Disclaimer- I promise I did not create Harry Potter, and I don't own anything, but I have enjoyed 'borrowing' the magical world.
Chapter 3
Sunday 12th November 2001, Hermione Apartment, London, Hermione Granger POV
Ginny and Harry leaving left Hermione and Ron alone and an awkward silence engulfed them. Neither seemed to know how to start the conversation. Ron broke the silence first, after taking a seat on the couch, his hands clasped together on his knees.
"Hermione, I... I don't know what the bloody hell to say!"
"Then, please, just let me talk for a bit Ron,"
He nodded possibly in relief, refusing to look at her.
"I don't blame you," she said.
He raised his eyes in disbelief; looking at her for the first time.
Summoning all her courage, Hermione continued to talk, "I should be so angry at you. I should want to yell and scream and hex you. When we were growing up, being with you was all I wanted."
Ron nodded his head in agreement. "Same for me, you know that?" he added.
"Yes, but somewhere we changed and drifted apart. It was probably my fault with how much I work-."
Ron interrupted her, "No! This is both our fault! Hermione, I will do anything to get you back. I promise I will never even look at any other girl- ever."
Hermione's breath hitched and a pain of guilt stabbed her stomach. She had assumed Ron felt like she did.
"What? Ron we can't ever go back to what we used to be. I am hoping we can stay friends. I am terrified of losing you as a friend but I can't be in a relationship with you anymore."
At her pronouncement Ron dropped his head in his hands, "Oh" was all he said and there was a long silence.
Hermione, unsure what to do, settled upon watching Ron with a wary eye, desperately hoping he didn't fly off the handle with his temper. She didn't want an argument but certainly wouldn't take anything lying down if he decided to yell at her. Ron looked so conflicted and unhappy, and Hermione was at a complete loss as the silent seconds ticked by. She had almost decided to Floo Harry for assistance, when Ron suddenly seemed to snap out of his depression and fixed her with a determined look.
"I can't lose your friendship ether Hermione. We will get through this; I will make sure of it."
Hermione could not deny the relief and hope she felt at his words although suspicion lingered since Ron was not generally known for his calm attitude in regards to such matters. To her horror, Hermione felt her eyes well up with tears and blinked rapidly to dispel them. Could it be that simple? Could they really go back to being friends?
Ron thankfully didn't notice her eyes mist, effortlessly switching the conversation into more familiar post war territory- public relations.
"We need to handle this situation together."
Hermione raised her eyebrows.
He quickly altered direction. "As friends- the press are going to be bloody terrible. We need to tackle them together."
A couple of years ago Hermione would of been shocked at Ron taking charge of a situation like this. Sadly they were all very good at public relations now. So Hermione recognised and embraced the shift in conversation from personal to situational control and adapted accordingly.
"How about we go out for dinner with Harry and Ginny?" Ron seemed to agree with this as he was nodding his head slowly.
"A bit obvious, but it's not like there is much choice, and the press will eat it up anyway. We should go to Nimue's Restaurant. There are always press out the front. We could do a joint statement," Ron seemed to realise he was dominating the planning and suddenly backtracked. "I mean, if you want, or separate statements, arrive at different times- your call Hermione."
Gracing Ron with a small smile, Hermione readily agreed with most of his ideas. "We should arrive together, only with Harry and Ginny as well. But then you and I quickly tell the press we are officially breaking up, but remaining friends." She didn't miss his wince at these words and her heart constricted at his obvious disappointment.
"Sounds like a plan, I will Floo call Harry-"
"Actually how about you go visit them? I would like to take a rest before tonight, I am a bit tired." She was hoping he wouldn't get offended about being practically kicked out, he did look a bit annoyed but recovered.
"Sure, whatever you want. I will organise tonight while you get some rest. Harry, Ginny and I will come back around 6pm to pick you up?"
"I will see you then, Ron." She smiled as he stood up from the couch. He hesitated for a second before pulling her into a hug. Hermione was shocked and unsure what to do.
"I really am sorry, Hermione, I love you," he whispered into her hair.
A sob escaped her as her arms entangled her first love, the boy of her childhood dreams.
"I will always love you too Ron. But we need to work on our friendship now... please."
He swiftly let go of her and moved to the Floo, calling out "see you at 6," before uttering Harry and Ginny's address into the blue flames and then he was gone.
Hermione slowly walked up to her room and laid on her bed, legs hanging over the edge. She really didn't want to go out for dinner; she wanted to stay at home curled up on her armchair with a book. But hopefully this was a way of minimising the damage. Hermione took out her wand and silently summoned some dreamless sleep potion from her medical cabinet. Drowning the bottle she tried not to think about anything that had happened over the last two days.
Sunday 12th November 2001, Flint Tower, Nottinghamshire, England, Accolade Flint POV
The reflection in the mirror displayed a beautiful, middle aged woman with well-structured aristocratic cheekbones, heavily-lidded blue eyes and incredibly pale skin. At present, Pippa, one of the Flint family house elves, was sweeping her long dark brown hair into an elegant, high curled bun. The short leather skinned creature wrapped in a dark pink bed sheet was currently perched atop an elaborately decorated footstool to be able to reach, despite Accolade's seated position at her silver vanity.
"What is my Mistress wishing to be wearing today?" Pippa squeaked, her large ears standing to attention awaiting her mistress newest command.
"I think the new dark green velvet with the pearl detail will do nicely."
"Yes, Mistress."Pippa snapped her long bony fingers and the dress appeared, floating midair, opened from the back, waiting for Accolade to step into it. Accolade slowly stood up so that Pippa could help her out of her blue satin dressing robe. Once she was de-robed, the slim lady elegantly stepped slightly to her right, to slide the green velvet day robe onto her body. She barely registered Pippa's bony finger as they ran down the middle of her back using special elf magic to expertly close the seam.
"Youse is looking lovely, Mistress." The elf beamed. "Is there anything else I can do for youse?"
The properly dressed witch shook her head at the little elf. "Thank you, Pippa; you have done a wonderful job as usual." Accolade smiled as the little elf's large eyes welled up with tears at the complement. Henrix had never approved of complementing servants and the couple of times he had caught her were times she would rather forget. But Accolade couldn't see the harm. The joy in Pippa's eyes at knowing she had pleased her Mistress made Accolade feel… nice. Not that she would ever compliment one in public. She again graced her elf with a small smile.
"Yes, Pippa could you direct one of the other elves go to Master Marcus' apartment and get it ready for his arrival? Then ensure enough guest rooms are ready in case Master Marcus and his friends wish to remain here this evening." Truthfully she knew it was unlikely Marcus group of friends, Tobias Rosier, Blake Carrow and Emmaline Winters would stay this evening, although her daughter Clarabelle and Clarabelle's fiancée Adrian Pucey might. Still, Accolade always hoped, and was always prepared.
"Yes, Mistress I wills be telling them now." The elf magically lowered the footstool to regular height in preparation to leave and inform the other house elves of the tasks set out for them by the Mistress of the house.
"Oh, and Pippa," her elf's head snapped to attention at the further communication, large eyes waiting further instruction. "Master Marcus and Master Tobias will be here for lunch so could you ensure Master Marcus' favourite salmon dish is served."
"Yes Mistress, Pippa will happily cooks Young Masters favourite"
"Thank you, Pippa, you may go now." With a pop, Pippa was gone and Accolade was left alone in her spacious bedroom suite.
Turning toward the door, the small framed photograph beside her bed caught her eye. She gingerly sat on the bed, taking care not to wrinkle her dress and began to study the photo. Accolade watched her well-manicured finger skim across the faces of the six teenagers forever captured back in 1968. Back in a time when life and family expectations made sense- each teenager's future was secure as members of two of the oldest and most noble families in the Wizarding World. Five girls and one boy, Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa Black along with Evan, Accolade and Honoria Rosier; the combined children of the famed Rosier twins Augustus and Druella. Accolade's lips pursed as her eyes lingered on the photo. She did not keep this particular reminder beside her bed for the fond memories. This photo's sole purpose was to punish and warn about lessons of the past. She watched the haughty smirks of the photo's incredibly attractive occupants, dressed impeccably in Slytherin uniforms.
Sadly, in hindsight, Accolade knew that key factors of the cousin's future fates had already begun to unfold by the time this photo was taken. Bellatrix and Evan, both seventh years, stood together at the far right. They were already planning on joining the Dark Lord, had probably even met him, declaring their intention to take his accursed mark. Evan would never see the end of the first war; preferring to fight and die rather than face Azkaban for the terrible crimes that Accolade believed must have haunted him. Bellatrix was sent to Azkaban and infamously escaped, completely mad, so many years later. The atrocities of her crimes made Accolade physically ill to think about.
Herself, a fifth year and Andromeda a sixth year stood, their arms linked, to the left. By the time this photo was taken Accolade was being courted by Henrix, her parents planning their 'perfect marriage'. If later rumours were true Andy had already begun a secret relationship with Ted Tonks. A relationship that would result in a scandalous marriage which would see her excommunicated from the family. Accolade's heart contracted with guilt as she looked at sweet Andy- always the nicest and most understanding of the six.
Lastly, standing in the middle, were the babies of the two families, Honoria and Narcissa, both third years at the time. Narcissa would end up married to Lucius Malfoy, her life one of the most famous and publicized of the second war. But it was the image of Honoria which forced Accolade to blink back tears. Gazing down at her beautiful baby sister, forced into marriage to that bastard Grantham Nott for an expansion of the family business. Everyone knew he killed her; they could just never prove it, not that anyone tried hard to find the truth. Henrix wouldn't lift a finger to help persecute one of his Death Eater buddies. Plus, for the sake of Honoria's son Theodore, Accolade had no choice back then but to play nice with the bastard or she would lose access to her sister's only son. Merlin, life could be cruel! Accolade placed the photo back on the table and slowly stood up before beginning the journey from her bedroom located in the east wing of Flint Tower toward the family's main parlour located near the centre of the immensely sized ancient manor.
Truthfully, Flint Tower was a deceptive name for the dwelling. Only the west wing held one tower, and although part of the eldest structure of the house dating from the thirteenth century was now overshadowed by the subsequent expansions and renovations undertaken through the generations. From most angles of the building outside, the tower could not even be seen. However Flint Tower was the estate's name and Flint Tower it would remain. The tower section of the west wing was traditionally where the family resided and contained the master bedroom and other rooms for family use. Accolade, soon after Hendrix's imprisonment moved the family to the east wing, converting the twelve previous guest rooms into bedrooms for family and friends; thus leaving the West wing to the bad memories contained there. Her new set of rooms, although still very large, was only a fraction the size of the traditional master suite, but Accolade preferred her new room and was very happy with her decision.
As Accolade began her graceful descent down the grand staircase, the velvet train of her robes gently cascading behind her, she was greeted by the loud and very welcome voice of the nephew she considered a son.
"Mother, have you missed me?" Standing at the bottom of the stairs, arms out wide and a large cheeky smile on his face stood Tobias, her late brother Evan's son. He looked so much like Evan with his light brown wavy hair falling in front of his deep blue eyes.
"My darling Tobias, you know I have. I am forever telling you that you do not visit me enough," Her red stained lips rose into a true smile as she reached him, embracing the boy.
"I have come early today. All so I could spend time with my favourite aunt," at this he kissed her cheek. She smiled at his thoughtfulness; he was such a good boy, and so forgiving when perhaps he shouldn't be... but Accolade quickly denounced that thought.
"Let me just call Pippa and ask her to bring us tea and cake, we will take it in the parlour. Why did you not bring Emmaline?" Even as she spoke Accolade was well aware that her history with Emmaline Winters was such that the girl would never stop into Flint Tower for an afternoon chat.
"She is shopping with her mother."
"What a shame, you know she is always welcome here." Although Accolade was truly sincere in this proclamation, Tobias raised one eyebrow sardonically. However he said nothing, choosing instead to offer his elbow for her to take.
Soon after, Marcus arrived, his large frame taking up most of the doorway. She noted he was wearing traditional robes and surmised they must be for her benefit. He was aware she didn't like his new found love of Muggle clothing very much. He appeared to Accolade to have been standing there a while when she looked up from the wizard chess Tobias was rather drastically beating her at.
"How long have you been standing there, my son?"
He smirked at her. "Long enough to see Tobias is obliterating you at that game, Mother."
She sent him a good-natured scowl before rising from her seat to embrace her son. "Well done on the Quidditch game, I am very proud".
"Hey, Marcus. It sounded like it was a great game! 340-60 in a World Cup match! Great job! Wish we had been there!"
Accolade laughed at Tobias before speaking again, "So long as I get tickets to see my son play at the World Cup I will be happy. You both know I can't handle much Quidditch. I am not sure where my boy's love of it came from." She stroked Marcus cheek affectionately before he playfully shooed her away. "Boys, I have some business I need to take care of right now so unfortunately I must leave you to your own devices. Remember you are staying for lunch with me, Marcus." She gave her son a piecing stare as though daring him to refuse, "I have Pippa preparing the salmon."
"Of course I am, Mother; you don't need to bribe me."
Accolade then proceeded to leave the room, but not before patting her son's cheek once more with motherly affection, "I will be back soon to spend more time with my two favourite boys."
Once the door was securely shut she cast a special Rosier family spy spell upon the room she had just vacated before entering a small sitting room next door. Accolade was very observant as a rule and she knew Tobias had something on his mind that he wanted to discuss with Marcus alone. This did not mean that Accolade was willing to allow them total privacy. Her family was her life and she was fiercely protective of them. If something was worrying Tobias, she was determined to know what; hence the spell allowing her to hear the conversation between the occupants in the other room. Accolade didn't even feel a twinge of remorse, she may need the knowledge to help Tobias in the future and that was more important than granting her boy's their privacy.
Tobias was the first to speak before Accolade had even reached a chair.
"My mother came to see me."
Accolade inhaled a sharp breath at this news, nothing Eunice De Loren, formerly Rosier, could say to her only child that would be good news.
"What did she want?" There was no mistaking the venom in Marcus' voice as the rustle of a person sitting down on a seat filled the air.
"The usual, for me to break up with Emmaline, same old shit."
Accolade sighed and felt a brief stab of guilt, there was a time she had felt the same way- she had almost lost Tobias and alienated Marcus over the issue of Emmaline. But that was before the war started back up. It had even been Accolade's idea to offer sanctuary to Emmaline's Muggleborn father and Half-blood mother during the war.
"Did you tell her to fuck off?"
Accolade cringed at her son's language, why did her boys feel the need to obtain such potty-mouths the minute her back was turned?
"I didn't use those words, but she got the gist."
"So what is the problem? She can bugger off back to France with her pathetic excuse for a husband and leave you and Emmaline alone. You have already inherited the Rosier fortune. She has no power."
"I asked for her engagement ring."
Accolade sat up straighter in her chair, this was interesting news. Did Tobias want to marry Emmaline? Accolade was not sure how she felt about this information but now was not the time to analyse it.
"The bitch told me she sold it."
WHAT? How dare she sell a Rosier family piece of jewellery! Eunice De Loren was going to pay for that, the ring Evan had given her was their grandmother's!
"Bloody Salazar's balls! Serious? She can't do that! Mother is going to bloody freak when she finds out!"
Accolade was so shocked and angry she couldn't even internally scold her son for his terrible language.
"I know, I said aunt Accolade would hex her to oblivion when she found out. She just replied that a Blood Traitor's opinion meant nothing and she was ashamed of ever having married into the Rosier family."
If Accolade had not been so angry she would have smiled; well, she supposed that was the truth. Only a few years ago if anyone had behaved as she had these past four years, accepting Half-bloods and hiding Muggleborns during the war she would have called them Blood Traitors as well. Shaking away that thought Accolade quickly refocused on the conversation being held in the next room.
"Well, tell Mother and let her deal with it, if you want a Rosier family ring you should go check out the vault, I could come with you if you want?"
"Thanks, I don't really need a family ring- but I think it would be fitting if I gave one to Emmaline as a sign that the great and powerful Rosier family is soon to be Half-blood."
She could hear the smirk and slightly vindictive tone Tobias used as he spoke. Truthfully, Accolade was not sure what to make of his statement. On the one hand she understood his anger against the family. On the other a small, secret part of her couldn't help but feel sad that her family would no longer be Pure.
"So you are really going to do it? Make an honest woman of our Emmaline? About time! But, damn, I am starting to feel old with everyone getting married!" Accolade smiled at her son, as he continued by saying, "what is with everyone settling down? Soon it will just be Blake and I left to party. You and Adrian will be tied down with wives!"
"Get yourself a girlfriend then. Merlin, when was the last time you even got laid? The Greengrass chit, Malfoy's wife's sister, Daphne? That was only a couple of month's worth of mindless shags. Bloody hell, Marcus, the last serous girlfriend you had was Vivienne! There's more to life then Quidditch and easy bints." Accolade made a sour face at the mention of Viviane Yaxley, Marcus long-time girlfriend during Hogwarts and sighed. She reached into her pocket to get out her wand to lower the spy spell. She did not need to know more detail about Marcus conquests. Society gossip ensured she already knew far more then she wanted to.
"How about Hermione Granger last night then, she is not an easy bint!" What? This perked Accolades interest, retrieval of her wand momentarily forgotten. There was a long silence from the other room until Tobias spoke.
"I don't understand? What about Hermione Granger?"
"I shagged Hermione Granger last night."
Accolade seemed to be having trouble thinking coherent thoughts, at this surprising revelation.
"Bullshit! You're telling me you shagged THE Hermione Granger? Gryffindor bloody golden girl, brains of the freaking golden trio? Marcus, she has a boyfriend... remember, the youngest Weasley boy."
That was true, Accolade thought, Hermione Granger didn't seem the type of girl to cheat on a boyfriend.
"Do you really want a description? As for the Weasel haven't you seen the Prophet today? Got caught having an affair."A Weasley was caught cheating? How did she not know about this?
"Sweet bloody Merlin... you're serious? Was this before or after she found out about Weasley?" There was what could only be described as a growl from her son at the mention of Weasley.
"After… I saw her at a bar, a Muggle bar, she was drunk and we got talking. She wouldn't tell me why she was there, I only found out this morning when I saw it in the Prophet. We were having a great time and one thing led to another and we were kissing."
"So you took advantage of the brightest witch of her age while she was down and drunk?"
"No! Not really, it wasn't like that. I tried to tell her we shouldn't and she would regret it-I even mentioned my father."
Accolade was unsure how she was able to get more interested in this conversation but Marcus mentioning his Death Eater father to Muggleborn war hero Hermione Granger had done it.
"Why would you mention that prick?"
"To see if she really did want to shag, if she fully realised who I was through her drunken haze. It was annoying really, like my conscious was battling against me."
"You have a conscious?" Tobias joked and Accolade chucked to herself.
"You're bleeding hilarious, Tobias. She was fine with it and we ended up back to my hotel room."
"Was she any good?"
Accolade sighed again she didn't need to know this...
"Fucking great shag! Ever done a Gryffindor before? No of course not- you've only had the one chit and she's was a bloody Ravenclaw." There was an obvious punch and a moan of pain.
"That chit is my future wife you moron... are you going to see her again?" Marcus sighed.
"I have to see her for work. But romantically, doubt it. I would but she is probably heartbroken and not looking for anything. Bloody shame though, she was really funny and smart but not in an annoying way like I assumed she would be."
"Man, you sound like you like her. I would pursue it if I was you!"
Accolade decided she had heard enough and quickly undid the spy spell. Oh my, Marcus was interested in the war hero Hermione Granger? She was unsure what to think about this development, it seemed so strange and unexpected. But one thing was certain, if Marcus pursued the Gryffindor, Accolade would try very hard to welcome her. She learnt from the issues the family had encountered with Emmaline that her boys were very loyal to their girlfriends. Plus, there was no doubt that the publicity over dating a war hero would do great things for the family's tarnished reputation. But until or if such a relationship came into fruition Accolade would not dwell on possibilities. For now she had to figure out how best she should deal with her ex sister-in-law.
I cant believe it is chapter three already! I hope everyone has had a great week! I rejoined the working world again after five year's as a 'Mummy', so that has been a little bit of a shock!
Once again blue artemis is an amazing beta. She sees the issues I cant, until they are pointed out. Then I get light bulb moments of clarity about what I need to amend. :-)