A/N: The Letter Y is now officially crossed off my list of first letters to the titles of my stories. I have this crazy goal of completing all the letters of the alphabet as starting letters to my titles, and now, I only lack the letter U. By the way, I already have plans for that as well but I just need to get the right muse to start kicking in.

Before anything else, this story is a Regency AU. I love the romanticism and the subtle elegance of the customs in that period. In as much as it was rather bigotted in some instances especially with its treatment of women, the history behind that period makes for a great background of a Harmony story.

It has been a wish of mine to write a Regency AU but I never found the courage and the right muse to do so. And then, this idea came to mind. I have a lot of Works in Progress to continue but I just wanted to start this one. I just needed to get it out there, see if it makes for a decent historical period fic.

I hope you will enjoy this one. Reviews, faves, and follows are highly appreciated.

YOU'RE WORTHY OF THE POTTER NAME

By: tweety-src-clt9

Chapter One: Sirius Black's Last Prank

Tomorrow afternoon, Harry James Potter, the Duke of Gloucester and heir-apparent to the Dukedom of Cumberland, was scheduled to deliver an inspirational address to the students of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was supposed to arrive at the castle tomorrow morning but he wanted more time here due to two reasons.

The Scottish castle that was home to the young magical minds of the British Isles was now filled with layers of white cottony snow since Christmas was just a few days away. Since this was the first Yuletide season after his legendary defeat of Tom Marvolo Riddle who fancied himself to be called as the Lord Voldemort, he was asked by his favorite professor, the new headmistress, to inspire the students with a few words. This was a request that he could not deny because he loved this place and he had so much respect for the headmistress.

Hogwarts was the first place he called home, after being sent to this magical school when he was just a wee eleven-year-old. He would always thank Hogwarts for providing him a reprieve from the harsh treatment of his relatives, the Dursley family of Sussex. It was also the place where he met his most beloved friends, and so because of that, the school would always hold a special place in his heart. More importantly, he missed Minerva McGonagall, his late father's godmother, who became a grandmother figure to him ever since he reentered the British magical community. Besides, he had an ulterior motive for his earlier visit, he sought the advice of his beloved Auntie Min for a life-altering decision he had to make soon. Since his predicament needed a feminine opinion, he needed to talk to one of the witches he trusted the most, the stern yet caring transfiguration mistress, Minerva McGonagall.

As he dusted off the snow that attached to his coat after the rather long walk from his carriage at the main gates all the way up to the main door of the castle, he imagined how his Auntie Min would react to his sudden appearance. Adjusting his cravat, since she always wanted him to look like the regal lord he was born to be, he used the metal knocker on the large door to signal his presence. When the door moved to the side, he walked to the revolving staircases with a childish grin on his face. His Auntie Min could never scold him for his unexpected arrival when he was making good use of the innocent charms he inherited from his father, the late Lord James Potter, whom she loved very much.

"Lord Potter, what a pleasant surprise!" Auntie Min had a bright smile on her face as she touched a hand to her chest.

"Surprise, Auntie Min! And please, what did I tell you about those silly titles," he rolled his eyes and she frowned.

"Harry, I know how much of a humble a person you are, but as the royal wizard, our elected representative to the muggle courts, appointed no less than by the Queen herself, you should always conduct yourself in utmost decorum... Besides, the childish behavior is really unseemly with the regalia," she chastised with a look of fond exasperation.

"Oh, alright!" He sighed as he removed his top hat. As he settled his cane on an empty seat across the headmistress' desk, he once again tried to be informal. "Do you not even want to hug your favorite grandson, Auntie Min?" He pouted.

"Oh, Harry!" Auntie Min shook her head in amusement as she got out of her seat. She walked towards him and briefly hugged him from the back before she kissed the top of his head.

"There. Is that better?" Her voice was laced with fondness as she walked back to the seat behind her desk.

"Yes," he chuckled.

"So… to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence? Hogwarts must be very dear to your heart indeed, for us to warrant such an early visit from the Grand Duke himself," there was a teasing glint in her voice.

"Well Auntie Min, I was at Gringotts last week... For the reading of the late Lord Black, the Duke of Cumberland's will. Long story short, his will warrants me to wed," he started to explain.

"To wed? Hmmm… Well, it is customary for wizards of your stature to take a wife as soon as they take their lordships so I really do not see the problem," Auntie Min remarked.

"But… Oh well, I guess I should hand out the list of qualities Sirius had prescribed," he took out a copy of the list of qualities stated by his late godfather's will and handed it to his beloved aunt.

"The traits of a lady who is worthy of the Potter name… smart… yes, I agree with that one… brave… outspoken… strong-willed… kind… understanding… beautiful… these all sound very good… ah, there it is… must be a muggleborn," Auntie Min perused the rather specific list of qualities in Sirius' will.

"See Auntie Min? Where could I find such a witch? Besides, is it not very specific? It is hard enough to find a witch who just sees me for me, plain old Harry, and then Sirius comes in with his list. It is very difficult indeed to find a witch with at least a couple of those traits and then Sirius just has to demand all this," there was a tone of desperation in his ranting.

"Is there a set date of fulfillment for his bequest? And if so, what would happen if you do not meet his requirements in time?"

"Yes, there is. The will dictates I should wed on Lupercalia before I turn twenty. If not, then the dukedom of Cumberland shall go to the next in line, Draco Malfoy," he said despondently.

"I see – " the discussion was interrupted when they heard a gasp.

"Oh! I am so sorry, Professor. The door just opened for me since you summoned me at this time. I am sorry for the intrusion. I thought you were ready to see me, I did not know – " a familiar feminine voice exclaimed. When Harry turned around, he saw his best friend there. Hermione Granger – she was of mundane parents. As if everything fell into place, he had a brilliant idea.

"You may see me later, Ms. Granger. Maybe after supper," Auntie Min interrupted Hermione's apologies with a kind smile.

"Good day, Professor. Lord Harry," Hermione curtsied before she started to turn away.

"Ms. Granger!" He exclaimed. When he saw the knowing glint in Auntie Min's eyes, he smirked. It seemed that he was not the only one who understood the blessing that had befallen their discussion.

"Yes, Lord Harry?" Hermione turned to him with an expectant look. He hated the titles when he came upon them during his age of maturity. But should his plan work, maybe Hermione could start calling him Harry once again.

"I would like to discuss something with you, it is of utmost importance," he said formally but there was a kind smile on his face.

"Oh… Of course, my Lord. I shall wait for you at my favorite table in the library," Hermione said with a respectful smile before leaving the office of the headmistress. When they heard the sound of the door closing, Auntie Min gave him a challenging look.

"It seems that Sirius had a certain lady in mind, do not you think?" He mused.

"Well then, what are you waiting for, dear lad? Go to her," Auntie Min rolled her eyes.

"Should not I give her ample time to get settled first? Besides, we still have to discuss regarding my temporary sleeping arrangements here – "

"You are stalling, dear lad. Just be honest with Ms. Granger and maybe she will say yes to you. After all, you are quite the catch," Auntie Min boosted his confidence.

"Well… Hermione does not seem to be the romantic sort, is not she? Maybe she would be quite content with a reasonable partnership for marriage. Besides, if she consented to be my wife, I would never hinder her desire to progress her studies, among other passions she surely wants to apply her talents and brilliance to," he mused.

"Yes, Ms. Granger is indeed the logical sort of lady. Sure would make an excellent wife for a wizard of your stature. You do need a duchess with a brilliant head on her shoulders. That way, she could curb your penchant for random spurts of silliness and impulsiveness," Auntie Min remarked.

"Wow Auntie Min, rather harsh of you to call me out on my penchant for silliness and impulsiveness," he feigned offense.

"Oh, come now, lad! You got caught up in a lot of wild and crazy adventures during your years here. Always kept me on my toes, yes you did," this was said with fond exasperation.

"In my defense, it was due to some silly chaos brought about by Voldemort, hence, my impulsive response," he retorted smartly which made the stern professor laugh.

"Touché lad! Touché!"

"While this tete-a-tete about my misadventures is rather enjoyable, I do have pressing matters to attend to," he said gallantly.

"You know Harry, you may get the hang of this whole Grand Duke business," Auntie Min teased.

"Well, I am supposed to do so, right?"

"Do you reckon that was enough stalling already?"

"Auntie Min!" He whined.

"Off you go, Lord Potter! Just remember, be honest and be yourself. If Ms. Granger says yes, then well and good. Otherwise, well, we could always find another lady who fits the traits worthy of the Potter name. In as much as I am fond of the late Duke of Cumberland, this bequest from Sirius is indeed in his nature. That blasted Black family and their Slytherin cunning," Auntie Min ended her statements with a forlorn sigh. He knew how much she cared for his godfather as well.

"Yes, well, that is Sirius Black indeed," he remarked.

"Well then, Harry, I could only wish you good luck. I do hope Ms. Granger accepts your hand. I reckon she would make you an excellent wife." Auntie Min stood up from her seat once again. He too got out of his seat before he fetched his cane and top hat.

"Thank you, Auntie Min, for the enlightening conversation," he emphasized the word since it was his aunt's summons of Hermione which gave him this idea.

"Of course, Harry. I assume you will help yourself find some temporary quarters in time for tomorrow's yule speech?"

"Yes, Auntie Min. I can take care of myself. I do know a lot about this castle," he smirked.

"As cheeky as those silly Marauders. You will make a fine Grand Duke indeed, Lord Harry Potter," his aunt said as she patted his shoulder.

"Well then my beloved aunt, I am off to seek a fair maiden's hand in marriage," he said as he wore his top hat.

"You could tone down the gallantness. Try for a 'just Harry' approach on Ms. Granger," Auntie Min grinned at him. With a respectful nod to his aunt, he exited the office of the headmistress. Once outside Auntie Min's office, he removed his invisibility cloak from his waistcoat's inner pocket, unshrunk it, before he wrapped it over himself to conceal his presence. The students need not know of his early arrival at Hogwarts.

As he made his way down the stairs toward the first-floor corridor that led to the large library of Hogwarts, his mind was busy thinking about ways he could explain his proposal and intentions to Hermione Jean Granger, the most brilliant witch Hogwarts had ever seen in so many years. Hermione, his best friend, who he wanted to have as his Lady Potter because really, where else could he find a witch who crossed every item on Sirius' detailed list?

So, with a heart that was heavily pounding inside his chest, he walked towards the library with a look of sheer determination and resolve. He must secure Hermione Granger's hand in marriage because no one else would ever do. Besides, marrying one's best friend seemed like a fantastic idea. At least he would not be awkward with Hermione as his wife since she already knew him and he also understood her at a deeper level than he did most people.

Harry found Hermione there in a hidden corner of the library, a place he was very familiar with since he used to study with her in this exact same place along with an unwilling Ron during their Hogwarts years.

As they got older, people started to gossip about how inappropriate it was for a young unmarried witch to spend most of her time with young unattached wizards. They used to laugh it off as children but when they hit the age of fifteen, they started noticing that it was rather upsetting for Hermione to get judged as some sort of loose woman because her best friends were blokes. He tried talking her out of his company once in their fifth year, just so he could help preserve her reputation but she would not have it. His fifth year was one of the worst times of his school years with the terror that was Madam Umbridge or toad face to their little trio. So, Hermione insisted that she did not care about the rumors and that she would always give him her support because that was what best friends did for each other.

Hermione had always been so loyal to him. She had never wavered in her friendship and support of him. When Ron got furious with him because of his unexpected entry to the Tri-Wizard Tournament in their fourth year, Hermione had always been there for him despite getting dragged into the mud herself. In their fifth year, when she got called out for her spending too much time with him and Ron, she merely ignored the rumors and she helped him to organize Dumbledore's Army instead. When Sirius died at an ambush towards the end of his fifth year, Hermione was the one who comforted him despite being severely injured herself due to his refusal to listen to her logical arguments about the validity of his Voldemort-induced visions. He could not even begin to describe how grateful he truly was for her presence in his life during his quest for the Horcruxes. While it was only him, Ron, and Remus who went on that unpleasant and dangerous trip, Hermione was with them every step of the way through the communication mirrors that the Marauders had invented. The research Hermione provided for them while she hid in the Room of Requirement with her parents was very vital in their success in destroying Voldemort's horrible soul pieces. Not only that, the list of special wards and the enchanted beaded purse she created, helped them in their journey very much.

The world considered him, Ronald Weasley, and Remus Lupin as the main heroes of the second Voldemort wars. To him though, Hermione Granger was an even bigger hero because, despite the double standard on witches, she did her best to help them along the way. Not only that, her spells, her research, her bag with the undetectable extension charms, along with her other efforts, were the things that sustained them and pushed them further in their journey. So, when the heroes were acknowledged, he demanded that Hermione would be given equal shares with the ones he, Ron, and Remus had received but the ministry did not agree. They used the argument that should they divulge the real extent of Hermione's efforts, it would be detrimental for her in the long run because no self-respecting wizard would want a wife that had the makings of a shrew. His blood boiled at the thought when he remembered that petty excuse. Even now, his magic would still ripple in furious energy as he recalled just how much she was discarded, not only because she was a witch, but also a muggleborn at that. He intended to rectify this situation as he promised to be an advocate for gender equality and the eradication of pureblood supremacy in Britain through the use of his influence as the Grand Duke along with his voting rights in the Wizengamot under the Potter Seat. Also, if he would be able to fulfill the bequest in time, then he would also have control of the Black Seat which would grant him more votes to support his stand on these pressing issues on bigotry.

Hermione must have sensed his presence since she finally looked up from the book she was reading. She tucked a stray curly ringlet behind her ear before she greeted him with a kind smile, "Hello Lord Harry." He loved the way her hair always seemed to be wild and difficult to contain in the typically elegant coiffures that was the fashion of the ladies these days.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Granger," he said formally as he bowed while removing his top hat in a gesture of respect.

"Good afternoon, my Lord," Hermione stood up from her seat and gave him a curtsy.

"Hermione, I need to tell you something of utmost importance," he stated as he gestured to the bench across from her. When she nodded, he placed his cane and top hat on the space that was not covered by her books before he sat down.

"Is something the matter, my Lord?"

"That! That is the problem! I miss you calling me by my first name," he exclaimed.

"Lord Harry, you know how people will talk. Maybe when you weren't the Grand Duke yet, they could let it pass. But now, with your appointment from the Queen, I could not call you anything else. I am sorry," she explained.

"I know and there is nothing we could do about that… Except for maybe one thing," he hinted his intent. Hermione Granger was the brightest witch of the age so she surely would catch on.

"Oh? What is it?" She averted her gaze as he noticed her cheeks were flushed.

"Ms. Granger, will you do me the great honor of consenting to be my wife? Will you marry me?" He said in all seriousness. Hermione's reaction was rather funny if only he were not anxious about her answer. Her chocolate brown eyes widened in surprise and her jaw dropped.

"Pa – pardon me?" She muttered after a short moment of silence.

"Hermione, will you spend the rest of your life with me? As my wife?" He said in earnest as he gently reached out for her hand.

"I am truly confused… Harry, I – why me?" She whispered.

"I have to get married Hermione if I wish to claim the Dukedom of Cumberland, Sirius' domain. If I would not be married by the Lupercalia on my twentieth birthday then I would lose the Black wealth to Draco Malfoy," he told her the truth. She was quiet once again as she processed this information.

"Hmmm… I understand your predicament. The desire to not give the Malfoys more ammunition to bully their way in wizarding society once again. In this matter, I totally agree, but Harry… why me?" Her eyebrows were furrowed as she adapted a pensive look on her face.

"There's a list, Hermione. A list of traits that Sirius deemed to be a necessity for the next Lady Potter," he said as he removed the list from his pocket. He handed it to Hermione and her eyes were immediately glued to the list.

Come on, Hermione… Please say yes, say you will marry me, he thought as he felt his palms were starting to get sweaty as he waited for any sign of acceptance or rejection from her.

"Harry… this list. It is very overwhelming. I do not think I qualify," she blushed even more. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. Hermione Granger was a very modest person that the only compliment she usually accepted was regarding her brilliance or some other academic talent.

"Hermione, do not be coy. I would not ask you for this great favor if I knew that you did not qualify," he insisted.

"But I only have the muggleborn and the smart requirement crossed out," she denied and he chuckled.

"What shall I do for you to accept that you are everything described on that list, along with many other excellent qualities," he said sincerely but he was certain there was a tinge of amusement in his eyes.

"I – But I, er – well – "

"Hermione, please… Marry me. I need you. I promise that you would not want for anything if you consented to be my wife… Besides, you know me. I would support your dreams and your plans… I would never restrain you at the manor… You will always be treated like an equal and – "

"People would expect you to choose someone better, Harry," she said shyly.

"Tell me then. Who else is there?"

"Ginny Weasley."

"Pureblood."

"Er, what about Sally-Ann Perks?" She tried again.

"She was rather cowardly when she escaped Hogwarts in our third year. Besides, who knows where she is," he retorted.

"I – er – "

"Hermione, please… I need you," he begged.

"But what about love, Harry? Do not you want to be married to a woman that makes your heart flutter? Some beauty that you could never tire seeing on your arm when you attend balls and soirees? What about that?" There was a sad tone in her voice as she said that.

"Are you… in love with someone else? Is that it?" He mentally cursed himself for not thinking about the possibility that she was in love with someone else.

"Er, well, no… Of course, not!" She turned crimson as she said that. It was rather adorable, the way her cheeks were tinged red that it brought out the pale color of her skin. The blush on her face actually made her eyes and her dark hair pop out beautifully and it truly made her look well, ethereal.

"Are you sure?" He teased.

"Of course! I am just focused on my studies, that is all," she denied vehemently.

"Alright, Hermione… If you say so," he shrugged. He had a gut feeling that she fancied someone but she just did not want to tell him. Oddly enough, the thought that she liked some other bloke, more than she liked him, irked him to no end. He tried his best to rein in his temper since she did not have to know about his inner musings.

"Harry… do not you want a marriage that was like your parents? Everyone also said that Lady Lily and Lord James were the perfect couple because they were so in love with each other… You do not wish that for yourself?" She was gazing intently into his eyes as she said that.

"I do not have the luxury of time to fall in love, Hermione… Besides, witches here just see the mighty slayer of Voldemort… No one else but you see me for me, just Harry… Also, I feel for you deeply, that is a good enough start to a marriage, do not you agree?" When her eyebrows furrowed in contemplation, and she had a faraway look on her face, he could feel that he was slowly breaking down her resolve. Come on, Hermione… Marry me…

"Harry, look at me…" She whispered as her eyes were focused on her joint hands that she placed on top of the book she read. It was clear that she was very nervous about this conversation.

"Oh, believe me, Hermione, I am," his eyes were devouring her face and her hair. He did not dare to let his eyes wander below her neck because it would not be appropriate. Maybe when she marries me, I could look at her to my eyes content…

"Harry…" Her voice was whiny despite her breathlessness.

"What?" He chuckled.

"Stop looking at me like that," she admonished.

"Like what?" He said with an eyebrow raised.

"Like… like… I do not know… like you want to marry me or something," she shrugged.

"Oh, but I do want to marry you… or something," he smirked and her eyes widened at his blatant staring.

"Harry! Stop it!" She was aghast. In the many years of their friendship, he had never been as brazen as he was being right now.

"Marry me, Hermione… Please… I need you," he pleaded.

"If… If I say yes, when should you wish to get married?" She glanced at him before her eyes were glued on her hands once again.

"Lupercalia, of the coming year," he stated.

"But that… Lupercalia is on the fourteenth of February!"

"Why? Is there a problem with that?"

"I finish school in the first week of June… If I marry you, then that would mean that I – well, you would be without a wife for four months," she turned beet red now.

"You could go home to Potter Manor every day. We just have to set it up to the floo network," he grinned.

"Oh…right. You have a point," she murmured.

"So… any other reservations my Lady?"

"I… my parents… they do not know – "

"As soon as you say yes, I would immediately pay your father a visit," he reassured her.

"Harry… are you really sure about this?" This time she looked at him so she could see how serious he was about this.

"I – yes, yes of course. There is no other witch who could do this with me… I promise to make you happy, Hermione, if you will let me…"

"I – could you give me a few minutes to think about this?"

"Of course, my Lady," he gave her an understanding smile.

"Thank you," she replied and then she turned away from him as she adapted a determined look on her face. He smiled fondly at the sight. Trust his best friend to always way the pros and cons of every situation. She would indeed make an excellent wife… Every inch worthy of the Potter name, just as Sirius had implied.

Since Hermione was lost in her thoughts, she did not even notice that he stood up from his seat and walked towards an empty alley of books on Defense Against the Dark Arts. Whispering his head elf's name, "Dobby," the overly excitable house-elf popped in quietly.

"What can Dobby do for Grand Duke Potter?" Dobby said with a respectful bow. He internally winced at the address. He thought that Dobby calling him as Master Harry was bad, but when he got his new appointment from the Queen, it got even worse with the elf's insistence to address him as the Grand Duke Potter. He knew that it brought his elves happiness to be of service to the highest-ranking wizard in all of the British Isles but he still did not understand the unnecessary adulation.

"Hello, Dobby. Could you please pick up the Potter family engagement ring from the family vaults?" He whispered to the elf.

"Oh! Grand Duke Potter be asking Miss Miney to be his Grand Duchess! Dobby and the elveses be so happy!" Dobby said with excitement.

"Er, yes. But please do lower your voice, Dobby," he lightly admonished.

"Dobby be fetching the ring, Grand Duke Potter, sir!" With that statement, Dobby popped away. Not more than five minutes later, Dobby popped in and gave him a red velvet box. When the elf disappeared once again, he opened the box to check on the family ring that had been used by the Potter family for so many generations. The ring had an elaborately large ruby at the center and it was surrounded by tiny diamonds. The ruby was set on a thin band of gold that was engraved with the Potter coat of arms on the inside. I hope Hermione would like this one, he thought as he closed the box and walked back to where his intended bride was still busy contemplating the ramifications of marrying him.

Since he wanted to give Hermione a semblance of the romance that she obviously desired, even if she would not admit it, he quietly got down on one knee and waited for her to realize that he was just there waiting for her to say yes. She was murmuring something that he could not really understand and he grinned at that. There was something so Hermione about the way she processed her thoughts to herself as if she were memorizing spells and information in her head. When he chuckled in amusement, Hermione gasped as she turned around to face him.

"Hello, Hermione," he said with a bright smile.

"Hi…"

Clearing his throat, he gently held her left hand as he looked into her eyes. "Hermione Granger, you have been my best friend ever since our first year at Hogwarts. You have been with me in every single journey despite all the bigotry, the rumors, and trials that hinder women to take part in things deemed only suitable for men. Hermione, there is no other woman, witch or muggle, quite like you... And I know, that I would be the happiest of men, if you consent to spend the rest of your life with me, as an equal, as my wife, as my Grand Duchess... Hermione, will you marry me?" His voice cracked at the sincerity of his feelings. It was weird that he had never told her how much she had always meant to him but when he started speaking, the words just flowed from his heart and into his mouth.

"I – I do not know what to say," she whispered as she blinked to prevent herself from tearing up.

"Please say yes… say you will marry me, come on Hermione…"

"Okay," she whispered before she nodded her head.

"Yes?" He prodded.

"Yes, my Lord. I will marry you," her voice was more audible this time around.

"Thank you," he was teary-eyed himself as he pressed his lips against her knuckles. He inserted the ring on her finger before he slowly stood up while his eyes never drifted away from her face. Hermione stood up as well and they were about to embrace each other when they heard a noise from above them. When they saw Peeves the poltergeist hovering over, they winced.

"Oh! What do we have here… Potty and Miss Grangy… getting married! The school must know," Peeves had a mischievous glint in his eyes as he started screaming all over the library.

"So much for making it private for now," he whispered to Hermione.

"I should have brought you to the heads common room instead," she mused. Students started running toward their hidden corners of the library.

"And have them more scandalized?" He joked.

"Oh god! Do I really have what it takes to deal with the commotion of your adulating public every single day?" She sighed.

"No changing your mind, my Lady," he retorted.

"Of course, not! I am a woman of my word. It is just, this is so overwhelming," she whispered close to his ear. Her breath was teasing on his skin and it made him feel hot, so he cleared his throat.

"Let me escort you back to your common room, that way, you could get away from prying eyes. I will tell Auntie Min to have your dinner brought to you in your private quarters... And then I shall go to your father," he informed her of his plans.

"Good luck," she teased and he started to feel nervous about the prospect of facing her father. Holding her hand, he flicked his wand so he could pack up her things. He then escorted her back to her private dormitories as they both tried to ignore the stares and the murmurs that followed them.

"This is my stop," Hermione gestured to the main entrance to the head's dormitory that she shared with the Head Boy, Lord Neville Longbottom.

"I shall see you tomorrow, my Lady," he kissed the back of her hand.

"Harry…" She blushed.

"What? It is proper you know," he teased as he let go of her hand.

"Well… Off you go," she said with a shrug. He only shook his head to mean no.

"You go in first," he pointed to her door. Hermione only rolled her eyes at that. Like him, she too did not care much for the lavish protocol on propriety but they were forced to comply.

"My Lord," Hermione curtsied to him.

"My Lady," he winked and the last thing he saw was the adorable flush in his intended's cheeks. I guess I should thank that old dog Sirius for his meddling… Marrying Hermione seems to be a promising adventure, he thought as he walked back towards Auntie Min's office.

After briefly discussing his plans to his beloved aunt, he winced as he forgot to tell Hermione a very important detail. Sirius demanded for him to get married in a ritual wedding.

Ritual weddings demanded of the couple to consummate the marriage after the act of the binding itself, hence, they were done in private after the lavish wedding ceremonies and the reception. He gulped. How should he talk Hermione into not changing her mind given the very stringent request about the immediate consummation of their marriage due to the ritual? Oh Sirius, you meddling Marauder...

A/N: I do believe that my vocabulary is not fancy enough to fit this period but well, I tried my best. So, what do you think?