They stood around the headmistress office in varying states of discomfort. Theo was next to Hermione, her hands in his as she stayed close to his side, a lioness protecting her cub. Ron was leaning heavily on Harry, still groggy from Theo's punch. Ginny was standing next to Draco, in the middle of the two other pairs and was avoiding her mother's gaze. Mrs. Weasley did not look impressed by the sheer closeness her daughter had seemed to develop with the Malfoy heir, her eyes scrutinising the pair. Mr Weasley seem to be the only one unfazed as he sat down in the chair next to McGonagall's' desk. The Headmistress was the first to break the silence.
"Would someone care to explain why Potter and Weasley are not only present at Hogwarts but also engaging in physical altercations with my students?"
"Actually, professor the only person who got physical was Nott." Harry shot a look toward the Slytherin, and Hermione adjusted her body to be directly in front of Theo like a shield. Harry's face twisting as he tried to mentally digest what appeared to be going on.
"Actually, Potter, Weasley put his hands on Granger and Theodore defended her honour" Draco snapped back.
"Shut it Malfoy"
"Control yourself then Weasel"
"Stop it all of you"
And then the room plunged into chaos, shouting could be heard by everyone except Mr Weasley and Theo, who had moved to take the seat next to him at the Headmistress's desk. They spoke in hushed tones to one another whilst Professor McGonagall tried to calm the rest.
A quill and parchment appeared in front of them, Mr Weasley begun scribing as he and the young Nott heir talked. When the shouting began to dull Mr Weasley could have sworn he saw Theodore give his daughter and the Malfoy boy a pleading look and then suddenly the uproar began again.
"It's a lot easier to work out the particulars without outside interests clouding judgements, aside from Hermione of course" Theo shrugged.
Mr Weasley nodded, understanding exactly what he meant. This process had already been complicated by his son and Harry bursting into Hogwarts, the contract and any conversations pertaining to Hermione's courtship did not concern them at all.
When they had come to an agreement, they both signed and shook hands, Mr Weasley smiled that Master Nott had made it so that the contract would not be binding until Hermione herself had signed it. The letter as it happened had arrived to Mr Weasley and not Ronald, however in a moment of poor judgement he had asked his son and Harry if they knew of a Theodore Nott, and as such Ronald had grabbed the letter from his hands and stormed out, Harry in tow, before Arthur could stop them.
Theo looked to Ginny and Draco nodding, both went silent and stepped back.
"Hermione," Theo tried softly but Potter and Weasley were still shouting. "Mione, love, can you please come read this."
Mrs. Weasley's head snapped to Theo so quickly her daughter feared she may break her neck. The Matriarch in shook and the warm and loving way he spoke to Hermione. How had this all developed so quickly. The last thing Molly had been made aware of was that Ronald and Hermione had decided not to pursue romantic relationship, at least, until Hermione had finished her schooling. She had always assumed, that Hermione's love for her son would outweigh his brash, insensitive behaviour and that the young girl would become part of her family, officially.
Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrow as she spied the parchment on the desk. Those sneaky Slytherins, and Ginevra she might add, had caused a distraction so that Mr Weasley and Master Nott could speak freely to one another. When she had spoken with Nott the previous day, she assumed that the young heir would withdraw his interest in Miss Granger, as was the best way of self-preservation. Yet here he sat, with Draco Malfoy helping him of all people, working out the best way to properly court a Muggleborn. In all her years teaching she had never seen something quite like this.
Hermione made her way to the desk and Theo rose immediately to give her his seat. She waved him off and began reading through the contract.
"You!" she turned to Malfoy who had the slightest fear in his eyes. "Read this."
"What!" the voices of Harry, Ron and Draco said in unison.
"Make sure he is being fair to himself." A smile graced the lips of Draco Malfoy as he realized that she was not trying to take advantage of his best friends' kind nature. "Professor McGonagall, if you could please excuse Miss Greengrass from class. I would like her to look over it as well."
"Of course, Miss Granger, Miss Weasley could you please retrieve Miss Greengrass, I believe she has Divination."
"Potions," Draco interrupted. "She has potions Headmistress, I believe Granger is referring to Astoria not Daphne, correct?"
Hermione nodded to him "Yes, sorry I should have specified, Astoria please Headmistress."
"Very well, Miss Weasley off you go."
As Ginny headed for the door, Draco reached out for her. "Please let her know I am sorry I didn't accompany her to class."
With a quick nod, the redhead was on her way.
"Well Granger, he has given more than Blaise gave to Daphne but not more than I gave Astoria. As long as she thinks it is fair, I would say you are good to go" Draco beamed suddenly very excited for Theo.
Draco had watched Theo watching Hermione for years, and though he would never admit out loud had known from the beginning of the little crush that she was the perfect match for his best friend.
"Yes, well Hermione wouldn't allow for me to do what you did for Tori we both know that." Theo chuckled whilst Hermione swatted at him.
It was as if the earlier event had melted away and they were in their own happy bubble. Of course, that didn't last long.
"What the bloody hell is going on" Ron screeched.
"Ronald, it would appear your father has given his consent for Master Nott to court Hermione" Mrs. Weasleys tone was harsh as she looked at her husband with disapproval.
"The hell he has!" Ron moved forward to snatch the contract from Draco but to the surprise of everyone it was Harry who stopped him.
"Ron, stop." He pushed him back and then turned to Hermione. "Is this really what you want?"
"Yes Harry, it is."
He nodded solemnly and extended his hand toward Nott who accepted it.
"Take care of her."
"With my life."
'I heard I was neede…. Merlin, Theo your hand!" Astoria rushed forward pushing through the former Gryffindor's taking his hand to examine it. "What happened!"
She scanned the room and her eyes met Weasleys and she saw the bruise forming around his eye.
"Oh." She said with a scowl and much like Hermione had, positioned herself protectively in front of Theo. It was Draco who pulled her back.
"Tori love, Hermione would like you to read over hers and Theo's contract."
The young girl nodded taking the parchment from her Astoria began slashing at parts of the writing.
"Hermione have you read this?"
"I mean technically, yes? But I didn't understand most of it. Draco did though, he said it was fine."
Astoria's eyes locked on Draco's, and you could see the fear in his grey eyes.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy. You horrid little snake. Theodore, Mr Weasley were you aware Draco put an additional clause in this after you signed?"
"HE WHAT!" Theo rose in his chair, Hermione reaching out to stop him.
"I was just protecting you! You left out the heir clause!"
"For a damn good reason!"
"I just thought you were being courteous!"
After much fighting and Astoria running through every clause and detail with Hermione, a new courtship contract was drawn up that everyone, bar Ronald an Mrs. Weasley was happy with. Hermione would not have to produce an heir if she did not wish to, and she could call off the agreement at any time with no financial ramifications. The contract would not become official until it had been lodged with the Ministry, and once signed could only be amended by the agreement of all signatories. Hermione would receive an official Courting gift that Theo deemed appropriate, and Headmistress McGonagall would act as the chaperone for any dates the pair may have. Though the slight smirk on her face lead Theo to believe that the Headmistress may not be as strict as she was declaring to the Weasleys.
To be honest Hermione had no idea about any of this, but she trusted Mr. Weasley, Astoria and Theo would do right by her. She also trusted that Astoria would keep her word and teach her everything she needed to know about courting so that she wouldn't embarrass herself more than she already had.
