When Hermione left, she had an extra suitcase in her hand. Standing at the manor's iron gate, she looked back at the beautiful estate blanketed in snow, then vanished with Apparition.
Before Hermione departed, Isobel had invited her once more to stay at the manor for a while, but Hermione had ultimately declined.
Naturally, she had no desire to live with a group of strangers.
Even though they were all Albert's lovers and would surely become familiar after spending time together, Hermione still did not want to live with people she disliked.
After returning home, Hermione's heart remained unsettled. She casually placed the suitcase on the table, took a sip of the still-warm milk tea from her thermos, then flopped onto the sofa and thought about what had happened earlier in the manor villa.
Making herself a dress was naturally no challenge for dexterous Hermione. She had knitted sweaters for House-elves before, given Albert a scarf, and recently made a cover for the sofa. She was quite experienced. If appearance were not a concern, she could finish a dress in a few hours at most.
But...
What Hermione needed to make this time was not a sofa cover, nor was it an ordinary dress. It was a "dress" meant for a special banquet.
Hermione lifted her head to look at the suitcase on the table, and a blush once again spread across her cheeks.
"If I'd known, I wouldn't have agreed. There wouldn't be so much trouble."
Though she said that, her body was far more honest. She reached for the suitcase, set it on the carpet, opened it, and stepped inside.
From the very beginning, Hermione had never intended to throw together some dress and muddle through. Nor did she wish to do that. She was not Valeria, who