Day Thirteen

Knowing she was finally going to be able to fire Nicholas put Hermione in an almost giddy mood. As soon as she woke up she was practically floating around the flat. Rabastan was charmed. When he pulled her into his arms to kiss her, he chose to forget how close they'd been to succumbing to temptation days earlier. He took advantage of her good mood to prolong their good morning kiss by several minutes. If it was possible, she was even happier when they stepped apart.

"Would you like me to be with you when you fire the arsehole?"

"I really do appreciate the offer, but I think I should do it myself."

"You're probably right, but I'm still going downstairs into the shop with you."

Nicholas was already behind the counter when they descended the stairs from their flat. The insincere greeting he offered them both was enough to set Hermione on edge. It wasn't going to be easy to fire him no matter how much she wanted to do it. There had never been an interaction with him that had been entirely pleasant.

"Nicholas, I would like to speak with you alone in the office, please."

There was more confidence in the tone of her voice than she actually felt. Because it was hardly the first time they'd met privately in her office, her manager didn't seem the least bit suspicious. He entered with no hesitation. Before she stepped inside to close the door, Rabastan offered her an encouraging smile she desperately needed.

The whole conversation was uncomfortable from beginning to end. With the charmed accounting books spread over her desk, it wasn't a surprise to Nicholas when she confronted him about how he'd been changing the true numbers. At one point he even dared to laugh.

"I was clever about it. You have to admit that. Would've been able to get away with it longer if you'd had any customers."

His next laugh was cold and cruel. She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

"You won't have any customers again either. Not until you sell the shop. No one wants to support a Death Eater and his whore."

Hermione had to force herself to remain calm in the face of his disgusting insult. If she raised her voice or lost her composure, Rabastan wouldn't be able to let her stay in there alone without support. One whiff of an insult about his wife and he wouldn't let it go. He could put his parole in danger with one bad move. Already after just a short time she didn't want to imagine life without him again.

"I wish it didn't have to end this way, Nicholas, but I will not have a thief working in my shop. You may collect any of your personal belongings you may have left behind. Then you must go. I would say that your final check would be sent by owl post, but as it seems you have already taken more than you would've earned, I won't give you another knut."

"Enjoy trying to run a shop without any customers, Mrs. Lestrange. How much longer do you think you'll be able to last before you have to sell it to anyone who will buy it? We both know you don't have much in your vault. I've seen your statements. A month? Two? You can expect I'll be the very first offer you receive."

"I would rather burn it down than sell it to you."

"I'd be careful with those threats of arson. If something were to happen to a shop that was already failing owned by a woman who is clearly in over her head, it would look suspicious, wouldn't it? Would the Ministry allow you to remain your husband's sponsor if you're in Azkaban? Maybe you could have adjoining cells."

Unable to bear being in the room with him another second, Hermione opened the office door. Immediately she felt Rabastan at her side. Picking up a cloak off a hook that he'd left behind in the office, Nicholas walked past them with an amused smirk on his face.

"Think I'll go straight to the Daily Prophet office to let them know how unfairly I've been treated here. Should make for an interesting story I'm sure their readers will love."

Hermione reached for Rabastan as a reflex, but was pleased to find he was perfectly calm. They didn't move until the bell above the door rang to announce Nicholas' exit. Seeing his back one last time made her sigh in relief. Immediately her husband kissed the top of her head.

"Do you think we should be worried about what he says?"

"No. He's a disgruntled former employee. Most people take what they say with a grain of salt. Maybe the people who already think poorly of you for your choice in husbands will believe him, but most won't care. Or they'll think he's just lying."

The rain from the day before continued all day long and well into the night. It put Rabastan into a melancholy mood. As pleased as he was to finally get rid of Nicholas too, there was a tinge of sadness in his attitude long after they went upstairs and finished dinner. Hermione wished she knew what to do to make it better. It wasn't uncommon for people to be affected by the weather. She sat next to him on the sofa where he stared into the flickering flames in the fireplace.

"I wish I knew how to help you."

His smile was sad.

"Just knowing that you're with me and I'm not in Azkaban helps, but I can't promise that I will ever stop being affected by the rain. It reminds me too much of Azkaban when the dementors…"

He released a deep exhale. There were a hundred questions at least swirling around in her head about what the prison was like especially before the dementors were removed as untrustworthy guards, but she didn't want to upset him any further. If sitting with him helped, she would be glad to stay right where she was.