Outside the bank, Hermione stretched her arms to the sky. "Whew." She looked around the alley. "Can we go clothes shopping next? I really want to get my new school robes." She glanced with a little envy at her parents' clothes. The Slytherin shield didn't look so good on her currently very muggle clothes, and she was loathed to take off her brand-new magic ring.
Her mum chuckled. "Certainly, Hermione. I think your father and I will wander over to the Leaky Cauldron, and get some lunch. Do you think you'll be okay on your own?"
She nodded. "Yes, Mum." She hesitated before eyeing her parents. "Do you think you'll be okay on your own?"
Emma looked at Dan. "I think if we can't survive a few hours on our own in the magical world, it's better we find that out now."
Hermione nodded again, turned, and wandered down the alley until she arrived outside Madam Malkins Robes for all Occasions.
"Hello, Dearie," said a middle aged witch, upon entering. "Hogwarts is it?"
"Yes," she answered.
"Right along there then, with the young man being fitted in the back."
She wandered to the back of the shop, stepped up on the stool, and found herself facing a boy of about her own age with brown hair so light is was almost blond. It was neatly combed to the side, and he held himself with a dignity that made Hermione immediately conclude 'Pureblood'. His robes were pinned all over him. The assistant was to one side, busy taking notes.
The boy looked her over. "How do you do. My name is Justin Finch-Fletchley." He held out his hand.
Oh, Damn. Not pureblood. Hermione's mind scrabbled. Finch-Fletchley was one of the muggleborns in her year, but she wasn't supposed to be dealing with this until September the first. On the other hand, this boy practically screamed 'upper class'. If any muggleborn could take it, it would be this one.
She took his outstretched hand between thumb and forefingers, and bobbed a shallow curtsey. "Pleased to meet you. Hermione Granger, of the House of Granger, vassal of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Slytherin."
Justin raised his eyebrows at this, but quickly recovered, giving a little bow of his own.
"Ah, my apologies, I didn't realise we were 'on display' as my parents like to say."
She smiled. "In the wizarding world, you are always 'on display'."
"Is that so? I was going to Eton. Thought I'd got away from all that by coming here."
"I'm afraid not. The wizarding world has many of it's own customs and rituals, and many of them aren't well spelled out to new comers."
Justin looked uncomfortable. "You mean, I'm on display, and I don't know any of the rules?"
"Pretty much."
"I haven't already messed up talking to you have I?"
Hermione gave a winning smile. "Well, it isn't exactly polite to extend your hand to someone of higher rank. Of course, I'm not of higher rank than you, but you didn't know that. Best to wait for the introductions first before offering your hand."
"And how do you tell if someone is higher rank?"
"That's… not an easy question to answer. Best just to not offer your hand to anyone until you've learned the rules."
Justin looked back towards the assistant who was still scribbling notes. "And how do I learn the rules?"
"Well, normally your parents or a portrait would teach you."
"Portrait?"
"A moving painting, usually of one of your ancestors."
Justin gave a nervous smile. "I've got lots of paintings of my ancestors. None of them talk though."
Hermione laughed. "Well, you're doing better than me. I don't have any portraits at all. Talking or otherwise, just still photos of my grandparents, who were more likely to offer to play darts with you, than teach you etiquette."
Justin perked up. "So, your parents aren't magical?"
"Oh no. I'm muggleborn, just like you are."
Justin frowned. "Then how do you know all this?"
"When I was eight, a friend of mine happened to realise I was a witch. He's a wizard from one of the older magical families. He taught me a lot of the culture, and brought my family under the protection of one of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses." She tapped the Slytherin coat of arms on her shirt.
Justin squinted at the shield "Umm… isn't that Slytherin?"
She nodded.
"Isn't Slytherin one of the Hogwarts houses?" Justin asked. "Isn't it supposed to be really… err… evil?"
She snorted. "All the houses have a bad reputation. Gryffindor is for foolish headstrong wannabe heroes. Hufflepuff is for hardworking and loyal idiots, Ravenclaw is for antisocial and aloof nerds, and Slytherin is for backstabbing evil bar— er, people."
"Umm… wow. That's quite a summary."
"Thank you."
"… Sorry, did you say you were a vassal of Slytherin House?"
"Yes."
"You don't… we don't all become vassals of the house we join, do we?"
"Oh no, of course not. I'm a special case. My house's vassalage has little to do with the Hogwarts part of Slytherin House."
"Ahh. Good then."
A silence descended upon the pair of them while the assistant witch finished pinning her robes around her.
Justin was just finishing up. He stepped off the stool, and looked like he was about to leave, but turned back just as the assistant witch was handing him his bags. "I don't suppose you could find a way I could learn all those rules could you? I'd hate to think I was embarrassing myself."
Inside, Hermione Granger did a little, private victory jig.
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