"Harry?" Hermione called from the floor of her floo room and into the dark kitchen of Grimmauld Place.

Finn had suggested to get ahold of him after discerning she had been thinking about it while they walked the length of her property. She felt antsy and he smiled charmingly then smirks er and kissed her forehead before turning her toward the floo and patting her bottom. Cheeky man.

"Hermione?" His voice came in question and he looked around the kitchen, she tried not to laugh in the fireplace and answered.

"Down here."

"Why are you not here?" He looked puzzled and she just shook her head. "Well come through." Now he had that totally baffled expression and she nodded. A minute later she spelled the soot off of herself and then met her friends gaze.

They just stood there for a moment before he gave her a puzzled look and walked to the cupboard. The lantern lights came on as he opened it and the kettle was whistling a moment later. She sat at the scrubbed wooden table and watched him pensively. When he sat down and looked at her expectantly she just waited for whatever he might say.

"You ready to talk about it?" He asked, leaning back a bit in his chair and watching her.

"Of course." She answered, still waiting for his response or whatever he thought about a hundred things about yesterday. Nothing.

"Well?" She finally burst out. Putting her untouched teacup down on the table so she didn't spill it.

"You are the one all out of sorts. I was waiting for you to tell me what was wrong." His own voice was raised a bit in his incomprehension and frustration. He had been worried about whatever she was upset about. That made sense. The floo thing had been weird and maybe her face had shown her uncertainty.

"Oh. I was waiting for your reaction, about yesterday." She picked up her teacup and took a sip. Then she laughed and he chuckled with her.

"It all makes sense now. You are complicated woman. A handful." Now his eyes were mischievous and she shot him a joking scowl. That headline had not been one of her favourites but it seemed to be true enough that those around her were enjoying it. Then he sobered and met her eyes squarely.

"That was incredible Mione. I had no idea what half of it was but the detail and everything was, i've never seen magic like that." He sounded a bit awed and she let herself smile. That was how she felt about it too.

"That's why isn't it? You always knew what he could do. What you could try and do." He was curious

"A bit. It's so much more though. The first task he set me after the curse, I had never seen magic used that way. As part of a puzzle. A challenge only. Not to the death or against someone else, but yourself. Everyday has been more amazing than the last. It's hard. He works me hard, but he's so good at it. Before, I could have done those situations. Maybe two if I was lucky and they were the ones I knew more about. Yesterday, it showed me how far I had come. How far I have to go still." Harry was listening to her with rapt attention.

"That's not very far?" He asked, inarticulate too but she understood.

"Even After Azkaban he could do that all day. Maybe for several days. He does things with so little magical effort, so precisely and never a bit more than needed. The smartest way even if it's the longer way." He nodded and then focused on her face.

"It was different. Seeing you like that. Not just the magic." He added. She tilted her head in question.

"You weren't with us but they know you. All six of us know you. Differently. Rowle, he was different than I had expected. More. Dolohov was just as you described him. Said maybe ten words but knew every detail of what you were doing. By the end even I could feel his tension. What was wrong?" She nodded at his thoughtful observations. Then thought about his question.

"I was done in. Even now I'm not at my base level. He put me on a three day magic restriction. Can't leave the home wards either." Hermione admitted. It made her a bit uncomfortable, even with Harry. He nodded then looked the question.

"Our own wards. Mine or his. I've talked with him about the wards here and at Luna's before. All five of them are good and sensitive. I've also altered all of them except his." She explained and he nodded at her.

"I'm sorry." He sounded genuine and she frowned at him. Putting down her teacup.

"What happened?" Thinking maybe it was Yaxley,, though he hadn't mentioned, or something else.

"Nothing. It was fine. Better than fine once I relaxed a bit. They weren't friendly, except Yaxley sort of, but it was comfortable. I meant for not really trusting you. I did, you know I do, but I can see better now, why. A lot of the why's I've had for a long time. You were entirely just you out there and they know you like that. Are more open to you than I had thought. I'm not good with words like you or Luna but just, I'm sorry and I want you to be comfortable sharing that part of yourself. With me." He was blushing and fiddling with his cup but she just smiled softly at him.

"No apologies. You've always supported me. Even when you didn't understand. Been the best friend and brother I could have wanted. More so even after the war." They both knew they meant in the gaping holes of grief that used to be filled with people. Even Sirius wasn't really mourned until after the war when they could stop and think.

"He laughs like him." She knew exactly what he meant and closed her eyes for a moment and nodded.

"I know." She responded and touched the back of his hand.

"It was kind of nice. He's different enough." That it didn't seem like it was Sirius. She understood that too.

"Have you asked him about anything?" She knew he meant Yaxley and the Ministry.

"No." Her look said it was difficult not too. He nodded his understanding.

"Do you think?" He didn't finish but she knew what he meant as if he had.

"I don't know. I can't offer. I would like him to be free though. Legal at least." Harry looked pensive and she decided to change the topic before leaving so he could get ready.

"What colour shirt are you wearing tonight?" She asked and watched his face change completely. Instead of contemplation it was a wince. She laughed and followed him up to his room for a small fashion show.


Thorfinn was standing at the clearing and grinned at her happy expression.

"I told you it would be fine. He seemed alright with everything yesterday. Fussed about his date?" He asked her and she chuckled lowly.

"He tried on eight shirts before we decided on the best shade of navy for the jacket he wanted to wear. It's adorable and uncomfortable to watch the two of them, who have never just spoken openly to the other. I hope that's what happens tonight. Astoria will have to make that move, he's on tenderhooks." Her smile was fond and they were laughing about Harry's hysterical predictions of doom when they reached the door.

It was the same casual atmosphere as yesterday and she smiled comfortably before turning her attention fully to Dolohov.

"Three things." Thinking he meant three things she had done poorly she answered.

"Twice I panicked and once I didn't double check the calculation and nearly torched that bouquet." She wouldn't need to tell him when she had panicked. Those were the three she had thought he wanted though it was clear now it hadn't answered his question. Try number two.

"I need to be more judicious in how much magic I put into each casting. Judge it by the individual spell and its target rather than a blanket amount by type. My take down is faster than my casting, I noticed it so you definitely did. I was too close to being too slow. Especially on the dual triggered ones at the end." She thought over her last answer. It was different and she wasn't sure that Dolohov would like it.

"I get too excited or caught up and move too quickly or slowly when my focus shifts. I didn't want to take down that growth matrix and because I was admiring it, I had to expend way more energy than I should have. Focus." She met his eyes and could see that this had been close enough to what he wanted.

"The last one. That was the biggest take away. It can't come from drills, only experience." Yaxley answered her and all at the table agreed. She asked some of the technical questions of Dolohov and puzzled out his responses, even that seemed different. Something had changed between them. Maybe not outwardly, but in his demeanour. Their version of a discussion was cut off by Yaxley's exclamation.

"He didn't!" It was incredulous and both of them shot their gazes to the two at the other end of the table talking while they bored them.

"He did. She showed me." Rowle was chuckling lowly and she caught his eye.

"The scroll." He answered with enough mischief in his grin to tell her that he was enjoying this. She rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"It's an example of what I said before. Ridiculous." Yaxley just stared at her and then met Dolohov's gaze.

"Stevens sent her a scroll. With dispensation for the time under you." His tone was as dry as she had ever heard, and she was shocked when Dolohov stood suddenly and barked a word in Russian.

"Voz'mi." His tone was glacial and the dam end she get it serious, and a quick look told her that Rowle hadn't expected this level of reaction. Yaxley gestured to her and she stood without thought.

When she grabbed her coat she was nearly shocked when he retrieved his and waited expectantly for her and Rowle before walking out. A last look at Yaxley showed that he was thinking quickly and deeply. He didn't meet her eyes. Merlin. What was going on.

"Malyshka." It was all he spoke and it meant she was to go first. She nodded and spun into the black compression of apparition. In her home, she nearly summoned it and then thought better of testing him and ran for the stairs to her office.

Scroll in hand, she ran back into the room just as Rowle appeared and Dolohov merely held a hand out. Handing it over she could see he was going to leave and wished she had asked before.

"Can I go to the Malfoys summer house? Their wards are pretty good and all of us will be there. Narcissa wants a meeting and then dinner." She spoke clearly but quickly and then waited. Rowle was watching the man's face as well and looked a bit startled when it was him who was speared with a glare. He pulled his eyes to hers in question.

"I think he wants you to go too. Or I can't. That's fine. Thank you. I left the paper with my response in there, feel free to remove it." Her voice was a bit smaller than she would like and she mourned the easy feelings from earlier. A nod and he was gone with a crack.

"I didn't know that would happen." Rowle put in and looked apologetic.

"Me neither. I'll just go owl them to come and start cooking." She was already turning away when he spoke.

"We can go if you want. Whatever you want." She met his eyes and tried to see if he meant it.

"You'll be stuck however long with the men." She pointed out and he laughed.

"I'll manage little witch. Then you don't have to cook and they don't have to use the same forks for more than ten minutes." Both of them laughed at that. It was true but the boys did well anyways.

"Alright. Thank you." She leaned up and kissed him without thought before jogging out toward the owl hutch by the back door.


"Rowle." Lucius greeted him after he kissed the witch's hand, quite genuinely he noted.

"Malfoy." He responded easily, shaking his hand.

"Narcissa is waiting for you in her parlour and we will be in the den, when you ladies finish." She nodded and then seemingly without thought leaned up on her toes and kissed his cheek before walking down the hallway.

Both men watched her for a moment and then he knew he had to meet the man's gaze and did. Easier than Dolohov or Yaxley. Hell even Potter, though the ponce wouldn't like that comparison.

Surprise and speculation. As expected. The witch was right and this man was predictable. Nothing was said and he followed him back into the room he had been in the last time and that brought that meeting to mind. Internally he chuckled at the way things had played out. Not a Malfoy and Dolohov's, even his. The little witch would have scalped Malfoy if she knew about it.

Theo was standing by the window and Draco on an armchair when they entered. He knew, it was clear on his face and he wasn't pleased. Didn't look heartbroken but also didn't look very accepting.

"We've got an hour or so. You could hit bludgers at me. See if I've still got an arm." He suggested. Both in fun and in truth. It would be easier if they didn't try to deal with each other as the older Malfoy would like them too. All insinuations and nothing said straight out.

Theo nodded and Draco stood. Lucius caught his eye and unlike the censor he had expected got an appraising eye and a gesture indicating that he and his expensive whiskey would be the audience.

"You'll only have about forty minutes or so boys. Narcissa won't have you at the table less than presentable." All of the nodded obediently, having expected nothing else. He may not live this life now, nor did he want to but he had grown up in a house like this one. More castle like and not as plush but the same customs and manners. It was easy, if not comfortable.

The crack of beaters bats on bludgers was satisfying and it gave them all something to do while Draco yelled questions and statements at him. Gave him something to hit too.

"Isn't proximity a gift." Crack. The blond's voice followed the steel ball.

"Doesn't seem enough." He shot back after hitting it directly at the younger wizard and watching him dodge it before flying after the ball.

"How did you do it?" He sounded defeated and didn't hit the bludger Nott had set up for him.

"I didn't." Thorfinn met his eye and let him see that he meant it. He hadn't done anything. Theo nodded as if he understood. They had flown closer together and were hovering as Lucius magicked the contrary bludgers into their case.

"Lucky bastard then." He sounded petulant, and Thorfinn laughed thinking about Hermione's summary of the man.

"That's true." He conceded easily. Last night had shown that he was, in more ways than one. The witch was brave as hell. Charging forward and forcing conversations, unwilling to try and just feel their way through it. He would never have done it that way but he wouldn't have woken up with the feelings of certainty today. It was cruel, Amir would also add needless tension, to let the more physical memories screen in his mind's eye so he cut that off.

"Dinner then boys?" Lucius could see that things were better. Not perfect but it wouldn't upset his wife at the dinner table.

Her smile was polite and the dinner was actually alright. The conversations were interesting. Watching the little witch dodge questions about Dolohov and what she could do was entertaining too. No one asked him directly and he could see that she would have preferred him to deal with some of it. He just grinned mentally and enjoyed the verbal duels that seemed pleasant conversation at the Malfoy table.

When they came through the floo into her house he was a bit surprised when she took two steps and then stopped. Turning back to him and then taking a few more, gesturing him to be still. Not sure what was going on he watched her scrutinize him and her eyes roamed him. He crossed his arms and waited to find out what had prompted this inspection. Her eyes finished on his face and the blatant desire there had its usual result and he groaned lowly.

"Little witch. What are you thinking about?" He demanded, taking a step toward her. She took one back and still seemed to be half lost in her thoughts.

"How you'd look after a fly." She nearly breathed it out. Eyes back on his body before flicking up to his. The grin made her scowl for a split second but then she noticed his stance and closer proximity and took off out the door with a laugh. He waited a second and then bolted after the little witch.