Hermione paused a moment after Apparating to take in her surroundings. The placement of Shell Cottage always took her breath away, balanced precariously above the waves. The effect was doubled because her first memories of visiting the place were so emotionally powerful. She had but to close her eyes and she was back to that trying day—exhausted from being tortured at the hands of that vile Lestrange woman, mourning the brave house-elf who had saved them and, above all of this sadness, a sense of elation. It had not mattered that she couldn't move out of the bed she was placed in, her heart had been soaring through the clouds. For in all the years that were to come, Hermione would remember that otherwise horrid day as one of her favorites, for it had been the day she became certain that Ron loved her.
He had saved her from giving in to the darkness at Malfoy Manor through the power of his voice calling out to her, and had then taken her to the safety of Shell Cottage. When the events of the day had finally taken their toll on her, she slid into the realms of sleep conscience of the fact that Ron was sitting at her bedside, watching over her.
In the quiet of the night that followed, Hermione awoke to find Ron clutching her hand and sobbing. It was only the second time she had ever seen him cry, and the shock of this was magnified by the fierce grip he had on her right hand. Concerned, she had lifted her left hand from where it lay by her side and cupped his cheek with it. Hermione could still remember the relief that had washed over his face when his eyes met hers and the telling way he had leaned his cheek into her hand. It was in that moment she knew that the feelings she had for him were returned, though neither of them had said a word.
"Hermione? Hello? Paging Ms. Hermione Granger, are you in there?"
Hermione jumped visibly as she was brought away from her memories by the sound of Ginny's voice. She blinked several times to clear her head before smiling apologetically at her friend. The brunette was surprised when Ginny cocked her head to the side and gave her an analyzing look.
"What is it, Gin?" Hermione hoped she had not offended the younger woman by getting lost in thought.
"Nothing. I just hope that when I'm thinking about Harry I look the same way you do when you're thinking about Ron." The younger woman reached out and gave Hermione's shoulder a squeeze. "Even if my brother is the world's greatest git sometimes, and even if I never understand how you put up with him, I'm very happy for the two of you."
Surprised by the sudden sentimental turn the conversation had taken, Hermione found tears welling in her eyes. Before she could express her gratitude, however, Ginny cut her off.
"Don't you dare start crying and ruin all my hard work on your make-up. I don't know when I'll be able to convince you to let me get you all dolled up again, so this stuff has to last! Come on, let's get inside and get this started before Fleur gets it in her head we're not coming and Floo's Mum." Ginny tempered her reproach by grabbing Hermione's hand. Smiling, Hermione allowed herself to be led to the door of Shell Cottage.
As Ginny opened the door, her eldest brother, who was balancing young Victoire on his hip, greeted her. After giving both Ginny and Hermione a quick one-armed hug, he allowed the two women to fuss briefly over their niece.
"Say good night to your aunts, poppet, or there might not be any trifle left at Gramma's. You Uncle George does love her trifle best of all, he'll eat it all up!"
The toddler looked at her father and spoke with eloquence far greater than her three years. "You are wrong, Papa. Uncle George always saves some for me, even when Maman doesn't want him to." Hermione beamed at the wife child, fully aware (as all the family was) that George doted heavily on the girl born on the anniversary of his twin's death. Bill seemed at a loss for what to say next, and he eyed Ginny pleadingly.
"But Victoire, I know that your Uncle Harry is bringing Teddy over to the Burrow tonight. Uncle George knows too, and I bet he and Uncle Percy will have brought presents for you both!" The crystal-blue eyes of the child lit up as she considered this new development. Her strawberry-blond hair swished as she turned excitedly to her father, insisting they leave now before Teddy got to have all of the fun. Bill chuckled, while thanking his sister before leading them to the sitting room. Fleur was there waiting, and she began shooing her husband and daughter towards the fireplace.
"Out! Zee guests will be arriving at any moment. I love you both vairy much, but you muzt go!" Giving them both an extra kiss to make up for the fact she was kicking them out of their home, Fleur held their pot of Floo powder out towards Bill. The deep voice of the red-haired man called out "The Burrow," and he and his charming daughter disappeared in a rush of green flame.
" 'Onestly, I told zem to leave ages ago, but Victoire wanted to zee you before she left. Zat girl has 'er Papa wrapped around 'er leetle finger, so stay zey did. I 'ope you do not mind, Ginny?"
The usually pretty French witch had outdone herself this evening. Her long silvery-blond hair was done up in an elegant twist, and she wore a short, black sleeveless dress coupled with a pair of heels that would fit in easily in the Muggle World. Concern radiated from her, and it was clear to Hermione that she very much wanted the evening to go well.
Ginny smiled at her Sister-In-Law while shaking her head, "It's not a problem at all, Fleur. I love any chance to see my niece. I swear she's grown again since last week."
Fleur gave a throaty laugh before replying, "I suppose zat is possible, she doez zeem to take after her Papa in so many ways. But come, we can talk of family some ozzer time, tonight is for you!"
With a wave of her wand, Fleur's tastefully decorate sitting room became festooned with balloons and streamers. A banner was strung across the room proclaiming in scrolling script, "Congratulations Ginny!" A wizard photograph of Ginny zooming on her broom across the length of the banner followed the script, then after a brief pause, the animation would repeat itself. With another wave of Fleur's wand, a pile of presents that were overwhelming the small table in the corner of the room became visible.
Ginny seemed to be a tad overwhelmed by all of the preparations Fleur had obviously gone to—Hermione knew she had been expecting a very quiet, subdued affair. If possible, the red head's blush deepened even further when Fleur waved her wand a final time, revealing a veritable feast of Ginny's favorite foods and bottles of butter beer. Ginny made several stuttering attempts to thank her Sister-In-Law, but couldn't seem to find her voice. Fleur crossed the room and quickly enveloped Ginny in a large hug.
"Do not zank me for putting zis togezzer. You are my seestair. And I am 'appy to do eet for you. Now zen, zee guests should be 'ere at any moment. . ."
No sooner had the words left the French witch's mouth than a series of pops were heard outside, followed by a knocking at the door. Fleur excused herself to allow the other members of the party in, and Ginny collapsed onto the overstuffed couch. There was a dazed look in her hazel eyes as Hermione crossed the room to check on her best friend.
"Gin, hon, are you all right?"
Blinking a few times, Ginny's eyes came back into focus on Hermione's worried features. An embarrassed smile filled her face before she replied, "Yeah, I'm fine. Feel like a bit of a prat though. Here I've been complaining about this party all week, thinking that it would be something completely awful like, oh I don't know...Champagne, caviar and bad foreign films? And all because Fleur was planning it. The party hasn't even started yet and it's clear she put a lot of effort into making this something really special that I would like. I'm a horrid person, really."
"You are not a horrid person! Merlin, Ginny, even I'm surprised at all of this. I just thought we were going out dancing, I had no idea Fleur would put something like this together . . ."
The conversation was cut short as Hermione heard the new group of women headed in their direction. She watched as Ginny heard it too, immediately composing herself. The bride-to-be stood to greet the guests, while Hermione remained seated on the couch. From her position, she could see the party guests enter the room and greet Ginny in their own way.
Audrey, Percy's long time girl friend, was the first to enter. George liked to refer to her as a compendium of contradictions. The former Ravenclaw kept a cool and quiet mask on in professional situations, but when around friends and family she displayed a biting, and ready laugh. Her hair fell in auburn (Percy got himself a redhead, did he? Well, she'll fit right in. People won't be able to tell which is the Weasely. waves to nearly her waist, and when she entered the room, she smiled widely at Ginny. At only five feet, she was the shortest of the group, even when wearing the heels she favored over all other forms of footwear. The petite woman shared a hug with Ginny before sending a small wave in Hermione's direction and crossing to sit beside her.
"Fleur really got into this whole Hen Night thing, didn't she? I'd half thought that we'd just sit around and chat about the boys all night long." The quick-witted witch summoned Butterbeers for herself and Hermione, before continuing. "That or perhaps she would start a discussion about the meaning of love everlasting." Hermione giggled along with Audrey, marveling at the woman's ability to say exactly what she was thinking before responding.
"Oh, I'm sure Fleur has several ideas to keep us all entertained—although I am still a bit nervous about this dancing bit. . ."
"Come off it Hermione, you worry too much! We'll have a fantastic time--just you wait and see."
While the two women had been talking, Ginny had been warmly greeted by Angelina Johnson. The two were briefly discussing the latest Quidditch scores before the final party guest made her way into the room.
Hermione couldn't say why, but Luna Lovegood seemed more distracted than usual this evening. There seemed to be something she was hiding behind her less than tranquil smile as she patiently awaited her turn to greet her long time best friend. However, when Luna's silvery-grey eyes met Ginny's, Hermione was sure she must have been imagining things. The two women embraced like sisters and were still talking animatedly when Fleur re-entered the room and called their attention to her.
" 'ello everyone. Virst of all, Ginny I 'ope you do not mind 'ow few people I invited for tonight's festivities. I zought eet might be eazier for uz to go about if we were not in a crowd. Zo for tonight, I zought it could be juzt uz girls from zee family and of course Luna."
Ginny shook her head before replying, "No, Fleur, of course I don't mind. This is really wonderful. I cannot thank you enough, in all truthfulness. This is absolutely perfect."
"Well, I zought zat since you 'ave not gotten too 'ave much zat could be considered private lately, zat you might like a certain degree of, how do you say, anonymity when celebrating zis momentous occasion. Zat is why I chose zee Muggle Club option over zee better known Wizarding clubs zat were offering us VIP packages. I zought it would be fun for us all to juzt go be girls having fun, and to not worry about what zee Daily Prophet trying to snap photoz of your last night out on zee town."
Hermione thought Fleur's plan was brilliant, and knew that Ginny would welcome the break from being all over the Wizarding World's papers in relation to her wedding. She was about to voice her own feelings of gratitude when she saw an excited gleam in Fleur's eyes.
"Bezides, I zought we could perhaps begin a family tradition zat my mozzer had with her seestairs and seestairs-in-law. Zince I was zee first to get married, I wanted to hold Ginny's party. Zen she shall hold Luna's, Luna can hold Hermione's and so on. Are you all agreeable to zis leetle plot of mine?"
The gathered women looked at each other and each nodded slowly, there was something very. . . right about Fleur's proposal. They all began to smile at each other at the thought, and Fleur clapped her hands in excitement.
"Wonderful! And now, my dearz, let zee fun begin! Zhall we start wiz zee prezents?"
As each of the gathered women tried to convince Ginny to open her gift first, Hermione felt herself get caught up in the excitement of the evening. If these first few minutes were any indication, the rest of the evening promised to be one she would always remember.
The music of the club consisted of songs Hermione was sure she had heard during the last summer holiday she had spent with her parents in between fifth and sixth year. Occasionally, she and Audrey—who was also Muggle born—would both recognize a song and immediately begin singing along as well as dancing, breaking in to hysterical laughter afterwards. She was forced to concede that even this part of Fleur's idea had been absolutely brilliant. They had all been able to go out and be themselves without fear of how the morning's Prophet would report their actions. This party had become Hermione's favorite part of the wedding to date.
Beckoning Ginny over to her, Hermione had to practically shout in her friend's ear in ordered to be heard over the music. "I'll be back soon, I'm just going to find the loo!"
Ginny nodded at her and resumed dancing to some song Hermione sort of recognized, though she couldn't rightly recall who it was by. After several minutes of pushing her way through the crowded club, Hermione managed to escape into the ladies' toilets. She hurriedly crossed through the lounge area to the nearest sink on order to splash some water on her neck in an attempt to try and cool down. As she began to take in her posh surroundings, she heard a sob coming from the lounge. After a quick look, she saw that the bathroom was completely empty, save herself and the huddled figure on one of the couches. Approaching, she saw familiar waves of dirty-blonde hair obscuring the sobbing woman's face, and Hermione immediately became concerned. When she saw the odd clothes the woman was wearing, she was certain.
"Oh my goodness, Luna? Darling, what in the name of Merlin is wrong?" Hermione hastily crossed to sit beside the girl and take her hands in her own. In that moment she desperately wished they were in a wizard club so that she might use her wand to conjure tissues for the crying woman. She looked around, but the closest box of Kleenex was across the room, and there was no way she was leaving Luna now.
Turning back to face her friend, she noticed that Luna's red-rimmed eyes were now focused on her, and had to lean in close to hear her friend—who's voice was nothing like it's usual airy tones but harsh and raw from crying—speak to her, "Neville and I have called off our engagement."