The plump redhead calmly finished stirring her cauldron and moved it from the fire. It had been years since she made a potion that wasn't used by healers. Taking care of 7 children made it hard to afford a lot of things, but it helped that she knew how to make most of the potions they used at St Mungos. It was easier to keep them in stock at home than to floo with her rambunctious children in tow. With the first 3 it wasn't as troublesome, but once the twins were born it was near impossible. Still she wouldn't give any of them up for the world, not even Percy.

She had agreed with Albus's plan and thankfully her kitchen was her domain. No one bothered her while she was in the kitchen, some of her children tried to avoid it so they didn't get wrapped up into doing chores while she was in there. Arthur didn't mind whatever it was she had cooking or brewing as he trusted her as a fully grown witch and his wife.

All that was needed now was a hair from Ginny, which was easy to get, perhaps from her brush, and one from Ron, probably from his pillow sheet.

The doses she would give each of the children would vary since she didn't want it to be too noticeable. She wasn't an amateur.

Hermione would have to be worked slowly, as there was some tension. Harry however would be open to a higher dose since boys tended to fancy different girls all the time (or so she told herself).

There were a few other potions cantered in her cabinets. They already had pieces of her and Albus's hair. The older wizard was fine with parting with a few hairs from his long beard. After all it was his idea.

Now that it was done, she merely needed to meet the children at Grimmauld Place. Harry and Hermione were supposed to be there within the week to spend some time with Sirius.

Hermione and Severus took the portkey back to England, landing in his living room. Severus landed fine while Hermione ended up on her behind.

"You forgot to move your legs," Severus said as he bent over and offered her his hand.

Hermione shot him a petulant look as she grabbed it and let him help her up, "I figured after I landed on my bum instead of my feet."

He smirked at her, "I must admit I enjoyed my time in Bulgaria and that we were able to get a few fresh potion ingredients from there."

The change on the witch's face was instant as it was lit up by a bright smile, "Me too. Thank you, Master."

His eyes softened as he looked at her face, "You're welcome, Apprentice. It was well worth it. You learned a new skill, and we were able to grab ingredients for our next project. I know since it is nearly time for the new term to start that you and Mr. Potter will no doubt be headed to Headquarters."

The witch's hair bounced as she nodded in agreement. She wasn't looking forward to it since Harry didn't know she was part of the Order. Granted she would be pleased to see the Headmaster's reaction to their tweak in his plan. Apprentice instead of assistant, a position that required more time and dedication on both parts.

"We will still continue our lessons, I will ask Black if he has a room we may borrow so your brother doesn't become more concerned. If not we will continue our lessons here."

Hazel eyes looked up through lashes.

"I would prefer to continue our lessons here…" she said, her words drifting off as her cheeks started to glow with a light blush. She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder left shoulder, having gotten into the habit of always making sure their wand arms were free.

He kissed the crown of her head, cushioned by her hair.

"There are benefits of brewing in both locations. There you will have the benefit of brewing with a few distractions. While you've obviously brewed while also aiding the walking disaster that is Longbottom –"

"Excuse you," she interrupted looking up at him, "Neville is a good friend. It's not his fault that you're his boggart. He's seriously terrified of you, Severus. It would be much easier if we could rectify that. As your assistant and apprentice I think it would do the classroom a world of good."

He studied her for a few moments trying to decipher her motive before breathing a sigh of defeat.

"What would you have me do, Hermione?"

"We can start by trying to lighten the classroom up a bit. It's in the dungeons, but we have magic. I know for a fact that the rooms down there aren't all as dark as your classroom. It was significantly lighter in my first year," she said with a raised brow.

"I darken it for every year. Not just your class, but for second years to sixth years. NEWT classes get the same lighting as first years since I believe they have earned it," he admitted.

"Well that might have to stop. It's distracting, and is probably one of the main reasons for all the mistakes. It'd be nice to stop having to dodge exploding cauldrons and their contents. Not to mention making sure that I don't let melted cauldrons and such touch my feet. Not everyone can afford dragonhide boots."

With another defeated sigh he nodded. Hermione let out a soft breath.

"It doesn't help that the darker the room the harder it is to tell the different between some of the ingredients. If they're distracted by terror from you, instigating from fellow students," here she raised a pointed eyebrow at him as they both knew what she was talking about, "and have difficulty seeing the ingredients, let alone reading the instructions….?"

He huffed, "Fine, I see your point. I will rectify this immediately."

She smiled at him before lifting up to the tips of her toes to kiss his cheek, "Thank you."

He nodded in a slightly petulant manner.

"Now be off, I know you're leaving soon," his words at odds with his actions as he moved his fingers through her hair.

She smiled more and nodded, "I'll see you at Headquarters soon, Severus."

"Sev."

"I'm sorry?"

He blushed, "I – I…." he coughed into his hand trying to hide the light blush that was creeping onto his cheeks, "I wouldn't mind if you started calling me Sev."

"I'll see you at Headquarters, Sev." She beamed at him. "Thimi, I'm home!"

The little elf popped, immediately hugging Hermione's legs, "Mistress, I've missed you so much! I'm so glad you're back!" her voice squeaked in her excitement. Another moment and the petite witch was no longer in his living room.

Sirius walked through his house making sure the rooms were ready for his incoming guests. Albus and Molly insisted on the children sleeping here until term started. While he didn't mind Harry and Hermione coming over, to invite Molly's brood all at once, including the bossy witch herself?

He grumbled under his breath. The plump witch went so far as to even designate rooms to the children, he comforted himself that they were at least on what he reassigned to be the guest floor.

The twins were in a room together, Ginny was to bunk with Hermione, and Ron with Harry. He didn't tell her but he planned to have the two on the family floor. Harry would have a room of his own, and since Hermione was his sister, she would have one as well. Kreature had already been informed and kept that information to himself from the red haired harridan.

Said witch kept running back and forth between houses, doing what Sirius didn't care. As much as Molly cooked, and he admitted she cooked well, he preferred to have Kreature cook for him lately. Something told him there was something off with her food lately. To avoid suspicion he had Kreature make the same thing she would so it looked the same. When no one was looking the elf would switch the plates and Sirius would dig in, complementing the witch with a smile on his face.

As much as his instincts told him there was something wrong he felt it would be incredibly rude to shift into his dog form and sniff the food.

At the same time he was pleased that Molly at least cleaned up after Dumbledore's guests. Not that it mattered as Kreature cleaned up after her, grumbling about her and her children.

He had nothing against the kids, until they were in his house. The twins he liked, mini-marauders after his own heart. Them he would allow in his house whenever they had need. Ginny, while spirited, he noticed that she had moments of yelling like her mother. It was an ugly side of her. Ron… he liked the boy at first. Really he did! He was Harry's best mate. But sitting at the dinner table eating next to him… no. He made sure Ronald Weasley sat elsewhere at the dinner table after that. However it wasn't just that, he noticed aside from a lack of manners, he had a lack of tact and respect. He complained about Hermione whenever she was mentioned. He complained about Harry keeping secrets and all else he could think of when he was brought up.

Sirius didn't say anything, and let it be. The more he heard, the more he learned. The twins stood up for his godson and his sister, which helped endear them to him immensely while throwing the younger two more into thestral dung.

"Hermione!" Harry shouted as soon as he saw her. The boy ran to her and threw his arms around her in a grand hug, the witch returning it fiercely.

"I hope you had fun, I missed you."

"I missed you too, Harry."

They pulled back to look at each other as though it had been a year. It was the longest they had been apart since the bonding.

"You look good. New robes?" she inquired.

He blushed, "Yeah. New wardrobe. I told mum and dad, and they took it a lot better than I thought they would."

Hermione grinned, happy to hear the good news, "Very handsome."

"Thanks," he looked down at his shoes, "Mum said so too."

"How did you find the wizarding area?"

"We asked Thimi," he said, not looking at her.

"Harry?" she asked him, looking at him with a small amount of concern.

"We tried, we were talking about it at breakfast the next day, but we came up blank. We had no idea. We asked Thimi if you knew, and she said yes. Then she said that she knew and she could take us there," he rambled.

She looked at her brother for a moment before pulling him into another hug, "Oh, Harry."

When she pulled back Thimi was handing her a letter, which she took curiously.

Dear Harry and Hermione,

As soon as you send a reply to this letter, I'll come over to fetch you. If I'm working, I'll send Remus. Can't wait to have you both over!

Cheers,

Sirius

"It's rather… short," she said.

Harry nodded, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"Hermione!" a well-known voice shouted.

"Mum!"

The witch ran over and threw her arms around her mother.

"There's my hellion."

"Dad." The witch switched parents.

"Did you have fun?" he asked.

"Yes. I had a lot of fun. Tatyana even insisted that I call her Mama."

"Viktor's mum did?" Harry asked.

"Yes. Both Master Snape and I. She's a wonderful woman," Hermione said with a big smile.

Harry nodded in agreement. Tatyana was a wonderful witch, very caring, but not overbearing.

"Did you?" Leeory asked in amusement.

Hermione blushed, "I wasn't too comfortable with it, so I ended up calling her Mama Tatyana. However I will admit I was very flattered and pleased that they accepted me so much. Even Boris was pleasant."

"That's good. We're glad you enjoyed yourself," he replied.

Hermione grinned.

"I don't know if he told you, but Harry here got a whole new wardrobe!" Leeroy practically boomed with pride.

Hermione laughed softly, "Yes, he did. All new robes."

Abagail looked over at Harry with a knowing smile.

"He didn't get just new robes. We went the through the whole field. Muggle and magical. We threw practically everything out since he's grown out of most if not all of it," she bragged.

"Really?" Hermione looked over Harry with a sly look in her eyes.

"Oh yes. Even his school robes are cut very finely. Including his quidditch robes," Abagail said.

"We're gonna bag Harry the best boyfriend ever!" Leeroy shouted, his chest puffed out and his hands on his hips.

"Your mum has been giving him lessons, which he's taken very well. He's made leaps and bounds in keeping a firm frame of mind! We're very proud of him," Leeroy said, grinning at his son.

The three Grangers looked at Harry grinning at him with love. The green eyed wizard smiled back, his chest filling with a warmth and happiness he knew would make the brightest patronus he'd ever cast.

The rest of the day was spent catching up and enjoying each other's company as a family again. Thimi was very happy with and for her family.

Harry and Hermione waited a day before broaching the subject of leaving with their parents.

"It's that time of year again?" Abagail asked with a wan smile.

"Yeah," her daughter nodded a bit sadly.

"We'll write as much as we can when we get to Hogwarts," Harry said in an almost begging manner.

"I know you kids will," she reached out and stroked both of their cheeks lovingly.

"I figure you and Thimi have packed your trunks?" Leeroy asked.

They both nodded.

Leeroy smiled at them sadly, "We won't be able to see you off this year I take it?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, it's too dangerous."

They both nodded in understanding. They knew the wizarding world fell on a fence when it came to the royal family, so it was decided not to tempt them until things calmed down with the civil war. With the dark lord being resurrected, it was only a matter of time before shit hit the fan and Hades had more work than usual.