Okay here we go, let's introduce... PANSY! Surprise!

Monday, May 18, 1998

That morning, Ginny and Hermione had bustled around Mitternacht with the elves room by room. The castle was starting to go from dark and dreary to bright patterns and natural materials.

"I was channelling a bit of Martinque,' Hermione said grinning at Ginny. As they sat in the parlour drinking tea that afternoon.

Suddenly the doors burst open and Theo sprinted in, "I'm sorry, glamour yourself, I didn't think she'd come this fast!" Hermione quickly activated her glamour and her jaw dropped when an irate Pansy Parkinson stalked in after Theo.

"THEODORE NOTT!" she shrieked. "How could you not tell me about your sister and getting married!?"

Ginny stood, twirling her wand in her hand, eyebrow raised haughtily while Hermione looked between her husband and the angry witch. "And you are?" she drawled, imitating Draco.

Pansy sputtered, Hermione had never seen her look quite so thrown off. "Pansy Parkinson," Ginny said, looking the witch in question up and down. "Very Slytherin, very Pureblood."

Hermione walked up to Pansy and circled her, observing her reactions. Pansy looked uncomfortable. "Theo," she said softly, "why have you invited another witch into my home without asking first?"

Pansy baulked and Theo chuckled, "Not much you can do to stop her when she sets her mind to something. I told her about you both and asked her to consult on some outfits for our portraits later this week and dresses for the Ball the week after, and she came sprinting through the Floo before I could do anything."

Hermione nodded, and touched the ends of Pansy's hair, "You English have such peculiar hair, so straight and unadorned," Hermione gestured to her own hair which her and Ginny had added charms to the night before.

"Well at least-" Pansy started.

"I'd be careful what you say there, Parkinson," Ginny barked, "you don't know the history of the Magic People of Martinique do you?"

Pansy shook her head, "You'll have to have Myuh tell you some time, it made me feel quite embarrassed to be British," Ginny said, observing her cuticles.

"It seems we've gotten off on the wrong foot," Pansy said, looking between the two women and Theo.

Hermione chuckled, "Ah so she sees that I'm not some weak little Pureblood Princess, and she backtracks."

"Alright, love," he smirked, "enough fun. Let me introduce Pansy Parkinson, of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Parkinson. She's an old school chum of Draco and I's and has a wicked eye when it comes to fashion. She sometimes has a bit of trouble controlling her tongue, but she's overall quite good to have around."

"Pansy, may I introduce Ginevra Prewitt Nott, my half sister, freshly legitimised this morning. Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Prewitt and currently Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Nott, although Myuh and I plan to rectify that shortly," he leered at Hermione in a way that made a shiver run down her spine. "And of course, Myuh Giroux, now Lady Myuh Nott of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Nott."

"A pleasure, Ms. Parkinson," Hermione said, standing at her full height and looking down on the smaller witch. "I look forward to hearing about your time at Hogwarts with my Theodore and dear Draco. I'm sure it was quite different from my time at Castelobruxo. Would you like to come in for tea?"

Pansy nodded sort of dumbly, but followed Hermione to the newly refurbished couches. Theo and Ginny were giggling in the doorway, pushing each other. "I like what you've done with the place," Pansy said, looking around the room. "Is it much like home?"

"Oh mon Dieu no," Hermione chortled, "we don't value things as much as you English seem to, my little island provides in much more natural ways. So much stone and darkness here."

"Do you all practice the Old Magics?" Pansy asked, curiously.

Hermione bristled, "We don't talk about it with outsiders."

Theo rushed over then, seeing that the conversation was not going well. Ginny sauntered after and sprawled on the couch next to Pansy, drawing her attention. "Muffilato," he murmured, "Mi, I know you have a bad history, but please try for me? She's been friends with us for years and-"

"How does she feel about Blood Purity?" Hermione asked abruptly.

"She's more flexible than she used to be. Blaise took her to Milan a couple of years back. Muggles have much more progressive fashion."

She looked at him thoughtfully, "I'll give her a chance."

He cancelled the spell and Hermione turned to look at the two witches. "Although you've already insulted me multiple times since entering my home, my husband has pleaded your case and I'm willing to give you another chance," Hermione said, eyeing Pansy.

"Thank you," Pansy said, "I apologise for coming on so strongly, I've known Theodore for most of my life and…"

"Understood. Now tell Ginevra and I more about your fashion. I'm quite disappointed by the old fashioned robes you all still wear, what did you have in mind?"

Pansy lit up and started discussing the direction she thought the Wizarding World should go, it leaned more Avant Gard than Hermione might prefer, but she was intrigued.

"Off the top of your head, what do you envision for us?"

"I'd like to highlight your culture, if possible so I may have to ask some questions, but it seems like brighter colours and less traditional British Wizarding elements to highlight both you and Theo's heritages."

Theo smirked at her and she knew he was thinking about Draco. Pansy turned to Ginny. "For you and Theo's portrait I'm thinking we have you dress complimentary, highlighting your Prewitt heritage and Theo his Spanish?"

"That sounds lovely," Ginny said, pleasantly. Hermione noted the light blush on Pansy's cheeks at Ginny's comment and smirked to herself.

The door burst open for the second time that afternoon and Draco stood, beaming, "Hello my darlings!" he cooed then quickly dropped into his stoic face when he noticed they weren't alone.

"Drakey!" Pansy said, flying up to meet him. Hermione gripped Theo's hand and ground her teeth together. He sidestepped the witch and quickly moved toward Ginny who hadn't stood from the couch.

"Ginevra," he said, formally kissing the back of her outstretched hand. Ginny made a good show of a light blush as she greeted him. Pansy looked between the two in shock. "I see you've met my betrothed?" Draco smirked looking at Pansy.

"B-Betrothed?" Pansy said looking even more alarmed than when she'd first entered the room.

"Of course," Theo chimed in quickly, "Draco and I have always wanted to merge our families."

"And I've always had eyes for a certain Gryffindor," Draco said with a chuckle. Ginny let out a giggle and Theo rolled his eyes. Hermione had to give it to Pansy, she took the news in stride. She came back to the assembled couches and sat in one of the chairs, resuming their previous conversation, only slightly stilted.

Pansy took her leave right before dinner, "You'll both have to join me tomorrow for a day of shopping," Pansy said to Ginny and Hermione.

"That sounds delightful," Hermione said with a smile, "I'll need to start building up my cold weather wardrobe and Ginevera needs more formal robes."

When they'd decided on a time and shooed Pansy out of the Floo, Theo locked all the Floos, collapsing onto a nearby loveseat. "You were brilliant," he sighed, "I'm so sorry about all of that, but you both handled yourselves well."

The rest of the evening the four of them spent discussing upcoming plans including the newly arranged shopping trip, portraits, renovations, and the Ball the following week. Hermione hoped that eventually things would start to calm down and she'd be able to just exist.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!