"My. Watch me." She looked toward the yell and could see Tray holding the sliding handle as he laughed and she could only smile. They had gone into muggle England four weekends in a row. Shopping some each time but having fun and eating different foods. Going to parks too and last time they had gone to a pool.
"I'm coming." Scorp yelled to his friend and slid down the parallel track with the handle held tight in both hands. Blaise was fifteen feet away and chatting with two pretty girls who were noticeably in awe of his dropped Italian words. This was part of their fun and it was endlessly interesting.
"Excuse me." The male voice asked her and she didn't turn away from the two who were running back to the ladder that would lead them back to those sliding things. They hadn't been around when she was a kid or she didn't remember them. Hermione hadn't been much for parks though, preferring bookstores.
"Yes." She said politely and the man who stepped beside her was tall. Very tall and she barely glanced at him before seeing the blond head pop up and then the dark one. They spoke and then both seemed to count to three and then they were sliding. A longer glance showed the gorgeous man eyeing her with interest and she looked back to the boys.
"Which one is yours?" He asked and she didn't let her increased tension show. If he knew which boys she was watching then he had been watching her.
"Both." She said firmly and didn't look at the confused expression she could hear in his next words.
"They look the same age." The deep voice was quiet.
"They are." She said shortly and smiled at the two boys now coming toward her, without smiles.
"Is their father in the picture?" He asked her and she let the sly grin grace her face when Blaise caught her eye.
"Prison." She said quietly and he gasped. Actually gasped. Then she left him standing there and looked away from Blaise's laughing eyes and was halfway to the boys when she felt her magic tingle and then she had her wand in her hand and was running.
"Snitch. Take them." She said into the air and watched the two boys disappear as they picked up their own pace toward her. When the first jet of light blue light shot toward her she was surprised. There were muggles everywhere. Then she dove under a yellow one coming at her and disappeared with a crack.
She landed in the apparition point and checked herself for trackers or any of the other eleven things that were on their list to check for. Her heart was pounding. That had just happened. Someone had shot spells at her in a muggle park. Not a huge on but it was a rare day in late February without rain. The suburb outside Plymouth was average and ordinary in every way. The boys had picked it on a map. Scan finished, she adjusted the wards and with a crack was in the travel room of The Den. They had found a piece of wood with that carved into it that had fallen off a tree and she had grinned. The boys liked it too and so the name stuck.
"Treacle." She said quietly and waited. One. Two. Three. Four. Pop. Hermione released the breath she had been holding and looked at the fierce expression on the elf's face.
"Masters be packing Miss." He said with dignity and she nodded.
"Thank you. Thank you Snitch as well. I don't know how we would manage this without you." Hermione meant it and the elf shifted and wagged its ears. Not used to or liking the overt praise.
"Miss be's packing too." Treacle said firmly and then waited for her to get moving.
"I will. Can you do whatever Blaise has here." The elf nodded and she jogged to the stairs and then up them. At the warded door to the boys room she stopped. Feeling the elf magic preventing her from entering.
"Snitch, can I come in?" She asked quietly and the elf appeared beside her and touched a finger to her wrist and then she was inside the room. Even though she thought that overkill, she didn't chastise the elf. Both of them seemed to think nothing was more than absolutely needed.
"My!" Scorp dropped his favourite copy of Babbity Rabbity and was in her arms before she could answer him.
"You are both alright?" She asked. Looking to Tray who had a hand on both of them but wasn't pressed into her thigh.
"My. They came." He said and she could only nod.
"We were ready though. I'm sorry your day was cut short." They looked forward to these days out and she felt bad for it being so abruptly ended. Indian food had been the menu for dinner and now it would be Italian.
"We going?" He asked her, just as seriously.
"Yes. I have to pack first, nothing says we aren't safe here. The wards are tight and the elves know what to do so you two pack your toys and things. Check the bath too. I know you had your animals in there last night." She said held his eyes.
"Okay My. Thank you." He said and she reached for him then. Hugging them both tight to her.
"You okay Scorp?" She asked the blond. He hadn't spoken and didn't seem to be crying.
"M'okay." He said and looked up at her. His grey eyes weren't crying but he looked scared and was clutching her. "Stay My." He requested and she was nodding before she thought about it.
"Treacle. Could you please pack my things as well. I'll do the boys stuff with them. Sorry for deviating." The last was because the elf gave her a look and then agreed and popped away.
"Master Blaise be ready." Snitch popped in and then out, clearly busy. He had checked himself and then requested admittance. All to plan. It only took a few seconds to let him through the wards and then she tightened them down completely. All of them were here and she only left the outbound ones open.
"Granger!" She heard the Italian yell and then his feet pounding on the stairs.
"Merlin Blaise. I'm packing. Be done in a minute. Take it up with Snitch." She yelled back when he began pounding on the door. Scorp giggled and she did too. It was funny but also hysterical and she understood. Felt the same. She had been attacked. For fucks sake, she had been attacked in broad daylight in a muggle park.
"Alright I think that's everything. Accio toys." She said and four things flew at her. Tray tried to catch the ball that came from under the bed but it hit her and she huffed.
"Let's Go then." She said and shouldered the back back that had been charmed to fit everything the boys needed. Not without mess but it was there and magic could find it. With a small hand in each of hers she asked the elf for permission to leave this room. Then the door swing open and Blaise was standing there.
"Ready?" He asked her. His face was a mask and he had a small leather bag in his hand.
"If one of them has my stuff then yes." Both spoke calmly. The boys were already aware they had been attacked or that the plan had to be enacted. They couldn't just be snatching them without them knowing why it was happening so they had given them the basics. Hermione was keeping them and that meant that had to hide from the people who had sent them to that house in the first place. If they were found then the elves would bring them here and then they would pack and leave for somewhere further away. It was enough for the two who seemed satisfied with their life as it was. Days out and days at home. Reading and playing. Running and climbing. Eating and cooking. It was all good with them. They took long baths and enjoyed most things they encountered. As long as they knew who was where. Where she was and where each other were. If Blaise was there then they usually knew where he was too.
"Treacle. To the Hideout please." Blaise said and she had a moment of uncertainty when neither boy let go of her hand.
"Neither elf can take three of us so far. You to go together and Blaise and I will be there as quickly as you." She said and then waited two seconds.
"Go with Scorp." Tray said and let go of her hand. She didn't move. This was a first and Scorp was reaching for his friend.
"It's okay Tray. We can go first if you want." She said and Blaise just waited for them to make a decision. He stepped back to her and his serious eyes told her how he felt and she crouched down. Scorp had a hand on his friend now.
"It's okay right?" He asked her quietly and she nodded.
"Yes. If you want to go with Blaise then that is just as safe and totally fine. I don't want you to if you aren't alright with it." They spoke quietly and she was as solemn as he was.
"Tray with you." Scorp said and let go of both of them. Blaise looked away from her and to the little boy beside him when his small hand touched the wizards larger and darker one.
"You sure Scorp?" Tray asked his friend and took her hand.
"We said." The blond answered and she caught Blaise's eye. Clearly they had been making plans or something. A nod and the boys seemed ready to go. It would only be a second but she had promised not to separate them unless it was what they wanted.
"We goes." Both elves said and then they were there. It was maybe two seconds. Far longer than she had noticed before but this was illegal and far further.
"Blaise." The chastisement wasn't loud or sever but he heard it and chuckled.
"This is the grandest part I promise you. The rest is less ornate." He said and gestures grandly for her to exit through the double doors ahead of her.
"Good for your scooters though boys." She said and Tray grinned up at her.
"In the house?" He asked her and she smiled.
"I think we could charm the walls not to get dented. It's so long and the floors would be perfect for it." Then he was talking to Scorp about it and Blaise was walking beside her.
"It's in the foothills. Between Rome and Naples. Trails and a lake. It's perfect. I made sure of it. Five bedrooms and baths. There is a small kitchen on the main floor and a full one in the cellar, the elves approved this so I don't want to hear anything about what they can manage or should have to do. Two of mine are here and Gia is thrilled so be ready for that. She was going on about having a Miss to take care of. Things like baths and special Cloths are important to her." He said and she could appreciate his cajoling.
As they entered the hallways and then into the living space she could see that he had done a lot. Surely this had been as ornate as the other room but it was it was airy and classic. Not simple but it looked so at first glance. She was sure the carpets were like clouds and sheets silk. This man enjoyed his luxuries and assured her that his friends were the same. That the boys could get used to these things now. She hadn't quibbled and she wouldn't. A palace wasn't somebting she was comfortable in though and Blaise knew it. He too didn't mind the less ornate as his flat in England attested. Pop.
"Miss be's here. Small masters too. Be's welcome. Hideout be ready for you's. Dinner be's ready too." The elf spoke quickly and in English without an accent. Her attire though must be cultural. There were small tassels sprinkled all over the tunic thing. It was funny and kind of pretty all at one.
"Thank you Gia. You've done a marvellous job. What do you think?" She asked boys and Scorp stepped forward.
"Thank you. What's for dinner?" He asked seriously and she chuckled.
"Master Blaise says you's be liking tomatoes. Lots of tomatoes. Come small masters." With that the elf was leading the way and with a glance at her the boys followed.
"Thank you." She said quietly and looked up to meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry Granger." He said quietly and she knew he meant it.
"Your going to get me out of this right?" She asked him. Not as seriously as she might have a month ago.
"Yes. I know we will. I don't know how long that might take or how exactly yet. It depends on Draco and Theo, public climate and a hundred other things." He smiled easily and she rolled her eyes at his blasé attitude.
The next morning she was waiting for Blaise at the breakfast table and watching the two boys on the lawn with their brooms. They were up to three feet off the ground and she didn't like it but they were doing great and wearing their gear so she couldn't complain. Not much and not to loudly.
"Good Morning Bella." He said to her as he entered and she surveyed his casual khaki trousers and white button down with slip on sandals. He was so darn perfect. Not a wrinkle or hair out of place.
"Italy suits you. Perhaps you could be Bella for our time here. You are definitely the pretty one." Was her reply and he grinned at the compliment. He never tired of her admitting he was near male perfection.
"It suits you too. That dress is lovely on you. In a couple months you won't need the cardigan. It's warmer here than I expected it to be. Probably won't stay this way so let's soak it up. Flying already then?" He asked her and sat down beside her. Facing the open doors. She sipped her coffee and felt content. It wasn't hot but the seventeen degrees celsius felt balmy and this cotton dress had been a temptation she didn't ignore. The man thought she didn't appreciate herself or something.
"They were up a couple hours ago. Of course I was too. We talked and then they requested tomatoes and strawberries on toast. Treacle wasn't happy but provided it and they have been flying for about an hour." She reported. Then a pause.
"Thank you for the dress." She said and meant it. Ignoring the closet full of clothes.
"I sent mother your sizes and then visited when she sent me a few ideas. Her vision of what you should wear is different than what you actually would wear." He grinned at her and she took a bite of the omelette that appeared.
"Thank you." That was for the elf that chose not to be seen and Blaise grinned at her continued use of manners when the elves tried to dodge them.
"Are they alright?" He asked her seriously after a minute of them eating quietly and watching the boys fly in tighter circles and then the flag changed colour and they began widening them.
"Yes. They aren't happy. It's hard to understand sometimes, how they think. I was never a little boy and their experiences are so out of the normal that I'm not sure. I think it is that we were threatened. Scorp finally blurted out that he didn't like not being able to help me. Tray saw the spell and thought I would get hit. He cried." She admitted the last and Blaise met her eyes. Knife and fork still.
"Are you alright?" He asked her quietly and she nodded then took a bite.
"I'm angry. Who fired those spells at me? How dare they. I didn't like running either." She admitted and he frowned at her.
"Not here but then. I would rather have fought back and left them hogtied in that muggle park that they attacked. In broad daylight too. I spent the first hour after the boys fell asleep seething. Then I got up and had a shower. There are so many shower heads that I had to turn some off. Actually I had to call Treacle to do it for me. Ridiculous. Anyways I silenced the room and then ranted. Snitch popped in and then Gia too. Both were happy to encourage me to keep going. Gia is interesting. I can't believe you left her here. Some of her threat additions were gruesome but I appreciated them. Italy will be fun I'm sure." She added the last and gestured out the door at the boys who were just flying about now. They had crashed trying to make their circles too tight and the brooms wouldn't climb enough to allow the tighter movements so the flag had been created. It worked great and Blaise had been impressed.
"I don't understand you Granger." Was the next comment not about his elf and her bloodthirsty habits.
"Don't make fun of my Italian Blaise. I've only been here a day." She shot back at him. Thinking he was referencing her mimicry of Gia.
"Not that. I'm sure you will master it in the time you have if you want to. Why are you doing this?" He asked her and she didn't want to answer. Didn't know the answer. As she watched they slowed and then high fived as they reached each other. She couldn't see the grins but knew they were there. Smug ones that she loved. On their fathers or Blaise it was grating but they were so cute and she knew that they weren't malicious. Then they landed and took off their helmets. Tray shook his hair out and flopped onto the ground. Scorp threw a handful of grass he picked at him and took off. Tray was up and after him a second later and she grinned.
"That's why. Now it is. Look at them. I don't know how to explain." She said and then looked up at him. He was watching them but looked at her then. Always down at her. His posture was excellent and he was tall. They were all tall, the three of them.
"Try. I really want to know." He said and she knew he meant it. Watching them was easier though and so she turned her head to see tray tackle Scorp and roll twice before he let go and they flopped in the sun. It felt so good to be in the sun and see them like this. Playing and so together.
"That first day. I hadn't even considered keeping them. Or not keeping them. When I came through my front door and realised I hadn't even thought of shoes. Tray walked across the frozen street in January without even socks or a spell. I still feel bad. When I looked into Scorp's eyes again and realised I hadn't imagined it. Those were Malfoy's eyes. Then it clicked and I looked at the bruised little face with Nott's eyes it was like I was confunded. I couldn't really process it. Then it clicked. These were their sons. My peers had sons. Someone had taken them and hidden them. Cases like this make the muggle news, to keep someone inside like that, captive. This world is fucked up. It's so fucked up that this was our life." The two boys stood and began walking toward the house. Then Scorp stopped and picked up his helmet. Piece by piece they picked up their gear and then brooms, it made her smile.
Then it fell and she looked at the wizard beside her. Who was watching her with what she thought was all of his attention. Or close enough to be more than was used to.
"What would have happened without the war. If Tom Riddle never had powers or he got hit by a bus or whatever. Who would Draco and Theo have been? Who would I have been? Who would they be? Those two boys if the window hadn't been open. If I hadn't acted. If I hadn't kept them. Who would I be? How can we be better? What could I do? Even if your friends never think I am their equal. Even if you never do. I want to be able to face myself in the mirror. Those boys didn't deserve any of this. It isn't their fault. It wasn't Harry's fault. None of us deserve to be orphaned or have luck decide our destinies or whatever. I wanted to keep them. I will. I'm not sorry for doing the right thing. I've never been sorry for it. Sorry for hurting people and sorry for myself." She answered as best she could. Trying to convey some of what she felt, she hadn't verbalized any of this before and it felt good to do so. Her audience wasn't bored or anything either. Blaise looked thoughtful and intent.
"That isn't now though. That was all then wasn't it? Once you made the decision. I'm sure it's true and I think I can see some of what you mean." He spoke quietly and she understood what he meant.
"I don't know what will happen. Will they be alright? No dementors doesn't mean they will be. Are all of them basically dead, I don't mean that but will they have a life? Me and Harry used to talk about this. Ron argued with me about it. Are they all to be lost? Thrown away for choices they made. Choices I might have made had I grown up that way. In a different Family would you have made those choices. There aren't any answers but everyone lost everything. The war took everything from us. Seeing Malfoy that night. Where he was and what his life was. Maybe I was tortured for a long time but I was useless. Less than human and he was supposed to be the pinnacle of perfection to her. Still he got two crucios while I was there. Harry cried while he told me about his face on the Tower. I don't know who he really was. I don't think he would have made those choices though. Even if it was only the pride he had too much of. Then he had none. He didn't give us up. Didn't shout his recognition of me. Of any of us. His eyes met mine and I could see the horror. Knew it would be bad. Really bad. To him, us being there was the worst thing that could happen. Even if it wasn't actually, that's how it felt to me then. Like he was terrified of what would come next. He held my eyes for a while. Then he was gone. He was back when she cut me though and I saw the grey and his bright hair. That's what I saw and I wouldn't leave those eyes to face anything like that. How could I face him?" She finished quietly and was glad she had thought to cast a muffliato. She hadn't expected to say that.
Blaise was still and staring at her. Then he was looking her over as if he had never seen her. Hermione realised she hadn't spoken like that about that night with him and felt bad. Maybe he didn't know or need to know. It was true though and he had asked. Didn't look disgusted or angry at her but he looked stricken.
"Scorp and Tray are worth anything on their own. This isn't guilt. Or not enough to make a difference. I'm alright Blaise, I hope he is too." She finished quietly and gave him a small smile. Then went to find the two she could hear coming up the stairs.