Adrian POV
Getting off the train, Adrian had never felt so pent up. Immediately he began looking around the platform for his mother. This was the longest trip from Scotland to London he had ever endured and even Marc had less patience than usual. As usual he had taken a compartment only a few away from her, Marc always allowed him to choose. Within minutes of them settling in he felt the bond get tight and then she was moving. As far from him as she could, right down the end of the train. Marc had demanded an explanation when he began deep breathing and it took all he had not to bury his fists into the plush seats, or break a window.
"I can't, she, could you go and make sure she is okay? Try not to let her see you." It was a measure of their friendship that his surly friend only nodded and took down the privacy charms before heading out into the corridor. Adrian still had his eyes closed when he returned and all his friend did was sit and put the charms back up. Eventually he spoke.
"She is sitting alone and staring out the window. Ade, you have to do something about this. I'm not saying it's your fault or whatever but hell, I've never seen you like this and it's been getting worse." Marc's deep voice was an even lower rumble than usual. Finally he opened his eyes and met his friends worried look. That was unusual, the open display of feeling.
"I know. I just don't know how. Father, I have to talk to him I think, before I can approach her with anything. She keeps running from me. I'm hoping mother will have some idea of what is going on, she hasn't been happy with me either." That was all he could say. His father wouldn't be home from his business trip until Friday. That gave him six days before he had to have that conversation.
"Okay. Did you see the scores for Tuesday's Arrows match? Tulkins nearly got taken out permanently by that bludger." Marc's posture dropped into his usual relaxed sprawl and his feet were quickly proppep across the compartment seats.
"Yeah, looked like Michaels really has picked up some skills. You were right about him, I'll admit. Looked a bit choppy though, new brooms or not." The usual conversations and comfortable silences did little to calm him but it did keep him at a relatively level temper.
Finally spotting his mother, again with ladies Greengrass and Malfoy, he and his friend headed that way. Marc usually went home with them and took the floo to Flint Manor from there. Sometimes he didn't, Adrian thought he would today. Wanting to give his friend a chance to sort some things out.
"Boys, it's so good to see you, I missed you this Christmas, even if you had reason to be away. Well then I will see you Wednesday Narcissa, Felicity, goodbye ladies." With that she shrunk their bags and gave them to their respective owners, to pocket and then waited for them each to offer her an arm. When she had them both she quickly looked at each to receive their nod of readiness and spun, taking all three into the floo room of Pucey Hall.
"Will you stay for tea Marcus?" The smile on her face was genuine though she looked as if she understood when he offered her his genuine regrets.
"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow then, no excuses. If you aren't here for breakfast I will expect you for lunch. Travel safely and remember you can always drop in, regardless of what we might be doing dear." The softness in her voice made the burly young man smile. Kissing her cheek he caught Adrian's eye and nodded. Calling out his destination he disappeared in the rush of green flames.
Watching his mother's shoulders slump slightly Adrian wanted to blast something, or use his fists. For the first time in years he felt like giving in and crying. Mother was looking down when she gestured him to follow her and headed out of their receiving room. Following her through the main foyer he chatted with the elves that popped in and listened to his mother approving the dinner menu, only changing its location. They would be in her suite, the ladies salon.
This was her private domain, the place where her magics reigned and were part of its actual form. It led to the ladies bedchamber, which she only used when she didn't want to see her husband and her dressing rooms. This room was one of his favourites in the home. It felt safe and secure, as his mother did. That was probably a holdover from when he was a little boy, but it still held true. In this place his mother felt no compunction to behave in any way other than as she wanted. Immediately removing her shoes and pulling her feet up onto the sofa she liked best. Adrian decided on the armchair at her end and sat heavily. Pinny popped in with tea and sandwiches, the smile she gave him was one of such joy that he was startled.
"Young master. Pinny is so glad you has told Mistress. A bond for my young master. You is a credit to the Family." From an elf there was no higher praise and he couldn't help but smile fondly at the little creature. Dressed in a crisp yellow pillowcase, well it had been one he was sure. There was embroidery and it had sleeves, more like a simple little gown now. Of course there were many little owls barely visible, the embroidery was done in just the same shade as the fabric.
"Thank you Pinny. I hope to be." That was all he could say. At the moment he didn't feel at all certain that she would ever grace these halls. With a toothy smile the elf wiggled her ears and popped away. For a moment he and his mother just looked at each other. Then she poured him tea and put two sandwiches on a plate for him.
"Eat my son, I can tell you haven't been. I understand but really, it doesn't help. Hermione hasn't written in the last week at all, not even in reply. The three letters before that had a completely different tone. Polite but not open, there weren't any of her thoughts in them. I can assume from your letters and even Marcus' declining tea that things are worse than I had anticipated. What happened? No finish that sandwich. I will tell you what has been happening here and you can just eat and listen. Another elfling, Peppin's, he doesn't have a name yet. Your fathers Abraxan foaled too, yesterday. We have a meeting at Gringotts Friday morning, your father scheduled it before this trip. My roses have a pest of some kind, I lost four before finding the right potion for a repellent yesterday." On this went, small details that hadn't been enough to make it into letters or had happened just recently.
As he finished his second sandwich his mother fell silent, clearly she had just been filling the time.
"I don't know what has actually happened, she is frightened of the bond. At first she tried to stop her feelings from travelling down it, but then she began trying to stop it completely. It is unbearable mother. If I try to get closer she runs. Obviously she knows it is me, the look on her face when she sees me. Even on the train she moved as far as she could get. Do you think she is having nightmares like me? Some nights it is dreams of us, our life or us together. Like it was before. Other times they are terrible. I can't find her, or she is calling and I can't get to her. I would have just told her about the bond and what it is but she won't let me get close and I can feel the disgust she has when there is something in the bond. Before I felt like I needed to talk to father first. Know if I could offer her a life here or if something would happen that meant it would be less I had to offer. That's what you taught me, that it was important to make sure of security, that being able to meet my brides expectations was an issue of trust. Maybe I was wrong." He couldn't get any further and buried his head in his hands. His form was shuddering when he felt his mother kneel in front of him and pull his hands away. Slowly she put her hands on his cheeks and met his eyes.
"Adrian, oh my son. I am sorry. You should never have felt it was money you needed to be sure of. Of course financial and familian security are important but those lessons were part of your scion duties. We didn't know you had a bondmate or that the situation would be as it is. Your love, your certainty and dedication. If you can promise her those, then that will be more than enough for her. This is not a contractual arrangement, or a witch that won't come to you willingly without such promises. She is the witch magic found just for you. As she is enough for you, you will always be enough for her. Now, I must get up, I am not as young as I used to be." She gave him one last pat and kiss on the cheek before returning to her seat.
"As to what you have felt from her and her behavior, I have been thinking about it. I could tell that everything was not well, even if I didn't know how bad it was. I just don't know. You couldn't have done anything to frighten her without knowing you had. It could be that she doesn't know what kind of magic it is, or what it wants from her. She is very bright and seems very curious, maybe too much so. Also she wasn't raised to trust her magic and doesn't understand our customs. Please don't look at me like that, it isn't a criticism of your young lady merely a truth. It was fortunate she wrote me about Krum's offer, as she didn't know that such a request had been suggested by his parents and would certainly have been an assessment. She is home for Easter break, we will wait a few days and write her. With or without your father's blessing, are you ready to tell her?"
"Do you think he will say no? She is muggleborn mother, and a proud one." He asked. Ignoring the information about Krum and trying to focus on anything that might be a step forward.
"I don't know. His tattoo, it is getting darker. He has been having more meetings with people from that time than usual. I can tell he is nervous and there have been many discussions about moving finances out of reach. We will just have to explain and see what happens. You know I love your father, but he can be infuriating. So determined to shoulder the responsibilities and protect me. The vow has kept me from speaking, even vaguely of Hermione. That will have to be dealt with. So we have until Friday then, to discover what is wrong with your bondmate, fix it, and get her to agree to tell your father." The far away look in her eyes told Adrian she was planning and scheming. He was relieved to see it.
His mother's suggestion he change and have a fly was a good one so he did just that. Dinner with his mother and an getting his holiday homework done filled out the evening. That night he didn't dream of her at all, which I in itself was frightening.
The next morning passed with Marc there for breakfast and the two of them using the dueling room before and after lunch. He stayed for dinner, which they had with the Warrignton's and didn't head home until late. After a quick conversation that morning about giving Hermione a day or two to settle at home and maybe calm down, Marc had decided to tire his friend out with distractions. Gratefully he lay down in bed that night. So tired that falling asleep wasn't an issue.
Right after breakfast the next morning Pinny popped in to deliver a letter, usually the post was given before meals and both his mother and him stopped speaking in their slight surprise. Pinny's ears wiggled and she handed Adrian the letter. Immediately he could tell it was sealed with the Pucey charm and he would have to complete it before it would open. Suddenly his heart was all he could hear. Roaring in his ears and his hands were shaking. Fumbling in his haste he managed to get his wand out and finish the charms security measures.
Adrian,
I had an interesting meeting yesterday with someone you've never met, not sure you have ever met someone so notorious. I think we have things to talk about. I'll let you decide when and where.
She had written him a letter. Hermione had written him and was agreeing to meet at a time and place of his choosing. Even letting him decide when. Adrian, his first name. His mind was full of thoughts moving too fast to clearly decipher. Suddenly he noticed the hand waving in front of his face and realised his mother was saying something.
"And if you don't tell me what it says I will break all etiquette and snatch it from your hands young man." Clearly he had only caught the last part of her tirade. In response he handed it to her and watched her face. Lips pursed first, probably at its brevity. Then she looked at him and could see from the look on his face that he thought it better than the words actually allowed. This prompted her to read it again and then fold it up. Slowly she tapped the envelope against her chin and looked out the window. It was a grey drizzly day, they had been lucky to get the nice one yesterday.
"Hermione knows, something Black said to her has changed things." He said with a question in his tone.
"Sirius Black is a pureblood wizard from one of the oldest families. Of course he will know that what she is experiencing is a potential natural bond. A rebel he might have been in his teenage years but he was raised by Walburga Black. That woman was a tyrant and shrew, I don't even have anyone fit to compare her to. So she must have opened up to him, how could they be so close? Even if she saved him, somehow, as you say. How interesting. I'm not sure I like our girl gong to a rebellious outlaw for advice. Though I am glad she did. If she was suspicious of you it follows that my attention would just have made her more so. He was a troublemaker, and a whirl of energy in school, and as children. Gryffindor with James Potter, part of the Marauders. I'm sure that is self styled but there were some hilarious pranks. I tried to stay out of their way but some were the whole of Slytherin. I will think more seriously about a trial for him, if he is sane and helpful, as this indicates. Twelve years in Azkaban, even for a crime he didn't commit. That will take a dreadful toll. Aren't you going to write back?" She laughed at the look of indecision on his face.
"Oh Adrian, you must write back. Even if you don't know the answers." With that his mother sauntered out of the room and left him sitting at the cleared breakfast table staring at the letter.
Alone in his room Adrian sat propped against the headboard on his oversized bed. What should he say? Her name, he would get to write her given name. That he could do.
Hermione,
Now what? Impulsively he decided to just write and see what he ended up with.
Thank you for writing to me. Most of what I want to say shouldn't be written in a letter. I need to see your face and be able to feel. Now that you know what I mean, I want you to know that I am sorry. I will try and explain my thoughts when I see you but I want you to know that I never meant for you to be frightened of me or the magic.
Would you like to meet at school or do you have time this vacation? I would love to see you today but I want you to be comfortable, if you can. I will wait if that is what you need.
Please know I am thinking of you always.
Adrian
That would have to do. He couldn't see anything objectionable in it and nothing too personal. Where should they meet? He felt like here wasn't the best spot, he wasn't sure if it would make her comfortable. Knowing his bondmate was a muggleborn he had asked his mother to take him, he and Marc had wandered away from the Leaky entrance on half day jaunts. Both times they had gotten lost and had to call a house elf to get back to the Hall. In their wanderings he had seen many different kinds of home muggles lived in. None were anything like Pucey Hall. Hermione seemed to have very nice clothes and things, so he didn't think she was poor or anything, but he pictured her in one of those long rows of tall houses all connected.
Making sure he knew what her parents looked like had been accomplished by asking to try the barrier at the end of her first year. Usually his parents apparated him onto the platform. So he knew that her parents looked like kind people, though they looked frightened of the people coming out of the barrier last year and the first time he had watched them. She had hugged them and smiled an open Hermione smile at them, so their home was happy enough. His witch couldn't fake that, he was sure. He had also seen the fat muggle glowering at Potter after noticing Hermione frowning in that direction.
Maybe his mother could apparate them into their gardens, away from the house. He wanted to be somewhere private, where he could relax and speak to her without worrying about being overheard. There were several places he had thought she would enjoy around their estate. It wasn't huge, by their standards. Several hundred acres. Some cultivated and some left to grow wild, forests and natural waterways channeled magic into the wards after all. There was a grove behind the lake hills that had a lovely view of a pond and there was a tree that had been trained into a comfortable bench many years ago.