The Sound of Noise

Steph smiled as she woke up. She looked at the calendar on her wall. One month. Just one month and she would be out of school and moving to be near her Father. She crawled out of bed and ran down the hall to her Mother's room. She pushed the door open and ran in to jump on the bed.

Hermione groaned. "Do you have to be such a morning person?"

Steph pulled the covers away from the bushy hair in the bed. She grinned as her Mother shielded her eyes from the light. Finally, Hermione looked at her. Steph signed quickly. Hermione nodded. "Yes, I know. Only a month of school left." She rubbed her eyes and sat up. "Go on and get your shower. I'll have breakfast when you're finished."

Steph kissed her cheek and ran to get ready.

***

Later, after Steph had been dropped off at school, Hermione sat at her desk. She sighed and looked at the still photo of Harry, Ron and herself. She sighed. "I guess it's time."

She stood and walked to the Editor's office. She knocked and entered.

Mr. Ashurst looked up. "Hermione, what brings you in?"

She took a breath and sat down in the chair in front of his desk. "Frank, I need to talk to you. I'm not going to beat around the bush with this. I love working for you, but I have to leave."

Frank frowned and leaned forward in his seat. "Why? Do you need more money? Your own office? How can I make you stay?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing like that. I do love this job and it's going to be hard for me to leave, but I'm moving home."

Frank leaned back. "Moving back across the pond, eh? What brought this on?"

Hermione smiled. "Stephanie. She forced me to go over for a visit while she was on her Christmas Hols. She wants to attend the private school that I graduated from. That's where her Father teaches as well."

He nodded. "I see. So she's trying to get her family back together? You never told me, who is her Father? The dark haired boy in that picture?"

Hermione frowned, "Harry? Ew. No. That would be like being in love with my brother. You can tell it's not Ron either. As I said, her father teaches at my old school." She blushed. "He taught there when I was in school too."

Frank raised an eyebrow. "Exactly how old is this man?"

Hermione bit her lip. "He's almost twenty years older than I am."

Frank grinned. "Then why didn't you ever respond to any of my advances?"

She laughed. "I knew you weren't serious. Besides, you're not my type." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small picture. It was from the Christmas party and was of Severus and Steph. She smiled before she handed it over the desk. "That's from a party Steph and I attended."

He frowned, "Honey, he's no catch. I've got friends about his age that would be much better for you."

She shook her head. "Apparently, that man is my type."

Frank handed the photo back to her. "You're sure I can't talk you out of this?"

Hermione nodded. "We're moving at the end of the month. Just as soon as Steph finishes school."

Mr. Ashurst nodded. "Well, I'll start the paper work. I take it this is your two week notice?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes sir. I need some time to pack up the apartment."

He smiled. "Need any help getting everything shipped over?"

She shook her head. "No thanks. I've got a moving company coming. They claim they can work magic." She giggled slightly.

Frank stood and walked around the desk. He grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet. "It's not going to be the same with out you around Kid."

She hugged him tightly. "Change is a good thing, right?"

He nodded. "Now get out of my office and get to work before I fire you." She laughed as she walked back to her desk.

***

After work, she drove to pick up Steph. The teacher was standing, watching the children play on the playground equipment. Hermione stepped up beside her. "Have a good day?"

The teacher looked at her. "Of course. Steph tells me you're moving?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes. We're moving back to England so she can be near her Father."

Ms. Styles smiled. "Well, that's good for Stephanie. She was so excited to come tell us that she had met her Dad over Christmas break."

Hermione smiled. "She does love him. He teaches at the school she'll be attending."

Steph saw her Mother and came running over. Hermione frowned when she saw a Band-Aid on her forehead. "What happened honey?" Steph shrugged and signed. She ran off to get her book bag.

Ms. Styles shook her head. "We're not really sure. We were looking at some slides under the microscopes for our science lesson today. While she was looking through the eyepiece, one of the slides broke and a shard of glass cut her forehead. It wasn't deep so we didn't feel the need to call you."

Steph ran back up. Hermione looked at her head. Steph pushed her hands away and signed, "Mom, it's ok. It's just like with you and Daddy."

Hermione nodded. "All right then. We'll talk about it later." She turned to Ms. Styles. "Thank you for staying after with her. We'll see you tomorrow." Steph waved as she and her Mom walked to their car.

***

At the apartment, there was an owl waiting for them. Steph grabbed the letter and gave the bird a piece of left over bacon. She opened the seal. In her Father's cramped scrawl was a letter to her and Hermione. She read it and then handed it to her Mom.

Hermione quickly scanned through it. He was coming for a visit. She looked up at Steph. "Well, I guess we should get the place cleaned up."

***

The rest of the week went quickly. Friday afternoon found Steph sitting on the living room couch, trying to read as she waited for her Father. Finally, around five o'clock, there was a knock at the door.

She jumped off the couch and jerked open the door. She smiled at the sight of her Dad. He was dressed in black jeans and a white button up shirt. His black jacket was laying over his arm. She hugged him tightly and pulled him into the room. He smiled down at her. "Hello Little One."

Hermione walked out of the kitchen. "Good evening Severus." He nodded. She looked at Steph. "Dinner is almost ready. Go set the table please." She nodded and went into the kitchen. Hermione looked back at Severus. "Make yourself at home. We haven't had dinner yet. I guess you're probably eaten, but you're welcome to join us." She turned and walked into the kitchen.

He followed and took a seat at the table. "I may decide to sample a few things." He looked at Steph. "How is school?" Steph started telling him about her week. Hermione watched the interaction and thought back to his last visit.

***

He came for her birthday, along with Harry, Ron, Ginny and most of the Weasley's. Stephanie was in heaven. She took them all over the city, trying to show them everything. She took them to museums, Central Park, past her school building, and to all her favorite places.

Severus was a good sport about everything. He tolerated the other people and the Muggles. Finally, that night, when everyone had gone, he decided that he wanted to stay and spend more time with his daughter.

They spent the evening in relative comfort. Hermione worked on her article for the magazine while Severus read softly to Stephanie. He had already tried to help her with her homework and found Muggle teachers to be of non-importance. All to soon, Stephanie yawned and curled against her Dad.

Hermione looked up from her computer. "Time for bed babe." Steph looked at her and shook her head. Hermione nodded. "Yes ma'am. You may be eleven now, but you still have to be in bed before ten."

She frowned and looked up at Severus. He nodded. "Curfew at Hogwart's is nine o'clock. It would be best if you began that habit now." She sighed and nodded.

Hermione smiled as the girl headed up the stairs. She looked at Snape. "At least she still listens to one of us."

He raised and eyebrow. "You mean she doesn't listen to you?"

She shrugged. "Sometimes she doesn't. I suppose all children go through such phases."

He stood and walked over to her, "I recall several students who have gone through that same phase." He looked over her shoulder at the screen. "What sort of magic is this?"

Hermione shook her head. "It's not magic. This is a computer. The muggles came up with it. It works through electricity and small "chips" that store and use information. It can come up with answers to questions in seconds."

He nodded. "What answers are you searching for?"

She shook her head. "The only thing I'm searching for is the correct spelling of words." She clicked on the spell check button and pointed to the highlighted words. "See, those words are misspelled. It shows them to me and then gives me suggestions on how to correct them."

Severus snorted. "Laziness. This 'computer' must make its users dumber by doing all the work for them."

Before she could reply, Steph stepped back into the room. Hermione smiled, "All ready?" She closed the lid of the laptop and stood. She and Severus followed their daughter back to her room.

***

Severus shook his head. "Little One, you do not need anymore books." He looked around the room at the over crowded bookshelves and piles of books that littered the floor. She just smiled at him as she crawled into bed.

Hermione pulled the covers around her shoulders. "I know that I spoil her with books, but I know how she loves them." She kissed Steph's forehead and moved to let Severus have his time with his daughter.

After the good-byes were said and the lights turned out, the parents went back downstairs. Hermione picked up her computer. "I need tnishnish this article. Feel free to watch television or read. Just make yourself at home." She put herself back on the couch with her notes spread out on the table in front of her.

Severus watched her for a few moments, then walked over and picked up a file folder laying in front of her. He flipped through the papers. "I see you found a job that requires you research skills."

She pulled the file from his hands and opened it. "Yes I did. Now, if you don't mind, I do have a deadline to meet."

He chuckled as he walked back to his seat and picked up the book he was reading.

***

Hermione's thoughts were pulled back to the present by the buzz of the oven. She bent down and pulled the dish out and placed it on the table.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "What do you call that?"

Hermione frowned. "I call it chicken casserole. It's one of Steph's favorite dishes."

Steph grinned as she dished some of the food onto her plate. She motioned for him to take a bite. He picked up his fork and too a bite off her plate. He nodded. "Tolerable. I wasn't aware you could cook."

Hermione smiled. "There's a good many things you may not know about me Severus." He nodded as she started to eat her meal.

***

After dinner, when Steph and Hermione had finished the dishes, everyone was sitting in the living room. Stephanie was laying on the couch with her head in Severus' lap as she read. Hermione had her computer open on her lap, her files spread around, working on her last article for the magazine. Severus had the television remote control in his hand. He kept turning it over and over, viewing it from all sides.

Hermione looked up from her work. "It's a television remote Severus. It controls that box in the corner."

He raised an eyebrow. "I'm aware of the uses of a television. I am not completely ignorant of muggle objects." He pointed the remote towards the TV and turned it on. Hermione smiled and went back to her work.

Steph put her book down and started watching TV with him. She stopped his 'channel surfing' at a rerun of the show 'Bewitched'. She smiled up at him.

After a few moments, he sighed. "No self-respecting witch would let herself be treated in such a manner." Hermione only rolled her eyes. He shook his head. "They don't use wands. How powerful are these people?"

Hermione finally sighed loudly. "Severus, this isn't real. Everything in the show is make believe. All the tricks are done with hidden wires and camera angles." He frowned and turned back to the TV.

At the appearance of Agnes Moorehead, he chuckled. "Finally, a real witch."

Hermione looked up. "She does dress and act more along the lines of our world, but still, she's just an actress."

He looked at her. "Just an actress? Agnes actually lives right outside of Hosgmeade."
Steph looked up and signed quickly. He shrugged, "Maybe, I'll get in touch with her to see if you can visit."

Hermione frowned, "Don't fill her head with crazy ideas."

Severus smiled, "I see nothing crazy about visiting with Dumbledore's sister." He went back to watching the show with Stephanie.

***

Later, after Stephanie was in bed, Severus and Hermione were sitting in the living room. She yawned slightly, "I'm beat. I think I'm going to head on up to bed." He nodded and then she frowned. "I've already packed the furniture and bedding in the spare room. I'm afraid you'll have to sleep on the couch.

He eyed the sofa warily. "I suppose it is a good thing that I am a wizard."

She smiled. "Good night Severus." She heard his good night wishes as she climbed the stairs to her room.