Happy New Years Eve Hermione.

Prologue: Three days earlier.

"Hermione, I don't suppose you're free for a couple of hours this afternoon?" Harry asked giving her his best hopeful puppy dog eyes expression.

"Business is always slow just after Christmas and all I had planned was to spend the afternoon doing some research for my book while waiting for that rare and elusive customer who wants to spend their money in my shop, so I guess I can close early today." Hermione picked a pile of books off a dark wood table and started putting them back on the different shelves that lined the small shop walls.

Harry gave her a beaming smile, his green eyes shining with excitement and a touch of nervousness "That's great thanks Hermione, I knew I could count on you."

After slotting the last book into place Hermione grabbed her thick winter duffel coat from her coat stand and was just fastening it's wooden toggles when she realised she hadn't even asked Harry just what they were going to be doing. "Harry just out of interest...What exactly have I agreed to be an accomplice to?"

"We'reringshopping" Harry said quickly as he held the door open for his friend.

"We're what?"

Harry didn't say anything but waited with a slight anticipatory wince on his face for Hermione to fully process his revelation and braced himself for one of her amazing and obligatory hugs.

The snowy cobbled street was almost deserted apart from Harry, Hermione and two elderly men coming out of the busy pub across the road, the two old men chuckled as they watched the dark haired young man almost collapse under the enthusiastic embrace of his companion.

"Come on Harry, how hard is it to choose a ring? We've been to fifteen different jewellers in three different cities in the last two hours." huffed Hermione stamping her feet to clear her boots of snow.

"It's not A ring, it's THE ring" Harry said patiently, his eyes busy scanning the glass display cases "and I'll know it when I see it."

"Good afternoon and welcome to Rothjoys, I couldn't help overhearing that you were looking for a ring..an engagement ring I presume?"

Hermione and Harry looked up to see a smartly dressed middle aged woman smiling politely at them.

"That's right, but I just can't seem to find the right one" he pointedly ignored Hermione's stage whisper of fifteen shops "I want the recipient to know that I'll love him forever, money's no object. But it has to be tasteful." he added as the assistant started to open a cabinet that looked to be filled with overpriced gaudy rings.

They were shown trays of rings one after another, till finally Hermione spotted a ring that had been overlooked on a tray she had mentally classed as the WAG section and nudged Harry to get his attention "What about that one?".

Harry's face split into a wide grin "That's it, that's the one I want" he said ecstatically to the sales assistant.

"Excellent choice sir, this is an elegant Victorian cushion signet ring made from 18ct gold with three small but exquisite diamonds embedded into the face. We can however change the diamonds to any gem of your choice, I believe the fashion at the moment is to match the stones in the ring to the couples eyes."

Harry held the ring up to the light, twisting it so that the bright sunlight streaming through the windows glinted off the brilliant diamonds. "No the diamonds are perfect, don't you agree Hermione?" Hermione nodded her approval "I don't suppose you have an engraving service here do you? Or could you recommend an engraver for me to visit?" Harry asked handing back the ring.

Slipping into full on sales mode the assistant told Harry and Hermione about the shops premium insurance service which came with free engraving and a free yearly cleaning service guaranteed for life.

Leaving Harry to hash out the details of the inscription and payment Hermione wandered over to a side cabinet where she'd spotted a ring that had the most amazing fire opal stone she had ever seen, there were only a couple of people close enough to her to know that opals especially fire opals were her favourite gems and if she was ever lucky enough to have someone propose to her she hoped that they knew her well enough to choose an engagement ring with an opal as it's centrepiece. Hermione sighed quietly to herself, with nobody even in the picture to be a prospective lover let alone a boyfriend her chances of getting engaged at any time in the near future were completely extinct.

A tap on her shoulders alerted her to Harry standing by the door with the happiness and excitement clearly written all over his face "You ready? Dinner's on me to say thank you for helping today."

Hitching her bag higher on her shoulder Hermione pushed aside any lingering self pitying thoughts and smiled at her best friend "Good I'm famished, and you can tell me all about

your plans over a bottle of Chardonnay, chicken Alfredo and a large double helping of Mama Rosita's double decadence chocolate mousse."

Present day:

A soft baritone voice singing along to a song intruded in on the most pleasurable dream she'd had in a long time, frowning a little she rolled over and buried her head deeper into the soft cotton pillow...Hold on, COTTON pillow!? Her pillowcases were satin with ruffled edges, Hermione cautiously opened her eyes and was met with an unfamiliar room that was tastefully decorated which had a distinctive but masculine feel to it.

The song that originally disturbed her had finished and a new one started, this must be a favourite because the owner of the baritone voice turned up the volume and she could hear rhythmic tapping on a hard surface in time to the music. Hermione still slightly fuzzy headed with sleep and the remnants of the alcohol she'd consumed the night before couldn't quite place where she was, pushing herself up into a upright position she winced as muscles very rarely used complained at the movement and the stickiness between her thighs confirmed that she'd been a very busy and happy witch.

Still at a loss at who her companion was Hermione noticed that the bedroom door was open and that if she leaned forward she could see the next room a bit more clearly, tucking the thick blue duvet securely around her she leaned forward slowly and peered into the adjoining room.

Hermione bit her lip to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape her lips, in the next room there was a tall, dark haired man wearing nothing but a cream towel that hung low on his hips with another around his neck to catch the drips off his wet hair. She stared wide eyed as the man turned to pour hot water into a teapot, the sight of his face put her memories from last night on instant replay with vivid colour and sound.

A/N: Okay I know I've been a bad author and not updated any stories in ages...I apologise immensely you can all spank me later ;D

This little fic started life just before the New Year and should be finished before the week's out (Muse willing) I'm hoping that this appetiser will kick start my muse up her jacksy and get me focussed on those stories that are in dire need of updating.

Much Love

Her Royal Goddess Xx