A/N: I completely forgot to mention that Catriona, Campbell, and the backstory for Oliver's brothers are the brainchild of MandyinKC from her fic Pictures of You.
"So, who's the beauty?"
Bill and Charlie had finally tired of harassing Oliver and his sister-in-law Catriona had rescued her son Campbell from Oliver's roughhousing, leaving Percy and Oliver to themselves at the edge of the garden.
Percy turned and followed his friend's gaze. "Amy Green, Bill's old girlfriend. She was in the Order and at the Battle." She and a blond bloke in Muggle dress clothes were standing just inside the garden gate, talking with Mum.
Oliver whistled. "Egypt Amy?"
"That's her."
"You weren't kidding," Oliver observed.
"No." Amy Green was a beautiful witch.
"Who's that with her?"
"No idea." Percy took another drink.
"Must be a boyfriend."
Percy wasn't particularly interested in Amy or her boyfriend. Ron and Lee and company were back with George.
"George is here," Oliver said with a jerk of his chin in their direction.
"Really? I hadn't noticed."
Oliver snorted. "Three years in politics should have made you a better liar, Perce."
Percy took a deliberate sip and refused to look in his brother's direction.
"Have you talked to him? Since the fight?"
"No."
Oliver sighed. "Percy—"
"Don't start," he snapped. "Bill and Charlie have already given me the big brother responsibility speech. I don't need to hear it from you too."
The muscle in Oliver's jaw flexed once, twice. He didn't need to speak; Percy could imagine the words. Both of Oliver's older brothers were dead.
"Lots of Quidditch players here," Percy said to distract him.
"What?" Oliver's head swiveled round.
"Everybody you ever played with at school, plus the other houses. Maybe people would be interested in a pick-up match?"
Oliver brightened at once. "That's a great idea! Where's Katie?"
()()()()
Hermione couldn't believe the number of players gathered in the center of the open field beyond the orchard in response to Oliver Wood's suggestion of pickup Quidditch: Harry, Charlie, Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, Demelza Robbins, Dean Thomas, Cho Chang, a couple of other Ravenclaw players, and even George, whom Hermione hadn't seen on a broomstick all summer. Ron and Ginny coming over the hill made enough players for two full teams.
"This is going to require a referee," Hermione observed, taking in the crowd.
"Not you!" Ron, Harry, and Ginny all spoke at once.
"Actually, I was thinking of McGonagall. She knows the rules better than I."
"She's asleep," Ginny said.
"She'd wake up for Quidditch," Charlie said, and a murmur of agreement spread among the Gryffindor players.
"You go and wake her up, then," Ginny said.
All McGonagall's former pupils laughed at the expression on Charlie's face.
"Maybe we could just make a really loud noise."
"Do you think the light from all our Patronuses would be bright enough?"
"What about an atmospheric charm? We could make it rain."
"Pick a straw," Hermione ordered, thrusting two handfuls of conjured plastic straws into the center of the group.
"Why don't we just make Hermione do it?" George said. "It was her idea."
Hermione's eyes widened when the entire group turned to her.
"Off you go, Granger," Charlie said dismissively.
She looked to Ron for support, but he just waved goodbye. Seeing nothing for it, she turned and headed back towards the house.
Professor McGonagall was asleep in a chair at the edge of the vegetable patch under an unfamiliar green tartan blanket. Hermione had never seen her use that pattern before. Stepping closer, she spoke in a low voice.
"Professor?"
No response.
"Professor McGonagall? Professor?" Hermione laid her hand on the witch's arm.
She woke with a start.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said at once. "I'm sorry to wake you, but Oliver has put together a couple of Quidditch teams, and they need a referee…."
"Yes, of course." McGonagall took a deep breath, then reached up to smooth her bun, dislodging the blanket. She frowned at it a moment before vanishing it with her wand and stood up. "In the orchard, I presume?"
"Yes, Professor."
Hermione led the way, veering off to the side to sit with Luna while McGonagall strode onto the pitch.
"McGonagall's making them choose straws," Hermione muttered, watching as she held four out to Charlie, Oliver, Angelina, and Harry, all experienced team captains. "Why couldn't they do it before?"
"You don't have Professor McGonagall's authority," Luna said. She was wearing her radish earrings and her butterbeer necklace, but her hair was pulled back from her face in multiple plaits and looked quite nice.
"May we sit down?"
Hermione looked up to see Amy and her boyfriend David Townsend, whom she'd met earlier.
"Of course," she said, and introduced Luna.
"David's never seen a Quidditch match," Amy said enthusiastically, waiting for him to conjure them a blanket before sitting on the ground. "Bill took me to a couple back in the day, but he got impatient with my questions. The goal is to put the ball through the hoops, right?"
"The Quaffle," Hermione confirmed, and began explaining what she knew about Quidditch.
()()()()
Ron grinned when he saw Professor McGonagall extend four straws to Charlie, Harry, Oliver, and Angelina, certain Hermione would be annoyed her idea was accepted when presented by someone else. Harry and Angelina won the draw, and since it had already been decided Harry and Charlie would play as opposing Seekers, Harry waved Ron over as he walked away from Angelina and Charlie so each team could strategize in private.
"You know why Ginny wants to play with Charlie, don't you?" Ron said when Angelina called her name.
"She hardly ever gets the chance," Harry said. "Alicia!"
"That was a mistake," Ron said as Angelina took Katie. "Katie and Ginny are brilliant together."
"Yeah, but Alicia played with Katie and Angelina," Harry pointed out. "She'll be able to anticipate their plays. George!"
Ron tipped his head, conceding the point. "You're wrong about Ginny."
"What?"
"She's not playing with Charlie, she's playing against you, prat," George said, joining them.
Harry looked confused. "Why would she do that?"
"Because she likes to win?" Ron suggested, watching as Stewart Ackley, a Ravenclaw Beater, joined Angelina's team.
"Just be sure to keep your eye on the Snitch and off our sister, eh?"
()()()()
Ron could hardly see his hand in front of his face, much less the Quaffle at a distance, when McGonagall finally called the match over without a capture of the Snitch. Hermione was waiting for him when they landed and slipped her hand in his.
"We'll have to play again, Harry, in the daylight," Charlie said.
"You're on," Harry said, and they shook on it. "Nice scoring," he said to Ginny, slinging an arm around her shoulders as she approached. Her team had won, 210 to 150.
Not that Ron was surprised.
"Thanks. Are you okay?" she asked Harry. "I saw you take a hit."
Ron snorted. "Try five. And that was with us reminding the prat to keep his eyes off you and on the Snitch."
"What Snitch?" Charlie said. "I never saw the thing again once McGonagall released the balls."
"I did once, but it was right above us, and you two were at the other end of the field," Hermione said. "Remember, Luna?"
"I was watching the fairies," Luna said.
"I'm starving," Ron said. "Do you think there are any of those stuffed pastries left?"
"They're called samosas, Ron," Hermione said patiently.
"They're called delicious. Harry, you coming?"
"Do you want anything?" he asked Ginny.
"Whatever looks good to eat and a pumpkin juice, please."
Ron and Hermione filled their plates and split off, leaving Harry to make his way back to Ginny and Luna.
"Want to take these to the treehouse?" Hermione suggested.
Ron shook his head. "Can't," he mumbled around a mouthful of samosa. "Charlie's home."
Hermione stared at him. "I beg your pardon?"
"Charlie's home," Ron repeated. "Treehouse is off limits."
Hermione floated her plate in front of her to put her hands on her hips. "Do you mean to tell me—"
"That we're not the first couple to use the treehouse for a little privacy? Yeah."
Hermione looked over her shoulder to the orchard, where they had last seen Charlie. "You can't possibly be talking about Amy," she hissed. "She's here with her boyfriend!"
Ron shrugged, polishing off another samosa. "Amy, Alicia, some witch he's never met … it doesn't really matter."
"Ron!"
He dodged her slap. "I didn't do anything! I'm just saying … not the treehouse, not tonight."
Hermione took a bite of cake from her plate. "Your room?"
He shook his head, swiping one finger through the icing on her slice. "Too many people between here and there. Bound to get sidetracked."
She bit her lip, obviously disappointed.
"Actually…." Ron took her plate and Banished it to the bins set up at the corner of the house. "Do you have the tent?"
()()()()
Hermione did have the tent, but before she and Ron could find a secluded spot to set up and cast the privacy charms, they ran into Bill, Fleur, Amy, and David.
"Ronnie!" Bill shouted.
Hermione smiled when Ron grumbled under his breath but they turned.
"Is it true?"
"Is what true?" Ron said warily.
"Can you cast a Patronus?"
"Yes."
"A corporeal Patronus?" Amy said eagerly.
"Huh?"
"Yes," Hermione answered for him.
"And you too?" Bill asked her.
She nodded.
"I do not understand why this is so hard to believe," Fleur said impatiently. "Dean told you it was true, and I have told you many times Harry is very good at Defense Against the Dark Arts. He was a wonderful champion, especially as he was so very young."
"Not that young," Hermione said, hoping she kept most of the annoyance out of her voice.
A month in Fleur's home, not to mention the witch's healing skills and kindness, had done much to dissolve Hermione's animosity towards her, but Fleur could be pretentious, especially when one considered she was a mere two years older than Hermione.
"Only four—"
"Never mind that," Bill said, waving a hand in his wife's face.
Fleur's expression at his drunken carelessness caused Hermione to giggle.
"What I want to know—"
"Is what on earth is a Patronus?" David interrupted.
"A Patronus is a positive force—" Hermione and Bill began the textbook definition at the same time.
Ron rolled his eyes. "It's a projection of a truly happy memory that repels Dementors."
"Handy," David said, looking impressed.
"I didn't learn until I was in curse-breaker training," Amy said. "When was this?"
"Fifth year," Hermione said. "Harry taught all of Dumbledore's Army to cast a Patronus. He learned from Professor Lupin."
"This I have to see," Bill said.
"Me too!" Amy said. "Where's Harry?"
()()()()
Hermione was not in the least surprised when her and Ron's search for Harry involved a circling of the puddings table. She grabbed two sticks of marshmallows for herself and Ginny (find one, find the other) and she and Ron made their way to the bonfire.
As they approached, she saw a bunch of DA members gathered round Harry and Ginny, and it took her a moment to realize the attraction—baby Teddy, cradled in Ginny's arms drinking his bottle.
"Where have you two been?" Ron demanded, licking marshmallow from his fingers as he approached the group. "Bill and Amy want to see everyone cast their Patronus."
"Inside," Ginny said promptly.
Harry pulled her closer.
"Just now?" Ron's ears turned red.
"I keep telling you, Ron, don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to," Hermione said. "Here, have a stick." She held the second stick of marshmallows out to Ginny.
Harry took Teddy and the now-empty bottle so Ginny would have a free hand.
"The boys brought some food over for toasting." Hermione indicated a spread of food on the other side of the bonfire, but before they could head that way, someone called Harry's name.
"Potter, there you are! Dean tells me you taught everyone in Dumbledore's Army to cast a Patronus."
"That's right."
"That's N.E.W.T. standard, that is," Bill said suspiciously. "I've met curse breakers who had trouble with that spell."
"They didn't have Harry to teach them," Ginny said.
Hermione smiled at her obvious pride; Ron gagged.
"Over there," Bill said, waving his hand towards the other side of the bonfire, where a line of people had formed facing the open field beyond the Burrow. "I want to see this."
Hermione and Ron joined the line, marshmallows in one hand and wands in the other. Harry and Ginny filled in the space between Ron and Bill.
Harry, still balancing Teddy on one hip, called, "Ready everyone? On three—one, two, three!"
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
The roar of sound drew the attention of everyone in the garden, the orchard, and the pond, and a cluster of pearly-white light put the lampposts to shame. Hermione watched as a Jack Russell terrier, a horse, a stag, a boar, a fox, a toad, a hare, a cougar, and other animals flew, ran, crawled, and hopped across the field.
Her own otter took off in a streak and Ron's terrier gave chase, scrambling on all fours to follow when the otter used her wide, flat tail to dive and roll as if the air were water.
"I love watching them play together," Hermione said, leaning into Ron.
"Me too," he said, laughing as the otter took a playful swipe at the dog's snout and he backed off. "I always have."
They watched as the terrier lunged and the two rolled over and over, blurring into one silvery-white light until it faded out.
Hermione sighed, then looked up when Ron squeezed her against him.
"I love you."
"I love you," she answered, and tipped her head back to accept his kiss.