For a moment, Hermione felt panic, not fear but uncertainty, then she forced herself to take a breath and meet Dolohov's eyes again. Challenge or something like it. So he knew something was different and when she looked at Yaxley she could see the almost hard tint to his amethyst eyes. They wanted to talk about it. Whatever it actually was. How could she explain something like that.

Then her mind made a connection and her eyes pinned the wizard beside her. At first it was mostly stubborn and right then his gaze softened and many things showed. More than she could read in the few seconds she gave herself. What she could decipher didn't seem confrontational or apologetic. He was sure that this was the right thing. That was a bit comforting and she mentally shook off the slight sense of betrayal. She would ask him later, and if his reasons were right then she couldn't fault him. Harry had done things like this and then she looked at him again, wondering if he had gone to her friend. It was possible. Harry seemed to have settled into being really okay with her and Finn together. She doubted either would have spoken about anything she had actually shared so it would have been generic and probably about her idiosyncrasies. They all had them. Astoria had come to her twice so far, wanting to check if her conclusions were correct.

It didn't seem up to her what was discussed so she just sat there, smelling dinner and waiting for someone to decide what to do. Her mind was trying to race, figure out what to say. How to prevaricate but another glance at Dolohov showed her that her months of being so open had backfired. He was watching her as if she would bolt and she knew that she would have to do it. Embarrass herself, not for the first time and not the last, she was sure. The audience was small and she couldn't ask any of them to leave.

Admitting defeat, she sat back against the wall in her corner and gave a carry on hand gesture. Outwardly admitting her compliance. Postures changed but her masters eyes remained on her and that note of challenge was still there.

"I for one would prefer to talk while we eat. I've had enough of these lacklustre meals." Hermione smiled weakly at him. She knew what he meant. Some of the camaraderie or whatever it was between the four of them was muted and though they talked and even laughed, it was dimmer. Seeing everyone's compliance or close enough, he stood up and went to the kitchen.

A minute later he returned in his guise of flamboyant chef, platters and bowls of food following him like ducklings. Everything slid slowly and perfectly onto the table and in his hands was a bottle of red. Thorfinn caught her eye and she gave him a playful smile, he had taken to drinking it with her and wanted one now. Conjuring another glass in front of him, she just calmly poured him one after Yaxley had done hers.

It was good. Different than the bottles she had gone through and she noted the label was facing away from her. Almost smoky and she liked it a great deal. Apparently that was enough distraction because as soon as their plates were full Yaxley spoke again.

"As the obvious chairman of this meeting, I have decided that the unnamed issue will be discussed first. It has been difficult to completely understand anything outside of the magic lately and I'm sure we would all prefer the clarity this will provide for other topics." His wording was careful and casual but he was serious. Everyone was subjected to a long glance before he sat back and made an expansive gesture for someone to begin.

The moment was here and she didn't know what to say. Refusing to look to Thorfinn for help she grabbed her courage and looked at her master.

"Malyshka." His tone was a demand but it also sounded like a question. Deciding that she had to start somewhere she just blurted out the first thing, the biggest thing that had been bothering her.

"You didn't pick me." Then she closed her eyes for a moment and composed herself slightly. "That sounds petulant and I hope you know how grateful I am for your teaching me. Taking care of me." Her voice was a bit smaller but she kept eye contact and saw the slight nod in acknowledgement of her qualifier. Still her turn.

"I didn't know, about being approached. Asked to apprentice under a master. He was right, that wasn't what happened. I wasn't who you would have chosen. I don't think I forced you in anyway, but I wasn't the apprentice you would have chosen on your own." She took a sip of wine and then a bite of her steak. Swallowing, she decided to just keep going.

"Something had been happening with me. I was becoming fond of you, in my own way. It's not like a friendship or anything but maybe a mentor. Something more than a teacher anyway. That was stupid. I felt stupid when he pointed out how vaunted you are for your skills and your beliefs. I am a girl. I am a Muggleborn witch. I'm not ashamed but just not, not what you want." Her face was as red as it had ever been, she was sure and admitting her feelings to this man, keeping eye contact, was as difficult as anything she had ever done.

Absolute silence and finally she took a bite of her baked potato and let herself look at her plate. Trying to smooth the agitation she felt and knew her magic was showing. Finn picked up his fork, she hadn't even known he had put it down, and began eating beside her. She was grateful for the attempt at normalcy and wished she was brave enough to look at him, without feeling like she would cry.

"Vybor." Choice. The single word seemed loud in the nearly silent room and she looked up at the dark face. Rarely had she seen so much in his eyes. She thought about that and then gave a single nod. It covered it, broadly anyways. Then he seemed to understand and relaxed, she hadn't even noticed the tension on his face but when it left, the change was obvious.

"This was my choice. I wouldn't have chosen you, before. I wouldn't have known." This was more grammatically correct English than she had ever heard him use, outside of talking about magic. His mouth closed with an audible sound and she knew he wouldn't say more. Trying to puzzle out what he meant she finished her carrots and then picked up her piece of garlic bread. Yaxley braided it and they each got a fluffy loop of the delicious bread, never had there been any left in the bowl after a meal. A grunt and when she looked up, he was speaking silently with Yaxley who gave a reluctant nod.

"Hermione. I can assure you that had he not wanted to take you on, he wouldn't. When he decided to, it was as firm as any other decision he has ever made. The man is stubborn, you already know this. So are you. Determined and focused. Neither of you were expecting anything else, from this arrangement. Apprentices are asked there, warding and curse breaking especially. You too were offered a scroll." He seemed to be trying to explain something nuanced to her and as usual wasn't actually saying what he meant, but inferring it. Sometimes a Gryffindor would be preferable to this Slytherin way of getting to the point.

"You're saying that what I thought was happening, actually was. Nothing changed except my perception?" It took a moment for her to form her thoughts but when she spoke all three nodded and she just sat for a moment. Then looked at her master. Whose eyes were on her and instead of challenge there was acceptance maybe, or certainty. Deciding that since she had already opened herself up she might as well get a firm answer to the actual problem she took a breath and lifted her chin.

"Are you ashamed of me?" Now it was her issuing the challenge, maybe for the first time since the war.

"Net." The denial was immediate and firm. As he usually was. For a moment there was something in his eyes and then they were their usual watchful near black. She didn't let the wave of emotion that his single word caused, out. Or tried her best not to. Just a sag in her posture and then a slight nod. Everyone sat back at that and she decided that she could chance a glance at the wizard beside her. He looked proud of her and she smiled softly at him.

In one of those moments where all parts of a group had to recompose themselves they picked up plates and Finn snagged the last piece of garlic toast before Yaxley could.

"In hopes of this recommencement of our usual dynamics, I prepared your favorite dessert." Chocolate mousse appeared before each of them and their plates and dinners remains disappeared. She smiled her thanks and her appreciation of his casual use of such charms.

"The duel or the Ministry?" Finn asked, meaning their next topic of conversation.

"The Ministry. We all saw the duel." Hermione answered and then began speaking. Waving her spoon around in her agitation. Not noticing the further relaxation at her thoughtless actions and uncensored words.

"It has been getting steadily worse. Today was the last straw but I had already decided to speak to you. A bit easier now, you were right about that Reuben. Anyway, I don't know how to stand up for myself, in this situation. I would normally have never let this happen, even before the Ministry. I would have just walked away or lost my temper. Now though, so many of the jibes are about you. My apprenticeship and how my behaviour reflects on you. A woman's place and witches set of accepted behaviours. Today, I could barely believe it when I was cut off while answering the man's question and then when I interrupted him with a demand to be allowed the courtesy to finish. Well the words aren't important but the meaning behind them was. I am a witch, with a master, that I don't deserve and can't be impressing. Furthermore, than means that I am to listen with respect to every man, and person older than me, with the same deference as I would you. I felt a bit bad for Avery. He was squirming in his seat. I tried to give him a comforting look as I left but the man looked terrified. Just so you know, he has been quite respectful. His son less so." Realizing she had been chattering, she stopped abruptly and closed her mouth. Then she looked up from her dessert and was shocked. All of them were smiling, or something. That crease she had noticed before, was on the left of her mentors mouth and she looked down so she wasn't caught staring.

"I've been patient and more. It's more than I can take, more than Harry or Kings will tolerate either. The agreement I came to with each of them about letting me handle my own affairs won't hold anymore. Both told me so today, not in words but you know. So I need permission or to no longer liaise with the Ministry." She concluded.

"Permission for what exactly?" Yaxley sounded interested and Dolohov gave her a head tilt.

"To tell them to fuck off. I won't use that term but if you could see the gloating way they look at me now. Like I'm hampered by the tethers tying me to you. Finally not an untouchable hoyden but a witch, properly under the thumb of a wizard capable of keeping her there." She allowed all of her wrath to show. The months of steadily increasing insults and tension. Then glances were exchanged, not with her but among them and Dolohov put his fork down.

"You have changed your behaviour?" She cocked her head and nodded. Then at his head tilt she spoke.

"No. And yes. Even the papers show it. I have never deliberately used fear or threats. Merely made people's lives difficult when they tried to undercut me. I don't mind disagreements or whatever. It's the blatant disrespect. Being totally disregarded. In some things I am no better educated but when you are asked to do something and then actively road blocked. It just can't stand." The looks showed some incomprehension and she reviewed her words. "It's just as it sounds. Deliberately blocking me. So I dealt with it before but when I left the Ministry I almost immediately was your apprentice. They view it as my claws being sheathed, forcibly. Also a bit of it is that I don't know what you would think of my challenging your peers." That was true and she hoped he could extrapolate what she meant. The bigger picture of her feelings about sort of being a representative.

"Nichego ne brat' ya ne." His tone was an order and she was surprised. Then a grin formed and she looked at him for confirmation. The gleam in his eyes was a bit dangerous and she felt much better. This had been pulling at her, slowly but steadily increasing in force.

"Take nothing. I do not." Yaxley translated for Finn who had been trying to puzzle it out.

"Too many words for nothing." He grumbled and she nodded her sympathy.

"If that is finished then we can move to the duel. What did you do?" Yaxley looked curious and Dolohov speculative. Finn just grinned at her, smugly she thought.

"I dropped three separate wards into his layers while he was casting. In the same pattern space, right when he put it up. Then when he got a bit cocky with me, I pulled them down and his whole array collapsed. He was good. The best with actual warding so far. Not the same style as yours, more movement but it was a pleasure to watch him work." Her enthusiasm for the wizards skill was genuine and Dolohov grinned again.

"We are both relieved someone has impressed you, finally. A little bit. You two can save the technical discussion for later. Why the elaborate sound wards?" This was important to him, she could see.

"I didn't know what he would say. Didn't want everyone to know. Last time was awful. Only the fact that you all didn't hear made it easier. This time though, he was quite fun. Has a sister who regularly beats him at dueling and wanted me to bring him home for dinner. Trussed up and captured but thought me interesting and wanted to meet you." She indicated her master at the end and he looked thoughtful.

"Name?" He asked her.

"Alexie Ivanov. Bit cheeky and more than a bit overconfident but not mean. It was fun, mostly. I would prefer they were scheduled." She mumbled the last and Finn and Yaxley laughed.

"Tomorrow you will do this to pattern eleven." Dolohov broke in and she nodded. Then the questions began and her usual explanation of the magics used and her variations.