Rueben stood next to Harry Potter on the last viewing platform of the day. When the witch had looked at the portkey with that expression of wry amusement for his ironic display, Potter's eyes scanned the three wizards who seemed to know a bit about what was happening.
Allowing the younger wizard to catch his eye and taking silent credit, he had been slightly surprised by the same expression showing on his face as had on his friends. After that, the young man seemed to relax a bit and looked thoughtful. He watched the witch go through these trials with grim certainty and relatively few questions.
The way he looked at Thorfinn was interesting too. It wasn't suspicious or uneasy in the usual way, it was like he was trying to see past what showed. Rueban realised that he was trying to see his friends life, without his own experiences colouring his view. It reluctantly impressed him. It shouldn't have, he thought, as the witch moved the tiles on the circular globe made of small squares that surrounded the second vase. Watching her decipher the equation on the first one had been impressive. The young wizard beside him agreed. The way she spoke of Potter, the affection and trust, it should have told him that whatever he had assumed would be far short of the reality.
He was smart and interested. A few of the glances he had received were speculative and he wondered what the other man was thinking. That made him wonder what Hermione hadn't asked him, that she had wanted to. They talked about magic all the time and she asked questions. What she didn't do was ask how he had used it or for any information on their pasts. She enjoyed what they did tell her and made her interest clear but never requested more than what was volunteered. That would bear some further thought.
When she suddenly stopped moving tiles with such concentration they all leaned forward. Even Antonin, which told them that whatever was going to happen was going to be quick. Flames sparked from some of the tiles and ice crystals began to cover the others. It was a strange sight on the rotating sphere and the look on Hermione's face said this was very bad indeed.
Potter tensed and he noticed Thorfinn's shoulders stiffen.
As she began casting her lip was in her teeth and for the first time she used both her wand and her free hand in a deliberate and complex use of power.
"Hermione." The little blonde witch breathed and he took a moment to think of her mother, Pandora. They were very similar. Quite certain she would succeed he took a moment to look around at the faces of the others.
It was revealing. The emotion levels conveyed on each one. Rabastan looked mesmerized, he would know exactly how impressive this was. Perhaps the only one other than him who did, raised in a traditional Wizarding home and with the history of their lands and peoples.
The blond had a fierce look that appeared to be pride and her little fists were clenched so tightly that her hands were white. Potter looked as if he had never seen her before and then as he observed his face shifted into a small smile and with a head shake he watched on, with perhaps more interest even then before.
Thorfinn looked as if she was a goddess before him. Hunger and awe. His hands were in his pockets but all of his attention was riveted on her. His gaze flicked from her face to her hands and the changing sphere before her, but when it was on her face, the man's emotions were clear. This had gone differently than he had expected. Neither was sure of the other yet, not really. Both were all in though, rarely had he seen two people with their level of awareness of each other. Hopefully they could get past the beginning and settle into the solid relationship he could see as more than possible. He would keep an eye on that as he had been.
The witch was nearly there and she had a bead of sweat on her brow now. Wanting to see his friends expressions more than hers at the success, when it happened, he tried not to stare but still see. The man would notice and blank as much as he could.
There was a triumphant light in his eye. So he hadn't been certain she would succeed. He would find out why later. A few reasons came to mind. His wand hand twitched and Rueban knew it was time for the release. He didn't manage to keep his eyes away as the last tile slid into place and the whole burning, freezing sphere faded slowly from view. A second gold vase stood there and she blinked at it. Then wiped her face on her sleeve and breathed. She was tired. Not exhausted beyond repair, but more than a typical days magic use by a discernible margin. She picked up the other vase that was by her feet and placed it on the second stone stand. Then after a few minutes of checking and determining what to do, she began putting up the two wards required. They were detailed and again she used both her hand and her wand. Her hair moved a bit in the breeze created by the heat of the wards that had come down. Then the vases glowed silver and disappeared. A scroll in the air between where they had been. She quickly caught it with a spell and then waited. Nothing happened and silently she cast four spells at it. It was just a scroll.
Letting her lip go, he internally chuckled at her habit, it was one she tried not to let be used in front of Antonin, she reached for it and when she touched it she jumped. At the noise of fireworks exploding from the ground in a circle around her.
"Thank you for that Yaxley." She laughed slightly, and he was relieved they all, except Potter and Luna chuckled at least slightly. She wasn't angry or despairing. She seemed content if a bit nervous. Maybe she wasn't sure if it was finished, she was done in. He could see. Even if she wasn't finished the day, Antonin would have called any more off. More wouldn't be as easily recovered. She would need to eat well and rest. Remain calm and let her core refill before any extended magic use. Small spells and charms or routine apparition was fine. A witch like her didn't even need to consider that kind of use, but she had been expending large amounts of magic daily. They would need to make sure she wasn't forced to defend herself either. A Russian apprentice wouldn't be an acceptable occurrence in the next two or three days.
Her eyes came up as she read the scroll. A fierce light shining through, triumphant and proud. He was relieved that she would have a moment to calm down before seeing them again. Antonin would be uncomfortable with the raw emotions she couldn't quite contain.
"Well thank you all for coming. This production will not be repeated, your discretion is required. Have a nice evening." Rueban smiled charming at them and only the blond seemed to think that a suitable ending to the outing.
"Thank you. It was enlightening and informative. Exclusive as well." Her grin was real, and he let himself smile back at her for a second, genuinely. The witch had decent taste in companions. He caught Thorfinns eye and at Antonin's crack he gave a small head shake. Potter went and stood with Luna, after realizing he was not free to apparate away from here. Task completed he followed his friend home.
Hermione stared at the scroll and a rush of relief and triumph poured through her. It was clear to her that Dolohov would have stopped her from doing any more major casting. This was the lowest he had allowed her to let her magic get since she became his apprentice. It was a rune, in the same Norse dialect as the three at the beginning. Completion. Success. Honour. This sign represented all of those things and she forced herself to take a deep breath. Then another. Crying would do her no good and she probably wouldn't be able to stop if she started right now. Knowing she would need to go to her master for dismissal and whatever else he might want to talk to her about, she knew that it was worth it to calm down now. She didn't jump around, or scream her elation or lay down on the cobbled stone on the ground, wherever she was. People were watching her. Then that really sank in, people had watched her do this today.
People other than those who had been there from the beginning of her apprenticeship. Rowle has been nearly unable to comprehend what she could do, how she could do these things. Once it had sunk in that she could, he had been as casual as Yaxley was, most of the time. Didn't make a big deal or make her feel self conscious when she did something most couldn't. Harry might not understand and she couldn't imagine what Luna or Rabastan thought. It didn't matter though, really. She was sure none of them would stop being her friend because she could do weird things. She had been for a long time. Still, she felt a bit exposed, like they knew something that had been a secret. Thinking that over took a minute and then she felt the ward preventing her apparition come down and let out a small relieved sigh. That was nice of him, like holding a door. She could do it herself but it was a nice gesture.
She looked around one last time at the circular hollow in the ground, surrounded by huge old trees. It was beautiful and now that it was afternoon, the sun was casting shadows across the stones and the two pillars that had held the vases. Rowle has done that magic, it was impressive. Best not to think about that now. Gathering herself she thought of the clearing by their cabin, and spun.
She was surprised to be in the clearing, she hadn't landed here since the first Russian apprentice intruded into their lives. Yaxley was waiting for her and she jogged over to him and turned toward the cabin. His face was solemn and showed absolutely nothing. It was one of the best masks she had seen on him, he usually didn't bother. It was odd. But in silence they walked to the front door and Yaxley opened it for her. Gestured she enter and then magicked her coat and boots off. She wiggled her toes in surprise and then accepted the glass of wine she was proffered. Not drinking it she sat down and a bottle of water appeared in her place. That took a minute and she breathed a bit heavily after finishing it. She hadn't felt thirsty, which meant she should definitely drink after all that work.
Then finally, she took a sip of the wine and sighed softly. Knowing it was time, she lifted her head to the man who had just entered the room. He was standing against the door frame and looking at her carefully. She felt his magic push against hers and this time she let him scan hers without thought or even really noticing it. That seemed a normal thing to do, after so much expenditure and he would want to know exactly the state she was in. What he could from her external magics anyway.
The two exchanged a glance and them both sat down. Dolohov looked relaxed, nearly sprawling in his hair. A lock of his dark hair was hanging across his eyes and his fingers were loose on his whiskey glass. Yaxley was still calm looking but now seemed to have similarly loosened his posture. Nearly no tension could be felt in the room. Nearly without conscious thought, she relaxed as well. Sinking into the corner and lifting up her feet to rest on the bench top.
"That was creative. Some of those magics were amazing. It was beautifully put together. Thank you. For doing that for me." She did blush a little bit but didn't acknowledge it. This was important to her. Several times through her day she had marvelled at the magics used and that they had been set up for this. Most of them anyway.
Each of them gave her a single nod and this calmed her further.
"I barely made it." She admitted it out loud. They knew that, and she knew it too, but still she wanted to say it. To people who would understand the whole picture, not just how impressive that had been. She was impressed with herself, but didn't feel cocky at all. That was all she could do and it would take much study before she could do a days worth. Her magical maturity was there, she was pretty sure, and though she could strengthen it, it wouldn't grow very much more at all. So she would have to get better at magic and application of magics to improve. Her progress was heartening and she felt humbled but her debt for the improvement. He wouldn't like that though, maybe that she felt it but not to have it expressed verbally.
His look of understanding was solemn and then he did something quite surprising and grinned. Not widely but there was a crease next to one side of his mouth and when she looked to Yaxley, his was much wider and genuinely showed his feelings about how the day had gone and how she had done.
"Tomorrow afternoon here. Three days. Otdykh Malyshka." He meant what he said but didn't seem disappointed by her need to rest and recharge. Then a look came into his eyes and she knew that he was dead serious.
"Daily?" She asked. Meaning her usual daily magics and travel. An exchanged glance and then she knew Yaxley would speak.
"Three days of daily use magic only. No projects. Also safe houses only, if you can. I mean can as in the most severe need to remove yourself from one of those locations. Use the coins and someone will meet you at the apparition point here. Thorfinn is enough if he's with you. Now would not be a good time to face a determined opponent." As he finished seriously she understood. The challenge. In her single minded focus she had forgotten about it and that made Yaxley's presence outside the apparition wards make more sense.
Taking another sip of her wine she met both men's eyes and nodded. Then smiled when a scone appeared before her. Complete with a small pot of clotted cream and some peach jam. It was needed and when she finished she felt much better. Physically, mentally and emotionally. With a look to Dolohov she received permission to leave and Yaxley stood when she did. Hermione was glad, she wanted to say a few things and it would be easier if they were alone.
As they crunched toward the clearing across the nearly frozen landscape, she gave up trying to think of how to word her thoughts and just spoke.
"I know I said thanks but I want to say it again. In the tone that wants to come out. Thank you all so much for setting all of that up and then spending the day with my friends. I hope it was okay. It means a lot to me. All of it. When I got to the first vase I was thinking how much I have improved. My critical thinking and observation, in addition to the magical things Dolohov and I study. That's you. You've really made this possible. I don't think he would have taken me on if you weren't here to handle the parts of me that annoy him most. I'm grateful. Truly. For your tutelage but maybe even more for everything else. Sorry for this display." She had been looking down, but then looked up, and though they both kept walking he looked at her with real affection and she smiled back, a bit shyly. Then he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they walked toward the clearing in companionable silence.
"Straight home Hermione." He admonished her and then she spun, thinking of her own home and wards.
