Sorry Everyone! It was obviously a mistake and this is the correct one. Thank you for letting me know. -Maybenotahufflepuff
Sitting in this waiting room was nearly unbearable. She was wearing robes, casual ones but they were clearly witches robes. Her demure low heels peaked out from under the hem, as she sat with her ankles crossed and hands gently folded in her lap.
Having refused every offer to have someone go with her or even just wait with her, she sat in the small waiting room with no one but a Ministry representative. Simon Falton was the Head of the DMLE and so the parolee program. The Auror offices and the DMLE shared some things but not others and his presence had been a surprise. They didn't know each other well and he wasn't part of the sacred twenty eight but was as traditional as they came. So she tried not to wonder what he was thinking when she felt his eyes on her and waited.
So much had been happening and nothing at all. Their hotel was nearly done. It wasn't open but it was ready and she wasn't sure what the hold up was. Blaise has something on his mind and wasn't ready to talk about it. Draco didn't know either and that was unusual. Draco hadn't agreed to be a dueling partner outside of their circle but no one could duel the two of them. Harry and Kingsley has done the best but it hadn't been that difficult. The blonde had looked at her then, their eyes met over the bound forms on the floor, and she thought he did want to. Something was holding him back and she wasn't sure what it was. Then she looked up and Falton was watching her again. Might as well take advantage.
"May I ask you a question?" She asked politely and he looked surprised.
"I can not speak of confidential matters." He said gruffly and she nodded, politely smiling her understanding.
"Other than the dueling tournaments Britain has, are there other places or ways people keep up their skills?" She asked, watching as he blinked under his heavy greying eyebrows.
"Your brother will have no need for this information. He already knows." Was the eventual answer and she kept her polite smile.
"I wasn't asking for him but thank you, I will ask him." She said and decided she would ask someone. There had to be something, no one wanted her to duel strangers or people they didn't trust but she wanted a challenge. Needed one and this was physical enough.
For now she would ask Blaise to take her dancing. Where they could really get into it. Somewhere Anastasia North might be, or be willing to go. She had seen them speak a few times but not alone and not informally. There was something in his posture that she thought was different when he saw the gorgeous witch. Something predatory and also hesitant that she thought was promising, Blaise had to allow it though. They had spent more than enough time together for her to know many things about her friend. One was that he was uncertain of his own value. Not monetarily or anything, but to a witch. Could he be what one needed, she knew he would and that his witch would be lucky. That kind of dedication and intensity was hard to find.
The door handle turned and she didn't look, didn't jump or flinch. All of that happened inside but she knew Falton was still watching her. Blasted man.
"Rosier." Falton stood then spoke and Josh looked to her first. She kept her polite mask and waited.
"Falton. Thank you." It wasn't genuine but it was polite, Josh looked okay. Taller than inside the stone rooms but then again he was standing now.
"The paper." She said and waited, unwilling to deviate from what should happen. Not wanting anyone to have any ammunition. Josh looked to her and then back to the wizard who didn't look any more impressed than he had earlier. She just waited politely and then signed it in the two places she was supposed to. Then waited a half second to see if Josh would help her up. No, was the answer and so she stood and then walked to the door. If he didn't want her to take his arm or whatever then that was fine.
It was strange to walk through the halls with him. Her brother, who didn't feel like one at all. She had Harry and even Blaise. This wasn't how it felt. He kept close to her side though and she smiled politely but didn't speak.
Then she spotted Harry standing with Terry Boot and talking casually. She did try to grin a bit at him and shot him a sceptical look. He only scanned her brother and then looked to her. Surely she didn't expect anything else. She smiled genuinely then wiped it off and carried on.
Five minutes later she was standing in front of one of the many fireplaces lining this wall and she paused. Unsure if heJosh felt capable of flooing alone, definitely not apparating alone.
"Would you prefer to go alone?" She asked him quietly as she casually reached for the floo powder.
"Yes." She did catch his eye then and he looked determined. It was easy to understand, he wanted to test his magic and she knew that if anything went wrong it would be easily remedied. Minty was ready and no doubt already had a fix on his master.
"I'll see you at home then. Rosier Dale." She called into the floo and stepped into the whoosh of flames.
"Miss be's home." Zavi said from where he popped in beside her as she stepped away from the floo. She stared at the flames and so did the elf. Whoosh. She discreetly and silently stabilized Josh as he came out.
Not much but making sure he slowed evenly and wasn't ejected. That sometimes happened and it did take some practice. It had been nearly three years and without his magic too.
Then he looked up and his eyes scanned the room and then her. Now he looked at her and she felt the magical surge. Zavi popped away from beside her and she calmly reached out and let his magic touch hers. Then pulled it closer and let his surround hers. Move around her and she could see that he wasn't seeing her, though he was looking at her. Then it began to slow and move away. There was no discomfort or pulling. She had accepted what was happening and taken part, easy and comfortable.
"Welcome home." She said quietly and he smiled a small smile then. He didn't look shabby or anything, she had asked Minty to choose whatever he would like for this occasion and she had it sent to the parolee offices. After Stolford had that approved in his terms, nothing left to chance.
"Would you like me to give you some time?" She asked him, not knowing what to do or say.
"Do you have plans?" He asked her, looking to the door.
"No. Of course not. No one is here either. I'm not sure what you expected but I didn't want anything you didn't. Sabrina is at the shop until about four." She added on, the witch wasn't a guest and lived here.
"Minty." He said into the air and she waited. The elf looked dignified but it's ears were nearly straight up as he popped quietly into being in front of the much taller wizard.
"Master calls." The elf said and then bounced once. It was a small movement but she noticed and kept her smile as small as she could.
"My previous orders?" He asked the elf and she could see his amusement. Or she thought that's what the lip twitch was.
"Completed Master." Minty said and Josh gave a nod.
"Well done Minty." He said and then elf relaxed it's ears and popped away.
"Would you have a coffee or something with me?" He asked her, not looking at her but around the room. It hadn't been changed all that much. There was more furniture in here now though. The addition of the huge low cabinet was so people could keep things in there or put things there and not have an elf take it and keep it out of sight until you asked for it.
"Yes. Are you hungry?" She asked and he looked at her. Probably her tone of voice when she asked the last part, as dry as she could make it.
"Yes." He said and she smiled a bit at that. Knowing Salty had been getting ready and changing the menu for the next weeks meals and snacks.
"Let's go somewhere with a big enough table then." She waited for him to move toward the door and then followed him.
"The informal dining room off the kitchen would be my choice but we can eat anywhere Salty can put enough plates." She offered when he paused at the second hallway leading off the main corridor. He nodded then strode toward the correct hallway. She walked quietly beside him as he looked at everything, noticed small things and bigger changes. Then they entered the smaller French doors into the dining room and he stopped.
The table was set to fit eight though it expanded to fourteen. Sometimes the elves made it smaller but this seemed the usual size. It was set and there were dishes with food appearing in them as they looked. The dark blue plaster was cool and dimmed the room some. The light oak paneling came to waist height and the fabrics were whites. It was comfortable and less oppressive than it had been. Daphne smiled everytime she came in here and seen them at the table.
It had been a few seconds and he was still. Not moving and standing in the doorway with a hand still on the door handle. Deciding to move, she walked slowly but casually to her usual place, left of the head of the table and sat down. Then flicked her glance to the small silver tray beside her plate when a small stack of letters appeared. Zavi didn't approve of their silence it seemed.
"Do you take cream?" She asked him and at that he let go of the door and moved. She didn't watch him but could see as she poured two cups of the hot fragrant coffee and watched him grip the arms of the chair she knew was very comfortable before releasing them and sitting further back. She wasn't surprised but didn't want to mention it either.
"Yes please." He said quietly and she gently stirred it in before handing him the cup. She did look up then and he was watching her. She waited until he looked down at the cup and took it. Then she had a thought and looked down. Not wanting him to think she was laughing at him. She wasn't but the thought was funny.
"Care to share?" It was a drawl and that made her smile too. Now she did look up at him, stern but she didn't think he was angry.
"I was just thinking about how I reacted much the same when I first came here. I dropped the first cup of tea Zavi levitated to me. They always had to prompt me. 'Miss takes cup.'" She couldn't keep her smile at his lack of response and she looked down. Then decided they had to do something and so began putting food on her plate and then offered to do his or pass it to him or whatever he wanted. The two of them had never sat at a table together and she didn't know if he was like Blaise or Draco in this way. He accepted the bowl and she quietly began eating then caved and put her fork down before grabbing the top letter. It was Sinclair's writing.
'Hermione,
I know I wrote you yesterday but I wanted you to know that I am thinking about you and your brother. It's a Hogsmeade weekend next so please write me if you would like to come and see us.
Sabrina sent me a letter and it had the coolest charmed eraser that made the words show up. Cor and I have been making excellent use of it.
Practice was terrible. It was so wet and and even with all the charms we practiced I was wet and cold. The wind was blowing me around and it could barely see twenty feet. I caught the snitch though and that made it an acceptable use of time.
Miss you and am counting the days to Easter break. Cor said he didn't think he would have to go home for more than a few days so we are wondering if you could get us 1200 of the regular square blocks. Half in the steel gray and the rest split between the house colours. I know you will be careful that they match.
Tell Josh that I wish him a warm welcome and appreciate having been a guest in his home. Corbin says welcome back and that he recommends the blackcurrant danish for his first.
Sinclair'
His letters were so great. Usually they contained something about school but the one yesterday did and her reply this morning contained a book list she had put together and the promise to dedicate some time to charms with him this break. Probably Corbin too.
"It's from Sinclair. Would you like to read it?" She asked him and his hand came into her view. She passed him the letter and watched him read it. He was smiling at the end.
"I am not sure that I have ever eaten a danish here. Did you always like them?" He asked her. She blinked at that being his question. Then thought about it. The elves had offered many things and then made the most of what she liked best. They are other things and if they had guests than it was more varied as the elves tried to find out what those people liked best too. Their mental catalogue of preferences was immense.
"Yes. Not more than turnovers or fritters though. Until I came here. There is a plate of them just there." She indicated that it was behind the long low dish of roasted potatoes and wondered if that explained the oddly varied meal. His favourites. Usually Salty wouldn't do it this way but they were excited. It was a lovely gesture. Usually on their birthdays they were treated this way. Or a day in lieu of one of them was at school.
"Will you pass me one?" He asked her and she caught his eye then. The plate of their late lunch or early dinner was half done and she knew the blackcurrant ones were half of what was there. Having noticed been debating between them and the apple brandy ones also there. That glaze was amazing. She passed him the plate and watched his hand hover uncertainly.
"That is the blackcurrant the other is apple brandy. I can't decide." Then she wanted to make a suggestion. Like she would with any of the people she ate regularly with. Most would have offered. Even Corbin did it with her.
"We could share." She said it tentatively and could see his surprise. Feeling bold, she cut one of each in half and then put the two sides of danish on a small plate for him and handed it to him. He watched her pick the apple one up and bite into it. It was so good. Like autumn on a pastry. Served warmer than the others and the spices mixed with the plum brandy, it was heavenly. She looked up at the low sound he made and smiled. His eyes were closed and his head tilted back as he chewed. It was the same one she had chosen and she quietly ate the rest of it and moved onto the other one. Then sipped her coffee and wished she could pull out her planner. She would have to go into muggle London and to that specific store to order the blocks like that.
"That was perhaps the best thing that I have ever eaten." He said quietly beside her and she grinned up at him.
"It won't take long before you are flying for the exercise instead of the pleasure of it." She assured him and he smiled at her. It was small but she felt better and didn't open the other letters. He asked her what changes she had made and then began an easy if insignificant conversation about the house and small things on the estate. An hour later he looked relaxed and she wished he would take his shoes off.