RP: Coming for the Cat

[shh_roger]

Date: January 20, 2005 (evening)
Characters: Roger Davies, Hermione Granger
Location: River House
Status: Private
Summary: Hermione drops by to pick up Crookshanks.
Completion: Complete

Roger shifted the logs around on the fireplace. Then he crossed the sitting room into the kitchen and looked out the window again. It was a bit difficult not to anyway;

Comments

[shh_hermione]

She listened and nodded. "You've lost someone you love," she said. They'd never really discussed it, but it was something she'd figured out fairly soon after they met. "And you've done horrible things during the war, as have many of us. It'll take time for you to feel ready for more complicated things, I imagine."

When he mentioned feeling something since they met, she blushed lightly but didn't look away. Friends could be honest about things like this, and it wouldn't change anything, at least, not in a negative way. Still, she found it rather hard to believe that someone like Roger, handsome and smart, would find her attractive in a 'felt something' way. She believed him, though, which surprised her because she wasn't usually accustomed to believing such things about herself. It was the quiet sincerity, she supposed, and the lack of over-the-top flirting or silly games that accompanied that admission.

"No, they're not," she agreed quietly. "In fact, I think that they're very important and necessary for, uh, any sort of progression. At least, I can't imagine myself indulging an attraction without the friendship being there."

"Good. I'm glad this hasn't made things weird," she admitted. "I really like our friendship without the awkwardness. The same page is good."

She snorted. "It definitely doesn't suit me. Not that there's necessarily anything wrong with those who have such traits, of course, but simpering really isn't my cuppa."

"His plans are really good, from what I've heard," she said, smiling and relaxing as she leaned back against the sofa and listened to the music. "I'm glad that someone took an interest in the library who actually has a passion for learning and knowledge. That makes me trust that it will turn out well much easier."

"We passed through during the war, but I don't really remember much of it. I went to a lot of places without having a chance to really explore," she said softly. "I assume it has been. There was an attack there, and it's recovering the same as so many places."

[shh_roger]

"Yeah." He looked up at her, knowing that he'd never told her anything about Bryna, or anything about what he'd done during the war. But it was something he supposed she'd also picked up on, from their conversations before. Maybe he could tell her more about it, at some point. Keeping things inside the way he was wasn't helping him to move on at all.

"Me either," he said. "It's certainly possible to act on attraction without there being anything else. But it's always short-lived and unsatisfying in the end, I've found."

He considered for a moment, drinking his coffee and chuckling. "Well, I don't think there's anything wrong with that sort, either, even if they're not especially unique." He'd encountered far too many of that type while playing Quidditch, and had found it boring.

"Yeah, I've actually not been to the library since arriving in town, even to look, really. I can't wait until it's finished, and it'll be nice to have been a part of making it happen, should I get the job."

"The last seven years, there's just not been much leisure time. It wasn't safe enough to explore, or just to relax enough to enjoy a new place. Hopefully now that the war's over, you can find the time to do so again. Maybe we all can."

When the Beatles came through the speakers, he smiled. "You know, they were playing on your radio the day we met. The Beatles. Do you remember that?"

[shh_hermione]

"The library was one of the first places that I visited once we arrived. The building isn't in very good shape, but a lot of the books were at least salvageable. There are now protection charms on those that survived," she said, not mentioning that she and Snape had performed that task. She wondered how Snape was, as she'd not heard from him since before the holidays. "Being part of something that will mean so much to the wizarding world and the community is a rewarding feeling."

She glanced at him and smiled. "Whenever I finally schedule my meeting in Barcelona, I might just have to ask you to accompany me. After the business bits are done, we could explore the city a little. Seeing a new place is always fun with a good friend."

"I do remember, actually," she said. "There was some sort of marathon on the Muggle station, actually, and you arrived shortly after it started. This is a lovely song. I don't know very much about music, wizarding or Muggle, but my parents used to listen to some of the older musicians like this when I was younger."

[shh_roger]

"I think that would be fun," he said, grinning at her. "Barcelona's one place I've not been, and I'd enjoy exploring the city with you." He didn't add that he remembered her mentioning at New Years that she was sometimes concerned when going out of town for these business meetings, and he'd also be glad to be there with her, at least for this one. But she probably wouldn't appreciate him mentioning that part.

He smiled as the Beatles went off and a new song began. "It's weird. I think we all remember the music we heard our parents listen to, growing up. Mine didn't listen to Muggle artists, of course," he added wryly, "but some of the Wizarding stuff they listened to, I still know by heart. I've been into Muggle music for a while, since I spent quite a bit of time in the Muggle world after Hogwarts. I'll have to familiarize you with some of it some time. I think you're on the right track though, starting with older stuff. How's the coffee?" he asked, glancing at her as Crookshanks padded over and took his place in front of the fire again. "Is it helping a bit?"

[shh_hermione]

"The war didn't take us to Spain, so I've never been. I think I'll enjoy seeing a little of it once the meeting is over," she said. It would be good to have Roger there just in case something went pear-shaped with the meeting. She was probably being too suspicious of Santiago, who was most likely just a nice old man who wanted to help rebuild the publishing world in wizarding Britain. Still, to ease her mind on the subject, having Roger there would be nice. "Maybe we can plan that soon. I'd hoped to get it arranged before we opened the shop, but I might not have the opportunity."

She drank her coffee and listened. "I never really listened to music on my own, so I tend to just remember things I heard them playing. I'm not particularly good with the names or titles, but I can recognize ones I remember usually. I can see where growing up in a Pureblood family would mean wizarding music, of course," she said, smiling slightly. She often forgot that Roger came from that lineage since he never showed any prejudice against Muggle things.

"The coffee is good," she said, glancing at him. "It's helping, yes. I promise no more odd ramblings. Well, not any that I can blame on wine, at least."

[shh_roger]

"Told you I do okay with coffee." He grinned. "I suppose the problem with me is that I've no excuse for any of my odd ramblings this evening," he said sheepishly. At her mention of the shop, he thought of something else he'd been wondering.

"How have you been this week, otherwise?" he asked softly. It was a week since she'd moved, he knew. "I didn't see much of you before yesterday. Have you been alright at the shop; do you need anything?"

He didn't want to ask her about Ron, whom he'd also not seen for a week, figuring that if there was good news in that department, she'd have volunteered it.

[shh_hermione]

"I expect you could do okay with most anything you set your mind to, Roger." She smiled and shifted, leaning slightly against him to get comfortable as she watched the fire. "We could call it temporary insanity, but I prefer just thinking that it was friendly honesty."

She considered his question before giving an honest response. "It's strange to live alone. The shop feels so empty and it's so quiet. Even at the house when the boys were busy, the silence never got as heavy as it feels now. I like being on my own sometimes, but the silence can be deafening and give me too much of an opportunity for nothing but thinking," she admitted softly. "I've been okay, though. Sleeping on the floor isn't that bad, for me, as mattresses are sometimes difficult for me to adjust to and get comfortable. However, I think I might ask Cedric if he'd Transfigure a sofa for me since it looks like I'll be there indefinitely."

"When I'm ready to accept that this is a permanent move, if I don't end up moving back home, then I'll probably just convert the attic into a bedroom, I expect," she said. "I'm trying not to plan that, though, as I'd rather not think about it being permanent. Silly, I know."

"But, enough about that. How are you adjusting to your move? Are you comfortable enough here? Do you need anything?"

[shh_roger]

"Friendly honesty?" he mused, feeling her warm and light weight at his side as she settled against him a bit. "I suppose that's a good explanation. Definitely more fitting than temporary insanity, which doesn't really apply to anything I said."

He listened to her, frowning as she told him what it was like living away from Ron and Harry. She shouldn't be living in her shop, he thought. It was nice, but it wasn't a home, and the thought that she was alone in there at night, facing nightmares that were probably worse than his own didn't sit well with him at all. And when she intimated that she'd e there indefinitely, he wondered briefly if it weren't time to have a talk with Ron.

"I understand loneliness, Hermione," he told her quietly. It didn't seem fair that she'd had companionship throughout the war, and now that it was over she couldn't even enjoy it. "I'm sorry that you've felt so much of it this past little while. Just know that you don't have to go through this by yourself. If it gets... well, if you ever needed to you could come here some nights." He shrugged. "It wouldn't be a big deal or anything; just if you ever needed to talk. I don't like the idea of you up there alone when you don't want to be. Shouldn't have to be."

"It's not silly," he told her. "You don't want to rule out the possibility of reconciling, and I don't think you should. It's only been a week."

"It's been good, thanks," he told her. "I'm very comfortable, and I have everything I need." He smiled slightly at her, drank his coffee and stared into the fire.

[shh_hermione]

"It's not fun, is it?" she asked softly. "I guess I take it for granted, having someone around, because it really seems noticeable now when I go a day without seeing anyone at all. I mean, we've had fights in the past, even gone weeks without them speaking to me or really doing more than glaring, but it was at school, so I could distract myself with homework or study groups. Now, well, I guess silence and being alone is just part of being an adult, but it's not a part that I like."

She laughed softly. "I sound like such a spoiled child," she murmured, smiling wryly. She glanced up at him and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Roger. I appreciate the offer. I, uh, might take you up on that occasionally. The silence usually drives me to work, and I'm really trying to be better at not working all the time. The offer works both ways, though. You're always welcome wherever I call home if you just want to talk or don't want to be on your own."

"I'm glad it's working out well," she said sincerely, smiling before she drank more of her coffee. "You've done a lot with the place so far. It's very welcoming and feels...I don't know, safe in a way. Or maybe that's just being around you." She leaned her head against his shoulder and watched the fire, listening as a new song began.

[shh_roger]

"No, not fun at all," he murmured. "I spent alot of time without people. So much so that I've become used to it, though I wouldn't recommend it. I know that I need people, though. So I've been trying to make an effort. It doesn't sound spoiled or childish to want to have people around you, and it can't feel good to have been hurt by someone you love."

She kissed his cheek and he smiled softly. "I hope you do take me up on it, and thank you for your offer, as well. Some days I have to remind myself that I don't want to be on my own," he admitted, "but not so much where you're concerned, it seems."

It meant alot that she'd said the place felt welcoming and that he'd done alot with it. He liked the idea of making this place a home, a real one, and making his mark on it so he was glad that she'd picked up on some of his efforts to that end. Then she said that it felt safe here and that it might be because of him.

"I"-- Moved, he lifted a hand to her hair, at something of a loss. "Thank you."

[shh_hermione]

When Roger touched her hair, Hermione looked up at him. Suddenly aware of just how close they were, which shouldn't be a problem, she told herself, she flushed and glanced at his lips, remembering New Year's Eve when they'd been in a similar position. "You're welcome," she murmured, biting her lip before she looked at the fire and tried to focus on sobering up.

It was clearly evident that four and a half glasses of wine made the warm and slightly tipsy feeling a bit worse than she'd realized.

"I need more coffee," she muttered, standing up and reaching for her cup. She smiled at him, somewhat sheepishly. "I'll refill your cup, too."

She stepped over his long legs and went to the kitchen, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. She couldn't really blame the wine for the stray thought of kissing him. After all, she'd thought about it several times while sober. Of course, she'd also idly wondered what kissing Cedric or Viktor or even Blaise might be like in a purely inquisitive nature. Still, she'd not ogled their lips while lying against them, at least. She shook her head and took a deep breath. No more lip ogling, she told herself firmly.

Once she refilled the cups, she smoothed down her dress and went back into the sitting room. "It's nice that the room can still be warm and toasty even with the large windows," she remarked, handing him his cup before she sat back down next to him. "It's nice for late night conversation and coffee."

[shh_roger]

Their faces were close again, he realised suddenly, swallowing as he moved his eyes to her lips and cleared his throat. Thoughts like this were not at all appropriate, he thought. Not after she'd drunk a bit too much wine, certainly. Which was probably the only reason that any of this was even happening tonight, he reminded himself, shaking his head slightly.

Of course, he'd had half a beer earlier, so he had no such excuse. It wasn't something he was willing to analyse at the moment though, and he was half glad, half... not, that she stood to refill their coffees.

"Thanks," he said quietly when she came back, his eyes on her as she moved past him, handed him his coffee and took her seat beside him again. "Yeah, I was worried about that, but it actually stays quite warm. And it's very nice," he agreed, smiling and sipping the hot coffee.

He settled back against the sofa cushions and sighed. Crookshanks was asleep, he noted. It looked like they could just sit here for awhile longer.