Antonin Dolohov, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange
Lestrange Manor, garden
Hermione was still in a daze after a Side-along-Apparition to the manor. The ancient Lestrange family seat was happily situated in Kent next to a copse. Rod asked her permission to add her to the family wards via a drop of her blood. Luna and her husband were awaiting them in front of the house. The witch's glance caught Dolohov who was waiting a little further down the driveway. Her eyes widened momentarily. It was uncanny how perceptive Luna was sometimes. She drew Hermione in a hug and Rabastan came over to properly welcome her at the manor, briefly taking her hands into his.
The witch smiled broadly at the wizard who would in all likelyhood be her brother-in-law before long.
"Mr Lestrange, thank you for welcoming me here so graciously. I am sorry for causing you or Luna any grief due to my ignorance."
"Forgiven and forgotten. Call me Rabastan, or Rab, please. Would you like a tour through the garden? Roddy doesn't know a daisy from a beetroot but he knows his architecture, he will like to show off the house with lots of historical dates later, you should take tea with us before lest you become parched."
Hermione had to laugh.
"I am a bit of a history-buff myself, I am sure I will listen to any lectures gladly. But yes, I am looking forward to see your gardens." Holding her elbow out to Dolohov, who still had a bit of a deer-caught-in-the-headligths – look about him, she nodded. The Russian jumped at the offer. Neither Luna nor Rab asked about his presence and the younger Lestrange showed them around the formal gardens who were delightfully informal. Hermione felt herself reminded of Jane Austen's descriptions of Pemberley and told the others so. Dolohov sighed.
"Pride and Prejudice was your mother's favourite book. I always felt I was coming short compared to Mr Darcy. But Katarina assured me that I got the aloof look down pat."
The others, safe Rod, did not understand their conversation and turned it back to flowers and shrubs. Tea was taken in a happily situated patio and if the elves that brought out everything were looking at Hermione a tad fearfully no one commented on it. When Luna could not suppress a yawn Rabastan insisted on accompagnying her upstairs for a short nap.
After they had left Rod enquired, "Would you like to talk alone?"
Dolohov and Hermione shook their heads and the wizard said, "No, Rod. Am I right in assuming that you were at Gringotts today because you wish to marry?"
"Yes. Rod thought it prudent for me to take an inheritance test as we found out some things that pointed towards me being adopted. I found out minutes before you joined us."
"Your parents never ever hinted at you not being their biological daughter?"
"They called me their miracle baby but I always thought they had given up hope of conception. My mother was 39 when I was born. My parents were very supporting and openminded. I think it is a possibility that they did not know about me being not their child. They would have told me if I were adopted, it would have explained my accidental magic, but they were as surprised as I was when Professor McGonagall showed up with my Hogwarts letter. I cannot imagine them being part of a conspiracy that killed a new mother to give her child to someone else, my parents were good people, with a very strong sense of what was right and what was wrong."
"That is a possibility. Or they might have known only parts of the story and believed that they were saving a child from a bad situation," Rod interjected. Dolohov looked thoughtful and turned towards Hermione.
"I can live with not knowing the particulars, the main thing is that you are alive. Are you still in contact with Mr Potter?"
"Not as close as during our youth, but yes, he is one of my best friends. Why?"
"There is a portrait of Alastair Moody in the Auror's training room. Maybe we can get some answers there. If you do not want Mr Potter to know about our relationship I am sure that Corban Yaxley could arrange a nightly visit without anyone being the wiser."
Hermione though a while on this.
"Do not misunderstand me, I am not ashamed of being your daughter, but the press, Rita Skeeter in particular, has hounded me relentlessly in the years after the war. I want to tell our story on my terms. I trust Harry, but he shares nearly everything with his wife who is close to her mother. And Molly Weasley is a terrible gossip. I want to find out what happened and then give Luna an interview for the Quibbler, if that is all right with you."
"A sensible plan, I agree. Miss Granger, do you want me to be part of your life? I am asking because I had planned to emigrate due to the marriage law. If there is a chance of me seeing you on a regular base I will stay. England is my home country, I only have very hazy memories of Russia."
"Yes, I want to get to know you. I cannot make any promises but I will of course try to establish a relationship with my father. You are already a good friend of my intended. Who is your match?"
Dolohov blushed.
"I have been in a state of denial since that blasted letter came. I haven't opened it yet. And no witch has contacted me."
Rod sniggered, "That's because she is beyond eighty, she is old-fashioned and waits for the man to write first!"
The athmosphere lightened after that. Hermione and her father talked a little more and agreed on calling each other by their first names before the Russian wizard took his farwell with every intention of opening his letter as soon as he crossed the threshold of his home.
Back at Lestrange Manor Rod opened his arms after Dolohov's Apparition had faded. They settled in each other's arms on a small loveseat.
"How are you truly, dearest?"
"I hardly know myself. Everything happened so quickly. I can't really feel myself in this."
"Give yourself time. Antonin will call Corban, then get raging drunk. In the morning Thorfinn will come over to his place with lots of chocolate and then he will begin to process everything. Do not expect too much from him. He is a good man, but not one to talk about emotions. He loved Katarina deeply and he was such a proud father! I have no idea how much of this is still left after the Dementors but even if he cannot connect to his original feelings I think you two can build a meaningful relationship. Antonin is frightfully clever, a powerful wizard and knowledgable in the most obscure areas of magic. And even though his mother and his two little brothers were bludgered to death by Muggles he never bought into that Pureblood rhethoric."
Hermione nodded and burrowed deeper into her intended's embrace. They sat that way for a while when Rod continued, "Hermione, have you come to a decision regarding us? I have come to like you very much and would love to make things permanent."
She looked into his eyes with a smile, "I may not be the most romantic person, but was that a proposal? If it was I would say yes."
They kissed until they heard Rab clearing his throat and Luna giggling.
"Do you have to tell us something? Shall I bring on the bubbly?"
Blushing they sat up, "Yes, brother, we have something to celebrate. Hermione has consented to be my wife."