This time he was looking up when she entered and he smiled slightly at seeing her before it fell and he looked concerned. She groaned a bit. Clearly her attempt at an easy smile had failed. Sabrina told her not to bother but she didn't want to worry him or anything. It felt like she was a burden.
"The Dale is lovely. Thank you for letting me go there." This was true and she wanted to make sure that she said it right away. Didn't let it get lost in the visit somewhere.
"It's yours as much as mine." He tried for flippant but she could see emotions there and smiled gently. A real one.
"I love the loft area in the library and I've found some good spots outside." She offered and then sat down. Feeling awkward again.
"The corner?" He asked and she nodded.
"I'm glad you are comfortable." It seemed a question and she answered as if he had asked it.
"I was staying in the purple rooms for nearly a week and I didn't want my suite. I woke up in there on the seventh day and the elves were so happy. They are a bit more combative than I had thought. Happy to have Sabrina there too." His eyes flashed at her and she knew he would speak now. Like she remembered.
"Explain." The demand was terse and she didn't like it.
"Sure I'll explain since you asked so nicely. I asked Rowle and he said I should try and get her but the Wizengamot still doesn't have enough members and they are a mess. So he suggested the bride rights." She lifted her chin in preparation for whatever he might say to that. She had known that she would have to say something if she wanted to pull out any of the articles and couldn't explain having Sabrina without it either.
"You invokes the bride rights?" Hermione internally enjoyed his level of surprise. This was completely unexpected it seemed and she let herself grin wryly at everyone's surprise that she could do so.
"Yes. The talk has been scintillating." She let her smile fall and he gave her an understanding nod. The brown eyes so like hers seemed to be looking her over carefully and she just waited.
"Has it been worse than you expected?" Appreciating his phrasing she thought that over.
"No. The speculation about me is unpleasant but Sabrina seems to have been largely left out of this and few know anything so the Death Eater thing hasn't been eclipsed by the he tried to take her to the Dark Lord line. Kings says at least some of it will be known so I am not sure if that will actually happen." She admitted and then sat back. Having told him the most important things. There was only one thing left and she wasn't sure how to approach it but she felt that she couldn't without his leave. Or something similar.
"Can I contact Daphne? Or should I?" Just blurting it out seemed her only option and the look on his face was nearly unreadable. Only the tightness around his jaw gave away his agitation.
"Why?" He asked through clenched teeth and she tried not to react to his demeanour.
"If you will. Eventually. After. Then I want to know her, and it seems rude. To not acknowledge her." She kept eye contact after he caught her gaze and waited.
"Send an owl. Asking after her and her family, then the response should tell you." He paused and she just kept still. "There will be an invitation or something if she wants to see you. When you do. I'll sign the papers if she wants that." It was choppy and she was sure that there was a wealth of emotion underneath his mask.
"I'll do that. I seen her the day after. At the school, helping. Thank you." She meant for answering but the look he gave her was derisive and she tilted her chin in argument. Eventually he broke eye contact.
"Did you bring papers?" He asked and she nodded before pulling out the handful of articles that Sabrina and her had chosen. Interesting or even a bit funny. Not the cruelest ones or the darker themed of them.
Hermione looked at her watch and knew they didn't have much time.
"Can we use your duelling room or would you rather I set up another?" It was password protected and she didn't want to break it or even try to without his consent. It was his house.
"Use it. Scales is the password. The whole estate. I want you to be at home there." The last sentence seemed pulled from him but she smiled gently at him and his eyes said at least some of what his words didn't.
"So I can paint the loft? I want a soft cream on the walls and could I add some plants? Me and Sabrina were talking about having a room done in our house colours to hang out in." She stopped abruptly. Realising that she was rambling excitedly. She looked down at the expressionless face but when she looked up to wave away her words he was smiling or it wasn't a frown even if it wasn't wide and nodded twice.
"What did Thor say?" The question came with two minutes left and she shook her head at him. Not having offered because he was so unhelpful before.
"He wasn't difficult about it. Maybe today will be different. He's alright, asked about you." She met his eyes so he would know she wasn't lying. Everything was fine and everyone was too. Alive anyways and not seeming to have lost their minds.
"I can imagine." His smirk was disconcerting even as she welcomed the typical and remembered expression.
"The bride rights. Tell him that I want at least a dozen. He will know what you mean." The smirk was an honest grin now and she tried not to grin back.
"Better not be witches if Sabrina is home." She chided and he sputtered as the knock sounded on the door. This time she did what she wanted and reached slowly for his hand. He was chained but she watched his face and it was shuttered. Closed and she could see nothing. He didn't pull away or indicate she stop so she kept her speed and eventually her hand gently squeezed his before she gave in to her embarrassment and bit her lip before smiling shyly and standing.
"Could you ask Stolford to contact Macintyre. He will know and you should meet him. Bring someone." His eyes were penetrating and she nodded her assent.
"Alright. I'll be back." It was all she could say and when the door closed, she leaned against it and looked over at the Auror recruit who had brought her. He had been threatened with everything from dismemberment to being turned into a toilet scrubber and she had just tried to remain impassive beside Tomlinson. He has written her and asked if she wouldn't mind being the first assignment. Kingsley had assured him that she didn't actually need the protection and she had agreed.
"You alright Granger? Rosier. Sorry." He blushed under his coppery shock of hair and she smiled and then chuckled at his flustered demeanour. All day he had been tripping over his words and blushing but he had performed the duties correctly.
"I'm alright Austins. Which door this time?" She asked and he pointed to the last one on the left. He was looking at her with something else now and she nodded her encouragement. Thinking he would ask if she wanted a guard. Instead he asked something else.
"You can't want to marry him." He blurted out and she didn't say anything. Just looked impassively at him and watched him sputter.
"Ask me if I want a guard Austin's." She instructed and when he did, in a halting voice she just said no and opened the door. She pulled it shut on his apologies and closed her eyes for a moment. Leaning back against the door.
"What happened witch?" Her eyes snapped open at the voice and she looked at him. Excepting the number of buttons done up on his chest, he looked the same. Except the other hand was the one with marks on the knuckles.
"Auror trainees first assignment. Can't keep his mouth shut yet." She admitted and he looked to the door and then back to her eyes.
"Alright?" He asked and she nodded. She was. It was just that everyone asked questions and made assumptions. Even people she hadn't met until today. Who didn't know Rowle either, as far as she knew.
"Sit down then, and tell me what you've found out about Sabrina." These two weren't much for saying please. Still she obliged and then didn't know where to start so just began.
"She is home with me and doing well I think. Why didn't you tell me the woman was a complete horror? Have you met Walburga Black, or her portrait, before? I assure you that they would get along famously. Both delight in telling me that I came from the gutter and using the word tramp." His chuckle interrupted her ramble and she stopped speaking.
"I thought that. When you had left last time. Only I thought it would only be polite to warn her you were coming." She nodded her agreement and laughed a bit too.
"Sabrina was surprised to see me. Laughed at the scorch marks on the gate as we left too. I think she is settling in okay. At first she didn't want to leave the house but we have gone out a few times now. Has she always delighted in parsing newspapers?" He was listening to her and at the end of her words this time, he relaxed visibly and she did too. His ease making her feel better about Sabrina.
"Yeah. Loves them. Probably not the best right now. She's alright? I didn't think she was there that night but hadn't seen her since Christmas and even that was only a Hogsmeade visit." The eyes on hers seemed a bit desperate and she was glad again that she had gotten the girl and it was all nice and legal. No one could take her or really do anything to her. Even at school Hermione would demand to be kept abreast of what was happening with her.
"We've Just started casting together and practicing things. She wants to try dueling and I'll let you know how that goes. There is some emotion in it when she talks about using magic against others. Last year was bad. I've asked a few people and it seems that no one escaped unscathed unless they were the ones doing the hurting and most of them were hurt too. Everyone is. Mostly she is okay. If that was my sister I would consider to be just that. Hasn't wanted to see any friends yet." She finished her brief assessment and he looked at her with curiosity and interest. She couldn't see much else.
"So you did it then. Invoked the rights?" It seemed casual but there was something in his tone that alerted her.
"Yes. Let me tell you that being betrothed to you caused a sensational surprise. Having been labelled a tramp at the most polite since my fourth year it isn't as easily believed that I could invoke the rights so speculation is reigning. That I could even more than that I might actually do so." She admitted and waited to see if he would ask anything else about this.
"The magics worked then. What happened?" The question was surprising. Why wouldn't it have worked.
"I made the oath and then signed again under my name. The signature turned silver and I felt the hook. Into my magic. That's the best I can describe it. I can feel it now." His eyes caught hers then and they were intense for a moment before he looked assessing again.
"You did it. Merlin witch." The last was disbelieving and she sat up straighter at that.
"What should I have done?" She asked, getting agitated.
"No. It's just. Not every witch would do that. Even if they could." He looked as if she should know this and her temper flared at the insinuation.
"So another thing that I don't understand then? What idiot have I made myself this time? Go on. Do share." He sat up straight at the heat in her voice and the sarcasm there too.
"It's not wrong." He protested and she seen him try and shake the hair out of his face for the third time. She huffed and tucked it behind his ear before sitting back in her chair and making an expansive gesture between them.
"Do explain. If you deign to." His eyes flared at that and she kept her posture. In that moment she was done with feeling stupid.
"It's a significant offering. One it is clear that we don't deserve. You tied yourself to me." He sounded as if he were trying to keep his temper. Which she appreciated and she took two deep breaths in and out before replying.
"I already signed a betrothal contract." She pointed out. This hadn't seemed like such a big deal. Except the invasion of her privacy.
"That said you would marry no one else. Not that you would marry me by a specific date. Or even that you wouldn't sleep with anyone until we were married. None of that was in the contract. Just the ironclad magically binding promise to marry no one but me." She tried to listen and understand. That was different and she met his eyes again.
"Alright. Well I did it and I'm not sorry. Sabrina is worth it and I don't think. It wouldn't have been good for her to be there until school starts." She didn't want to say anything about her not having a wand or being dressed up like a doll. It was over.
Several things showed on his face and the eventual reply was a scoff. It didn't sound derisive but as if he was exasperated with her.
"I'm glad she doesn't have a contract." She broke the charged silence and he looked away from her. Shoulders fell and he shrugged.
"It was all I could do. Just be happy. I'm sure she is already better than she was. Have fun." He seemed serious and she nodded. Then didn't know what to say.
"So assuming I get out of here, eventually. You will be waiting for me." It was said as if he wasn't sure but it wasn't a question.
"We could see what the papers would say if you got out and didn't fulfill your end of this medieval bargain." She shot back. Wanting him to be less uncertain. She didn't like it. Knowing it wasn't who either man was naturally. He looked at her and then chuckled lowly and seemed to relax back into his chair. She did the same and decided to ask a few questions.
"Is there anything else you want me to do? Or that Josh won't ask me to do. And could you explain anything about what I should know before dealing with Daphne Greengrass? I'll ask Andromeda but you know Josh." His eyes looked her over then. Assessing, and she waited it out. Sure he was looking for anything other than sincerity. For Josh.
"There are a few things but most can wait. Call the elves and give them something to do. Even if it's just maintain the tower. Then won't like being left alone and Sabrina, even you, being waited on my other elves. They will have felt the magic tie you to me." She listened and wondered why Sabrina hadn't mentioned it. Nodding she settled further into her chair and checked her watch. Fifteen minutes.
"Josh doesn't talk about her much. Be polite and do as he asks. I'm sure he offered to sign. I'm also sure you won't be able to help being sincere. I doubt she will trust it so go with your gut on getting through to her. The sister is cattier and Sabrina doesn't like her I don't think. She might be worth asking, being there last year." Hermione nodded and listened as he rambled about manners and protocol if the witch decided to react that way. It wasn't until she was standing to leave that she remembered what Josh had said.
"Josh says you owe him a dozen. I told him it couldn't be witches if Sabrina was home." She grinned and his laughter followed her out of the visiting room.