They were sprawled around the big formal room downstairs. It could be a sitting room. It was far too big though. Narcissa called it a reception room and it had been chosen because of the massive area in the ceiling that allowed them a twenty foot tree. It had taken more than one day to decorate and many had stopped by and participated. It had been busy but mostly casual since the two had come home and it had also been a release.
She needn't worry so much when they were home and both had chosen to have their friends here so that was comfortable for her. She had met Adelaide Avery on the platform and they had exchanged a few polite letters about the boys. The witch had come through and been interested in the few minutes she stayed and then the two boys headed for the staircase speaking quietly and she left with a small smile. So Corbin Michaels came here for short or long periods in the days leading up to Christmas.
Now it was the three of them with a few of the guests that had come early. Harry, Ginny, Blaise and Kingsley. They were on furniture or the floor and occasionally chucking wrapping paper and tossing a quaffle. Even hermione had played pass and they had opened presents by the huge tree with smiles and laughter. It was more comfortable than she had thought and Sinclair sat beside her and grinned. It was his first one, shared with her and she returned it. Another happy memory from today. Elf's popped in then. Three and all of them looked serious.
"Time to be's getting dressed." Zavi pronounced and Hermione slumped. Getting a gimlet stare from Patter, she stood and smiled at them.
"Come on then Hermione. I picked her dress and it's perfect for Christmas." Sabrina was up and a few laughed at her before they headed up the stairs to change. It was half an hour later that they met in the room again and no one was throwing things.
"It's clear you didn't pick that Hermione but you look beautiful." Kingsley smiled down at her and she grinned at him. He had been fiercely proud when she stopped using her glamours and the papers had gone mental. Close ups of her neck and arm. She was pleased that the floo chimed and they all went to greet the sisters and Teddy. Who was the star after his arrival in an adorable set of tiny wizards formal robes. His hair flicked colours in his excitement and he liked the paper on the boxed until he unpacked Sinclair's gift. A flying dragon plush that flashed colours when you pet it. He was entranced and she ignored the look Harry gave her and stood to take a picture. She had been trying out wards and protections on muggle devises and this one had worked in the three weeks she was using it.
"Zavi. Someone come and take a picture." He said lowly and the elf popped in. She thought he hadn't even popped in as she heard nothing.
"Miss did show Zavi." The elf said and she smiled at the memory of the elf watching her and then her offering. It took a few minutes but the elf had taken a picture of her smelling a rose and he had been proud of himself.
So she went back to the floor in front of the tree and watched Teddy hold it up and then roll over and watch it change colours. There was no obnoxious smoke or flash from the camera and she hoped it turned out. The solution should still work to make the two seconds of movement. Then they all stood in front of the tree and got a more formal photo. Harry caught her eye again and this time she knew what he meant. He wanted a copy and she smiled at him. Their long talks about family feeling closer than usual today.
It was time for dinner and they all sat along the oval table charmed to fit just them and watched Teddy chew on a piece of bun. The conversation was easy and quiet until she heard Sincliar's voice.
"Oh yes Miss Daphne. I'll show you after dinner. I've ever so many books now and there are shelves for my broom." He wasn't shouting but was excited and Daphne smiled then caught her eye and looked around. She had been quiet and watchful though participated and Hermione wondered what she was thinking. All the adults were interested in school and Harry's auror training. It was more happiness than Hermione had expected. Sabrina had cried this morning after she had come into her room early. Some things were hard and they just had to deal with it. She missed her parents too and last year had been so hard.
Hermione wondered at the change in temperature. It felt balmy after their walk up from the apparition point. January wherever this was felt arctic. Feeing the warming charms on her release due to the wards, she took off her gloves and waited. They talked to the warden and were checked in and then climbed the stone stairs.
Her first thought when she caught sight of him was that he wasn't chained and didn't look as grim as he had at his trial. She looked him over and thought he might be thinner or maybe she was looking for it. He was looking her over too and she waited for him to finish. Then took off her cloak and sat down.
She didn't know what to say or what he knew. They were on the same floor as Draco and Narcissa had indicated there was some talk so she just waited and tried not to fidget. His hands were folded on the table and he was nearly completely still. She had wondered at their first meeting if his hair would curl if he let it grow and it was. Maybe not as much as hers but it was there.
"You have been busy." Were his eventual words and she didn't know what to say. So she nodded and tried to smile. It didn't work and he frowned then.
"Speak. Please." He said and she did.
"I didn't know what to do and I'm not sorry. It was surprising and then we just did it. Like Sabrina. She reminded me a few times that I had done it with her and to just be myself. She's always telling me that. Told be in her last letter too. He's settling in I think and making a friend made everything better. An ally. That's how they refer to themselves and it's funny to hear them speak. Like little scholars or gentlemen. So he's alright and Sabrina is too. Some things but nothing bad." She finished a took a deeper breath. His face relaxed some and he sat back a bit. She thought that promising. Or not bad anyways.
"Why did you take him?" He asked and she didn't blurt out some flippant reply like her first instinct was. His eyes were intent and she thought he wanted to know.
"Many reasons. None of them. All of them. It's hard, for everyone and he is related to us. Harry warned me I couldn't go adopting everyone's problems when I started digging into where these kids are. Even how many there are. So don't worry. I'm not going to turn the Dale into an orphanage or something. Did you know about him?" She asked. Wanting to know and not sure what difference it would make.
"Yes. His mother wrote me when I came of age. A polite letter and didn't respond to my reply." He said and she nodded.
"She died when he was eight and he lived with a nanny she had set up. It was her wishes that sent him here for school and that led to his being found. Or identified by the Ministry." She said and he nodded thoughtfully. She sat back into the hard chair and wondered what to say. Lots had happened.
"How were your NEWTs?" He asked her and she smiled easily.
"All O's. The examiner didn't want to duel me so I faced an Auror, that was fun and I don't think he let me win. Otherwise it's finished and I'm glad to have the qualifications. I might take my Creatures one eventually. I've been brewing for challenge and fun. Working on some of the ideas I've had." She offered and he was interested enough to tilt his head.
"I've got a camera that seems to be holding up to the magic but I can't store the batteries unshielded at any point." He looked confused and she smiled.
"Their power source but I'd like to at least lessen that issue. Blaise and I have been doing a bit of investing and that's been interesting. Mac is all a twitter and a reporter noticed two shops with increased inventory and there is talk about things coming back to life instead of hanging on so that's encouraging." He smiled at her then. Actually smiled. It didn't last long but she was encouraged. It was the first one right to her, like this, that she had gotten and she tried not to grin like an idiot.
"What else do you do?" He asked her and she thought about what to say. Mindful of Narcissa's comment about what they knew.
"I keep myself busy. Not actually but busy enough that the days go by. Those two help with that. Everyday is different for them and it was fun to do magic with them over break. I see Meda, Andromeda, often and Narcissa More than I ever thought I would. We went shopping and for lunch in London. That was fun. Blaise and I see each other business or fun and I have tea with Daphne every Thursday. Parkinson came last time. I've never worked so hard to get someone to speak to me at all. Especially if I wasn't sure I wanted to. Now though, it's alright and she is more cutting than Daphne so there is another dynamic to our tea parties." He didn't say anything in reply and she wasn't sure if she should speak anymore about that.
"I had Teddy overnight during the holidays and twice since. Maybe I can convince her to let me have him every week. He is adorable and it's calming. Being with him. I brought a picture." He held his hand out in response and she rolled her eyes at him. Then handed him the two Christmas pictures. She loved the informal one and the formal one for different reasons. You couldn't see everyone faces fully in the one with Teddy rolling but the smiles are genuine. More so than the posed one. She watched his face as he looked at each quickly and then gave each his attention.
"It's good to see that. At home." He said gruffly and she smiled softly at him. He flicked his eyes back down quickly but she wasn't sorry he noticed.
"He looks small." Was what he said and she knew he meant Sinclair. Her frown was genuine then and he held her gaze.
"Avery's son. The one he had with Michaels, have you heard that gossip, Anyways he is about three inches taller. I'm on the hunt for a private healer so I'll get them both checked out at Easter. He eats and sleeps though so I'm trying not to be worried about it. He loves to fly and everyone that does fly comes when he is home. Can't take his broom to school this year but I know he will next year and want him to be capable enough. I've been thinking about lessons or something this summer." He smiled a bit at that.
"You encourage this behaviour?" He asked her and raised a brow.
"He smiles such a happy smile when he flies and it is good for his experience. Which was none until this year and other than at home he has only flown at school. Blaise is good at explaining things and Hinny came five or six times over break to work with him. She makes it serious and he likes that. Isn't sure about what position he wants to play but wants to be able to fly like them. Harry especially, says he has a fluid style." She grinned at that and Josh smiled too.
"No glamours." He said and she just held his glance.
"Sinclair asked me about them in a letter. Sort of anyways. People had made comments and he wanted to know if I was okay. Sabrina told him to ask me when he asked her about it so he did. It wasn't two days in the Alley before he wrote about seeing it photographs and thought I looked pretty in that dress. He is adorable. Nothing to be ashamed of and I'm not. The one on my arm gets more talk and more silences. I've glamoured it a few times in sleeveless dresses and things." He flicked his eyes to her arm and she knew he wanted to know. Had traced the one on her neck.
She pulled her sweater sleeve up and watched his face. A completely blank mask. Then he met her eyes and she held his eyes until he nodded once.
"It's still fading and I think it might go white like my neck. I hope so. It's better than people wondering what is under my glamours. Harder for them to talk about it though they still do." She added and he looked her over again.
"How are you?" Hermione asked tentatively.
"Fine. It's not great but not what it was either." His tone said it was final and she thought he only answered because of her genuine concern.
"Draco said you were alright but it's not the same." She said and he looked at her again. As if he were looking for something. Then he handed her the pictures back she pulled out another few sheets of paper from Mac and Stolford.
"Are you alright? It says you had to take custody yourself instead of being able to make him a family ward." He said and then kept reading. "What is this about the Gringotts agreements?" He did look up at that and she huffed her exasperation.
"I went to the bank first. Then the lawyer. Then the Ministry. Our trusty goblin ally explained what he could so I was ready and they would have denied me without that contract. It wasn't signed but I did it then. It limits what we can add until he comes of age so depending on what the Ministry takes before we can manage to wrestle it back we may need to do some repair. Mac is sure we can manage it though." She said and he finished reading the papers after another long glance.
"Mac says the temper of the public is changeable and that you aren't endearing yourself." He said and she considered that. Wondering what the man put in those notes. More than the state of their estate business clearly.
"I hope that if I don't do anything scandalous for a while it will die down. Sinclair caused a lot of talk. Not him but about me. Why I did it and what had happened to me. It was vague before but it seems to be accepted that I was tortured by her and where it happened. This means that articles that contain Meda even but Narcissa surely mention it or speculate. This also brings up other speculation about what different people were doing then and things that were happening. I get dragged into it a lot or mentioned." It felt like an admittance and she wasn't sure what he would think about her.
"Courtesies?" He asked her and she shrugged.
"Sometimes and sometimes not. There are a few who seem to think it doesn't matter who I'm related to it's my upbringing and then on the other end people who are disappointed with my not spurning the whole thing after the war. That I chose these things is often emphasized." She finished calmly and he kept on asking questions between articles until the guard knocked on the door.