Transit Of Venus Chapter 1: Golden Runes, a harry potter fanfic

A/N: Hello, after getting some feedback I thought I'd add this disclaimer to the start of the fic. This is a subversive take on the soulmate trope. It is not HEA though no one dies either. Theo x Hermione features prominently. I still consider this a Draco x Hermione fic because it follows their story and their points of view. There are some trigger warning subjects in this fic that I will list below. I hope you take a chance and read this anyway.

Thanks so much

Chapter One: Golden Runes

October 1874

The witch sat in her father's study. Her quill bouncing on a piece of paper, blotting it recklessly as she thought. Her brow was furrowed. Her plan to integrate the Muggle and wizarding worlds wasn't working quickly enough.

The magical population was dwindling, and the witch knew that the only way to avoid wizarding Britain devolving into a weakened and incestuous society was to find Muggles of limited magic ability and try to convince her peers to marry and conceive hopefully magical children with said Muggles. The idea was not being well received and with her abilities in Astronomy and Divination she knew what would happen.

She saw dark wizards rising. One soon, and another further in the future were the biggest threats. If she didn't do this, they would succeed in their plans, crushing Britain in their oppression, spreading it worldwide. She knew she could help wipe out the first one, being so close to the event. The next one would be more difficult as the danger neared toward the end of the cycle.

In her desperation and her brother's agreement to sneak ancient scrolls to her from his university, she had finally found something. A spell given to a Delphic Oracle from the Ancient World who used the Transit of Venus in a similar way to bolster the Grecian magical population against a harsh upcoming invasion. When that society had finally crumbled, the spell had dissipated but she had no other known source of it being broken.

The only worry she had was what her plan would mean for future generations. She knew she could harness the Transit of Venus power, but it was permanent and every time the transit occurred, the spell would reactivate. And when she thought of a future with more Muggle integration, the shadowy second threat became more focused, more likely to occur.

If she cast this, its repetition would cause witches all over Britain hope and heartbreak as the names of their soulmates appeared down their ribs in shimmering runes. Most people had a few soulmates, everyone had at least one. Some had their runes shine in gold that meant the pairing was as close to perfect as possible.

She wasn't sure if by "soulmate" the spell meant romantic love, platonic love, sexual compatibility, or simply that their offspring would be undoubtedly, magically strong. It could be just one of these or all of them. Or something else entirely. But she couldn't see any other way.

She knew not everyone found their soulmate and married perfectly compatible but imperfect partners. She knew this was not a particularly good solution and she knew this would affect her in a few years when she turned twenty-one. The spell lasted from the start of the first transit to the end of the second eight years later. At least she would have another four years to find one of her soulmates before the end of the second transit. She was thankful the spell only affected those who were between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-nine and anyone who subsequently turned twenty-one within the first four years of the transits.

She knew the consequences were harsh. If the witch did not receive the pleasure that connected her to the cosmos from one of her soulmates, between the first and second transit, she would die. The runes would blast their magic outwards and destroy their host. A cruel fate, hopefully averted with the eight year timeframe. A bold incentive to carry out the spell's directive.

She hoped that in the future this could be counteracted, but as it stood and how desperate the situation in Britain was, she was convinced this was the only way to save them. She may only be seventeen but with her gift for the future and her faith in the Fates, she knew that she was hardly the first or last teenager to save the wizarding world. In fact, she hoped it could be undone altogether once cast. She certainly intended to dedicate the rest of her life to it.

She sighed and created a scroll for the Department of Mysteries, spelling it so the parchment and her explanation would only open three months before the next event. She took a deep breath, whispered how sorry she was and waved her wand.

It was done.

March 2004

The Department of Mysteries was holding a press conference. Hermione goggled at the article in The Daily Prophet. That had absolutely never happened from what she knew. She strode through the Ministry arriving at Harry's Auror office.

"Is it true?" she asked, shaking the paper at him. She knew her voice must be harsh because Harry winced.

"Yes, and don't ask me, I have no idea what it's about," he had raised his hands in a gesture of innocence. She flumphed into the chair opposite him, taking a large sip of his coffee.

"It can't be good. If it was good, they would just let whatever it is be," she wondered aloud.

Harry leaned back in his chair. "You're probably right, the fact that they announced the press conference beforehand too… they want everyone waiting. It must affect a lot of people, whatever it is."

"Will you come with me? I want to be there in person," Hermione glanced at the article again.

Harry quirked his mouth but nodded. "I'll make sure I'm not out in the field. I'm sure Dawlish will allow it, though you may have to suffer through another recruitment meeting with him."

"It gets easier saying no every time anyway," she grumbled.

The press conference was over. The Department of Mysteries representative wore their mask and had their hood raised the whole time. Of course the operatives in that Department could not reveal their identities. Hermione sat in shock. She could feel Harry shaking her. But her ears were ringing and her mouth was partially ajar, eyes unseeing.

"Hermione!" Harry finally got through to her. "Are you OK?"

She blinked. "Well, that was surprising."

Harry looked at her, incredulous.

Hermione's words fell out of her while her mind whirled. "Let's grab Ginny and get a drink, though I bet any pub we go to in the wizard world will be packed, we'll head to a Muggle place."

Harry sat back in his chair looking as weirded out as she felt and nodded.

They met at a small bar around the corner from Grimmauld Place. Harry and Hermione were catching Ginny up on what had happened at the press conference since she had Harpy practice and hadn't been able to listen to the radio broadcast.

"So, you're telling me that the Transit of Venus is coming up and every witch in wizarding Britain will get runes on their side showing who their soulmates are? As part of some fertility spell?" Ginny took a big gulp of wine.

"Yup," Hermione said, still in a tone of disbelief. "Not only that, if us witches don't sleep with one of our soulmates within the eight years between this transit and the next, the runes will explode and we will die."

"WHAT?!" Ginny burst out causing those around them to stare.

They waited a bit before continuing their conversation.

"What if you're not straight?" Ginny asked, her brow furrowing. "What happens then?"

"Apparently the spell doesn't care about that," Harry replied. "The runes just show up on any eligible witch and tell them her soulmates. So, yeah, Gin, you may have some women show up on you, too," he grinned, trying to alleviate the tension they were all feeling.

"Can't they undo it?" Ginny looked imploringly at the two of them.

Hermione crossed her arms. "This spell is old magic. Potent god-given magic from Ancient Rome or Greece. I think the only way you could even try and remove the spell is if we summoned the goddess Venus or the god Apollo and asked one of them to remove it. It is Venus' power, but Apollo's gift to the Delphic Oracle after all. However, the ancient gods are notoriously capricious. They would see it as a grave insult to reject what they consider a gift. We probably don't want to be at war with a bunch of deities."

Ginny just gaped and then her eyes filled with tears. "But what if… what if your name isn't there, Harry?"

Harry swallowed, his eyes pricking as well. "We'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it," he took her hands and gripped them tightly.

"At least it will be slightly easier for you Hermione, since you're single," Ginny eked out.

"Oh yeah, it's a great excuse for a one-night stand," she rolled her eyes.

"When is this all happening?" Ginny questioned quietly.

"Three months," Harry told her.

"That's a long time to worry," her small voice was tight with emotion.

Hermione thonked her head on the table. "Yes, it really is."

8 June 2004

It woke Hermione up, a tingling burn that hit her side at 6.13 a.m. as the Transit began. She felt sick and rushed to the bathroom, but she couldn't bring herself to look in the mirror. The glow through her thin satin camisole showed that there was only one set of runes, and they were glowing gold.

Shit, Hermione thought. A near perfect match, but for what? The spell wasn't specific enough to know. She would only have one person that she could count on to be rid of the curse. For this couldn't possibly be called a blessing.

She summoned all her courage and jerked her camisole up and there resting high on her ribcage, just below her breast were a set of runes. The worst runes possible.

"Fuck a fucking duck," she told her reflection.

She walked back to her bed, stumbling a little and got under the covers. She set a timer spell for three minutes and then let herself go. She sobbed and wracked her body with crying. She screamed and yelled and pummeled her pillow. She clutched her chest and wished the runes could explode right now and then the timer went off. She stilled and sat up, wiping her eyes before getting on with her day.

Harry, Ginny, Ron, Ron's girlfriend Fay and herself had decided to meet up that morning for breakfast to discuss their runes. It had seemed like a good idea before, a show of solidarity but now… not so much.

Hermione copied the style of the runes and made the new ones silver before glamouring the gold to hide them. She'd read about the spell extensively and had made a list of potential names to place there just in case something like this occurred. A detailed illustration helping her perfect it.

She had made that plan thinking Harry's name would appear on her skin though. The spell didn't indicate whether platonic love counted, and she knew it would break Ginny's heart if Harry was written on her. Her friend used to worry, like her brother before her, about their friendship and she didn't want to reignite that spark of jealousy. She was happy for the contingency, but not happy with the reason for needing it.

When she arrived at Grimmauld Place, she saw through the window that Ron was already there and they were all smiling, it must be good news. She blew out a quick breath and steeled herself. She pulled her flowy white blouse up to check her silver runes were still there and the force of the Transit of Venus spell hadn't removed them. But there they were, sparkling in the morning sun that winked off a nearby car to blind her for a moment.

She steeled herself and allowed a real smile to grace her face. She knocked.

Ginny had bounded to the door and immediately pulled her into a hug, letting it close behind them.

"Soooo Harry, the love of your life, made it?" Hermione sing-songed at her.

"Yes! See!" Ginny turned to show the sheer panelling of her Quidditch training shirt. Not only was Harry's name on there, but translating the other runes, so was Blaise Zabini, Susan Bones and Cho Chang. Of course the lovely and popular Ginevra Weasley had a soulmate in each of the four Hogwarts Houses.

They walked into the dining room where Ginny happily bounced over to Harry and sat on him, kissing his cheek. Harry looked very happy as well.

"Hey Fay, lovely to see you again," Hermione said to the witch. They'd been at school with Fay Dunbar and she was an Auror in Harry's office. Ron and her hadn't been dating for too long, four months maybe.

Fay smiled at Hermione. She was a confident woman and really good for Ron, helping him make his own decisions instead of mothering him like Hermione had while they were together.

"Do we have a matching name?" Fay asked with a twinkle. Hermione knew Fay would have an unthreatened attitude about all this. Again she noted the witch was a great match for Ron.

Hermione smiled at the woman and lifted her shirt. Ron, Harry and Ginny used their Runespecs to translate, while Fay was able to decipher them on her. The shimmering runes spelled out: Oliver Wood, Ron Weasley, Theodore Nott.

"I'm glad you got a Slytherin, too, Gin. It makes me feel better," Hermione replaced her shirt. "And just in case it isn't clear… Ron, you know I love you, but we are better apart and I'll work something out with one of the other two, OK?" He nodded, looking relieved.

"You said matching though Fay, does that mean...?" Hermione trailed off.

Faye turned and lifted her T-Shirt, Ron's name was there, and another Hermione didn't know. Luke Cholderton.

"I'm really happy for you!" Hermione hugged them both. She was genuinely glad for them. Fay was the first witch in a while Ron had dated whom Hermione actually liked.

They ate breakfast, chatting amiably and Hermione kept up the pretense of being happy with her fake runes. She'd been careful with her choices. Ron was a given as most people would have assumed it. Theo and Oliver she was friendly with and it was no secret she was attracted to them. If someway or how word got out that they were Hermione's runes, she knew they would be alright about it. And they were both currently single.

She headed to work with Fay and Harry, heading into the office down the hall from them where the other bounty hunters were given assignments. Much like her time in Hogwarts when she had picked every subject in third year, Hermione had asked to spend a couple of years learning different parts of the Ministry. She intended to become Minister for Magic someday and wanted to have a well-rounded perspective of each area she would ultimately oversee. If she won, of course. Well, those had been her goals.

She had started in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and had successfully passed bills for House Elf Reform, Werewolf and Vampire Rights as well as protections for integrating magical beings more readily into wizarding society.

Then she'd moved into the Department for Magical Sports and Games which is how she had reacquainted herself with Oliver. She had only lasted a little over a year there as it wasn't particularly interesting. That and her agenda to try generate more interest in other wizarding games other than Quidditch had fallen on deaf ears.

Craving adventure after the dull work for Sports and Games, she had decided to become a bounty hunter. She had known her bossy nature would come out around Harry and she didn't want to step on his toes there, so she'd made a lateral move where they wouldn't work directly with each other.

She found the bounty hunts thrilling. She needed to research, plan and think on her feet. Sometimes there were even puzzles to solve and curses to break. She was coming up two years at this post though and would probably move on in another six months.

Walking through the Ministry, she saw some people were elated, others clearly devastated as she had been and some nervous. This spell was really going to mess with everyone.

Heading to her boss' office she knocked and was bade entry.

"Morning, Granger," Rudyard Froome welcomed her. He was always writing reports or signing things so rarely looked up from his desk. Today was no exception despite the noisy chaos from outside. "I don't have your next assignment ready yet, so finish up your paperwork and do some training until I call you."

Hermione just nodded and left. She'd already finished her paperwork and filed it of course, but she slowed as she passed Hestia Carrow. The witch looked despondent which was odd. She was usually bored yet brusque but had an innate awareness that tightened around her. Right now she simply sat, listless.

"You OK?" Hermione asked, summoning a cup of tea and handing it to the witch. They weren't exactly friendly, but they respected each other's work.

"My husband's name wasn't in my runes," she said more to the air than to Hermione. "He's divorcing me, probably wanted to do it for a while given how relieved he seemed not to see his name."

"I'm really sorry, that's just awful. Honestly, this bloody spell!" Hermione was angry again. She knew the anonymous whoever that had originally cast it thought they were saving the world, but holy Merlin's nose hairs, at what cost?

Hestia shook herself slightly. "What about you?" she jerked her head towards where Hermione's runes would be.

"They're... not great," Hermione responded with a shrug. "Here, let me finish up your paperwork. Maybe you could take the rest of the day off?"

Hestia just nodded and mumbled a thank you. The poor witch had been thrown for a loop today. A burning fury simmered in Hermione.

She spent the remainder of the morning finishing the reports and filing them away. Her next assignment still hadn't been pulled, so she decided to go get changed and do some yoga to help calm herself.

In the changing room, Hermione heard wild rumours, half of which she assumed could not possibly be true. Midge had heard her cousin's runes spelled not only her husband, but her husband's brother and the brothers were now questioning the parentage of her son. Tracey's best friend had already romantically reconnected with her school sweetheart when his name showed up in gold, Greta whispered of women who were silvering fake names on their bodies to get a shot at bedding one of the wealthy heirs, coveting spots of being a trophy girlfriend and benefitting from jewellery and luxury. There were eight years, so why not try enjoy a little something before you had to go off and find one of your real soulmates.

Hermione felt a pang of guilt at that. She always forgot that calm, quick-witted Theo was actually from a huge estate and had millions of Galleons at his disposal. In her cubicle, she glanced down at where her runes had been. She'd taken them off as soon as she'd left Harry's place, but she quickly checked the gold ones. They were still hidden, and she exhaled.

She'd had no intent to actually pursue her fake soulmates. She probably wouldn't reapply the charm again unless she had to for some reason.

She dressed in olive green yoga pants and a matching training top that stopped at the bottom of her waist allowing a small expanse of toned stomach to show. Managing her hair into a plaited ponytail, she went into the training room.

It wasn't as busy as normal, but there were still people around. Hermione found a mat and started on various yoga poses, focusing on core strength and flexibility, two things she often found she needed most in her current position with the DMLE.

She had closed her eyes while doing breathing exercises, balancing on one leg while bringing the other behind her, leg bent and foot aligned with her head, hand pulling her ankle upward to stretch further when she heard a Scottish accent in front of her say, "Hermione?"

She opened her eyes and luckily maintained her balance as she saw Oliver Wood standing there. "Afternoon, Olly," she smiled. She placed a hand on his shoulder for balance after she let go of her leg, extending it and tilting her upper half downwards. Oliver corrected her form, gently maneuvering her muscles as he had so many times before when they had exercised together.

She was looking at the ground when a pair of decidedly unsporty black-laced shoes appeared beside Olly's trainers.

She slowly righted herself and a flash went off in the doorway. Before Hermione could lecture them on cameras not being allowed in this part of the Ministry, they'd run off.

Turning back, she was surprised to see Theo. He didn't work at the Ministry, so she had no idea what he was doing here.

"Miss Granger," he said in greeting with a bob of his head.

"Hermione, Theo. Always Hermione, Theo."

She looked at the both of them and they looked back and then at each other.

"So, what can I do for the two of you?" she asked, taking a drink of water.

Theo coloured a little while looking away and Olly good-naturedly chuckled.

"You may not be aware, Hermione," Olly said, "but you were in this morning's special issue paper."

"The Prophet ran a special issue? Let me guess, for this ridiculous Transit spell?" then a realisation hit her. This morning outside Harry's place, she had lifted her shirt to check her runes and had been hit by the sun, except it was probably a reporter.

Colour bloomed on her cheeks and a stab of panic hit her. This is exactly what she hadn't wanted. The glamoured runes were only supposed to lull Harry, Ginny and Ron into a false sense of security that she was OK.

And now, she felt like she had manipulated the two wizards here.

Judging from the looks around them, a fair few others had also read this special edition. She guessed most of the wizarding world would have by tonight and with the picture taken before, a salacious follow-up story would appear in the next edition.

"We should, um, probably go somewhere a little quieter," she suggested. "Somewhere with less eyes and ears." She looked at the two of them again, Theo seemed about as awkward as her, but Olly obviously found the scenario amusing.

"Should I have a conversation with both of you or arrange a time separately?"

"Maybe both?" Olly said. "Together to let us know what you're wanting to do and separate if, well, it is needed?"

Theo nodded his assent.

"OK, do you mind terribly if we go to a Muggle place? I think it would be best."

"Of course, Hermione," Theo stated.

"That place a block away that does the scones?" Olly grinned.

"Ooh, yeah. Good idea," she agreed. "I'll get changed again and meet you there?"

They exchanged a glance. "We can wait for you," Olly told her.

Hermione gave them a cautious side-eye. "OK… if you're sure." She let them dither around outside the changing room as she quickly got back into her white blouse, leather jacket, jeans and black combat boots.

"Ready?" she said, and they fell into step beside her. The looks they received going down the hallway making Hermione furious with herself. She should have known the Prophet would have been lying in wait to capture the reaction of herself, Ron and especially Harry to this ludicrous mess.

"How weird have both of your days been?" Hermione asked to break the ice.

"So super weird," Olly sighed. "Amazing how people have become so nosy all of a sudden. It's not true that witches are adding fake glamours to themselves, surely?"

Hermione kept her face very, very blank.

Theo gave a small growl, a gesture quite unlike him. "It is very much true. Draco has already come up with a charm to test real ones from fake. I can teach it to you if you like?"

"Seriously? Malfoy made one that quick?" Hermione scoffed, she'd thought it would take him at least a day.

"I know he's mostly known for that godsawful nightclub of his, but he's still pretty good with his wand. I'd say he probably even bribed someone to get hold of the spell scroll to determine the magic. But don't get me wrong, he's loving every witch throwing themselves at him. He uses it to ward off scheming purebloods trying to invoke the courting traditions. The spell proves they have no connection or claim to his wealth," Theo commented. "I've already had to use it more often than I'd like today."

"Then, yeah, that sounds useful," Olly replied.

Hermione had thought a lot about how this spell would affect her and other witches, but she was slightly appalled at the lack of empathy she had shown her male friends. They had no certainty unlike women. They had to trust whoever approached them and try to protect themselves. She shivered and was very glad the roles were not reversed. It would have been horrific. And of course, Draco bloody Malfoy would be just as despicable about this as he had been with everything else in his life. She thought about the golden glowing runes and shuddered again.

"It's just one counterclockwise circle then a flick with the words Sapere aude," Theo demonstrated. She could hear Oliver scribble it down on a scrap piece of paper. They had fallen behind her a little in her haste to get out of the Ministry.

As she finally got outside and began heading for the café, she thought furiously, trying to come up with a solution that would keep her lie intact while simultaneously adhering to what the other two wanted.

She wasn't sure how well Theo and Oliver knew each other, if at all, but they seemed to be getting along OK. That would help.

Arriving at the café and she practically fell into a booth at the back. She ordered scones and a pot of tea with three cups as she waited for the men to join her. She was glad they had slipped out a little-known side entrance for Aurors and bounty hunters to bring in criminals without parading them through the public areas, so no reporters had tailed them.

Theo and Oliver finally joined her, both sitting on the opposite side. She smiled at them, thankful that they were calm and acting rather civilly about the whole thing. They were quiet now and waiting for her.

The scones and tea arrived so she busied herself with pouring for them. "I'm not entirely sure how to start," she admitted as she slid Oliver a milky tea with two sugars. "I guess, thanks for coming to find me so I didn't have to make two trips." She gave Theo his tea, black and according to him, unsullied by dairy products. Sugar, however, he deemed perfectly reasonable and she'd added four spoonfuls.

Olly was already tucking into a scone with clotted cream and jam and just waved as if to say it was OK.

Theo was much more particular, evenly spreading the condiments and actually eating his scone with a knife and fork. "You're quite welcome, Hermione."

Oliver swallowed a bite of scone and took a sip of tea. "So, what's your plan? Ron's with Dunbar so I guess he's out?"

"He would have been out even if there was no Fay, that's a time long past us," Hermione replied. "I think I would rather put my plan in your hands, what is it you would be OK with regarding this… situation?"

"Your company would afford me protection," Theo stated plainly. "If I was to be publicly seen with you, others would think twice before trying to trick me into giving them some of the family jewels."

His wicked grin made Hermione laugh. He always seemed so prim and proper but there was an undercurrent of lasciviousness that lurked beneath the cool, aristocratic veneer.

Olly just grinned in that easy, charming way of his. "I just want to date you, I don't care if it's public or not."

"Why didn't you ask me out?" she queried.

"You seem like a very 'must be exclusive' kind of woman, Granger. To be honest, that's not something I'm looking for," he reached for another scone. "Hope that's OK."

She shrugged at him. "I appreciate your candour."

"Is it something you'd consider?" he pushed.

"We could have been having fun months ago if you'd just asked," Hermione told him. Olly smiled again and Theo stilled a little in shock.

She folded her hands in front of her and leaned on the table. "How about this, I go public with Theo and date you, Olly, in private? That seems to work best for all of us."

"You misunderstood my full intentions, Miss Granger," Theo spoke again, eyes sparkling. "Now that Oliver has had you admit you would be amenable to a less formal romantic arrangement, could I avail myself to that option as well? We will need to sell our relationship for a long time, potentially eight years. It would be best to have at least some affection between us."

She glanced at Olly, questioningly. "Go for it, if you're seeing him as well, I won't feel reserved being with others."

"As will I," Theo added.

Hermione shrugged again. "OK," she said with more nonchalance than she felt. Her heart was beating fast. Wow, this couldn't have worked out better. It was too hard to have a boyfriend when being a bounty hunter required her to go away so often. "However, I will add a stipulation that if you are approached by someone else who has legitimate runes naming you, please consider helping them out as well. And if you ever want to leave our arrangement, you have Options 1, 2 or 3."

"And what are those?" Theo raised an eyebrow at her.

"Option 1: We immediately cut all contact and don't see or speak to each other. Option 2: We stop dating but remain friends. Option 3: We have one last time together before we end it. Sound fair?" They looked shocked again. "This isn't the first time I've done this and the fact neither of you knew should be a testament to my discretion so I would appreciate yours as well."

"I'm happy with that," Olly looked like he thought this Transit spell was really rather brilliant.

"I'll need you tonight, Hermione," Theo told her. "I want to stop the parade of nonsense as soon as possible."

"My only condition is that I will never go to that scandal factory Malfoy calls a club, OK?" Hermione waved her hand in a cutting motion to emphasise her point.

"That's fine with me," Theo's gaze held hers and there was a pulse of desire there. She wondered how long he'd wanted to progress their relationship and what had stopped him before, she'd certainly tried hard enough.

"Glad we got this sorted, I better head off now," Olly stood up, finishing his cup of tea. "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon, Granger." He winked and left. He hadn't even given her a choice. Hermione found it surprisingly hot.

She leaned towards Theo, her leather jacket squeaking on the Formica table.

"These scones are good," he said, a little distracted before adding, "Tonight's engagement is a Sacred Twenty-Eight event to mark the beginning of the Transit, I am expected there and having you will be like a shield sparing me from the fawning of too many heedless pureblood debutantes. Will that be alright?"

Hermione made a face, she didn't exactly like aristocratic parties. But she liked Theo and was intrigued to see how this played out. "So red carpet fabulous then?"

"I know you won't disappoint," he replied, folding himself out of the booth before easing her hand out from where she had crossed them and kissed it. Then he also left.

Hermione played with stray particles of sugar on the table thinking about what had transpired. It was good for her, very good for her in fact. They seemed to be happy with the arrangement as well. And anyone who really was a soulmate would still be able to approach them. Hopefully. Theo made her sound like a terrifying prospect to get around.

Ginny was going to go wild when she told her.

Draco was pouring Blaise a whisky in his club while they read through the afternoon's special issue of the Prophet. The newspaper was really going all out with the coverage. There was a scandalous article from someone clearly stationed outside his place who had taken photos of three witches looking a bit less presentable than when they had arrived. He loved this Transit of Venus spell. Of course, he was only using his Sapere aude after they had consummated their supposed soulmateship and they tried to push for more.

Blaise had divulged an equally productive day, smirking at Draco as he sipped the amber liquid.

"Your dalliance with Weaselette in school appears to have left its mark, Blaise," Draco chuckled darkly. Looking at an enlarged photo of Ginny's runes taken during her Quidditch practice today.

"The girl certainly has stamina, imagine getting her alone with Bones or Chang… Ugh, wasted opportunities," Blaise lamented.

"You are both disgusting," another voice joined them.

Draco and Blaise both set down their drinks giving Theo slow, proud claps as he joined them at the bar. Theo just shook his head, unamused.

"The luckiest man in wizarding Britain," Blaise toasted his friend. Draco poured him a sloppy drink, spilling the whisky over the glass and clinked it.

"Seriously, Theo," Blaise riffled through the paper until he came to the full-length article about Hermione Granger meeting with her two soulmates. "I mean the woman was hot before but, shit, that extension! I mean, fuck... being flexible as well? That's just not fair."

"Hang on, Blaise," Draco countered, tapping his index finger against his mate's chest. "We don't know who she chose yet. Could be one unlucky bastard is sitting here with us."

"She will be accompanying me tonight to the Venus Ball," he told them, the pretense of apathy so thick it may as well have had an arrow screaming 'FAKE!'. He was way more excited than he let on.

Draco set his drink down. "Hey, Theo," he said to get the man's attention, before entering his mind, whirring through his interaction with Granger today before he released him.

"Ugh, Drake you're a fucking arsehole you know," Theo shook his head as if trying to get the remnants of his friend out of it.

Draco was staring at him with dark ice in his eyes. "You've always been a rubbish Occlumens, Nott. And you never would have told us everything. But I just had to know," Draco picked up his drink again and slugged it back pouring a new one.

"And?" Blaise eagerly prodded.

Theo sighed as Draco broke into a malicious grin. "She will have both."

"Both?!" Blaise spluttered, choking on his drink.

"Oh yes, a public arrangement with our friend here and a private one with Wood. How utterly fascinating," Draco wondered aloud.

"Threw the both of us, Wood and me I mean," Theo knocked back the whisky Draco had offered.

"And the look on her when she gave you those options, fuck," Draco shook his head.

"What's he talking about?" Blaise asked.

Theo sighed again knowing Draco would tell him anyway. "She was incredibly cavalier about dating both of us, and allowing us to see other people, too. But she was equally as cavalier about ending it. We can either ghost her, become her friend or have one last time with her before dissolving the agreement."

"Salazar's overheated ballsack," Blaise exclaimed, his mouth open. "She really said that?"

"Also claimed it wasn't her first time making such an arrangement," Draco gave a significant look to Blaise.

"Fuuuuuuuck. You are not worthy, Theo. A gorgeous witch you could bend into a pretzel who will also let you get away scot free whenever you decide you want to? That's the fucking dream!" Blaise gently shook his head in amazement like Theo had somehow orchestrated this.

"I don't intend on initiating any of those options. Not for a long, long time. She's far too useful, as well as her many other fine attributes, of course," Theo gave Blaise a look like he wasn't seeing all the potential there. He poured himself another drink. "Unlike the two of you, I am loathe to deal with the strings of women that will be after my lands, vaults and want to ruin my silk sheets."

Blaise gaped at Draco. "Can you believe this? Granger's even given him permission to indulge however he sees fit and he's still going to tether himself."

Theo laughed grimly. "Hardly, though there is very little comparison to Hermione. However, she will prove an excellent test. Whosoever is tenacious enough to bypass Granger may be worth investing my time."

"You arrogant fucking prick," Draco laughed.

"Oh, you have to bring her here," Blaise basically pleaded but Theo just grinned wider.

"Can't do that. Her one stipulation, her one measly request was to ask never to come to this quote, 'scandal factory'."

Draco snapped his fingers, "Yes, that's what she said. Scandal Factory is an excellent name for a cocktail. I'm going to write it down for Marco."

"Wow, she still really hates you," Blaise said to Draco.

"Well, I am rather distinctly terrible," he replied as he wrote cocktail instructions for his employee.

"That is even more true today than usual," Theo said, finishing his drink and standing. "Now that I have answered your near ten thousand summons, I will leave to get ready for my date tonight. Goodbye," he waved a hand at them as he left.

Blaise had picked up the newspaper again. Eyeing Draco as he noted down the cocktail recipe, warily checking on his friend. The photo version of Granger was stretching her arms above her head elongating her toned and lean form. "Luckiest man in all of wizarding Britain," Blaise repeated.

"Hear, hear," came Draco's sarcastic reply.