Thorfinn and Hermione have their first date. Hermione receives some unexpected presents.
Halla -an unexpected gift, Half protected. Norwegian
Emil - lively and eager. Norwegian
While Harry kept Ron away, Thorfinn took Hermione to the bar and put her hand into a bucket of ice. Once it had numbed, he pulled out his wand and healed her hand. He kissed her knuckles and laughed. "You didn't have to defend me, sweetheart. I could easily have punched him myself."
She smiled at him shyly. "No. The press would get wind of it and you'd be suspended or expelled from the league. And if it's Rita Skeeter that writes the story, she'd be sure to blame the whole thing on me. I've had dealings with her before."
Thorfinn leaned forward. "So, this isn't going to keep us apart? We're still meeting tomorrow morning? Even though your friends don't want you near me?"
Hermione leaned around him and glared at Harry and Ron. "Yes. We are still meeting tomorrow morning. They might be my friends, but I can still make my own decisions. I want to get to know you. Spend time with you." Pansy and Luna came up beside them at that moment.
"Hermione. It's time to go. We just have time to get back to school before curfew. Do you want to walk back with us or them?" Pansy asked, glancing over at Harry and Ron. Hermione quickly shook her head.
"No! I'm not walking back with them! If I do, I'll have Ronald Weasley hexed into a tree somewhere! I came here with you, I'll walk back with you." Pansy smiled at Luna. They motioned the other girls to the door as they started that way.
"Two minutes, Granger! Kiss him like it's your last time! You might not see him for a while!" Pansy instructed her. Hermione needed no urging as Thorfinn had already snatched her into his arms. Yaxley and Dolohov joined the girls as they waited for Thorfinn.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Thorfinn's shoulders. He kissed her until they both ran out of breath. As they separated, he kept feathering small kisses up her jawline to her ear. "It's going to kill me, waiting until tomorrow. I wish I could take you home with me now."
Hermione cupped his chin. "I know, but we'll make it. Maybe we could arrange a trip to your home sometime." She stroked a hand through his hair. Hearing Harry clear his throat behind them, she rolled her eyes at him playfully. Finn chuckled as he turned them to face their groups. She joined Pansy and the Magpies. He joined Yaxley and Dolohov. They all walked out of the bar.
With one last kiss, Thorfinn apparated away with Yaxley and Dolohov. Hermione stood waiting, her eyes narrowed and tapping her foot, as Harry and Ron came towards her. Harry took one look and knew she'd already made up her mind. Of course, he'd known that she liked Rowle in school. All he had to do was think back to her dragging him to the quidditch pitch, even though everyone knew she hated quidditch.
He held up his hands. "Ok. I won't try to keep you away from him. Just, please, please, be careful, Hermione. He is older than you. He's more experienced. If he breaks your heart, l WILL bury him!"
Ron looked at her angrily. "I don't like it! He's still a Death Eater, reformed or not! What's wrong with the guys at school, huh?"
Hermione huffed at him. "The guys at school? You mean, the guys who have had SEVEN years to ask me out? Is that the GUYS you're referring to? If so, then maybe you need to ask THEM why they haven't stepped up to ask me out, Ronald!"
Hermione hugged Harry, knowing how hard it was for him to step back. They'd protected each other so long that he was naturally a little wary about any guy who showed an interest in Hermione, much less a reformed Death Eater! The Trio and the Magpies started toward the school.
"I'll be coming back to Hogsmeade tomorrow. I'm meeting Thorfinn at the Three Broomsticks at 10 in the morning. That's a courtesy warning, Harry. I could have met him first and told you afterwards. He's already been told to expect a third degree from you."
Harry smiled and hugged her to one side as he hugged Ginny to his other side. "Hey, if he's going to be in your future, then he damned well be figure that I'll be there, too. You're my sister and I'm going to take care of you!"
The Magpies all exchanged high fives at realizing Harry was willing to give Thorfinn a chance to prove himself. They all chatted quietly the rest of the way to Hogwarts. Pansy arranged a departure time with Hermione as Padma and Luna made arrangements with Parvati to help get her ready in the morning.
The next morning, Hermione was woken up bright and early by Parvati. She'd already gone through Hermione's wardrobe and picked out another outfit. Padma and Luna were on their way over to help her with hair and makeup. Hermione jumped up, excited as she remembered who she was meeting today. As she and Parvati dressed, they fluttered around, making sure shirts were neatly tucked in and hemlines weren't high enough to get them barred from visiting the village. They both remembered their first year when three fifth year girls were told to change to longer skirts or lose their Hogsmeade privileges. It was the one thing they'd both remembered when they finally got their own visiting privileges.
Padma and Luna ran in excitedly. As they laid out all of their makeup, Hermione made a mental list of all the places she wanted to show Rowle. Lavender had hesitantly come over and been enthusiastically included. They were all now chattering away as Ginny walked in. "Hermione, Harry said to tell you they'd meet us in the Great Hall."
Looking up from applying her eyeliner, Hermione nodded. "Thank you, Ginny. We should be down shortly. Walk down with us?" Ginny smiled and perched on the end of her bed. After everyone was ready, they came down in a group. The guys were waiting in the hallway. They started down the path to the village. Harry and Hermione were in the lead. They spoke quietly about Rowle.
"Harry, I know you don't like this. You don't trust him because he's older and more experienced. But you know better than anyone here how long I've liked him. Nobody else knew until the other day." Hermione told him.
Harry looked shocked. "They didn't? Seriously, they didn't? How did the whole school, except for me, miss that one?!" Hermione shrugged.
"I don't know, but Padma and Luna were certainly shocked. Judging by how they talked, so were Pansy and Draco. Draco is the one who got in touch with Yaxley. He and Dolohov set the stage and last night happened." She said, hugging his arm. Ginny, knowing Harry would want a private chat with Hermione, had dropped back to walk with her brother and Lavender.
"That is surprising just by itself. I wouldn't have dreamed of those two helping to set you and Rowle up." At the look she gave him, "C'mon, Hermione, you know what I meant. They were two of his most fanatical followers, right up there with Bellatrix. I know Rowle is a relatively young pureblood, by their standards. So he might not have been old enough for the Death Eaters to turn him against Muggleborns. Although, I'm surprised that seven years in Slytherin didn't do that, either. But my point is, I'm just surprised that they even allowed him anywhere near you. Rowle seems like an ok guy and I have to admit, he's one of the best quidditch players in the league right now." Harry smiled as she socked his arm painfully.
"If you so much as say I have a type, Harry Potter-!" She threatened playfully. He laughed and held up his hands. They made it back to Hogsmeade, laughing and joking around. As they entered the Three Broomsticks, they could see Rowle standing at the bar with his two handlers. Rowle was watching for them. Yaxley and Dolohov were flirting with Madame Rosmerta.
They went to their usual table. Rowle came over and joined them. Yaxley and Dolohov stayed at the bar. As long as he was in their sight, they were content to relax and enjoy the company of Rosmerta. Thorfinn immediately slipped his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him and laid her hand on his chest.
"How did it go last night, baby girl? He didn't give you too much gaff over me, did he?" Thorfinn bent his head lower to her own. Hermione shook her head. "Good. I didn't want to get you into any kind of trouble." He touched her cheek. "A drink first, then the tour?"
"Yes. He's going to be all big brother with you. He's worried about you being older and more experienced than me." Hermione warned him. Thorfinn narrowed his eyes at Harry.
"Was he this protective with Krum or is it just because I was on the wrong side in the war?" He asked. "Because he should know right now that I wasn't given a choice in that. It was be branded or watch my father punish my mother. He would have killed her gladly. He always was furious about her only giving him one heir."
Harry heard his words and felt slightly better. He'd thought Thorfinn had taken the Dark Mark willingly. He remembered that Hermione had told him to keep an open mind about the Quidditch player. Not every Death Eater had wanted to be a Death Eater. So it seemed in Thorfinn's case. He watched the other two Death Eaters, but they never so much as glanced towards the table. They were much too busy chatting up Rosmerta.
After they had had a drink, Hermione announced, with a stern look of warning at Harry and Ron, that she and Thorfinn were going to go for a walk. They stopped by the bar to let Yaxley and Dolohov know before they left. By this time, the two were getting very frisky with Rosmerta. Less than a minute after they left, she led the two men upstairs. The combined group of students watched in disbelief. 'This was Rosmerta! And they were Death Eaters!' Just then Draco and Pansy walked in. Seeing their shocked faces and the reason for it, Draco laughed and told them, "Bloody hell, mates! Where have you lot been hiding? That situation has been going on for years. Father told me that's why Slytherin students are always welcomed at the Three Broomsticks! Think about it."
He was right. There were certain shops that made it plain Slytherin students were not welcome. Rosmerta had always welcomed them with open arms. Seeing her lead Yaxley and Dolohov up the stairs made sense then. After revealing that Hermione and Thorfinn had just left to take a walk around Hogsmeade, the group decided to have one more drink before starting their own explorations.
Thorfinn and Hermione started their tour with Dervish and Banges in order for Hermione to buy a Sneakoscope. She'd been fascinated by them ever since hearing about them from Harry. Then they went to Gladrags Wizardwear where Thorfinn bought her a beautiful traveling cape. It was a rich brown to match her eyes with Slytherin green buttons and straps to close it. He whirled it around her shoulders and she wore it out of the shop. At Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, she bought a new set of quills and inkwells as hers were starting to dry up and crack. They went into Zonko's Joke Shop where he purchased several Dungbombs, Stink Pellets and Hiccup Sweets. He laughed as he told her he pranked Yaxley, Dolohov and Mulciber with them. They had fun choosing their favorite sweets at Honeydukes. He bought some Acid Pops, Fizzing Whizzbees, and Toffees. She bought some Chocoballs, Ice Mice and Sugar Quills. She also bought some Toothflossing Stringmints for her parents.
pThey ended up outside of Madame Puddifoot's. When Harry's group passed by a few minutes later, they were seated in a booth, sipping on steaming cups of hot chocolate. While they made their rounds, they kept an eye on the window beside Thorfinn and Hermione's table. When they saw it empty, they knew the couple was on the move again. To nobody's surprise, they found them in Tomes and Scrolls. Harry could have told him there was no way Hermione was going to pass up a chance to visit her favorite bookshop.
"I wish we had a pet shop here." Hermione said wistfully. She was leaning into Thorfinn's arms as she absently flipped through a Potions book. They were sitting in the floor in the back of the shop. Thorfinn relaxed against the wall as he tightened his arms around her. He brushed her hair away from her ear as he watched her read.
"Pet shop? Why? Wait, don't you have a pet? I thought I used to see you carrying around a cat?" He asked. She smiled. She hadn't thought he'd ever have noticed that small of a detail from their school days.
"Yes. Crookshanks. He disappeared shortly before our sixth year. I've never managed to get another pet since then. First, being on the run. Then the fighting. Going to get my parents. Helping rebuild the school and finishing my last year." Hermione shrugged at him. He pulled the book out of her hands, laid it gently in the floor and kissed her. Harry made sure that nobody could get down their aisle, especially after he realized two sets of hands were starting to explore.
After giving them sufficient time for their impromptu petting session. Harry checked the time and gently cleared his throat. "Heads up, Hermione. It's almost time to head back to school. No doubt Yaxley and Dolohov will come looking for him soon." At that, Thorfinn chuckled as he looked at Harry.
"That depends on how much they missed Rosmerta, Potter. I could very well be looking at sitting at the bar for the rest of the evening. You just don't know how much those two love seeing her." Thorfinn thought back to the last time they'd seen her. It had taken them two days to wear themselves and Rosmerta out. He pushed to his feet as he pulled Hermione up with him. They walked out of the store in time to see Yaxley and Dolohov exit the Three Broomsticks.
The older men came to meet them. "Got your fill of Rosmerta already?" Thorfinn asked them teasingly. They both ruffled his hair.
"Not by a long shot. You still have one more week of suspension, so we'll be back next weekend to see her." Yaxley told him. They waited as the lovebirds exchanged one last kiss. Then the Death Eaters Disapparated and the students went back to the school.
Hermione opened her eyes and stretched lazily. She'd kept the cape with her, not wanting to be parted from it. She still couldn't believe that he liked her. She sat up and swung her legs out of the bed. She quickly dressed and started working her hair into a thick braid. Parvati and Lavender helped her with the ends of it. Ginny came running into her room, looking excited.
"Hermione. You have an owl. Down in the common room." Hermione looked up with a small gasp. She never got owls anytime except in the Great Hall. 'Had something happened to her parents?' She rushed out of the room, the other girls on her heels. As she reached the bottom of the staircase, she could see a beautiful eagle owl perched on the arm of the couch, closest to Harry. On Harry's lap was what looked like a cat carrier. He looked up and handed Hermione the note that had come with the animals.
"Dearest Hermione. I thought about what you said. You really seemed sad about not having a pet anymore. So, I found these two for you. The owl is strictly for mail. The cat was harder. I tried to find a match for your Crookshanks. Not sure how well I did. The eagle owl answers to Halla. The kitten is called Emil. Those were the pet store's names. You might be able to change them. I hope to hear from you soon. P.S. As soon as I'm off suspension, I'll look into getting some tickets. Remember, you promised you'd try to make it to a game. FYI, there will be ONLY one locker room pass and it's for YOU." Thorfinn had written in the note.
Hermione sat down beside Harry as she looked at the owl. "Halla is a girl's name and Emil is a boy's name. I looked them up. I knew you'd want to know." Harry told her. "The owl isn't very old. She's just old enough to be making solo flights. I know that much from when Hedwig was that age. I haven't looked at the kitten yet."
Hermione eagerly reached out and gently stroked Halla's wings. The young owl turned her head and laid her beak on Hermione's hand. Hermione resolved to get her some owl treats as soon as possible. Then she turned her attention to the cat carrier. Thorfinn had said he tried to find a kitten as close to Crookshanks as possible. She opened the door and reached in. There was a hiss and spit from inside the carrier. Her hand touched a little ball of fur as she felt tiny teeth trying to bite her. 'Luckily, it was still his baby teeth', Hermione thought. She pulled the tiny ginger kitten into view. In an instant, she knew what Thorfinn meant. She pulled the hissing, spitting baby closer, tucking him under her chin. He had the same long fur and smashed in face as Crookshanks. She grabbed a quill and parchment from Neville, who sat there doing his homework.
Thorfinn looked down at the ground as he glided to a smooth halt. Yaxley and Dolohov stood there smiling. Yaxley was holding up a note. Thorfinn grabbed it. He held it to his nose and caught a whiff of caramel and strawberries. 'Hermione!' He eagerly ripped it open. "Dearest Thorfinn, thank you so much. I love both of them! Halla is simply beautiful and you were right. Emil is a perfect match for Crooks. It's almost like seeing him as a baby! Remind me when I see you, I owe you a big hug and lots of kisses. I can barely wait until this weekend to see you again. P. S. I can't wait to see you play. I'm looking forward to it." It almost made Thorfinn eager for his suspension to over and done, except for not wanting his time with Hermione cut short.