The Courtship of a War Heroine
Pairing: Hermione/Astoria
Secondary Pairings: Draco/Astoria; Harry/Ginny; Ron/Lavender; Daphne/Theo
Non-canon compliant following DH
Pureblood customs were frustrating.
It wasn't even so much that the courtship rules were confusing. They weren't. Giving a woman a gift of jewellery was considered the beginning of an understanding. Rings were given when that understanding progressed to an engagement. One for the man and one for the woman, often they matched. Upon marriage, a second ring was added to the first. Proper courtship was easy to understand. However, the fact that it was perfectly acceptable to court another woman, even if that woman was married, was completely baffling to Hermione.
"Look, Granger," Draco had said one morning at work, settling himself in the chair in front of her desk and reclining in it like a great, lazy cat, "I'd like for you to come over to dinner tomorrow."
Hermione glanced up at him, astonishment written on her face.
"Don't look at me like that," Draco groaned, "its Astoria's idea, not mine. She'd like to meet some of my coworkers." Astoria, Hermione remembered, was Draco's new wife. She was pretty, with dark black curls and bright blue eyes framed by heavy lashes. Her sister, Daphne, was an acquaintance, if not a friend, of Hermione's and the two had found common ground in their shared academic pursuits, both of them naturals at Transfiguration and Potions.
"Well," Hermione deliberated. She didn't want to appear rude, and it would do to attempt to mend fences with Draco. The man had put forth an effort to apologize for the way he had treated the Trio throughout school and he had clearly been making strides toward true reform. Granted, it had originally started as part of his parole agreement, but it had expanded beyond that.
"Please, Granger," Draco pleaded, sitting up in his chair, "what else do you have to do?"
"Alright," Hermione consented, "I'll come to dinner."
In truth, she had plans with Ginny at the Leaky after work the next day. Those were easily rescheduled and she was honestly tired of Ginny's questions about her romantic life.
Setting his wife up with another woman hadn't been on Draco's to do list.
Still, when Astoria had confided in him that she was interested in women, as much as, if not more than men and that Granger was exactly her type and asked him to introduce her, Draco could hardly refuse her. He doted on his Pureblood wife.
When Granger had come out just three or four months ago, Draco had to admit he was surprised. Of course, if he was being honest with himself, it wasn't all together surprising that the Weasel had turned the girl. Rita Skeeter had had a field day with the news, proclaiming Hermione the heartbreaker to end all heartbreakers and listing all of the girl's "romantic entanglements" to date. Three weeks later, Rita had been sacked when the bloody Chosen One had purchased the Daily Prophet and gotten rid of her. She'd later been imprisoned when it had come out that the woman was an unregistered Animangus. Naughty reporters aside, the rest of the Wizarding World had taken the news rather well. Conservative as the community was overall, it was surprisingly open-minded in terms of the sexual orientation of the people in that community. Pureblood men had taken up with men and women for centuries and in recent decades, Pureblood women had been taking up with secondary lovers. So long as an heir was produced, these extra-marital affairs were accepted and even encouraged. Monogamy had never been particularly important in the Wizarding World, especially when many marriages were marriages of political gain rather than for love.
Astoria's request to court a woman, even a Muggleborn, was not an unheard of request. Scorpius was a healthy, strong two year old and her second pregnancy was progressing well, though not far along. She had satisfied her obligations in continuing the Malfoy line.
The problem lie with Granger herself. Since her sexuality revelation, Granger had dated a number of women, including Cho Chang and Katie Bell. None of the women she had dated, however, had been Pureblood. Nor had they been married women looking for a mistress.
Still. Astoria was good looking. With her dark hair and blue eyes as well as her slender frame, Astoria was stunning. Draco had first been captivated by her at 14, when, despite only being a second year, she had come to the Yule Ball, escorted by Blaise Zabini. To his delight, he was allowed to begin courting her in their sixth year with permission from the Dark Lord. He had been further delighted when, six months after the end of the Wizarding World and following his release from Azkaban, Astoria had consented to continuing their courtship.
She was also charming. She knew how to flirt. She had captivated him easily.
"Did you ask her?" his wife asked over dinner as she lifted a spoon to her mouth and took a sip of soup.
"At work today," Draco replied, "did you find the books you needed?" Anticipating Hermione's lack of experience with Pureblood customs, despite having been practically raised by the Weasleys, Astoria had scoured the Malfoy, Greengrass, and Nott libraries for books on their customs.
"I did. Your mother was most forthcoming with her help. I was surprised."
"Mother had a Muggleborn gardener when I was a boy," Draco replied simply, "Father Obliviated him and returned him to the Muggle world when the Dark Lord began to make his return. I believe mother placed blood wards around his residence and gave him several pieces of protective jewellery which he believes are family heirlooms before he was returned to the Muggle world. She was deeply enamored of him, but after he left he took up with a Muggle woman and married her."
"That's rather progressive of her. I'm surprised your father allowed it."
"He had his share of Halfblood mistresses. My parents are deeply in love but hardly monogamous. Their extra lovers take a lot of the strain off their marriage. My mother took up with Elizabeth Zabini while my father was imprisoned."
"Blaise mentioned something to that effect."
"Have you briefed the house elves on how they're supposed to behave around Granger?" Draco asked. His wife eyed him askance and Draco had the tact to look ashamed. His wife was remarkably organized. Hardly anything slipped her mind.
"You'll have to speak to Mippy yourself," Astoria did note, "she's quite belligerent. When I told her that she was not to serve she threw quite the fit. 'Mippy is a good elf. Mippy is wanting to serve Mistress and Master and guest. Mippy is preparing the Manor special.'" Draco had to admit that Astoria had Mippy's squeaky little voice down pat.
"I'll do that," Draco sighed, "she's always been the most difficult."
"Do remember your manners when she's here," Astoria reminded him, "she's likely to be extremely uncertain when I propose my courtship of her and skittish. I plan on gifting her the books before I ask her to enter into a courtship with me. I won't be tricking her."
"That's admirable of you," Draco said, "not very Slytherin of you, however," he teased. She stuck her tongue out at him, and in that moment he was reminded that Astoria never had been quite as Slytherin as the rest of them. She was much more like the Ravenclaws, interested in knowledge for its sake but not remarkably cunning and sly.
"Just go talk to the elf, darling," Astoria said as she got to her feet and kissed his cheek.
"Are you heading to bed?" he asked her.
"Yes, and I'd like if you would join me," she said with a wink in his direction. Draco felt himself stiffen. Astoria tended to get rather insatiable when she was pregnant and Draco certainly wasn't complaining.
A/N: first time I've written for fanfiction since I was 12. Reviews appreciated but if you're going to flame about the plot, go away. I don't care. Please point out any spelling mistakes and I'll remedy them. I do not proofread and I do not have a beta (nor do I particularly want one). If ya'll wanted to help me speak more "British" that's chill because I'm 100% American and the only English accents I hear are on BBC.
Peace
-Domby