As Hermione walked towards her kitchen, with Astoria a step behind, she thought over her friend's words. Why without Harry and what exactly did she mean?
"Red?" She asked the witch and she gave a nod and polite smile. With that they kept going to her more usual table. The night before they had sat in the dining room, which she rarely used. There was a table in the kitchen and then this Grimmauld one as well. Both of which she preferred for everyday meals.
As they slid into the booth seating she popped the cork and met her friends eye after pouring them both a glass.
"We have about twenty five minutes before he gets back. If there is anything you want to speak privately about." Her tone was casual but her eyes were watchful as the witch nodded and took a sip.
"That is very good. Where did you get it?" Astoria looked curious and Hermione internally groaned at her first question being one she couldn't answer.
"A friend. I have no idea where he gets it. Damned man won't tell me." Her chagrin was real and she smiled slightly in remembrance of his chiding grin when she had asked.
"That is as good an opening as I will get. It is precisely those answers that I am wanting to speak about." She was looking down and seemed uncertain. This wasn't the witch that she usually saw, more honest and almost no mask when she looked up.
Her darker blue eyes showed more things than Hermione was sure she had ever seen and there was visible tension on her face and around her lips. Suddenly she felt concerned. Her nod gesturing Astoria to speak.
"After we left here, well it was wonderful. Then we began speaking. More than ever before. It was like I had only seen half of the man and each word showed me a little bit more. More of the Harry that you know. I think only you know him. Why you two aren't together, don't seem to have ever wanted each other intimately, is a mystery to me. It's clear that you are his family though, officially now. He was so pleased and excited when he described the two of you doing the ritual. His smile was beaming." The two shared a warm smile at the happiness of a wizard important to both of them.
"Also clear are the number of things that he will not speak about. More than one sentence ended midway through, after your name. I understand and do not begrudge your history or things that are between the two of you. Other things though. Your day to day lives and the things he knows and wants to talk about. I don't know how to ask for what I want." Her tone was slightly frustrated and Hermione was carefully listening to her friend. Trying to understand what she was getting at. Before she could take a stab at it, the witch continued.
"I have observed that you have various levels of shared information, it doesn't seem to correspond with affection necessarily either. Circumstance or trust perhaps. Until you quit the Ministry it was basically only Harry and Kingsley, though the latter seemed to be by necessity at first. Regardless, I will be impertinent and tell you my assessment of my place in the hierarchy. You trust me and genuinely consider me a friend. It is only the things that affect others that you will not consider sharing." The last was laid down like a gauntlet and what Astoria expected her to say, she wasn't at all sure. Maybe deny it, which would be ridiculous.
"You want Finn for our bonder." She stated bluntly and Astoria froze for a moment, glass midway to her mouth, before she met her eyes and put it down carefully.
"I am offering. Hoping that you will let me prove to you that I am worthy of your trust. We will be sisters, one day." Her certainty was heartwarming. Harry would be alright. Astoria had decided and the witch was single minded and determined. Just the right amount of selfish too. She didn't let this show on her face though.
"You do not need to take a vow for me to trust you. I already do. With my brother, even." She pointed out. Not wanting this to be a conditional relationship. Her own friendship predated her friend's romantic relationship and she hadn't foreseen losing any part of it.
"I do though. Not for your trust but for you to trust me with things that affect others. Your apprenticeship for example. You tell me what you can, without revealing anything about Dolohov you aren't certain is public knowledge. Occasional references or a glance to show the magnitude of something but still, I want to know you. Be a part of your life. It's Harry's too. I know he has changed his opinion on Dolohov and Rowle. Both of them have somehow proven themselves to him. I want to know how." The witch paused and took a sip, and before Hermione could speak, she continued.
"Sometimes there is a wonder in Harry's eyes, when he speaks of you. He thinks his words through carefully and has never revealed even a small thing about what you do or can do. Even what you have taught him. Something like. 'Hermione, you know.' As an explanation for a ward he won't explain or knowledge he probably wouldn't have normally. The way he thinks things through first. I want to know her. To know you. I have wanted to for a long time but without this change in circumstances, I don't think I would have had the courage to ask you." This surprised Hermione. Surely Astoria felt she could speak to her about anything. Then she considered, maybe not. There was a line.
"Alright then. All of your conclusions are correct. It is others. Have you considered a spousal vow?" Astoria tilted her head in question and Hermione was surprised.
"For when you two are ready. It allows him to speak of work, or Ministry things to clearance level two. I hope you will consider it. It could hamper your general conversations but anyone else with that clearance can talk to you about it, though eventually you will no doubt have your own equal clearance levels. If you stay on your current track." The witch was listening carefully and Hermione watched her with equal intent. She had wondered about this. Her private conclusion was that she would like to be involved but was only working so many hours to do something most thought she couldn't. The witch was good at it and an asset but she would be an even better matriarch. A mother as well.
"I will keep that in mind. Clearance was something I was weighing." So she had been thinking about a change. Hermione grinned at her so she wouldn't have to guess what she thought of the potential for her leaving the Ministry one day.
"Your bracelet is beautiful." It was peeking out of her sleeve and Hermione couldn't help but smile unashamedly. Family. For Harry and even for her. Expanding their circle. She had done quite a bit of that lately, even Harry had. This was different though. By choice and not circumstance. "Thank you. For coming." She knew the witch would read into that what she meant. More than the simple words.
"Daphne is wonderful in her own way. I could do with someone a bit closer to me in temperament and interests though." Both girls shared a slightly mean smile. Daphne was superficially like her sister but underneath the woman was far different. More brittle and selfish, another kind of Slytherin all together. "Thank you for choosing this with him. He wouldn't have, he said. Without you. He showed me the sketches he had done and my answer would have been the same, but it meant more to both of us. This way. With you. A family to join." Hermione felt herself tear up then and shifted closer to the witch. Both sat, pressed together and the taller witches head rested on hers, while she leaned onto her shoulder. The chime sounded and Hermione raised her head but didn't let the witch move away.
Squeezing her hand she kept her tight to her. This was her home and she was family. They could do as they liked. This was how she meant to go on. Feeling Astoria relax beside her, she let go of the hand she was holding and scooted a couple inches away. So they could navigate dinner. The witches shared a smile. Astoria looked triumphant and relieved. This had been important to her. Hermione felt a bit flattered.
"Ladies. Hope you are hungry. Raphael doesn't do seafood unless he wants to but I told him what Hermione said about your love of linguine and he made one for you. Roasted vegetable and gruyere linguine." Both witches beamed at him and he looked amused before sliding onto the banquette beside her.
She conjured a glass for him and they began dishing the food out.
"I've been thinking about hosting a dinner. I need a few out of my circle. Do you have any suggestions?" Astoria was blowing on the steaming pasta before her and nearly grinning. This was almost another witch entirely from the one that had sat down less than half an hour before.
"Sabrina?" Hermione offered and Finn nodded. She would like it and these were approved people. He was always worrying about her which was cute but mostly unnecessary. Hermione knew she would come to them or at least her for help if she needed. Depending on the kind of help anyway. The conversation continued casually and Hermione made a note to speak to Blaise about potions. She had need of some and so did Astoria. Of course both could brew them but didn't have the time to dedicate to some of them or the inclination.
As soon as she finished what she could of the massive pile of pasta, Hermione boxed it with a spell and then both looked to Finn who just nodded to whatever they wanted of him. They laughed and once the vow was taken, this one went both ways for Hermione's piece of mind, Astoria just looked her hundreds of questions.
"What do you want to know?" Hermione asked. Having no idea where to begin. Finn scoffed lightly and Astoria looked thoughtful.
"What happens next?" That was an interesting question to begin with. She looked to Finn for help and he just answered for her.
"Her ward stone array went in here today so the first layers tomorrow, and then Russia next week." Hermione thought that a good answer and simpler than she had been considering. She smiled at him and he just grinned then flicked his gaze to Astoria. When Hermione looked the witch was blinking and staring at the wall.
"I have so many questions. Do you mean you made a rune stone array yourself? Why are you going to Russia? I mean Dolohov surely but." She stopped speaking and just waited. That was logical.
"Yes. He never says anything of course so I don't actually know that I will be doing all of the wards myself. Some though, or he would have begun today. The man can ward for a whole day and still do whatever else you might think of." She let her actual estimation of his skill out this time. Astoria looked penetratingly at her before flicking her eyes to the wizard beside her.
"She's not kidding. Of course she isn't, but it's only been six months. Hold that though. Russia?" Hermione didn't mind if he answered and told him so with a flick of her hand. He settled back into his seat and looked thoughtful.
"There's a secret group of Russian warding masters. They have a thing they call the rites. Basically the apprentices have six months and six tries to capture and hold the target apprentice for twelve hours." He stopped at the enraged look on the pretty witches face. Hermione put a hand on her arm.
"That's already done. She beat them all, so now it's a dueling tournament or something close enough. With their masters. Should be a good show." She hadn't known he felt so smug about their chances. She didn't. It was clear though that he thought it a spectacle. She rolled her eyes at Astoria but the witch was assessing them both.
"This doesn't make sense. How could you be that good already? I know you are gifted and don't think I underestimate you. You know that I don't." Hermione nodded. It was a good question.
"The little witch was doing warding puzzles for years while visiting him in Azkaban." Having him here made this all much easier. He used so few words. Then the floo chimed and Astoria looked put out at the interruption.
"It's Harry." She looked her question at Astoria who indicated he didn't know she was here. Interesting.
Conjuring a patronus, she sent it off and a minute later the wizard poked his head around the door and looked surprised before smiling his joy at finding them together. Even Finn smiled at the blatant emotions on the wizards face. His green eyes flicked between the witches and then to the food. He gave a plaintive look and Astoria grabbed her leftovers and held them in such a way that made it clear she wasn't sharing.
"So what are we talking about?" Harry asked as she poured him a glass of wine and Finn began opening packages for him.
"Quidditch." Finn put in and they all laughed at the unlikely nature of that.
"Astoria came and demanded a vow. So she can know things. Family things. Russia was the current topic." Hermione answered and so much was said with glances that she just let the moment fill her. Harry's happiness and her own. Their partners and the more open nature of the conversations. Hours passed and all ended the evening having enjoyed themselves, honestly.
"Your friends are alright." Finn admitted when they were climbing the stairs. She just scoffed.
"I have good taste in people, you know." Her grin was a bit sly and she ended up laughing and dodging him as he reached for her.
