Chapter Text
Hermione didn’t want to acknowledge it, but the money returned to her provided her with a security that she hadn’t had in many months. She was not well off by any means, but she no longer had to worry if there would be enough for the next meal. She felt the need to somehow thank Snape and Malfoy for their support and assistance, so after discussing it with the children, they decided to invite the two men for Sunday brunch. Hermione lived in a small apartment above the pest extermination business.
The two wizards accepted the invitation, because they understood that it would be insulting to decline, even if Severus grumbled to Lucius that she should retain her money instead of using it to feed them.
The two wizards arrived promptly on time at the address she had indicated. Lucius Malfoy didn’t like the neighborhood, even if Severus told him that it was rather decent and that he had feared it might be worse.
The fare was simple but hearty and Hermione proved to be a decent cook.
“Everything is tasty,” Lucius commented politely.
“I have to note however, that your cooking suffers from the same issue as your potions did when you were a student,” Severus declared.
Hermione frowned. Lucius coughed.
“It is ill mannered to offend your host Severus,” Lucius remarked.
“And what might that issue be?” Hermione asked.
“A certain lack of imagination. You follow the instructions blindly, with no feeling. Brewing potions requires passion for them. The same applies to cooking,” he explained, despite Lucius kicking him under the table to make him behave.
Hermione did not look angry though. She just laughed.
“I must admit that I feel no passion for cooking. Regarding potions, I liked the class when you taught it, but I hated it later when Slughorn was the teacher,” Hermione said.
Lucius noticed that the laughter lighted and transformed her entire face.
“Mr. Snape, I finished the book that you gave me. It was very interesting. I have been practicing the hand movements included. May I show you?” Nora asked.
Hermione still didn’t know how she felt that Snape had gone into the trouble to gift her children with books. She had to admit that they were excellent choices. In the end she had thanked him and left it at that.
“It is rather strange though that since such books exist to help children train their muscles for wand work, that so many first years who had had access to them in their childhood had such a difficult time with mastering the movements,” Hermione commented almost absently.
“Most children do not read anything other than Quidditch magazines these days,” Severus added his opinion.
“Is Quidditch nice?” Hugo asked innocently.
Lucius realized that the boy lived in the Muggle world and had probably never seen a match.
“The very best sport,” Severus Snape replied.
“You will probably play in Hogwarts, for Slytherin I assume,” Lucius Malfoy stated.
“I know about the Houses. Mom was in Gryffindor,” Hugo said.
“Were you in Slytherin Mr. Malfoy?” Nora asked.
“Both Severus and I,” he replied.
“I want to be a Slytherin, too,” Nora stated.
For a moment Lucius looked panicked.
“Statistically speaking while it is probable that Hugo will be in Slytherin, it is rather improbable for you. However, over the centuries there have been exceptions, statistical anomalies, so anything could happen,” Severus explained.
“Why Hugo and not me?” Nora looked angry.
“Don’t you want to be in the same house as your mother?” Lucius now looked panicked.
“No, I want to be in the same house as you and Mr. Snape,” Nora insisted.
Lucius looked pleadingly towards Hermione, hoping that she would find a way to extract him from the tangle without hurting the feelings of Nora.
Just then, Hugo intervened.
“I do not want to be in Slytherin. I don’t like green,” he stated.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and felt the beginning of a headache.
“Enough of that now, Nora and Hugo, you are upsetting our guests, who are after all not the ones who will decide which House you belong to,” Hermione said quietly, but the children immediately ceased debating the topic. Lucius caught however Nora’s expression which clearly announced that for her the topic was not closed, just tabled for a later time.
After they had finished eating, the children ran to their room to play a board game.
“Miss Granger, I did not want to mention it in front of Hugo, but I was thinking that I might be able to provide a permanent cure for him. Lucius used arithmancy to run some calculations for me. Since the boy was exposed only once to the crucio, he is suffering from aftereffects because he was very young at the time, and his organism was not robust enough to counter the damage. I could combine the healing potion with a version of a nerve rejuvenation potion in combination with the drastic elements from skelegro to create a formula just for him,” Severus explained in detail.
Hermione looked at him dazed.
“What are the risks of this experimental potion?” she asked getting straight to the point.
“Does he have any allergies?” Severus asked.
“Not to the usual things that he might get into contact with in the Muggle world. But I have no idea as to his response to magical ingredients,” Hermione replied.
“I will have to test him then first for any adverse reactions to any of the ingredients. Otherwise, there are no real risks, other than that the potion might not work,” Severus said honestly.
“Thank you so much for putting so much effort to help my children and me, thank you both of you,” Hermione thanked them from the bottom of her heart.