Hermione felt pretty good at the moment. Having just settled down into the booth at Cleinfeld's with the beautiful red maned and gorgeous dark haired witches that had real smiles on their faces. Her hair had done something amazing today and turned out better than she could have expected. Maybe people would laugh at her for developing a hair potion, not quite legally either. She had deconstructed the Sleekeasy hair potion from back in her fourth year and had been steadily improving it. One day she would have to go to them, or just keep the method of her improving natural curls a secret. Her clothes were relatively comfortable and she felt good about herself.
"How did the pitch go girls?" Hermione had lost count of the number of times they had made use of the privacy spelled private tables here. Listening closely to their uncertain verdict she decided they were right. It had been contentious from the beginning. Many traditional Wizarding families were unwilling to commit to sending their children anywhere before age eleven.
"Enough about work. You always let us go on." Susan decided. After their extensive discussion of the bureaucracy they were all familiar with had taken the length of their meal.
"Tell us something interesting about your life surrounded by interesting wizards." Hermione quirked a smile at Astoria's slightly pleading tone. Neither girl had a boring life by any stretch, but hers was vastly different from theirs now.
"I think something different will happen for my next equation. There has been some dropped hints of having to travel and being ready. That's all I've got but it sounds interesting, and different." These witches knew enough about what she did to know that often her learning was a puzzle set in an equation. Neither was much interested in the magics themselves beyond the basics but what she did was interesting. It was easier to say nothing specific than juggle details she could and couldn't share.
"How do you think it's going?" Susan asked. Her genuine concern shining through. Hermione couldn't help but smile at her kind friend.
"Well enough. I don't get much feedback at all but haven't made that many big mistakes either." She had really only made the one big one. Not making plans for her extensive wards coming down. They didn't know about that though. Too much was involved to share.
"Astoria got another bouquet today." Susan put in with a wink at Hermione.
"Another one? So soon?" Hermione was teasing their normally composed friend.
"I told him it wasn't appropriate and he quoted the length of times between gestures from hopeful suitors. Straight faced and everything." Her sigh was a bit dreamy and they laughed together. Astoria's elbow gently nudging her brought her attention away from Susan who was describing her date with Terry Boot.
"Care to explain?" The arch look Astoria gave her told her that she wouldn't rest until she knew why Cassius Warrington and his parents were watching them. Quite intently too. Doing her best not to blush she took a small sip of her cocktail.
"I was here with Sabrina and he asked me to have a meal with them." Trying to keep it casual did nothing to change the value of the statement. It was more than a date and less than an outright declaration. It meant he had already decided that she warranted meeting his parents. It made her uncomfortable. They had spoken about her worth and character. Whatever list it was that they had.
"When is it?" Susan was watching her intently. Knowingly.
"It isn't." Astoria groaned quietly and Susan just kept watching her assessingly.
"Are you going to tell us who it is?" The redhead asked directly. In that Hufflepuff way. Not demanding but directly asking. Offering to hear.
"When I've gotten over it." Astoria snorted. That caught her attention.
"You are being ridiculous. Just tell the man and then begin a delicious affair." For a moment Hermione just blinked. How did the witch know who she meant? Then she realised with some incredulity that she just meant whomever it might be. Her disbelief was clear on her face because Susan asked the next question.
"I agree. What is the problem? No need for you to be alone anymore. You've got more to give, more you want to give, than anyone I know. If I was sexually attracted to you I would definitely approach you about a committed relationship." Both other girls laughed but Susan did not. Clearly she had meant it. Hoping that was the end of this line of conversation she didn't reply to the question.
"Oh no Hermione. If you won't answer, that is your right, you must face us and say so." Astoria imperiously demanded.
"I'll give you my reason. He knows. He has given absolutely no indication that he would like to enter into a relationship with me." It was said with dignity, and she really felt mostly alright with it. Him not wanting her hurt but it didn't sting too much. She was sure that she would get over him eventually and could look elsewhere. Eventually.
The two witches shared a glance and then looked at her with speculation. She just accepted their need to mull that over for a moment before asking about whether either woman needed some retail therapy soon. She needed a few things and a few she wanted. It was cold and she needed some more outerwear. Some muggle things she wanted with her too. And she needed to find the right leg bag for a project she had.
"Is it okay to ask for help for a personal project?" She asked as they finished lunch on Monday. Her shopping trip the day before had run late but she was happy with its outcome. Most things she had found and she had ideas for the ones that hadn't worked out. They were always watching her.
"It's not really related to my apprenticeship or the challenge but it's useful for both. It's also something that you are so much better at." There wasn't much time she spoke to Dolohov alone that wasn't dedicated to magic and then followed by a task so with the small audience of two it would be. She didn't have the bag Friday when Rowle had been absent for the day. No verbal reply but no denial so she ploughed on, pretending she didn't feel a bit like an inconvenience.
"You know my bag has an extension charm on it. It's not the biggest I could do, I don't need that if I'm not living on the run indefinitely. It's big enough to hold what I need and more relevantly has the best organization I could do. There is very little on delineating the space you've created. The box, it is exactly what I need. Well not the box but how you've used the extension and expansion charms. I also think maybe a few warded ones." She made herself stop. Knowing her question has turned into excited chatter, which he didn't like.
Nothing. As usual. Yaxley and Rowle looked interested but she didn't think they could help her. If they could then she would happily forgo asking this man. Rowle's shake said no and Yaxley indicated Dolohov was better. It was getting harder not to call him Rueban. He hadn't told her to though so she would wait. Pulling out the shopping bag from her tote bag she exposed the flat bag. It did have pockets and was about six inches by seven.
Dolohov picked it up and held it by a strap. Clearly not understanding. Yaxley's eyes were mischievous when he gestured her to model. She rolled her eyes and stood. Strapping it over her jeans.
"I thought that it would be easier to start with something. I'll ditch the strap and use a targeted sticking charm with runes. Weightless and invisible. I've got an artifact I was hoping we could look at, for partial inspiration. There is something about how small it can fold up and how much can fit under its size."
Dolohov looked interested now. There was a slight tilt of his head and his eyes showed the speed of his thoughts. Sometimes she wondered if this was a version of her whirring thoughts, as Luna called it.
A nod. She didn't shriek or jump up but allowed herself as small a smile at him as she could manage. Then her face became a bit stern and she spoke firmly.
"If I show you this. You promise me that you won't tell anyone. Speak about it amongst us but with total discretion." Rowle nodded quite easily and looked extremely interested. The other two just watched her. Assessed her certainty. An exchanged glance was followed by Yaxley's nod for both of them.
Feeling a bit dramatic she pulled Harry's invisibility cloak out and let the fabric slide through her fingers reverently. More because it was his fathers than because it was a hallow. Death didn't make this, wizards did. Which meant it could be done.
"Harry. I'm going to ask a favor. I want you to know that you can say no and I truly will not be upset. Disappointed for academic reasons but in no way do I begrudge you this choice." All of his attention had shifted to her. They were on her couch and she had decided to ask. Even though he could say no. Really she wouldn't blame him if he did.
"Alright. You won't let me agree without hearing it so shoot." He didn't look anxious but he did look curious. Like she could say anything at all. Which she supposed wasn't far off. Sometimes the things they told each other were more than a bit crazy over the years.
"I want to borrow the cloak. Not to use, I know you would be fine with that. I want to study it. Mostly it's weightless aspect and how it seems to shift size. Not for ease of use but in necessity. I give you my word that we will only examine it. No spells that aren't for discerning its magics, and none that will damage it." They had tried to damage it before. Well not actually but Harry had run through fire and water. They dueled while he was wearing it. That had been part of her magic sensing exercises and they had even found a dueling chamber in the basement. That was in addition to their various adventures and whatever generations of Potter lads had subjected it to.
"With Him." He meant Dolohov and she nodded. He thought for a moment and then met her eyes.
"If I say yes will you finally teach me the paperwork charm?" For a moment she was speechless and then he ran from the room laughing. Expecting her to chase him, which she did. A quick game of hide and seek followed before they shared a hug and he grabbed her the cloak.
Then with all eyes on her she stood and swirled the cloak around her. Silence reigned until Rowle spoke.
"That's an advantage you don't need little witch." Yaxley chuckled at the comment and stood. Dolohov just watched. She remained still and resisted the impulse to be silly and try and get away. Eventually he reached her and groped for it.
"I can feel it. Can you see clearly?" He sounded a bit amazed. The look of wonder was almost childlike. She chuckled and their eyes refocused on the sound. His hand relaxed and she quickly tossed it over him and pulled him into a slight crouch. Her short height was fine but the taller men needed to crouch. Unless they were being chased or something. Then it seemed to blur them just enough. It was an interesting piece of magical history to be sure.
Holding her arm, Yaxley cast a silencing charm on their feet and she held in her giggle. Dolohov twitched, feeling the magic cast. Knowing they stood no chance with the Russian, Rowle was the obvious target for whatever mischief Yaxley planned. Just as he raised his wand she slipped out of the cloak and rolled into a standing position. Just as Rowle stood and yelled his surprise at the icy water drenching him.
It took a few minutes for everyone to calm down and dry off. Then they sat around the table and spread it out. After laying out the guidelines for the cloaks treatment she leaned back a bit and watched. She had examined it to her heart's content over the years and had some theories but not many actual facts. If they couldn't figure anything out then so be it. He was the best person she had access to that she trusted. Which was weird and unexpected but it was true nonetheless.