Her home was warm in a way his never seemed to be. In the past six months it had become a familiar comfort that was both shocking and wholesome.
He grabbed the tea cup that appeared in the air as he kicked up his legs on his couch. It's delicate golden china pattern seemed so out of place in the hodge podge collection that was Granger's workshop. He glanced around the room, various bottles and stoppers spanned a range of size and colors. The three curtains that always remained open over the streets of London were made of red velvet, gold lace, and brown linen. Even her cauldrons varied in manufactures leading to shades of differences in shape and color. Maybe he'd leave the tea cup here after all. It seemed more at home while being out of place than it ever did with him. He scoffed as he realized he was empathizing with a tea cup.
Hermione had landed in her own arm chair facing the fire. Warm licks of flame stuttered back and forth in the hearth causing the light to flicker across her features. Her eyes sparkled with mirth that comes from a roaring success. Through all the tests, it seemed to have worked. Blaise's arm was fixed. Their bargain was upheld. He was free.
Yet he didn't really feel that trapped in the first place. In spite of the ghost of the burn on his arm that still stung as if to disprove the sentiment.
"You have to watch him. He's going to go dive back into things head first and you'll have to make sure he doesn't die for it." She sighed.
"Wouldn't want all your hard work to go to waste." He chuffed back.
"Or yours. You did well. I think in another life you could have been a decent healer."
"I'm not good with people."
"You don't say." There was silence for a few moments as he geared up for goodbye. He wasn't sure when his stomach had flipped inside out but now he couldn't finish his tea.
"I made a copy of a general care plan for you, I will send it through the floo with some extra potions later. Right now I think I am going to fall into bed and forget the world." She remarked standing.
"Right." He was slower to get up. He didn't think drawing it out would be much better but that didn't stop him from avoiding it. "I will make sure it gets to him."
"And keep him off a broom for at least a week."
"Sure." He shoved his hands into his pockets as he looked around the place for the last time.
"Night Draco." She yawned, her back already to him. She didn't even care but at least it was better than seeing her celebrate.
"Goodbye Hermione." He all but whispered. He had never had this kind of friend before Theo and Blaise. He didn't really know how to leave them, he never had to.
"Mmmmhmm." She responded airily, climbing up the ladder. "See you on Thursday."
"Thursday?" He questioned. In a dawning horror he looked down at his wrist. She didn't know. She thought they were still linked. He could just not point it out.
"Yeah, Luna made some god awful mulled wine she wants us to try. I am not going in alone." Hermione responded, hauling herself into bed.
"Well, you may change your mind…" He held up his wrist in an uncharacteristic fit of honesty. She would find out eventually anyway.. "I am not good at goodbyes. Emotional farewells get too messy for me so contain your sniffles please. I like this shirt."
"I will try." She responded back with a flat stare before she ducked under the covers. "See you on Thursday."
"Granger. It's gone. You don't have to… We don't have to..." He didn't know why he needed the acknowledgment. It was a painful experience and he could just scuttle back through the fireplace and drink himself foolish with the guys. At least that way he could retain some level of dignity.
"... can whatever this is wait? Some of us didn't sleep last night because we were making potions for reckless, ungrateful boys."
"The vow is done. Blaise is fixed. You have fulfilled your side of the bargain." He tried again, hating the slight waver to his voice.
"Obviously." She drawled in annoyance. "Now let me sleep. I will message you that morning."
"But you don't have to-"
"I know Draco, I am not an idiot. Please get to the point. You clearly have no interest in letting me be until you've said your piece. What do you want?"
"A goodbye I guess." It slipped out before he could stop it. "Not that I deserve one."
"You are by far, the whiniest person I have ever met." She groaned. "Goodbye. See you on Thursday. Now leave so I can take off these clothes and go to sleep."
"I know one couldn't exactly consider us the usual sort of friends. But I would think you could at least manage to choke out polite parting nicety." He was trying so hard not to slip into anger.
"Self loathing is a bad look for you."
"I am worthy of it." He scoffed. Blaise may be fixed now but it took him five years to actually do it.
"I fell off the face of the planet to avoid pity so stop being so dramatic and go home."
"But-" She had to make everything so difficult.
"For the love of god Draco I will expel you out of my fireplace again."
"Last time you did that I ended up with a mild concussion." He quipped uncertainty.
"I'll make sure it's a serious one this time. Go home. You'll still be my friend in the morning. I promise. We can braid each other's hair and I will try to find a nail polish that doesn't wash out your skin after whatever horrible concoction we have to choke down Thursday." He saw the ghost of a smile underneath her sheets. It was about that moment that he realized his own was reflected back as a surge of energy leaked into his body. He sighed lightly before heading for the floo.
"Touchy bint. Night Granger."
"Night Draco."
0000000000000000
Nottinghal was a beautiful old building. Hermione had of course seen parts of it in her short stint as Mia but those memories were blurred by alcohol and darkness. In the daylight the heavy stone walls felt regal and grand without the cold cut priority that most of the old manors had. It had the old world feel of a medieval castle with the modern spells of comfort. It was stunning in a brutish primal sort of way..
"It's so beautiful here." She commented to Theo. They were sitting on an old aqueduct turned garden walk. Behind her heavy walls were built up into tall towers and turrets, criss-crossed with thick wooden beams. An assortment of sizes and angles gave the home a cheerful mismatched sense as if it had been built onto by every generation. Honestly, it reminded her of the Burrow, but actually structurally sound and quite a bit more fortified.
"It's much cheerier than it used to be. My father had always preferred dark and dreary so it looked more like the shrieking shack when I was a kid." Theo glanced up at the carved peaks. "I think this is much better."
"The structure is so foreign."
"Well yes, the Notts were supposedly vikings back in the day. Nottinghal has been here since… the 4th century I think."
"Really?" Hermione gazed at the house with a new appreciation. It seems her theory of additions being made wasn't too incorrect.
"That's what the records say. It's not exactly like there is anyone left to verify." He shrugged, turning his attention back to the two brooms racing over the fields below them. She cringed as Blaise slammed into Draco from the side knocking him off course roughly.
"I'm-"
"If you try to apologize I will throw my drink at you." He added with a smile. "Gin tends to stain as well."
Hermione dropped the subject and eyed the hand holding his drink warily. While Theo was the most amenable of the group it seemed better not to push things. Her observations were broken by the sound of branches snapping.
Blaise flew under them at a heartstopping speed, slamming through the old pines and ripping away branches. Draco was barely behind him being chased by a heavy ball of iron. He pulled up just in time to dodge the incoming bludger which now switched targets to chase after Blaise.
"Why does anyone enjoy this sport?" She questioned as they disappeared into the undergrowth.
"Not sure. I always play keeper when they make me but prefer to watch. I like all of my limbs intact."
"Master Nott." The house elf appeared silently. The thing was likely as old as Kreature with thick tufts of white hairy pointing out of its ears and nose. "Lunch is served."
"Well we will have to try to catch their attention." Theo commented as he stood.
"I'll do it." She waved her wand and focused. A small spurt of silver light leaped out of her wand. It circled the air before forming into the image of a large rook and settling on a nearby sconce. "Draco, If you are done trying to kill each other lunch is ready."
The bird nodded slightly before taking wing. It shot off into the forest like a dart and disappeared into the trees.
"Now let's discuss your house elves." She smiled as she laced her arm through his. They walked along the aqueduct as the boys appeared on the other side of the forest now chased by an additional silver blur.
Draco and Blaise caught up to them in the dining room. They were still sweating and breathing hard when they dropped their brooms by the door and practically fell into their chairs.
"Heathens." Theo smiled as he took another bite of his soup.
"Well pardon us for offending your delicate sensibilities Theo. Shall we discuss the mental scarring I received after seeing you face plant naked into that snow bank in Montreal?" Blaise responded.
"I never said I wasn't one myself!" Theo laughed. "Cheap shot though."
"Granger, your patronus is slow and now my food is cold." Draco huffed over his stew.
"Yes that had nothing to do with the impossibly dangerous speeds you were flying at."
"Told you she'd complain about it." Draco said as he turned to Blaise.
"She sounds like your mum." Blaise added helpfully. "Was your patronus always a rook? I would have teased you about that before had I known."
"What's wrong with rooks?" Hermione responded indignantly.
"Most annoying birds on the planet." Blaise supplied helpfully. "Fitting for a witch like yourself."
"Hermione, don't throw food in Theo's house. It's rude." Draco chided as she swiped at a roll. She carefully diverted it as if she was just grabbing it for her own consumption.
"It was an otter during school." Theo answered.
"I didn't know they could change." Draco added.
"They don't usually." Hermione responded sliding into lecture mode. "Patrous are manifestations of a memory. You should always use your strongest memory for the best patronus however if that memory changes the form may change as well."
"Fascinating." Blaise responded boredly.
"Can any of you do one?" She shot haughtily.
"Nope." Theo chuckled while sipping his drink. "Not many dark creatures in the center of London and we have other ways to contact each other. Not much need for one. Although I do wonder what mine would be."
"I could try to teach you," She offered gently. "It is pretty difficult. Not everyone can learn it."
"No thank you." Theo responded at the same instant that Blaise shook his head. They all turned to Draco who was pushing some peas around his plate.
"What?"
"I can teach you." Hermione offered. She was somewhat taken aback as he glared at her.
"Death Eater remember. I can't cast one."
"Says who? Dark wizards are still capable of happiness."
"What's the point? It is neither a sneaky nor efficient way to pass information. If I sent a Dragon to Theo every time I wanted a sales report the whole warehouse would be in an upheaval."
"You would not have a dragon as a patronus, mate." Blaise scoffed.
"Maybe a peacock." Theo added appearing in deep thought. "They're all over the manor right? Well the ones they sphinx haven't eaten."
"Maybe a ferret." Hermione muttered, much to Draco's chagrin and Blaise's amusement.
"Of course it would be a dragon. Between my name and nobility there's no other creature it could be."
"Good to see you're still so egotistical." Blaise commented, turning to Hermione. "Why haven't you beat that out of him yet?"
"If I did there would be nothing left." Hermione remarked smugly. "I think it would be a chicken."
"Fuck each and every one of you." Draco growled stabbing a pea into mush. "It doesn't matter because I can't cast one."
"A dragon would be a terrifying animagus form." Hermione added, mostly to the air. "It's pretty rare for either to be a magical creature."
"I didn't know they were linked." Blaise commented.
"It's what the reading says."
"Is yours a rook or an otter?"Theo asked.
"Oh I am not one." Hermione responded by taking a bite of the offending roll. "You have to keep a mandrake leaf in your mouth for a month and never take it out. My parents were teeth healers so I know exactly how disgusting of a concept that is. I could never get past it."
When she looked up both boys were staring pointedly at Draco who had moved on to swirling his drink. Meeting her eyes he flicked them back to the ceiling.
"Draco, dear. Is there something you want to tell us?" Theo asked wickedly.
"Not in particular."
"See that's interesting." Blaise commented with a nod. "Because I certainly recall a two month period two years ago when you said you had been hit by a jinx that caused something to be stuck in your teeth. A bit of green leaf right Theo?"
"I do believe that is correct."
"I don't recall." Draco said, glancing at the door. She couldn't help but grin as she caught on.
"Don't even try to make a run for it, we don't want to have to lay you out in front of a lady."
"Since when was Granger considered a lady." Draco shot back, flinching as both Blaise and Theo's chairs scraped against the floor in tandem. "Fine. I tried to do it a few years ago but I never managed it."
"Why not?" Theo asked with a suspicious smile on his face.
"I kept swallowing the leaf."
"Hey Hermione." Theo asked without taking his eyes off the fidgeting blonde. "How long do you need to keep the leaf in your mouth?"
"A month. Well 30 days actually." She responded feeling like she had somehow gotten caught up in a trap not set for her.
"Well," Blaise began. "I certainly remember it lasting exactly just short of a month the first time followed by a fit of swearing and pouting for undisclosed reasons."
"I don't pout." Draco responded, his mouth settling into… well a pout.
"I recall the second stint lasting a bit over a month, don't you?" Theo responded with an evil grin painted on his face.
"You couldn't possibly remember that." Draco shot his jaw clenching slightly.
"You aren't hiding things from us are you Draco." Theo asked as he fluttered his eyelashes. "You know we wouldn't tell anyone."
"I think we should get a good grip on him, in case he tries to shift and bolt." Blaise responded, withdrawing his wand.
"I'm not an animagus so you can put the stick away." Malfoy spat from his chair as he glared at the rosewood. "I never finished it."
"You didn't finish it?" Hermione responded as he voice dripped with offense. "That was the hardest part. After that, all you have to do is make a potion and do some chanting. What do you mean you didn't finish it?"
It was honestly a sore spot for her. She so badly wanted to be able become an animagus since it would help her move around London undetected. She really just couldn't get over not brushing her teeth three times a day.
"Shut. Up. Granger." Draco growled and sent her a look that could wither ivy.
"Hermione what happens after you do the leaf thing?" Theo questioned as Draco twitched.
"Well, you know it works if you have a dream where you talk to your animal form." Hermione responded lightly. "Kind of like a magical meditation."
"Panulus Pulpa." The spell shot out of Blaise's wand just as Hermione felt the swell of apparition. Before Malfoy would complete the disappearance he hit the ground with a harsh thud.
"Now now Draco. How many times have we talked about asking to be excused from the table. That is so rude of you." Theo chuckled as Blaise all but descended on the ragdoll form. "I will forgive you if you tell us what yours form was supposed to take."
"Sod off you nosy bastards." Draco muttered with lazy lips.
"I needed more practice anyway." Blaise called out the name of a french tickle charm she was unfamiliar with. Draco twitched on the ground where his body fought against the rag doll hex. His groans were interspersed with the occasional manic laughter. To her surprise Blaise nodded at his work before rejoining the table as dessert and coffee appeared.
"Now, let's discuss what other philanthropic ideas you have for the company. The sphinx were nice but what else do you have?" Somehow Hermione felt like she just walked into a trap as well.
Approximately 10 minutes of intense grilling over her relationship with the East Mountain Graphorns, Blaise finally cancelled the charm and allowed Draco to breathe.
"Well?"
"It was a snake." He choked out as his body continued to twitch.
"How fitting." Hermione commented as she added an excessive amount of cream and sugar to her coffee.
"No." Theo responded smiling dangerously at the collapsed Malfoy. "A Viper is not worth hiding. A Cobra would be expected and not a source of shame… What kind of snake?"
The room was silent as Draco tried very hard to pretend he was a part of the rug. Hermione sat perfectly still, not even stirring her cup. She felt like she was in a pack of wolves circling a kill and if she moved she would be the next target.
"Fine." Blaise responded, aiming his wand.
"FINE!" Draco shouted. His cheeks flushed a light pink. "It was a garter snake, OKAY!"
Hermione was the first to break the silence falling into a fit of giggles. Shortly followed by Theo.
"What's so bloody funny?" Blaise growled looking very much like common courtesy was the only thing preventing him from hexing everyone in the room. He released Draco with a flick of his wand.
"Garter- snakes- are- harmless." Theo managed to choke out.
"They barely have teeth!" Hermione continued to giggle as Draco's face deepened to a bright red. "They don't even have venom!"
"Shut up!" Draco responded as he sent a hiccuping charm at her. All it did was make the laughter come in broken up spurts. She fired a quick fancy dress hex that rebounded off his shield.
"They tuck their heads into their bodies when attacked! They don't even bite!" Theo added as he ducked behind a chair dodging a tripping spell and sending off his own spell. It was some sort of light pink shot that when hitting Draco splashed his white shirt with a bright red ink.
"Sounds about right." Blaise shouted as he dove under the table as a jelly-leg jinx passed over his shoulder.
"I hate every blasted one of you!" Draco shouted and proceeded to lay waste to Theo's dining room. By the time they were done a variety of damage was scattered about the room and no one had standard function of their body anymore. But somehow, they all ended up laughing in the end, even Draco.
World Building with OM
Gartner Snake Facts:
Gartner snakes do in fact have very weak venom however as this story is set in the mid 2000's and the discovery of this fact did not come to light until around that fact I imagine it would not have passed to the common public yet.
Nottinghal:
The Notts are canonically Norse. As such I imagine they had existed on the land long enough that when people started going around naming things the "Nott Ancestral Hall" likely became Nottinghal.