"Blaise!" Hermione called the dark man when he didn't notice her. He turned and his eyes scanned her in that way he had. As if cataloguing what he could see and then he smiled genuinely at her. She smiled back and he held an arm out to her and she took it. Letting him thread through the patrons in the cafe they were in. Ginny and her had gone dress shopping, for the other witch as Hermione had what she considered too many. It had been successful and it was good to talk to her friend. Just spend time with her and let Ginny's more boisterous personality carry the conversation.

"Is there a reason for the firmness of your invitation?" She asked as the waitress brought her a cappuccino and they ordered their lunch. His dark eyes were watching her carefully and she waited. These Slytherins were complicated. Blaise was a bit different though. Not as bound by tradition. His mother being an oddity in raising her son as her heir and not acknowledging his paternity at all. This in addition to his being Italian made him unique in how he saw things or reacted to them.

"Several." Was the eventual response and she smiled at his smirk. It wasn't mean at all. Just acknowledging that she wanted to know and her asking outright. He called her Gryffindor forthrightness refreshing if lacking subtlety.

"Do tell." She tried to smirk back but eventually gave up and laughed. He smiled genuinely at her and stirred his frothy espresso laced beverage.

"Theo came to my place the other day." Hermione just nodded. Knowing that him and Draco would know what had happened. Or not happened. Been said anyways.

"He wasn't happy." Hermione tried not to let her eye roll out and she waited for him to continue. Knowing he would.

"I was less surprised." He offered and she continued her steady eye contact. "Are you sure?" His question seemed sincere.

"Sure about what?" It didn't seem he meant Theo and she didn't want to answer a question he hadn't asked. His eyes scanned her again, not in a way that made her uncomfortable but as if he were looking for answers.

"I'm not sure what others expected. Even what I expected. Most only speak of what they want." He answered and she sipped her latte and thought about that.

"I didn't know what to expect either." His eyes snapped to hers again at her admittance. Blaise was interesting. He had been pretty forthright with her since he came back after the war. He had written that he was glad the little boy would have someone looking out for him and she had written back with her thanks for his vote of confidence. Anyone sending her kind words was greeted with relief. It was few, or felt like it. He looked around and she knew what he was thinking. Not trusting the privacy charms on the tables.

Wandlessly, she set up muffliato and a ward that would make any spell cast around them show on its barrier. Then she nodded at him and he sat back in his chair. The picture of elegant ease as he sipped. She tried not to look like a country bumpkin beside him. He wasn't overt like Draco or Theo in his manners or mannerisms.

"Rowle wouldn't begrudge you making another choice." He stated firmly and she raised a brow. Successfully she thought and his return of the gesture told her that she had indeed done it. What could she say to that.

"Perhaps not Theo." He said after some seconds of silence. She snorted quietly in response. Absolutely not.

"I don't enjoy being ambushed and then dressed down in my own home." She offered and he chuckled quietly.

"I'll make sure to mention the part about it being your home. He has been upset at you living in another wizards home. What it says to the public now that Rowle is there too." She nodded and then frowned. Unsure of where this was going.

"Is there a point to this Blaise. Something you want to know?" She asked and he looked thoughtful before he focused on her again.

"Yes. I want to know what you want. Be able to anticipate what might happen. Instead of managing both of their tantrums." He meant Draco and Theo's outbursts. The poor guy had to put up with a lot. He was by far the easiest going of them and least affected by his childhood and the war.

"I don't know what might happen. I don't even know what I want, or if it's even something." She caved and answered honestly. He frowned at that at looked his question. She could only shrug and finish her soup.

"Hermione." He caught her eye and all of his laid back insouciance was gone. "This is a time that you should make some decisions. Try. Try for what you want. You've done amazing things. Things no one thought possible. I would have said you and Potter taking down the Dark Lord was impossible. Most of us thought you would lose Soren. Until it became obvious that you would put all of your considerable talents and determination into keeping him. Do the same now." His dark eyes held hers until she looked away. Finishing her drink, she fiddled with her napkin. None of this could be done right now but she decided to think about it.

"See you Saturday?" Hermione asked him after a moment and his white teeth flashed.

"Of course. A chance to see all the players on stage at once. I wouldn't miss it." This smile was predatory and she giggled and then laughed. He was dramatic.


"Master. Mr Nott is here." Siggy's voice interrupted the three just coming down to land from a fly. Maks had come half an hour ago and joined the two on the ground. He looked tk Maks who looked serious and then unconcerned. It was a message for him. Be calm. He had nothing to worry about. Thorfinn tried to consider that. Why Nott would come here wasn't clear but he had a few ideas. Since Hermione was meeting Zabini for lunch, he was sure Nott knew she wasn't here.

"Alright. The office." He decided. It was where he was most comfortable on the main floor. At least it was the most comfortable room that wasn't a family space.

Soren decided to fly with Maks and Thorfinn watched the two head in the direction of the lake. Then he turned back toward the closest park entrance and entered the tower into dining area they used formally. There he found Nott standing in front of the window in his office, looking out at the gardens visible from this vantage point.

"She won't like this Nott." Were his first words and he watched the shoulders tense slightly before the wizard turned to face him. It wasn't rage that he could see but his eyes were cold and the face hard.

"She needn't know Rowle." Was his drawled retort and Thorfinn let his snort of derision out.

"The elves will tell her is she asks, even if I don't say a thing." He responded and Theo scoffed.

"Hermione isn't the lady of this heap of stones. Not even it's chatelaine. She is a guest." He bit these words out and Thorfinn grinned at that. Wondering if they would tell her because he had been so dismissive.

"If you think so." Was all he said and Nott looked him over carefully then.

"What did you do to her?" The words were hard and accusing. He raised a brow in question.

"Whenever you did whatever it was that makes her feel like this is her only choice." It wasn't very articulate for this wizard and Thorfinn wondered how upset he was to be speaking so freely.

"I asked her Nott. I'm sure Malfoy told you." He looked his point and the wizard gave a single reluctant nod. No point in hiding that.

"Free her now then. Don't tie her further for your own twisted reasons." It was an order and Thorfinn barked a laugh at that. This was ridiculous.

"Listen Nott. I don't know what she has told you." He began. Before he could finish his thought, Nott barked his own derisive laugh.

"Nothing. She has told no one anything. Maybe Potter but it's not even worth trying to get anything out of him. The other day. She said the relationship between you was no ones business. It never was. That's the closest I've heard to an admittance that there ever was a relationship between you at all." He was nearly speaking through his teeth and this was far different from speaking with Malfoy. Deciding that this warranted a different tack and deserved one too, he made a decision and spoke.

"Was it difficult ? Seeing her and knowing that it was not to be. The pater wouldn't like it, a witch without a family, by his reckoning. The vaults too, I'm sure you thought about that. What would people say after all. It isn't my fault that you couldn't see her clearly." He spoke truthfully. With little sympathy and almost no derision. If he had cared about what his father thought those things might have mattered to him. If he could have got out of the betrothal he would have brought a ritual to her and used her lack of family magics binding her to get around those restrictions. The witch would have been his eventually. Much sooner and he wouldn't have been marked either. Theo was an idiot. He could have tried early their fifth year and hadn't. Just watched her. One of the several who had their eyes on his little cub to often for his liking.

"Fuck you. This is what I mean. You've taken and taken from her. Whatever there was that made her do this, it isn't binding. Let her go." Nott's tone was even for his demand, even if it had started out scathing. He just looked at the younger wizard. Looked his thoughts about that. Letting her go to this prig or another that didn't see her. He didn't like thinking about it but was reasonably sure that she would have taken him up on some distracting her sixth year. Had he done it her way. Approached her with thought and intent. Not that she would have slept with someone for those reasons but she had liked other things about their interactions. The challenges and even the secret of it. Outsmarting people and she loved games. Even just small ones. He obviously hadn't.

"See you Saturday Nott." With that he gave a nod and left the wizard standing in front of the window and went to cool off before he was with Soren again.


"Was Theo here?" The witch asked from her place against his stomach. She was stretched out at a right angle to him and using his middle as a pillow. Soren had gone to bed an hour ago and they had been settled on her bed for fifteen minutes or so. Both with parchment.

"Yeah. When you went for lunch with Zabini." He answered her. For a second he kept the scroll he was reading up and thought about her asking. Then he looked at her and there was understanding in her eyes.

"Ah." She said and went back to flicking through the letters in her hand.

"Why?" He asked. Not able to think of another way to get her to talk about this. Also not able to let it go. Then he watched her eyes flick away from his and she shifted against him.

"Siggy said something about a guest and this letter is advice on how to carry myself at Narcissa's dinner. That's what it says but not what it means. Bloody snakes." The last was grumbled and she did meet his eyes when he chuckled. It rocked her head and she frowned.

"Are you going to wear a gown?" Thorfinn asked and let himself scan her casually clad body. She rolled her eyes and slapped his upper chest with the sheaf of paper in her hand.

"Of course. Narcissa has expectations. It's strange but I enjoy meeting them." She seemed musing and he smiled a bit at her. Watching her face and the way a few curls were crossing her neck. It was so hard not to touch her. Take more than the contact she granted. A few times he had tried to not touch her. Just be with her, here in her bed but it wasn't the same and eventually she fixed it for him. Slinging an ankle over his calf or moving so she was leaned against him. It was hardly believable. The difference she made and how she did it.

"Soren going to Teddys?" He asked in confirmation. She glanced up at him again. As always when it was about Soren, she communicated with him. Eye contact or verbally. He appreciated it and thought she liked having someone to decide things with. Someone other than Siggy who basically let her do what she wanted with him. She volunteered information and Siggy could always find them but it was interesting and something he enjoyed.

"It's what he wants. I offered him another solution but it's his turn to sleep over there. Usually it's every couple weeks. Sometimes more often if there are things going on. The boys will take any excuse. Tonks too, if she has that night off." Her grin was gorgeous. His witch liked Tonks, as Nymphadora Lupin preferred to be called. The Auror was mischievous and a born comedian. Between her inability not to knock a nothing over and her metamorphmagus times humour it was a hilarious combination.

"Just me and you then?" He asked and held her gaze when it sharpened on him. He watched it flick over his face and then meet his gaze again.

"And the other twenty or so people she has invited." Her reply was wry but she didn't redirect him after that and he felt better. Better about people observing them together. People who would be looking for cues and their dynamic. He wasn't sure of it yet and that made this a less pleasant prospect. There was no way he was letting her go without him though. Unless she wanted him to. The invitation had come for both of them and a quick exchange of few words told him she was going so the decision had been made.

"Can I escort you there?" His voice was rougher than he would have liked. Would have preferred it be a causal question but her lip was in her teeth and he watched her whiskey eyes dart away from his.

This had to be done though. Maks had said enough about her brush offs. Misdirections and deliberate misunderstandings. The small ways that she made it clear. Thorfinn thought he hadn't been sure before. Didn't want to state ideas that he didn't have proof for. It explained the lack of the Finnigan articles. His lack of mentioning her personal life at all really. His friend had wanted to see them together. Observe and begin sifting through the avalanche of information that his getting out brought to light. Seconds passed and she was curling the edge of the top paper in her stack.

"Don't you think you should see? Before we make any mistakes." Her words were quiet but clear. He wished she was looking at him. See what? He was pretty sure the answer was no. No he didn't want to not formally escort her. He wanted them to attend this together. Not just share a floo.

"Little cub." He spoke as quietly but she heard the request and he waited. Slowly she looked up and her face showed less than he would have liked.

"You've been in a tiny box or here with me." Her words were gentle but her eyes were direct on him. He made himself think over her words. She wouldn't like it if he just denied it. Wouldn't believe him.

"I want to escort you to the dinner. More than that but we could start with just a dinner." He kept eye contact and watched a slight pink color her cheeks. Seeing her blush at him was as good, if not better, than years ago. It was still there and so much more now. She wasn't a girl and he wasn't desperate. Not in the same way at least.

"I don't. So many people have accused me of trying to trap you or something. That is the last thing that I want." Hermione meant her words and he tried not to be angry. It was no one's business but theirs. It was him who should be trying to make sure that she wasn't trapped. He couldn't make himself wait though. Didn't want to see her try other things or know if she could be happy with someone else. Thorfinn knew he couldn't be. Didn't want to be.

"They know nothing. Come here." He reached down and laced his fingers with hers and pulled gently. She resisted for a moment and then let him pull her up his body until he could reach her hips. Then the rest of the way. His witch's body was stretched on top of his and he ignored his body's reaction to their position. The weight of her on top of him. One hand stayed on her waist and the other cradled her cheek.

"Don't let them in here. It's just me and you little cub." Her eyes were wet and he wasn't sure if she was upset or it was just too many feelings at once. Hermione bit her lip again and seemed to be searching his face. A small nod and he wanted to kiss her. Thread his hands into her hair and hold her to him. Tease her until she opened for him and then kiss her until her body relaxed against his and she started pushing back against him. Touch her.

Instead he just pulled her down so her forehead rested against his for a moment and then knew he had to take the temptation of her mouth away from his reach. She should be the one to initiate that. At least now and if she wasn't going to then this wasn't the time. Rearranging her on his chest, he just held her to him and gently rubbed circles on her lower back with his thumb. Feeling her relax against him, the two lay together until they fell asleep.