The Sound of Noise

Severus watched as the owl flew away. Hermione and Stephanie would be arriving within the hour. He had just received news of their appearance at Harry Potters home. Hermione planned on staying there until she found a suitable place for Stephanie and herself. He smiled to himself. He had received conformation on that as well. Now, to mark essays until they arrived.

***
Steph had opened one of the many boxes that littered Harry's living room and starteing ing through it. Harry watched Hermione walking through the room, counting. She nodded. "Looks to be everything. Our whole lives in these boxes."

Harry put his arm around her. "It's good to have you back 'Mione. It really is."

Steph looked up at them. She signed. Hermione laughed. "Yes, yes. Come on then. I'll take you to Hogwarts now."

***
Severus opened the door to see Stephanie and Hermione. He smiled slightly at the hug from his daughter.

Hermione smiled. "I couldn't keep her away. Even the offer of a game of Quidditch with Harry and Ron didn't sway her."

He chuckled. "Little One, you have been in country for a few hours, you couldn't have waited?"

Steph looked at him and shook her head. Hermione laughed. "All right then. I'm off to Hogsmeade. You two play nice." She kissed Stephanie's head and nodded at Severus as she left.

Severus closed the door behind her and looked at his daughter. "How would you like to play a game?"

***
Hermione sighed as she looked over the notice board in Hogsmeade. She didn't want to go into London to search for a home. She was about to turn away when a small house elf came up to the board. She watched as several notices attached themselves to the board. She sighed and stepped towards the board again.

In the corner, was a small note. She bent to read it. "Home for rent. Three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Compatible with Muggle technology. Walking distance to Hogsmeade. Visit today."

She stood and pulled the note from the board. As it came off the board, the words rearranged into a map to the house. Hermione shook her head. It sounded to good to be true. She sighed. May as well go look. She turned and began to follow the map.

Beside the board there was a shuffle. Suddenly Stephanie and Severus appeared from underneath an invisibility cloak. Steph smiled as she watched her Mom walking away. She looked at her Father. He nodded. "Yes, our game is going according to plan. She hasn't noticed us as yet. Let's follow her and see her reaction."

***
Hermione stopped at the fence and looked at the house. It looked as if it was brand new. She shook her head as she stepped through the gate. It would be to expensive for her and Stephanie, she could already tell.

Before she could knock on the door, it opened and she saw a small House Elf. He bowed. "Welcome madam. Please come in."

Hermione stepped into the foyer and looked around. Very nice, very tastefully decorated. She looked down at the elf.

He bowed again. "Covington is happy to see such as nice lady looking at the house. Please, let Covington show you around." Hermione nodded and followed the elf into the living room.

As the tour finished, Hermione felt her mood fading. There was no way she could afford to rent this house, not even using the money Harry and Ron gave her. She sighed loudly.

Covington looked at her. "Is Madam unhappy? Many things can be altered to suit Madam."

Hermione shook her head. "The house is wonderful. I would be more than happy to live here, but I'm sure that I can't afford it."

Covington snapped his fingers and a scroll appeared in his hand. "Madam should look at this."

Hermione took the parchment and unrolled it. She read over the words and felt her eyes widen. "This can't be right. How can someone, anyone, make money this way?"

Covington looked at her. "Master does well in his position. His station in life is stable. He wishes for others to have stability as well."

She bit her lip. "I shouldn't hesitate on this, but I do want to speak with my daughter."

The Elf nodded. "The Master is most eager to have the home occupied."

Hermione nodded and then looked at the elf. "You speak very well for a house elf. Did your Master teach you?"

Covington nodded again. "Master said he did not enjoy the unintelligent ways other House Elfs spoke. He has all his servant educated to a degree and even offers wages."

She smiled. "I believe I would get along well with your Master."

The elf shook his head. "Master is most secretive."

Hermione nodded. "Very well. I will speak to my daughter and send you my answer."

Covington shook his head. "No madam. If you wish to take the house, signing the paper will seal the contract."

She nodded and tucked the paper into her robe. "Thank you for your help."

The elf bowed again. "Thank you for coming madam."

Hermione left the house and hurried back towards Hogwarts.

***
Severus pulled the cloak from Stephanie and himself and walked into the house. Covington appeared. "Welcome Master."

Severus shook his head. "I have told you before, my name is not Master."

The elf bowed low. "Yes sir. Covington is most sorry. The young woman visited as you expected."

He nodded. "I was not mentioned?"

Covington shook his head. "Not by name sir. Covington was very careful."

Severus looked at Stephanie. She was trying not to stare at the House Elf. He chuckled. "Covington, this is my daughter Stephanie. She is one of the ladies that will be living here."

Covington bowed to Stephanie, who bowed back. Severus chuckled. "Stephanie, Covington is here to assist you. That is his job."

She looked at her Father and signed "Does he get paid?"

Severus nodded. "Yes, I pay all of the servants here."

Covington looked at Stephanie. "Young Miss is unable to speak." Severus nodded. Covington kept his eyes on the girl. "Was her speech taken by a Dark Wizard? How is young misses understood?"

Severus looked at the elf. "She was born without the ability to speak. She uses gestures to speak with her Mother and I. In time, you will learn what these gestures mean and be able to understand her. Until that time, she can communicate with notes."

Covington nodded. "Yes sir. Madam said she must speak to her daughter before accepting the home."

He nodded. "Very well, then we should return to Hogwarts. Thank you for your assistance Covington. Your digression over my involvement is still needed."

The house elf nodded and disappeared. Severus looked at Stephanie. "Let us find your Mother."

***
At Hogwarts, Hermione was knocking on Severus' door. She sighed as she turned away. "They must be outside. I wonder if they're in the Forest again?" She was about to walk up the stairs when she heard Severus.

"Checking on us again?"

She turned around and looked at them. "Of course not. I just came from Hogsmeade and needed to speak with Stephanie."

Severus nodded and dropped the wards to his chambers.

***
After everyone was settled, Hermione started. "I believe I found a house. It's close to town, has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and it's compatible with Muggle technology."

Stephanie smiled and nodded. She signed, "Sounds nice to me. It's up to you." She stood and wondered over to the bookshelf.

Severus shook his head. "She seems agreeable. How much will you be paying?"

Hermione pulled the scroll from her pocket. "This is what the House Elf gave me."

He unrolled the parchment and read over it. He frowned and looked back at Hermione. "Are you positive this is the correct price?"

She shrugged. "That's what the House Elf gave me. He said his Master was very secretive. I was shocked at that as well. It's such a beautiful house, I just can't believe the price. I just worry that there may be something wrong."

Severus nodded. "It's good to be cynical, but not so much you lose opportunities."

Hermione sighed. "That's true." She took the scroll from him. "Well, it's settled then." She read over the contract once more and then summoned a quill from his desk. With a deep breath, she signed her name to the contract. She jumped slightly as the parchment rerolled itself and disappeared with a pop.

Steph walked back over holding one of her Father's books. Hermione smiled at her. "Honey, we have a house." Steph grinned and hugged her Mother and then her Father. She signed quickly. Hermione nodded. "Yes, we'll start moving in tomorrow. Tonight, I guess we're staying with Harry and Ron."

Steph signed quickly to her Mother. Hermione looked from her to Severus. "I don't know. Ask him."

Steph turned to her Father. He followed her signs. "Well, if your Mothoes oes not mind, I would allow you to stay with me tonight."

Hermione smiled softly. "All right Steph. You can stay. I'll send your things when I get back to Harry's." Steph nodded and curled into one of the chairs by the fire.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "I may get to mark essays tonight after all."

Hermione nodded and leaned down to kiss Steph. "Right then. We can meet in Hogsmeade and start moving things into the house tomorrow morning."

He nodded. "We'll meet you then."

Hermione looked at her daughter. "Be good. I'll see you in the morning." With a nod, she left the room and Hogwarts for the evening.

Severus looked at his daughter. "Thank you for not reveling that I am the owner of the house. Your Mother would have never agreed."

Steph lay the book in her lap. She singed. "Why?"

He sat and stared into the fire. "Little One, you Mother is very special to me. So are you. I wanted both of you to be close to me." He glared at her. "None of this is to be repeated."

Steph grinned and nodded, then reopened her book. She smiled as she began to read. He'd practically said that he still loved Mommy! Maybe there was hope for their family yet.


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To all those who are still reading this:

Sorry I didn't update for a while. I just moved into my new house and the muse was packed in a box. That coupled with the fact my computer keyboard stopped working and the fact that we didn't have internet access for a while. I promise that I'm going to get back on schedule with this.

Until next time....thank you again!