Most ardently by Swift Night, Chapter 23.
Once Missus Weasley recovered from Hermione's sudden
announcement, she seemed to entirely forget her past
grievances with the gentleman. Now Mr. Malfoy became the centre
of her attention and she wanted to know the details of how
Hermione had come so lucky to have secured the wizard who
owned half of Wiltshire. Having repeated the tale of
their unconventional courtship multiple times that morning, she
allowed Draco to take the lead. His version to her mother and
younger sisters was eloquent, but thankfully short, leaving
out the details that would have potentially caused the most
gossip if shared with the rest of the neighborhood.
After an hour, Mr. Sabini and Draco made their excuses and
attempted to depart. Draco found his path blocked by
her mother until he had assured the witch of his intentions to
attend their family dinner. The following day.
Hermione escaped upstairs for a brief respite to write a letter
to the Grangers and inform them of the news.
Something told her that they would likely be less surprised
by the announcement than the Weaseleys had been.
She knew they would have no objections, seeing as they had
openly expressed a fondness for the wizard during their brief
time together. When she returned to join the
others, she found her mother preparing to set off to the
village. At the witch's unrelenting
insistence, Hermione found herself accompanying her to
complete her errands. Missus Weasley was in quite a
tizzy to secure the gold fabric she'd found yesterday at the
modiste, insisting on only the best for Hermione's wedding
dress. Seeing as she had already
planned to visit the post office in the village to send a letter
to her parents, Hermione indulged her mother without any
objections. It took them twice as long as it
should have to even reach the dress shop, thanks to Missus
Weasley's overwhelming desire to stop to inform each of her
acquaintances on her engagement. Most of the Wizards and witches
in the village met the news with astonishment, though Hermione
couldn't blame them. Congratulations were offered by
everyone, and several mothers with unwed daughters hinted at
their hopes of inviting Hermione to tea to discover how she'd
snatched up one of Britain's most eligible bachelors from
under everyone's noses. In an attempt to escape the
onslaught of well wishes, Hermione momentarily snuck away
from Missus Weasley, ducking into the second hand bookshop
that was usually empty aside from the clerk.
This time, however, she encountered the very witch she
had been hoping to see. Pansy.
Hermione called out, causing her to jump in surprise and drop the
book she'd been examining. Oh Hermione, I hadn't expected
to see you here. She said without meeting her
eye. I think a bookshop would be the
most likely place to come across me.
She jested. Yes, you're right, how foolish
of me to forget your love of reading.
There was a tragic amount of sarcasm in Pansy's voice, but
Hermione thought its intention had been mostly self
deprecating. You are many things, Pansy
Parkinson, but a fool is not one of them.
Of that Hermione was certain. Why have we not seen you at the
borough? I didn't think I would be
missed. The apprehension rolling off the
witch in waves was apparent, and her heart sank when she thought
of the reason why. Pansy, please look at me.
Hermione spoke softly and waited for her to comply.
I thought we were friends and I cannot help but feel that you
are now avoiding me. Isn't that what you want?
You should hate me. Pansy insisted, her voice
growing quiet as she spoke again.
I would hate myself for what I did.
I don't hate you. You have been protecting your
brother and the advice of his closest friend.
Your intentions for your actions were done out of love and care,
not malice. She attempted to assure the
witch with a smile. Besides, it all worked out in
the end. Now that Luna and Mr. Sabini are
engaged, I am more than willing to put it behind as if you are,
at least as long as you're willing to accept that I am
marrying Mr. Malfoy. I know you had a fondness for
him. That caused the witch to let out
an involuntary snort. You think I would want to marry
Draco? Well, yes.
Hermione answered, dumbfounded by her question.
I thought it was quite clear when you raved about Malfoy
Manor and his mother in the letter you wrote me after Yule.
For such a bright witch, you've certainly missed the obvious.
Pansy shook her head, a smirk creeping across her features.
I was trying to convince you of Draco's good qualities.
I knew he was in love with you from the very beginning and as
his friend I wanted to help how I could.
Oh, you really didn't know? Pansy's tone conveyed her
disbelief. I must say, it took me quite a
while to see things clearly. She confessed.
But if that is the case, then I suppose I should thank you, even
if I failed to notice your meddling in our affairs.
Draco told me you came to the Manor.
Was the library as spectacular as I described?
Better? She replied.
I honestly believe you undersold its grandeur.
I am looking forward to my return.
It will be all yours soon. Not to mention Draco will only
want to grow the collection. With any book your heart
desires, you shall be a very happy witch indeed.
The thought brought a smile to her face and a memory to the
forefront of her mind. Mr. Knott had once told her
something similar about Draco being a doting partner, and at
the time she had scoffed at the idea.
Now it was her future, a future she wanted the witch in front of
her to be a part of. Well, you are welcome to come
visit the Manor anytime you like.
Hermione insisted. I wish I could hide out in the
country with you forever, but with Blaze getting married, I
must return to London and find myself a suitable husband.
It is time I got out of his hair and settled on my own.
Have I only recalled what Pansy had endured the last time she
was thrust into London's marriage Mart and her sympathies
went out to the witch? Perhaps.
Although if it is a husband you seek, I do have news to share.
Mr. Longbottom has returned to Ottery St.
Catchpole and accepted his invitation to the wedding.
I do believe I promised you an introduction.
Maybe a trip to London would be entirely unnecessary.
You have been engaged for a single morning and are already
attempting to play matchmaker. Pansy complained as she rolled
her eyes. I will allow an introduction,
but that is all. I make no promises to like him.
She wouldn't ask her to, but then it was nearly impossible to
not take a liking to Mr. Longbottom.
Hermione may not have fancied him, but she knew his charm had
led many of the witches to hold a soft spot for the gentleman.
Her main concern was whether he would show any interest in
Pansy. At the very least, they would
make good dancing partners. Moving on to other topics, the
witches caught upon all they had missed over the last few months.
When their mutual acquaintances were brought up, Pansy offered
another insight into her meddling.
I saw a story Aunt Daphne at Tracy's wedding last week.
I hope they are both in good spirits.
I wonder how they will fare once news of my engagement reaches
Lady Greengrass. I hope they do not blame me for
her foul temperament while she licks her wounds.
Oh, I think you'll find Astoria will be one of the first in line
to offer her congratulations and to take credit for her
contribution. Her contribution?
Yes. When I saw her in London, we
schemed on how we could reunite you and Draco.
She promised to speak with Miss Brown when she returned to
Greengrass Growth in the hopes of gaining insight on how he
could best woo you. Hermione remembered Lady
Greengrass saying to her mother that Cousin Ron and Lavender had
come by for dinner just before she'd set off to the borough,
and suddenly the missing piece of the puzzle clicked into
place. Lady Greengrass heard them
discussing it and that is how she discovered Draco had
proposed to me. Hermione said out loud as she
processed. Pansy nodded.
She wrongly assumed Miss Brown had started the rumour.
But yes, you have Astoria to thank for the cascading events
that followed. If Pansy had not told Astoria,
and Astoria had not been overheard speaking with Lavender
by Lady Greengrass, Hermione would most likely not be engaged
this morning. She made plans to write letters
to both Lavender and Astoria when she returned home to show
her appreciation for their inability to commit proper
subterfuge. Missus Weasley popped her head
into the shop a few moments later, reminding Hermione of
their busy schedule. Pansy bid her farewell and
agreed to attend tomorrow's family dinner.
With her friendship restored and a mystery solved, she left the
bookshop with a smile and the energy to endure the remainder
of the day being paraded about the village by her mother to
share the news.