September went by rather quickly. Lucius didn't forget her birthday, but they couldn't do anything together because they were both busy. Hermione however did manage to have an expert have a look at the roof.
She should have known that this was only the start of a lengthy cooperation. Luckily, she was the only one who needed a roof fixed in the middle of typhoon season. Most people got their roof done before, or the damage that was caused during was only stabilized with a charm as doing proper construction work would have been too dangerous. But they lived in the mountains, where their biggest issue was snow.
To be fair, Hermione would have had the roof fixed earlier had she known that it was broken. More pieces have fallen off since she had had a look at it last and the whole was now even bigger.
As the expert was having a look around many more issues were found. The list quickly got longer and longer and Hermione began worrying about the budget. But was she supposed to do? Things like the roof and the structure needed to be taken care of properly.
She was left with a lot of options on how to fix the roof and retile it. Hermione got quickly overwhelmed by it. That was exactly why normal people didn't buy ancient castles, she thought to herself.
The expert left her a couple of sample books and she caught him a couple of Puffskeins. His son would love them. The expert was reluctant to accept her gift at first, but they had more than enough of those creatures. It wasn't a lot but somehow, Hermione felt a lot better knowing that she had managed to relocate at least a couple of those creatures.
After the stress of the exams, the beginning of the semester seemed almost like a holiday. Hermione was still busy, but she didn't feel like drowning. She quickly figured out how things worked and in Yuta, she has found a friend. It was strange but he was helping her out at least as much as she him. There was only one moment when she had reminded him to study, but he simply laughed it off. "Hai, okaa-san," he had said. He wasn't Ron or Harry.
As the weeks went by the start of the tea ceremony class came closer. Hermione had signed up for an evening class at a private teaching institute for women. While she wanted to learn more about Japanese culture and gather as many experiences as possible, she very much felt like a fish out of water.
"Autumn colors suit you exceptionally well," Lucius said, tying her into the red kimono.
"I can't do this."
"Hermione," he said sternly. Spinning her around he lifted her chin. "Look at me. You may not be Japanese, but this is a beginner's class, the other witches are just as inexperienced as you are. If anything you have an advantage, you live more traditionally than most of them and as an outsider, you have a different perspective."
Hermione nodded.
"I apparate you," he offered.
"You don't have to, the school has a fireplace."
"Well, it is the first day, better make a good impression."
She didn't really know what he meant, but she also wasn't in the right mind to fight. What if they all hate her or what if she does something wrong and ends up insulting everyone?
They landed in a well-kept garden. It wasn't huge but definitely bigger than she expected. The other witches were standing together in groups of two or three. Lucius placed his hand on her back and pushed them towards the others.
Stumbling forward, she gave him a glance. He nodded encouragingly and Hermione approached the other witches. They moved around a little, opening a gap in the circle so she could join
Hermione heard him disapparate as soon as she exchanged the first words. It was an awkward situation. She felt like her parents have brought her to school the first day, making sure she actually went without getting lost and that she wasn't bullied right away.
Her entire body was tense and she was aware of every movement. There were so many things she had to keep in mind to just kneel down properly. The entire tea ceremony consisted of so many small movements ahs she wasn't overly familiar with any of them.
She shouldn't have been surprised about it. It was called tea ceremony after all, but the way of the tea was rather challenging.
Her brain was pretty useless by the time they were finally done with class. Hermione was surprised to find that Lucius had picked her up.
He was talking to her teacher which made her feel rather awkward. She patiently waited standing next to him. Hermione felt like a child, standing there between her husband and her sensei. They didn't include her in the conversation and she was torn about that. On the one hand, she was an adult and wanted to be treated like one, but on the other hand, she was way too tired to have a conversation in a foreign language.
Finally done Lucius offered her his arm and apparated them home.
"I'm not your child."
"No, you are with my child."
She glared at him. Hermione was so tired. She had spent so much time focusing on her slightest movements. Her muscles were sore on ma way, she only knew after sex. Hermione blushed. She hadn't expected this thought to cross her mind.
"Let's go to bed." She took his arm and dragged him to their bedroom.
"I needed to ensure that you are treated well, I know how society witches can be." Lucius petter her head and kissed her.
"It's still awkward. And I can take care of myself."
Too tired to fight she placed her head on his chest. "I don't think I've met friends yet, at least not at tea ceremony, but I've met an Ide Yuta at university."
Hermione felt his muscles twitch under her. He was mad that she couldn't get along with society witches as effortlessly as she made a friend among muggles. It wasn't even that easy for her. Yuta hat approached her.
"Yuta?" Lucius was lying half over her.
It was dark in their room, yet Hermione could see his face very clearly. Had they been married for that long already?
She smirked. Flipping over, she was now lying on her belly. "I'm so tense, give me a massage."
She heard him grumble. Somehow she was surprised to feel his big hands on her shoulders. A smile covered her face as he caressed her. Hermione closed her eyes. Her entire body relaxed. She hadn't expected him to do it nor that he actually knew how.
She couldn't suppress a moan as he trailed down the side s of her spin with this thumbs. Relishing every second of his attention, it wasn't long until sleep claimed her.
Hermione didn't have lectures on Thursday so it was the ideal time to take care of the roof issue. The expert dropped by for breakfast so that he could talk her through her options. She knew that remodeling a big part of the wing was quite an investment, yet she couldn't concentrate.
The expert was talking about specifics and Hermione was sure that she wouldn't have understood him even if he was talking English. Her thoughts were circling around the appointment she had later.
She knew she should see a healer, but it made it all so real. She was barely getting a grip back on her own life, it scared her what effects pregnancy and a baby would have. There were so many variables and they were almost all beyond her control.
Some women were too sick to do anything productive the entire first-trimester or there may be complications and she would have to spend months in bed until the delivery. Maybe she could read but her textbooks were too heavy to hold up. And how was she going to be after giving birth?
Other than the medical issues and the sheer endless list of possible complications, there was one question bothering her. Was Lucius really going to help her out as much as she might need him?
Hermione could picture herself all alone at home with a baby, abandoned by her husband who was working overtime at the bank just to avoid her.
Lost in her thoughts she didn't notice Lucius come home. He joined them at the table and Kiki brought them tea and treats.
"Is it possible to use my family crest for the tiles on the edge of the roof? And the gargoyles need to be replaced as well. I want snakes and dragons and two tigers should replace the massive werewolves on the highest roof."
The expert took notes. "I'll have to talk to a tile manufacturer and a gargoyle artisan and then I'll come back with another offer."
"That sounds rather expensive," Hermione said, looking at her husband.
"My offers are for free," the expert said, standing up, "I'm needed at another construction site. You have time to decide and make this up with your wife." He stepped into the fireplace giving them a last bow.
"If we turn the destructed part into an atrium, then we could safe the money to remodel the entire structure," Hermione said, "We could turn a part of the Meiji-wing into a hothouse, Japan has a lot of interesting citrus fruits to offer."
"Is that really what you want to talk about?" Lucius was sitting next to her in the waiting room.
She grabbed his hand. Her nails dug into his flesh. "I'm nervous. What is something is wrong? What if-"
"Hermione." He took a deep breath. "This is just a first talk with our healer. Everything is alright and he has plenty of experience with pregnancies."
"He? I thought Sugihara-sensei was a witch?"
"It is irrelevant whether our healer is a witch or a wizard the medicine is still the same."
"Maybe I would feel more comfortable with someone who has been through this herself."
"There is no guarantee that a medi-witch had children and even if she might not have carried them herself."
"Still," Hermione said stubbornly, "I have to give birth eventually and I don't want a man to see my private parts."
"I am certain that when you are in labor, crying in pain, you will have other things to care about than who might see you in an embarrassing situation."
"I've been there and I know I will care about it eventually," she snapped at him.
Lucius looked at her.
"I don't want to talk about it," especially not with you, Hermione added in her mind. He was not only her husband but he has also seen her in her weakest moment. And a part of her resented him for it.
"We can find a new healer if you want to," he suggested.
"Now? That we're already here? I need to know that everything is alright, we can't leave now."
They were called to room five. "Marufuku-sama, go-shitsu."
