Soul Bonds & Dance Cards
March 14th, 1797
Hermione,
I have seen to it that Narcissa received the gift from her sister. She was most shocked, and I imagine that she misses Andromeda greatly.
Many suitors have approached her recently, especially with the upcoming Spring Equinox Ball. Many others such as myself, are yet to receive any favorable requests from suitors. I will be attending the Equinox Ball with my brother, as he is yet to find a lady that catches his eye.
We both know that any courtship pairs formed at the Ball are held in high regards and likely end in marriage. I for one, cannot fathom essentially choosing a husband less than a month into the season. Even the four months we spend in London does not seem enough time to do so.
I will write you soon after the ball, there is much to be done before than.
Missing you dearly,
Lily Jade Greengrass
House of Greengrass
..........
March 16th, 1797
Hermione clutched at the letter in her hands, grateful for the news she received from her friend.
Narcissa’s acceptance of the gift had indicated a desire to reconnect with her elder sister, which was news that Andromeda would be elated upon hearing.
Deciding it would be best to pen Lily later, she placed the letter from her friend in a desk drawer.
The days had been slow since Lily’s departure, and Hermione had returned to her childhood habit; hiding away with a book.
To her surprise, she had not been the only one to resort to childhood habits. Severus, while frequently at the Potter manor, was too engrossed with furthering his potion studies in the absence of their redheaded counterpart.
With the active season calling eligible young men and women into London, there was little to do outside of one’s home. While she and James attended dance lessons weekly, all other time was spare.
After reading the letter from Lily, she resumed her usual daily routine and headed straight to the library.
A bit of wandering while looking for a new book led the bushy haired witch to a secluded part of the library, the smell of cigarettes in the air causing her nose to wrinkle.
In the two years since the Potter family had taken in Sirius, they all had frequently stumbled upon the young man smoking cigarettes in the oddest of places. On occasion, James or Peter would be found with him.
It was beyond Hermione’s comprehension as to why he could simply not quit, or at the very least smoke away from the extremely valuable knowledge contained in the family library.
Turning around the corner, she held her wand arm up, anticipating that she would be vanishing a cigarette once again.
Rather than finding Sirius smoking alone in the library, this time he was sat on the floor with Remus, moping as they passed a shared cigarette between themselves.
She had never seen Remus smoking before.
Wand still in hand, she stood before the two.
“Put the damn thing out and start smoking outside boys. Some of us like our books free of smoke damage, thank you very much.”
With a shrug, Remus wandlessly vanished the cigarette. “Bad habit to pick up anyway, I suppose. I blame Pads here for getting me into smoking the bloody things.”
Returning her wand to its normal place in her tied up hair, Hermione reached her hands out to help the two boys up only to be pulled down to sit between them.
For a while they sat in silence, until Remus returned to reading the book he had placed in his lap and Hermione eyed the title curiously.
“Why, pray tell, are you reading a book on soul ties and soul bonds?”
A furious blush flashed across Remus’ lightly scarred face as he raised a hand to his hair. His silence led Sirius to speak in his stead.
“Why it’s obvious of course, we think Remus and I are soul bonded, mates, courtesy of his wolf.”
Hermione almost felt that she should have been more surprised at statement that fell from his lips, but she wasn’t.
Out of all of James’ friends, the two of them had always been oddly close; even more so since Sirius had taken up full time residence in the Potter Manor.
“I’d love to see the look on Walburga’s face when she finds out. I imagine she’ll blast your old spot on the tree, just for good measure.” Hermione spoke, almost laughing before her voice took on a more solemn tone.
“I wont tell if you don’t want anyone to know. But at least talk to mum? I’m sure that she’d be able to help you learn about the bond.”
The two nodded in a silent response.
She removed her hands from her lap, taking Sirius hand in one and Remus’ in the other. Giving them a quick squeeze, she began to stand up before looking back down at the two boys once more.
“Soul bonds are a beautiful thing, and most believe it to be the highest blessing of magic. Don’t be afraid of it. Nurture it. That is all I know, and all I can help you with.”
Parting ways, her search for a book long forgotten, she to her room, penning a short response of her thanks to Lily before readying for bed.
After handing the letter off to her owl, settling into bed took a bit of time that night.
..........
March 22nd
Hermione,
After the Ball yesterday evening, I’m convinced that mother and father care not about whether I find a suitor. The whole night was spent with them pestering poor Sebastian to speak to the female Burke heir, as she is in her second season and is a fair prospect for a wife and Lady Greengrass.
Narcissa was escorted to the ball by Sirius’ younger brother last night, I imagine since he will be properly involved with society soon enough. Most of the night though, he spent glaring at Lord Lucius Malfoy. Word is he is in very active pursuit of her hand, and has been since she was announced the Diamond.
I would pass the news along to Andromeda, before anything comes to fruition or before Rita bloody Skeeter hears about it.
As expected, my name card for the dance remained half empty last night. I’ve put forth such little effort thus far this season, and plan to continue to do so to come home to you and the boys.
Regards,
Lily Jade Greengrass
House of Greengrass
..........
April 1st
Lily,
I’ve been waiting so long for your letter regarding the ball, it only just arrived this evening.
James has already set out with Sirius to deliver the news to Meda, I’m sure she will be grateful for the update regarding her sister’s suitors.
Have you seen Regulus at any other events since the ball? I can’t imagine that his family would try to have him find a wife this season, when he himself is not yet of age. Sirius seems to think differently though, and he would know more than I.
As always, it’s quite dull around here. If the next three months are anything like this past month has been, I may go mad due to boredom before you return.
I urge you to keep up with whatever it is you’re doing to keep away suitors. I’m afraid though when you return with me next year to London, that you may have to deal with James filling your dance card. Better my brother than some random old bloke.
Sending you my best,
Hermione Jean Granger-Potter
House of Potter
..........
Lily’s letter had come with proper warning, and within the week of passing the news along to Andromeda, word of a courtship between Lucius and Narcissa had been printed in the society papers.
By the end of April, the pair had been photographed exchanging private gifts of courtship, indicating their intentions for one another.
As the season reached its peak, news of betrothals began printing in the society sections daily. Some of the matches like Alice Fortecsue and Frank Longbottom, were clear love matches. Others, such as Sebastian Greengrass and Melanie Burke, fell more into the familial alliance category.
The last day that Lily had been able to write to Hermione was the day before her brother’s official betrothal.
News of her brother’s engagement had left her hopeful that she would end the season without an engagement of her own.
But as the season went on, her letters became shorter and further apart.
Every day that Lily went unheard from, Hermione found herself scanning the papers or the society section for mention of her dearest friend.
Every day, there was no mention of Lily Jade Greengrass.
At the end of May, a piece was published announcing the engagement between Lord Lucius Malfoy, and Narcissa Black. They were to wed shortly after the season’s end, sometime in August.
Their engagement had been the most anticipated of the season, and the couple became the main feature of the Daily Prophet through the end of the season.
It was the end of June, when the Potter’s floo roared to life, and Lily stepped through as a still unmarried woman, eager to share her tales of London with her second family.