Day Fifteen

Hermione woke up in bed alone. It was odd. Where was Rabastan? She knew for a fact that he had been right there with her when she fell asleep.

"Rabastan?"

There was no response. The flat was silent. A quick glance at the clock next to the bed showed it was half past five in the morning. It was still dark outside. She couldn't hear any sounds in the bathroom next door. Worried, she got up, put on a dressing gown and slippers, and started to look for him. She couldn't explain how she knew it, but something felt off.

When he couldn't be found in the small flat, she went down the narrow staircase to the shop. The last time she couldn't find him he'd been down there. Maybe he couldn't sleep and thought he could find something down in the shop to help him get sleepy or bored enough to fall back asleep. None of the lights were on, immediately dispelling that theory.

She saw movement outside the front windows of the shop. Even at a distance she could tell it was her husband casting spells at the front of the building. Confused and even more worried than she was before, Hermione rushed to the front door. Just steps from the exit she heard the crunching of glass underneath her feet. All of the front windows were smashed. She ran out the front door and gasped.

The entire front of the shop was vandalized. Rabastan was trying to clean it all up before she saw it. Unfortunately, she didn't miss how someone painted "Death Eater Whore" in bright red paint on the outside of the building. No one could miss that. Seeing his wife staring in horror at what was done to her business, her husband was humiliated.

"I was hoping I could get it all cleaned up before you saw it."

It meant everything to her that he would try so hard to shield her from the mess. Forcing him to stop casting cleaning spells, Hermione pulled the upset Rabastan into her arms.

"I've been such a selfish, selfish man."

Hermione didn't understand what he was saying. Gently she pushed him back to take a look in his eyes. They were watery and ashamed.

"I don't think you are. You've been nothing but kind and generous since I've known you. Even when we were just exchanging letters you never failed to brighten my day. Why would you say you were selfish?"

"Because I never considered what it would be like for you to be married to me. I saw an opportunity to get out of Azkaban and I wanted it, damn the consequences. And then when I finally saw you, I just wanted to throw you over my shoulder and spend the rest of my life proving you made the right choice marrying me."

"You mention throwing me over your shoulder a lot. Very caveman of you."

He snorted and some of the tension was broken.

"I feel like little more than a caveman when you're in the room, even when you're wearing those hideous pajamas."

She had to pull him close to her for another hug because she was afraid she was about to cry.

"I heard a noise. Thought it was just a creak of the old building at first, but I got up to look anyway. I didn't see their faces. There were three of them. By the time I got downstairs they were gone."

She was relieved they got away. If there had been any confrontation she knew Rabastan could be in trouble. No matter what happened there would be many who would want him to pay regardless of whether or not he was responsible.

"Well, you said we needed to paint. I guess this just keeps us from putting it off any longer."

He stepped away to continue the cleaning spells without looking at her. He was so ashamed it threatened to break her heart. All of his focus was entirely on cleaning the word 'whore' off of the building. She wanted desperately to lighten the mood.

"Can one even really be considered a whore if there's been no sex?"

Rabastan didn't laugh.

"Damn it, Hermione. This isn't funny. This is all my fault. Just my presence in your life has ruined your reputation and probably even your business."

"I've never cared much for my reputation or what people thought of me and my business? Well, I think it's safe to say I was failing at that long before you married me. My own manager was stealing from me and I had no idea. I don't know what I'm doing, never have. You are not ruining my business. I've been doing that all on my own."

It was embarrassing to admit the truth out loud, but in a way it was cathartic too. She wasn't perfect and she didn't know everything. When was she going to be easier on herself? Rabastan stopped casting to hug her tightly. He kissed the top of her head.

"But I will say one thing. For the first time since I bought this fucking shop, because of you, I don't feel so overwhelmed."

"That's because you don't have any customers."

Annoyed at first, she then understood he was trying to make his own joke like she had been. She had to laugh. It sadly was pretty funny.

"No, I think it has more to do with the fact I now have access to your vault."

He laughed and she leaned back to look him in the face.

"Now, kiss me good morning like a proper husband should and then we can clean this mess up together."

"Right here where anyone can see? What if the neighbors talk?"

"Don't care. Actually I do. Let's give them something truly scandalous to talk about."

Rabastan smirked, then gave her a passionate kiss right out in the middle of Diagon Alley. For the rest of the day, they cleaned up the mess left by the vandals and repaired the damage. When he suggested that they start painting the outside immediately, she liked the idea. After purchasing all of the supplies they needed, they weren't able to finish the job before it got too dark to see, but they got a lot done. As they got into bed exhausted that night, it felt like after that experience, they'd grown even closer.