1977 - early April - Dumbledore Manor

"No, no, Mistress Minnie! Roots need space, yes they do! Pippy is thinking Mistress Minnie is distracted! Silly Mistress Minnie always thinking too much and not letting Pippy help properly, oh yes! Pippy is shaking her head, wondering how such a clever witch can be so silly sometimes!" The little house elf clapped her hands in exasperation.

Hermione huffed, the earthy scent of damp soil filling the air as the warmth of sunlight filtered through the glass overhead, and gently pressed a young Dittany plant into the soil, while Pippy fussed over the arrangement of Lavender in front of her. "I am highly focused, Pippy."

"Mistress Minnie is telling lies. Is working too hard. Pippy sees it. Mistress Minnie needs rest, not plants."

"I'm fine, Pippy. I can't let you do all the work," she sighed but smiled at the elf.

Pippy muttered under her breath, "Silly Mistress Minnie, always thinking she knows better, working like a busy bee with no hive! Pippy is muttering, oh yes, muttering about witches who don't listen to their wise little elves!" as she adjusted the soil around another plant. "Pippy does not mind work. Pippy minds silly witches who do not rest."

Hermione chuckled and wiped a stray curl from her face. The heat that had built up throughout the day did little to help tame her hair. "I had plenty of rest the previous days, Pippy."

"Mistress Minnie not sleeping, not eating. Pippy knows. Pippy is watching." Pippy paused, her hands wringing together as she added softly, "You needs rest, little Mistress. For your own good."

"I think I remember falling asleep on the sofa yesterday," she laughed. She had been researching ways for the Order to communicate and had fallen asleep around midday.

"Yes, yes. Because Mistress Minnie was tired and not listening to Pippy!"

"I listen. I just don't always obey." Hermione grinned.

Pippy clicked her tongue disapprovingly but didn't respond. Instead, she continued inspecting the plants Hermione had potted, occasionally muttering corrections or rearranging them with practised ease.

Hermione picked up another pot, carefully tapping the sides to loosen the roots before replanting it in the fresh soil. She glanced over at Pippy, who hummed happily as she charmed the watering can to pour water over the freshly potted plants.

"Whatever would I do without you, Pippy?" Hermione murmured softly, a flicker of warmth spreading in her chest. The little elf's fussing was more than just duty—it was love.

"No resting! No eating! No tea! Without Pippy, Mistress Minnie would not grow!" Pippy turned with her hands on her hips, but there was a proud look on her face.

"I am fully grown, thank you very much," she laughed at her house elf. It was too easy for Hermione to rile her up.

"You's making fun of Pippy. You's being a spoilt little witch!"

"You know you love me, Pippy!"

"Pippy loves little Mistress Minnie, always listening, always careful. Pippy is not loving big Mistress Minnie, always running around. No taking care of herself. Pippy is always running, making sure Mistress is not falling over!"

Hermione laughed at the expression on her face, clutching her heart in mock hurt. "You wound me, Pippy. I thought you loved me, no matter how disobedient I am!"

"Mistress Minnie is being a silly little witch," Pippy huffed in amusement. "Mistress Minnie is insisting on working but is only talking. More work, yes, yes. Then rest."

Hermione raised her hands in surrender, laughing as she went back to potting the last five Dittany plants. The warmth of the greenhouse, the light breeze from the open windows, and the soothing scent of the soil seemed to wash over her. Her mind had not been resting since she had spoken with her father. Her nights had been rough, and while Pippy tried not to tell her directly, she knew the small house elf was worried about her nightmares.

Hermione had put herself into research the previous days, trying to distract her mind from wandering too far. While it worked well during the day, as soon as she went to bed and closed her eyes, the images didn't stop flickering through her mind.

As if that wasn't enough, a small part of her was wondering if Gideon was all right. It's been four days since he left on a ministry mission with Fabian, and they have yet to return. She knew he was capable and very good at his job, but she still couldn't help the slight tension in her chest when she thought about it.

A soft rustle sounded behind her, and Pippy was once again at her side, hands on her hips. "Mistress Minnie is doing too much thinking."

Hermione smiles faintly, though the dark circles under her eyes and the tightness in her shoulders betray her exhaustion, the weight of sleepless nights and restless thoughts pressing down on her, trying not to show how right the little elf was. Her fingers traced the surface of the pot she had been working on. "I suppose it's easy to get lost in thoughts."

"Mistress Minnie worries about many things. Just like Master Albus."

"I'm fine, Pippy," Hermione replied quickly.

"Pippy watches. Pippy sees. Pippy knows," the elf said, narrowing her eyes at her charge.

I'm sure he's fine, Hermione thought to herself, putting the last Dittany plant aside.

Pippy tilted her head, watching Hermione with a small, thoughtful expression. "Pippy thinks Mistress Minnie is needing a break!"

Before Hermione could respond, Pippy snapped her fingers, and a small tray with a steaming cup of tea appeared in front of her. "No talking, no working. Just sitting!" Handing the cup of tea to Hermione, Pippy forced the young witch to take a seat on the wooden bench.

Pippy watched with a satisfied gleam as Hermione took a careful sip of her tea. Seeing that Hermione had finally heeded her advice, the little house elf bustled off to resume her work around the greenhouse. Hermione settled into the bench with a small smile as she observed Pippy, who hummed quietly while charming various tools to repot the waiting herbs scattered across the tables.

Suddenly, Pippy's voice cut through the stillness. "No manners… All yelling… no tact," she grumbled with a sniff before vanishing with a shaking head, leaving Hermione blinking in surprise.

Pippy appeared in the cosy kitchen with a sharp crack. Fabian, with tousled auburn hair and a mischievous grin, and Gideon, slightly taller with a relaxed demeanour, both jumped in surprise.

"Noisy wizards! Pippy is hearing you from the greenhouse! Shouting and stomping like wild hippogriffs!" The little house elf crossed her arms, glaring up at them.

Fabian blinked in surprise. "Erm, who—?"

"Other Mister Prewett! Bringing noise and probably crumbs too! Pippy is guessing Other Mister Prewett leaves socks everywhere like baby wizard! Pippy is knowing trouble when Pippy sees it! Pippy is not knowing you, but Pippy is knowing you bring noise!" She huffed.

Gideon chuckled. "Nice to see you too, Pippy. Miss me?"

"Pippy is missing quiet! Pippy is not missing Mister Prewett stomping like baby troll! And now bringing Other Mister Prewett! Twice the noise! Twice the headache!"

Gideon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Pippy, maybe you could call us Gideon and Fabian instead?"

Pippy gasped. "No, no, no! Pippy cannot be so rude! Pippy will call you Mister Gideon and Other Mister Prewett."

Fabian grinned. "Other Mister Prewett—has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Pippy sniffed. "Pippy is calling names as Pippy sees fit. If Other Mister Prewett is proving to be less noisy, maybe Pippy will reconsider!"

Gideon smirked, folding his arms. "Good luck with that, Fabian. You've been loud since birth."

Fabian gasped in mock offence, placing a hand dramatically over his heart before leaning back against the counter with an exaggerated sigh. "I beg your pardon! I am the very image of grace and subtlety."

Pippy narrowed her eyes. "Other Mister Prewett is talking too much to be subtle."

Pippy turned her gaze to Gideon, tapping her foot. "Mister Gideon is always running, always fighting! If Mister Gideon is getting hurt, Mistress Minnie is being sad. Pippy is not liking sad Mistress Minnie! So Mister Gideon must be careful!"

Gideon's eyes softened, crouching slightly to meet her eyes. He ran a hand through his already tousled hair, letting out a quiet sigh. "I'll be careful, Pippy. I promise." Gideon felt a pang of guilt at how much even Pippy worried about him—and how much Hermione must, too.

Pippy huffed but nodded. "Good! Pippy is watching! Mister Gideon is strong wizard, yes, but even strong wizards need tea and sleep! Pippy is saying: no skipping meals! Pippy is seeing too many wizards forgetting to eat when busy! Stupid wizards!"

Fabian laughed. "She's got you there, mate."

Gideon chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'll eat, I'll sleep. Anything else, Pippy?"

Pippy tilted her head. "Pippy is thinking... yes! Mister Gideon must not be doing reckless things. Pippy knows Mister Gideon is brave, but brave is not being silly!"

Fabian raised an eyebrow, leaning back casually. "So... 'Mistress Minnie'? Sounds important. Anyone I know?" he asked with a playful grin.

Gideon shot him a look, but before he could answer, Pippy puffed up indignantly. "Other Mister Prewett is asking too many questions! Pippy is not answering nosy wizards!"

Fabian chuckled. "Relax, Pippy, I already know about Hermione. Never met her, though. You must really like her."

Pippy sniffed, crossing her arms. "Pippy is wise! Pippy is knowing Mistress Minnie is special. And Pippy is knowing Mister Gideon is important to Mistress Minnie. So Pippy is making sure noisy wizards are not causing trouble!"

Fabian grinned. "Fair enough. But if you're always here, how come the Order never met you before?"

Pippy narrowed her eyes. "Because Pippy is clever! Pippy is staying hidden! Too many wizards, too many questions! Pippy is not having time for silly Aurors!"

Fabian burst out laughing. "I like her already. Why didn't you tell me about her, Gideon? And just how often are you sneaking over here to see Hermione?" he teased.

Pippy perked up, wagging a finger at Fabian. "Mister Gideon is visiting often, oh yes! Always in the library with Mistress Minnie, talking and laughing. Pippy is seeing it all!"

Gideon groaned, shooting Pippy a look. "Really? Selling me out now, Pippy?"

Fabian grinned even wider. "So, tea and books with Hermione, huh? And you never thought to mention this? Some brother you are!" he teased, nudging Gideon, who rolled his eyes.

Pippy suddenly placed her hands on her hips, eyeing both men suspiciously. "So, why is Mister Gideon and Other Mister Prewett here now? Meeting with the Order is not for hours! What are noisy wizards plotting?"

Fabian chuckled. "Plotting? Now that's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"

Pippy sniffed. "Pippy is knowing wizards do not just visit. Wizards are always scheming! So, what is it?"

Gideon sighed, rubbing his temples. "Relax, Pippy. We just got back from a mission, and trust me, it was miserable. Thought we'd stop by, catch a breath, maybe see—" He hesitated for a second. "—how things are here."

Pippy's ears twitched, watching him carefully. "Mister Gideon is looking tired. Mission was bad?"

Gideon gave a humourless chuckle. "That's an understatement. Let's just say I won't be volunteering for anything in Knockturn Alley again anytime soon."

Fabian rolled his eyes. "It wasn't that bad. You're just mad because you had to crawl through that tunnel."

Gideon shot him a glare. "It smelled like a troll's armpit, Fabian."

Pippy huffed, clearly unimpressed. "Mister Gideon is lucky Pippy is not letting Mistress Minnie see him like this. Mistress Minnie would not be pleased if Mister Gideon is returning all battered and grumpy!"

Pippy clicked her fingers, and with a soft shimmer of magic, the dust and grime from Gideon's clothes vanished, leaving him looking far more presentable. "Mister Gideon is not walking around dirty like common street wizard! Pippy is fixing it!"

Fabian whistled. "Impressive. Think you could do something about his mood too?"

Pippy huffed. "Pippy is house-elf, not miracle worker! But Pippy is thinking tea and food in the garden is good for tired wizards. Mister Gideon needs rest after dangerous missions, and Pippy is making sure he is well. Mister Gideon and noisy Other Mister Prewett will follow Pippy!"

Gideon exchanged a glance with Fabian before sighing and rubbing the back of his neck, rolling his shoulders as though trying to shake off the tension. "Fine, fine. Lead the way, Pippy."

Pippy led them through the winding garden path, the scent of fresh herbs and blooming flowers surrounding them. As they walked, Gideon asked, "So, Pippy, what's new? What did I miss?"

Pippy, walking briskly ahead, replied, "Mister Gideon missed many things! Pippy is seeing new seedlings growing, Lavender is finally behaving, and Pippy is chasing gnomes out of the greenhouse twice this week! Pippy is making sure greenhouse is perfect!" She wagged a finger playfully. "But Pippy is not telling secrets! No, no! Mistress Minnie is trusting Pippy too much!"

Fabian grinned, "She really doesn't crack, does she?"

Pippy huffed, "Pippy is no cracked cauldron! Pippy is clever and loyal!"

As they reached the small patch of grass near the greenhouse, bathed in warm sunlight and surrounded by wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze, Pippy snapped her fingers and conjured a soft picnic blanket with a floral pattern for them to sit on. " Mister Gideon and Other Mister Prewett will sit here—no arguing! Pippy is bringing tea and snacks because tired wizards are useless wizards!"

Hermione adjusted her dragonhide gloves carefully before handling the aconite seedling. She gently placed it into its new pot, her movements slow and precise. Aconite was one of the more difficult plants to grow, and Hermione didn't have many seedlings to begin with, so she needed to be careful. "Where did Pippy run off to?" She muttered, still puzzled about the way the little elf left earlier.

She finished potting the last aconite, straightened up, and glanced around, looking at the waiting asphodel.Pippy wanted me to take a break anyway. Might as well go looking for her, Hermione thought to herself. With a wave of her hand, the smudges of soil vanished from her robes, and her dark brown hair fell in tight curls over her shoulders.

Stepping out of the greenhouse, the soft murmur of voices carried over to her.Maybe Dad came home early again, she mused, her steps quiet as she approached. Hermione froze for a moment, her heart beating faster as she recognised one of the voices.Gideon. She did nothing to stop the smile from spreading on her lips.

Drawing closer to the voices, she spotted them—Gideon leaning back on the blanket and laughing loudly with an identical version of him.That must be Fabian.She watched Gideon and noticed how at ease he was with his brother there. Pippy was rushing around them, laying out food and tea, while chiding the wizards, making them laugh harder.

Taking a deep breath, she hesitated, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her robe.Fabian is Gideon's brother; there is nothing to worry about, she told herself. She squared her shoulders and took a few more steps, a playful glint in her eyes.

"I didn't know we took in strays, Pippy!"

Pippy, who had been fussing over the teapot, froze mid-motion before whipping around with her hands on her hips. "Pippy is not taking in strays—no, no! Pippy is dealing with noisy wizards who stomp and shout too much! Pippy is making tea, not running a shelter for lost Prewetts!" She huffed and glared at Fabian, who looked completely unbothered by the little elf.

Behind her, Gideon broke into a wide grin, his eyes lighting up at the sound of Hermione's voice. "Strays? Harsh words, Shortstuff," he teased, patting the space next to him on the blanket. "Come join me and my much less handsome twin. I'm sure you're due for a break from whatever tedious work you threw yourself into."

"Oh, hush you. Not you too, please." Hermione waved him off, thinking back to the lecture she had endured from Pippy earlier.

"Mistress Minnie knows Pippy is right. Pippy is watching. Pippy is knowing. Mistress Minnie cannot be complaining. Pippy is right," Pippy muttered while handing a plate to Hermione after she took the offered seat next to Gideon. "Now Pippy is watching two silly Auror wizards. Pippy is thinking one was enough. Pippy is doomed."

Fabian chuckled and leaned towards Gideon. "I think Pippy likes me."

"Pippy is liking peace and quiet!" Pippy shot him an annoyed look. "Pippy is not liking loud wizards with big mouths and no manners! Other Mister Prewett is lucky Pippy is not throwing him out with garden gnomes!"

Gideon snorted into his tea while Hermione laughed softly, shaking her head. "Don't worry, Pippy. I will make sure they behave. I will call for you, should we need anything."

"Very well, Mistress Minnie. But Pippy is knowing noisy wizards will cause trouble. Pippy is not surprised. Pippy is never surprised. Poor Pippy, always fixing messes..." she grumbled, shaking her head dramatically. With a sharp crack, she vanished, still muttering about "crumbs and endless noise."

"I see you already made a lasting impression on my house elf, Fabian," Hermione commented once it was just the three of them, a smile on her face.

"I can't help it. I'm just very likeable," he joked, taking another sandwich from the tray.

"I'm not sure. I think Pippy was close to tears before she left." Hermione joked but looked at the brothers with interest.

Fabian sat opposite Hermione, his posture easy and relaxed. A warm smile played on his lips, and a constant glint of mischief shone in his eyes. Hermione could see why Pippy thought he might be trouble.

Gideon, on the other hand, leaned back on the blanket, his legs stretched out in front of him. His tired eyes crinkled slightly with the lingering laughter on his face.

"Pish posh." Fabian waved her comment off and narrowed his eyes at her with an unsettling gleam. "It's nice to finally meet you. I didn't know where my brother was sneaking off to all the time, but now it all makes sense."

Gideon groaned at his brother's comment and instantly regretted bringing him along. He cast a glance at Hermione to gauge her reaction, but she seemed unbothered by Fabian. "Yes, Pippy's care can draw even the most stubborn wizard in," she said with a shrug, not rising to Fabian's bait.

Fabian chuckled and leaned forward slightly. "Pippy's care, huh? Sure, let's call it that. Although I have a feeling it's not the house elf that keeps Gideon coming back here."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "And here I thought Aurors were trained to be subtle. I might have to tell Alastor that you need a refresher."

Gideon shot Fabian a warning look, but Fabian only grinned wider. "Oh, I like you, Miss Dumbledore. Sharp tongue, quick wit—are you sure you can keep up, Gid?"

"Most days," Gideon muttered, earning a laugh from Hermione.

She sipped her tea, settling more comfortably on the blanket. "Well, it is nice to finally meet you too, Fabian. I've heard… interesting things."

"All lies, I assure you. Unless they were good things, then absolutely true."

"If you say so," she hummed, turning her attention to Gideon, concern filling her eyes as she watched his tense shoulders.

"How was the mission?" She asked him quietly. She tried to sound casual but failed miserably.

Gideon's smile faltered slightly as he sat up to look at her. "Oh, you know. The usual. Knockturn Alley, dark wizards, questionable smells… Fabian nearly hexed himself—again."

"That was one time," Fabian commented with a roll of his eyes.

"Twice," Gideon corrected, shooting his brother a look before turning back to Hermione. His voice remained calm, but Hermione noticed the slight tension in his shoulders.

"It wasn't anything we couldn't handle," he added, offering a reassuring smile. "Just longer than expected."

Hermione wasn't convinced. Her eyes softened, and she leaned closer to him.

"Gideon."

He held her gaze for a moment before exhaling slowly. "There were… complications. We tracked a group of suspected Death Eaters through the Alley. We got a tip about an illegal trade and went to investigate. We followed them out of the alley, but it got messy. They knew we were coming. We're fine, but… we didn't expect to walk into a trap." He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze.

Fabian, watching the two of them with interest, sensed the shift in the mood. He ran a hand through his already messy hair and sighed. "Not our best day, but we made it out mostly unscathed. We gave as good as we got, so that's something."

Hermione watched both of them for a moment, concern still evident in her eyes. "As long as you're both safe," she murmured.

"Safe as we can be," Gideon replied with a half-hearted smile.

"Alright," Hermione said, and without thinking too much about it, she leaned forward and brushed a stray strand of hair out of his face. Her fingers brushed against his cheek in the process, and they lingered just a moment longer than necessary, sending a flutter through her chest. It cost Gideon all his willpower to not close his eyes and give in to her touch.

Fabian nearly choked on his sandwich trying not to laugh at his brother's expense, knowing exactly what was going through his twin's mind at that moment.

"Alright, enough of the serious talk. We survived, there's food, and I think Pippy might chase us with a broom if we don't eat everything on these plates," he said with a laugh, breaking the tense moment. "Tell me, Hermione, do you always let Gideon steal your time like this, or is he more charming when I'm not around?"

Hermione turned to Fabian, letting the moment with Gideon pass. "Oh, he has his moments. Rare, but they exist."

"Oi," Gideon protested, but his smile returned, softer than before.

The last sun rays of the afternoon cast a soft glow over the garden as Hermione, Gideon, and Fabian lounged comfortably on the blanket. Whatever was left from their food was scattered between them, and the crumbs would surely send Pippy into another one of her rants.

Gideon was stretched out on his back, one arm tucked behind his head, the other draped over his stomach. His eyes were half-closed, though Hermione was sure he was more alert than he let on. On the other hand, Fabian sat cross-legged, his hands moving wildly as he recounted one of their more disastrous Auror missions.

"And then—just as Gideon turns around, thinking he's got the upper hand—the bloody crate explodes! Sparks were flying, and there was smoke everywhere! And this one—" Fabian jabbed a finger at his twin." —stumbles out of the wreckage looking like a chimney sweep."

Hermione let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I'm surprised you two managed to survive Auror training at all."

"Right?" Fabian threw his hands up. "That's what I keep saying! But Gideon here has the luck of Slytherin."

Gideon huffed and let out a small chuckle but didn't respond to his brother's jabs. Instead, he closed his eyes fully, ignoring how Hermione's knee would brush against his legs whenever she moved. He couldn't figure out why his heart leapt in his chest at every contact. It was ridiculous—he'd taken curses to the ribs without flinching, yet a casual brush of Hermione's knee left his pulse stuttering like a trainee on his first field mission.

"He is exceptionally skilled at getting into trouble, I tell you!" Fabian laughed.

At that, Hermione raised an eyebrow. Hadn't Gideon told her how it was the other way around? "Somehow I have a hard time believing that Gideon is the one getting into trouble," she mused, much to Fabian's dismay. He clutched his heart and, with a dramatic gasp, fell backwards onto the blanket.

"I can't believe it! Already corrupted against me! By my own brother, no less!"

At that, Gideon cracked one eye open, pushing himself up onto his elbows, and turned to look at his brother. "Do I need to remind you which one of us actually knocked over the crate, spilling explosive potions in the storeroom?"

Fabian sat up again and waved him off. "Details."

"Details? You panicked, tripped, and ran out of the building!"

"Alright, I'll admit, that was not my finest moment," Fabian said with a sheepish look on his face while rubbing his neck.

Hermione smiled, shaking her head fondly. Gideon seemed so at ease with his brother's teasing, and she couldn't help but be in awe of their relationship. He might not say it out loud, but it was clear that Gideon loved his brother very much. Next to her, Gideon shifted and resumed his previous position, stretching his legs again. Without paying attention, Hermione's fingers reached out to trace the trim of his robes, which were scattered underneath him.

"So how do you handle situations like that? When things go wrong during a mission?" She was curious to know what methods the Auror Department was using. Maybe it could help her with her research for the Order.

Fabian thought about her question before answering. "Depends. If it's a planned raid with more than two Aurors, we have fallback points, signals, backup teams, and healers on standby. But if we are on our own, we have to adapt to the situation and sometimes get creative."

Gideon nodded at his brother's words, stretching his arms behind his head. "Most of the time, we rely on experience. Reading the situation and acting according to it. There's not always time to call for help, so you learn to make do."

Hermione frowned, her mind already racing. It sounded like the Auror Department was dealing with similar problems as the Order. It worried her. While the Aurors were trained for these situations and could actually rely on their experience, the Order consisted of a lot of volunteers. Some might be skilled duellists, but that doesn't make up for the lack of experience.

"You're thinking about the Order," Gideon murmured, watching her carefully. His hand reached out to gently tap her fingers still playing with his robes.

"The Order doesn't have any of that. It isn't even enough for Aurors to be kept safe—I will have a word with Alastor about that—but the Order is even more unprepared. If something goes wrong…"

Fabian whistled lowly, ignoring the quiet moment that seemed to have passed between the other two. "You're not wrong. If you start poking holes in the Order's structure, Moody might just start liking you."

Gideon studied her quietly, his eyes glinting with worry. "And I assume you have ideas."

Hermione met his gaze, searching his eyes. "Many. I offered to help my father with the lack of secure communication for the Order, but this… this made me realise just how many problems we have."

"But not every problem has to be solved by you, Shortstuff."

"Gideon," she sighed. "If I can make sure that when you leave for a mission, you come back in one piece, then I will. And no one—not you, not Alastor, not even my father—is going to stop me."

He sat up properly now. "You don't have to—" He stopped himself, exhaling sharply. Telling Hermione not to take on too much was about as useful as asking Fabian to stop talking with his hands. "Just… promise me you won't burn yourself out."

Fabian, sensing the tension between Gideon and Hermione, pushed himself up and dusted off his trousers. "As much as I'd love to watch you two stare each other into submission, I better head inside and catch Moody before the meeting starts. Have to warn him that he'll be out of a job soon."

Gideon dragged a hand over his face. "You know, one day, I'm going to hex you, Fabian."

His brother only grinned. "You keep saying that. Yet, here I am—handsome, unhexed, and heading inside. See you later." He winked at Hermione before strolling back toward the manor, leaving Gideon and Hermione alone.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The quiet between them wasn't uncomfortable, but it was tense. Something had shifted. Gideon could feel it—as the air between them had thickened, the space too charged for a simple afternoon in the garden. He almost brushed the thought away, but the weight of Hermione's fingers slipping from his robe left him unreasonably cold.Merlin, that was ridiculous. He was ridiculous.

"You're going to be careful, will you?" He murmured finally, watching her.

Hermione tilted her head and suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Her lips twitched slightly. "What do you think?"

Gideon let out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head as she met his gaze with quiet amusement. He should have known better than to ask. "Merlin help us all," he muttered, though he wasn't sure if he meant the Order… or himself.

Hermione playfully shoved his shoulder before standing up herself. "Alright, Worrywart, go rescue your brother before Moody makes you write an incident report on 'Why Gideon Prewett Can't Keep His Twin from Causing Property Damage.'"

Gideon groaned dramatically, rolling his eyes. "I swear, if I ever hex Fabian, you're next." But as Hermione laughed, already walking ahead of him, he found himself smiling instead.