There she was. Relief and trepidation swept through her in equal measure. Letters were something but seeing her face was better. The happiness there was enough to make her eyes prickle. It was lonely. Felt as if few understood anything about her life right now. Sabrina though. Hermione knew she wanted to talk about it and in person. The trial dates were up and her brothers was in eleven days. Rowle's in thirteen. They were averaging two a day, three days a week. Now that the Wizengamot was functioning again.
Hermione slid into the booth and looked around. This had been an abandoned building but an American witch had come in August and decided this place needed a diner. More people came here now. As if it was a memorial or something. It was cozy though and she felt safe enough.
Sabrina reached over and hugged her. It wasn't long but it was only the second one she had initiated and Hermione just squeezed her and then released slowly.
"I've missed you. It's so good to see your face." She admitted and Sabrina smiled wanly at her then looked her over carefully. Hermione did the same and thought it alright. Then she thought of something and focused again.
"Let's drop the Glamours for a second. Just Quick. Please." The last was tacked on at the reluctant expression and it fell, then a nod. She counted to three and then watched as Sabrina dropped her glamour. It was back up quicker than hers and she thought about it. Not bad. Bags under her eyes but not deep ones. She smiled and Sabrina did too.
"It's healing nicely now." Sabrina offered and Hermione gave her own wan smile. She only wore glamours one public now and it was less shocking since she seen it more. Harry had pointed out that in his mind it was still worse than it was.
"The elves make sure I lather it. My arm too though that's not fading any faster." She admitted and Sabrina just looked at her. Nothing to be embarrassed about. The girl had declared this and then demanded to know what shame there was. She had fought back and won so in the end those marks were just that. Evidence. It reminded her of something she would have said years ago and thought there was some truth in it.
They ordered and talked about school and the house until it came.
"I can't believe you found a couch like that." Sabrina laughed a little. They had dreamed up what they wanted and Hermione had set off to find it. Only the colour needed to be charmed.
Sabrina looked pointedly at her wand hand and then waited. Hermione cast wards and nodded.
"What's going to happen?" The words were direct and Sabrina kept cutting up her steak sandwich. Having discovered the treat during one of their muggle forays.
Hermione didn't stop stirring her soup but did meet her eyes.
"Stolford sat me down and explained as best he could. He said it could be up to six years." Hermione watched the emotions pass across the younger witch's face and then it blanked. Only the blue grey eyes looked at her with anguish. She nodded and didn't try to smile.
"Kings made a comment about an apprenticeship filling my time and those are two to four years so maybe that will be closer." Honesty was all she had to give Sabrina to hold on to.
"Are you okay?" The witch asked her and she did smile a bit at her concern.
"Yes. It's scary but until we know I'm trying not to let myself think about it too much. Studying helps and Blaise has been good at dragging me to lunch or shopping. That's how I found the couch." Watching some of the tension leave the younger girl was worth her even response.
"I'll write when I know anything else." She offered and Sabrina accepted that which surprised her. Having expected more questions.
"Your turn. How is school and please don't pretend that academics is all there is. We went over most of your first semester." Sabrina huffed and chewed her sandwich before answering.
"Some parts are good. Better than I thought. The younger kids are starting to speak freely or more so which is loud but normal. I think it was normal for them to yell and play games. We've decided to leave the common room to them until nine or so and then demand quiet or at least no yelling. Claudia and I have been using that spell so we can talk in our dorm. Josiane and Jane aren't upset either and have been pretty nice." So it went on. Not all good and not all bad. There had been comments and sneers. Nothing else and nothing truly hurtful. Just shots at her being ashamed or dementors which she assured the girl weren't a problem. This was not the first time she had asked.
"I've been trying to write a letter. It's harder this time." Was the next important word uttered and Hermione couldn't help but still at the comment.
"If you do then that's wonderful and if it's just a piece of paper that says I love you in your writing then that's fine too." Hermione thought this fair. Not wanting to force her to write but knowing she wanted to say something. "Please remember that even if it's only a few, they will get visits and you can write. Eventually go if it's a family visitation ruling." Sabrina looked up at her then. Surprised.
"He wouldn't like it, I know. If you need to though then he will accept it. You are the most important thing. Your being okay and living." Sabrina reared up then and Hermione handed her a handkerchief and then began speaking about Zavi and Patter teaming up to get her to have breakfast in bed.
This time she took a minute between visits. Josh had been more closed than before and nearly business like. It was a meeting and not a visit though he asked about her and Sabrina. It wasn't comfortable and she could clearly see his need to have everything he could set up. If he didn't get visits or something went disastrously then he wanted her to know what she needed to and have what she needed as well. She hadn't cried and that was something. He seemed heartened by her acceptance and attention to what he was saying.
Now Rowle and then home. To a hot bath and to cry. Then study until she had to attend the trials. Now though, she had to do this first. Austins watched her and she knew he wouldn't comment. When she lifted her chin and turned to him the question about a guard came and then she pulled open the heavy metal door.
He looked relieved to see her or his shoulders relaxed anyways and his grip on the chair arms lessened. The look over she got was different to the intent one from last visit and she knew this would be different as well.
She sat and made herself not cross her arms.
"Is she alright?" The question seemed sudden and she nodded. Then she thought it out and began speaking.
"Yes. Some comments and looks but it's better than she or I expected. School itself isn't a problem and she talked mostly about people speaking to each other and asking questions in class. As if it were silent for a whole year. It's heartbreaking to think about. Personally she is sleeping alright and feels better now that she knows some good privacy wards. I had to sign a form for Flitwick so she could use them in the dorms." He nodded occasionally and she just kept going. Nearly everything she knew about how the younger witch was doing. Minutes later she stopped and pulled two pieces of paper from her pocket. Slowly she slid them across the table and he watched her hand.
Rowle flipped it over and she watched his face for a moment before looking away. It was private. His relationship with his sister and his feelings about her. Not her business. Not this way at least. Sabrina was smiling at the camera in that Gryffindor hoodie and holding a brownie sundae. It was a happy smile and she was casual. No make up and her hair was down. Just Sabrina. Hermione didn't know what the note said but it wasn't long by the length of time he read it.
When he pushed it back to her she looked up and his eyes said keep it so she nodded her agreement and then sat back. His lawyer had been two days ago so there wasn't any of that.
"Other than whatever your lawyer has, is there anything you want me to do?" It felt brave, offering and stupid. The last time had led her to tying her virginity to him.
"He's got it all. Some for you too if you want to but don't do it if you don't. Sabrina can do what she wants of it too. Once she is of age." She watched his somber face and didn't know what to say. Almost wanting a task or something.
"I shouldn't have suggested the rights." He said after a minute of silence. Her eyes snapped to his from the stones behind him and she just stared. What did that mean?
"I'm glad you have Sabrina and she is way better than she would have been if you didn't but it's a long time." He broke off at something that showed on her face. What it was exactly she didn't know and it probably didn't matter. She took a breath.
"Please don't. I appreciate it. That you've considered me but it's hard enough right now without apologies. It's what I have. Where we are." She forced the words out and slumped after.
"Tell me about what you do. How is life at the Dale?" He suggested after a reluctant nod and she tried to think of what to say.
"It's me and too many elves. Patter and Zavi mostly but they are ever present. Except when I hike or whatever. I'm not sure if they follow me when I leave the house but I did call Zavi to take some potion ingredients I found back to the house and there wasn't half a second before he was there. Didn't answer me either. I could probably take my NEWTs now but I've been brewing and trying a few things. My transfiguration was rusty and unimaginative but it's better now. Andromeda is really good at it, I didn't know that before. She's been great for that and Kings likes history of magic so that's at least one person to talk about that with." She chattered on when he seemed interested and stopped when she felt like she was just going on.
"No one your age?" He looked curious and she shrugged.
"I hang out with Blaise a couple times a week. Cultural exchange. Muggle London for the Wizarding high life. It's entertaining. Andromeda is letting me watch Teddy for a few hours at a time until I work up to being comfortable with sleep overs. He's fun and having a baby around it totally new for me. And Harry too." She wasn't sure if Harry would want to be mentioned so she left out any details.
"Teddy?" He looked amused now and she smirked.
"Edward Remus Lupin is a charming metamorphmagus of six months." He chuckled at that and she grinned.
"He is the cutest. His hair flips colours and sometimes his eyes too." Her smile fell at but when he sobered.
"Will there be visits?" He asked after another uncomfortable silence.
"Theo and Draco got them. Two or three in their terms." She answered and he looked her over.
"I heard he got less than a year." Was the eventual response and she gave a curt nod. Ten months.
"Say something witch." He nearly growled the words and she met his eyes squarely then. Not knowing what he wanted her to say.
"Anything would be better. Anything. Aren't you angry?" He asked her. Seeming angry himself. She watched him breathe heavily and accepted this a difference between her brother and him.
"Yes and no. It feels unfair to me. Like I'm being punished which is selfish and juvenile but I'm only eighteen or whatever I am." She watched him flex then nod at her to continue.
"I got sick the night Stolford gave me what he thought the max likely. I was scared and panicked but then I thought about falling in love or something. It was horrible and I've had some weird nightmares about it too." He relaxed at that and looked as somber as before. She slumped too. Looking at him. This man that eventually she would marry. That seemed real enough now though it hadn't the first time she had come here.
"So you're just going to do what? While you wait for us." He asked her and she shrugged. Then he frowned and she felt defensive.
"I don't know. I'm sure I can find things to do or places to go or whatever. The house business will take up some of my time and I'll volunteer or maybe apprentice under a master. I don't know." Her voice was strong at the beginning but small at the end. His face softened and this was more a conciliatory nod than a demand she continue.
"Just don't put your life on hold. Anymore than it already is." She looked him over. Trying to see something of who he was.
"Maybe I could figure out what happened." She ventured and his eyes snapped to hers with a different alertness.
"My magic was bound in some way and it took Lestrange trying to kill me with the cruciatus to break it." His interest was piqued, she could tell and he looked thoughtfully at her. Scanning her appearance. After a minute she accepted that he wasn't going to request she drop the glamour.
"Seems like a serious binding." He commented after a moment of silence and she nodded her agreement.
"I've been thinking of heading back to the Black family library too. I wanted to look last year but we were busy." His wry smile was not amused but she returned it anyways.
"That's one way of putting it." Was the low response and she didn't want to make the mood even more tense so she tried to smile genuinely. It didn't work but he raised a brow at her.
"I don't know what most people know is possible. No one seemed to consider what had actually happened with him so maybe this is similar. Just a case of finding a der of circumstances that fit. Even if it seems impossible." Hermione held his gaze so he would know who she meant and he looked curious. One day maybe.
"Magic is a tool. I used to think it was a gift but now I know. It's what you use it for." She watched his face and wondered at that. It was the most complex concept he had referenced with her. It made her relax too.