"Don't just sit there!" Mrs Weasley screeched swatting Fred and Georges feet off the table. "There is work to be done!" The two roguish brothers grinned before apparating upstairs away from their temperamental mother.

"Calm down Molly," a soothing voice said. The man came up behind the smaller plumper witch and placed his hands on either shoulder giving a reassuring squeeze. "Everything will be perfect by tomorrow night. It's already looking so fantastic."

"Oh thank you Remus," Mrs Weasley replied looking up and giving the werewolf a teary smile. Her emotions really were in overdrive today.

"Nah there's too much to be done," Sirius said as he bounded into the kitchen area. "Think we'll be working all through the night if you ask me."

"Well no one was!" Mrs Weasley snapped before rushing out of the room ready to complete another task needing done.

"Really Padfoot?" Remus sighed. "Did you have to?" Sirius smiled back before settling down on a seat and placing his feet up onto the table, much like his younger mischievous protégés had done minutes before him. Remus ran a hand through his sandy hair chuckling ever so slightly. "I wouldn't let Mrs Weasley catch you like that, she's ready to break something," he murmured and gingerly the older prankster took his feet down.

Yes, 12 Grimmauld place really was in upheaval. It was nearing Christmas and for the first time in many, many, years the old house was holding a party. It was Mrs Weasleys idea, to celebrate the end of an eventful year, but soon enough everyone was getting into the spirit of it. With all the children home to help out and many of the Order members dropping by, the place really was looking quite spectacular, but like Sirius had said: it really would take all night. Especially to get it to Mrs Weasley's standards.

"I'm quite excited to be honest," Sirius said waving his wand to levitate an apple from the near fruit bowl into his grasp. Taking a large bite he wiggled his eyebrows, "it is the festive season, a few desperate chicas wandering around, what could be better?"

"You really are something!" Remus said exasperated.

"Oh come on Mooney! Seize the day!" Sirius laughed loudly, apple being spat over the table.

"I think I'll go help upstairs!" Remus said standing and leaving the room.

"Aye mate but when you try to seduce the girl it's her downstairs you want to be in!" Sirius shouted back, as vulgar and excited as usual.

Traipsing up the stairs Remus began the simple task of levitating the un-melting charmed icicles from the hallway ceiling. Although an easy objective it was tiresome and took some time. When finally the door across from him swung open Remus grinned at the chance to speak to someone finally. There may have been many helpers there but everyone was either too afraid of the Weasley matriarch to step out of line, or were in hiding.

"Managed to escape?" Remus smiled, his tongue slightly poking out as he concentrated on the icicle currently levitating its way to the roof.

Hermione closed the door behind her, "I am permitted one toilet break sir!" she said military style throwing up a playful salute. Remus laughed easily, knowing that it wouldn't surprise him if molly was running a strict regiment run work routine in there to get all the decorations and transfigurations done. "No I just came out for a break, needed some air."

Once the icicle was hanging freely from the pale white ceiling Remus looked to his friend and laughed. Hermione looked back confused but when he brought his hand to her face and rubbed soot and dirt off her she soon laughed too. "I'm quite dirty," she said before realising the double entendre and blushing profusely. Remus reddened but nodded trying to maintain an indifferent exterior. "Erm, better get going," Hermione mumbled turning back towards the door.

"Yeah, Molly's probably timing you," he smiled back, immediately turning back to the icicles. Once the witch was back inside the room the ex-professor let out a groan, oh how she affected him. It was true, in the last 6 months since the war ended Hermione had certainly changed. Her frizzy, uncontrollable hair was now, well, controlled. Long sleek waves cascaded down her shoulders and back making it near to impossible for Remus not to run his hands through them or move a loose curl from her face to behind her ear whenever she read. Her curves had also improved. Her body was now something to dream of: curves in all the right places and not too skinny.

It also didn't help Remus' self control when she stayed over. Remus had moved into Grimmauld place permanently with Sirius. The animagus was ecstatic and instantly renamed it 'get em all' place insisting it was a fantastic bachelor pad. However, with people coming over nearly every day the place was definitely more family orientated much to Sirius' disappointment. Hermione found herself regularly staying for a few days when there were holidays from school. She, along with Ron and Harry, had gone back for their seventh year and kept in contact with the houses' occupants and the order fortnightly. Remus enjoyed receiving letters from the trio but noticeable to most of the order members he enjoyed Hermione's much more intently, chuckling through her letters and spending ages thinking up humorous replies.

Yes, Remus was smitten to say the least.

oOo

The remainder of the day passed quite easily. There wasn't too much commotion as the hard workers put the finishing touches to the house before retiring to their beds, almost all drifting off to sleep within seconds of touching the soft, cool pillows, welcome after a hard day's work.

All, except three.

Hermione and Ginny sat up talking until the early hours of the morning.

"So what are you going to wear? You'll have to impress him!" Ginny whispered eagerly.

Hermione, sitting cross-legged on the bed, hugged her pillow. She had made no secret to her closest female friend that she liked her old professor and they often giggled wildly, creating scenarios to wish for. "Hmm I'm not sure yet," Hermione said honestly. "But I want it to be something that he could relate to. Something he'll see me wearing and know it's for him."

"That's so romantic," Ginny sighed.

"So what about you?" Hermione asked politely.

The fiery red head thought silently. Her mind immediately drifting to her boyfriend. "I'd be surprised if Harry would approve of me wearing any form of clothing!" she scoffed earning a blush and a hit with her pillow from Hermione.

They talked and talked until the events of the previous day caught up with them and they eventually fell sound asleep.

Remus lay awake staring up at the ceiling. Due to the many guests in the house, guests being used loosely – half of them practically lived there now! – He had ended up sharing with Sirius and the snoring animagus wasn't allowing any sleep.

His mind wandered to the beautiful girl he often thought about when there was nothing too dramatic going on in the wizarding world. Maybe he would get his 'chica' tomorrow. He had always wondered if Hermione felt the same as him and he was at breaking point waiting to find out. Maybe it was over confidence due to the coming full moon, or maybe his desperation to know was driving him, but Remus wanted to find out, he needed to find out. And what scene was better than a party. A slow dance, as he whispered sweet nothings into her ear before whisking her away to a passion filled night.

Groaning Remus moved onto his front, burying his face into his pillow. "Yeah right!"