The Moonlight Glares

by Liza Lew

One fateful morning, Hermione Granger finds out she is adopted. The result is a whirlwind of events, an introduction into a sparkling pureblood society, and the discovery of a family and a friendship she never though she'd have. Post OoTP. HG/DM. Complete

14. Interlude: Guide to Pureblood Society

The Moonlight Glares

Liza Lew

Disclaimer: I don't own any of JK Rowling's wonderful world or characters.

Interlude

A Guide to Pureblood Society

Pureblood society is made of the refined Purebloods of Europe. Every pureblood wizarding family is invited to join if they wish. One a family enters, it is most likely they will stay for several generations. Society is used as a tool to create friendships, bonds, and mostly, alliances, by marriage.

Family Ranks

The families in pureblood society are each assigned a rank according to their past prestige. The ranks go from First down to Eighth, First being the most important. During any given Season there will only be a limited number of First-Rank families. They are known to be the leaders of Society.

This Years Ranks are as follows:

First Black, Copalia, Danforth, Malfoy, Parrol, Potter

Second Aaderon, Grenier, Lane, Parkinson, Prewett, Zabani

Third Bleu, Chang, Delacour, Diggory, Longbottom, Patil, Smith

Fourth Bulstrode, Brown, Crouch, Edgecombe, Flint, Lestrange, Lovegood, Weasley

Fifth Chantan, Crabbe, Fawcett, Finnigan, Goyle, Greengrass, Krum, MacDougall, Nott

Sixth Bones, Brocklehurst, Cornfoot, Gschneider, Montague, Prince, Pritchard, Pucey, Thomas, Thernidar, Yves

Seventh Anderson, Baddock, Bletchley, Davies, Linoldia, Gamp, Goldstein, Jones, Kinanne, Krieger, Macmillan, O'Connor, Socolité, Wexlier

Eighth Avery, Branstone, Boie, Borgin, Corner, Essendrup, Hopkins, Lewis, Martin, Nsoeke, Olson, Rousey, Stein, Urquhart, Warrington, Yaxley

Entrance in to and Exit out of Society

Every pureblood wizard or witch remaining from each pureblood line in Europe is eligible to enter society after they have attained fourteen years of age. Half-blood descendents are not allowed to enter.

Ladies must, on the year of their coming-out, host an event announcing they are entering society. This event may occur any time from the lady's fourteenth birthday onward, but must occur before the lady acquires nineteen years of age, or she shall not be accepted into society.

Gentlemen, may, after acquiring fourteen years of age, attend the Season Opener and thus join society. No formal announcement, event, or other expense is required.

Witches and Wizards, once entered into society, remain a part of it until they have concluded having their children enter, at which point they may either remain in society, or have a formal announcement of exit.

Dating and Marriage

As soon as an individual enters society, they are eligible to begin dating. Every year each wizard not married may chose a witch to escort throughout the year. He may, before the Season begins, and up to three weeks into it, make a request to the family of said witch, which the family may either decline or accept.

Parents may, at any time, arrange with other parents to have their children be pre-signed to date for any particular social Season. The young witch and wizard may not refute their parents' wishes at such time.

Witches in pureblood society must obtain, by their thirtieth birthday, an engagement. If they do not obtain an engagement by then, they are subject to being removed from society, and are not as such allowed to date after their thirtieth birthday.

Engagement offers must be given to the parents of the witch in writing by the wizard who wishes for her hand by December of the Season. The parents may either accept or decline this offer, the wizard then must tell the witch of it.

Engagements must be announced during the Season with an open event. The engagement must last a minimum, after being announced, of two months. At this time the marriage may take place, of which the arrangements are left to the parents of the couple. The marriage must, however, take place before a year has passed.

Married Couples

Married Couples no longer must be presented to society each year, but they still are intended to take part in society. The married couple is required to produce an heir within five years, unless complications do not allow it.

Those Shunned From Society

Those who leave society inappropriately, or de not follow regulations, will not at any point be let back in. Their existence will be scratched from the books and their children and grand-children shall not be allowed to re-enter. These groups include those that marry muggles, muggle-borns, do not marry by the end of their time, refuse to attend important social events, do not raise their children properly, and other factors as to be determined by the Collaborator of Societal Law.

Defined Positions in Society

Collaborator of Societal Law: A lifetime post, nominated by society, to keep Societal Law functioning. Appoints a jury when trial is needed. At the moment M. Copalia fills this position.

Head of Ceremonies: A yearly post, to a female who is retiring from society at the end of the Season, to keep all traditions running and organize all open events. Appoints the families to host each event. This year Madame Parrol fills this position