A/N: WHOOPS I started a new job and stupidly thought that this would give me MORE TIME to work on this fic! I know, I'm the clown. But here we are. Another chapter. Who knows how long the next one will be — but it WILL come. I promise. For now — ENJOY!

Ginny moves her mouth but nothing comes out. She clears her throat and Hermione braces herself for whatever is coming. 'Oh my God, it's Remus,' Ginny says. 'Remus is the Pygmy Puff.'

Hermione groans and crosses the kitchen. Ginny's eyes are glittering with mania.

'Ginny,' she begins slowly. 'I -'

'I knew it,' Ginny says suddenly.

'Gin—'

'I fucking knew it!'

'Gin, please don't say anything to Harry,' Hermione begs, grabbing at her best friend's hands.

'What?' Ginny looks at her suddenly with a furrowed brow. 'Why would I tell Harry? Do I look stupid? He can't keep a secret if his life depended on it — I'm not about to tell him that you are shagging Remus Lupin!' She gives an excited squeal. 'I am … both horrified and impressed and I need to know everything. I am so proud of you. This is the most exciting thing that has happened to me in ages.'

'Wait,' Hermione does a slight double take. 'So … you're not mad?'

'Mad?' Ginny snorts. 'Why would I be mad?'

'Because — well —' Hermione gestures in the air.

'Hermione,' Ginny says seriously. 'I want to know everything.' She grins wickedly and Hermione gulps.

…

They curl up together in Ginny's bed with a mug of tea each. Over the curling wisps of steam, Hermione finally spills her darkest secret.

'So,' she takes a deep breath. 'I am … somewhat obviously, I guess … sleeping with Remus.'

Ginny squeals in pure excitement. 'This is amazing. Since when?'

'When did I start sleeping with him?' Hermione asks innocently, sipping her tea. 'Or when did I start trying to sleep with him every time I had half a glass of wine in me?'

'You are a MESS,' Ginny caws in delight, tea sloshing dangerously in her mug.

'Shush!' Hermione digs her in the ribs and they giggle together. 'Anyway, he was very good at standing strong against my mortifying attempts at seduction.'

'Yes,' Ginny mutters into her mug with a smirk. 'I'm sure you were positively irresistible.'

'Don't start,' she groans in good humour. 'We had … a lot of talks about us.'

'Always the sexiest way to start,' Ginny nods solemnly. 'With a deep, serious discussion.'

Ignoring her, Hermione continues. 'And eventually I just sort of decided that I wasn't going to accept another dead-end conversation so … I told him I … wanted him … and …'

'And what?' Ginny prompts, wide eyed. 'Don't just dither — it's getting good! Is the sex amazing? Is he dirty?'

'I haven't had enough to drink to answer those questions.'

'I can fix that,' Ginny makes to move but Hermione grabs her, laughing.

'It's barely seven o'clock in the morning,' she says. 'We have to at least wait until eleven.'

Ginny giggles. 'You look so happy,' she says fondly. 'I should have guessed you were getting laid.'

'I am happy,' Hermione says.

'So are you dating?'

'Not exactly … I don't think. We haven't actually been on a date.'

'What? Why?'

Hermione grimaces. 'Because of …' she gestures around her. 'All this. You guys. Ron.'

Ginny hums. 'Yes,' she says. 'I see why that might have been an obstacle. But, babe – you could have told me.'

'I'm sorry,' Hermione leans her head onto Ginny's shoulder. 'I really am. I hated keeping it from you. It really was driving me insane. I just didn't want to put you in an awkward position, you know? Being Harry's girlfriend and Ron's sister —'

Ginny shifts to look at Hermione properly. 'But I'm your best friend. And you're basically my sister anyway.'

Hermione sighs and stares down into her almost empty mug. 'But you know it isn't the same,' she says quietly.

Ginny punches her on the arm.

'OW,' she squeals. 'What the hell was that for?'

'Because,' Ginny says heatedly. 'You are my best friend. And my brother had ONE JOB which was to make you my ACTUAL SISTER — AND HE COULDN'T EVEN DO THAT. He broke your heart and I will never forgive him for that. I was there. I watched everything and it was torture not being able to fix it. I saw you fall apart and lose weight and confidence and it was devastating.'

'Stop,' Hermione says quietly, closing her eyes briefly. 'I get it.'

'Sorry,' Ginny holds her hand and squeezes it hard. 'My point is that you can tell me anything. Ron is my brother, obviously, and that's like a big deal I guess, but him being my blood relative doesn't stop him being a fucking dick.'

'And what about Harry?'

'What ABOUT Harry? My Godric, you are obsessed with what other people think!'

Hermione doesn't say anything.

'Look,' Ginny takes both of their mugs and sets them down on the window sill before turning back to her. 'All I want is for you to be happy. And you have been glowing since you arrived. You look like you again. You joke like you used to. I feel like I've got my best friend back — and I don't care who is doing that,' Ginny looks at her slyly. 'Or how old they are.'

Hermione rolls her eyes. 'Don't start,' she says.

'I'm kidding. I don't really care — I've always thought Remus was kind of hot.'

Hermione gapes at her in shock. 'Really!'

Ginny shrugs. 'Well, yeah. Do you remember the teachers we had at Hogwarts in our day? Remus was a treat.'

Hermione does a poor job at concealing a smug smile. 'Ugh, Ginny,' she moans. 'He's just so … amazing. He's so kind and stable and —'

'Do you really like him? More than just someone you're shagging?'

'Yeah,' she says quietly, feeling her heart swell. 'Yeah, I really do.'

'Then fuck what anyone thinks and just date the hot old man.'

Hermione laughs. 'I wish it was that easy. Remus is terrified of what everyone will think — what people like your parents will think. Especially because of the age gap.'

'God, you two really are made for each other, aren't you.'

'What do you think Ron will say?' Hermione asks. 'Don't give me some bullshit answer that I shouldn't care. I do, and you know I do.'

Ginny sighs. 'I don't know anymore. I never thought he would do what he did to you. I feel like I don't know him recently.'

'I felt the same with him,' Hermione says.

'So,' Ginny suddenly frowns. 'If you've been having this juicy affair for however long — why the fuck did you agree to come here on my mother's ridiculous request? That, by the way, had nothing to do with me.'

'Well, I wasn't exactly chuffed,' Hermione says slowly. 'But we kind of agreed it would look really weird if neither of us turned up. And we didn't want to do it without the other and we didn't have a reason not to accept. It was sort of like being backed into a corner. Like, where else would we have gone?'

'Yeah true,' Ginny says. 'Have you guys like … done anything whilst you've been here?'

Hermione feels herself flush. 'We may have made out in your bathroom yesterday.'

'Amazing,' Ginny snorts. 'A true inspiration.'

They hear footsteps outside and both immediately fall silent.

'Morning girls,' Molly pokes her head round the door. 'Breakfast will be ready shortly and then there's plenty to be done before George and Angelina arrive.'

'We'll be down in a minute,' Ginny smiles sweetly.

Molly leaves and the smell of bacon wafts into the room. Their stomachs both rumble in unison.

'Have I given you enough juicy information? Can we eat now?' Hermione asks teasingly.

'Yes,' Ginny says. 'But I'm not done with you.'

They heave themselves off the bed and pad downstairs into the kitchen, taking a seat opposite each other at the table as Molly levitates coffee and bacon sandwiches towards them.

'These look amazing,' Hermione says.

'Truly great, Mum, thanks,' Ginny has already stuffed one half of the sandwich in her mouth.

Hermione looks up to see Harry and Ron emerge, both with pink bleary eyes and scruffy hair.

'Morning,' Ron yawns widely.

Harry drops into a seat beside Ginny and they exchange a quick, messy kiss on the mouth. Hermione averts her eyes with that same stab of jealousy and loneliness.

Ron sits beside Hermione and reaches over her for the coffee pot. The scent of him washes over her and she hates the swell of familiarity that it elicits.

'Oh, good morning, Remus,' Molly says distractedly from the sink.

Ginny coughs into her mug and Harry bangs her on the back. She gives Hermione a somewhat manic look.

Hermione refuses to look at her best friend and gives Remus the briefest of smiles.

'Morning all,' he says.

Remus sits next to Ginny who looks barely able to contain herself with excitement.

'Morning Remus,' she says gleefully. 'How's your morning been so far?'

Hermione aims a kick at her under the table but gets Harry instead who looks at her with confusion. She mouthes an apology at him.

'Lovely thanks,' Remus smiles. 'Had a delightfully early morning.'

'Sounds great,' Ginny says.

'It was thanks,' he says. 'Ron, are you done with the coffee?'

'Sure,' Ron shrugs. 'Hermione, pass Remus the coffee, would you.'

Ginny opens her mouth to retort but Hermione gives her a pleading look and she shuts it again, bristling quietly.

'Here,' Hermione takes the coffee pot and reaches over to pass it to Remus.

'Thank you,' he says gently, looking right into her eyes with a mixture of protectiveness and concern.

Their fingertips brush together and Hermione tries to stop herself from flushing. Ginny looks positively beside herself with glee.

'Good morning, team,' Arthur brings a much needed ice-breaker into the room and the slightly tense atmosphere evaporates as quickly as it came.

'Morning,' they chorus back.

'Arthur, dear,' Molly drops a kiss on his cheek as she passes him a coffee cup. 'You will make sure that the duvets are all down from the attic, won't you.'

'Yes, of course,' he says soothingly. 'Please don't stress.'

'Ronald, you had better have dusted again like I asked.'

'Christ, Mum,' Ron groans. 'Yes, I dusted. I don't get what all the fuss is about — George used to live here? He does know what the place looks like.'

Molly ignores him.

…

George and Angelina arrive at around midday in a flurry of fresh snow.

'Merry Christmas, Weasleys!' George booms.

There's a rush of activity, loud male voices, the clapping of each other on the back, and squeals from Hermione and Ginny when George hugs them both at the same time and lifts them up.

'Glad to see you both,' he grins down at them.

'You too,' they say in unison.

He puts them down and they go to hug Angelina.

'Hello!' She says. 'Gosh, it's good to be back. I feel like I haven't been here in ages – how are you both?'

'Great thanks,' Ginny smiles. 'How're things at Puddlemere United?'

Angelina grins. 'Wicked,' she says. 'Wood and I really are the dream team.'

'I expected nothing less.'

'How are you, Hermione?' Angelina asks as the three of them head to a corner of the living room that isn't taken over with red-headed men. 'How's Hogwarts? I can't believe you've taken over McGonagall's position!'

'I know,' Hermione says. 'Weird, isn't it. It's weird for me — but I do enjoy it. Or rather, I've learnt to.'

'Must be nice being with people you know like Neville and Remus, too,' Angelina says. 'I know how much easier it was for me to join Puddlemere having Oliver Wood on the team already.'

'Yeah it's been an interesting term,' Hermione says vaguely.

Ginny smirks.

'Right!' Molly claps her hands. 'Everyone! Sit! I'll get lunch out to you!'

There's a scramble of noise and chairs scraping as they all move towards the table and take their seats. Hermione finds herself next to George and he turns to give her a gentle smile. His bravado drops and as the volume rises as everyone bursts into conversation around them, George drops his voice.

'How are you doing, Hermione?' He asks her. 'I know this has been shit. I'm sorry for everything from this end. Stupid brother. Over protective mother. It was really brave of you to come here. We all begged her not to invite you,' he suddenly looks mortified. 'Not like that,' he amends quickly.

'Don't worry,' Hermione gives a laugh and rests her hand on his arm. 'I know what you meant.'

'No honestly,' George says. 'If it was down to the rest of us, we wouldn't have invited Ronald. I'd rather have you here instead any day.'

'You don't mean that,' she rolls her eyes in good humour.

George raises an eyebrow. 'Don't test me, Granger,' he winks.

'It's really great to see you,' she says fondly.

'You too,' he smiles. 'I'm here for you. I know you've probably heard that a lot. But I am. I was livid when I found out what happened.'

'Ah,' Hermione says. 'I don't want to hear you talk about Ron like that, George. It's not fair – he's your brother.'

'He can still be a dick.'

'Weird. That's almost exactly what Ginny said.'

George laughs. 'Well I'm glad that she's been able to be there for you. I promise – that boy does anything else to you, you come and let me know.'

'Sure,' she says, humouring him.

Molly uses her wand to levitate the food onto the table – sandwiches and rolls and meats and pumpkin juice. Everyone reaches forward to claim food and there's a brief lull in noise as it is enjoyed.

'So whats the plan, Mother?' George asks. 'When does the drinking start?'

Molly shoots her son a look. 'We have Percy and Penny coming tomorrow,' she says tightly.

'Ah yes,' George smirks. 'Heaven forbid Percy should miss out on any of the fun.'

Ginny and Hermione stifle their giggles.

'As long as everything is ready, then you can all do whatever you please,' Molly says.

'Brilliant,' George whispers to Hermione. 'Tequila shots inbound.'

…

'3!…2!…1!'

Everyone tips their heads back and downs the shot of tequila, emerging back from behind the shot glasses with twisted faces and screwed up eyes.

'Eurgh,' Ginny says, wiping her mouth. 'That one really burnt.'

Harry slams his own glass down and scrunches his face. 'Nasty,' he says. 'Very, very bad.'

They're all piled into the living room together, lounging on the furniture or on the floor. Hermione and Ginny are crammed into the large, plush armchair with Ginny's legs over Hermione's. Remus is on the sofa beside George and Angelina, and Harry and Ron are reclining on the floor.

'This was a bad idea,' Remus grimaces as George gleefully reaches over them all to fill their glasses back up to the brim. 'I should never have let you convince me to stay up with you. I should be in bed right now.'

Arthur and Molly went to bed about two hours ago after a massive roast dinner, and now the rest of them have been led somewhat astray by George and a bottle of tequila which somehow keeps reappearing with more in it than there should be.

George laughs loudly. 'You can keep up with us,' he says. 'You're not that old.'

Ginny looks immediately to Hermione and flashes her eyes.

'How old are you, Remus? I'm just curious,' Ginny grins. She looks like a cat.

Hermione gives her a sharp jab in the ribs.

'How old do you think I am?'

'Hmm,' Ginny purses her lips in thought as she examines her very full shot glass. 'Well you must be … in your fourties, right?'

Remus sucks in air between pursed lips. 'Good guess,' he says. 'However painful it sounds. I'm fourty,' he grimaces as he says it. 'Guess I'm still not used to it.'

'Wow,' Ginny nods intently. 'Not bad.'

'Thanks,' he says. 'I think.'

'God, I'm drunk,' Angelina rests her head on George's shoulder.

'Don't you dare quit on me, Johnson,' he says gently, nudging her with a smile. 'I'm not dating a quitter.'

'I'm sorry, I'm going to have to go to bed,' she says.

'No don't go!' Hermione says. 'Don't leave us here with the boys!

Angelina laughs and stands up, stretching. 'Sorry,' she says. 'But if anyone can keep them in line, it's you two.'

She stoops to kiss George and then crosses the room to give both Ginny and Hermione a kiss on the cheek. She stands in the door and blows a final kiss to them all. 'See you in the morning!' She calls and with that, Angelina heads upstairs.

'We should play a game,' George says. 'Spin the bottle. Truth or dare.'

Remus laughs. 'Absolutely not,' he says. 'That's a truly terrible idea.'

'Agreed,' Ron says. 'Not your best, George.'

'Maybe not,' he shrugs. 'You lot come up with a better idea then.'

There's silence.

'See,' George says triumphantly. 'Remus – tell us about the best snog you ever had.'

Ginny giggles and Hermione feels herself burning bright red, hoping that the low lighting and her tequila glow is concealing it.

'Hmm,' Remus leans back with a reminiscent smile on his face. Hermione suddenly has a horrible thought that Remus might have to describe someone else. 'A girl,' he says vaguely. 'Someone clever and quick back at Hogwarts. We used to spend a lot of time making out between Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts classes. But the best kiss we ever had, was on Halloween.'

Hermione bows her head to conceal a smug smile.

'Your best snog was twenty years ago?' Ron asks. 'She must have been something to remember.'

'Oh she certainly is,' Remus says coolly.

Hermione sort of wishes the ground would swallow her. Ginny is clearly enjoying herself insurmountably.

'Hmm,' George now looks around the room in thought. 'Well I guess that's where this game ends. I don't want to hear anything about my siblings snogging – especially not Ginevra who as I remember vividly, really got around at Hogwarts.'

Everyone laughs and Ginny reaches for a cushion to throw hard at his head. George catches it and emerges from behind the cushion grinning. 'Nice throw, Chaser,' he says. 'But I spent the most formative years of my adolescence having Bludgers aimed at me. You don't forget reflexes like those.'

'Never have I ever played Quidditch!' Hermione announces and the room is met with a groan as they all knock back another shot of tequila. Remus gives her a smug look and winks at her.

'God, you two are nerds,' Harry teases.

'I prefer the term 'bookish',' Remus says with a smile. 'Anyway, neither of us ever saw the point in risking our lives for that game. Never have I ever broken a bone or had a serious injury from Quidditch.'

Another universal groan and the brief silence of everyone drinking, apart from Hermione and Remus, followed by grimacing.

'Why didn't you ever play, Remus?' Ron asks.

'Never saw the point,' he shrugs. 'Preferred keeping my feet firmly on the ground. And I was never … as performative as the others.'

'I think you and Hermione are the same person,' Ron says.
'Yes,' Remus muses. 'I think you might be right.'

'Never have I ever,' Ginny says loudly and suddenly. 'Preferred the library to Quidditch.'

Remus and Hermione laugh. George fills up their glasses and they clink them together before downing them in unison.

'Fair play,' Remus says.

'What time is it?' Harry asks suddenly. 'I don't want your mother on the warpath tomorrow when Percy and Penny arrive and we are all nursing hangovers.'

'Don't worry – Dad does an amazing Pepper-Up Potion,' George waves a hand. 'But I do see your point. Shall we call it a night, team?'

'Probably for the best,' Ron is the first to stand. He stretches high and his fingertips graze the roof of the low ceiling.

Everyone else gets to their feet and filters off upstairs. Eventually, it's just Hermione, Remus and Ron left in the living room, all clearly stalling to wait for the other person.

Remus clears his throat when it's apparent that Ron won't leave and there's only so much interest you can give to studying an empty tequila bottle.

'Well,' he says gruffly. 'Night both.'

'Oh, I'll come up too,' Hermione says immediately. 'Night Ron.'

'Wait —' he says. 'Do you mind helping me, uh, tidy up?'

'Uh,' Hermione dithers on the spot and looks pleadingly to Remus for help. 'Sure,' she says weakly.

'Can't it wait until the morning, Ron?' Remus asks. 'We're all pretty tired.'

'I'd just really like Hermione's help in tidying up,' Ron says firmly.

'Right,' Remus looks at Hermione. 'Well, goodnight then.'

Hermione desperately wants to call him back, or disappear up the stairs with him. But she watches Remus ascend and eventually, move out of sight.

Ron waits until creaks from the floorboards above have stopped before he clears his throat awkwardly. 'Thanks for staying,' he says. 'Sorry – I know it's late.'

'Sure,' Hermione refuses to look him in the eye and instead, busies herself with rounding up the shot glasses and taking them to the sink. With her back to him, she can almost pretend he isn't there.

'This is really hard,' he says suddenly.

'What?'

'Please — look at me.'

With a sigh, Hermione turns round.

Ron stands there with a look of defeat on his face. 'Being under the same roof as you again. Here of all places. Lying in bed knowing you're here in a different room and not with me.'

'Ron, that's how we were in a house we shared together,' she reminds him. 'Don't get all nostalgic because it's Christmas at the Burrow.'

'But I am,' he says stepping forward slowly. Hermione presses herself firmly against the sink. 'I've had a lot of time to think. Properly think.'

He's a few feet away from her.

'Don't do this again,' she sighs. 'I don't want us to keep hurting each other anymore.'

'Neither do I,' he says earnestly. 'I really don't. And I don't want to hurt you. So if you say this is the end – the real end – then I won't try to keep dragging us back to this conversation. But hear me out – this is the most honest I can be after five tequila shots. And I haven't been honest with you in a long time.'

Hermione nods once. 'Okay,' she says quietly.

'Okay,' he says. He steps right up to her and she is close enough to feel his heat. 'I have hurt you more than I ever dreamt I would. I have pushed you away, I have been a coward, and I have broken your heart and then broken my own. I have been a mess without you. But you only did what you should have done when you left me. I didn't deserve you then and I don't deserve you now. But all I can hope for is that somewhere, you know we can work through everything.' Ron takes her hand and she lets him.

'I don't know what to say,' she says. 'You can't just decide to go back. And I don't know if I can. I don't know if I want to. How many more times are we going to have this conversation? Ron — you were fucking someone else.'

He drops his head, face burning in shame. 'And I hate myself every day. I did even then – I hated what I knew I was doing to you.'

'But you still chose to do it,' she says. 'Any of those days you could have chosen to stop and come to me and you didn't. I lay awake every night knowing you were with someone else, knowing that if you came home smelling of her perfume and told me you'd made a mistake, then I would have listened and stayed.'

Ron looks up suddenly. 'What?'

Hermione nods. 'Any of those times, Ronald, you could have just stopped. And come back to me. And I would have let you. It shouldn't take me leaving to make you realise how much you want me. I was there wearing an engagement ring, for fuck's sake.'

He blinks at her. 'I'm … I'm so sorry.'

'I know,' she says. She pulls her hand gently from his. 'But I won't do that to myself again.'

He stays where he is. 'Hermione,' he says her name so tenderly it throws her off and she doesn't move. Ron steps forward again and slowly reaches up to brush a strand of hair from her face.

But instead of heat when his skin touches hers, she feels nothing but ice pouring through her body.

'Enough,' she says, stepping sideways and away from him. 'Enough now. I beg you. Please.'

Ron looks crestfallen and he swallows hard, dropping his arm down to his side. 'Fine,' he says. He doesn't sound angry. 'But I will be here if you ever change your mind. I want you back, Hermione. I know we belong together.'

Hermione shakes her head. 'Enough,' she says again. 'Goodnight, Ronald.'

Turning on her heel, she practically runs up the stairs, reaching the second floor slightly out of breath. She almost goes straight to Ginny's room before having another, terrible, but tequila fuelled idea.

Her subconscious takes her there before she even really realises what she's doing.

'Hermione?'

Remus looks shocked when she opens the door to find him in bed, half asleep.

She closes the door behind her and goes to the bed.

'What are you doing?'

Instead of answering him, she straddles him and kisses him.

'Hey,' he holds her by her shoulders to look at her properly. 'Is everything okay?'

'Please just kiss me,' she says breathlessly. 'I don't care anymore.'

So he does. Hard. Hermione can taste the tequila on his mouth and she runs her tongue along his lower lip. He growls and grabs her hips and her hair.

'Harder,' she breathes barely audibly, but he hears. He knows.

Remus moves suddenly to pin her beneath him. He bites at her neck and chest and works her underwear off with one hand to move himself between her legs.

'Please,' she sighs, holding onto him tightly, one hand cradling his face. She pulls him back down to her and kisses him deeply, threading her fingers in his hair to hold him firmly against her. She wants to feel everything. The pressure on top of her. The heat between her legs. And suddenly he's there, pushing his hips up against hers.

She opens her mouth to moan and he places a hand over her mouth. His eyes are full of fire and love and in the low candle light, his face looks like art.

'Quiet, darling,' he breathes. 'We have to be so quiet.'

She nods and he removes his hand, moving it gently over her cheek and jaw to kiss her again.

He rocks against her, hard and deep and when she bites down on his shoulder to quieten her climax, it tips him, too. With a breathless mutter of profanities, Remus holds her so close, pushing her hair off her face and kissing her everywhere until she pulls him back against her lips.

She buries her face into his neck as their pulses slow down and their breathing regulates.

'I love you,' she mouthes against his skin.