At breakfast the next day Hermione was presented with an envelope with a wizards name in it. Nervously she looked at Ron, "Open yours first."
Ron nodded and tore at his, "Maggie Kirnwell."
"Who is that?" Ginny frowned in thought.
"Mione?" Harry urged. With shaking fingers she opened the envelope.
"Erik Kalen."
"Who?"
They frowned at their letters and looked around to see similar looks of confusion as the Headmistress stood up and called attention.
"As you have all opened the names of your first dates I will inform you that these students do not attend Hogwarts but either Beauxbatons or Durmstang. The students will be here all day and we hope you get along well with your chosen match. Please head on down to the lake to meet them. Next time we will be visiting their school, the boys to Beauxbatons on Wednesday and the girls to Durmstang on Thursday, though you will have a different date then. Should you chose to pursue one of the matches after all three dates, arrangements will be made for special visits to both schools as well as for those students here." Everyone gasped in surprise. "Off you go now, your dates await."
"How do we know who is our date?" Ron whispered as he and Hermione walked down to the lake.
"I don't know, suppose we should have name tags or something." Hermione whispered back.
"Look at them." Ron whispered smiling at the group of Beauxbatons on the far side of the lake.
"Good luck then." Hermione swallowed as they came to a stop in front of the group of Durmstang boys.
"You too." Ron sent her a weak smile and hurried away to catch up with Neville.
"I am new Head Orin Casus, vill ladies please to introduce selves and my boys vill identify to his date."
Hermione felt a hand slip into hers and turned to see Astoria, pale looking beside her, Hermione sent her a smile and then stepped forward, true Gryffindor.
"I'm Hermione Granger."
Astoria sighed, "Astoria Greengrass" Her voice not as loud or confident.
"Hannah Abbott."
Slowly all nine girls called out their names. The boys all lined up facing them and gave the Durmstang bow at once before stepping forward to face each witch.
"Erik Kalen." The boy in front of her told her with a bow.
"Um, Hermione." She repeated with a blush.
He held out his arm and Hermione glanced at a blushing Astoria before moving to take it. The younger girl gripped her arm a moment and Hermione turned to her, "You ok Story?" She whispered.
"I think Miss. Greengrass does not approve of me as her match." The large boy bowed to her. "I am Dane Kalen."
"My brother, perhaps they may join us? For your friend to be more comfortable?"
Hermione sent Astoria a smile, "Please." she whispered to Hermione with a blush.
He nodded and again held out his arm, Dane moved to the opposite side so Astoria could stay beside Hermione and offered his arm.
Astoria blushed and took his arm. "I was betrothed to a Durmstang boy." She whispered.
"Who?" He inquired looking at the purebloods accompanying a few other witches.
Astoria shrugged, "We never met, his name was Marco."
"Perhaps Markku?" Erik asked.
"Yes." Astoria nodded.
"Killed in the war. A good wizard."
"I'm sorry." Astoria blushed.
"You do that very prettily." Dane told her making her blush more.
"You both speak very good English." Hermione commented as silence fell.
"We are from Sweden and English is much spoken."
"Are you half-bloods?" Astoria asked and then blushed, "Not that it matters."
"It does, I believe in your case if you were betrothed to a stranger, it is a pureblood practice."
"Yes." Astoria nodded with a sigh, "My sister is first born though so she's the one it matters most for."
"We haven't many muggle borns but some at Durmstang. Did she not wish to date through the schools?"
Astoria shook her head, "She's engaged."
"You Hermione? Are you a pure?"
"No." Hermione couldn't help the laugh, "A muggle born."
"Then I am lucky, you are the one so many seek. To many of our school, not enough for those here or in Beauxbatons I wonder I was allowed the honor."
Hermione shrugged.
"She's not any muggle born." Astoria told them with a smile, "She's Hermione Granger."
"Yes, you share the name of a great war hero." Dane informed her.
Astoria giggled, "She is the great war hero."
Erik's steps faltered, "The Hermione Granger?"
Hermione blushed and nodded.
"Is he here as well? Harry Potter?" Dane whispered.
"Or the other, Ron Wesley?" Erik added.
"Weasley." Hermione corrected the pronunciation nodding. "We all came back to finish… and to marry."
"I thought…" Dane's voice tapered off.
"What?"
"Please forgive me." He shook his head.
Hermione blushed connecting the dots in her head, "We are all just friends, best friends."
"Of course." Erik nodded, "Are they both looking?"
"Harry is engaged to Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister and a good friend. Ron's with the Beauxbaton girls."
"You must be very careful." Dane warned.
"Many wizards will be trying to blind you." Erik agreed.
"Not you?" Astoria asked.
Dane shook his head, "This must be why they paired you."
"Why?" Hermione asked blushing.
"My brother, he likes solitude not fame, his library is his best friend."
Erik said something to him in a different language and looked at her blushing, "Dane and I are very close, he forgets when teasing is not appropriate."
"You enjoy books?"
Dane snorted and Erik shot him a look, "I enjoy learning."
"What do you enjoy Dane?" Hermione turned the attention from an obviously uncomfortable Erik.
"Flying and Nature."
"He loves Herbology." Erik said with a smirk making Dane fluster and look at Astoria before looking away.
"I like gardening." She told him gently making him grin at her.
"You do so yourself?"
Astoria nodded, "Mother always said it was unseemly but as long as no one saw me in the dirt. I had a beautiful herb garden and flowering garden, the humming birds loved my flowering garden."
Dane smiled, "We have large lands filled with forest, I do not culture much in a garden but some foods, mostly I let the wild grow and learn its uses and natural patterns.''
Erik smiled at his brother as they began to talk about different plants and then nodded to Hermione to one of the trees she liked to sit under with her friends when the weather was nice. She nodded and let him lead her away from where the other two wandered deep in their own conversations.
"She is a good match for him I think."
"What makes you say that? Lots of witches like Herbology."
"She is quiet, unassuming, she'd be happy out where we make our home. We worried we would find only London girls, proper socialites. It's not our way. This we found a problem at Beauxbaton this week."
"You'll find other girls here aren't all like that either."
"I am hoping. We have a visit from them next week and from you after. It is then on request, a witch that caught our eye or a date that went well."
"It must be so hard not being coed." Hermione mused.
"Yes." Erik agreed.
"Why did you go back?"
"To finish our last year, write our exams and because there are few witches where we live single. We hoped for help, some have sisters and friends, then there is this."
"What do you study?"
Erik's jaw clenched and then he sighed, "Everything. Like my brother said, my library is where I spend most of my time as his is out in nature." He shrugged, "I tend to prefer the company of my books to very many people. Potions, Transfiguration, and Anicent Runes are my favorite classes I suppose, then Charms and as with all good Durmstang students Defense of Dark Arts, I am very much liking curse breaking as well but it is new to me."
"Those are my favorites too." Hermione told him. "I'm trying to become an Animagus."
"It is very difficult, it took me almost two years."
"You have a form?" Hermione spun to him excitedly as they sat.
He nodded with a smile, "I do."
"What is it?" She practically bounced.
He laughed, "You wish I should show you?"
"Please!"
Erik laughed again and then his form blurred and before her… Hermione laughed brightly, before her sat a large white dog. Her laughter faltered as she looked at him and tears came to her eyes.
Erik transformed back, "What's wrong?" He asked her worried and pulling her into his arms.
"I'm sorry." She whispered pushing away and wiping her eyes. "It hits sometimes. I, I never expect it and its been so long but…"
"I reminded you of something painful."
She nodded, "Harry's godfather, he died in our fifth year."
"I'm very sorry."
"No I am. It just hit me while I was looking at you is all. You really are rather beautiful, much more fluffy than he was."
"I think this is meant as a compliment?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. "Being fluffy?"
"Yes." Hermione blushed laughing.
They sat and talked for a long while until a loud call went up.
"This is signal it is time to eat."
"Oh." Hermione sighed, "Yes I suppose its lunch. I'm sorry to say goodbye though."
Erik grinned at her, "I am happy to hear but this is not goodbye yet. We have lunch together, then you may choose, visit with another boy or spend more time with me until we depart."
"Alright." Hermione let him help her up and lead her to the Durmstang boat. Inside a dining hall was magicked to look like a café with tables for two. The meal was simple but delicious and went by too quickly as another call went up. "What's that one for?" She asked with a sigh as Erik stood.
"May I have the honor of your afternoon?"
Hermione smiled at him, "Of course."
Two other boys approached the table and Erik turned to them with a scowl as the Headmaster approached.
"Boys?"
One started talking in a foreign language and Erik interrupted him angrily in the same language, the third one talking quickly after him.
"Enough." The Headmaster turned to Hermione, "Miss, it seems you are quite the eligible witch. Erik says you have agreed to spend the afternoon with him?"
"I have." Hermione nodded sending him a nervous smile.
"This is Kosta and Kiril both had wished to ask to walk with you instead."
"Walk with me?"
"We walked this morning." Erik informed her, "It is how we are introduced, with all around, now we may leave to spend time how we choose."
"Oh, I can show you the library." Hermione smiled at him.
"Yes." He nodded, "Unless you prefer to walk with Kiril or Kosta to know them as well."
"Did they not like their dates?" Hermione frowned trying to think if she saw them with anyone but she'd been absorbed in Erik.
"They did not find an instant match, they require a muggle born and so wish to meet as many as possible, to… reach as many who might become a match."
"What's an instant match?"
"If after we spend all day I would ask you to come visit me at Durmstang and we would be courting it means we are likely to become engaged, perhaps you will have three matches and we will court you against each other but know our places now you can meet as many wizards as you like until you find the ones you think would be the best matches to allow to court you."
"I don't really understand this courting business."
"I vould happy to explain it." Kiril bowed to her.
"Oh um… thank you?" She said glancing at Erik. Erik frowned but bowed to her as well and took a step back. "What? Um?"
"Please, boys, perhaps the three of you may wait outside so I can have a word with our guest." The Headmaster waved them to leave and took Erik's vacated seat.
"I'm not sure what's going on." Hermione admitted in a whisper.
"You like Erik?"
Hermione blushed and nodded, "He's very nice."
"He likes you as well. I had long meetings with your Headmistress about matches but you took the longest."
"Me?"
"You are very rare for us. A muggle born witch, a very powerful witch as well. We have many pureblood students all male of course and a good number first born. They all wish to make a good match and I wish to make it possible for all my students. Erik made my list because he has many qualities your Headmistress encouraged but it was a struggle for me as he is half-blood and may marry where he chooses. I would match you with Kiril, Kosta I believe would be not right for you, he does not share many of your unique qualities, he is a good boy a strong boy and smart wizard but he is not ambitious and wishes only to run his family Quidditch shops and have a family. Kiril is very ambitious, he is not so studious as Erik but a good wizard, he speaks several languages and spent much time travelling the world, by next year his English will be better than Erik who has spoken it much of his life. Kiril will become a liason between species or a foreign minister, he appreciates intelligence and a strong woman to be his partner, not just his wife but in his work as well. Erik would be happy to continue learning, creating new spells and potions, Kiril wants to make a difference. I would choose him for you from this Elf Wellness thing your Headmistress told me of, some project of yours to make world better. I would pair you with him on your visit to us and this he does not know, only that you were an option for him and he was not paired with you today."
"So if I go with Erik I'll still get to know Kiril next week?"
"Yes." He nodded hesitantly, "As I said though, there are many of ours and few of you."
"You want me to go with Kiril now don't you?"
"If you choose to I can pair you with another of my choices on your next visit and then you would have three choices or four if you spent the afternoon with another."
"I'm not sure I want so many choices. I mean, wouldn't it be better to really get to know them and figure out if they were a match before I look for more? I'm already confused and I've had only a couple dates, three actually and one wasn't a real date."
"In this you are much like Erik." He smiled. "I will tell Kiril, if I may that he will meet with you in Durmstang. He was my first choice for you after all, the others are only options I had approved by your headmistress."
"If he was your first choice why did you pair me with Erik today?"
"He was your Headmistress's first choice for you."
"I thought we had three dates?"
"The third date was to be determined after the first two. We'd hoped many would be courting."
"In less than two weeks?"
He nodded, "Wishful perhaps but" he shrugged.
"I don't want to hurt either of their feelings." Hermione stopped him from standing.
"May I tell Kiril you wish the next visit of him?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes, I suppose that's the best. He wont be to upset I stayed with Erik?"
"He is chosen over Kosta and over whom you might have been paired with." The headmaster winked, "Might have been Axel or Lars for all he has knowledge of."
Hermione laughed and shook her head, "Slytherin of you." She took his offered hand and stood, "Thank you."
He bowed to her and began to lead her out, stopping her at the door, "I am aware of my predecessors… alliance and I wish you to know, none of the boys I considered are associated with that."
"Thank you."
He nodded and led her out stopping in front of the three waiting boys, he again spoke in their native tongue. Kiril and Kosta nodded, Kosta fowning and Kiril with an almost smile pulling his lips as they both bowed to her. Erik held out his arm and nodded to his Headmaster. She heard him sigh as he led her away.
"Is everything alright?"
"Kosta and I don't get along well."
"What about Kiril?"
"He's intelligent and fun, we're not friends as he's the year up but we would have been. I respect him."
"Are you sixth year?" Hermione asked surprised.
Erik laughed and shook his head, "Seventh, we have eight years at Durmstang,, its messed up now of course because I suppose its like my eighth year and his nineth."
"You write NEWTs after eight years study?"
"Seven, students then may return for a year of additional study though the classes are different."
"How's that?"
"Why don't I leave that for Kiril?"
"Ok." Hermione grinned at him, "Can I show you the library now?"
"Please." He nodded with a laugh then pulled to a stop and nodded to a couple by the lake, "Want to check on your friend first?"
"Astoria. Yes." Hermione frowned as she looked at where he'd nodded. "Did she change dates?"
"No, that's my brother."
"How can you tell from here?"
Erik shrugged, "He's my brother."
Hermione rolled her eyes and chuckled as they walked over to the couple. They were examining some small flowers by the edge of the lake and Dane was telling Astoria about their healing properties.
"Alright Story?"
"Yes." Astoria looked up at her and smiled blushing slightly, "Another boy tried to accost me after lunch but Dane chased him away and we've found these pretty flowers because of it. Dane says they are wonderful for headaches and if you crush them they smell so pretty and really are wonderfully calming but not as powerful as a calming draught just, relaxing. Here smell." Astoria plucked a few flowers and rolled them in her hand before holding it out to Hermione.
Hermione breathed in the soft sweet scent and did feel slightly more relaxed as she frowned at her friend, "Someone accosted you?"
"He wished to walk with Story. He took her arm and frightened her." Dane glowered before smiling at Astoria, "you are alright though yes?"
Astoria grinned at him, "Yes."
"We're going to the library, if you don't want me to stay nearby Story?"
Astoria rolled her eyes, "Really Hermione, I'm not so fragile as Daphne would have you believe." She blushed. "I'll be fine here and Dane was going to show me something about the Delwarp root in the greenhouse."
"Dane," Erik turned to his brother and spoke to him in his native tongue. Dane nodded looking serious and then turned to Astoria with a smile, "Shall we go then?"
"Yes. Bye Mione."
"Bye Story." Hermione laughed and turned back to Erik, "what did you tell him?"
"To take extra care or he'd muck it up for us both. He told me to remember it was the same both ways." Hermione blushed, "Shall we go to the library?"
They spent the next several hours immersed in books, whispering quietly. This time the call did mean it was time to say goodbye and Hermione was sad the day had gone so quickly.
"Our headmaster said you already agreed to meet with Kiril on your next visit but I do ask you consider me."
"Consider you?"
Erik looked away, "To court you Hermione."
"Right." Hermione blushed. "I choose who of my dates I would consider marrying and they or he courts me until we get engaged, right?" He'd tried to teach her courting but it was so strange to her.
"Yes." He nodded.
"You think you might want to marry me?"
"I feel a connection with you, you are very beautiful but your mind, it is… I have seen beautiful witches but never have I met one with such a beautiful mind."
"Thank you." Hermione blushed.
"I would very much like to see you again."
"Will you be there when I'm at Durmstang?"
Erik smiled and nodded, "I will remove myself from these meetings but yes, I am a student and so will be there."
"Right." Hermione blushed and then frowned. "Why are you removing yourself from the meetings?"
"I have met a witch I wish to court." He responded with a shrug making her blush more. "I must go." He bowed to her.
"Wait… um, will I see you, I mean I know I meet with Kiril…"
He bit back a smile and nodded, "If after the walk you have not connected and you do not wish to walk with another you may ask for me. I would like very much to write you as well, until you have chosen your suitors and if I am not one then perhaps as your friend."
Hermione blushed again nodding, "Yes, of course, I'd like that very much."
Erik bowed again and sent her a smile before leaving her. Walking back to the castle with a sigh she found Astoria sitting by the same flowers on the lake, "Story?"
"He's wonderful Mione." She sighed, "He even kissed me."
"He did?" Hermione grinned sitting down.
"Dane and I had such a wonderful day and then in the Greenhouse he asked if I'd visit him and I said I was coming of course for the second date and he looked so sad until I went on to say he'd have to show me around the garden there and then he shook his head and explained it was different, not a date but he was asking to court me, Mione he wants to court me, properly as is in he's thinking he might want to marry me! Then when the call sounded he asked if he could kiss me and I was so nervous but I nodded and his finger came to my chin and then he made me look at his eyes before his lips touched mine, just so gently." She sighed, "I thought I might truly faint."
"I'm so happy for you Astoria."
"What about your date?"
Hermione blushed, "I like him very much."
"Dane said he was sure his brother was going to ask you to court him. That when they came Erik was sure he'd just get to lunch with his witch and she'd be bored of him and run to the next wizard. Lots of witches like him because he's so good looking and apparently is a star Chaser but he prefers his books and it drives them mad he studies so much out of school spending time in his library instead of out with them."
"I had already agreed to meet with a boy who wanted to spend the afternoon with me." Hermione admitted. "He did say he wanted to court me though and he's going to write."
"I knew it, Dane says he and his brother know each other really well and he could tell Erik was taken with you."
Hermione hugged her at the stairs, "I really am happy for you."
"Us Hermione, just think, we might end up sisters." Astoria laughed, walking down the stairs to the dungeon.
Hermione shook her head but sighed as she thought of Erik whispering as he read an interesting passage out of an old text they'd found.
Ginny and Harry were ecstatic. Ron was a little put out as he hadn't connected with either Beauxbaton girl.
"Next one Ron, when you go there, it will be better." Hermione encouraged.
"Right, yeah, thanks Mione." Ron nodded, "How about chess to take my mind of it, eh Harry?"
"Sure Ron." Harry moved over to the board while Ginny pulled her to the fireplace to recount the entire day.
"Isn't it wonderful!" Astoria sighed again.
"No!" Draco spat.
Astoria's face fell and Daphne quickly shot him a glare and turned to her sister. "It is for you Story, I couldn't be more happy."
"Wouldn't you want Mione to be our sister? I thought you liked her?"
"I do Story, which is why I want her here, not Sweden. I'd like you here as well but as long as you're happy so am I."
"She'd be happy too Daph, you should have seen them together and they both spend so much time in the library, Dane was sure Erik found his perfect witch with her."
"She was happy with Theo too and she needs someone to get her out and living like he or Blaise would do."
"We need you on our side for this Astoria." Pansy ordered, "Especially with this development, you have to stop it."
"I wont ruin it for her." Astoria glared at Pansy before turning back to her sister, "I'll help encourage her this way but if that's where her heart goes I'll support her not sabotage it."
"You can be such a Hufflepuff." Pansy snorted.
"The hat considered it!" Astoria spat.
Pansy rolled her eyes while Theo's mouth twitched with a smile, "Shouldn't you be more concerned with finding a Wizard than with Hermione anyways."
"I am, she is going to help me, help all of us, starting with Theo or Blaise and then Drake and I."
"Maybe we shouldn't count our chickens. You lot should all still be looking." Daphne told them repeating a phrase she'd learned from Ernie.
"We are." Theo assured Daphne but I like her, really she is brilliant and I'd make her happier than some bloody Durmstang prat who was probably more of a Death Eater than me or Blaise."
"Probably not me but still Daph you have to admit we have her best interest at heart." Draco tried.
Daphne snorted, "You have your own best interests at heart."
"Our interests are yours too Daph, aren't they?" Theo pressed. "We are after all practically family."
"Fine." She huffed, "I'll still help."
"I really do like her Daph." Theo added quietly.
"She is brilliant, pretty too under all that bushy hair and parchment." Draco admitted.
"You've all gone nutters over Granger." Pansy hissed.
"Draco went nutters over her when she broke his nose or didn't you know his knot was in a Granger twist?" Blaise commented as he entered the room and sat down.
Pansy's mouth gaped and then closed a few times before she screeched and stormed to her room.
"Your up next to date Hermione." Draco smirked at him.
"Right." Blaise sighed, "Think she'll laugh at me? Maybe I should have gone first, then Theo would be a shoe in."
"Don't be so down on yourself Blaise." Daphne admonished, "You really will make a witch an amazing husband."
"If only a witch would see it that way." He smirked at her, "An available muggle born witch I meant of course."
Daphne snorted, "Right. Thanks Blaise."
"So the date." Draco pressed.
"I don't think Blaise needs advise on romancing a witch." Theo winked at his one time brother.
"He doesn't need advise on seducing one, marrying one is obviously different." Draco insisted.
"Right, and how many witches do you have wanting to marry you?" Daphne shot back seeing the hurt in Blaise's eyes.
"Right." Draco snorted, "I'm hopeless, Blaise has a chance and he has a chance with Mione that will only help all of us."
"I don't need help." Daphne reminded them.
"No but you need to help us." Theo reminded her.
"Fine."
"So what do I do?"
"Be yourself." Astoria suggested with a sigh, "Hermione will like you Blaise, you are fun, exciting, romantic and charming naturally besides that you are really smart. She'll like you just like she liked Theo."
"We need to make her fall in love with them though."
"Start with this, Rome wasn't built in a day." Daphne insisted again reverting to Ernie's muggle sayings.
"Rome didn't have some Durmstang creeping in." Draco snorted.
"Two, she'll meet Kiril when we go there but Theo made a good impression and Blaise will too. If she weren't considering the possibility of the date she'd had she might have jumped at the connection with Erik and had him court her right away but Theo must have at least crossed her mind and Blaise will too." Astoria reasoned. "If she doubts her choices she'll try to rationalize it and it will come down to Blaise and Theo being here, where the only thing close to a family she has left is, Harry and the Weasley's."
"Brilliant, for Theo especially since he lives in England and both of you should try to get friendly with her friends!" Daphne grinned.
Draco nodded at Astoria in approval and grinned at his two best friends, "Anyone know how Goyle's date with the Beauxbaton girl went?"
"I think he fell in the lake." Astoria sighed. "How was your date?"
"She didn't laugh at me or cry but she also didn't speak English." Draco sighed.
"Let's get to bed, tomorrow we can work on getting you lot friendly with former enemies and Hermione to fall for Theo and Blaise." Daphne yawned and stood leading them all to the dorms and hugging her sister, "Happy for you Story, really." She'd still try to find her sister someone here but at least Story had met at least one wizard she'd maybe want to marry.
