Hikaru: Harry knew Hermione's name very well… He just didn't know the name of the new governess, because for once, Ginny had arranged it with Hermione's old Headmistress… When he came home with Neville, he recognised the name at the same time as the woman herself…
By the way: this speaks volumes about his unconscious desire to meet her again! He knew she was a governess, so if he wanted to be sure 'chance' would never have her path cross with his anymore, then he would've stayed more actively involved with picking Lily's governesses…
***
Chapter 20
Molly's letter was much more subtle in inviting herself over. At least, she was expecting an official invitation from Harry also.
After quickly sending of a reply to his best friend's mother, he informed an ecstatic Dobby about the plans for next week. Although there hadn't been any confirmation about his doubts in Molly's letter, Dobby had also assumed next Friday there would certainly be the All Saints Ball…
While Harry didn't really look forward into organising a social gathering like that at his home - he shuddered to invite all those witches and wizards he'd rather not see - he was amused with Dobby's excited frenzy at the short notice. Normally, it would be madness to start inviting people for such a date with only a week's notice, but he was Harry Potter, after all… And once word spread that Mrs. Weasley was going to be there, too - her reputation as hostess was quite formidable - he had no doubts the place would be full Friday night…
Still worrying over the ball's preparation and invitation list, he barely noticed the knock on his door. Absentmindedly inviting them into his study, he looked up to see Neville. Confused Harry asked:
"I thought you were visiting Ginny's work today? You can't possibly have seen all of it already?"
Neville smiled: "Indeed not… Ginny's quite passionate about what she's doing, and I'm afraid she forgot all about me the minute she arrived. There had been an accident with little kids having used their parents' wands, you see… I grew a bit bored after seeing Ginny fuss over the little wizards, while scolding the parents…"
Shrugging, Neville admitted: "I didn't really want to go with her… Hospitals and all that always make me feel a bit uncomfortable. But if there's one thing I learned to be dangerous, it is to refuse a Weasley, especially Ginny… Remember our last Yule Ball at Hogwarts?"
Wincing in sympathy at the memory Neville revoked, Harry didn't dwell on it, and before he could speak up anyway, Neville sat down, looking a little more serious.
"I guess it was a good thing I got back early today…" before Harry could ponder what he meant by that, Neville held up a letter: "I got this the moment I arrived here. It's from my government. They wish for me to return as soon as possible, in order to attend an All Hallows Eve ball there. I would have to make a speech about what I learned on my journey here…"
Neville looked a bit queasy at the prospect of having to speak in front of that gathering… But Harry was more concerned with the fact that it meant Neville was going to have to leave soon, after all, he only had less than a week to cross the ocean. While wizards had more effective means to complete this travel than Muggles, it was still a bit time-consuming…
Apparition and Portkeying wasn't regarded as safe enough, and Flooing couldn't be done over water. Harry knew Neville had come over in the flying carriage of the British Ministry as an important guest, but wasn't sure that courtesy would be allowed twice:
"We will miss you… When will you have to depart?"
Neville frowned: "I apologise for the short notice, Harry, but I can not stay longer than dinner tonight. Already I will have to hasten myself as it is, so I thought at least I'd be able to bid everyone goodbye tonight… My colleague who attended the French Ministry will pick me up with the American underwater traveller, Gillysweeper…"
Harry nodded absentmindedly wondering about the magical engine those Americans must've built… But his foremost though was the desperate want of clarification if that meant he was leaving Miss Granger behind, but he didn't want to pry…
"Indeed, so tonight will have to be the last night of our enjoying your company… It is indeed unfortunate of your government to demand your presence this suddenly…"
Neville nodded gravely and grumbled under his breath: "Bloody politics…" just not silently enough for Harry not to have heard…
*
Hermione's patience was beginning to wear thin. Lily was being extraordinarily stubborn. By the time Winky popped in briefly, leaving lunch for two on a tray, Lily had yet to show any reaction.
Setting the plates filled with food on each side of the table, Hermione rejoiced when her daughter straightened and walked to one of the chairs. However the girl didn't sit down, but grabbed one of the plates. Looking deliberately at Hermione, she threw the food with considerable force towards the locked door. Soon the cup of pumpkin juice followed.
For the first time in her career as a governess, Hermione was forced to restrain herself from tearing at her hair and screaming at the top of her lungs out of sheer frustration. Instead of this, however, she took a deep and deliberate breath, and set her plate on the tray again, true to her promises to Mr. Potter.
"I guess that means I won't eat either…"
While she was cleaning up the mess Lily made with a few well-placed spells, she also send the tray back to the kitchens. Lily was watching her with crossed arms and a very angry expression. But Hermione noted, she was trying hard not to show her exhaustion.
All the stubbornness was tiring her out, and if Hermione was right, the little witch was starting to regret throwing her food away. Taking advantage of Lily's wavering strength, Hermione asked her:
"Will you be ready to learn now?"
Lily however clung to her arrogance as a lifeline: "You're but a servant! You're poor and a Muggleborn! I don't have anything to learn from you!"
Hermione's patience cracked. Standing straight, she towered over the defiant little witch.
Her voice firm, but not too loud, she set the girl straight: "I may not be rich, and my parents may not have been wizards, but I am not a servant. While I'm here, you are placed under my authority and tutelage, and you will obey me!"
Lily didn't seem impressed at all about this, though… Indeed she seemed victorious to have made the governess lose her calm demeanour. With a malicious gleam in her eyes she taunted: "Servant, servant, servant…"
Hermione's fingers clenched around her wand. All the stress from meeting her daughter at last, and discovering her to be a spoiled brat bubbled inside her, making her lose her rationality. Sending a hex towards the girl, she registered her own shock as well as the girl's.
The spell was rather harmless, making the girl's hair stand straight upward. While she saw the girl touching her hair gingerly, Hermione quickly hexed herself to the same fate.
Before Lily could recover from the shock, Hermione quickly knelt before the girl, grabbing her upperarms desperately. Searching the girl's eyes, Hermione lost all calm when she tried to break through to the girl:
"I am no more a servant than you will be! The grown-up world is a difficult one to live in, and you are going to need more than arrogance and a good family name to survive in it. If you're lucky, you won't have to marry, because if you do, you won't have anything of yours, everything will be your husband's! And even if you don't marry, you'll still be dependant on others, unless you learn a skill, like Miss Weasley, but that takes years of study and to study, you need to know how to read first! You'll never be completely free, body and soul can be bound, and there's only one thing about you nobody can stake a claim on. Your mind Lily! They can posses everything else, but not your mind! That's why I want you to be able to read, Lily! It's the only way you can truly acquire some freedom! But in order for you to learn, you will have to listen to me first!"
Out of breath, Hermione didn't let go of Lily's arms, shaking the girl slightly as if to make her words sink in more thoroughly.
Lily seemed to have abandoned all arrogance, and though her expression still showed more shock and confusion than real understanding, the girl whispered carefully:
"Are you going to make our hair go down again if I promise to look at those cards?"
***
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