Edited 5/8/23: Minor Grammar/Spelling
Soooooon we'll meet back up with the Order! What will they say, will they be accepting?
Friday, May 8, 1998
Instead of focusing on Draco's meeting with Tom that evening, Hermione and Theo began to plan their meeting with the Order. Draco had Gertie deliver Theo a letter from Kingsley and Hermione a letter from Harry and Ron.
Lord Nott,
It is good to officially make your acquaintance. I find that we need some connections with the more Dark leaning "neutral" families. I believe that we can position you as the newest Lord Nott, who isn't quite as zealous as his father with a bit of fudging on where you've been the past few days. Mr. Malfoy is going to drop a few hints about your location at the meeting and explain how you'd hope to stay more neutral to help sway some of the families who haven't made a stand yet. We'll need to start meeting to pass along information.
I look forward to our partnership,
K. Shacklebolt
Hermione snorted. Kingsley was a consummate Slytherin. He was always a "less is more" type of man who chose his words carefully. While not winning the Battle of Hogwarts was a loss, it was also an opportunity to start playing the game in a more Slytherin manner, moving away from the "Gryffindor Brashness" of the past.
"What will we do?" Hermione whined at Theo.
"Well, maybe we say that I was off marrying my betrothed?" he said, raising his eyebrows at her. "Someone my Abuela had contracted for me?"
"You want me to act like a proper Pureblood!?" she shrieked.
"No, love, I want you to act like an African Princess," he chuckled.
She rolled her eyes. "I don't even think anyone would believe that. We'll have to claim that I'm from South America and went to Castelobruxo. If I grew up on one of the Islands, that would be more believable, plus fewer people would have questions about my ancestry. Most Brits think of the Caribbean as a sort of mysterious place with mysterious Magics."
"See, that's why I keep you around, love. You've come up with a backstory for Mya Nott within moments," he leaned in and kissed her soundly.
"Well we'll need to get something to anchor a glamour to so that my appearance looks different to others, new robes, and I need to get to a braider, my Mum would be horrified by the state of my hair."
"I think for being on the run for a year, you did alright," he said, kindly, fingering a braid.
She snorted. "If I'd been with you or Draco you would have helped with some protective styling, but Harry and Ron don't even realise that my hair is different. Theodore. They. Use. Three. In. One."
Theo gaped at her. "You mean to tell me that The Boy Who Lived, who claims that you are his sister, uses a three in one, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash?"
"YES."
"Those heathens. No wonder his hair always looks like he put his finger in an electrical outlet. Three in one. His Grandfather was the inventor of sleekeazy's! I'm sure they're all rolling in their graves!"
Hermione smiled at him as he paced, he always coped with stressful situations with humour. He was the levity to Draco's serious personality. She really did love him. After a few moments she cleared her throat, which he of course didn't hear because of his ceaseless pacing.
"Theodore," she said louder. He whipped around. "I accept your proposal to become a covert Lady Nott."
"I-You! Mi! That was not how I was going to propose! Draco and I have a whole plan about how to do it. Oh fuck. He's going to be so mad at me!"
She chuckled. "Don't worry it won't be a real marriage yet, you'll have to-"
He put his hand over her mouth. "This will be a real marriage, love. We'll have to have someone do the binding between the three of us. I-" he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I won't bring you into that without you having the protections of the Nott and Malfoy Magics."
"Well we just won't tell him that you messed up, you two plan your proposal for this weekend and I'll act appropriately shocked," she said, grinning cheekily.
"Deal."
Hermione,
I'm so sorry we left! I thought you were with Neville, but the next time I saw him he said he hadn't seen you in ages! We're all safe at a Safehouse, and Kingsley said that you were safe too and coming up with some Covert operations. I know you didn't want to tell him until it was all over, but Ron is under the impression that you're going to be together forever. Molly and him have been planning your wedding already… I'm not one to tell you what to do, but I think this is going to be messy. He said that you kissed in the Chamber… I hope you have a plan?
Hopefully I'll see you soon? Mrs. Malf Narcissa is here with us. I've added her letters to you three to this envelope as well. Be safe and good luck, see you soon!
Harry
'Mione,
I'm sorry I didn't get to say earlier, but I love you. I can't wait until you're back with me so we can move forward together.
Love,
Ron
Ms. Granger,
I'm glad I'm finally able to write to you. I want to thank you for all you've done for Draco and dear Theo. Your influence has shaped them into the wonderful men they've become. I know that they'll soon be asking for your hand, apologies if I've spoiled it! I want you to know that you have my full blessing. I've been doing research on Triadic bonding for a little over a year now, my son is a great Occulmens, but unfortunately, a Mother always Knows.
I hope to meet you in person soon. I hope that you'll wear the Malfoy wedding ring, I know that Theodore hopes that you'll wear his mother's engagement ring. I know I won't get to plan the Wedding of the Century like you three deserve, but I hope that I can create quite the showing with the Order, regardless.
Welcome to the family, Ms. Granger!
Love,
Narcissa
Hermione groaned. All three of the letters brought very different feelings with them. She knew that Draco suspected that his mother knew, but she thought he'd be glad to see that she was accepting of her future daughter-in-law.
Harry was, as always, like the little brother she'd never had. She'd told him about Theo after he'd used the curse on Draco. She knew that she couldn't tell him about Draco yet, there was too much at stake with Draco's role as Spy. She was glad that over the last year, he'd become softer towards Draco, but rivalries died hard.
Ron. She was not looking forward to the fallout from that conversation. Molly already jumped to conclusions about Hermione, but she knew that this wasn't going to end well. He'd always assumed that they'd be together even though there was no part of her that wanted that. Theo and Draco treated her like a valued member of their Trio, but with Harry and Ron she'd often felt like they only saw her for her brain. Until she'd shown up at the Yule Ball in her dress, she wasn't sure that Ron had even realised she was a girl.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!