A Rake, A Spinster, And An Arrangement

Chapter 3 : Old Friends and New (Ep1)

When Hermione rose from her bed the next morning, she had not expected what had greeted her - Ginny, sitting on the edge of Hermione's bed, a wide grin on her face. She looked far too delighted with herself, and whatever schemes she had cooked up during the night, and it made Hermione want to bury herself back underneath all of the blankets.

"Ginny, I can't," she groaned, trying to roll over and go back to sleep, despite knowing that rolling around would surely make her hair even more of a mess than it already was.

"I told the cook to prepare extra biscuits, for all of your suitors," Ginny said with a grin. "And I sent Harry off on a whole list of errands, so that he would not be hovering nearby. It is, after all, your first time receiving suitors, and I expect the room to be full before noon."

Hermione threw the blankets off at that, one eyebrow raised as she looked at her sister-in-law. Had it finally happened? Had Ginny actually gone insane?

"Gin, I didn't dance with anyone. I barely spoke to anyone we did not already know. I merely clung to Harry all evening and did my best to not look absolutely horrified. I'll be shocked if this house even gets a nod today."

Ginny rolled her eyes, waving a hand as though dismissing all of Hermione's thoughts, and rose up from the bed, brushing out her skirt.

"Even I had a room full of suitors after my first ball, and everyone knew that Harry had already spoken to Papa before the season had even begun. You will have a number of them, I swear it. Most will likely be boys that have been dragged here by their mama, but a few will be suitable."

Hermione said nothing as Ginny began moving around the room, opening up the curtains, shifting through her wardrobe, and Hermione wondered where the maid was - ah, hovering by the door, peaking in. They were likely terrified of whatever had set Ginny Weasley Potter on a rampage.

"Out, Gin," Hermione said, tossing off her blankets completely and rising from her bed. "I shall get dressed, break my fast, and then meet you in the sitting room. We shall await whatever suitors arrive or do not arrive. And I shall eat my fill of biscuits while we are at it."

Hermione agreeing to entertain the notion seemed to be enough for Ginny, who gave her a bright smile that reminded Hermione far too much of the woman's mother. She took in a deep breath as a maid entered and Ginny left, leaving Hermione to her thoughts.

"Keep my hair down today," she said absent mindedly towards the maid. She knew it was vexing for them, but her hair was not happy after being in the odd updo the night before. "We'll just pin the front back. And after I'm dressed, ask that the stableboy prepare my horse for after lunch. I suspect I shall want to escape this house sooner rather than later."

Ginny had continued to be a bundle of energy all through breakfast, until eventually, Hermione was sitting beside her on the couch, reading through a book. It was likely not appropriate for a young Lady, which was why she had a bit of stitching on her lap. She did enjoy the stitching, but she did not see the point in having such pretty little embroiders upon everything.

Ginny was working on another piece with small delicate flowers around the hem, and Hermione knew, without asking, what it was likely to be. Ginny had been working on a variety of very small items for some time, insisting each and every time that they were for her brothers' children.

The problem was, only one was married, and he already had a number of little girls with little dresses, his wife having spent each of her pregnancies stitching away.

Hermione knew who Ginny was sewing for, and it was not her brothers.

She wanted to bring it up, to talk about it, but Harry and Ginny had only been married nine months. Why, it was entirely possible that Ginny was with child right then, although it always did take a little time to completely confirm it. She spent a bit of time watching her sister-in-law sew, watching for some bit of joy or brightness in her eyes, but all she saw was annoyance.