Chap 20.5 Peace Squib

Almost Three Years Later

The gitano dance troupe had entertained at the assembly that morning. They performed the many cultural dances including the regional Sevillana as well as the heart pumping Flamenco.

She walked down the empty hallway to her classroom. The weekly teacher meeting had ended on time for once. She was scheduled for a parent teacher conference.

She turned the silver tiepin in her hand. The snake, with small emeralds for its eyes twisted itself around a heart forming somewhat of an eternity symbol. She had bought it from a gypsy from the troupe during the craft fair at lunch.

She had someone in mind when she placed the Euros into the skinny gitana’s palm. But just like the forest green silk tie she had brought the previous year, she would probably just tuck the little trinket away; hidden in the recesses of her underwear drawer. She replaced the small knick-knack into her pocket and entered her room greeting the parent and student, both of whom were waiting inside patiently for her.

* * *

Hermione had fidgeted the whole time during her meeting with the obnoxious parent. She sat patiently listening to his rants, occasionally looking at the clock on the wall. It was almost 5 p.m. Señora Ortiz was expecting her an hour ago. She had also scheduled an appointment with a Mr. Brecher at six at the apartment. The two hour long meeting didn’t appear to have no end in sight.

It was half past five and it appeared that the student’s father was finally done with getting everything off his chest. She sat patiently nodding through his final ramblings as she rubbed the silver piece in her pocket absentmindedly. When he was finally done, she stood up quickly and issued some encouraging words to both student and parent. They walked themselves out thinking they received the better end of the deal.

Hermione sighed. She quickly packed up her things and then looked at her watch. She had only twenty minutes to quickly get home and get ready for the meeting with Mr. Brecher, the principal of the Churchill English School.

She walked quickly out of the classroom after keying in her code and ran down the hall, out of the building, down the steps and up the block. She looked at her watch again. ‘I’m never going to make it,’ she thought. She ran as quickly back to her apartment as she could. She was glad she had chosen to wear her running shoes that morning.

She bounded up her apartment building’s front steps and nearly stumbled in the lobby. She pressed the up button on the lift panel. Both lifts were near the top of the building. She swore under her breath and decided to bound up the eleven floors. She had less than seven minutes to get ready for her little meeting.

She opened her apartment door and she was surprised to see the two little children playing inside. Juan was desperately trying to clean up behind them.

“How do you do it?” he asked incredulously wondering how she kept up with the both of them.

“Thanks for picking them up,” Hermione said quickly picking up Manny and grabbing a hold of Dray’s hand.

“Señora Ortiz tuvo una cena con su familia,” he said and then he glanced at his watch. (1) “Oh man, you’ve got that entrevista, don’t you?”

Hermione kissed her friend on the cheek in appreciation. She looked at the inside of her apartment. It appeared as if a cyclone had hit. She shut her eyes. Why did this have to happen today?

She turned to Juan and gave Draden and Herman to him. He looked at her as he took the two. She said desperately, “Could you just bring them into the room and change them? I’ll finish cleaning up here.”

He nodded quickly taking the kids into her bedroom. She debated with herself. Mr. Brecher would be knocking at her door in less than three minutes. She took a deep breath trying to calm herself down. She had no other choice.

She quickly felt the side of her wooden desk, removing the slender brown stick she had purchased before moving to Sevilla. She gave it a wave and said a simple incantation. The room magically cleaned itself up as an unexpected onlooker watched amazed.

“You’re a witch,” the young History teacher said with a slightly frightened tone.

“J.C.” she said turning to face her accuser. She hastily hid the wand behind her as they both heard a knock at her door. Her eyes grew large with fear. “You can’t tell anybody.

“Please,” she said ushering him into her bedroom, her eyes still full of fear as she closed the bedroom door behind him. She headed to the kitchen and again waved her wand. A teakettle with Earl Grey tea, already brewed, and some sugar cookies appeared on a tray.

She dropped her wand hurriedly onto the kitchen table and took a hold of the tray before heading towards the front door. She paused, straightening herself up one last time before opening the door.

“Señor Brecher,” she said slightly winded, “Por favor, pase.”

Mr. Brecher smiled at his prospective new chemistry teacher. “Uh, my Spanish is not at all that good, Mrs. Weasley.”

“Lo lamento,” she said and then added, “Sorry, Sir. Please come in.”

She offered him tea and cookies before they got down to business. They sat in the now immaculate living room.

“This is a quaint home you have here,” he said looking around the small living area. He spotted the children’s toys neatly stacked on the shelf.

“Thank you, Sir,” she said taking a sip of her tea.

“We were delighted to see an English speaking candidate among the applicants.”

All she could do was smile. There were things that crossed her mind other than those of the interview subject matter. She had begun the day wanting to be open to whatever the principal had to say. It was a prestigious English speaking school catering to children of transplanted Britons; back with her own kind where she belonged, she thought.

Mr. Brecher explained the position to the young woman. “The position requires boarding at the school. Will that be a problem?”

Hermione looked at the toys on the shelf. “Mr. Brecher,” she said slowly. “I have two small children, Sir.”

“The position is a nine month position. I’m sure your husband won’t mind taking care of the kids while the school year takes place.”

She looked down at her tea. “My husband passed away three years ago, Sir.”

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Weasley,” Mr. Brecher said sincerely. “Maybe we can work something out. Your credentials are amazing and Mrs. Martinez speaks highly of you.”

She hadn’t even told Señora Martinez of her application to the school. Her heart quickened.

“But I have a feeling that your students at Lorca still need your services,” he said understanding the body language.

“Mr. Brecher,” she began.

“Here’s my card,” he said giving her a sincere smile as he stood up, “If we hear from you we hear from you.”

“Thank you, Sir,” she said as she walked him to the door.

* * *

Juan and the children were listening intently, more Juan than the two kids. The two children played on their beds. He closed his eyes, as he knew she would be staying at Lorca.

He took in a deep breath. Other issues were brewing, though, as he remembered how she adeptly worked the wooden stick.

She went back to the kitchen. She touched the wand lightly and then thought better of it. She placed the dishes into the sink.

She went over to her bedroom. She knocked on the door before entering. She looked quietly at her friend, almost sad. She pulled Draden into her arms as she sat down on Draden’s bed.

“Juan,” she looked down at her daughter then looked back up at her coworker.

“So, no vas a tomar la plaza, sí,” he said looking into her face telling her more than asking her if she was going to take the teaching position.

She smiled, knowing that he was changing the subject. “You can’t tell anybody, Juan, about what you saw.”

“It’s okay, Hermione,” Juan said, squeezing her hand. He lied, “I don’t know what I saw.”

She knew he was lying. She had an inkling that he had seen magic before. She studied him. He stood up and looked at her earnestly; he shut his eyes for a moment.

“Books and newspapers always exaggerate about those of the Wizarding world, Juan. We don’t blow up muggles . . . I mean regular people,” she said thinking about all of the violence surrounding any sort of interactions between wizarding folk and regular folk.

“I’m not afraid of that, Hermione. With Voldemort and his followers running around,” he paused, and then continued, “It’s just dangerous to be practicing, that’s all.”

“¿Conoces a Voldemort?” she asked surprised.

“Of course. My family’s known about dark wizards like him for centuries. Hermione,” he paused. “My family is of pureblood.”

She started to cry. Tears fell on her daughter’s face. Both of her children hugged her, as they seemed to be wondering why she was so sad.

“I’m a muggleborn,” she said.

“That’s all right,” he said, his spirits slightly higher than before. “I’m a Squib.”

She let the information settle. He explained to her how he was the last of seven children and how perhaps the magic had run out by the time he was born. All of the other children had gotten their letters from Cerdomago, the equivalent of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His parents were very supportive of him as he went to a muggle private school. He kept his background from his muggle friends. Hermione was the only one he had told.

Hermione returned his news with information of her own life. She explained Mr. Ronald Weasley, her friendship with a Mr. Harry Potter, Hogwarts, her position at the Ministry of Magic, and a certain Draco Malfoy.

“I guess we are two peas in a pod, aren’t we, J.C.”

“Two misfit magical people trying to live our lives like muggles, huh.”

“I am a muggle, J.C.,” she said standing up.

He nodded. He knew the dangers of the world in which they lived. Muggle-borns were being killed left and right within the past couple of years. Death Eaters were everywhere.

“Are you hungry,” Hermione asked, ushering the bad thoughts aside. She placed both Draden and Herman on their feet as she led all of them out of the bedroom.

He followed her. A smile crept onto his face, “Only if you’re cooking,” he said smiling.

She smiled back as they all walked into the kitchen. Both she and Juan looked at the wand. She picked it up and walked over to the wooden desk from which she had pulled the slender piece of wood earlier. She replaced it in the leg. It appeared to blend in seamlessly as if a wand was never really there.

She brought out a frying pan and olive oil. He smiled at her as he placed both of the kids into their high chairs. Muggle cooking ways, one could not beat the taste of it.

* * *

Professor McGonagall noticed a mysterious smile creep onto her old friend’s face as they and the rest of the staff sat at the head table. That day was to be a historic day in the magical world. Professor Dumbledore, herself, and Professor Snape had just returned from the Ministry of Magic where they had been witnesses to a historic signing.

Harry Potter had signed the parchment first. Then he looked up at the other young wizard. He looked just as exhausted as Harry appeared. He combed his fingers through his blonde bangs. He picked up the quill and signed his own name on the bottom of the peace accord.

The room, full of wizarding folk from all over the world, fell silent as if collectively holding their breaths as Draco Malfoy pulled the quill from the parchment. Both sides had finally agreed to stop the fighting with Voldemort dead. No longer would his name scare the magical realm. Muggles and muggleborns were now safe. Draco would make sure of that.

Professor Dumbledore announced to the Hogwarts students in the Great Hall that peace had been attained. Students and staff alike cheered the news. Professor Dumbledore waved his arms and the feast had begun.

As the feast continued, Professor Dumbledore quietly excused himself. Professor McGonagall followed behind him.

“Albus? What’s going on?” she asked concerned.

“I have to go out of town for a day, Minerva,” he said smiling.

She didn’t know what her friend was up to. But she smiled feeling at ease at his calmness. She nodded at her old friend allowing him to take his leave.

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A/N
(1) “Señora Ortiz tuvo una cena con su familia,” he said and then he glanced at his watch. - Senora Ortiz had a dinner with her family.