When Hermione recovered from Apparition, she found herself in a remote stretch of hills.
"Keep up." Isobel gave her a reminder before taking the lead.
After looking around, Hermione quickened her pace to catch up with the two women ahead.
At some point, a winding gravel path had appeared beneath their feet. At its end, a luxurious manor suddenly emerged like a mirage.
"This is..." Hermione's mouth fell open.
"This is one of the properties Albert inherited."
Isobel raised her wand and gave it a gentle flick. With a creak, the metal gates before them slowly swung open, as though welcoming their mistress home.
"I remember Albert seemed to come from a muggle family." Hermione suddenly realized she knew almost nothing about Albert.
"More or less. I'm not too clear on the specifics either." Isobel put away her wand, glanced back at Hermione, and reminded her, "You'd better not ask. Some secrets aren't made public, not even to me."
"Do you live here?"
Changing the subject, Hermione followed the two women into the manor. She soon noticed that the place seemed to have been abandoned for some time.
"No, we live elsewhere." Isobel replied casually, "No one usually stays here. If you want, you can move in."
"I'd better not. It's not suitable anyway."
Hermione shook her head. She had no desire to live alone in a creepy place like this.
"I wouldn't live here either," Katrina muttered. "But it's quite suitable for Albert to settle Catherine and the others here."
The three crossed the overgrown courtyard and entered the main hall, then headed toward the eastern annex, where some rooms had already been cleaned by House-elves.
Isobel pushed open the door to the spacious living room, intending to sit down and continue their earlier conversation.
"Oh, right. There'll be