Thank you for all the wonderful comments. One reader inquired at the pronunciation of the word Istar...

its pronounced Is-tar...

Harry and been patiently waiting for Hermione to get in touch with him. Since the conversation he'd had with Kingsley in regards to the Malfoy trial (or lack thereof), due to the betrothal blood contract between Hermione's family and the Malfoy's—the Daily Prophet had been on a free-for-all and all he could think about was Hermione, and how she was doing.

Well, Rita Skeeter had been hounding him too, but that was neither here nor there...

Ron had been a right git this past week since Hermione's heritage reveal, but it had been nothing compared to how he was behaving currently. It had gotten so bad yesterday, that Ginny had thrown a Bat-bogey his way, while George had sent a itching hex at the exact same time.

Needless to say—Ron was off pouting somewhere—making the situation all about himself like always, and failing to see how this might be affecting Hermione.

And not for the first time, he had to wonder what Hermione had ever seen in Ron Weasley.

Ginny had been worried for Hermione, and had made him promise to take Hermione a letter which he'd reluctantly agreed to. Their relationship was now officially over, and Harry was rather nervous about seeing his best friend.

He had so much he wanted to tell her.

So now here he was, standing in the receiving room of the grandest home he'd ever been in, and feeling completely out of place in his jeans and plaid flannel shirt.

"Harry!" Hermione rushed in and enveloped him into a firm hug, which he returned without hesitation.

"Hey, Hermione."

"I'm so sorry I haven't been able to meet with you before now." His best friend smiled genuinely as she took his hand and led him further into her home. "But my Father didn't give permission until yesterday."

"No, I understand." Harry admitted earnestly. "Kingsley told me a bit about your situation and I must admit, I was taken aback. I can't imagine what you've been dealing with."

"Well, at least I'm not in London to deal with it, although I feel like a horrible friend for leaving you to the wolves."

"Eh, it's been fine. I've been hanging out at the Burrow...mostly."

"How is everyone?"

Harry could sense Hermione's unease, so he handed her the letter from Ginny.

"Everyone is coping...well, except Ron of course. He's been a right foul git."

"I can just imagine."

Hermione led Harry out to the gazebo in the gardens where tea was waiting.

"Thank you, Marcelle."

"It's nothing, Miss Hermione. Will you require anything else?"

"No, we're fine."

Harry watched the short, stocky wizard disappear into the chateau with a grin. "It's strange, seeing you like this."

"I know, but now you understand why I never had you visit over the summers or holidays. It would've been too difficult to explain."

"I did meet whom I thought were your parents before second year though."

"Ah, Wendell Granger is my Mother's cousin. A squib. He offered to pose as my Father due to the circumstances surrounding my Mother's death. They've always been like second parents to me. I'm still waiting for Kingsley to locate them in Australia, and then I'll go there and reverse the memory charm."

Harry gave her an appraising look. "I'd often wondered why you weren't more upset about modifying their memories."

"They knew it was a possibility by the end of our fifth year. I never lied to them about that and they were willing to allow it."

"That's rather amazing of them."

"Well, unfortunately it turned out to be necessary."

There was a weighted pause as Harry watched Hermione serve their tea, before he felt compelled to speak up.

"So, Malfoy eh?"

Hermione groaned in pain. "Yes. Please don't worry about saying how you feel. I pretty much feel the same, I'm sure."

"I don't doubt it. Perhaps you can give me some particulars? The Prophet has been speculating.."

"You mean Rita has been speculating."

"Yes."

"I need to do something about that witch."

Harry chuckled as he took a sip of his tea. "Count me in."

"Really?"

"Definitely."

"You're a good wizard, Harry Potter."

"So details?"

"Oh...yes..."

So Hermione told Harry the particulars of the blood contract including the more cognizant points of the purity and consummation clauses as well as the ability to take a lover.

"Do you really think Malfoy is going to be alright with letting you take a lover? He's a rather selfish prat, and has never liked sharing his things."

"I'm not a thing, Harry Potter. Besides, it's not a love match and apparently, there was someone he was seriously considering courting before the war happened. I got the impression from Lucius Malfoy, that Draco wished to pursue her."

"Who?" Harry choked out in shock, wondering what kind of witch would be interested in a prat like Malfoy.

"Astoria Greengrass."

"Daphne's sister? Didn't they relocate here to France during the war?"

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Did they?"

"I think so."

"Hmm, that's interesting."

"So? Are you going to take a lover?"

"Why Harry? Are you volunteering?"

Harry chuckled, but his blush gave him away in that moment, and Hermione's eyes widened. "But I thought you and Ginny?"

"Nah." He shook his head. "We tried. Really. The past couple weeks have just been awkward. She wants to go try out for the Harpies, and I want to be an Auror. We just don't have as much in common as I'd thought and..."

"And what?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm not sure I want to get married."

"Really?"

He nodded, before his green eyes locked with the amber of his best friend. "Yeah, really."

"So then? You really were offering?"

Harry bit his lip and contemplated his answer, but he was fairly certain he knew the answer already.

He'd always been half in love with Hermione.

"Yeah, I really think I am."

Sitting back floored, Hermione stared at her best friend in wonder. She had to admit...it was tempting.

Very tempting...

She'd always been a little bit in love with Harry.

"That's..."

"Surprising?"

"Yes...but definitely not unwelcome."

Harry grinned sheepishly as he ran his hand through his messy dark locks. "Well, the offer's there."

"I'll seriously consider it."

"Do."

Oddly enough, the rest of the afternoon went by quite smoothly as they talked of the goings on in London, and what Hermione's plans were for after she took her NEWTS by correspondence.

As Harry went to leave, he gave Hermione a gentle lingering kiss on her cheek, then whispered into her ear, "I'll see you soon, yeah?"

"Yes." She smiled softly as she hugged him tightly, enjoying the feel of his lean body against hers. When they finally pulled away simultaneously, both were blushing but Harry just winked and the next thing Hermione knew—he was gone in a swirl of green flames.

Fanning a different kind of heat off her face, she couldn't help the stupid grin that morphed onto her countenance.

Who knew that Harry would be a viable option?

Could she ask that of him?

Would it irreparably damage their friendship, if it didn't work out?

Was it even worth entertaining?

So many thoughts barraged her conscious while she walked towards her Father's study, hoping to find him there.

"Papa?"

"I'm here, Angel." Pierre drawled, and he smiled as his daughter walked into the room—her face flushed and eyes alight in happiness. "I take it your visit with Mr. Potter went well?"

Her tell-tale blush gave her away, and Pierre's eyebrows lifted in curiosity.

"Yes, quite well actually." She sighed in something akin to pleasure as she sat down across from him.

"Do tell."

"I told Harry everything. About the contract, Malfoy—all of it."

"So what has you acting all flustered."

Pierre watched his daughter's expression morph into a bright smile. "He offered."

"Offered what?" Pierre was fairly certain he knew what the offer was, but he wanted to hear the actual words from his daughter.

"He offered to be my consort once the terms of the contract are fulfilled."

Pierre set his quill down and leant forward, his posture radiating expectancy and interest. "Mr. Potter offered to enter into formal consort relations? I didn't realize you both felt that way about each other?"

"Because of Ronald?"

"And the youngest Weasley daughter."

"They decided it was best to end things."

"And how does that make you feel?"

"Honestly? I've always been very aware of Harry, but never thought he saw me in that way. During our time on the run, we shared a wand and were alone for a few months when Ron abandoned us, but I always thought it would be Ginny for him, so I never entertained the possibility. But now? I must admit, I'm seriously considering it."

Pierre smirked in pride, and his mind whirred with the information about his daughter and Harry Potter sharing a wand...

That was rather unprecedented.

"And this wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that the Malfoy boy rather loathes Mr. Potter? I mean, if you were to enter into an arrangement with someone? I can't imagine there would be anyone that would infuriate Draco Malfoy more, can you?"

"Probably not, but that's not the reason, Papa. I care very much for Harry and I wouldn't do that to him if I wasn't sure that he would be absolutely alright with this."

"Well, this is a fortuitous chain of events. You'd be hard pressed to find a better match and Mr. Potter is loyal, brave and powerful."

"Yes, Papa. He's also kind, sweet and my best friend."

"I know, Angel." Pierre stood and made his way around his desk, before sitting down next to his daughter. "It's worth exploring, if nothing else. I've invited the Malfoy family here for dinner on the weekend. I think it would be would be prudent to open negotiations with the young wizard. Let him know you have options. I think perhaps, I will mention it to Lucius in passing as well. I can't imagine how that might sit with him if he knew his son's position would be in any way threatened by Mr. Potter."

"Papa! If I do this, it will be because I want to and I see no hope for a happy union with Malfoy. If he is adamant about wishing to pursue relations with Astoria Greengrass, I won't fight him on it. I'll make my own plans accordingly."

"Will you tell him before or after?"

Hermione's smirk was completely devious and not for the first time, Pierre realized just how much of her mother, Hermione had inside of her.