Several days had passed in the new term before Hermione received word from her Grandmother about Pettigrew's capture and subsequent fate. Fortunately, the Prophet hadn't gotten ahold of the story as of yet, and Hermione was fairly certain that would be changing shortly, but what she didn't expect was the contents of her Grandmother's letter.

Pettigrew had been turned over to Madame Bones for interrogation and he had been given Veritaserum as a result, but what information he'd given up had Hermione paling and shaking in shock. When she'd handed the letter to her brother, Harry read the words and growled angrily...his fist slamming down on the Gryffindor table startling everyone in the Great Hall.

He then turned his head and glared at the Headmaster, before gripping his sister's hand and pulling her with him out of the Great Hall, ignoring everyone's stares. Ron was close at their heels, as were Theo and Draco—who immediately grabbed their belongings and rushed out after the Golden Trio.

They'd made it as far as an empty classroom along the second floor corridor, before Harry led them inside and warded the room for privacy.

He then handed the letter to Ron, who read it and his angry, "Bloody hell" was followed by similar reactions from Theo and Draco.

Hermione felt her body shaking with uncontrolled rage and fear.

How in the fuck did Dolohov escape from Azkaban?

She didn't realize her magic was starting to manifest until she felt the soothing touch of her wizard as he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his body...calming her instantly.

"It's going to be okay, Princess."

She gripped Draco's robes tightly and burrowed her head into his chest, not noticing the looks of astonishment from her brother and cousins.

"What are we going to do?"

Harry glanced at Theo, who had spoken up in angry disbelief.

"I think the bigger question is, how did Dolohov manage to get out of Azkaban and no one knew before now." Ron gritted out, beyond irate.

"It had to have been Pettigrew." Harry bit back in disgust.

Hermione lifted her head and stared up into worried grey eyes that were gazing down at her. Taking a deep breath, she turned around in Draco's embrace as he pulled her gently into the safety of his arms...trying to keep her calm.

"Grandmother didn't go into the particulars," Hermione lamented with a sigh, "I just wonder why it hasn't been reported in in the Prophet."

"Probably because they don't want to encourage mass hysteria." Theo replied with a shake of his head. "After everything that happened with the mass breakouts last year? People will have their speculations."

"You're thinking that people will think he's back?" Harry demanded and Theo shrugged, not needing to say the actual words for them all to know what he meant.

"What do we do?" Ron asked and Harry just rubbed his scar, which he hadn't done in quite some time.

Not since before the Dark Lord had been defeated.

"I think we need to find out just what in Godric's name is going on." Harry's voice and demeanor was aggressive, as he paced back and forth in the room. "I'm going to send an owl to Remus and Tonks. If anyone knows what's going on, it will be them."

"I think that's a good idea, Harry." Hermione agreed readily.

"Are you going to be alright?"

"I'll be fine, Harry. Go owl Tonks and tell her I said 'hello' and that I'll be expecting her to come visit me in Hogsmeade next month."

"I'll do that." Harry grinned and left the room with Ron following close behind. Theo just stood there a bit awkwardly, unsure what to do.

"Are you going to head to the library?"

Hermione sighed, but shook her head in the negative. "Not right now, Theo. But you go ahead and I'll catch up with you later."

Theo's bright blue eyes gazed between his cousin and her new paramour, and his brow furrowed while Draco was trying his hardest not to sneer at his mate's obvious overprotectiveness.

"She'll be fine, Theo."

The Slytherin just glowered, but Hermione's finger pointing at the door, making her wishes clear had him mumbling about bossy Gryffindor's.

Although he did eventually leave.

After the door closed, Draco turned Hermione around and cupped her cheeks in his hands, eyeing her with concern.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"No," she admitted with a sigh. "Thank you for calming me down."

Draco leant his forehead down to her's and breathed in his witch's sweet perfume for a few moments before he replied saucily, "Still think you're not mine?"

Hermione scoffed. "No need to get all smug about it, Malfoy."

"Oh, Ho! So I'm Malfoy again?"

"When you act like a self-entitled git you are."

Hermione couldn't help but blush at Draco's deep chuckle and his heated look.

"Maybe you need a reminder?"

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned up and whispered, "Yes, please."

Draco lowered his lips to hers, instantly deepening the kiss when their lips touched. Hermione's breathy moans didn't do much to help his self control either, as he wrapped one hand around her waist and another cupped her cheek to hold her to him as he controlled the kiss just the way he liked it.

She seemed to enjoy it too, if the purchase of her hands on his neck and in his hair was any indication.

When they finally came up for air, Draco's hair was destroyed and Hermione's lips were red and swollen, causing him to rub his thumb along her lower lip in satisfaction.

"I probably shouldn't test Theo's patience."

Hermione rolled her eyes playfully. "Theodore needs to learn that I am my own witch and I can take care of myself. Besides, I'm not going to rush into anything physical Draco."

"I know that," he admonished with a smirk. "Whatever else you might think of me, Hermione...I was raised to treat my witch with all due consideration and courtesy."

"How romantic."

Draco nipped her throat in warning. "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."

"Have much experience with that?"

"Touché?" He bit back before his expression took on a serious quality. "But really, I'm happy to follow your lead. I know you didn't grow up with the same constraints I did in regards to courting."

"Is that what we're doing?"

Draco blanched. "I thought that was rather obvious."

She shrugged as she bit her lip, her blue eyes watching his expression closely as she admitted, "I wasn't sure what the protocol for this was? I mean, I didn't want to assume."

Shaking his head in exasperation, Draco pulled Hermione's hand with him as he guided her out of the classroom. "Theo chastised me on the train for not setting up privacy wards."

"When we were kissing?"

He nodded.

"You did call Adrian out on that, if I remember correctly."

"I did." Draco's voice was unapologetic, as he entwined Hermione's hand within his own and led her towards the library...noticing the looks of interest from their classmates. "But I told Theo I didn't want you to think I wanted to hide this and while I haven't sent a formal letter of intent to your Grandmother, that is my intention. I suppose I was just waiting for you to give me the all clear."

Hermione stopped abruptly, her expression surprised. "Seriously?"

"Well...yes...I mean, I know that you're somewhat of a feminist Hermione. But traditions are such that I wouldn't want to minimize what we are building nor would I wish to insult your Grandmother."

Hermione stared up at him and bit her lip again as she contemplated all the various variables before sighing in resignation. She didn't necessarily like the idea of a formal courtship, but she did know enough from Theo and her Grandmother that something like this would be expected being who Malfoy was and she herself as having the kind of wealth that was part of her inheritance.

A formal courtship and betrothal was therefore, likely expected.

Especially if Malfoy were to end up being her bonded—and as time passed, and her magic seemed more grounded...she had to wonder if the only thing holding her back was herself.

"What would be entailed in a courtship?"

Draco's eyes widened as he cleared his throat. "Uhm, well...several things really."

"Such as?"

Draco sighed, as they reached the library and he turned to face her fully, his expression uncertain.

"Maybe this should be one of those instances you ask Theo about?"

"Why?" Hermione was curious as to why Draco would defer this conversation to her cousin.

"Because, I'm sure there are several of the more noted Pureblood customs that you're going to find antiquated and annoying and I'd rather not be on the end of your ire when you inevitably hear something you don't like."

"Scaredy cat."

"Huh?"

"Muggle saying."

"Oh." Draco shook his head as he shooed her into the library. "Be that as it may, Theo is your resource for all things Pureblood courting and betrothal."

And with a wink, Draco left her standing at the library entrance with her mouth hanging open in shock before her brain caught up with her and she blurted out in irritated amusement, "You're a snake, Malfoy!"

Draco pivoted around in a circle and smiled, "Guilty as charged, love."

He gracefully turned back in retreat and Hermione couldn't help but watch him saunter away, his trousers molded to his arse rather fetchingly.

Fuck! Who'd ever thought, she be ogling Draco Malfoy's arse?

Definitely not her!

Shaking her head, Hermione walked into the library in search of her cousin.

It would seem she had a few things to learn about courtships and hopefully, it wouldn't piss off her righteous feminism too much.

Walking further into the library, it didn't take her long to find Theo in their usual study spot and as she plopped down ungracefully in her seat, she openly glared at her cousin, who's own expression was perplexed.

"Hermione?"

"So, Theodore...tell me about this courting nonsense please."

His gaze narrowed, and then he sat back with an amused grin. "What's the matter? Draco too much of a wuss to tell you himself?"

"Something like that."

"So he volunteered me?"

"Something like that."

Theo chuckled. "Didn't your Grandmother talk to you about this at all this past summer?"

Hermione considered this, then shrugged. "Not much. I get the feeling there's more to this than what I know."

"Probably," Theo agreed half-heartedly. "But I suppose a proper education never hurt anyone, right?"

"Don't get all smug on me cousin. I just need to know for today at least, what is up with the public displays of affection. Draco called out Adrian and I before school started back in August when he caught us snogging in Madam Malkins. Then he did the same thing on the train and from what he tells me, you were rather peeved at him."

"I was."

"Okay?"

"He explained it to me, and I suppose I just needed to make sure that Draco wasn't using your own ignorance of Pureblood customs against you?"

Hermione was shocked. Did Theo think his friend would do such a thing?

Did she?

No, Draco was an elitist git but he valued his traditions and upheld them like a kind of armor. There was absolutely no way he would ever put her in a compromising situation. Even when he'd hated her...his words had been cutting and hurtful but he'd never raised his hand nor wand to her.

At least not on purpose.

"Theodore..."

Hermione watched her cousin pull a bit into himself at her gentle rebuke and she was quick to reassure him by grabbing his hand over the table and giving it a loving squeeze.

"I adore your willingness to make sure I'm being protected and taken care of, but sooner or later you're going to have to give Draco a chance to prove he can be a better wizard, right?"

"Blimey," Theo groused out after a moment, "I'd never thought to see the day you defend Draco of all people."

"Me neither, but? Here we are. I can't explain it and I'm fairly certain my logical mind hasn't quite wrapped around the idea of Draco and I as a forever sort of thing...but I can't deny the way my magic responds to him and I suppose only time will tell if he is indeed, meant to be mine."

"And you'd be okay with it?"

Hermione sighed as her brow furrowed in thought. Was she alright with it?

Could she be alright with not only Draco...but Lucius and Narcissa as well?

"Would you think less of me if I told you I'm taking this a day at a time?"

"No, I'd probably take you to St. Mungo's myself if you were suddenly being all dewy-eyed and calling him Drakie-poo..."

Hermione snickered as Theo batted his eyes playfully at her, making kissy faces...which caused them both to officially loose it...

Right in the middle of the library.

By the curious and irritated looks they were getting, Hermione figured it was time to leave especially when Madam Pince walked by and pointed at them to 'get out'...which they did, continuing to chuckle on their way into the hallway.

"So?" Hermione breathed in after she finally got her humor under control. "Pureblood courting?"

Theo nodded. "We will start on it tomorrow. Let me owl my Father and see if he still has his copy of "Pureblood customs, courting and betrothals" at the Manor."

"Okay." Hermione lifted up on her tippy toes and gave Theo a sweet peck on the cheek, causing him to blush. "Thanks cousin."

"You're welcome Hermione. Anytime."

The two went their separate ways, and despite his worry over Dolohov's disappearance, Theo was happy that his cousin seemed to be able to compartmentalize it for the time being.