Hermione was surprised at how easy it was to get into a routine and adjust to all the travel. She had settled on spending three weeks out of the month with her parents in Australia and then the fourth back in the UK; either staying at Harry and Ginny's or the Burrow, depending on what else was going on. Even the multiple portkeys were becoming easier to tolerate and she'd perfected the timing so she could go almost straight to bed once she landed in either country, which had helped alleviate the sickness.
Despite leaving the Burrow with Ron scowling at her, no doubt because of her tactless response to him, Hermione had actual felt that their friendship was starting to move in a more positive direction. They were adjusting to being around each other again and Ron was no longer acting surly towards her; the last month they'd even started having normal conversations with each other, although Harry was still acting as a facilitator. Any attempt Hermione made to talk to Ron about anything that had happened between them over the past year or so usually caused Ron to clam up, so she had given up trying; after all she was the expert in knowing when to give him his space.
Harry had confided in Hermione during her last stay that Lavender was now refusing to turn up at anything if she knew Hermione was going to be there. This was causing issues for Ron, so it was even more of a surprise to her that he was being cordial towards her. Lavender not being around wasn't bothering Hermione, she had found she was able to relax more without their relationship being shoved down her throat at every opportunity.
May came around quickly enough and with it, Hermione's final meeting with Kinglsey Shacklebolt. She presented her final report to the British Minister of Magic along with her recommendations and she had been surprised with how impressed he had been. He particularly liked Hermione's recommendation that house elves should be paid a wage; an idea that Ron had put in her head originally. She had also suggested that house elves be given some say in who they worked for along with a set of standards for their working conditions.
In fact, Kingsley had been so impressed with these recommendations that he'd offered her a job there and then; he wanted her to join the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to start implementing some of her recommendations. Hermione would be the youngest witch to hold such a position and Hermione had been taken back, but pleased, by the offer. However, she had also been offered a job at the Australian Ministry as a magical transportation officer.
Hermione was still weighing up the pros and cons of each offer as she once again found herself waiting for Ron and Harry to turn up before a major Quidditch game. And they were late, of course. This time, instead of the House Cup, they were going to be watching the final in the British Championships; the Holyhead Harpies were taking on Puddlemere United. The sun was shining and Hermione found herself happy just standing in the sun, contemplating her next move. She felt that things were already starting to look up for her.
She smiled as Harry and Ron finally came into view among the crowds. She greeted Harry with a tight hug before throwing Ron a smile.
"How do you two get away with being late so much?" She scolded them teasingly. "I'm sure Aurors need to be on time to things!"
"Ah but it was Auror training that held us up and unfortunately, Quidditch has to come second now!" Harry laughed and handed their tickets to the wizard at the gate. The trio had decided to buy their own tickets to the game so that they could sit among the fans and experience the proper atmosphere of a final game.
Hermione was in such a good mood that she even bought the first round of beers as they made their way to their seats. The conversation flowed easily between the three of them and even Ron was acting warmer than usual towards Hermione. It almost felt like old times.
The game started almost as soon as they took their seats and Hermione found herself yet again enthralled, especially with how Ginny flew. She made it look natural, and the only others she'd seen fly so well were Harry and Krum – although she'd never admit that to Ron.
At some point in the game, Harry got up to get more drinks and Ron slid over to sit next to her so that they could continue their conversation. Hermione was very aware that Ron didn't move back when Harry handed out the beers and she ended up distracted from the game. The only time she knew something major had happened was when Ron reacted to it; the way he cheered when the Harpies scored or the grimace he pulled after Ginny took a bludger to the shoulder. She try to shake herself out of it when she spotted Harry smirking at her from across their friend and she pulled a face at him before turning her attention back to the game.
The score was close throughout, but eventually the Harpies pulled ahead by 10 points. Ron suddenly grasped Hermione's hand as they watched a flash of gold streak the sky above Puddlemere's goal before sinking below their eyeline. Hermione held her breath, holding on to Ron tightly as Ginny flew after it, the opposition seeker right on her tail. All three friends were on the edges of their seats, leaning over the edge of the stand as Ginny finally wrapped her fingers around the Snitch and held it triumphantly over her head as her teammates threw themselves at her.
"She bloody did it!"
The trio leapt to their feet; Ron pulling Harry and Hermione into a tight hug. Hermione couldn't help but breath in his scent, the combination of being so close to him with the electric atmosphere almost making her woozy. She tried not to read too much into the hug; as Ron finally relinquished his grip on Harry and Hermione, he turned to the Harpies fans sat behind them and hugged them too.
They joined in the chants and cheers as they started to move with the crowd out of the stadium and down towards the player's entrance where they'd agreed to meet Ginny. The throng of fans was already 20 people deep, so the trio kept their distance; not wanting to distract attention from the Harpies.
"This makes a difference mate; all of these young wizards and witches around and not one of them desperate to get a photo with the boy who lived…" Ron smirked as he leaned against a wall.
Hermione laughed. "Oh it would be easy to start them all off though, all it would take is us chanting your name…" Hermione matched Ron's smirk. "Oh the chosen one loves the Harpies! Harry take a photo of us in our matching tops…" Ron joined in with Hermione, both of them giddy and fighting off giggles.
"Shut up you two!" Harry was trying so hard not to laugh as he shot a worried glance towards the fans. "It's the team's day today, Ginny would kill me!"
Hermione clamped a hand over her mouth with another laugh as someone gave them a short, disgusted look.
Harry elbowed her, but he had a firm smile on his face. "Please say you two are coming to the party tonight?"
"I'm in!" Hermione smiled. "It's either that or a wild night with Molly and Arthur!"
"Oy! My parents are party animals I'll have you know!" Ron turned to Harry and shrugged slightly. "I have nowhere else to be. Lav is out of town and I'm definitely not going to turn down a party full of Quidditch players!" I heard their parties can be wild!"
"Oh yes – it's going to be a good night!" Harry grinned too, turning his attention to the player's entrance as the crowd started to go wild. The trio joined in with the cheering, the atmosphere was too good to resist.