Hermione noticed Draco hadn't come to dinner, though she didn't want to notice. She wasn't alone though. All the teachers had noticed his absence. Hermione didn't know where his room was but if he was up in the Room of Requirement working without her! He'd hear about it. Hermione had every intention of eating quickly and heading up to the seventh floor and see for herself. Godric though had no intention of letting her slip away quietly, or quickly.
"I heard that you enjoyed Salazar's class this morning. I'd ask if you wanted to sit in on my class but it's the weekend and Monday you start your own classes." Godric sounded a little put out though Hermione saw he was smiling at her.
"Oh, don't be a sour puss Godric. If it caught your interest you could always go watch one of her little classes." It was decided. "Ancient Runes though not exactly your style." Hermione really didn't like Rowena Ravenclaw and she was very glad that the sorting hat had chosen Gryffindor in the end. The woman was all petty and spite, over a man!
"You know that's not a bad idea Rowena. Studying a thing like Ancient Runes isn't me but how am I to grow if I only ever do things that I'm comfortable doing?" The smile he gave Hermione was a charming one but it was his words that made her blush.
"After all a wizard is only as good as the knowledge he knows anything else can be used against him." Not an exact quote but close enough for her to receive a cold glare from Rowena. "Isn't that what you said?"
"No, she said the unknown can be used against you." There she was again interjecting rudely. Did she think that would make Godric stop noticing Hermione? It wouldn't. Men like Godric weren't easily swayed from their paths.
"I got the basics right. That's what matters though right?" Godric gave Hermione a wink, gosh the mad had cheek!
"I think you're right. Getting the basics right is what matters." Hermione half said it just to irritate Rowena. Hermione could almost feel the daggers in Rowena's eyes. Seeing the pure happy smile on Godric's face, Hermione felt the smallest tug of guilt. She wasn't trying to use Godric.
"Hermione would you honor me with a nighttime stroll after dinner?" Godric's request took her by surprise though it shouldn't have. He said he was going to court her after all.
"Godric, you intend to go walk with this young woman without a chaperone for her?" Rowena actually sounded offended.
"Rowena is right Godric. A young lady should not walk around at night with a chaperone. People might get the wrong idea." To Hermione's surprise Helga spoke up. "Draco do you think, as Hermione's friend you could chaperone?" Hermione hadn't seen draco slip in, but then again she had been purposely keeping her gaze away from Rowena until then. Draco didn't look as if he wanted to be bothered in the least. His gaze caught Hermione's, the disgruntled look on her face, and a slow devious smile spread across his.
"I think you're quite right Headmistress. Hermione should have a chaperone and I wouldn't be an honorable man if I, as her friend, didn't offer my services." Oh he was a bastard!
"Excellent. I will see you both in the Great Hall in a few. It's been a little chilly you should get your travelling cloaks. Don't want anyone getting sick." Godric clapped smiling.
"Well, I guess I'll go fetch my cloak then." Hermione excused herself, feeling resigned. Shooting Helga a glare, which she only smiled at raising her wine goblet. She had a sense of humor. Though that didn't stop Hermione from fuming as she strode toward her rooms.
Debating quickly over which cloak to wear, Hermione clicked her tongue. Grabbing the white one, as it was her favorite, she drug her feet down to the Great Hall. She didn't want Draco to chaperone them. She wasn't even sure she wanted to go on this walk. She was sure that Helga would hear about it in the morning.
"Beautiful. You are quite fetching in white Hermione. Godric was there already waiting for her, a smile on his face. She hadn't expected him to be ready and waiting for her. He wore a deep red cloak trimmed in what Hermione suspected was golden lion fur. He look quite regal.
"Thank you Godric, you look quite dashing yourself." Hermione smiled back at him. It felt nice, being wanted.
"And here I am to put a fun dark cloud over the two of you, what a bunch we are." Draco added dryly from behind them. "Let's get a move on before it gets too late." He had already started walking not waiting for the two of them. Hermione huffed at Draco, but Godric took it in stride.
"He is quite right. We don't want to be out too late. Devious things lurk in the dark." The tone of Godric's voice was low, sultry. Hermione giggled taking his arm. Draco stopped, staring at the two of them in the glow of the flames from Hogwarts doors. He grumbled waiting and walking behind the two of them. He really didn't want to be following them, Hermione knew. That didn't stop her from taking in the landscape. It looked largely the same but Hermione had to admit Hagrid had done wonderful things to the shrubs.
"When did you first discover that you could do magic? I imagine having all the sisters that you did it wasn't a great surprise." Godric's question wasn't one Hermione expected.
"Me?" Oh, she didn't want to lie. Not about something that had been so important to her. "I was young about five. I didn't have a good grasp on it but." Hermione smiled at the memory. "I remember I got caught outside in a small summer shower. I danced and laughed. In the sun I made light bounce off all the water droplets." It was a fond memory of Hermione's. "The light made rainbows dance and even at that age, I knew the world was full of magic."
"That is a beautiful memory Hermione." One look at Godric's face and Hermione knew that he meant it. There was such tenderness there, Hermione had to look away. Clearing her throat, she decided to change the subject.
"You know, there is something that I've wanted to ask you for awhile now." How long exactly Godric didn't need to know. Since Griphook had said something three years ago really.
"Please, feel free to ask me anything Hermione." Godric had taken to stroking her hand lightly. It was distracting, his large warm thumb on her hand. She had almost forgotten what she wanted to ask him. Looking up at him, Hermione blinked in the moonlight he looked even more handsome. Maybe she had a thing for redheads.
"You had a question Hermione." Draco spoke up from behind them, a growl in his voice.
"Oh, yes." Hermione shook her head smiling lightly. "Sorry, I got a little lost." Godric smirked down at her, almost as if he knew exactly what she had gotten lost in. "Your sword. It's quite lovely. I've been wondering how you got it. I'm right in thinking that's it's Goblin made correct?" Of course it was, Hermione knew that. Though at the same time, she didn't want Godric thinking that she knew more than she needed to.
"I didn't take you for the type to notice weapons Hermione. I'm impressed." Godric let go of her hand, stepping back, and unsheathed the sword. Even in the moonlight, the dark rubies, glittered spectacularly. "This was made for me by Ragnuk, the Goblin King. It's enchanted Goblin silver, the only kind any respectful wizard has a weapon forged from, the rubies in the handle are there to encourage Vitality, Prosperity, Courage, Energy. In a lot of ways, the perfect dueling sword."
"I'm impressed." Hermione was quite impression. The fact that Godric had chosen rubies for something other than the fact that they're color. Red and gold a prevailing theme of Gryffindor as it was. Gold would be too flashy for a sword and not practical. "It's definitely a beautiful sword but to learn that it's also a thing of magical capability is quite impression."
"Thank you, I'm glad that you're impressed." Godric sheathed his sword, taking Hermione's hand once more. "I am not the only one who has a magnificent sword. I'm sure you noticed Helga's though I can understand if you didn't. It was the sword that our," Godric looked back at Draco for a moment. ", young friend here used to slay the Chimaera."
"Helga has a sword? No, I didn't notice." Hermione tried to remember the sword that Draco had wielded though she was drawing a blank. How come she had never heard of Helga having a sword? Surely Voldemort hadn't known, he would have coveted it as well she was sure.
"Yes, she does. It was a gift from a, what did she call them again." The three of them stopped walking as he stared up at the sky, trying to recall. "I can't remember at the moment she she called them unfortunately. I do know that it was during her travels as a younger witch, probably about your age. She went to all kinds of lands seeking different methods of magic. She helped defeat a beast plaguing a small place in Arabia. The King of the land had a sword commissioned for her because of it."
"Helga really is amazing isn't she?" Hermione admired the woman greatly since meeting her. She was kind, intelligent, a wonderful leader, and not without ambition.
"She is. It was her idea that we band together and start the school to begin with. She sought us all out you see. Her and Rowena had been friends for many years. Salazar and I had been friends for a few years before Helga found us. It was very clear that her idea would be the cornerstone for teaching the next generation magic." Yes Helga was definitely a wonderful witch.
"That really is amazing. What you are doing here." Hermione looked back at the castle, covered in moonlight looking glorious in it's own right. "I'm sure that it's going to do exactly what you're hoping it will. I bet children will be coming here for centuries to learn." She smiled up at Godric, he too had stopped to admire the castle before looking down at Hermione.
"I hope that you're right. I mean, with new teachers coming to help promote knowledge in young minds I'm sure that you will be right." The smile on Hermione's face only got wider. "My apologies dear Hermione but i do find that in that beautiful white coat beneath this moonlight, you are breathtaking." Goric lifted his hand up, stroking her cheek gently. Hermione found herself drowning in his eyes, they were the most vivid green, stunning, and looking at her with such desire. She could feel her cheeks growing hot beneath his touch.
"Don't apologize for paying a woman a compliment." Hermione felt breathless and it reflected in her voice. Godric had taken a small step closer to Hermione and for the moment, she forgot that Draco was there.
"I find that I would quite like to kiss you now Miss Selwyn. I admit that the desire to taste your lips upon mine has haunted me since the first moment I laid eyes on you." Such words! They were poetry. They made Hermione blush and feel very much like butter melting on toast.
"Please do." She whispered leaning into him. Godric needed no further coaxing. He hands went around her waist, pulling her to her tiptoes as he placed his lips upon hers. There was fire, definitely, Hermione could feel it in her toes even though they were barely grazing the ground. Melting into the kiss, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck giving the softest of purrs into the kiss. Even as Godric deepened the kiss though, his tongue searching hungrily for an opening, Hermione felt fire but no sparks. In fact the longer they kissed the more she couldn't help thinking his beard a little scratchy.
"I do believe that's enough." Draco's voice tore the two of them apart. Hermione looked at him a little dazed. The scathing expression on his face didn't go past Godric. "I believe you're supposed to be courting this woman not ravaging her." Draco said looking at Godric.
"Yes, of course you are right." Godric let Hermione go, setting her back down on the ground. "My apologies. I shouldn't have been so forward." He was speaking to Hermione this time who smiled coyly, a look of shame in his eyes.
"I liked you being forward." Hermione all but giggled. The desire flared back up in his green depths immediately.
"We need to get back to the castle. We've been gone long enough." Draco stepped forward, taking Hermione's hand roughly and began pulling her toward the castle not too gently. "Say Goodnight Hermione. Godric knows better than to keep a young woman out too late." Godric didn't interfere, even as Hermione glared at Draco. He knew the rules of courting alright, knew he had broken one.
"Stop pulling me I'm coming." Hermione tore her hand from Draco's hotly. Running back to Godric, careful not to trip on her own dress he caught her as she all but tackled him. Planting a firm kiss on his lips, aware Draco was watching in anger. Hermione pulled away, slipping from his arms. "Goodnight Godric." Hermione whispered before leaving his arms, heading back up to the castle with Draco.
"Goodnight Hermione." He called to her, a fierce determination in his eyes. Hermione had woken the sleeping lion within.