"I'm really happy for you, dear." Camilla smiled, as she rearranged one of the bookshelves. "It seems everything worked out in the end."

Hermione was just about to reply when the older woman pulled out a handkerchief and coughed into, before quickly stashing it away in her pocket again.

"Actually," She said, turning to Hermione. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

Hermione followed the older woman to the table, the store empty since it was closing time and the two had just been tidying for the next day.

"Is everything alright?" Hermione asked, an inexplicable pit in her stomach.

"You know, the minute you walked through those doors, I could tell you held a high appreciation for literature. It's a dying breed." Camilla smiled, wistfully, as she placed her hand over Hermione's. "I'm getting on now, dear, I'm not always going to be here. I'd be more than content to leave this world knowing that this shop was in good hands, your hands."

Hermione was so overwhelmed with emotion. She didn't know what to think. Although the older woman hadn't outright confirmed her suspicions, Hermione was struggling to accept that the woman she'd grown close to was dying. Not only that, she was transferring ownership of the book shop to Hermione.

Hermione walked the street back to the flat in a trance like state. She couldn't bring herself to be happy about her promotion, because with that promotion meant losing a woman very dear to her.

Not even the crowded shop, bustling with noise could break her from her thoughts, but the voice belonging to her boyfriend drew her attention.

"Hi, love." He grinned, bounding over to her as she stopped outside the door leading to the apartment. His smile dropped at her expression and he gently reached out to cup her cheek. "Is everything alright?"

"It will be." She said, softly, leaning into his touch before pulling away. "I'm just going to head up the now."

"Alright." His voice was gentle as he got the message. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'm here if you need me."

She nodded, with a half smile, before retreating to their flat. Deciding to go for a shower, she let her sobs out with a sense of comfort that no one could hear her. Once she mustered the courage to leave, she wrapped a towel around her body before stepping out, leaving her wet hair to hang along her back.

She paused at her door, hearing a crack that resembled that of apparation. She wasn't aware of them having any visitors. Although the rationale side of her tried to remind her that it was obviously someone they knew, the damaged war heroine side of her convinced her to retrieve her wand, which was in the kitchen.

Quietly, with her heart pounding in her chest as she heard a noise, she crept around the corner and snatched her wand from the counter. She turned around at the same time the perpetrator rounded the corner.

"Whoah!" Ron raised his hands, as Hermione pointed her wand at him.

Although a part of her was relieved, this was still Ron and he left her feeling unsettled. Fred had made it more than known that he wasn't welcome, so what was he doing here. Especially when she was alone and in a towel no less.

She took a step back away from him, her hand shaking.

"Why are you here?" Her voice wobbled.

This was the absolute last thing she needed and not the way she wanted to end her already miserable day.

His raked along her body, taking in her exposed appearance, before focussing his eyes firmly on her own.

"You can put the wand down," He said. "I won't hurt you."

"I've heard that before." She scoffed, watching as he gulped.

"Fair enough." He conceded, before looking her directly in the eyes. "I'm here to make things right and I know that it won't change what happened but I need to say it, then I'll stay away."

Hermione just wanted him gone. Every one of her insecurities flooded back as she gripped her wand and her towel, trying to calm her pounding heart. It didn't matter what Ron said, she'd always be scared. She would never forget.

"I didn't react well to the news of you and Fred, I realise that and I apologise; it wasn't my place to comment." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "When I really thought about it, I realised it's for the best, for the both of us. I'm glad that you're happy with Fred, you both deserve happiness after what you have both been through."

Hermione's wand wavered at his words that sounded sincere, but then fear hardened her and she kept her wand raised. She wouldn't lower her guard and risk falling prey to another of his tricks.

"Hermione?" Hermione looked over Ron's shoulder to find Fred, just as he spotted them. His expression darkened, immediately thinking the worst and not liking the situation one bit. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I-" Ron stumbled, but Fred's attention wasn't on him.

"Did he touch you?" Fred asked, and Hermione realised that it didn't exactly look good with her back to the wall, wand raised and only covered by a towel. Not to mention her red eyes from previously crying.

"No." She shook her head, lowering her wand, but still clutching it tightly.

"I can't believe the nerve of you!" Fred turned on Ron.

"Fred!" Hermione failed to grab his attention, as he grasped Ron's shirt and pinned him against the wall. "Fred, he didn't do anything! I promise!"

Fred's fist paused, his eyes narrowing on Ron.

"I only came to talk." He added, before glancing at the both of them. "I'm moving to Washington. I just wanted to apologise before I left."

"America?" Hermione asked, surprised, as Fred let him go.

"Yeah." He replied, smoothing his shirt again. "I wish you both well."

With that, he disapparated.

"What the hell?" Fred muttered.

"Did that just happen?" Hermione mumbled, still dazed.

"I'm sorry for acting out." Fred admitted, turning to her. "I really thought he had hurt you."

"No, I'm sorry for it looking like that." She replied, holding his forearm, as the other still held the towel. "The whole thing was just bad timing."

"Are you okay?" He whispered, resting his forehead on hers.

"As long as you're here," She breathed back, brushing her lips against his. "Yes."

He kissed her softly, both of them smiling into the kiss, but he could still feel that there was something off.

"Put some clothes on." He grinned, hoping to lighten her spirits.

"Where are we going?" She giggled, letting him pull her to her room.

"Stargazing!"