of noise that was caused from their rambunctious children.

The man smiled at his beautiful wife as he walked towards her. He kissed her gently, his lips soft as they caressed hers. Molly melted into her husband's loving kiss. His kisses were like a special potion brewed just for her.

"Hello, Molly," he said softly.

"Hello, Arthur," she said quietly.

The wizard gently directed his wife into a seat before pushing her seat in and sitting across from her.

"You want to talk about something?"

Her face flushed red, but she nodded firmly.

"Has this got anything to do with your mood these past few days?" he asked carefully.

Molly paused before she tilted her head to the side, as though thinking about it and then nodded meekly.

"Well then?" he prompted, reaching across and caressing her hands in a loving manner.

"I had a marriage contract for Ginny," she started.

Arthur nodded having assumed so over the years since she didn't care much for the offers they had received over the years.

"It was terminated recently without any reasons attached," she said looking down at their hands, "I got the official letter from Gringotts."

The wizard's eyebrows flew up into what used to be his hairline. While he figured that Molly had a contract for Ginny he didn't know it was properly taken care of in such an official manner since they couldn't really afford any of that. He didn't say anything, hoping to encourage her to talk more by rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand.

"The person who was his guardian didn't terminate it, so the young wizard did so himself," her bottom lip wobbled.

"Who was the lucky wizard?" Arthur asked gently.

"Harry," she said softly.

The gentle wizard closed his eyes and sighed. He continued to soothe his loving wife. He had known that she had plans on Ginny forming a relationship with Harry, but he had hoped that it was a relationship his little girl could look back on fondly. Harry was a good boy, he would treat their daughter right he was sure, but taking the decision from him wasn't something he could agree with when it came to him. Having already lost so much, the least he deserved was to marry someone he fell in love with, not someone he was forced to be with.

"Harry terminated the contract without any reasons attached. I wanted to try to appeal to his better nature to reconsider, b-but…"

"But what, Mollywobbles?"

"Harry and Hermione are related and I said some awful things to her. I made the wrong assumptions and treated her harshly without bothering to find out all the details."

"Was this about the article Skeeter wrote?"

"A little yes a little no…"

He continued to rub his thumb on the back of her hand in a soothing manner.

"I thought she was a scarlet witch, leading Harry on and cheating with that Krum boy. So for Easter I sent her an egg the size of a quail's egg. I sent the boys what could easily be mistaken for dragon eggs. Then when I went there for the Tournament…"

Arthur wisely stayed quiet having heard various versions of this.

"His horrible muggle family was there. After all they did to him, he wanted them there. Albus said that we could go there in proxy, but no one figured that Snape would be able to convince them to come see him before the big event, considering how much they hate magic. They had Hermione come with them since she's family. I said some… horrible things, Arthur."

"What did you say exactly, Molly?"

"I said that they shouldn't even be at Hogwarts since it's supposed to be safe from muggles. Unseen. Then I said that I would have that rectified, hoping that Albus would be able to get that – that family out of there. Then Hermione…" her bottom lip started to wobble more.

"Then Hermione what?"

"Hermione asked if her family shouldn't be allowed at Hogwarts at all, or see her graduate, or see the school they apparently pay four times more than us…"

"What did you say, Molly?" he asked, knowing that Hermione was right in asking all of those questions, even if the Dursleys were in a class of people all their own.

"I told her not to talk about things she didn't know… I asked her why they should be allowed to see a witch or wizard graduate from a top standing school such as Hogwarts. I told her it doesn't matter that they pay more. Then… then I told her… I told her, that it was a privilege for their children to even be allowed to be Hogwarts… at all."

Arthur stopped caressing Molly's hand.

"Molly, you didn't," his voice practically begging her to tell him different.

"I did…"

He pulled his hands away from her and hung his head in disappointment.

"I don't know how to fix it Arthur. I want to, but I don't know how," she said lowly.

"Molly you essentially told her she shouldn't be here… where she belongs," he said sadly.

"And I shouldn't have. And I wanted her for Ron too," she said, her eyes filling up with tears.

Arthur looked up at his wife, "No. You shouldn't have," he grabbed her hand with his again, "But I know we'll find a way to make it up to her. Ron says she forgives easily, but the twins say she knows how to hold a grudge," he took a breath, "I don't think Ron deserves her, Molly."

Molly's bottom lip trembled more as a few tears escaped even as she nodded in agreement. While she was angry and frustrated at the whole thing, she realized that she messed things up on her own. Her youngest son however still felt slighted as though Hermione had done it on purpose and was doing nothing but talking poorly of her.

He could have sent home a letter clearing up any misunderstandings she may have had. Any of her children could have, but they didn't. The twins usually didn't owl her anything, so that was nothing unusual. Ron and Ginny though, they still wrote to her. Ron wrote more, but she assumed it had to do with Hermione's influence. There would be some months where she received weekly letters, and some when she only received one. From Ginny's letters those months Ron was on the outs with Hermione. But Arthur was right, as much as she wanted Hermione for her Ronnie, she was too good for him. She treated Hermione poorly, but Ron was treating it worse.

"What do we do, Arthur?" she asked through her tears.

"We do what we can, Mollywobbles. As we've always done. And right now, what we can do, is apologize. When we see them at Diagon Alley, that's one of the first things we do. The Second thing you can do is put on a smile and bake them some of your fantastic cookies."

She smiled tearfully at her husband and received one back. Arthur picked up her hand and kissed it.

"I love you, Molly. We'll fix this together."

All the witch could do was nod at her wonderful husband.