The Witch and The Hunters

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN

Page count: 14

"Can we go in the pool outside?" James asked.

"I suppose so since it's warm enough, but you have to put on your sun cream, we don't want you getting burnt."

"Why don't you just use magic?" He asked.

"We're in the Muggle World, James, we can't risk people seeing me magically applying sun cream or using a spell to protect you. We have to do everything the muggle way."

"Alright," he said as they approached the entrance to the swimming baths.

They quickly made their way to the changing rooms, James and Albus going with Dean and Sam and Hermione took Lily, before they met up at the entrance to the large outdoor pool, equipped with water slides and lounge chairs surrounding the pool.

Hermione wasn't oblivious to Dean's eyes on her body, partially appreciative, but also confused as she had glamoured her scars so no one would see them. Normally she wouldn't have bothered or cared, but she didn't want the children asking questions. She'd also glamoured Dean's and Sam's for the same reason, but they hadn't noticed yet.

She wore a simple black bikini with her hair tied up into a bun. Lily was dressed in a cute little pink bathing suit with frills, whilst James opted for a black pair of swimming trunks to match Dean's, and Albus opted for blue to match Sam's. Much to Hermione's amusement their favourites were clear.

"Armbands first," Hermione said, catching James by the arm before he tried to make a break for the pool. "It's for your safety."

"Fine," he grumbled, allowing Hermione to put the armbands on him, and doing the same for Albus, before they both dashed off to jump in the water.

"I'll go," Sam chuckled, making after the children and ensuring they didn't hurt anyone else or themselves.

Hermione made her way around the pool, looking for an empty lounge chair and luckily she found three, which she set towels down on to claim them before anyone else could. She perched herself on one, and sat Lily in front of her as she lathered the little redhead in sun cream.

"Where are your scars?" Dean asked.

"I covered them with magic so no one would see them."

"Why?" He frowned.

"I'm not ashamed of my body, Dean," she told him. "I did it for the children. We all do. The children are too young to understand the sacrifices we made for the war, and they're too young to understand the sacrifices we continue to make every day in order to protect them. If the children see my scars they'll ask questions, questions that I don't want to have to answer when they're so young. I don't want them to form bad opinions of werewolves because one tried to kill me and marked me, I don't want them to form a bad opinion of a hippogriff because one injured me. There's enough prejudice in the world and it can't be combated if children are fed information to hate a species or creature at a young age. They need to be old enough to understand both sides of the story; they need to be old enough to form their own opinions without the influence of someone else."

"You surprise me more and more each day," he said.

She smiled. "That's good; it means I'm keeping you on your toes."

"You always do, Sweetheart," he replied, leaning over to kiss her and then pulling back. "So, Lily Petal," Dean said, making Lily giggle and Hermione smiled. "Shall we go swimming?"

"I go spl-as' too," the almost two year old said.

"Brilliant idea, let's get your Uncle Sammy," he grinned, picking Lily up and making his way to the pool, leaving Hermione to lounge back and enjoy the sun whilst she had the chance.