Professor Snape was universally despised among all houses but his own, which he was known to favor. Truth be told he was their first suspect in first year when someone had cursed Iris' broom, and when someone had poisoned the students of the school. However he had gone above and beyond to help each and every student in that crisis, and they had backed off the theory that he was Voldemort's henchman.
Shortly after that, the nightmares had begun. Every few nights. Sometimes she'd get flashes of different distorted images, and other times it would be longer more drawn out. Two weeks earlier she had escaped a nightmare that had her waking with a scream, seeing a shrunken and crippled creature, a large snake and Bellatrix, and a guy she didn't recognize. They were talking about some plan for purifying and their plans to get what they need for a ritual.
It had shaken both Iris and her parents enough that they had floo'd Dumbledore to tell him. His solution of course was merely to continue to inform him of the details of the visions and let him "handle everything" as he had "it all under control ". In short, the entire meeting merely served to further solidify the need for action outside of Dumbledore's "greater good" in Iris' mind.
However, Iris was determined not to let memories of the past or her disturbing visions ruin her and Hermione's day at the Quidditch World Cup. This was her day to relax with her closest friend and her family, and nothing, NOTHING, was going to interfere with that if she had her say.
Later that day, Quidditch World Cup Camp Grounds
Iris appeared rather ungracefully as she attempted to land from the portkey; despite her experience in magical travel, she had never quite mastered them to the point that her parents had. Portkeys were always miserable for her. Thankfully, Hermione's landing was just as awful as her own. As they sat up, they watched as Iris' mother and her Uncle Remus who was also holding her youngest sister Rose and her twin sisters gently descended to the ground, no doubt floated their by her mother's featherweight charms. Her father, James, and her godfather, Sirius, were noticeably absent, as both were on duty today; they were in charge of security surrounding the event and would not be able to join the rest of her family until just before the match.
"Still so graceful aren't you sis?" said Azalea with a playful tone.
"Actually I think that was her best landing yet, Az," chipped in Ivy with a smirk.
"Girls" cautioned Lily, "Show a little sympathy for your portkey-challenged sister" she added with a sly grin.
This earned a chorus of, "Yes, mum!" from the twins. Who sounded not at all apologetic about their teasing.
Biting back a retort, Iris settled for a half-hearted glare before wearily staggering back to her feet. Offering Hermione a hand, the two brushed the dirt off of their skin tight jeans and joined the rest of their group as they went to check in at their campsite.
After checking in quickly with the unsuspecting, and possibly permanently brain damaged (due to the absurd number of memory charms performed upon him) muggle handling the camp site arrangements, the group sauntered off to make camp.
"Here we are girls, Sirius and James somehow managed to arrange our sites right next to each other." explained Lily as the approached two bare sites amidst the excitement and chaos that was the World Cup. She quickly placed an ordinary looking camp tent on the ground and tapped a rune atop the canvas frame.
As Hermione and Iris gazed upon the rapidly self-assembling tent, they realized that this was just one of the many reasons to love magic.
"What are you waiting for? Go on in." Lily chuckled as she looked around
While nothing to look at on the outside, the tent's interior was something to marvel at as the girls quickly discovered. Inside was nothing short of a miniature manor home. The tent had a large main sitting room, with several couches, a small kitchen, a large bathroom, and eight bedrooms, though one of those bedrooms had been converted into a mini-study of sorts. Her mother had claimed the room the last time the group had gone camping. Iris loved the tent though she thought the bright orange color scheme of the living room was somewhat garish.
Hermione had looked around and then gone to the window that was in the tent and looked outside. She frowned when she saw empty forest surrounding them. "Where does this window lead?" She asked Iris.
Iris chuckled and reached up and touched her fingers to a rune alongside the window, the scene changed to show nighttime in the forest. At the same time the lights in the sitting room area darkened. Iris tapped the rune again and it returned to a daytime view of the forest, and the lights in the living room came up as well.
Iris chuckled at the expression on Hermione's face. "It doesn't lead anywhere. It's charmed to take an image and then shift between night and day. No matter what time of day it is outside. Each room has individual controls so we won't be woken up just because my sisters like to be up super early."
Any follow up question Hermione was about to ask was derailed when Lily interrupted them.
"Hermione, now there are plenty of spare rooms here; you can either choose to stay in one of them or you can share with Iris if you prefer." Lily stated politely, though it was obvious to her what the bushy haired girl's choice would be. She knew how close the two were, and Hermione had pretty much become a near-permanent fixture at the Potter household over the past 3 years.
"I think I will just share with Iris." Hermione replied with a smile.
"Second floor, third room on the left luv." Lily gestured, though Iris was already leading Hermione up the stairs.