Ah, one of my most favorite, favorite genres: Delta & CruiseDirector.
This was such comfortable, warm pleasure all the way through! I loved the rich characterizations, the plot, and all the details that brought each scene to life and kept the story hopping. Your warm, practical, plucky Hermione is just as I like her. It was fun to meet her parents (and find them rather like Hermione, smart and emotionally resourceful, no matter how surprising the situation they suddenly discover themselves in).
The Malfoys were very cleverly drawn, each caught between dignity and desperation and taking it out in a different way. Lucius, of course, is the most conniving ....er, the most experienced negotiator of their little clan, and no matter how badly he was beaten down by Moldiewort, it's only natural he'd be doing the negotiating for his badly frightened little clan. I love how he rescued Severus only to bury him in the cellar. Yay for Slytherin "loyalty": half friendship, half guarding a potential asset in case of need. Good thing Lucius needed to trade Snape for Draco's protection, or he'd probably be there yet.
I adored the potions making, the wand work, and the spells sprinkled throughout this. The blood bond - RAWR. Their mental connection, and Severus's sudden Parselmouth ability - RAWRRRR! Also, I dearly love you for supplanting the chest monster with a pants monster. And then petting the pants monster :D