Waiting for her friends to arrive, she puttered around the kitchen nervously. Harry already knew some of this but she didn't think he would be very happy with what she had learned.
Having made shepherd's pie and treacle tart she couldn't appeal to Harry's personal favourites anymore without overplaying her hand. Not that she thought he would try and dissuade her or something but still, in a way she felt bad. It would worry them and she didn't like that.
The floo chimed and she heard the crack of apparition right after. They were on time which meant they expected some kind of news. Once they were seated at the smaller table in her kitchen and food was being consumed, she put down her glass and spoke.
"I've told Harry some of this but so you know I'll give a recap. Two days ago I was being followed in Diagon. I ended up leading him into that park I used to apparate to on the muggle side. Captured him and took him to a field I knew of that Dolohov would also know of. It turns out that there is a secret Russian group of warding masters and apprentices. Dolohov apprenticed there and a competition of sorts exists between apprentices. Each one gets a try to kidnap the target in six months. Then at the end there is a duelling competition. If you don't get taken. Twelve hours capture is failure for me or them. One down." She breathes out slowly. Having gotten the important parts out. Now she didn't feel so nervous.
"How many Russians are going to try and snatch you off the street?" Harry asked. His knife and fork were held tightly but his voice was calm.
"Seven apprentices left. They get six actual tries. The first didn't count. It was the allowed reconnaissance mission. Also the warning. Or declaration that it has begun. I think it's something they look forward to. A way to showcase their skills." Hermione thought that understandable. The desire to show off a bit. Especially since they have peers in their field. She didn't, here.
"Once it will be two of them?" Luna asked. She was interested and Hermione could tell she was thinking about what this might entail. She nodded her agreement.
"I would have told you Harry. I did. I also wanted you to know, as an Auror. Apparently they won't kill or torture me physically. I don't know if anyone might notice something or see something." She shrugged at him. Trying to get across that she didn't know what situation she was referencing. Just a general concern.
"I can imagine that Hermione Granger disappearing from a public place would cause concern, if someone noticed." Luna allowed, with a small smile.
"Will you take precautions?" Was Luna's next question.
"Yes. He is going to come and check my wards here tomorrow. That he hasn't didn't occur to me until he said he would. That's a vote of confidence I think. Our homes should be fine, and the cabins. Floo too, it's not their Ministry. So it's just my usual out and about." She felt a bit nervous and also a bit excited. They wouldn't kill her so this would be good training. Her thoughts must have showed because both of her friends were looking at her with speculation.
"A challenge." Harry offered, in understanding.
"With no reward." She answered dryly. "A hollow victory were Dolohov's words. They won't let me into their club. I'm female, of common birth, and not Russian. Therefore I am useless to them even if I manage to win through." She was being sarcastic but let the truth of her words be clear.
"Success is its own reward." Luna quoted her with a grin. Harry laughed at her words being thrown back at her. The rest of the night was spent on speculations and some ideas they had for evasion or escape until Harry asked a question that she should have expected.
"Why did you call him?" Luna instantly became more alert and she didn't let herself straighten. His dark hair was its usual disorderly mess and his eyes were doing his version of pinning her in place.
"He is my master. I hate the connotations of that but it's the truth." Everyone had been quite accommodating in not asking her about their relationship. Or much of anything beyond what she offered.
"So you did it because of his position over you? Was that in the private agreement?" She thought this over.
"No, it wasn't in the agreement. Either one." She said, acknowledging that they were right about there being one that wasn't filed. It was quickly obvious that they weren't going to accept her generic answer. What could she say.
"It's a relationship. Not one of feelings but duty or obligation. Ours to each other. I think people expect less of that from him and me than they would another master and apprentice. Magically he is guiding me and watching out for me. He isn't nice but he isn't cruel either. Hard and exacting." Hoping that was enough for them, she stopped and watched them exchange glances. So they had been talking about her. That wasn't very surprising. It didn't make her angry either. If two people were going to talk to each other about her then these ones at least knew her well. Disturbingly well between them.
"This is your fault." Thorfinn shot at Yax. The man had been watching him all afternoon, since the little witch left to go and make dinner for her friends.
"Hermione's existence is not something I can take credit for." The man was teasing him and enjoying it.
"Ha ha. You told me to think about it." Rabastan had been no help and he didn't feel any more certain. Weeks of thinking about it just made him want her more. Now instead of empty backdrops to great sex it was great sex in places they had been together and even moments. It was ridiculous. Last week he had spent an entire shower speculating on what she would look like when she woke up.
"You have been." Yax replied.
"It's not helping." He bit out. Deciding enough was enough he stood and was going to grab his coat when Yaxley spoke again.
"Sit down." It was an order and he obeyed. Not looking at the man.
"I've been watching you think about it. I can't see whatever you think is a problem." This was less needling and more actual conversation. Thorfinn let his shoulders relax and met the other wizards eyes.
"Lots of things. You only see us here. Or in muggle London. In the alley or whatever it's different. The papers show a bit and she doesn't let on much but the way people treat her is changeable and different. I won't be any help there. She could do better." He felt lighter now that he had said it. She could do far better. Someone who wouldn't be a weight but maybe lift her, not that she needed that.
"That's true." He didn't flinch at the man's agreement. "She could also do worse." The man pointed out and he couldn't help the scoff of derision.
"She could. Her reputation will survive a real relationship with you. Her vaults won't be emptied and the chances of her being trapped into an unfortunate marriage are negligible. Part of her appeal is her magical skill, not something most would actually want her to use. Most wizards are a bit preoccupied with heirs. I don't see you pushing that until she is ready." He didn't soften his voice much but Thorfinn could tell he meant what he had said. Moreover he had thought it out.
"I've never courted a witch." Yax nodded in understanding.
"She isn't the one you were raised to want either." Thorfinn nodded easily. Definitely not the biddable girl of a good family he had always been advised to find.
"Her unsuitabilities?" Yaxley asked. No sneer or derision, just a statement of her differences from their cultural norm.
"My sister loves her and more than that, trusts her. No parents to argue inheritance with." That pretty much covered that angle. Her actual blood didn't bother him and her muggle parents were dead, as were his pureblooded ones.
"Your peers opinions?" He settled for rolling his eyes.
Yaxley didn't deem that sufficient and kept the eye contact.
"Whatever they say publicly, most would marry her tomorrow and the rest would happily have her beneath them. I'm not the only one who sees her as she actually is. Not whatever golden girl front some have bought into." This was true. He didn't like it either. The number of men who didn't even want to know her, just possess her. Yaxley clearly agreed and then looked as if waiting for an answer.
"What?" Thorfinn asked after a minute of waiting for something.
"No decision then?" He asked, finally.
"Nothing has changed since I sat back down here." He was a bit defensive and knew that was revealing.
"Scared then." This was said in a decided tone. Not a criticism but something that needed pointing out.
"Pretty much." Admitting that was costly to his pride but it was also the truth. This wizard would know if he lied or prevaricated.
"Do you think she is right to tell Potter?" Clearly the previous subject had been closed and some more of the tension left his body at the change of subject. Well away from him anyway.
"I think it can't hurt. Neither of you seem to know what they will do or where." He pointed out.
"Usually it's in Russia and while it's not spoken of, its known. Here, I don't know." That made sense.
"If some stranger took her off a busy Wizarding street and someone noticed it would be mayhem. This way Potter has some idea of the reason. Unless you want the world knowing about this secret club, this seems better." Yaxley nodded thoughtfully.
"What do you know of him?" Thorfinn wasn't sure exactly who the wizard meant.
"Potter?" He asked for clarification. A nod.
"Not much. I've been away longer than you. They are a pair though. Tight knit." This was clearly not news to the man.
"Is he loyal to her?" The purple eyes conveyed the level of loyalty he meant. Thorfinn took and moment and thought.
"As far as I've ever heard. He sided with her over Weasley, that's no contest but still. She stayed with him, when no one else did. They are close. She mentioned having had him help with some of the magic sensing stuff he had her doing before." Not knowing what else to add other than the basic point. "She trusts him."
"That's true." Yaxley seemed to be thinking that over.
"Trusts us too though. Even him." Understanding he meant Dolohov, Yaxley barked a laugh.
"Rightly though. Trusting isn't wrong if it's actually based in fact. She would think that way." This time he nodded in agreement of the point.
"It will always be a risk." Thorfinn understood they were back to the original point and tilted his head in acknowledgement.
As he walked down the regular trail, it was still taking up most of his thoughts. Some were on the fact that she was going to be hunted, and not by him. Most were mulling over Yaxley's words. Instead of going home he decided to visit his sister. Even if she was busy it was nice to just see her, okay and happy.
"Evening." He said to Sabrina when her door opened at his arrival. Her slightly suspicious nod made him grin and his sister's smile was as bright as he could have wished.
"What brings you by brother?" She was teasing but also looking him over.
"Just wanted to stop in. Plans tonight?" He questioned. His eyes scanning the neat little flat she lived in.
"No. Was going to be lazy and avoid the prep work for next weeks shipment of dragon talons. It's the first one I'll take care of alone." As she kept on talking about disgusting potions ingredients he let the last of his tension go. Most of what she talked about was slimy or prickly or decaying but you wouldn't know it from her excited tone of voice.
"What about you Thor? I know all these things just gross you out." He shuddered comically and her laughter was payment for his silliness.
"Nothing really. Still slogging through the mess father left us." He offered. Just so she didn't ask what he did all day, again. He couldn't tell her about Yaxley.
"Decided whether you'll find a better witch?" Her tone wasn't coy and her smile fell a little bit.
"Which witch do you mean witch?" He teased her. She did crack a small grin at the joke from their usually miserable childhood.
"I mean Hermione. Don't evade." Her tone and face were pleasant, but indicated her seriousness.
"I'm not sure if there is a better witch, excepting yourself sprite." He pulled a piece of her hair that was loose from the ponytail she had it in today.
"I know you don't usually go for one you will want to face in the morning." He rolled his eyes at her opinions. She had never liked any witch he had introduced her to and was a bit surprised at this.
"You don't need me to chase her, for her to be your friend sprite." His voice was a bit softer. She scoffed and looked up and met his eyes.
"As if. Maybe she was visiting you, but we have made our own friendship. Nothing to do with you." She sounded angry at him and he held his hands out in a placating way.
"Alright. I'm sorry." He offered and as expected her face softened a little bit.
"Now, I am suggesting you try. Not to get her in bed but maybe dinner? She won't be interested forever and I can tell you that three men have asked her out, in my presence, in the last two weeks. I've only spent about five hours with her in that time." He was listening and it wasn't until he was wondering how many guys it was in a week that he realised what she had said. He let his gaze pin hers and demand an answer to his sudden question.
"No she hasn't said anything to me. Well we don't avoid you in conversation but she hasn't spoken to me about whatever feelings she has for you." Thorfinn cocked his head in question. Was she just messing with him. Yaxley and her both in one day.
"Cassius Warrington bent over her hand and genuinely asked her to dinner with himself and his parents. Her eyes flicked to me and I could tell it wasn't really me she was looking at. Next time he asks, and he will, she will say yes. No reason not to accept the gorgeous wizards invitation to consider him." Now she was telling him what to do which he didn't like. It was obvious though, that she believed her own words.
The little witch wasn't mentioned again, but later that evening, he fell asleep thinking of her thinking about him.