It was cold out and Hermione was alone. Sitting on the balcony of her room in the Dale and thinking about this year. The one that had passed and more the one that was coming. It was just getting dark and that meant it was about four thirty in the afternoon. She felt the crisp breeze on her exposed cheeks and pulled the huge blanket she was wrapped in tighter around her shoulders.
She could feel the wind pick up some of her curls and knew she was being covered in tiny snowflakes that were being blown off the ground. She felt pent up and alone when she was around people and as if she were the only person on earth when she was actually alone. It wasn't all the time but she had felt that way last night and spent most of it listening and watching.
Seeing Pansy and Cassius kiss at midnight and the smiles all around. No one let them see of course but they were all so happy. Ginny had a look of triumph and Luna had caught her eye. Even Harry had given her a happy grin and it had been their first bigger party at Warrington's home. The one she and Pansy had been taking quiet walks through and they had started just going there for tea or a wine. Finding the best places to talk and the views. There were so many small lakes there and they had stopped counting at finding ten from the upstairs windows.
Blaise and her had been spending more than the usual time together before Christmas break and she would have to ask him what was happening. Harry had given her and then Ginny a significant glance when the red head was talking to Daphne about her bracelet, the token, and she expected some heart to heart talks soon, probably with both of them.
Draco and her had danced a few times last night and argued for a while. He used her to get away from unwanted female company or as his fall back companion, him and Blaise both did this. As if she was around solely to entertain them. The party had been good though and they had all decided to keep a stash of games there like they did everywhere else.
Sabrina had come for a while and then gone with Claudia to a midnight dinner party. Daphne and Pansy had immediately started planning their own such diversion for next year.
They had been doing small things and she was content with Sabrina's small steps into the world. Being on the Alley often was good for her. She had a favourite cafe and people she exchanged greetings with when they went together now. A young American man had been hired by George for the front of the store and he seemed to be becoming a friend, with Camden too though so that wasn't an issue. Sabrina did like Camden Wood and didn't know what to do about it. Well she did but wasn't ready so they all watched and smiled when she wasn't looking.
Sinclair and Corbin had promised to eat dinner with her so that should be entertaining. They had been building things in the spelled work room. Using magic to hold up the Lego they had decided to use. Draco had asked Sin what he wanted for Christmas, to dream big and ask for anything. So he had asked for building materials and for the wizard to get permission for Corbin and him to be able to build structures held up by magic. Hermione had laughed when Draco came to her and explained his problem. So Slytherin of Sin to do it that way. Several things had been tried but Lego had been their choice and Malfoy had spent a small fortune on it. Then they had gone to Legoland and Draco had been amazed and decided that the boy was smarter than he had thought. They were building a quidditch stadium. It wasn't close to being done but it was huge and she wasn't sure if it would fit in the large room.
She wouldn't live here next New Years, knew it deep down. A lot had happened here, or she had changed a lot in this house. The huge house had felt so foreign when she came here. Now it was familiar and she spent more time in some rooms than others but didn't dislike any of it. Daphne has some further plans, many and varied plans but seemed to be waiting now. They were always waiting.
Pop. The soft sound heralded Zavi arriving to tell her it was time to come in before dinner. That time had gone by quickly.
"Miss comes in." He said and then touched her blanket and she was in the same position on the chair in the seating area of her room.
"Zavi." She said and the elf wagged one ear. She looked at the clock and noticed it was only six. Dinner was at six thirty and she looked back the elf.
"Miss be's outside today." He said and she thought about that. She had spent hours outside today and hadn't thought of it. She had put warming charms on herself and walked to the hilltop she did the ritual on. Then walked back by a longer route.
"You're right." She said and got another ear wag, cheeky elf.
"Daphne said you are coming with me." She blurted out and the elf dropped both ears and looked down. She was surprised, Zavi was as bossy as they came and she couldn't remember the last time he had deferred to her that way.
"You don't want to?" She asked. This was something she hadn't considered.
"Zavi goes with miss." He said firmly and his ears were nearly straight up. She nodded and then then elf gave a crooked elf smile and waggled a single ear. The matter was settled.
"Do the elves watch the land? I know you harvest it and plant but the land itself?" She asked and then stood so he wouldn't chide her to get moving.
"We be's watching miss." He said and she pulled off her thick hoodie and accepted the small towel he handed her for her beginning to drip hair.
"The Tower" she asked him and he stilled. It was a short pause but then he waggled an ear.
"The Tower be's yours Miss." He said and then popped away. Clearly not wanting to discuss this and she wasn't sure how she felt about that, Zavi knowing things she didn't. He knew a lot and didn't often say much. She would think about that later.
"Salty made us burgers Hermione. How did you do it?" Sin asked excitedly as the two came into the dining room with clean hands and faces but not much else.
"I offered to take you out for them." She answered quietly and Sinclair blinked at her and then looked skeptical. Corbin was more along the lines of Rowle and spoke.
"No you wouldn't. I mean you would take us for burgers but you wouldn't say so to Salty. The elves here run this place." He said straight on and then took a huge bite of the burger. Corbin had loved nearly everything about the muggle world and he liked it here. With them, wherever they were. He came with them to dinners other places and Narcissa invited him directly when they were home from vacation. He would sit at the table with the adults, like Sinclair did. Converse and clearly enjoy being able to ask questions and to listen.
"I didn't. Well he asked me what I wanted to serve the young masters for dinner and I said I was taking you out for burgers but you like waffles with strawberries for breakfast the best." She said and watched the two across from her exchange glances.
"Now Salty makes burgers. Well done Hermione." Corbin said appreciatively and she grinned at his satisfied expression.
"I wanted to speak with you about something Hermione. Could you ward us?" Sinclair asked and put down his half eaten burger.
"Of course." Once she had done so, she waited. Corbin looked concerned but interested so he didn't already know.
"Mitts wants to come with me. I asked him directly, I hope you will understand." Sin said it quietly and she didn't look away.
"Mitts is your elf Sin. He wouldn't stay away from you regardless. However Daphne assures me that they will come with us and she will bring some of hers here." She said and Sinclair smiled at her, a real and relieved one.
"Not salty though?"Corbin asked and they both looked at him.
"No." She admitted and both boys groaned.
"We've done so much together. Twelve great danishes. Three completely new cakes, or I've never heard of them. The garlic soup and artisan breads. The breads were so great." Sinclair took another bite after this litany of their successes and looked as thoughtful as she had ever seen.
"Those gelatos last summer too. I agree that the bread's last Easter break were amazing. The egg one with the sugar crystals." Corbin enthused and she sat back, burger finished. She felt more than a little flattered when they asked her if she wanted to help build for a while. Music, she would have to do something about making muggle music work too.
"Remember when I told you interim was only a year?" Kingsley asked her from the other side of his mostly cleared desk. It hadn't been this way when she arrived and it was seven in the evening now, on a Saturday. They shouldn't be in this office but he had asked her if she had some spare time at dinner last night and she had wanted to be sure they got together. He was busy but they had lunch every couple weeks and he came to dinner when he could. It was the best they could do and had done since she walked into his office years ago now.
"Yes. I said I was sorry. I still am. For you though, not the country." She answered him seriously.
"I like it more than I thought." He said and she knew it was an admittance. Kings didn't want to like it.
"I know. Or I would have been pushing you to request an election." She pointed out dryly and watched him relax into his seat.
"What's up Kings?" She asked him. Putting down the folder in her hand and sitting back, crossing her arms comfortably and waiting.
"I always want to talk to you about things. Some of it is that I trust you and your ethics. It's the different view point and dual sided view that makes you different. The way you think of how it could be done instead of that it can't be done." She watched his face and was proud that she didn't blush. Then she daringly raised an eyebrow and watched him do the same then grin at her and he propped a sock foot into his desk top.
"Is the flattery for a purpose?" She asked him and he shook his head.
"No. You are a gift. I wish you would come be my undersecretary or whatever we call it when we finally get approval to rename." He said but didn't sound hopeful.
"I'm sorry Kings. I just can't. Sometimes I could help and if I wasn't coming here then I would be open to more time. Could we have a working lunch or something?" It was honest but she didn't like saying no to him.
"I'll take you up on that." Then he looked at her and she knew he had a question but it wasn't polite.
"Go on. I always want to know what you won't ask. Effective tactic." She praised him, his dimple showed when he genuinely smiled and it was there now.
"What are you going to do when they get out?" She cocked her head in question. Not sure exactly what he meant.
"As far as the things you've taken on to keep busy." He elaborated and she considered that.
"The same things I do now. Blaise is ready to take up anything that comes up for a few weeks and Josh won't want to see me all the time so I don't imagine I'll be unavailable." She said honestly and watched surprise cross his face.
"You expect everything to carry on as it was?" He asked her and she could see his skepticism.
"No, and yes. I'm going to suggest we move a couple Friday night dinners or cancel them I think but other than that, I don't know what about my life would get in his way." She answered honestly.
"Want to go get a bite and one of those pints you like?" He asked her after a long look at her. Her smile was answer enough and fifteen minutes later she was sitting at a corner table in a muggle pub they liked, not far from the Ministry entrance into London.
"Are you going to be his release contact?" Kingsley asked her, after they had gossiped and laughed for most of their meal.
"Yes. I don't know if anyone else wants to or whatever but I think it's best if it's me." She answered quietly and he nodded his agreement.
When she got home, back to his home, she wandered around the rooms and the hallways. Feeling like she always did. As if it was okay for her to be here, comfortable but not hers. Maybe it would be better when he was here too, when she could see his reactions. Maybe not though and she just had to accept that.