This morning had been like something out of a book or one of those moving pictures his little cub had told him about years ago. He had woken up wrapped around her and she felt relaxed and pliant beside him. Holding their son and those minutes were etched into his mind. He had absorbed every single feeling he could from their calm and quiet minutes together. Them sleeping or having slept next to him and the calm of the dim bedroom. Her acceptance and the relaxed way she had responded to him. He could take her cues and she would respond. It had been shown over and over in the hours since.
He couldn't really understand what was happening around him. As if it took all of his focus to be in the moment and just try and soak it up. Not think further than this moment or today. It was better and Maks had done the same when he arrived there again. Pushing open the doors to their sitting room and surveying the three of them on the plush carpet in front of a half built tower of plastic sticks. Hermione had just looked up at him and then at Maks. Then smiled between them and helped Soren click the next one to the tower he could barely reach as it was.
He had looked back up at Maks and met his eyes. Whatever he saw on his face must have told him it was all right. Maybe it had been Hermione's relaxed response. Whatever it had been, a small smile crept across his face and he looked a bit smug. The bastard. Smug about his life. He had just rolled his eyes and clicked two more links together before Maks spoke.
"Sor, are we having the celebration breakfast you promised or not?" At that the little boys head came up and he dropped the piece he was holding before smiling widely. Then he looked to Hermione who made an unsure face and the boy looked shocked.
"Min. You said you told Golta. You said." He watched the witch bit her lip and look nearly frightened.
"Siggy said he would take care of it." She offered and then laughed at his whole body relaxing.
"Uncle Maks. Siggy did it. Min is funning me." He looked aggrieved and Thorfinn couldn't help chuckling.
"You won't like it dad. When it's you." With that he ran out of the room and the three adults shared glances before she laughed lightly and then giggled and followed the boy out. Maks just looked at the tower and back to him.
"It should be epic. The list was long." Thorfinn was already walking toward him and only gave him a small shove and accepted the one he got in return.
The whole morning had been like that and now it was changing. They were going to a park that he was assured was huge. Maks didn't even have a way to describe it to him. Hermione's explanation of it being an outdoor children's museum didn't help much and he wasn't sure what he felt about them leaving. He knew it was fine. They would be fine. As he watched her come down the stairs that hugged the Tower wall he just looked at her. Bouncing long spirals of her light brown hair and more of those pants he wanted to peel off of her. This time she was wearing a looser hoodie and was carrying a pair of sneakers.
She slipped them on at the bottom of the stairs and he leaned against the doorframe to observe. She looked right at him then, while she was bent over putting her shoe on and something roared in him. She noticed. Knew exactly where he was and could feel him watching her. It was the most reassuring thing that day. Regarding her anyways. The light pink on her cheeks and the way she froze for a moment before looking down and her hair fell to cover her face. The pop of an elf arriving pulled his eyes from her to Siggy. Who looked a bit different than the last time he had really looked at the elf.
Perhaps what he was wearing could have been a pillowcase or something household related. Now though it was like an intricate tie on coat with pockets he could see and lines he thought were pockets he couldn't. They showed no bumps or traces of items in there though and he wondered what magic was at work there. He was standing in front of her with his ears straight out. She looked up and then shot another glance at him. He just watched and waited for whatever would happen.
"Little cub Master is here." The elf said and she nodded. Then she pulled her hair over her shoulder and he could see her face. She looked uncertain. Even shifted a bit as she stood up fully.
"Make new plans?" He asked and watched as her posture relaxed. It was almost funny watching the two of them. Clearly reacting to each other.
"Not today. Same plans. You agree?" The elf gave a nod and then looked to him. He nodded. Not knowing what he was agreeing to but wanting to know what they meant. Also not wanting to interfere. It was clear they had systems.
"Siggy changes?" The elf's ears had risen a bit and she frowned and then looked to him. He nodded again. Whatever this meant.
"Let's ask. Then we can amend the systems over time. This was the plan. You think it's okay too?" The two of them nodded once at each other and then turned to him. He straightened in response to the dual assessing gazes he was getting.
"We have plans for each outing or activity. Safety and communication." The little cub offered and he understood. Or thought he did.
"Today?" He asked and didn't smile at the glance the two exchanged. Usually she was the smaller one but the elf looked up to her.
"This park is huge so I put trackers on them and we have a meeting place in each area." She offered and then looked again to the elf who wiggled his ears once, she looked up at him with some challenge then. He wasn't worried. Sure that she was probably a bit over protective. Maks had suggested it.
"Siggy and Kreacher will both be listening. That's Harry's elf. He helps a lot with Teddy. I'll explain that later if you want. Anyways both boys know to call for the elf assigned to them if they feel the need or get lost and can't find us immediately." She stopped and seemed to expect a response. He smiled a bit at the serious look on her face. He'd never seen her answer to a teacher or whatever but he bet this was close.
"Sounds good." He offered and she blinked then smiled a bit.
"I spell check anything we eat out and always bring my bag. It's got everything we might need." Her dry tone made the elf bounce. He looked his question and Siggy answered.
"Little cub does space magics." Then patted his tunic or whatever it was and Thorfinn understood. More fit in the bag than one might expect. He looked at her again and she blushed further under his speculation. This was so good. Then he looked up at the sound of Soren's footsteps and watched as he stopped about three feet from the edge and looked down at them.
"Maks assured me that you were the best." He looked to her and could see the mischief there. Holy hell. Nearly thankful for his uncertainty or he was sure he would have backed her up against the wall behind her. That look was so hot on her face. He remembered it well. Had nearly thought he imagined it, when he played those memories in that cell. Then his mind kicked into gear and he understood. The bannisters.
Then he grinned at her and she laughed and made a fanciful gesture indicating that he be the one to do it.
In a minute he was up the stairs and picking the little body up. This was maybe the third time he had done so since he got back and it felt so normal. Soren was reaching for him and his smile was so happy. So full of anticipation.
"Uncle Maks said you could jump." The voice sounded as if he wanted nothing more than to see this. He could but with the little body he didn't want to.
"Go for it. I got it." He looked down at the little witch and watched Siggy and her separate and flank the landing zone. If she said she had it then he was sure she did.
"You sure Soren?" He asked and looked into the bright blue eyes that showed no fear or reluctance.
"Go dad Go!" It was nearly shrieked and he chuckled. Then shifted the boy until he was centred on his chest and perched himself on the thick polished wooden bannister. It was steep enough and kicked up just the tiniest bit at the end. The best bannister for sliding he had ever found. Like it was made for it and he had decided years ago that it was. He heard the floo chime as he pushed off and then was whizzing down the bannister and couldn't help the laugh at the boys scream. It wasn't scared and he just held tighter with the arm around him and then helped them kick off higher. Maybe two seconds later they landed and he felt the magic stabilize him as his feet hit the floor.
"Sor! You did it!" Rang out and he looked from his witch's laughing eyes to the little boy running down the hall toward them. His hair was flipping between blue and yellow. It was startling and then he looked at Hermione who was smiling at the boy still laughing against his chest. Then he wiggles and Thorfinn put him down.
"Teddy. My dad. This is my dad." Then it was introductions, Andromeda only looked him over carefully and then smiled at them and said she would be home when Hermione dropped Teddy off then left. Then Hermione lined the boys up and applied the trackers and asked what seemed a prescribed series of questions about how to behave and what to do in several situations.
He hugged Soren before they left and watched Hermione as she held both boys to her. Each clutched a leg tightly and they vanished in the crack of apparition. He stared for a moment and heard the silence around him.
"Want to talk about it or just sit around for a bit?" Maks asked from behind him and he turned to his friend. Who was leaning in the doorway as he had before. Just watching him. There wasn't much tension visible and his face looked relaxed. It was nearly unnerving.
"Do you want to talk about your open demeanour?" It was a real question and after a minute his friend relaxed again from the tension it had caused.
"Here. My place. It's enough now." He watched his friends shrug after that and they walked down the hallway and then he stopped.
Not knowing where he wanted to go. Before he would have gone to his room but didn't want to do that now. He wanted to go up to the comfortable looking sitting room in Hermione's suite. Low couches and plush carpets. The simple curtains on the windows and it felt good in there. Why hadn't she done the rest of this place. Maks followed him up the stairs and then looked at him when he didn't turn to his room. The look was speculative and he knew that Maks knew what he wanted. It was a bit uncomfortable but part of being this guys friend. He was a good one and usually just part of it but he felt exposed now. She would have warded it or something, if she didn't want him in there and hadn't said anything to him. Deciding that was enough, he walked forward and turned the door handles, pushing the double doors open as he walked through.
Instantly he felt better. This was her space and it felt different than the rest of the Tower. This was somewhere she would come back to and somewhere both of them were comfortable. He could see Soren's things scattered around and more of her. Books and pictures. Blankets too and it wasn't as sterile either. It was clean and he didn't doubt Siggy made sure of it but there were things on tables and even the floor.
It was easy to sit on the couch facing the tall fireplace and throw his head back. Then he kicked his shoes off and stretched out fully.
"It was good then?" Maks asked after he had done something similar enough on the couch facing him.
"It's beyond anything. They are so together. Better than anything I thought of in there." Maks nodded but kept the eye contact. Thorfinn thought about it. Last night. Lying down with her and hearing her talk about it. Even a little bit.
"It was hard. You were right. Fuck off. It would have been easier if she just took him away with her. Out of here. But she didn't. She kept him for me." He did look away after that and tried to scan the pictures on the walls. It was what he had fallen asleep thinking about. Feeling her breathing even out and being unable to think of all the things he wanted to. So he filtered through them and tried to find the core of it. Last night that had felt like it.
"She doesn't seem too concerned with easy. Just Soren and even you. Making sure you had each other." Maks sounded relieved and he did look at him then.
"I don't deserve this." He forced the words out and Maks only nodded. They were true but that didn't make it better.
"Damn right about that. Chasing her was the best thing you ever did. I can't fucking beleive it. I've been waiting for you to get out. Being more and more sure it wasn't just some front or something. The witch is one of a kind. Doing this and like she did. Still is. There's more and it's all just. What the fuck Thor? There wasn't anything more than I know?" Thorfinn could tell that Maks meant the question. Meant all of his words and he watched him as he thought it over.
"No. There was seventh year and you knew exactly how much time I spent with her then. I'm pretty sure you even commented when we actually had sex. Bastard." Both of them chuckled a bit at that. It had apparently been obvious on his face and Maks had been disgusted with his bloody happiness and smug satisfaction. As he had put it then.
"Then the coin and that was it. You know about the cafe. I did see her at the battle. For a minute but she wouldn't stay. I let her go and then as soon as I knew it was over I sent her a message. He is there. Go when you can. That was it. I left a letter with Siggy and every piece of paper I could think of. She didn't use them all but I told him to give her what she asked for. That's it." He finished and Maks looked thoughtful. The two looked at each other and Thorfinn just tried to relax.
"Doesn't seem like much at all. For this." Maks put in after a few minutes and the two shared a look. That was an understatement.