Hermione reclined in the big arm chair and folded her legs casually in her seat. She placed an elbow on the table beside her and propped her head on her hand with mild curiosity. The three men were standing opposite her, with a blank scroll spread open on the table, fussing over some potion ingredients.

"Do you have them?"

Charlie pulled two translucent red discs from his pocket and handed one to each of his brothers. George held his disc up to the light for a moment and whistled in admiration.

"What are you doing with dragon scales?" asked Hermione.

Simultaneously, the same mischievous smile appeared on the three Weasley faces. Fred pulled out his wand and tapped the scroll lightly with its tip. "Open sesame!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and Fred shrugged. "It's a work in progress."

Thick, topographical lines suddenly revealed themselves on the paper and, to Hermione's surprise, raised off the paper into a familiar mountain range. A miniature forest bloomed at its base as snow sprinkled like sugar frosting on the entire scroll.

Fred watched Hermione's eyes widen in amazement and smiled smugly. "We wanted to make a Marauder's map outside of Hogwarts," he explained while mixing a potion together with the ingredients in front of him. Beside him, George was doing the same. "We added a bit more colour though…"

"—and dimensions!"

"'Cause Charlie reckoned it'd be more profitable-"

"Useful," the older Weasley corrected.

"-for tracking larger creatures."

Fred and George nodded to each other and dropped their scales into the potions. The concoction hissed and glowed red. A moment later, a miniature red dragon climbed out of each potion bowl and flew towards the map.

"Oh," the golden fringe around their tiny heads jogged Hermione's memory at last. "Chinese Fireballs! But I don't understand—" she turned to Charlie questioningly. "What are they doing in Bavaria?"

Charlie leaned over the map, eyes bright with excitement as the miniature dragons flew casually across the map. "We'll see soon enough."

"In the meantime—"

Fred and George started towards the other side of the tent. "How about dinner?"

"Yes, please."

Hermione got up to follow but George held up his hand and shook his head. "Keep an eye on the map, Granger. We'll bring the food along."

She raised her brow suspiciously. "Trust us," Fred winked.

Hermione watched them leave and returned to the table to stand beside Charlie, who was still following the miniature red creatures carefully. "If they continue through the valley here," he pointed to an area of forest just ahead of the creatures, "the female should spot them."

"Three dragons!" exclaimed Hermione nervously. "In one place? Isn't that a bit dangerous?" From the little she'd read and seen of dragons, they were aggressive and fiercely territorial.

Charlie's eyes lifted from the map to her and he smiled reassuringly. "Normally, yes. But fireballs are more tolerant than other dragons."

"I still don't understand what they—all of you, for that matter—are doing here. I mean, how did you know I'd be here? I'm on holidays! I was just passing through."

To her surprise, Charlie's face flushed. "Well," he began, slightly embarrassed. "We didn't know you were here, exactly…"

"Ginny said you might come this way," George interrupted brightly. He was carrying four takeaway bags in his arms. Fred was behind him carrying four glasses and a large pitcher, with a gift-wrapped bundle tucked discretely under one arm.

"And Mum told us if we saw you—"

"-WHEN we saw you, to invite you over for the holidays."

"Oh," Hermione's gaze faltered for a moment. "But that's still two months away! I'm not sure…"

"To clarify," Fred cut in sharply, "we're not allowed to take no for an answer."

"In fact, we just sent an owl telling her you'll be coming."

Hermione's mouth dropped open in silent horror. "You did not!"

"C'mon Granger," Fred nudged her playfully. "You've missed us, we can tell."

Hermione felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She hadn't seen Molly Weasley since the funeral. In fact, she hadn't seen much of Harry, Ginny, or any of the Weasleys since she'd started working. It wasn't that she was purposely avoiding them so much as she was reluctant to return to certain places. Places that still evoked strong feelings about the past, about Ron, and the plans that could've been. The Burrows was exactly such a place.

Hermione was yanked from her thoughts when Fred pushed the bundle he'd been holding into her hands. "This is also from Mum."

She looked up at Fred, George, and Charlie feeling somewhat confused.

Charlie smiled warmly at her and nodded at the wrapped present in her hands. "Happy birthday, Hermione."

The men opened their sandwich bags and began eating while she unwrapped the bundle. Inside was a knitted lavender scarf with an H embroidered at the end.

"You should put it on," Fred smirked. "Complete our set."

She noticed then that all three of them had similar scarves either around their neck or stuffed in a pocket. Charlie coughed suddenly and pointed at the map. "They're close!"

Everyone gathered around the map and looked down. "Close to what, exactly?" said Hermione.

Charlie pointed to a ridge that the dragons were fast approaching. There were three of them now. "Us."

"Wicked!" the twins exclaimed. They grabbed their coats and started immediately towards the door. Charlie went after them, motioning Hermione to follow.

"You won't want to miss this," he said as he helped her with her coat.

The cold night air nipped at her face the moment she stepped out and she was glad she had put on the new scarf. Fred and George were already at the other end of the clearing, looking down on the valley. Hermione made her way towards them through the snow, Charlie close behind her. After only a few steps though, George turned to them and waved frantically. He made some odd gestures that befuddled Hermione and she stopped in her tracks. Fred suddenly turned and jumped onto his brother, toppling them both into the snow. A large red blur immediately flashed over the edge of the clearing with a loud WOOSH followed by two relatively smaller and brighter blurs. As they rose higher into the night sky, their forms took clearer shapes. Hermione felt a hand fall on her shoulder and squeeze. "Aren't they marvellous?" Charlie's breath tickled her ear.

Hermione watched in awe as the three streaks of red seemed to dance and twirl around each other, almost playfully, with the occasional flashes of gold caught by the moonlight. She began to notice that the two smaller dragons were constantly trying to circle the larger one, but it kept slipping out of their reach. She turned to ask Charlie about it, but saw right away from the glazed and starry look in his eyes that he was completely in the moment. "Simply marvellous," he sighed.

He then began talking on his own, his eyes never straying from the dancing dragon in the moonlight, explaining the intricacies of dragon social behaviour. Hermione smiled. Of course, dragons were Charlie's passion. Not many people could understand that, but she knew a thing or two about being completely absorbed and devoted to something. She admired people like that. Kindred spirits.

She slipped her hand into his and gave it a light squeeze.