After an… eventful weekend with Lavender's parents, the three teens made their way back to Hogwarts. Hermione was lent quite a few books, which she found quite interesting and enlightening, not all in a good way. She and Harry studied the books together when they had time, which was useful both to help them learn about the customs and traditions of which they were unaware, and to help them to start to build a relationship that was not just friendship.
Which both of them found a little difficult, because Harry was very intent on making sure it was a relationship of three equals, and not two equals and a spare. The three of them began walking around the grounds in the evening and talking about things, before Harry and Lavender went to "their" room for a little "fun time", and Hermione went back to study.
Hermione wasn't too upset with this. He knew they would accept her when she was ready, but she wasn't ready. That didn't stop her from stealing a kiss from Harry when no one else was looking, and she allowed his hands to roam a little. It was, admittedly, very delightful - there was a particular spot he touched that made her weak in the knees and ignited a warmth in her belly she wasn't accustomed to. She thought one advantage of the fact that she was coming into an already existing relationship was that he already knew what he was doing. Their first time would be wonderful, she thought… she hoped.
Both of their betrothal contracts were duly filed with the ministry, but they were not making a point to announce it, instead, waiting for the right time. After all, although she loved him, it was first and foremost a political union, and it would not do to announce when it would not lead to political advantage.
Hermione could be a little idealistic, but she did understand that. She was content to wait.
Said "right time" came a few days later, at an otherwise unremarkable supper in the Great Hall. The doors opened, and Arthur and Molly Weasley both walked in, looking somber. Ignoring everyone else, including Ron and Ginny (who were looking a little nonplussed), they walked towards the head table and had a quick discussion with McGonagall. Pursing her lips with disapproval, she nodded and cast a sonorus upon herself.
"May I have your attention," she said, and waited for the room to quiet down. "Our guests" - she nodded to the Weasleys - "have something they wish to say to the student body. quietus"
Mr. Weasley cast sonorus upon himself. Mrs. Weasley looked unhappy but resigned.
"Ronald Weasley, please come to the front."
There was a murmur. It was not unheard of for this to happen, but not common either. Most students had a pretty good idea of what was happening.
Ron didn't look happy, but he did as instructed.
"A few days ago, my son insulted both Lavender Brown and her vassal-sister Hermione Granger-Brown" - the murmurs increased - "and Miss Granger-Brown, in lieu of demanding satisfaction from my family, dispensed her… own form of justice. Lord Brown has apologized for her actions on her behalf, so we consider that matter closed. Be that as it may, by our customs, there are further apologies that must be made. Ronald, you will apologize for your comments towards the Misses Brown. Now."
Ron looked murderous, but he choked out the required forms. "Miss Brown and Miss Granger-Brown, I hereby apologize for my comments and hope that this apology settles any debts my comments created between our two families by my actions."
Lavender stood up and motioned Hermione to follow along. "On behalf of House Brown, your apology is accepted, Mister Weasley." Hermione said the same, substituting Granger-Brown for Brown. Ron stomped back to the table, beet red from anger and embarrassment. He glared at both of them but wisely said nothing. The girls sat down, their part in the theater having been completed.
"One further apology is required. Molly, speak it now."
She glanced at her husband, then sighed, looking defeated. "Miss Granger-Brown, I hereby apologize for publicly, and in front of this entire student body, demanding satisfaction from you and your family without sanction of the head of House, and without knowing all the facts. While I do not consider your actions appropriate, they were not without provocation. I hereby apologize for my howler, rescind my statement demanding satisfaction, and hope this apology closes the matter between our two houses."
Hermione thought for a moment, then stood up. "On behalf of the houses Granger and Brown, your apology is accepted, Mrs. Weasley."
Mr Weasley nodded. "Then our business here is concluded. Quietus"
Harry stood up. "Sonorus. One further order of business," he stated. "Miss Granger-Brown is now betrothed to House Black and -"
There was pandemonium.
"What?" Draco yelled.
"- and therefore is not only under the protection of House Brown as a vassal, but is also under the protection of House Black. Any slight to her will also be seen as a slight to House Black and will be dealt with accordingly. This constitutes formal notice to all listening, heed it well. Quietus."
The pandemonium was deafening. Even Dumbledore had half jumped out of his seat in surprise.
The three of them, having decided that there was nothing further to be accomplished in the great hall, took their leave, leaving quite the row in their wake.
A few moments later, the three of them were sitting on the floor in "their room". Hogwarts had so many abandoned rooms that there was little chance of being found without someone directly looking for them, and even with the ruckus they'd just caused, they thought that possibility very unlikely.
Hermione sighed. "Well, the news is out."
Lavender giggled. "Did you see the look on that little ponce's face?"
Hermione frowned. "I did. You know they'll be gunning for us now, right?"
"Gunning?"
"Targeting."
"Oh. Yeah. I guess so."
"You don't seem too worried about it."
Lavender sighed. "Look, you still don't understand our culture. Our betrothal contracts are filed with the ministry. All of the formal notices have been given in a sufficiently public place. You can bet that owls are already flying to the parents of everyone who might have an interest in our relationship. Daddy wasn't kidding when he said that these betrothals afford us a lot of protection we wouldn't have otherwise. Line theft is a very serious crime in our culture. Nothing matters to us more than issue and making sure that the lines are passed down properly and in accordance with norms and law. People who subvert that do so at their extreme peril." She leaned forward. "If someone were to attack any of the three of us now - Harry because he is betrothed to me, me because I am betrothed to the Potter line, and you because you are betrothed to the Black line - an extremely ancient and influential house - my daddy would be legally justified in finding out who did it and leaving a smoking crater where they used to be, cursing that crater and the family line of who did it - and that's before the might of the ministry would come down against them."
She sighed.
"Don't you get it, Hermione? You mean nothing. I mean nothing. Harry means nothing. Our lines mean everything."
"So…", Hermione said carefully. "We're pretty protected?"
"Yes, and no," Lavender said. "Don't forget what happened in the war. He-who-must-not-be-named didn't care about any of those norms. He killed without remorse or care for any of our laws or traditions, and so did his followers. And, his followers are still out there. Draco's father was rumored to be one."
The room was quiet for a few moments.
"But," Lavender said finally, "he had power. A lot of power. Enough power to not worry about the consequences of his actions. His followers, well, don't. My daddy is as powerful as any of them, and probably better trained, anyway."
Hermione sighed and shifted positions to be a little more comfortable. Even with a blanket, the floor was hard. "There's something else," she said finally.
"What's that?", Harry asked.
"I… we need to talk about the things we haven't talked much about since… since that time harry asked me to become Lady Black. First of all, Harry… why did you choose me to be Lady Black and Lavender to be Lady Potter?"
"That one's simple, Hermione. I thought you were smart." But his grin muted his words, and she huffed.
"Fine. I'm stupid. Explain it to me."
"You're not stupid. What do you think I'm trying to accomplish by making you Lady Black?"
"Getting in my knickers?"
He chuckled. "While that's a nice benefit and what's in your knickers is quite desirable", and at those words Hermione blushed deeply, "no, that's not why. Any other guesses?"
Lavender giggled as well.
"No…", Hermione said slowly. "Tell me."
"Hermione, you're like a rampaging dragon when it comes to some things. There has never been a muggleborn Lady Black, or Lord Black for that matter. It's been pureblood ever since its inception. The Black family is seen as one of the most 'pure' families out there. By simply becoming Lady Black, you are upending a thousand years of tradition in the pureblood culture. And Hermione, I did that on purpose."
Her mouth dropped open. "Harry… why?"
"Because, and Cyrus agrees with me on this, the culture is rotting, and has been for centuries. You have a good chance of being able to effect meaningful change. But in order to do so, you have to upset a few apple carts. This position will give you the ability to do that."
"Harry… you know what happened when I tried to free the elves. They hate me."
"They don't hate you, they just wanted you to stop. But the solution to that is simple: don't do that! That's why Lav and her father are teaching you to navigate pureblood culture. Don't you understand? You're a trojan horse!"
Hermione thought for a second, and then launched herself at Harry and kissed him thoroughly.
Lavender just smirked.
After a minute or so, she disentangled herself from Harry, her lips red and swollen.
"I love you, Harry."
"I know." He smirked.
She swatted him. "You're not Han Solo, cut that out."
Lavender just looked confused. Hermione giggled.
"Guess we'll have to show you Star Wars at some point.", Hermione giggled.
"So… there's another thing we have to talk about," Hermione said more seriously.
"What's that?"
"Do you remember what I said? About… how I don't think I can.. Do the things with you, Lavender, that I want to do with Harry? And you said we need to discuss that?"
Lavender nodded.
"Well… I don't. I don't think I can. I like you, Lavender. You've been nice to me. But… I don't really like girls that way."
"I don't either," Lavender said. "I don't see what boys find so attractive about breasts. And… fannies? Ewww!"
Hermione giggled.
"You won't have to if you don't want to. But… we're both going to be married to Harry. Maybe… maybe for his birthday?"
Harry eeeped.
Lavender giggled. "Maybe for his birthday, he can be taking one of us while she… gives the other a good time?" Both girls turned red and Harry turned very red. "Just for Harry, of course. Boys like that kind of thing."
"I… I don't."
"Don't lie, Harry. You poked me thinking about it." She grabbed him. "And you're certainly not opposed to the idea, I see."
"Eeeeeep", he moaned.
Hermione sighed. "No promises. But maybe."
Lavender took Hermione's hand. "Look, I wasn't lying. I'm not really into that kind of thing. But I love Harry, and you love Harry, and we can use it to get something out of him later." She giggled.
Hermione giggled too.
Harry suddenly didn't look as pleased with the situation as he had a few seconds earlier. Maybe two wives isn't the best thing when they conspire against you.
Hermione gave Harry a deep kiss and walked saucily out of the room, wishing them a good time.
"So, Harry," Lavender said, as she started to slip her robes off. "Tell me what you'd do to both of us at the same time."
A/N Well, another year, another chapter. It's been a year of anxiety, major life changes, and lots of chocolate. Let's see if I can get this done before I croak.
Very quickly: I'm not really all that into fanfiction anymore. I find it much more rewarding to create my own stuff from scratch, and trying to play in other peoples' world is kind of boring now. I've been writing a serial fiction over the past couple of years that has hit 400,000 words (or close). I'm not getting any younger and this just isn't useful. But… I'll still try to finish what I started. Someday… I'm sorry. But here's proof that I'm trying.