A/N: I thought I'd try something new this chapter and throw together something a bit happier. I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter Sixteen
Hermione,
It's only been three days and I feel like I'm going mental without you. I guess I thought it would be easier, since we were already so busy. It's hard to explain but at least when we weren't seeing each other much, you could still tell we lived in the same house. Now, there's no sign of you, not even any bloody cat hair.
How are you feeling? Are you eating? Sleeping? Your nightmares haven't come back, have they? I hate that I'm not there with you. As soon as I'm able, I'll visit. It might be a while though- they're going to start taking us out on actual crime investigations soon!
I know this was short but I have to go. I really hope you're doing okay.
Ron
Ron,
I miss you, too. It's hard being up here with just Ginny. It doesn't feel right. We're enjoying each other's company and all, but we run out of things to do. I've been going to the library while she practices on the quidditch pitch. Every once in a while I'll run into a professor getting ready for the new year. The look on their face when they see me would make you laugh! No one expects a student to be in the library in August. I guess it's fitting that it would be me.
I'm feeling all right, all things considered. I'm not sleeping as well as I'd like, but Snape's occlumency lessons have helped with that. If I clear my mind well enough before sleep I have a better night. I've bothered poor Ginny a few times with it though. I might have to sound proof my bed when term starts. Ginny doesn't know who all will be returning yet, but I'm sure they won't want me screaming at 3 in the morning for no good reason.
You're going to do great on your investigations, Ron! You learn best with an on hands approach- believe me, I know- and I also know you've been growing bored of the patrols they started you on. I can't wait to hear how well it goes for you. How did the move to Grimmauld Place go? I assume it took place without us there to help?
I'm looking forward to your visit! I need more people around me. Occlumency can only do so much to keep my mind from wandering. I should get back to studying, though. You know I like to be well prepared at the beginning of the year!
Hermione
Hermione,
I wanted to send you a quick update on something before you read about it in the papers. Ron and I were on a crime investigation- I think he told you about them- in Newcastle. It was a pretty awful attack, Mione. Someone tortured and killed a couple in a neighborhood park. I'll spare you the details, but what I wanted to tell you was that the man was a wizard, but the woman was a muggle, and they killed him immediately, but they did some truly horrible things to her. They're labeling it a muggle hate crime and it's possible the death eaters that attacked you could be behind it.
I hope I'm right and that reading it from a friend is better than reading it in the paper. The last thing I want is to make things worse for you. I'm so sorry you're going through all this. I hope your occlumency is still helping.
Speaking of, I saw Snape at the last Order meeting. He asked about you. Sort of. What he asked was, "Have you been up to the castle?" but I know what he meant. Anyway, I told him I haven't seen you yet but that Ron and I planned to visit soon. He said, and I quote, "Make sure she's eating." So, uh. Be sure to eat? I don't want to have to give him a bad report, he seemed serious. It's hard enough telling him we don't have new information on your attackers. The crime today is the first indication we have that they may still be in the area.
I have to get back to work, but I'm trying to make time to see you, I swear. If Ginny sees this tell her I'm working on her letter next. She won't believe me, but tell her anyway.
Harry
PS: Oh yeah, I forgot term was starting in a few days. I hope it goes really well for you!
Harry,
You are absolutely right, hearing things like this from a friend is so much better. Thank you for thinking of me, I really appreciate the heads up. What an awful crime! I can't imagine how there's still so much evil in the world. Please be safe, I worry about you and Ron being in the thick of it all.
Ginny told me to tell you she knew you were lying and she's still waiting for her letter.
The next time you see Master Snape, please tell him that I am eating just fine, thank you, and that he is more than welcome to inquire as to my health himself, as he knows where I am and can presumably compose a letter of his own.
Term started a few days ago, and it's been both exciting and peculiar, being back after last year. The feast was very different than it used to be. There weren't as many first years this time around, and they were led by Professor Flitwick, our new Deputy Headmaster. The sorting hat sang an uplifting song about "rising from the ashes" of tragedy and entering an age of peace, which was a lot nicer than the doom and gloom it tended to give us the last few times we heard it. As far as classes go, they're quite challenging, which is good because it keeps me busy; I'm not used to having so few classes on my schedule, and too much free time is not the best thing for me right now. I've only improved since the beginning of term.
I hope to see you and Ron soon. Please tell Ron I only have enough time for one letter but I'll write to him shortly. Much love!
Hermione
PS: Ginny said to tell you nevermind, she just got your letter. What you wrote to her made her very happy, by the way. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it.
'Mione,
I haven't heard from you in a while so I thought I'd reach out. Harry said you would try to write soon but I guess you got busy?
We're still working on crime investigations, and they're starting to keep me up at night. I know we saw some awful things over the years but I don't know how Harry can handle some of this stuff. Did you know there's a curse that can... you know what, it's better if you don't know. I'll just say they definitely throw the rough cases at the new guys, see who will last. I want to help, and I'm trying to get through it, but I don't know if I'm cut out for this.
Sorry, I know you have your own stuff going on. I don't mean to dump all this on you. I just really miss you, Mione. I could really use you around right now.
I'm keeping myself distracted by helping George out at the shop in my free time. Now THAT I enjoy. I help him do all the things Fred can't do now, being incorporeal and all, like stocking shelves and setting up displays. I've gotten pretty good at doing displays, actually. I know, I'm surprised too. I'd love to show you sometime!
Oh, yeah, I finally made the move to Grimmauld Place! It went just fine, even if it did take us forever to get around to it. Mum keeps bringing things by that she thinks I forgot, but it's never mine or anything I actually want. Then she sticks around until Dad has to come get her, cooking and cleaning like she doesn't have her own house to take care of. Dad says she's lonely, since the house is so empty. He's taking her to see Charlie next month for her birthday, he thinks getting her away for a while will help.
Let me know how you're doing. How are your classes? Harry said you're eating, so that's good. I hope you know I worry about you.
Please write back soon. I miss you.
Ron
PS: Harry said to tell you he's not saying that.
Ron,
I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written. Even with less of a course load, seventh year classes are tough. I'm already swamped with an arithmancy projection and three essays all due on friday. I've been practically living in the library. Plus, Hagrid has us taking care of the Hogwarts Thestral herd. It's rather depressing really, seeing as pretty much all of us seventh years can see them now, but it does mean early mornings on top of the late nights of studying. I'm usually up by then anyway, so it doesn't make much of a difference in my sleep schedule. I can get to sleep, but it's hard to stay asleep. Sometimes I manage. Madame Pomfrey has me taking an occasional dreamless sleep potion when it becomes too much.
I'm sorry to hear your training is affecting you so poorly. I hope you're able to get some rest soon! Try to focus less on the bad and more on the good you're bringing to the situation. You're doing this to help people, to make a difference. Where would they be without your help? I'm sure they know they're lucky to have you.
It sounds like George is lucky to have you, too! I'm glad to hear you found something you enjoy, especially since work isn't going so well right now. See if you can send me a picture of one of your displays. I'd love to see it. I'm glad you finally moved, and please give my best to your Mum for me. I imagine she's not taking kindly to the idea that all her children are grown now, even Ginny. I agree that a trip should do her well.
I have to get back to studying, but do me a favor and tell Harry he's a coward for me. I miss you too!
Hermione
Hermione,
It doesn't matter what you call me, I'm not talking to Snape more than I have to. His mood has gotten worse since you've left, and every time I have to see him he hounds me for new information that I do not have.
I actually have a bit of news for you, though. It isn't much to go on, but Snape talked to Lucius Malfoy again to see if he could think of any more information that may help us. It turns out Malfoy knew a few more hideout locations, some of which we found to have been used very recently. He may actually help us enough to win his freedom after all. As much as I'd love to see him rot, I would be willing to release him if it meant you were safe. Plus, his family doesn't deserve to be in there. Especially Draco.
I've talked to my lead about getting some guaranteed time off so that I can come up to see you and Ginny. Hopefully Ron will get the same days approved and we can come up together. I really cannot wait. It's weird not having you around here. You were always by my side for over a year, and now you suddenly aren't. I'm glad you're safe, but I miss you.
Well, that's it from me. Hopefully we'll have better news to share with you soon. Tell Ginny I'll respond to her letter when I feel like it. Let me know what color her face turns.
Harry
Harry,
If I told you this time last year that you would be willing to let all of the Malfoys out of Azkaban, and that you didn't think Narcissa or Draco deserved to be locked up, do you think you'd believe me? Because I think you'd have me checked into St Mungo's next to poor Lockhart until the end of the war for safekeeping.
I agree with you, though. I don't think Draco should be there. I can't speak much on his parents but he has a chance to prove himself bigger than his family name, and I think we owe him an opportunity to do so.
I truly appreciate you keeping me updated. I know you know how it feels to be left in the dark, far away from it all. Getting these snippets of information helps me feel included, even when I can't do anything to help. I'm glad there has been some progress on the investigation, and if Snape keeps giving you a hard time, tell him you'll solve the case when you feel like it. Tell me what color his face turns.
Hers was scarlet, by the way. Why must you tease her so? (Don't stop. It's the only entertainment I have these days.)
I don't like being away from you either. Every day I curse your lack of respect for an education. If you had any sense you wouldn't be out there saving the world, you would be here, with me, cheating off my homework and losing us house points. But no, you had to go do the hero thing. I hope you know the world will still turn if you ever need a moment to catch your breath.
Come visit soon. I miss you.
Hermione
Miss Granger,
I must admit to being well out of my element in writing to you. Our relationship is unique in the simple fact that I have never had a former student interested in any sort of familiarity with me. I do not understand why the idea appeals to you, but after everything that's happened, I am willing to acquiesce in some form or fashion to your wishes.
So here I am, crafting a letter at your request. I hope it finds you well.
I am sure your friends have been keeping you updated as to the events surrounding our unfortunate incident. If you are unaware, there is ample evidence growing that our attackers are still relatively nearby. I would urge you to remain cautious and to not drop your guard. The castle should be safe, but we both know it has its imperfections.
I trust you've been keeping up with your training. Occlumency, I have found, is a useful tool in many situations. In your case, its use has hopefully helped ease your mind and allowed you to attain both rest and magical control. Should you still be having difficulties, I may be able to assist you long distance.
I hope you are finding your classes favorable, and I anticipate a response I know you have already begun composing in your mind.
S. Snape
Hermione held the unexpected letter in her hand, frozen in disbelief, her breakfast forgotten.
He wrote to her.
He actually wrote to her.
She had all but given up hope that she would hear from him directly. It had, after all, been an entire month since they last spoke. She had been contemplating reaching out herself, but in a surprising turn of events, he wrote to her first.
She read the letter again, scrutinizing his words. Even as separated as they were, he still seemed to have a lot of concern for her wellbeing. She had assumed he would have put her out of his mind now that she was where he wanted her; she hadn't considered the possibility that he would still actively worry for her safety. But evidently he did, if he was warning her to be cautious and extending his help to her should she need it.
He didn't say much about himself. Besides spending an entire paragraph making sure she was aware of his discomfort in his writing to her, there was no indication of how he was handling the events of late. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, she thought pensively. He's not exactly an open book type of person.
He was right about one thing, though- she had already started thinking of her answering letter. She itched to hurry back to the common room, to pen a hasty reply.
The bench jostled and red hair flashed in her vision as Ginny threw herself down next to her, snapping Hermione out of her thoughts. "Happy birthday!" she greeted as she reached for a piece of fruit, spotting the letter in her hand. "Did Ron or Harry write to you?"
"No," she said quietly, still in shock about it all. "No, it wasn't Ron or Harry." She held up the letter, showing her friend the signature.
"No way!" Ginny snatched the parchment from her hand and stared at it. "I can't believe he actually caved. Do you think Harry talked to him after all?"
"I don't know what to think, honestly." She took the letter back and folded it up, sticking it carefully in her notebook. "I really didn't anticipate him taking my request seriously."
"Do you think he knew it was your birthday?"
"I highly doubt it," she replied, shaking her head. "He probably wouldn't have sent it today if he knew." Eyeing the corner of the letter peeking out from her notebook, she added, "It is a nice surprise, though, getting it today. It makes my day that much better, and it's only just begun."
Ginny nudged her with her shoulder. "I don't understand why you want to be friends with him, Hermione, but I'm glad for you that he's finally coming around to the idea."
She turned back to her breakfast with a smile. "I know it's a strange thing to think about. It's just that we spent so much time together over the summer, and we really got along. For the most part, at least." She pierced a berry with her fork, watching as the juices flowed out onto the plate. "He's still very concerned for me. He told me to keep up my guard, even in Hogwarts. Said the castle has weaknesses."
"Well, we knew that," laughed Ginny. "But I think we're doing a good job of behaving ourselves this year. I wouldn't worry too much." She took a bite from a banana, and continued, "Let's go on a walk down to Hagrid's after breakfast. I'm sure he'd love to see you on your birthday."
As much as she would have rather gone up to their dormitory to reply to Snape, she agreed. There was plenty of time to write to him later, and this gave her more time to consider what she would say. Scooping up the last few bites of scrambled egg, she put her notebook in her bag and was ready to go.
The walk down to Hagrid's was uneventful. With it being fairly early on a Saturday morning, much of the castle was just making their way to the great hall, so there was no one else on the path. Snape's warning did resonate in her mind, though, and she kept her wand in her hand, just in case.
When they reached the hut, Hermione could hear voices out the cracked kitchen window and slowed. "It sounds like Hagrid already has visitors," she whispered, holding her friend back. "We should come back later."
"Nonsense," smiled Ginny as she forced her way past her, and knocked loudly on the door.
Almost immediately it opened, and at first all she could see was Hagrid's massive smiling form. "'Lo there, Ginny, Hermione!" he called in greeting. "C'mon in!"
As he stepped aside, Hermione saw a pair of heads sitting at the kitchen table, one with messy black hair and the other short and red-
"Surprise!" Harry and Ron were beaming at her as she walked into the hut, large frothy mugs in front of them.
"Ron!" she exclaimed in disbelief. "Harry! What-"
"Happy birthday, Hermione," said Harry as Ron stood to embrace her.
She had not been looking forward to today; for the second year in a row, Hermione was painfully aware of the distance between her and nearly everyone she loved. Her parents did not remember her, her best friends had not returned to Hogwarts with her, and she had woken up determined to force a smile on her face and get the day over with as quickly and painlessly as possible.
As Ron's arms circled her, the weight of her dread vanished only to be replaced by an immense joy. Two of the people she had been missing the most were here, in front of her, at Hogwarts, for her birthday! She clung to Ron in a tight embrace, one he was more than willing to return with equal fervor, and beamed at Harry over her boyfriend's shoulder. "When did you get here?"
"Just a few hours ago," he told her as Ron led her over to the table, Ginny sliding around the opposite end to sit by Harry, and Hagrid pulled two more mugs down from a tall shelf. The group all sat together, Hagrid pouring her and Ginny some butterbeer. She put a hand over her mouth as she tried not to cry.
"You boys..." she whispered, and squeezed Ron's hand when he took hers. "This is wonderful. How long have you been planning this?"
Harry looked over at Ginny as he answered. "A few weeks now. Ginny had the brilliant idea to make sure we could visit on your birthday. It took a few favors to ensure it, but we have the whole day."
"McGonagall asked us not to cause trouble while we're here," said Ron with a mischievous glint in his eye, "but Harry and I reckon she only said that to put the idea in our heads. We were thinking about setting off some of Fred and George's fireworks before we leave. What do you think?"
"You don't actually have fireworks with you, do you?" She watched as her friends shared a very telling look. "You two are incorrigible!" she laughed.
"Jus' do it up by the castle," Hagrid instructed, grinning into his mug. "Don' need yeh scarin' my animals now."
"You got anything new and scary, Hagrid?" asked Harry, taking a sip of butterbeer.
"Always do, don' I?" laughed Hagrid. "But McGonagall, she put a rule in, she has ter approve o' the creatures I 'ave in my lessons now. So those're jus' fer me. I'll show 'em ter yeh, if yeh wan'!"
"Er, yeah, maybe later," Ron said, looking nervous.
A timer went off from somewhere in the hut and Hagrid popped up. "Oh, that'll be the cake," he announced as Ginny scooted her chair out of the way of the oven.
"Cake?" asked Hermione, and her friends smiled reassuringly- Hagrid's baking skills were well known, after all.
"We made it together," said Ginny. "I came down early to meet them before getting you. We thought we could all decorate it as a group."
"It has ter sit first," Hagrid said as he sat the enormous round cake on the counter with a thud.
"That could feed half of Gryffindor!" Hermione exclaimed, her jaw dropping. She could smell vanilla and lemon, and possibly a hint of orange- her mouth began to water in anticipation.
"Or half o' me," laughed Hagrid good-naturedly as he took his seat once more.
"Let's do presents while we wait," Ron said as he pulled out a thin box wrapped messily- though with obvious care- in white paper and tied with a red bow.
"Yes, that's a great idea," said Ginny as she leaned over and reached under the table for her bag. Harry, similarly, reached behind him to grab a small, book-shaped present. Even Hagrid stood and walked over to a fireplace, pulling a small box out from a basket.
Hermione's head whipped around as she looked at all the parcels in front of her friends. "You really didn't have to-"
"We know," Harry, Ron, and Ginny chorused. "We did anyway," finished Ron.
"This one's from mum," Ginny said as she handed over the largest of the gifts, and Hermione took the parcel, surprised at the weight of it. Attached to the top was a letter, and she slid her finger under the seal to extract the short note inside.
Hermione,
Happy Birthday, my dear! I hope this gift helps ease your worries in this difficult time. We're wishing the best for you in your final year!
Molly and Arthur
Removing the delivery wrapping, she lifted the lid of the box to find a beautifully knitted afghan, in various shades of violet, folded neatly with a parchment tag tied to the visible corner. The tag read "spelled to help with sleep" in Molly's gentle script. Hermione put her hand to her mouth again, incredibly touched.
"Mum felt terrible about not being there for you more in the beginning," Ron explained to her. "We all told her it wasn't a big deal, but... anyway, she wanted to make you something special."
"It's spelled with a charm she used on our baby blankets," Ginny added. "It's supposed to help keep you calm so you sleep better."
Hermione dragged a hand across the beautifully stitched blanket, in shock at such a kind-hearted gesture. Her track record with the Weasley Matron had been very hit or miss in the past, and a gift this significant meant more to her than the others could possibly imagine. "I'll have to write to her straight away," she said quietly. "This is such a thoughtful gift. I wish I could thank her in person."
Ron rubbed her back as she laughed at herself, getting so worked up. "It's nice to cry about something good, for once," she joked as she wiped a stray tear from her cheek and placed the lid back on the blanket with care. "I hope the others won't make me so emotional."
"Well 'ere Hermione, open mine," said Hagrid as he pushed the small box her way. "It's nothin special, jus' somethin' I though' I'd work on in my spare time."
"I'm sure it's lovely," she told him as she unwrapped the box and opened it.
Inside, a small wooden carving of an animal rested on a bed of straw. She picked up the carving with care, and gasped as she realized what exactly he used as a model. "Hagrid!" she exclaimed. "Is this Crookshanks?"
The half giant nodded, beaming. "Sometimes 'e comes down 'ere and plays in the pumpkin patch," he explained. "I've been watchin 'im while he does it, so I could get 'is likeness an' all."
"You did a fantastic job," she said as she stood to hug him. "Thank you so much, Hagrid. I'll treasure it forever."
"It was nothin'," he muttered, wiping an eye.
"Okay, me next," said Ginny, shoving a sparkling blue gift bag towards her. Laughing at her eagerness, Hermione carefully reached inside the bag and removed the two items: an ornate blue quill and a wax seal, the stamp a rune she didn't recognize. "It's something Fred and George have been playing around with," she explained. "You say the name of the person you wrote the letter for, and if the wrong person opens it the letter's contents go blank." She stared at Hermione intently when she said, "I thought it might come in handy for you this year, writing to so many people."
Ron snatched the wax seal from her. "Wicked! How come they don't tell me about any of this cool stuff?"
"Does it work?" asked Harry, leaning forward. "Can we try it out?"
"It only works if both the quill and stamp are used," Ginny answered. "I haven't tried it out yet, I wanted to let Hermione do that. Though if it doesn't work I've already told George he's giving me my money back and sending me a replacement gift."
"We can try it at the end," Hermione said, taking the stamp back from Ron and looking across the table at Ginny with a grateful smile. "Thank you, this is brilliant. I will definitely use this. Assuming it works," she added cheekily, and giggled when Ginny stuck her tongue out at her.
Harry looked over at Ron, who nodded. "Okay, I guess it's my turn," he said, carefully sliding the present across the table.
It was a lot lighter than a book, she was surprised to find, and when she unwrapped it she found it wasn't a book at all, but a plain white gift box. She lifted the lid and gasped.
"Harry, I can't take this!" She put the lid back on the box and tried to give it back, but Ron stayed her hand.
Harry leaned forward, smiling gently. "It's a loan," he assured her. "Besides, it isn't doing me any good. I'm not the one at Hogwarts." He leaned over and took the lid off the box again, pushing the Marauder's Map back towards her.
Her fingers shook as she took the map in her hands. "Are you sure?" she whispered. "What if something happens to it?" Ron snorted.
"It's survived Harry and Fred and George," he laughed. "I think you'll be its best owner since the Marauders themselves."
"Better," Harry corrected. "I trust you, Hermione."
Tears threatened to fall from her eyes again as she gently placed the map back in its box. "Thank you," she whispered. "I just..."
Harry nodded in understanding. "I hope it helps you feel safe." She smiled.
"Okay," Ron said awkwardly in the silent moment that followed. "I guess that just leaves me." He handed Hermione the present with a shy smile. "I hope you like it."
Hermione slipped off the ribbon and carefully unwrapped the gift, pausing at the label on the top of the hinged box. "Primrose's Protections?" she read aloud. "I haven't heard of this."
"Open it," Ron encouraged. She lifted the lid, and the box opened with a snap.
Inside, resting on satin, lay a delicate bracelet of silver, an unpolished dark stone in the center of the chain. A tiny shield hung from the clasp, and she could feel the magical energy coming off of it.
"It's a shield charm bracelet," Ron told her, pointing to different aspects of the gift. "The stone is black tourmaline which is a natural protecting stone, the chain is silver imbued with protective spells, and they cast a powerful shield charm on the little shield here." He looked up at her as she stared at the beautiful piece. "I worry about you constantly Hermione," he told her earnestly. "I wanted to give you something that would help us both feel better about all of this."
She didn't try to hold the tears at bay. This was all too much. "It's beautiful," she whispered, touching the stone gently.
Ron picked up the bracelet and gestured to her wrist. "May I?" he asked, and she nodded. As he clasped the bracelet onto her he said, "It works sort of like a wand, they told me. If you need to block but don't have your wand out, lift your wrist and say 'Protego' and it will do the same thing. It also has a general protective field that will make it harder for spells to be effective. I have an info pamphlet somewhere..."
Hermione put her hand over his on her wrist. "I love it," she told him. "I'll always wear it." They shared a smile, and he leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"I want to try out the seal," Harry called out, cutting through the romantic tension wafting through the hut.
Ron, now crimson, turned away from her with an embarrassed smile. She wiped the tears from her eyes again, sniffling, and nodded. "Right, I'll just get some paper out," she said, bending down to grab her bag, using the motion to take a deep breath to calm her emotions. She sat back up and placed her notebook in front of her, not noticing when the letter she had carefully placed in it slipped out and fell to the floor. She saw Ron bend to pick it up, however, and when he straightened, the letter had unfolded. He glanced at the words, then quickly at her.
"He wrote to you?" he asked, his voice oddly flat.
"Who?" asked Harry, and at Ron's pointed look he added, surprised, "Snape?"
"Yer writin' Snape, Hermione?" Hagrid interjected, disbelief tainting his words.
Hermione snatched the letter out of Ron's hands and slipped it back into her notebook, heat spreading to her cheeks. "It's just the one letter," she mumbled, tearing a piece of paper out of her notebook and pushing it aside.
Ginny turned to Harry. "Did you finally talk to him or are you still afraid of him, you ickle first year?" she teased.
Harry glowered. "I'm not afraid of him, but I'm certainly not looking for excuses to be within wand's distance of him either," he said. "I haven't said a word to him since my last letter to Hermione."
"He still don' like you much, eh?" asked Hagrid.
"Not unless I have good news, and I never do." Harry sighed, and then smiled at Hermione. "That's great, though. I'm glad he finally caved."
"That's what I said!" shouted Ginny, and laughed.
Hermione looked over at Ron, who was oddly silent and staring at the wall behind Ginny's head. "All the letter said was that he wants me to be careful," she told the table. "He warned me the attackers were still nearby and to keep my guard up."
"He told her the castle has, get this, weaknesses," Ginny joked again.
Harry laughed at that. "That's news to us, right Ron?"
Ron gave a halfhearted chuckle, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Oh yeah, first I'm hearing of it," he replied quietly.
"Anyway," Hermione said loudly as she grabbed the blue quill, "Do you have any ink for me, Hagrid? I'm ready to try this out now."
The rest of the visit was peaceful and filled Hermione with a wholesome joy she desperately needed. The seal worked brilliantly, and once everyone had gotten a chance to try it, Hagrid declared the cake cool enough to decorate. The massive dessert was slathered in glittering gold icing, white chocolate pearls decorating the edge in perfect rows thanks to Ginny's graceful wandwork, and topped with shimmering red letters that spelled "Happy Birthday Hermione" on the top. They admired their work for a short while before Hagrid cut them each a giant slice, and they enjoyed it over a few solid hours of reminiscing conversations.
They finally excused themselves in time to visit the Great Hall for lunch, though the four of them were still quite full of cake and only made their way up to the castle to allow Harry and Ron a trip down memory lane. As they walked, Hermione held Ron back from the others. Their pace slowed, and she asked him, "is everything all right?"
Ron smiled at her and put his arm around her shoulders. "Of course, Mione. Why?"
"You've just been a bit quiet since you saw the letter, is all." She watched his reaction, and continued, "I wanted to make sure you were okay."
Ron sighed, releasing her shoulders as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I just..." he started, inhaled, then began again. "I don't like the man, Hermione, and I doubt I ever will. I don't fancy my girlfriend being his friend, is all."
Hermione stopped abruptly and turned to face him. "You don't get to make that decision for me."
"I know that!" Ron quickly assured her. "I know that. I'm not telling you to stop being his... friend, or whatever. I just..."
"You don't like it."
Ron shrugged. "Can you blame me?"
She sighed and continued up the path. "No, I suppose I can't." As he joined her side again, she asked, "So, should we talk about it?"
"Talk about what?"
"My friendship with him."
Ron grimaced. "I'd prefer not."
She rolled her eyes. "I meant in regards to our relationship." When he looked at her in confusion she clarified, "For example, I'm not about to ask you to hang out with him for my benefit. If we ever do go beyond exchanging letters, if we ever meet for tea or... anything like that, I don't expect you to want to join us, and I'm okay with that."
Ron nodded, understanding. "Okay, yeah, that sounds fine. Thanks," he said.
"However I would appreciate it," Hermione continued, "if you could try to keep the snarky comments about him to a minimum around me."
"I'll... try." He looked over her guiltily and added, "I'll try, but sometimes I don't think before I talk, you know this."
"Well, try harder," she muttered, and he snorted.
"Will do," he agreed, putting his arm around her once more. "Now, can we please talk about something else?"
She agreed to the topic change, and they continued up the path in cordial company.
Later that night, as the courtyard exploded in showering sparks of reds and golds- the Headmistress standing nearby, shaking her head with a smile- Hermione thanked her lucky stars that her birthday had brought her such unexpected happiness. Out of all the birthdays she had lived through, this year was the year she needed it most.
