Edited 6/26/23: Minor Grammar/Spelling.

⅔ for today!

Friday, June 26, 1998

"Hello, Dear," Narcissa cooed as Hermione stood in front of her. "I'm glad you're here. I've been working on your Society List. Here is what we've compiled," Narcissa placed a large pile of parchment in Hermione's outstretched hands with a smirk. "Now your first Tea is with the Rowles. Euphemia is… interesting. There is a lot of bad blood between her and the rest of her family. She's Rodolphus and Rabastian's sister, but married into the Rowle family quite young. Her son is Thorfinn, who I'm sure you know, but she's always been seen as odd to the rest of the family."

Hermione nodded, as she looked through Narcissa's notes. "She has an Augurey which is her most prized family member. She loves to discuss the mythology of them, she'd happily talk about her Augurey for the entire Tea if allowed. She's not a very valuable close contact, but her proximity to the Death Eaters means that her Tea's are well attended."

"The Fawley family," Narcissa continued, "are peculiar, Alexander Fawley never married, and has been getting a lot of pressure from his more distantly related family members to carry on the line. There had been discussion about a marriage between the older Greengrass girl and him."

"But it says here that he's close to seventy!" Hermione gasped, appalled.

Narcissa sighed, "Yes well, there have been rumours for years that he prefers the company of men, but that didn't allow for the potential for an Heir. They'll have an Heir and a Spare then he'll be with his lover and she'll be welcome to her own as long as she doesn't bear their children."

"That's barbaric!" Hermione said, affronted.

"Hermione," Narcissa said with another sigh, "Just because it's not how your family does things doesn't mean it's barbaric. It would actually be quite a power move for both families. Alexander would get his Heirs and Daphne would be able to pursue someone she loves. Many arranged marriages end up being stronger than Love matches."

Hermione sat back and thought about that. She had the unfortunate habit of jumping to conclusions about everything and often couldn't see past her own prejudice. She knew that in the Muggle world, arranged marriages often ended up being stronger and better than many of the love matches she'd witnessed. She knew that countless couples had divorced for smaller things.

"I suppose if they both go in knowing the status quo it wouldn't be so bad. I don't know Daphne well, but… it's just so odd."

Narcissa chuckled, "I can see how that might seem odd to you, but really dear, it's just different. Alexander is exceptionally kind and will be a good husband. You'll have to observe Daphne and his sister at the Tea to observe how they interact."

Hermione's mind was whiring with the possibilities, "Do the Fawley's lean more Light or Dark?"

"Light," Narcissa said with a sharp nod, "The Greengrass's lean more Dark, but both are neutral with respect to each other. It was something that Lucius carefully considered for Draco because the attachment to a Neutral family was in the best interest of the Malfoys in the long run." Hermione felt herself bristling, "Fortunately for all of us, Lucius Malfoy didn't get his wishes when it came to my son. You're the perfect fit for both of my boys, dear."

Hermione felt herself deflate, "I need to work on my reactions don't I?"

Narcissa laughed outright at this, "I find your reactions to be one of your most refreshing traits, but yes, in Pureblood Society you'll have to limit your reactions or they'll use them against you ruthlessly. Fortunately we only have a few more months of this until you'll be sequestered."

"That is antiquated!" she huffed.

Narcissa blinked at her a couple of times. "Hermione," she started tentatively, "because of all the intermarrying, creating a child is…difficult for most people. Lucius and I tried for a few years before we were successful. You three are quite lucky that it took so fast…" Hermione flushed, a bit embarrassed when the older witch trailed off. "Many witches are put on bedrest during their pregnancy, and giving them an out by requiring them to be out of formal society is most convenient."

Hermione tilted her head thoughtfully, "Genetic diversity is really important, I'm sorry if it seemed like I was… making light of the situation, it's just frustrating as it's something that Muggle scientists have known about for years."

Narcissa smiled at her, "All the more reason for us to keep you around."

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