A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed after last chapter! I am so glad that y'all liked the part with the wand :) Antonin is very nice to try to help Hermione realize her powers as a witch! I hope that you enjoy this one as well. You can follow me on tumblr, nauticalparamour, where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions.

Please let me know of chapter seven and be on the lookout for chapter eight soon!

When Antonin arrived at the bar, he immediately strode towards the table that Reuben was seated at, apparently well into his beer. He waved at the barkeep to bring one over for him before sliding into the seat across from Yaxley.

His friend leered at him. "Well, if it isn't the conquering hero." He wagged his dark blond eyebrows, making Antonin scowl. Reuben had always been one to appreciate women and even if Hermione was now married to Antonin, she certainly wasn't exempt. "You've only been married three days and already you are hiding from your wife."

Antonin felt his cheeks color, knowing that Reuben had rather hit the nail on the head. It wasn't that he was avoiding Hermione, it was just that he couldn't stand to be around her in the evening when she looked so beautiful, but it was clear that she didn't want anything more with him. An unease settled between them every night when it was time to turn in. "Can't a man enjoy a drink?" He countered.

"If you say so." Yaxley said, with a shrug. "Well, come on, details. How was she? She was much younger than I was expecting, but she certainly is pleasing to the eye." It was true. Reuben had thought that Rabastan was just lucky to have snagged such an ethereal beauty, but then Antonin had secured a good looking wife as well. It almost made him wish he had a reason to visit the filles.

The brooding man scowled at his friend. Hermione had been his for just about a week now, but he already felt intensely protective of her. He wouldn't have any other wizard sniffing about what was his. Normally, he would keep details of a sexual nature close to his chest, but it might be good to get the other man's opinion. "It was better than I expected. She was very upset when I first told her it would have to happen. I thought it would feel like forcing myself on her."

"But...it wasn't?" Reuben said, knowing that Antonin followed the same code that he did. They certainly were not moral men, and had done many horrible things in the service of King Voldemort, killing and torturing alike. But neither one of them would ever rape a woman.

"No." Antonin said, taking a long drag from his glass. "It was better than expected. A little too much better."

Reuben began to laugh loudly, making Antonin scowl into his glass. "So you like your wife. I fail to see why that is a bad thing, Antonin. Hell, I would kill someone if I could find a single likable thing about my wife."

"It's not that I liked it that's the problem." He said, unable to meet his friends eyes. "It's that I want more, but things are always so...uncomfortable whenever we are in the vicinity of the bed." It was difficult to admit this, especially when he'd previously had no trouble getting a woman back in England if he wanted.

He knew that he was a good enough looking man - tall, dark and handsome. Now that he was in the colonies, he knew that he had a certain rugged look and all the physical labor they had to do here had helped. He wasn't a perfumed lord like Malfoy, or even Rabastan.

"Well, then, you'll just have to convince her." Yaxley consoled, though he was clearly barely holding back his amusement. "Just take time to get to know her, and let her get to know you. Do nice things for her."

Antonin thought about the wand he'd begun working on. "Did you know that she wasn't ever allowed a wand? She said no muggleborns were." Antonin had had no idea the life that muggleborns were being forced into, but he didn't like what he was learning. He couldn't imagine forcing someone into the life that Hermione had lived.

"That's news to me." Yaxley said with a shrug.

"She has no idea how much magical power she has." Antonin said, feeling his ire rise to the surface. "All she's ever done is household spells. It's like they were trying to make her into a house elf." The very idea of it was distasteful to him.

Reuben shook his head. He couldn't imagine being a wizard without a wand. His wand almost felt like another appendage. Of course, he'd dabbled in wandless magic, but it was exceedingly difficult, and he doubted he could ever cast more complex spells that way. "Did you get her a wand?"

"Tried." His friend said with a shrug. "None of them were a good fit, but I got a wand core and I am fashioning a wand for her now." Reuben's eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline. Creating a wand was quite the endeavor. Antonin clearly wasn't lying about the girl. Wanting to get the conversation off of himself and Hermione, Antonin inquired after their other friend. "Just where is Rabastan this evening?"

That got Reuben laughing again. "Rabastan and the lovely Luna are out hunting this evening." He said, just waiting for Antonin to bite.

"Hunting for what?"

"Some kind of creature. I guess it only comes out on the eve of the New Moon. She called it a humdringer or a hinkler or something." He said, full on laughing. Antonin cracked a smile as well. Their friend's wife was certainly a bit different, but she was certainly entertaining and incredibly friendly. "Please promise me that you won't abandon me when your bride wants to go on night time hunts."

"I don't think that Hermione cares for hunting." He said truthfully, realizing that he didn't really know that much about his bride's life before the colony. Rabastan was so smitten with his new wife. Antonin wondered if he would ever feel the same way about his.

After that first night at the bar with Reuben, Antonin had returned every single night. It had some unexpected benefits, namely that Hermione would already be asleep when he returned home. Then she wouldn't be able to see his very physical reaction to her laid out in nightwear, sleeping like an angel, with wild curls around her head, the barest hint of nipple visible through the sheer white fabric. What he wouldn't do to take her again.

So, each night after they ate dinner together, Hermione would read some book about herbology or mending or Russian history and he would quietly work on her wand unbeknownst to her. He'd asked about the Russian history books, and she'd told him with a bright blush on her cheeks that she just wanted to learn more about his mother country.

Once she would start to yawn, he would leave the cabin, putting up wards to keep her safe while he was away. He could tell that she was curious, and maybe even a little bit annoyed that he left every night, but she never said anything about it, and neither did he.

Reuben quickly caught on to what he was trying to do, namely avoid Hermione in their bed, but he didn't say anything about it in front of Rabastan, but merely inquired on how her gift was coming along.

To Antonin's surprise, the wand was actually coming together quite nicely. The vine wood seemed to be a near perfect conduit for the dragon heartstring he'd selected. It was as if the two materials were meant to be together. In fact, he had finished it up that very night, but he was waiting until the next morning to tell Hermione. He was sure that she would have thousands of questions and he wanted a fresh mind to answer her.

Rabastan had also been overly complimentary of Antonin's wife, causing his hackles to rise at the idea of either of his friends thinking of Hermione in a lustful way. Their good natured ribbing though quickly made him realize that they were just doing it to get a rise out of him. It was times like these when he wondered why he even bothered with friends.

Rabastan was constantly pestering him to bring Hermione with to the bar, and that he would bring Luna. Apparently they hadn't known each other very long, but the pair of them had been friends. Antonin could see some merit in Hermione getting to spend some time with another woman her age, but he wanted to expose her to Rab and Reuben as little as possible.

They knew too many embarrassing things about him.

So, after staying for one more pint than usual, Antonin decided it was probably time to make his way home. It was quickly becoming fall and the air was crisp, so he decided to walk home in order to clear his head. A fog was starting to roll in from the river, giving an eerie feel to the mostly empty path.

Antonin was no stranger to spending time out in nature, but being in the colony was something entirely different. They were well and truly alone out here. Sure, there were muggles a broom ride away, but there was no one else around for miles. It was an unsettling feeling, thinking about all of the creatures that would be out lurking in the woods. Hell, Antonin knew Greyback was probably out there now.

When he got home, he opened the door exceedingly quietly so as not to wake Hermione. There were still lonesome embers in the fireplace, but he was surprised to see a light still flickering up in the loft. Hopefully, Hermione had just fallen asleep with the light on. He crept up the ladder, annoyed that his heavy boots made quite so much noise.

Looking over the edge, he was shocked to find Hermione not only very awake, but seemingly struggling to hide something under the mattress. "Hermione." He said sternly. "What on Earth are you doing?"

She was frozen, clearly upset that she had been caught. Antonin's eyes narrowed. She seemed like she was feeling guilty about something. "Nothing. I just...heard you come in and worried it might be an intruder. I didn't want them to catch me unawares." The lie rolled off her tongue easily enough, but Antonin wasn't buying it.

"Don't lie to me, Hermione. What were you doing?" His mind supplied numerous scenarios in which she was already trying to get away from him, even though she'd promised him a year. It was true that he hadn't wanted a wife, but the thought of her leaving him was distasteful to him.

He walked over to where she was standing, watching her step from foot to foot, clearly nervous about whatever it was that she was trying to hide. "Stop trying to hide things from me." He said sternly. "Step aside." His ire was bubbling up inside of him, and he tried to remember to control himself around her. It wouldn't do to frighten her, and he knew that he could be physically intimidating.

Hermione stepped aside, tears in her eyes, while Antonin lifted the corner of the mattress, only to find a book hidden beneath it. Picking it up, he stared at the cover, hearing Hermione's sniffles behind him as she struggled not to cry. When he turned to face her, he could see that she was physically shaking with nerves.

"Standard Book of Spells Year One?" He asked, astonished. He hadn't touched this book in nearly twenty years. It was the basic book that you started off with at Hogwarts.

"I'm sorry!" Hermione cried, the tears finally breaking free from impossibly long lashes.

"Why would you be sorry?" He asked, extremely confused. He always let her read whatever books she wanted after dinner. Why would she think he would be upset with her for reading this one? She'd been so afraid to be caught, she tried to hide it.

Her words were broken up by great gulping gasps. "I know that mudbloods aren't supposed to read books like that. But I was too curious." Hermione revealed. "I know that it's forbidden, but I read it anyway."

Antonin felt all of his anger dissipate. "Reading these books isn't forbidden. Not even for muggleborns." The fact that he didn't use the term mudblood caught her eye, and she let him guide her to sit on the bed beside him. "Why did you think it was not allowed?"

She was beginning to calm a bit, only to wince at his question. "Umbridge had me beaten the only other time that I tried to read a book of spells. She said it was forbidden magic for mud-muggleborns." Out of her corner of her eye, she saw his hand tighten around the book until his knuckles were white.

Running his hand through his wavy hair, he sighed. "Look at me, Hermione." He commanded. His eyes were intense and serious. "You are my wife, Hermione, and you can read whatever book that you want to. You are welcome to any book from my library and I will never beat you." He could only imagine what he would do if he ever came across Dolores Umbridge again. He couldn't believe that that horrid woman had deigned to hurt his precious wife.

"Any book?" Hermione asked, dumbstruck. He had so many books that she had been itching to read.

"Yes, any book that you like. Don't you think I would have said something if it bothered me?" Antonin asked. "I see you reading every night."

"I only read books that didn't require a wand." Hermione explained meekly, with a small smile on her face.

"So, no more hiding things from me? Promise?" He asked, only to have his tiny wife launch herself into his arms, holding him tightly. Her tears wet his shirt and he could hear her thanking him multiple times and promises not to hide things from him in the future. He sighed into the embrace, returning it, thinking about how lovely she felt in his arms.

When she pulled away, she rewarded him with a bright smile. He pressed his lips to her forehead, though he would have liked to kiss her sweet lips. "Wait here. I have something for you." He stood from the bed and made his way down the little ladder, going to retrieve her wand.

She was eagerly awaiting for him when he brought it back up the stairs. He laid it reverently into her hands, and Hermione gasped. He watched as her fingers lovingly traced the intricate pattern of the vinewood. "Is this mine?" She asked softly.

"Yes, mishka." He told her affectionately. "Go on then, give it a wave." He instructed.

Her face was transformed by her concentration. She looked serious and determined, and maybe a little afraid that she might have some explosive results like in the shop. Pointing it at the pillows, she waved the wand and watched as their pillows fluffed themselves to perfect plumpness. She gasped, in awe of the magic she felt humming through her veins, the ease with which she could cast. "It worked!" She said eagerly.

"Excellent. Didn't this wand feel much better than any of the others?" He asked, hoping that it was perfect for her.

"Yes, it just felt right." She whispered. "I can sense the magic inside of me. There is so much."

He smiled. "Yes, I could always sense your magic. I am glad that you were able to open it up. You are a powerful witch, Hermione."

Hermione's heart was pounding, thinking of how sweet he had been to her. When she was first sent to the colony, she thought that her life was ruined. But after being with Antonin for just a few days, it was like a whole new world had been opened for her. "Where did you get it? The wand?"

"I made it." Antonin revealed, a slight blush on his cheeks.

Hearing that he'd done that for her touched her deeply. No one had ever done something so thoughtful for her. Catching herself by surprise, Hermione found herself lunging towards him and pressing her lips against his. He sat still, surprised, until finally to Hermione's immense relief, he returned the kiss, pressing against her tightly. She pulled back with a blush on her cheeks. She stared at her lap, wondering what had possessed her to do that. Of course, since their wedding night, she'd been curious about what it would be like to kiss Antonin again, but to just throw herself at him like that...

He cleared his throat. "Why don't you try one of the spells from the book?" He offered.

Hermione brightened at the idea, flipping the book open to a page. Reading over it again, she focused, waving her wand. "Wingardium Leviosa!" She watched in awe as one of the pillows began to hover, higher and higher.

Even Antonin was surprised that she had achieved her aim on the very first try. "Let's try the unlocking charm next, on your trunk." He suggested. A wave of his own wand, and her trunk was locked, only to have her attempt the spell.

To her dismay, this one did not come as easily, but Antonin was patient with her, correcting her pronunciation and wand movement. It didn't take long until she could perform the charm with ease. Then she talked him into practicing the severing and mending charms over and over again, until Antonin was so tired he could barely stay awake.

"Hermione, the book and the wand will still be here in the morning. We should go to sleep now." He didn't wait for her response, before standing and changing from his clothes into pants for sleeping, leaving his chest bare. He turned and saw her still pouting. "I will show you transfiguration tomorrow." He promised.

She considered it before nodding and laying her wand down on the bedside table, reverently. She pulled back the covers and nestled herself underneath them. He slide in bed next to her, before turning out the light.

They laid next to each other, listening to the other breathe, until he noticed that Hermione was slightly shivering, now that the fireplace had gone out. Smiling to himself, he pulled her to him, wrapping his arm around her to give her some warmth.

Hermione stiffened for a moment. Then she snuggled up next to him, her head resting on his chest, her arm laid over him, fingers toying idly with the sparse bit of chest hair she found. The feeling of her pressed against his body was sweeter than he imagined and he was quickly lulled to sleep.