Thorfinn was once again seated at the table in Rabastan's cabin, surrounded by paper. This time he wasn't alone. His friend was seated at the other end, with his own pile of parchment. They had already griped several times about the ink on their fingers and the spare sheets of notes and numbers that were hard to keep track of. It was the level of disorganization. That was the problem and it wasn't something either wizard could just hand off to an accountant. Not that they would have trusted one. Both had things that were not exactly legal or ethical that they had to separate out and deal with. The wards tingled and their eyes met.
"It's her." 'Bas muttered around the quill end in his mouth. He nodded. Keeping his owl quill moving he thought over this morning's breakfast again. Who knew the witch could cook? Aside from the food though it had been an insight into her mind and her changeable temper. She had been hurt and then angry over the series of events, the incident had floored him and Yax.
Having sat in the office of Lucius and been warned off the witch, basically told that she would be one of them, he had thought more had happened. That one or both of the younger wizards had courted her and been told no when something more serious was suggested. Not a single clumsy gesture that hadn't been separate from their day to day dealings. We could be good together.
Thorfinn didn't think of himself as a particularly eloquent person or even very tactful. As far as Slytherins went he wasn't very subtle. Just the thought of approaching this witch in that way was laughable. Maybe for a tumble but for more, for a relationship it was a bit insulting. Draco was supposed to know her, they had been friends for years. The little witch wouldn't have taken a mansion as a token. Wouldn't have even considered it one, she had rightly told him to get lost. He wasn't sure exactly what words she had used when she told him that she wouldn't be offended if he didn't ask again in a year. Nott hadn't even been there, thorfinn was sure he hadn't approved that particular plan. He was the more thoughtful of the two. Had a better shot at getting her too.
When she entered he looked up and internally frowned at her slightly worn appearance. She had ink on her fingers and her hair was a bit more rumpled than it had been this morning. Not as if she had gone rounds with Dolohov, but as if she had run her hands through it. Clean and presentable, it was her magic that was depleted, giving her a slightly tense and even tired expression. As usual her clothes were enough to make him want to lay her on the table and rip them off, with his teeth. These were as tight as denims but had no pockets or even seams that he could see. It was just a black silhouette on her lower half, hiding nothing but her skin. The tornados hoodie, he didn't like that it had been Potter's, was to big but she looked adorable. Some kind of sneakers on her feet, she looked comfortable and he didn't know how to stop the thoughts she provoked in him.
"I've been sent to retrieve you for today's magical expenditure." Her tone was dry and her small smile seemed genuine.
"My what?" Rabastan asked her. His dark hair falling into his eyes. She laughed a bit, probably at the two smears of ink on his forehead, from pushing that hair back, no doubt. Without her wand, she waved her hand and the ink vanished. His hair looked smoother too. When the man glanced at her own stained hands she made a face and the ink of hers disappeared too.
"I don't usually bother getting it off, more follows quickly. Not you though. Rowle. Yaxley has given him homework it seems." She was much more relaxed here, this morning had been better than other times she had interacted with his cousin. It it still wasn't near the witch he had begun to get to know.
"The broom?" He had been surprised when she had mentioned that she was building one. Doing the magic for it anyways. It was pretty common knowledge apparently, that she didn't like to fly. He had seen some references to it in the papers. The things people seemed to know about her and share were invasive. She nodded and then looked at the chair.
"Need some time to finish that up?" Her question indicated his half circle of paper and general disorder.
"We don't have that much time little witch. This is a mess." Rabastan groaned in agreement and Hermione laughed. He could see her appreciate the healthy color and more open demeanour of the other wizard. It was clear that she liked him, his personality. She couldn't tell him much about his friend, while in Azkaban but he was mentioned at almost every visit. Usually with the same eye contact Sabrina's name merited. Reassurance, she did her best to let him know that both were okay.
Rabastan had mentioned last night, what he had been thinking about. They were walking in the woods, both liked to be outside and together they were more confidant, even in the warded property. Rabastan especially had emotional scars, his life had been one of nasty surprises.
"Do you think it's because for all those hours it was only her and us?" This had come out of nowhere and for a minute Thorfinn tried to puzzle out the context. Stepping over a thick root on the path, he decided that some of it was required.
"Granger, in there?" That would explain his conclusions as to the actual topic.
"Yes. Luna and I, we got to know each other alone too. That's when we talked and told each other things. She was the first person who seemed to think I was only as I should be, after my experiences. Even you thought I was too nice, soft, when you got partnered with me." Rabastans tone was a bit dry at the end. Thorfinn could help but chuckle lowly.
"I was scared shitless. A Lestrange. I was a kid, or felt like one." Rabastan returns the chuckle. It was a funny memory now. Luckily there had been no witnesses to the choppy awkward conversation.
"Luna seemed to think it was normal. Hermione was surprised too, more like you. After a few months though, she began to be able to see me. Underneath all my issues." The guy was too hard on himself. Thorfinn thought he was doing better than anyone could have expected. His life had been shit and not just his unlucky birth and family. One fucking disaster after another. Both of them had been pushed into service and ruled, by family or the Dark Lord. Not really knowing where his friend was heading with this, he just waited.
"It makes me uncomfortable." That wasn't sprecific at all. Not even enough to narrow it down.
"How?" Now it was Rabastan's turn to be silent for a moment.
"I don't like what I see happening around her. It seems as if such a witch would need no protection. What she has achieved, all of it, is enough to show she can take care of herself. It's not really what she wants though. Needing no one, it wouldn't be success to her. She shouldn't have to fight, she already has, many times. Hasn't she proved herself?" This was one of those times that 'Bas didn't expect an answer. These weren't questions, they were concepts. Dealing with him was always eye opening, he seen things differently. Magic and people. The beginning of their partnership was a lot of frank questions and falling asleep thinking about his answers. Having been free, he was the wealth of current events knowledge and his friend made the bigger picture more visible to him. He had learned a lot about himself and others.
"She doesn't want to be alone. Even I was a suitable substitute, she just needed someone." That was the only thing he could add as observation. Then he thought maybe he understood some of what his friend meant.
"Do you mean that people will try and tear her down because she will do what she wants, even if it isn't the easy or accepted way." He looked over to see his friend's expression. He was always more open when they were moving, like he forgot the masks he was raised with while in motion.
"Partially. That's some of it. She's going to do it anyways. Even if her world crumbles." They hadn't spoken any more words but shared several moments of silent conversation.
Looking at her now as she tried not to peek he couldn't help the internal grin. If she was going to do what she wanted anyways, then he would try not to feel so bad for the taint associating with him left on her. He was selfish enough to let her, not try and distance himself for her own good.
"Maybe another time. You have assignments to do children." Rabastan was teasing her and she wrinkled her nose.
"If you are serious and he doesn't wear you out completely, I'll take you up on the offer." Thorfinn put in. He had vague memories of her orderly table in the library. Knocking over her carefully piled books actually. She waved her wand, as if she couldn't help it and the piles sorted themselves. A quick perusal told him there was a system and it was also organized by date. He let his grin show. She returned it and looked questionly at the other wizard who nodded. Smiling slightly at her clear enthusiasm for the task.
"Developed that one for Harry. His desk is a mess and he can't find anything or prioritize." That seemed enough explanation for her. Clearly she didn't need it.
They made their goodbyes and flooed to her house. This time he got a tour of the main floor and then her workroom downstairs.
"You can't come my lad. It's more dangerous than the kitchen cabinets." Watching her with the kitten was a bit much. The adoration on her face was almost too much to look at.
The door on the back stone wall was their destination.
Behind it was a bare room, he could feel the magic stopping him from entering. Not just him but probably absolutely everything the little witch could keep out. He knew a fair bit about brooms and how the magics were porous until the steps were completed and the magics sealed. After that, they were pretty durable, as quidditch proved.
As her wand waved he watched her hands and then let his gaze drop down her body to her sock feet. He could feel his body react to her display and mentally groaned. She didn't notice and eventually he was distracted by the slight pull on his magic. She had added him to these wards, permanently. When she did things like that it made unwise ideas more tempting.
"He said two." Was all she said before walking back through the wards and closing the door. It was almost humbling that she thought he could do the magic, didn't ask him or tell him things before leaving him here. Her confidence was incentive enough to be careful and precise. He examined a few of the separate twigs, making sure could judge the amount of magic she had imbued into each. It was substantial.
Unwilling to cast any magic in the room, other than what was needed, he didn't know how long that had taken. It felt good to use his magic in such a deliberate way. Carefully instead of reactively. Exiting the wards, he was alone in the nearly medieval looking stone walled workroom. There weren't any chairs, he noted.
Reaching the top of the stairs he could hear quiet voices and considered just leaving. Curiosity got the better of him and he followed the sounds. To the open door into her living room.
"Of course I was going to tell you. I haven't seen much of you lately." Instead of consoling the witch sounded a bit peeved.
"You've been busy." Thorfinn could hear the sneer in Malfoy's voice.
"I thought you weren't going to speak to me like that anymore." Now she sounded a bit hurt in addition to her angry edge.
"I don't know how to speak to you. It's like you aren't even the same person." The disdain was gone but now there was heat in the wizards voice. He winced. That was a low blow. Maybe now would be the time to make himself known. He gave two raps on the door and rounded the corner.
His gaze went to the witch and he remembered that she would have known he was there. He didn't let his chagrin show in front of the younger wizard but he felt it. That would need remembering. She looked fine, more tired than before. Maybe Malfoy couldn't see her shortened reserves, or hadn't looked for it.
"Finished. It will be something, when it's done." He let a bit of his honest enthusiasm show. Not much, with an audience, but he had been thinking about it while he poured his magic evenly into each section of the small piece of wood. The smile he got was to be expected, the witch was insatiable in regards to complex magics. Dolohov wouldn't impress her otherwise.
With that he turned to Malfoy and nodded. The other wizard hadn't known he was here and for an instant he didn't understand the reaction. Then he realised, he was in the witch's house. Had been here and she seemed happy to have him there. None of the smug reaction he had to the other wizards flash of jealousy showed on his face. He wasn't playing games with the little ponce. If the witch wanted Malfoy then so be it. If she didn't, he wouldn't let himself think too much about that. This witch wasn't one you could easily replace and she seemed rooted in this new life of his. Nowhere to run.
It had been five whole days and she was sitting at the table with them again. This time it was lunch, Yaxley was good with food. It was quite flamboyant, Bouillabaisse today.
This was the first time she would be broaching her plans with him, for clearance. That didn't sit very well with her but it was part of the contract. It hadn't come up in this stretch. Tuesday to Sunday she had showed up at eight and left when she was dismissed. That had been as early as noon and as late as three thirty, so far.
"So can I go with Luna, for two nights. Probably won't take both but that way I have time either side. We have to hike in and out a ways. Luna said it was further than last time and that was about four hours." It hadurr been as belittling as she thought, but that wasn't taking into account the circumstances. Regardless, it was worth it. Even just in these few days, Hermione could tell that this was the right choice. Now wasn't the time to rhapsodize over her feelings.
"What are you guys doing out there?" Rowle was curious. He came and went. Ate with them or not, as he pleased.
"Still the unicorn census. This is only my third trip with her but she has done seven so far I think. Mostly I just get high enough to see her and watch them come to her. Last time it took most of a day for her to say she had met them all. Thirty seven that time." All three looked a bit amazed. In their own ways anyways. Dolohov's long look was his only indication.
His eyes were calculating and then a shake. For a moment she was surprised and then a bit put out. She had thought it would be fine. None of her projects couldn't be left and, well really she had assumed.
Yaxley made a noise that she now knew was a question. Her gaze flicked up and so did Rowle's. It had become something of a game. Trying to figure out what they were saying. Neither had very much confirmed success yet. This time it was answered by the more talkative of the two before they could speculate about it.
"Communication." Yaxley seemed to think that answer enough. Or a condition anyways. Maybe they used mind magic on each other. Probably not, her shields were half decent and she hadn't felt it from these men.
"Can't I just use a patronus?" This seemed quite simple. "Harry will come if we get in trouble. Luna lets him know and so do I. Three people is the rule. We haven't had that many problems." The last was said defensively at the looks she was getting. They had been interested before but now, it wasn't alarm but it was something ranging in that direction.
"Neposredstvennyy." Hermione mused over that response while mopping her bowl with a roll. Direct, first hand communication. Even dealing with them was a puzzle. Everything had to be deciphered. Clearly a patronus wasn't good enough. She couldn't use magic around the unicorns. A coin. She didn't have one though. An extra. This would have to be a closed set.
"Would a closed set of protean charmed coins do? They can hold up to 46 characters per message and hold 14 messages. Think the words while it's touching your skin to activate. They vibrate and warm when a message is received. They don't warm when it's sent." Hermione thought that was all the salient information. At the same time she was musing over the number of people who seemed to think she needed minding. Accounting for time like a child. More silent discussion and then three head nods. Rowle's made her smirk slightly at him. He hadn't been involved in the others unheard words.