Hermione was immeasurably busy for the next few days. This 'hashing out' never happened. She was cordial, generous, and even affectionate with both marauders, but the warm and fuzzies were soon gone, with it, her attention. Remus had seen this before and chided himself for thinking this would be a thing she would do willingly.

The excuse was logical- the bill she had passed was a maelstrom of chaos for her. The witch was pulled into interviews, held up by reporters, even a few lovely pictures were seen in the Prophet over that time. However, her home life suffered. It was this slimy film that was left over both wizards as they tried to work out a way to get inside the woman's head.

Enter in none other than Ginny Potter. Sirius invited her over for tea one afternoon while Hermione was at work. They sat out in the garden while James, Albus, and Teddy climbed on the fort that Sirius built. The redhead was tapping her cup with a frown after normal conversation faded.

"Well, who was it?" Ginny asked in a shrill tone.

The wizards glanced at each other before shrugging their shoulders. "Both, I suppose," Remus responded.

"Did you break her arm? Why are you so anxious if she's given you an answer?" Ginny inquired with a glare.

"That's the thing, Gin, she chose and then disappeared in all aspects but with Teddy. She's still very much a participant, but she's just not here," Sirius grumbled as he rubbed his face.

"So you asked her to pick?"

Remus nodded.

"And she didn't?" Ginny pressed.

Sirius shook his head. "No, she said she wanted to date us both, separately."

"And you didn't find her at all unusual for saying it?"

Remus shifted in his seat and exhaled. "Well, she seemed muted. Almost as if she thought about the answer for a long while before deciding."

"You both are far too much like bumbling dunderheads to really be the marauders," Ginny grumbled before pinching the bridge of her nose. "She's scared and would rather throw herself into work than to participate in the concept. Did either of you ask if she was at all uncomfortable?"

"Well, it's a bit difficult to ask her that when we're at her parents' house," Sirius retorted.

"I was uncomfortable," Remus confessed with a grimace. "She just made the decision in a pinch."

"Oh for Merlin's sake," Ginny moaned and tossed a hand in the air. "So, you drop this idea in her lap, and I'm positive she thought it might be something you would say, and then didn't bother to have follow through."

"We gave her the option to say neither," Sirius reminded her.

"And feel ruined when she saw just how happy you could be without her? Are you dim, Sirius? Think, what was the first thing she asked when you wanted to get exclusive?"

Sirius huffed as he ran a hand through his curls. "If I would be happier to think on it."

"Hermione is an excellent negotiator. We have all seen it. She also has a bad habit of avoiding difficult situations like a certain bookish werewolf," Ginny spat and shook a finger at Remus. "You know this, you've had her for years at arm's reach. We tried many times to convince you that this was a sound idea and now here it is, with another complication- no offense Sirius," Ginny finished and scrunched her nose.

"None taken, I know I am," Sirius exhaled.

"So, what now, Ginerva? We beg?" Remus questioned with a contorted expression.

Ginny leaned back in her chair and tapped her chin. "That is the real question. You both are positive that she doesn't love either of you more?"

"Well, she made it abundantly clear that she wants to shag him," Sirius grumbled as he tossed a thumb in Remus's direction. "And then there's her letting us do our own thing. For someone willing to end a relationship on a kiss, it doesn't make any sense," Sirius voiced while shaking his head.

"Why don't you just do what you've always done, just be there. It's not hard, it's not overreaching or pathetic, and it's the easiest recourse. She's afraid of getting hurt and gave you permission to be free. Maybe the next choice isn't about who's going to shag her, but who's going to be there. Hermione doesn't date like normal witches. You have to have a decent personal resume, both of you have a littered mess. Clean it up."

"And if she never chooses?" Remus asked.

Ginny tilted her head with a mischievous smile. "Then I suppose she's going to shag you both for the rest of her life. Not that I blame her, a two for one deal makes sense to me for someone like her. Neither one of you are capable of doing it on your own- that's evident."

"Hey, there, low blow with a bludger, Gin. I have four months of good standings on my record to making her howl," Sirius snapped with a pitiful pout.

"Are you suggesting there's no fixing the immediate issue?" Remus sighed.

The redhead scratched her chin in thought as her eyes traced the house above them. "Well, no, there's always amending Hermione's anxiety. Treat her as your friend, let the other shite that you two are concerned with go. Be bloody leaders, not puppies following around a woman holding treats. You wanted it, and she gave it to you. Now, do the work required to earn your next one," Ginny paused and glanced at Remus. "You know what she finds so attractive about you?"

The werewolf blinked and tugged at his collar. "Well, no, not truly."

"She likes that you've always made the calls, both good and bad. Hermione isn't a bossy witch in her relationships; you can ask Ron. She stands up for herself and what she believes in, but she moreover finds leadership effective and attractive. Stop blubbering and do something."

Sirius sat up and nudged Remus. "Like me and my direct approach to ask her to shag," he snickered with a wink.

"Actually, as basic as that is, yes," Ginny responded. "She wants to be wanted. Make her wanted."

Remus moaned and covered his face. "Which is why she never asked me to come with her," he huffed.

Ginny clicked her tongue against her teeth and smiled while pointing at the werewolf. "Exactly. You had her choose, and she didn't make one. There's an easy solution; both of you make one together. Decide if she's more important than your comfort. Make mistakes, get rejected, let her know that she's irreplaceable. I don't know how it's going to turn out- Hermione is strange, but she already knows what she'd want. You just have to let her know it's okay."

"What does she want?" Sirius questioned.

Ginny smirked and twirled her finger. "I won't blow all her surprises, Sirius. I'm only here to make sure you don't self-destruct because she didn't give you the answers you thought she would."

"Thank you for giving us something to think about, Ginny," Remus sighed with a motion of agreement.

"Most certainly," Sirius agreed.

Hermione was sipping her glass as the redhead finished speaking about her afternoon with the marauders. The Potters' sitting room seemed almost too quiet as the event sunk in. It was plenty to think about. The curly-haired witch crossed her knee over the other and exhaled. "What do you think about it?" Hermione asked.

"I think they're scared, more than you are," Ginny remarked.

"They shouldn't be, they have each other," Hermione sighed.

"That's not going to cure this situation no matter how much you will it to, Hermione. They're very much at war with the distance you're placing between them and yourself. You know for them to even agree to your terms that they would do anything for you."

"Both? I was the dunderhead that said both!" Hermione exclaimed and pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers. "How does one date, two people? I only said that because I was hoping they would become engrossed with each other enough to be distracted. They would know I'm working and find their own way with my absence without Teddy feeling like I left him."

"You are a dunderhead," Ginny agreed.

"What was I going to say?" Hermione spat as she grimaced. "They don't want me to walk away, yet, they can't decide on their own. It's not right that I have to choose between either of them. That would be committing a murder of a marauder."

"Well, do you happen to envision your life with either of them more than the other?"

Hermione shook her head with a pitiful expression growing on her face. "No, I envision them happily together. I was selfish by accepting Sirius's affection. I knew he harbored rejection and loss over Remus's actions."

"And you don't think they feel the same way over yours?"

Hermione winced. It had occurred to her that they were attached. How… well, that was safe to assume less than the elongated history they had with each other. "What do you think I should do? I can't very well see them both; there's so much wrong with that idea it isn't funny."

"Why not? It isn't like I'm asking you to marry them. Just go on a few dates and see. Do what you said you were going to do! Live out the reality you set precedence to!"

Hermione groaned with a massive breath. "You just want me to make a mess of my life."

"No, I want you to live your life, Hermione. When are you going to wake up and see that if the answer isn't there, you need to dig for it as you did in school? You don't know who you want to have with you raising children and saving the world, so find out. They're not going anywhere. They're in fact going to stay right there and wait. Just make a damn mess."

"And then what? Watch one of them pine?" Hermione growled.

Ginny laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "I always wondered what it would be like to see Ron's face when you arrive with them clinging to you like gold. Have fun with it. You may decide that neither work, but at least you have the opportunity to find out. They wouldn't have said yes to this mental idea if they didn't want to themselves."

Hermione glanced at the window and shook her head. "I'd never been invited to dinner again," she said.

"Oh, yes, you would. The minute one of them sticks a child in your belly, mum will all but forget that you sleep with them both," Ginny laughed.

The curly-haired witch moaned while shaking her head. "Laugh now, but if this goes down the toilet, I'm blaming you."

"You didn't say no to the baby," Ginny snickered.

"It's an infallible no until I know for certain," Hermione replied.

"Then, you better decide. Harry and I want another soon," Ginny said with a smile.

"You're relentless," Hermione grumbled and shifted in her chair. "I need to head home. I told Teddy I would make him some biscuits tonight," she announced as she stood from her chair.

"Give them both a kiss for me- oh, and Teddy," Ginny said with a wicked sneer.

Hermione waved her off and sighed. "I love you, Mrs. Potter."

"I love you too, Hermione. Give them something to talk about, yeah?"

"Yes, yes," Hermione responded and went toward the fireplace, leaving Mrs. Potter to grin at her good deeds for the day. You can still outfox a fox. The pun made her laugh to herself before joining her husband with taking care of the children.