Fourteen: Translate

Teddy strode into the Hermione’s office, trying to suppress the look of satisfaction on his face. He sat in one of the leather chairs and waited. He heard two very familiar voices drifting towards him and looked to the door in time to see it open.

“... just not going to work!”

“Hermione, it will! You just have to give it a chance.”

“Teddy!” Hermione was clearly surprised to see Teddy in her office. She ran her hands over her hair and hissed at Harry; “We’ll discuss it later!”

Harry rolled his eyes but allowed the matter to drop. “Ted, what’s going on?”

“I’ve been telling you both for long enough that Smith is dodgy, I think I’ve got some proof.”

Hermione’s eyebrows almost hit her hairline. She turned to Harry and gave him a very significant look, one which might have said, Didn’t I warn you?

Harry sat down opposite Teddy. “What’s this proof then?”

Teddy smiled and pulled a wizard’s photograph out his pocket. It showed a young John Smith sitting with Emil Nequam at a long conference table. The seemed to whispering to each other conspiratorially. Teddy handed the photograph to Harry triumphantly.

“Where did you get this?” Harry’s expression was severe; worry and confusion mingled with anger and indignation.

Teddy took a deep breathe, ready to tell them the lengths he had gone to. “It wasn’t easy...”

*****

Hermia sat and looked at her transfiguration results and pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes. She heard someone sit down on the other side of the Ravenclaw house table but didn’t move.

“What’s up Smith?”

She flinched at the sound of that voice. ‘Not now! Anyone but him...’

“Oh come on! It can’t be that bad! Tranfiguration whizz like you should have no problems with a surprise test!”

“Shut up.”

“Oh leave it out Smith, that test was easy!”

Hermia’s eyes snapped open and she glared at him, turning her piece of parchment over so that he could not see her mark.

“Djalili, I’m telling you now. Shut up.”

Hermia poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice, avoiding looking at Ashtad, trying not to loose her temper.

“You just had to get into the groove of it, feel your way around it. It really wasn’t that bad!” Ashtad exclaimed cheerfully as Elspeth sat down next to him. “Tell her Els, that Transfiguration test was alright, wasn’t it?”

“Mmmm, kind of. Not my favourite thing to do on a Wednesday afternoon.”

Ashtad shook his head. “Oh come off it! It was easy! I didn’t even have to think about it!”

Hermia snapped, throwing her full glass of pumpkin juice into Ashtad’s face. As he spluttered, she stood up and leaned across the table, as close to his now wet face as her short stature would allow, and angrily hissed something in french before snatching up her things and storming away, out of the great hall. Several people turned to watch her go.

Ashtad turned to Elspeth, who was helpless with laughter, with a completely mystified look on his face.

“What did she just say to me?” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and started to dry off his face.

Elspeth managed to compose herself a little. “Well, I’d have to check... but I think she said ‘Of course brains were optional for you’.” She started laughing again. “I think she probably meant at birth, since you couldn’t see how upset she was.”

Ashtad frowned. “She’s a cheeky cow! I really-”

Elspeth cut across him. “Fancy her rotten, I know.”

For a moment, Ashtad went slack jawed and then he stood up and stormed away too, Elspeth’s laughter ringing in his ears.

*****

Three hours after Hermione and Harry had met with Teddy, Teddy stormed out of Hermione’s office, the door swinging behind him. Hermione sighed and covered her face with her hands. Harry ran his hand through his hair and looked at her.

“You think I’m right, don’t you?” There was worry in his tone, as though he thought he had made the wrong choice.

Hermione looked at him. “They’ve never got on, so far as I know. Smith has been known to make...” She searched for the right word, “Questionable decisions but this,” She held up the document Teddy had given her, “This is beyond the pale.”

Harry sighed. “We’ll just have to hope that we’re right.”

~~~~~~

Hermia Smith sat reading a book in a quiet corner of the Hobgoblin, trying not to be noticed. She glanced at the bar and her stomach dropped.

There, laughing and shaking back his dark curls, was Ashtad. Hermia’s throat suddenly went very dry. She took a gulp of her pink lemonade but it didn’t seem to help at all. She watched him for several moments, moments that felt far longer than they actually were. Ashtad stepped away from the bar and Hermia saw the girl from the Atrium, Lalita, taking a sip from some sort of cocktail. Hermia had been careful not to see or be seen by Ashtad after that little incident, she didn’t want to have her nose rubbed in their happiness. She’s welcome to him! Heat, anger, flashed through Hermia and she stuffed her book into her bag and started to leave the pub.

The only problem was that between her and the door were Cadence and Phoenix. Hermia just wanted to leave without speaking to either of them but it seemed that was just not going to be a possibility. Phoenix wrapped his arm around his young wife’s waist. Rather than smiling at this apparent loving gesture, Cadence turned and gave Phoenix a loud, hard slap, knocking off his glasses and leaving a hand print on his cheek. Hermia frowned, confused and started forwards to try and restrain Cadence before she could do any lasting damage. She unholstered her wand and called out.

“Cadence, I think you need to go outside and calm down.”

Cadence turned again, her wand now pointed at Hermia.

~~~

Ashtad had enjoyed his fortnight with Lalita. He had managed to get some time off work and they had gone to exhibitions, nightclubs, parties and concerts all over the country. He loved her, she just knew how to make him laugh. He was laughing with her in the Hobgoblin when he heard a loud slap from behind him and Hermia commanding someone to go out of the pub. Where there’s trouble, there’s a Smith, he thought to himself darkly, unholstering his wand and turning to see Cadence and Hermia embracing and Phoenix looking utterly perplexed.

Ashtad approach Phoenix, who was now rubbing his cheek. “What was all that about?” He eyed the women and holstered his wand, noting that Hermia was studiously avoiding his eye.
In a quiet voice, Phoenix admitted, “Mate, I think I made a mistake.” Ashtad watched as Hermia guided a now sobbing Cadence towards a table in the corner. He caught Hermia’s eye. She gave him a searching look and then looked away, biting her lip.

“You’re not the only one mate,” Ashtad murmured “I just wish I knew what mine was.”

I wanted to get this up on the fifth, but I missed by about two hours. I can't really believe I've been here I year! Hugs for my special people, I hope that you know who you are! Thanks for a wonderful year.