Edited 10/2/2023 Minor Grammar/Spelling
This my 3rd tea related chapter title pun in this story... that has to be a record?
Also this is the 3/3 chapter for the day!
Thursday, September 10, 1998
Hermione woke that morning, anxious. It was the first time that Jean would be attending a Pureblood Tea. She spent a long time perfecting Jean's look and even longer directing Lulu on the placement of Jean's hair. Hermione's was redone to fall in curls instead of her more recent braids.
Finally when they were ready, they walked into the Floo room where Richard and Theo were bent together discussing another miniature model that they were planning on collaborating on involving magic.
"Don't my girls look delightful," Richard said grinning up at them.
"Hermione, this couldn't be your sister could it? I thought you were an only child?" Theo teased.
Both women rolled their eyes, but kissed their husbands, and stood in front of the Floo. "Are you sure you're ready, Mum?" Hermione asked for the millionth time.
Jean rolled her eyes at Hermione and then stood straighter taking on her Jeanette Giroux persona. "Remember that Millie will be around and you can always depend on her and come home if you're feeling even a bit tired," Theo said, holding Hermione's cheeks between his palms.
"Theo, we'll be fine, it's just Pansy and like you said, Millie will be there to watch my back no matter what," she huffed good naturedly.
"Love you," Draco hummed over the bond, "do try to have some fun at least?"
"I will, Gods, you two are acting like I'm going into battle," she huffed, "I'm 6 months pregnant. I can't imagine fighting, I just want to read a book in my pyjamas with my husbands holding me."
Tipsy, Jean's elf cleared her throat informing the group that they needed to get moving. Hermione gripped Jean's arm and they stepped into the Floo, an invisible Tipsy clinging to Jean's skirts.
When they arrived at the Parkinson's Hermione was greeted by Pansy. After the brief hug, Hermione turned to present her mother. "Pansy Parkinson, I'd like you to meet my mother, Jeanette Giroux. She's quite excited to be here, especially with the baby. We thought it was high time for her to be introduced to you all."
Pansy politely greeted Jean, who in typical fashion, pulled the girl into a hug. "I don't know why you English are so stiff," she chuckled softly to Pansy and Hermione, "I think the lot of you could do with a good hug."
Hermione hid her laugh behind the fan that she'd brought along. Pansy blinked a few times in shock and then returned Jean's hug. The next fifteen minutes were spent introducing Jean around. When they finally settled on a couch, Millie practically pounced on them. "It's so good to meet you, Mrs. Giroux," she said cheerfully.
"Have you heard about the Granger girl?" one of the ladies said, rather loudly.
"Good riddance," her companion responded with a sneer. "She was an upstart that was always in the way, wasn't she."
"The blood always outs," the first lady said with a cackle.
Hermione rolled her eyes subtly at Millie who giggled back. "Brilliant move there," she whispered, "I'm glad you're alright." After a few moments of observing the room, she continued, "Ginny has talked to old McGonagall, she's agreed to let her out for Alban Elfed for your baby shower. We thought we'd make a whole event about it, plus it shows that you're respecting the old ways when we weave in the traditions."
"Oh what do you need me to do?" Jean asked, leaning over Hermione. "I'd love to help now that I'm around."
"I'll stop by this week so we can do the planning," Millie said, "I hope it's alright if we have the event at Mitternacht? I'm going to send out the invites on Monday."
"I have some time in my calendar," Jean teased, "I'm rather pleased to be here for my daughter and my grandson." Jean lay a hand on Hermione's stomach and patted it gently.
"Come on you two," Hermione said, "we have to circulate."
The three women stood and Hermione led her mother around, pointing out different people to her. Millie made the full circle, getting stuck in a few conversations with some of her mother's friends.
As they made their way out, Millie called out to Hermione. "I've just left the loo, here are my notes," Millie whispered as she kissed Hermione's cheeks.
"You're a doll," Hermione said.
"We'll see you later this week," Jean said, hugging Millie fiercely.
When they arrived home, Hermione added her own notes to Millies and sent the letter along to Headquarters. Overall, attending these gossip sessions labelled as Tea was garnering more intel than almost all the other activities of the Order combined. Hermione grinned to herself, if you would have asked her two years ago she would have blown off such an event as superfluous, but was quickly learning just how important they actually were.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!