Authors note: To everyone who was disappointed with the pairing but managed to leave something in addition to that in their review, thank you. Writing a story and only being told what disappoints the readers isn't very encouraging. This story is already written and finished but if it wasn't then this very well might have lessened my motivation to finish it. Not complaining and happy to hear what you think but please remember that behind the pen name is person, pouring their imaginations and time into writing these.
With that said, we are finally getting somewhere and I can't wait to see what you all think of it!
Thanks to bookgeekchic for being my beta and all of her help and encouragement.
JKR owns everything except what she didn't actually create and we are all so grateful to get to play in her world.
Thanks everyone!
-Maybenotahufflepuff
Someone was watching her. That wasn't unusual at all, but the intensity of the gaze, and the fact that after entering and exiting three shops, it was still following her were definitely not normal. As she paid for the potions ingredients, she smiled at Martin and passed on her hello to Sabrina. Even if the man sold potions ingredients, his apprentice rarely did. Kept busy with the brewing and preparation of ingredients. He nodded at her and wished her a good day. For a moment she stood at the till, rummaging in her bag to buy a moment to think. Since this was the third time she had noticed the same feeling, it was time to act.
The question was what to do. Until about twenty minutes ago she had been telling herself that the war was over. Scolding herself for the PTSD that kept her too aware, made her overreact. Then her magic had alerted her to what she could only describe as contact. In her unease it had been spreading further around her. Without any real thought she had been avoiding the crowds and in Tatters she had been alone for about three minutes. Only Hank was there and her magic had already dismissed his. Sudden awareness told her that even if she didn't know what, someone had cast toward her. Trying to crouch without it being obvious why, she decided to try and discern who was doing this.
Her awareness was at its peak as she walked out of the previous store and into this one. Keeping people or obstacles between her and the slight feeling she had of the other person. It had followed and seemed to know that her range was not a good place to be. How it knew to stay away from her she didn't know but that made her uneasy. It wasn't anyone she knew and her magic seemed to think it a problem. Sometimes she could use it as a kind of character judge, she would take its opinion into account and be careful. Straightening, she decided on her course of action and with a last smile at Martin she turned and exited the shop.
Scanning the Alley, she was pleased to see someone who fit her plan. Casually she excused herself as she walked through a group of middle aged men and then laughed as she dodged a group of children playing with some kind of WWW toy that bounced within a chalk circle.
"Bill!" She called out when she got close enough. He must be on his lunch break and the break in they gray skies made his hair nearly glow a bright red. As they walked toward the Leaky together she asked him about Fleur and his family. It was good to see him and to know how everyone was. She had exchanged letters with George but the shop had been busy when she was here with time to kill. Reaching the Leaky she hugged him and reassured him that she would write to Fleur. It was still there.
Entering the pub she waved at Hannah behind the bar and headed to the restroom. Quickly she pulled a bobby pin out of her bag and cast a dampener tightly around her. This would mean no one might feel the magic surge in the ladies washroom, if anyone out there could. Not knowing who was following her, it was best to plan for the worst. Seven spells and two wards were cast on the tiny piece of metal and then carefully she set up the trigger. Holding it gently in her hand she quickly glanced in the mirror before dropping her dampening ward, slowly so that there wouldn't be a spike in the ambient magic around her. Enough magicals moved through here and in the early afternoon, like now, there were children. They often made small spikes of magic without effort.
If the person followed her into muggle London, she would know that it wasn't just an opportunity that had led to them watching her, and casting whatever that had been. As she crossed the street with a crowd of Londoners she knew that she had been right, it was still there and closer than before. Almost within her range completely. She needed a place with no muggles to observe for a minute so she headed down a smaller street and towards the small city park there. She had used it for apparition before the area was put in, not liking the randomization of where you appeared. The wards responsible for this kept people from landing on others or splinching. Not being averse to muggle London it had been preferable to walk in through the Leaky.
Walking under the gate she smiled at a little old woman with a tiny white dog and returned the polite greeting. Then walked up the first path, she knew it led through three smaller copse of evergreens before exiting out onto the next street. Not wanting to duel this person meant that she waited longer to initiate her plan. She didn't turn and look at the person who must surely be in view now, only dropped the bobby pin and kept going. The three second delay meant that she was sure the person would be caught in the circle of magic that went up after it hit the ground. So would anyone else, muggle or magical, so that meant that she needed an empty space. Like this one.
His slight sound of surprise was cut off by the silencing spell and like her prize Hermione could see and hear nothing. Silently she cast the reversals in a two foot radius around herself, anchored to a ward they held their shape. This let her see and move inside the spells holding the man immobile, silent, without any physical sensations at all, even gravity.
It was a man, a younger one and he didn't look familiar to her. This wasn't the place for deductive work though and she suddenly thought about having to answer for this. To Harry or Dolohov. Any of them really. None would be happy with her solution of taking it on by herself.
Gripping the coin in her left pocket, she sent a message. 'Meet me at the field.' Knowing she would have minutes before he apparated to her, if she wasn't where she said she would be, she took the prepared portkey from her bag and set the five second delay before levitating it to the man and quickly dropping the magic holding them there. With that she spun and was there a full second before her prize. This was a bit like one of her tasks but not against wards. Then as he materialized and spun to the ground she put up the wards, spells and charms she thought necessary and waited.
Having dealt with the problem for the moment she let herself think about having missed lunch because of her unease and wondered what Yaxley had made. Days off weren't as good when meals were missed. She would have to answer questions too. Having only been there about a minute, she didn't expect to have to wait long.
Rueban watched his friend take down the latest ward and waited until he began the next before casting a stinging hex at him. These were his usual daily drills and occasionally he liked to try and catch him off guard. Success was rare but both enjoyed the pastime. With a barked laugh he threw himself to the ground, underneath the blasting curse the man had sent back.
"I'm not an apprentice you know. Why am I here and doing this?" Thorfinn demanded as exited the cabin, ignoring the older wizards antics. He was holding six eagle feathers and Rueban reached for them, after standing and dusting himself off. Seeming as if removing a twig from his collar was not undignified in any way. He raised a brow at the younger wizard.
The look told him that he was free to leave, whenever he wished but the challenges would end.
Thorfinn rolled his eyes and handed over the two hours labour. Six quills prepped for enchantment. Antonin had asked for a few new ideas. Different takes on tasks for the witch.
"A surprise." Antonin spoke from his armchair across from his.
Having been speaking of Thorfinn's clear appreciation of the witch it didn't immediately click into place. A moment's thought though made it clear. Now that his friend had an apprentice, part of his mind was always on her. What she had done, wanted to do, what he should do for her or set up for her to do. It was quite comprehensive and quickly their lives had begun to centre around having her to manage.
It took more effort to keep her occupied than Rueban had anticipated. Antonin clearly agreed. Even if he magically tasked her enough, other parts of her mind needed strenuous activity as well. The witch was as single minded in her own way as his friend. Once she had a problem she relished wrestling it into a solution and if she didn't have one then she went looking for one.
He could more easily understand what had led his surly friend into continuing to feed the witch's mind. It was quite something when she had all of her attention on you. Seeing her mind work and the level of effort she was willing to put into it pleased him. Even he rated her respect and attention. Though he had been careful to be more approachable than Antonin. She was engaged and applied herself diligently. Her own idea of spacing, as she called it, was in development and that would take some time to flesh out. She knew it, so kept on, but it wasn't enough. Her education was certainly sufficient but he knew that Antonin too enjoyed pushing the limits. Now he had someone else's abilities to feed in addition to his own.
Someone who seemed to have limitless expectations of his capabilities and his mind. Rueban thought it very relieving that the witch didn't seem to desire Antonin sexually. That kind of control over someone would be very dangerous for the witch, and his friend. That said she could certainly use an outlet, hence their earlier discussion.
"Perhaps a change in the delivery?" This seemed the most immediate solution. Knowing that a structure was being followed in how much she did and the gradual increase in risk and difficulty, that wasn't wise to change. The way she went about it was though. Perhaps a riddle instead of an equation. She had mentioned scavenger hunts before too. That was an idea, Antonin agreed with his deduction.
"Let's set her up a portkey scavenger hunt?" He was sure that a little bit of the deviousness he felt was visible and enjoyed the slight mirror on the other wizards face.
Looking at the feathers now he couldn't help but let some of his anticipation into his expression. They were putting on a bit of a show. Her friend, Luna, wanted to come and watch her. Rabastan too had indicated that he would enjoy the experience. He wasn't sure about the witch knowing about him but Hermione had indicated that it would be fine. Perhaps he should trust her and force Antonin to forgo the anticipated vow.
"Gde pole." Barked Antonin's voice loudly. His head snapped toward his friend who had a look on his face that wasn't quite readable, even to him. Where is what field? A frown formed and he suddenly realized what he meant.
"Hermione? I'll take you. Now?" A nod was all the reply he got and then his arm was held out as he walked toward the two closer to the cabin.
"Me too." Thorfinn said and grabbed Rueban's closer arm. A distracted nod. Absolutely expressionless, Antonin reached him and Rueban wondered what on earth had happened. His wand came up then twirled and there was a change in the pressure, then it stabilized and glowed in the sky for a moment. He had changed the apparition wards, probably for only seconds. Thinking of their field he had met her in twice, he spun, taking the other two with him.