The Unwanted Malfoy Heiress

Fifteen: Meeting Sirona

The Three Broomsticks smelled of butterscotch, hearty food, and some liquor. There were a few patrons talking and drinking. Some were outside the pub/inn because of a sign at the bar itself that stated that anyone smoking within would be refused service. Apparently, the owner had a very strong stance on smoking, quite unlike the outdoor cafes of Paris where every third table or so were people smoking their fags either by hand, or with a long pipe with gloves. Inside a restaurant or two, you would find a smoker, but it was more common that the French preferred to smoke outside.

I was still reeling, and my stomach fluttered with butterflies as my mind still processed the fact that Sebastian and I shared our first kiss. Okay, it was more of a make out towards the end because my core was still throbbing from the friction of his man bits rubbing against me. But oh boy, if we had not stopped...

A tall witch wearing a plain homespun dress and white apron greeted Sebastian warmly, "Hey there, Sallow. I'm glad to see that you're in one piece, and..." She gave me a look over and noticed that we were holding hands. "Ah. Now, there's a face I've not seen before. Apparently, you've moved on from Miss Reyes. Who's your friend?" She winked.

Sebastian blushed, smiling, "Sirona, I'd like to introduce you to Anastasia Malfoy, Ana, Sirona Ryan."

Sirona wiped her hands on her apron before shaking the hand I presented to her. "Nice to meet you. Your lot is usually more...well, not as approachable. I knew your brother, a bit of a snob, terribly cheap in how he paid his tab when here, but that is neither here nor there."

"Colin was... Yeah, I guess you could call him spoiled. I quite like this pub, though, very earthy and rustic. It's a nice change of pace from a Parisian cafe."

Sirona smiled. "High praise from someone so worldly."

A white-haired goblin approached the bar and handed the bartender a letter. Sirona read it and sighed sadly, "Are you sure he won't send any more trolls here?"

The goblin sighed heavily. "I can make no promises when it comes to the goblins. We're a stubborn people."

Sirona chuckled, "I can understand that. You be well, Lodgok."

"Thank you, Sirona. I will do my best in keeping trolls out of the village from now on."

"Thank you."

Lodgok, the goblin, looked Sebastian and I over closely but then decided not to greet us after all, which I found to be quite strange. Sirona turned to Sebastian and I, "What will it be for you two? Butter beers on the house as thanks for what you did for the village."

"That is kind of you, Madame Ryan," I commented.

Sirona grinned. "Just Sirona, please. Even before I was a witch, I was never one to stand on ceremony like that."

Sebastian cleared his throat, "You never said what transfiguration techniques the healers used before."

Sirona filled up our steins with butter beer from the huge oak barrels behind her. "And that's something personal to me, and me alone, Sallow. Let's just say that it was an invasive process and leave it at that. Anyway, I'm happier in my own skin now, and no one but zealous religious muggle bigots care that I don't sound exactly feminine."

I sipped my butter beer and found it almost too sweet. "That's silly. I wouldn't have said anything about it if you didn't mention it first, Sirona."

"Then you're one of the rare few. You've got a good one here, Bastian. You treat her right, or you'll deal with me, got it?"

Sebastian took my free hand in his and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, which made me blush. "Got it. We're not exactly official yet since we just met not too long ago in DADA class."