Summer's Honey Breath

The smell of warm sawdust and chopped planks of wood drifted through the air, I lifted my skirts up as we walked down the short path, a donkey looked balefully at me dark eyes framed by lashes, I smiled at the creature and gentle rubbed his dark grey nose. I heard Rowena give a little exasperated sigh behind me, I rolled my eyes and smilingly turned towards her. She once more put my arm in hers and continued towards the front door. She pushed it open and I saw a room half built, the walls still bare and the roof only half covered with thatch, leaving specs of sunshine on the floor. I looked up and saw one man above us working on the roof, while some others work inside. A man with dark curled hair wearing a cream coloured undershirt stood at a table littered with plans. His skin was tanned. An older man with grey hair stood at his side occasionally gesticulating towards different parts of the room. The younger man nodded now and then.

"Good day, Master Smith and Master Hengist." Rowena said, when I remained silent. Both of them turned smiles upon their faces and gave us both a bow, Rowena waved her hand as though they did not need to.
"Good day to you, Lady Rowena." Master Hengist said, I had met him previously when the village had been first discussed with those who had come to Hogwarts. Master Hengist had come with his sons, one of whom was now at Hogwarts, sadly his wife had been caught by witch-hunters and they could do nothing to save her without endangering their own lives. When they had first arrived I had often gone down to the village to give some comfort and help to Master Hengist, but he now smiled more and swore he would build his shop in honour and remembrance of his wife.
"Isaac, this is our beloved Mistress Helga Hufflepuff."
The younger man looked up towards me, his mouth was full, and a dark, small beard outlined his jaw, his warm brown eyes shone with recognition of my name, "Ah. It is an honour to meet you at last, Mistress Helga. I have heard much about you."
"Oh?" I arched my eyebrows and Hengist chuckled.
"Nothing to fear, Helga. Only that you once owned a tavern in wales and your mead is some of the finest I've ever tasted."
I blushed at the compliment, "Thank you, Hengist."

"Hengist why don't you show me the work you've done so far and perhaps Isaac and Helga can compare notes on mead-making?" Rowena's sharp little grin came back and Hengist hid his own broad smile, I rolled my eyes once more as the two of them made their up the stairs, Hengist showing Rowena the work they had done on the bannister and the beams overhead.
"Well that was subtle." Isaac muttered.
"Sorry?" I said, turning my gaze towards him.
Isaac grinned at me, "I assume they have made some plans of our wedding." He tidied away the rolls of parchment. I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks instantly and he glanced up at me. He gave me a sympathetic smile.
"So are you a victim too? Not just a woman desperate to bed wed."
"No, I am not." I growled, I bit the inside of my mouth to stop my anger from getting the better of me. I could not believe Rowena had done this, especially as she seemed to have included the entire village in her plans and I seemed the last one to know my forthcoming marriage!

"Come, you look like you could do with a drink and though I am certain you make a very fine mead, I manage to make a fine one myself. Or so I have been told." Isaac took hold of my arm and half pulled, half walked me from the main room into a smaller store cupboard and then down a flight of stairs into a cellar. The air was damp and cool, several tankards were on one side of the room and on the rows of stone shelves were barrels of ale and mead. Isaac walked along the rows until he found one he was looking for and poured out some mead into two tankards. I saw his eyes flicker towards me, a soft shine in the gloom of the room.
"I assure you none of this was my idea, I think Hengist and Rowena got a little excited when sampling some of the wine and came up with the scheme." Isaac said, handing me a mug and then gesturing for me to go back up the stairs.
"Nor was it my idea." I muttered.
I heard his soft laugh behind me, "We have some mischievous friends then."
"Rowena is not always like that, normally she takes things very seriously." I said, as he locked the door behind us and then walked ahead of me, opening another door that opened onto the back garden. Dark beds of earth, some growing with herbs and healing flowers were already there. At the back of the garden, where the land sloped downwards, a tall oak tree stood with a roughhewn bench underneath.

"It is too warm to be inside and I could do with a rest." Isaac smiled, offering me to sit beside him. I followed his example, but ensured there was a comfortable distance between us.
"How long have you been working on this place?" I asked.
"Almost six months, I came later than the rest when I heard Hengist wished to have someone to help with his tavern. Seeing as both of his sons seemed destined for other paths."
"They are both clever boys." I said, Isaac nodded and took a sip of his mead. I hastily realised I had not tasted it and quickly raised the cup to my lips. The mead tasted sweet, but with a slight bitter tang, there was a sweet taste of apples and honey, a few herbs and spices.

"Cloves?" I asked.
Isaac chuckled, "Aye, you're correct. How do you make yours?"
"Honey, water, pears, cloves, lemon and ginger."
"Mm, that sounds good."
"As is yours." I murmured, keeping my eyes on the cup clasped tightly in my hands.
I heard the laugh in his voice, but I did not look up, "Thank you, Mistress Helga."
"Helga will do." I said.
"So perhaps a wedding is still on the cards?" Isaac said, but on seeing the flush on my cheeks, he said, "I only jest, Helga. I think I will be having some serious words later with Hengist."
"And I with Rowena." I cautiously glance up and smile at him, then quickly take another sip of my drink.

"Mead is better warmed at Yuletide." Isaac said.
"Perhaps everyone should come up to the castle at Yule and we can have a celebration with those from Hogsmeade and Hogwarts." I said.
"Do you not have any family to go back to?" Isaac asked.
"I have my friend, Alys, and the children I've adopted, but three of them are now at Hogwarts. It is too far for us to travel. And you? Do you have family?"
"Nay, most of them are in Calais and I obviously have no wife or children."
"So you have come far." I said.
"Travelled to England with my father and mother when I was young, they still reside in London with their bakery, it was my mother who taught me how to run a business and make good ale. I believe you are from Wales?"
"Yes," I said, "Though for a while I lived in York with Rowena, her mother came from Wales and knew my mother, but when she and my father died, Rowena's mother took me in as a ward. I returned when I was grown and my father's tavern had been left to me."

We talked for a while longer, I found him a pleasant and easy going man, willing to smile and joke with me. I was almost surprised by how honest he was with me and I with him, I rarely found it easy talking about my past to anyone, yet Isaac seemed to possess some skill in gaining others' trust.
"…so as Hengist knew I was searching for my own business and as his sons did not seem to possess any interest in becoming brewers or landlords, he wrote to me asking if I would care to join him here." Isaac came to the end of his story thus far, I nodded and handed back the cup.
"Thank you, the mead was very good. I am sure the tavern will prove a great success."
"I will have to try some of yours next time." He gave me a small wink, I smiled and got up, securing my cloak around my shoulders.
"Next time?" I asked. Isaac put the tankards back on the bench. His hand gently caught my elbow.
"I know Rowena and Hengist had made some half-baked, foolish plan, but I would not mind seeing you again Helga and perhaps, in time, if you would consider it, allowing me the honour of courting you."
I stopped my mouth from dropping open and nervously looked up into his warm gaze. I felt a strong temptation to curse Rowena and every member of the village who knew of this plan – which was probably everyone, bar Isaac.

"I…I…I have a…it's just…" heat flooded my cheeks and I remembered when Salazar first flirted with me, how I was left stumbling over my words, cheeks as red as autumn apples. Isaac leaned back slightly.
"You have someone already?" there was a little disappointment in his tone, but his eyes remained gentle and his mouth still quirked up in a smile, though it was soft, so different from Salazar's harsh sneers.
"No!" I cried. It took me a while to realise what I had just said, it surely would not matter if Isaac knew I had someone, I did not need to name names. And the way I had said it nearly convinced me that I had no one. Isaac nodded sympathetically.
"I see, you had someone then, but are not ready to let them go just yet?" I could feel myself nodding, "Then I will not cajole you into affection for me, you do not even have to consider my courting. Just let me know if you change your mind." He grinned. I balefully looked down to my feet and shuffled them slightly.
"Rowena is probably waiting, it was very nice to meet you, Helga."
I managed a smile, "And you, Isaac."
He suddenly reached down gently for my hand and brought it up to his lips, I felt caught, the warmth of his breath and soft beard tickling my hand. A delicious sense of heat slowly spreading through my body, pooling in my belly. When he caught my eye I did smile then, truly, but after he had picked up the mugs and bid me farewell a cold feeling of guilt and shameful pleasure was all that was left behind. I hurriedly made my way back to Rowena, too scared that Salazar would read me like a book and know everything.

A/N: Once more, I'm sorry for the delay. But truth be told, things probably will slow down now. Not going to be making promises of posting next week (I will try to remember, but it's probably for the best if I don't get anyone's hopes up! Lol)! Anyway, thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing, much love xxx