As she spun into being on a trail surrounded by thick woods she was a bit surprised. Usually she was in the clearing they all used. At least she had thought they all used it. In fact, she had never been on this trail, it wasn't the one that had been used for her surprise assessment. Still the grade of the ground told her which way the cabin was so she began walking. Two steps later she stopped and cast several spells and wards on herself before casting into the air. Yes that was his signature to the magic. For a moment she hadn't been sure she was even in the same valley.
Eventually she rounded a corner and came out close to the bottom of the cliff face that the cabin rested against. Also into but that wasn't visible from outside. All seemed normal but she was still a bit surprised when she opened the cabin door at his noise of assent. He was standing in the kitchen at the back. Leaning against the counter. It was a ways away from here, just out of her range.
That brought back the thoughts from earlier. It bothered her more than anything else. It wasn't common knowledge that she could feel people's magic at any specific distance. She could count the number of people who knew the distance on one hand. Her more impressive magical skills had never been made public. On purpose. She sat at the rectangular table and pulled her knees up. Closing her eyes.
Then she realised she had used quite a bit of magic and that she hadn't eaten lunch. Her granola bar stash would have to do. It was time to replenish her tote bag and she only had peanut ones left. A bottle of water was consumed quickly and she felt the other two coming. They seemed to be meeting at the door. That meant that they too had been sent to different locations upon apparition. Interesting. He had told her that wouldn't be open for study past general admittance wards until after Christmas. The ones she had tweaked for her and Harry had been approved as well.
They entered and she looked up, wondering what they knew. Rowle looked a bit pensive though calm enough and Yaxley was nearly vibrating with keeping whatever it was in. She furrowed her brow and watched him hang up his coat and then turn to face his friend. Rowle came and sat down beside her. Taking the offered mediocre granola bar and bottle of water. They sat together and watched.
This was more of a display than usual. Actual gestures were used and at one point Dolohov turned away, then spun back with a stop gesture. Yaxley's shoulders dropped at that and the two in the audience exchanged glances, assuming it was over. Too soon.
There was no sign of anything except a staring contest happening for a full two minutes. Hermione counted the seconds and tapped the man beside her every ten seconds. Part of their attempt to make any correlation between the communications time and its outcome. Three seconds past the twentieth tap both of their eyes moved deliberately to her.
Freezing in place, she felt Rowle stir slightly beside her. Then his leg pressed against hers in reassurance. It actually helped. They both watched her and looked at her quite often. This was very different.
Yaxley was looking at her as if she was an intricate piece of lace and he was trying to find the first knot. That was the only comparison she could make and even its incongruity didn't lessen the impact. Dolohov's dark eyes were flicking over her and she felt his magic push around hers lightly. This broke her stillness and she pushed back gently, stiffening her posture and separating herself from the wizard beside her. Then when it didn't release its pressure, she lifted her chin and began to barricade herself.
Whatever was going on, she was fine and in no need of his protection. His jaw tightened and then the magic relented slightly though she could sense its restlessness. This was not a comfortable moment and it was getting worse as Yaxley grinned. Then the slightly crazed look came into his eyes and she nearly flinched when he barked a laugh.
"Let her decide." It was a dare. At this, she couldn't help but look to the wizard beside her. His golden mane shimmered and then the blue eyes met hers. He agreed. This was not normal and that had been a dare. He must have seen the lingering feelings of defiance because his eyes softened and he gave her what might have been a warning look. Not liking it she looked at Dolohov. Decide what?
"Pitaniye." Hermione was a bit relieved. She was hungry and nourishment covered a lot. Like most of his concepts it would mean all around comfort. Especially if he was reluctant. Yaxley would pay the toll or the answer would be no. Without hesitation the wizard had his back to them and his wand out. Knives were suddenly chopping and cupboards opening. Once that was happening he turned it toward the cabinet closer to the table and various liquor bottles settled onto the tray atop the cabinet and then it floated to the table.
Quickly she moved her things and shoved them under the bench. Just in time as the table suddenly lit slightly as a banishing charm cleared it of newspapers and detritus on the end closest to the door. It was their regular dumping ground. Rowle growled as his water bottle disappeared but settled when a glass winked into being in front of him and a bottle slid down the table toward him. He delivered Hermione's coffee and liqueur by hand and she couldn't help but smile at his antics. Really he was a fun man with endless facets.
Through this Dolohov stood and waited until his own drink was settled at his usual spot and nothing was moving in his vicinity.
Seated, he waited again until a platter of varied snacks appeared on the table and he grabbed a handful of roasted chestnuts and waited for Yaxley to finish his dinner preparations. Consuming cheese and crackers helped her stomach settle and the coffee with alcohol revitalized her from the adrenaline let down. That had been quite fun.
"Think we could do that?" She asked Rowle. His look told her that he hadn't a clue what she meant. "Play a game like that. Predator and Prey." The flash in his eyes was answer enough. A slow grin spread across his face and she could see his mind begin to contemplate trying to catch her. Then the anticipation settled a little and he looked at her assessingly.
"That would be hard. To win outright." Hermione couldn't help but grin a bit smugly. Her nod was conceding. Before she could suggest what might count as a win other than actually being able to incapacitate her, the chef approached the table. His own whiskey in hand. Seating himself several places away from them all meant that he could see all of them. He shot Thorfinn a look and she could see that the wizard took it as a gag order. He was given those occasionally. When they didn't want his interference in her decision making, usually.
"He is an apprentice." Hermione was concentrating on the man as she usually did when he was instructing her. Nearly complete focus. She could see the other two peripherally but her focus was on catching any cues that weren't spoken.
"At home." She understood that he meant in Russia. She wasn't sure if he had ever lived there as an adult but he was born there and so were his parents. He seemed to expect something from her so with no other clues she nodded. Surely he knew she was listening.
A minute passed and she forced herself not to shift her attention from him. Suddenly his focus was on her again and she held her ground.
"They will come for you." He hesitated and his gaze flicked to Yaxley. Keeping her eyes on her mentor she couldn't see the other man's exact expression but his chin lifted slightly and she knew that this next part was somehow important. More important than people coming for her. Or at least they thought it would be. That was her hypothesis and she was not in suspense for very long.
"Ili ya stanovlyus' na koleni." For a moment she didn't understand. Kneel? Then she understood, she could let them try or he would have to capitulate. Her pride flared at the implication when it became clear the next second.
"Admit I am less than the others?" Yaxley's shift in posture brought her gaze to him and the light of triumph was there. Put that way she would not roll over and admit herself less than anyone, and he knew it.
Rowle shifted and she forced herself to calm down a bit. If that was all then why the dramatics and his reluctance. Unless he thought her unready. That hurt a bit and she dropped her eyes to the table for a moment and then in stubborn pride raised them again.
"You think I can't do it. Whatever it is." This was a statement and he met her eyes. She didn't see denial there but also not confirmation of her words. No slight tilt that was his nod in those circumstances. Just more assessment. His magic was still a bit more evident than usual. Rowle was far more comfortable at the moment. No pervading layer just occasional flares. Usually by his hands. She had noticed that he moved his magic there mostly. Everyone had vents, as she thought of it. Or they metered their excess out another way.
"Net." The denial was verbal when it came. So what was the problem. Not that she understood more than the very basic fact that people would be coming for her, whatever that meant.
"Vyzhivaniye?" It had just occurred to her that perhaps this was actually a matter of life and death. Her question about survival was literal. As she knew, there were many ways to hurt someone and have them live if that was the goal.
"Just tell her. The poor girl is always playing this guessing game with you." This broke a bit of the tension and she finished her coffee. Wandlessly ,she beckoned the whiskey bottle and a glass then had a thought.
"Do you have any red?" She asked Yaxley, because it seemed his area of interest. He seemed a bit surprised but in no time there was a dusty wine bottle open in front of her and a glass in her hand. It was very good and she let her appreciation show for a moment. Catching the look the older wizard shot Rowle made her internally roll her eyes. Whatever was going on there had been happening for at least a week.
Situated she noticed Dolohov still wasn't ready to speak. Sniffing discreetly she decided dinner would be soon anyways and wondered if she had enough to put some magic in her rose quartz rune stone. It was the eighth one and a bit more breakable. She could feel it when the magic entered it too quickly. Eventually he spoke again.
"Three problems. You are a girl, not of family, not of the motherland." As usual when he did speak it was all the information in as few words as possible. Her gender was what it was and usually she didn't want to change it. The mention of her blood status was unwelcome, and of course she wasn't Russian. These were all truths and somehow they worked against her in this situation. One he seemed to think he should have expected. She agreed.
"So you knew this would happen?" She wasn't upset really, only curious. The under eye twitch and a tightened jaw. Exasperation and frustration. Reminding herself not to shrink in front of him she considered the feedback.
"Or thought not, because I am none of those things?" Sometimes reaching wildly paid off and she let the small smile of triumph show and she saw Yaxley roll his eyes.
"Better than nothing. It's a muggle game called twenty questions but you actually get yes or no answers to work with then." Her voice was a bit dry but she genuinely didn't mind usually. It was almost fun and she was determined to have to voice her guesses less, eventually. He taught her anyway and she hoped the feeling of gratitude didn't fade with time.
"You are a wonder Hermione. Nearly perfect, if a bit young for me." A wink. Yaxley was excited and seemed sure that whatever this was would go on. That meant it was something that he thought exciting and that was a daunting. He was noticeably different in what he enjoyed, though sometimes she found herself in agreement. Life could be boring and less of that was better.
He didn't jump to his feet but his unique eyes twinkled at her as he went to get dinner. A minute later he was followed to the table by what looked a full roast beef dinner. Silence reigned as food was piled on plates and then began to be consumed.
"You bribed an elf for the Hogwarts Yorkshire pudding recipe." For minutes she had been thinking about it. Since the first bite it had been bothering her and that was the only thing she could think of.
"I admit nothing. It's a family recipe now." Dolohov didn't laugh with the rest but he did scoff and that was good enough.
"At home. We don't take foreign apprentices." He was looking out the window into the night and speaking a bit lower than she usually heard.
"Rodina." She responded when he paused. His feelings about Russia were complex and though he didn't speak of it openly with her, there was a weight to all things Russian. He placed importance on its culture and language. Its way of thinking. Some things words could translate but a viewpoint was less easily explained. The few she understood properly, or thought she did, had come from several examples his behaviour or answers gave her. This was one of them. The motherland. It was almost holy, she had decided. Sacred surely, wizards didn't have religion per se. Most worshipped magic if anything specific. It was nature or seasons usually. Days of magical significance or celestial rarity.
Yaxley's head came up and there was a look in his eyes that was almost fond. She looked back at Dolohov and received a small lip movement that might have been wry or even a grin. This was another one of those unusual days.
"Exactly. I apprenticed there. Travelled in and out. Came late. Like you." He too had started his apprenticeship further in skill than most. Interesting. Maybe one day she could learn this story. She knew it wouldn't be today.
"Women there." He stopped and didn't look apologetic. Sometimes he did this. Implied instead of saying something that would anger her. Usually prejudice. She didn't speak about it with him either. Didn't argue about muggles or blood purity. Didn't want to know what he thought. Her nod was curt. Witches there were limited in what they could do. Much more than here. It was far more of a patriarchal society.
"Liniya." So it was exclusive to the main family lines. Liniya, the Russian version of the sacred twenty eight was double its size at fifty six. She would admit to having learned what she could from books. Maybe she could go there for a visit.
"So in order to apprentice you have to be a male of the Liniya. Warding only?" Surely not other specialties too. Even with their population being greater the wasted potential was ludicrous. He didn't reply.
"And curse breaking." Yaxley put in, clearly tired of the delays. Dolohov must speak to him, with words and often or they would not be as close as they were. In private only maybe or just not in front of her. While they argued or whatever she sipped and thought. It wasn't up to her anyway. No matter what her pride demanded or her self confidence voted he would decide.
"You can decide then. Whatever you think. If it's because I'm all the wrong things and an embarrassment or something then that's fine." Her tone was even and sincere. A bit resigned at the end.
Yaxley was watching her now. Dolohov stood and walked away from the table. Unwilling to read what Yaxley's face might show, she reached for her bag and then knew she would have to look at him before leaving. Manners and her own full stomach dictated a thank you. Hefting her bag into her shoulder she looked up and began speaking so she did.
"Thank you for rescuing me today and for dinner." All three were watching her, she could feel it as she shrugged her coat on and opened the door. Usually she would look back and smile or wave. This time she left without doing so, her composure not cracking but she didn't have a clear idea of what she felt about the whole day. Things were so complicated, outside of the magic. It was just as fascinating as ever. That would have to be enough for now.