Hermione sipped her champagne while glaring across the room. "If looks could kill, they'd be dead, ya know" came Harry's joking observation to her left. "Where is Merlin's name have you been? I've been smiling and shaking hands for the past hour" she said, not bothering to turn to look at him. "If you must know, I've been in the coat room with Gin" came his smug reply, "but seriously, you're being obvious about it." They both took a moment to watch the couple in Hermione's view: Ron and Lavender. After the war, Ron changed his mind about Hermione. Leaving her heartbroken and leaving him free to run after Lav Lav. The real problem, Harry later confided, was that Hermione was better than Ron in almost every way, and that was too intimidating for Ron. So he took the easy route, a giggling blonde whose greatest aspiration in life was to be a war hero's arm candy. You're no arm candy, Mione. You're meant for someone powerful, someone who can go toe to toe with you- Harry had told her one afternoon during lunch. "I'm sorry, it's just hard seeing them together. So happy, so blissfully ignorant" she said after a minute. "You're not angry at them" Harry softly said "You're angry that you're still waiting because you refuse to settle." And with a quick peck on the cheek- he was off to do his share of smiling and hand-shaking.
This was the best part of her day. She apparated to her flat in Diagon Alley and kicked off her heels. Walking to the kitchen, she grabbed a pint of gelato and a bottle of red wine. She began discarding her attire, earrings, necklace, a million hair pins, the dress, the slip, the tight undergarments, and slipped on her softest jersey tee shirt and a pair of boy shorts. She plopped down on her lavish sofa and settled in to relax for the remainder of the night when the floo activated and Fred stepped through. "Nice bra and knickers, love" he winked. "Fred! What are you doing here?" she asked exasperatedly "I'm recouping from the Ministry thing." "Ahh, yes! The dreaded Ministry thing" he laughed, plopping down beside her "was it as bad as you imagined? Was dear Ickle Ronnikins mean to you? Any cat fights with Lav Lav?" "No, he wasn't mean to me. He and his bimbo girlfriend apparently got engaged and decided tonight was the perfect way to show the entire wizarding world just how fucking happy they are!" she replied. "Tsk, tsk. Using curse words? Georgie and I wanted to be here together for that monumental occasion! We were going to photograph it and everything!" he laughed "But seriously, I'm sorry that you have to see him move on. He downgraded big time, if that's any assurance?" Hermione smiled. "Thanks Fred" she said softly. "Now what are you doing here so late at night anyways?" He mock-clutched his hand to his chest and gasped "I'm wounded! Stung! Unwanted by the witch, I say!" Laughing, she replied "George and Alicia are shagging again, aren't they?" He deadpanned, "They're like bloody rabbits in spring on Viagra and crack." Hermione laughed and stood up. "Where are you going, love?" Fred called. "To get a second spoon and wine glass." She couldn't see, but he smiled and leaned back into the couch with a contented sigh.