Disclaimer: As always, I don't own Harry Potter.

The day after the funerals were over, Hermione woke up alone. She was instantly on alert when she didn't hear Ron's snoring; he always woke up after her. She frowned, still dazed from sleep, and rolled over. She was shocked and warmed to find that he had left her a note on his pillow.

Hermione,

Head Auror Robards floo-called early this morning and asked me to meet him. I should be back in a few hours. Don't forget to brush your hair before breakfast.

Love,

Ron

She harrumphed at the hair comment but smiled nonetheless. She sat up and found her reflection in the mirror. Damn him, he was right. She showered quickly, knotting her hair above her head and putting on one of Ginny's sundresses. She only had a couple of outfits; muggle thieves had stolen the rest from her parents' house. She and Ginny weren't a perfect match, but the younger girl's dresses fit her like a charm.

She walked down the many stairs from Ron's room, musing to herself how she was amazed Mrs. Weasley hadn't separated the two of them or Ginny and Harry yet. She sobered immediately as she realized she might not have even noticed within her grief. She entered the warm and familiar kitchen and found Fleur sipping tea across from Percy and Charlie in the kitchen.

Charlie was giving her a hard time, but she was unflappable. "I've always heard the French were the best lovers…that they can do wonderful things with their tongues." Charlie grinned in challenge. Hermione rolled her eyes at him as she snagged some pancakes off of the table.

"Your brozzer certainly 'as no complaints." Even Percy cracked a smile at that. Charlie just smirked, not quite done yet.

"I wouldn't think a curse breaker would be good in bed, though. Y'know…all that…breaking." Charlie was trying to get a rise out of her, but Hermione found that innuendo sorely lacking.

"You're the one who went to Romania, but I 'ave never met quite a good a dragon tamer as Bill." Hermione choked on her drink. Bill had chosen that moment to walk in and stopped in his tracks in disbelief. Charlie was staring aghast at his sister-in-law, and Percy was laughing so hard there was orange juice coming out of his nose. Bill managed only to raise his eyebrows, seemingly lost for words.

"Charlie here ees trying to bother me with dirty jokes, but you see, I am French, the country that produced the language of love."

"I…" Bill managed. Fleur winked mock-seductively at Charlie, who grinned in astonishment.

"I like this one, Bill."

"That's good because I married her." He grinned and kissed her quickly. Hermione looked away, as was the polite thing to do in such a situation, not because she was a prude. She smirked to herself. No, definitely not a prude.

The front door banged open suddenly, and the five of them were on their feet. Fleur and Hermione snuck around each side of the room, with Percy and Charlie in clear view facing the door straight on. Bill hid in the kitchen to catch the intruder by surprise or floo for some help if need be. They did all of this in perfect formation without a word to one another.

"Who's there?" Charlie called lowly.

"It's me." A tall woman rounded the corner with her hands up in surrender. "Angelina Johnson. Don't shoot."

The Weasleys and Fleur continued to look suspicious. No one lowered their wands. Hermione stepped forward.

"What did you say when you found out Harry, Fred, and George got a lifetime ban from Quidditch by Umbridge?"

Angelina bit her lip. "Something about hoping to wake up in the morning and find out that it was a bad dream."

"It's her," Hermione confirmed as Bill emerged from the living room.

"I'm sorry about banging the door open, but it just…happened when I tried to knock."

"It's not your fault; I charmed it to do that to alert us," Bill said tersely. Hermione smiled sadly, hoping the paranoia would fade for all of them soon.

"What's going on?" George emerged at the top of the stairs. "Ange?"

"George Fabian Weasley. Why aren't you at the shop?" Angelina demanded, hands on her hips as she glared at him.

He paled slightly, shrugging. "Can't go back." He mumbled.

"You can, and you will." She stated.

"Fred…" He mumbled.

"Fred would be horrified to find out you've run your business into the ground. I'm not going to allow you to mope around in self-pity. I know it hurts." Her voice turned soft. "But you can't waste your life away on grief."

Hermione found this a little too harsh, considering his brother had died less than a week ago. But George seemed to light up at her words.

"I could…" Percy began awkwardly. "I could help out, you know…if you want help."

"But your job," George said in astonishment. "All you've wanted to do your whole life was to make it at the ministry. You can't give up on your ambitions Perce."

"I'm not. I will go back, someday. But for now, there's no place I'd rather be. Family is more important than any fancy title. You're all more important. I didn't see that then, but I do now."

His brothers seemed stunned. Hermione wished Ron had been there to hear that speech. George clapped him on the back. "I'd be lucky to have you. Come on; you can start training today." And with that, he grabbed Angelina's hand, and the three of them walked out the door.

"Well, that was surprising. Didn't know he had it in him." Ginny said, emerging from the living room. Harry came in after her and the look on his face made Hermione's heart swell with happiness. She had known almost immediately when he had realized he was falling for her. She hadn't said anything, but she knew. How could anyone not know with the way he looked at her?

Harry smiled at Hermione when he saw her. "Hey. There's a letter for us. Well, and Ron, but he's not here. It's from McGonagall." Hermione bustled over to his side and read over his shoulder.

She was offering them N.E.W.T.s that they could take in the summer. Harry and Ron would have to take the written exams and the practical ones. Still, Hermione had proven herself so proficient (the Professor's words) that she only had to perform the practical exams for an examiner. Hermione frowned and Harry burst out laughing.

"You're actually disappointed you don't get to write the exams, aren't you?" He chuckled. She glared at him.

"A little, but this way I can go find my parents quicker if I don't have to study and then write the theory and then do the practicals." She said sensibly.

Harry frowned. "I thought Ron was going with you?"

"Oh he is." Hermione grinned. "There's no way he's taking his N.E.W.T.s if he doesn't have to, and I doubt you are either." She gave him a knowing look and he grinned awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. She shook her head but a smile spread across her face. "Speaking of, Ron's talking to Robards right now."

Harry looked surprised at that information. "Hmmm. I wonder what about. If it was just about trying to get him to join, I'd have thought he'd want to meet with you as well. Speaking of, are you turning down becoming an auror?"

"Yes." She said simply and he nodded, not pressing her further. "It's not for me. I'm done fighting. Besides, I like to plan my own missions." She grinned at him, thinking of all of their plans over the years.

"Not to mention you'd be a liability to Ron and I." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Because we would be worried about protecting you." He quickly explained.

"Mhm. Ron maybe. But you're Mr. calm in every type of life-threatening situation." She said with a smirk. "Bit annoying, really." Harry grinned sheepishly and shrugged. "How are you?" She asked him softly.

"I'm…okay. I've decided not to help rebuild Hogwarts. I think going back would be too difficult. Auror training doesn't start until August though, so I think I'm going to fix the family tree wallpaper at Grimmauld place."

Hermione was happily taken aback by this declaration. "What do you mean? You're going to destroy it?"

"No. I'm going to fix it. I'm going to erase the current one and replace it with my family tree. Including Sirius and his good family members like the Tonks', my parents' families, the Weasley's, you." Hermione beamed at him. "It'll be a lot of researching and complicated spells, but it'll be a good…coping mechanism."

"If you need any help, feel free to ask." She assured him.

"Thanks." He softened. "But this is something I'd like to do on my own, if that's okay." She nodded and hugged him. They pulled apart. "Besides, I'll need something to do when you and Ron are gone adventuring in Australia." He grinned.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You'll have Ginny to do…things with." She winked at him and he groaned.

"She told you?"

"Yup." Hermione said cheerfully. "We gave you and Ron fake names to make it less awkward for us to discuss our brothers."

"Do I even want to know?" He asked.

"Rob and Harvey." He chuckled for a while before it turned into raucous laughter.

"That is too good. Harvey oh man."

"I'm glad you like it, I came up with it."

"Harvey." He chortled, walking away from her, presumably to find Ginny and tell her how ridiculous that name was.

Hermione watched him go with a smile on her face. She couldn't believe he had actually died less than a week ago. Part of her never wanted to let him go into any danger again. Merlin, she could barely stand the thought of him and Ron being aurors. But she knew they both needed to do it. Harry would never be able to sit still, and what better way to be productive and get out all of that energy than by tracking down and arresting Death Eaters? As for Ron, he needed to prove to himself he was capable enough, though Hermione already knew he was. As if summoned by her thoughts, warm arms wrapped around her waist.

"Hey there." He said softly.

"Hi." She responded, cursing herself for how breathy her voice sounded. She leaned back into his chest and he wove his hands tighter around her as he pulled her closer. She put her hands on his as she breathed him in. He smelled like mint and rosewood.

"What exactly do we do now?" He asked quietly. She turned around in his arms.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean what happens now that most of the big things are over. How do we rebuild? How do we stop living with paranoia and fear?" It felt good to hear him voice some of her own fears.

"Well. I take my N.E.W.T.s. Minerva said I only have to do the practical exams."

"Because you're so bloody smart?" He asked with a genuine smile and she beamed at him.

"Maybe. Harry makes his family tree. We be with our family. We testify in trials. We go find my parents. We begin to live again. It's going to take some time, especially for us all to stop being so jumpy and suspicious. But over time I think it might fade, if it doesn't go away completely. Hopefully the next generation won't have to look around for every exit whenever they enter a room. Hopefully the only time they talk about Death Eaters will be in History of Magic class."

"The next generation huh?" He teased lightly. She gave him a look.

"I don't think we're moving too fast, but we definitely will be if you start the children conversation with me right now Ronald." She warned him and he chuckled, the sound reverberating against her chest.

"Fair enough. On a side note, I think it's kind of hot when you call me Ronald all bossily."

"You are ridiculous." She said, but didn't pull away when he kissed her softly. "What did Robards say?" She asked, pulling away to satisfy her curiosity.

"He wants to train me to be Deputy Head Auror." Hermione squealed and hugged him.

"That's great Ron!" Ron seemed to swell at the praise.

"He said he had seen my strategy and fighting style in the war, before we found out Harry had sacrificed himself." He said that last part quietly. Hermione knew that seeing Harry lifeless like that had greatly affected Ron.

"You deserve it. Besides, I've heard that the Head Auror has to do all the paperwork." She said and he grinned.

"Harry's up for it, you know."

"I assumed. But Deputy Head Auror Ronald Weasley sounds much more official." He beamed.

"I love you."

She wondered if she would ever stop getting a little thrill when he said that.