Hermione was sure that today someone had cast an unlucky curse on her. Lev had somehow gotten into her quill collection and no few were damaged. Having her period made her sluggish and though she tried not to let her mood show it was visible in her lessons this morning. Three hours and she had been dismissed. It wasn't rude but that was worse, she had disappointed him. It was three weeks since she had started and today was the first time she had felt that. If she was being rational she would have pointed out to herself that it was bound to happen and that three weeks of good days was actually very good. Having only had the three days off, she was eighteen and one. It left her disgruntled though.
So running into Draco and Theo in her favorite Café seemed an ominous occurrence. More so since she was supposed to be meeting Sabrina here. Harry and her had dinner plans for tomorrow and she felt that she needed some friend time. Luna was counting unicorns with Rolf and Sabrina's owl had felt like a gift. This was the opposite. Having had tea with the entire Malfoy family three afternoons ago, this could go a multitude of ways.
"Hi guys." She smiled a real smile and hoped for the best.
"It's good to see you Hermione." Theo greeted her, kissing her cheek. She smiled at him and wanted to know something.
"Did you close your deal?" It had been weeks of work and she hoped it had gone well, the final meeting was late last night.
"Yes. I'm glad it's over now." His dark blue eyes showed a bit of his triumph and her grin was totally genuine. This was the biggest one he had brokered yet and she had hoped for this as a nice addition to his own business dealings. He was a genius at getting people to agree, if he could get them at a table. It was turning out to be a lucrative talent.
"And you? How's your bone regrowth going?" Draco had found an old scroll with variations on the skelegrow potion.
"It's fine. How is your servitude?" Neither Theo nor her reacted to the jibe delivered in pleasant tones. Internally Hermione raised her hackles.
"Owl me next week Theo, if you've time for a bite or a trip to the Royal Museum. There's a currency exhibit on till just before Christmas. Give your family my best wishes." Turning away she walked to the counter and was relieved to feel her expected guest enter the shop and head toward her.
"Coffee today? I'm definitely having one of those sausage breakfast pastries if there is one and a berry scone if there isn't." There must have been something on her face because the searching look the blonde witch gave her was a bit longer than she would have expected.
"Both sound good to me and a large coffee. I'm hungry and not having a great day either." Hermione felt relief, if they could both be slightly put out then she wouldn't feel as if she was burdening the witch.
Seated and half of a huge scone consumed with the cream they had decided their moods rated. Sabrina looked around them at the crowd and hunched a bit.
"If it's just eavesdropping we can talk about it here." Discreetly she waved her wand and anyone trying to listen would only hear buzzing.
"Whatever you meant is done?" Sabrina could feel and hear no difference.
"I'll show you another time but go ahead." Hermione wondered what she would say. Usually they talked mostly about potions or magic, or just general woman things. It hadn't been anything to personal, aside from the parole things.
"I know we haven't been friends long but I have had two of my oldest friends blab things recently and it's made me cease to speak at all. I'm sure that my petty issues won't even rate, you've got your own things." Sabrina looked a bit upset and Hermione wasn't sure which friends she meant but that sounded terrible.
"I'm sorry you've been let down. I know how that is. Feel free to speak your mind and I'll think it plenty interesting I am sure." Letting herself grin at the end brought out a small smile on the pretty witch across from her. Leaning in she began to tell her tale of men related woes.
"So then, after all that, I stand up and quietly thank him for the evening and walk out. Two of them have come into the shop and asked for me. I had to tell Martin what was going on and he was mortified. Got Shirley to come down and she told him she would take care of it. Apparently he was worried I would get pregnant or something. Luckily she is used to him and just had a tea with me and told me I would meet a keeper eventually." Hermione was a bit shocked at the level of deception that had been foisted on the young witch and knew her brother didn't know anything about it. Someone would have to step in though.
"You didn't tell Shirley about the demands though?" Hermione checked.
"Of course not. I'm surprised I managed to tell you." The witch looked beaten down but not crushed.
How to approach this. What Sabrina had thought Hermione might do after being told this wasn't clear. Nothing by the look on her face. Well that was insane and she refused to leave this table without at least Sabrina having a plan to deal with it herself. If she wouldn't accept a blanket assurance that the problem, evidence, and the young men involved would never trouble her again.
"I want you to know that I will help you in any way, whatever you decide but I'm going to make this offer because I don't think that you should ever have to think about this again. Let me deal with it." She met the bright blue eyes of the witch in front of her and that brought him to mind. Again.
"Thorfinn." Whatever she was going to say was cut off by Hermione's scoff.
Just the thought of him knowing about this was enough to make it clear that would be catastrophic. He was on parole and even though whatever he did, short of killing them, would be justified it meant the possibility of her situation being made public. That was the last thing she wanted.
"Absolutely not. I have someone much more subtle who will delight in helping us with the situation. Discretion assured." Hermione meant every word and perhaps Sabrina hadn't considered until that moment who exactly she had told this to. Hermione blinked, removing some of the hardness that had leaked into her expression. Sabrina looked a bit nervous now.
"No one will die, I assure you." It was the truth. No one would speak of it either. Her accomplice would thank her for the task, certainly. "All I need are their names or if you prefer their faces." She could and would take the images willingly from her mind and go from there.
After another long look she quietly said three names and then looked as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. That made Hermione smile a bit. This was much more productive than her own bad day and made it look like the minor irritant it really was.
"What about you? Distract me." Hermione decided that if the witch could trust her with that then she would share something personal too.
"I've been asked out twice this week, and said no. I don't know what I want or what I feel like I need before I will want to say yes." Sabrina nodded understandingly and looked thoughtful.
"I suppose you can't just take people at face value, though my predicament shows that even someone you do know, at least a bit, can be just as underhanded. How can you trust their motivations?" As if Sabrina had only begun to think of the laundry list of reasons people might have for befriending Hermione. At the look on her face as the list grew longer she couldn't help but laugh and their coffee date ended better than it began.
When Antonin's head came up and he looked toward the apparition point, Rueban was a bit startled. The assessing look told him that it was Hermione. Checking the clock he saw it was just about six and that he had to take dinner out of the oven in twenty minutes. He waved his wand and the chessboard they had been using moved to a shelf. It was a long game, when they played without time limits on the turns.
Both were looking at the door from their positions at the table when the witch knocked. Of course they knew she was coming and she knew they were there at this range. Still the witch was polite and they both appreciated it.
"Malyshka." Came the rough Russian. Rueban didn't wince at the kick his low chuckle apparently merited.
Nothing seemed wrong. She noticed the scrutiny that she was under and made a hand gesture indicating all was well. So what had brought her then. When her gaze landed on him after her routine attempted assessment of her master it was a bit of a surprise. Something was in her eyes. Something that he couldn't decipher. For a moment he examined it and made his best guess.
Apprehension, rage, disgust, and determination. When he tallied them up he was a more than a little bit concerned. Even more so when Antonin straightened slightly. Clearly having read something he wasn't sure of either.
The Russian waved his hand indicating she sit and it was as if she realised what she had done. Interrupted their time after her allotted amount. Her eyes flicked around and she noticed the stacked plates. Clear as day he could see her consternation and frustration with herself. Not that her interruption mattered.
"Vse khorosho." Clearly Antonin agreed. Her posture relaxed slightly but her unique blend of emotions stayed at the other man's assertion that all was well. Sitting down she looked between them and then at him directly again. Clearly he was who she wanted to speak to specifically.
"Razgovarivat'." The barked order to speak got only a nod from her and he marveled at the way she took the man's turns in temper.
"I have a situation to deal with and thought you might like to take part." Whatever it was the witch thought he would be interested. He found himself thinking he probably would be. Both men were watching her with interest now. She was alright and it didn't seem as if she needed help.
"It's not that you need my help?" He clarified. No further questions if she did. Her negative gesture was immediately followed by his wand buzzing. Antonin met his eyes and stood. Interested indeed. He would make some comment about it later, perhaps.
"Then by all means, do share what treat you have brought for me." With this he allowed the slightly disturbing look that anticipation gave him show on his face. Her grin was positively feral in response and Antonin made a gruff sound.
They sat and over pot roast she shared what she knew. Not a plan or anything but the guilty ones list of crimes. At Antonin's growl she clearly remembered that the girl was also his relation. A calming gesture from him settled the man. It would be dealt with. He agreed that this was timed to take advantage of the release of her trust accounts. The girl finally had access to some of her inheritance these young fools decided to take advantage. Not very smart, the witch had connections they hadn't considered. As they consumed pie and an after dinner whiskey he thought over what they might do. Wondered what the witch would accept.
"Limits?" For a moment she looked thoughtful then her face hardened a bit. No reprieve from the witch then. Even more curious he waited for her response.
"Vyzhivaniye." The Russian seemed to surprise her, it did him, Antonin only nodded once. She looked a bit relieved, perhaps she thought her use of Russian would be reprimanded. The two of them often spoke in Russian for hours at a time, it was fine. Often more descriptive or dramatic. Antonin used it for concepts especially and that rubbed off. Survival could mean a lot of things.
"Two days you said?" A nod. "Tomorrow night then? I'll have everything ready." She grinned and it was mean. He liked it a great deal. Perhaps he could find a way to observe Thorfinn's reaction to such an expression on her face. His love of seeing her riled up was easy to discern. This time he would have to miss out. He agreed with her implication that it wasn't best handled by involving him in any way. Better for the girl too.
A full day to think over the best and most discreet way to carry out such a delicate task. He would have to find a way to thank her for such a thoughtful gift. Privately he would admit that she had no need of him, it was her choice to involve him. Having an apprentice was an excellent distraction.