Hermione was mentally scolding herself. Reminding herself to calm down. That Blaise had been a good friend to her. More than a usual friend and he had never done anything like this. Three more breaths and she thought herself okay to floo there now.
As usual the floo let her through and she found herself in the richly decorated main floor floo room of his large townhouse. He was here certainly. Must be expecting her. A moment later she was proven right when an elf popped in and began speaking.
"Miss follows Piccola to master. He be's waiting." The elf said in its crisp gold pillowcase and she nodded and thanked her politely. Piccola was brilliant. It had been comforting to know she wasn't the only one being so overtly managed by elves that said they were hers, not the other way around. Oh yes, he was ready. The small conservatory off the back of the house was lovely. Like a bower with vines climbing the stone pillars and gorgeous mosaic glass around them. The wrought iron table and chairs should have been effeminate but he lounged in them with the same nearly predatory ease as a dark study or leather arm chair.
Now he was watching her and nothing showed. She felt under dressed in her Capri length trousers and sleeveless shirt but didn't show it. This wasn't the time for their normal interactions or intimacies and she could tell that he too felt the same. He didn't greet her as normal though he did stand until she was seated. Then poured them both a cup of tea and plated some of her favorite dainties and sat back.
"I have come to hear why you facilitated this. In this way." She stated baldly and watched his still face for a moment and then he nodded once at her and picked up the dainty cup.
"He came to me of course. Or summoned me to him ratherad." He relaxed into the seat, a more casual pose and showed his exasperation. She responded with a similar relaxation and raised a brow. So glad she could do that pretty well now.
"It was just what I thought. Silence. Silence until I began speaking. Not once did I mention your name in twenty minutes of conversation. Then he asked if I enjoyed the way you taste." She didn't react. Having expected something similar though less crass. Blaise did though and she noted the tightness around his jaw.
"It wasn't polite and though his wording surprised me, the sentiment didn't. Having had ages to think this over, I knew it would go one of three ways and it did. He didn't believe me or said he didn't." Hermione bit into a black currant tart and let the burst of flavour distract her from his agitation. He was so cool usually. So much rolled off of his back but this had bothered him and she didn't like that. In addition to her own discomfort. He hadn't answered her question though. Why he had done it this way so she sipped the rosehips tea and tried to appreciate how perfect everything around them was.
"I told him that though I could easily see your charms it wasn't to be. You weren't for me." They both smiled at the small rhyme and he snorted then and put his tea cup down.
"He didn't crack a smile at it and I had my most serious expression on. So I ploughed on. Nearly Gryffindor. I didn't say anything not commonly known but made it as clear as I could. The route you have taken so far. The way you have gone about it. He was resistant to the idea and agitated. So I did the only thing I could think of and took him to you." It was said a bit flatly, the last sentence and she made herself think it over. Think Theo over, what she knew and then Blaise.
"Draco will be out soon." Was her eventual reply and it got a barked laugh from her friend. Then a serious nod and he seemed to melt into the chair.
"I thought you would understand. Even if you don't like it, you would see that if he didn't take my word for it and clearly hasn't taken Narcissa's hints then there were few other discreet options." He shrugged then and she shifted so she was nearly sideways in the chair and was glad she wasn't wearing a dress. His dress shirt was open at the neck and his cuffs rolled back so he hadn't expected her to be ready in that sense.
"I was surprised and then livid it kept it together mostly. Leaned on those all important traditions and then glanced at the conveniently placed clock in the floo room until he left. It worked but it was painful and so stilted. He wouldn't ask me of course so I finally volunteered some of it but he was just so incredulous. Disbelieving maybe. That I would do that. Did what I did, chose what I did. The only real question he did ask was why. That was asked several times and in different demanding tones." She admitted and then put her teacup down and crossed her arms over her chest. Feeling somewhat vulnerable and also angry. Closing her eyes, she tried to keep her composure and then gave that up and tried to calm down.
"Thank you for doing this when the kids weren't there." She said grudgingly and after at least a minute of silence.
"I made him wait until after ten." Was his ingratiating reply and she couldn't help her slight smile. That rule had been implemented when Corbin began showing up early and an elf woke her a few days in a row. Their evening owls had made plans their guardians didn't know about. It kept Mrs Peters out until Claudia had breakfast too so it was a rule of many virtues.
"I didn't used to like the warmth but I'll miss this summer. It was good." She said into the darkness of her closed eyelids and enjoyed his low chuckle.
"We will do it again next year then. With graduation celebrations. Let's plan some small trips." He said and she nodded and felt a bit calmer.
"Alright dreamer. Come back to me." He said quietly after a couple minutes of her soaking in the warmth and peace. When she opened her eyes she had to blink at the brightness and there was a quick pop.
"A glass of wine before lunch won't kill you and I want you to spill what you said woman." He gave her the puppy dog eyes and she sat up more properly and then rolled her eyes dramatically at his overt ploy.
"You pick the question and I'll answer it. Only one." She said with a tone of finality and she accepted the glass of Merlot he offered her. They were trying to find the best ones to bring into a few restaurants they were helping out. It was also going in the do we open a hotel or some other social establishment file.
"Why didn't you pick him. Not that he asked outright but that's the question I think I'll need to know the answer to for dealing with him. If it was for me I would want to know how you told him you were happy without him. You wouldn't say it that way but if pushed you bite back and that would be the easiest target that isn't his dead father." She watched his face as he spoke and couldn't help her giggle at his honest reply. Then she sobered and put on her stern face.
"Then and now it is so easy to remember your words. The ones the day you told me how unsuitable I was for a role that was always mine, made it easy. Rowle was the easy choice. My choice." She spoke flatly and then winced and slumped down into her chair. Feeling her anger slipping away now. He watched her from under his dark eyebrows. The brown eyes intent and then he scanned her in a way she knew was his assessment of her wellbeing or mood or something. Overall reserves was what she had decided to call it.
"That seems to be the truth. I had wondered for a while. It's only this summer that I've decided it wasn't just anger or betrayal that made the decision. You truly thought marrying Rowle would be better than facing Theo for life. He hurt you. Maybe now you can see it for what it is but you aren't very forgiving. Well you are but you don't forget. At least that's the consensus I've come to." She listened and then couldn't help but smile into her wine glass and then caught his eye and couldn't stop the affection she felt. This man had turned out to be a brilliant friend and real support to her. She was grateful.
"I can't believe I'm rewarding you on a day you've betrayed me already and it isn't noon yet." She grumbled and he smirked such a satisfied version of that expression that she scowled easily.
"Thank you for coming to see to my wellbeing. As you told me several times, family is important as is loyalty. I find myself in further need of neither and so I bid you good day." He was watching her face and the smirk was still there but it was small and more malicious now. It fell a bit when she stopped and he raised a brow then she stood and he dropped the crossed leg and sat up. Eager for a performance. They had dramatized several scenes from their life and played two person charades too. Trying things out for fun and trying to have fun.
"Please don't interrupt me again Theo." She began with the best she could do for the seething forced patience she had felt then. "I hadn't planned to be so blunt or speak so candidly of this with you or anyone else. My circumstances may be unusual but the situation is not unheard of. You know what those contracts mean and what the Rights mean. You've celebrated both all of your life. Defended their validity and the integral place such things hold in this world. My circumstances are mine though. My brother, my future, my body, my family, and my betrothed." She flicked her hair in imitation of her twirl away from facing him and then sat down. Feeling her heart beating faster than it had before she stood. She picked up her glass and sat primly while she sipped and he stared where she had been.
"I wish you were wearing a dress or even better, formal robes. Gods Granger you can be so hot in an earthy way." He was still not looking at her but tracing lines in the air where she had been.
"Let's hope you're not the only one who thinks so." She said so glumly that he laughed and reached a hand for her. Leading her out of the more formal room with her wine glass still in hand.
"I've got the papers Stolford sent and a verified answer to your question about paying him more." He said with some excitement and she looked up at him and could tell it wouldn't be as easy as just paying the man more. She groaned lowly and he squeezed her hand in support before beginning to explain House business and retainers more specifically than she had ever heard it.
"You are sure?" She asked Sabrina and then looked up at Sinclair who was returning a pile of books he had borrowed over summer break.
"Yes i'm sure. I will, I think. Maybe next September. When I don't feel so torn about school and maybe I'll feel better than I do now. About everything else." She wasn't looking at her though and Hermione could only wait and then take the books from Sinclair and put them on the desk.
He caught her eye by the door and she smiled reassuringly at him. They were alright. Nothing for him to worry about and he tentatively smiled back before looking at Sabrina's bowed head and then turning out of the door. Walking back to the open trunk she refolded a sweater and slipped the bag of money and a letter underneath it. Then she laid a hand on Sabrina's shoulder for a moment before walking into the closet and scanning the shelves and racks of clothes. Trying to see if there was anything she thought Sabrina might need or want.
Then into her bathroom and she looked around. It was all pale ocean blues and greens with while and some brown. It was lovely and bright. So Sabrina. Zavi had done it while they were on holiday and brought the beach glass she had found this summer and put it in a big glass vase between the sinks.
"I'll miss you Rina." She said quietly when she entered the room and took in the forlorn shape at the end of the bed.
"I'll miss you too. That's part of it. Trying to finish. Needing time to go by. A year. I think I can see him with only a year left. Now it would be seeing him with two years left and then months away from you after." The words were quiet and she wandlessly closed the door and then went and sat beside her. Holding her hand and trying to think of anything she could say to help.
"Your letter is longer this time." She said and tried to be upbeat. It was two pages in an envelope and Hermione had felt triumph. Sabrina had decided before her last visit that she would write what she wanted him to know and how she really was. It meant she couldn't write platitudes or lies though and it was emotional. Hermione thought the letters were as good for the girl to write as for her brother to read.
"I felt like I had more to say. More I could say this time." She said and squeezed their joined hands.
"I guess it was my turn." Sabrina said and then laughed a bit and smiled a weak but real smile.
"We all have moments and I am so glad we can share them. Sinclair had a great summer and I think it's easy to understand how he feels about going back. You won't be there next year either. He talked to me about that on our hike yesterday." These small conversations about their lives and feelings were hard. She couldn't fix things for them, only support them both.
Sinclair was different. His problems were more with others and dealing with them. Sabrina had more to come to grips with and was a more complex thinker. Sin just thought things out and then he could decide and move forward with more certainty. It was deciding and feeling confident in those decisions that was harder for him. Harry and Blaise had both suggested he write them more and she had told him straight out when he mentioned it that they wouldn't suggest it if they didn't actually want him to so he should try it.
"He said that he would sit with me if I really wanted to since this was our last first day together." She chuckled and it was clear that he had been as overtly reluctant as he could be.
"I told him he didn't have to if he agreed to a picture before we leave and one at the end of the year." Her words were gloating and Hermione couldn't hold back her laugh at that.
"Let's close this and do that then. He will try and make it not happen. You were both up so early that we still have half an hour before breakfast." She spoke and gave the hand in hers a last squeeze before standing.
"You were up too." Was the last comment and she stuck her tongue out at the laughing younger witch.