A SEA BETWEEN

Chapter 10: The Exodus

WARNING: attempt of an assault ahead. Do not read if you do not want to. And to avoid confusion: Ginny is NOT Ron's sister in this, so we are clear.

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The day after the disastrous birthday dinner, the butler, Mr Gleeson, stopped her after breakfast what she had spent in solitude because apparently Andrew and Draco were still asleep.

"Your Highness... " asked a drawling voice which she identified being Mr. Gleeson.

"Yes, Mr Gleeson?".

The butler briefly lifted his glasses up on his nose and looked at you inconspicuously.

"I have been ordered to relay the message that The Queen and the Queen have left an extra birthday present for you in the drawing room".

"Thank you, Mr. Gleeson".

She walked to the drawing room in amazement, what kind of present could that be? How thoughtful of Lucius and Narcissus... Mara opened the door and saw a figure standing with her back to her near the window. Mara recognised her by the enormous bunch of curls and her tall and still slender frame.

"Hermione!" Mara cried out to which her friend turned around and both women ran to each other and embraced tightly.

"I am so glad you are here," she said with tears in your eyes and a wavering voice.

"I am happy to be, it has been too long", Hermione stated as they embraced for a while.

"I'm sorry I didn't visit you sooner... I'm so sorry..." Hermione reproachfully said with her eyes flitting down.

"There's nothing to be sorry about, my dear friend. Your letters have done me a lot of good but... How is your mother now?" Mara asked sincerely.

"Much better..." Hermione said relieved and smiling.

"I wanted to come by last week but then I started to feel a bit unwell too," Hermione mentioned with a shy smile...

Mara suddenly felt worried but understood the message when Hermione put both hands on her belly, still you asked her for clarification. She nodded and started to laugh as you firmly hugged her again.

"I'm so happy for you," Mara exclaimed.

"Thank you. It is all quite premature; I am just a few weeks pregnant. I wanted to keep it a surprise for you until I got here". The friend sat together on the sofa, ready to catch up on everything and anything.

"And how are things going here?" she asked, concern growing on her face.

"Fine, I guess", Mara lied, and Hermione tilted her head to the left and gave her an understanding look.

"Mara..." was the only thing Hermione replied with, but it was enough. Mara sighed deeply and began to tell Hermione, everything Mara had not written to her in the letters, in detail. After the Princess had finished explaining; Hermione stared at her friend in disbelief before getting angry.

"What an incredible jerk... " and the sentence surprised her very much, because her best friend did not like swearing, a moment later the two women were giggling like two little girls

The next few days were filled with trips to Astella, to the shops, to the theatres and walks by the sea. Mara was so happy to see her friend again that she didn't pay much attention to Draco and his nephew. To the relief of both, the former behaved kindly and respectfully towards Hermione. The same could be said of Andrew who, to Mara's surprise, in the moments she encountered him, was a pleasant guest. He told a lot of funny stories, was interesting to talk to and indicated that he liked to read and got on well with his cousins. Even Draco's demeanour had changed the last week and he seemed to a lot more chipper.