Chapter 2

Hermione slides out of bed, head aching slightly from the numerous glasses of champagne she had last night. She trudges into the kitchen where her father is, already sitting at the table, reading the paper. She checks the time; its already past noon and lunch should have been on the table at half-past eleven.

"I'm sorry, father, I stayed out too late," Hermione apologizes, setting to work in the kitchen despite her head that now hurts even worse than when she woke up.

"Don't worry about it, Nan knew this would happen and she brought over some breakfast and lunch, thank her tomorrow when you go to work," he goes back to reading his paper and sipping tea. He looks calm, Hermione is still slightly shaken by the half-remembered happenings of the night before.

"How did that go, by the way, the ball, I mean?" her father asks, forcing her to remember more of the mess that was her first ball.

Hermione recounts the scenes leading up to the end of the ball, the dances and the talking and the drinking all seemed good. After she tells him about this, she tells him that she left alone and how she got stopped on a street corner by three men. After that, things are considerably fuzzier, and she tries her best to remember. She can't recall much and decides she'll think on it and try to tell him more, later.

She heads to her room, deciding she needs to get dressed and head out into town. The bookstore closes around three and she wants some time to go and browse.

Sitting down at the vanity, she looks at her tired face and mussed hair from the night before. She reaches for her hairbrush to set about untangling it, but her hand grasps a thin tube a parchment rolled and held together by a signet ring with a raven on it. She pulls the expensive ring off the parchment and sets it gently on the vanity before unrolling it and reading.

Miss Granger,

You were quite inebriated last night, and I wanted to ensure you got home safe. I'll write what happened from the time that I met you on the street to now, at half past three. I'm writing this once I've finally gotten you ready for bed.

I noticed you were heading out the door with no one else, I'm sure you understand what a bad idea that was and I'll leave your father to lecture you about that. But, nevertheless, I followed you because I knew there would be trouble. The men were all drunk, probably leaving the pub a street over. They weren't hard to get to go away, all you had to do was knock them off balance and they were on the ground for a good minute. Once we left them behind, you began thanking me profusely and stumbling over your own feet. Eventually, you decided to give up on walking altogether and tried to just sit against a building. I'll spare you the embarrassment of that full story. Once I got you home, you just tried to go to bed. You couldn't sleep in your dress and I didn't want to wake your family. You were no help when it came to the matter of getting you undressed, you seemed to aim to make it harder. But, here I am, writing, neither of us has been hurt so I assume that is a triumph in itself. I'm going need the ring back, I may write you but unless I do, we'll likely have no contact for a while.

Bellatrix Lestrange

P.S. Learn fan etiquette if you're going to be attending balls.

That was the end of the letter, Hermione found herself blushing at the idea of her intoxicated self, acting like a child. She knows she won't be drinking that much again, that's for sure.

She sets to work on her tangled mess of hair, still half up in the intricate bun it had been in, remnants of perfect papillon curls now falling around her face in disarray. She feels almost guilty, ruining such a pretty, time-consuming style, but it must be done. She pulls pin after pin out before it resembles something along the lines of neat. After she successfully gets her hair down, it's time to put it back up. This time in a much less complicated braided bun that did not include curling with hot irons or an endless number of pins.

Hermione dresses quickly in a simple, practical dress. The boots she wears, typically comfortable, make her feet ache. She knows it's from dancing all night and really isn't the fault of the boots at all, but she needs something to blame her discomfort on besides herself. Before heading out, she slides the ring on her finger, thinking to herself that this is the only way to keep it safe. She quickly makes her way to the bookshop, knowing it will close soon. She really needs to find a book on fan etiquette, so far two people from the Black family have recommended it, and they're the most powerful family in the city. It does seem to be an important skill and form of communication. She didn't want another misunderstanding with the fan like what happened in the refreshment room with Madam Lestrange.

The bookstore smells of paper, both old and new. There are a few shops similar to this throughout the city. But this one is by far Hermione's favorite. She doesn't come here often, she doesn't have the money for it, but she enjoys being near books and ink and the kindly old man who owns the shop is never in a bad mood and always eager to help.

She walks through the rows of cluttered bookshelves, searching for a book on fan etiquette, preferably used so it's cheaper. She wishes Ollivander, would come out of nowhere and direct her right to where she could find the particular book she's looking for. He has a strange way of knowing exactly where things are amongst the seemingly disorganized shelves.

Almost like he's read her mind, he comes around the corner carrying a pile of precariously stacked books. He carefully sets them down, asking what he could do to help her. She tells him what she's looking for and she's paying for the book quickly. She would stay longer to look around, but she doesn't want to keep him here on a Sunday.

She leaves the store while the peculiar man waves after her, telling her to come again soon. Most of the stores are closed on Sundays and the ones that aren't are closing early. So, she heads home, opting to spend the rest of her day in the small library in her apartment, curled in her favorite armchair, threadbare and faded from the amount of time she's spent in it. She buries her head in the book, doing her best to keep the night before pushed from her mind.

The quiet of her reading is broken by a soft knock at the door. She straightens and invites her father in. He's the only one who would be knocking or even here. He knows this is her favorite room in the house.

"'Mione, you have a letter from Ginny Potter, she's asking you to tea tomorrow, this must be a good sign for your future if the family of the man courting you is already being friendly. I do hope his mother doesn't judge you too harshly," he seems so gladdened by the news that Hermione decides not to tell him of the rest of what happened the night before, not wanting to worry him unnecessarily.

"I need to find what to wear, I can't wear my everyday dress. I can't get an old dress altered this short notice and I definitely can't wear the dress I wore last night," Hermione worries, not wanting to look too far below the status of the Weasley family.

"don't worry, dear. I had a second dress made, this one less elaborate than your ballgown. It was meant to be a surprise for when you get engaged but I think it would be the only way to go to tea with Miss Potter,"

Hermione is incredibly happy with this, she would rather have been surprised, but this means she doesn't have to decline the invitation from someone she desperately wants to get to know.

Her father gives her the dress, this one a burgundy color. The skirt was far more practical but still in a bell shape. It was overall a lovely dress. She thanked her father profusely for it and excitedly went through the rest of her day, making dinner quickly though she doesn't eat much of it. She's much too giddy. The same happens with sleep, she goes to bed on time but doesn't fall asleep for what feels like hours.

Hermione wakes, not very rested but much too excited to care. She makes breakfast but decides to eat it in the library while she practices with her fan. It's not common for her to take her meals in the library but, her father doesn't mind as long as they have dinner together. So, she sits, trying to eat or read or practice her fan enough to distract from the impending tea time. Strangely enough, she's not anxious, she has never been invited to tea before, she's never had friends that close.

At three o'clock sharp, there was a red and gold carriage outside the bakery. Inside was Ginny, smiling warmly in a red dress with gold trim. Over that was a darker red, fur-lined short coat. They headed to the Weasley manor, no longer decorated for the ball. It was much less grand but still amazing. Ginny talks the whole time, about small things, about the ball. Hermione wonders if she should tell her about what happened but decides it'd be better not to tell her. She doesn't want to worry her at all. They're not close enough for that.

Conversation over tea stays light, everyone in the Weasley family is busy so it's just Hermione and Ginny sitting together at a small dining table, trays of cakes and sandwiches laid out on it. After tea, Ginny invites Hermione on a walk in the garden.

"so, I noticed the ring on your finger and you weren't wearing it at the ball. Did you just get it?" Ginny asks innocently. For some reason, this brings a flush to Hermione's face, embarrassed at the fact that she's wearing the signet ring of the noblest house in the city.

"Oh, Bellatrix Lestrange walked me home and left it on my desk, it must have been accidental. I decided the safest place to keep it was with me, I didn't want it lost," the part about it being accidental is a lie, it was very much intentional. But Hermione didn't want to recount the embarrassment of that night.

"Well, you must return it, and I was meaning to invite you anyway. The Black family is hosting a Halloween masquerade and my family has been invited. I'm allowed to choose who I'd like to bring with me, so I choose you," Ginny says, smiling, "don't worry about clothes, we'll go shopping. I don't want to spoil a surprise, but there's a dinner here where you and your father will be invited. Ron is likely going to propose to you there, and of course, you'll need clothes for that,"

Hermione is taken aback by this new information. It would make sense, but she assumed she had more time, more time to mentally prepare herself for the idea that she won't be marrying someone she even remotely liked as a human being. She's going to marry someone that would be impossible to get along with if the conversation at the ball had any bearing.

"We have until Tuesday of next week to prepare for the dinner. The masquerade ball is the Saturday after that, on Halloween. We'll be able to have ball gowns made, when do you want to go to the dressmaker?"

They plan the times, deciding they'll meet up in town tomorrow morning to get fitted for dresses. After that, the carriage takes Hermione back to the bakery with Ginny riding along. She was talking for a little bit before realizing Hermione was in her own world. Before Hermione can get out of the carriage, Ginny takes her hand with the ring on it, seemingly studying it,

"don't let the Black family get to you. They have a way of luring people in, be smart Hermione," with that, Hermione steps out of the carriage and Ginny waves her goodbye. The words are turning over in Hermione's head, she searches for the meaning behind them, knowing they mean more than they seem on the surface.

The evening goes by quickly while Hermione practices with her fan, she's determined to have it down by the ball in a little over a week. She has looked through the book about ten times, the motion Madam Lestrange made did mean "kiss me," but that made no sense. She must have been holding it mindlessly to her mouth and laughed when she realized the accident.

When Hermione meets with Ginny, they decide to visit Ginny's favorite dressmaker. A kind older woman with sample dresses set out unlike the other that had drawings for patterns instead. Getting measured is still new and uncomfortable to Hermione, but Ginny goes about it like she's been doing it her whole life, which she has.

The difference in upbringing is so strange. Ginny is much kinder than any higher-class woman Hermione has met before, but there are obviously some differences. Ginny is very used to getting what she wants without thinking about money. Everything Hermione and her father by, on the other hand, is carefully budgeted out to make sure they can make rent and buy food.

Ginny chooses a dress with a large skirt, in red and gold brocade with gold thread trim. Ginny decided on Hermione's dress but won't tell her what it was, telling her it's a surprise. Hermione can't argue, Ginny is buying the dress after all. After the dresses for the masquerade are chosen, Ginny lets Hermione choose her dress for the dinner. This is a simple white and blue dress, the skirt considerably smaller than Ginny's masquerade dress.

The mask design is also kept a secret from Hermione. With Ginny claiming that it would give away the color scheme of her dress.

Afterward, Ginny buys Hermione a pair of white boots to match the dress for the dinner party and they continue window shopping. They talk about nothing of importance, but the company is something Hermione enjoys and can definitely get used to. This would be an upside to the marriage, she would have a lovely friend as her sister-in-law. A sibling of sorts that she never had.

When its time for them to part ways, Ginny hands Hermione a small wooden box with a bow wrapped around it.

"this is for all the work you've been doing, trying to learn the fan. I hope you love it and use it often,"

Hermione opens the box and finds a white silk fan hand painted with small birds and butterflies in pastel blues, yellows, and pinks. It's a gorgeous fan, nicer than any she'd ever seen.

"Thank you so much, but it's not necessary, I can't imagine how much it cost. I don't want to take something so lovely from you," Hermione says graciously, knowing she'd never have been able to buy a fan this intricate.

"Don't worry about it, you're like a sister I've never had, I don't mind giving you gifts, you give me a friend," Ginny's words are genuine and filled with love. Hermione thanks her and returns to the bakery where she helps Nan.

Hermione feels bad, not being able to help Nan these past few days but she's assured that it's okay. She hates the fact that she'll have to leave the bakery eventually. This has been her home for so long, the idea of not living right above this shop is more emotional than it should be to her. She makes up her mind that she'll visit once a week.

The rest of her week goes by normally, she's had no reason to leave so she can stay and work with Nan. Then comes Sunday, Nan's shop isn't open, so she spends all of her time working on her fan. The new one is slightly different than the one that had been her mother's, it's slightly larger yet somehow more delicate. It's not as easy to flick open but that's to be expected of a new fan, it will stop being so stiff once it's broken in.

Then comes Monday, Ginny goes to pick up their dresses but won't let Hermione tag along, not wanting her to see the ball gown on accident before it's time. So, on Tuesday morning, Ginny is in Hermione's apartment, getting her dressed even though the dinner isn't for another eight hours. She insists Hermione must go with her to the manor for lunch and tea before dinner.

Somehow, Ginny has managed to get Hermione to put makeup on. It's after lunch and they sit together in Ginny's chambers. The makeup is light, it's not fashionable to wear heavy makeup. This is one of the many facts Hermione has been learning while Ginny rummages through her makeup.

"I enjoy makeup, it covers the ugly freckles. I hate them. You though, your skin is smooth and flawless. You don't really need makeup, you're gorgeous as it is," Ginny says, with a hint of unbecoming jealousy.

"the freckles aren't horrible, and your skin tone is perfect. You're the most attractive of the Weasley family," says Hermione with a small laugh.

When the dinner preparations are made, and everything is being cooked. The entire Weasley family along with her father and Nan, who was invited as a mother figure, are gathered in the drawing room. Hermione tries to be friendly with Ron, but he doesn't stop talking long enough for her to get a word in. She doesn't know how he has all of these wonderful siblings and he's still the way he is. She tries not to think too badly of him, they'll likely be married within the year.

Over dinner, Miss Weasley asks her question after question, she's kind and Hermione understands that she wants the best for her son.

"you work in the bakery and your father is a clerk, correct?" Mrs. Weasley asks, seeming to be trying to put it straight in her head.

"yes, madam," is Hermione's short yet polite response.

"Well, what of your mother, you have your employer here as a stand-in for her. What is the reason for that?" the older woman asks, obviously trying to be gentle on the subject.

"she passed in childbirth, so did the baby. I was nine at the time," Hermione didn't want to overshare and decided to keep her answer concise. Death is a touchy subject in any circle.

"my condolences," was Miss Weasley's response, "it's lovely that Madam Longbottom has taken you under her wing," the conversation ends there.

It ends because Ron stands. He makes his way to Hermione as she tries to swallow her heart back down into her chest. She's not ready for this. She's known him for less than two weeks. They've barely spoken. She doesn't love him.

She tries to slow her rapid breathing and heart rate but it's no use. Time has seemed to slow down, and she glances around, looking for some form of escape she knows she won't find.

"Hermione, would you," here it comes, "accompany me on a walk in the gardens?" Hermione doesn't know if she should be ecstatic or nervous. She does know, however, that her heart has returned to its assigned seat and is no longer trying to escape through her throat.

Mrs. Weasley and Nan accompany them, providing chaperones so they don't do anything unseemly. Thankful for the buffer, Hermione accepts the invitation to walk with Ron. The two older women stay back, letting Hermione and Ron talk.

"I know we don't know each other incredibly well, so I planned this walk, I didn't mean to frighten you. I would never put you under the pressure of answering a marriage proposal in front of our families. I hope that by the end of this walk, you will be comfortable enough with me to accept a marriage proposal," this was surprisingly understanding of him, she assumes the change of heart stemmed from some conversation with Ginny, but it could have been because he genuinely cares. She decides then that she will do her very best to at least like the man.

"thank you, for being so considerate," Hermione says, avoiding the addition any inflection in her voice, trying to keep him from reading anything into her words. Not that she thinks he's intelligent enough to understand inflection, but that's beside the point.

The two walk through the gardens, talking about favorite flowers and colors. They talk about childhood memories and the differences between having six siblings and being an only child. She talks about the bakery and why she loves to work. All of these things help them to get to know each other and Hermione finds him to be much more likable than she first expected.

"I love your sister, she's so kind and has treated me like family even though I've known her for less than two weeks," Hermione says, the topic of siblings having cropped up again when Ron brought up some of the silly things Fred and George did when they were younger.

"she's always wanted a sister. The other women that my brothers have married haven't been willing to get so close. They're all lovely women, but they're different. They were raised to be cold, many of us were. The Black family is a prime example. Not a glimmer of warmth in their eyes," he sighs, as if saddened, "you're a refreshing change to her, you've not been raised to look down on others or gossip at the sight of anything unusual," the depth that he speaks with surprises Hermione, she didn't think him capable of this. The idea of marrying him is considerably easier to fathom. This is probably all rehearsed to get to her faster. He probably doesn't care at all. But she knows she needs to try and be fond of him.

"so, Hermione Granger," he begins, reaching into his pocket, "we barely know each other, but I'm sure we'll become friends. Would you marry me?" he pulls out a gold ring with a small cluster of diamonds, not her style but pretty nonetheless. She slips it on and stands there, having no idea what to do with herself now. She's engaged, now what? There's marriage, but that's months away. She's pulled out of her thoughts quickly when the people from inside all gather around to admire the ring. She can't seem to focus. This isn't exciting at all to her. She still wants to fall in love and yet the most that will ever be between her and Ron is friendship. There's nothing she loves about the man.

Ginny pulls her aside before she can get too overwhelmed. She feels like crying.

"Are you alright Hermione?" she asks, genuinely concerned.

"I just need time to process. I'll be alright,"

"I want you to know that I never thought I'd love my Harry. I was convinced I'd never be fond of him. He's never good with words and he's clumsy. But, he's sweet and well-meaning. He does everything he can for me, you'll learn to love Ron eventually. No one marries for love anyway,"

Hermione appreciates the kind words but can't accept the idea that she's going to miss out on something she wants so desperately.

The carriage ride home is a quiet one, Hermione stares out the window at the empty streets and tries to picture a happy future with Ron. Maybe the kids won't have the unfortunate hair color or freckles. Her eyes drift to the signet ring on her other hand, feeling some strange emotion that she can't seem to place. She's so lost in thought that she doesn't see the blur of black curls and taffeta disappearing around the corner of a building up ahead.

A/N

Barely any Bella in this chapter and I'm sorry. I swear it sets up for something very very important. Also, don't hate me for making Ron grow on Hermione. You'll understand later.