"Finn." He heard her voice from the open door to his office and looked up. The two of them were standing there and holding hands. He raised a brow at her and Soren took a small step forward.
"Min and me want a kitten dad." It was said solemnly and seriously. He looked at them. Both were in denims and with long sleeve sweater on. Her hair was down and their sons in a bun with a curl loose across his cheek. They had been reading and he had taken the time to go through the managers latest group of owled papers. This one contained the agreements for the journals and he had wanted to make sure it was done right away.
"A Kitten?" He asked her and she blushed and then nodded.
"We have wanted to get one for a while but we agreed it was better to wait for you to be home." She said and held his gaze. He let himself think about it. This latest example of how they had been waiting for him. Wanted him to decide.
"Can I come?" He asked them and Soren grinned such a happy one that he returned it and Hermione was smiling between them.
"Come on Dad. Min says they got kittens two sleeps ago." He was pulling down on her hand and she was trying to stay straight. He laughed and pushed the papers aside. Then stopped and checked the ones he had been thinking about and called Checkers to owl it. She raised a brow at that and he wondered what she was thinking. No time to ask right now because Soren was pulling them out of the room. Hermione anyways and he followed while she got agreements to put on shoes and ask his dad if he even wanted to go right now. Soren stopped and turned to him.
"Can we go now Dad? You busy?" He asked and Thorfinn could only hold his contemplative expression for a minute. Her eyes laughed and he couldn't keep it up.
"Your Min knew that I would happily put stacks of dry paper down to come play with you guys." He said and then watched the little boy nearly bounce toward the floo room.
"Siggy! Dad says yes." The elf popped in and caught Hermione's eye. She shrugged and then Soren asked for his shoes. Nothing happened and Thorfinn watched the woman and the elf each give the boy a look.
"Sorry Siggy. Sorry. Shoes please? Red ones? Please." He added the last carefully and the shoes were before him. Bright red, and he thanked the elf politely before slipping them on and wiggling his feet right into them. The looked like some kind of plastic and she noticed him look them over.
"They don't have laces and I met a mom at the park who recommended these. She had twins boys, Soren's age, he had just turned two and she was a fount of information. The muggle world has so many kids things." She answered easily as she slid her favourite sneakers on and looked expectant.
"The alley?" He asked her and she nodded. Then reached for Soren and stopped.
"You take him. No need to take us both." He answered and she held his glance.
"I'll see you there." It was a dare and Soren for a smile before she spun away from them.
"You can do it Dad. Min says." Soren sounded exasperated and he thought about it. They had been practicing and he had taken her. She wouldn't have left Soren with him if she wasn't sure. Bloody witch.
"Alright Sor. Hold tight though. As tight as you can." He said and the boy was wrapped around his leg and he had a hand on his back when he spun.
"Min! Just like you Said." The boy yelled toward their witch and he turned to see her smiling at them with a Weasley beside her.
"It's my turn to be introduced to your dad Soren. Luna stopped by and told me how good you are at it." George Weasley said seriously.
"I am G. I am. G this is my dad. Dad this is G. He makes things. Loud and gross. Nice too." Soren waved his hands between them and they were are smiling when he shook the wizards hand.
"A pleasure. I think we were tossing a ball of yours around the other day. Or I was trying to catch it." It has been awesome and hard to catch. For him, Soren could do it easily and Hermione had admitted it was like that on purpose. Fun to the adults too.
"I'm glad you had fun. Stop by sometime. If Hermione Let's you." He teased and she scoffed.
"Whenever you are ready George. If you ever are." She taunted the red head and he flinched dramatically.
"I'm not. Maybe for Rowle though." He said and she looked thoughtful.
"Maybe." She sounded smug and he grinned at her. Not being able to help it. He loved her mischievous side.
"Maybe the back room." She pinked and he raised a brow in interest.
"Stop by. If you will." His words were cut off when she spelled him silent and Thorfinn blinked his surprise.
"Let's Go Sor. I can't believe we are finally getting a kitten. It will wear off when you get to the shop George. Good to see you." She kissed his cheek as if he wasn't laughing and talking silently and then held a hand out to Soren who grinned up at George and then began walking away with the witch. He met the red heads eye and then laughed at the go on gesture and jogged after his witch and son.
"What is in the back room?" He asked her and she didn't look up but didn't stiffen either.
"The adult products." She said and he didn't stop walking but was sure he stared at her in shock for a moment.
"I see." He said and she did look at him then. Merlin save him from that blush and her thoughtful expression. She was thinking about it and then met his eyes quickly before looking forward again.
"Maybe not right now. I don't think we need it. If you'd like to eat underwear off me or lick edible delicious massage oil from my skin then it's a good place to go." It was said quietly and calmly. Soren didn't even look up and he threaded his fingers through hers and squeezed. Not gently either. The witch didn't look up at him and he listened to her ask if the boy had decided what colour kitten he wanted.
"Two colours min. Or three. Like in the book." He answered and was hopping every few steps. Thorfinn could only ignore everyone around them and try and focus on Soren and his excitement instead of the easy way she had said that. His little cub had grown up and was using it against him. In public.
"Here Dad!" The shout for a few smiles from the people trying not to watch them openly and he smiled too.
"Yeah bud. Ready?" He asked and Soren looked up at Hemrione. Who smiled and then waited.
"I'm ready!" Then he was pulling them to the door and Thofinn followed the two into the dim and rather loud store. Hoots, caws, hisses and the sounded of cages all made a backdrop and he looked around with as much interest as the boy.
"In the back corner Sor." Hermione said and he trailed them in that direction. Then stood a few feet back and watched as she got onto her knees beside the boy and they looked at the five kittens sleeping in a pile. He only knew there were five because the little sign said so. It was a ball of multicoloured fur and he could see Soren trying to make out the individual kittens.
"I can't see Min." His voice was quiet and he took a step closer so he could hear them.
"I'll help. Make a cup with your hands like we practiced and come closer." Soren did as instructed and she gently picked up a white kitten from the pile and he was startled by its black and orange paws. Two of each. Soren wiggled and then stilled and Hermione was smiling at the awed expression on the little face when the warm weight rested on his palms.
"So small Min. Look at the colours. His feet." He was whispering but loudly and the kitten just curled tighter and kept its eyes closed.
"This one has a black tail." She held up an orange body and it did have a black tipped tail. Soren smiled but looked back down and she did it three more times.
"This one Min. He likes me right?" He sounded worried and Hermione put the kitten she had down and ran a gnarled finger over the kitten in his palm.
"Can I see?" She asked and the boy nodded and then watched her take the kitten and turn it over.
"It's a girl kitten. Is that alright? You wanted a boy. I think she likes you very much." The kitten didn't protest going back to the small hands and he couldn't keep the smile off his face when Soren ran his cheek over the soft fur.
"A girl kitten. Some girls are good. You are. And Miss Moon. Ginny flies." He said seriously and Hermione laughed before answering.
"I'm glad you can think of three girls you like so easily. They will be thrilled. So is this your kitten or do you want to play with the others or go look somewhere else? It's a half kneazle so it will be smart and live for a long time." She cautioned him and he nodded and then looked up.
"I'm sure Min. This is my kitten." He said and then they both looked up at him from their place on the floor.
"I think it's a good choice Sor. What are you going to call her?" He asked and reached a hand down to help Hermione up.
"I don't know. Min says to make a right choice. Not a fast one." He said seriously and then looked around.
"Let's get things for her Min. A bed and toys." He sounded excited again and waited until Soren was picking accessories with the shopkeeper before asking the witch cuddling the kitten what he thought was an obvious question.
"Why aren't you getting a kitten too?" He asked her and she looked thoughtful before answering.
"I don't want one with any orange and I know how it is to have a connection with a familiar. None of them pulled at me." She pouted and he laughed and then looked around.
"There have to be kittens in other places." He said and she shrugged.
"Soren finally got his kitten then." Andromeda said as they sat around a beautiful wrought iron table in Narcissa solar. It was a gorgeous room and suited the blonde woman. As if the room had grown around her.
"Yes. He has been so careful and thoughtful. Mostly." She added the last part honestly and the two women looked their question.
"It's been two days and he has only unwisely tried to train her to slide down bannisters and wear clothes." She paused at their laughter and then continued.
"It was the small bannister from my room into the sitting room area and the quidditch figurine shirt probably would have fit if Socks had let him get it on her." She laughed with them then and passed the picture she had taken of Finn trying to release the kitten from the one sleeve Soren had managed to get on to Andromeda. Who naturally passed it to her sister and then enjoyed their genuine merriment.
"He's laughing, which makes it funnier." Narcissa commented and Hemrione nodded her agreement. Then the two passed the picture back and fixed their nearly identical grey eyes on her.
"Things seem to be moving along." Andromeda commented airily when she didn't speak but took a bite of her salad.
"Dinner was a delight." Narcissa added when she picked up her wine glass.
"I can more easily see why you did it as you did." Andromeda dropped the casual act and spoke directly to her. Then put her fork down and waited. Narcissa took a bite of her salad but kept her polite expression.
Hermione knew that she could keep her silence and they would accept it but they wouldn't stop. It would evolve and then others would be involved. Probably Blaise first. In the end it was futile.
"Can you?" She asked Andromeda honestly and took another bite of her salad. This one was good and the elves of all homes were thrilled the first not forced crops were starting to be ready in the greenhouses and always expressed themselves in the spring.
"I didn't know him before. Was he always so intense?" Andromeda asked her and then looked to her sister. Who was thoughtful as she lay her fork down indicating she was finished.
"I only knew him casually before. Then he was with Aven and as quiet as everyone else. Neither was here often. The two of them are as you said Hermione." Narcissa admitted and then smiled genuinely at her.
"I knew it then. Everyone around me was dubious of how he would react to me and even our safety I think. Harry and Blaise both mentioned him wanting to take Soren, but I knew. Finn talked about him often and I spent more time watching him than I should have." She smiled a happy smile at that. Being right and at knowing, being sure, that Aven wouldn't go against his friend's wishes. As long as Soren was happy and healthy, which he was.
"Draco is quite certain and not sure if he is happy about it." Narcissa's amusement at her sons contrary personality was clear and Hermione grinned at that.
"He is less upset now that I signed the papers. Not the ones he wanted me to but they amount to the same. We seen the building yesterday and Blaise has weedled an office." She said and both witches reacted to that.
"He didn't say anything. Punishment will be swift." Narcissa spoke quietly and Hermione laughed at that. Then leaned back so the soup could appear without her interference. The two loved each other but delighted in hiding things and surprises. She would probably pay for this in some way.
"Are you alright with this? The way things are going?" Andromeda asked directly and Narcissa looked up at that. She wouldn't ask directly but would happily have her sister do it and then chastise her for speaking so directly.
"Yes. I don't know. I mean yes, for me. For him though, I don't know." Both of them nodded and then waited. Accepting her conflicting emotions but not understanding. Wanting to. Once Narcissa was sure she was alright with Draco and seen how close she was to her sister, the combination somehow made her an actual friend of the matriarch. Closer than she could have ever imagined. She did want them to understand. Someone to.
"He doesn't seem to think the fact that he has been in basically isolation for years affects his ability to make rational choices." She took a breath and put down her spoon. "I've been out here. Know there are others I could probably be happy with, he is who I want though. I didn't know if he would be the same. When he came home or really what would happen at all. He is though. The same. As we were when we were alone. The way he talks and how I feel." Both witches were intent on her and eating slowly and silently while she spoke. Hermione knew it was a tactic to keep her going but she didn't mind.
"Luna said that it might have stayed then but I had Soren. That everyday I committed myself to him again. He allowed ties to grow where proximity could not. She also said that he had spent those same days dreaming of us. Of coming home to both of us. You know how she is but that's how I feel too. He says things and watches us. Even just me. Like he can't believe this is real." She stopped then and hoped they understood. Tried to let all of her conflicting emotions show. She didn't have a mother anymore and she needed one. Her friends were great but they weren't anymore sure than her. Had no more experience than she did.
"Of course this is hard for you. All of you. He is alright. If some of your concerns are his mental well-being or stability then I can assure that others have considered this. Aven surely has and all of your friends have been speaking of it. Not maliciously darling, but in concern. I observed him carefully at all of our meetings and Meda has as well. Please allow yourself to believe that he is of sound mind." Narcissa spoke calmly but firmly and Hermione nodded and took another sip of her soup. It was delicious and clearly the elves were celebrating the tomato today.
"In addition, you should not discount yourself so severely. You are beautiful and everything a witch could be. Fierce, loyal, strong, tempered. I enjoy your modesty and would prefer you kept it but it does get in the way sometimes." Andromeda said and she thought over their words. Finished her soup and sat back and looked at them.
"Tell me what you think I should do." She requested. Making sure it was conveyed that she was asking for advice. Genuinely wanted to know what they thought. She had done this many times and usually took it in some way. These were women she respected. Whoever Narcissa might have been before, this witch was fierce and loyal to her own and she had learned a lot from her. The sister exchanged glances and the soup bowls disappeared. Low tiered trays appeared in the middle of the table and the formal part of lunch was finished. Now it was snacking on sweet and savoury things and chatting. Usually they spoke of other things until this part of lunch but today had been different and that was alright.
"That depends on whether you have accepted that you want this." Andromeda said and then looked at her over the top of her wine glass and she sipped.
"You don't mean Finn." She said and the witches both nodded once.
"He will do it properly. Honour you as tradition dictates." Narcissa spoke casually but her eyes were not.
"I don't care about that." She said and watched each witch raise the left eyebrow. Nearly in sync and she let herself groan.
"I don't. I respect it. You both know I do." She said sincerely and the witches both dropped the brow and waited.
"I don't want that to be a part of my decision. It's not fair to weigh that. It's not him. That's his obligations and I don't want to feel like any of me is an obligation. He doesn't owe me anything." She knew she didn't need to be so upset with them and she wasn't. She was upset though. Didn't like how many comments she got about trapping him or references to what he owed her.
"Hermione. Surely you know this isn't like that. Do you really think he wants you because he feels like he owes you. Like it's a trade for raising his son?" Andromeda broke composure and looked concerned. Narcissa didn't though and remained poised.
"No." Her voice was quiet but she did meet both of their eyes before looking down.
"It depended on whether you wanted it because if you do then when you are ready you draw up a betrothal agreement and send it via the lawyers. He would enjoy that I think. If not, then you carry on in your own way. It isn't you though, to be so uncertain." Andromeda spoke firmly again and she listened. Thought about what they had said and then nodded.
"I will think about it. Which is more than I've been doing." She admitted and they smiled.
"Do tell me about the offices and have a cherry tart. Tulip will be upset about next week's menu if you don't eat anything." Narcissa spoke airily and then chidingly. Using the elves as leverage to get her to eat more. Always worrying they were all so thin.
"Back to weekly then?" She asked and neither replied so she just tried to hide her grin at their methods. Everyone had given her space when Finn came home but these two wanted their weekly lunches back. They ate together other times but this was private and all of them enjoyed it.
"I got the corner office. Our usual first to cast method and they still don't beat me very often. Even if they gripe, will you come in? I don't want it to be me or them. Our offices maybe, but the public spaces I want to be light and feature what we do. Have done too." She answered and both of them were asking questions about colours and paper. Draco wouldn't be pleased but he would be happy with the outcome.
