I awaken to the sounds of shifting cloth and gentle mumbling. Cissy must be getting dressed. Which means I'm late for work- I start to roll over when a firm pressure pushes me back into the bed. "It's your birthday, darling. You took off work. Sleep in for once." It's hard to argue with logic like that, especially when I'm still half-asleep. I drift back into a peaceful slumber, content.

The next time I wake up, it's to someone gently rocking my shoulders. "Hermione? I can't imagine you want to sleep too late, dear." As much as I hate the idea, she's right. I shift to sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. "There you are. Good morning, and happy birthday." Cissy presses a kiss to my forehead - a greeting. "I have something for you when you're dressed. Meet me downstairs? I would stay up here, but I have a feeling we'd get distracted." I nod my assent and start to get ready.

By the time I make it downstairs, I'm fully awake and Cissy is waiting for me near the foot of the stairs, reading something out of a journal. When she catches sight of me, the journal vanishes and she takes my hand as I come down the last two steps. "So what's the plan today?"

"Are gifts not supposed to be a surprise?" She starts to lead me away from the stairs - likely towards a fireplace. "So impatient." I refrain from pointing out that she's moving much faster than me.

"I'm just curious, Cissy. In fact, if I remember rightly, that was one of the things about me you mentioned in that essay you wrote when you asked me out-"

"I really wish I had just asked Andie first. How was I supposed to know that most relationships aren't like business deals? I had to lay out the pros and cons."

I pull her to a stop, then into a hug. "It was cute, Cissy." I lean down to kiss her gently - soothing - before I say, "You know I still have the essay, right?"

"No."

"Yes. I still reread it every now and then. It's nice to see that, with everything has changed, so much has stayed the same." I kiss her again - reassurance. "Now, I believe you have something to show me?"

"Right, yes, of course." A little more relaxed now, she starts to lead me again. "If you'll just follow me through the Floo, we're headed to Black Manor."

"Am I allowed to ask why?" It sits mostly unused, now. There's basically nothing in there. Is this a surprise party? I get no response before we make it to the fireplace, so I imagine the answer to my question is a resounding 'no'.

After a quick Floo trip to Black Manor, I find the entryway much nicer than last time I was here. Admittedly, then it was sort of falling to pieces from disuse and abuse. "I see the remodel is going nicely."

"Yes, well, we hope to be able to either sell it or repurpose it soon. Neither of us are very attached to the building, as you might imagine." Oh, I can imagine alright.

Cissy leads me through the halls, and I'm struck by just how ridiculous this place is. It rivals even Malfoy Manor in size, though with fewer floors it sprawls much more. "Now, if we are repurposing or selling this building, you must wonder what will happen to the library, yes?"

"Well, considering last time I tried to go in there some ancient ward tried to kill me for my impure blood… Yes, I do wonder." That was months ago. Last I heard, the foremost warding experts in the world were still working to dismantle the enchantments on the place.

We arrive in front of the set of double doors that I recognize as the library, and I start to get an inkling of an idea what this might be about. Cissy pushes the doors open, then turns with a dramatic flourish. "Welcome to the newly de-warded Black library, darling. Free for you to peruse at your leisure."

I tentatively step forward, pushing my arm past the threshold - last time it really hurt. But… no, nothing. Not even the gentle hum of basic warding. I rush into the room and scoop Cissy up in a crushing hug, spinning her around a few times before she demands I "unhand her this instant Hermione!"

"Sorry, Cissy, sorry. You know how I can get with books." I kiss her gently - an apology.

"Yes, well… happy birthday, darling." Another kiss - gratitude.