Finding herself in an unfamiliar room, Hermione looked around, continuing to hold tightly to her best friend's hand. Crookshanks, unlike his mistress, quickly walked around the room and settled proprietarily on the largest sofa. The twilight of the living room, walls completely lined with bookcases, the sofa, comfortable armchairs, a rather large coffee table... The books beckoned, of course, but the girl didn't dare even move yet. Being an uninvited guest in the home of the strictest and not very fair professor... You'd freeze up. Interesting, how does Harry feel here?
"Don't be shy, if the Professor's in the laboratory, and he's almost always there when he's not sleeping, he won't come out soon," her friend reassured her. "And how do you like it here?"
"Ah... I don't know yet... Beautiful..."
Thin girlish fingers carefully slid over the carved door, and it swung open, revealing to the amazed children's view a bar full of elite alcohol.
"Wow..."
"Not bad living in England for potions masters..."
"Good potions masters live well anywhere, Miss Granger. Evening," Professor Snape nodded ceremoniously to her. "It's only surprising that of all the merits of my living room you chose precisely the bar. And even evaluated its contents."
Hermione drew in air and froze, snapping her mouth shut and goggling her eyes, and her cheeks treacherously reddened. The soft carpet (formerly Snape's handkerchief—another accidental present from Harry training wandless magic) muffled footsteps, and the children didn't hear the master of the house approach them from the kitchen with a small cup full of aromatic drink in his hands.
"Good evening, Professor. Sorry, but Hermione and I vitally needed to disappear from the Weasleys' company..."
"All of them at once? Well, then I understand you. And since you again dragged outsiders through your personal portal, then..."
Harry's stomach rumbled, so Snape only smirked:
"March to the kitchen. Food's on the table. Your aunt, it seems, decided to feed me to death. Lumos!"
Hermione, already terribly embarrassed, completely lost the power of speech. The living room lit up brightly, the cup of coffee sedately floated to the coffee table, and the Professor stepped to the cabinet by the window, reaching out for a book. Hermione squinted from the bright light but a moment later her gaze glued to the bookshelves. She involuntarily reached for the books, but clenching her fists, overcame herself.
Snape, watching the girl, appreciated it.
"Bravo, Miss Granger. The ability to restrain yourself is quite commendable. Don't rush and keep your friend company at the table. I have a feeling you'll still meet my cabinets and strike up a close acquaintance with their contents."
"Oh... thank you, Professor! Sorry that I... It was accidental! My dad also has a whisky collection," the girl squeaked and faltered, but didn't take her surprised eyes off the professor. Could he really not mind her getting to his books?!
"And you needn't look at me so predatorily, I'm not a book. You may take them, there are no dangerous volumes here."
The delight and gratitude with which Granger looked at him made his lips twitch in an involuntary smile.
"So that's what you're really like..." escaped from her.
"And what special thing did you see?"
"Forgive me, I just..." she became embarrassed, "didn't expect, and... you're not in black... and smiling... and I..."
"Grateful for the opportunity to work in yet another library, I understand. Don't react so violently, really, this isn't a family collection."
"You're completely different..."
"Image obliges. Well, discuss what you wanted, I won't interfere anymore," Snape drained the cup in two gulps, moved his fingers, and it went off to wash in the kitchen under Hermione's admiring gaze.
"I'm in the laboratory if anything."
"Um... Professor, if you can join the conversation, we're only for it, right, Hermione? Ron and I still have to live together—me for sure..."
"And I'll have to," Granger sighed. "And all the Weasleys follow him, like sausages in one link... oh."
"I definitely like your associations, Miss Granger. And now march to eat," Snape waved his hand toward the kitchen, and the children finally left. However, not for long: in about five minutes Harry, chewing something, was already settling in the armchair opposite his mentor, Hermione modestly positioned herself beside her friend. Snape put down his book and looked attentively at both children.
***
"Who should we start with?" the girl asked.
"Let's start with Ron, he's closest to us. You first."
"As you wish," Hermione shrugged. "I got a strange impression today that he works here," she pointed to one part of her head, "but not here," she moved her hand. "That is, when you put him before a fact or some thought, he can think, and he seems quite adequate. But if not, then where he goes—completely incomprehensible. And most importantly, why. Like why did he call me a torturer today? I wasn't trying to maul his precious Scabbers!"
Snape suppressed laughter with difficulty. Yes, Granger as a torturer... not really. However, anything can happen. The girl gutted frogs and bubotubers just like that, her hands didn't shake like some people's.
"Yeah, and this despite the fact that the guy has logic, otherwise he wouldn't win at chess against everyone. So mind is there, then it isn't. Generally, he gets stuck on certain things sometimes. What does this look like?"
"Periodically applied Obliviate."
Two pairs of astonished eyes stared at Snape... And he continued.
"Most importantly, I can't figure out who would need this and why. And if the sixth Weasley continues to be subjected to this influence, his, so to speak, youthful senility will progress."
"And there's no way to help him?"
Snape shrugged.
"Wow..." Harry drawled. "We need to think of something."
"Unfortunately, I can't even offer you something to read as a starting point. Professor Flitwick and I haven't come across such research. And it's not in favor nowadays, especially in our country, work on mind magic."
"And where is it in favor?"
"America. Japan. Israel. Russia. Germany. But you won't find it in open access there either."
Hermione sighed heavily. Yes, this question won't be solved so simply, a whole lifetime might be needed...
"And still, what should we do with him?"
"The same thing you started: confront him with facts, dilemmas, involve him in solving logical problems as often as possible, and most importantly—train his memory."
"So it gets erased again?"
"So the erased sections don't start to predominate."
"Ah..."
"Making Ron Weasley study is a very difficult task," Hermione lamented.
"And who has it easy now?" Snape parried. "If you finally stop letting him copy, he'll have nowhere to go. And by the way, the more loaded his brain is, the less he'll be subject to laziness."
"Really? Well that's i-i-it..." Hermione bit her lip and squinted, imagining something obviously requiring considerable effort from her.
"And then carefully track where he goes and who might influence him..."
"Yeah, and we'll influence him ourselves. I'm sure we'll manage!" Harry supported. "Who's next?"
"Ginny Weasley," Hermione smiled. "Your turn, Harry."
"O-oh. Not quite adequate, spoiled and ungrateful girl."
"Why so harsh, Potter?"
"Deservedly."
"Did Riddle's possession affect her?"
"Seems to me it would be better if it had... at least she'd be smarter. He was supposedly one of the best students?"
"How funny it is, turns out, to hear practically your own sarcasm from Potter..."
"It seems to me," Hermione added, "it all comes from the family. I don't believe that at eleven years old a girl so fangirls over a boy, even the most heroic..."
"There you're wrong, Miss Granger, it doesn't happen often, but it does. However, the family, of course, influences."
"Really? Then why didn't she even say 'thank you' to him for her own rescue?"
"She doesn't know that word," Harry muttered.
"By the way, did any of the Weasleys thank you for saving Ginny's life?" Hermione inquired.
"Um... Ron, I think," Harry said uncertainly. "Yes, only him."
"What should we do with her?"
"Stay away..."
"Should I move out of my own bedroom?" the girl raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah... Pretend to be her best friend?"
"Oh, I'll have to. We don't need an enemy nearby. By the way, same thing with Ron..."
"And why not attract someone else? Well, so Ginny's fully occupied."
"No-o, I have another idea: we'll drag them to the library! And look for something there for a secret and important task, see."
"Wait... you want to study together with them?" Harry asked incredulously.
"And discuss everything we read!" Hermione confirmed. "It'll be terribly interesting for me."
"Aha, I see," her friend appreciated her plan. "Either they'll reform, or they'll back off, but on their own, and not because we sent them away."
"Exactly! And we'll also discuss assignments and other questions... And take electives! Ha!"
"Professor, will you tolerate three more Gryffindors in additional classes?"
Snape choked on air, but Hermione was the first to object:
"Harry, are you sure Ron and Ginny will even make it to the dungeons?"
"No, but I know exactly where we can hide from them!"
"If I can still endure Miss Granger, in principle, I can't vouch for the Weasleys," Snape finally came to himself. "At least I'll tell them plenty..."
"But that's wonderful!"
"Thank you, sir..."
Severus looked at the pair of satisfied faces and sighed wearily.
"What about the twins?"
"They're simpler: they have each other enough. They're only interested in others as new test subjects. Don't get in their way unnecessarily, and it's fine."
"The smartest one, Percy," Harry suggested the next.
"They seem to pick on him for that. Especially the twins. Generally the Weasleys treat him somewhat dismissively, except for Mrs. Molly, did you notice? Even Ron and Ginny."
"He already keeps away from all of them. When he finishes studying, I think he'll leave too..."
"By the way, interesting... both older brothers don't live with the family—don't they want to?"
"And also, it seems to me there's been a rift in their family. Remember, the twins and Percy... and their parents' reaction. And Ron... he's somehow, I don't know how to put it..."
"Neglected?" Hermione suggested.
"Meaning?"
"His upbringing, it seems, no one dealt with, didn't teach him household charms, his clothes... I won't even comment, he's a slob. And he behaves at the table just terribly!"
Harry nodded to his friend. This bothered him too.
"You know, now I think they only seemed so close to me... Compared to the Dursleys, how they used to be, the Weasleys seemed like a wonderful family to me. And most importantly, they loved me... Or at least pretended to."
"Why?" Snape inquired.
"I don't know. They need me for something. And Hermione, by the way, too," Potter turned to his friend. "They're pushing you closer to Ron, me to Ginny—doesn't that say anything?"
"We're... we're still children!" Granger was taken aback.
"Aristocrats have betrothals almost from birth, I read. You're a strong witch, I'm... a wealthy heir, as it turned out."
"But we're not aristocrats at all!.. What will we do? I... I don't want to! Oh! I'll have to babysit Ron my whole life, and he'll still snap at me! No-no-no! Not for anything..."
Snape smirked, looking at the frightened girl. Filius will have to work, amulets will be useful for both. Granger—a future strong witch, and also Muggleborn, like... like Lily, no one stands behind her. They'll ensnare her without asking in two counts. Although...
"Miss Granger, if you want to protect yourself from others' matrimonial plans, become a personal apprentice, for example, of Master Flitwick or Master Sprout. Think about what direction you'd like to receive your first mastery in, and when you arrive at school, decide. But I can vouch for these two."
"Ah..." the girl raised her eyes and for some reason blushed.
"What?"
"No, nothing, thank you, I'll definitely think about it."
"Don't delay. But keep in mind that the master has power over the apprentice's life for the entire period of apprenticeship."
He turned to Harry and continued:
"Your clothing, as I understand, is already correct, so most charms aren't dangerous to you, it remains to get used to checking food and drink for potions. Unlikely, of course, but just in case it won't hurt. And behave... Why do you need enemies at your side?"
"We'll be friends," Harry picked up. "By the way, it'd be better to make more friends-acquaintances this year. How about you?"
Hermione grimaced. She wanted, like Harry, to become the potions master's apprentice... But she couldn't admit it. And also in their room the girls... such girls. But if you listen carefully to Brown's gossip, you can sometimes catch something curious. While she complained about her not-so-bright roommates, Snape looked at her attentively, frowned, and then got up and left. And for some reason she remembered the day-before-yesterday's experiment, when she with all her might defended her loyalty and devotion to the printed word, and it turned out... It turned out she was a fool, apparently.
Snape then gave her five history books and told her to read one single chapter about the causes of the last goblin rebellion. Three books were simply Hogwarts textbooks, just from different years, and two were monographs by respected authors that her own, current textbook referenced. And everything in them was completely different! Even the records describing the main events differed, and if they didn't differ, they were interpreted differently. She nearly went crazy then! It was a cruel lesson... She'll never forget that phrase the Professor said in response to her question: "Who should I believe?"
"Yourself, but only after comprehensive analysis. Others, after you see that they've also conducted this analysis. Practice, if the results are confirmed repeatedly and without deviations."
And each of her roommates has her own point of view on everything that happens around. What if she herself doesn't see the whole picture, like those historians? No, she definitely doesn't see the whole picture! She needs to listen carefully to what others say, that's right. And also...
"Think there's a chance to pull someone over to our side?"
Harry shrugged.
"Until we try, we won't know."
"That's true. Well, if we must, we must... And they won't say anything about what happened to me?"
"Say you grew a little."
"Me?! They..."
"Hermione, is it hard for you to joke and see what comes of it?"
They discussed their behavior strategy at school a bit more and agreed they'd be terribly friendly nerds. True, Hermione will have it hard: no teaching anyone allowed. But Snape is right again, need to leave the teachers their work, why should she strain herself, there'll be plenty of different things to do. And if there's also apprenticeship... Probably she could sometimes let her roommates copy something. What if she needs something from them?
***
When the master of the house returned, the children were again picking apart the Weasleys, now the older ones. And these got it much more than everyone else. Deservedly, of course, these ones are adults.
"The attitude toward Percy... now I'm remembering, it was a bit... strange before too. And I won't even mention Ron. How could they send the guy to school with a wand that's basically useless? And his clothes? Professor, are the adult Weasleys weak wizards? Or just incompetent?"
"Professor, and blood traitors—is that really just a nickname for those who are interested in Muggles? Sounds kind of strange, don't you think?"
"Who told you that?" Snape barely kept from laughing. "Blood traitors are what they call those who in one way or another harmed their relatives. And to such a degree that for them it became incompatible with continuing the family line."
"But the Weasleys said..."
"Pffft!"
"I see."
"But how did they become them?"
"Everything counts, from direct murder or curse to indirect harm. For example, with your behavior you can set up relatives, drive them to a duel. Molly Prewett practiced this quite actively in her youth. It's a long story, we could talk until morning, but it's time for you to head home and pack for school."
"Prewett?! I saw that somewhere..."
"Yes, they're also your relatives."
"Can we... somehow communicate with you there? Besides classes, sir?"
Hermione's eyebrows rose in a house, and the girlish face acquired an incredibly sweet expression. Harry even envied her. But Snape wasn't so easy to crack.
"Potter, of course, will get endless detentions. But I can't imagine Hermione Granger incompetently ruining an excellent potion. It's against your nature. Everything necessary Harry will pass to you: both information and books. However," noticing the girl's saddened face, he added, "there's another option to walk around Hogwarts at improper hours, if you really miss us. Just don't go into the Forbidden Forest without me—I'll poison you! Anything else?"
"So with you we can? Ye-e-es!"
"Pot-ter-r-r... If you get stuck in a similar detention as last time, and I'm not nearby, just lie on the floor and grab onto something heavy, and tight. Let them carry you."
Hermione giggled. Such a professor was... absolutely amazing, Harry was completely right!
"And I also noticed a couple of embroideries on Ginny, but I can't determine what they represent yet."
"The Pensieve is at your service. Harry, can you manage yourself, I'm going to the laboratory."
"Oh, thank you, sir! We'll just sketch them, and then compare, otherwise it really is late!"
"Enlighten me, Potter, who's supposed to deliver Miss Granger to her home?"
"Oops... ah..."
"'Could you, sir,' yes, Potter?"
"It's not far, less than an hour's drive, and there's a bus," Hermione chattered. "And we can order a taxi, I have money..."
"Send you alone at ten in the evening? Go finish your business and come straight to me. I'll get you home somehow."
***
The Weasley family, before whose eyes their planned charges disappeared, didn't immediately recover from the shock. Ginny came to first, quite unexpectedly noting:
"Harry has a new robe! Gorgeous, by the way, 'T-T'! Mom, I want one like that too!"
"Where did Harry get money?" Molly finally voiced the burning question.
"Well, he's Snape's student," Arthur shrugged.
"Is Snape rich?!" Ron was stunned.
"Well... good potions masters, actually, don't complain about life. And he's almost all year at Hogwarts with everything provided, where would he spend? Only on ingredients..."
"You think it's him?" Molly drawled thoughtfully. "Just imagine, he took care of the boy. Didn't expect it from him."
The woman squinted. Potions worked out well for her too, which allowed excellent economizing of the family budget. But... what if this could be not just economizing? Mordred, why is she always hissing at the potions master, how to approach him now, she needs to consult with someone! Although... there's also Aunt Muriel. And yet Molly would probably prefer this Slytherin snake: auntie will drip so much poison on her in a family way that Severus never allowed himself.
"And Harry himself, couldn't he?" Fred wondered.
"Unlikely... Although from such a Potter you can expect anything," George answered.
The twins decided to consult with Percy right away, after which they concluded they needed to use their older brother's brains to the fullest: in five minutes he outlined a plan for them on how to get to Snape through Harry... He's cool! Where were their eyes, after all?.. Because if they get good at potions, their pranks will be much more interesting. And maybe not just pranks.
"By the way, Mom can brew potions, right?.. Why doesn't she?.." Ron was grilling his father at this time.
"It's not that simple, you need a license. Snape's a master, his potions cost twice as much, and some five times. True, an apprentice can't brew such ones at all. But... I'll try to find out at the Ministry... There might be options."
"Mom, can you pass for mastery?"
"That's quite an expensive pleasure, son," Mr. Weasley cut off, not giving his wife a chance to answer. "We can't afford it."
"And... is a license needed everywhere or just for Slug & Jiggers?" the twins immediately questioned.
"Don't you dare," they received simultaneously from father, mother and... Percy.
The parents, unexpectedly supported by detached Percival, were quite surprised. And he quickly and in vivid colors (predominantly black) described to the twins what Knockturn Alley was and what they do there with new lost teenagers.
"Where did you get all this, Percy?" his mother inquired in a weakened voice.
"I read and communicate with smart people, Mum. Nothing criminal, you can believe me..."
Offended but full of new ideas, the twins stomped off to their place—they had things to whisper about.
***
Harry finally enlightened his friend about firearms and the Dursleys' protection. The reaction was expected.
"And mine?.. What about me?"
"Don't worry, I think my uncle and your father already found common ground. They won't perish."
"Ah... yes, exactly. Mr. Dursley already went somewhere with Dad, I think."
"To the shooting club, we were all there."
"But, Harry, we don't have the right to use..."
"And we don't need to. Dudley and I train with a regular toy one. And with a slingshot too. Oh, wait..."
Harry dug in his pocket, pulled out a compact notebook and quickly opened it, nodded and wrote something.
"Professor Flitwick will be here soon!" he proclaimed to the whole house.
Something clinked in the laboratory and an displeased Snape appeared.
"And there's no need to yell like that. Well, he'll come, so what?"
"Well... he's coming to see you, Professor."
Snape snorted.
"Lately people come here to see you too, Mr. Potter. Time to get used to it."
Harry beamed, and Snape continued:
"I have an important stage starting in a couple of minutes, so Professor Flitwick will have to serve as transportation. See you at Hogwarts."
And only his robes swept up. Harry sighed. He'd like to talk more, but to tear a person away from work... Snape from an experiment... He'd prefer to live a bit longer.
While they waited for the Charms Professor, Harry told everything he could about the notebooks with Protean Charms, and Hermione felt terribly envious... She'll definitely master this! As soon as she gets to the book Harry's talking about. That is, to school.
"But how useful they'd be now, to be able to write home... Oh... And there's no way to buy or order them? Is it very expensive?"
Without a word, Harry dashed to the laboratory and returned with two notebooks.
"Here are spares, take them, this one's for you, and this one's for your parents. The one for Muggles has a beacon, you need to drop a drop of your blood on the cover, then your parents will be able to see it, and no one else."
"No one at all? Concealment charms?"
"No, not quite... other wizards will be able to. Muggles—no."
Hermione squeezed her friend in an embrace so tight that Harry exhaled:
"Actually this is Professor Flitwick's work..."
It just so happened that at this very moment the part-goblin appeared and immediately found himself in the girl's embrace as she spun him through the air...
"Um... ahem... It's been a while since girls carried me in their arms. Miss Granger, be so kind as to put me down where I was growing..."
"Oh... Sorry! Thank you so much! And can you teach me too? I'll try hard!"
"Are you asking to become my apprentice, Miss Granger?"
The beaming girl shook her head in agreement but quickly caught herself:
"Of course, if you don't mind..."
"I don't mind, I don't mind, miss. Good, we'll talk about this at Hogwarts. But for now... Do you need to take anything with you?"
"Crookshanks..."
"Oh, what a familiar you have!" but then Flitwick's eyebrows crawled up.
"A real familiar? How? No, not now, you'll tell me at school. Otherwise you won't get enough sleep."
"Can I go to Hermione's? I'll pack quickly! I have almost everything ready!"
"Alright. First to the Dursleys, then to the Grangers. Feel like a coachman, Professor Flitwick..."
"And isn't it hard, Professor? There are two of us? Does it require a very large magic reserve? Does it take a lot of strength? And how many people can a wizard Apparate simultaneously? And how is it calculated, by number or by weight?"
"Didn't I agree to an apprentice too early?" Flitwick thought, taking out a mini-portal. "Oh, I have a feeling next year won't be boring, definitely..."
And of course, he turned out to be absolutely right.