Although she and Charlie had traded a few text messages after he left, she didn't properly hear from him until a beautiful tawny owl arrived at her window on Thursday morning, carrying a small box wrapped in brown paper.

"Well hello, you must be Charlie's then. Let me grab some water for you before you fly off, Romania is a long way." The owl looked at her for a moment before affectionately nipping her finger in thanks. Getting a bowl from the cabinet and filling it with water, she brought it over to the bird and reached out her hand to stroke the owl's feathers as it drank. "You're an affectionate little fellow, aren't you," she said as the owl rubbed its head into her palm, "just like your owner." Finishing up the owl hooted at her in thanks and flew back out the window, hopefully to get itself something to eat. She really needed to be getting ready for work but she knew that if she didn't open the box now, it would be gnawing on her until she came back in the evening and she would not get any work done.

Hey Mione,

It occurred to me as I started writing this that I could have just picked up the mobile and called you to hear your lovely voice. You'll have to forgive me, I'm still not used to having technology on hand and it remains a bit of a foreign concept. Besides, I've always found something cathartic about writing letters – getting my thoughts and feelings out on paper is so much easier than having them rattling around in my head for weeks on end. I've spent the last couple of days thinking about what I should write to you, whether it's strange for us to be revealing so much of ourselves so soon after starting this. But the conclusion I've come to is that I simply don't care. We've known each other for years, this isn't two strangers meeting and starting a life together in the span of one weekend; this is two people whose relationship has grown steadily closer over the years who've fallen in together. I was wandering about my little cottage last night and really missing having you around to talk to. And although I'm blushing as I write this, I also miss the sex. I'm supremely biased in this opinion but you're fantastic in bed, Hermione, I can't wait until next time.

I told a few mates of mine about us yesterday, I hope you don't mind. They were ribbing me about being distracted and happy and since I am both, I bragged a bit and told them about you – word spread like wildfire, of course, and everyone here is really happy to meet you. Remember those American trainees I mentioned that were causing trouble at the reserve? One of them made some rather rude comments about wanting you to come visit so that they could show you how to be with a real man and while I ignored them at the time, it really stuck with me. What is wrong with men that they have to talk about women and relationships that way? What's worse is that they likely wouldn't leave you satisfied even if you did want to be with them. I wanted to come home to you and focus on making you feel good. Fingers crossed we can do that soon!

I got pulled away from my regular job duties and into meetings about the new reserve today – the two biggest issues being discussed are what breeds of dragons to house there and what protections to put around the encampment. The sanctuary in Romania is so far deep into a forest that some of the protections other sanctuaries use such as far reaching muggle repelling charms and atmospheric charms to mask the smoke clouds and fire shoots aren't really necessary here. I'm scheduled to tour the location the committee has chosen (which I unfortunately can't tell you, I'm sorry!) next week at which point I'm expected to hand in a report with my suggestions for both problems. Between you and I, I'm leaning towards leaving the most volatile breeds at the Romanian reserve, they are much more established and better equipped to handle it. I've also been told that each keeper with over one year of experience at a reserve will be allowed to submit an application to work at the new sanctuary and that I'll be in charge of interviewing them and picking my team. It's a fucking terrifying concept. I've been in charge of work teams in Romania before but nothing of this magnitude, I hope I have the brass to pull it off. Interviews are starting next month, maybe you could help me come up with good questions to ask potential applicants?

I got into a discussion about religion with a few people from the reserve in the lunch hall on Monday and I have to say that I don't understand the concept at all. Magic is so all encompassing that the thought of there being another being who has such direct control on the outcomes of fates is laughable. I can understand that not coming from a magical background can make God seem more plausible but then I struggle with the fact that there are so many different types of religions who all believe in the concept of a higher power. Are all religions correct and there are multiple gods, each with their own version of heaven, or is there simply one god who appears differently to multiple groups? If god is all powerful, why not simply make one religion? An old dormmate told me about how muggles have fought many, many wars around the world and throughout history based on intolerance of religious beliefs. I was well on my way of telling him how ludicrous that was before remembering on what basis the wizarding world fought its war. Seems that humans will find just about any reason to be angry, no matter where they come from.

I'd keep writing but my eyes seem to have decided that I'm going to sleep here. I've got an early morning tomorrow as I'm on first shift taking care of some nesting mothers, it's best to be awake and aware for those. I'll be dreaming of you tonight, Miss Granger.

Yours,

Charlie

PS. The owl's name is Frank.

P.P.S. I hope you enjoy the cookies, it's the least I can do to get you through the week.

He'd make cookies for her, wonderful, buttery shortbread by the looks of them. Gods she missed him. She'd always looked forward to and enjoyed the Weasley dinners he managed to attend and now having experienced what being in his constant company was like, the resulting emptiness felt all encompassing. Still, how could she not be happy for him for being back in the job he loved?

She managed to make it to the office with a few minutes to spare and received quite a few looks in response as she usually showed up at least fifteen minutes early – she figured she could telegraph the reason for her change in schedule as Charlie did with his mates but she realized that she didn't really care for her department to know. Someone would blab to Rita Skeeter and soon it would be splashed all over the pages of the Daily Prophet and she'd never get another minute of peace with Charlie again.

"Hermione Granger, you should be ashamed of yourself," said Ginny, pushing the door to her office door closed behind her, "I had to find out about you and Charlie from mum. From mum!"

"I'm sorry, Ginny, there wasn't exactly a moment for it this weekend, we were a little busy," she replied, blushing furiously.

"Look at you, shagging my brother and enjoying yourself," Ginny replied laughing, "it's about damn time. I've been telling him for months to make a move on you, he's just been too much of a chicken shit – said it had to happen naturally, if it happened at all. And yet, I was right, you two do work well together! Vindication is mine!"

"Ginny Weasley, were you playing match maker again?"

"I'm not even ashamed to admit it, I totally was," her friend said with a smile.

"Well, Charlie and I did enjoy our time together so I really can't be too mad at you."

"I'm glad to hear that, Hermione. You deserve happiness and I knew Charlie's been lonely recently so I'm glad you two can be there for each other."

"How are you and Harry doing?"

"Oh, you know how it is. He still works too much and it's a struggle to get him to be attentive and present even when he is at home. But I know that he's crazy about me and after our big talk a few months ago I can see how much he's trying; I've been similarly trying to be more even tempered and give him space when he needs it," Ginny said with a shake of her head. "A lady stopped me in Diagon Alley the other day and started gushing about how great it must be to be with the boy who lived and I just wanted to slap her, you know? Tell her that it's been a constant struggle to move past everything that happened to us and build a life for ourselves and that people like her make it innumerably worse."

"I wish we could say shit like that in public. But alas, if we did, I think the entire magical community would collectively die of a heart attack. I shudder to think what would happen if any of us ever decided to have children – those kid's egos would be so inflated by the time they went to Hogwarts I'd be shocked to see them fit on the train. Have you considered going on a vacation with Harry, just the two of you? Somewhere warm and with an established communication blackout so that you could really enjoy yourself."

"We've been talking about it," Ginny admitted, "but think it'd have to wait until the Harpies are done their season, there's no way Gwenog would give me the time off until then. I doubt she'd even be willing to bench me if that's what I wanted, my reserve chaser is not ready to play at World Cup level yet and I have every hope that we'll make it this year."

"Fair enough. If you do make it, rest assured that Charlie and I will be there to cheer you on, I doubt he'd be willing to miss an England World Cup game now that's it's being held in France, especially not one that his little sister is playing in. Now this serves as a pre-emptive apology for the following conversation but I will have you know that you are the only person I'd be comfortable talking about this with," she said, trying to gather enough courage to look her friend in the face.

"Hermione, you're starting to scare me, what's going on?"

"I've been really enjoying being with Charlie and wanted to do something for him that I've secretly wanted to do for years. There's this muggle thing that you can do called boudoir, it's where you go to a photography studio where they dress you up in lingerie, do your hair and make-up, and then you participate in a photo shoot. It would cost the equivalent of about 20 galleons and you're left with all of the photos from that shoot that you can keep or give away to people. Now my question, is it too early to give him something like that? We've not been dating for long but we've known each other for years, it's not like he's a stranger I'm sending this stuff too. Is it too much? Would he care that the pictures are stationary?"

"Hermione, relax," Ginny said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "you're starting to ramble. Are you asking me whether my brother, a male in his late twenties, would enjoy receiving sexy photographs of the woman he's started seeing and is likely half in love with already? Do you really need that question answered?"

"Alright, alright, I figure he would like the photos," she responded, blushing again, "I'm more asking if you think it would be appropriate."

"Who cares about appropriate? As long as this is something you want to do and not something he's pressured you into and as long as you trust him not to share the photos with anyone unless asked, I see absolutely no problem with it. In fact, I see an opportunity for Harry and I as well. Would you mind if I joined you? I think it'd be fun, I'd have never even thought of doing something like that."

"I wouldn't mind at all," she said happily, "we could make an evening of it, if you'd like. Why don't you let me call around to a few of the salons and book us an appointment in the next couple of days? We could also invite someone else to come too, maybe Angelina?"

"Sounds grand, I'm sure Harry, Charlie, and George will be thrilled with our decision making," Ginny said with a smile, "alright, I'll leave you to your work and see you in a few days for our photoshoot!"

Shooing the red headed witch out of her office she went to make herself another cup of tea to better focus on the rest of the afternoon.

Charlie,

I apologize for taking a few days to respond, I was a bit preoccupied in setting up a small surprise for you that's included with this letter. I was thinking of you and how good it feels when you hold me.

I miss you too. I've never really shared my flat with anyone before as I got it after Ron and I had already broken up – I was worried that I wouldn't know how or want to share my space but I'm happy that that's not the case. I'd love to have you here again, and would love to find a home together in the future. Not saying that I think that will be easy, I'm sure we've both developed certain comforts and routines over the years that might not meld well with another person. That being said, I loved the view of you in my bed. I look forward to next time as well!

I don't mind that you told your mates about us, I'd like to meet them as well. Your eyes light up when you talk about your work, it'd be lovely to see you in your element and meet the people who you've made a life with there. I hope you don't mind but I didn't tell anyone in my department about us – I'm not close with anyone there and it seemed a strange thing for me to just start talking about apropos of nothing. Also, I'm constantly wary of the Daily Prophet. I'm not sure how much you know about my relationship with that paper and with Rita Skeeter but it's sufficed to say that I am not a fan and do not enjoy the times when I am mentioned. I wish someone had the money and the desire to takeover the ownership and management of that paper and make it great, but there's not much I can do about that particular dream.

Speaking of my department though, there is some news that I'd like to tell you. After many, many meetings between my department and the minister, the decision has been made to go through all the werewolf legislation that has been passed and compile a list of regulations to overturn to make life for all werewolves easier. The initiative is to be named after Remus and the head of my department, John, has asked me to take the lead. I can't believe it! Finally, FINALLY I feel like we're going to be able to make a proper difference in people's lives. I know that Kingsley overturned some of the more egregious legislations soon after the war ended but it's these kinds of initiatives that I feel will affect proper change – initiatives that look through our history with the aim to change laws and regulations that affect oppressed groups. I'm honoured to do work like this but I won't deny that the past two years have been hard, harder than I was expecting them to be. The ministry, like all institutions, is very old and very set in its ways. Kingsley may be minister but the halls of the ministry are still so full of backroom deals and pureblood money and influence that it often times doesn't feel like we fought to change anything at all. There are people all around who didn't join us in the fight, didn't do anything to stand up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. Rationally I know that they were terrified, unsure of what was happening and who to trust but on an emotional level going there to work every day is taxing.

And no, I don't understand why some men treat women and relationships that way. With how much they talk about sexual conquests you'd think they'd be more interested in being nice to women so as to get as many of them interested in sex as possible. Personally, I'd rather have no sex than sex with douchebags but that's just me. Fortunately, I've managed to snag this wonderful guy who is much more interested in my pleasure and I in his than in traditionally accepted gender roles.

I've almost never heard of atmospheric charms but I do see why they'd be necessary for a place like a dragon reserve, and no, you wouldn't want any muggles wandering the area especially since some dragons feast on humans. By the way, how do you deal with those when they come to the reserve? I'm assuming you and your co-workers don't volunteer each other in turn to be bait. I wouldn't mind helping you come up with some screening questions – I sometimes wonder how different most workplaces would look if people were hired on how well they fit into the company and the job rather than on who they know or which arbitrary box they fit into.

It sounds like you have some interesting discussions on the reserve – I've never understood religion either, even before I learned about magic. Some of my relatives were quite religious and would often try to convince my parents to come to church with them but they and I had similar views to yours. If there are multiple gods then each separate religion cannot really be taken seriously, if there is only one god, then he is letting his own creation kill each other and die in his name defending opposing points of view. It's barbaric to think about but unfortunately the magical world is no better. The same types of people treating each other in the same piss poor way just with different weapons.

Again, I hope you enjoy your surprise. Sweet dreams, Charlie Weasley.

Yours,

Hermione

Now all she had to do was wait for a response.