Never Piss Off a House-Elf

Hermione had changed into jeans and a fitted t-shirt for her meeting with Raina. She really didn't want to draw too much attention, and on top of that, Severus's last words before her departure had unnerved her a bit. She tried to push it out of her mind, but her thoughts kept dragging her back. Finally, she let her mind have its little fantasy, but once it was over, she knew she'd always have a hard time if she worked with him in his lab.


Hermione arrived a bit before she was supposed to meet Raina, so she ducked into Flourish & Blotts. They were stocking new titles, and Hermione helped herself to the newest Defense and Transfiguration volumes, promising to shelve them when she was finished. After about ten minutes of reading, a hand tapped Hermione's shoulder.


"Eep!" Hermione screeched, almost dropping her book. She turned and saw Raina smiling behind her, arms crossed and a mock-stern look on her face. Hermione put the book down and reached out for her friend. "Raina! You shouldn't have snuck up on me like that.


"And you should be more careful, Hermione. It still isn't completely safe. You should always be alert," Raina said, hugging the younger girl. Hermione almost gagged at her words, though; she sounded quite a bit like Severus. "So. Are you ready for a bit of girl-time?"


Hermione nodded. "I haven't exactly been cooped up by Severus, but I got caught up in my books. Again. I know I should get out m~--"


Raina laughed. "Hermione, you like books. I don't think you have to apologize to me because you decided to spend your time with books. Honestly, Hermione. I like a good book, too. You act as if you have to defend yourself."


Hermione smirked. "Typically, I do. Ron and Harry are less than studious much of the time, and they pretty much demand my attention, whether they mean to or not. But that's not happening so much right now."


Hermione and Raina left the book shop and headed for the exit to London. Raina waved to a few people as they walked, but Hermione was met with glares and whispers when she waved. She walked staring straight ahead, trying to ignore the stares and whispers. Raina reached down and grabbed Hermione's hand, holding it lightly in her own.


Hermione smiled her gratitude. She knew that some witches and wizards frowned upon such displays of affection, but Raina was a muggle-born like Hermione. They left Diagon Alley quickly, thankful for the sounds and relative familiarity of muggle London.


"Well, I'm glad to be out of the spotlight," Hermione said, and Raina nodded her agreement. "I know why people stare and whisper at me. . . but you were getting your own fair share. Care to share?"


Raina smiled, albeit a watery one. "I told you I was a widow, right?"


"Yes. You mentioned that when Severus asked if you were engaged. What happened?"


Raina leaned down and whispered in Hermione's ear, her dark red hair swinging down, shielding her mouth. "I know Severus was a spy, a real spy, Hermione, and I've known for years. I knew him because my husband knew him."


Hermione stared at her friend, wondering for the first time how old Raina actually was. She'd assumed the older girl was just that: an older girl. This was new information. Was Raina so much closer to Severus's age than Hermione's? Hermione led Raina to a small outdoor café, and they grabbed a table near the street.


They sat down and placed their orders for pastries and soda. Once the waitress brought their orders, Raina cast a silence-curtain charm around them. Anyone trying to listen would here news about births and deaths in their families, and would be immediately bored to tears. The girl sipped their sodas and nibbled at their food for a few minutes before Hermione's curiosity finally got the better of her.


"Raina, how old are you?" Hermione asked. "I know it isn't the politest thing to ask a woman, especially a witch, but if your husband knew Severus, he was either much older than you, or you are quite a bit older than I am."


Raina laughed a bit. "Don't worry. You're naturally curious. I'm going to be thirty-two this Yule. I was entering school as Severus was leaving. He was in the same class with my Micah. It was right scandalous, you know, with them leaving as I was entering. Micah had broken up with his girlfriend, and I was utterly infatuated with him.


"He gave a small little smart at the Closing Feast, and I snuck into his Graduation Feast to hear his voice a bit more. His voice was like Severus's, you know, all velvet and heat, barely covered with that loathing they always thought made us fear them. Gods, that voice. . .


"I cornered Micah as he left his Graduation Feast and snogged him outright, stealing my own first kiss from him. Don't look at me like that; I was old for my year, thirteen, and he was young for his, having just turned seventeen. We ran down to the Whomping Willow and used a passage to get to the Shrieking Shack. I was a very naughty girl around Micah, and I made love with him that night.


"He was quite regretful in the morning, but I refused to listen to him. I left for home and didn't leave any contact for him. He only knew I was a muggle-born. He had to ask Severus to help track me down, but by then Lily was engaged to James, and Severus just gave him my street address out of a phone book. My street is miles long, Hermione.


"Micah had to walk for hours to find my house, and when he showed up, my parents wouldn't let him in because I was still mad at him. He sent his patronus to me that night, to ask me to wait on him.


"I did, and we took to sneaking around, which only works so long as you have a reputable contraceptive patch or potion, I can tell you that much. The years flew by, but Micah told me less and less, even though we were engaged. He kept telling me that I'd know after we married. I assumed it was some sort of family secret, so I was patient.


"We married the summer after I graduated. I didn't really want to apprentice myself, or go to uni, so marriage fit me well. I worked in some shops while Micah did what he did; his family was wealthy and hadn't had to work for generations. The interest supports me more than fully without compounding. Anyways, we'd been married right months when he finally broke down and told me he was a Deatheater.


"It was very cliché, you know? We loved each other, but to Voldemort, I was a mudblood slag for Micah to pour himself into occasionally. It was in our best interest to not conceive. I stood by Micah as best I could all those years, until Voldemort finally passed that line: he killed Lily.


"Everyone who knew Lily loved her, Hermione. Micah and Severus included. When Albus dragged Severus back to the Light, Severus dragged Micah along with him. They trained together under Albus, learning all they could, dancing on the double-edged sword. When they slipped, they helped each other back up, binding up the wounds.


"Then, one night Micah was out patrolling an area to make sure the muggles were not killed. Someone, and we never found out whom, found him out. Micah died from simultaneously cast Killing Curses. I was awarded his estate as his widow, and because of his 'wonderful service', Voldemort offered me the position of his concubine, or Lucius Malfoy's, if I preferred. Albus offered me relative seclusion to heal.


"I had been pregnant when Micah was killed, because we were planning on leaving England, if not the entire wizarding world. I lost the baby when Albus delivered the news. From there, I pretty much drifted until I got to the shop where we met. I've been there for ages, it seems, but the proprietor is getting on and wants to be with her children and grandchildren and whatnot. I plan on buying the shop from her when she finally leaves."


Hermione sat flabbergasted. She knew so little about Raina, and had known her such a short time, but the older woman was so open with Hermione. Raina daintily nibbled the rest of her pastry, and smiled at Hermione.


"I know this is quite a lot to digest, but I wanted to tell you this before you got too attached to me. I don't want you to think that I am all goodness and light; my life hasn't been, and therefore, I am not. But I want to be your friend."


"And I want to be your friend, Raina. And I don't want everything to be predicated on the past, either. If I focus on what happened to you. . . " Hermione trailed off, taking her friend's hand in her own.


"I know. The mind will begin fearing that it will happen to you," Raina said, wiping her mouth. She polished off her drink and waited for Hermione to do the same. Raina pushed away from the table and looked at Hermione. "Shall we?"


Hermione giggled. "You sound like Severus, you know."


"Of course I do. I've spent inordinate amounts of time with him in the years I've been widowed," Raina said, plunking down some muggle currency and dropping the protection.


Hermione bit her lip. How much time? How well did they get on? She thought, fidgeting as she got up. She didn't want to admit that she was getting jealous, but part of her was seething. She pushed that aside as they left the café, heading down the street. Hermione remembered she needed something she'd forgotten on her trip with Severus, and she dragged Raina down the street.


"I need to get something from Severus's friend, Halain. He works down here," Hermione said, almost running. She figured that as late as it was, Halain would still be there, and be the only one there. She hoped so, because she was a bit nervous about going there without Severus.


As they trotted down to the outlet, Hermione stewed on that for a bit. She was usually strong enough on her own, but she was leaning on him a bit much for her liking. She'd dealt with Skeeter on her own, but Severus had been at her back. She'd finally stood up to her friends, but she'd let Severus take her away and ended up only going back to her friends when she suspected them.


I'm beginning to lose my edge, Hermione thought miserably as she added the mucked up engagement to her growing list of screw-ups. Raina saw the look on Hermione's face, but decided not to say anything about it. She knew Hermione would spill her guts later. Hermione finally stopped Raina when they were in front of the store.


"Here we are!" she chirped. "Have you been here before? Severus has a friend who works here. He helped support this guy get settled. Here we go," Hermione continued, pushing the door open. "Halain? Come out or the commission leaves!"


Halain came running, and Raina fidgeted next to Hermione, turning to look out the bank of windows. She kept twisting and squirming, and Hermione asked her if she had to use the loo. Raina shook her head over-enthusiastically, and Hermione gave her a strange look. The footsteps came nearer and slowed as Halain came upon them.


"Hermione, how are you ~-- Raina? What the bloody hell are you doing here?!" Halain asked, coming to a dead stop. His longish dirty-blonde hair was coming out of its tie, and his polo shirt and pants were a bit rumpled from a long day's work.


"Visiting with my friend, Hermione, who apparently needed something from here. I certainly wouldn't choose to come and see you, Halain," Raina said coldly.


"You still on about that, Raina? How long has it been?" Halain spat, and Raina glared at him.


"Not long enough. Hermione," Raina turned to Hermione, "I'll wait for you outside."


Raina turned on her heel and left, leaving Hermione perplexed and rather out of sorts. She turned to Halain, who shook his head.


"What was that about?" Hermione asked, and Halain shook his head again.


"Not right now. What do you need? I'd rather get closed up, so. . . " Halain trailed off, his voice weary. Hermione filled Halain in, and he set he up with the adapters and whatnot that she'd discovered she needed. "I'll ring your cell if you'll give me your number, and I'll set up a time to go over everything again."


Hermione traded numbers with Halain and left with her purchase, meeting up with Raina outside the store.


"Did Halain tell you anything?" Raina asked suspiciously. Hermione shook her head. "Good. Any other errands?"


"I'd like to get Severus something to celebrate our engagement. Can we stop by Gringott's? I'd like to use my own money to get him something," Hermione said, carefully sidestepping the topic of Halain. Raina nodded, and Hermione led her friend back to Diagon Alley. An hour later, they were in front of Shirstein's Silver and Golde Emporyum. Hermione was nervous, because she had no idea what to get Severus. She'd turned aside the thought of books or ingredients; she didn't want to give him something so, well, young. The jewelry store was a last resort.


"Raina? Any ideas?" Hermione asked, looking into Raina's eyes. Raina seemed to come out of a trance, and she shook her head to clear it. "Guess not. Let's head in."


The ladies entered the magically air-conditioned store, looking around. Shortly, a clerk scurried over to help them. He paused upon seeing them, out covered it up quickly.


"Miss Granger!" the clerk said, bowing. "My best wishes to you. Severus seems to quite like you; that ring was the only one he even considered for you. Did you note the blessing knot?"


Hermione nodded. "I came in to buy an engagement gift for my husband to be. Have you anything to show me?"


Michael Shirstein smiled politely at Hermione, but on the inside, he was gloating. The girl had never entered the shop before ~-- he looked forward to milking her for all she was worth. Hermione and Raina narrowed their eyes at the mousy-looking man.


"Ahem. Yes, have a seat," Michael pointed to some plush chairs, "and I'll bring you some of my finest choices."


Michael scurried off while Raina and Hermione shared a look.


"He's a piece of work," Raina mused, and Hermione nodded. "Only take something if you really like, Hermione. He's just looking for commission."


"I know, Raina. I have shopped before," Hermione laughed and Raina quirked an eyebrow. "I just wonder what to get Severus. And when to give it to him."


"What do you mean? Has something happened?" Raina asked, sitting forward in her seat. "Ah, you shagged him and he's been a git."


"Raina!" Hermione hissed. "Why not shout it from the rooftops?"


"Hermione, you're a grown witch, and you are engaged to him. People shag. You do know about babies, right? When a man loves a woman. . .," Raina trailed off.


"Raina. Knock it off. I'm definitely not doing this here," Hermione said, shutting her mouth as Michael came back with a small box of things for Hermione to paw through. "Are these my choices, Mr. Shirstein?"


"Ah, yes, Madam. We have a few pieces of men's jewelry here," Michael said, presenting a number of heavy men's rings, chains, and something that caught Hermione's eye. She reached for something that was stuck under the velour of the box. "Oh, I'm sorry, that wasn't supposed to be in this box. I'll remove it~--"


"No. Please let me take a closer look at it," Hermione said, working the object out from under the velvet. "Is this what I think it is?"


"Ahem, yes. This is a sterling silver Greenman torque, meant to bless the wearer with protection, cunning, and fertility," Michael explained, and Hermione nodded. She asked the price and he wrote it on a slip of paper, sliding it towards her. "Sorry, Madam, but it is the last piece made by one of our late designers."


Hermione did some quick calculations. She had just enough on her to buy it, but she'd either have to get more money out for dinner or they'd have to make it an early night and head for Spinner's End. She sighed and got her wallet out, counting out the coinage needed. Michael took it and summoned a velvet bag to his hand, dropping the torque into it.


"Thank you, Madam," Michael said, his sale finished. "There you are. Do you need anything else?"


Hermione rolled her eyes at his brusqueness. He was a salesman, no doubt about it. Hermione shook his hand and took his card while Raina headed for the door. Michael said what he had to in order to be polite, but his personality just turned Hermione off. She met up with Raina outside, and she was smiling because of her luck with the purchase.


"Care to spend the night at my place?" Hermione said, smiling. "I can apparate us into Spinner's End."


"That's fine with me. But I can apparate there on my own," Raina smiled. "Shall we?"


"I know you can apparate, but Severus has wards~--"


"Don't worry. I know'em," Raina said, disapparating with a POP!


Hermione's face fell as she followed.