I'M BACK! Hooray! Did you miss me? I'm sorry I've been absent. I just needed to take a break from writing for a few months. I didn't have any inspiration or motivation for anything and I needed to get out and clear my head. I can't promise that there will be regular updates, as I am knee-deep in assignments, but please don't give up on this story! I will eventually finish it, I promise :) xx


New Years Eve

"You ready to go?" Ginny asked as she applied her lip gloss. Hermione turned around and pulled her cream beanie over her bushy hair. She was wearing a simple outfit of jeans, dark brown boots and her burgundy Weasley jumper. Ginny was similarly dressed in her black jeans and purple sweater. Her long, red hair was out and loosely styled around her face.

"Yeah, I'm ready," Hermione said, smiling at her friend. "You look lovely."

Ginny beamed. "Thanks, so do you."

They met the boys out on the landing and the four of them headed downstairs. Mrs Weasley bid them farewell, and they Disapparated to the Leaky Cauldron.

The pub was rather crowded – due to New Years Eve – and they struggled to make their way through the throng of people.

"Is that Harry?" a bright voice piped up.

"I think I can see Ron," replied another, deeper voice.

Hermione gripped Ron and Ginny's hands and pulled them towards the voices. Over in the corner, a group of people stood crowded around a bar table. Luna beamed at them as they approached and waved her hands about.

"Ginny! Harry!" she called. Dressed in a pair of leggings and a blue dress, with a crown of flowers decorating her wavy, blonde hair, she was as erratic and blissful as ever. Neville stood beside her, looking dapper in jeans and a brown, leather jacket. Next to him, towering tall over everyone, was Dean, Firewhiskey in his hand and almost empty already. Seamus and Parvati stood on the other side, their arms around each other and looking very smitten indeed. Hermione smiled at them – after losing Lavender in the war, she was glad that Parvati had Seamus to pull her through. She was looking beautiful, in a pair of tight fitting jeans and a thick, grey coat – the belt accentuating her slim waist. Her long, dark hair was out and loose around her face, something that Hermione had never seen before.

She approached the table and greeted her friends cheerfully. It was certainly nice to see everyone outside of the school walls. Parvati seemed less stressed, Dean and Seamus were even more relaxed than usual, and Neville had a confidence about him that Hermione hadn't noticed before. Luna, of course, was exactly the same.

"Luna! It's great to see you," Harry beamed and embraced her warmly. "Hey, Neville, Dean, Seamus," they hugged and slapped each other on the back. Once everyone had greeted everyone, Ron decided to order drinks.

"What would you like?" he whispered in her ear, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close to his side.

"Firewhiskey," she told him.

He stared at her incredulously, as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You sure?" he asked.

"Of course," she said firmly. "It's New Years. I'm not at school. And your parents aren't around. I'm allowed to have a little fun."

Ron smirked at her and kissed her temple. "Righty-o then, Firewhiskey it is." Then, his voice dropped even lower and his lips brushed against her ear. "I can't wait to see Hermione Granger have fun."

His words were laced with suggestive undertones and Hermione shoved him, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

"So, how's the Auror training going?" Neville asked as he sipped his glass of Firewhiskey tentatively.

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, it's been alright," he responded. "Different to what I expected. And I don't get treated like a hero, which is good. I'm just like everyone else there – training to be an Auror. How's school?"

Dean and Seamus groaned together.

"Horrible!" Dean grunted, slamming his empty glass down and signalling to a barmaid for a refill. "All that bloody work, I swear it's going to be the death of me!"

Parvati sighed deeply and shook her head. "It's not that bad," she assured him. "Dean's just dramatising, as usual."

"I rather like being at Hogwarts," Luna piped up, beaming around at everyone a little dreamily. Hermione wondered if she had partaken in any Firewhiskey or if it was just her natural self. "I get to spend time with my friends."

Neville smiled at her and Ginny laughed.

Ron soon came back with drinks and Hermione took hers eagerly. She had never tried Firewhiskey before – only the elf wine at Bill and Fleur's wedding last year. It was rare that she let loose and have a good time, so she was determined to keep up with Ginny and Harry, and even Ron, and prove to them that Hermione Granger was capable of having fun. She confidently raised her glass and took a large gulp. Her eyes bulged slightly at the burning taste in her mouth and she hurriedly swallowed and composed herself. Ron was eying her with amusement; one of his eyebrows raised up to his hairline. Hermione ignored him and another sip. This time it was easier to swallow. She found, the more she drank, the better it tasted, and this logic made her quickly down her drink and order another.

Someone suddenly tapped Ron on the shoulder and he jerked up in surprise and gave a startled yelp. He grinned when he turned around and noticed his attacker.

"Tess!" he exclaimed jovially, pulling her into a rough hug and slapping her back gently.

"Hey, stranger," she laughed.

From her seat next to Ron, Hermione let her eyes scan the woman currently embracing her boyfriend. She was fairly tall, with thin, orange hair and a face full of freckles. Her thin, athletic figure was dressed simply in a pair of jeans and a sweater, and her smile was bright and cheery. At least, half of her smile was. As Ron stepped back and introduced Tess to the rest of the company, Hermione tried not to stare. The left side of Tess' face was very badly scarred, much like Bill's. It was as though she had been mauled by a werewolf. It left her looking sad and drew her cheery face into a grimace. Hermione felt a twinge of pity for her. But somehow, Tess didn't let her scars affect her. She held herself confidently and smiled as she was introduced to everyone.

Hermione watched the way Tess and Ron interacted for most of the evening. Perhaps it was the alcohol affecting her, but she felt jealousy burning inside her when she saw Tess put her arm on Ron's shoulder. He was laughing; harder than he had ever laughed with Hermione. A sudden, rapid hatred for this new woman occupied each of her thoughts, and the more she drank, the worse she became. Harry noticed and gave her a questioning look.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked lowly, moving to sit next to her.

"Nothing," she replied, sulkily, keeping her eyes firmly fixed upon Tess.

Knowing exactly what was going on, Harry sighed and patted her leg. "They're just friends, Hermione. You haven't got anything to be jealous about."

Hermione pouted at him, but nodded reluctantly and took another sip of her drink.

A few moments later, Tess sat beside her and gave her a rather large smile. "You must be Hermione!" she exclaimed cheerfully. "I've heard so much about you! It's nice to finally meet you!"

Hermione gave her a small smile. It was impossible to feel glum next to such an optimistic person. "Likewise."

Ron appeared by her side and draped his arm of her shoulder. "Tess, this is my Hermione," he said proudly, kissing her temple. Hermione instantly felt herself return to normal and spared a glance at Harry, who chuckled rolled his eyes at her.

To everyone's surprise, Padma later arrived, arm in arm with Justin Finch-Fletchley. Following close behind were Ernie, Susan and Hannah. The appearance of new faces made the evening even more enjoyable, and the time flew by so quickly, that before anyone knew it, midnight was upon them. Ron appeared beside Hermione and put his arm around her waist again. He took her half-finished drink out of her hand and gave it to a passing barmaid, much to Hermione's annoyance.

"Why did you – hic – do that?" she frowned at him.

He merely chuckled and kissed her temple. "I think you've had quite enough of those, Miss Granger," he told her.

Hermione crossed her arms. "I've only – hic – had…" she paused to count on her fingers, but once she reached seven, she blanched. "I guess you – hic – might be right, Mr Weasley."

"The countdown's starting!" Luna whispered excitedly and clapped her hands together. The group of them rushed out into Diagon Alley, where large golden numbers were flashing up in the sky.

"10!"

Ron gripped Hermione's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She grinned up at him.

"9! 8! 7! 6!"

Harry put his arm around Ginny's shoulder and pulled her close. Her long red hair spilled down her back.

"5!"

Luna's face was aglow with delight and her eyes wide as she gazed up at the numbers.

"4!"

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

Ron seized Hermione in his arms and kissed her with so much passion, it made her weak in the knees. She had never had a New Years kiss before, and even though she aspired to more important things, it was nice to cross it off her list of things to achieve in her life. When they pulled back, Ron brushed some of her hair away from her face and kissed her nose lightly.

"Happy New Year, Hermione," he whispered.

"Happy New Year, Ron," she giggled back.

Arms still wrapped around each other, they turned to watch the scene before them. Ginny and Harry were locked in a passionate embrace, though Ron averted his eyes. Luna and Neville were sheepishly holding hands, though both of their cheeks were pink and Neville looked like he had been hit in the back of the head with a bludger. Hannah looked fairly put out next to a smitten Susan, sitting on Ernie's lap with their foreheads pressed together. Dean had found an unknown blonde and was drunkenly snogging her against the wall while Parvati eyed them with disproval. And Tess was sitting with a drink in her lap, looking a little sad – her once happy demeanour completely gone. Hermione felt a little bad for her and approached her gently.

"Are you alright, Tess?" she asked kindly.

She shrugged and dipped her head, letting some of her orange hair fall around her face to shield her expression. "I'm alright I guess," she said sadly. "I'm just a little lonely." Her gaze drifted towards her sister, wrapped up in Felix's arms. "I've always wanted to settle down and start a family," she paused to take a sip of her drink, "but I've never even been kissed, let alone had a boyfriend. And now," she pointed to her damaged face, "I doubt I'll ever find someone who could love this."

Hermione shook her head and patted Tess' knee. "I don't think that's true," she countered wisely. "You're a lovely girl, Tess, and your scars show that you're brave and have endured great hardships. If someone doesn't love you because of your injury, then they aren't deserving of you."

Tess glanced up at Hermione and gave her a warm, genuine smile. "Thank you," she said. "Ron's a great guy," she said after a little pause.

Hermione looked over her shoulder to see him having a drinking contest with Seamus, Dean and Harry. After sculling down his drink, he looked up and grinned goofily at her, and she laughed and shook her head.

"Yeah, he is," she smiled.


I apologise that it's short. But I hope you enjoyed it! Please read and review my lovely, patient readers :) xx