October 28th

Hermione's thoughts didn't stray far from Rosalind Nott for an entire day after their visit. Despite knowing she was running out of time to complete her plans against those stupid enough to throw their support in with Rodolphus, each time she tried to think of her next move, she thought about the young witch all alone in the dreary manor. The sense of responsibility she felt for the young widow made little sense until she remembered how she was the one to cast the spell to end her husband's life. She would've had some protection if Theodore lived long enough to consummate their marriage. Also seeing the poor witch in danger of going down the same dangerous path she did made her stomach twist and turn. What right did she have to damn an innocent to such a miserable existence?

Spending another day cooped up inside her room at the Three Broomsticks was only going to push Hermione even closer to the edge of sanity. Her Gryffindor traits screamed at her to just rush out and start cursing anyone who ever dared to look at her with the least bit of malice, but the parts of her that almost got her Sorted into Ravenclaw urged caution and thorough planning. How many Gryffindors did she personally know were dead because of their recklessness? Too many to put a number to. She'd cultivated a drastic change in her personality over the previous twenty years to be more calculating, slower to action though decisive when pushed. The girl she once was wouldn't even recognize the woman she'd become. In some ways that was a a good thing. In others, definitely not.

She was growing weary of being at the Three Broomsticks, but an opportunity to leave had yet to present itself. Taking Antonin up on his offer didn't feel like the right decision yet. There were still lingering concerns that he wasn't being honest with her and as she knew she wasn't being honest with him, it was best that they wait to see how their next moves turned out first. As she made her way back down the familiar staircase to the main room of the historic tavern, she pushed away the thought of running away again. There had been some peace to be found when she was on the run, but she knew it was fleeting and unlikely to be found a second time.

"Another fascinating article about you in the morning's paper, Princess. Amazing how they manage to get all of the facts straight, isn't it?"

"Awfully early to already be drinking, isn't it, Thorfinn?"

He shrugged his massive shoulders.

"No one waiting for me at home, thanks to you. What does it matter?"

Wishing for anything to distract her from an uncomfortable conversation with the grieving widower, she ripped the newspaper out of his hands to see what he was talking about. It didn't take long for her to see her own name written in a headline across the front page. All lies and rubbish, of course, but what did it matter as long as it made for interesting news? Alecto's name was prominently displayed as the author. The woman was just pathetic in her quest to smear Hermione's already-smeared name. Perhaps she wasn't aware of the futility of beating a dead horse? Remembering making Hannah an offer to allow her to help Hermione kill Alecto, she decided that it was past time she got her revenge.

She was outside only moments later prepared to Apparate to her next destination. Needing to speak to someone who would have intimate knowledge of the wretched woman's habits and whereabouts, Hermione wasted no time returning to Cornwall. When the smell of the salty ocean air hit her, she took a deep breath. It was such a peaceful place. One look in the direction of Augustus' house proved that the Fidelius Charm protecting his home had not been altered. Maybe Rodolphus was still hoping that she would eventually return. Or perhaps he no longer cared considering he knew where he could find her in Hogsmeade.

"Hermione, what are you doing here?"

Augustus was surprised to find his ex-lover standing outside his front door. His shock wore off after just a few moments. Pulling her into his arms for a warm hug, he didn't hide the fact that he was glad to see her. A lot had happened in the almost two months since her family left him. He invited her inside just after he promised her that he was alone.

"Alecto spends most nights here now, but since she was promoted, I hardly see her in the daytime."

"It's getting serious between you two, isn't it?"

He rolled his eyes and sighed. Not wanting to continue that line of discussion, Augustus brushed his fingertips over the scar under her eye. It was strange how every single wizard who cared about her did almost the exact same thing when they saw her for the first time after her attack. Scars could be powerful reminders, encouragement for a person to keep going towards their goal, but Hermione hated what William Wood did to her face. She feared that it made her look weak.

"Antonin told me what happened to you. I want to help him track down the ones who did this to you and make them pay."

"Don't worry, Augie. They'll be found."

It bothered her that he was so emotional about the whole event. His feelings were as plain as the scar on her face. He needed to be better about hiding them, especially if he was still entertaining that sham of a relationship with Alecto that he insisted was only for information.

"You didn't answer my question. What's going on between you and Alecto?"

"Do we have to discuss this?"

"Why else do you think I'm here?"

She knew it was a harsh statement to make to the man who believed he was still in love with her. As much as he tried to hide it, she could see that her words hurt. To further delay his answer, Augustus led her into the kitchen where they could sit at the kitchen table for a proper discussion. Whether or not he believed it was too early for fire whiskey remained to be seen. Talking to Hermione about Alecto wasn't easy for him. She could tell that he was uncomfortable even mentioning the bitch's name in her presence. It almost made her laugh. If the stakes weren't so high and the consequences of failure so dire, she might have.

"I've been doing what I can to convince Rodolphus that I'm on his side. Hasn't been easy. Alecto has been able to help me get further along in the process than I would on my own. For whatever reason, he trusts her. I've been trying to get him to believe me to be a valuable ally."

"And does he?"

"I think we're making progress. I've been trying to get him to offer me a place on the Wizengamot. My great-grandmother was an Ollivander and since Garrick died years ago, there aren't any others. I have a cousin who married one of the Hufflepuff Smiths, but I don't think she's the least bit interested in the seat. We're the only ones left. My brother and sister certainly don't want it either. They've been trying their best for decades to pretend I don't even exist."

Family was a sore subject for Augustus. Like so many other Death Eaters who were convicted after the first wizarding world, his family was embarrassed to discover his allegiance to the Dark Lord. Hermione couldn't even generate the usual sympathy for the man she once loved because she was annoyed.

"Does everyone know about Rodolphus' plans? I'm always the last to know everything."

Augustus didn't answer her question. He grew increasingly uncomfortable. She got the impression that she was being shielded again. It was a maddening, infuriating feeling. Did everyone think that she was so weak and sensitive that she would just break at the first sign of any stress? She couldn't understand why everything was so different. There was a time when Augustus didn't treat her that way. And, there were years when her husband didn't try to protect her from the dangers of the scary world. Had she really changed that much? She hated how she was treated.

"So you and Alecto? Don't tell me you're in love with her."

It was Augustus' turn to be annoyed and Hermione felt the slightest bit of satisfaction.

"No, but I'll admit it's nice to be with someone who doesn't hate me. More than I can say for the current Mrs. Rookwood."

"The Dark Lord is dead, Augie. Get a divorce."

"We're already working on it. I've been instructed to go to France to retrieve my belongings in the next month or she's going to burn them."

"Lovely woman."

His mood could change even faster than hers at times. No longer annoyed, he went straight to melancholy and serious.

"She used to be. We were so in love once. It's my fault. I made so many mistakes."

"We all did, but please tell me you're not considering marrying Alecto."

It was just what they needed to break the serious moment. Both of them laughed at the idea. Of course Hermione didn't think that he was about to rush straight into marriage with another odious witch just because his first marriage was ending. He'd spent most of his life living essentially on his own. It wasn't like he needed someone with him to fill any hole.

"Merlin, no! Can you even imagine?"

"She would think that she's finally put one over on me. She gets to marry you while I was refused. She'd jump at the chance. That and I highly doubt anyone has ever wanted to marry her."

Even though she knew it was completely crazy, an idea came to Hermione that she just couldn't shake. If Augustus wanted to prove to Rodolphus that he was loyal to him, what better way to do that than to prove his loyalty to one of his most trusted allies?

"You know, maybe you should marry her."

Augustus grimaced, but she waved off his concern with her hand. There was a time for being patient and staying above-board. This was not one of them. If Augustus wanted on the Wizengamot, her idea really wasn't that insane.

"I'm going to kill her soon, so it wouldn't even matter. You won't be stuck with her long. But, if you prove that you're willing to marry her, maybe Rodolphus would bring you in closer. For reasons I don't understand, he actually values Alecto as a friend and associate."

Even though her plan wasn't a bad one at all, Augustus was reluctant. Not that Hermione could blame him. She repeated her promise that she would make him a widower in no time. Slowly, he started to soften.

"Do you really think she'd marry me?"

"Yes, without question. How quickly can your divorce be finalized?"

"Quickly. I just have to go to France and sign some forms."

"Go, get divorced, and come back here and propose. Suggest that you elope. She'll find that romantic. Once Rodolphus promises you a seat, I can finally kill her. Then you get to be the furious widower seeking revenge. It's perfect."

She was almost certain that he was convinced. A sudden tension sprang up between them when he turned serious.

"I always hoped if I got married again that…"

"Augie, please don't."

He sighed.

"I will never win, will I? Not against him. You'll always choose him over me. You're not even aware you're in love with him, are you?"

There was no opportunity to dispute his ridiculous assertion. When he rose to his feet, she knew that their conversation was effectively over. She stood too, anxious to get away from him as quickly as possible. Though she knew it wasn't unreasonable of him to bring up their past, she wished he wouldn't. It was too hard to look back. Augustus led her back to the front door, opening it before she had a chance to convince him to let her stay just a little bit longer.

"I'll do as you suggest. Maybe it'll even work."