Adrian POV
Adrian couldn't seem to have any clear thoughts for days after he was so close to her. The innocence in her gaze and the insecurity that flashed there made him want to end both of them. With his mouth, preferably in a nonverbal way. For the first time he had avoided her for two days. Not seen her by design or accident. The day after their conversation he had done as usual and made sure she saw him in the library. His body's reaction to her flushed face and averted gaze was startling and when she met his eyes square on her had to leave. Then excuse himself to his friends and spend embarrassingly few minutes alone in their dorm. All it took was the intensity of her gaze as fodder for his lust and it was so hard not to say her name while his cum coated his slowing fingers.
He had taken two days after that, to clear his head. He still wanted to press her against the table she sat at so primly but he could be in the room. Other than her being more willing to react to his proximity she kept her usual behavior. Weasley and her were not on great terms but that was to be expected. She kept her usual appointments with Krum and was still amassing information that may be helpful to Potter for the second task. In addition she was back to researching for herself it seemed. This time instead of possible magical connections it appeared to be vows and oaths. Even a book on fealty once. That had been an excellent fantasy. He would be her Lord one day, as she would be his Lady. The fantasies that came from those thoughts, the idea of her swearing loyalty to him made that a thought for private moments.
Eventually real and pertinent facts began percolating through his want of her body, heart, and mind. The Dark Lord, it was infinitely more pleasant to think of her than contemplate his return. Deciding he would be returning home for Easter break was the only concrete decision he had made. Due to staying at the castle for Yule this year he hadn't seen his parents for the holiday. As they had arranged when it became clear he would stay at the castle, he met his mother in Hogsmeade today, for the first visit to the village in the new year. It had not been the visit his mother expected, instead of berating him for not wanting to share enough about his life she got more than she could have imagined.
"Hello Mother." She was speaking to Mrs Malfoy at one side of the waiting room in a small restaurant their circle frequented when meeting their children at school. As she spun around at the sound of his voice Adrian couldn't help but smile in return, his mother was beaming at him. After a few words with the other woman she met him at the door to the dining room. Placing her hand on his arm he led her to the table indicated by the waiter. After they were seated and ordered tea and lunch his mother stopped smiling endlessly at him. A small pucker, not unlike the one he had seen on Hermione's face, creased on her forehead. In an instant her wand was in her hand and flicking subtly around them. When she had finished she picked up the delicate tea cup and regarded him through eyes the mirror of his own.
Now that he was sitting here he didn't know where to begin, it was regrettable he hadn't mentioned Hermione once or twice so this didn't surprise her so much. If he had indicated in any way that Hermione Granger was the witch she had been teasing him about for years then she would have already considered much of the problem. Done research and found out absolutely everything about her family and connections. This was why he hadn't told her of course. First the vow that would make this possible. His request that she vow on her magic not to speak of this without the to be spoken of party's permission shocked her. When he met her gaze steadily and nodded once she watched him. Clearly weighing his request. Eventually she quietly made the vow as inconspicuously as she could in this public setting.
"Mother, you have mentioned several times that you are sure there is a witch. Told father that there was no need to begin contract negotiations with our connections." She was smiling now, a beaming smile that lit up her face. Feeling a little bit guilty for the let down she would suffer he stopped speaking. The smile slowly fell.
"Tell me what is going on Adrian. What is wrong?" Her eyes were pinning him in place and he knew there would be no getting out of this without answering all of her questions. Eventually he would have to speak with his father and it would serve him well to have already covered most of the ground.
"You asked me why I was ordering all those books on bonds and making a mess of our library. It was because I wanted to be sure that what I thought was happening really was. Sorry to ramble mother but it is hard to say. The potential for a bond is there. It is growing and gaining strength. I can feel her rooms away now if I am trying. I would have told you eventually of course but things are changing. With the bond and with her. Hermione Granger. I'm sure you know of her and now that the Prophet has publicized her going to the ball with Krum there is no way you could have missed it. The bond pushed me to her the night of the ball. I knew she had been insulted by the youngest Weasley boy and thought maybe the bond just wanted me to cheer her up or something. That wasn't it." He had been looking at her cup until he saw it tremble in her hand. The look on his mother's face wasn't easily readable, which meant she didn't want it shown. Either to him or just in this public place.
"Continue. They can't hear us but they can see us. I will try and remain poised as will you." With that she waited for him to carry on.
"I think it was because she was considering leaving Britain altogether that the bond pushed me then. Maybe it was the rest of what she said. From her viewpoint it seems as if He." Adrian made sure the pause here was noticeable. "Is coming back. She didn't say exactly what made her so sure but she is. Potter is her best friend I know she loves him, maybe like a brother, maybe just as a best friend. She said he is being groomed, I don't totally understand what she meant by that part. Sirius Black was mentioned several times. Last year she and Potter helped Black escape from Hogwarts, both of them are certain Black is innocent. That Peter Pettigrew is alive and that he betrayed the Potters. There wouldn't be much credit to this if I didn't know she had used a time turner all of last year for classes and she used it the night Black escaped. I don't think she knows what the bond between us is, she trusts it though. Or she wouldn't have mentioned Dumbledore or a compulsion." His mother put her teacup down at the last word and lowered her head. A small shudder run through her at the mention of the insidious spells and she took a moment before looking up at him.
"How much do you know about her Adrian? Is it worth it? Is she? I am sorry my son, to ask, but I must know right now. Do you want her? Is she the one for you? Especially in light of what she has told you." It was scary to see such a mask on his mother's face. She looked comfortable and almost bored by what they were discussing. Even in her eyes, Adrian could see very little. This would decide everything. Well his father's backing would decide which avenue he took but it hurt to tell his mother. It had always been this curly brunette that had been the most important woman in his life. His mother, who had loved him more and more as each year went by without another child of her own. Opening the doors of the Hall to all of the children of their social circle. Their house had been happy and full of laughter, or so his memories as a child told him.
"She is beyond the usual level of brilliant mother. Her mind is as fascinating as her form. Loyalty is important to her and she will stand up for what is hers, beliefs or people, against all comers. Everything you ever told me to look for is in her. Feeling her magic against mine is." With that he broke off. Unable to express to his mother how hot and yet soft she made him feel. His mother loved his father and they were more of a partnership than most pureblood marriages. They had a marriage bond of course, but not a natural bond. One magic allowed to grow without enchantment or ritual. The depths of his feelings must have been visible on his face or in his eyes, his mother's posture softened and she reached out a hand for his. Her eyes were shining and it almost looked as if she might cry.
"Alright then darling. That answers my question. I can barely wait to meet her, perhaps we could walk through town and you could find her even. Oh Adrian, a bond. For my son. It is all I could have wished for you." Adrian was sure she would have kept on in the same vane and began peppering him with questions, this ritual was interrupted by the serving of dinner. As he poured his mother a glass of wine she was watching him. With such a soft look that he coloured further, he had already had a light blush from speaking of Hermione to his mother.
For a moment he let himself imagine this was the only conversation. His nerves stemming from introducing his muggleborn love into the world he grew up in. Having his mother fuss and begin subtle coaching so Hermione would be ready to take her place beside him. Carefully showing the younger witch the ways of Wizarding society. Shopping and talking together. It didn't last very long, the differences between this situation and the one he had expected were stark. When he met her gaze again he could see she too had let her mind drift further than their familial happiness.
"We will have to speak of what she has told you and what you know. We could probably stay an hour here without raising suspicion. What do you know about Sirius Black? And more important to me at the moment explain the compulsion and how she could tell you." As she sliced and placed her bite of chicken in her mouth Adrian thought through her questions and began to explain what he knew, in a limited amount of time. Had this discussion been had at home then it would have been a two way one, her filling in knowledge and adding information to his. There wasn't time for that today and it would have to wait until Easter.
As his mother pretended to savour her chocolate mousse, he could see her mind whirring. All they had discussed and all he knew had surprised her clearly. His Hermione was much more interesting and complex than most other young witches. Their road together would be different too.
"All I can offer at this very moment is an owl. A Pucey owl, one of the dwarf varieties. I will ask Pinny to select the best one for our girl. It will have to be swift and fierce. There are several sets of enchanted jesses in the vault that should help with security. It will be the first gift from our House to your bride. You needn't present it to her in that manner of course. I must say that I didn't expect this today Adrian." His mother's smile was impish in her humour and he cracked a small smile in return.
As they exited the restaurant his mother pulled her scarf tighter around her neck against the cold and waited for her son to lead her in his chosen direction. They waved and exchanged greetings as he headed towards the two small bookshops here. It was more likely she was in one of them than not. He was surprised when he felt the magic before they had gotten halfway there. He faltered and his mother looked up at him questioningly. He gestured towards Honeydukes and his mother smirked. As they entered the warm sweet smelling shop he headed unerringly towards the back corner, she was behind a group of third year Hufflepuffs. His mother slowed and browsed the shelves and jars back here. It was chocolate, the nut section to be precise.
It was difficult to tear his eyes from Hermione but he assumed his mother would want to take the lead. She knew he was there, her shoulders had twitched. Their stolen conversation in the library stacks last night meant she knew he was here with his mother. All he had time for was a quick fervent promise that she would be under the same vow. The long look she took into his eyes, measuring him. There was conflict but he quietly pointed out they needed someone outside the school. He most certainly didn't want the Dark Lord back and he knew his mother didn't want that life for him. If she had veritaserum she would have dosed him he was sure. It was quite the boost to him when his words were enough. He was sure more security would be needed before she told him anything more than she had. That was understandable.
His mother was sidling closer to Hermione and the younger witch was peeking at him and then his mother from behind her curtain of curls. The corner of his mother's lips twitched up.
"I couldn't help but notice that your curls are similar to mine, perhaps I could offer you some advice. The humidity and the magic of the castle often caused me problems in my school days. Forgive me, I am Cynthia Pucey, my son Adrian attends school with you." With each word the older witch's smile grew. The younger one was biting her lip and beginning to blush.
"Thank you Mrs Pucey, my curly hair is a mystery to me and if yours was once like it then I have hope for the future." Twice her gaze flicked from his mother to him, he noticed, and so did his mother.
"It is nothing. If you will give me your name I will write with a list of my recommendations and perhaps some samples. I am sorry to hurry you along but we must go." The real smile on his mother's face didn't seem to relax Hermione to any great degree. That lovely pink was high in her cheeks and she nodded before answering with her name and another murmured thank you.
Once free she basically bolted. Carefully placing the chocolates she had in her hand on the shelf and walking straight to the door, without looking back. The laughing eyes of his mother made him chuckle in response. They paid for her abandoned box of chocolates and he kissed his mother goodbye.
Comment reply:
to the guest who commented on Sirius being in the cave. It was because of her problems with Dumbledore that she wanted secure communication with him. At least that was my thought process. You are right though, I just didn't choose to go about it that way.
Also I'll happily respond to comments or PMs if people want a dialogue. I often wish I had more feedback. Also I've been wondering if I need a beta? Opinions? Thanks.