Ron and Ginny were sitting at the opposite sidee to Hermione and Harry on Tuesday morning. Ginny was talking with her friends, while Ron was trying to empty his side of the table like any other morning. Hermione and Harry were watching half fascinated, half horrified by the amount of food he was able to eat.

Hermione's attention was caught by the owls appearing on the Great hall. Even after over 4 and half years, she was still amazed by the seeming chaos of morning mail. She was surprised when one of them landed next to her. It seemed to be an ordinary barn owl. She gave the owl some bacon, before untying the small, brown box from the owl's leg. She could feel Harry moving to get a better look at the box. With a quick finite the box grew almost to her eye-level. She concentrated on the box and ignored Ron's half mumbled questions. She could only assume, he meant to ask what's in it, but she could never be sure when he had his mouth full. She cut the string and the whole box came apart. The box revealed three flowers entwined together in a single flower pot. She could recognize red daisy, lily of the valley and light pink rose.

She was startled out of her thought by a chocking sound. When she looked up, she could see Ginny pounding on Ron's back. It took him almost a minute to catch his breath from the coughing and choking.

"Who send you that?" Ron managed to rasp.

"What's matter with them?" Wondered Harry aloud touching the flowers. Ron gave him a weird look. Harry couldn't understand, why the flowers were such a big deal.

"What's the matter.. That's a courting gift! Three entwined flowers!" Ginny was nodding to Ron's explanation. "You're supposed to get it when your home with your family. The one courting you is supposed to ´declare his intentions to family as well as the one being courted´." Added Ginny. She even used air quotes, apparently quoting their mother.

"Courting?" Hermione was feeling very faint since the word was furst used.

"It's not as bad as your thinking. Nowadays it's more of sign of wizard wanting a serious relationship. Although less than a hundred years ago it did lead to marriage.." Ginny tried to reassure Hermione. "The flowers are supposed to represent, you, him and what he is offering you."

Hermione sat at the table shocked. She had read about courting, but she had never thought it was still used. There was no note and she could only hope it was from her secret admirer, although she was getting somewhat scared. She looked at her friend and they didn't seem to be in much better condition than she was. She took the flowers and ran to the Gryffindor tower. She wasn't sure if she was ever ready to answer their unavoidable questions.

Harry and Ron had badgered her through the morning lessons. Her friends had already lost 30 points from Gryffindor by the time Transfiguration lessons ended and unfortunately for her, worst was ahead. Their last lessons were Care of magical Creatures and Herbology, where they could speak more freely. In the end Hermione had to escape to library to get some peace and quiet.

She moved through the library shelves with ease and stopped at the Herbology and wizarding traditions shelves. She picked up half a dozen books that could have some information. She took her books to a secluded corner and started with herbology books. The books did have information on the flowers and how to care, but nothing on their meanings. The second book on traditions was much more promising. It had a chapter on courting. Apparently her secret friend had started the courting by sending her presents. She wondered why he had started courting her, but it did suggest her admirer was pureblood or at least raised in a magical family. She turned the page and found several pages worth of flowers and their meaning. According to the book red daisy was for beauty unknown to the possessor. Was he trying to say she was beautiful? It was only explanation that would make sense to her. Next she found lily of the valley. It signified sweetness, returning happiness and also trustworthiness. Last she found rose. She hadn't realised that this simple flower had so many meaning depending on the colour or combination. The book said light pink means joy of life, youth and energy. She imagined that the rose was for him and the lily of the valley was what he was offering. As she sat back in her chair, she noticed a note on the book. It simply read tomorrow.

Sorry it's been sucha long time. More health problems and getting ready for university. Hope you like this one, not my best work but I've been having creativity problems lately