A/N: I'm so sorry for how long it's been! Life has been hectic – in, for the most part, a good way – and I haven't had much time or energy for writing.
Hermione laughs as she and Ron amble along the path towards the rendezvous point. Other fairgoers bustle around them on their way to the different attractions, but she feels utterly at peace. After spending the last few weeks cooped up in the library with work, the fresh air and friendly company is utterly reinvigorating.
At first, she was uncertain about Ron's offer to meet up before the event so they could arrive together, but she's glad he talked her into it. Each and every time they interact, a few more of the cracks in their friendship fuse back together again. The scars are still there, and she suspects they always will be, but there are no longer any gaping chasms threatening to swallow them whole. And with that has come a sense of ease; where they once focused on the issues in their relationship, they can now focus on the strengths, and she loves him all the more for it.
"So what's she like?" he asks when Hermione's chortles finally fade into quiet sniggers.
"Caitlin? She's fantastic." She pauses to collect her thoughts before adding, "She's excellent to work with. She's incredibly direct and organised, but she also has a great sense of fun. She doesn't like to do anything without planning it out first, though, so you should probably be mindful of that today."
"Organised and fun to be around but unable to think on her feet? She sounds almost like the anti-Harry," Ron quips.
"Well, yes. I was rather hoping that they would rub off on one another." Seeing the smug smirk on his face, she rolls her eyes. "Not like that, Ronald. Don't be crude."
"I didn't say anything; you worked out what I was thinking all by yourself! What does that say about you?"
"That I know you too well," she says, but they grin at one another with genuine warmth.
Lowering his voice to a whisper, Ron continues, "Jokes aside, they do have some things in common, right? Harry doesn't talk about her much – no matter how much I try to get him to open up about it, he still expects me to be pissed that he's dating again – and it's starting to worry – "
"Hermione! Ron!" Harry's voice cuts through the crowd, startling Hermione into a harsh flinch.
Glancing over at Ron, Hermione notes that he looks just as mortified as she feels. Harry knows they're concerned about him, but he has always been paranoid about the idea of people discussing him behind his back. If he and Caitlin heard their doubts…
She turns to look for them, only to find that they are still several metres away. Despite knowing that the chance of either of them hearing Ron over the loud chatter of the crowd is slim, she has to struggle to force a smile to her lips.
"There you are!" Harry exclaims as the beaming couple reaches them. "I thought we'd never find you. Caitlin, this is Ron Weasley. Ron, Caitlin Morrison."
"It's wonderful to finally meet you," Caitlin gushes, pulling the redhead into a quick hug. "This is going to sound clichéd, but Harry talks about you a lot, so it really does feel like I already know you."
"Pleasure," Ron replies, looking distinctly uncomfortable at his inability to reciprocate the sentiment without lying. "Er, from what I've heard, you're quite an interesting person. I've been looking forward to meeting you for a while now."
"Oh? You have?" Her words sound delicate, but her eyebrow quirks up in accusation as her gaze slides over to Harry.
Looking sheepish, the young wizard rakes a hand through his hair. "When I – "
"Yeah, I have," Ron intercedes, acting as if he hasn't noticed the sudden tension. "It's a shame work has been so busy that I haven't been able to get the time off to meet up before this, but I guess that's life for you."
Harry's eyes light up with gratitude. "See, Caitlin? I told you it was nothing."
"I suppose," Caitlin replies, her voice clipped short with poorly concealed frustration.
Taking the temporary silence as an opportunity to redirect the conversation, Hermione hurries forward to embrace her friend. "Caits, it's been too long since we've been able to catch up outside of the office." After a quick squeeze, she steps back into place beside Ron.
"It really has been. After seeing the progress you've made on your bill, however, it's no wonder you haven't had any spare time. Now that you have to put it on the backburner until the department send you their feedback, we should go out for lunch sometime."
"Definitely."
"Speaking of lunch," Harry interjects, "perhaps we should find something to eat."
"Well, I'm never going to turn down good food," Ron says.