Chapter 13
Harry watched with pain in his heart how Hermione Granger pulled herself together again. He felt like the greatest villain, when she quickly erased the proof of her tears from her cheeks smoothened down her skirts and walked out of his study with great restraint. She was the model of propriety, even though he couldn't even begin to imagine what she must be feeling right now.
Well, he could try to imagine, but just the thought of losing Lily filled him with paralysing fear, and he didn't like feeling that way.
Pushing his guilt away, he took a deep breath and walked determined in the direction of the receiving room. To his relief, Miss Granger hadn't arrived there yet. Standing near the fire to try and warm his cold body, in vain it seemed, he addressed Ginny:
"Miss Granger will not be staying with us…"
Ginny seemed very surprised: "Why ever not?"
Harry shrugged, aloof: "Lily doesn't like her…"
Ginny laughed out loud: "My dear Harry! Lily has never liked any of her governesses!"
Annoyed he replied: "Can't a father indulge his child, for the few years they're free of worries about the seriousness of life!"
Normally, this would not be enough to shut up Ginny, but only be the beginning of an argument. Luckily for Harry, Ginny seemed to have at least a bit of respect for the presence of Neville, and just sighed:
"I'll have to inquire for someone new then. You do realise you have to give her at least one month's notice, don't you, Harry?"
"Notice?" Harry felt the dread billed up inside himself again.
Ginny looked at him as if she had trouble believing he was that stupid: "Well, like it or not, she is a Muggleborn. Being governess is her profession, she doesn't have a home of her own: the place where she does her teaching is her temporary home! Surely you know this, Harry! It wouldn't be proper to send her out to live on the street! You have to give her a minimum of time to apply for a new family to find work at… Mind you, this will not reflect well on her résumé, only a day here and being send away… So it could even take longer than the one month you're obligated to give her!"
Harry felt ashamed, but at the same time terrified… One month? Why not an eternity?
*
Hermione was trying her best to walk slowly and dignified on her way to her room. Knowing that she was expected to go to dinner with the other houseguests, as Ginny had asked her, she wanted to clear her head briefly before facing that ordeal.
Seeing him had affected her more then she could have ever suspected… She had been paralysed, and struggling to keep all of the different emotions in check once he had laid his green gaze upon her.
His anger, she had expected, but she hadn't been able to keep her strong demeanour once they had been alone in his study. She knew his belief that a mother couldn't keep such a secret from her daughter while working closely with her, was righteous. But she still hated him for sending her away.
Arriving in the confinements of her room, she fled to her window and flung it open. Letting the freezing air cool her heated cheeks, she inhaled deeply. Then a thought just hit her.
He couldn't throw her on the street tomorrow! She had a contract! And wasn't he the oh-so-noble gentleman? He would never do something dishonourable, would he? So that gave her a month…
An evil little emotion called hope was creeping its way into her heart. It was evil, because it would serve to make the disappointment that much harsher after the month had come to its end… But Lily… She was spoilt, she needed to be taught, though.
Her daughter desperately needed education! In a few years she would be off to Hogwarts, and carrying the Potter name wasn't going to replace a prepared mind!
A month…
Maybe… If she proved she could keep her true identity secret for that time, while educating Lily well… Maybe…
No!
A month! Nothing more, but also nothing less! It won't do to let her heart go through that again. She should be grateful: she'd found her daughter, she would be spending a whole month with her daughter, every day… Lily was spoiled and lonely, but Hermione would teach her… for a month…
Taking one last breath of cold air, she closed her window and went downstairs to dinner.
She met the other house-occupants, minus Lily, who had eaten before, and was now sent to bed, in the hall. Being led to the dining room, she watched the imposing table. Luckily, they weren't expected to each eat at opposite ends.
Harry Potter's seat was at the head of the table, with Miss Weasley at his right side. Mr. Longbottom was presented the place at his left side, while Hermione sat next to Miss Weasley.
It was apparent by the awkward start of the conversation that everyone knew of her less then privileged status in society. Without malice, Miss Weasley had commented about a few things she had heard from Miss Granger about Blueboard, making it clear the latter was Muggleborn.
Luckily for Hermione, Miss Weasley was as talkative as ever, and was extremely interested in what Neville could tell her about America.
Hermione thanked the heavens for the lack of attention she received, and dared to look up a few times at Mr. Potter… him. It started to sink in now, that 'her man' was indeed a reality in her immediate presence. He had been a vision in dreams so often, and had remained unnamed until this day… It felt surreal…
Mr. Harry Potter, a mysterious man… A wife, not present, but she still very much existed… Lily… Her daughter…
The girl indeed had nothing to want for. She had the unconditional love of her father, had grown up with nothing to want for. But still… Hermione knew there was something very important missing in Lily's life. And though she never could fill her proper role as her mother in the girl's life, she could try and fill a bit of that void… even if she had to accomplish this in only a few weeks…
She was interrupted from her reverie by Mr. Longbottom who addressed her a question:
"What do governesses become later in life? If you don't mind me asking, Miss Granger?"
"I beg your pardon, I'm afraid I don't quite understand your inquiry?" Hermione frowned, where was this going?
Mr. Longbottom blushed a bit: "Well, I imagine there aren't always families wanting for a governess? What will you do once you're not… asked for anymore?"
Hermione smiled at his tact: "I'm afraid Divination was never my best class, in fact, I had the worst scores for that course…"
"I see," Mr. Longbottom cleared his throat.
Ginny smiled and turned to her: "I think what Mr. Longbottom's really trying to ask you, but is afraid to ask in front of me, is if you couldn't marry and leave your husband to worry over you…" Miss Weasley carried a glint of mischievousness in her eyes while she continued:
"You see, my dear Miss Granger, you've heard that the magical community is supposed to be women-friendly… But don't be fooled, married women who still have a chance to think for themselves are maybe not as rare as in the Muggle world, but male domination is everywhere, my dear! You know I told you about Hogwarts? Well, I used to scare poor Mr. Longbottom with my very feminist's ideas… And apparently I haven't lost my touch!"
Hermione was thorn between being indignant or amused about Miss Weasley's impertinent teasing, and feeling sorry for the madly blushing Mr. Longbottom. He had seemed so confident when she first met him, but Miss Weasley with her teasing seemed to bring him back to his adolescence…
Mr. Potter, however, reprimanded Miss Weasley with a sharp: "Ginevra!" and for a second Hermione was sure the witch was going to poke her tongue at the master of the house in retribution…
***
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