Chapter 5 - Tea Time

Chapter 5 – Tea Time

Severus knew it was early, but he had to talk to his 'fiancée.' He had spent all of last night trying to figure out a way to get back to his beloved dungeons. All he got for his attempt was a headache and severe indigestion at the thought of having to marry Little-Miss-Sunstroke, or was that Sunshine? As soon as it was socially acceptable, he headed for the Malfoy home. Before he knew it, he was seated at the breakfast table with Lucius, Narcissa and Draco.

"What are you doing here?" He looked up to see a very tired and grumpy looking Hermione enter the dining room. It did not look like she had gotten any more rest than he had. She had dark shadows under her eyes and a sullen expression on her face.

"Hermione!" Narcissa was shocked that her beloved daughter would speak to her future husband in such a fashion.

"No warm, morning greeting for your very handsome brother or dashing fiancé? We sure woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, didn't we? I thought you would be positively glowing; after all, you are going to marry the greatest catch of the season," Draco tutted as he started eating his second helping of buttered eggs.

"Tea." Hermione slumped in the first available chair. She could do nothing more than glare at Draco. Severus was highly amused watching her adjust to a warm and loving Malfoy family. He was finding it a little unsettling himself, but he had always considered them friends and so was not as uncomfortable as her. He was glad she was as comfortable with her new family as he was with his. Serve her right for thinking that Harry was a better brother than Draco, he thought.

"Cheer up, Hermne. You really need to become more of a morning person," Draco said as he reached over and ruffled his sister's hair. Hermione gritted her teeth and wished for her wand. Why does he have to be so happy? Oh, that is right, he doesn't have to get married to HIM! she grumped to herself.

"Please stop calling me that! Why do you insist on using that awful name?" Hermione said before she could stop herself.

Draco smirked before answering, "Well, I believe I have called you that since we were about three. The fact that it irritates you just adds to my pleasure in using that cute little name."

"Children, that is enough. Draco, please leave your sister alone. It is undignified to call your sister Hermne now that she is about to be married. Hermione, dear, do not slouch. It is bad for the posture. When you are a duchess, you will have to remember a lady never slouches." Narcissa looked at her daughter fondly and went back to reading her papers. She was used to their frequent arguing and had become quite good at stopping it before all out war was declared.

"Good morning, poppet." Lucius dropped an affectionate kiss on his daughter's brow as he got up from the table.

Hermione watched him leave the room in stunned silence. He couldn't have just kissed me! She looked over at Severus and saw his amused smirk.

Hermione ground her teeth together and drank her tea. She made a mental note to visit her parents' dental practice as soon as she got back to Hogwarts. She was starting to have a very real fear for the condition of her teeth. Feeling somewhat better after her first cup of tea, she turned to Severus. "I am glad you are here. We need to go over the 'wedding plans' and a couple of ideas that I had last night."

"Ahhh, Hermione, that reminds me, I think we will start shopping for your wedding trousseau today. Of course, we also have calls to make this morning, and then we must start planning for your wedding. Are you listening to me?"

Hermione turned her head and noticed Narcissa, her mother, frowning at her from her place at the table. "I was hoping to talk to His Grace since he is here," Hermione trailed off upon seeing the look on her mother's face. "I am sorry... Mother. I am sure that will be fine. I had asked Ginny and her mother to tea later today. Will that be all right?" Hermione was relieved that calling her Mother was the correct form of address. She would have hated to have had to call her Mama.

"Yes, I will extend a formal invitation this morning. Your Grace, if it is possible, please join us for tea. You and Hermione may discuss your plans then. We really do need to get started on the wedding planning and wardrobe," Narcissa said apologetically.

Severus agreed and went to join Lucius in his study. The latter claimed he needed to discuss the various terms of the contract they had signed. The last thing Severus wanted to do was spend his morning shopping for clothes. The thought alone caused him to feel nauseous. He hoped that Hermione was not one of those girls who enjoyed frequent shopping; of course, if she did, he could always send Potter with her.

Later that day, Draco escorted his sister into the sitting room while Narcissa dressed for afternoon tea.

"I do not think that Mother found that in the least amusing, Hermne."

"I do not care, Draco. I cannot believe that anyone can be that... that... ignorant! Don't they know what those things do to a person's body?" Hermione was in an extremely bad mood. She had endured numerous fittings and measurements at the dressmakers today.

She had helped Narcissa pick out five new gowns, various undergarments and matching hats. She had even picked out nightwear that the seamstress assured her was the current rage. Hermione prayed that she would have found a way back home before the wedding night, as she knew she would die of mortification if Severus ever saw her in them. She drew the line, however, at the mention of a corset. They were starting to come back into fashion, and she had had a tremendous row in the shop with Narcissa. Her mother and the seamstress were both determined that she should start wearing them. Hermione was just as adamant about not wearing them.

"What does what to a person's body?" asked a lazy voice from the deep recesses of the sitting room.

"Severus, hope your day was pleasant," Draco greeted Severus with a warm handshake.

"I was subjected to a fitting for my wedding trousseau, which included a corset!"

"Really, how intriguing. Do you have one to model?" Severus could not stop himself from asking. The thought of his future bride in a corset gave him a rather warm tingle, which surprised him. Hermione rewarded him with a deep blush and a look that could have sent him to St Mungo's. Before she could retort, Narcissa sailed into the room.

"How nice of you to join us, Your Grace," she simpered. "Hermione, darling, would you please ring for tea?"

Ginny, Ron and Molly arrived shortly before the tea was brought in. The four women fell to discussing the wedding details and, of course, the latest fashions. The men moved to the other side of the room and discussed horses and hunting.

Throughout tea, Severus watched Hermione closely. He was intrigued by how content she seemed in her new surroundings. She was neither as upset nor as hysterical as he was afraid she would be considering her tender years. She was actually pleasant to talk to and was not at all as bossy, nor did she act like a know-it-all as she did at Hogwarts. Her clothes were a definite improvement. He wondered if she would occasionally wear the gauzy gowns once they got back to their own time. Who would have thought she had such a nice, trim figure under those robes?

As for himself, he was starting to relax and enjoy the new environment he found himself in. He did not have to deal with annoying students or professors. He could say and do things that he would not normally do back at Hogwarts. Deep inside, he grudgingly admitted that he enjoyed the respect and camaraderie that he received. A small, very small, part of him also enjoyed having friends and family that supported and accepted him. He did try to be less critical and disapproving of these people. It took a bit of effort on his part to bite back his sarcastic comments, but the more he relaxed, the easier it became. He just had to figure out how to avoid marrying Hermione.

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Author's Notes: Many thanks to Tinnadawg for being such a wonderful beta!