Written for:

Ultimate Battle - Word count 777 words.

World Adventures - (word) Merchant, (word) Master, (era) Victorian (1837-1901)

Courting Hermione

"A man was here," Harry began, walking into the library. "He was asking for your hand. Now, as the Master of this house, I would assume that it's my duty to make you a match... but I must admit, Hermione, you terrify me. There was no way I would agree to it without your permission."

"You know that there are no men that interest me," Hermione said, standing and fixing the dress she was wearing. "I may never get married, Harry, These men want a quiet wife, who wants nothing more than to birth his children. That's not me."

"You could find someone who can offer more?

"I'm not asking for much," Hermione said. "I'm asking only that I get treated as an equal. I'm not a pretty face for a man to show off."

...oOo…

Hermione headed into the bookshop, satisfied at the material she had purchased for a good price, from one of the merchants.

She reached the counter, her gaze fell on a different man than usual. The man smiled warmly. Good morning."

"Good morning. I was looking for something interesting."

"Needlework?-"

"No!" she exclaimed, her eyes flashing. "I want to read about something exciting. I want to learn something new and interesting."

The man stared at her for a moment. "What would you like? History? Poetry? Philosophy?"

Hermione briefly wondered how he had so easily accepted that she didn't want the books women were always talking to each other about. "I'd like you to choose something for me," she said, pushing her chin out and meeting his eyes.

He nodded, accepting the challenge. "Have you read Shakespeare before?" he asked. "Maybe you should have a read his works." He browsed a shelf for a moment, withdrawing a book. "Start with this one."

...oOo…

Hermione walked into the shop, grinning at Remus.

"Is that all of his stories?" she asked, sighing softly. "Is there anything similar?"

Remus chuckled. "To Shakespeare? Of course not. Though, I do have a book of his sonnets."

"I'd very much like that," she replied.

"Oh, that's at my home," he said. "I will have it tomorrow for you, or I could bring it to your home?"

"You would do that, for me?"

Remus nodded his head.

...oOo…

Harry opened the door and looked at the man holding a wrapped item.

"Are you here for Hermione?"

"Yes, I have a gift for her," Remus replied. "A book that she is interested in."

Harry nodded. "If you'll wait in the entrance, I'll see if Hermione is happy to see you."

He left Remus waiting, and headed to the library.

"Hermione. There's another suitor. This one has brought a gift."

Hermione sighed, walking over to her best friend. "What gift?"

Harry held up the book. "A book of Shakespeare's Sonnets."

Hermione gaped at the book, knowing it was the one Remus had promised. "And he's a suitor?"

Harry nodded. "Does this gift pass inspection?"

"Of course," Hermione explained. "Show him in at once. He is a friend, and I never thought… he really wants to court me?"

Remus was shown into the sitting room, where Harry engaged him in conversation.

"Mr Lupin, Hermione is pleased with the book. It's not often one of you turns up with a gift, and this is the first time that the gift has been to her liking."

"I'm… glad?" Remus offered, quite confused.

"I must have you know that Hermione is like a sister to me, we've known each other for years, and I took her in when her parents passed. I want to know that she's going to be looked after. Can you look after her?"

"Look after her?"

Harry nodded. "She was excited to find out you were a suitor and you are the first one she's ever shown any enthusiasm about. Now, how long would you like before the wedding?"

Remus sat in silence for a long moment, processing Harry Potter's words. He couldn't believe that the beautiful Hermione that had been coming into his bookshop for months, had accepted him as a suitor?

He hadn't intended to be one, but he had been harbouring feelings since the first day she walked into his shop and the thought that she would accept his courting had never occurred to him, so he had never put himself out there. But if she was interested in him, that was a whole other story.

"I'm afraid I can't make that choice," he stated. "Hermione should be here to discuss this, she would hate to be left out of these choices."

Harry grinned. "Right you are. Well, I'll go and get her and we'll plan this, shall we?"

777 words