Hermione woke up and wasn't surprised to feel a boy on either side of her. Blaise was coming back today. He had been in England except short stop ins for three weeks and he had let them know yesterday that he was coming. Theo's hearing had been yesterday and it had been weeks of waiting and anxiousness. Talking about them more and more.
Answering questions and admitting what she didn't know. Which was a lot. In fact it was most things.
What would happen? Where would they live? Would they live together? Would she live with them? What about this house? Would she be there? Were their dads alright? Was Blaise alright? The list of questions was long and the only one she felt reasonably confident about was Blaise's general safety. Gia had gone with him and popped in. The elves also communicated somehow that she still didn't understand.
They were worried about all of their humans and it showed. The food had been plentiful and excellent. Suggestions of things to do had been given nearly everyday for months now. The boys had finally chosen a wall colour for their room and decided on a dark green. Blaise had grinned and waggled his eyebrows at her. 'My room was Ravenclaw blue before I went to school', had been her only reply.
It felt surreal to have made it this far. Draco's hearing was tomorrow and then they would be out. Both of them wouldn't be on the tiny island in the middle of the frigid North Sea. Their sons were here with her and she didn't know how long that would be the case. She had only told Blaise that she would cooperate and support them however she could. Whatever was best for them. She didn't know how bad Azkaban was or if they had contact with people. They were alive. Had there been food? Were they mentally stable? These were all concerns and Blaise and her had spoken about them and countless more worries as the months and then days passed.
Tray and Scorp were not her sons. The dark head of chin length curls on her left and the nearly white blond on her right did not belong to her. Having been with them for closer to two years than one, it wasn't surprising that she loved them. Both were amazing boys and so smart. Had enough kindness and empathy that she wasn't worried about that but were both likely to be Slytherin. Either could be Ravenclaw which wasn't surprising either. Any of the four adults in their lives could have been too. Both had traits that weren't as common among the Eagles though.
Tray was so observant that it was sometimes difficult. He weighed and judged by his own scales and then it was nearly impossible to change his mind. His brain functioned more like hers than Scorp's did. Wanting to know everything and not liking when he didn't. Often requesting specific information or categories and then devouring all he could.
Scorp was different in that he didn't feel the need to know everything about something. Merely what was relevant and he was quicker to change his mind. Those grey eyes were more soulful and he showed his emotions easier. Would come and sit with her and then quietly explain how he felt about something or what was bothering either of them.
They were a team and took care of each other. More and more they took care of her too, or wanted to. It was hard to think that she wouldn't see them first thing in the morning or kiss them goodnight every day. They had grown and were not as close to her all the time. Didn't feel the need to always know exactly what room she was in if they were at home. It had been the three of them and Blaise for what felt like a long time though. Long enough that she too was afraid of the change coming. Even not seeing Blaise as much would be unusual and she hoped he wanted to see her still. That they would eat together and play together too.
Blaise hadn't mentioned what would happen when they got out. What he thought they would think or if they would let her see them. She hadn't asked either. Not wanting to add to his burden. While she had the boys and was busy with that, he was coming and going from England. Working with both lawyers and trying to have plans to cover any number or variables. The mental or physical state his friends might be in. The way they would react or what they knew.
Two weeks ago she had quietly handed an envelope to Blaise. In it was a couple dozen of the countless photos she had taken of the two boys. At rest and at play. Flying, eating, laughing, and even sleeping. Doing a little bit of the magic they had finally started actually practicing with. Both were scared of their magic and what would happen. It was the source of most of their physical punishments in that house of horrors. They had come a long way. Grown so much and she couldn't see how either man would be disappointed with their son. Or their heir, if she looked at it that way. Their manners were excellent and they knew as much as Blaise and his mother could teach them. Her too, Italian and Wizarding customs has been her most intense topics of study here.
Flying was a close third. The boys loved it and wanted to be able to fly like their dads. It was all she could do to keep finding new ways to teach them and challenge them. Then they wanted her to learn and so she had. No quidditch for her but she could fly around with them when they wanted to go on longer flights and Blaise wasn't there. Her thoughts were derailed when Scorp shifted and she looked down to see those eyes blink open and small smile touch his lips. Then it fell and he looked solemn.
"Blaise still coming?" He asked her and she nodded.
"Trays dad is out." He said in a whisper and she tried to smile.
"I'm sure he is. Blaise would have come last night if something was wrong. He didn't and that's because he stayed with him." Was her answer and Scorp nodded.
"My dad Tomorrow." It was as quiet and she knew she was going to cry. The first tear fell and she knew the frown was because she was crying.
"Tomorrow Scorp. I don't know how much time they will need. When you first came to me we took some time to just read and sleep. Eat and get stronger. They will probably need it too. So we will have to be patient." She said quietly and he nodded. Then he nestled into her waist and she hugged him as best she could in this position. Pop.
"Master Blaise be here Miss." Treacle said and she could see from his posture that Theo's magic could be felt and he had maybe seen his master. The elf was as tall as he could be and she smiled wetly at him.
"Alright. Thank you Treacle. We are coming." When the elf popped away she looked down at Tray and his eyes were on her.
"He didn't come." The voice was as quiet as Scorp's had been and she didn't try to smile. Just watched his face.
"Did you hear what I said to Scorp? He will need some time. It wasn't nice where he was and I don't know if he needs to recover a little bit or it will take a few days. He might want to make sure Draco gets out too. If it was Scorp somewhere and you had to wait two days to make sure he was alright, you would. Before you came to see me." It wasn't a question, she knew it was true. He nodded reluctantly and she reached down to push his sleep tousled curls away from his eyes.
"Do you want to come?" She asked them and gave them both a squeeze. She felt Scorp shake his head into her waist and she felt another tear fall.
"Alright. You can have breakfast in here if you want. Just ask Snitch and please tell him if you decide to go for a fly. It looks pretty nice out. Soak up the sun boys. It's cold in England. Wet and rainy I'm sure." She shivered dramatically and Scorp looked up with a frown. He didn't like being cold.
"Charms though." He said as if she were silly and she nodded. It was easier to smile this time.
"We will have to use more of them certainly. Stay in the garden areas, even if it's not on your brooms." She said and Tray nodded seriously.
"Breakfast room?" He asked her and her heart panged at the question.
"Yes. I'll go now so I can tell you what I find out." She understood his imploring look and the two hugged her before they left the room for theirs next door. To change and probably come back here to eat. They liked her room and she didn't mind. It had been more in the last few months. Since they got the actual hearing schedule. It had to be done and she wanted to know, needed to know how it had gone. How Theo was, everything hinged on their stability. For the boys anyways and that was enough for now.
"Bella." Blaise said when she climbed the stairs to the main floor. He was waiting for her where he usually did. Except he wasn't lounging against the wall as usual. He was standing straight and then he looked behind her.
"They aren't coming right now." She said in answer and his shoulders dropped. She gave him a second and then took the arm he offered her. Once it would have felt uncomfortable to be in her sleep shorts and t-shirt while was in slacks and a tailored shirt but it wasn't now.
They say in their usual place at the long white rectangular table and he poured her a coffee. Knowing he was composing himself she just waited and fixed him a plate. Then thanked the air and fixed her own. Smaller than usual, her anxiety was rising the longer it took for the Italian to speak. Hermione didn't look at him but waited. Sipping her coffee after the press had its allotted time and he poured the perfect dark beverage into the cup he had prepared for her. They had done this countless times now. He was often here for breakfast if he couldn't be for any other time and it is was familiar. It wasn't comfortable today and she nearly jumped when his low voice spoke.
"Plunkett was there, when he went through processing and told him the boys had been abducted." He said quietly and she closed her eyes. Then she put her cup down and breathed slowly.
"Is he alright?" She looked up at him then. Needing to see what was on his face. Anger. He was angry and she felt better. It wasn't tortured anger either so Theo wasn't broken.
"He's alright. Not great. Thin and tired. Thank you for the pictures. It was a good idea. He didn't begin to believe until he saw them and then I called Treacle. That helped too. He is sleeping in my bed right now. I'll take them to the Den tomorrow." He said and she relaxed back into her seat.
"They don't have to go there. It was just an offer." She said and meant it.
"I think that's best. I've warded my flat as tight as I can but it's a flat. It's also basically a bigger box and I felt like you did when you tried to tell me how important it was for the boys to be out. Feel the sun and rain." He was so emotional and she felt her fondness for him increase yet again.
"Whatever you think. The boys want to know how he is. Could he write a letter this afternoon, maybe?" This had been rolling around in her mind if Theo didn't demand Tray come to him immediately.
"I told him that it was better if Drake was there too. If both of them were there and he made a snide comment about not wanting to be shaking when he met his son." Blaise's smile was small but hers wasn't. She grinned at him and he gave up on pretending to eat. So did she, wanting to let him speak.
"Five years of parole. Their estates back after a year and international travel after two. There is more but it's all on the papers and you can read them later." He said and she knew he was adding information and simultaneously putting off what he personally wanted to say.
"When I told him you had them. That it was you that had abducted them and then a bit of why. That was like tinder Bella. His eyes came back to life and he demanded to know why you felt the need to do that. I didn't tell him much. I'll wait and tell them both but it was enough. He showered and then ate. Not much but some and he looked at the pictures a dozen times. Didn't say much but he told me that he would rather sleep until Drake was out." He smiled a bit then and she pushed back her chair and pulled at his arm so he would stand. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I'm so glad Blaise. For you and him. For Tray too. He didn't say Draco was any worse than him?" She asked into the chest that was breathing heavier than usual.
"Said he was torturing himself but that he was alright." Blaise squeezed her tighter and she let him. Just waited until he was ready and had the chance to compose himself.
"Let's eat and then I will go home and watch him sleep. I'll send the letter with Treacle." He said into her hair and she nodded. When they sat and looked out she could see the two boys on their brooms. Nearly at eye level now and they were starting their drills. Both liked to be able to judge their progress and nearly every day they did their hour of practice. Often more but this was the minimum.
"Brooms for Christmas." She said and he chuckled.
"Again?" He asked her in a drawl and she didn't react to his needling.
"They have met the criteria. Scorp caught up to Tray in height and they have gained the ten pounds since Easter. Both have the control and they need the acceleration for the next steps." She replied with dignity and put jam on her piece of amazing toast. Gia did something to the bread that made it like clouds with the perfect thick but soft crust. It was one of the reasons she made sure to keep at least half as active as the boys.
"Nearly there Bella." He said quietly and she looked up at him. Their shared glance was one of shared responsibilities. A shared burden. Of trust sort of. Different but the same and only they could really understand how important this was.