Hermione was just coming down the stairs on her way to breakfast when the floo chimed. This was normal. Barely more than a handful of mornings had passed without someone coming out of the floo for breakfast.
"Auntie moon." Soren's yell caught her attention and she moved quicker. Luna had been gone for over a month on an expedition and Hermione hadn't thought she would be back until next week. Relief rushed through her. Someone to talk to. Harry was the best friend she could have, Luna was different. Seen her differently and also viewed relationships and interactions in a unique way.
"Thunder. How are you? Tell me how wonderful it is to have your whole family together." Hermione stopped at the door and watched the small boy touch Luna's face for a moment. Her friend was crouched down at his eye level and as always she meant what she said.
"Dad is here. Dad! Meet my dad Auntie Moon." Luna smiled softly and then looked directly into her eyes. So much showed there that Hermione felt her throat tighten. Luna gave a small nod and then looked down at the smaller boy beside her.
"Will you escort me to breakfast? I have missed Golta's poached eggs." Immediately Soren was pulling the blond out of the room by her hand and Luna grabbed Hermione's on the way past. The squeeze was all they shared but it was enough. Luna wasn't apprehensive or unsure. Hermione felt better. Everyone who had entered the tower since Finn's return had done it with uncertainty. Even Maks. Luna had airily told her she would give them some time to settle in before returning. It meant she wasn't worried. Didn't feel the need to be here and that was one of the few truly bolstering things she had to hold onto in those last fraught weeks.
Soren was chattering about things they had done together and then he started listing what they hadn't done or what and gone wrong.
"A tomato plant died Auntie Moon. Min says it's okay but it's bad." He was serious and Luna looked gravely back at him. As she opened her mouth to reply Finn entered and looked to her and then Soren before acknowledging the witch. Who was smiling at him and with none of the usual dreamy tint to her gaze.
Hermione watched Luna survey him and Finn realize what was happening. His posture straightened and then he held the eyes she knew were a startling light blue. Then those eyes were on her and a small smile curbed the witch's lips. Her shining fall of light blond hair shimmered as she sat back down.
"I'm sure Min insisted you plant more than one. Some do not make it. That is the way of nature. The compost in the corner will be better off with the addition of the dead plant. That makes new dirt to grow more things in." Luna answered and Soren looked thoughtful. He liked the compost pile. The worms in it mostly.
"Worm food." Was his agreement, with a wiggle of his finger to mimic their movements. Breakfast continued and as always, Luna added a bit of spontaneity and random facts. Soren loved to ask her about creatures and Finn was as susceptible as anyone else to her descriptions.
"Let's go for a fly bud. Leave the ladies to it." Soren looked uncertain. Hermione met his eyes and smiled at him.
"You can't take Min." He asserted and stepped toward them.
"You have my word that I will not take her. I'm home for a few weeks at least and she would miss you." Her honest words and serious response got a searching look and then he held out his hand. They shook on it and Soren ran from the room. Finn caught her eye and then followed their son. It was strange to think that. The way she was now anyways. Not hers and his but theirs.
Luna touched her hand and Hermione looked away from where he had disappeared to her friend.
Those eyes met hers and the look was determined. Together the two girls turned to the stairs and headed up to her sitting room.
Siggy had their usual set up with two small tables on each end of the low leather couch under the window. Steaming cups of spiced hot chocolate and the temperature was a bit lower than usual. So they could better use the blankets draped over each arm of the couch. In a minute they had their shoes off and were braced against each others feet. Facing each other with steaming mugs in hand.
Minutes passed and their only communication was silent. Luna was resisting her want to say nothing or be vague. Until Hermione would be honest, she could wait. Sometimes it was a long time before they actually talked about something if one of them wasn't ready. It wasn't this time though and less than ten minutes later she had decided to speak.
"I think I love him. Can you love someone after so little timer l? We never had any. At school it was a few hours at most and usually less. Then coin messages. It wasn't conversation just random things. Then nothing. I can remember being so mad about him being there. Being one of them but now. It doesn't matter at all." She stopped and took a breath before making herself take two slow sips.
"It is interesting. You rarely do as expected. Or for the reasons people expect." Luna spoke matter of factly. Hermione just looked her feelings as best she could.
"Is he why Theo was not real?" Hermione blinked at the question and thought about it. Luna had understood that Theo wasn't Hermione's and had spoken frankly to her about it. Concerned she was trying for something that wasn't there. It hadn't been the case and the blond had looked her over then. Coming to some realizations.
"Yes. Probably not though. Even without him I don't think it's there. I might have been less sure about it without knowing." Luna understood and cocked her head then.
"Is it your fear?" Hermione winced at that. Was it her fear that was causing her problems?
"They are loud and varied but it's not for me that I'm scared or whatever. I can't hide in this tower forever. Everyone thinks I've been trying to trap him or something. Or am trapped. It isn't like that. It's so easy when it's just us." She broke off at the sharp look she got from her usually thoughtful friend.
"Why is it different?" As usual Luna's question was strange in its wording but she understood.
"I can't forget. Is it taking advantage of him? Touching him or being close to him. When he hasn't experienced anything else after years in a cell." Some of her hopeless frustrated feelings were clear in her tone and Luna looked sympathetic for a moment before she tossed her head.
"I have a difficult time believing that the man for you is unsure of his wants." Luna's tone was firm and Hermione scoffed at that. Returning the wry tone, she answered.
"He isn't. Or doesn't seem to be. I don't know. I can't think rationally and Soren makes everything so tangled and straightforward." Her words got an understanding nod from Luna.
"Perhaps it would have stayed then or been less if there wasn't a son building ties when proximity didn't allow it. There was though. Every day. Your commitment to him was reaffirmed everyday. Soren making it easier to be with him when you were not." This was Luna speaking the truth as she saw it. Hermione sipped and listened. When the pause came she waited to see if she was done. Her direct gaze meant no and so she wondered what would come next.
What Luna could see.
"Remember that you two were all he had to hold to in there. Captivity is strange and there is a look in his eyes. An uncertain one. It says that he isn't sure that he will get what he wants. Dreamed of. Hoped for. You are modest, to a fault often but know this is true." Hermione tried to listen and hear the words. Accept them the way she had learned to give credence to Luna's knowledge if not it's purported sources. The first tear fell and then another. Luna pressed her feet harder against hers in support.
He had taken Soren to Andromeda's with Hermione after he asked where it was. Hermione had looked up at him with apology. Then insisted he come so he could know exactly where their son was and apologized for not thinking of it. So he had taken the floo with Soren, following Hermione, and found himself in a warm and comfortable sitting room. With toys and books strewn around. The witch entered and Soren wiggled to be put down at her gesture toward the window. A bye and leg squeeze was his farewell and Hermione accepted his request to show her their teepee of sticks. Whatever that was. This left his alone with the witch who was looking him over carefully.
"Would you like my advice?" Were her first words as she gestured he walk with her in the direction they had gone. A minute later the two of them stood in front of a pair of glass doors that looked out into a walled garden full of toys and activities. It wasn't huge but it was a good size and the boys had made a triangle of long sticks that looked to be tied together with ropes.
"Can't hurt." Was his response and her smile was small but seemed genuine. It was strange to see on someone who looked so much like the mad bitch. Superficially at least. None of the insanity showed on this witch.
"From what I have heard it is clear that you are allowing her credit and the freedom to lead in some areas since your return. This should not be one of them. Escort her properly and respond to her when she seeks guidance. Perhaps even for her sometimes." He had been looking between the grey eyes of the witch and the three in the garden but now he was focused on her.
"It is clear to me that you want her. It's a relief in a way. Most are superficial and wouldn't allow her the range she is capable of. A born mother and talented witch requires a partner, not a master or a doormat. Hermione is informal but aware of nearly all of the intricacies. Keep that in mind." The last was said with less firmness but more meaning. He thought over where they were going and what she was referencing.
Deciding that the witch's expectant look meant it was okay to ask, he spoke.
"I don't want to corral her into this." Andromeda understood and gave a nod.
"Consider her insecurities is perhaps a better way to think about it." After a glance to see her crawling out of the stick structure he looked back to the witch who was watching him. He thought about her dismissals of his want of her. Comments about him needing to see more before making any decisions. These thoughts were cut off by the three of them heading toward the doors and then goodbyes and Hermione just smiled when he thanked the older witch for everything. Seeming pleased that they had obviously spoken.
Back in the Tower, he caught her hand before she walked out of the floo room. Her nearly golden eyes looked up at him and he looked at her. Watched her blush under his scrutiny and appreciation.
"Will you need all these hours to get ready?" His thumb was gently rubbing her palm and she was completely still. Then her tongue darted out to moisten her lips and knew she seen the flash of heat in his eyes. He let it go though waited for her answer.
"No. It's not something I enjoy usually." She replied and he smiled at her honesty. Also at her slightly self deprecating tones. As if that was a drawback or something.
"Will you come lay down with me for an hour?" A moment later he got a nod and kept hold of her hand as they climbed the stairs. Bypassing the room he only showered and changed in for hers. The left nightstand had his things on it now. Siggy smoothly implementing things individually and as they were needed.
Hermione walked into her closet and returned in a looser shirt and some of those legging gifts from Merlin. These ones showed her calves and her feet were bare. He pulled off his sweater and reached a hand for her. Thinking of what Andromeda had said.
She came. Slowly and without the certainty he would have liked to see. Without complaint or demuring though. Thorfinn pulled her onto his chest and let himself finger the hem of her shirt. Feeling her soft skin against his finger tips.
"This is better than anything I dreamed up in there." He knew that the emotion he felt was heard. She stilled and then gripped his shirt fabric in her fist. Thinking about Andromeda and the look Lovegood had given him, he didn't make himself stop at that.
"Soren is amazing and the Tower feels so different. You being here though. Everything is better because you are here." She didn't respond verbally but did nuzzle into his chest and he let himself wrap his arms around her tightly. Closing his eyes, he felt her relax into him and the warm weight of her was so freeing. When she was in his arms it was easier to think.
"Will you do a few more rooms?" His voice was quiet and he didn't think she was sleeping.
"Yeah. We didn't want you to come home to a place you didn't recognize." The roughness in her voice and the reason she hadn't done it were both reassuring. Quiet reigned until Siggy popped in and told her that if she wanted her hair potion to dry then it was time. Her huff was funny and the elf cajoling her into it was equally amusing.
