"Harry? Gin?" Hermione called into the dim kitchen of Grimmauld Place and waited. A silver stag came through the wall near the door and said two words.
"Front room." Then it vanished and she rolled her eyes at her friend using a patronus for that.
She found her friends sitting on a couch with books and papers around them looking like they had just been laying around together.
"Rough day?" She asked them and both groaned.
"I had a chase that lasted an hour, for a stolen purse." Harry grumbled and Ginny snickered but her face quickly lost its amusement.
"Gwenog heard Maria say she thought the coach was losing some of her madness. She isn't." The last was a groan and Hermione chuckled at their equally tired and pitiful expressions. Then she pulled her wand and cast a massage spell on them and waited the two minutes as they groaned and shifted until it was over.
"That's a good one Mione." Harry said and lifted his left arm over his shoulder. His grin said it was better and Ginny looked half drunk.
"My legs feel nearly numb." The redhead said it as if this were the greatest thing ever and she grinned at her friends, waiting for them to come to their senses.
"He let you out then?" Harry said with no heat, an observation and maybe some teasing.
"I found the key and escaped." Hermione answered as easily and Ginny smiled at them as she always did.
"What's new over there?" The younger witch asked, curious as ever.
"We are going away for a week as soon as I can find a cabin. That's what Soren asked to do for his birthday. Go away with us, so we are." She said and Harry frowned, curling into the armchair felt familiar and comfortable.
"So no party?" He sounded upset and she smiled.
"We can have a dinner or something if you want. Could do a day with Teddy and him." That suggestion got a nod and smile, then his thoughtful expression. Clearly trying to decide what to do or say.
"What do you think? For yourself Hermione." Ginny asked, her tone wasn't soft but it wasn't hard either. Just assertive enough to hopefully get an answer.
It took her a few seconds to decide what to say, how to explain her feelings.
"We are making it a test or something. A trial. Can we be comfortable together? Just us and no one else's opinions or interference." She answered honestly and held her friend's pretty hazel eyes.
"Good." Ginny said firmly and Hermione laughed at her firm tone.
"Don't laugh. I wondered if you would just float until it blew up and then decide." Ginny sounded aggrieved and Harry came back to himself then.
"I think it will turn out if you want it, Mione. Might be a bit complicated, but no worse than a one night stand or divorce on the muggle side, if you decide it's not right." He said and she knew he meant it. Harry didn't want her to do this if it wasn't what she wanted.
"When are you opening your offices? I can't believe you didn't have one before now." Ginny asked as she leaned back into the couch.
"I don't know. When they are done and we want to I guess. I do have an office. So does Draco. Blaise has one too and we have studies and libraries. Empty rooms and even homes we could turn into places to work or whatever." She said as dryly as she felt. Harry laughed at that.
"You've probably got a floor I could work from here." She added and he nodded.
"I work in here. Not in any of the offices or studies I've found." He admitted and they were all laughing then. At Harry's lack of having seen the entirety of his own house and their ridiculous lives.
"Samantha." She said in greeting and smiled at the stunning witch as she sat down across from her.
"Hermione. Thank you for making time for me." She said and they sat down in the popular tea shop in a quiet building in Diagon.
"That isn't a problem. Easier now." Hermione admitted and smiled at the momentary grin the witch shot her.
"I found the book we talked about last time and wrote down a few questions so I wouldn't get caught up in our conversation and not ask." Hermione laughed lowly at the nearly whispered words and then grimaced.
"I didn't write them down but did make a mental note of them." She admitted and the two broke off their conversation to order and then fix their tea and settle in.
"People speak as if you don't fit in but I see none of that." Samantha said and the accompanying small hand gesture indicated her acceptable dress and low bun.
"Clothes are only a covering." She said and grinned at the witch's mean smile.
"Indeed. Work first or gossip?" Samantha and Hermione had a question.
"Could I ask you something first?" She said and Samantha didn't straighten noticeably but Hermione could see her increase in tension.
"Of course." The witch said and met her eyes. Hers were amazing hazel ones, dark and with flecks of a brighter green and gold.
"Your eyes are lovely. That isn't what I wanted to say though." She paused and then thought about what Finn had said when she mentioned this. Go for it and enjoy the fencing it took to get her to believe her.
"Would you be alright if I owled you to do things sometimes? Like shop or lunch or this." The witch didn't respond and Hermione didn't smile. Just kept eye contact and sipped and then continued.
"I have friends, many of them. Not many that enjoy the academic and interesting for its own sake. Narcissa and Andromeda are excellent companions but we aren't of a similar age." She paused when the server brought their plates of danties. The two chose a few things and topped up their cups before sitting primly if comfortably across the small table from each other.
"Surely our few meetings can not have made such a difference." Samantha spoke dismissively and Hermione did grin then. Small and appropriate for the setting but genuine.
"I didn't write down a list questions but I do have a small list of things I think we would enjoy doing together. Things I have done alone or with someone who wanted to accompany me, not participate." She said and watched the witch. It was a pleasure to watch her in the same way it was Narcissa, as if they were a moving painting.
"I am sure that I would enjoy at least some of the activities." Samantha said evenly but Hermione could see the interest in her eyes. You had to watch these people carefully and learn their tells, then it was easier and it didn't feel like you were an idiot.
"There is a botany exhibit at the Royal Conservatory. Rural versions of plants that we see now, from nearly untouched areas. The plants and the scientific analysis of changes, man made and environmental." Hermione offered the first idea and could see the slight flare of the witch's nostrils. Then her cup went down and she folded her hands in her lap, casual as you please.
"Is this an incentive?" Samantha asked quietly and Hermione thought that over.
"I hope not. I don't like thinking that people need incentives to be my friend." She answered bluntly if politely and with a conversational tone.
"Why approach it this way?" Was her next question and Hermione considered how to answer before deciding to be honest.
"I was musing about it this morning and Finn said that you would be one of the few Slytherins that would accept such an approach. It's why you got along so well. He is direct, for his house." Hermione said casually and watched the witch pick up her cup.
"That is true. Tact isn't often that important to him." Hermione's grin was real then, Samantha's words were wry if dismissive. Though she reigned it in and ate one of the small quiches that were very good while she waited for some kind of answer.
"I've never been to the Royal Conservatory." Was the eventual reply and Hermione knew Samantha wanted to go and wasn't against her owling or inviting her to do things.
"We aren't having a dinner next week but would you come to one? When it works for you. Luna would like to meet you." She asked and watched the witch sip and look at her over the rim of her cup.
"Lovegood has published some interesting papers recently." Samantha replied and it was a solid yes, excellent. Luna didn't make many deep connections and they seemed to be based on the other person's ability to understand her. Luna could understand most people but didn't like what she could see of most of those. Luna had pored over the notes she had taken when they had met to talk about rose husbandry last week.
"She also has an amazing garden and orchid collection, magical and not." The witch shifted in her seat and Hermione let her see the amusement as she smiled behind her cup.
"Alright Hermione. I expect owls and perhaps we could have a more casual correspondence." The suggestion was welcome and more than she had really hoped for from this witch, who seemed to know many but be close to few.
"I've asked my most pressing questions. Would you like a turn?" Samantha smiled and buttered a scone while nodding.
"Yes. I went through your notes on the protean charm and your variations. Would it be possible to extend the character length if we changed the surface?" This was interesting. The question and that the witch asked it.
"I'm sure we could. I've only done a few things and haven't used them much. The coin works for Harry and me. The sets I've made for others haven't received any request for more space to write. George wants to find a way to sell the communication aspect but I haven't put any time into its development on that front." Hermione felt more comfortable speaking with her now. About life things as well as the specific interests they had discussed.
"Did Gwenyth invite you to her luncheon?"
Samantha asked three quarters of an hour later.
"No. Why would Shafiq invite me?" She asked genuinely and watched Samantha look her over.
"Why would she want to invite a brilliant and influential witch to her famed political luncheons?" Sabrina raised a brow. Not far but Hemrione seen it and considered the question.
"Isn't that the Daughters Lunch?" She asked and Samantha winced almost imperceptibly.
"No. I go sometimes and I'm not one of them. She wants it to be more than that and has been shifting the guest list. Do you know her?" The witch explained and then asked.
"In passing. We have been seated at the same table a few times and have spoken at events." Gwenyth Shafiq had been head girl Hermione's first year and nearly openly managed her House business with her brothers and father in Azkaban after the war. The youngest, Colin, was due to get out this fall.
"She has been asking about you." The airy tone of voice was matched by the direct eye contact. Not overtly maliciously then.
"I've decided that everyone does and it's only what they know and how they speak of me that is different." She said honestly and watched Samantha consider that.
"Some may not, on principal." She offered and Hermione did laugh at that. The witch was quick and clever.
"There are rumours that the Rowle vaults will make it to the end of the fines." She said quietly and Hermione didn't change her expression or her posture.
"Surely that causes no surprise." Was her response and her silence had only been a beat to long. Narcissa wouldn't give her a nod but wouldn't chastise her for that either. Always her measure in these situations.
"The opposite among those with similar problems." Samantha said and Hermione knew she was being scrutinized now.
"I hope the others find themselves with similar expectations now." She said honestly, but not sure where this was going or why the witch had brought it up.
"Indeed." Was the only reply and she wasn't going to ask for details of others family finances, it was interesting though.
"Samantha, it's lovely to see you though I can see now why you had to decline." They looked up to see half of those afore mentioned daughters closing in on them and Hermione wanted to groan but didn't.
"Gemma, it's lovely to see you. My plans were already made." Samantha answered and the witches stopped beside the table, all ignoring her pointedly. Better that way. She picked up the silver tray used to order anything else they wanted and signed it with the quill provided. Paying for their tea and then had nothing to do but wait to be released.
"Publicity isn't free." Farley said and it was the first comment that got a reaction.
"No. Someone pays for providing it." Samantha replied and Hermione watched the other witch sneer and then knew it was coming.
"Some things can only drag you down into their dirt." The witch nearly hissed and Hermione decided this was enough. People were staring, the two tables closest to them had made dainty gasping sounds.
"It was a pleasure to see you Samantha. Good afternoon ladies." Hermione said politely and with the appropriate smile before she stood.
"I told him Granger, and I'll tell you. He can't make you more than you are." Gemma hissed, at this Samantha stood but Hermione smiled and it was more genuine now.
"I'm sure everyone appreciates your opinion." She said and looked around. Half of the shop was staring and she smiled ruefully at their audience. Seeing women she knew and some she didn't. Augusta Longbottom was sitting with her updated hat at a table with the matriarchs of several families and her gimlet stare should have lit Farley's dress on fire. The sound dampening charms only worked when you were seated at the tables. It didn't blank conversations out but quieted everything down. So everyone had heard the witch clearly and her reply, lovely.