August 27th

Hermione grew to love Cornwall. Despite the countless times she'd visited that part of the country before, she'd never given it much thought before moving into Augustus' safe house. For one of the few times in her life, she felt like she could actually breathe there. Maybe it was a magical place. Or, perhaps more logically, she felt so at peace there because for the first time in more years than she knew she was actually clear-headed and unencumbered by dangerous potions and memory charms. Wherever they ended up after Rodolphus pushed them out of their home could've been just as comforting, just as peaceful.

No one stopped her when she announced she wanted to take a long walk after dinner. Following a pleasant meal shared by the four inhabitants of the house by the sea, she wanted a chance to stretch her legs. If her son wanted to join her, his father kept him from insisting. His mother needed her space. She was still healing, still learning to move on from the ordeal that colored much of her life. As much as she didn't want to admit it, Hermione knew deep down that it was likely she wasn't done with the ramifications of Rodolphus' actions. He wasn't a man who gave up on his plans easily. Even if he had to wait patiently for several more years, eventually a time would come when he would seek her out again. Trying not to allow herself to dwell on the worst of her fears was made possible by the rambling walks along the water.

Bits and pieces of a conversation she had earlier in the day with Antonin replayed themselves over and over in her mind as she walked. Still unwilling, or possibly unable, to give her all of the details she wished, he'd told her in the privacy of their bedroom that he was moving in on closing a deal with a powerful ally. Someone that didn't want their involvement to be known just yet. Someone who was more comfortable operating out of the shadows in the beginning. While he was excited and his mood buoyed by the news, she didn't allow herself to get carried away in his anticipation. There was still so much that could go wrong. If his potential ally wasn't willing to expose themselves to the heat of the battle just yet, it was always possible that they never would. He could be just grasping at straws, willing to take the offered scraps.

Everything would've been different if he desired to be the next Dark Lord. There were those who would follow him to the very top of the regime if he asked. Obsessed with power and privilege, if their former brothers and sisters from the Inner Circle believed they would be rewarded for their loyalty when the ascension was complete, they wouldn't hesitate. Considering he changed his plans to instead be nothing more than a concerned father and husband who wanted nothing to do with ruling, he had fewer friends. Where was the benefit in following a man who didn't seek or desire power? They could all end up dead for nothing. Their own families would be left unprotected to be picked over by the one who was strong enough, ambitious enough to claw their way to the top. That person, to Hermione's great relief, would not be her husband.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been outside when she made the decision to direct her steps back to the house. An hour, at least. All she knew was she was much calmer than she had been when she stepped outside to begin with. Yes, she made up her mind. Wherever she ended up in the future, it had to be by water. A slight chill in the air reminded her that it wouldn't be much longer before summer was over. How was it possible that the year had gone by so quickly? An unsettling began in her gut the more the thought about the year. It hadn't been a normal one and she doubted that that would change. Everything was apt to be extraordinary if the first half of the year was to be believed. She didn't want to consider the reasons why she would be so unnerved. Maybe the future she was trying so hard to plan wasn't even going to be an option.

Being alone was playing tricks on her mind. Hermione needed to reenter the house and surround herself with people. It was too difficult to dwell on the negative when she was focused on other people, those that she cared about. Taking a final deep, calming breath, she reached for the doorknob on the front door to push it open.

It was impossible to tell who was more startled by her abrupt appearance: Augustus or the half-naked Alecto straddling his hips on his sofa. As much as she might have wished to run back out the door like she'd never been there, it was too late. She'd been spotted. Alecto rushed to pull her discarded clothing back on, laughing the entire time. At least one of the three found the intrusion to be amusing. Hermione didn't care for the woman's laughter. It always made her feel like she was just moments away from falling into some elaborate trap.

If she was going to get out of the horrible situation, Hermione knew that she had to be smart about her next actions. She was fully aware of the fact that if it came down to her life being in jeopardy, both Augustus and Antonin would be at her defense. As tempting as it was to just curse Alecto and be done with it, she knew that she had to play the game. That's all any of them were doing really. Playing some long, drawn-out, horrible game where the winners got to continue living and playing while the losers no longer had to worry about their next moves.

"Augie, what the fuck is this bitch doing here?"

To his credit, Augustus was able to pick up on Hermione's plans within seconds. With an expression of faux confusion and outrage, he tried to stutter out some plausible excuse to explain why he might have a half-naked witch in his lap. She stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips, glaring at them both. Just to be safe, her wand was clutched tightly in her hand, the threat of it clear and on display.

"Hermione, darling, we weren't supposed to see each other tonight."

"I should've known that the two of you were still sneaking around." Alecto laughed, seemingly unbothered by the revelation that the wizard she'd been engaged in a sexual relationship with for some time hadn't been faithful. "I'm going to tell Antonin. Won't he just find that interesting?"

"Not that it is any of your concern, Allie, but I'm sure my husband probably already knows. He's not an idiot."

She cut her eyes up to the secret window that she knew he would be standing in. Glad to see that the enchantment was strong enough that she couldn't even see any indication of its existence, Hermione returned her glare to the two on the couch, secure in the fact that Antonin was there if anything became too dangerous. Having him on her side was a comfort she didn't fully appreciate until she needed him.

"I can't believe you, Augie. Of all of the slags in the world, you choose her?"

"Hermione, it's not what you think."

Alecto's continued laughter began to grate on her nerves. How could she find this situation the least bit amusing? Any normal woman would be humiliated.

"Why don't you run along to whatever hole you've been hiding in with your disgusting husband, Hermione? You're not needed here."

"You realize he's just using you, don't you? That he's not going to fall in love with someone as pathetic as you."

"Oh, love, I know perfectly well what he's using me for. Clearly, he's been unable to find satisfaction with you alone. Not that I'm surprised to learn that."

Hermione wanted nothing more than to turn right back around and leave. Fighting with Alecto over Augustus, even just for show, made her sick to her stomach. She didn't want to be anywhere near the witch. Narrowing her eyes to glare at Augustus to show how furious she was at what she walked in on, she spun on her heel to make her escape. She wasn't even able to get a step away before Alecto's words stopped her in there tracks.

"Rodolphus is looking for you. He's not done with you yet. Not even close."

Only Alecto's warning was enough of an incentive to force her to stop and turn back around to face the scene on the sofa. The older witch had an almost feral grin, evidently excited to be able to tell her what she did.

"I should've known that you were working with him. What's the plan, Alecto?"

"Oh, I'm afraid I won't be telling you that, but yes, I have been working with him. For a while now. We used to laugh and laugh when I would tell him everything you told me when you thought you were just confiding in me. What a silly little twit you were. As if I would ever be friends with you after what you did to my brother."

Over the years that the older woman pretended to be her friend, Hermione often wondered how she could forgive her for the open secret that she murdered Amycus Carrow. Though he would've done the same to her if given the chance, she'd enjoyed what she did to the horrible man. While it made her a little paranoid in the beginning to wonder why Alecto continued to be friendly with her, she knew that the life of a Death Eater was complicated. Alliances were often made with people they loathed just for a little bit of extra power or influence. Alecto's behavior hadn't been that strange.

"You can tell Rodolphus that I'm not afraid of him."

"No one believes that."

She took a step out into the darkness.

"Hermione, don't go. You could stay with us. There's no reason that we can't put everything aside for an evening."

Augustus' suggestion paired with his wink left nothing to the imagination. Convinced that Alecto would be horrified by such an idea, Hermione was surprised to find the other witch eyeing her in much the same manner with a smirk. She didn't know what game Augustus was playing at in his effort to make it all seem real, but she didn't like it. More than ever it was important that she leave.

"Yes, Hermione, you can stay. At least this once. Remember that night in my flat when we drank too much wine?"

She felt her cheeks burn with the memory. Yes, of course she did. Even with the large number of vials of that damned potion she was in the habit of consuming, she wouldn't forget that night as long as she lived. Augustus' amused chuckles made her feel all the more exposed.

"Now that's a story I'd like to hear."

"Maybe you'd prefer if we just reenacted it instead, Augie."

Hermione's eye twitched at Alecto's use of her nickname for the wizard. There wasn't enough lust potion in the world to encourage her to go down that path again. Sending one final glare at both of them, she slammed the door on her way out. She needed to get as far away from them as she could. Until the wretched woman was gone, she'd have to bide her time in the grove of trees. At least she knew the ground was soft enough she could get some sleep if she was out there too long. Cursing Alecto and Augustus too, she stormed away from the house.