Author's Note: Here we go guys. It's been a long haul to get here but we've made it. Thanks for all the support and excitement for the story. Let me know what you all think. Take care of yourselves and each other. Thanks to JkR as always, for creating the world we are playing in.
-Maybenotahufflepuff
This time she was in the same office. The same pompous Ministry ass was there. The biggest difference was the fact that her brother sat opposite her. That and her raging feelings of apprehension and almost fear.
They had come early. Hermione had requested they come to the Ministry early enough that she would be seated when the dampeners came off. So she was reading notes from last week's tea and trying to not show her unease outwardly.
As if she had been hit by lightning, she felt the magic pull, hard and she took a long blink. Keeping her face as even as she could. Then it was like she was a compass and north had suddenly been found. It was a hard and steady tug. Thorfinn was precisely in that direction and she tried to keep her focus, assess the magic and the feelings instead of reacting to it.
Merlin and Morgana, this was powerful, felt as powerful as the ritual magic. Then she blinked. Her eyes registered the grain of the floor in front of her and then the tiny weave of her robes.
She could see. Her ears were working too and she straightened some, just to see if her body would work. The whole time she was grateful for these minutes to compose herself. Then he was moving toward them and she shifted unconsciously. Josh looked up at her then and she met his eyes. Then his focus went back down to the papers in his hand and she was grateful for his usual dismissal of her.
The door opened and she didn't look up, knowing Josh wanted to see him and wanting them to have this time. Her heart was pounding and she kept reassuring the magic that they would do it. It wasn't their fault it had been so long. If she tried to rebel against it, the pull hurt. Or close enough to actual pain and she didn't want that on top of all the other sensations she was feeling.
She could feel his magics. Then she focused on that and let herself tune the stupid Ministry man out while he made small talk about his own importance. It was as if Thorfinn's magics were searching for her. Reaching out, and she didn't want to meet it with hers. Not here. Old and respected these rituals might be but she didn't think anyone would be alright with an overt display.
"The papers." She spoke the same words as last time when the men were shaking hands and the one not important to her made to leave. He stopped beside her and she held up a hand, not looking at him but making her demand.
"It's protocol." She said after too many seconds of stillness and felt her frustration at the stupidity and arrogance flare at the man's sneer.
"Miss Rosier." He drawled and dropped the scroll onto her open hand. Her magic stabilized the scroll and she easily had it without a struggle to catch it. The man was a prig.
"Thank you." She said into the air, without looking at him and made a copy then put it on the side table.
When there was no movement she took a breath and looked up at the two wizards. One was watching her and the other the official, who was still sneering at her.
Her eyes caught the blue gray ones and it felt unreal. To see him anywhere but that stone box. One of four visiting rooms that looked identical. He was here and not on that island anymore.
Rowle took a step toward her and she though he was going to offer her his hand. She minutely shook her head though and the look in his eyes was fleeting but her whole body reacted. It was impossible to keep all of the colour from her face but she did keep her polite mask. Rowle looked to Josh who was glaring at the unimportant man instead of looking at her. Thankfully. So she stood without escort and headed for the doors out of this room.
More people littered the halls. Many more were watching. As if half of the Ministry has taken their coffee break at one o'clock this afternoon. He was maybe three feet behind her and she could feel his eyes on her. Or she thought that's what the prickling feeling on the back of her neck was.
This time there was no pretending. Harry stood alone, his back against the wall as she turned the last corner to the lifts. His bright green eyes stood out and neither of them smiled this time. Harry looked his support though and she nodded once at him. He relaxed some and she could see his attention flick to the wizards behind her. Finally able to observe the man she would marry, he had mentioned it several times in the last few months.
As the grilles on the lift closed she stared at the now dark wall behind the gold metal bars and tried to think. Then she chanced a glance at her brother, who was looking at Rowle. So she did too and his eyes flicked to her instantly. Then back to Josh and she turned her attention forwards again. Clearly she wasn't wanted at the moment. Then they were striding down the long hallway, through the Atrium and finally to the long banks of fireplaces.
Unsure of what he had decided, she paused four feet away from the flames and waited.
"Let's go have a whiskey Thor." Josh said quietly but she heard and waited for them to leave. Both looked to her and she gestured them go. Rowle's eyes caught hers then and she tried to smile but wasn't sure when his forehead puckered and then smoothed. He looked to Josh who quietly said something to him and then threw in the floo powder.
Rowle turned back to her when Josh was gone and called out the same location and vanished as well. She stood there for a moment and then felt as if she would break apart, the magic was pulling harder again. Right there in front of the people trying not to obviously watch her. Not acceptable.
"Rosier Dale." She said and stepped into the third rush of green flames. They were waiting when she exited the floo and she made herself look at their faces. Josh was watching his friend who was holding the eye contact and then she watched it turn to her. Hermione stood there and waited for one of them to speak or say something. It was like he was a lodestone. Pulling her and his eyes were nearly blazing at her.
"Let's have that whiskey." Josh said and turned from the room. Without even acknowledging her and she looked down. Feeling small and hurt. Forgotten and she didn't look back up at Rowle, who felt like Rowle and not Thorfinn.
"Sabrina is at the Escape. Would you like her to come now?" Hermione forced the words out. Realizing she would have to say something to the witch when she got home.
"Give us half an hour." Josh spoke before Rowle and after three seconds of his, silence she turned to the floo and called out the escape.
When she exited it was like the pull dramatically increased. Not liking the distance, but she could only make herself stand up straight and then walk toward the stairs to her room.
"Zavi. Tell Sabrina half an hour please." She was walking quickly and felt like she had years ago. Wanting to rage at the stupid robes and her life. The unfair feelings were juvenile perhaps but she felt it. Why didn't Josh acknowledge her? Purpose served, she wasn't worth any consideration.
When she reached her door, Sabrina exited hers and stopped. Hermione watched her face crease with concern and her step forward was hesitant. Immediately she smoothed her own face and forced her attention toward the witch.
"Is he alright?" Sabrina's question was quiet but Hermione could hear the fear.
"Yes he is. Looks so much better in the black shirt as opposed all that gray." Sabrina blinked at her and then smiled a bit and Hermione found it easy to return the expression. Feeling her joy for the witch she loved. The man she would marry too. One day anyways.
"He's at the Dale so if you want to get ready or something. Why I don't know. I'm changing out of these stupid things." She admitted and Sabrina looked her over then nodded.
"I'll be ready. Thank you Hermione." Sabrina stepped forward and hugged her. Letting herself soak in how it felt and the girl's happiness helped. This wasn't a time to be selfish or not consider others.
Twenty minutes later she had considered another calming draught but didn't want to be sluggish and decided socks and jeans would help more. A hoodie felt wrong so she wore her favourite sweater and tugged the sleeves over her hands. Her mind rebeled against her standing alone in the mirror. The magics wanting him behind her and she accepted that. That he would be one day. Trying to keep herself and the magics calm. Not increase the pull, knowing he was on the other side of it.
The pull of the Rites was way more than he had expected. As soon as the dampeners had come off, he had felt it. Then it grew strength in seconds and he was sure that he could have found her from thousands of miles away. He wasn't that far though. Only two or three doors and it was hard to listen to the official's last few words.
His mind was full of her and what she had said. How she would look. That she was waiting for him right now. How his body was humming with the returned magic and the Rites. He could feel all of his skin and he was still blinking as he walked toward the door.
Then she had been there. Josh too and a prick who didn't like his witch at all. Thor had been surprised by Josh merely glaring at the man. Then at his lack of offering Hermione his arm. The near blatant exclusion of the witch didn't make sense to him but he was trying not to look at her unless she was looking at him. The whiskey sounded good but he wasn't sure why that was the suggestion. Sabrina would be there and Hermione. Tea or something would have been better wording.
Her walking ahead of the had been so strange. He would have thought she would be tucked between them but neither sibling seemed to expect that.
Now he felt the pull nearly haul him off his feet as she disappeared into the floo and wanted to groan. What the hell was going on?
"Half an hour." He repeated Josh's words as he stared at the flames losing their green tint. His witch had just gone to France.
"Your house doesn't look anything like it did so I thought a whiskey in my study would be familiar." Josh didn't sound upset and he made himself look toward his friend, who was watching him as carefully as he ever had.
"Did you dismiss her for a reason?" Thor asked his friend and tried to ignore all the feelings he felt. Getting caught up in his own thoughts wouldn't help. Thinking about her hair and those eyes looking into his wasn't helping either.
"I'm sure she wanted to see Sabrina." Josh said as they entered the familiar study and and it looked the same as he remembered. Untouched. There had been subtle differences in the house that he had just walked through. His mind felt quick and slow simultaneously.
"So do I." He drawled and watched Josh grin at him. Then he was loosening his cuffs and a hand wave brought the whiskey bottle over. Thor sat in a chair and then stretched out further on the comfortable piece of furniture.
"Well?" He asked after a minute of Josh watching him and two sips that cleared his mind even as he revelled in the familiar burn.
"Are you alright?" Josh's question wasn't surprising but he didn't know what exactly his friend wanted to know.
"Yeah. It was lonely but I read and thought." He answered quietly and Josh nodded.
"Are you good to stay here tonight?" He asked next and Thorfinn didn't know.
"Are they staying here?" Thor asked in return and watched his friend.
"Our sisters you mean?" He didn't respond but Josh eventually shook his head.
"She hasn't been staying here since maybe two months after I got home." His tone was tight and Thorfinn sat up and put the glass on the desk.
"What do you think I need to know before I see my sister, or her." Clearly it was something and he was more than a bit surprised by how this had gone. He kept reminding himself not to have specific expectations but the lack of Hermione behaving as he had seen and the near absence of any example of familiarity between the siblings was unsettling. More than that but his mind was mostly on the witches. Both of them.
"She's been difficult. Not Sabrina, though she doesn't like me much either. I don't know what to expect. She has made it plain that your relationship is none of my business. Outside of her family obligations, none of her life is. Sabrina has firmly stood beside her." He listened and watched his friend. His oldest and best friend while he explained the mess he had somehow made. The witch had left for France. Why?
"I didn't tell you anything either." He pointed out and slouched into the soft cushions beneath him. Hands behind his head, and he could feel himself relaxing into the almost familiar feeling of a well padded armchair.
A look was all he got in reply and he realised this wasn't a simple concern. Or situation or whatever.
"Zabini." The name was bit out and he stilled, or stopped shifting his butt on the chair and waited.
"What exactly about him. They are close." He said after too many seconds and watched Josh take a sip and then refill his glass. A hand gesture declined. This wasn't a time to have one too many.
"He touches her, escorts her places and it's all so casual. Accepted. Matrons seat them together and I've seen them close several times." It was said as if Josh had found them naked together or something and he felt himself flush. The Rites didn't like it and he closed his eyes. Thinking of her eyes and the way her cheeks had flushed the day she told him about the Tower and the Rites. It helped and he felt the slight lessening of the tension on his magic.
"How many can touch her?" He asked and watched Josh shift and then meet his eyes.
"Three. Zabini, Potter and Malfoy." The words were quiet and he held the wizard's eyes until Josh looked away. What the fuck was this about?
"Were they intimate?" He asked directly. Knowing they didn't have time and this hadn't been a real concern of his. Outside of what she had shown him, Sabrina always mentioned the wizard and reassured him about it.
"Not that I know of. It wouldn't surprise me though. The level of physical contact is more than I would tolerate." Thorfinn raised a brow at that and sat forward, elbows on his knees. He didn't want to ask because it seemed stupid but decided to. Maybe it would get a reason out of him.
"Did you tell her that? It would definitely lead her to be in France." His tone was a bit jocular but in a second he knew that's what had happened. He could only stare at his friend. Not understanding what he was thinking or could have seen to put him in this frame of mind. He gave Josh a minute and then asked again.
"They are coming back, so if you want me to know something you will have to say it." He took the last sip of his drink and then tried to soak in how it felt to be comfortable. To not be in a stone room. Josh held his gaze and he could only wait.
"Don't expect much. Her life is set up and she doesn't need much. Doesn't ask for any help." He said quietly and after a long time. Thorfinn watched him, noticed the tightness around his eyes and the tone of his voice. The witch hadn't said much about Josh and the reverse was true as well.
"Alright." Before he could say more an elf popped in. Minty. He grinned at the elf and got a nod in response.
"The Miss be's coming." Minty said with dignity and Thorfinn stood.
"Both?" He asked and could feel his heart speeding up and then the Rites told him she was here. He closed his eyes for a second and then looked to Josh who was still seated. Was he coming, a glance asked.
A short nod from his friend and then he was walking to the door with Josh behind him. It was easy to know where Hermione was and so he walked directly to them. They were standing outside the floo room and Hermione knew he was there. Sabrina was looking in his direction too and he paused to look her over.
His sister was grown and beautiful. There were tears in her eyes but she looked happy and was holding onto one of Hermione's hands. Tightly it looked like. A quick glance at her got a small smile and he knew she was reassuring him that his sister was okay.
"Come here Sprite." He said quietly and wasn't embarrassed that his voice cracked. She let go of the witch and was running the few steps to him. Then her warm weight was in his arms and he spun her around, listening to her murmur in his ear.
"I'm so glad you are home. We missed you. I can't wait for you to see the Tower." He listened and nodded into her hair. Then he pulled back and looked her over carefully. She accepted it and smiled up at him.
Sabrina was alright. Better then, he had never seen her look so healthy and happy. Her eyes were clear and the fierce light was there. She meant it, had missed him and wanted him home with them.
"I missed you Sprite. So glad you are alright." He touched the end of her nose, the way he had when she was a kid and the grin was like a gift. So open and honest. Then he watched her look at Hermione and he did too. The witch was crying silently, didn't look sad or anything but it was clear this was emotional for both of them.
Josh was standing behind him and watching his own sister. Not very happily either. His face was hard and his eyes were watchful. This would take some understanding.
"Let's go sit. Or something. Do you want to stay here?" Sabrina asked and looked at the witch again. Hermione just gave her a nod. Encouragement he thought, and he looked into Sabrina's eyes. The same as his. Could see so much and didn't know exactly what was wrong. What she wanted or needed. It was hard to ignore the magics. Not watch Hermione but clearly his sister was important right now. The witch agreed and other than a few short shared glances, she had been watching his sister too.
Then Sabrina's wand came out and Hermione nodded again. More firmly, and took a few steps back from them. Josh didn't but Sabina murmured something and then began speaking.
"They can't hear us. I don't know what to say or do. Are you okay?" He could see that she was serious and hid his surprise at her doing this.
"Better than okay Sprite. Are you?" He took a half step back so he would see her fully and watched carefully as she huffed and then smiled up at him. She was taller, came to his chin and it was surprising. He had seen her a year ago but she looked different in this clean and normal home instead of that box. The circumstances were so different that maybe he could let himself really see how happy she was and how healthy. Never had he seen his sister so content and settled. She was worried but it wasn't huge overwhelming worries like before.
"So good. So happy. Worried about you. And her too. Do you want to stay here?" She was speaking quickly and glance told him that Hermione was looking out the window to their right, obviously giving them privacy and Josh wasn't. He was watching them closely, no doubt trying to read their lips or something.
"You aren't. Everything alright?" He asked her and she grimaced and then caught his eye deliberately and nodded.
"I'll tell you about it later. Or she can. Not a big deal but Hermione isn't happy living with him, so we aren't. We've been in France but floo back to England and then apparate all the time. Like we aren't really away. She has a flat we use if we don't want to come here. The Tower is done though. It's amazing Thor. I love it and can't wait for you to feel how different it feels. So warm and airy. Clean and so much better. She does this. Just makes somewhere a home. Not here as much, because it's Josh's but everywhere else she goes. If you want a few days or however much time here then that is fine. Anything is alright. Just don't let Josh make the decisions. Make them yourself." Her voice was firm and she wasn't pleading but her eyes told the story.
"Okay. I don't know though." He said and looked to the witch again. Tried to see her without the magic but couldn't. His body was strung as tight as he had ever been and it wasn't comfortable.
They weren't alone and things weren't really comfortable. That weighed against things. Wanting her to be comfortable or something. Something other than this clear strain among the people around him, those thoughts seemed to lessen the angsty feelings somewhat. Looking at her did too. Maybe she would give him some pointers, clearly she was managing it better.
"Let's have tea or something. It's what we do when we don't have enough to do with our hands." Then Sabrina's wand waved in a complex motion and he knew the magic protecting their conversation was gone.
Josh had a distinct furrow between his brows and Thorfinn caught his eye. Everything was alright. This was about his sister and he wasn't sure why Josh seemed so out of his element. As if when Hermione was around, he wasn't sure of his place. The observation was unexpected and unwelcome.
"Sabrina suggests tea." He said into the silence of the room and looked from his friend to his betrothed and watched her turn to them. Hermione's eyes went to his sister's and then flicked to him. She smiled gently and then met Sabrina's eyes again.
"You choose Rina. Whatever you think is best." The witch meant it and he looked to his sister in time to see her face with no mask at all. All of her emotions clear to see on her face. The hope and happiness. The plea there. What she wanted the witch to do, he wasn't sure and maybe Hermione wasn't either.
"Can we go to your rooms?" Sabrina asked and he could hear the challenge and the request in the words.
"Of course. Zavi." She was looking down before the elf appeared and the garment wasn't what Josh's elves wore. It was like a one piece suit. In a very light blue and the elf looked to the witch with what could only be open scrutiny.
"Miss be's alright." He said and Sabrina grinned up at him when he looked over at her.
"Of course I am Zavi. You are such a worrier. Could we have tea in my living room?" She asked the elf as if she really wasn't sure he would do it and the elf didn't answer. Merely looked to him for a second and then popped away.
"There will be tea." Hermione said and Sabrina giggled beside him. It felt amazing, to just have his sister so easily share amusement with him. Be so happy to have him home. Be here, with these people who were basically his whole life. Out of there and while the Rites were making him less than comfortable it was also stabilizing his magic. He could feel the steady pull on his core and that kept his control of the magics that he hadn't felt in years far easier.