"I'm alright Harry. So are they. I'm sorry but this isn't my fault. Love you and take care of yourself." She spoke to the dancing otter and watched it vanish through the wall. They had been exchanging patronuses every two evenings since she had arrived here and she missed her friend. Not enough to go back or even send more of a message. His basically said come home and let them sort it out. That running and making herself a fugitive for their sons was stupid and he missed her.
"Read now My?" Scorp came into the room and asked her.
"What did you guys pick?" His eyes came up and he had a small smile.
"Babbity Rabbity." He said quietly and then he grinned. It was his favourite so far and it had been his turn to pick.
"Scorp." She heard Tray's shout and then his feet on the stairs. They had been here two weeks and the boys were finally starting to be a bit more like little boys. Louder and moving quicker. Not so careful. They had scraped knees and even a split lip when Tray fell running outside yesterday. It was nerve wracking but she was happy they were beginning to be more comfortable.
"In my room." She said and then she heard the little feet thumping closer.
"Ready?" He said when he skidded around the corner and could see them.
"Are you?" And raised a brow at him and he grinned.
"Teeth cleaned. Jammie's on." He reported and then ran at them. Jumping and not quite making it up onto her bed so she grabbed a hand and pulled him the rest of the way. This place was a strangely furnished but comfortable house in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Sirius had left it to her along with a ridiculous amount of gold and she was grateful now for both. She had her own savings but hadn't touched that money since the wars end and felt he would approve of her using it now, for this. Or when she needed too. It meant she wasn't worried about money even if they had to live muggle or in hiding for the next twenty one months. She wouldn't be stealing or have to find a way to work a job to feed and clothe them. It was something to be grateful for.
As was habit now there was a boy snuggled into each side and they took turns flipping the pages and making sounds. This was one of the first stories they read together in her house and Scorp liked it. They nearly knew it by heart now and books were what she was going to get next. She had plenty but wanted some for them. Muggles had far more children's books of varied subjects and she wanted to use them as a kind of school. That and outdoor things. They needed some reference books for muggle plants. A nature study or something like it.
Last trip she had brought them back a few balls and used magic to harden and flatten a section of ground she could see from the window. Then had charmed the ball and around that area so it couldn't leave it. This meant they could throw it and it would bounce of the barrier they couldn't see. It also wouldn't get lost. Endless fun. Scooters maybe. This wasn't a great place for bikes but maybe later.
"One bed tonight or two?" She asked them. Twice they had tried to sleep separately by choice and it had lasted a few hours before tray crawled in with Scorp. She didn't care but Tray seemed to and so they were working on it. Most mornings they were in her bed when she got up for the day. It didn't matter. They were sleeping well and eating well. Laughing a bit and playing. Hermione thought it better than she could have expected and it was heartening.
"One. Blaise coming?" Scorp asked her and she nodded.
"It's Friday so he will be here for the weekend. He will be at breakfast." She said and watched them exchange glances.
"Kay." Tray said and Scorp gave a nod. Then his small sleepy smile and she could only smile back at the angelic little face. If Draco had once looked so cherubic then she wasn't surprised he was so spoiled as a child.
"May I kiss your cheek?" She asked him and his cheeks turned a bit pink. Then he nodded and grinned. She could only smile and gently kiss his soft cheek.
"And you young man?" She turned to the dark haired boy beside him and he didn't grin or blush. Just pointed at his forehead and she nodded.
"Thank you." She said seriously and then brushed his hair away and kissed his forehead.
"Goodnight boys. The elves are listening and you know where to find me. I'll be downstairs for a bit." Then nodded and were whispering quietly when she stopped at the door and dimmed the lights. Not dark but close enough.
When she slumped on the black leather couch in what must be a room Sirius had decorated she flopped back and closed her eyes. Trying to think of nothing and just relax. Blaise was coming and would probably be here soon. As if she had conjured him Treacle popped in and told her he was at the secure secondary apparition point and she altered the wards on the house.
A second later she heard the soft crack and then him speaking softly to Snitch. Treacle disappeared and she knew he was with the boys now. It was as if the elves traded places with ease. Maybe they could communicate magically or something.
"Where are you woman?" His voice carried down the hallway and she heard snitch answer.
"Miss be's in her sitting room." She laughed with her eyes still closed. A sitting room. It was a lounge or living room. Low leather couches and thick carpets with muggle posters of motorcycles on the wall. It reminded her of his room at Grimmauld and that was comfortable.
"The elf makes me sound classier than I am." She said without opening her eyes when she heard his footsteps make it to her.
"Nonsense. You look like a goddess. I can even see some skin." His tones were teasing and she scoffed.
"Alright?" He asked her quietly and she opened her eyes and sat up.
"I know you already asked Snitch." She replied and then nodded.
"Yes. I would have sent word of it wasn't. We walked for about an hour toward the tallest mountain today. I've got a list of things we need. Or want. Not need." She said when he straightened against the wall.
"Come sit down. You are wound too tight." Hermione was chiding him but he looked so tired. Worn and drawn. He did come sit beside her and she spelled his shoes off then summed a whiskey from the only ornate piece of furniture in this room. She suspected it was from Sirius' family home. There hadn't been food but there was a lot of alcohol and she wondered when someone had been here last. The most recent bottle in the cellar was thirty years old so that wasn't much help.
"I hate my life." He said quietly while he stared into the glass.
"That Bad?" She asked him quietly and pulled her feet up.
"Yeah. It's as lonely as Italy was. I've got people but they are here and I'm there. Trying to accomplish anything and barely succeeding." Their relationship had changed several times since they met after the war but in the last two weeks he had dropped almost all of his mask and she thought they would be solid friends after this.
"How did your deposition go?" She asked him. That had been two days ago and she had been worried all day. Had sent Treacle to make sure he was alright. That the Ministry hadn't kept him or something.
"They asked the same questions over and over again. That contract holds and they haven't figured out its boundaries yet. Potter seems to be in the same boat. I didn't know you two had made vows." He said and she could see his interest.
"It was the easiest way to know we couldn't be drugged or something. After the war everyone wanted to know how things had happened and the truth of what had happened. Ron agreed when Harry pushed so the three of us took general vows that basically meant we couldn't speak of things regarding the other if we weren't sure they wanted us too. It's got all sorts of loopholes though. Ginny knows a lot and I've told her nothing so Ron and Harry have. It seems to be what is most important or most relevant. It was an old secrecy vow I found in the Black Library." She answered him and she could see him thinking about her answer. Always interested in her and how she did things or knew things. Just generally about her and she felt the same. He was more complex and more interesting than she had thought. Hermione hadn't thought him boring or simple then but until you knew someone you just couldn't know.
"So it was fine. I threw every law and subsection regarding client interaction at them and smiled politely. I think 'the man' is Archie Plunkett." His tone was ice cold and she could only stare at him.
"Why do you think that?" Her question was slow and quiet. His shoulders rolled and he took a sip and then loosened his tie.
"It was just Potter, Samson, Torley, and him. Potter probably because he knows about the boys and the regulations say there has to be an Auror present. I don't know why that is, but I found it and forced them to follow the damn regulations. It's as bad as we thought last weekend. I think the five of them are the only ones who know. When they started about aiding and abetting a known felon laughed. The serious look was so funny and Potter rolled his eyes. He looked at me and sneered. Then quietly said that you had taken two noble scions without legal or moral reason. That it was kidnapping and that you could be harming them or enacting revenge for your own injuries." Blaise held her eyes and she took two breaths and then a sip of the whiskey he offered her.
"I lost my temper then. Stood up and told them I had seen the memory. Of a boy of four bearing beaten and bloodied. You healing them and taking them from what amounted to captivity. Nothing Potter's memory didn't show but they were surprised that I had seen it." She smiled a bit then. Pensives were rare. She didn't have one but it was on her list of things to acquire. Blaise was a decent legilimens though and she had enough skill to make sure he saw what she wanted him too. Torley said he was certain that no one the Ministry had cleared to look after its charges would treat them like that. That you were embellishing or had somehow made it up yourself. Like you were enacting a mad scheme to take them. Plunkett broke into the rant and said that the two boys were the Ministries responsibility and their treatment was none of my business. They were lucky to have been taken in at all and could have been left to rot alone. Potter stood up then and said he had been called away. His eyes met mine and I bet he is a bit nicer. I could see that Gryffindor glow." He said and then huffed a laugh. It wasn't funny and she didn't reply but thought it acceptable for the situation. He was stressed and she felt badly.
"Okay. Well nothing has changed then. This was the third time they pulled you in so they need a warrant for that now right?" She asked him. He nodded and she smiled a bit.
"Got yourself a lawyer?" She asked him and he did laugh genuinely then.
"Yes. That's why I didn't come wednesday. I've been trying to pack everything in. Thanks for the food you've been having one of them leave. The chicken was amazing Thursday." He said and she knew he meant it.
"You've got to eat Blaise. I only suggested it the first time." She admitted and he grinned.
"Why didn't you come back with an elf?" She asked him quietly. So he wouldn't feel he had to answer.
"Mother wanted me to. I don't know. Penance maybe." He said equally as quietly and she nodded. They all beat themselves up.
"Do you have to work while you are here?" She asked him after a minute of comfortable silence.
"No. I didn't even bring more than the papers for this." He said and for the first time relaxed into the couch. Legs stretched out and she huffed at his height when she changed position to do the same. His head was higher and his legs longer.
"Will you come to the muggle world with us? I want to take them to a park and go get books. Some clothes they pick out and just let them see some things." She said and looked up at him. He was looking down at her and she could see the concern on his face.
"It's not public is it? That I'm a felon or whatever." She clarified and he shook his head. When he opened his mouth to speak she decided to get her argument out.
"We will go to a smaller city. Leeds or Bath. Not London. Nowhere near a magical entrance or store. We know where most of them are I'm sure. I don't want to keep them cooped up here. A bigger version of there." Her voice was even and she only let her conviction show in her eyes. He finished his drink while he watched her face. She wondered what he saw. Her hair was no doubt a mess and she was wearing a hoodie and her favourite jeans with a rip in the knee.
"The first sign of something wrong and we leave. Then you leave the country." He said firmly and she knew he meant it.
"Where? If we go then will we be in hiding there?" She asked him. Trying not to argue but to see if he had thought it through.
"I went to a lawyer, like I said. Draco's. Theo's is more pompous so I picked the easier option. After we signed the agreements I laid the basics out and he was floored. Silence reigned Granger. I only waited and then he began summoning files and speaking quickly.
He had no access to them and had not been informed of anything other than that he was included in the contract and couldn't speak of this. Apparently only those who know can speak of it. I've never heard of what we they've used but now that I know and he knows I do it apparently is open. So there was paperwork left for them. None of it can be used though." He finished heavily and she waited for him to continue.
"My name was on Scorp's. Not the godparent ritual since I wasn't there so they are each other's. Apparently not wanting the option left open to others. That isn't much help but basic access papers were left and I signed them, that's another thing." He said quietly and she smiled at him. When he looked up it was the frustrated anger she had come to expect when it related to them. To his not knowing about them.
"Another thing?" She asked him and closed her own eyes. Not needing to see his face at the moment and it was hard to stay calm.
"What do they think happened?" He asked quietly and she did open her eyes then.
"You mean what were they told in there? Does the lawyer have access?" She asked him. Wondering how they could get some kind of message to them or if they could.
"No he has zero access until the parole hearings." He said quietly and she could only stare at him.
"We can worry about that when it's closer. There is no point now. All you can do is help the lawyers and try and find a way. They can do that too Blaise." She said quietly and he nodded slowly.
"Looking after the boys is enough. I hope it is. It's all we can do and it's just another crap thing. I sometimes think I should have left after the war. Just faded into the vast muggle numbers and never surfaced. Or even taken MACUSA up on their offers." It was an admittance and he didn't scoff or dismiss it.
"Does this make it worth it? Your friends didn't." He said bluntly and she could only roll her eyes at him.
"It's something anyways. I managed to change twenty one laws between creatures and education. It didn't touch the issues." She huffed and then looked up at him and he rolled his eyes.
"Alright Granger. Some muggle city tomorrow. What do you think about precautions?" He asked and she thought about it.
"There isn't much we can do unless we glamour them but magic shows easier than spotting a person. Easier to trace and find." He nodded and she continued. "I was thinking maybe ball caps. Or toques for the winter and then ball caps. Would people even think it might be them? They don't know it's a possibility. Unless they publicize what I've done I don't see how I am that suspicious. You will need to blend in. Can't have the three of us and a suit." She pointed out and he grinned at her.
"You've been waiting for this chance. Jeans? That's what you call them right?" He asked her and she could only grin back.
"You will be devastating in a well fitted pair of jeans Blaise I promise. Women will drool all over you." She assured him and enjoyed his lecherous smile.
"The elves will be there or listening, whatever they decide. Do you have a place in mind? For us to go." He looked pensive and she waited.
"My place first. My mother's place I mean. The witch is as dangerous and paranoid as they come. I've got two places mid transaction and that should be done Monday." He said and she accepted the vague assurance.