Black's House for Little Witches

35

A/N: Hello. I am back again with a new chapter after struggling to write. Oops. If you're still here, I hope you enjoy. :)

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Hermione planned to avoid any discussion with Ted. If she didn't talk about it, then she didn't have to think about it. Really, her plan was to avoid him all together. Then she didn't have to talk to him at all.

"So, I hear you might be joining the Black family."

Evidently, Ted had other ideas. Though, she didn't pick a very good hiding spot. She set her book down to look at Ted. He leaned causally against the doorway to the observatory, hands in the pockets of his trousers, and a joyous glint in his eyes. Hermione didn't think she'd ever seen him not happy. Maybe there was something to be said about Hufflepuffs. Or, more likely, maybe it was a Ted thing.

Hermione eyed him suspiciously. "What about it?"

"I think it'd be pretty neat, really." Ted shrugged, acting disinterested. "One of the oldest, most powerful families in wizarding Britain. Lucky girl you are."

"If I even agree to it."

"Why wouldn't you?"

Hermione pursed her lips and glared at him slightly. She could just go back to her plan of ignoring him, but she had a feeling he wouldn't let that happen. "I'm not exactly sure I want to replace my parents."

"Well, who said you have to?" Ted inquired. "I still see my family once or twice a month, but that's just because of my schedule."

Hermione realized, then, that she didn't know what it was Ted did for work. "What kind of job do you have?"

Ted grinned. "I'm doing an internship at St. Mungo's."

"Isn't that what Andy wanted to do?"

"We both can be healers, Hermione."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know that. I just find it funny. There must be all kinds of interesting work, and yet you both want to be healers."

"Dad's a doctor. Mum's a nurse. It's kind of in the family. Then I found out I could be a magic doctor, and the folks are super interested in how it all works."

She pointed her finger at him accusingly. "Magic doctor. You're just making it sound like a trick."

Ted shrugged. "Well, sure, but I am using magic to do doctor-y things, including fixing magical injuries, therefore, I am a magic doctor."

Hermione stared at him intently. He was messing with her. She could feel it. "You're teasing me now."

Ted shrugged again, an innocent smirk on his face. "Maybe, maybe not. But I am serious about my parents being interested in my work and magic in general. Especially now that I am able to do more than just turn off a light."

Hermione blinked. She hadn't considered that aspect, in all honesty. Maybe, maybe she just needed the right knowledge to explain magic to her parents better.

But even then, that didn't really explain their lack of communication over the years. Then again, she didn't put much effort in herself. Maybe she should give them a chance?

But then if she did, did that mean the Blacks wouldn't want her anymore?

"Hermione, are you okay?" Ted asked, soft voice laced with concern, suddenly much closer.

Hermione blinked back tears. She hadn't realized she'd started crying. She cleared her throat and mumbled, "I gotta, I gotta go ask something." She stood abruptly and ran for the door, brushing past Andromeda on her way out.