Hermione wasn't surprised to see Theo by the door, the boys were going to fly and the sun was trying to peak through. Christmas was next week and just the sight of the sun was enough to get her hustling them outside.
"Is it alright if I come?" Theo asked her and she knew he meant that he wasn't planning to fly.
"Of course, sometimes it's lonely out there by myself." It was, less since they had come here but she had watched them fly alone most of the time for a long time.
They got the flag set up and the boys ready to go and then counted down together. The two younger ones were grinning at them when they kicked off and for minutes Theo and her stood together before she wanted to sit facing the sun and so conjured a bench and then changed it to actually be comfortable.
The wizard was watching her curiously and she made a grand gesture for him to sit down. Theo's smile was small but she thought it a victory none the less and even more so when he didn't sit at the very opposite edge. Taking that as a sign that maybe he wasn't totally tense and deciding to try, it couldn't really hurt, she took a breath and then made sure her voice was as casual but sincere as she could make it.
"Is there anything I can do? Or anything you think I should know?" Nothing came for a while and she watched the boys zig zag around the flag, as if they were diving or racing to grab a snitch. It was funny and it was easy to just wait, even if he didn't answer, she had asked and that might be enough.
"It's going to be ugly I think." His quiet tones weren't a surprise and neither was his answer.
"Surely. If we have to push through that way, basically lobby and then once we get a hearing, spill more than any of us would like." The plan wasn't comfortable but it didn't really risk anyone unduly either. It gave the lawyers something to do, all three of them, and a bit of breathing room before any of the public parts came into action. Nothing more was said for minutes and she wondered if that was it. He had spoken to her and they were alone, so it was encouraging.
It was easier to just talk to Draco, even if it was often combative in some way. There were looks too, glances that made her sure she didn't quite understand some of the undercurrents around her.
"Would you prefer to take them back to Italy?" Theo's question did surprise her this time and she waited to see if he would say more. Then she looked away from the boys and to the obscenely tall dark man beside her.
The blue flecks in his eyes showed clearly in the noon winter sunlight while she thought about the question and what it might mean.
"Now?" She finally asked, unsure and unwilling to answer if she didn't understand. Remembering the question and answer during the first big conversation the four of them had.
"Yes." The word felt like a blow and she could only stare at him. Then she was angry and still uncertain of how to respond. The steady way he was looking at her demanded an answer though and so she took a breath and tried not to yell or hiss.
"No, not without you two. To take him away from you? Why? Because we were lazy and unwilling to be publicly questioned? That we might have to admit our lives were so bad at times that it was barely comprehensible. That maybe the four of us had to put those two boys before our own wants or needs. If you don't want to fight for him or aren't willing to be questioned then we will pretend you are and I'll just fight harder." Something shifted in his posture then, what it was she had no idea and he didn't answer. After a few seconds she finally turned back to the boys and smiled at them, they were watching her and stationary about a hundred yards from them.
"Have you said anything to them?" His question was quiet and it came what felt like a long time later. She wished she could tell what emotions she could hear, a glance showed her nearly nothing and Theo was watching the boys as they headed for the quaffle on the ground.
"You will have to be more specific." It was all she could say and it took a lot of effort to keep her voice calm and her posture from tensing again. The boys were flicking glances at her.
"About how they came to be." The flat tone was emotionless and she didn't look at him this time.
"No, they've never asked me and neither Blaise or I actually know for sure." That the boys had never asked made this easier to answer and it was her firm decision not to bring anything up until they did. They asked her about a lot of things and it was normal for the three of them to just talk about whatever and for however long it was on their minds.
"I don't know how to say it." This time she did look over at him and he was so tense that she reacted before thinking, resting a hand on the closest shoulder to her.
"No one will answer the question. They are yours and that isn't a question thanks to Gringotts. How they came to be is immaterial." It was all she could say and she just waited. Not staring at him but touching him and she didn't know what to do or what to say, if she should say anything else.
"To him?" Theo asked and it took her a second to understand he meant Tray. Thinking about telling Tray, telling him that something like being imperiused had been what happened or even the concept of a Revel, she could imagine.
"Don't think about it now. We will find a way to explain when the time comes." Slowly she let her hand fall and sat further into the bench after she whispered her answer and a bit closer to him. Feeling like he needed some contact but not knowing how to do that.
"I haven't been graphic, but they know a lot about me. They've seen my scars and how else would I get letters on my arm. The term even, I used skin colour to make a comparison. That people might think or even just agree if forced, that someone's skin made a difference in their value. Muggles have fought over things like this from the earliest records and we were in Italy. The seat of the Catholic religion so they've learned about differing beliefs some. I'm not religious but I do understand enough and some of the differences. We went to museums there and to some famous sites. I hope they never understand what war is, what it does and what people can do. They know enough as it is." It was hard to speak like this, try and be open but this was about the boys and even about them. It was their lives and their stories, how they came to be here and who they were. That was fanciful but it felt as true now as it ever had.
"I wish I understood more of that. What you said makes sense but I don't have the context." Theo's tone was more analytical now. This was more familiar ground for her and he was more relaxed than he had been.
"Would you like a verbal lecture? Easier with books and maps." This time when she looked at him he was looking down at her and there was a small smile. Interest too, or she thought so.
"Could you give me a broad overview of what religion is? I mean the basics of what it means to be religious, you said you aren't." They both looked to see Scorp fumble a catch as Theo made his request and the blonde barely snagged it while sagging off his broom.
"That's hard, it's so complicated and varied. In essence it is the belief that the world, or at least humans, were created by a larger being. God, he has many names and there are countless variations but that's how I explained it to the boys." This felt like trying to explain gravity or something, before there was an explanation.
"This causes problems?" It was asked slowly and as if Theo didn't really understand, which was fair. It was also something to talk about and he had asked a question.
With a small smile she explained that people didn't like it when they were told they were wrong and someone else was right. His low chuckle was welcome and she tried to ask a few questions too, just to see if he would answer and what he would say. Clearly Theo was thinker and she remembered his few but excellent questions in classes.
This time Blaise and her sat side by side on his couch and stared at the floo. Harry was coming and this time they had a bit more to talk about. The flames whooshed and she didn't tense even though Blaise did.
Only one person could come through and it was clearly her friend. It was his lunch break and so he didn't have his robes on and had a sandwich in one hand.
"We've got lunch." She protested and he looked between them and held out his arms. A quick scan from each of them and he tossed the sandwich onto the side table closest to him and the two of them stood and headed to the laden table. Harry day when they did, no extra movements and it didn't seem as if he really thought about it.
"How are you?" Harry asked her right away and she felt better about this. Wondering what he had been thinking but he seemed more at ease this time.
"I'm good. Excited for Christmas. You?" He scooped pasta onto his plate and accepted the bread basket from her. Gia had gone the route of Italian lunch, family style and it felt good to sit here with these two. Close friends of hers and it felt pretty relaxed.
"Good. I got the robot you suggested for Teddy and hid it from Arthur when he asked about it. Ginny gave me a look but it won't work Christmas morning if I let him and Teddy definitely won't. I got him one of those light brites, you remember them and he took it there one day. Had to buy him another when Arthur tried to charm the light to pulse in time to music." Both of them were laughing when Harry finished and his small grin was welcome and she felt only satisfaction.
"We made a magical one. Or Blaise and I did and the boys helped me do the research. Not actually but on the wall and we made all sorts of plants and animal shapes. I'll send it, figure out how to get it moveable you can have it for the little guy. Later of course but we could make more things for it." Harry looked to Blaise and so did she when her friend raised his brows in question. .
"It's awesome. We made different pictures and scenes, Dragon fights too." Blaise said easily. She smiled when Harry looked between them and decided to get to it.
"So Plunkett said no." Was what she said and other than a quick glance Harry just kept eating and she decided to just keep talking.
"We've had a plan, of course but it's less private then we would like. Basically we are going to force them to give us a hearing." Harry did look up at that and then between them.
"That's your plan?" Harry sounded as if he didn't believe it and she grimaced and gestured to Blaise.
"It is if we can't get someone to release the magics. The seal, do you know if it's a new one or the original?" Blaise asked. Harry was thinking now and he ate another bite before answering.
"Thank Merlin those two cant leave the country for two years or you wouldn't come back." His tones were amusing in that he sounded disgusted and thankful at once and Blaise only nodded.
"I don't know, I assume you two don't know if people actually knowing breaks the magic?" Harry was looking between them again and she answered without thinking.
"It didn't when its was me that knew, or he fixed that right quick and then Blaise. Maria was in Italy and their government only knows the boys names and ages." At this she looked to Blaise who shrugged.
"So we are going to approach a few people, the lawyers are, they can't speak of it with people who don't know but Draco and Theo can, I can too. You could too Potter." At Blaise's last words, Harry sat up straighter and Hermione didn't know what to say but had to say something.
"That's the public route. Basically shouting what has happened, even about the seal. It's more publicity than we want for them though and I don't know if it would fix my part in it." This was the truth and she felt bad. In a way she was the problem and that was hard to swallow.
"Are you guilty of kidnapping?" Harry asked this as if he didn't know the answer and neither did she.
"That depends on whether to Ministry actually had custody and what those agreements were. If they were voided by the boys treatment then no. It depends on if they were standard agreements or something heinous that was cooked up under the old regime." Blaise answered in a low and frustrated tone. This wasn't pleasant and Blaise blamed himself for it.
"Or the one right after." Harry pointed out and seemed to be ignoring the strained tones in the Italian's voice as well, taking her cues.
"Exactly. So we don't know and so we are going to try and have it dealt with legally." Harry caught her eye and she met his directly as she spoke. Could see his question and she could only shrug. What could she do? She wasn't sorry and it had been the right thing to do.
"What can I do?" At Harry's question Blaise nearly sagged beside her, it was subtle but she could see the tension release in his shoulders and she wanted to roll her eyes at him.
"I don't know yet. What do you think? I've been gone and you know your superiors better than me." She watched her friend eat and then his eyes met hers.
"Stevens is useless. Obsessed with his desk and the little plaque on it." Harry said and both Blaise and her were nodding their agreement.
"Trustin though, he's assistant head." Hermione didn't know this man and looked to Blaise. Her dark friend was looking at Harry and thinking.
"Didn't Macmillan bring him in from the US?" Blaise's question got a nod from Harry and she felt out of the loop. She was out of the loop, two years of almost no information wasn't good for being able to make plans.
"Yeah he did. What do you think?" Harry looked between them and she could see him planning. Making an action plan or at least considering it.
"It can't hurt, or I don't think it can." Blaise said and she looked between the two men. Their eyes were locked and even just seeing them scheming together was so reassuring. If they could get past their shit then she thought they would get along fine. Even if Harry and Draco never did, these two could.