Hermione watched the two heads get off the train and headed toward them. Seeing Adelaide doing the same, she smiled to herself. Several people smiled or quietly said they would see her at tea. The monthly teas were less fun and less productive to their aims but more in regards other things. Greetings exchanges she shrunk Sin's trunk and took his offered hand and apparated back to the Dale.
Sinclair looked around and his shoulders relaxed. No one was in the floo room and she smiled at him when he looked at her. He had grown some more this year. Nearly another inch and she was hopeful. He looked healthy and happy though concerned.
"Sabrina said she had a shipment coming in so would be late but wasn't going in tomorrow." She offered and he grinned at that.
"The last one didn't go well." He said evenly and she grinned. Having been the one that sent the photographic evidence to him.
"Let's hope for better this time. She was wearing her favourite sweater and it was ruined." The boy giggled and then smirked at her. She just rolled her eyes and ruffled his hair.
"Usually we just walk out of this room." He said quietly.
"Things have been a bit strange but I think it's getting better. Want to have a cup of tea or something with me before dinner?" She asked him. Neither of them spoke until they were in her comfortable living room. That's how she thought of it. Mugs in hand she waited for him to speak.
"I'm sorry." He said quietly and she had no idea what he was apologizing for. "That it hasn't gone as easily as you wanted." Sinclair said when she didn't reply.
"It hasn't been bad or anything. I've been comfortable for a while now. We have. People come and go. They know things and want to know everything. Change is hard." She said as honestly as she could.
"He is your brother, there must be similarities between you." He suggested in his curious way and she hid her smile behind her cup.
"You can find them. I'm sure the others have been looking too. He likes the library and Salty's danishes." She offered when his brows pinched and he smiled at that.
"Everyone likes his danishes Hermione." He rolled his eyes and she couldn't stop the smile now.
"I'm glad you are home Sin." She said and he grinned easily at her.
"Draco wrote there is a pitch at the hotel. He tried to tell me it was reserved for guests staying there. It was the only thing not training related in his last letter. That's probably because I asked how the wallpaper selections were progressing in my one before that." Hermione laughed at his genuine smirk and the clear amusement in his voice.
"How did your runes project go?" She asked him. The grade should have come back yesterday.
"It was great. We got an O, boring content though. Why not have us translate something interesting. Working with a Ravenclaw is very different." Sin added on and she listened to him tell her about the bossy girl that told him when to be in the Library.
"As if I couldn't do my part. Cor was enjoying himself and there wasn't a single person in my dorm that didn't comment on it." He was exasperated and she was going to explain that she had been that bossy girl when Zavi popped in.
"Dinner Miss." The elf said and then was gone.
Introductions had taken place and Sinclair was seated across from her. He was eating as politely as he usually did and when he glanced up at her for the third time she cracked and spoke.
"Versende sent me a letter." She said casually and watched Sin tense then relax.
"About this summer?" Josh asked and she smiled at his question. His asking them something. In a normal tone.
"Yes. Seven this year." She said and Sin grinned at her and then waited a second before he spoke.
"Seven fliers too?" He asked and she kept her face even. Not showing her smile that wanted to come through.
"Mrs Souvant wrote me as well." She said and Sin sat back in his chair and she could see him trying not to yell or cheer. Perhaps pump his fist in the air the way he and Corbin did when they scored on each other. Sébastien Souvant was one of the French boys he had played with last year and they had gotten along very well.
"Thank you." Sinclair said in his honest and direct way.
"This is the last one I think. They mentioned the basics being what it was about last summer." He said and then caught her eye.
"The full seven weeks? We will have enough for a full scrimmage now. Sébastien made keeper This year, I wrote you that I think." She nodded as the boy spoke and Sinclair looked as content as she might wish.
"Are we travelling as well?" Sin asked as he finished his chicken and placed his cutlery down.
"If you want to. Is there anywhere you would like to go?" She asked him and watched him look at her and then flick his eyes to Josh.
"No where specific. Are we staying home this break?" He asked and she grinned.
"Will there be enough time to go away for a few days? the boxes you requested are in the room." She answered and he grinned then looked contemplative.
"Even if we don't, do you want to go?" Sin asked her directly and she considered.
"If you are happy to be home we could do a few day trips. You need some clothes, you've been growing. How is your gear?" Even if they would like to play the whole time, there were things they needed to do.
"My boots are getting a bit tight." Sin admitted and she waited another few seconds, watching his face and the put out expression there.
"Gloves too. They could wait till summer though." Was his final assessment and she nodded.
"If you want the same ones then we have to get them in France. Or I could pick them up and send them to you if you don't think you want to try something new." Hermione looked to Josh quickly, feeling as if they were excluding him.
"No. The same is fine." Sin watched the dessert tray appear and grinned at her. Then he neatly added two of the lemon honey cakes he loved to his plate and poured himself a cup of tea. His eyes followed her hands pouring coffee for herself and Josh then caught her eye. She didn't react but knew he had noticed that it wasn't as Blaise and her or even Harry did it. His little jaw firmed and she knew he would make a point of asking the elves to set it up so he could do it for her. She smiled softly and he did the same after a second.
"What is different about these boots?" Sinclair looked at her brother as he spoke and finished his bite.
"The ankle hinges are different. Stronger and they seem to fit my leg shape better. I only need the single pair of high socks under them." Was the direct answer and Josh paused.
"That sounds more comfortable. Your pants don't slide in them?" Josh asked as if this were a real concern and Sinclair spoke quietly but seriously about his gear and his training. She sipped her coffee and hoped they could build some kind of relationship. Draco had won Sin over eventually and he was nearly as open with Harry and Blaise as he was with her.
"You played chaser right?" Sinclair asked and Josh nodded once.
"If you would like to play catch then please let me know. I will happily make time. Have you been flying with the others? They don't admit it but I am sure they play together when I am at school." The aggrieved tone was funny and she managed to stifle the giggle.
"They haven't been playing here, if they have been." Josh sounded thoughtful and his eyes flicked to her. She just smiled at both of them.
Of course they hadn't been here. No one had been here as much as before. She hadn't realized how often people came here. As if it were a clubhouse or something. Narcissa would come with her stacks of plans and tile samples or whatever it was currently. Meda and Teddy would stop in or come for a whole day even. Draco and Blaise came and flew here or just hung out here. Pansy had been in and out, Harry and Ginny would just stop by if they were free around a meal or wanted a cup of tea. Kingsley hadn't come once since Josh was home but they had written and she had met up with him twice. The house was lonely and quiet. Sabrina didn't like it either.
"I expected to see a few of them here." Sin sounded tentative and she smiled at him.
"Narcissa is hosting brunch for you tomorrow. Everyone is coming I think." She assured him and he grinned.
"Is Cor coming alone?" He asked her and she shook her head.
"Adelaide and Mrs Avery will be attending as well. I think he is coming home with us though." Sin nodded as if it were all understandable now and she grinned into her coffee cup. Then she watched him look at her brother and then the danishes, each on a separate plate. He looked up at her and she could see in his smile that he was sorry. A small head shake was all she offered but he sat back and then cut the danish in half and handed her the plate.
"I don't recognize it." He was peering at the cut side and she did the same.
"Those look like strawberry seeds." Was her response and he nodded.
"That isn't though." Sin indicated the darker flecks and she agreed. Then they grinned and each took a bite.
"I don't know how you don't eat these all day everyday Hermione." Sinclair nearly moaned it and she shot him a look.
"You exercise enough that you could have at least two." He protested and then took another bite and cocked a brow at her.
"Cranberry." Hermione murmured and tried to sort out the other flavours.
"Zest. Something is like those zest tarts from last Christmas." Sin was good at this and she agreed.
"Salty, strawberry, cranberry and orange zest." He called into the air and Josh startled when the elf appeared.
"Be's tangerine zest small master." The elf said and Sin nodded his acceptance and then looked put out and she agreed.
"Isn't a tangerine an orange?" Josh asked into the silence and they both shrugged.
"Not to Salty." She admitted and he nodded then stood and said goodnight. Not wanting the mood to be thus, she poured herself another coffee and asked about the charms Sinclair and Corbin wanted to work on.
The three of them were walking through the muggle park they had apparated into on the way to get some clothes for Sin.
"Well, what do you think?" Sabrina asked from her place between them and both Sinclair and her looked to Sabrina.
"We aren't doing this. Hermione made it clear that we are family. A family. The three of us. We have other family too but among ourselves we can speak openly." Were the firm words and Sin looked past Sabrina to her.
Hermione held his gaze and then looked back at the path. Not sure what to say and definitely not wanting to make things any worse.
"He was better at brunch." Sinclair finally said and she agreed.
"Much. As if the bigger group and formal setting were more comfortable." Sabrina replied and Hermione considered that.
"Maybe you two are right. I was under the impression it was because the responses were expected. The whole thing followed protocol." She hadn't thought that maybe Josh was actually more comfortable, only that the conversation and questions were all standard ones with polite responses.
"He did leave before we had any fun." Sinclair mused and Sabrina caught her eye. Her brother had left when the elder Greengrass' and Averys had.
"Did he know?" Sabrina asked and Hermione knew it was her that she was asking.
"I don't know. All I got out before he told me he had things to take care of was that we usually stayed for a while." She admitted and watched the two meet eyes. Then they were at the busier street and the topic was dropped.
"You've grown. Shot up." She marvelled an hour later, as Sin exited the change room with as many that didn't fit as did.
"Finally." His grin was like magic and Sabrina caught her eye, something sort of melancholy there.
"Your brother said he wanted long showers and comfortable clothes." She reminded Sabrina who looked speculative and then looked around. This was an active wear store and they often shopped here for the men in their lives. The women's selection was a bit to pink and sparkly here for their tastes but the colours and styles were perfect for flying or playing. Then those grey blue eyes were on hers and Hermione could see the intent look that meant a question was coming.
"You didn't get Josh clothes did you?" Sabrina asked. Quietly but she heard the meaning. Prevaricating wasn't an option and Sin was looking between them.
"Would you have done that for him? I don't think he would like it." Hermione's voice was equally as quiet and she met both of their eyes.
"Let's look for a few minutes and then go have lunch." Sabrina said firmly and they did just that.
"Thor isn't anything like Josh Sin." Was the first thing Sabrina said about their previous conversation.
"It is definitely complementary and not a friendship of similar people." Hermione agreed and Sinclair took a bite of his sandwich and nodded his acceptance.
"He doesn't seem very much like you." Sinclair was serious and curious as usual and Sabrina clearly agreed.
"We were raised very differently, have lived totally different lives. Maybe have different values in some ways." Sabrina scoffed at her words, it wasn't dismissive but something disbelieving.
"Thor will fix it. I mean I hope he will. It's as if Josh doesn't know what to do with any of us. Daphne seems better though. Or he is better with her, her family too." Sabrina was as assertive as she often was in private and Hermione wondered if the witch was right.
"I have been grateful for that. Daphne deserves to have things go well." Both nodded their agreement and she wondered if this was over.
"Let's go to the Tower." Sabrina suggested twenty minutes later and Hermione looked to her. That had been abrupt and the witch looked determined.
"It's nearly dismantled." Hermione protested. The contractors had been there for a week and it had all been stabilization and demolition.
"Sin hasn't seen it and that doesn't matter." Sabrina's chin was up and there was something on her face that made it clear this was important.
"If you want to then we will." Was her reply and Sin nodded then watched Sabrina as she got her things together and silently charmed Sin's bags to be weightless. They were exchanging some kind of information and eventually Sin nodded more firmly and his face was as stubborn as Sabrina's had been.
"Wow. You said it was a tower. Even told me about the mountains but this is way different than the Dale." Sin said after they had apparated behind the stone terrace in the back of the Tower.
"I could fly right up there." He said and pointed to the tiers of terraces and stairs.
"I know. This whole place is made to be seen from the air. I've been flying some." She admitted and Sinclair didn't look surprised but Sabrina looked dumbstruck.
"Here? With all these mountains and the winds?" Sabrina asked. That made sense. The Dale was mostly a long valley and the areas around it. Protected from the worst weather and winds. This was the opposite and it was harder and scarier.
"It's the only way to see until I've been there and can apparate." It was all she had to say and she ignored Sabrina's stare and let herself feel the land. Spring was here but not showing completely and the magics of the land felt as if they were ready to burst into life. It made her smile a small contented smile as she felt the slight warmth of the April sun on her face.
"Let's fly here. I want to see what it looks like." Sin grinned at her and Hermione returned it.
"Alright. We can come in the next three days if you want. I definitely want to come back more this summer. I only snuck over a few times last year. The valleys are so much, so many, and there are lots of different wild flowers." Hermione felt better here, to be here with these two. That made her look at Sabrina who was watching her and the firm nod was confirmation. Sin walked toward the terrace and then climbed the empty stone flower beds beside them instead of taking the stairs.
The two of them took three steps toward him and the doors before Sabrina spoke.
"I don't like it. Seeing you less happy. Less free and yourself." Hermione knew what she meant and felt bad.
"I'm sorry Rina. I've been trying to pick things back up and just be me. It's not easy but I'm trying." Was all she could say.
"I'm sorry too. I thought you were being a bit pessimistic until I met him, seen him with you. I remember him laughing with Thor and even his posture is different now. Maybe I'm not being fair. He went through things and I don't know what. I've had longer to heal too." Sabrina's mature words and honesty were such an example of how much Sabrina had grown. Physically but also emotionally. Pride and affection fought for the top of Hermione's emotional pyramid.
"That's true. All we can do is go on." Sabrina didn't like it but didn't have an argument and Sinclair yelled for them to hurry up. He wanted to go through the left door first. The two of them were smiling when they opened the door and watched Sin figure out how it had been laid out and then ask what changes she was making. Mostly she answered questions and listened to the two of them as they walked through on the delineated safe pathways.