This time they walked to the cabin together. They had slept in until eight, had breakfast and then split to their respective homes and met at the first trail from the apparition points here. It was new and they grinned at each other before turning.

"You're going to tell them." He meant about the vow and she didn't pretend to misunderstand.

"Yes. Maybe it will be enough and maybe I'll be in trouble." She wasn't sure and that was clear in her tone. He just stepped closer to her and she smiled to herself. The usual three raps on the door and curt sound to enter.

As soon as she was there, with them, her thoughts of last night and this morning were easy to let go. She shifted in place and then sat down. Looking at the table she tried to decide what to say. Dolohov's curt order to speak brought her eyes up and she obeyed.

"Luna sent a letter to Harry, about them coming to watch me together. Having not been invited Harry responded as I would have expected. Luna doesn't usually make these sorts of mistakes so she did it on purpose. Why or to what end I don't know. She's been away but clearly plans to come tomorrow. For whatever that is. Anyway, Harry started asking me questions and I made a decision. He's under vow to me. With me. After the war I pushed him to hold out for professional nondisclosure so this was just to keep it between us. It's about my extra mentor." Her mouth snapped shut at the look on Dolohov's face. There was absolutely no sound.

Hermione made herself hold her masters gaze and not cower. She had been careful. There was nothing for her to apologize for. They needn't allow him to come even, but she had taken steps to make sure that everyone was safe.

"It's tight?" Her gaze shot to Yaxley as he questioned Rowle. The blond nodded and he too kept eye contact.

"Hermione?" He seemed a bit apologetic for asking but she did understand.

"I didn't use your name. Gave no information. If you choose not to let him come then I will arrange something for him separately and nothing will change. Except that I know that even if he finds out about you, somehow, then he won't overreact. He also won't feel compelled to make choices between his professional ethics and his personal ones." Still speaking calmly and with no defensiveness she finished and waited for a response.

"I was thinking we could duel today. A couple hours should be enough. Two against you?" Hermione wasn't sure what this meant for Harry but she nodded. Then looked her question.

"I don't think you deserve such a punishment. Thorfinn and I will suffice. He is checking the rune stones today." His eyes showed his knowledge of what that meant. It was sort of an assessment. A check on their stability and to see if the power levels were balanced.

This would distract her nicely from that. She let a small grin out and began compiling her strategies.

"Harry. Can we just go get a burger and chips at a pub?" They were standing in the posh street close to a french restaurant they had planned on trying out. His eyes scanned her and he nodded easily.

"Rough day?" He asked as they headed down a smaller street on the lookout for a ubiquitous English pub.

"Dueling and one of my rune stones failed." She admitted. He didn't say anything until they were seated in the booth of the small but clean looking pub and both had a frothy pint of lager in front of them. He was looking at her, waiting for her to begin but there was something in his eyes. Something she hadn't seen in a long time. Triumph maybe.

"Before I tell you my news, what has that look in your eyes?" He blinked and she could see him try and blank his expression. She just laughed and raised a brow.

"Dinner. She said yes to dinner." He was nearly vibrating and she could see his excitement.

"Finally! She has been cracking like an egg and trying to keep up her front. Your assault was well orchestrated sir knight." He just grinned a bit smugly and she didn't blame him.

"When?"

"Saturday. Day after tomorrow." They shared a smile at his success and their hopes for happiness. Hermione really thought they could be great together.

"You lost a duel?" He asked as their food was dropped off.

"Yes. Two out of seven. Not bad for two against one. Neither one was trying to hurt me though, just incapacitate me. It's a different way to duel." They shared a look and she could see him considering.

"More like the Auror take down protocols then." He offered, trying to see if he understood the differences. She nodded.

"While I was doing that, he was checking my rune stones. One failed. It was the rose quartz and I wasn't sure that it was up to the others but I don't like to fail at anything." He agreed with an of course gesture.

"So that will take longer now. It means doing that stone again. I should have only had three left but now have four." Her petulance was mostly for show and they both laughed.

"I want to tell you Harry. I won't get to tell many people. Most we see everyday already know. I'm seeing Rowle." Her tone must have told him that it wasn't something casual.

"Seeing him?" He asked. All of his attention was on her and he was searching her face and bearing for clues. Such an Auror.

"Yes. I suppose he is my boyfriend? Suitor? None of that seems quite right for us. More than a boyfriend and I don't want a suitor. I'm an apprentice. That's enough." She mused as she spoke her thoughts aloud.

"Have you been sleeping together then?" He asked. Seeming to think that this had been going on longer.

"No. Just the day the second Russian came. Still haven't had sex." Her confusion was clear at the beginning and a bit of whining at the end. He laughed.

"I just thought, you seem pretty sure about it. Or is he the one?" Harry asked and she tilted her head in question.

"You get a look every now and then, it's new since you quit the Ministry. At first I thought it was the magic but Luna said that more than just spell craft could hold your interest and that made me think. I don't see you with anyone outside of our circle so I just hoped it wasn't Dolohov and waited for you to give it away." His explanation made it sound as if that was all normal and she just smiled at her friend.

"He might be the first man I've wanted, like this. All of him. Mind, body, magic. I like him and like how he interacts with me. Doesn't coddle me too much, except when he thinks I need it. Understands my drive to learn and doesn't want me to be someone else. I knew he was attracted to me, but nothing happened. He's seen a few other witches before the Gala. Then nothing. I was surprised when he offered 'whatever I want' as a relationship. It wasn't eloquent and nearly led to a fight but we talked it out a bit and, well. He's what I want." Her chin came up at the end and she knew that she probably didn't need to stand her ground like this with Harry, but wasn't willing to let him think for even a minute that she didn't know what she was doing.

Those emerald eyes scanned her and then he grinned widely at her.

"Holy Hell. Hermione wants a wizard, enough to tell me to butt out. This is a first, I think." He was serious but kept his easy conversational tone. She wrinkled her nose and then grinned.

"Before I forget in my happiness and certainty. Or we start talking about yours again, you are to go with Luna tomorrow." No smile on her face now. A warning. He didn't show capitulation, but speculation.

"Please remember, these people are a part of my life. He is my master and the others are important to me." She knew that this would crack whatever issue he had been considering. If these people were hers, then he would treat them as such. He smiled a bit grimly and nodded.

"Where are you taking her?" She asked him, wanting to have some time with him that was just normal and happy. Tomorrow seemed a bigger thing than she was used to.

Thorfinn woke up and was disappointed that he was in his own bed. Of course, he had fallen asleep there alone, and knew that she wouldn't be here this morning. A few days of being able to be around her and already he wasn't happy that the choice had been taken from him. He had been at his sisters and she with Potter. It was late and both of them knew today was a big day. She hadn't talked about it much but several comments made around her and the presence of her friends was clue enough that this would be a bit different.

Yaxley had been grinning more than usual and he could see that also made the witch a bit unsettled. Thorfinn was glad he didn't know exactly what was coming, just the pieces being used. Deciding that even if this day would be different, everyone would still eat, he headed into the shower and then to the other cabin.

Rabastan was waiting by the apparition point and Thorfinn let his surprise show. He hadn't seen him this morning and didn't know he was coming with. A shrug told him that it was the way it was so he just shook his head and spun away.

Of course they were split up and he waited at the front door of the cabin for a minute before entering, the bastard was sitting smugly at the table and he just shook his head again. He was in a mischievous mood apparently. Four men sat in silence around the room and waited for a little witch to arrive. The number of plates and dishes on the table grew and he could see several were the little witches favourite.

Dolohov sat up straighter and he knew she was here. Then his posture relaxed again and that meant she was in his range. It was clear to him and Yaxley, but Rabastan watched with the same curiosity. When the rap at the door came Thorfinn could see that he understood what had been happening and he looked thoughtful.

"Morning, morning Rabastan." He seemed to warrant his own greeting as he wasn't a usual member of their morning ritual but her eyes were on Dolohovs as soon as they had all been assessed in a sweeping glance. Something passed and he could see her shoulders drop slightly and thought she was smoothing her magics out. Calming down. A slight nod indicated that she had succeeded and with that she turned her gaze to the rest of them. She grinned a bit reluctantly at the blatant excitement on Yaxley's face and smiled softly at 'Bas and then met his eyes.

He tried to keep his face even at the rush of things that showed. She was happy to see him, wanted to go to him but wouldn't display such things right now. Apology maybe, for her reluctance to open up to him here and before something she didn't feel ready for. It was all there and he merely stood so she could slide down the bench into her usual place. The small smile was thanks enough for his understanding and he basked in how it felt to be able to really communicate with her. Expect answers and get his own set of specific emotions and interactions.

When her fingers crept into his on the bench he didn't let the grin out but gave her a slight squeeze of reassurance and then passed her a coffee cup and was a bit surprised when Dolohov passed her the bottle of liqueur she liked. When they all looked at him he shot Yaxley a glance and the man grimaced and then rolled his eyes.

"Of course it would have been better for everyone if she wasn't keyed up. It's fine." He responded to whatever the look had said and Hermione just took the bottle and poured a healthy amount into her cup. Clearly this fell under the, he indicated I should so I will, category. Rabastan watched all of this with rapt attention and took small bites as he watched the play by play and nuances at the table.

She looked up and met his eyes for a quick moment and he wasn't sure what she was looking for, but she seemed to get it as she spoke.

"Full moon next week." She offered and only Rabastan didn't understand.

Nothing from her mentor and whatever his face said told her no decidedly. Her shoulders dropped and she bowed her head in acceptance. 'Bas caught his eye and raised a brow. He just nodded very slightly. This was routine.

"Am I allowed to ask questions?" 'Bas asked and they all looked at him, perhaps with the same slight surprise Thorfinn felt at his breaking into the tableau.

"Some. Not all of them." Yaxley answered seriously and eyed the other wizard for a moment. Rabastan nodded thoughtfully and then gave a carry on gesture.

The little witch had taken the moment of distraction to squeeze lemon juice onto a crepe, and add a probably indecent amount of clotted cream to it. She did this with scones too, though would eat them without it.

All the them watched her cut it and balance it on her fork before quickly popping it into her mouth, taking a long blink of appreciation. She shot a thankful grin to Yaxley in acknowledgement of the treat for her and the man just gave her a benevolent grin. It also meant that there wouldn't be instant action. No one would feed her like this and then expect her to be extremely active in the next half hour. She relaxed a bit and then peeked at Dolohov again.

Finishing his second poached egg and keeping an eye on all the eye contact being traded was interrupted by the gruff choking sound from the Russian. All eyes were instantly on him. They all watched his hand flip and then his chin tilt up minutely. She tensed and put down her fork. Immediately a scowl crossed his face she picked it back up and stabbed a piece of sausage before chewing it obediently. Then he gave her the nod she called the, if you must one. She wiggled and Rabastan laughed openly.

"What was just wheedled out of you?" All of them looked at him and the look on the witch's face was probably as appalled as his own. Never was any capitulation to be referred to or celebrated in the Russians reach. Yaxley just shook his head and gave him a disappointed look. His witch looked as if Christmas had been cancelled when she snuck another peek at her mentor and saw the look on his face. Then she pulled herself together and ate another piece of crepe.

When those whiskey eyes met his, he let her see his chagrin and gave her a nod. He would impart a few pertinent facts to his friend as soon as possible and she looked relieved. Then her eyes flicked to his lips quickly and she suddenly was all mischief. The little witch would be the death of him. This was her treat for her disappointment, he thought. Allowing herself to not focus for a few minutes. When her plate was clean and Rabastan was asking Yaxley about something to do with charmed books Dolohov spoke again.

"Malyshka. Sokhranyat." He could tell that she didn't immediately understand and he glanced at Yaxley in response to his questioning glance. He didn't know either.

"Today you mean?" She asked. Looking a bit put out that she needed the clarification. Her look of thoughtfulness showed she was close enough and finally Rabastan spoke.

"What did that mean?" He asked Hermione. She didn't like to translate very much but answered her friend.

"Reserve, or maybe conserve. Ration." She answered. Still looking at her coffee cup. Then she looked up and nodded at her master. The look on her face said she would do her best to be ready, for whatever it might be.