Hey everyone

I want to thank you all for your lovely reviews, it means a lot to me, that you like my story! :-)

I wouldn't have come so far, if it hadn't been for my beta, MadamKitten. I'm so grateful, for all of her help and all of her wonderful ideas.

Hope you all enjoy this chapter :-)

Thank you again!

Chapter 3

The week had gone by quickly for Hermione, and before she knew it, it was Sunday.

Molly had sought out Hermione earlier in the week, and insisted that she came for Sunday lunch with the Weasley family. Hermione was not happy about being in the same room as Ronald and Lavender, but had reluctantly agreed after much persuasion from Mollys side.

So now she stood and tried to figure out what she should wear. She didn't want to overdo it, but at the same time she wanted to show Ronald what precisely it was that he gave up when he slept with Lavender. Eventually she decided on her dark blue jeans and a black top. She put a little make-up on, and put her hair up in a ponytail. When she was satisfied, she took her wand and apparated to the Burrow.

When she arrived, she immediately regretted her decision to come. Ronald and Lavender stood on the front stoop of the Burrow, in a steamy embrace. Hermione took a deep breath before she went and opened the front gate, letting it slam shut startling the lovers in front of her.

"Hermione, how nice that you could come!" Lavender exclaimed.

If it weren't for the fact that Hermione knew Lavender so well, she would believe the other witch was actually happy to see her. But she knew Lavender, and knew full well that she was in no way happy to see her.

"Hello Lavender, Ronald," Hermione replied coolly and went past them and inside. Hermione could feel Ronalds gaze as she passed by, but she completely ignored him.

"Oh, Hermione dear, it's so nice to see you!" Molly said and gave Hermione a hug.

"Thank you for having me Molly." she replied. Hermione walked around and said hello to all the others before she stopped at George.

"So, mum finally persuaded you to come?" George said.

"She finally succeeded." Hermione nodded and looked at the young man. George hadn't been the same since the loss of his twin brother during the war, but it had helped when Angelina Johnson came into the picture. She had helped him through the worst and they were now getting ready to welcome their firstborn into the world.

"Is it going well with your business?" George asked.

"Very , I'm beginning to get more customers," she replied.

"I plan to come by one day and buy some adventure books for Fred Junior." George said and grinned when his fiancée showed up.

"I'm just excited for the day he comes. I'm convinced there's a bludger in there sometimes! He'll be a beater I'm sure of it!" Angelina said and gave Hermione a hug.

"You look so beautiful Angelina," Hermione said and smiled at the young woman. George had put his arm around her waist and held her close to him, as he gave her head a gentle kiss.

"Thank you, Hermione, you look really beautiful yourself," Angelina said. They continued to talk, and Hermione could constantly feel Ronalds gaze. It was getting quite annoying, the longer she stayed the more she was regretting coming.

"Who's missing?" Hermione asked.

"Harry and Ginny, they should be here any minute now." George said, and at that moment they heard the sound of the Floo network, and out of the green flames came Ginny and Harry.

"Hermione! I didn't know you were coming today!" Harry exclaimed when he saw her and he gave her a big hug. Hermione really missed the close relationship she used to have with Harry.

"Molly insisted, so here I am," she said.

"I'm so happy your here, we have great news to share!" Harry said to the entire room and took hold of Ginny's hand.

"We're getting married!" Ginny shouted happily and everyone started to congratulate her and Harry, while Ginny showed everyone her gorgeous diamond ring.

"I'm so happy for you," Hermione said and looked at him. Harry had grown and become more mature. His work as an Auror had done wonders, and he had a little more muscle and took more responsibility than in the past. Ronald as always, had followed in Harry's footsteps, and the two worked closely together. Harry took more responsibility than Ronald ever did. Hermione couldn't help but be a bit jealous of his relationship with Ginny, they looked really happy together.

Molly soon shooed them all to the large table to sit, after drying her eyes and congratulating the young couple.

Hermione sat next to George, with Arthur on her other side.

The talk died down and everyone took from the many dishes. Ronald sat with his mouth full and tried to have a conversation. Hermione had always thought it was obnoxious and disgusting, the way he stuffed himself.

They talked about Harry and Ginny's engagement, but because it was so new they had not planned anything yet.

"How's it at work, Harry?" Hermione asked and took a sip of juice.

"We are busy enough, but it's small things." he replied.

"Small things, huh? Mr. Greengrass seems to think otherwise!" Ronald shouted angrily, his mouth full of food.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"You know we shouldn't talk about our clients Ron." Harry sighed, "Although, I think everyone in the country knows about it. He doesn't exactly hide it."

"Ah, you mean that about his eldest daughter?" George said wiggling his eyebrows.

"Who? Daphne? " Hermione asked curiously.

"Yes, Daphne. She is engaged to Draco Malfoy, but apparently, she enjoys herself with Rabastan Lestrange." George smirked.

Hermione choked on the juice she had been drinking and coughed.

"Mr. Greengrass isn't happy about it, as you can imagine." Harry said.

"Happy?" Ronald snorted. "He's made sure that it's almost impossible for Rabastan Lestrange to get work anywhere. An attempt to keep him away from his daughter, although Azkaban would be better!"

"That's terrible! If they like each other, Mr. Greengrass should be happy." Hermione said.

"Happy? Should he be happy that his daughters shagging a Death Eater?" Ronald hissed.

"Ronald, both of the Lestrange brothers were pardoned!" Hermione said and sighed.

She was so tired of this same old argument. Ronald never got over the fact that the Malfoy family first avoided going to Azkaban because they helped at the last minute during the war. Not to mention had it not been for Narcissa Malfoy, Harry would not be present today.

"Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater." Ronald snarled.

"Ronald that is enough!" Molly scolded, and silence settled again.

"Hermione, how's your little shop going?" Arthur asked changing the subject.

"Things are going really well, I'm so happy about it. Business is picking up, so I've been very busy lately." Hermione replied and looked at him. She had always been very fond of Arthur, he was a good and caring father.

"You work to much dear, you will never meet someone when you work all the time," Molly said.

"I like my work and I meet many people. There are new customers coming in all the time," Hermione said and really tried not to be annoyed about Mollys issues with her love life. She didn't fancy yet another conversation about Hermiones lack of men in her life.

"I'm just saying you'll never meet a good man when you work all the time. That's what I've always said, not all men like to have a wife who's working," Molly said.

Hermione sighed, she was tired of hearing that women belonged behind the pots of one's home. Why would anyone go to school, if you don't have to use what you learn for anything?

"Molly, it's sweet of you to think like that, but I'm fine as it is right now. I don't need a man to be happy." Hermione said although it was a little lie.

She would love to have someone to enjoy her life with. But she wouldn't admit that to Molly, because she would without a doubt try to split Ronald and Lavender up again, so Hermione and Ronald could be together.

Hermione would hate to disappoint Molly, but she knew deep down, that she would never be with Ronald again. He was too childish, Hermione needed someone responsible and mature. The last few days she had thought a lot about Rodolphus and Lysander. She couldn't get the little boy and his father out of her head.

Rodolphus was much more mature and responsible than Ronald could ever be. He was a pure gentleman. Rodolphus held the door and was courteous to her where Ronald was the opposite. She thought that it sometimes was hard to believe that both of them were purebloods, Ronald did not behave like he was a pureblood.

"There is no one that will have a wife who is working all the time and never home." Ronald muttered and Hermione could really feel that her patience was put to the test.

"I've actually met someone!" Hermione blurted out before she could stop herself. Everyone looked up at her, and Ronald just sat with his mouth open.

"Who is it dear? Anyone we know?" Molly asked.

"No, you don't know him, and it was just a small meeting, but we have agreed to meet again," Hermione said, she would not tell about Rodolphus yet, and certainly not when Ronald had already said what he thought about both of the Lestrange men.

"I'm happy for you dear, that's wonderful news. I assume you'll be closing your shop now that you've met someone?" Molly said.

"No, I'm not going to close my shop. If one day I had to close, then it would be because I had no other choice," Hermione said.

"No one would want to be with someone like you Hermione, you are never home. It's a woman's job to be home and have dinner waiting for her husband!" Ronald hissed.

"Yes, thank you for that Ronald." Hermione said, sighing. She regretted agreeing to come, it was always and forever the same issues with him. Ronald would never allow his wife to work outside the home if it interfered with his dinner.

Lavender sat and whispered to Ron to try to get him to calm down.

"Thank you for the food Molly, but I really have to go, it was lovely to see all of you again," Hermione said and gave Molly a hug.

"Hermione dear, you're not going already? We haven't even had dessert yet, please stay." Molly said sadly.

"I'm very sorry Molly, I have some orders I have to check in the shop. Thank you for today I had a lovely time," Hermione lied, and quickly went out of the Burrow.

The moment the door closed behind her, she could hear Molly scold Ronald for his behavior.

Hermione apparated to her shop, and sat down in her chair. She had no work today, but she didn't want to go home and be alone. She got up and went and looked at her bookshelves until she found a good adventure book she would take with her.

She took her cloak, and locked the door behind her before she went out on the street.

She did not get far before a voice stopped her. She turned and saw Lysander come running to her.

"Mimi! Mimi! "He shouted as he ran as fast as his legs could carry him.

"Hello Lysander." she said, and knelt down.

The little boy gave her a big hug, and she got up and saw Rodolphus come walking towards them.

"Miss Granger, it's a pleasure to see you again," he said.

"You can call me Hermione, Mr. Lestrange." Hermione said and blushed.

"Only if you call me Rodolphus." he replied, smiling.

"Mimi, Papa and me are going out to buy sweets and then meet with Uncle Bass!" Lysander said.

"Really? That sounds nice," Hermione replied.

"Lysander, we have to have some food first at Madam Maggies, and meet with Rabastan there. Then we can go and buy sweets." Rodolphus replied.

"I'm on my way there to read a bit, and maybe grab a cup of tea." Hermione said and blushed.

"Would you like to join us for dinner Hermione?" Rodolphus asked and blushed a bit. She looked up at him and couldn't help but imagine how it would sound to hear him whisper her name in her ears. She cleared her throat and tried not to think about what she had imagined.

"I would love to," she said, and took his offered arm while Lysander held her hand.