Having not heard from Dolohov and received no instructions she got up at the six thirty alarm and they showered and had a coffee before she let him side along her to the cabin. It would have been more than she was allowed to take him instead. They appeared up a trail and began walking down the hill. They were silent until he caught her eye and she blushed bright red.
"Don't do that. Yaxley will make fun of me." She pouted and he chuckled. Last night had been fun, and the multiple orgasms more than enjoyable. Neither had felt as hampered by restrictions though they hadn't had sex. It hadn't been awkward and for the first time, she was hopeful. Really thought that they might make it through the gauntlet of firsts and learning about each other. He just grabbed her hand and laced their fingers together. Neither released the hold until they had to take their coats off.
The atmosphere wasn't as tense as yesterday and Hermione determined not to ask about the scroll. There was a thick ornate book with cirrylic letters on it at her place and she perked up at the sight of it. Food began making its way to the table as the two slid into their places and in silence they loaded plates and cups of coffee.
"I'm sure you are curious." Neither younger person replied but met Yaxley's eyes with an of course look. He nodded. Then looked at Dolohov out of the corner of his eye. Neither of them followed suit, knowing better. It wouldn't increase the odds the man would speak and could lower them drastically. He was a complicated man. Silence and Hermione bit into a piece of toast with a lovely plum jelly on it, chewing slowly she tried to just keep going and swallow it when he spoke.
"Another such thing will not happen." His tone was dark and Hermione didn't shiver but she could have. She didn't look at either man, but noticed the tension suddenly increase. His eyes were on her, she could feel it. She met his eyes and nodded. They weren't as cold as she had expected and were looking at her with something she didn't quite understand.
"Your letter was interesting." Hermione winced at Yaxley's drawl. She hadn't been very polite and had forgotten it was in the scroll before handing it to him or she would have removed it. Thorfinn looked curious and she just made a gesture indicating he not ask. Hoping it would go away. Of course it didn't.
"Such a thing would be unthinkable of course." Yaxley began with a growing grin.
"You delight in embarrassing me." She grumbled and he barked a laugh before composing himself to carry on and she groaned.
"The intelligence indicated by such a crass proposal from one of a supposed power caliber is to be labelled as what it is. An attempt to sabotage my potential." His voice did mimic her outrage slightly and she did giggle even as she blushed a fiery red. Feeling the heat on her face she just looked at her plate and waited for it to end. Or the floor to swallow her. Even Dolohov cracked a gruff sound that might have been a laugh. Rowle was not hiding his amusement.
"Furthermore, your insinuation of understanding the past shared by my master, myself, and those not guilty of cowardice and fleeing an emergent situation is beyond comprehension. To understand who I am as a witch, as you claim to, you would have had to have been here." No one was laughing now and she just kept her eyes down and had rarely felt so exposed here or in front of anyone. A minute went by and she knew it would have to be her. They could and would wait her out.
"He is the first. To say it directly to me. Not printed in an opinion piece or whispered in my hearing. Perhaps I was over zealous in my wording." Still nothing and she knew she would have to look up.
"The letter went with the scroll. Hand delivered." Was the eventual response to her raised eyes and she just nodded.
"He seemed uncomfortable. I am paraphrasing of course as my fugitive status meant I missed the show." He seemed down about having not seen the confrontation and Hermione could understand. He revelled in chaos and was interested in everything that affected his friend. Furthermore he delighted in creating fear in those he targeted. It was a bit twisted, useful sometimes too though. Unofficially.
"Perhaps he didn't expect either of your responses." He left it at that and Hermione could only wonder what had happened, she definitely couldn't ask. At least not Dolohov and she didn't really feel comfortable asking the other wizard either. Maybe it would make its way back to her.
"Narcissa wants to invite us to a private dinner." She eventually put in. Thinking about it would do no good.
The sound her mentor made was a question.
"Yes you and I. I don't know who else. I am the pre owl warning." She shot a questioning glance at Yaxley and he indicated that he hadn't made the woman aware of his presence. She didn't think it would be a problem except the breach of probation terms. Contact with a felon was listed in all of them. Not that they cared in the slightest. If he wanted to attend, which she thought he would. Wanting some levity she let a petulant tone into her voice.
"The only instruction I got was that a suitable dress and heels would be expected." Amusement lightened the air and the rest of their morning was as usual except the book took the place of magic use. Dolohov sat closer to her and perhaps spoke a little more. Maybe not words but she felt he was more expressive and even made more hand gestures. It was worth some thought, later.
Hermione felt nervous. Not in a bad way but the wording of this letter in reply to her chatty one was odd. It hadn't been rude but the witches had owled back and forth dozens of times since their first meeting and she could tel something was off. It wasn't hard to guess what but she hadn't wanted to ask Thorfinn. He hadn't mentioned his sister being upset. Hadn't actually said anything about except that he had told her and then they had spoken about she had said about her apprenticeship. If she could, then she would like to keep her friendship, outside of him being her brother.
Approaching the cafe, she decided that she would ask the witch back to hers. Public was less comfortable by the day and this nice afternoon it was busy. There had been rumours, none confirmed, that Hermione Granger had a paramour. Or worse word choice. Not a relationship or anything as respectful. This happened every now and then but since it was true this time, she was a bit out of sorts about all the attention and the questions. Only from strangers really, people who knew someone who knew her usually. Just enough familiarity to say, I'm Seamus Finnigan's aunts sister. Who are you eloping with Miss Granger. So soon after the handful article too. These people just made a fortune speculating on her life.
There she was, the loose blond hair fell to the witches mid back and she had on a ravenclaw blue sweater. Hermione smiled at her when her blue eyes scanned the cafe and her smile seemed genuine.
"Are you okay if we go to mine? With a tray of scones and all the fixings." She leaned in closer and whispered the last part as if it were a secret. Which it sort of was. "I have an extensive and varied jam collection." Her look was serious so Sabrina knew she meant it. The witch nodded solemnly and then giggled. Occasionally laughing and naming jam types receiving a nod each time, all the way through ordering and heading back to the apparition space.
When they arrived and she had been added the witch looked around curiously. Hermione hadn't had many people in her home and it was a bit strange to see someone look around like that. She wondered what the witch seen. There were pictures and art. Things she had seen or made, or Luna had. Interesting pieces of furniture, sometimes placed for Lev to make his way from area to area. It wasn't really a normal house, but this witch grew up in a stone keep so Hermione wasn't sure what she thought of as normal.
Seeing her interest she offered a tour and walked around the main floor and the workroom. She opened to door but didn't add the witch to wards in the broom room. That was nearly done. It was exciting and daunting. All lost if it didn't work. It seemed the usual consequence though
Then she took her upstairs and let her explore. The room of shelves filled with books with rolling racks of scrolls and her own catalogue of notes clearly interested the witch as she poked through it. Then she found the shelf in another alphabet and made a sound. Hermione cocked her head and waited. Then the witch stood and smiled a slightly cooler one than before. Not sure what had happened, she led her into the smaller dining area off the kitchen.
This had been a closet but she expanded it and added a round table for six with a curved bench seat. Kind of her own Grimmauld place kitchen. Stone walls and slightly rough plank table. The hanging chandelier looked like old kerosene ones. No snakes like the ones there though.
Once she had pulled a dozen jams and set everything up the two witches sat down and feeling kind of awkward Hermione served her guest and then decided to be Narcissa Malfoy and smile politely while waiting for the younger witch to spill whatever was on her mind. Just waiting politely, expectantly. Eventually Sabrina caved, just as Hermione always did in her current position.
"Explain my brother." She blurted out and then shook her head slightly and coloured a little bit. Hermione let herself laugh lightly and she ate a bite before looking at her as if she hadn't spoken. Giving her a chance to rephrase or add some details. This was something Hermione did with her brother, well most people really. Even she appreciated the courtesy.
"Why him." She clarified. It wasn't much but she took a stab at it.
"I like him. Almost all of him. He is a tormentor and delights in causing a ruckus. A bit dramatic and also not very talkative when it counts." She listed off the first few things she thought of and Sabrina nodded. Not smiling but clearly agreeing.
"I like how he is with me. Before this even. Since it has been a bit different. Usually though it's easy and he knows quite a bit about me. Maybe not trivia but who I am and what I do." She offered. Hoping the witch would understand. Not sure what she wanted to know.
"Are you worried? About him?" She asked when she didn't get any feedback. "Or me?" Maybe this was a different concern altogether.
"He told me that you are seeing each other." She finally spoke and it wasn't very helpful. Hermione nodded though. That was the term she had used, him too apparently.
"Are you going to hurt him?" Ah there it was. She smiled a bit proudly at the witch. Hermione had Heard people talk and knew that she could be intimidating. She was nice but people seemed to think she was judging them or bored by them. Like she was so arrogant that people were unimportant to her. It was baffling.
"Not on purpose. I think it's more the other way around. At least it feels that way." She admitted her insecurities. Or some of them. The witch was scanning her minutely.
"Why would you think that?" She seemed curious and Hermione wished she wasn't being interviewed and didn't want to ask her about her brother. It seemed wrong.
Hermione just shrugged slightly and sipped her latte.
"I'm a bit of a handful." She said this and then groaned slightly. Even she was using it. Sabrina laughed and relaxed a bit at that.
"You are complex." She admitted. "I'm just getting to know you and it's an experience." Her tone was light but her eyes said she meant it. Hermione smiled weakly. The witch had seen quite a bit in a short time.
"What about the papers?" Sabrina asked.
"They will find out eventually. I've never talked about my love life, what there was of it, with the media or really anyone outside of my close circle so until we expose ourselves it should be okay. Then, it probably won't be nice. I'm sorry for that." Her apology was honest but that was all she was apologizing for. It would put attention on Sabrina too, though Hermione would step in if that became a focus. She had after the trials. Lucius had helped with that.
"Sorry for the media not my brother." She stated and Hermione nodded firmly.
"He's what you want? Who you want. After all this time?" Sabrina checked. Seeming to think that if Hermione said yes then that was that.
"Yes. That's what I told him. He is what I want. Him and me. Together." It was embarrassing to say things in such a direct manner but she more than liked the man and refused to downplay it to those important to them. It wasn't many people. A nod and then it was as if they were just having a regular chat. All the issues resolved and totally behind them.
"Do you do magic together?" She asked, looking like she wanted some gossip. Hermione smiled and told her a bit about their broom. Then she turned the tables.
"Any wizard standing out from his surroundings?" This had worked with Harry and it's how she felt about Finn, like he was a bit brighter than his. Sentimental female, she thought to herself.
No blush. No shifting. Nothing. Just a head shake and steady eyes. Hermione nodded.
"Finn was the first man I really wanted. That I thought might be worth whatever came. I've been attracted to other guys and even dated a few muggles. Didn't want any of them enough." She shrugged her inability to voice her complete feelings and Sabrina looked a bit happier.
"Stands out from his surroundings. I'll keep an eye out." From there potions took over until the witch left and Hermione smiled her successful return to normalcy with her friend.
