"You said it would be fine."Ginny said as she walked past her with an empty glass and Hermione winced.
"It's not bad and no one is surprised." Hermione said weakly and then grabbed Ginny's hand as the witch went to walk past her again.
"Everything is alright. Your mum isn't pleased but she will be. She will see you fly and you will go for dinner several times a week. Pretend you can't cook and let her drop by with cookies and things like she does for George and Bill." Ginny looked up then and Hermione could see how much her friend hated when Molly didn't like what she was doing. The boys seemed to shrug it off better but Ginny wanted their approval.
"She was rude to Sabrina too." Ginny said quietly and it was easy to hear the apology in her voice.
"Don't worry about us Gin. Everyone is so happy for you and Harry. This place looks great and we will keep at it. A party was a great idea and your brothers are so proud." She assured the redhead and watched a small smile grace her friend's pretty face.
"Yeah, alight then. Let's Go." Ginny clasped her hand tighter and when they made up into the drawing room landing and other open doors along this hall she let go and they separated.
"How are you Ron?" She asked when Hannah Abbot left to see someone else.
"Good Hermione. I'm Good. You were right about me working in the Sports Department." He said grudgingly and she laughed.
"I'm glad you are happy. Harry said you got a flat." With that he was describing it and asking if she could add some space to the closets.
"What about you?" He asked her and she smiled.
"I'm good. We keep busy and Sabrina is home so that's been fun." She offered and he waited for more.
"Did you see my ideas for each team offering a couple weeks of lessons each summer?" She asked him and Ron waited a moment so she would know that he noticed her lack of information and then accepted it and called Oliver over.
Hours later she sat around the old oak table in the Grimmauld kitchen and looked around. It was the old group, or close enough. Harry and Ginny, George, Ron, Neville, Seamus, Luna and her.
"A place, all grown up." George said and his grin was real though he didn't sound all that jocular.
"Not really." Harry said and then looked at her. "Some of us are, kids and stuff."
She scoffed at him and Ginny grinned.
"Sinclair was so interested and I think he basically used me to finish his summer homework, or add on to it." Neville said with a sly smile at her.
"Yes, he is good like that. Decided on which master?" She asked him and they all waited.
"I'm doing it in southern Scotland with Hemmington." Neville said firmly and she smiled at him. It didn't matter which her Herbology master he had picked but that he did.
"Cheers to Neville!" Seamus called out and they all raised their glasses to the red faced young man.
Hermione didn't do many things alone but she was doing this. It was time and she wanted to be able to make some plans or something. Feel like she was moving forward in some small way.
She walked up the drive and toward the imposing double doors in the bottom layer of the building. She knew it would open for her but still she touched the brass ring and half expected nothing to happen.
The latch swung to the side with a loud clunk of metal against wood and she gave the door a small push. It opened easily and she walked into a large entryway. It led into several hallways and closed doors. Picking the door closest to her, she opened it and then one on the other side of it.
Making her way through the connecting rooms. It was interesting and mostly generic. Reception rooms in the front and back of the house with a small library and sitting rooms. Then she stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked up.
It was quiet and still. There was no dust but it felt unlived in, it was impossible to imagine Sabrina living here. They were definitely putting carpet down on these stairs. Her footsteps sounded loud and she felt exposed. Then she reached the top and had to pick a direction or carry on up two smaller staircases that disappeared around circular corners. Wand in hand, she opened the double doors to her left and entered a wing that felt completely different. The walls were a light green and there was a runner of carpet down the hallway floor, obviously a more personal wing.
Three hours later, she stood in the foyer she had started in and looked around. Even after walking through the whole place, not into every closet but every room, she didn't feel like people had lived here. She closed the big door behind her and didn't feel badly about leaving the Tower empty. She did feel that way about the fields and even the mountain trails she often walked.
Sabrina had come the last time and had been quiet while they walked. No sense of fear or even nostalgia had been there. The only questions the witch had asked had been about the future.
When she crossed the apparition wards and spun away, she thought of needing help. Appearing in front of the lane leading to Andromeda's, she smiled and walked up the tree lined path. It was fall and the colourful leaves were falling. Andromeda was waiting by the door and Teddy was smiling from behind her legs.
"I'm glad you stopped by." The older witch said and looked her over carefully before gesturing her to enter.
"I went to the Tower." Hermione said after they ate dinner and while Teddy was playing with his dragons on the floor in front of them.
"I assume you mean in." The witch replied and she accepted the jibe with a wince then carried on.
"Yes, in. It felt like no one had lived there. There were things and books, it was clean it is uniquely set up. All round floors and interesting staircases and room shapes." Andromeda watched her and sat back into her chair, teacup in hand.
"Ten months." She said thoughtfully and then they were both watching Teddy.
"He was a baby." Hermione said after a moment of thinking. "I remember not being able to picture him being six and a half. I still can't." Andromeda laughed at that and Hemrione felt better. There was something so calming and rational about Andromeda.
"How are you?" Meda asked her directly.
"I'm fine. I'm going to ask Draco if he wants to enter some dueling tournaments with me. I need an outlet." She added on the last sentence when the grey eyes said that wasn't an answer.
"You've been travelling more too." Meda said and Hemrione nodded.
"We are opening a hotel and have been collecting nearly all the staff from out of country. Out of our circles anyways. It's been fun and I think it will be ready in the spring. We are taking our time and using it as a project. Draco is involved and he is so smug at being actually helpful." Hemrione added and enjoyed the surprise.
"Where?" Meda asked and Hermione wanted to smirk at the speculation she could see.
"Its just outside of St Ives. On the rocky cliffs. Not a big hotel. Ten rooms, we had everything we needed for a restaurant but couldn't decide where or what to do so this evolved from that. Blaise is so quick to take a comment like 'this place is perfect but you know it's too big to be a restaurant' and turn it into 'this place is great and we just need to do something with the rest of it." She finished mournfully and then they laughed. Teddy raced by and threw one of the dragons he was holding at the one following him and then dove behind the chair she was sitting in.
"That is an achievement." Meda commented and Hermione caught her eye then, not trying to hide her unusual ambivalence.
"It's something to do. Even Blaise is talking about setting things up so we can take time off next fall and Mac has been a more frequent correspondent usual." She admitted this and Andromeda understood.
"Preparing for change. Would you prefer to do it another way?" The witch asked her.
"No. It's all needed. I don't know what to expect, I've set time aside in March as well." She confessed and Meda spoke softly.
"When we first talked about this and I challenged you to give them a chance it was so vague. Now it isn't. So much is different and not what I expected. Your relationship with your brother still isn't what you want then?" The question was genuine.
"No. It's better than it was. I don't know what to think or what will happen." She admitted and Andromeda looked her over carefully.
"How is Sabrina doing?" Was the question the witch asked and Hermione felt relieved at the change of topic.
"So well. George stops by on his lunch and tells me what they are up to or raves about her brilliance. I try not to take credit but he seems to think without me he wouldn't have gotten such a gifted a dedicated partner. I just smile and listen to him talk about the intricacies of this or that product. Blaise and I have been doing most of the back end work on our communication ideas but George stops by evenings or weekends to keep on top of it. Going through him for marketing and distribution was genius." She said and Andromeda smiled, the Slytherin in her content with the networking she had facilitated. Hermione had felt stupid for not thinking about it.
"I can't wait to see what you all do. The ten or so of you have been so dedicated and productive. You did play this summer though and I'm glad of it." She said and Hermione let the calm and support of her friend soothe her and bolster her. They were all doing fine, better than.
Two hours later she stepped out into the floo room of the Dale and could hear people. She followed the noise into the tea room and found Pansy, Cass, Blaise, Draco, and Daphne all comfortably seated around the pretty room.
"There you are My." Pansy said and stood up. Cass stood too and then sat back down and they all laughed.
"Sin Wrote." Blaise said and handed her an envelope. She sat down beside him and opened it then stood up and looked around.
"He made it!" She nearly shrieked and they were all standing then.
"Of course he did." Draco said and they all laughed or rolled their eyes.
"He said we can come to a game. What a cheeky lad. Of course we are going." She said and could feel her smile.
"Seeker?" Draco asked her and tried to snatch the letter.
"Yes. It's mine. He will no doubt write you and Ginny for new and more specialized drills so you can wait for that." She said and laughed as she kept it from him.
"When is the first game?" Daphne asked her and she turned to see her friend seated again and looking up at her with interest and excitement.
"End of November. It will be freezing and probably sleeting or something." She spoke glumly and Blaise wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"We've got climate charms for that. The spectators stands have weather wards too. Time to go shopping then." Blaise soothed and elbowed him for his anticipatory spork and Draco looked at her with interest.
"Will you go in green?" He asked her and Pansy snorted inelegantly.
"Of course she will. Face paint too. Let's do it My." Now she was even more excited and Hemrione sat down and let Blaise pour her a cup of tea before she sat back and looked around. Her friends were all smiling and talking about the quidditch season and what they knew. Draco was assertively going over the people he knew were on the team and still trying to snatch the letter to see who they were playing.
"Gryffindor is the last game of the season." She said finally and sat on the letter.
"All year to get ready then. He says it's just as competitive as before." Draco sounded thrilled and she grinned up at Blaise beside her, who had a soft smile on his face but then it was gone and replaced by a smirk.
"I too look forward to seeing you all Slytherin Cara." He said and she didn't huff but smirked back at him and Daphne's tinkling laugh told her that she had done it well and been caught at it too.
"Want to stay for dinner Daph?" She asked her friend when the witch lingered beside her and the witch looked up then. Something was clearly on her mind.
"Yes please." She said and Hermione told Zavi and then the two stared at each other for a moment.
"Hang out room? Tea room?" She asked and Daphne looked pensive. So she linked their arms and headed upstairs.
"I recommend not being on separate floors when your children go to school. I hate seeing those sconces dark. Like the house is rubbing it in that they aren't here." She said as they passed the dark entrance to the wing Sin and Sabrina used.
"I will keep that in mind." Daphne said quietly and Hermione knew she would. Her thoughtful friend had so many hopes and plans.
They reached her wing and she decided on her sitting room, the formal one up here. She didn't use it much but had gone through and replaced furniture and things so it was as comfortable as it could be while looking feminine and dainty. Daphne suited these delicate rooms.
"Will you take your shoes off? This is why we have the Escape." She muttered and Daphne laughed genuinely before taking her shoes off and Hemrione noticed they were standing nicely side by side while hers had both fallen over and she scowled. Daphne laughed harder at this.
Quickly she moved an ottoman in front of the chair beside hers. Her friend would sprawl of curl sometimes but not usually so this was the best she could do.
"Do you want tea or something?" She asked as she settled into the corresponding chair and tucked her legs under her.
"Alright, so we have something to fiddle with." Daphne answered and they smiled. All of them used tea that way and her parents had too. Zavi was amazing and had a tea tray there in seconds. It was a delicate jasmine blend that both girls sniffed appreciatively before they settled back. These were more mug like than the tiny delicate teacups and actually held a decent amount.
"I've been thinking more and more about what will happen. The last year or so I've been thinking about after, once we are together and settled, somewhat at least. Now though, what will happen in March?" Daphne asked her and Hermione took a moment to revel in having made a real friend. Daphne would speak to very few people so openly and it felt like an achievement.
"I don't know. I wish I could tell you but I can't. I've talked to Draco and even Flint. They both said it didn't take long to be alright with not being in a cell. They had contact and know quite a bit so it's not as shocking as it might have been." Hermione answered seriously and quietly, then watched Daphne as she sipped. Her long dark hair was in a simple low bun slightly to the side and she was wearing an equally simple dark blue dress that fit her well but was casual. The witch had come to speak with her or be here and didn't dress up for it anymore. Pants were for the Escape though, unless they were doing something physical.
"Will you talk to me?" The question was quiet and those gorgeous dark blue eyes were not meeting hers, instead staring into the mug cradled in her hands.
"Of course. Do you mean when he is home?" Hermione asked. Whatever Daphne meant, of course she would speak to her.
"Yes, mother has made it clear that my informal visits will cease and that they expect the usual interactions." Daphne said and then did look up, her friend was conflicted. Never had Hermione seen so much emotion on her face, inless it was laughter or something positive.
"Not with me though?" She asked and Daphne didn't answer right away. Those now familiar eyes met hers and she did eventually look down.
"I'm not sure I understand." She offered and waited, wanting Daphne to speak to her. She counted to thirty and nothing happened. So she sat back and looked at her own cup for a moment. Then she decided to speak, it probably wouldn't have much to do with her friend's problem but it couldn't hurt.
"I'm thankful that there weren't parents to deal with in all this mess. I miss mine but they chose not to be here and I don't know if they would ever accept my life as it is now. Evan Rosier is a name and a face. More people than I would have thought have mentioned him to me. As if my living here and even the Rites would have made him proud. I don't care. That sounds harsh but I don't know him. I've looked at more pictures of Catarina but again, I don't know her. I can't miss them but I can wonder. It's ungrateful or selfish maybe to feel as I do. That I would resent them, for the decisions that were made and the way they lived. I'm glad you didn't have the kind of contract I did, that Josh and you could have voided it. Rina is past it now and I won't be surprised if she does sign a contract eventually but it will be by her choice. I don't know very much about your relationship with your parents. Is it like regency England? When you marry you get whatever freedoms your husband gives you?" She asked and Daphne did look up then.
"I don't know about that time period well enough to say but I'd imagine it is similar." Her voice was even and Hermione nodded.
"I will speak to you Daphne. If we have to go to the Tower or France, even a cafe or whatever. The hotel should be running and we have plans for rooms for us there too. I'll get a flat or open one of my dower properties. Find out what will be acceptable and how we can manage it without lying." She suggested and watched her friend relax into the chair and nestle down.
"This is very good. May I take some with me?" Daphne meant the tea and Hermione smiled.
"Speaking of the Tower." She said and watched her friend's eyes snap the hers and then watch her.
"I'm going to do Sabrina's rooms first. I am hoping you might help me." She said and then waited. Three seconds so Daphne wouldn't give the impression of eagerness.
"If you would like my help then of course I will." The witch said primly and Hemrione smiled politely and then waited. She took two sips and mentally counted to fifteen and then Daphne shifted and she looked up.
"Is it a suite similar to here?" She asked and Hermione grinned into her cup and then began.
"The Tower is round so the outer walls are too. It was on the fourth floor but that's ridiculous. Unless we were all to fly around the place or have elves pop us around. Would you come there with me? I want some ideas before I let the others in." She said and Daphne was grinning.
"So we are potentially changing the layout too? When do you want to go?" She asked excitedly and Hemrione smiled.
"Soon. Not yet but not too far away either. I've got a question and I hope you will answer me genuinely." She said and Daphne sat up straight.
"Of course." Daphne said and Hermione could tell she didn't know what to expect. When she warded them in Daphne looked polite and vaguely interested, ankles crossed and her teacup held in two hands.
"Zavi." Hermione called quietly and Daphne blinked once and then carefully put her cup on the tray closest to her.
"Your elf." She said and Hermione thought she was still uncertain.
"He is a Rosier elf." She answered quietly and Daphne stilled.
"Yes. Is there an issue with him?" Daphne asked politely and Hermione was surprised.
"No. No issue. Will he stay here when I go?" She blurted out her question and watched Daphne's face. The polite mask faded and her brow puckered.
"Here at the Dale?" She asked her and Hermione nodded. Why was this so complicated?
"Not unless you do." The witch answered and Hermione sat forward and put her cup down.
"He can come with me?" Hermione asked and Daphne looked understanding then.
"Yes." The answer was firm and then Daphne poured more tea into both of their cups and sat comfortably.
"He is yours, bonded to you. I don't think Sabrina has one. Patter and Zavi look after you both and Mitts will go with Sinclair." She said as if it were the way of things.
"What about Josh and you?" Hermione asked, wondering why this hadn't been mentioned.
"My Silver is coming with me and we have two more that have expressed interest in coming, neither like Astoria." This was said as flippantly and easily as any well known fact and hermione couldn't believe it. This had been weighing on her. Zavi and her were not friends. He was the elf and she was his miss but they were close, understood each other now and she felt better about him being in the Tower with them.
"Will Minty take Zavi's tasks? The house things I mean." She asked her next question.
'No, he is Josh's elf. The lady's elf usually has the run of the home. Unless it is a ladies elf, by talent, then it is the mistress' decision which elf takes chatelaine duties on." Daphne smiled at her then, it was soft and embarrassingly understanding.
"Zavi goes with you Hermione, to do at the Tower what he does here." It was said firmly and reassuringly.
"It's embarrassing. I didn't know what to think and Patter does things without asking and that I don't always like. Zavi knows me though. I trust him." She admitted and Daphne grinned then, a Slytherin one.
"You and Zavi have a lovely relationship. It exemplifies the best of elf and witch. You take each other's cues and anticipate each other. He trusts you to make decisions, less about safety maybe. The rest is his wanting you to only do what he thinks is not his prerogative to take care of." Daphne seemed to be giving her permission and the she smiled wryly.
"This does explain the wards though." The witch commented and they moved to a lighter topic until dinner was ready.