Hermione had decided to write to her Grandmother after the whole debacle with Theo, Draco and the ridiculous book on Pureblood courtship nonsense. When Muriel had written her back a couple days later, there had been a small book enclosed, and this one was a bit more modern in terms of how exactly a courtship was to proceed.
The standard Letter of Intent was the first thing of note...
A wizard who seeks to openly court a witch, must in all good conscious; seek out the approval of his chosen's Paterfamilias to gain their unwavering support and guidance. The verbiage of the missive should be preceded by increased formal relations, an invitation to better acquaint unity between the wizard's Family and that of his chosen one, as well as the customary token of good will.
Hermione had no idea what the 'token of good will' as such, entailed—but she was fairly certain she'd be learning about that soon enough. She continued to read on...
Once an open familial dialogue has been established, and his suit given appropriate standing; a wizard should take this opportunity to show his felicity and adoration through simple gestures designed to prove his singular devotion. Outings, in both Public and Private, should not only be met to seek knowledge and compatibility, but should be done so with all due respect to a witch's chastity and virtue. A wizard should never egregiously seek to put his witch's affections so baselessly on display to garner unwitting distress upon his intended's station.
So that explained the whole Adrian confrontation back before sixth year started...
A wizard's sole purpose in proper courtship is to constantly reassure his chosen one, that his present and future regard is unwavering and absolute. Consideration should always be paramount with the proposition in mind that a witch is to be treated with all due courtesy and civility. When an appropriate time has past, a wizard should solidify his intent by the bestowing of the Gift of Fidelity. Such acceptable gifts, take well into account the witch's preference, tastes and demeanor and should never seek to cement ownership; but only be representative of the truest devoir, respect and affection.
Gift of Fidelity?
That was interesting.
Once an offering of Fidelity has been given and received willingly, a wizard may feel centered in his pursuit that his chosen witch has accepted his ability to care and protect. A Gift of Fidelity is the truest sign of pledging one's troth, and should only be given and received upon the shared belief of the inevitable outcome leading to an unsurpassable lifelong bonding.
Well, that was something she'd have to wrap her mind around. If she accepted a gift from Draco, that would indicate that she was his and he was hers?
It seemed archaic, but oddly sweet too.
And not for the first time, that little voice in the back of her head wondered if Draco had manipulated this whole scenario so that she wouldn't be as put off and angry about some of these more archaic traditions after reading that God awful book that Theo had given her.
It would be the inherently Slytherin thing to do, and Draco was—if nothing else...a true snake.
There had been other parts of the book she'd found equally off-putting in such a way that her overt feminist ideology was having a hard time coming to terms with it all. She had always been cursorily aware of some of the Pureblood traditions like the Family Tree, the Sacred 28...but even so, there was still so much she didn't know.
Her Grandmother didn't seem to be pushing any kind of agenda either, beyond a few of the more notable issues, like House Elves...but for the most part, Muriel had allowed her the time and space to figure things out for herself.
She was both grateful and frustrated that there was so much that was expected of her, due to being a Prewett.
Walking down towards the Library, Hermione had to wonder just how stringent Draco was when it came to some of these customs.
The one custom about doing charitable work in lieu of an actual job was something that Hermione found offensive—but not because she didn't believe that charitable work would be a good practice or use of her time, energy and resources. No?
It was because she felt offended that it was just arbitrarily assumed that a woman couldn't have both a career and do charity work.
She had always been rather gifted at multi-tasking.
She eventually found the one person she was looking for in his usual spot, and sat down across from him with a determined look on her face.
It was a few moments later, that an amused grey gaze lifted to lock with hers.
"What can I do for you?" Draco's voice drawled lowly, his head tilted questioningly at her.
Hermione placed the book her Grandmother had sent on the table between them, unsurprised when Draco didn't react at all.
"And?"
"You know, that was a rather sneaky trick to pull on poor Theodore," Hermione began as she kept eye contact, calculating every mannerism of the wizard across from her. But to his credit, his Occlumency gave nothing away. "I just don't understand how in Godric's name you knew that the book he gave to me wasn't going to be this particular one?"
She tapped the cover of the offending item with her index finger, while Draco just sat back and folded his arms over his chest—his expression completely devoid of emotion.
"I don't know what you're talking about, love."
"Of course you don't, prat."
Their stare off lasted several more minutes before Draco sighed heavily, as he grabbed the book his witch had brought and opened it...perusing through the first few pages with a slight lifted smirk hovering over his face.
He then set it down and slid it back towards her, stating clearly, "I will confirm nothing."
Taking the book and setting it aside, Hermione gripped Draco's hand in hers...watching his eyes widen slightly and his expression morph into something more wary.
"Don't play games with me Draco," her voice was part irritated and part hurt. "Granted, I know I'm not the easiest person to perhaps have had this conversation with..."
"That's an understatement." His interrupting mumble in defense and flinched when his witch's eyes narrowed in warning at him wasn't wholly unexpected either.
"But...if we are going to have any hopes of a real relationship, you need to help me understand what is expected and not try and manipulate me into doing what you want by pissing me off first."
Draco sighed, as he considered Hermione's words. He had purposefully set Theo up, not because he'd wanted to make Hermione upset, but because he KNEW she would have been regardless of whatever information had come her way. At least with Theo, Draco felt Theo would be relatively safe from her wrath.
He, on the other hand?
"Let me ask you something?"
"Okay?"
"If I had given you that book initially, or had discussed some of the more archaic practices in terms of courting? What assumptions would you immediately jumped to?"
Hermione went to open her mouth to give defense, but caught herself first.
The truth was, she wasn't wholly certain how she would've taken any of this information had it come from Draco. Their past wasn't stellar, and he'd often made fun of her lack of knowledge when it came to magical customs. So, it was probably reasonable of him to assume that she'd have reacted negatively. At least before thinking it through with the logical part of her brain.
Draco could see the moment Hermione realized he'd made a valid point. Her shoulders sagged, and her expression fell sheepishly.
She couldn't even make eye contact with him.
"I knew the exact book Theo's Father would've sent, because the Nott family hasn't had a female born into it for centuries. The Malfoy Family too. My Mother has a copy of that book, but I'd imagine Theo's mother, since she died when Theo was young..."
"Ah," Hermione nodded in understanding. "That still doesn't make me feel any better, Draco."
He nodded. "I didn't think it would, but I didn't know how else to get my point across in a way you'd understand it without you thinking I was taunting your lack of Pureblood upbringing."
"Which you assumed..."
"And I would've been right." He interrupted with a pointed look.
Hermione turned her head away as she bit her lip and swallowed uncomfortably.
Git.
"Fine..." she lamented, "but how are we going to be able to talk about this stuff without assuming the worst of each other?"
"I think the question is? How are you not going to assume the worst about me?"
"Draco..."
He shook his head as he squeezed her hand. "I'm not saying you don't have a right to think and feel the way you do. I've apologized it's true, but trust doesn't just bloom in the absence of a shared positive history, Hermione. I want to earn that with you, and you need to know here—that now that I've gotten your attention? That I will never knowingly make you feel lesser because you didn't grow up in this world. I know that sounds five years too little too late, but I can't undo our past. I can only vow to do better and treat you how I should've done, regardless of your heritage."
"But we'd never be here now together, if it wasn't for that heritage."
Draco couldn't help but feel awful for how fore-lorn Hermione looked in that moment.
"Probably," he wasn't going to lie, "but I can't tell you how glad I am that we have this chance. You have to know that I want this and I'm willing to do whatever you need me to do to make this work. I don't expect a subservient witch...you'd turn me to ash if I did."
Her slight giggle and nod was all the confirmation he needed to know he was right in his assumption.
"You're too fierce, independent and stubborn to be anything but the remarkable witch you are, love. Whatever you want for your future? I'll support it. Fully—no questions asked."
"Really?"
Hermione's expression was hopeful, causing Draco to chuckle at how earnest she looked in that moment.
"Yes, really."
There was a bit of silence before she inquired, "Did you already send a Letter of Intent to my Grandmother?"
Draco shook his head in the negative. "No, I was waiting for you to decide that you wanted me to."
"Oh?"
"Yes."
"Yes." She replied immediately, with a soft smile and then giggled when Draco's face registered her acquiescence.
Then a self-satisfied smirk broke out over his face.
"Then I probably should get on that post-haste, don't you think?"
Hermione shrugged, "Well, if you need to."
"Minx," Draco's voice was playful as he removed his hand from her grip, stood up, and then packed his books away. She watched him bemused, before he came over and pulled out her chair, leading her into his side as they walked out of the library together.
"Where are we going?"
"I'm going to take you to Slytherin, put my supplies away and write a letter to your Grandmother and my parents."
"And I need to be there for this?"
"What?" Draco snarked, "you're really going to play at the fact that you're just going to be okay with me sending something that concerns you, and not want to read it before I send it?" He scoffed, and pulled her closer into his side, leaning down and whispering into her ear, "Do you think I have a death wish, Princess?"
Blue eyes stared up into grey ones as they continued to walk towards the dungeons together. When they finally got the the entrance to Slytherin, Draco grinned.
"Want to come inside?"
Hermione eyes widened comically. "You're serious?"
"Deadly." He replied. "Where's that Gryffindor bravery, Princess?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, before she bit out, "Open the door, snake."
"With pleasure love."
Murmuring the password, Hermione watched stunned as the once blank wall now showed the entrances to the Slytherin common room. As it opened, Draco made sure his witch was firmly at his side.
He was rather looking forward to the message this was going send.
