The Courtship of a War Heroine
Pairing: Hermione/Astoria
Secondary Pairings: Draco/Astoria; Harry/Ginny; Ron/Lavender; Daphne/Theo
Non-canon compliant following DH
Hermione stared at her closet in dismay. She wasn't sure but there was a strong chance that dinner at the newly rebuilt Malfoy Manor required something a little more formal than the Muggle jeans and t-shirt she was currently wearing. Which of the skirts was most appropriate for her meeting with Malfoy and his wife, however? There really was only one witch that could help and with a sigh, Hermione walked to her fireplace and Floo-called Ginerva Weasley.
Who, of course, would be delighted to assist Hermione with her outfit selection. And hair. And likely her bloody fingernails if Hermione so wished. Probably her toenails too.
A heavily pregnant Ginny arrived a few minutes after ending the Floo-call and promptly placed herself on Hermione's scarlet bedsheets. She observed Hermione's closet for a moment and then sighed a very familiar sigh. Typically this sigh was followed by one, dreaded statement.
"You really ought to let me take you shopping," Ginny groaned.
"Ginny, I've told you this before, I really don't have the Galleons to be spending them willy-nilly like that." Ginny rolled her eyes at this argument which, when Hermione and Ginny had been had school had been adequate but now that both were war heroines, was little more than an excuse.
"That's crap and you know it," Ginny retorted, "with all the money you made after the war you're practically rolling in it.
"Regardless, we don't have the time to go shopping right this minute. I am expected at Malfoy Manor at 5:30 for drinks before dinner."
Ginny glanced at the clock on Hermione's wall and scowled in displeasure. It read 4:15, giving the red haired witch very little time to suitably attire Hermione and do her hair and make her fingernails look presentable. She would have to wear close-toed shoes. Ginny didn't have enough time to do her toenails as well and bending over in her condition was a struggle anyway.
"Fine. I like that one," Ginny said, pointing at a wine colored dress that would cling nicely to Hermione's curves and had one sleeve that would drape down her left arm. Hermione pulled it out of the closet and held it against her body.
"You need to get into the shower," Ginny instructed, "I'll do something with your hair and your nails when you get out." The brunette nodded. She listened to the shower running and pondered the situation. It was an unusual one. While Malfoy had made steps to make up for his past, he had never invited any of the other members of the Order to the Manor other than when he allowed them to sweep the place for dark artifacts. Surely there was an ulterior motive behind this invitation.
Half an hour later, a wet Hermione emerged, her hair wrapped in a towel with the wine colored dress clinging nicely to her curves. As she took a seat in front of her mirror, Ginny cast a drying spell on Hermione's hair and began to do beauty charms to apply the makeup and nail polish. The gold colored eye shadow would bring out the amber in Hermione's eyes and the mascara made them pop. Hermione's nails matched her dress with gold colored lions on them. Hermione had smirked at the sight of them.
"You are Gryffindor's Princess," Ginny reminded her and Hermione blushed.
"That was never my title in school," Hermione protested, "The Prophet gave it me after I was graduated and the war was over." Ginny had been the true princess of Gryffindor, if there ever was one. She had been wildly popular and, much to Harry's dismay, had dated a number of the men in Gryffindor. It had been Dean Thomas, after all, who had taken her virginity before Harry had taken up with Ginny, not something that was widely known.
"About to go spend an evening with the Slytherin Prince and his snake bride," Ginny smirked as she began to work with Hermione's hair, deciding to leave it down in her natural curls, albeit curls that were less frizzy and more defined.
"Some truth to that," Hermione admitted.
"Do you like your hair?" Ginny asked as she put the finishing touches on it.
"You've done a wonderful job," Hermione said, "thank you so much. We will go shopping one of these days, I promise." The two girls hugged.
"Tell me all about it when you get back," the redhead said as she stepped into the Floo and returned to the cottage that Harry had had built for the two of them.
"Is everything ready?" Astoria asked her husband as she descended the stairs. She was wearing a sage colored dress that was tight to her bosom but flared out loosely down to her knees to hide her small baby bump. She'd paired them with white ballet flats and her hair was done impeccably as well as her make up.
"Of course, my love. I wouldn't want anything to go wrong on your date with Granger," Draco assured her, satisfied to see a blush cross Astoria's face.
"It isn't a date," Astoria protested, "we haven't even entered into a formal courtship so how could it be a date?"
"You have the books ready?" Draco asked and Astoria nodded, "I've noted a few pages in particular for her to focus on. She doesn't need to know much of the particular rules for courtships that end in marriage so I've highlighted the sections regarding mistresses."
"She'll probably read all of them and cross reference them," Draco muttered under his breath, "swot."
"You'll be kind to her," Astoria said firmly, her voice brokering no argument.
"Of course, my love. I wouldn't dream of being unkind to your lady love."
"If she accepts your courtship, we'll have to work out the particulars," Draco reminded Astoria who gave him a look.
"We'll do just that," his wife promised, "perhaps your mother could help us?"
At that, they heard a knock.
"I'll get it," Astoria said, hurrying to the door lest Mippy get the door first and send the Muggleborn witch into a fit before she'd even begun the evening. When she opened the door she caught her breath. She had always found Hermione stunning, but the way the wine colored dress clung to her took Astoria's breath away.
"You look beautiful," Astoria whispered before she could stop herself. Hermione blushed prettily.
"What my beautiful wife meant to say was, please come in," Draco said, coming up behind Astoria and resting a hand on her shoulder, "but I must concur. Although I do feel as though you are a bit too obvious with your House affiliation." He had noticed the lions on her fingernails.
"No less obvious than you are with yours," she said lightly, indicating the grey wall and heavy green curtains that decorated the room she had stepped into. Draco smirked.
"Draco, be a love and fetch us the wine that I selected for the evening. And the wine glasses? Hermione, would you please take a seat?" Astoria, herself, settled on the love seat and Hermione sat across from her in the chair.
"I don't suppose Draco has told you my intentions for asking you here?" Astoria asked as Draco left the room. The other witch shook her head.
"Well, I suppose he did mention that you'd like to get to know his coworkers better but that was all the information he gave me."
Well. It wasn't quite wrong. Astoria did want to get to know Hermione better, but she doubted the other witch had any idea just how well.
"That is the gist of it," Astoria replied, "you work with him in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, don't you?"
"Indeed. I spend most of my time working on repealing legislation aimed at removing the discrimination against magical beings. I did a lot of work toward elf rights, but I've since discovered that a number of house elves prefer to work for wizards." Astoria nodded and Draco reappeared with the wine.
"What's that, the creator of spew has finally realized that most wizards treat their elves well?" Draco teased and Hermione rolled her eyes, not bothering to correct him.
"You have to admit that your father treated Dobby quite poorly," Astoria reminded her husband who grimaced at the reminder. "Most wizards are quite kind to their elves. We treat ours rather well. What did you select for the wine love?"
In truth, Mippy had picked the wine. Draco poured it for the two witches as he relayed the vintage to the witches. Astoria looked suitably impressed but Hermione merely looked unsure. When she took a sip, her expression shifted to delight.
"It's rather sweet," she said, "most of the wine I've had before is so dry."
"Much of what we have in the cellar is rather dry, but Draco has such a sweet tooth," Astoria explained, "we selected this bottle because we had a feeling you weren't a wine drinker." In truth, Astoria was hoping that Hermione would get suitably buzzed before the evening was over. She was hoping to give Hermione the books without having to do a great deal of explanation as to what they were.
"I'm not," Hermione assured her, "I very rarely drink at all, just a glass here and there with Harry or Ron at dinner."
"Do you still see the Weasel?" Draco asked, his wife sending him a sharp look, "I mean Ronald." Astoria supposed it had been a bit much to ask, that Draco would be kind to the witch and manage to not insult her friends the entire night.
"A bit. He's a bit awkward now that I've kissed more girls than he has." All three shared a small laugh.
"Shall we go see if dinner's on?" Astoria asked as she took her last sip of grape juice and set the glass on the table next to her. Hermione followed suit and the witches go to their feet.
"Allow me to escort you," Astoria said, offering Hermione her arm. The curly haired witch narrowed her eyes in confusion but linked arms with the woman anyway. Draco trailed behind, his eyes roving the backsides of both of the beautiful women. They were striking together, that was for sure.
As they took their places, Draco inhaled the familiar scents. The elves had prepared a smaller meal, only a single course with dessert after but it would be delicious nonetheless.
Astoria seated Hermione next to her with Draco across from Astoria.
"A toast, perhaps?" she asked her company and Draco nodded.
"To new friendships," Astoria toasted, lifting a second, magically refilled glass of juice. The other two lifted their glasses of wine to the toast and all three took a small sip.
A/N: thanks to all that have added this story to your alerts/favorites. Any reviews would be appreciated. Sorry for the wait between updates, I've been trying to move into a new apartment
Love
-Domby