Edited 9/12/2023 Minor Grammar/Spelling.

Only one today, but I GOT A JOB! So the vast majority of my stress has lifted, now I can spend the rest of my break writing and finding an apartment! Here is another espionage riddled tea for you.

Enjoy!

Thursday, July 2, 1998

Ginny and Hermione made their way to the second tea of the week, this time joined by Theo as there was a men's gathering as well. Hermione had her hand on Theo's elbow and couldn't help grinning at him. "I'm glad you get to come along for this one," she said.

"I'll barely get to see you, but I'm glad I'll be around to keep you safe from all the petty Society Wives," he said with a chuckle.

"Gods you two are disgusting," Ginny groaned, "how long will this stage last? Watching the two of you fawn all over Draco and each other is nauseating."

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much," Theo said with a wink.

"I think she might be jealous," Hermione teased.

"I'm quite happy to be single," Ginny said, sticking her tongue out at them, "it's quite liberating being free of everyone's assumptions about Harry and I. Ginevra Molly Wea-er Prewett-Nott isn't beholden to anyone."

"Have you told that to Pansy and Blaise?" Hermione asked, darting away when Ginny chased after her.

"Now you've done it, love," Theo said, laughing. "There is no way you can escape her with the amount she's been training."

"And don't think I haven't been seeing you sneak all those disgusting pregnancy concoctions," Ginny shrieked as she caught Hermione. "A pickle and cream cheese sandwich?" she said with a shudder.

"All I hear is 'I'm so jealous of my best friend and sister, Hermione Jean Malfoy Nott who has the love and affection of two beautiful men and will be birthing the next generation that will be the beginning of the end of the Sacred 28!'" Hermione wheezed under Ginny who had her pinned in the grass.

Theo shook his head affectionately at the pair of women. "I am not jealous!" Ginny laughed, "If anything I'm disappointed that 'The Brightest Witch of Our Age," got knocked up out of wedlock, I thought you knew better than that, young lady."

"Jealous, jealous, jealous," Hermione chanted as Ginny pulled her up. Theo cast a Charm at their skirts to remove the grass stains and held out an elbow for each of them. "Are you ready, my Ladies?"

He led the way and apparated himself as they'd found that when Hermione apparated herself it was a lot easier on her nausea. When they landed in front of the Fawley estate, Hermione was greeted by a lush lawn that went as far as she could see in all directions.

"This is a beautiful estate," Hermione murmured.

"Daphne is quite excited to call it her home," Theo said offhandedly. "The Fawley's have one of the most robust greenhouses in England. I've heard that Professor Sprout is descended from an offshoot of the family. All on the hush hush of course."

"How do you even know that stuff?" Ginny asked with a raised eyebrow.

"A Gentleman never reveals his secrets," he smirked, then pretended to cough saying "Narcissa."

The three of them laughed and continued up the long drive. They finally came upon a large double door that was thrown open to the bright day. When they got inside the Manor, Hermione was delighted to see light colours and patterned fabrics. "This is lovely!" Hermione cooed to Theo and Ginny.

Alexander and his sister, Helen were standing in the entryway greeting their guests. "Theo! My lad!" called Alexander jovially, "I'm quite glad you've arrived, you'll singlehandedly lower the average age of my guests by about thirty years."

Theo chuckled and shook the other man's hand. "Alexander, Helen," he said after kissing Helen's hand, "I'm not sure if you've met my bride, Lady Myuh Nott, and my sister, Ginevra Prewett Nott." Ginny and Hermione were greeted by the sibling pair.

Alexander led Theo into a mahogany panelled room and Helen led Ginny and Hermione to a bright sitting room. Daphne was standing in the centre of the room, and smiled at Helen and waved at Hermione and Ginny. "Thank you for coming!" Daphne greeted with a smile and a wink. Helen left the room to greet the remaining guests, and Daphne stage-whispered to them, "Helen is using this as a test of my hosting abilities, so make sure to compliment me at some point this afternoon."

"Anything for you, Daph," Ginny said with a chuckle as she led Hermione away toward the tea and biscuit table. "Alright, make sure you feel out the more Light families that have been invited to see if there is anyone we can swing towards the Order," she said under her breath. "They're more likely to talk to you since you're such an unknown entity. I'm sure I'll get into conversation with a few, but my family is too notorious for me to be a good confidante this early on."

"Will do," Hermione said, looking around the room as subtly as she could. "I'll start over there, with Georgina MacMillan, we had a nice conversation at the previous engagement."

Hermione was confident that the MacMillans would side with the Order with a bit of a push, but they really only would move forward if winning was a sure thing. The MacMillans were very cautious, which had served them well throughout history, but Hermion was hoping that pushing Georgina MacMillan, the youngest Matriarch excluding herself at the event towards the Order would help swing a few things.

"Georgina," Hermione greeted, kissing the older woman's cheeks. "It's so good to see you, I hope you're feeling better. I was quite worried that you wouldn't be able to make it today. I'm glad you're here."

"Myuh, dear!" she said, kissing her cheeks, "I'm feeling quite a bit better, it turns out that Ernie brought home a cold to the house. He's my son, I believe he was in the same year as your husband, although we haven't secured him quite as advantageous as a match."

Hermione chuckled. Ernie MacMillan was blond and short, and extremely pompous. Hermione always thought he was one of the most irritating members of Dumbledore's Army. "Has he finished school then? What will he do next?" she asked.

"He's secured a good job with the Ministry, although he'll be taking on many of the duties for his Father soon enough, he wanted to spend a bit of time exploring his interests, and who am I to oppose!"

"That's so generous of you," Hermione cooed, "I hope to have many children, Theo and I both came from such small families, and Mitternacht is so large, I'd love to fill it with children. Having Ginevera with us is such a blessing, but she'll leave soon enough to get married herself."

"Oh, yes," Georgina said leaning in, "has she had much contact with her family?"

"You'll have to ask her, but I know that she's been taking on the Prewett mantle with gusto. I think it was quite a shock for her to find out about her paternity, but I think she's handling it in stride."

"I always knew there was something off about that Molly Prewett," Georgina smirked and Hermione was reminded of her son. "Is she like her mother?"

"I've never had the pleasure of meeting Molly Prewett, but from what Theodore says, she's more of a nurture instead of nature, I've heard that Arthur Weasley was quite kind to all of his children," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"I did always like that Arthur," Georgina trailed off. "Sorry to leave you, dear, but I've seen Lady Greengrass and I must greet her."

Do weigh in on whether you'd like once a week updates or daily once I'm caught up (which I'll really need to speed myself up if I plan on catching up before the end of summer...)

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