“I’m not prejudiced,” Aunt Muriel continued as she sipped her tea. Ron rolled his eyes as he passed Hermione a biscuit. “I’ve never - nor has any Weasley - ever had a problem with Muggleborns assimilating, and joining wizard society.” She took a bite of a biscuit.
Ron did not want to be here. He groaned and had objected to Molly Weasley’s direction that he and Hermione visit Aunt Muriel to seek her blessing of their nuptials. First, Muriel’s house was musty, cluttered with stacks of old papers, rotting parchment, and odd magical artifacts and trinkets that, frankly, scared him. When he was little, he knocked a statue off a shelf and the statue screamed at him. When he tried to put it back, the statue bit his finger which caused his hair to turn blue. What is even the pursue of an artifact like that? Second, he knew Muriel to harbor some seriously outdated notions about blood status, and he didn't want to subject Hermione to that. Third, and perhaps most importantly, he didn’t really understand the purpose. He loved Hermione, and she loved him. Why did they need Muriel’s blessing?
“It’s tradition,” Molly Weasley explained.
“Did Bill get her ‘blessing’?” Ron whined.
“Oh, you know Muriel has always had a soft spot for you, Ronald.”
“So, no, Bill didn’t,” Ron groaned. Ron thought he heard his mother mutter something about how he-knew-quite-well-that-Muriel-would-have-never-supported-marrying-a-veela under her breath but she didn’t want to have that discussion right now.
“Just do it.” Molly stated definitively. “And make sure to ask for the goblin-crafted Weasley crest for the altar. ”
…
“The Weasley name is one of the last of the great 28 pureblood lines, and there is great history attached to that. And I’d hate to see that be dissolved.” Muriel finished.
“If you don’t support a pureblood and Muggleborn marrying, how is that not prejudiced - “ Hermione countered.
“I did not say I don’t support pureblood and Muggleborn marriages,” Aunt Muriel spat. “It’s more about history, and paying homage to our heritage, and upholding that tradition,”
“By ‘upholding’” Hermione tried to interject but Aunt Muriel continued, unphased.
“William married a veela, and of course, Fleur is quite beautiful, but beauty doesn’t make up for blood status. If it did, those nasty-looking Notts would have lost their status generations ago. With Charles, Merlin knows how many halfling children he’s sired without us knowing. Percy, we all know there will be no heirs there,” Muriel smirked (Ron smirked too, Hermione slapped his hand), “George will marry Angelina Johnson, who is from a pureblood family but not a longstanding one,”
“While Augusta Longbottom and I had hoped that her grandson and Ginevra would get on, it doesn’t seem very likely. If she’s smart, Ginevra will solidify things with the Potter boy. Obviously, he’s not a pureblood and didn’t seem to bright the few times I met him, he certainly has high status now, and the Potter name does go back quite far,”
“But Aunt Muriel, is it not a bit hypocritical? I know the Malfoys and the Blacks have half-bloods in their family tree.” Ron reasoned.
“Are those the pureblood families you wish to model yourself after?” she retorted. Even Hermione laughed. “Hermione, you are a lovely girl and obviously quite bright,” Muriel sighed, “it’s just a shame to see the end of such a great history,” she sighed again. “Ronald was my best hope,”
The old witch looked deflated as she stared into her tea cup. Ron scoffed but Hermione couldn’t help but feel for the old woman. While she disagreed with everything Muriel had just said, and was repulsed by the casual use of the word halfling, Hermione knew that change - of any kind - could be disruptive, especially something so close to one’s sense of self.
Hermione didn’t know Muriel well at all. Certainly, Ron always complained about the old witch as being smelly, mean, and rude. And that the twins teased him relentlessly about being Muriel’s favorite. She used to think that was a silly joke, but hearing Muriel now, and watching how she smiled at Ron throughout this whole visit, it seemed to be true. Ron, who always saw himself as least loved and at the bottom of the Weasley ladder, was, very clearly, the apple of Muriel’s eye. That was something about Muriel that Hermione could understand.
It was all of this that, despite her awful rhetoric, led Hermione to cross the room and give Muriel a hug. Muriel was startled at first, but finally gave Hermione a few half-hearted pats on her back. Before Hermione broke the hug, Muriel whispered something in her ear. Hermione smiled earnestly and nodded in response.
Their visit concluded soon after. Muriel agreed to bless the wedding. She was a bit more hesitant to give over the Weasley crest, but eventually did on the conditions that it be returned right away and that Molly Weasley not be allowed to even lay a finger on it.
As they headed out, Ron stopped Hermione before they arrived at the apparition point in front of Muriel’s cottage.
“I’m sorry you had to put up with her,” Ron said.
Hermione shrugged.
“I’ve had worse,” Hermione half smiled. Ron looked sad.
“She really is an old hag, though.”
“You shouldn’t say that,” Hermione chastised. “She really loves you,”
Ron kicked at the dirt.
“What did Muriel ask you when she whispered in your ear anyway?” Ron asked.
“It’s not important,” Hermione waved the question away.
“Oy,” Ron grabbed her hand and grinned, “tell me!”
Hermione paused, considering if she should answer. She blushed feverishly.
“She asked if I really loved you,”