For Hermione, the week seems to drag on. Her bill is almost finished, but a trusted source leaked to her department that one of Susan's distant relatives has just begun to brainstorm a much less progressive proposal.
She's been powering through the last few details as quickly as she can in the hope of presenting it before he has the chance to steal her thunder. Most of the Wizengamot would prefer his option to hers; her only hope is to beat him to it.
Fortunately, Andromeda was able to take Teddy for the week, so she has extra time to cross the finish line. But his absence has left the house feeling empty, especially since she suggested that Kreacher take his holiday while she's the only one at home.
After spending so many years flitting between Gryffindor Tower and Grimmauld Place, and being the centre of attention when she returned home to her parents, she's not used to solitude. Even the Hogwarts library, ever her peaceful sanctuary as a child, usually had other students bustling about.
For the first time in her life, she leaves work for a house that is suffocating in its hollowness. Work itself is solitary at the moment because of how flat-out things are, and now her evenings are unusually quiet as well. Her old nightmares have come back full force now that her loved ones are all far away from her.
Hermione would go visit Andromeda, but seeing the pair for an hour before leaving would just make things harder for Teddy. So instead, she resigns herself to the loneliness of Grimmauld Place.
With the exception of asking Fred to come over for dinner that Friday night. They both know she won't have much time to spend with him — she's planning to go into work the next morning to present the final version of the bill to her coworkers — but it's better than the alternative.
Anything is better than the alternative.
-x-
Hermione works late again on Friday, so she has just enough time to shower and set the table before Fred arrives, bedecked with containers of food from the noodle bar they both like.
Her stomach rumbles at the sight. She didn't have the chance to stop for lunch, instead working right through and bringing her wrap home with her.
Still, she's surprised at the amount of food Fred brought, even taking into account the Weasleys' appetites.
'Is that for us, or did you invite an army as well?' she asks as she lets him in. 'Because I don't think they'll fit in the dining room.'
'An army of ants would.'
She scrunches up her face in disgust at the thought of a pest invasion. 'No.'
'No ants. Got it.' He laughs as he makes his way to the table and spreads out the containers for easy access. 'We'll just have to eat it ourselves, then. Somehow, I doubt you ate lunch today.'
The thought that he knows her that well makes her smile. 'Somehow, you doubt correctly.'
'How's the bill going?'
She sighs. 'It feels like my brain is going to explode if I think about it any more today.' Sitting down, she says, 'I could use a distraction. Tell me about the most ridiculous thing that happened to you today.'
'Well, there are plenty to choose from.'