Edited 5/27/23: Minor Grammar/Spelling.
Here you go! :) sometimes I have no idea where these chapters come from... I think that's what I like about this style? The lack of plan (and expectations) is quite freeing. Like maybe tomorrow there will only be a three word chapter (there won't I already have a loose plan until before the Ball, don't worry)? Anyway, enjoy!
Wednesday, May 27, 1998
Wednesday was much better. Draco left early as usual, kissing both of them. When Hermione got up, she was greeted by a rather hungover looking Ginny.
"You look a mess," Hermione said with a chuckle when Ginny grimaced at her voice.
"You looked a mess yesterday so get off my back," she replied grumpily.
"Late night?" Hermione continued, ignoring the quip.
"Went and hung out with Dad and my brothers. We spent a long time commiserating. I asked if anyone else wanted to see their Weasley-ness. There was a long discussion, eventually everyone decided that they needed time to think about it," Ginny said with a shrug.
"That makes sense. Did you get a feel for the room?"
"I think Bill and Charlie want to, mostly because they have more at stake as the first and second born sons. George didn't want to talk about it at all. After Fred…" she trailed off for a few moments. She cleared her throat and continued, "Ron was quite upset with me that I'd even bring it up, and Percy was the one who asked for more time."
"What did your dad say?" Hermione asked as she bit into her toast.
"Dad said we'd still be his kids regardless, but if Bill or Charlie weren't they'd have to adjust some things in the succession of the Family Magic. He isn't living with Mum at the moment, I've never seen him happier if I'm honest. It's like a weight was lifted."
"I know I shouldn't, but I do feel a bit bad for your Mum, she must be so angry and embarrassed," Hermione said with a sigh.
Ginny grinned, "I went to visit her before I joined the rest of them." Hermione raised her eyebrow, "She's blaming you, Theo, and Drsco."
Hermione sputtered, "Why Draco?"
"I told her she was mad for that, she's the one who didn't think about the consequences of her actions. I also let her know that she needs to give me the notes for the Prewett line. It's Matrilineal so Mum and I did some when I was younger but the War really slowed our progress."
Hermione looked at her thoughtfully. "I feel like I have a lot to learn about the way that stuff gets passed on."
"Yeah it's mad that they don't teach that to you all. It shouldn't just be taught at home. I'd ask Draco or Theo, they could probably explain it better than me."
Theo came down shortly after and grabbed an apple and croissant to take with them to headquarters. Narcisa greeted Hermione right away, asking how she was feeling. She put a palm on each of her cheeks and checked her in a way that was reminiscent of Jean Granger.
Hermione burst out crying at the way the witch seemed to care so deeply for her already. Narcissa ushered her to a side room and they sat together. Narcissa listened to Hermione talk about all the things she was worried about. By the time they rejoined the group, Andromeda and Theo were discussing proper etiquette for the Heir of two Ancient and Noble Houses.
Narcissa smiled softly and began to explain how her role as an Ancient and Noble Matriarch would be different. While there were quite a few requirements, Hermione was allowed to make pretty significant changes on how things would be run. Narcissa had pushed for less corporal punishment and increased artistic engagement for the Malfoys.
"You're quite lucky," Narcissa continued. "There hasn't been a Nott Matriarch since poor Carmen passed so you'll get to mould the Nott legacy how you wish. I'll happily defer to you in any Malfoy decisions. You have more flexibility than most young wives could ever hope for."
"It's a bit intimidating," Hermione said, twisting her fingers.
"Luckily my sons picked the most intimidating woman their age as a wife," Narcissa said with a chuckle.
"What can I expect at the Ball?" Hermione asked, steeling herself for the worst.
Narcissa looked at her thoughtfully, "The older set will probably try to test you and look down on you. The younger set will be a bit of a mixed bag, Theo has always kept a pretty neutral stance so people tend to not think too much of him. The introduction of Ginny should take some of the pressure off of you, such a traditionally Light family mixing with a typically Dark family is shocking."
"How should I interact with Ginny and Draco?"
"Hmmm. You should be more affectionate than not, but also stick to the strict social codes we've talked about with Theo. You can be tentatively friendly with Ginevra, we don't need any gossip to start on the two of you having a feud. With Draco, you can act like you would with a very distant acquaintance. You'd have met a few times before this, but wouldn't have ever spent alone time together."
"That all makes sense," Hermione said, "I'm really quite nervous about all this, what if they know?"
"How could they?" Narcissa asked pointedly, "They think of Hermione Granger as some uncouth Muggleborn, but Myuh Nott is a Pureblood Witch fresh from the Caribbean, any strangeness they'll chalk up to you being a foreigner. When it comes to Bloody Purity, I'd respond coolly aloof. Don't make any comments that indicate your feelings, but never allow anyone to feel alienated. Theo showed me the guest list, there will be quite a few neutral families there and none of the more staunch Blood Purists will want to make too large of waves."
"We're courting the neutral families, but what are our goals?"
"I can answer that one," Kingsley said, appearing from nowhere. Ginny, Theo and Andromeda stopped chatting and turned to listen. "We're hoping to gauge just how neutral they are. Any of the families who seem to be wavering, we will approach. We hope to encourage their neutral stance, but are hoping that they'll help with funding. We won't expect them to fight and they can stay on the fence with both sides."
"That's a very Slytherin view," Hermione said thoughtfully, "It allows them the illusion of security on both sides, but helps fill our coffers."
"Exactly, Lady Nott," Andromeda said with a wink, "you have some Slytherin in you, don't you?"
"Two of them," Ginny teased, causing Hermione to flush, Theo to laugh, and Narcissa to tut in fond disapproval.
"I was a hatstall," Hermione said with a grin.
First Year (September 1, 1991)
"Hermione Granger!" said the stern looking witch. Hermione walked toward the hat chewing her lip. She'd read all about the houses and had spent a large portion of the summer going through the books and making pro/con lists for each house. In the end, almost every house had an equal number of pros and cons and the Grangers could not come to a conclusion. Her parents had made bets on which she would be placed into and were anxiously awaiting her owl.
She sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head. "Oh a curious one," it wheezed, causing Hermione to start a bit. "You would do well anywhere I put you, wouldn't you Miss Granger? You have the ambition and cunning that would sort you well in Slytherin, although the obsession they have with lineage wouldn't be ideal. Hufflepuff would also treat you well, you'd be allowed to pursue all your goals to make the world a better place and they'd support you no matter what, but I don't know if anyone would challenge you. Ravenclaw seems like a natural fit with your passion for learning, but I worry that your other admirable traits would wither there. Now Gryffindor could be great for you, they would encourage you to never back down from a fight, but sometimes you may feel alone in a house who acts first and thinks later. What do you think, Miss Granger?"
"I don't rightly know," she thought to the hat, "I suppose I'd be happy anywhere, Mum and Dad couldn't decide where I'd be either. It all feels so big to happen when I'm eleven."
"I agree, I've always tried to encourage the Headmasters to push the Sorting to later, but they love their traditions…" the hat trailed off. "I think I might like to see what you do in…. GRYFFINDOR!"
Her tie changed to red and gold and she made her way to sit down at the proper table, hoping that she'd find her place in a House that may not always value her brains.
Present Day (5/27/1998)
"I remember Draco writing about 'the girl with the atrocious hair that took ages to be sorted-'"
"I was quite proud of my immediate sorting," Draco said, coming into the room. "How I scoffed at my future wife for all the things that I now treasure!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Flattery will get you nowhere, husband!"
"Au contraire, darling," he said with a chuckle. He dropped a kiss to her head and moved to wrap his arm around Theo's waist.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked, "It's a Wednesday."
"I was worried about Granger," he said with a blush and a shrug, "I told Slughorn that I needed to stop at Mitternacht for something for my afternoon lesson."
"I'm feeling much better today, Draco," Hermione said, beaming at him, "I think it was just all the excitement of the past few weeks."
"We will not be having a repeat of OWLS," Theo said sharply, when Kingsley, Narcissa, and Andromeda looked confused, he continued, "Our dear Hermione wore herself out to the point that Ginevra had to bring her to the Hospital Wing. She was checked in for three days while she regained her strength."
"I needed to study!" Hermione tried to defend.
"Granger, you could recite the books to us, you did not need to study anymore. Now you're our wife and we don't have to hide you anymore, so we'll make sure you take care of yourself."
"We all will," Narcissa said sweetly, grasping her hand. "You're the only daughter I'll ever get, so I have to keep you around!"
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!