'Hermione' Prod. Poke. 'Hermione. WAKE UP!'

'Gaah!' Hermione sat bolt upright, instantly awake. She had time to register that what ever sleep charm Minerva used had certainly worked. There was none of the fumbling around and trying to get the hair off her face she normally had of a morning. She looked up at the figure standing by her bed. Quite tall, slim, long blonde hair...

'Lavender? What are you doing here?'

'I'm your next visitor.'

'You?'

Lavender Brown looked slightly hurt. 'Why not me? I am your oldest friend, after all. Apart from Parvati, Harry and Neville, but they aren't exactly qualified to be a spirit, are they? I didn't mention Ron, for obvious reasons. Incidentally,' she said, crossing her arms, 'I'm still a bit upset about that. First you steal my boyfriend from me and then you dump him.'

Lavender? This wasn't what Hermione needed at the moment. It's true they had shared a dorm and, in a manner of speaking, a boyfriend but they'd never been that close. It wasn't quite the same feeling of love she felt when she saw Minerva, for example. The atmosphere was already a bit awkward, and Hermione cast around for something to get a conversation going.

'How's life?' She buried her head in her hands. 'SORRY! I didn't mean to...'

'Yes, always the master of tact and diplomacy. Please don't tell any jokes; I'd hate to DIE LAUGHING.'

'I'm really sorry. What I meant was...well, how are you? Are you happy, where ever you are?'

Lavender sat on the side of the bed. 'It isn't so bad, but everything is always the same. I think that will be the hardest part. I'll never change, never grow old. I'll never live, I suppose. That's why I wanted to come here; to make sure you get a proper chance at your life.'

Hermione took her hand. 'I appreciate that, but I'm certain I'm doing the right thing.'

'If you are then that's good. We just want to make sure.' Whilst Lavender was saying that she got up and started walking around the room, opening the wardrobe door and taking out a couple of dresses. She gave them a cursory glance. 'Still buying from chain stores, I see.'

'I like them!'

'Yes, very dependable.' She moved over to the dresser, tutting as she examined the rather cheap make-up. 'Oh Merlin! What is this?' She turned to face Hermione, holding a bottle of perfume at arm's length as if it were a week old haddock.

'Justin bought it for me.'

'He bought you THIS and you're going to marry him? Is your mother still alive?' She sat back down on the bed, having dropped the offending bottle in the waste bin. 'Did you listen to NOTHING I said to you at school?'

'Not really,' said Hermione, shrugging.

Lavender gave her a severe look. 'You've never been a girly girl. How many times did I tell you that? You just can't wear floral perfume, and certainly nothing with citrus notes. You need musk, my dear, musk.'

'I thought it smelled nice. Anyway, can we get moving so I can go back to sleep? I've got a big day tomorrow.' Hermione got out of bed and received an appraising look from Lavender.

'I hope you're not planning on wearing that for your wedding night?'

'Of course not.'

'Good. Get something with fur around the hem.'

Hermione gave Lavender a questioning look. 'Why?'

'It'll keep your neck warm!' said Lavender, collapsing across the bed in a fit of giggles.

Hermione sighed. 'Come on. I suppose you're going to show me Ron and I breaking up, are you? Not that you need to; I was there, after all.'

Lavender calmed herself down and stood. 'Fortunately, no. Oh, Hermione, it was so DULL! What was that line you came out with? "I'm sorry, Ron, but I feel our lives are moving inexorably in opposite directions". Inexorably? Even I didn't understand what that meant, so he stood no chance. You didn't raise your voice once, or even try to hit him; it was all so…civilised. Mine was far more dramatic.'

'I remember,' said Hermione, dryly. 'I could hear you from four floors up, we all could. Have you ever tried explaining to a first year what "Playing the tart" means, without going into detail?'

'I'm surprised you knew,' came back Lavender, with a smirk 'Anyway, I thought we'd start with you and Justin.'

-o0o-

Hermione looked up from her desk to the clock on the wall. It was 8PM and she'd done another thirteen hour day. That would do. She would go back to her flat, have something to eat and go to bed. Another day got through and crossed off the list. It was not how she had imagined her life.

Leaving the Ministry she was more interested in buttoning her coat against a vicious little wind that had sprung up than looking where she was going. Inevitably she walked straight in to somebody.

'Sorry!'

'No, it was entirely my…Hermione?'

'Justin? What brings you here?'

'Nothing, really. I was just on my way to get something to eat. You?'

'I'm just heading home to have some supper.'

There was a moment's silence. 'I hate eating alone, would you like to join me?'

'Well, I don't normally...why not?'

It was just a small Italian place, nothing special, but both found it rather pleasant to be able to eat and talk, rather than sit in silence perhaps watching whatever happened to be on TV.

Obviously conversation turned to the past. Justin told Hermione that he'd got out of Britain when Voldemort took over. An ex-Ravenclaw working at the Ministry had tipped him off about the Muggle Registration Act and he'd managed to get in contact with a few others before they collectively fled to his parent's holiday home in Provence, France.

'I'm surprised you got out,' Hermione told him. 'I'm sure they were keeping a watch.'

'They were, but not a very good one. Let's be honest, Hermione, for all their ability to wave wands around the average Magical is a technological dinosaur. They were watching the floo network and putting traces on underage magic, but they never thought about mobile phones, E-mail or private jets; even if they'd heard about them.'

Justin took a sip of wine. 'I'm not proud of running away but I don't know what else I could have done. If I'd stayed I probably would have ended up in Azkaban. I wish I could have got back for the battle, though.'

Hermione gave him a sympathetic smile. 'You did what you had to do, in the circumstances. As for the battle, be grateful you missed it. I wish I had!'

The meal finished, Justin paid the bill and saw her safely home.

'I enjoyed this evening,' he said, as they stood on the doorstep. 'It made a nice change.' Hermione nodded in agreement, and said the same thing.

'Look, I was wondering if you fancied doing it again? Maybe Friday? I'll take you somewhere a bit more upmarket this time.'

'I enjoyed where we were tonight but, yes, I'll look forward to it.'

Hermione was rather thoughtful as she got ready for bed that night. Friday was obviously a date, the first she'd had since splitting up with Ron. She had wondered if it would ever happen, as she wasn't that keen on the idea of an office romance and her social circle was rather restricted. Of course this hadn't gone that far, yet, but Justin had a certain charm to him and he was slightly separate from the magical world. That could be refreshing. Was it such a wonderful place after all? She still had to get up and go to work in an office every day to earn money.

-o0o-

'That was the start, wasn't it?' asked Lavender.

'Yes, our first meeting since we left school, I remember that meal on the Friday, as well. He certainly took me to a posher place; I had to ask what cutlery to use! The food was wonderful, though.'

'It was a very straightforward romance, I have to say. Have you ever argued with him?'

Hermione had to think about that for quite a while. 'You know, I don't think we ever have. That's a good sign, isn't it?' Lavender stayed silent. 'Ron and I used to argue quite a lot, normally when he didn't agree with me. Justin and I, we don't really have any difference of opinion; we think the same way.'

'Do you?' asked Lavender, casually. 'Maybe you should have a look at this, even though you were there at the time as you'll no doubt point out.'

-o0o-

It was the same restaurant they went to on that first real date, which had become their favourite. The maitre d' greeted them by name and took them to their usual table. Everything was ready for them, including their usual bottle of champagne; they liked starting with that. The table cloth was snowy white and crisply starched. The silver cutlery glowed in the soft candlelight. Justin held Hermione's chair for her before seating himself.

This was a special night, their first anniversary. Conversation was easy even though Justin seemed particularly excited, and Hermione had a suspicion she knew why. He took her hand across the table.

'I've come to a decision, about the future. I know exactly what I want.'

'Do you?' she said, trying to control her heart rate. 'What's that?'

'I want to set up an import/export business.'

'Oh.'

'Yes. We both agree that Magicals have got some strange ideas, but you can't believe how disorganised they are; they've never heard of wholesale. Did you know that every apothecary and potioneer in Britain buys everything ad hoc? They spend hours searching out sources and then trying to negotiate a price. Can you believe it?' Hermione said she couldn't. 'They even travel overseas; it takes days. I think I can be the middle man. I can start bringing in supplies in bulk. That way I can get discounted prices from the suppliers, sell it on for better than the buyer could get themselves and still make a good profit.' His eyes were shining. 'I think that's only the start, as well. Hermione, I can see this changing the whole society, bringing it in to the 21st century.'

'Do you think they want to?'

'I'm sure they will, once they see the advantages. The problem is they've shut themselves away since forever.'

'Well, the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy was first signed in 1689 , then established officially in 1692...'

'Like I said, forever. They've missed out on so much and they've never made proper use of people like us, Muggles, coming in with fresh ideas.' He cast around for an example. 'I wonder how long it took them to come up with the Hogwart's Express? Probably after we got rid of steam!'

'You have to be a bit careful, though,' she warned. 'Look at what happened to some civilisations during European expansion; change was so fast they ended up losing their entire culture.'

Justin waved his hands. 'Culture schmulture. I'll admit their transport system is pretty good; apparition and the floo network, but the rest…Come on, it beggars belief. They'd be better off without it. I mean, do you actually use magic, in the normal course of the day?'

'Well…'

'Exactly. Remember the first spell they taught us at Hogwarts?'

Hermione cast her mind back. 'We transfigured a matchstick in to a needle. I got it almost straight away and earned a house point!'

'Have you ever done it since?

'Now you come to mention it…but I don't do a lot of sewing.'

Justin raised an emphatic finger. 'Nobody does! "Make do and mend" went out with rationing. Anyway, if you want a needle you just go to the shops and buy a packet for a few pence.' He laughed at another memory. 'The first time I went to Ernie Macmillan's house, after dinner his mum put everything in the sink and put a Dishwashing Spell on them. I remember her turning to me and saying "I bet you don't have anything like this in the Muggle world, do you?" I said "Yes, it's called a Dishwasher".'

'But they can't use the things we have, though,' Hermione cautioned. 'Magic interferes with electrical devices. That's why we don't have computers in the Ministry.'

'Which is why the corridors are still full of flying memos; they only use magic because they don't have electricity. Most of the things they do can be quite easily replaced, and are probably more efficient. They buy everything for cash as well, and the only source of that is Gringotts. The whole financial system is a monopoly and interest rates are appalling because of it.' He laughed. 'They've never even heard of credit cards! There's no competition to drive innovation and they're getting left more and more behind because of it.'

Hermione looked thoughtful. 'When you put it like that…I suppose I don't use most of the things we were taught. I've never needed to turn a teapot in to a tortoise, that's for sure. But are you really suggesting you want to get rid of the Statute of Secrecy? Bring them back into mainstream society? I'm not sure they could cope.'

Justin shook his head. 'No, not at all. I suppose they are like some tribe in the jungle, or something. They need protecting but there's no reason why they can't enjoy the benefits of modern life, like proper purpose made...tortoises!' They both laughed at that one. 'Of course, if they are going to get all these benefits they'll need to buy them off somebody.'

'Like you?'

'If I don't do it somebody will and I think I can make a fortune.'

'That could be good. Think of all the things you could do with the money; charitable foundations and so on. My idea for SPEW will never really take off because I don't have the time or funding, and I've always thought something should be done for squibs. You could do it, though, with your money. That would be wonderful, and really benefit everybody.'

Justin took a sip of wine 'I can do business, I'm sure of it, but I don't know about the rest.' He reached across the table and took her hand again. 'I think I'd need somebody with me for that part.'

Hermione was caught by surprise and tried to buy herself some time. 'Any ideas who?'

Justin laughed. 'That's why I love you! Only you could come out with something like that. I need you with me. You can marshal facts and keep track of things and run all the charitable side; you've got the brains.' With his other hand he took a box from his jacket pocket and placed it in front of her. 'Are you going to open it?'

-o0o-

Hermione looked down at the ring on her finger, the one Justin had given her that night.

'As proposals go it wasn't exactly the pinnacle of flowing oratory, was it?' asked Lavender. 'I'm surprised he didn't say it was inexorable you were going to marry.'

'Inevitable.'

'Whatever.' She looked Hermione in the eye. 'Is it a marriage or a business partnership? I've not seen much grand passion.'

'I'm not a character in some bodice ripper; this is real life.' Hermione was starting to get irritated with somebody who had, after all, only had teenage flings. 'Justin and I love each other, in a proper, grown-up way. We're going to build a life together and make something of ourselves. I don't think that would have happened with…Anyway, I thought you weren't supposed to give me advice. Maybe you should go.'

'I was stating an opinion; that isn't the same as advice.' Lavender looked a little sad, or maybe apologetic. 'I'm sorry. Look, there's just one more thing I want you to see. Please?'

'Justin and I doing what, that I don't know already?'

'No, not you. I can show you because it's already happened, just a few hours ago.'

Hermione suddenly looked perplexed. 'That's a point. All I've seen so far are things that have happened. Aren't you going to show me some dreadful future where I'm in a pit of despair?'

'You won't be, but they don't trust me with that bit for some reason. Outrageous really, considering my Divination marks.'

'So what, then?''

'This.'

-o0o-

George Weasley showed the last customer off the premises and bolted the door. He came back and set the protections on the till. 'That'll do until the bank opens.' He reached under the counter and pulled out a bottle of fire whiskey and two glasses. 'Quick drink before we head over to mum's?'

Ron took his robes off and leaned against the counter. 'Don't mind if do. Not a bad few days,' he said, taking the proffered glass. 'I reckon you've done alright this year. Sales are certainly up.'

George swirled the liquid in his glass. 'Yeah, I've not done badly. Considering.'

'Considering what?'

George chose his words carefully. 'The business isn't going anywhere. I've not introduced a single new product this year, and only two last. I'm not moving forward and a stagnant business is a doomed one.'

Ron nodded. 'That's business talk, which isn't really me. It's getting the ideas for a new line that's the hard bit, isn't it? I wish I could help, but…'

'Listen, Ron, I want to make some changes next year. I can run a business but I'm not an innovator, I know that. I want to bring in people who are; a development team, researchers.'

'You're the boss.'

'I'm glad you said that. That's another thing I wanted to discuss with you; your role.'

Ron looked slightly worried. 'Are you going to sack me?'

'No, but I want what you do to change. You should be more than an employee. I want to make you a partner.'

'You mean…instead of…'

'Instead of nobody. I want to make YOU a partner, with an equal share of the business, a lifelong commitment to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.'

'Wow! Do you want an answer now?'

'No. Take as long as you want before you turn it down.'

'OK,' said Ron, slowly. 'Now you've lost me.'

George poured them both another slug. 'This isn't what you want to do with your life, and you know it. Look, I know why you're here and I'm grateful for it. For the first couple of years you virtually ran the place whilst trying to stop me going mad, and then you carried me until I got myself sorted out and it cost you dearly. I know the real reason Hermione left you. All that guff you gave everybody didn't cut any ice with me; she wanted you to make something of yourself and you felt you couldn't do it, because of me.'

'You're family.'

'So would she have been, and a damned sight closer than a brother. I want you to leave and start your auror training, like Kingsley said you could; that's what you really want, isn't it?'

Ron put his glass down on the counter. 'That was a long time ago. He offered me a shoe-in like he did a lot of people, but I think I've missed the boat. I'd have to take my chances with everybody else now and I don't have the qualifications. I'm not going back to school. So, a partner, eh?'

'Not so fast, Firebolt. Remember that charity bash I went to the other night? Kingsley was there and I cornered him, told him all the donations I'd just made to his favourite causes. Then you happened to come up in conversation.'

Ron looked horrified. 'You bribed the Minister?'

'It would have been indirect, but it turned out I didn't need to,' said George, ruefully. 'He said he'd made you an offer and he stood by his word. Training starts 1st September but he'd like you to contact him by Easter.'

Ron walked around the shop, deep in thought. An auror, his life's dream, once upon a time. 'Maybe I've moved on from that.'

'Maybe the sun'll rise in the west tomorrow,'

'It won't bring her back.'

'I know, and I'm sorry.'

-o0o-

'I'm pleased for him, obviously,' said Hermione, 'but he's right.' She laughed. 'First time for everything, but it won't bring me back, if that was your plan.'

'Not at all,' replied Lavender, innocently. 'After all, I'm not allowed to tell you what to do, am I? I just thought you should know. You'll be running in to him in the Ministry when he starts there, so I thought you should be forewarned.'

'Nice try, but I'll have left by then. I'll be handing my notice in as soon as we get back after the holidays. Justin needs me by his side. All you've managed to do is convince me that I'm right, and have been all the time. Ron didn't come to that decision; he's still letting his family decide his future.'

Lavender nodded. 'Then I'd better let you go back to sleep before the next arrival.' She gave Hermione a hug. 'Be happy.'

Hermione hugged her back. 'I will, I know it, and I got terrible Divination results! So, who's going to wake me up next?'

'I can't tell you,' said Lavender, although she was trying to hide a smile. 'I think it will be interesting; we're all going to watch. See you around.'

'One day.'