Chapter 6
Hermione paced around the edge of the rectangular pond in the middle of the garden she had finally find her way to. The water was glassy and still, the only movement small fish zipping around under the water. This was a beautiful garden, with lush and green plants along the borders, some of which she'd never seen before.
Tabain walked ahead of her exploring this new space. It was nice to be outside; it was nice to feel the sun on her face. Closing her eyes, Hermione looked up and felt the sun warming her face, chasing the cold seemed to be prevalent in this place. They'd been inside the entire time and it was nice to escape the citadel for a moment.
The previous night returned to Hermione's mind, thoughts buzzing around her head. Something had become clear last night, that she was not going to be able to sit back and just wait for this to be over; she had to be active to protect her interests and her son. The game had become clear now, and had to play her part in it, or simply be a victim. This was a game and she was going to learn how to play, making her initial move last night.
It was an unpleasant task, but she needed to know the players, needed to know who to watch out for. A tea was planned with Pansy later that afternoon and Hermione would attend, knowing full well that Pansy did not have her interest at heart. But that didn't matter, this was about the game.
Looking back up at the towering structure behind her, Hermione sighed. This place was not about making friends, it was about survival.
With every bit of her, she wished she could escape from here, right away and never return. She wondered if everyone else felt the same way. Surely, most of them did, but some would likely thrive in this environment. Others perhaps, did what they had to keep their head above water. For all the luxury here, it was still very much a game of basic survival.
But the one thing she did know, was that Theo had ended up dead and she was certain it wasn't of natural causes. This meant someone was responsible; it also meant this was a place where people ended up dying. There was a murderer here, perhaps more than one.
Hermione looked back and watched her son as he played. New worries crossed her mind. She had to keep him safe, and on order to do that, she had to learn to play this game and to do it well. Pansy was a means to serve that end, even if she couldn't trust her worth a bit.
Was he safe here? Would someone be depraved enough to harm a child? Someone had been depraved enough to harm Theo.
She even considered returning them to the estate, but she also wanted him near. She would have to make that decision soon enough, whether it was safer for him with her.
-0-
It was time to meet with Pansy, but there was still had no means available to her for making her way around. And got lost whenever she left her apartments. But right now she had to fin Pansy's apartments or at least find someone who could direct her.
Turning the corner, she walked down an unfamiliar hall to be met by a person coming the other way, someone wearing black and walking swiftly. She stopped as did the other person. It was Malfoy. It seemed he had returned and he eyed her suspiciously, disapproving showing clearly on his down-drawn mouth. He certainly made no attempts to be cordial, looking down on her like she was consuming air that belonged to him. In his book she, and her kind, didn't belong here.
Hermione instinct was to turn around and leave, feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny. His blond hair shone in the muted light of the hall. It was impossible to tell whether it was day or night in these halls.
"Lady Nott," he said, his voice merely expressing an observation.
How had she walked the wrong way, come close to Malfoy's apartments? "I seem to be lost," she admitted.
He didn't say anything only stared at her, making no attempts to be cordial or even helpful.
"Perhaps you should retrace your steps," was all he said and walked past. Hermione felt the air currents shift as he moved past her. He didn't smile throughout and now seem to have dismissed her entirely. No doubt, she was utterly inconsequential in his book.
Hermione knew Malfoy was one of the people who felt most strongly that her kind did not belong here—one person she could firmly put in the enemy category. She had no idea what his intentions were, but if her lands were up for grabs, she couldn't see him not being interested. People like him never felt they had enough and wouldn't walk past an opportunity to expand on the wealth they had. What she didn't know, was how active he would be in pursuing them. To some degree, he was more honest than others; he didn't even pretend to be friendly or remotely cordial.
Hermione kept walking until she ran across an elf cleaning a mirror along the walls. "Please, I need to find Lady Vaultier's apartments," she said, to the creature who looked frightened to death at being spoken to.
The elf turned and dropped its rags, seeming to think the problem through. It proceeded to give directions, but Hermione lost track after the tenth item. There was a courtyard, at that point and she would have to find someone else to direct her when she reached it. Was she ever going to find her way in this massive citadel?
Taking a set of stone stairs down she came across a window, but she couldn't make out which direction she was looking in. She did however, see if courtyard off to her right but there was still a disturbing amount of obstacles to get there. At that moment she wished she could fly, just skip over this place and land where she wanted to be. Things to be so much easier if magic was allowed here, but so far she'd seen very little evidence of its existing at all.
She continued walking downstairs endlessly, wondering if she had surpassed the level at which in the courtyard was. She heard a crash as she walked past and open door along the stone walls. The part she had reached had quite different architecture from the part where her apartments were. Perhaps that was the key to finding her way around, noting the different architectures of the haphazard components of the citadel.
Someone swore and winced with pain, a male voice.
"Are you are right in there?" she asked. There were grumblings inside and she stepped in through the doorway. The space inside was messy, jumbled objects lining the walls, but she emerged in what looked like a workshop of some kind. A man sat clasping his hand. "Damn thing," he grumbled. He was an elderly man and there was a jug of some kind toppled on the floor, liquid spilling. There was also smoke, as if the liquid was eating the stone itself. "Are you all right?" she asked, which apparently started the man as if he hadn't noticed her coming in.
"Nothing to worry about," he said. He sounded vaguely familiar and when he looked up, she saw it was Mr. Lovegood, Luna's father. He was different, an old man. Mr. Lovegood, she said. He looked at her, but didn't recognize her. Perhaps that wasn't surprising; he had never been completely insane, as far as Hermione knew. "Can I help you?" she asked.
"No no," he said. "Well, maybe. There are some sawdust over there," he said, pointing to a pail.
Hermione went to grab it and brought it over. "Are you brewing a potion?"
"Yes," he said, "but it is a tricky one. Quite explosive, in some way."
Hermione spread sawdust on the liquid letting it soak through. If it was consuming stone it would consume the sawdust as well, but enough sawdust should see it diluted enough to be disposed of.
"And who are you?" he asked.
"Hermione," she said. "Hermione Nott."
"Nott," he said as if trying to place the name. "I knew of an Ignatius Nott once," he said. "A very long time ago."
"He was a part of my husband family," she said. "Died some time ago." Well before her time.
"Yes well, there are always new generations, aren't they?" he said. "One can't keep up once one lives long enough."
"Have you lived in the city long?"
He checked his watch on his wrist, as if that would tell him. "What's it been? 20 years? No perhaps not that long, 15? It feels much longer. I have nowhere else to go," he admitted. "Not sure I would be allowed to leave, even if I wanted to. Who are you again?"
He didn't remember her name from a minute ago.
"Would you like some tea?" he asked.
"No, I'm afraid I can't. I'm here by happenstance, and I need make my way to the appointment. I heard you cry out."
"I see," he said. "No bother. Nice to make a new acquaintance. One rarely sees new people here."
Hermione smiled, trying to assure the man that she meant no harm.
"Where is that potion?" he asked, turning as he looked around as if he'd misplaced it.
"I think it's built on the floor," Hermione said.
He looked down, seeing the sawdust on the floor. "Oh, that is a shame. I have to start all over again."