Never Piss Off a House-Elf

Nothing could have prepared Hermione for the sight when she apparate back to Spinner's End. She appeared in the foyer, having learned the wards to apparate into the house, and she saw Severus and Raina embracing. She took a step toward them before she fainted dead away.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hermione woke to find both Severus and Raina standing near her, with Satchel and Miki patting at her forehead with wet clothes. Hermione thought it odd that the elves were tending her until she saw how closely Severus was standing to Raina, who was saying something to him in low tones. Hermione immediately understood her condition.


"Care to share with me, Severus? Is this the lover that was ripped away from you?!" Hermione screamed, practically leaping off the couch. She muscled her way between Severus and Raina, who were both wearing resigned looks on their faces. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'd give'im to you, if I could. I don't care to hold second-place!"


Hermione stormed out of the room, and Raina moved to follow her, but Severus stopped her. Raina glared at him, but he shook his head. Raina sat down on the couch Hermione had vacated and let Severus take care of the whole thing. Miki had winked out of the room as Severus left, but Satchel stayed, inspecting the woman.


"The mistress is unhappy, Miss," Satchel said, wracking his brain to remember the woman in front of him. "You is being her friend, but is not being good for her, Miss."


Raina looked kindly at Satchel, shaking her head. "Satchel, you don't remember me, not even a little bit?"


Satchel looked at her more closely, but he shook his head.


"I wouldn't expect you to, truly. I'm Raina, Severus's old friend. From that time," Raina said, and Satchel nodded. He'd not been around Spinner's End much during that black time. Satchel stood quietly, fidgeting a bit as Raina continued. "He was a friend to my husband. I stayed here for a while after my husband died."


Satchel immediately understood why Hermione had reacted the way she did. His mistress did not share all her emotions equally, and her jealousy could run her when it hit. Satchel thought for a moment, then hopped up on the couch next to Raina.


"Don't be worrying, Miss. The Master knows the Mistress well. He can makes it all better," Satchel said. "Satchel is being her with you for now."


Raina sighed and settled in for a long wait. Satchel kept her company, and a companionable silence settled over them.


"Don't be worried, Miss. All will be well," Satchel said quietly.


Raina said nothing. She was too busy worrying about her fledgling friendship with Hermione, and her old interactions with Severus, Micah, and Halain.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hermione waited until she heard Severus close himself up in his labs before she left the relative safety of her room. She knew that Raina was still in the room Hermione had fled earlier, so Hermione decided to make a stop before heading back to her friend: the kitchen.


Hermione opened the door and hoped no-one else was in the room. Satchel was nowhere to be seen, but Miki was stirring a pot of something or other on the stove, her yukata sleeves tied back. Hermione cleared her throat, and Miki turned to see who was there.


"Oh, Himeko. Can Miki do anything for Himeko?" Miki asked, dropping a curtsy to Hermione.


Hermione smiled, hoping that her little tiff with the elf had finally passed over. "Uhm, can I have some soda and little cakes to take to Raina?"


Miki nodded quickly, her head bobbing as she ran around the kitchen, grabbing Diet Coke and little sweet cakes, arranging them on a tray and presenting it all to Hermione with a little flourish. Hermione smiled as she took the tray; Miki was already learning that Hermione liked to do for herself.


"Miki is knowing that Himeko is liking to do things herself," Miki announced, smiling at Hermione. "And Miki is liking the Himeko. No worries."


Hermione smiled, nodding. "Thank you, Miki. Can you make up my room so that Raina and I may sleep there tonight?"


Miki smiled broadly and winked out to do as Hermione asked. Hermione looked at the tray for a moment before she headed out the way she'd come, but this time, she walked towards the room where Raina waited.


Hopefully, Raina would be in a rather forgiving mood.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Satchel had popped off the couch with a bow to Raina when he heard the footsteps coming their way. Raina had laughed at the show, as she had no elves of her own and was still rather impressed by them. Satchel winked out and Raina heard a soft knock. She cleared her throat and stood as the door opened.


Hermione toed the door open, backing into the room carefully so as not to dump the tray. She gave Raina a weak smile and hefted the tray higher to show her what was on it.


"Now, we have a pitcher of Diet Coke and some sweet cakes, for now, and I'm sure I can find some crisps for later," Hermione said, setting the tray down on a low table. "I think I'm supposed to do some apologizing while we imbibe."


"I think we both have a bit of that to do, Hermione. Shall we do this here and then move on to another room for the rest of our night?" Raina asked, and Hermione nodded. The two grabbed a drink off the tray and sat on the floor by the table. "I should have told you more about my relationship with Severus, especially considering your situation. I had no idea how you felt about him, and how you might become jealous."


Hermione felt arguing about the jealousy was moot, so she stayed silent and let Raina speak. Raina mentioned many of the things that Severus had said or alluded to, and Hermione felt more comfortable as Raina spoke.


The hours dragged on and the women talked, burying their hatchet and sharing stories. They headed up to Hermione's room around 2 am, and Hermione let Raina use her bathroom to change. Miki had made up the room perfectly, with cushions and blankets on the floor. Hermione noted that she now had a TV with all its accoutrements. She turned it on and settled on a late-night talk-show before she shimmied into her own nightgown, orange silk that she'd bought at Raina's behest the day they'd met.


"You decent in there?" Raina called from the bathroom.


Hermione laughed. "I'm dressed, but I'm rarely decent, Raina."


Raina laughed as she left the bathroom, clad in an oversized t-shirt and shorts. Hermione pulled back some of the blankets and patted the cushions for Raina. Raina flopped down next to Hermione and peered at the TV.


"What are we watching?"


"An old Ant & Dec rerun. Mostly for background noise and to help us get to sleep," Hermione said, yawning.


"All right. I really am sorry, Hermione. I should have seen how you felt for Severus," Raina said, her eyelids starting to droop.


"What do you mean, Raina? I'm marrying Severus because of that mishap. I was in love with Ron," Hermione said, snuggling down into the bedding.


"Hermione, you're getting married, and so is he. How do you feel about that?"


"I don't have a right to feel anything about it. That lot is still my group of friends, though," Hermione yawned.


"I think you love him. . . and not Ron," Raina whispered, but Hermione was already asleep.