I ca to my senses on the big corner sofa in the living room. Covered with a blanket, a small pillow under my shoulder blades, and my head nestled comfortably on the warm and soft... Legs? Delphine slowly stroked my head, occasionally digging her hand into my hair. It was late evening or night, the fire was crackling in the fireplace, and the room was scented with wine and fruit. And there is no Narcissa.
"You probably don't know," Delphine spoke quietly, not leaving my head alone. "But if you're stroked, you purr like a cat. It's impossible to resist."
"I didn't know."
"You see. Life is full of discoveries."
For a minute, I just lay there listening to the crackling of the fireplace.
"Did I pass?"
"Yes. I didn't think, frankly, that you would pass. I'll have to figure sothing out about studying since the school year is coming up. I did the math roughly. With your talents and diligence, it'll take a couple of years. You'll be the youngest master of Transfiguration and other disciplines. But tell , where are you in a hurry?"
"Voldemort will be back."
My words made Delphine's hand stop stroking my head for a mont, but only for a mont.
"Horcruxes," I added, but this ti Delphine did not respond.
"You don't have to continue."
Silence again, and again I listened to the crackle of the fire in the fireplace.
"May I ask you a favor?"
"Try it."
"How do you feel about Quidditch?"
"If you an the World Cup finals, I'll be there. I am, as are many other influential people in England. And not for Quidditch, as you understand."
"Could you accompany and my friend?"
"You've got so nerve!"
I turned my head so I could see Delphine. She was looking down at , holding a white wine glass with one hand and smiling.
"What impudence - to lie on the legs of one lady, but talk and ask for another!"
"ntor..."
"Okay-okay, I get it, just don't move on to manners now - they have a terrible way of ruining any evening."
"Ahem..."
"Okay. When do you plan to attend this event?"
"In five days. I'll just have to stock up on miscellaneous equipnt."
"Good. I wasn't planning on visiting until the day of the match myself."
"You can just walk us in, and we'll take care of ourselves from there."
"Okay. I'll write about the eting place. Sleep now."
"I can do that..." and with difficulty suppressing a yawn, I closed my eyes and promptly fell into a deep sleep.
***
The morning of July thirty-first did not begin as usual. Instead of exercising, I had the most real combat operations for the past month, and my existence went under two slogans: "Constant vigilance!" and "Survive or Die!" Right now, there is absolutely nothing going on. I just woke up on the living room couch in the morning. I threw off the covers and sat up, stretching, inhaling the aroma of breakfast from the kitchen in the right wing of the house - the house-elf Haynie is doing her best. Amid all this serenity, I dressed in my Graves-style outfit, which was stored in my bag after I showered.
Breakfast was unusually leisurely, and Delphine again looked like a Lady, with a capital letter, and not so kind of assassin. She was dressed in a slim, closed erald gown and a black robe with silver embroidery on the canthas.
When it ca to tea, Lady Greengrass spoke:
"Closer to September, I will send a letter of the eting, and we can discuss the nuances of the apprenticeship."
"Thank you."
Those were all the words spoken at breakfast, not counting the "Good Morning" at the beginning. Back in London, we apparated almost imdiately - I only gathered my things. After saying goodbye to Lady Greengrass at the Fortescue Cafe, I left Diagon Alley through the unchanging den for failed wizards nad Leaky Cauldron and took the bus back to the Knights.
There I was cheerfully greeted by Sarah. So cheerfully, as if I hadn't been around for a couple of years.
"You just look like my brother, back from the Army. Just obscenely happy!"
After a cup of tea, which I never seem to get tired of drinking, Sarah asked about my training and complained slightly about the cruelty. She complained, but sympathetically, as I told her about the incredible healing possibilities for ordinary people.
Second in line was a call to Hermione. The girl was at ho and promised to tell about her trip to Nice, and I, in turn, about the training. I pleased her with the fact that I found a chaperone, and the trip to the Cup Final is a settled issue. Only after that, I went to the house on the Grimmauld, and now Walburga was listening about the circles of hell, which I went through. Surprisingly, all those days blended into one for . I never got a good night's sleep. Everything was always aching, my brain was always busy with new knowledge, and my body was trying to survive in extrely adverse conditions. Most of my sports and other clothes had to be thrown away - the rags were beyond repair. But it was worth it, or so it seed to .
The Knights told that a trip to Germany this sumr would be pointless - their eldest son would not be able to et us and take us anywhere. I wouldn't be able to get a BMW, but that's okay.
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