She groaned as she woke up, her head a bit achy and her mouth dry, sure signs she'd had a bit too much to drink the night before, even if she wasn't battling a massive hangover. Deciding that getting up could wait a while she snuggled into the covers, only to freeze when she encountered a hard warm body behind her.

"Oh Merlin," she breathed. Had she drank more than she realised the night before? She bit her lip and rolled over to identify they person next to her, somewhat heartened by the fact she was wearing her pyjamas. She gave a sigh of relief as she saw a mop of red hair and a freckled face grinning at her. "Oh thank heavens, it's only you."

"Thanks, that's a lovely thing to be greeted with when you wake up in a woman's bed," George sniffed dramatically and rolled away from her.

"Oh shush you. Erm, do you have to be at the shop, it's almost nine." He shook his head and settled into the pillow.

"Nope, Verity and Sara are opening up for me, had a feeling being up might be a problem this morning. Don't you have work though?"

"Booked the morning off, seemed sensible. An anniversary ball is fine, but surely the nearest weekend would've made more sense, rather than the actual day. I know Harry and Ron were cursing, they had to be at training at half eight. So, how about we get dressed and grab brunch before we have to be at work?" Hermione swung her legs out of bed as she spoke and headed to the bathroom. George nodded and wandered through to her kitchen to find something to drink. He found the Prophet on her table along with a stack of letters and flicked through the paper as he waited for Hermione to finish in the bathroom.

"Bathroom's all yours." Hermione said a while later as she walked into the kitchen in her dressing gown, rubbing her hair with a towel. "Anything interesting in there?" She gestured towards the paper.

"Not really, picture of us dancing asking who we think we're kidding with our, quote, 'continued denial of the obvious romance between them. Mr Weasley and Miss Granger need to stop insulting all our intelligence and admit what is painfully clear to everyone,' end quote. They need to get us to write our own rumours, we're so much better. Really sweet pic of you, Harry and Ron laughing at something that has this shallow cow gushing over the Golden Trio for a few lines, summary of Kingsley's speech, bit more gossip and that's the lot really." George tossed the paper onto the table then headed to Hermione's bathroom.

When he re-appeared after his shower Hermione was dressed and ready to leave. She laughed as she glanced at George walking out of her bedroom in jeans and a clean shirt.

"You know, the gossips would go mad if they knew you kept clothes here, slept in my bed and know your way round the kitchen better than I do. They'd have me pegged as Mrs Weasley the fourth before we could blink."

"Nah, you're not domestic goddess enough for a Mrs Weasley, you're clearly just using me for sex." He said as he walked to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo-powder. Hermione glared at him teasingly then stepped into the fire and disappeared in a whirl of green.

***

Remus reached out to the other side of the bed as he struggled back to reality, only to be fully awake a moment later when his hand encountered cold empty mattress, just as it had done for weeks now. He sighed and pushed himself to a sitting position, wondering how long it would take until he didn't reach for someone who wasn't there, who never would be again. Looking round the room he realised just how little he had moved on. The dresser, wardrobe and shelves were still half empty where she had taken her things, he hadn't changed the bedding so her scent could linger as long as possible, her shampoo bottle still rested next to his in the shower. As he climbed out of bed he considered the way he had been recently. It was as if she had died and he was mourning.

But she didn't die, she left. Get a bloody grip. Stop pining and get on with your life, she has. He told himself as firmly as he could. As he showered he decided that he would start going forward. Starting with washing the sheets, since that was heading fast towards quite disgusting. He could get out all the things that had stayed in boxes when they moved in together, mostly books. And he should definitely take George up on his offer and consult on some of the products at WWW. By the time he was dressed and in the kitchen he was positively upbeat. His mood didn't even falter when he discovered that his milk was off and the bread mouldy. Rather than risk food poisoning Remus crossed to the fireplace and decided to head to the Leaky Cauldron for breakfast then he would be in Diagon Ally and could speak to George.

No sooner had he stepped out of the fireplace when the floo activated again and a figure was falling towards him. In order to stop them both from landing on the floor Remus instinctively grabbed the woman and helped her find her balance before stepping back.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, are you ok?" The woman looked up and then blushed as she realised she was looking into her old professor's face. "Remus! Did I hurt you? I can't believe I still fall from floo travel, after ten years." Hermione had barely finished speaking when the fireplace let another person out. Although George didn't lose his balance like Hermione had they were still stood close enough to the fireplace that his step forwards pushed her back into Remus' arms.

"Honestly girl, not even an hour ago you were in bed with me and now you're throwing yourself at another man. Hussy." George shook his head in mock disappointment. "Hello Remus, what you doing out so early mate?" Remus laughed at the statement and glanced at his watch, having once more returned Hermione safely to her feet.

"Wouldn't call half ten early myself, but I'm here for breakfast then I was going to come and see you, actually."

"Ah, it's fate then, since we're here for brunch you'll have to join us and we'll kill two birds with one stone." George led the way to a table as he spoke, a smiling Hermione and Remus following behind.

"Morning Tom," Hermione said. "A full English, a double full and, Remus?"

"Full English for me too please Tom." Orders placed the three of them discussed the ball last night, the latest political issues and the newest Weasley pregnancy. It was over an hour later that Hermione figured she had better get going if she didn't want to be late for work.

"I'll see you Friday then George, Harry's turn to cook this time. You should come too Remus, I know everyone would be glad to see you." Hermione said as she stood.

"Come where?" asked Remus.

"Dinner, Friday, seven o'clock, Harry and Ginny's place." Hermione replied.

"I wouldn't want to intrude, but thank you anyway." Remus said.

"You wouldn't be, Harry Ron and I started having dinner every other Friday just after Hogwarts, but all sorts of people come, Gin and Mel will be there, Luna and Neville often are, George, Charlie since he's in the country. We'd love to see you, but if you're busy it's ok."

"If you're sure, then it would be a pleasure." He said.

"Good, that's settled, now I really have to go." She kissed both men on the cheek and disappeared out of the door. Remus pressed his fingers to his cheek where she had brushed her lips across his skin and smiled softly to himself. George grinned as he noticed, but didn't say anything, he didn't think the older man had even registered that he was doing it. With subtlety unusual in a Weasley he moved the conversation to pranks and the shop, but stored the information in his brain. Remus deserved someone who appreciated him and Hermione, well, George would do anything to see her happy, especially after, he shook his head, not wanting his thoughts to go there and focused back on Remus and joke products, for the time being at least.

A/N Sorry this took a while, I've been moving out of uni and it's been chaotic! Bit more Remus/Hermione interaction in this one. Review please.