Hermione joined Ron and Harry for lunch in the Ministry cafeteria, dropping into her seat with a sour expression. She huffed out air through her nose, stabbing at her salad with a vengeance it didn't deserve. Across the table, Ron and Harry stared.

"What's with you?" Ron, ever so tactless, asked her.

"Is everything alright?" Harry frowned.

She scoffed. "Everything is most certainly not alright." As far as she was concerned, everything was in shambles.

"Right," Harry said slowly. "And, er, why is that?"

"Christmas," she said shortly.

That only stumped them further.

"You're mad because of Christmas?" Ron was looking at her weirdly.

"My parents want me to come home for Christmas and they've invited my aunt, uncle and my cousin Libby," Hermione explained with her lip curling in distaste.

"And?" Harry prompted, still not completely understanding. "What's the problem?"

"The problem is my cousin. She's a cow. You'd understand if you knew her. She's always had it out for me ever since we were kids. She's just...awful!" For once, Hermione wasn't as articulate.

"Maybe she's changed," Harry said. "I didn't think Dudley would but he has."

"I doubt it," she muttered. "She's not like your cousin. She's worse."

"Worse than Dudley?" Harry snorted as if it were a ridiculous notion. "If you grew up with him, you wouldn't be saying that."

Hermione pursed her lips. She didn't want to argue, especially when it was about Libby. She was just...frustrated. Libby had been a thorn in her side ever since she could remember. They were born in the same year, only a month apart with Hermione being older. Her aunt was her mum's sister and her mum's relationship with her sister was fairly rocky. They had been at odds during their own youth but her mum had hoped Hermione and Libby could be close, as they were each other's only cousins.

That hadn't been the case at all. It seemed Libby had inherited her mother's penchant for sticking her nose in where it didn't belong as well as making snide remarks at other people's expense. They'd fought throughout their childhood. Libby always tried to outdo Hermione with everything . If it wasn't this, it was that. If Hermione made a ninety on an assignment, Libby scored higher. If she made it through four years without having any dental problems, Libby never had any and if-

Her parents had advised Hermione when she received her Hogwarts letter not to inform the rest of the family about the situation. They thought it was best, in case anyone reacted poorly. It was likely for the best. So, they'd come up with a lie that she was to be attending a posh boarding school for gifted children. Libby had snorted and said good for you in the most condescending tone Hermione had ever heard.

"If you're so upset over it, why don't you just skip it?" Ron suggested as he slathered mayonnaise and mustard on his burger.

"I can't," she groaned. "My mum practically begged me. I've avoided going over for two years now and she says she's not taking any excuses this time."

Going to see them after having to relocate them back to Britain and restoring their memories was more than slightly awkward for Hermione. They weren't pleased with her, although they begrudgingly understood. She felt bad for it, but for the next two years she'd skipped out on them and spent her holidays at the Burrow with the Weasleys and Harry.

She slumped in her seat, resting her cheek in her palm. "It wouldn't be so bad if Libby wasn't going to be there."

"Just ignore her," Harry shrugged. "Maybe she won't bother you if you do."

"It doesn't work," Hermione sighed. "She'll find some way to push my buttons. She's been doing it since we were kids. And it will be worse this year because she's bringing her fiance."

"Why will it be worse?" Ron asked confusedly.

"Because I haven't got one!" Hermione exclaimed. She deliberately ignored the prying eyes from nearby who looked over upon hearing her outburst. "Libby has always rubbed it in my face how she's had someone and I haven't."

"But you did have someone," Harry said. "What about Krum? That was something."

"Well, I can't exactly tell my cousin I was seeing an international quidditch player," Hermione crossed her arms. "And besides, I hardly call it something. We went to the ball together but that's it. Nothing happened between us."

Ron chewed on his burger. "Then tell 'er you got someone anyway," he said through his mouthful. She wrinkled her nose. "Make 'im up."

"What?" She was incredulous. "I can't do that!"

"Why not?" her head swiveled in Harry's direction, unable to believe he'd actually agreed. "It's not a bad idea, Hermione."

"Not a bad idea," she repeated faintly. "You're mad, the both of you."

"No," Harry shook his head. "Just listen. What if you tell her you're seeing someone and maybe conjure up a ring? Make up a fiancée. Now you'll be even."

"That's preposterous," she spluttered. "And anyway, she'll know I'm lying when he doesn't show up ."

"Bring someone then," Ron said when he finished swallowing.

"And who shall I bring, exactly?"

Ron said nothing, ducking his head sheepishly.

"Not Cormac," Harry muttered.

"I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole."

She and Harry grinned a little at the reference. It was lost on Ron though.

Much as she didn't want to, she was resigned to her fate. "It won't work. I'll just have to go by myself and hope I can refrain from hexing her."

"Who says it won't?" Harry said challengingly. "I'm sure there's someone out there you can convince to go with you. Tell him he'll get a free meal out of it."

Ron nodded in agreement.

"But I don't know anyone that might be interested," Hermione said with distress.

Many of her former classmates were paired off by now or in Azkaban for their crimes during the war. Neville had mentioned offhandedly to Harry and Ron that he had begun to see Hannah Abbott. Seamus had an on again, off again thing with Lavender and to everyone's surprise, Dean had boldly asked Luna on a date a year and a half ago and they were still going strong.

Harry had Ginny which nearly everyone had expected. Those two were going slow after all they'd been through.

The only people that weren't in any sort of committed relationship were Ron-not that she could ever see herself with him. They'd kissed, but came to realize it was a result of the heat of the moment and not knowing whether they were going to live or not. There were no harsh feelings between them-and...

"Percy," she murmured in realization as it dawned on her.

Harry and Ron stopped talking to each other to look at her.

"What about Percy?" Ron was furrowing his brows.

"He's still single, isn't he?" Hermione asked with a new sense of hope.

Ron blinked. '"Err, yeah. I think so. He hasn't dated anyone since that Clearwater girl broke up with him."

"Are you thinking of asking Percy?" Harry asked.

Ron gawked at her.

Hermione felt a tad bit flustered and she flushed. "I don't know. He wouldn't be so bad to be with. He's quite intelligent and not bad looking either-"

" Hermione ," Ron whined. "That's my brother you're talking about."

She shot him a dirty look whilst Harry snickered.

"Well, see. Now your problems are solved," Harry said shrugging. "Just ask him. M'sure he'll say yes."

"I don't know," she said with hesitation. They'd become quite good friends since the end of the war. He made an effort to reestablish relationships with his family and to get to know people like herself, Harry and Fleur better. It was a nice change. He didn't mind hearing about the latest novel she was reading or her thoughts on how the current administration in the ministry was handling things now that new people were in charge and Voldemort wasn't a threat anymore.

And she didn't want to ruin any of that. Asking him to pretend to be her fiancé was a huge favor, not to mention taking him away from his own family celebrations so soon after they had all gotten back together with each other. Godric, what if he was uncomfortable with the request and it put a strain on their friendship? She couldn't do that.

"Earth to Hermione," Harry waved a hand in front of her face. "Are you there?"

She came back. "Sorry," she shook her head, exhaling slowly. "I was just thinking and I'm not sure I can do it."

"Why not?" Harry said.

"I just can't," she insisted, pushing her salad away because her appetite had vanished. "I can't do that to him. It's too much. We haven't had that much time together. No, I would need to ask someone I know really well."

Harry and Ron comically blanched.

"You're not gonna-" Ron trailed off, looking away.

"I'd really like to help, Hermione. But I don't think-" Harry grimaced.

She gave them a look, wrinkling her nose. "I wasn't going to ask either of you."

They looked tremendously relieved.

"My parents would know it was a lie. I'd have to take someone they've never met."

"Like Percy," Harry nodded. At her exasperated look, he added, "It's not like you've got any other options. Either you take Percy or you go alone."

She let out a haggard sigh. Going alone was like stepping foot in a snake pit. Or, actually the snake pit might be more enjoyable. No, going alone would be a nightmare. Her Uncle Melvyn wasn't as terrible as the rest, he didn't just talk to her much beyond a grunt here and there. It was Aunt Patty and Libby who made her skin crawl. Her aunt would ask her if there was anyone special in her life right now and when the answer came to be no, then it would somehow have something to do with her appearance.

Oh how she loathed it when her aunt pointed out things she didn't like about Hermione's clothes or hair or face . It was supposedly all under a pretense of genuinely wanting to help her but she was not so easily fooled. Aunt Patty was that way with many people, including her own sister. She wasn't a fashion model by any loose definition of the word-no matter how many times she bragged about being involved in a photoshoot at the mall once during her youth. Hermione's mum privately told her it was a free event where kids could get their pictures taken for mother's day to be given to their mum's. Much different than what Aunt Patty made it out to be. However, she tried to come off like she understood the fashion world inside and out, giving unsolicited advice to everyone.

Mostly to Hermione.

"I suppose you're right," She admitted, needlessly adjusting her sleeve. "I just-I don't know if I should ask. What if he says no?"

"You're doomed," Harry said, causing her to glare.

"Thanks for that."

"Oh, just do it, Hermione," Rom groaned. "It's not that hard."

"Says you ."

"You're making too big of a deal out of this," Ron had the audacity to say. "Just ask him. What's the worst that could happen?"