Offering her another smile, Hermione nodded and stepped inside the large, gloomy mansion. It had never been a truly cheery place, but it was beginning to show serious signs of neglect. No self-respecting house-elf would allow their family's home to fall into such a sad state, even further proving her theory that the staff deserted the young, pregnant witch. Already her robes were failing to hide the tell-tale sign of the minuscule bump of her belly. Easily missed if one didn't know her circumstances, it was all too obvious to one who did.