When he felt the warmth against his side move he wasn't sure exactly what was going on and then he felt it, her magic, and his eyes snapped open. Blinking into the darkness of her predawn bedroom, he realised it was his little witch turning over and nuzzling into his side. When she pushed his arm out of the way with her eyes closed he chuckled lowly and lifted it out of her way briefly. Then, he pulled her tight to him with his other arm, watching her nose scrunch before she blinked once and then he waited for a second before they opened. Her eyes were about six inches from his and in the dark they looked darker than the golden whiskey colour they usually were.
"You're here." It was clear she wasn't awake yet and it was as good as he thought it might be, waking up with her, watching her come awake in his arms. Happy to be there if her lazy smile was genuine.
"Yeah." He could see her now, and hear a bit of the wonder that had been in her voice, in his own.
"Time is it?" She closed her eyes and burrowed her head back into him. Reaching for his wand, he cast a silent tempus and blinked at the 6:28am that glowed in the dark. She groaned in what he thought was a negative way and for a moment they lay there. Then her wand buzzed and he understood. Six thirty wake up.
"I'd rather stay here." She sounded as if she felt bad saying it and he grinned. She loved her studies and most mornings she was the most alert and eager of the four at the table.
"Oh no. I won't be the reason for that or they would remove me from the situation." They both laughed and then he knew he would have to go. What to say.
"Dinner tonight? What day is it? It's Thursday and I have dinner with the girls. If I cancel they will demand answers and snoop." She sounded certain and he wondered if every morning would begin with smiles. Probably not but he would enjoy this one.
"After?" If she had suggested tonight then he didn't feel like he was being so pushy.
"After." She agreed. She started to move as if she was going to get up and he held her for a moment. She stilled and waited.
"You'll say no. To whoever asks you out today." Most of the usual uncertainty he felt was absent and he didn't phrase it as a question but she didn't blow it off.
Again her finger traced his unshaven cheek and she met his eyes. Openly. Internally he groaned at the affection he could see and the bit of wanting that was there too. Whatever made her cheeks colour right then, he wanted to know exactly what it was.
"I'm seeing someone." Her voice was serious even as she grinned at him and rubbed her nose along his rough cheek. Then she kissed him gently and rolled away. This time he let her go and stared at her ceiling as the door to her en-suite clicked shut.
Thinking that he wanted to say something first. Felt like he should speak to both wizards they see everyday, he followed her lead and rolled out of her bed. Rabastan was on the couch and sat up when he came through the floo. No words but a broad grin that he tried not to return. Eventually he just accepted the shoulder punch and walked into his room. Standing there for a moment he looked around. He liked this room. His little witch had never been in here, well, since he had moved in. It made it somehow less comfortable and he determined to change that and spend less time in this bed.
As he walked down the trail towards the cabin a half hour before she usually showed up he wasn't sure exactly what to say. It hadn't gone particularly well yesterday, not having a plan. The witch should have sent him packing.
The door opened and Yaxley stood there with curiosity on his face. At first he didn't understand but then he heard the Russian coming up behind him. He had just happened to arrive as Dolohov came back from wherever he often went in the mornings.
As they all sat at the table and he appreciated the smell of breakfast cooking he decided to just spit something out and take whatever came. His mouth opened and he looked up just as Yaxley's voice broke the silence.
"She said yes then." He met the purple gaze and then gave a single nod and tried to hold in the grin that wanted to show on his face.
Solemn faces looked at him and he began to wonder what exactly would happen. Then mischief flashed in those same eyes and he heard the three knocks of the witch herself. Early. He rolled his eyes at Yaxley's amusement and watched Dolohov watch the door.
"Morning all." Each older wizard got a different glance before she smiled at him and asked what was for breakfast. Nothing more was said in relation to the shift in dynamics.
Scenebreak replace and remove.
"Harry. It's not you. Well it's not you personally. I don't think he hates you or doesn't want us to spend time together." Hermione tried to keep calm and answer each accusation he friend threw her way.
"He doesn't want me to know then. What you can do." His voice sounded as frustrated as his face showed.
"That's not it either. He hasn't once said I couldn't show you or tell you anything. He knows you knew about our lessons before he got out. More than anyone else anyway." Really, she didn't know how to answer and that was most of what was frustrating her friend. She understood his frustration. If he had been avoiding something, but not saying he was, the situation would be the same but their roles reversed.
"Tell me why then." Here it was. The first question instead of accusation, she could have taken. This was what she had wanted to avoid in the first place. She hadn't broached making a deal to Yaxley or Harry but both times she had brought up telling Harry or asking him for a vow Dolohov had shut her down. Without a word but she got the message. Not her business, leave it. Part of her still agreed with that but if she could do it without their involvement then he couldn't be too upset about it. She hoped.
"I know what your vows to the Auror Corps say and what your personal vows to the Ministry say. You have the right to professional nondisclosure. Other than not reporting my theft have you used it?" She had encouraged this, using Sirius' fugitive status as an example at the time. She hadn't had anything in mind specifically but didn't want Harry to ever be obliged to do something against his conscience. Nervous of vows after Snape too and all the mess around Riddle.
"A few small things here or there. Unofficial warnings." He had calmed down almost completely as soon as her tone of voice became her scheming one, as he called it.
"Would you be willing to take a vow with me? I promise that I will dissolve it myself if I think public safety is being affected." She met his eyes and let him see her certainty. His mind was turning over her words and thinking them through. He was much better at thinking further than the next step now, growing up and his career had done what people's verbal prodding could not, in their teenage years.
"With you, yes." He agreed. They would need a bonder.
"Who can bond for us?" He voiced her next problem.
She bit her lip and only one name came to mind. One who might do it. Rabastan wouldn't, he didn't like to make choices for others.
"If he won't do it then we will have to come up with something else and it won't be for this puzzle or whatever Luna is watching." She warned him. Not wanting a repeat of this. Luna had sent Harry a letter asking if he wanted to meet up and go with her to watch Hermione. Why the witch thought he had been invited Hermione didn't know. Usually she wouldn't make a mistake like this and that made her wonder if it was one. She didn't have time to sort that out right now. She only had half an hour before she was supposed to meet Susan and Astoria.
He nodded, a bit reluctantly and she walked to the floo. Waving her wand instead of calling out Rabastan's floo address, she waited with her head in the fire. Not sure if he had been going home. She heard his voice calling, asking who was there and didn't let the grin form. Floo was a bit gross.
"Can I borrow you for a minute?" Her tone would tell him that it wasn't for fun and his face as he jogged into the room showed his question. She just shook her head and waited. He said he would follow and she pulled her head out of the floo.
"Going to tell me how you do that?" She just grinned and shook her head. Keeping a few things from him was just for fun. She smiled at Rowle when he exited the floo and noticed him stiffen slightly at Harry's presence. They would have to work this out on their own and it wasn't what they were there for.
"We need a bonder and you are my only choice." He met her eyes and she could see the question. She let a slightly manic grin flash across her face and he clearly got the message. Then he let his question cross his face and his consternation. She just met his eyes squarely, she would take no risks.
Eventually he nodded and they both turned to Harry who was watching them with unconcealed interest.
"After this I have to go so no questioning today, okay?" She checked that Harry agreed and laid out the terms. Both nodded their agreement and began the vow.
Scenebreak replace and remove.
"Can we not come here for a bit?" Hermione asked after a discreet groan. The Malfoys, Warringtons, and Theo were headed towards the three witches and the younger men all had their eyes on her. All of them did. It was only the younger three that made her uneasy though. Theo was the only one who seemed to have a genuine smile on his face that wasn't predatory.
"Hermione, it's lovely to see you. Astoria and Miss Bones, I hope you are enjoying your evening." Narcissa spoke in proper but friendly tones. The glance Hermione got was a clear apology and she grimaced internally. Narcissa didn't think that this would go well, Hermione just wasn't sure why.
Back a little bit straighter, she stood. Kissing Theo on the cheek she asked about his latest deal and if he was ready for her to introduce him to a pretty witch. He didn't blush but seeing that expression meant maybe one day soon and she smiled genuinely.
"Draco, it's good to see you." She smiled and then really smiled genuinely when he grinned at her. It felt like weeks since she had seen such a genuine smile from him.
"It's good to see you Hermione. How is your indentured servitude?" Unlike the last time he had used such a dig, this time it was clearly in good fun. She grinned and turned her nose up.
"My servitude is not indentured, it's contracted. Thank you very much." They all laughed at her silliness and she and Draco shared a grin. It felt so good. She couldn't help her smile at Theo, including him in their fun. Warrington decided to step into their moment and even Theo's warning glance didn't stop him.
"Don't I get such a greeting Hermione." Cassius had reached for her hand and she stiffened. Unsure exactly of how to respond.
"It's for close friends only Warrington. Maybe one day." She didn't drop her smile but cooled it several degrees.
"Say you will join us this evening." At this her smile dropped. She gestured to the two witches speaking with their mothers.
"I am here with company." If he knew her, he would have known that her tone indicated he was on thin ice and retreat was wise. Lucius was several feet away and broke off his conversation with some acquaintances at the sound of it. He recognized it, having heard it several times on their visits.
"I'm sure they won't mind. It's a good opportunity for you." Hermione took a step back and lifted her chin. She tried to keep her magic from reacting too forcefully and appreciated it when Lucius rested a hand gently on her shoulder, giving her a soft squeeze.
"I will sort this out Hermione. No need for you appear in more articles than already will feature this young man's faux pas in the morning." His words brought her back to their public location and audience. The privacy charms only worked when seated at the tables.
She didn't make her scan of the people avidly watching them obvious but knew they would indeed make the papers. Romilda Vane was in the far corner.
"I hope you all enjoy your evening. Thanks for the enjoyable dinner ladies." Hermione grabbed her bag and left probably far too much money on the table.
Before she made it to the door she heard her name and hoped she was wrong about the person calling her loudly in the silent restaurant.
"Don't leave. Your fame is something we can deal with. Come and eat with my family and the Malfoys. Your little friends can come, if that will change your mind." She wasn't going to say anything. Just turn around and walk away but then he grabbed her wrist. Instantly she silenced him and put her most dangerous smile on her face.
She took the step to bring them closer together and could see Theo, Draco, and Lucius heading for her. All in different directions and the glimpse of their faces that she caught, showed some concern for this situation. Probably for the young man's bodily health. It would be fine.
"Warrington. I have been polite. You have made several offers that I have politely declined. Your insults towards my good friends would have been enough to ruin your chances, if you ever had any. I have absolutely zero interest in being anything other than a polite acquaintance of yours. I wish you the best in your future. Do. Not. Touch. Me. Again." The last was said very quietly. She shot the three men who had almost reached them a small smile and turned back to the door. Releasing the spell on him as she turned.
She froze in both surprise and rage when his hand fell onto her shoulder. For a second she didn't turn or react, just tried to reign in her temper, which was on a hair trigger.
"Hermione, I'm sure that we can come to some agreement. You've turned down Malfoy and everyone that has asked, I figured I might be what you've been holding out for." Hermione had rarely been more insulted by a stranger. At least as an adult.
"What I want is none of your business all you need to know is that it isn't you." She spoke quietly but let her magic crackle.
"I warned you about touching me." With that she let her magic sting him and moved out of his reach.
"What a bitch. You are a handful witch." He was angry and embarrassed. That wasn't her fault though.
"Not your handful though." With that she pushed out the door and watched the men who had been coming to her rescue surround him and force him to be quiet.
A lovely evening with the girls, ruined. A public scene and attempted humiliation. Basically just another day. As she made it to the apparition point, she felt defeated.