Chapter 9

Hermione flooed to Ginny's flat the next morning. Though she still looked tired and over worked, she had found time to shower and look presentable. Ginny, however, looked her usual impeccable self.

"Hey Hermione! I'll be ready in a moment. I just have to finish this letter to Zanier, then I will be ready to leave." Ginny had been dating an older man that worked in Percy's office. This did not sit well with any of the Weasley's, least of all Percy. Not even Harry for that matter. During their sixth year at Hogwarts, directly after Professor Dumbledore's death, Harry had broken it off with Ginny. Ginny was hurt and cried uncontrollably for months. But soon thereafter, a war was fought and everyone changed. What once seemed important, wasn't so anymore. Children grew up and lost love was just that; lost.

They were going shopping before they met Harry, Ron, Neville Luna and the Weasley twins for a nice dinner out. Today, Hermione decided, she would place all of her work in the back of her mind and enjoy a rare day with all of her friends.

"Alright! I'm ready!" Ginny's voice sang from the other room. Hermione had come dressed in jeans and a sweater. Ginny however, wore a bright green dress that was a bit too revealing. Hermione wondered what her brothers were going to say to that.

"Is Zanier coming to?" Hermione asked. Ginny busied herself digging in her pocketbook.

"Um…no. he's busy today. He sends his birthday wishes to you, but he just couldn't get away from work." Ginny was pulling lipstick out of her bag as Hermione snorted to herself. She would bet every Galleon she owned that Zanier was home alone and Ginny purposefully didn't invite him. Why? Harry would be there. That made sense to Hermione as she stared at her friend. Hot dress, makeup and no boyfriend to accompany her. Hermione shook her head sadly as she realized that though Ginny had moved on, her heart belonged to the Golden Boy.

"There she is! They let you out for good behavior?" Fred Weasley's voice boomed across the room as Hermione and Ginny entered the restaurant. Hermione had succumbed to Ginny's constant badgering to wear a dress they had seen in the very sheik dress shop they visited that morning. Hermione wore a cream colored dress that was knee length and strapless. She looked like a model as she walked into her friends outstretched arms.

Ron, and his blundering self, was the first to scale a chair and hug Hermione. Harry stood back with a satisfied smile on his face in seeing his longtime friend. The years had been hard on Harry. Losing almost everyone he loved, Harry had stayed a bachelor and had no steady girlfriend. The scars of war.

Fred and George wore their signature matching dragon hide suits and had a pair of blonde twins on their arms. As Hermione was introduced to them, Shayla and Fawn, Hermione caught the look of intense emotion that fleetingly graced Ginny's face. Harry was hugging her and they held each other for a moment in silence. Ron stood still with his arm around the waist of none other than Parvati Patil.

"Hello Hermione! Happy Birthday!" Parvati kissed Hermione's cheek and they all settled down in their seats.

"So…it's the birthday girls choice. Pumpkin juice or…Firewhiskey?" Neville made a disgusted face at the thought of Firewhiskey and he immediately ordered a glass of Pumpkin juice. As did Luna, who wanted an olive inside to ward off any possible Knockers that could have contaminated the juice. The rest ordered Firewhiskey and snacked on an array of foods.

They spent the afternoon talking, loudly, and listening to Fred and George talk about their second location's Grand Opening. Hermione felt a rush of love for her friends as they all sat together. She was brought back to the conversation with a jolt.

"What? Still? I wonder why they keep him on?" Fred asked. Harry was frowning.

"I really couldn't tell you. But I turned down the teaching position because of it! Who wants to work there with him? Not me. But I heard he's retiring soon anyway." Neville went on.

"Who are we talking about?' Ginny piped in.

"Snape." Harry spat. Harry, though knowing that Snape had helped them win the war and did many dark things under duress, cold not forgive the man for his many transgressions.

Hermione's ears suddenly tuned in keenly.

"Yeah, Minerva McGonagall offered me a position teaching Herbology at Hogwarts. But I turned it down temporarily. I don't want to be anywhere near that man. So, I will stay working at the Greenhouse until he retires. He has…three years left." Neville popped a piece of birthday cake in his mouth. Ginny frowned.

"You know Neville. You shouldn't be scared of him. You're a grown man now! I bet you could tell him a thing or two about all that Herbology stuff. Lord knows you could tell me a thing or two! I never did well in there…" Ginny's voice trailed off.

"Yeah, and if he gave you any trouble, Harry and me will go have a talk with him." Hermione and Ginny exchanged a knowing look as Parvati crooned over Ron. Harry wore a dark look.

"I can't wait until he leaves and we can all forget him. I heard that the Ministry tried to arrest him for Dumbledore's murder and for conspiracy against the Ministry, but he had a Pensieve that exonerated him from all charges. Something he and Dumbeldore did in case of a situation like that. So until the laws change, Snape is, regretfully, a free man." Harry pushed his cake around his plate as he spoke. Hermione sat quietly and didn't say a word. Snape had always been a sore spot with Harry. She had never told any of them about her meetings with him or her crush as a young girl.

Hermione was in the process of putting cake in her mouth when her eyes found Ginny's. Ginny was looking at her oddly and a small frown on her face.

"What?" Hermione asked looking at her friend.

Ginny said nothing, but she shook her head and went back to her food. Hermione let that strange exchange go and continued on with her friends. Luna was telling them the dangers of Knockers in recent batches of Pumpkin juice. They were supposedly small water bugs that were able to cause a lot of havoc if you burped one back up. Olives were your only defense.

Hermione listened for more talk of Severus Snape, but he had passed. Like a dark shadow that brought unhappiness, to all except Hermione. As they sat and talked, she caught herself looking at men who entered the restaurant wearing black. Her eyes searching for something not known to her.

"Hermione?" Harry's voice broke through her thoughts.

"Sorry Harry. I was…"

"Daydreaming?' Ginny cut in with a sharp look.

"No. Just enjoying the evening. Thank you all for making the time to celebrate my birthday with me." Hermione's eyes misted at the smiles that spread around the table.

"Happy Birthday Hermione!" George said while he raised his glass. Each person in turn raised his or her glass and toasted her on her birthday.

A/N: OK...Severus coming in the next chapter. I wonder what he has been up to all this time? Thanks agian for the reviews guys! They mean a lot to me!