Wedding Season

Hogwarts. 7th year. 

"What?"

"Didn't realize you were a hypocrit, Malfoy!"

"You're insane!" And with that Draco turned on his heel and stomped away. 

"Me?" Harry shouted at his retreating back. Draco didn't turn back.

Harry continuted his way to this dorms for one of the last times lauging all the way. Keeping in mind he was more than halfway back from the library by then anyhow. He reached the portrait as one of the first years exited.  He nodded his head to her before climbing through.  He immediately made his way to the fireplace where his friends were already seated.

"You guys are never gonna believe what Malfoy just said to me. It's freaking hilarous." 

"I didn't realize you and Malfoy were buddy buddy," Hermioned smiled. 

Harry's face fell, "That's not funny. Not funny at all."

"Anyhow, he was running thourgh the hall and nearly smacks into me then he starts shouting about me being a lucky ward.  He called me a Pop-Tart!" 

Neither Hermione nor Ron laughed. 

"Guys, he called me a Pop-Tart! Malfoy. Hello? Malfoy made a muggle reference..." Still no reaction. "Guys?" Harry went to snap his fingers in fornt of Ron's face, but immediately Hermione grabbed his hand and began to giggle.  Ron burst into laughter. "Took you long enough." Harry smiled.

"We're... not lauging... at Malfoy," Ron gasped.

"We're laughing ... at you!" Hermione finished for him. 

"You should see your face," Ron continued to laugh.

Harry was dumbfounded; and he looked it. He grumbled, "I thought it was funny." He moved to leave the room.

"Wait! Wait! I'll stop laughing in a moment!" Ron exclaimed. "It's just that you are so oblivious."

"It's not funny!"

"Okay, Harry." Hermione finally decided to explain. "That is not the type of pop tart he meant."

"What else could he be talking about." Harry received stares. 

"Are you being serious, Harry?" Ron inquired. "Oh my! He's serious, 'Mione!"

"Obviously, I'm not even in this converstation." Harry slumped back into his seat.

"Well, Harry in the magical world there is a term made up by some rebellious youth, pop tart." 

"Slang, Oh. So..."

"Basically, he called you a ... player?" Perhaps Hermione should never be allowed to explain slang, it's like the librarian exlpaining anatomy using only crude terms. 

"'Mione, you realize that's not an insult, yeah?"

"I know that a player is!" 

"I don't, but this conversation is much better this way." Ron chimed in.

"Are you saying he complimented me in some sick demented way?"

"Well, coming from Malfoy it's ... probably frustration..."

"He was yelling." Harry added.

"Haha! Malfoy was talking to himself."

"It's not funny Ron, I mean with how strict his parents are." Hermione had 'that look' about her. "Must be awful, this being the last year of schooling... and his the first official season." 

"Are you feeling sorry for the ferret! I think you forget you need human emotions to be upset about something—"

"RONALD!"

"Guys, you've lost me again."

"Harry! This girls thinks the ferret has feelings!"

"I got that Ron, but what season are you guys talking about... because I thought they were all official before this one." They really had lost Harry.

"Weddnig season, Harry." Ron iterated. Didn't seem as if that helped.

"The first one is this winter break. Purebloods are often still very firm in the traditions, they are usually the only ones that attend the first one. And by the end of the summer, they will all either be married or planning a grand wedding." 

"You do realize you are speaking gibberish to me, yes?"

"Harry. Remember ... Oh. No."

"What?"

"I told you. I told you to take the Muggle Studies course with me, but noooo. You thought it was ridiculous.  'Too many courses, Hermione' you said. 'No need to learn about a life you had for eleven years.' Now look who'sin trouble." Hermione was in rant mode. 

"3 seconds, Hermione." 

"1... 2... 3... Okay, regrouped. Muggle Studies is the only class I know at Hogwarts that compares traditions from the muggle and magical world.  Such as marriage. In the muggle world only certain religions believe in arranged marriages and they are now accomodating to the modern world. In the magical world arranged marriages are as common as can be, they are not only traditional or custom... they are the law. At the weakest, due to changing times, an arranged marriage is a relationship that is formally consented upon by all parents and guardians involved.  At it's strongest it includes coming out parties, negotiations among parents and guradians and little to no input from the intended." 

Harry was silenced.

Ron thought Hermione had just spoken a very good summarization of probably the most complicated tradition in the current wizarding times. 

Harry eventually blinked once, stood up mechanically and made his way to the boys' rooms.  He scaled the stairs and entered the room without really seeing anything. He removed his shoes and climbed into bed. He hoped to wake up from this nightmare.