This time it was with a different sort of unease that she turned down a guard for the visit and entered the stone room. From the beginning it was completely different. His eyes were on her before she turned toward the chair and she sat and took a single breath before lifting her chin and meeting his grey blue ones head on. Curiosity and defensiveness. That was all she could see and she might have been reaching. Both were logical in this situation and she reminded herself hysterically that he didn't know anything about her or this whole thing. She had picked him in about three minutes though and made a decision that would change his life as surely as hers. This could explode or they could muck along. It would depend on him and how he reacted. There was only a contract and duels between them.
She had obliviated him and he had been tortured until it broke. By the same witch that cursed her. It was a lot and this seemed more her fault than the situation with Josh. Then there was Josh and whatever that would mean for this situation. His alert posture and state made it clear that she would have to speak.
"This is hard to say and I don't know where to begin." She paused for a moment and he cocked his head slightly and she could definitely discern the curiosity there. He was assessing her now and differently than before. Like she wasn't a threat but he had no idea what she might say. Those eyes missed very little and she had rarely been able to hide embarrassment from him and he had delighted in it. Making her blush or stutter. Instead of discreetly cursing him or ignoring him.
She didn't interact with him often and he wasn't around enough to be the bane of her existence but he did take any opportunity presented to torment her. He was to be avoided and never stationary in the same place if it could be avoided. After his graduation he had played a season of quidditch in the leagues and then it had been cancelled due to the war. Everyone had bemoaned it, BC that had been a bit funny. As if quidditch and its players should be left out of the conflict. They had better things to do. Clearly not. Both her brother and this wizard had played a single season before circumstance had given their secondary occupation their full attention.
Now he was waiting for her to speak and becoming more interested, the longer she took and he nearly leaned forward when she bit her lip. Damn it. Deciding that speaking was better than slowly falling to pieces in front of him and that it might break the eye contact he seemed to be holding was the final straw.
"I opened a vault at Gringotts after my sixth year. My blood matched an open vault. Long story short it was Josh and he let me go with Harry last year in exchange for signing a contract. Stipulating that I would acknowledge my family and name, where I would live and that I sign one of the betrothal contracts in abayance." Hermione broke off then. Having got enough out for the moment she let herself take a breath and then realised she was still looking at him. No eye contact though he was staring at her. Having always been less polished than her brother, he didn't look as scruffy in comparison but he did look more knocked around and she wondered how he had cut his knuckles.
"You are Charlotte Rosier and upon being found, you picked me." The lack of belief was clear and she didn't know what to say for the moment so waited. Hoping he would begin to assimilate the information. His hair was what she remembered as shorter than his previous length of past his shoulders. Now the dirty blond strands fell just above them and she wondered if he had a hair tie. He had liked to pull it back at school. He was good looking. Not handsome in the traditional sense but a bit rugged. Now that they were sitting here facing each other, she noticed and she didn't like it.
"Yes." She replied honestly and let herself bite her lip now. This was taking longer than she thought. They only had forty five minutes. His eyes snapped to her and she was relieved even if it made her uncomfortable.
"Why are you here?" The words were curious and he was looking at her with a wholly new expression for him. As if he didn't know her at all. At that she let her lip go and felt better. Even if he wasn't reacting in a way she would have expected, his mind was working and that was needed.
"Several reasons. What brought coming here to my mind as even a possibility was the thought of Sabrina." It got a reaction as she had known it would. Younger than her brother by years, it had been clear that he doted on her. Even just in passing she had seen him walk her to class or with her in the library sometimes. It was cute, even then. Their size differences comical, though the witch had grown into quite a tall young lady by the time Hermione had left school a year after him.
"What about her?" She could see his control now. It was appreciated and she didn't blame him for looking away. The emotion that had shown was uncomfortable.
"I don't know exactly where she is and until Josh mentioned that she was probably with your aunt, I didn't know where she might be at all. If she needs help or someone. I'm going to the Dale, I think that's what Josh called it, for a while and am happy to look in on her or have her." She felt more confident about this. Sure that if it was best for his sister then he would indicate she do something. For now she was willing to take his lead on this.
"You want to look after my kid sister? Why are you going to the Dale?" He seemed reluctant to ask questions but she had come here prepared to answer things about now. Eventually he would come back to himself, she was sure and he would become more demanding.
"If she isn't better off where she is. I signed the contract and at the time I didn't think there was much chance of us all surviving. We did though so now. It's going to be my life. And yours. I'm sorry about that." It was a pathetic apology and when she looked up at him she expected to see derision but instead he looked as thoughtful as she had ever seen him.
"I have no idea what to say to that witch." She accepted that and looked her inability to say more. Hoping he could read that she didn't know what to do in this situation. Nothing if that was what he wanted for now.
"If you mean it and are willing to petition for custody then you could try it. I'm not sure who is making up the Wizengamot now or if they are doing regular business." Her heart beat a little faster and she was sure he could see her flush a bit at his suggestion that she try and get his sister. It was a compliment of sorts and she felt a bit flattered that he thought her capable of looking after her. Then her shoulders fell and she thought that over.
"It would have to go through the Wizengamot? With the trials that could take forever. As far as I know they don't have enough confirmed members to stand a full panel yet." She thought aloud and he nodded and looked resigned. Then she had a thought and looked him over. He seemed pensive and as if he were considering possibilities still.
"Is there another way? I haven't been doing this long at all but there seem to be ways for things to be done. If you know they are there." Hoping he understood what she meant.
"There are many ways to do things. Your right about knowing they are there." He had been thinking but now his eyes were on hers and she was a bit caught up in her own thoughts about how she could find out what they could do or about this witch that had her now. It had been a consideration but now that she knew he would rather have a girl that he had tried to capture have custody of her it was more real and alarming. Eventually she realised his silence and focused on the eyes looking her over in a different way. She wasn't sure what the change meant and felt a bit frustrated at not knowing either of these wizards well enough to be able to use the cues that she could see.
"Just say it." Finally she spoke and he gave her a look she did recognize then. Speculation.
"Are you a virgin?" He spoke the words seriously and she was sure that she looked ridiculous. Frozen with her mouth partially open but she was surprised and then realised he was seriously asking her and it didn't seem to be a joke or taunt. They had been talking about his sister. Closing her mouth she met his eyes and nodded. He just stared at her and then his eyes were scanning her again. In another new way and she felt as if she could do nothing but wait and hope he would explain the need for her pink cheeks and embarrassment. Not having had sex wasn't embarrassing to her but speaking of it in this way was. So directly.
"If your willing then you could use the bride rights." She was watching him avidly and waited for him to continue. His face told her he was waiting for her to comment and she made a face and then he chuckled at her. She scowled and the laughter faded but he looked relaxed now. Even stuck to his chair, he was nearly sprawled out.
"You picked me. Why?" It seemed as if it had sunk in maybe and she didn't know what to think of his sudden relaxation and interest.
"Best of a bad lot." She shot at him and he smiled genuinely at her. It was a nice smile and she tried not to return it.
"Who was it then? How long do we have anyways?" His head toss to the door explained and she looked at her watch.
"We have about twenty five minutes. Flint, Justin Avery, Theo and you." Being the Centre of his interest in an essentially bare room was not comfortable and she couldn't imagine what he was thinking.
"Flint and Avery I can see but Nott?" He stressed the last name and she looked for something in his eyes. Not wanting to be embarrassed. He gave a short nod of encouragement and she decided that if she would have to marry him then she might as well try being honest. She wouldn't be able to hide everything from him if he ever got out of here and probably not if she saw him regularly in here. Someone coming to visit would probably be welcome, anyone would be better than solitude.
"Theo made it clear at the end of sixth that I may be brilliant and pretty but he couldn't imagine trusting his house to me." Her voice was casual, as if it were just news of rain tomorrow. Trying to negate the issue but he didn't buy it and she wasn't surprised. The grey blue eyes focused on her and she felt stuck in them.
"So in a fit of pique you disregarded him and I got lucky?" He seemed incredulous and as if he didn't understand. Though not upset or anything which was surprising.
"You seem strangely okay with this. I expected anger or something. I was sure you all expected to be able to pick your own brides if I didn't sign before coming of age." Her question was serious and she didn't expect his snort of derision.
"The next one on the list of proto contracts you mean. Not me I guess since my pater died and Nott too will have his choice now that he is without one. The rest will simply put forth the contracts that were in readiness." His tone was easy and as if this were all common knowledge. She just looked at him. For him though. She had taken his choice.
"You expect me to complain? Josh got his sister back which is hard to believe. Your witch enough for me and you aren't being a total bitch about everything. Not yet anyways. If you want to make it up to me then I'll let you. In many ways but first you could tell your lawyer than you want to invoke the bride rights and take care of Sabrina." He had been speaking normally even, a bit suggestively when he mentioned making it up to him. By the end though, he was serious and she could only nod once at him.
"Assuming I can and it's not horrendous then I will. Can I summon an attorney for you too then? Will it give me those rights too? It's all very complicated. I've got some people helping but I don't know what to do. NEWTs too eventually and I'll have to send in my denial for returning to school." She was thinking aloud now. Feeling more settled now that she had seen both of them and made at least a few decisions. Go to the Dale and speak to her lawyer about the bride rights.
"Is the Wizengamot way the petition?" She asked and he indicated she was right and then she sat back in her chair. Not knowing what to say.
"How's it been?" He asked and she met his eyes for a moment before looking away.
"It's bad. Better than losing would have been but it's not good." She admitted and he seemed to understand a bit of what she couldn't say.
"Is that why you are going to the Dale?" He asked and she looked up at him. He was intent on her and she shrugged in response. Maybe. Sort of.
"Can you tell me about it. I know nothing and Josh didn't seem to want to speak about it." She asked and felt relief when he nodded but that wasn't what he said.
"Is he alright?" She knew he meant her brother and smiled genuinely at him. Trying to convey her reassurance. Not sure the last time they had seen each other or the circumstances.
"Yes. I think so. Not so perfectly manicured but seemingly mostly himself. Wouldn't say anything about you and I'm sure enjoyed my uncertainty." He chuckled at this and she could see further evidence of his relaxation and she too let herself relax as he began listing off facts about this place they called the Dale.
"It's in a deep valley and there is a river right beside the long patio. It was charmed when we were kids so we couldn't fall in or even swim. There's a huge library off the south end, I remember you being fond of books bigger than you." His jibe was lazy and she wrinkled her nose before listening to him explain about the staircases she should use and to ask an elf named Salty for one of his brownie sundaes.