We,
A Harry Potter FanFiction by Repello Muggletum,
This story takes place in the aftermath of the war, in which Voldemort has been defeated. Some characters have been allowed to live; others have been left in their graves. Still others who had once lived have now been killed. I hope you enjoy. Without further ado...

We

-Chapter Three-

"Snape, Hermione? Snape?" Ginny Weasley laughed from the Burrow's kitchen sink. Hermione had just told her best friend the news. "He asked you to go to the ceremony with him? You?"

Hermione shifted her gaze to the boys outside practicing Quidditch. Even with everything that's happened, they're still obsessed with chasing Snitches, she snorted fondly, trying to hide her burning cheeks. "Erm… Not exactly… The truth is, I asked him."

The kitchen was silent for a moment, save for the distant shouts of Harry and Ron from somewhere outside. Ginny was frozen where she was; Hermione was similarly unmoving. Then, unable to stand it any longer, Hermione said, "Ginny, you've got to say something."

"I-I-I… Hermione Granger! I didn't know you had it in you! Merlin!" Ginny threw her head back in laughter. "I always knew you had a crush on him, but my goodness! How bold! Utterly brave! I'm shocked he actually agreed."

"Well thanks, Gin. I'm glad to know you have so much faith in me… But, erm…" Hermione fidgeted, hiding her face behind an over-large cup of tea.

Ginny had long abandoned the dishes and seated herself at the table across from Hermione, glued to the edge of her seat and wriggling with amused excitement. "Yes?" she prodded eagerly. "Go on."

Uncomfortable, Hermione said through an unconvincing cough, "Uhm, well… Dumbledore sort of…cornered him into going. With me."

There was another long moment of silence. Then Ginny Weasley did what any good friend would do. She tried unsuccessfully to hold back the beginning sputter, and then she erupted in relentless laughter. "Are you… Oh Merlin, hold on a sec." Ginny let out several loud peals of laughter after which, through half-suppressed chuckles, she smoothed her red tresses and said, "Right, then. Anyway. I take it he's not too happy… Do Ron and Harry know?"

"Of course. They were there when I asked. But it's not a date, Gin, just a small Ministry ceremony. No big deal whatsoever." It's not like there'll be cameras and reporters or anything…

"Yeah, Hermione. It's not like there'll be cameras and reporters or anything," Ginny said with a roll of her eyes. "And I heard Rita Skeeter cleaned up her act as well."

Trying to sound more confident than she was, Hermione said, "Yes, well Rita Skeeter can stick it where--"

"Hello Mum!" A frazzled Molly Weasley stepped through the doorway and in to the Burrow's sunny kitchen. She was wringing her hands on the corner of a spotted apron, brow creased and mouth bowed in a rainbow-like frown, but with much less hope or happiness. In fact, the color of her usually rosy face must have gone off and hidden at the end of some far-off rainbow, for it was not evident in her cheeks nor her tightly pursed lips.

"Hi, Mrs. Weasley. Is something the matter?" Hermione quickly put her other troubles aside and focused her worries on Mrs. Weasley. It wasn't often that she showed such obvious distress.

Mrs. Weasley looked to her left. She looked to her right. And when she was certain that no one else was around, she went to the table. The three women put their heads together, and Molly Weasley said in a fierce whisper, "Promise me you won't say anything to Arthur, girls."

Now Ginny's own brow creased in worry. "What is it, Mum?"

"I've lost my wedding ring!" Mrs. Weasley looked on the verge of tears.

Hermione was relieved, having been expecting bad news of Charlie in Romania or the horrifying return of Voldemort, despite assurances that he was gone forever. "I'm sure we can find it, Mrs. Weasley. Ginny and I will help you, and no one will ever have to know."

"That's sweet of you, Hermione, but… Well, read this." She produced a tattered paper from her apron pocket, folded and creased many times. Hermione took the note and carefully unfolded it. It read:

Dear Molly,

The angle produced by Mars and Neptune does not bode well for those married in the month of June. My Inner Eye predicts coming hardships in your marriage.

Regards,
Sybill Trelawney

Hermione's eyebrows were raised. Carefully, she said, "Mrs. Weasley, this was written in 1992... And what does it have to do with your ring, anyway?"

"My dear, everybody knows that a lost ring is a sign that you will lose your husband! Oh, what am I going to do? I'll go mad if I lose Arthur!" Tears sprouted in the woman's blue eyes while Ginny and Hermione ushered her to a chair.

"There there, Mum. We'll find it all right. Trelawney is a fraud, anyway; don't pay attention to her lies."

Through her sobs, Mrs. Weasley faintly said, "Now, Ginny, talk about your professors respectfully," but both girls could tell her heart wasn't in it.

Twenty minutes later, after Mrs. Weasley had a good cry, the trio pulled the house apart in a vain effort to find the ring. Arthur was staying at Bill's house for the week; they hadn't had a chance to talk since the wedding, and Fleur was in France visiting her family; the trio would return together for the Ministry ceremony. When still the ring did not turn up, Ginny collapsed onto a lumpy armchair. "Maybe it got lost in Diagon Alley last week, Mum. I still need to pick up my school supplies, so I can ask around if you like."

A vacant look on her face, Molly patted her daughter's hand and said, "Thank you, dear."

Then she slowly made her way up the stairs, leaving the two girls alone.

"Mind if I tag along to Diagon with you, Gin? You have to help me pick out a dress for the ceremony."

"Of course. How's tomorrow sound? Flourish & Blott's gets new shipments on Mondays. They should have everything I need… Madame Malkin should have just the dress that will help you sweep Snape off his feet." Ginny gave a cheeky grin, earning a good-natured swat from her best friend.

Hermione was embarrassed at having been, ultimately, rejected by the snarky Potions professor who had always been referred to as a greasy git, or worse. Yet at the same time, she knew her friends would stand by her in whatever she chose, even a date with the man who used to seem as great an enemy as Voldemort himself. Ron and Harry had given her horrified, confused looks at the dinner where her plans were made known, but after a discussion later, in which she harshly chewed them out for being so insensitive, all was right. Ron, whose opinion she had been most worried about, had announced his return to the "on-again" stage of his on-again, off-again relationship with Lavender Brown.

Eventually Mrs. Weasley emerged and made supper, having put on a happy face for the unknowing boys. They sat around and visited for a while, but everyone eventually dispersed. Hermione slept on a transfigured bed in Ginny's room, anticipating the next day's visit to Diagon Alley, her subsequent return home, and the week ahead.

When the next morning rolled around, it was raining. Hermione had toast for breakfast and ended up having to wait for Ginny to finish her much larger meal. Sometimes it seemed like she had a black hole for a stomach. Harry and Ron, uninterested in a day of shopping, were in for a few hours of Exploding Snap and Wizard Chess. After saying their goodbyes, Hermione grabbed hold of Ginny and Apparated them to a dirty alley off of Charing Cross road. From there, they made their way to the Leaky Cauldron, from which they departed to Diagon Alley.

The Alley was a bit vacant due to the rain, but there were still several groups wandering around, including the obligatory few first year students dragging their parents from shop to shop. Having thought to use wet repellant charms, the girls were blessedly free from the burden of an umbrella. They quickly came up with a plan.

First stop was the cauldron shop. Charlie's old cauldron, which Ginny had been using, was on its last leg. It had been involved in an unfortunate potions accident involving a substantial pile of monkshood and the younger, Hufflepuff equivalent of Neville Longbottom. Professor Slughorn had kindly let her use a spare cauldron, but Ginny felt it was essential to purchase a new one. She relished the healthy, non-tarnished surfaces of the cauldrons that lined the shop's walls and eventually picked out a nice, good-sized pewter cauldron.

Next was the apothecary across the street. Ginny purchased the required potions ingredients, and Hermione also replenished her supplies. They were quick to leave the shop, which was unnaturally humid and had a foul cabbagey smell.

"Let's save Flourish & Blott's for last, Herm. It looks crowded." Ginny tilted her head, indicating the group of first years mobbing the bookstore's manager. Just before entering Madam Malkin's a tall man dressed in black stepped out.

It was Snape holding a large parcel in his hands. He froze upon seeing them, eyebrows raised in what could only be alarm, but quickly averted his eyes and walked past them without so much as a nod. The girls turned to watch him until he disappeared. Then Ginny said, "Merlin, Hermione. You must have scarred the man for life!"

Hermine promptly jabbed her friend in the ribs, but secretly wondered why Snape had reacted to their presence in such a way. He seemed almost embarrassed. Surely being caught purchasing new robes wouldn't send someone into a state of such overt rudeness! But it is Snape, Hermione reminded herself. She ended up trying on several robes before finally settling on a deep blue set which was cut to accentuate her curves. Ginny claimed it set off her dark brown eyes, but Hermione wasn't so sure. Still, she trusted her friend's judgement and ended up making the purchase.

When Madam Malkin was done making the necessary alterations and the girls finished in Flourish & Blott's, they were both rather tired. They asked around at all of the places Mrs. Weasley usually visited, but the ring had not been found. While this news definitely put a damper on the mood, the rain had stopped and the sun came out. Ginny and Hermione each enjoyed a double scoop at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour while discussing their plans for the rest of the summer.