Dark Waters Require Warmth

Chapter 3 - The Mysterious Sister

(side note: Nymphadora Tonks uses she/they pronouns in this story)

Hermione was practically living on energy drinks and iced coffee at this point. She had packed two suitcases full of all the things she'd need, according to the checklist she had been sent, and gave up on trying to fall back asleep since it was already 4:00am.

This meeting would include the four other chosen students, Captain Exavier, and the other crew members for each student for a debriefing of this project. Hermione was starting to shake with excitement, or maybe it was just from the caffeine...

She wondered who would be her other four crew members and if she knew any of them. She was really hoping that at least she would have the chance to eat meals from well-known chef Nymphadora Tonks, or as she asked people to call her, Tonks. They made some of the best food in the entire world, and Hermione would know. She was able to sit in on a cooking class offered by the school for free where Tonks cooked various dishes found in their restaurant, and Hermione was able to try every single dish she made!

She was also kind of hoping her captain would be her previous sailing 101 instructor, Professor Tonks, who also happened to be Tonks' mother.

They for sure would be in a group together because of their family status, but Hermione just wished that the odds were in her favor this time. She was really hoping that she would get to spend time getting to know people she already knew better, instead of being introduced to brand new people.

Hermione had realized she had been processing so much information for a couple hours now, and she needed to get ready for her last day of work at school for the semester. She got dressed quickly in a yellow long flowy dress with daisies on it. She decided that she'd take the bus today instead of driving tired.

When she arrived she headed to the front office, set down her things at her work station and got into work-mode.

To her satisfaction, the day passed by in a flash and since her boss knew she had to go to the meeting at 2:00, she was let off early at 1:30 to have time to get to the meeting room. As she left the main office building, she breathed in the cool air and smiled as it finally hit her that she was done with working at the school. Finally, she have the chance to start working for her actual career.

While being too stuck in her own thoughts, she accidentally bumped into someone who she could have sworn she recognized from her curly hair.

"Oh I'm so sorry Miss Granger, are you alright?" Hermione finally looked at the woman and realized she was right. She had recognized this person because it was none other than Professor Tonks.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry Professor. I was just in my own world it seems." Hermione rubbed her arm as a nervous habit.

"Oh sweetie, are you hurt?" Professor Tonks asked in a calm voice that soothed Hermione's worry instantly.

"No, I am fine, don't worry about me. Are you alright?"

"I am doing wonderful actually. I was hoping I would run into you again and wish you good luck on whatever you do after college!" She smiled brightly and her laugh lines seemed to become even more prominent, and they made her look even more beautiful.

"Uhm, well, I got accepted for Feared Beauties and then I'll-"

"Oh lord, you got accepted?!? Congratulations, love!" She pulled Hermione in for a hug which she didn't realize she had been needing. She added quietly, "Thank you Professor. Oh I should be heading out! I need to go to the meeting for debriefing!" Hermione let go abruptly of the embrace and started off in the direction of the room but realized immediately that her Professor was following right behind her.