The sun peeked through her curtains and shined bright in the winter sky. Hermione opened her eyes and looked at the clock. It was eight, she only had an hour before she had to meet everyone. Her emotional evening with Rosalie came flooding back and her heart swelled as she thought of her sister. She showered and got ready for her morning with Rodolphus as she recalled how deeply she cared for him. It had been a slow burn for them, starting two years ago when she stepped into his cell to interview him. Now it felt like things were moving at the speed of light. Smiling to herself, she was elated at the prospect of enjoying a happy Christmas again. She would always love her parents, always miss them but knowing she wasn't alone would help her heal.
She walked out into the hall and was greeted by Rosalie and both brothers. As they walked down to the restaurant they paired off again like they had the previous night. Rosalie and Rabastan couldn't seem to get enough of each other. Rodolphus and Hermione always made sure they were touching somehow, even if it was simply placing a hand on the others back or arm. They walked in and again they seemed to have the restaurant to themselves. They sat down and enjoyed breakfast together, then decided to walk the grounds. They were walking around the winter garden when Rosalie finally asked something she had been wondering.
"So you both know how Hermione and I met. I don't think we talked about how you all met. How long have you known each other?" She asked with a smile.
Everyone went silent and stilled. No one knew how to respond so Hermione took the lead. "Well it's a bit of a long story, but we met during the war. You see, the funny thing is we actually….that is to say….I guess I'll just say it. We were on opposite sides of the war."
Rosalie's face fell, "Opposite sides of the war? As in, you both were…?"
"Death Eaters. We were Death Eaters," Rabastan said finishing her sentence with a mix of shame and regret in his voice.
"Oh I see." Rosalie didn't quite know how to take the news. On one hand neither wizard seemed to be anything like the description of Death Eaters Hermione had painted for her. But then again she really didn't know them. However, Hermione herself seemed to be okay with them. Enough so to be happily dating one of them. So why was this so awkward for her to accept? Hermione interrupted her thoughts.
"Do you remember when I told you about that vile, abhorrent curse Voldemort created and used to control and build his army? Well, the men subjected to that curse were just as much victims of that heinous monster as anyone. They didn't do it because they wanted to. Although the curse made them think they wanted to. It wasn't truly them. I fought for them Rosalie, I fought for them and many others. Harry and I both did." She held Rodolphus' hand tightly when she said this and she gave Rabastan a kind gaze.
Rosalie contemplated everything Hermione said then looked up "I trust your judgement Hermione. You're the one who endured the war. I only know about it." Looking at Rabastan she took hold of his hand and brought it to her lips and smiled softly. "Could you two give us a moment," Rosalie asked looking at Hermione.
"Of course, I would like some time with Rodolphus anyway before they have to leave for the day." Rodolphus and Hermione walked along the gardens in the direction of a snowy trail. With their arms around each other she felt so warm, so safe. She had been thinking about this all night. Perhaps she was rushing things. Perhaps she wasn't. But what she knew was how she felt for the wizard next to her.
"Rodolphus, I've been thinking. When you come back tonight, will you stay with me?"
He stopped their progress and turned to face her. "You want me in your room tonight? Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am so very sure. I know this all might seem a bit surprising but my feelings for you began two years ago. The moment I stepped into your cell to interview you with Harry to determine if you needed help. I felt something between us, but quite honestly I didn't know what it was. I threw myself into my work fighting for you and the others but if I'm honest with myself, you were the first person we interviewed. I felt something for you and only you. I was truly fighting for you and the others were able to benefit from this because of what I wanted to do for you. I know this sounds silly and probably even insane. I don't even know why I'm admitting this. But you see, I think...what I'm trying to say is...this...between us, is something very special to me. And well, I think... I'm pretty sure that…"
"I love you." He said interrupting her rant. "I loved you before you stepped foot in my cell. I walked in on what happened to you at Malfoy manor. That beast was about to apparate away with you. I interrupted, I didn't have a plan I just knew they couldn't hurt you anymore, I wouldn't let them. Then you escaped and I was so relieved. I tried to protect you in the final battle. Rookwood nearly killed you but I killed him first. I've loved you for years Hermione Granger." He said as he cupped her cheek with both hands, bore his eyes into hers and poured his heart out to the one witch he knew he would spend the rest of his life loving.
Hermione was so overwhelmed with emotions but most of all love. Love for this incredible man. This powerful, brave, handsome wizard, who had endured hell and survived. She couldn't find the words to speak to say what she wanted to, so she kissed him. She kissed him with such a ferocity that she felt she would bruise her own lips. She held him as close as she could as her lips moved over his and she melted into him. Her hands slid down his chest over his wool coat and unlatched each button going down. She needed to feel as close to him as possible. Never breaking the kiss her delicate hands slid over the soft shirt covering his broad chest. This seemed to be her favorite part of him. But she still had so much of him to explore.
His tongue invaded her mouth as she released a throaty moan into his kiss and he backed her into a nearby tree. The passion and intensity was almost too much to bear, but she didn't want to stop. She needed him, every part of him. She would love him forever. She loved him and needed to tell him. Reluctantly breaking away from the kiss, breathing heavily he rested his forehead against hers, "I love you Rodolphus Lestrange." He was still breathing heavily as he smirked in his devilish way that made her knees weak and he captured her lips again. He was never letting her go.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Later in the day Hermione and Rosalie were sitting in Rosalie's room. There was a beautiful picture window and the snow fall was breathtaking. They were in their flannel pajamas, the fire was lit and they decided to have a sisters afternoon with wine, chocolate, popcorn and their absolute favorite holiday movie, White Christmas.
"You know I always thought Uncle Danny really did look almost exactly like Danny Kaye." Rosalie said as they watched Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen move flawlessly together across the screen.
"Yes, I have always thought the same thing." Hermione exclaimed as they laughed. "I thought it was even more of a coincidence that he owned an Inn in snowy Vermont. I had a little crush on Danny Kaye when I was a girl. Mum used to tease me about how often I'd watch this movie, even in the summer." Hermione giggled.
"Do you remember the one time when we missed watching it together, so we called each other and watched it as we sat on the phone. Much to the dismay of our parents when the phone bill arrived." Rosalie laughed reminiscing as she grabbed a handful of popcorn and washed it down with a sip of delicious wine.
Hermione laughed and nodded. "I distinctly remember the lecture I got from dad about the importance of being responsible with my phone privileges. But that didn't stop us from doing the same thing when we wanted to watch Roman Holiday together." Both girls laughed at the memories.
The characters on the screen were on a train singing a song about snow when Hermione decided to break off a piece of chocolate and change the subject. Handing Rosalie a piece she asked "So is everything sorted with you and Rabastan?"
Rosalie bit the chocolate and sighed before answering. "I won't lie, learning about his status during the war isn't easy to accept. I've always been a pretty good judge of character though. I can't see him being a Death Eater. I know I just met him Hermione, so I don't want to get ahead of my own feelings but I really like that man, so much," she paused for a moment and smiled to herself as she swirled her wine around her glass.
"He has this way about him. He makes me feel, desired and safe when I'm around him. I don't know how it was for you in school because we haven't really talked about it much. But, I was this self-conscious, shy girl. I was sorted into Horned Serpent and that house favors the mind, I was always studying in the library or in the common rooms. I really didn't date much at all. We had a few balls and I was always asked by someone but I felt like that awkward girl, forever doing something clumsy or silly. I've done that a few times already with Rabastan, but instead of making me feel clumsy, he somehow turns it into this classic movie romantic moment. I feel like I want him around for a long time. I want to get to know him as a person, not who people label him because of his past. Things are great with him so far and I really hope they continue being great."
"I'm so glad to hear that. He's a good man and a powerful wizard. Those men literally endured hell. I don't want to give too much of what I know away because, quite frankly, it's not my story to tell. Perhaps one day he will confide in you. But I don't want to betray that trust. However, what happens when we go back to London?"
"Well, I have family in London," Rosalie said with a smile as she nudged Hermione's shoulder against her own. "Who's to say I don't want to go back with you. I've always wanted to visit the magical community. I've gone with my parents but they're No-Maj so we stayed in the No-Maj areas. But my sister is this brilliant, powerful war hero who broke into an ancient, highly secured, goblin owned magical bank, stole a horcrux from the family vault of the man she's now infatuated with then escaped on the back of a dragon and lived to tell the tale. That's pretty bad ass by the way. So I think I'd have a lot to keep me there for quite some time." Rosalie laughed and Hermione couldn't contain her laughter either.
"What about work? What do you actually do? I never asked you," Hermione realized as she took another sip of her wine.
"I can take my job anywhere. I've created this new line of magical alcohol." At this Hermione raised an eyebrow and looked at her with curiosity.
"Well, when I was young I was never close with my mother's parents. I wasn't their only grand child and I was their least favorite. They always called me an 'odd bird' I hated it. But as it turns out, my parents and I were the only ones in the family they left all their money to when they passed. Apparently everyone sucked up to them because they were rich. We never did and for whatever reason, they liked that about us. So, with my inheritance I bought a vineyard. It took me two years to alter it from a no-maj establishment to a magical one. It's not too far from here. This is my wine actually," She said holding up the bottle they had both been drinking from. "That's how I keep myself sustained and pay for the vineyard. I supply this for Danny and Julia among many other establishments in the area. But my magical creation is what I'm most proud of. What I did was take the grapes that I couldn't harvest for the wine and altered them magically. I mixed them with a few other magical ingredients and I came up with a drink I call Witches Delight."
Hermione was intrigued, "What exactly is witches delight?" She asked with a curious smile on her face.
Rosalie smiled, got up and went to the fridge in the kitchenette. She pulled out a bottle shaped like a large vintage style potions bottle of clear liquid with iridescent flakes floating all around. With a label that was in purple and gold with fancy cursive writing that said 'What Will Be Your Witches Delight'. She popped the cork and poured Hermione a glass.
Hermione smelled it first then took a sip. A burst of flavor filled her senses, a mix of mango, coconut, salt and lime flooded her tastebuds. Her eyes went wide with pleasure, "This is delicious." Then Rosalie poured another glass and handed it to Hermione.
"Now try this one," Hermione looked at her confused.
"I still have some left. Just sit it there I'll drink that glass as well, it truly is divine."
Rosalie chuckled, rolled her eyes and handed her the glass. "Take a sip. Trust me."
Hermione sat her glass down and complied, she took the other glass and sipped the drink. This time her senses were flooded with a mix of mint and lime with a burst of crisp bubbles and rum. Like a muggle mojito only so much more crisp and flavorful. "How the hell did you that? Did you do something to the glass?"
Rosalie laughed and shook her head, "No. I have been working on this for years Hermione. I thought of this when I was a fourth year. I wasn't even the legal drinking age when I started researching this idea. I told you, I was a super nerd. So, I researched a lot on the no-maj science of genetic taste difference and the DNA behind each person's individual palette. Then I brought in the magical aspect of things to work with the person's DNA. Each glass poured is magically enhanced to pull a different flavor preference from the person's actual genetic makeup. The ingredients are very important and the process of handling the ingredients is dire. One wrong move and you could be tasting a dirty diaper. Trust me I know." Rosalie said as she grimaced at a memory she never wanted to relive.
Hermione burst out laughing at her. She remembered Rosalie was always funny but she hadn't laughed this much in years. It felt good to be with her again. "Rosalie this is beyond genius. Have you produced a lot of this?"
"This is only my third batch that I've got right. I've had to throw away a lot since I started distilling it a couple years ago. While I did this I also distilled something I call Wizards Bourbon. I hate Firewhiskey and I wanted to make something so that when I wanted a good bourbon I could choose something magical. No-maj have all the good drinks. Why should they have all the fun when we're the ones with magic," she paused pouring herself a glass of Witches Delight before continuing.
"So the Wizards Bourbon is magically altered to create the perfect Bourbon according to the individual's idea of perfection. Basically a very similar process, only it doesn't need to pull the different flavors and change it. It merely enhances the layers and nuances of the Bourbon itself to each individual palette. So the magic is a little different. I was going to give a bottle to each of our wizards and get their opinions. I wonder if they'll let me know. I've put a lot of time, money and effort into distilling and creating these drinks. When I release them to the magical world, I want them to be absolutely perfect."
Hermione sat in awe, "My sister is a genius, beautiful and owns her own business. I'm so proud of you Rosalie. I would be thrilled to help you whenever you need me to. Perhaps I could stay a bit longer and help you at your vineyard. I'd love to learn more about it. After my work with the Rehabilitation Program I knew I didn't want anything to do with the ministry. So I left my position once I knew that all the men had been taken care of and I passed the torch to Harry. He gladly took over the responsibility. This is when I took the time and decided to come here. I'm so glad I did."
The girls spent the remainder of their afternoon catching each other up on life at school and talking about their two favorite brothers. Hermione knew she had a special night ahead of her with Rodolphus and couldn't wait.
A/N First I want to say thank you to all of you lovely readers who took the time to leave a review. It's so encouraging that you all seem to like the story so much. Thank you for reading and thank you for reviewing.
Thank you so much to my lovely betas for this chapter Geekmom13 & Kaarina Riddle. You gals are the absolute best!
I chose to do the notes at the end this time because I wanted to say I hope you liked the addition of Wizards Bourbon & Witches Delight! I was excited to introduce a couple of new magical alcohol choices. You'll be seeing them in more of my stories. I enjoy them too much to not use them in future stories.