This whole last week had been nearly painful in the expectation that seethed in their group of four. Pucey had gotten out three days ago and then Flint today. Sabrina was coming today or he thought she was, Hermione had said she was. Now he was still waiting, in a different stone room and watching a door.
There were four visiting rooms on this floor and he had been in all of them now. They were exactly the same though. The same plank table and hard chairs. The lack of chains was still welcome and he wasn't as disbelieving that someone would come through the door.
Sabrina did, tentatively. Looking down, her hair covered her face and he waited for a second before speaking.
"Sprite. It's alright." His voice was low and he watched her freeze and then she looked up at him and after a second she was smiling and then wiping tears away. He stood and didn't know what to do. So he slowly rounded the table and stopped at the line he knew he couldn't cross. He wanted to hug her but couldn't reach her.
"Right. She said you couldn't go past the middle of the table." Then she put the folder she was carrying down and was in his arms a minute later. He felt her warm body and was amazed by how tall she felt now.
"You've grown Sprite." He said and was so glad he
wasn't crying. That he only felt relief and an easy feeling to see her and have her hug him.
"I know. You haven't. Except your arms. What have you been doing?" She said into his shoulder and then pulled back. She wiped her eyes again on her sweater sleeve and then smiled hugely at him. He couldn't remember ever seeing her smile so brightly at him.
"Let's sit. I don't want to cry. I want to talk to you. Hermione says it's easiest to do letters first and I don't like not knowing what hers says. She was quick to remind me that she never did know what mine said." Her smile was a grin now and he sat down and watched her face, listened to her talk freely.
"Was coming here alright?" He asked her and she nodded easily, looking at the envelope in her hands.
Then her eyes met his and she rolled hers.
"Hermione made sure our visits were the same day and it took longer because prisoners can't be moved in here if someone has a visitor, I think that was it. Or something. She is talking to Josh now so we can come and go together." He watched her face and listened to her resigned tone.
"Not a new recruit for your escort either then?" He asked her with a small grin and Sabrina laughed. It sounded like music to him and her relaxed pose was so surprising and welcome.
"No. Tomlinson is out there waiting for me." Her dry voice was reassuring. She obviously didn't expect anything else.
"Tell me your test results." He said and accepted the envelope when she handed it to him.
"All O's." Her voice was quiet and she didn't seem excited.
"Not enough for you Sprite? To be brilliant and pretty." He enjoyed her laugh. She had assured him most of her sixth year of life that is she could be brilliant and pretty, then she could do anything.
"Yes. I am proud. I'm not surprised though. Hermione put together mock NEWTs when I asked her to so I was pretty sure." She gestured toward the letter and he huffed before opening it. The envelope was blank and he didn't even know what her handwriting looked like.
It was neat and not thin or loopy. Smaller than he had expected but he could easily read it.
'Thorfinn,
I wrote Rowle but it feels impersonal and I have met you several times, even if we've never been formally introduced.
Make sure she shows you all fourteen pictures of her. I've got at least a dozen more great ones from the graduation and more from the celebration, in the box with her letters. I'm so proud of her. Ask her why she didn't take a summer internship and what she is doing this fall.
Everything is alright. Good even. Nothing has changed in our circle but Pansy did get kittens. It's a big step forward for her and Ginny has started training with the Harpies. Sabrina can tell you about Sin, or Josh will and find a way to ask him about Daphne. Sabrina will
probably mention it anyways. Harry is an auror and has been banned from any contact with you so has no opportunity to scrutinize you and has assured me that the fates are against him.
I walked through the second lowest valley yesterday and the corn was far above my head and nearly ready. Next week I think. I've found two small patches of pixie thistles so far and I think maybe the more western valleys might have more.
Hermione'
He read it twice and then folded it back up. His sister hadn't looked away and was watching him now. He raised a brow and handed it back to her.
"Give it back to her." He said and she nodded then faced him fully, chin up and hands folded in her lap.
"Do you want to look at pictures and chat or talk first? Hermione warded my watch so I can keep track and get to ask my questions too." Sabrina asked and couldn't help but smile at her serious demeanour and clear intent.
"Whatever you want Sprite." He said and she looked thoughtful. He just wanted her to be okay and if he didn't get to look at the pictures but she got her answers then that was alright. Hermione was keeping them for him anyways.
"She said you would do this, that I could ask you. So I'll do it with the pictures. Easier to stay on track that way and I made sure to include some of them." He nodded and leaned forward, forearms on the table top.
"This is graduation. The picture in our room, the one we hang out in. And on the stairway wall of the Escape." She said and slid a picture to him. She was beautiful. In front of him and in the picture. Soft a soft and genuine smile on her face. Hair pulled back so he could see the light colour on her cheeks. The blue grey of her eyes was vivid and he watched the smile a few times before looking up at her.
"It was so good to finish. To do well and leave there without fear. I'm relieved though. That it's over." Thorfinn watched his little sister speak and knew she believed the words, could hear her relief and some pride.
"This one is my favorite though. The one I have on the shelf in my rooms." This one was the three of them, Sabrina, Hermione and Sinclair. The boy stood in front of Hermione and Sabrina beside them. Hermione had an arm on each of their shoulders and they looked so happy. All grinning instead of smiling politely. He looked up at her and she nodded. He got the message, this was what was important to Sabrina.
"These are from our small trips this summer. Blaise and Hermione decided it was part of my graduation celebrations. They used that excuse a lot this summer." Her grin was small but there and she blushed, at the attention probably. There they were all grouped around a table and the water behind them was a shocking blue green, definitely tropical. Then they were around a pool. Standing on a tall rocky outcropping in overblown poses. Sabrina and Sinclair pushing each other off floating things and the picture captures the moment the wave tossed them over. Others were there too, Potter, Zabini, Parkinson, Oliver Wood.
He stopped at that one and looked up at her then back down to watch the scene again. Hermione and Wood were walking in front of the two behind them on what looked like a trail of some kind. Sabrina was speaking and gesturing while the younger wizard was smiling at her. He watched it twice before he looked up at her.
"That's Camden Wood." She said flatly and he raised a brow at her.
"He is nice and we have fun together. It's only been a few times and with everyone." His face sobered and he met her eyes with no teasing or challenge.
"Whatever you want Sprite." He said and meant it. She smiled weakly and nodded.
"Hermione says that all the time. He's good about it too. Doesn't seem deterred by my turning down his invitations and accepts the ones I offer." She said and he watched her while thinking about how she grew up so fast and worrying about the defensiveness he could see. .
"What does Hermione think?" He asked her, wanting to know.
"That he is a nice young man and if I want to spend time with him I should. How and when I want to. She is straight out about these things." He nodded and wasn't surprised but was reassured nonetheless by her direct eye contact and the words.
"Do any of these pictures tell me what you are doing this fall or why you turned down the summer opportunities?" He asked her while he flipped through the photos. Stopping sometimes and just seeing them, living and playing, most were happy.
"These are the Escape. Sort of, I think they do show you." There were only a few but it was them at home, or close enough. Bare feet and casual clothes, lounging around a living room together. He flipped one toward her and waited.
"That's basically it. I didn't want to be gone this summer. Sin flies most of the week and so Thursday to Monday morning we are free. It's different when we go there. It's all about what we want to do. Sin flies and we read and play together. Do magic and there are always people coming and going. It was so good to just be home with her. We talked and Luna makes time for me. Takes me with her on some more benign searches for creatures. Sin is back at school too so I got time with him." She said and he watched her face. Then smiled at her and she smiled back.
"I knew you would approve. Hermione said no pressure and I started my sort of internship last week." She was uncertain now and he was interested.
"Come on then." He goaded her lightly and she scowled.
"George Weasley is letting me help with the back end of his shop. The magic and potions. He and Fred took their NEWTs and have been developing some amazing things. Working with Hermione too on magical versions of some things, communication things mostly. I wanted to work with her. Tag along with her and Blaise. Basically what Draco does but she pointed out that I could always do that. How much I like using magic and George approached me. Fred has taken on most of the front of the shop and still has some issues from his injuries so George is the one doing most of the development. Hermione mentioned I was looking and I'm sure she mentioned some of the things we have done. So I started last week and we are working on some of the ideas him and Fred had before. He didn't want to do it alone, or Fred didn't want him to. We are going to try it." She said and he was surprised but not disappointed in any way.
"You might have fun at work Sprite." He said and she nodded with a real grin.
"That's part of why she suggested it too. Blaise talked it out with me. She trusts them and didn't really want me to be locked away behind dusty scrolls or in a library all the time." She said and he couldn't help the chuckle at her acceptance of the situation.
"I'm happy for you. Glad you are having fun and safe." He made sure she understood and she smiled gently at him, then it fell.
"It's only one more Christmas Thor. I'm so glad. Hermione seems to think it's getting closer too and I can tell she thinks about it more." She was the one holding his gaze now and he wasn't surprised. A bit proud of where he thought this was going but it was clear Sabrina loved the witch.
"Only one more Christmas. One more everything." He said quietly and she sat forward on her seat and looked at her watch, then grimaced and spoke quickly.
"I don't know what you two talk about. Outside of all of us at least. She doesn't say very much about herself. Not to me at least but Blaise knows a lot and Harry and Pansy too. I do know some things though, or want some things. I want you to think about how people interact with her and be okay with her and Blaise. Something has changed and she isn't as comfortable with people further from her immediate circle. Blaise is way more protective and Harry, Draco, even Cass make sure she isn't touched. I only noticed it this summer and at the celebration. One of them would cut in or an emergency would develop and she would be removed from him. They let her take on witches and until they touch her, leave her on her own." He nodded and kept eye contact. He understood, didn't know if Sabrina did but she knew something was going on.
"So you understand then?" She asked him and he nodded.
"It's the Magics Sprite, the Rites. Who did you see her be removed from?" He answered and asked. She shook her head firmly, twice.
"That's not important. I thought it was something like that. Be alright with Blaise. Be ready too, to see him touch her or have them sit together." Her tone was heavier now and he could see it in her firm jaw, she meant it.
"I was worried but I'm not now. She is waiting for you. Has to, I know, but she doesn't have to do it this way. Make sure people have to acknowledge her ties to us. Be nearly everything anyone could ask for. I thought maybe after Nott got out she would change. Be upset or whatever. She isn't and Blaise wouldn't tell me anything specific but asked him if I should be worried. He just looked me over and then grinned his smuggest grin and led me outside. So that's enough for now. Whatever people say or you see, know that she is waiting for you." She was as serious as he had ever seen her and he tried to keep his own emotions under control.
"I love you sprite." He said quietly and she smiled at him.
"I love you too. So let's see if we can get through these pictures in the next six minutes." He bent his head down intently and she started speaking about the flowers they were growing and what they had found in Normandy and seeing the tulips this coming spring.
The last picture was of Daphne with the two witches and the three of them looking at the bracelet on the dark haired witch's wrist. Sabrina smiled at him again and explained how great that day had been. Nothing in her eyes said she was upset that Hermione didn't have one and he was somewhat surprised but revelled in the happiness as Sabrina whispered about Daphne crying and the way things felt when they were together.
When the door closed behind her, he leaned back into his seat to wait for the guard and thought about how good it was to see his sister. How tall and beautiful she was and how happy. Happy to see him and happy in her life. How she had blushed about Wood and how much she loved her family, Hermione and Sinclair, even Blaise. For the hundredth time he wondered about the wizard and why he had done so much. Not for him surely and he was grateful. Hearing Sabrina talk about the people around her and how comfortable she was with them, it was so settling.