Authors note: Its Thorfinn. The person she saw with a witch and her only real romantic interest in this story. Hope you are all (or most of you) are enjoying the story!
"How was your date?" Luna hadn't been very surprised by Hermione's decision to accept an invitation to one of the magical species charity dinners. It was the look on her face when she told her, with grin determination, that had caused the younger witch to give her a long look.
"It was good. It helped that I knew he was only in London for two more days before returning to Montreal. We had a good time I think. I did anyways. Rolf was there and asked for you. Convenient timing on the trip for Scented Horn Salamanders. Both girls had known why Luna took that trip. Having accepted Rolf's invitation she felt she had to be polite. So being unavailable was preferable to another night spent trying to avoid hurting his feelings.
Tonight was the Gala and Hermione would be relieved when it was over. Nothing had been quite right lately. Luna had been uncomfortable with Rolf and Rabastan too. Hermione hadn't butted in when her friend didn't want to share. It wasn't extreme but it was noticeable to her. Harry became a bit put out when Astoria was featured in the papers speaking to a good looking wizard identified as an Irish curse breaker. A good one too, Hermione had met him before. Work had been good, if slow. Eighteen stones at about three days a stone was not great progress. She didn't do it every day and sometimes she had only a bit of magic to add. There were other things they were doing.
Hermione was coming to terms with the fact that she had developed possibly unwise feelings for Thorfinn Rowle. Oh, she had always been physically attracted to him and she didn't think she had ever been frightened by him. The consequences of being taken to Voldemort yes, but him as a person, no. There were so many things she liked about him. His shoulders and his eyes. The attentive look in his eyes and the way they laughed silently. His hands and how they moved when he spoke. How he looked doing magic he enjoyed. He knew she felt wonder and in his own way so did he. His laugh was contagious and he was fun. They had fun together. She wanted more of it. More than that too.
Having spent hours thinking about it, she had realised some things. He paid attention to her. There was a look in his eyes, several really, that made goosebumps race up her spine unwillingly. There were other things but these were on her mind now, as she tugged specific curls and let the rest fall chaotically down her back. Small braids directed the riot and charmed pins held them in place. She liked it and it would suit the dress. Luna would floo home before changing, soot was not good for gowns.
Her hair was up and the intricate coils were beautiful around the crown of her head. The pastel rainbow gradient gown would look lovely with the ice colours of her friend. They usually got ready together when both were attending something and it was a fun and comfortable routine.
"I'd better go. See you in an hour?" Luna smiled at her and then stopped and kissed her cheek.
"It can be for him, even if he doesn't see it." That was whispered against her ear and then before Hermione replied her friend was gone. After biting her lip for a moment, she smiled softly. Luna was right, as usual.
As she changed into the gown and then slipped on her sparkly comfortable flats instead of the heels she had planned on, she felt better about the evening. The charm she used changed the hem length and Hermione appreciated having talked over many scenarios with the eager seamstress.
Grabbing her cloak she was at the top of the stairs when the floo chimed and she called out to Harry that she was coming.
Stopping in her office she grabbed her clutch and then when she reached the bottom of the stairs she felt the magic. It wasn't Harry. It was him. Probably here for the broom twigs. She bit her lip and then walked into the floo room. He spun and she was surprised he was still in here.
"I wasn't sure if I should wait or leave, if Potter's coming here. You look gorgeous." His eyes were doing that thing where it felt like he was tracing what he could see of her. Trying to ignore how it felt to have his eyes on her like this she made herself respond casually.
"Thank you. Go ahead. We are leaving from here. He should be here anytime." She was unable to make the slight blush she could feel on her cheeks fade. That was okay though. He liked making her flustered and she couldn't help it. Best not to worry over it too much
As she swung her cloak around her shoulders his gaze snapped back to her eyes, then to her toes. He smirked at her flats and she gave him a fake chagrined expression at being caught. All was normal again.
The floo chimed and a very handsome Harry Potter stepped into her home. Immediately she cleaned him off and hugged him.
"See you later." Calling out she shot him a smile then grabbed Harry's arm and spun them away.
"Cutting it fine." She was teasing but also not. He could be a barely on time kind of guy and this wasn't something she wanted to be late to. Narcissa had sent two owls that contained the time this event began in addition to other varied tidbits of gossip and planning.
"I know. You look great though. Maybe that extra time was a good thing." She pouted and smacked him playfully before a camera flash sobered her up and the performance began.
It was beautiful and the atmosphere was pleasant. An hour in and she was surprised by people's politeness. Even if it was fake and they really thought her daft, people had offered her congratulations and bad advice. She had shooed Harry off to wait on Astoria's whims and was speaking with a group of witches that had young children about their thoughts on the proposed day school from eight to eleven years old. Their points were interesting, she was a bit surprised to feel Draco coming up behind her and turned with a real smile. It didn't fall but lost some of its sparkle at the not full smile on his face.
"You look as handsome as ever. Your hair looks nearly as perfect as your father's." Hermione wanted to have a good time and dancing with Draco was familiar and enjoyable. He was a brilliant dancer and she needn't think about it, just enjoy it.
"As usual you are radiant. You always shine brighter among others." He sounded sincere and she looked up at him with a smile. There wasn't one on his face as she expected but instead an intent look. His gaze flicked to her lips and she hardened her gaze for a second. He noticed and for a moment she thought they were going to have a public stare down but then a tap on his shoulder and Theo stood there.
The three shared glances and Draco kissed her fingers before handing her off. Theo was a more flamboyant dancer and she needed to pay a bit more attention or deprive him of his ability to dip and twirl her.
"I'm sorry." He had a soft smile on his face and in that moment she knew that she was too. Her soft smile in return said enough. They would be okay. Maybe Draco and her wouldn't be close friends anymore but she thought she and Theo would be. It hurt to think about but it was also part of life. She did enjoy him as a prat too and she didn't think their love of baiting each other would vanish either.
When she left Theo to try and find her hostess, she was surprised when Avery asked her to dance. The younger one but still. There were many people around them and she didn't have a real reason to deny him. His request had been polite. Generally she tried to behave at these events. It was only about six a year and needn't be many small ones now that she wasn't working at the Ministry anymore.
As they swing into the music's beat she kept her pleasant public smile on her face excepting one glare of very short duration. Half way through she excused herself and walked calmly back into the crowd. It took her about ten minutes to calm down sufficiently. She was proud of how she had handled herself and was sure her distress hadn't shown on her face or people would have asked after her health.
Three dances later, she escaped two by eating and then needing a minute. Eventually Lucius, Kingsley and Marius requested dances and all were enjoyed. Ten minutes of discussion with Delilah, the head of the DMLE's wife, was interrupted by the elder Avery. Again she accepted, this time she was more confident but it wasn't something she embarked on with joy.
It was interesting however. Her lack of reply when she was asked about his son made him frown but he spoke about several issues and seemed like he would have preferred to keep speaking with her rather than the idle chatter of his cronies. That was odd and other than a single message she couldn't find an ulterior motive for his good behaviour.
Trying to let those be her only memories of the evening that had begun so well. As the evening came to an end she watched hope bloom and hope die. Astoria had a smile on her face that was both warmer and softer than her usual public smile and Luna's was sad but determined.
Thorfinn stood in the floo room for a minute and let himself look where she had stood. He had a problem. It was relatively unexpected and large. Wanting to strip her of the clothes covering her and devote himself fully to making her beg him for release wasn't new. What was new was the raging jealousy and frustration when she spun away.
After completing his allotment of twigs for the day and having a tussle with Lev he went home. Rabastan wasn't in the main rooms and Thorfinn threw on a jacket and headed down the path before returning to the house and changing his clothes. He hadn't seen his sister and maybe that would be distraction enough. Just before he left 'Bas walked in.
"Letter from Sabrina on the table." He walked over and read it. Plans trashed, she was writing a paper and wanted to make plans for two days from now. He didn't crumple the paper but he wanted to.
Rabastan finally caught his eye and he could see the slight concern there. His mood had been noted and then the moment of thought before he appeared to understand. It was insane what his mind could correlate.
"It's the gala tonight. Did you see her?" Perhaps he hadn't been hiding his feelings about the witch but it still seemed a bit nerve wracking to have him know.
"Yes." Then he let everything he was feeling show on his face. It wasn't for long but Rabastans eyes flicked all over him in that time. Noticing what he could and trying to puzzle it out. He didn't have words but if his friend wanted to understand then that was fine. He spent a fair amount of time himself, worrying over the other wizard. It was habit and it felt a bit like his responsibility. Like family.
"That good? That bad?" Thorfinn nodded to both questions and they stood in silence. She had looked that good and he had it that bad.
"Why not?" This was the first time either of them had vocalized him actually pursuing the witch at all. His look of incredulity said it all. How about a reason why instead.
"It's only offering. She loses nothing by hearing your offer." Rabastan sounded every inch the pureblood head of house that he currently was in that sentence.
"She wouldn't know what to do with that. I don't even know what I would be offering." That hadn't even crossed his mind. The old fashioned way of doing things. She wasn't of that world and it didn't seem appropriate with her. Offering himself for consideration.
"Just kiss her?" That he had thought about many times and in detail. They would have to talk about it though. This wasn't a situation they could fumble around in without notice. Everyone would know. Well, the cabins occupants would certainly know. Probably her friends too. So that's basically everyone in their world.
"Aside from how there is the fact that she is a lot of witch. Not something you try on. But scary that way. Think anyone could measure up after that?" Rabastan nodded along with him and looked a bit thoughtful at his sure sounding voice.
"You've been looking then? Elsewhere." Thorfinn shrugged. There had been two girls, one offs. At the time they had felt like needed outlets but one of the thoughts he had while pouring magic into tiny branches was that it didn't work. Fucking someone else didn't make him not want it to be her. A bit worse actually since he also felt like he was betraying her a bit. He wasn't and he knew that she would give one of her little scoffs at that. Usually they argued but often it was about magic or things that had happened to one or the other of them. Stories and anecdotes. She was fair and seemed to want to see things from others perspectives.
If he wasn't ready for it. Didn't want it all then he had no business with her. Wanting to bend her over surfaces wasn't enough. Even the jealousy wasn't enough. He would get one shot with her and that was it, he was sure. There were lineups of hopefuls, she didn't seem to want them though. It had startled him when she had gone on a date with the American guy. Seeing it in the paper was a nasty surprise. He didn't ask why she didn't tell him. He didn't tell her when he met a girl. He wanted to ask. He wanted to stop by just because. Not taking her up on her invitation last time had resulted in not receiving another since. Not a casual one for a meal when they left that cabin or a couple hours of whatever activity she thought he might like. A carnival had been mentioned last time. Something had changed and he wasn't sure what.