15 August 1988
"- be ridiculous. She's only 8 years old!" Arthur growled angrily. Hermione was standing on the other side of the kitchen door with Fred and George, trying to listen in on their parents talking to Albus Dumbledore.
"It's not magically binding and it's really to protect her from families who are hunting for this mass fortune they believe she has." Albus said gently.
"I don't care. Weasleys don't do betrothal agreements! We fall in love the old fashioned way. You will not be sticking my little girl with some old man in hopes that he will break it off when she comes of age." Arthur replied heatedly.
"Of course not, Arthur, I can't believe you would think that of me. I was going to propose we set up a contract with one of my wards. We would leave it with very easy terms. Nothing binding, just to protect both of them." Albus sighed wearily.
"Just who is this ward you were proposing? Some boy my Hermione has never even met?" Arthur demanded.
"Harry Potter." Albus said firmly.
"The-Boy-Who-Lived? Are you serious Albus?" Molly demanded.
"Absolutely, as you know there is not a day that goes by that I'm not receiving a betrothal agreement or a summons for House Potter. Most of them are from fully grown women, some even close to the age of mid life. If we enter a standard betrothal agreement, I could easily send the standard refusals because he already has an intended. Also, it would help Hermione as well. She has been receiving the same offers. Not all from light families, either. They know she exists just not where. The Notts, Malfoys, and Flint are the only ones even close to her age who have offered." Albus said gravelly.
"I don't want my daughter tied down like this but...I remember what happened to Cissi. If we do this, there will be an easy out clause. At 17 if either party feels that they are not interested, they can break the agreement." Arthur sighed. Sounding defeated.
"Will her name be listed as Weasley or Dagworth-Granger?" Molly asked quietly.
"Her name is legally Weasley. So that is the name that will be used." Albus said firmly.
"What of these proposals? Do they know her name? Hermione Cedrella Weasley or Hermione Jane Granger?" Molly asked hesitantly.
"They are made of to the house, no names attached except the suitors." Albus said firmly. Hermione turned to look up at her brothers to gauge their reactions, neither seemed surprised to hear her birth name. "Arthur floo to my office tomorrow, I will have a solicitor waiting. Good day, Molly, Arthur." Hermione quickly grabbed her brothers by the hands and pulled them into their rooms.
"Did you know?" Hermione asked fearfully.
"About you-"
"-being adopted?"
"Of course!" They finished together.
"No twin speak right now please! Are...you still my brothers?" Hermione asked, chewing her lower lip and lowering her head. Her mane of riotous curls blocking her ashen face.
"Spitfire." George said softly and pulled her small body between them.
"Of course we are still your big brothers." Fred said firmly. It was very seldom that the twins were serious about something and it made Hermione smile that it was because of her.
"You'll always be our baby sister." George reaffirmed with a grin.
"Who else is going to-"
"- chase all the boys away?"
"Ronnikens?!" Fred and George exclaimed together which made them all laugh.
"Ah but what my betrothed?" Hermione paled as soon she thought about what she said. "He's a famous hero! How could I possibly marry a famous hero?! Did you see all the things he's done? He's so handsome! He'll hate me!" Hermione cried shrilly.
"Oi! What's going on in here?" Bill popped his head into the doorway to find the twins backing away from his hysterical little sister. Fred and George took their chance and dashed out the door.
"All you, Billy!-"
"- good luck!"
"you're going to need it!" The called over their shoulders as they sprinted away.
"Hey, Mi. What's wrong?" Bill bent down to pull his sister into a hug.
"Mummy and Daddy are signing a betrothal for me and the bloody boy-who-lived! I've never met him but I've read all about his adventures! I've always dreamed about going on adventures with him, Bill but not like this! He's going to hate me! He's this brilliant brave hero and I'm just Hermione Weasley! The only time I save anyone is when Ron gets close to a spider! He's so handsome! What am-" Hermione rambled on hysterically.
"Hey hey! Calm down. I'm sure you misunderstood. Weasleys don't use betrothal agreements." Bill said in a soothing voice.
"That's what daddy said but uncle Albus said its what's best cause the Mal-" Hermione quickly stopped talking and looked at her brother in fear.
"Mal-what? What's bothering you?" Bill was taken back.
"You'll always be my brother,right? No matter what?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"Hermione, Charlie and I have known you were adopted for years. Since you first came home. We snuck down when Albus first brought you. You've always been my little sister." Bill looked at his sister closely. "Percy and the twins know as well. I'm not sure if they've told Ron yet. You are a Weasley through and through. You have the best of us, with the worst temper." Hermione threw herself into her brothers arms and cried.
"I love you." Hermione sighed, holding her brother tight.
"Now, don't worry about any contracts. You won't be getting married till your atleast 35 and you won't be available for and dates or to be courted until thirty." Bill said sternly which made Hermione giggle.