When I entered the large living room, I certainly didn't expect to see Hermione, who had gone into 'learn everything' mode, professionally perched on Kiriko's long ears and telling her about hippogriffs. Judging by her thoughtful face, slightly furrowed brow, and open interest, I was about to have a difficult conversation with this little wonder.
The girl didn't miss the moment of my appearance and immediately shifted her gaze in my direction, but pretended to continue listening to the girl. I nodded softly at Kiriko, and she just blinked slowly, immediately turning her attention back to Granger, who had found a way to relieve herself of the stress she'd been under, if only in this way.
Away from them, Afiri was sitting at a low table, leafing through one of the Slytherin's own lab journals, carefully pretending to be fully immersed in her work. But she was watching the girls very professionally, and I couldn't understand why she didn't want to join in. I silently approached the girl, gently covering her lips with the palm of my hand so she wouldn't interrupt Hermione's spontaneous treatment. Quietly, almost in a whisper, I say hello.
— Hi. Don't distract the girl. — I say almost in her ear, and after waiting for an understanding nod, I let go of her plump, hot lips. Still, Afiri is very beautiful and a fool not to recognize it. — Why not with you, I've seen how you take care of Hermione, haven't I?
— I just helped her in her hour of need, nothing more. — The girl answers just as quietly, outwardly completely calm.
— This could have been done by Momo and others....
— It's not difficult for me, and the texts you gave me to work on are almost finished, so I just got bored. — The girl shrugged her dark shoulder and her simple movement was unexpectedly erotic. I even wanted to watch the dark-haired beauty dance... and gradually undress... With an effort of will, I pushed the inappropriate thoughts away until the night Lizzie returned....
— And yet it was you who did the work of helping the girl, for which I am grateful. — I even bowed my head slightly. — Besides, I noticed you were interested in Hermione, but I just don't understand why, hmm... — She didn't answer my questioning look, looking away from the magazine and pretending to go back to her work.
— You don't want to talk? Okay, I'm not forcing you, but I'm still asking you to answer my question with a simple yes or no. — The black eyes look at me again. — Are you sexually or romantically attracted to Hermione Granger? — And no, I wasn't joking, the question was asked in all seriousness and I looked straight at the girl.
I didn't even seem to be understood at first. The girl looked me in the eyes for a few seconds, obviously expecting a continuation, but when it did not follow, she was somehow sharply confused, it even showed on her face, and I safely blocked emotions almost completely to eliminate the possibility of shock already in me. After about half a minute, when Afiri had recovered a bit, she answered.
— No, master. — She was not lying. Well, that is good, because it was not a "pleasant surprise" out of the blue. — Such pleasures, while not magically forbidden, were only allowed in the Dead Family with the permission of the master, lord, or husband.
— Frankly, you've taken a load off my mind. — I sighed exaggeratedly, even a bit of sweat dripping from my forehead, grinning as the girl carefully supported me with a smile. — But since you don't feel anything like that for the girl, I've decided to offer you as my future spouse, — Afiri shuddered at these words, and after that something changed in her eyes, and even as if there was a more "alive" and "healthy" glow, which hadn't been observed before. — To become a mentor-mentor for the one who will give up her clan and become subservient to us.
— You're not joking... — The girl stared intensely into my eyes.
— I'm not joking. Our family is still very young, we have no elders, no ancestors, no mentors...
— And Miss Junko?
— Does Junko look like someone who could be a mentor for the youth? — He grinned, arching an eyebrow mockingly, causing the girl to lower her head slightly. — While Mother was here, she could have started tutoring you, Lizzy, Kiriko, as if we don't have enough people? She could have taught you something useful — although goodness is never enough. But what did she do? She walked around, pissed off, bored, and then she went on a combat mission. What's the conclusion?
— She's not interested. — Afiri said with just her lips, frowning slightly.
— That's right, she's not interested. — I nodded in agreement and watched as Hermione showed Kiriko the "Lumos Duo", i.e. the splitting of light into two or more — according to the Creator's will. — Instead of taking on the task of strengthening the future of the clan, teaching combat and self-defense to those who could certainly use it, she just ran off to wherever she could kill the boredom. I don't care if I'm busy with things she could have helped me with.
— Sir, if I may, — the girl said shyly but hopefully.
— I already have. — I didn't hear the request until the end. — You have already shown that you are willing to become my assistant, you have shown initiative, so I have decided that you will be able to teach our young future head of your own family what every head of a magical family should know, like magical laws and some peculiarities of their interpretation. And I also think it would not be superfluous for a more mature girl to share some purely feminine wisdom with a very curious witch.
— Your confidence is a great honor, Dominus. I will not disappoint you. — A deep bow caused a wave of heavy silk hair to spread out, exposing the girl's neck...
No, definitely, this girl is a total seduction and temptation — she just doesn't have any ugly features in her face or flaws in her figure. The way her skin and hair shine, how graceful she is, and how fluid her every movement is, like a tinkling brook bending in the banks of a rocky bed.
— And I also think that our world is too cruel and full of danger, so that it will be easier for a very cautious and intelligent girl to see a friend in the one she will actually raise... — In those feelings that came to me from Afiri, there was a confusion in which cautious hope and gratitude somewhat prevailed.
— I, for example, find it very difficult to see the people around me as friends — they are all mean, selfish, corrupt and just rotten inside... — The girl looked up at me with surprised eyes. I grinned at her. — I'm human too, and I don't mind talking about life... — another grin, but a little more cheerful. — ... or about a beautiful girl... — I smiled understandingly, — We know you men, you just want to pull up another skirt and hit each other.
— In general, I officially appoint you to the position of supervisor-mentor of a young, promising witch, and only you depend on my final decision — I think it is clear. — The girl nodded in understanding.
That was the end of the conversation, and I left, unnoticed by Hermione, to do other things, which, despite my best efforts, were not getting any easier.