The Meeting
by Ydream08
A/N: Hello! I found myself able to continue this story, so here is a new chapter! Hope you'll enjoy it :)
Chapter 6
With the timely finish of his date, Corban Yaxley found himself visiting his old friend Lucius Malfoy. Using floo then common transportation to Wiltshire was no small feat, which all in all reflected Corban's distress.
He had walked Lucius through the events of the night in great length. "Do you think I should have asked to accompany her to the wedding?"
If it were not for the cease of the low hum, Corban would have assumed his friend had not heard him.
"Are you courting her?" Lucius asked.
Corban opened his mouth, but instead of a quick reply of yes or no, he decided to say, "...It is inappropriate for her to attend alone when I-"
"I thought you said there was no understanding of a courtship."
For a moment Corban closed his eyes and their dinner date immediately played at the back of his mind. The beauty that sat across him had been one that pulled him like any potent Accio could withstand kilometers. The sparkle in her brown eyes and the undeniable attraction that emanated from her had made him heady with conviction of his prowess. They had an easy and memorable conversation, quite enjoyable if he said so.
She must have been interested in him by the end of their date if Corban interpreted correctly Ms. Granger's shocking initiative to kiss him.
What a wonderful kiss that was! Corban hadn't felt as alive for the past few years as he was when she touched him.
Raising his gaze to his drinking friend, Corban spat, "She kissed me, so I bloody imagine we are courting."
"Didn't she Disapparate on you?"
Yaxley groaned at the carefree look on Lucius' face.
"I had to remind you."
"We kissed," Corban insisted.
Lucius began humming his tune as he swirled his glass.
"You are unhelpful, Lucius."
"Says the rest of England, too. No one should be surprised; Malfoys don't help, we assist."
"So?"
"So, dear friend, wait for her to come to you and do not deny her. She might want ridiculous things like to work after marriage... just give your blessings. You can keep her busy after the nuptials."
"I remember vividly how you kept to each word of your promises shortly after marriage. I believe it was only after the first war that Ms. Black gave you freedom in exchange for hers."
"Details."
"Indeed, details."
"I still say please her in any way you can."
Corban sighed into his drink before taking a sip. "We've just established your advice is worth shite."
"I married Narcissa."
"You are now divorced."
"Details."
Corban finished his glass. "I don't want details."
At the end of her second class of the day, Hermione was ready to admit that Apparating to The Three Broomsticks last night was a mistake. She had never been able to handle her liquor, and it wasn't like drinking had solved anything. She wasn't even happy.
Waking up with a massive headache this morning and being sensitive to light since then have made Hermione irritable. She snapped at a student who asked for an incantation, too. The girl should have studied but still.
After one last class, she would floo to Ginny so that she could be moral support for the youngest Weasley. Organising a wedding, no matter how small, was not a light task. Yet Hermione had given herself a promise that she would not help the wedding in any substantial way.
It was Ronald's wedding, for Godric's sake! The boy she has imagined to marry as a young girl herself.
They were friends now. Somewhat. But their separation had been foul. She hadn't done a screaming match so intense in her life, but at least no wands had been involved. If it weren't for Harry who luckily had his birthday within the month, she and Ron would not have faced each other ever again.
That day they had reconciled —foremost for Harry, and second most for their own childhood friendship—on the condition of being only friends. The first couple of months they had even veered off the topic of their respective romantic lives, too. Really, it had been very trying to reconnect to Ronald through his new-found passion of professional Quidditch.
Thus why their damaged friendship would not accommodate Ron's wedding to be organised by her. Not that she would have done it even if he begged. Thankfully, Molly had gingerly taken responsibility over the whole planning. It was for her grandchild, she had explicitly announced.
It was just that… popping to Ginny's place, listening to her about the details of the wedding, any progress with the menu, decor or the seating arrangement, all triggered Hermione's planner persona. Each time Ginny groaned at an unfavourable development, Hermione did her best to refrain from stepping in and handling the conversation.
That personality of hers was why she was thriving as the Charms Professor while undertaking the huge project that was reconstructing the Charms curriculum. After taking her N.E.W.T.s, Headmistress McGonagall had personally asked Hermione to fill in the position as a favour, too. She hasn't regretted it even for a second.
Too soon, students began to fill the classroom so Hermione set her thoughts aside and concentrated on the class that was about to start.
Getting seated, Hermione recovered her wand from the holster up her forearm and re-cast the Cushioning Charm on her high heels. She has worn this golden dress that had long sleeves just because she could have her wand at her at all times. An old unhealthy habit, but Hermione couldn't deny herself.
Her dress had a lovely back decolletage anyway. It wasn't in any way a simple pieace to attend to a wedding with.
Just then, in a flurry of whites, the bride herself took a seat next to her.
"Ah, Hermione!" Claudia Meier —now Weasley— was a perfectly radiant bride. Hermione had not the chance to talk to her at length, but her wedding jitters aside, she seemed to be a smart and lovely woman. "I have to visit the lady's bathroom, but saw you here and had to sit down!"
Hermione smiled.
"Ron talked so much about you," Claudia added. She laughed, for no other reason than that she was happy on her wedding day, Hermione assumed. Her eyes flitted to the dance floor where Ronald and Seamus Finnigan were hooting at some crazy dance Harry did.
Claudia cleared her throat. "Well, I can't say it enough but I'm so glad you and Ron never worked out."
Hermione was startled, but she masterfully kept her smile. Because of her lack of social tact though, she couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
"Oh, silly! Why? Because I got to marry him of course!" Claudia laughed joyfully again. There was a tilt of satisfaction there.
Hermione did not like being called silly. Claudia could have intended it as an endearment, but as she was nothing more than a stranger Hermione's friend happened to marry with within days, Hermione would not excuse her own following directness, "That is rather obvious. I meant to ask why are you telling me this, now and here of all places?"
Claudia broadened her smile. "It can never hurt to remind you, right?"
Hermione was shocked beyond words. This was the last kind of conversation she could have imagined of having at Ron's wedding. Even Hermione drunkenly confessing her undenying love for Ronald should have been much more likely.
What kind of a relationship did Ron and Claudia have? Hermione wondered simply because the woman, pregnant with Ronald's child and currently married to the man, was so crass to come up to her and more or less say to stay away from him.
"I'm happy for the two of you," Hermione decided to say because she did not wish to make a scene tonight. "I'm sure Ronald was looking forward to marrying you."
Well, Merlin witnessed that her tone was mocking. But since he wasn't helping her, Hermione didn't mind scrunching her nose at the woman next to her all the while continuing her smile.
Claudia Weasly could not dare to call out Hermione.
"Thank you!" Claudia spit cheerfully. "You are a darling."
Hermione nodded noncommittally and decided she better return to the dance floor. "Excuse me."
Nobody needed to know as of now she disliked Claudia Weasley, but really, it would eventually come to light. Better not tonight, Hermione kept repeating to herself and locked eyes with Ginny to dance.
"After this is over," shouted Ginny into her ear. They kept dancing. "I need to have a drink with you. Can't be Leaky, the boys will head there."
"How?" Hermione didn't see how the two of them could escape away. It was a night to celebrate, and even if Hermione's absence could be overlooked (not that it realistically could), Ginny would have hell to pay if she disappeared on her brother. What was so important, Hermione wondered.
"I'll have it covered!"
Hermione didn't ask any further details as it was hard to talk over the music. They enjoyed themselves a couple of hours more than Hermione anticipated so it was nearing four in the morning when the two young women found themselves with Harry and the rest of their acquaintances at the Apparition point.
Ron and Claudia had already left for their new home in London.
"Are you sure you can continue in the Leaky?" Ginny asked in a snort at Harry.
After so many hours dancing, Harry was left only standing still. Too still.
"Yeah. Definitely. Promised the lads."
But his eyes were glossed over and he couldn't exactly concentrate on Ginny, or Hermione, or at anything surely.
"Alright! Go Gryffindor!" Ginny cheered.
"Hey! Hufflepuff here!" shouted Justin.
"Go, badgers!" Ginny replied in good nature.
Justin practically beamed. "You bet, Weasley!"
"Good night, boys!"
Hermione repeated the sentiment and all bid farewell. Hermione hooked her arm in Ginny's and Disappareted them in haste.
"Justin Finch-Fletchley?" Hermione slyly whispered.
"Oh, that?" Ginny blushed crimson but she waved her off. "Kissed once. He must have remembered that. His tongue loosens after a few drinks."
"I don't want to know whether you said that literally." Hermione had nothing against Justin. But certain people were off-limits to visually imagine in certain acts.
"Hey! He is a lovely boy."
"Young man would be more accurate."
"He was a boy when we kissed."
"And I guess you would not like to update that one?"
"Nope." Ginny cheerfully stressed the word.
They walked in the direction of Hogwarts, and Ginny must have picked up on it as she asked. "To your office?"
"Yes, unfortunately. Even the Hog's Head is closed at this hour. Aberforth treasures his sleep, you know."
Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Have I ever mentioned to you I once saw Aberforth's photograph? From when he was young? He was a dashing fellow."
Hermione shot her a look side-ways. "That will do little good for you."
"Really? You think I'm a dimwit?" Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Unless you were about to ask me for a time-turner?" Hermione sniggered.
"Oh—that's rich!" Ginny laughed. "I merely…shared the information, since it popped in my mind."
"That's perfectly fine." Hermione slammed her lips shut, but the bubbling laughter in her made it nearly impossible.
"Of course."
Hermione enjoyed their continued light conversations, and didn't broach the subject of the wedding until the two of them were seated in the private sitting room attached to her office. They took each end of the velvet couch, wines in hand, and high heels on the ground. They should have switched into more comfortable clothes, but neither of them cared.
"Something happened that I have to tell you," Hermione confessed. She doubted it was wise to share this with anyone, but Hermione had to tell it to someone. And Ginny deserved to be informed, in Hermione's opinion.
So she relayed the conversation she had with Claudia.
"What is it with her?" Ginny asked bewildered. Scowling, she kept her silence a few moments before saying, "I mean, they are married. Vowed. Magically. Bound together forever. What's in it for her? Wasn't Ron the prize, if she is so hung up on the fact that you and him didn't work out."
Hermione drank a sip from her wine. Ginny was right. They had taken a vow. And magical vows were tricky if not powerful. There were repercussions to seeing them removed.
Another con to add to her list, Hermione immediately thought and couldn't help but stare at the ceiling. Thinking about that hurt her head.
"You are thinking something else," Ginny blurted out perceptively.
Hermione sighed. "Since you mentioned marriage vows, with it being magical and binding…well, I thought about Corban."
"What? Marriage?" Ginny's eyes popped open in shock. "Wait—are you using his first name? What exactly did I miss?"
Ginny nearly shrieked at the last part, Claudia totally forgotten.
"I couldn't have recounted my date with Ron's surprise wedding, now could I?"
"I mean… You couldn't have…but…" Ginny huffed. "I will kill Ron. He has the worst timing in the world! Seriously, I will need to seek a therapist to sort out my family matters."
Hermione giggled. "Go ahead. If nothing other than to set your mind at ease."
"You are diverting the subject," Ginny narrowed her eyes.
"I wasn't!"
"You were about to!" Ginny accused good-heartedly.
"Fine. Where do I start?" Hermione murmured.
"Did you shag him?" Ginny asked, coming to her aid.
His cool blue eyes came to her mind, and Hermione gulped at feeling the ghost of his lips on hers. But the moment immediately shifted and she imagined herself lying on a mattress and Mr Yaxley covering her chest to chest, no clothes in the way. Hermione's abdomen clenched in real life, so she shook away the fantasy and decided against wondering what that would feel like.
"Of course not!" Hermione hand warmed against her cheek in her obvious blush. Merlin, it was hot in here!
"So?" Ginny pressed.
Hermione recalled her boldness of pulling Mr Yaxley in a kiss. More than one, to be exact.
"We kissed." Hermione decided to say. She wasn't ready to give the details of her eagerness.
"Okay, that's good. That's a flow. You wanted to go with the flow, right?"
Ginny's swift connection to their earlier conversation upsetted Hermione in the blink of an eye.
"What? Hermione? Did I say something—"
"Godric—Ginny, there was no bloody flow!" Hermione wanted to cry. She wanted to throw a tantrum like a baby. "The man wants to marry."
Hermione didn't look at Ginny straight away, instead dipped back her glass of wine in one go.
Her friend was mute, of course. Taking a quick glance, she appeared to be confused as well. Ginny Weasley, who was known to never lack words to speak, seemed to be devoid of any at the moment.
Hermione appreciated her friend's tact of choosing her words wisely, but Hermione needed a reaction too.
"I mean it was a lovely date. We didn't even talk about the school, the curriculum, the meeting, none of that! We talked about marriage and children, somewhat at least. But he is very set about it. He wants to marry."
"What do you want?" Ginny asked. Her clipped tone made Hermione look at her friend. Really look at her.
She was flushed a bit, the colour spreading high on her cheekbones, while her eyebrows were pinched. Her brown eyes were direct and unmoving.
Hermione realised she had to be more considerate knowing of Ginny's wish for a serious relationship. Ginny couldn't be jealous (Godric, could she?) and Hermione didn't want to come across as ungrateful in case she was; but Hermione had to explain that their circumstances were definitely different.
Would Ginny have given Corban Yaxley a chance were she in Hermione's place?
As her own heart was squeezed with a feeling she couldn't exactly say, Hermione decided she did not want to know the answer to that.
"It is not about Corban." Hermione explained in small words. "He is at the stage of his life when he knows what he wants. I, on the other hand, am struggling. No—listen Ginny, please. Yes, I became a professor at a young stage and here onwards my life is as good as predictable. But I want to accomplish some things for myself! I want that freedom. As unbelievable as it sounds, I don't want to plan everything about my life. I have a project in my hands and I want to see it through. I don't know what I'd do later on but I want to decide for myself. Even the thought of consulting a significant other about my own life is quite stifling at the moment. For me anyway."
Ginny nodded as Hermione talked and when she finally released her breath, Hermione found her friend softer in her eyes.
"That makes sense," Ginny provided with a shy smile.
"You are a good friend," Hermione announced. "I'm lucky to have you."
"And you are back to your trick of changing the subject!" Ginny laughed. She too finished her wine.
"That wasn't my intention." Hermione was compelled to tell. It sounded petulant even to her own ears.
"Well, so you don't want to marry. But you two kissed. And you want…?"
Ginny searched Hermione's face with an expectancy that made Hermione squirm in her seat.
Merlin, please do not doom me eternal misery for saying this—
"I want him. I want to kiss him. Again. And more. It's been ages since I was attracted to anyone like this."
Ginny took a moment. "So, shagging him would solve your problems."
"It would," Hermione declared proudly. Perhaps it was unwise to take pride in one's idiocy.
"Why not go on another date? Flirt with him, kiss him, and surely with the help of a couple of drinks, you could shag him."
"That sounds too planned to be smart." Hermione thought again. "And he would never get that drunk. I'm telling you, he is very old-fashioned about it. Not about drinking. But sex. I was surprised he didn't push me away when I kissed him."
"Wait—you kissed him?"
Ginny's mouth dropped open but she smiled all the same.
Hermione should have hit her head against the wall. "Merlin, did I say that?"
"Were you not going to tell me that?" Ginny shrieked. "Godric, Hermione! That's rich of you!" She laughed all the same. "You are besotted with the man!"
"Ginny! Not helping!"
But it took several moments for Ginny to pull herself together. Once she was properly seated, her face was evenly flushed and her eyes were glistening with humourous tears.
"So you are desperate to shag him, but he won't touch you until you are wed." Ginny waited for Hermione to nod. "Well, that sounds like an impasse."
"Merlin, does it?"
Ginny snorted. "So, what now?"
"Nothing?" Hermione hadn't meant it to be a question. "Aside from getting him drunk to get into his pants —your idea, not mine (which now that I said it outloud, would be considered rape)— there is nothing to be done."
"Okay." There was a pause. "Did you tell him this?"
Hermione held her breath. Because really what else could postpone her dread?
"Well, no. I was supposed to owl him. But now I don't think it is necessary."
"Don't be daft. Talk to him. We are not children. He definitely isn't. It would go badly if you don't. Talk, I mean."
Hermione thought about Ginny's words, and decided she was right. "Okay. I'll owl him. But I don't think I can write this down."
Ginny shook her head. "Inviting him for coffee would give the wrong impression."
"Would it?" Hermione thought how that would play out for a second. It wouldn't be ideal but… "I can't possibly tell him at Hogwarts. That would be highly unprofessional. There is another week till the meeting anyway."
"Coffee it is then," Ginny concluded.
"Coffee it is."