Remus and Hermione brace themselves against the early March wind as they walk up to the front door of the Burrow. Lingering on the doorstep with her hand hovering over the knocker, she looks up at him.

'We could just leave,' she says in a hushed and hurried voice. 'No one would know.'

Remus raises an eyebrow looking vaguely amused. 'We'll be fine,' he assures her before reaching over and knocking on the door himself.

'You suck,' she mutters.

The door is yanked open to reveal Ginny wearing a party hat. 'YOU'RE HERE!' She squeals and throws her arms around Hermione who hugs her back with equal enthusiasm.

'Hi Gin,' she says into her best friend's hair.

Ginny lets her go and turns to Remus. 'And Remus! So good to see you again!' She pulls him down to another bone-crushing hug.

'Hello, Ginny,' he says, emerging from her hug slightly flushed but smiling. 'Great to see you, too.'

'Come in, come in!' She steps back to allow them to move past her into the kitchen.

Birthday decorations adorn the Burrow in the way that everything does in the house – boldly, unashamedly, and haphazardly. Streamers hang from the rafters and it looks like a confetti explosion has occurred in the living room where Ginny ushers them.

Molly, Arthur, Harry, George, Angelina and Ron are standing around the room in various little cliques with glasses of punch in hand and the Wizarding radio playing at low volume in the background.

'Look everyone,' Ginny announces. 'Hermione and Remus!'

Everyone turns to look at them and Hermione swallows the rising anxiety in her chest. 'Hey,' she says. She feels her heart hammering in her mouth, but Remus places a hand at the small of her back and she feels herself melting into his touch.

'Darling!' Molly rushes over to hug them both before Arthur follows her over.

He smiles at them both and embraces them. 'Great to see you,' he says. 'I'm so glad you both came.'

'Good to see you again, Arthur,' Remus says, seemingly unfazed at the last time they spoke at Christmas. Hermione feels herself relaxing at the warm reception and scolds herself slightly – of course the Weasleys would be nothing but kind and welcoming to her.

'Can I get you both a drink?'

'Please,' Remus smiles.

Ginny pushes her arm through Hermione's and gives her a squeeze of encouragement. 'Thank you for coming,' she whispers for only Hermione to hear.

They move over to where Harry and Ron are standing and Hermione braves a smile.

'Happy Birthday,' she says and Ron smiles.

'Cheers,' he says, reaching over and giving her a quick one-armed hug. 'I'm really glad you're here.'

Harry also hugs her. 'You okay?' He whispers into her ear.

'I'm fine,' she assures him quietly.

He pulls away and squeezes her hand quickly before letting go.

'So,' Harry clears his throat. 'Isn't this nice? Everyone together.'

Ginny rolls her eyes. 'Subtle,' she mutters.

Remus comes over to them and hands Hermione a drink.

'Thanks,' she says.

'No worries,' he says. 'Happy Birthday, Ron,' he says, shaking his hand before pulling it back to place an arm around Hermione's waist. She tries not to openly beam, instead opting to hide her grin inside the wine glass.

'Thanks,' Ron says, his eyes trained on Remus' hand where it sits on Hermione's hip.

Ginny grins. 'I'm so happy you both came,' she says. 'You look so great together.'

Harry nudges her in the ribs but her smile never falters.

'Thanks, Ginny,' Remus says. 'I appreciate how welcoming you've all been.'

'Of course!' Ginny smiles.

'It's nice to see you together,' Harry clears his throat. 'Still a bit weird, like, but you know.'

Remus laughs. 'Yes, I'm sure it might seem a little strange at first,' he says calmly. Hermione's chest expands at how he's handling the situation. 'But you'll get used to it.'

A muscle jumps in Ron's jaw. 'I'm happy for you,' he says tightly.

'Thank you,' Remus smiles before turning to look down at Hermione. 'Shall we say hello to the others?'

She nods. 'Yeah,' she says.

They turn around just as George and Angelina are coming to join their group. Angelina gives Hermione a thumbs up and she giggles.

'Well, well, well,' George is beaming. 'Well done, Lupin, you old dog.' George claps Remus on the shoulder who looks fairly pleased with himself.

'Thanks, I think,' Remus says with a slight flush in his cheeks.

'You both look lovely together,' Angelina says as she hugs Hermione. 'And it's so nice to see you so happy.'

'Thanks,' Hermione says, the anxiety slowly beginning to leave her chest. 'It's nice to feel it, too.'

They've formed a large circle and Ginny looks around with narrowed eyes. 'Why am I the only person with a drink in my hand?' She says. 'This won't do. I'm getting everyone a shot.'

'I'll help,' Hermione offers and Ginny grabs her hand, pulling her into the kitchen.

'Oh my Godric,' Ginny squeals. 'You two look so fucking hot together.'

Hermione snorts. 'Thanks,' she says. 'Stop being insane about it.'

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry,' Ginny flicks her wand in the vague direction of a kitchen cupboard and then towards a bottle of vodka. 'I'm just so excited for you.' Nine shot glasses trail lazily through the air from the cupboard, lining up haphazardly on the countertop in front of them. The bottle then pours vodka into each one, sloshing a little over the edges.

'Do you really think Ron is okay with it?' Hermione asks in a low voice.

Ginny shrugs. 'He invited you both, didn't he? I think he's finally learning that he'd rather try to make an effort and keep your friendship.'

Hermione sighs. 'I appreciate it.'

Ginny hums. 'But I'm still on high alert.' She hands Hermione a shot glass and holds on between her own thumb and index finger. 'This is a secret shot just for us,' she whispers with a wink.

Hermione giggles. 'Fine,' she says. 'On 3 –'

They both tip their heads back and down the shot in one, emerging with a shudder. They put their glasses down and Ginny fills them both back up with vodka again.

'Okay,' she says decisively. 'Now we're ready.'

Hermione hovers. 'I'm not sure I am,' she says. 'Give me another.'

'You're my favourite,' Ginny giggles. 'I love it when you come and visit.'

…

The day passes quickly in a haze of vodka, champagne and birthday cake and it's almost midnight when things begin to die down slightly.

Ginny is sitting on Hermione's knee feeding her a slice of cake whilst they both giggle uncontrollably when Ron comes over to them, his face flushed from drinking and the flashing birthday badge on his chest beginning to lose some of its enthusiasm.

'Hey,' he says, slightly unsteady on his feet. 'Can I talk to you?' He's looking directly at Hermione and she feels the laughter in her chest die immediately.

'Uh,' she says looking over to where Remus is sitting with Arthur as they share a bottle of whiskey.

'Ron, don't,' Ginny begs him. 'Don't do this.'

He holds up his hands. 'I promise, I'm not doing anything unfair. I just want to talk.'

Ginny looks at her. 'You don't have to.'

But the expression on Ron's face is calm and sincere. Hermione nods her head. 'I want to,' she says. 'Where do you want to go?'

Ron looks around. 'Upstairs?'

She hesitates a moment. 'Maybe not,' she says. 'How about the porch?'

'Fine.'

Ginny slides off her knee and watches carefully as Ron and Hermione leave the room.

It's freezing even just standing in the porch and Hermione wraps her arms around herself. It's cramped with all the winter cloaks and muddy wellies and she feels instantly sobered.

'So,' she says. 'What's up?'

Ron rubs the back of his head. 'I wanted to say – thank you. For coming. And for bringing Remus with you.'

Hermione blinks. 'Oh,' she says. 'Yeah. No, thanks for inviting us.'

He nods. 'I – it's hard to see you with him. But I'm … I'm glad you're happy. I know I caused a lot of damage. And I regret it every day.'

Trying to close the conversation as quickly as possible, Hermione braves a smile. 'I'm glad we're both moving on.'

Ron smiles back but it's sad and his blue eyes look glassy. 'That's the thing, Mione,' he says gently. 'I don't think I'm ever going to be able to move on from you.'

She looks at him. 'You did this,' she tells him firmly. 'I wasn't the one who broke up what we had.'

His shoulders slouch. 'I know.'

'And here we are again in the same conversation you promised we wouldn't have again at Christmas,' Hermione says. 'Stop punishing yourself for what you did. You did it for a reason.'

Ron flounders for something to say but he doesn't. Instead he nods, jaw clenched. 'It was so fucked up.'

'Yeah,' she says. 'It was. You really hurt me.' She takes a deep breath. 'But I'm glad we ended. I was miserable.'

Ron winces at her words. 'You seem … really happy.'

'I am,' Hermione says. 'I really, really am.'

'Good,' Ron clears his throat. 'Well – I guess that's all I wanted to say. Thanks … for coming.'

'You're welcome.'

They stand in an awkward silence for a moment until Hermione breaks the silence again.

'Let's go back inside,' she says. 'I think we're going to leave soon.'

He nods. 'Alright.'

They head back into the warmth and noise of the Burrow and Remus seeks her out immediately with a worried frown knitted across his brow.

'Are you okay? What happened?' He asks quietly.

'It's fine,' she places a calming hand on his chest and he covers it with his own hand. 'He's glad we came.'

Remus nods once. 'You're sure you're okay?'

'Positive.'

He looks down at her and for the first time ever, he drops down to kiss her fully on the mouth in front of everyone. Hermione smiles into the kiss and when they pull away, everyone is trying to pretend they haven't just seen – apart from Ginny who gives them a wink.

'Well,' Remus addresses everyone. 'I think it's time we got back to the castle. Thanks for inviting us, Ron.'

'Yeah, thanks for coming,' Ron and Remus shake hands and Hermione feels her anxieties melt away again when she looks at Remus' expression. He looks fearless, confident, proud to be with her. It makes her heart swell.

They say their goodbyes with hugs and kisses and promises of coming to visit, and apparate back into Hogsmeade.

'Well,' Remus says as they begin the walk back up to Hogwarts. 'That went well.' He holds her hand.

'Yeah,' Hermione squeezes his fingers. 'It certainly could have gone a lot worse.'

'Everyone was very nice about it,' he says. 'I think Arthur was a little embarrassed about last time.'

'He meant well,' she sighs.

'I know.'

Feeling drunk and full of the home-cooked dinner and cake, Hermione allows Remus to lead her up to the castle and once back in his quarters, she drops down on the chesterfield with a contented sigh.

'This is better,' she announces. 'Peace and quiet and you.'

Remus sits beside her and extends his arm so she can cuddle into his chest. 'Yes,' he agrees. 'This is certainly my idea of a perfect evening right here.'

'And,' Hermione says, turning to look up at him with a mischievous glint in her eye. 'It's your birthday in nine days.'

'Ah,' he says. 'You remembered, did you?'

'Obviously.'

'Of course.'

'What would you like to do?'

He sighs. 'Nothing, honestly,' he says. 'I'm old and boring and another year added to my age isn't exciting.'

'Well that won't do,' she teases. 'I'm sure I can help make it a little more exciting.'

Remus smiles. 'Having you is all that I need,' he says. 'I can assure you, I want nothing else.'

She doesn't reply, turning away to hide the grin on her face. She was going to make his birthday the best he had ever had.

'I hope you're not already planning something,' Remus says suddenly and she laughs, looking back up at him.

'How could you tell!'

'Because you went quiet,' he teases.

She lifts herself up to kiss him and Remus sighs happily. 'Bed?' She murmurs.

'Absolutely.'