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A relationship is hard work. Hermione would know since she was in a relationship with her long-time friend, ministry colleague, and former adversary Draco Malfoy. Many of her former classmates, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter included, thought she was crazy for giving a death eater in muggle's clothing, as they put it, a chance.
But Hermione knew the truth. While they had their issues in the past, today Draco was as reformed and pro-muggleborn as they come. In fact, the couple had advocated for an educational reform to the Hogwarts Muggle Studies classes; adding in wizarding culture classes for those raised outside the wizarding world. The fact the two just happened to share the same feather shaped “tattoo” on their ankles was just a plus. This soulmate mark proved to themselves and anyone questioning their loyalty that they belonged together. No one could change that.
Our story doesn't center around this established couple though. No. Our story begins with a redheaded man who couldn't believe his ex fell for a death eater.
See, Ron was heartbroken when Hermione broke up with him merely a few months after the final battle. He had been a bit of an asshole at the time and, after some self reflection and time with a mind healer, he realized he wasn't ready for any relationship until he learned to love himself first. Healing took a while but it had been worth it to fix himself for him. Not Hermione, not his family, him.
Now that Ron was ready to share his life with another person he was shocked to see his first option was dating a beautifully blonde man with stark grey eyes and… wait. Did Ron ever think of Malfoy as beautiful before? He didn’t think so but the specifics of his Hogwarts years were a little fuzzy now. Had he really thought of anyone romantically outside of the desperate liking of Lavender he harbored and the obvious love he felt for Hermione.
Hermione had always felt inevitable to him. They were meant to be and when his soulmate tattoo showed up on his 21st birthday it didn’t matter. Unless it was shared with Hermione, the tattoo meant nothing. How could he just love somebody for the sake of some bullshit that fate supposedly decided? What if fate was wrong? Who was this better for? Not him!
It isn’t like he expected Hermione to wait for him, it has been years now, but her not-so-new beau made him wonder if she felt the undeniable truth of their relationship like he did. Obviously not or she wouldn’t be with the irresistible Malfoy.
Wait, did he really think Draco was irresistible? There’s no way in bloody hell. Maybe once they meet up at the annual Weasley New Year’s party at the Burrow Ron will get a better picture of what their relationship would be like…
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The Burrow was draped in the black and gold décor that screamed at Ron that he didn’t belong there. Every one of his siblings was accompanied by their loved ones and they looked happy. Too happy.
Why was this bothering him? It had never bothered him before in the years he was getting the help he needed. Why now?
One look at the bushy haired brainiac and her equally brilliant and dashing date told him the answer he was searching for. Before Ron could second guess himself, he was marching over to the couple who appeared to be laughing in their stupid but well fitting matching silver outfits.
“A feather,” Ron blurted toward his targets. Hermione startled like she hadn’t seen him coming but stupid Draco with his stupid sexy grin seemed excited at Ron’s confession.
“W-what?” Hermione stuttered.
“You can’t be with him because it’s us, ‘Mione. It always has been. You have a feather too, right? On your ankle?” Ron was moving his hands in large gestures like he normally did when he was passionate, “I do too. You are the smartest person I know; don’t choose Malfoy over your soulmate. Over me.” He was pleading at this point but he didn’t care. He could embarrass himself a thousand times over in front of Malfoy if it meant he could be with Hermione. Even if the thought of both people in the pairing was making his heart flutter and face flush by the end of his short confession.
Hermione turned to Draco, “Is it possible?”
“Theoretically,” He nodded with a shimmer in his eyes.
“Is what possible? Us? Of course! I-” Ron began.
“Ron,” she cut him off, “Yes. I do have a feather, but so does Draco.”
Ron gaped like a fish between the two currently messing with his mind, “Shit. Well that works out then.”