Hermione looked up at the floo chime and scanned the clock she had recently purchased. Astoria and her had gone to muggle London antique shops looking for pieces of furniture for her cottage. One of the first muggle places she had taken the gorgeous witch was the higher end antique shops in St James. Having been in her family estate and the dower house she was living in now, her love of the unique was clear. Astoria had been thrilled to spend a few evenings hunting through the shops for her friend, instead of herself.
Five thirty, that had gone quickly. Regretfully she placed the novel down and stretched before standing and making her way quickly to the wizard waiting downstairs for her.
"Kitten. I've missed you." Her returned sentiments were spoken into his shoulder. The large dark wizard was wearing a royal blue robe that she loved and his head bore no tassel.
"Feed me woman." This was said as he released her gently and looked her over carefully. She returned the scrutiny. While he smiled at what he surveyed, she tried to hide her frown. There were small wrinkles around his lips and though his dark skin hid the bags under his eyes, it made the slightly bloodshot tiredness more visible.
"I got off early today so had time to make your favorite and read a novel for an hour." Hermione had decided that this would be as relaxing an evening as she could make it. Whether he needed to vent or needed conversation, she wasn't yet sure. It could be one first followed by the other.
She had missed this, their dinners. Both being so busy day to day, it was needed, sitting down across from each other and being able to finish sentences without being interrupted or needing to be conscious of the time. Susan would be brilliant at the job but she wasn't sure if they had a friendship, the man and the Minister needed one. He couldn't just soldier on by himself indefinitely.
"I could smell it. Your a wonder." The smile was grateful, which was a bit worrying too. It should have been appreciating or even a bit greedy. He did enjoy the culinary arts, except sushi. Sitting they spoke of trivialities until their food was served and wine poured. Then she took a bit and waited. If more than two minutes went by she would speak. It would be helpful to know what he was thinking though. Or at least the tenor of his feelings.
"I'm sorry." Putting her wineglass down, she waited until he looked up to see her uncertain expression.
He grimaced and finished his bite of beef wellington.
"I didn't know the backlash would be this bad. Especially inside the Ministry." Understanding what he meant now, she nodded.
"I knew certain factions would be so upset at my involvement with these people that there would be some unpleasantness. The level of suspicion is unsettling." This time he nodded. Instead of understanding like hers it was a bit incredulous.
"In the higher levels it isn't bad. Even Avery scoffed at Macmillan two days ago. I was surprised but thankful. Maybe for the first time. The man is a prig but when Clark made a crack about trusting the work you had already done he actually verbally scoffed and said, I quote, 'The chit is as rigid in her morals as I could have anticipated. It is frustrating for those of us able to comprehend nuance.'" Hermione's eyes were wide and Kings gave her a look that said, I am not joking. Then she made an uncomfortable face.
"What am I supposed to think about that. This is even more disturbing than Lucius being quite civil. How did we get here?" She asked, frantically and rhetorically.
"You built this world, made it possible. Merlin, you even gave Avery the respect he didn't deserve, allowing those of questionable leanings to become legitimate in the Wizengamot again." She shook her head at her friends overblown estimation of her contribution.
"You know that's not true. Everyone did it. We all did. We even did it on purpose." That was a standing joke between them. Reacting in public like things that happened were lucky or by chance. When often months of intense planning and scheming had been responsible.
"Still. I can tell you are becoming less happy to drop in, on demand." So this was what he wanted. Understanding that he wanted to know what she was going to do and what she wanted. From him. After that things would become less focused on this particular headache.
"It is not comfortable to be summoned and then told your opinion is invalid for some reason or another." Hermione admitted what they both knew had been happening. Some kind of power trip to be able to summon The Hermione Granger and then insult her, without fear of Ministry consequences. No longer did she have the Minister or her position backing her. It was ridiculous.
"Susan told me about last week. I thought you might want to know that this morning they took your advice. No mention of your name of course." The apology was there again but she just smiled at him.
"It doesn't matter Kings. It was important that they implemented the safe house program." He nodded in agreement. This had been one of the things both Narcissa and her had been backing for months now. Spousal or parental abuse situations were the most common but magic made all sorts of terrible things possible. A discreet and confidential program was being rolled out soon, that would provide immediate removal to a safe place and then treatment, before the victim had to deal with their abuser in court, or whatever happened. Treatment could be for physical, magical, or mental damage. It was difficult to speak of such things but this was a twenty year plan, so worth it. They had made sure there was no chance it could be trashed for budget reasons under the next administration. Even provisions for private funding had been added.
"Perhaps they are not thinking of the longer game plan, I can clearly see that you won't take this forever." Her look told him that he was right.
"An apprentice has no right to private pursuits not sanctioned by the Master of their craft." Her voice was even but she let all of the mischief show in her eyes.
"Has he been against this then? Your dropping in?" Kings wanted to know, and no doubt wanted to know even a little bit about her current situation.
"If he were I wouldn't have gone this week. As long as I complete what he sets for that day or exhaust myself then am dismissed he doesn't interfere much with my life, so far." This was true and Kings nodded. Not understanding exactly what she was doing with her days.
"The scroll didn't say much." That was an understatement, and asked a question. She thought about what to say. Best begin as she meant to go on.
"The private one contains the stipulations that apply most often." Hermione met his eyes and seen the understanding there, then the chagrin.
"I shouldn't have come at it that way. You were loyal to me when I had your commitment. Of course it would be the same for him." Hermione smiled at his understanding of the situation. She was sure this would be a common misconception, that their history would make her less likely to stand her ground over him. People that knew her and really thought it through would quickly understand though.
"Can you tell me something of what you are studying? Or even your daily schedule." The Ministry business was passed for now. This was a friend and she knew from his steady glance and real smile that he wanted to know.
"There is so much and it's mostly the same. I go there about eight and leave when I'm done for the day. I am using much more magic than when I was doing it alone. The reassurance of having someone knowing what I am doing is profound. I have been able to try two different ways of taking down simple wards that I wasn't willing to risk before." Hermione wanted to be able to be honest with her friends. As far as she felt wise anyways. There weren't all that many people that she trusted, especially lately. This man though, he was one and she had spoken before her resignation about hoping they could keep their private relationship.
"I had been worried about that." Several times Kingsley had mentioned that whatever she was doing, she could always come to him for help. "The offer still stands, though I doubt you will need me for magical tasks anymore." He pouted at that and she laughed. Several times she had asked the capable wizard for help, or advice. They had duelled occasionally and when she needed someone to cast more complex magics with he was her second choice, after Harry. Some of the magics she had used in the Ministry were quite large. Corresponding to their tasks.
"I don't know him well. I've been thinking about it though and read his file again. I know that magically he is more than capable and you trust him with it. So do I. After watching him that day, nothing showed though. No emotion. Is he, will he take care of you?" His plate was empty and she had all of his attention. As she thought over his question and the concern behind it, she wondered if a lot of people's concern was at least partly this. What to say? This would be a good time to see how little could get across the point.
"If he wanted me dead, I would be. You know that better than anyone else, having been there that day. He has insisted that my experiments take place with supervision and it was him who taught me to judge magical levels and endurance." Perhaps this would be enough. Even if he didn't care personally for her, the Magical Ink told her that he believed she could, and that he was certain she would succeed.
The agile mind in front of her turned over her words and twice she thought he would speak but then didn't. With a wand wave she cleared the table and another brought the cherry pie to the table, with clotted cream and made fresh that day. The grin was payment for the pie, it wasn't even his birthday. Usually she only made this one for special occasions.
"I have no doubts as to your magical success, you are a kind person though Kitten." Ah. Well this made sense. Hermione knew she could be sensitive and there was enough honesty in her to know that she did thrive on praise from those she considered qualified to give it. Snape's silent glances of speculation with no comment were better than whatever verbal praise she got from less gifted teachers.
"He is mostly silent with me. That day, it's how it has always been. I don't ever anticipate being his friend. I do have friends though, others to receive the emotional support from. His silences though, are also a kind of validation. They mean I have done nothing wrong, or even that I have done something right. Just succeeding at what we tasks he gives me is enough. It wouldn't be, from someone less gifted. The magic is worth it. My improvement is worth it. I doubt he will sanction me warding anything for the Ministry but i will ask if I can do your Estate. It probably won't be for a while. That will take several days but would be a good test." She was musing at the end. Lost in thought of how to suggest such a project. She still wanted to add a rune stone matrix to her own home. Setting one up with one already in place would be good practice. Grimmauld and the Rookery were both stable. Several people had poured energy and work into the wards in past generations. His stately home though, she had been upset with them and cast freestanding wards alone and with him. It wasn't something she wanted to do without help, too much for one witch who wasn't qualified.
"Sanctioned?" He questioned. Watching her calculating expression with a bit of a smile.
"Hmmm. Yes, your home would be personal but the Ministry professional. I still have to ask him though, I need help, or at least supervision if he says I can do it on my own. Whenever that ends up being. I want to set up a rune stone matrix here." Her mind still wasn't completely on her friend or she would have noticed the incredulous look on his face before his silence alerted her to the change.
"Set up the wards in my home alone, if he says you don't need help." This was said slowly. Knowing she would understand his disbelief. She blushed and wanted to look down. Damn her lack of control, she hadn't been ready to throw up a mask or think before speaking apparently.
"It is his decision." Hermione tried to say this as if she hadn't said something so revealing. For all that Harry and even Kingsley knew of her skills, that she could probably set up a rune stone warding system alone was surprising, shocking even. Of course it wouldn't be tomorrow but she didn't think it would be that long before she reached the ability. Not as quickly or easily as him but possible one day. Maybe Harry didn't know enough to understand the level of magic and skill required. The amount of background study and work it took to get to such a skill level, but this man did. Raised in the magical world and a senior Auror, Kingsley Shacklebolt was an accomplished wizard in his own right. His glance was not easily read but gossip and light chatter about their friends and acquaintances finished out the evening.