True to his word before supper Hermione found several parchments and a couple books waiting for her in her dorm that Blaise had sent. She explained to Ginny what they were before sitting cross-legged on her bed and reading through it all. He'd also sent along typical contracts signed. She picked two and made a few adjustments to them mixing and matching a few points before settling on something she was comfortable with. It was late when she made her way up to the owlry to send them out so the wizards would have them in the morning.
Kiril was in a fowl mood. He'd been in one all week, unable to get to Hogwarts as planned and not having heard from Hermione. Lukas burst into their room speaking quickly and waving his arms, sparks of anger shooting from his wand. When Kiril picked up the gist of what he was saying his own temper had made his body start to vibrate.
He stormed through the castle, locating the wizard in question under a tree in the courtyard playing with a snitch.
Lukas had followed him picking up Caius and Edan on the way. A curious Erik settled the book he read on his stomach wondering what had the normally calm and diplomatic wizard in such a rage.
"Radko!" He growled. The whole courtyard seemed to still as they focused on the very powerful wizard facing off in anger against the younger boy. His rage creating a magical pulse through the room.
"What?" The boy smirked.
Kiril switched to the boys native tongue and with each word the observers saw the boy pale. Finally Kiril switched back to Bulgarian so they all understood. "Where is the letter!"
Radko pulled it out of his pocket with a shaking hand , "I was on the list!" He hissed, "I should have a chance with her too!"
Erik sat up further paying more attention now but Kiril switched back to the boys native tongue.
Radko's temper flared and with it his stupidity. Kirl was non-violent, he was very powerful though and his marks were excellent, no one had ever seen him react so darkly and at a further comment from the boy Kiril flicked his wand silently sending a curse at him before taking a threatening step forward and saying something else none of the boys understood.
Radko nodded his face pale as Kiril snatched up the letter and stormed away.
"Lukas." Erik called him over and all three boys that had arrived with Kiril moved over to talk to him.
"What's going on?" He demanded.
"Radko stole a letter Hermione sent Kiril, he's been stopping Kiril's letters to her as well." Lukas told him shooting an angry look at the boy."
Erik shook his head glaring over as well and then sighed, "She'll be hurt."
Lukas nodded, "I wonder what the letter said."
Edan sighed, "Bloody wanker."
Lukas and Erik frowned at him while Caius nodded in agreement before rolling his eyes and making the same statement in Bulgarian so the other two boys would understand. They both nodded in agreement.
"What did he say?" Erik asked Lukas who shrugged, "He's taught me very little German and was using a dialect different than the main, I think also a little Thorian."
"Whatever it was I think Radko nearly crapped himself." Edan chuckled, still not bothering to speak in Bulgarian, he was more comfortable in English and for the most part they understood. The boys did and nodded in agreement stifling chuckles.
"I've never seen him so pissed." Caius added.
"Neither have I and we've been friends a long time." Lukas agreed, "He's about the most even tempered and tolerant man I've ever met, except maybe his father."
"He loves her." Erik stated easily with a shrug.
It wasn't a question but Lukas nodded anyways.
Kiril couldn't believe it, she'd think he'd abandoned her, forgot her, misled her with everything he had said or did.
Kiril carefully broke the seal on the letter and read it, the last lines ringing in his mind… I miss you. Please write to me soon. I look forward to seeing you next week. You are still coming aren't you? His sister had written her and she was jealous, she didn't like that he'd been to see another witch this week and she didn't want him to go meet his sisters friend this weekend. She just wanted to see him. She wasn't angry not to have gotten his letters.
Kiril sighed and pulled out parchment and a quil.
Iliyra. She wrote to me. Radko stole my letters. All this week she thinks I did not care enough to write. Still she wrote me. He stole that as well but Lukas discovered him. I could have truly hurt him for it. I restrained myself from little more than hexing him but even now anger courses through me and I expect a worried note form you. I'm fine. I have given my word to meeting with Anya I would not back out the night before and I look forward to seeing you but will you forgive me for leaving early? I'd like to write her and tell her I will be with her soon. I know I said if the meeting went well I would spend the weekend, through until Tuesday when I was to go to Hogwarts but I can't bear the thought of not going to her and explaining. I ache to hold her, to kiss her again. I will see you in the morning. Tonight I will hold her words close to me and try not to think of all the ways I know to hurt Radko. Until tomorrow. Kiril.
He sighed and sent the page off magically so it would appear to her even as a parchment appeared on his bed making him laugh. He picked it up and read the worried scrawl.
Kiril is everything alright? I felt something off. Write to me please and let me know all is ok? Were you hurt? Is it Hermione? Please don't wait until morning but send me word as soon as you can. Until then. Iliyra.
Kiril shook his head at his twin with another smile and slid the note into his dresser before lying down and reading Hermione's letter again, he was half way through another reading when another note from Iliyra arrive, appearing on his stomach on the bed.
Kiril. I understand your need to go to her and you need not seek my forgivness to leave earlier than I had hoped. Were things normal in the world I'd encourage you to go now but the world is not normal. Everything is rushed and off balance and so much more intense than it ought to be. Like mother I must encourage caution. She is beautiful and good and everything I could want for you but she is also who she is and more than Radko will try to sabotage you, more than you will love her and both of you should not rush more than is already being forced, do not be blinded by lust and compatibility but open to love. Please brother, do not pin every hope for happiness on her, do not walk away from other possibilities but be open to what might be. Until tomorrow. Iliyra.
Kiril sighed, he knew she was right of course and he would give fair chance to Anya but tonight, tonight all he wanted was Hermione. He settled at his desk and wrote her a letter, he would send her locator parchment so they'd not have to use owls and letters would arrive instantly like he had with Iliyra.
He pulled out the parchment and pricked his finger, the drop of blood vanishing as he completed the spell. Finally he began his letter.
Amstra. I read your letter tonight. Please believe me when I say I did not receive it until now or I'd have written to you before. All week I could think of nothing but the wizards all around you, trying to win you like a prize, some I know would collect you like a trophy on his arm, one such boy stole your letter and all of mine to you. Yes all. I wrote you everyday since you left. I wanted you to arrive back to Hogwarts with my words waiting so you knew how much I hated to let you go. Each day passed and there was no reply, I worried I had done something wrong or perhaps someone had stolen your heart and you were worried to tell me I was no longer an option in your life. I tried to visit you this week but it was impossible. I cannot back out only eight hours from going so I must meet Anya. I hate the way those words sound, we have shared many letters, I want to meet her, I simply miss you more and wish to hold you, to see your eyes and know you still care and that you believe me. Nothing I told you was a lie. I was set to stay with Iliyra through Tuesday and hoped to be by your side Wednesday. I do not want to wait so long, I cannot, things feel to unsettled between us. If you will accept to have me near, I will come to Hogsmeade Monday and hopefully hold you in my arms again then. Until we meet again. Kiril. I forget, here is Elvish parchment and spell to use, is very special. If you work on attached parchment when you write a letter and use spell it, letter will find me and appear near my location marker. Keep your location marker somewhere you will see letter appear but no one will intercept before you can read it. Iliyra and I use this, its much faster than owls and is harder for another to stop our letters passing.
He sent the letter off though it was very late and she wouldn't receive it until the morning when he would be on his way to Isle Mars to stay with Iliyra and Keo.
Blaise received an owl at breakfast and instantly his mind jumped to the orphans he worked with. No one but Merlin's Order and the children would write to him here. He had no one but Theo now for family.
The script was delicate and feminine as he tore the seal and scanned the letter.
Blaise. I suppose I could as easily talk to you and hand you these papers but it seemed more formal to send it by post. Also I wanted a chance to explain and my thoughts will be much more organized on paper where I am less distracted by memories of earlier, or yesterday as you will be reading this with breakfast. I spent all evening reading over what you sent me and I cannot thank you enough, I know the professors have explained what courting is but the whole process was so confusing to me. I've used the contracts you sent me as samples to draw up a new one for us, I hope its agreeable to you. With the new deadline I don't want to rush more than I have to and want to get to know both you and Kiril more. Also these contracts are for those already out of school as it is unusual for those courting to be still attending. I have left room for adjustment and reworking to make things fit with that. I will give you and Kiril a week to decide and sign the contracts, if you have amendments please send it back to me before that date. Of course if you both agree sooner the courting will begin once you've both signed instead of next Sunday.
Kiril was walking through the castle to meet the carriage and go to town to floo to Iliyra when the owl found him. He grinned when he saw her script and stopped to read it.
Kiril. I know we haven't spoken in a week and I hope you feel the same as you seemed to before I left. If not you can disregard this and I will hold the memory of Durmstang as a treasure always. If you do still wish to court me please read over the contract, I have done my best to amend the samples I was given to best suit our situation, I've left some room for changes as it will be difficult with us all still in school. Please send me any changes or important notes right away. I have marked the date of my courtship as one week Sunday with the clause that should you and Blaise both sign before that will be the date instead. I've left you one month to provide me with names of other witches you are to court while we are bound by the contract, after that month we are all bound by the fidelity clauses and should you find another witch to court not on the list you provided or should you choose another witch, our contract will be voided. The same goes for Blaise and myself. Anyways its all in the contract. Please consider it carefully. I miss you and hope to hear from you if not to see you soon. Hermione.
Both boys found themselves a more secluded spot to review the contract.
Courtship Contract Hermione Granger.
Suitor – Valko, Kiril
Suitor – Zabini, Blaise
The above wizards are required to add to the contract in the space below their names above, those identities of the other witches they will be courting. This list must be complete one month from the start of courtship to Hermione Granger, who may also not add any suitor after the same period of time. Should either wizard continue to search out a possible wife, date or offer courtship to a witch not on the list or should they choose another witch on their list to wed this contract will be null and void, immediately ending courtship.
Rules of Courtship
No parties shall engage in intercourse during the courtship process.
No parties will interrupt or sabotage in any manner the courtship between the other matched.
For one month each couple shall live as a married pair (please see rule one)
Courtship shall last until either a match is ensured by an accepted proposal or until May first.
In another room in Hogwarts a third boy read a letter, in heart racing and his mind spinning.
Malfoy. Maybe I can't ever forget but I also can't forget the way your gray eyes shone as you told me about the first time you saw a Bengal tiger at the zoo or the laughter and teasing at the ice cream shop, or the way even between bickering and disagreeing you really seemed interested in my opinions. Maybe you are disturbed, maybe we both are. Moving forward doesn't have to be about forgetting and maybe I couldn't but I also don't want to. We are the people we are because of the past and seeing how much you've changed, grown, seeing the man you are becoming, I don't care the boy you were. I hope you consider this because even if there is nothing there between us I'd like to know for certain and not one day look back and wonder if we hadn't been to afraid to try for a future neither of us can imagine.
Draco read the letter twice and then over the contract she'd sent, as both Kiril and Blaise summonded a quill to sign they saw the contract shift.
Courtship Contract Hermione Granger.
Suitor – Malfoy, Draco
Suitor – Valko, Kiril
Suitor – Zabini, Blaise
The above wizards are required to add to the contract in the space below their names above, those identities of the other witches they will be courting. This list must be complete one month from the start of courtship to Hermione Granger, who may also not add any suitor after the same period of time.
Beside the new name also appeared his signature.
Both other boys signed the document. Kiril hurrying as he was now late to meet his sister and Blaise going down to the common to find Draco. If they were both courting the same woman, one who'd obviously carefully kept in mind the nature of a Slytherin and added the clause about sabotage the two boys needed to set some ground rules or they'd muck up that part of the contract simply because of their natures, best friends or not.
Meanwhile, in her room Hermione read the letter from Kiril while nervously glancing at the contract. Twenty minutes dragged by until she saw it shift and Draco's name added with his signature beside it. Almost immediately after, both Kiril and Blaise's names had signatures beside theirs.
Hermione couldn't help the smile as she pulled the paper close and stared at the three names.
This was the position Ginny found her in and Hermione blushed handing the paper to her friend.
Ginny, while surprised at the first name, even if she had somewhat encouraged it, squealed in delight and hugged her friend. Then fumed when she read Kiril's letter and found out about the letters being kept from her friend. Hermione knew if the boy ever crossed one Ginerva Weasley soon to be Potter he would be on the receiving end of a very nasty bat bogey hex.
When they finished talking the girls carefully got ready and made their way down to meet their friends for the Hogsmeade Fair.
