Thorfinn watched the witch as she watched him. Both of them were looking each other over in a different way then they had before. It felt as if thin fabric had been pulled off of her. A layer covering her removed. As he had showered and changed it had been the only thing on his mind. Their son was sleeping already and Siggy was with him so that was no concern. Hermione's trust in the elf had only reinforced his own.
The way Malfoy had spoken. About a few things but there was something that eclipsed the practical concerns. He was sure that those files and a trip to Gringotts would answer those questions. It was the why. Why had she gone about it that way. Her reasons.
Not practical ones. Or ones relating to Soren. He was sure she could list hundreds of ways that these varied situations affected the boy. It was Malfoy's certainty that there was more. That he had a hold on her, as the prat had put it. His company was of the regularly infuriating variety and the wizard enjoyed the reactions. He wasn't very subtle though and much had been implied by his questions. What hold did he have on her. Just the thought was enough to send his mind and body to places he wasn't sure it was safe to travel. In fact he was sure that it wasn't. At this moment though, as he watched her it seemed a real possibility. Not chasing her or finding a way to keep her but that maybe while he had been trying not to imagine her with someone else she had been trying not to imagine herself here. A real possibility.
"I don't know what he said so I don't know what you want to talk about first." He had easily outlasted her and tried not to grin at her. She wouldn't like it right now and was easily read as being upset. He thought about that, Malfoy had said a lot.
"He said enough that there are way too many questions for one conversation." He admitted and watched her nod in acceptance. It was true. She shifted her position and wrapped her arms around her knees. The long curls fell to her left and she rested her chin on her knees.
"I'm sure a lot of it was said just to gauge reactions." Her tone was dry and he did grin at that. It was easily observed and Hermione seemed familiar enough with him to know that.
"He was right about something though. I should start learning what has been happening. It's not fair to leave it all hanging on you now." He knew this was true and her shoulders sagged a bit. Even in her hunched position, he could see it.
"I won't miss it." He could hear something in her voice and didn't know what it was. So he waited to see if she would elaborate.
"It's so hard. I feel like I've said that again and again to you. I'm not. It's not that I couldn't or didn't want to. It's just so frustrating and draining when every obstacle that can be put in your path is. I'm so glad you can just do things. Make a decision and sign one piece of paper. Just like That. So much can be done that couldn't be. Even just the transfer of more than the standing contract allow from the scion vaults to the family vaults is immeasurable. It may sound dramatic but that has been the single biggest headache from a financial perspective." The witch was serious and his mind followed those trails. Thinking about what had been said about levies and taxation.
"We will go on Monday alright?" He asked her. Meaning Gringotts and her head came up at that. Then a smile crept across her face and it was delicious. Vengeful.
"I can hardly wait." Her tone was smooth and said nothing but her eyes were intent on his as she seemed to flex her body.
"Little cub. Please restrain yourself." It was a genuine plea but the slight pout was mostly put upon and she cocked her head at him. Not understanding. Merlin this witch was ridiculous. No more accepting of his want of her than she had been the beginning of his seventh year. As if he didn't want to consume her all the time. If not physically then in other ways.
"Malfoy did ask something though. What holds I have on you." It was a flinch and her eyes skittered away from him.
"I assure you I have never indicated any such thing. It was made clear to me that denials or protestations made openly could be ammunition for the army that hates me but I've never claimed any tie to you. Just Soren and each one I made public only when I truly thought there was no other choice." She stopped for a minute and he nodded at her honesty. Then she frowned and continued. "Except the blood adoption. There was the article and I heard a few things. Enquiries that had been made. I was done." She admitted and he did smile at that. It was so her. To tow the line until she lost her temper or you pushed her just a little too far. When that was exactly was usually unclear so it was a risky proposition.
What to do or how to say what he meant. How to get her to answer him. What if she wouldn't and what that would mean he didn't know. The whole thing was completely tangled and it also felt clear. Did she want him. Him. She had his son forever but didn't need him to be Sorens mum. She was and even if he tried to separate them, which he wouldn't, it wouldn't work. They were bonded by more than magic. They loved each other. Freely. In a way he had never loved his single parent. Soren offered it to him too and that was miraculous.
"Is there though?" He asked and then at her lack of immediate response he knew he would have to say something else.
"Is there someone else?" He asked in replacement and knew the flat tones had been noticed. Then she frowned at him.
"You mean am I seeing someone? Or more likely do I want to be since Draco is convinced my whole life will change now." He understood what she meant and nodded. Exactly that.
"No." It was one word and she held his eyes for a minute before looking down.
"Is it because of Soren or me?" Holy hell. He couldn't believe he had actually asked her that. He didn't take it back and ignored the slight heat he could feel on his cheeks. Her eyes snapped up to his and she was steadily turning a deeper shade of pink. He watched it travel down her chest and nearly groaned. She flushed like that when she came too or was worked up to a flashpoint. Silence for at least a minute and then she caved again. Gryffindor and in some ways a typical one.
"Some was Soren. I've told Harry all about it. Even Draco some things when he wouldn't let off. It's true too. About what would have happened if there was someone else around. Another parent." Her eyes were daring him to contradict her.
"Little cub. That you kept him for me. That he is mine and I'm his dad. Have always been his dad. It's the most. It's humbling." His voice was rough and she softened a bit at that.
"I knew you would think about it. I thought a lot about the time we spent together. Trying to piece together what would be important to you. I didn't know you well. It felt like I didn't but some things. You are possessive. It was flattering then but as I thought more about how you talked about the Tower. Flying here and seeing it all laid before you. If those weren't your actual words then it was what I remembered. So The Tower and it being yours. Soren being yours. It was part of why I didn't just let the family go bankrupt and take on building a whole new fortune for him. It would have been easier." He watched her face as she spoke. Felt so much as he listened to part of her thought process. That she had considered him. It was amazing and hard to accept. He hadn't expected something like this.
There had been some vague day dreams about the three of them. Her wanting him. Maybe winning her agreement eventually. This wasn't that though. He felt bad too. For not believing in her. Doubting her sometimes. Even when he hadn't admitted it to himself. Those first months he had wondered. Until the public knew about them. Then he had at least known that Soren was with her. Even the negative comments or what he considered vexing, those hadn't indicated anything other than they were both gorgeous and happy together. It made him envious and impatient but not scared of the physical or even emotional condition of his son. Her though. She didn't have to do this. Especially this way.
"Hermione. Are you. Do you want this?" He asked and knew it hadn't been the right thing to say. Or at least he hadn't expressed himself correctly. Her face closed off and a small smile graced her lips.
"We will go to Gringotts Monday and that should take care of most of the financial issues. There are some decisions but I've laid things out as I had thought and hope that helps. I've got files on Soren and The Tower as well as ones on the managers. So you can know what's been happening and they and I have left notes explaining context. We're all around too. So anything needed can be explained. Getting rid of that will be a blessing. I may take up a hobby or something in reward for my dedication and perseverance." He thought she meant all of that. She wasn't just filling the silence. She was choosing not to respond but not shutting him down. He didn't like it but didn't want to be confrontational about this. This wasn't something he wanted to goad her into.
"Then that's what we will do. Do you want to start now?" He asked. Eyeing her less relaxed posture and wishing that he hadn't initiated this conversation when he was twenty feet or so from her. That was stupid. Now there was a barrier. An unanswered question. He wasn't leaving though. Not yet at least. Sleeping with her was one of the most relaxing things he had ever done. Aside from wanting to ravish her and the endless erections it was glorious. Her weight and warmth. The trusting way she formed herself around him and the way she accommodated him. That was his and he didn't want to give up any ground. Now more than before.
"No. I don't. You can call them both in too. They have written their readiness to appear before their employer at long last. Both will be glad to be rid of me I am sure." She had thought before speaking but seemed genuinely amused by her last statement. He chuckled. Thinking of the Micks, as he thought of the two with the same surname beginning, dealing with her. Her demands for information and alternatives. Especially if she felt trapped and alone. They might have been all she had for some things and if she was on a mission it would have been forceful Hermione.
"For a while. Then they will miss your willingness to listen to their problems. Probably request a return to the previous arrangements." He quipped and she laughed genuinely. Both of them thinking of the very different but equally pompous and aggrieved men. They both showed it too, the put upon frowns or sighs. It might be funny. He would make sure she was there so he could see the dynamics.
"Was it okay? Having people here tonight?" She asked and he took the shift to their usual tone of evening conversation as invitation and moved toward the bed, and her.
"Better than I had expected. It was a well chosen group though. Was it just the Malfoy's that don't come every week?" He climbed onto the bed and watched her eyes skim him as he stretched out a foot away from her. He didn't touch her either which he usually did. Just feeling her. It made the silences so comfortable.
"No. Unless there is something else happening I try and have Teddy of I can. It makes it easier for Soren and they make a game out of it. Succeeding and getting the reward. Sometimes it's a late night if the guests want to fly and the boys like them enough to behave for longer than usual for nearly three year olds. An event or something. Birthdays too so it isn't every week. Harry likes to come and Teddy is here so it's time with his godson as well. He misses more now that Maks is around." He grinned at her rolling her eyes over the protectiveness displayed.
"Anyways sometimes it's friends like tonight, or close enough and it's more casual. Sometimes it's actual guests that no one likes and then it isn't a fly but a quidditch game or Central. Something worth two hours of perfect manners and polite replies to insults. Usually Siggy pampers me for a while after that. That's what prompted the idea. Agatha Selwyn, the woman is related to Walburga Black I swear. Anyways she made a snide comment and it was printed in the papers. About a scion growing up without the strict upbringing that yields such manners and traditional outlooks. I was livid of course but then thought about it. I had table manners much stricter than I use normally at our Sunday lunches. I didn't want him to be in a situation that he didn't have the knowledge for. I hate that and have learned as much as I could. Andromeda and Narcissa are perfect tutors. Daughters of the House of Black." He just listened and watched her. This was their time and he soaked it in. Her attention on him. The mannerisms and gestures. How she pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose to express different things. How she felt about things.
"Did she come?" He asked and didn't expect the answer he received.
"Oh yes. I invited them. Two weeks after we bought the Runes journal from them. It had nearly gone under. They didn't know it but it was enough for me. To know, it made their snide insults easier to deal with. The picture at the Tornadoes game, in the jersey, that was Soren's reward. Teddy couldn't come that night and I was grateful. He didn't need to hear their opinions." She finished quietly and the mood shifted. He just accepted it and gave in. Gently wrapping a hand around her hip and using a pillow to prop his head up instead of that arm.
"Thank you for Maks. For speaking of him as you did in school. It was so helpful. To have someone that I knew you trusted with Soren. He has been wonderful. Not warm or even outwardly kind but silent support. Especially the last couple months." She spoke more tentatively and lay down across from him, mirroring his position. He grabbed her hand then and laced their fingers together. She flushed a little and he did grin a bit at it. She rolled her eyes and he thought that even if she hadn't answered him, it was something.