The Sound Of Silence

The next day found Hermione awake before dawn. She had wrapped all the gifts she had for her friends and Stephanie. She shook her head at the size of each package. She loved her life, but sometimes, just sometimes, she wondered what it would have been like if she had made different choices. She wondered what it would have been like to go to the University.

She never wondered what life would have been like without Stephanie. She loved her daughter to much for that. She did wonder what would have happened between her and Severus. Would they be together? Would they have more children? She shook herself from the thoughts when she heard Steph starting to stir. All those questions didn\'t matter. Her daughter was the most important thing in her life.

The girl in question ran into the room. Hermione caught her in a hug. \"Happy Christmas baby!\" Steph kissed her cheek and started signing. Hermione laughed. \"Of course we\'re going to visit. First, you and I are having our Christmas here.\" She picked up a small box from the table. \"I\'m sorry it\'s so small. Money wasn\'t as plentiful as I had hoped.\" Steph shook her head as she tore into the package.

On top was a chocolate frog box. Hermione smiled. \"Before you ask, yes it does hop. Be careful when you open it, but wait until after breakfast. Keep going.\" Steph reached back into the box and pulled out a set of quills and a small journal. Hermione smiled. \"I thought you could write about your visit.\" Steph nodded.

At the very bottom of the box was a folded piece of paper. Steph pulled it out and read:

\"I, Hermione Ann Granger, to hereby promise that Stephanie Jade Granger (Snape) will be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when she receives her letter from Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.\"

Steph looked at the paper and then at her Mother. Hermione nodded. \"It is a binding contract. You will be attending Hogwarts.\"

Steph grinned and hugged her tightly. She pulled back and frowned. Then she signed. Hermione shook her head. \"Don\'t worry about me. Your Uncle Harry and Ron have offered their house. I\'m sure the offer will still stand.\" She frowned a little at that.

Steph looked at her. She signed, \"You don\'t want to live with them.\"

Hermione smiled. \"With Harry and Ginny getting married, Ron will probably move out on his own. I suppose I could move in with him.\"

Steph bit her lip and signed, \"What about Daddy? You could live with him. I bet he would let you.\"

Hermione shook her head. \"We\'ve got plenty of time to figure everything out. Now, we\'ve got to get to breakfast!\"

Steph shook her head and ran out of the room. She came back with a large box and handed it to her Mom. Hermione frowned. \"Honey, what is this?\" Steph motioned for her to open it. Hermione pulled the top off the box and moved the paper aside. She put a hand to her mouth. \"Stephanie, where did you get this?\"

Steph signed \"Gladrags in Hogsmeade.\"

Hermione pulled the cloak out of the box and looked at it. It was ebony wool, but lined with a soft, deep red fox fur. She pulled it around her shoulders and looked at Steph. \"Where did you get the money for this?\"

Steph grinned wider. She signed, \"I worked for it. I helped Daddy, Uncle Albus and Aunt Minerva. I bought it all myself.\"

Hermione pulled the girl into a hug. \"You didn\'t have to do that. You should have saved your money and bought yourself something.\" Steph shook her head.

\'Mione kissed her cheek again. \"How much money did you make?\"

Steph shrugged. She signed, \"I spent it all on you and Daddy. Albus took me to Hogsmeade last week and I found him a first edition potions text that I know he doesn\'t have. Will he like it?\"

Hermione hugged the girl tightly. \"Honey, he\'ll love it. I already bought him something from us, but he\'ll enjoy your present much more.\"

Steph signed, \"We can give it to him together.\"

***
After they were both ready, they gathered presents and floo\'ed to the Burrow. They were automatically swept up into the Christmas Spirit. Steph looked around in amazement. There wasn\'t a corner that wasn\'t decorated. She ran from one place to the other. She ran back to Mommy and pulled her hand to make her come see everything. Ron and Harry stood watching.

Hermione laughed as she was pulled along. Ginny had taken her cloak and was hanging it up when she noticed it was new. \"Hermione. This is an amazing cloak! Where did you get it?\"

She smiled. \"That was my Christmas present from Stephanie. She worked at Hogwarts and bought it for me.\" She pulled the packages from her pocket and enlarged them. She handed Ron, Harry and Ginny a present. \"It\'s not much, but I wanted to get something for each of you.\"

Ginny smiled as she unwrapped the package. \"You didn\'t have to get us anything. Just having you back is gift enough.\" Her eyes lit up as she saw the small frame. \"Hermione, this is wonderful! Is this a muggle photo? I don\'t think I ever saw this one.\"

Hermione smiled as she watched each open their gifts. \"I found those at Mum and Dad\'s. I hope it\'s not to corny.\"

Harry looked at his framed picture and then at Hermione. He pulled her into a tight hug. When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy with unshed tears, \"Mione, have I told you how much I missed you?\" Hermione shook her head as she hugged him.

Ron smiled. \"When did your parents take these photos?\"

Hermione moved away from Harry and looked at his photo. \"This one if from the summer before third year. I think Harry\'s is before fourth year and Ginny\'s is from before sixth year.\"

Ron looked at the picture again and then hugged Hermione. \"Please don\'t you ever go away again. I don\'t want to miss anymore of your life.\" Hermione nodded as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

Harry nudged Ron. \"I think it\'s time for our presents.\" Ron nodded and walked out with Harry to get the packages.

***
Steph grinned the whole time they were gone. Hermione and Ginny sat down on the couch. Mr. And Mrs. Weasley walked into the room. Molly smiled. \"Hermione dear, Arthur and I have a present that we want to give you. We know that money is tight for you.\"

Arthur broke in. \"We know how frustrating that can be.\"

Molly smiled at her husband and continued. \"My boys, Harry included, have been telling up about your budgets and short cuts. We also know that you are very independent, but our present to you is shopping. We\'ve contacted shops in Hogsmeade and set up a line of credit for you. Go shop until you are content.\"

Hermione shook her head. \"Thank you for the gift and for the offer, but I can\'t accept it.\"

Arthur shook his head. \"We understand the hesitance, but think about the offer.\"

Ron and Harry came back in with huge grins on their faces. Harry motioned for Steph. \"First, for Steph. Something we know she\'ll love.\"

Ron enlarged the package he was holding. Steph gasped when she saw the shape and size of it. She grabbed it and started tearing off the paper.

Hermione shook her head. \"Guys, no you didn\'t!\"

Harry nodded. \"Yes we did. The brand new prototype from our upcoming line.\"

Ron nodded. \"It\'s quick like Harry\'s seeker broom, but it\'s more comfortable like my keeper broom. Do you like?\"

Steph grinned but then looked at her mother. She signed. Hermione sighed and nodded. \"You can keep it.\" Steph grinned and mounted the broom. Hermione shook her head. \"Not in the house.\"

Hermione frowned at the boys. \"I asked Severus not to buy her a broom.\"

Harry raised an eyebrow. \"Do either of us look like Snape?\"

Ron made a gagging motion. \"I\'m should hope not mate. I have enough of a problem getting girls as it is.\"

Steph tugged Harry\'s sleeve. When he looked at her, she pointed to the broom and then outside. He smiled. \"After breakfast, I promise. First, Ron and I have to give your mother her gift.\" He handed her a small box.

Hermione took it. She shook her head. \"I didn\'t expect anything.\"

Ron nodded. \"That\'s what makes it a surprise.

Hermione frowned and pulled the ribbon from the box. She opened the top and frowned. She picked up the key and looked at it. \"What is this?\"

Harry scoffed. \"Well obviously it\'s a key.\"

Hermione frowned. \"But a key to what?\"

Ron put his arm around her. \"My heart of course.\" He laughed as she pushed him away. \"It\'s your key. You are now the proud owner of vault 269 at Gringott\'s Wizarding Bank.\"

Hermione put the key back into the box and pushed it into Harry\'s hand. She shook her head as she walked outside. Harry and Ron looked at each other as Ginny went after her.

***
Outside, Hermione was pacing in the snow. Ginny walked up and placed her new cloak over her shoulder. Hermione pulled the cloak around her, but didn\'t look at the young woman.

Ginny sighed. \"Talk to me Hermione. What\'s wrong?\"

Hermione stopped her pacing. \"I\'m not a child.\"

Ginny nodded. \"No one said you were.\"

The older woman shook her head. \"No one had to say anything. Everyone has treated me like a child since I arrived last week.\"

The red head took in a breath. \"We have not! How can you say something like that?\"

Hermione turned to look at her. \"Really? Well, I\'m sorry then. I just cannot stand people feeling sorry for me. No, I don\'t have much money, but I am happy. Yes, I am happy. My daughter is happy and she is healthy. I don\'t want pity and I do not want anyone to take care of me.\"

Ginny frowned. \"Is that what you think we\'re doing? On honey. We love you. We never wanted you to feel helpless around us. We only want you to stay. We\'ve missed you.\"

Hermione nodded. \"I know you\'ve missed me. I\'ve missed everyone too. But I will not be a sidekick. I was Harry and Ron\'s sidekick for almost eight years. I will not follow them again. I have a life, my own life and I do plan on living it.\"

Ginny nodded, \"I see nothing wrong with that.\"

Hermione resumed her pacing. \"Then why give me that key? I told them that I didn\'t want it. I don\'t want their help, so why give it to me?\"

Ginny stopped her. \"They gave it to you because we want you to live your life. What you have in New York, that doesn\'t make you happy. I know it can\'t. You were the one that wanted to go to Uni, not me. You were the one that want to do research. You wanted to do something with your life. We just want to give you that opportunity.\"

Hermione frowned at the young woman. \"I don\'t love my life? I\'m not happy? When did I ever say that? I love my life. Sure, sometimes I wonder, but I am happy. I am doing something with my life. I\'m a mother and I have a comfortable job writing for a magazine. I am happy. Understand?\" She stormed past Ginny and off by herself again.

***

Inside, Stephanie was looking out the window, watching her Mother. She heard Harry and Ron talking in the other room. \"Wonder what\'s wrong with her mate?\"

Harry shook his head. \"Must be that time of the month. She\'s probably just emotion with that and Christmas.\"

Steph frowned. She stomped into the kitchen and glared at them. She signed her anger, but threw up her hands in frustration at their confused expressions. She grabbed her cloak, her broom and Mommy\'s small box and walked outside.

Hermione looked up and saw her daughter walking towards her. She frowned at the expression on her face. \"What\'s the matter honey?\"

Steph signed \"I want to go to Daddy\'s now.\"

Hermione frowned. \"Now? We haven\'t had breakfast. You haven\'t tried out your new broom.\"

Steph shrugged. Her hands moved. \"I know, but I want to go now. Please?\"

Hermione frowned at her. \"You\'ll tell me later then?\"

Steph nodded and hugged her tightly. Hermione glanced towards the house. She watched as Molly walked towards her.

Molly took in the sight of the Mother and Daughter. \"Is everything ok?\"

Hermione shrugged. \"Stephanie wants to go see Severus now. I\'m going to go with her. I\'m really sorry Molly, but, the boys just don\'t understand. I am sorry.\"

Molly patted her shoulder. \"Go on dear. I\'ll take care of the boys. I hope you\'ll come to the party tonight.\"

Hermione nodded and apperated herself and Steph to the gates of Hogwarts.

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