Author's Note: Thank you all again for your awesome reviews! There are so many things I want to respond to, but I'm going to zip my lips shut so I don't give anything away. Happy reading!


Chapter 5

"You know the rules, Potter."

Ginny and Harry were nose to nose squaring off.

"As do you, Ginerva." Harry returned, pulling her in close to him.

"You seriously want me to blow chunks, don't you?" Ron groaned behind Harry.

While Hermione wouldn't use that terminology, she did have to agree with Ron. The scene in front of her was slightly nauseating.

Hermione had wanted to avoid the Burrow, but she had agreed to meet Ginny and Luna there to set off on Ginny's Hen Do together. What she didn't expect, was to find Harry, Ron, and Neville also there.

"I'm still confused about the rules." Hermione exclaimed, inching her skirt down a bit self-consciously.

As soon as she had arrived, Ron had given her a wide eyed look, then proceeded to avoid eye contact the remainder of the time. They currently stood about 10 feet apart in the living room and it seemed that he was doing his best to stare at the wall.

"Right." Ginny smiled. "Can't have a fair fight without clear rules."

"Of course." Harry confirmed.

"Luna and Neville have agreed to be our counters." Ginny started. "Whichever team received the most free drinks by the end of the evening makes the final decision on our honeymoon."

"Wouldn't it make more sense if I counted?" Hermione offered. "I've already got parchment and quill in my bag." Hermione patted the small clutch hanging from her bare shoulder.

She saw Ron smirk from the corner of her eye.

"No." Ginny looked back at her. "You are one of my prime players. I need you to reel in the drinks."

"Me?" Hermione squeaked.

"Yes, you. I've only got one of the Golden Trio, which means you'll need to work those guys double time. Harry gets a free pint wherever he goes, and Ron is Golden Trio member number 2. Besides, with all that extra weight lifting these days he's bound to get free drinks."

"Well, you've got Fleur." Ron countered, his face reddening.

"You've got the entire Weasley brotherhood!" Ginny volleyed back.

"You've got the Hollyhead Harpies!" Ron bickered with his sister.

"Okay." Harry chuckled. "Sounds like we're fairly even."

Ginny looked back over at her husband and smiled. "Get comfortable with it sweetie. We are going to New Zealand for our Honeymoon."

"Whatever you say, dear." Harry's sarcasm wasn't lost on anyone.

"So shall we go?" Luna piped up, standing up in her quirky bubble dress (which she promised drove all of the zoologists 'mad with desire' at work).

Hermione had tried on all of Ginny's outfits. Most were too small, and those that fit made Hermione's face turn beet red. She wouldn't dare be seen in public in them. Besides, she knew Ginny to be much more slender than herself. Hermione had wider shoulders and hips. After a full evening of trying everything on in her closet, she opted for one of her black skirts, which she hiked up uncomfortably to her mid-thigh, and an off the shoulder, loose fitting deep blue tunic. Hermione ignored Ginny's berating and refused to wear a heel higher than a few inches.

During a conversation with Harry, Hermione had the opportunity to glance over at Ron. He was in a knit deep green sweater that fit snugly around his torso. His dark wash blue jeans made her throat go dry. She chastised herself for even thinking that way. Not three days ago she was swearing him off for good.

"Okay" Ginny called, pulling Luna and Hermione to her as if in a Quidditch team huddle. "We're going to The Craft, The Phantom Carriage, then meeting Harry's group at the Leaky Cauldron at midnight to tally results." Hermione nodded, though her insides were floundering. She wasn't one for social visits, especially if they involved her introverted self to be outgoing and flirty.

Hermione glanced behind her to see Harry sharing similar instructions to Ron and Neville. Ron looked over, as if feeling her gaze on him. She couldn't quite figure out the look in his eye, something between disdain and longing. She imagined it probably looked an awful lot like her expression.

After another few moments, the guys made their way into the Floo, one by one calling out 'Last Rites' before disappearing in emerald flame.

Hermione and the ladies had followed suit, calling out 'The Craft' and appearing in one of the most popular night clubs in Wizarding London. The music was thrumming, but above that were a gaggle of screams rushing their way around Ginny. Hermione watched as the toned and muscular females of the Holyhead Harpies team hooted and hollered celebrating their teammates upcoming nuptials. One of the ladies had a sash and slid it over Ginny's shoulder. Another handed Ginny her first drink, something cerulean blue that was emitting miniature fireworks.

"Are ve ready?" Fleur asked, walking up to Hermione and Luna.

"I'm not sure." Hermione responded, spotting all of the eyes on the group from around the club.

"Apparently Harry really wants to go to the mountains." A voice came up from behind them.

Hermione felt ice slither down her spine. It was Aliesha Avery. Hermione gave her a polite nod. Aliesha nodded back.

"And Ginny vould like to go to ze beach." Fleur nodded. "And I much prefer ze beach."

"I'd choose mountains. That's where you can find the underground colonies of wrackspurts." Luna offered.

Hermione chuckled.

"Vell, Bill and I also made a small wager. Whichever gets the fewest drinks this evening vill have to put Victoire down every night for ze next week."

"Then I guess we will have to get our girl to the beach, won't we?" Aliesha called into the group. The ladies nodded, Hermione with a strained smile.

Over the next hour and a half Hermione spent her time dancing in the crowd and awkwardly acknowledging men's advances. Most recognized her from the paper. Others found her to be unthreatening and approachable. She'd done a fair job for Ginny, and enjoyed dancing with the group. Though the drinks were plentiful, Hermione always managed to pass the drinks off to one of the Holyhead ladies. They could drink and party and drink some more and nothing phased them. Hermione wasn't in the mood.

After a bit, they all corralled themselves through the Floo and to their second location. This one seemed to be less night club and more bar, but didn't lack gentlemen. Hermione even recognized a few familiar faces in the crowd. She was sure Ginny had worked with a few of the ladies to get some of their friends to give them a leg up. She had the opportunity to reconnect with Cameron from school (Ginny must have invited him), but avoided a few others.

Hermione was now leaning against the bar watching her friends across the room cackle, hoot and laugh. She and Ginny had gotten very close over their last year at Hogwarts together, though they just didn't have the same interests. Hermione was genuinely happy that she had friends who could throw her the ultimate Hen Do.

"I've been told by my sources at the Stag that we're down by six." Aliesha said, suddenly standing next to her.

"Okay." Hermione answered stiffly.

"I think we can make that up and then some before we get to the Leaky, don't you?" She asked, leaning against the bar mimicking Hermione.

"Definitely." Hermione smiled.

There was an awkward silence.

"Listen, I've never been good at subtlety." Aliesha said after taking a sip of her drink.

"Okay…" Hermione answered, unsure of how to respond.

"I just need to know what you're playing at?" Aliesha asked.

Although her expression didn't appear spiteful, Hermione was incredibly confused.

"Excuse me?"

"You know, with Ron." Aliesha continued.

Hermione's face went to stone. Her whole body tensed.

"I'm not sure that is any of your business." Hermione almost spat back. While she wasn't a fan of Avery, she also knew her to be friendly and a decent person.

"Look, I mean no offense." Aliesha started as Hermione tried not to roll her eyes. "I know you have some sort of close bond. I've seen how much he cares for you. I watched him go through his heartbreak after you two split. I was there, I saw how much pain he was in."

Hermione couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Avery hurried on.

"He's such a good guy, Hermione. I know you know that. Even when we were dating I could always tell that he hadn't completely moved on from you, trying to fix what you both broke. I thought he was finally moving on after you went away on your research. But then he saw the papers, you know, the ones with you and Victor Krum in Bulgaria."

"We're friends. And again, none of your business." Hermione barely got out through gritted teeth.

"I know." Aliesha reached for Hermione's arm for understanding. Hermione moved it away.

"Hermione, I know this is probably hard to hear, but I just need to say this and then I will leave you in peace. I've wanted to say it for a while. You need to let him go. He's a great guy with so much to give the world. You only draw him back to the past. He doesn't deserve to be strung along. You two had a great time, but he has grown so much. He deserves to be happy."

"Happy with you, you mean." Hermione growled.

"Hopefully. But happy none-the-less."

Hermione was silent for a moment, then turned to face Aliesha with a calm face.

"Aliesha, there is no one in this world who wants Ron to be happy more than me. Not even you. While you know nothing about our relationship, or what Ron thinks he saw in the papers, this is none of your damned business. Maybe you should spend more time thinking about why your relationship with Ron hasn't succeeded, not mine. He is not beholden to me, and if you and he are truly happy together I would never stand in your way. Now you said that you would leave me in peace after you spoke yours, so I think our conversation is at an end."

Hermione didn't move as she watched Avery's mouth bob open and shut. Hermione had never seen an Auror quite that surprised before and it gave her a deep satisfaction. Without another word, Avery turned and walked back towards the group of partygoers.

Hermione turned toward the barkeep and felt her eyes welling with tears.

Keeping a brave face in the heat of the moment was one thing, but she could feel her insides disintegrating in anguish. Had she hurt Ron that much? Was she keeping him from being happy? She wasn't responsible for what journalists put in the paper, but she had been there with Krum as a favor to a friend and nothing more.

"That was painful to watch." An Irish accent echoed from beside her. She turned to her right to see an unassuming gentleman who downed a quick shot of what appeared to be deep brown liquid.

"Granger, right? Of the infamous Golden Trio?"

Hermione looked around trying to find any excuse to disappear. Without another second, the man slid one of the three shots in front of him over to her.

"Thanks." Hermione said, giving up and slumping down in the seat next to him. One more for the team, she thought miserably.

"That wench had no right to do you like that." The man said.

"Maybe." Hermione gave in a little. "Or maybe she was right."

The man chortled. "That's Gobshite and you know it."

Hermione circled the shot around in her fingers.

"From what I've read in the papers, you are one of the brightest witches in the country. You overthrew You-Know-Who and you sit here and take that shite? When did you start hiding from the world like that?"

Hermione looked up at him in surprise.

"You too?" She retorted. "Can't a woman drink in peace these days?"

The man scoffed, "You're not even drinking darlin, you've probably passed on every drink to one of your friends. You could be having fun, you could be using your privilege, fame, and power to make your life amazing. Instead you're sitting here like a bump on the log letting some second-rate dipstick treat you like garbage."

Hermione wanted to scream at him, lose her mind in fury and rage. She wanted to slap him, but all she could do was slump her shoulders. She knew he was right. He knew he was right.

She looked over at him then at the shot she was holding. Without another word she brought it to her lips and poured it down her throat. The thick liquid burned the entire way and she coughed a few times from the sharp tickle.

"There, happy?" She shot over to him.

The man nodded, took another shot and disappeared into the crowd.

Hermione watched as the group of sloshed women swayed back and forth singing Quidditch tunes. The entire bar was singing and dancing along. Even Luna seemed to be three sheets to the wind ticking off her parchment randomly. Drunkenly cheating, no doubt.

After another moment, Hermione felt a tug in her stomach. Something felt off. Then the tug became more of a stab. She could feel her insides churning as she slowly stood up. She took another look at the jovial group and decided she best head to the bathroom to relieve herself and splash some water over her now damp forehead.

Every step was like an increasing spasm. Luckily she was the next in line, and waited uncomfortably for the bathroom to become available. After the last woman departed, Hermione dragged herself inside and locked the door.

"Ahhh." She moaned as she held herself up over the sink. Something was terribly wrong. Her body was screaming at her. Every part of her was on fire. She pulled her wand out to get help, but before she could cast her Patronus the edges of her vision blurred. Within moments she felt herself fall sideways onto the floor and everything went black.