Tap. Tap. Tap.
Hermione stirred, burying her head deeper into her pillow, trying in vain to keep out the morning light that was just beginning to filter through.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Go away." The witch muttered to the now ardent pecking on her window.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
She sighed in frustration, not willing to leave the comfort of her bed. "Ugh… it's too early."
Being aware that it was a losing battle, Hermione threw back the blanket and rubbed her eyes, letting them adjust to the brightness that now filled the room. She pondered why she hadn't invested in a decent set of curtains, the kind that blocks out all light.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Yes, yes. I'm here," she replied irritatingly to the two owls that were waiting not so patiently on her sill. She padded her way across the wood floor in her bare feet, lifting open the window, the cool morning air hitting her face. "Who on earth sent you so early?"
Her only reply was a tilt of the head by the owl on the right. She grabbed two treats from a bowl she kept specifically for mail owls and looked at both messengers, neither of which she recognized. The first, a snowy white owl, was obviously well trained and carried itself rather regally. The letter it held in its talons had a red wax seal, the kind that many well off wizards still used in their correspondence. The second bird, the one on the right, was a standard barn owl, but beautiful in its own right. She noticed that it struggled a bit and clumsily held a rather large package.
"Well, that couldn't have been easy to carry, could it?" she said, carefully taking the package from its grasp. She feed the owl a treat as she stroked its feathers lightly and it cooed, quickly spreading its wings in response and taking off.
She turned her attention back to the first bird, and upon the letter being taken, bowed its head slightly and took off immediately, without even taking the offered treat.
Hermione stared for a moment after the retreating owl, before turning and setting the unexpected mail down on her modest table in the breakfast nook.
She found herself eying the package with curiosity as she prepared herself her mandatory cup of coffee. She had her first sip of the steaming beverage and sat down, unable to wait any longer to see what was delivered to her.
She examined the outside and found that it bore the ministry insignia on it. "I wonder what they are sending me now. Wasn't attending the ball last night enough?" she pondered.
Hermione ran her index finger alongside the seam of the package, gently lifting off the paper to reveal a beautiful wooden box. She ran her hands along the fine grain of the small case, looking for the nonexistent opening.
She grabbed her wand, attempting several incantations, all of which were unsuccessful. The witch frowned, walking slowly around the table, examining the parcel from all angles. "Well, aren't you a mystery?"
She noticed out of the corner of her eye, a letter that was attached to the brown parchment. "Of course! How did I miss that?"
She grabbed the letter and it came to life, similar in nature to the howler that Ron had received in his second year with the stolen car incident.
The ministry womans' voice from the previous night filled the air.
"Thank you for attending the ball yesterday evening! We hope you found it as enjoyable as we did. The Ministry is pleased to announce that we had tremendous success with the event last night, pairing up almost every individual with their matches!"
Hermione shuddered when she thought about her final match. Before she could linger on it much longer, the voice continued in a too chipper tone.
"However, it does not end there! In order to assist in guiding you to your most amicable choice, we have enclosed the below package. It in includes the beautiful blooms you received last night and a lovely display case. However, you will be pleased to know that it is not purely decorative in nature! As you attend your dates, if that person does not seem to be a fit for either party, the bloom will then disappear, indicating that the match was not meant to be. This is to help aid and direct you towards true love!
If you should be so fortunate as to have more than one bloom remaining after your first round of dates, we encourage you to keep dating those people until only a single bloom remains.
However, if all should disappear, not to worry; this is only supplemental to the balls themselves as well as your own efforts to find a suitable companion.
Please expect three additional correspondences by owl. These letters will advise each party with the time, place, and type of date. We hope that you find this exercise in romance enjoyable!"
The letter shredded itself apart, leaving scraps on her floor.
Just as Hermione was about to comment that they neglected to instruct the witches and wizards on how to open the box, it slowly lifted of its own accord; revealing the three blooms she had been bestowed with last night.
She decided to turn to the other letter, curious if it was from the Ministry with the whereabouts and time of her first date. She turned over the letter in her hand, a saw that the red seal revealed that this letter was not from the Ministry; instead, it was from Malfoy Manor.
She sighed loudly. "Great. What does he want?"
Hermione opened the letter and began to read.
"I behaved reprehensively last night Granger, and for that, I am sincerely sorry. I was already on edge with one of my other choices being Daphne Greengrass. Add to that shock of seeing you as one of the chosen for me, and I just flew off the handle. Please know that my response had nothing to do with you as a choice, but rather of how ashamed I was over how I treated you when we were in school together. I like to think that over the past six years I have changed in my beliefs, and I hope you will take the apology for what it is, and forgive me for my actions.
Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy"
Hermione couldn't help but be shocked by his letter. Her mind immediately went back to the night before at the ball.
Blaise had just finished whispering to her, "Though I supposed, the best things are worth waiting for." Hermione had blushed, trying to come up with an appropriate response.
Instead her head turned, suddenly distracted, by a blond head off in the distance arguing with the woman making the announcements.
"For the last time, Mr. Malfoy, the tree is designed to find your most suitable matches. I have no control over who the tree picks as an acceptable partner for you, nor do I have any jurisdiction to overturn the choice."
"This is bloody ridiculous! You are telling me that you expect me to accept the sister of my ex-girlfriend as a choice?"
Blaise looked down at Hermione apologetically. "Excuse me. I think might be something I should try to take care of."
Blaise brushed by her gently, striding over to where her childhood nemesis, Draco Malfoy currently argued. She noted that Blaise stood at least a good three inches taller than the Malfoy heir; making him an imposing figure.
Hermione couldn't help but casually move closer, not wanting to seem over eager to hear the conversation.
The blond Slytherin looked put out and waived wildly at the tree. "Look, Blaise. I don't give a rat's ass if you helped design this thing. This tree is fucking broken."
Blaise looked unfazed. "Do you know how many hours our magicians put into this tree? How many layers upon layers of complex magic were applied to ensure that most accurate outcome for all involved? Do you think I would risk my own future to something unless I was not absolutely confident in its results?"
"I don't care how much magic is in this thing!"
"Have you ever known me to not be completely through in every task I do? You know I don't do anything in halves. I am all in and if that tree-" the Italian stated, pointing to his company's creation. "is telling you the Daphne Greengrass is a possible match; I would make sure that I pay damn close attention to her and give her a legitimate chance."
Draco, not having a sufficient response to Blaise, turned in the direction of where Hermione stood, his grey eyes penetrating hers. To her surprise, her final bloom and his, shot up out of their hands instantly and came crashing towards one another, combining and then disintegrating into nothingness.
Hermione caught Blaise frowning for the shortest of moments, but he quickly covered it with an impassive façade. Draco, on the other hand, did not hide his shock.
He turned to the woman. "What the bloody hell was that?" pointing to the place where the now non-existent blooms collided.
The woman opened her mouth, but Blaise interjected. "That-" he advised, "mate, was a match."
Draco stuttered. "I understand that. But it is with Granger. Your tree-" now pointing to Blaise. "Has gone bloody off its rocker. Now I am certain it is broken."
The woman interjected before Blaise could continue. "As Mr. Zabini has already attested to, this tree is designed to find the most compatible matches available. Though some," giving a sour glare at Draco and a sympathetic look at Hermione, "may be a bit more desirable then others."
"Well, your damn Ministry can impose as many damn sanctions and as many damn fines as it wants, because there is no way in hell that I am going on a date with her."
And with that, Draco Malfoy apparated out of the building.
Hermione shook herself out of her thoughts and stared down at the letter. She had a feeling the next month was going to be very interesting.
