Andromeda had been right. Clothing could be armour and now she needed it. Obnoxious Wizarding flashbulbs went off and the puffs of smoke they caused had created a haze above the heads of the crowd of photographers. They weren't aloud in the courtrooms but had followed her to the doors two days ago too. Today she wasn't as filled with dread as she had been then. Two and a half years had been Josh's sentence and Stolford had assured her that he didn't expect much more for Rowle. It was half of the six she had anticipated, so the relief was profound.
The clothes were more important since she sat alone then and today. Daphne had offered to come and she had been firm. No. Josh wouldn't like it and it was needless press for the witch. Sabrina has been a different matter though and Hermione knew now that she had been right. This wasn't anywhere she needed to be. So Hermione sat in her robes and with her hair in controlled ringlets down her back. The robes were comfortable and lovely. They had been their House Blue last time and today they were a burnished gold. It felt as if she were wearing a costume but she knew it was the right thing to do in this situation. The elves had been overjoyed to have their Miss wear traditional robes.
The doors closed with a low sound and people moved to their seats. They had enough for the Wizengamot to function but as they had been sentencing the members or their heirs it was many more empty seats than usual. The press bench was full but quiet and she was dreading what their quills would scribble. Josh and her had absolutely no interaction in the war. Rowle was different in that way. She was sure it would be sensational.
Three hours later, she knew that sensational was definitely the word for the articles that would come out of this hearing. It was better and it was worse. Josh has been busy managing snatchers nearly the whole year where Rowle only answered for specific events. There weren't many either and she wondered what he had been doing in the long gaps between them. The depositions only contained the answers to questions they had been asked under veritaserum. Not pleasant but not the whole truth either. It never was. There wasn't time to piece together each person's full term of the war. Just answer the charges levied.
"We will deliberate." Charles Macmillan was interim Chief Warlock and had presided over the trials since they cobbled together the needed members and began the long haul. Hermione turned her attention from the bench he had led the trial from and scanned the room. Noticing who had what expression and what she could from the people present.
Kingsley was sat at the Ministers bench beside the tall table Macmillan had been seated at and he caught her eye. It was a level look and she knew it was a reminder to keep her chin up. Her small smile reassured him, she was alright. Alone and feeling small but alright. Better than she had been two days ago. Josh's stoic mask had been so difficult to watch and the long look he had given her was nearly crippling. As if he didn't think he would see her again or she wouldn't be there when he got out. Something like that. All she could do was meet it and let her determination show. Only the swift head shake indicating Daphne wouldn't be there had got any kind of positive reaction. An equally curt nod.
Rowle had watched it all with interest and more observation of the room than her brother had. Looking back at him now, he was looking at her. She smiled grimly and he raised a brow. They could all do that so well. His eyes scanned her then and she knew that was his comment on her traditional attire. A small eye roll was her reply and he didn't smile but she thought he would have if so many weren't watching. Then the face sobered and those blue grey eyes looked as grim as she had felt two days ago. A small shrug was all she could answer. It was what it was and they would have to deal with it. A small nod was his reply and she settled back into the bench she was on.
Minutes passed and then the wards blocking sound from the Wizengamot benches lifted and they were all seating themselves again. Macmillan climbed the steps to his raised desk and looked around before speaking.
Hermione listened. Three years. Her insides squirmed but she kept her composure. Two visits a year, it was less than Josh she thought, then listened to the rest of what the man said. It wasn't much. A statement of the Wizengamot's commitment to fair and just trials.
Her eyes flicked back to Rowle, who was looking down and then she waited. Hoping he would look at her before he was taken from the courtroom. He did and there was less to see than she had expected. All she could do was keep eye contact and not show any of her feelings. It was hard. Hard to look at him and know that even if she didn't know him, or love him, he was it for her. Thorfinn Rowle was hers and being sent to prison for three years. A firm nod and certainty were all she could do when the Aurors gripped his upper arms to turn him away. Maybe he nodded in response or maybe it was her imagination.
Knowing people were watching her, probably more than him, she didn't turn away or leave the room through a side door. Hermione sat therein her gorgeous robes and kept her emotions in check. She could go home after. Cry or yell or just crumple but now, it was time to show them who she was. Proud and strong. Andromeda's words ran through her head and Harry's too. To be her and proud of it. It was enough to keep her back straight and nothing other than heightened colour on her face. The dirty blond waves disappeared through the door behind the defendants chair and she just waited. For people to begin to leave and release her from this.
Impatiently she counted fifteen Ministry members leave the room before she stood and slowly walked out of the tier or seats and down the stairs. At the door she met Kinglsey, who had obviously timed his exit with hers. They shared a glance and he nodded at her. She just gave a single nod back and left the room. Down the hallway and into the full lift. Meeting no one's eyes and not looking down. Then it was the bustling atrium and she watched people move out of her way. Then she stood at the floo and took a single breath before calling out her address and stepping into the rush of flames.
"Miss is home." Zavi was waiting for her and she gave a nod.
"I can't stop now. Sabrina is waiting and if I do, I'll cry or something. I'll be back." Then she grabbed another handful of floo powder and called out the Headmistress' office floo address and waited for the rushing fireplaces to stop. Then she stepped out and waved her hand over herself. Cleaning the soot off before she looked around.
It wasn't a minute before the door to the office proper opened and Mcgonagall stood there. Her smile was small but Hermione appreciated it and entered at the gesture. Sabrina was there and Hermione wondered how long she had been waiting for.
"Three years Rina." Hermione spoke quickly and before she had sat down. Then watched the mask crack and emotions flit across her face.
"Okay. That's okay. Better than we thought." Sabrina was looking at her for confirmation and she nodded.
"I should have gone." Sabrina sounded anguished and Hermione kneeled in front of her chair.
"No. He wouldn't have liked it. Today would have been harder for him if you were there. When you come of age, you can go. We only get two a year so you won't miss many." The girl looked stricken and she could only meet her eyes.
"I'm sorry Hermione." Sabrina meant it and Hermione bit her lip to hold in the tears.
"I'm sorry too Rina. Right now it's not as much help, that it could have been worse. We can do this though. Two years of school and this one has extra vacations. Then we will travel or something if we don't know what else to do. I've got my exams in a couple months and you will be home for a week. Then it's Christmas. That's nearly half a year of plans and things to keep us busy." Sabrina nodded absently and then met her eyes again. The next nod was firmer. More determined.
"Dinner is going to begin." The usually strict voice was gentler than expected and both of them looked to the poised witch behind her desk. Hermione nodded.
"I'll write tomorrow and expect one too." She said and Sabrina smiled weakly at that. They wrote often and it was a frequent request from one to the other.
Five minutes later she stood in the floo room again and Zavi was looking at her with uncertainty. All she could do was look around the huge empty house. Then she took a step, then another. By the stairs she was running and the sound of her heels clicking seemed ridiculous.
Pushing her monogrammed doors open she began taking these stupid clothes off. Angry and upset. Her mind was full of thoughts and her chest hurt. It would be months before she saw Josh and half a year before she seen Rowle. March. Fall and winter would be over. Spring would be coming and that seemed forever away. The first tear fell as she stood in her underwear and bra. Standing in the middle of her gorgeous room, with clothes on the floor and feeling so alone.
Minutes passed with her arms around her chest as the silent tears turned to sobs and then she opened her eyes at the small pop.
"Miss has a bath. Zavi takes you." The small elf was beside her when she looked down and the little face was creased with worry. His ears were drooping and Hermione wished she could display her emotions so easily. All she had was a crushing weight on her chest and tears.
The bath was hot and she did relax, knowing then that elves had poured potions into it. Her tears didn't stop but the sobs did and eventually she got out. Waiting for it to cool was useless when she knew it would be kept the same temperature unless she requested differently.
Patter handed her a towel and then a dressing gown. It was soft and warm. She smiled her thanks and the elf just pointed to her room.
A small tray sat on her desk with a vial on it. She could tell from the slowly swirling pink liquid that it was a calming draught. A moment of thought had her picking it up and downing it before she climbed into her huge bed. The elf had warmed it and she closed her eyes. Tears slid down occasionally and twice she spelled her pillow dry before she finally fell asleep.
Granger,
I'll be by at four. No excuses and if you don't look like a goddess when I get there, you will when we leave. So be ready.
Blaise
Hermione hadn't looked at the letter again but knew it was still under her pile of Arithmancy papers. It was three thirty and she had petulantly left it there at ten this morning. Her scoff had been I observed but her mood hadn't been. Zavi had been leaving small treats for her all day and hadn't made her stop for lunch. His concession to her needing the distraction.
No one was letting her barricade herself away. Andromeda had come and she had gone there in the last week. Harry had done the same and they had a few dinners at Grimmauld after a day of his training. That was it though, now Blaise was demanding her. Probably because she hadn't written back to his two more considerate letters.
"Miss should goes." Zavi spoke after a quiet pop and she looked at the elf. Hands on hips and ears straight out. Stubborn creature.
"I know. I will. I am. It's just that I don't want to." The elf nodded at that but didn't change his stance. She smiled slightly and stood. Leaving her study materials for tomorrow.
Blaise was standing in front of the same window as before when she arrived in the floo room. He looked up and his face changed. Having expected her to be in jeans or even pajamas it looked like. She wasn't. Her dress was simple and black but fit her well and her hair was good. Or so she thought anyways. Patter had promised that her feet wouldn't hurt with the charms she had cast and her cloak was over one arm.
"I made a reservation. Let's Go." Was all he said after his perusal of her and she nodded. A moment later the two were standing in a muggle alley. That didn't smell very good at all. She looked her question and he gestured grandly to the exit leading onto a street and she accepted his arm with all the pomp she could manage. A hand wave transfigured her cloak into a coat and then took his hand.
"How did you make the reservation?" Hermione asked him quietly as they walked toward the small restaurant that had almost no branding except the single word on the door, Caparzo's.
"Used one of those standing phones and got the numbers from that book you gave me." He smiled at her smugly and she laughed. He had asked how muggles knew where to go and eat if there were so many choices. The explanation of ranked dining and the book had been answer enough. Of course he had chosen Italian and she was pleased. A nice warm pasta would be just what she needed.
Hermione charmed two pieces of ID in her wallet and didn't laugh at Blaise's dumbstruck look when they were asked. It was funny though and through her giggles, she explained the legal drinking age and he looked appalled.
Half an hour later the two of them were consuming an antipasto plate and she was waiting for the small talk to end. It wasn't like him to go on for so long.
"What should we do then?" She looked up from the bruschetta she was carefully balancing on a triangle of toasted bread and met his eyes.
"What do you mean?" She asked and then popped the delicious mixture into her mouth. He sipped his wine and then met her eyes squarely.
"Exams. Mine are a week after yours so that's December. Then Christmas. I'm sure you make a big deal of it. January though, what happens then?" He asked her. As if she had answered for him.
"I don't know. You can do whatever you want." He looked at her with surprise and then put his wine glass down and smiled a different smile. It was all for show.
"Oh no Granger. You are stuck with me now. Theo was right. You are a brilliant witch and so nice. Now you are in a place without clear goals. I don't imagine that's comfortable for you." The fake smile fell and he are a slice of salami.
"It isn't." Deciding she could wait for her ravioli, she sat back and picked up her own wine glass. Then she considered what he had said.
"You want to do something? Together I mean." She asked him and he just scanned her.
"I'm hoping you have some ideas. If I don't have anything to say to Mama then she will demand I take over a hotel or something." He rolled his eyes and she laughed at his serious tone.
"That's not a bad idea. Is it a nice hotel?" She asked him and he just laughed.
"They are nice Granger. There is three, mine is on the Amalfi Coast. Private residences with a main building. Ballrooms and amenities." He answered and she blinked. Then smiled.
"Why not do that then?" She asked him and his look said it all. Boring.
"I'm sure it wouldn't be Blaise. Unless it runs itself perfectly." He nodded and she did too in response. Less fun if you weren't actually needed there.
"So you want to do something but have no idea what and you think I have some crazy plans that will be better?" She surmised and he agreed then they accepted their plates and for a few minutes they were silent.
"This is good. I had no idea you could get genuine Italian food here Granger." Blaise was impressed and she smiled smugly at him.
"The chef is probably Italian. You could ask to meet him later, some do that." Then she knew from his eyes that he wanted to get back to his point so she took another bite of the heavenly combination of cheese and vegetables while she thought it over.
"I don't know either." She admitted and his glance was sceptical. She looked down and continued. "I don't. I've had some thoughts but I'm not sure. An apprenticeship seems the most logical choice and I would like a mastery. Charms or potions. Runes too and arithmancy. Any of them. The war took everything. It feels like it. I know it's ungrateful but nearly three generations were consumed." She stopped then and met his eyes. He was twirling linguini onto his fork and watching her. A nod. Not agreement but keep going. She had learned a lot about Blaise in these past months.
"There are a few and two have even written. I can't though. Bond myself so tightly. I want to be able to do things with Sabrina and Teddy. The family business is a part time job and Macs said I could do more of it once I know enough. Josh said I don't need to but it feels like all I can do for him. Be her. Me. You know?" She asked and he nodded. This time in clear understanding. He had asked her the most about what had happened. Other than Harry. Seeming to want to understand her choices and thoughts. Why, she wasn't sure but he answered her questions too so she didn't feel like it all went one way.
"I read the mail the managers send and attend the meetings they request me to." He said it like he was making an embarrassing admittance and she smiled at his discomfort.
"That's not enough though." He said after a moment and she agreed. It wasn't enough for her or Blaise.
"Let's think about it. I hadn't thought about doing something with you or anyone else. Professionally or whatever." His smile was gloating then and she wanted to throw her napkin but knew this wasn't the place. So she sent a soft stinging jynx as his ass and watched him jump then chuckle at her laughter.