Leaving the Grangers' house, Hermione's smile never faded.
Tom's new home was astonishingly close—closer, in fact, in a straight line, than the distance between the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms at Hogwarts.
The only pity was that Tom was far too "active" during the holidays. Just like the year before, he hardly spent much time in Britain at all.
Crossing the road, they turned off the main street into a narrow court. At the end, four villas stood arranged around a circular island. The area was spacious and private.
To call them "villas" seemed almost too modest. Each had its own garden and pool, sprawling grounds that made them feel just shy of small manors. But "luxury homes"? Absolutely.
Hermione took out the key to unlock the iron gate. It had been kept at her parents' place so her father could arrange furniture deliveries and cleaning crews.
The estate covered nearly an acre—about four thousand square meters—with the house itself taking up six hundred. Including the basement, there were five floors. Mr. Granger's taste leaned toward classic European design, and the furnishings matched accordingly. It was tasteful, proper, and elegant.
Tom, however, didn't much care. So long as it was comfortable to live in, he had no complaints—that was why he had left everything in Mr. Granger's hands to begin with.
"I want this room! Tom, let's turn it into my bedroom, please?"
Daphne was pointing at the cigar lounge on the fourth floor, which, alongside the massive master suite, also included a study and a drinks room. Of course, Mr. Granger would never have actually furnished a smoking room; instead, he'd set it up with a television and game console—an entertainment den.
"No," Hermione objected instantly, even before Tom spoke. "Every room on the fourth floor already has its use! There are plenty of guest rooms on the third floor—you don't need this one."
Daphne pouted. "Running up and down stairs is a pain. Living on the fourth floor would be so much easier."
"You'd be too noisy. You'd disturb Tom," Hermione countered, a little too urgently. That room was the only one that could be converted to another bedroom. The study was non-negotiable, and she couldn't very well just move into Tom's master suite… could she?
Astoria spoke softly: "Sister, the room is big. Maybe we could just put two beds in it?"
Hermione nearly fainted. Great. Now both sisters are ganging up on me.
"Enough." Tom raised a hand to silence the bickering. "If you all want the fourth floor, we'll just partition it into more rooms. I'll expand the space with magic. Problem solved."
"Isn't the unrestricted use of Extension Charms… illegal?" Hermione asked nervously.
"Illegal?" Daphne scoffed. "Those laws are for you common folk. Heavy crimes aside, no one can touch the Greengrasses—or Tom."
Even the well-behaved Astoria didn't see anything wrong with that.
Hermione fell quiet. She understood all too well. Ordinary wizards obeyed the Ministry's laws to the letter. But among the upper circles, it was rules of power and influence that mattered. The Grangers sat right at the very edge—wealthier than the common folk, but nowhere near the privileged elite.
After inspecting the house and garden, Tom found no major flaws. His thoughts quickly turned to renovations.
First—the interior space. They thought it was too small? He would enlarge it.
The fourth floor was doubled in size, partitioned into three more suites. The second and third floors were expanded as well—not more rooms, but larger ones. With Tom's current skill in Extension Charms, the effects would last for decades without issue.
The first floor, however, he left untouched for now. Expanding the entertainment areas without proper furniture would leave them barren. Better to wait until he acquired more furnishings—moving them around with magic was trivial anyway.
"Daphne, tell your mother sometime to connect the fireplace to the Floo Network."
"I'll go to the Ministry right now!" Daphne declared, grabbing Astoria's hand. Hermione, curious about the Ministry, decided to tag along too.
Before leaving, Daphne summoned two house-elves and instructed them to fetch spare furniture from the Greengrass manor to outfit the bedrooms, and to prepare anything else the house might need.
Tom shook his head helplessly. He truly didn't want to be seen as living off others' wealth—but with a little heiress who came with her own staff and resources, what was he supposed to do? Refuse?
After the girls left, Tom continued his own work.
Anti-Muggle wards to deter thieves. Confundus Charms woven throughout the grounds, to prevent curious neighbors from peeking over their fences. With houses so close together, one tall perch would be enough to spy into his garden.
He cloaked the address itself in concealment magic—less powerful than the Fidelius Charm, but far more convenient to use. Only those he personally invited would be able to find the place.
Finally, he turned his attention to the back garden. He had no intention of growing rare magical herbs there, but he did want a pleasant mix of plants to purify the air and beautify the space.
Usagi fluttered out of his pocket, peering curiously around.
"Woo-woo?"
"That's right," Tom said with a smile. "From now on, this is our home."
"As for your nest—forget it. I know you don't like them."
The holiday was short, so Tom hadn't brought the unicorn out. In the summer, he planned to anchor his small world in the basement, sparing the garden from intrusion.
Usagi coiled itself around his neck like a scarf, perfectly content.