A couple of days later Hermione went to visit Luna and found Lord Lovegood in great spirits.
"Ah, Miss Weasley, I am so happy you are here. You will be the first to know that my lovely Luna is engaged to be married. Oh, joy."
"What? Engaged? To whom?"
"To your very own cousin, Mr. Lockheart of course! Oh, my, now you are not only the closest of friends, but you are also now family! What a wonderful day!"
Hermione thought she was going to faint. She gave Lord Lovegood a quick curtsey and ran towards Luna's room. The blonde girl was brushing her hair and humming happily to herself.
"Hermione! I'm so happy you are here! Did daddy tell you the good news?"
"Good news? Good news? Luna, how can you marry that man? This is preposterous!"
"Oh Hermione, shush. Gilderoy is a bit eccentric but I like him very much. I like his poetry and he likes to hear my opinion on his sermons. And I like his smile very much. We will make a very special couple."
Hermione heard the penny drop in her head. They were perfect for each other. Luna was eccentric herself, and she would probably sit for hours with the garrulous man and simply smile, in real contentment. They were indeed made for each other.
"Of course you will, my dear Luna. I think I just got upset to think that you will be leaving me. But I want you to be happy. And I have always trusted your wisdom and your instincts. You will be quite happy in your marriage."
The friends embraced and Luna added
"You should come to visit as soon as I am settled. I cannot imagine my life without you in it."
"I will, I promise. Life is going to be boring without you, my Luna."
In the weeks to follow the Weasley sisters found themselves going to town quite frequently. The militia had arrived and suddenly the younger girls needed ribbons, buttons and all kinds of new adornments. Ginny was also in need of distraction, as Mr. Potter had left for London to take care of business, and though he promised to be back as soon as possible, the days seem to drag without his sweet smile. Miss Pansy Potter had left with him, but she and Hermione now kept a constant exchange of letters. In them, Pansy referred how she missed Netherfield Park but was now spending quite a bit of time with Colonel Longbottom, who had come with the excuse to visit his friend, although she hoped she was a bigger reason than her brother for the good man's company. Hermione tried to send her words of courage to pursue her heart's desire. She could not tolerate the idea of her new friend bending to the power plays of her aunt, and she was sure if Mr. Malfoy had not proposed to her by now, he was probably not interested either. Although it was hard to tell with that man. He seemed to run hot and cold. Why was she even thinking about him? Is not like he ever gave her a reason to spare a thought on him.
In one of their trips to town, the sisters made a new acquaintance. A very handsome young officer picked up the ribbons that Lavender "accidentally" dropped in front of him. However, the young man directed his attention to Hermione.
"Good morning ladies. Lieutenant Cormac Mclaggen, at your service."
Hermione blushed and took the hand he offered, allowing him to kiss it. Lavender huffed loud and indignant. The officer was unfazed and asked if he could escort the sisters home. Hermione got to know a bit about him, and the conversation drifted towards the ball that the officer had missed. In an effort to call his attention, Lavender mentioned who the honored guests of the ball had been. When Mclaggen heard the name Malfoy, he went pale. Hermione noticed this and suggested that they get some breadcrumbs from the baker and walk to the lake to feed the ducks. Maybe now she could get some information about the disconcerting man. After all, if her sister indeed became Mr. Potter's wife, then Malfoy would be a permanent fixture of their lives. That was her only reason to ask about him, she told herself.
When the younger girls were distracted by the ducks Hermione brought up the subject.
"So, seems to me that you are familiar with Mr. Malfoy?"
Lieutenant Mclaggen blushed but answered.
"We grew up together. My father was his father's steward, and I had been promised the rectory of Pemberley, as I had my mind set on joining the church. But when Mr. Malfoy senior passed, his son saw fit to deny me the promised position. That is why I had to join the army, to make a new way for myself."
"That is horrible," said Hermione, and she looked at Ginny, who lowered her eyes.
"It is done, no point on dwelling on it. After all, here I am, in lovely company," the handsome young man said.
The sisters returned home and bet their new acquaintance goodbye. That night, when the older sisters were having their nightly chat Hermione said
"That was a horrid story, what poor Mr. Mclaggen told us about that awful man Malfoy."
"I'm not sure, Hermione," answered Ginny. "I wouldn't judge until I hear Mr. Malfoy's version of the story."
"Why would you even want to talk to him?"
"Because he is Mr. Potter's friend. And I know him. He would not allow someone so vile to get close to him or his sister."
"Maybe Mr. Malfoy is a deceiving snake."
"Maybe you want Lieutenant Mclaggen to be right because he is easy on the eyes. But that is as much as you know about him. He may be lying too."
Hermione blushed. Maybe Ginny was right. Maybe she was favoring one man's word over another just because said man paid her attention while the other one was apparently uninterested in her. Maybe the one telling lies was her own pride.