Chapter 10: Mission

Hermione was interrupted by a knock on her office door. Her assistant entered, and walked over to her desk.

"Mr Weasley asked me to give you this urgently," handing her boss the note, Claire walked out again, shutting the door behind her. Hermione opened the folded piece of paper and read:

Dear Hermione,

Something has come up, and I'm going to have to be gone for a while. This mission is highly confidential, and I wish I could have said goodbye properly. I don't know when I'll be back, but I want you to know that I love you very much, and think of you always. I promise to be back safely.

Love,

Ron.

Hermione frowned at the note, folded it up, took another piece of paper, and started writing. Once she had finished her letter, she went to see Claire.

"Could you go to the Owlery and send this to Ginny Weasley. Sorry, Ginny Potter. I need to remember to call her that now." Claire smiled and told her she would. Hermione then returned to her desk to work. Whenever Ron went on a mission, she knew that Harry had too, and that meant that her and Ginny would spend most of their time together, so as not to feel so alone in their empty homes. Hermione was even considering getting a dog for when Ron went away.

Ginny apparated into Hermione's flat when she had finished training. Ginny went straight into the kitchen and started making a cup of tea. Once she had made the tea, Hermione apparated home, looking dishevelled and tired.

"Thank you," she yawned as Ginny handed her the mug of hot brew. The two witches went into the lounge and sat down.

"How was your day?" The redhead asked the brunette.

"Exhausting. I had so many meetings and letters."

"At least you are making the world a better place." Hermione smiled a grateful smile.

"What about you? How's training going?"

"Fantastic, I love it. Also, I have figured out what I'm going to do when I have children."

"Ginny, don't you think you're a bit young to think about children?"

"Don't worry!" Ginny swatted the air with her hand, "I'm not planning on having children yet; I like Quidditch too much. I've still got about 5 years before I worry about it. Anyway, I think I'm going to be a Quidditch writer." Hermione contemplated this.

"Yes. Yes, that sounds like a good job that you can do with young children about. I approve, Ginny, I think you chose well." Ginny raised her mug as thanks, and smiled at Hermione.

"So. How's the planning going?"

"What planning?"

"Your wedding!"

"Oh! I had forgot about that…" Ginny stared at her wide-eyed. "Sorry, I've had a lot on my plate: I've been busy with work, Draco's back in my life and is bringing back old memories, I'm not sleeping well, and I gave my dad a heart attack when I told him I was engaged." Hermione sipped her tea.

"I'm sure it wasn't your fault." Hermione sighed.

"Sure feels like it is." Ginny looked at the young witch who was deep in thought, lost in her own world.

"Right, we're going out." Hermione stared at Ginny blankly.

"What?"

"We're going out tonight. We're not staying in. The boys have their mission and we have ours."

"And what's that exactly?"

"We are on a mission to have fun!" Hermione laughed.

"We are not going out."

"Yes we are!"

"I have work in the morning!"

"So? We don't have to stay out too late. I also have to be in tomorrow, so we'll be back by about 12. Is that alright?" Hermione looked and the redhead and sighed. Ginny had that look in her eyes that Hermione was all too familiar with; there was no arguing with her.

"I don't have anything to wear." Ginny grinned.

"I'm sure you do. You could always borrow some of my things." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"You're smaller than I am, they won't fit." It was Ginny's turn to roll her eyes, and Hermione put her face in her hand. "Sorry, forgot we could change them with magic." They started to laugh. After finishing their cups of tea, the two witches went into Hermione's room to look for something for the eldest to wear.

"What about this?" Ginny was holding out a black skirt. "Maybe not," she said after looking at it properly, "it's too formal." Hermione smiled.

"You won't find anything here."

"Aha!" Ginny cried in triumph. "This is perfect!" Ginny had pulled out a little black dress that she had bought Hermione about two years previously. "I have never seen you in this." Hermione blushed.

"I've never had the opportunity." She mumbled, but Ginny brushed the comment aside.

"No excuses." Ginny handed her the dress, and ushered her into the bathroom. Hermione grumbled very little; she knew there was no arguing with Ginny when she was on a 'mission'. So Hermione sat very patiently as Ginny did her make-up and hair.

"Not too much glitter this time Ginny." Hermione knew Ginny was scowling at her, but she obeyed. When she'd finished, Hermione looked at herself, shrugged, and got up.

"That's it? That's all I get for my hard work?"

"It looks very nice, thank you."

"Not 'it'; 'you' look very nice."

"Yes, you do." Ginny scowled, but couldn't help but smile at her fried; she knew Hermione was just trying to wind her up.

"Thank you for the make-up." Ginny bowed, and Hermione laughed.

Ginny apparated Hermione to a nearby wizard bar and ordered two butterbeers.

"I don't know why, but nothing will ever be as good as a nice butterbeer." Hermione nodded fiercely in agreement.

"Cheers to that!" Hermione and Ginny clunked glasses and drank. They found a table near the back and sat there. Once in a while, somebody would come up to them asking for an autograph, and both girls signed page after page, drank drink after drink, and moved on to firewhisky.

"Ginny! I should stop!" Hermione giggled. "I'm getting so giggly!" Ginny just giggled at her and ordered more. Next thing Hermione knew she was dancing with Ginny in the throng of people.

"I haven't had this much fun since your wedding!" Hermione shouted at Ginny.

"Me either!" Both girls laughed and danced and sang and drank until closing time.

"I have to admit, I am glad you dragged me out tonight. I needed it." Ginny laughed and they both fell into the nearest bench.

"We should go to a park." Ginny whispered. Hermione giggled.

"Why?"

"Swings!" Ginny was wide-eyed; Ginny loved swings, and Hermione couldn't help but agree, so off to a park they went. They opened the gate and made sure nobody was there. Hermione had no idea what time it was, but for once she didn't care. Ginny was right; she worried too much. Both of the girls made a bee-line for the swings, and pushed off. Ginny and Hermione squeeled with laughter.

"Higher!" Hermione shouted at Ginny, and Ginny swung harder. Hemrione was sure that if she reached out a hand she could touch the moon. As she was at the highest point, she heard a snap, and saw the ground plummeting towards her.