Hermione stood in the foyer of Kingsley's newly warded home and smiled at the secure feeling of wards she trusted surrounding her. Looking after her friend and his home. This was one of those visits that wasn't official but was a prelude to some kind of official interaction.

"Kitten. What brings you at this time of the morning?" It was seven o'clock, an hour before she knew he left for work. Perfect, that limited how long this discussion could be.

"We need to go to Russia, the three of us for ten days. It could take up to two weeks but I doubt he will allow it to drag out that long." She just baldly stated her errand and then waited for him to process it and inevitably lead her somewhere they could sit down and he could have a coffee or something to busy his hands. Less than two minutes later she was seated next to him on a settee in his personal office and sipping a delicious cup of coffee

"Will you disclose a reason without some sort of vow?" She knew he would ask because she hadn't offered it and would have, if she was going to. It had occurred to her recently that she had a lot of people under vows or contracts of some kind now. It wasn't how she thought of herself but it seemed to be a part of her life.

"No. It's not my secret, well it is but not wholly. I'm just involved." This would tell him that it was for her, in a way. Not that she was going with Dolohov but he with her, or something like that.

"Is this to do with Harry's single comment pertaining to a sealed folder in his bottom drawer and the burned poster on his wall? The first sealed file since your leaving, not the second one." She nodded with a smile. Trust Harry to just say there was a file that he had sealed and then indicated the count down as its duration. Also for his assuming that's she would know the reason for the second sealed folder. That would be Yaxley.

"Well I would like to know, because it involves you and must be very interesting to be treated with this lack of any actual words. State your terms." He looked excited and she laughed, then actually stated her terms. He nodded and she stood. They would need a bonder. Pulling a coin out of her pocket resulted in Dolohov himself standing before them.

Without preamble she stated the terms and he gave her a long look for her audacity before raising his wand and performing the function. Even though both invited him to stay, he refused and was gone quickly.

The two sat for the next forty minutes and she told him what she wanted to and what the rites were. He was amazed she had fought six duels, several of a high level, without it being public knowledge. His declaration that she stop by then next afternoon and retrieve the paperwork was an afterthought and he asked to see an exhibition. Envious that others had seen her duel. Even seen a warding focused duel. They were rare and rarely public, outside of the obscure Russian tradition.

"So you want to go? These people do not sound pleasant. Like Lucius Malfoys, many of them." She laughed a little at his mental picture of their snooty attitudes. Then she sobered and shrugged.

"He decided. I want to duel with him though. Part of me likes the idea of the challenge. You know? Another part of me knows it will be difficult in other ways. I don't like being an embarrassment. Even if he doesn't think I am, they do. Even beating them all didn't make a difference. I'm perverting the tradition by existing, even then it is surely preferable to have this than nothing. I'm paraphrasing but that was intimated at the delivery of the summons. It was an invitation by name but not tone." There was no need to sugar coat her words with this wizard and it was nice to speak freely. There weren't many she could do that with.

"What are you doing today?" He asked when she stood at five to eight. Looking like he would like an excuse to be late.

"Starting my own array." Letting her excitement shine through made him grin at her and he didn't resist her leaving. Knowing she wanted to go and had a big day ahead of her.


Catching Yaxley's eye was easier than trying to ask for a word. The slight light of expectation in his eye told Thorfinn that he had been expecting this. Probably exactly his problem or something along the same lines. He had known they were watching over them. Keeping a close eye on their relationship and both their charges happiness. A few throw away comments about not being an apprentice or letting them get on with it had gotten responses that led him to believe the wizards were as invested in his being with them as he was. It was nice to be wanted and comforting to have someone to talk to. Even if it was uncomfortable.

His witch shot him a smile and he returned it as master and apprentice walked toward the ward boundaries. She was noticeably trying not to be too excited and he was huffing at her excitement as always. It seemed more a routine than actual exasperation. Though it would be more than that if she couldn't calm down when the work started. It wasn't usually a problem unless something else was going on. She seemed fine, though he hadn't seen her alone since she walked out of their cabin last night.

"Sit down and tell me what is on your mind. It's early but would you like some coffee with your whisky?" His voice was calm and Yax seemed at ease. Trust him to think it was acceptable to drink if the mix was appropriate to the hour. He wouldn't mind one though and nodded.

"Last night. She came and talked to 'Bas." He didn't need to say what about and the man was clearly interested. Head tilted and his eyes intent.

"That seems out of character. Unless..." He trailed off and waited.

"She came for something. Some declaration that he would try or for the certainty that he wouldn't. It was one of the most emotional discussions I've ever seen. Anyway, she left with a letter and potential pre courting arrangement to organize. That isn't my problem though. I don't even know if it is a problem." His frustration was coming through now and Yaxley just gestured him to carry on.

"She said something about what Luna wants. Isn't her dream important. If she sees him clearly and knows what she is signing up for, shouldn't her wants be as important as his fears. That wasn't what was said exactly, both of them are wordy. Anyway, that's what I've been thinking about. The papers slayed her just for seeing me. It's been worse than she lets on. Isn't that? Should I..." He trailed off and made himself take a sip of coffee. He hadn't slept well at all and hadn't wanted to go to her. Knew he would say something but didn't know what to say.

"It's all very complex isn't it? I'm sorry to say I've never loved a witch. Not as you or Rabastan do." Yax seemed pensive and chuckled at the startled look he was sure was on his face.

"Certainly. Clear as day to everyone but her. Well I don't see you with others but to Antonin and me surely. He would have been much less pleased with the situation if we weren't sure of you." Now he swallowed at the flash across Yaxley's face. It was his terror smile and he took a second to be grateful for its lack of target. For a minute he thought hard and then blurted out his conclusion.

"That didn't help. I should want better for her right?" He was sure his self loathing was evident in his voice, and when Yax put his mug down too hard he looked up and straightened at the near angry look on the man's face.

"Better than loyalty and trust. More than devotion and consideration. Both as a woman and a witch. What you offer her is unique. Merely your support of her achieving her potential is unique." Yaxley's tone brooked no argument and he blinked a few times.

"You think so? That loving her, all of her, is enough. To try and keep her." He had looked down when he started speaking and raked his eyes to the violet ones surveying him.

"Certainly you are the more fortunate one in the view point of those who don't know either of you. It takes a unique wizard to fully support a witch in doing something he cannot. It is quite something to watch you reign in your own wants and nature to allow her what she needs, and then watch her accept it so freely and with such appreciation when she is ready. We don't see much of your private life, it is clear though." No uncertainty and no hint of encouragement either. Just stating facts.

He didn't ask his next question. Surely the man would read it on his face. The uncertainty and maybe hope. Surely naked longing was there, and fear. Thorfinn rarely tried to hide things from this man or his partner in crime. Both seem far more than they ever let on. Now though, he tried to ask without words, because he knew a question wouldn't be answered. Yax would give some indication to such honest emotions though. He had seen and experienced it. He was empathic, as Hermione explained it. His sensitivity to emotions was what made him so fucking scary, but also the compliment to his brooding friend. A single swift shallow nod.

Suddenly his heart was pounding. Disbelief filled him, and for a minute he was sure he just sat there, mouth slightly open and blank faced. A whole host of thoughts began rushing through his mind. Maybe he could have her. Maybe she would want to stay. He had hoped and thought about further along the line. A future. It had been something he tried not to think on very much. Now was better than something he might never have. Something he might have though, that was different. That made things different. Worth some risk even. A conversation or even a single question. Even three words. He hadn't been sure what had shifted in her eyes in the last month but something was different. Wistful maybe or even sad sometimes.

He was hurting her. Not saying it. Or allowing her to say it. She did better when her emotions could be expressed or at least understood. It was why he tried to absorb each new word she used. So he could better understand exactly what she meant. His little witch tried to tell him.

What to do. Should he do anything. Maybe it was one of those perception things, and his knowing would change things for him. His sister had made a comment last week, something about everyone needing reassurance. He hadn't applied it to this situation, but maybe his witch had said something to her. She always assessed the two of them carefully when they got together.

Yaxley shifted in his seat and Thorfinn refocused on the man. The closest thing he had to an uncle or something. Maybe someone who had a decent father would have compared him to that, but the uncle he had always wanted was a better comparison in his mind.

He nodded his thanks and watched a slight smile grow on the man's face. His crazy eyes seemed to soften slightly and then after a moment he spoke.

"Since she is busy, which prevents you from running off, perhaps we could begin to go over the runes we talked about two days ago." It wasn't a suggestion, but an order, and the two sat across from each other, etching runes in sand, then wood, and finally stone for the rest of their work day. Both speaking little but sharing many glances. It was contagious, speaking without words. Even his witch and him did it as often as they could. It was validation of a sort, confirmation they understood each other.