Author's Note: Please tell me what you think. )

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to ChizzaLatzy.

Chapter Two - Late Night Letters

Ginny closed the door on her way into the flat. It was around two in the morning and she had just gotten back from her date with Harry. Hopefully, Hermione wasn't awake to see the runs in her stockings or the mess her hair was in. She glanced around the room before placing her light jacket on the rack beside her. Walking through the living room, she spotted the one person she hoped wouldn't be awake. Laying on the couch with a glass of firewhiskey was Hermione. On top of her stomach, was an open adress book.

"Ginny, everyone's taken. They're all either married, busy, or dating someone. Honestly, they let me even speak to their girlfriends, saying that I should hang out with them sometime."

The first week blew by suprisingly fast and Hermione was obviously getting worried. Time was ticking, and she still hadn't found a date yet. Stupid, early wedding, she thought to herself. She could hear Antoinette poking fun at her if she found that Hermione lied. Antoinette would have a field day, and Hermione was sure going to prevent it from happening. One week was left, and she'd spoke to all of her old friends from school, none of which were available.

She had to be at the wedding in one week, and she just had to show up with a date, or she'd be completely humiliated. She sighed as she remembered the letter she sent to her cousin only hours after her encounter at the cafe.

"Hermione, are you want to send this? You aren't exactly telling the truth." Ginny said, handing back the letter to her friend.

"Of course, but it will be true by the time she gets it and by the time she sees me." Hermione stated, before glancing back at the letter that she had just written.

Dear Antoinette,

Everything's fine here, nothing much is going on. The reason why I don't usually reply to your letters is because, as you know, I am busy, I am just taking a leave off work so I can attend so I must work over right now, and usually there isn't much happening that is worth telling about. If there were, I'd let you know. Don't worry, you're not missing much around here.

I wouldn't mind coming early. But you're right, I don't think you should have moved the wedding date up. It was a bit careless in my opinion, now people may not be able to attend because of the short notice. Wouldn't you much prefer waiting just a month or so and having everyone you love be able to come? But I realize that what's done is done, and you can't go flip-flopping around with the dates.

And yes, I do remember us playing hide-and-seek in Auntie's garden. It was fun memories.

As for the date situation, who told you I didn't find one? I never said that I couldn't find one, I just never mentioned one in my last letter. I have, and he will be attending the wedding with me. I can't wait for you to meet him, you'll love him. I just hope the rest of the family does as well. Though, there's no need to ask me about him, I want it to be a suprise.

My friends can come, and are thankful to be invited. Though, not everyone can accompany me. Two of them are busy with other events they must tend to(already a result of your last minute changing), they send their apologies. Harry and Ginny will be coming along with me and my date.

Two weeks it is.

Love,

Hermione

"Hermione. You're exagerrating. Everyone can't be taken." Ginny reasoned, taking her own glass of firewhiskey.

"Yes, they are." she huffed and took another sip of her firewhiskey.

"Dean?"

"Taken"

"Seamus?"

"Taken."

"Cormac McLaggen?"

"Gone on business to Rome."

"Viktor?"

"Missing in action. I can't find him anywhere." Hermione sighed. Ginny began laughing at her choice of words. Hermione smirked before whacking her with a pillow.

"Neville?"

"Married." Hermione nodded at Ginny, who seemed to not believe that he was married.

"Oh..well..good for him. I'm glad he found someone." Ginny said lightly. She took another sip of firewhiskey, and coughed as it went down. Of course she knew how to hold her alchohol, she just hadn't had it in a while is all. "Merlin, is anyone not going at it right now?!" she asked.

"Justin Finch-Fletchley?" Ginny asked, knowing that Hermione didn't even really know the boy.

"You know Cho Chang?" Hermione asked in return.

Ginny answered by slinging her hand over her mouth muffling her voice when she said "Noooo"

Hermione nodded. Taking another sip of her firewhiskey, she found the glass to be empty. Getting up to pour another glass, she glanced back at Ginny who still hadn't changed her expression. It was a mixture of disgust and disbelief, so either way, the expression wasn't pretty. Though, it was hilarious.

"Expecting their first child in August." she spoke before taking another small sip of the firewhiskey.

"Malfoy?!" Ginny asked in exaspheration. She doubled over laughing when she read Hermione's expression. "Gin, never even proposition that. That's just...wrong." Hermione said in between her laughter.

"Well, apparently you haven't tried everybody. I'm still right."

The girls continued their discussion, but tried to drive it away from Hermione being dateless. Mostly, Ginny wanted the gossip as to who's dating who, who's married, and whatnot. Hermione smiled as Ginny found it hard to believe that not only was Padma dating a former Slytherin, but she was two timing her boyfriend as well. What was even more interesting, was how Hermione had found out. Rather than just send her a letter, Hermione had wanted to visit her old Hogwarts friend, see how she was doing, and see if she had any ideas of single men. Discreetly, of course.

There she met Blaise Zabini. Suprising enough for her, she found his personality quite nice. It seemed that he'd grown out of his childish ways at Hogwarts, Hermione only hoped that his group of Slytherins had as well. After having a lunch with the couple, Hermione went home. By the next day, since she'd found the visit rather pleasant, she decided to visit Seamus as well. She gasped though as Seamus answered with his shirt messed and unbuttoned, and Padma walking around the room behind him, half naked.

"Noooo. I can't believe she'd do that to them! Wow, I never knew she was the one to cheat..Well, she gets around fast" Ginny let out. Hermione nodded in agreement and chuckled at the last comment.

Sighing, Hermione tried to sort everything out. She did seem out of character a bit around Antoinette. Though, she was still herself, Antoinette just happened to bring out the competitive side in Hermione. Yes, that's it.

"So, what are you going to do. Are you going to tell her your 'boyfriend' isn't actually real?" Ginny asked her. Hermione shook her head no.

"No. I'm still getting a date." she said, but the statement lacked confidence.

"Well, I could set you up with someone." she suggested and Hermione sat up straight.

"Um...no offense Ginny, but the guy you set me up with Monday wasn't exactly...the best..." she spoke of it lightly, cringing as she thought of her blind date. Almost as soon as they got to the park, she wanted to throttle Ginny for allowing her to attend this. He was just...bland. Basically, long story short, he had no personality and they had no chemistry whatsoever.

"That was one person. Unless you don't want to find a date.."

"I know, I know. I'm trying." Hermione moaned leaning back against the couch.

"Why does it matter so much? I mean, it's just a date."

"No. We're cousins, and I do love her dearly, but still, she is not going to prove me wrong, or catch me in a lie. Any time something like this happens, she just assumes out of nowhere for false accusations." Hermione began another rant. Ginny sighed, and stopped her rant before she couldn't be.

"You can still tell her you accidentally were drunk when you wrote that letter."

"I can't do that. I'd be humiliated in front of the entire family. No doubt she's told everyone."

Hermione groaned in annoyance before slapping her palm to her forehead. Why did she have to send that bloody letter? She groaned in pain as she stubbed her toe when trying to get up from the couch again to go grab a snack. A pecking at the window caused her to divert her attention. Walking over, she saw an owl she didn't recognize, and figured it was one of many in the Ministry for use.

"Ginny, she's replied already!" Hermione gasped. Giving a small treat to the owl, she watched it momentarily as it flew out of sight. She tore open the letter and ran to the couch to let Ginny read the letter along with her.

"But, she replied with an owl?" Ginny asked dumbfounded. Hermione nodded but noticed that by her friend's expression that she was going to have to explain.

"She sends it regularly through muggle mail, but somehow - I would remember how if it weren't in the middle of the night and me having had two and a half glasses of firewhiskey - it finds itself in the Wizarding World. From there, the Ministry sends one of their owls to get it. It's hard to explain." Hermione said, before unfolding the edges of the letter.

"Wow, she even folds neatly." Ginny said awkwardly. Hermione glared at her, knowing that this was in fact, obvious.

"She's a neat freak." But she couldn't say more as Ginny interrupted her.

"What does it say?" Ginny said, sounding more excited than necessary.

Dear Hermione,

Tell your friends I'm absolutely delighted they can come. I am sorry that your other friends can't, but I can't wait to meet the others. So, the ones that can come, it is this...Harry and Ginny isn't it what you said in your letter?

I do hope you're right about it being easier later on. After all, you usually are right about everything. I love that, it helps me think that it will positively happen. You wouldn't believe how much a fool I've made of myself around here.

Mum is calling me an babbling idiot, but she understands. I mean, she went through the same when she married dad. I've been running around the house, and according to Jillian, 'speaking incoherently' and 'running like a chicken with it's head cut off'. Those Americans and their terms can really confuse me sometime. It's hard to see how Jillian can adjust so well. She says the sights over there are rather quite lovely, I would like to visit sometime.

As for this date you say, hmmm, how does he look? Is he sweet, charming? Anything like the lovely person I'm about to marry?

Ah well, I know you said you weren't telling me anything, but please? Just one small tiny thing? What color hair? What color eyes? Is he tall, short? Is he at all good looking like that Viktor Krum you used to date? Oh! Is it him?! Agh, Hermione love, you know I can't stand waiting. Suspense is killing me.

I know you're know going to reply to this letter, or answer my questions, so I'll just see you soon.

Love,

Antoinette Vassar

"Like I said, I love her, but there are some aspects of her I could live without. I can honestly see her giggling like mad while writing that." Hermione rolled her eyes and Ginny laughed.

"Are you going to tell her anything about your fictional boyfriend?!" Ginny asked and Hermione once again, shook her head repeatedly.

"No. I am going to find a date...I hope." Hermione spoke letting the letter drop to the coffee table.

"Hermione, like I said earlier. You have only about...two days to find one."

"I know, I know." she sighed before taking the glasses of firewhiskey to the sink.

"One more person. Please, you might like this guy. He's a friend of Lavender's friend. Please Hermione, we have to leave Saturday, and it's Wednesday." Ginny suggested.

Hermione nodded in defeat, she knew Ginny was really wanting to set her up again, and was getting desperate. She spoke once before walking into her bedroom.

"One more person, but that's it." Ginny smiled in triumph.

"Perfect. I'll set it up for tomorrow."