Day Twenty-Five

Loud metal clanging woke Hermione out of a sound sleep. Rolling over to check if Rabastan heard it too, she was surprised he wasn't there. Was he the reason for the noise? Confused and concerned, she got out of bed to go looking for the source of the sound. It didn't take her long to find her husband underneath the kitchen sink covered in water. He looked very frustrated.

"What's going on?"

He sighed when he heard her voice.

"I didn't mean to wake you up. I'm sorry."

"It's all right."

Water covered nearly every square meter of the kitchen floor. Every surface in the room seemed to be at least a little wet. Whatever happened had been dramatic. With another heavy sigh laced with his frustration, Rabastan stood up.

"Your pipes are very old. Even with magic they won't last forever. I could hear the faucet dripping from the bedroom. It was driving me mad. Hoped I could fix it before you woke up."

Hermione stepped closer trying not to laugh because he seemed angry and possibly on the verge of losing his temper. Tenderly she touched his arm where his pajamas were stuck to his skin.

"What happened here?"

It was to be a morning full of sighs that were not the pleasurable kind.

"Broke a pipe."

Deciding he had a better use for his time in that second, he pulled her into his arms, wet pajamas and all, to give her her kiss good morning. It helped to calm him down a little.

"I've done all I can, sadly. The rest is beyond my expertise. We need a professional."

"Then I suppose it's a good thing I have actual money in my vault now thanks to my customers."

"No, that money stays in the shop. I'll take care of the home. I have lots of money."

Even more relaxed than just a few seconds earlier, he winked and she laughed. A disconcerting thought made him less eager to join in.

"But do you know of any who won't care who I am?"

"I do actually. I'll send him an owl. Just don't leave anything valuable out where he can see it."

Rabastan narrowed his eyes at that but seemed to trust her. For the first time he seemed to really notice how wet his pajamas were. He groaned as he pulled his shirt over his head. Hermione nearly choked. Though she'd felt his chest before when they hugged or she laid on it, she hadn't actually seen it beyond the first morning they were in the flat and he came running out of the shower to protect her from Harry. She'd been so shocked at the time that she didn't take the time to really appreciate what he had underneath his clothes. It had been silly to actively try not to look at his chest when she had the opportunity. Impressed by the cut muscles she saw on his lean frame, she cleared her throat.

"You didn't… uh, you didn't let yourself go in prison, did you?"

Realizing she was staring a little too hard at his bare chest, he smirked.

"Not much to do in prison other than read, sleep, and workout. It helped keep me from going insane."

"Well, well done then."

He smirked again on his way to the bathroom to shower and change. Forcing herself to get hold of her senses, Hermione scribbled off a request for service. Her owl dutifully flew out the window to deliver to its intended recipient. While she waited for the response she was sure would come quickly, she tried to clean up the kitchen as best she could. Some of it wasn't even worth trying. She'd cast a spell and seconds later it was back to how it was before the spell. Only a few minutes passed before her owl was back.

Had another job this morning but I rescheduled. Anything for you, sweets. -M.F

She rolled her eyes and nearly sent another owl to cancel. What they had in the kitchen was an emergency that she certainly didn't know how to correct. The cretin would actually show up when she asked. Most others in his position wouldn't. Beggars, sadly, couldn't afford to be choosers. There was also a legitimate concern that she would be rejected by the close-minded who wouldn't want to help an ex-Death Eater.

Unsure when the plumber would arrive, she knew that she definitely didn't want him to see her in her pajamas no matter how hideous and frumpy they were. She had to change quickly. Hardly out of her bedroom she heard a loud knock on the exterior flat door. Of course he would come straight over. Any time of the day or not, she just had to send him a note and he would be there. Hadn't he told her that many times over the years she had the misfortune of knowing him?

Taking a deep breath before she unlocked the door, Hermione forced herself to welcome Mundungus Fletcher into her home. He gave up being a criminal after the war ended when Kingsley threatened to have him arrested. Everyone was surprised, including Mundungus himself, that he turned out to be a very good plumber when he felt enough motivation to actually work. He smiled at her and immediately looked her entire body up and down. It was a familiar occurrence that never failed to creep her out.

"Thank you for coming at such short notice. The problem is right in here."

She led him straight to the kitchen sink. The moment he saw the broken pipe and water everywhere, he stopped smiling.

"Oh, you really do need some work done. I thought you were just inviting me over because you felt lonely."

If it was even possible, she felt even more grossed out. What sort of fantasy world was he living in if he thought she would ever ask him over to scratch any of her itches? The thought nearly made her vomit. Surely she would never be that lonely.

"I am a married woman, Dung."

"Heard about that. Married one of those Lestranges, did you? If you were that hard up for money, I could've given you some. I'm always willing to help a pretty lady out."

The urge to curse him right in his trousers was strong. To her great relief, Rabastan stepped into the room. After introducing the two men, it was evident neither cared for the other. With her husband there to supervise as Mundungus assessed the damage, there was no reason for her to remain in the room. Indeed, any escape was welcome.

Repairing the pipes in the kitchen took up most of the day. There were more complications than they anticipated. Old buildings, especially those built before running water and modern plumbing was in widespread use, could be tricky. When he could no longer stand to be in the same small space with Mundungus, Rabastan sat on the sofa next to Hermione where she'd been reading. Knowing it was her building that was causing so many problems embarrassed her.

"I'm sorry I don't have a big, fancy manor for you to live in instead of this flat."

He leaned over to press his lips against hers for a couple of seconds.

"I love this flat. Do you have any idea how much work goes into maintaining those big, fancy manors? The work is non-stop. My father insisted that Roddy and I learn how to do it all."

"That's how you knew how to fix the roof."

"Yes, I could patch a roof without magic by the time I was eleven. Old manors had constant leaks. Father never wanted us to take for granted where we were living. The repairs alone are why I don't mind that it's not mine anymore. This tiny, little flat is plenty for now."

She felt relieved until she heard the 'for now' part.

"What do you mean 'for now'?"

Rabastan smiled.

"It's fine now by maybe one day we'll need more space. There's plenty of room in the attic if we wanted to expand the flat or we could buy a house out in the country."

"Why would we need more space?"

"Gods, woman! He's talking about little ones. I thought you were smarter than that."

Mundungus' frustrated response from underneath the kitchen sink made them both chuckle. Of course she knew what he meant, but something about hearing him say it made her happy.

They were both relieved when Mundungus was finally done and left. Especially since he whispered to Hermione before he walked out the door that a ring on a lady's finger never bothered him before. It took all of Rabastan's self-control to keep from picking up the man by his collar and quite literally throwing him down the stairs.

"Let's go out for dinner since we've been cooped up in the flat all day."

That sounded like a wonderful idea to Hermione. She suggested they return to the White Wyvern for another of their delicious roast dinners. It made her husband laugh to know that she was willing and wanted to go back to Knockturn Alley. He teased her about being a bad influence.

A question that had bothered Hermione all day continued to nag at her while they sat and ate their dinner in the pub. There hadn't been a good time to ask with Mundungus hovering around and obviously eavesdropping. She didn't like the idea of her private conversations with her husband being overheard by someone like him.

"You said the dripping bothered you. Were you unable to sleep?"

"Sometimes I have trouble sleeping if I have a lot on my mind."

"What was on your mind?"

He was reluctant to admit it so she didn't push him. Didn't they all deserve privacy? After a deep gulp from his pint glass, he was honest, perhaps more so than he had been since the month began.

"Part of me has been nervous that when we finally activate the bond and settle in to our routine, you might start to change your mind about me, wish you hadn't been so reckless to marry me so quickly."

She had to smile then reached across the table to grab his hand.

"We are both stupid, you know. Those were the exact fears I had about you that woke me up yesterday morning. I was afraid you'd wake up one day and find me boring, wish you'd met someone more interesting."

He smiled and her stomach fluttered.

"You are very interesting, my love."

"And I have no regrets about marrying you, quickly or otherwise."

The rest of their meal was perfectly pleasant. Neither of them drank too much. Each of them enjoyed the walk home holding hands. It continued to feel just easy with Rabastan.

At bedtime when Hermione was pulling the covers down, Rabastan came out of the bathroom wearing only the bottom half of his pajamas. Surprised yet again that day to see his bare chest, she didn't know what to say. He smirked when he caught her staring.

"What? I've always preferred to sleep without a shirt on. Didn't think you'd have any complaints."

"Nope, no complaints from me."

As they settled in bed, she mentally calculated how many days they had left.