Tomorrow. She would file the papers in the Records Department of the Ministry tomorrow. Tonight she had to talk to Harry. Ron of course too, but it seemed more important that Harry know and understand. His reactions were more important to her. Ron probably wouldn't like it but Harry, he might understand. Or he might not.
They were in the living room and Mrs Weasley only smiled and gestured her through after a scan to as retain that she had returned in the condition she left. Nothing had changed visually but the name on her vaults had changed and tomorrow the ones on her files would change too.
"Harry. Could I speak to you for a few minutes?" The three looked up and she could see the curiosity and surprise there. That was direct but she had no reserves left and felt raw. What she had to say made her feel even more unsettled and just speaking was difficult enough.
"Yeah. Of course." Harry stood and led the way out of the room and then the house. Walking toward the hill by the quidditch pitch. Hermione just kept her head down and tried to figure out how to say any of this.
"After Dumbledore. Before we left. I went to open a vault." She started and then just kept going. He listened and neither of them looked at the other. Just walked and she talked. Then she stopped walking though didn't look up.
"I did what he said and went to the bank. That was scary as hell. I wasn't sure what they would say about the dragon or breaking in. I felt an inch tall while they looked me over and there were more spears there than during any other meeting I've had. Eventually they taxed my vault ten percent and I have to give a deposition on how exactly we did it. That won't be given to the Ministry. Maybe it will be better for you and Ron though, when you go. They already had it out with me." She finished and then looked up. He hadn't made a sound and was staring at her. With the goggle eyed expression that he did when she had done something incomprehensible to him.
"Mione. Holy shit. You signed a contract to be this girl and marry Thorfinn Rowle so you could go live like a fugitive with me?" Hermione laughed a little bit and then more. He didn't though and she caught his bright green eyes and sobered.
"I already was this girl Harry. I did agree to tell people and acknowledge it. The betrothal contract. I told you what he said. It didn't seem like the chances for all of us living through this were very good." He gave a firm nod at that. Understanding what she meant and the last year had proved it. They nearly hadn't. She nearly hadn't.
"So they are in Azkaban. What does this mean? And explain your parents more. You obliviated them and sent them to what you said and it was clear that you didn't want to talk about it." This time he nudged her shoulder when she didn't reply right away and she tried to swallow but couldn't. Eventually it worked and she opened her mouth. Not looking at him.
"I had already planned to obliviate them but it wasn't the permanent version. It had side effects and can be reversed. True oblivation can't be but they genuinely won't remember me. No dreams of feeling as if someone is missing. They adopted me and didn't tell me. Even when I asked they didn't want to talk about why or how. I seen no magic when I did the obliviation and they agreed. After I told them everything. I didn't tell them that I was going to do it regardless but they chose that. Not knowing forever instead of maybe remembering one day. It was hard and they were sad. So was I. I'm glad we talked about it though. I had just planned to do it. Not considering that they might be willing to leave without me. Not remember me." He had an arm around her now and didn't speak. Just hugged her for a long time.
"We've got each other Mione. Hermione Rosier. It's not terrible. At least it's not Malfoy." He gave a weak laugh and she slapped him gently on the chest in reprimand.
"I thought that too. Before I knew who it was. Just a flash but it's funny that you said it too." She admitted and they both laughed more genuinely at that.
The last two days had been awful. Her scale was not a stable one bit this was as bad as she had feared. The day after she had filed the paperwork it had been on the front page. The facts. Who she was and when she had signed the paperwork. It was enough for every possible explanation to be speculated on. The night before the morning edition had spread her personal business all over the country she had told the Weasleys. The responses were mixed and she didn't fee like they were treating her differently. Until this morning when she told Molly about the six months living at the Rosier Estate. The woman hadn't been pleased and derided the younger witch going to live alone. Hermione wasn't sure how she felt about it but it was the least unpalatable of the contract stipulations.
Andromeda had written her and Hermione had been surprised. With the loss of Tonks and Remus it was with her that Teddy was living. That she was concerned enough about Hermione to write and invite her to dinner had been heartwarming. Now they sat together sipping tea and waiting to see if Teddy was actually going to fall asleep. It had been nice. Quiet and peaceful with the baby around. He was three months and adorable. With hair that cycled colours like his mum's had. Both women had cried but not in a helpless way. Just remembering and hermione thought that Andromeda was relieved to be able to speak about her daughter and even Remus. It was a look into their lives that made her miss them more. For Teddy though, they had to be able to speak about them. For Andromeda and her too.
"Will you explain the particulars of how this happened?" Andromeda asked her and Hermione looked away from the pile of wooden blocks on the floor. Knowing what she meant and feeling like this was something she was tired of repeating already, she gave the quickest version she could. The witch looked thoughtful and she could see the resemblance to her sisters and even Sirius. Then those grey eyes were on her and Hermione wondered what she was being measured for.
"Will you do it? Or merely fulfill the obligations of the contract?" Hermione blinked at her and then frowned. Not understanding what she meant.
"It is clear. You will live under his name and marry this man. You've accepted that or so it seems. Will you also give him a chance? Both of them? Or condemn them and yourself to a life bound by contract agreements instead of real personal familial bonds." Twice Hermione opened her mouth and closed it. Andromeda held her eyes and there was challenge there.
"Why are you asking me this?" Was finally what came out and some of her frustration was clearly heard.
"Enough families are broken Hermione. Hear me out. I'm not putting the weight of all of that on you. Just considering you living a life of duty only. Without the joy or happiness that you might have. I do not know this young man. You must, there was more than one contract surely." Letting her indignation fade away and trying to see what the witch meant, she decided that listening to her advice wouldn't hurt and probably would help. She felt like she needed it. A rudder for her sinking ship.
"There were four. I don't know him well. He's the same age as Josh and they are close. Not kind but not malicious either. It was Rowle, Flint, Justin Avery or Nott." Hermione didn't try and hide her emotions from this witch and was sure her opinion came through.
"I assume there is prior history with Nott, aside from your having killed his father. This was well before then." Trust Andromeda to lay it out there and so politely. Said as if it was an ordinary activity instead of a freak turn of events and insane situation.
"We spent some time together. He made it clear that he would not risk his House to a witch like me." The wry twist of her lips caused Andromeda to chuckle and then laugh openly.
"Did he say such a thing? Merlin. His father was equally unable to filter his superiority. Flint is understandable and Avery. I do not know his sons. Except Christopher, he was in Nymphadora's year." It was commonly known that he was the best of the lot. Or so it was spoken of at school. The gossip trees were ever in bloom and what had come before was as discussed as the younger siblings upcoming or even births in the known families. It had been disconcerting and taken her some years to come to terms with. Not empathize but accept, at least a little bit, that these people were of such interest to the others. Family ties and business ones. School ties and even house ties could be enough for immediate relevance.
"Yes. There were unsavoury rumours about him at school. More than Flint but he frowns all of the time and quidditch. That's all I know of him outside of his cursed teeth. Brutish and surly. Theo, it was recent and even if they all think my background lessening and me incapable i'd prefer it be speculation." She trailed off and then let her level stare indicate the truth of that.
"Certainly not Hermione. Perhaps Nott was stupid or his brainwashing had gone further than most. I can assure you that a witch of your capabilities and of no relation is a boon to any House. I have heard you spoken of recently and before at lunches and teas. Were it not for your open association with Harry and the looming war there would have been much interest in you. Interest shown instead of speculated about. You might find yourself relieved that you've a betrothal contract when the unmatched sons come sniffing around." Hermione was aghast at the dry but serious tones of the last sentence. Surely not.
"Andromeda. First a challenge to try and actually form relationships with my death eater brother and betrothed then this. What do you mean? How do I make it stop?" Her voice was rising and suddenly she caught sight of the blanket folded on the chair beside her and quieted. Then pulled her wand and cast muffliato around them and muttered her apology.
"Tell me about him. Rowle. His father is dead, dies six months or so ago. I know nearly nothing else about him. He was older than be by several years." The witch put in and at that Hermione thought about Rowle and what she knew.
"He's the sort that likes a reaction. Spill your ink or pull your hair. They are two years older than me so I don't know much about classes or anything." She thought about that and then remembered something. "His sister. What will have happened to Sabrina?" She asked the rich and watched her sit straighter and look concerned.
"How old is she?" Andromeda asked and Hermione felt selfish for not having considered her.
She was a fifth year last year. Four years younger than him. Ravenclaw. Merlin I hadn't even thought about her." Hermione let her plea into her eyes and the witch gave a nod. Then there was that challenge in her eyes again.
"Perhaps your next stop should be the lawyers. I'm sure it's in your Gringotts paperwork somewhere." Hermione nodded absently and then looked at the witch carefully and wondered what else she meant. As if the older witch knew that Hermione couldn't absorb anymore at the moment and had enough to think over, she turned the topic to the rebuilding and what they knew about the Ministry.
As she sat in the waiting room of Stolford and Tassels She looked around. It was quite full and she had seen three people go in during the ten minutes she had been waiting. The reception witch had squeaked her name and then blushed red and stuttered over Rosier. Hermione just indicated she would sit and had been since then.
"Miss Rosier." The baritone voice called from an open door and she looked up at the older grey haired wizard with a long ponytail draped over one shoulder and nodded her assent. Seated in his office and having denied her need for tea or something else she began speaking at the expectant look on the lawyers face.
"I have two concerns and then perhaps you could tell me what else I should be concerned about." There was a small smile in appreciation of her self deprication and then he was waiting for her to continue. "The first is Sabrina Rowle. She is underage and her paterfamilias is in Azkaban. Since it is listed as filed here, I'm sure you know about the betrothal contract." The man blinked at her and then looked to the stack of folders piled neatly on the corner of his desk. Perhaps he didn't know. Interesting. A moment later he held out the folder with Charlotte in intricate cursive on the front cover. She held it for a moment and knew it would need her blood. Before she could summon her knife the folder glowed gold and she felt the pull on her own Magics. There was another question answered. Bellatrix had broken whatever was on her magic. She could think about that moment another time though. Trying to hide her shock, she handed the folder back and waited. Then his eyebrows raised as he flicked through them and pulled out one that was glowing a dull gold. No doubt the active one.
"This looks to be in order and all the contracts will update now that this one has been ratified. The Gringotts copies no doubt have but they are in vaults and rarely opened. The ones filed with the lawyers require ratification." Hermione thought that over and wondered at her brother's making her sign that contract and then just waiting to see how it went. That also answered the brush off she got when she asked if this would alert people to her being found.
"I see. So this will be public as well?" She asked carefully and didn't appreciate not being told what would happen. He looked as if it were business as usual so perhaps it was another of those things that everyone knew, except her.
"Not public but the lawyers will send out notifications to the three families with contracts that had been awaiting ratification. So they will know that you have signed one. Your intended is incarcerated and without a head of house. Would you like to petition for rights to this? He would need to sign it. That brings up visitation and representation. I have no right to petition to represent your brother without the summons from your House." Hermione nodded her acceptance of this information and considered.
"Is Visitation something I could do?" She hadn't thought it a possibility and wondered why it would be now.
"There are old laws regarding a dependent of a House without access to an acting Paterfamilias. I'm sure the type of betrothal will be enough to see you have access to Rowle. Now, shall we make some decision and begin some of the long and tiresome processes that will eventually lead somewhere?" He looked at her with expectation and all she could do was nod. Then she straightened her back and made it a firmer one.
"Yes Mr Stolford. It seems we have much to do and I would appreciate your explaining as much as you can. I haven't the benefit of being raised with these customs or the training I'm sure that I would have received." It was hard to admit this in this way but she needed help and Andromeda was right. She could do it, or actually commit herself to it. Accept that this was her life and do what she would have if this wasn't forced on her. It hadn't been or it didn't feel much like it right now. They had compromised and won through.