Oliver

That weekend the family gathered at the Burrow for Sunday dinner. As Art and Emma stood talking to Clive and Devin, Art kept glancing over at his parents who were talking with Harry, Ginny, George and Karl. He noticed his father's hand was on the small of his mother's back. They had always been affectionate but his father seemed a lot more solicitous for the last several months and his mother seemed a lot more fragile. Having seen the memory of her accident, he now understood why. He wished he could tell Emma and Clive and Devin exactly what he'd seen. It was hard not to be able to talk about it with them. For the first time, he really understood what his mother had meant by the burden of secrets.

On the other side of the garden, Denis was talking to George, Angelina and their son John. Art sighed. He didn't know how to feel about having a half-brother. Denis was a nice enough guy, but it was difficult to think of him as family. He saw his Uncle George put a hand on Denis' shoulder and walk him over to Ron. A moment later, they were all talking and Art wondered what that was about.

xXx

As the evening was wrapping up and family members were starting to leave, Art approached his mother.

"Do you mind if Emma and I stay with you two for a while? They've started doing renovations on the building next door and it's so bloody loud it's hard to study."

"Of course, you can," his mother said warmly.

"Great," Art said. "We'll be over in an hour or so." As he and Emma walked into the house to take the Floo, since they'd both been drinking, they heard Ron laugh and say to Percy, "Maybe it's time there was a Kenyan branch of Wealey's Enchanted Electronics. We sell an awful lot of product in Africa."

xXx

Later that night, Hermione heard Art and Emma pop into the kitchen. A moment later Art came into the parlor followed by Emma. He flopped onto the sofa. "Where's Dad?"

"Downstairs working in his shop," Hermione said, setting aside the book she'd been reading.

Emma looked from Art to his mother. "I think I'm going to go up and take a shower."

Art nodded. "Yeah alright."

"Everything you need should already be in the bathroom, but if not, just call for Winky."

"Thanks," Emma said and headed upstairs.

"Did Perry come with you?" Hermione asked.

"No," Art lowered his voice. "You know he doesn't get along that well with his mum, he said he'd rather stay at the flat and to call him if we need him."

Hermione nodded. "It does seem to get a bit dicey with more than one elf around. Harry had a terrible time with Kreacher and Dobby until the house in Godric's Hollow was rebuilt. Now Dobby stays there and Kreacher stays at Grimmauld Place and there are no more issues."

"Smart," Art said.

Ron came into the parlor. "You're here, I thought I heard something."

"Yeah," Art said.

"Where's Emma," Ron asked.

"Shower," Art said.

Ron sat on the other wing chair next to Hermione. "Did they tell you how long the renovations were going to take?"

"Shouldn't be more than a week."

Ron nodded. "Good. I know this is inconvenient for you two with your studies. Your Mum and I will try and keep it down," he joked.

Art didn't laugh. "So, you're all on board with my studies now, are you?"

"Yeah," Ron said, glancing at Hermione. "You're a grown man. You can choose your own career."

"Right," Art said. "Besides what does it matter what I do now that you've got a spare?"

"How's that?"

"I heard what you said to Uncle Percy about opening a branch of the shop in Kenya," Art said.

Ron smiled. "I was joking. Denis is finishing up his Gringotts internship next week and he wanted to know if he could spend a few days at the shop to see what it's like to work in private industry before he goes back to Kenya to do a temporary assignment in their Ministry of Magic."

"That's great then," Art said, but it was clear from his tone that he wasn't at all happy. "You'll be showing Denis the ropes. I'm glad you two have it all sorted."

"Denis and I don't have anything sorted. Denis specifically doesn't have anything sorted. He's three years into his gap year. He doesn't know what he wants to do. He asked what it was like to work with charmed objects for a living, so yeah, I said he could come work with me for a few days. Is that a problem?" Ron asked with undisguised irritation.

"No problem," Art said. "I'm Mum's son now anyway, right?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ron said, his voice rising.

"Ron," Hermione said quietly.

Ron stared at her. "He's my bloody son too." He turned back to Art. "You doubt that, look in the mirror!"

"It's not like it matters anymore?" Art said, standing. "Denis shows an interest and suddenly who cares what I'm doing. A few months ago, you were all bent out of shape over me being an Unspeakable, but now it's fine because if something happens to the heir, no matter, you've got a spare."

Shocked, Ron looked up at him. "You think I don't care what happens to you, because I have another son? Are you mental?" He got to his feet and faced off against Art. "I don't want you to be a bloody Unspeakable." He poked Art in the chest. "I fucking hate the Department of Mysteries! HATE IT! If I had my way neither one of you would ever step foot in that place again, but it's not my bloody decision, is it? No, I just get to wait around to pick up the pieces and hope the next time there are still pieces to pick up and that I won't be left with nothing." He looked from Art to Hermione. "I'm going out."

"Ron," Hermione pleaded, but he ignored her, grabbed his broom and was out the back door and into the night. She turned to Art. "Well, thanks for that. Any particular reason you're being such a complete prat tonight?"

Art flopped on the sofa and scowled at her, looking very much like he did at thirteen.

Hermione frowned at him. "And why are you picking fights with your father when it's clearly me you're mad at?"

"How did Director Greene Disapparate with you to St. Mungo's? I thought it was impossible to Apparate into and out of the Ministry."

The change of subject threw Hermione off for a moment, but she quickly recovered, realizing that it wasn't really a change of subject at all. "Most people can't Apparate into or out of the Ministry."

"Can you?"

Hermione sighed. "Probably."

"Then why don't you?" Art said, still scowling.

"For the same reason Thomas doesn't on a daily basis. It's not allowed except in emergencies."

Art wrinkled his brow. "So, it's a matter of permission?"

"Not exactly. It's more an issue of ability. Normally, someone my age wouldn't be able to do that yet, but I'm exceptionally gifted in Apparition."

"And Director Greene is too?"

"Yes. He's also six years older than I am and a very powerful wizard."

Art considered this. "So, there are other Unspeakables who can do that?"

"Yes, and some who can't. There are a few other mature witches and wizards, some who work for the Ministry, and some who don't who could also Apparate in and out of the Ministry if they wanted to."

"So, wards are…"

"Protection against most witches and wizards, but not all."

Art's eyes widened in shock. "So, power correlates with age and ability?"

"Not entirely. Magic is about innate ability and maturity, but also study, a tremendous amount of study. As you know, without a huge knowledge of spells, all the ability and maturity in the world won't help you. All three are required to be among the most powerful."

"And you are."

"For my age, yes, and in some regards like Apparition, beyond my age."

"But Ellis asked questions during the debriefing and she's ancient. Shouldn't she have known what you were casting?"

"She asked those questions so she could advise me later. This week we've talked quite a bit about shield charms which are a specialty of hers."

Art raised his eyebrows. "I thought shield charms were a specialty of yours."

"I produce a strong shield to be sure, but not anything like what Ellis can do, although, I hope to be as good as her when I'm her age."

Art looked confused. "I don't…"

"Look, if Ellis had seen what I saw in that Enhancing circle, she would've cast a shield over it without having to be on top of it and she could have cast the cooling charms from outside of the shield. Not to mention she wouldn't have needed the other two to reinforce her shield so they wouldn't have Spliffed. In short, if Ellis had been there instead of me, it would've been a much better outcome."

"But you saved a lot of lives."

"Yes, at a high personal cost because I'm not yet forty. I haven't even finished the first third of my life. In magical terms, I'm still a child, a talented child, but still a child. Ellis would have saved everyone and walked away unscathed and gone right back to whatever project she was working on. Alas, they got me instead."

Art ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head.

"Now you want to tell me why you're being such a prat to your dad?"

Art closed his eyes for a moment. "It's just...I don't know…it's like that Denis guy shows up and all of sudden…"

"Rubbish, nothing about your father's behavior toward you has changed since Denis turned up. What's this really about?"

Art looked at her. "It's just he said from the beginning that the Department of Mysteries was dangerous, but I thought…"

"You thought he was exaggerating," Hermione said.

Art had the decency to look chagrined. "Yeah."

Hermione sighed. "Look there's no shame in leaving the program. If you don't want to do this, don't do it. Lots of candidates leave before they finish."

"I don't know what I want," Art said.

"Listen, I know you saw some horrific things in the Pensieve but recognize that those incidents took place over a four-hundred-year time span and there were only sixteen of them. I've worked there twenty years and only managed to blow myself up once." She smiled.

Art looked stricken. "Too soon Mum."

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, okay. But seriously, your father blames the department for pain that isn't the department's fault. None of the incidents that scarred me happened in the DoM. And when I perform magic there that hurts, well, that's my choice, but I live with pain all the time. The work I do, helps make it bearable by engaging me completely. The thing is your father lives with his own share of pain but figuring out how to charm electronics to work in our world gets him away from that pain and engrossed in something else. The Department of Mysteries does the same for me, he just doesn't like it." She smiled at her son. "But you, my darling, don't have those kinds of problems. You can do anything you like and you shouldn't feel compelled to do what we do unless you want to. It's not a binary choice, Art. You don't either have to work at your Dad's shop or become an Unspeakable. There are other jobs in the world."

"I know. But the Department of Mysteries is so…so…"

Hermione smiled. "I know but is that enough to offset the drawbacks. Only you can decide."

Art nodded. "I've got a lot to think about."

"Yes, but first you need to apologize to your father when he comes back because you were completely unfair and bloody horrible to him."

"Right. I will. I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm such a prat."

Hermione snorted and stood. "Apparently, it's because your parents spoiled you."

Art smiled. "Yeah, that's probably it."

She kissed the top of his head. "Goodnight. I'm going to go up and read in bed."

"Goodnight Mum," Art said.

xXx

When Ron came in an hour later, Art was waiting for him in the parlor. The night had turned chilly, so he had the fire going and was drinking a cup of tea. Ron set his broom down in the corner of the room and walked over to the fire to warm himself. He didn't say anything to Art, he just stood facing the fire enjoying the heat.

Art poured a second cup of tea and went to stand by his father. He held out the cup. "I'm really sorry about earlier. Denis is a good bloke and I'm glad you're the kind of Dad who wants to know all his children."

Ron looked at him and took the cup. "Good."

Art sighed. "Thing is Dad, when I watched Mum's accident and all the others…well…I'm ashamed to say…it really rattled me."

Ron nodded and sipped his tea. "Yeah, I imagine it would."

"But I keep thinking…Mum saw those same accidents…and it didn't rattle her, did it? She just kept plowing ahead."

Ron let out a soft snort.

"What?" Art said.

"Artie, by the time your Mum saw those memories, she'd seen so much worse stuff. Of course, she took it in her stride, which isn't to say she didn't take what she saw seriously. Your mum is very serious about safety."

"Maybe, but she's not afraid of anything. Neither of you are. You just keep going."

Ron chuckled softly. "We're afraid of plenty, but you can't let fear stop you from getting what you want. Even if what you want really worries your old man."

Art looked at him, concern etched across his features. "You know I'm not pursuing being an Unspeakable just to get your goat or anything. It's not about that."

Ron put a hand on his shoulder. "I know."

"It's not about Mum either," He shook his head. "I mean, maybe it was in the beginning, trying to prove something, but now…I don't know Dad…it's so…so…"

"Compelling?" Ron guessed.

"Yeah," Art said. "It really is."

Ron let out a heavy sigh. "I know, son. I know. I've been hearing that for years."

"I'm sorry, but I think I have to see this through."

"Of course, you do. I wouldn't expect any less of you.

xXx

A few minutes later, Ron opened the door to the bedroom he shared with Hermione. She set aside the book she was reading. "How was your flight?" she asked.

"Cold," Ron said. "The temperature is really dropping after the sun goes down now and I forgot my gloves."

She peeled back the covers on the bed. "Climb in and I'll warm you up."

Ron grinned and began pulling off his clothes. He slid in next to her and she squealed as he wrapped around her and buried his cold nose in her neck.

xXx

Art was climbing the stairs up to his room when he heard his mother squeal. He shook his head. He wondered if everyone's parents were like that. At least Emma was waiting for him upstairs. He smiled to himself. Maybe he'd make her squeal.

xXx

Hermione was laughing and squirming trying to get away from Ron. "You said you were cold not frozen solid."

Ron hugged her tighter. "You said you'd warm me up."

Finally, she got a hand free and grabbed her wand and recited a warming charm.

He let out a grateful moan. "Oh, that's the stuff."

"Better?" she asked.

"Much." He kissed her neck.

She giggled at the tickling of his whiskers as she set her wand back on the nightstand.

"You're using your wand a lot lately," he said.

"I'm a witch, Ron," she teased. "Remember?"

He kissed the back of her neck again. "I do. But you've been using your wand a lot to cast spells you generally cast without it." When she didn't offer an explanation, he said, "Why is that?"

She sighed and rolled over in his arms so she could look at him. "I went to see Michelle last month and she wasn't pleased with my progress.

He frowned. "You haven't put any weight back on."

"That's not true. I have put on a few pounds…just not enough. She feels like my reserves are low and that I'm in danger of Spliffing if I cast anything too complicated."

"Okay," Ron said slowly. "But it's not as if you have plans to cast anything complicated because…" He frowned at her. "What have you done?"

She shook her head. "I haven't done anything. But I have had a thought."

"Bloody hell, Hermione," he said, letting go of her and getting out of bed. "You promised you wouldn't be doing any practical magic. You promised!"

"And I haven't done," she said, sitting up.

"But you're planning on it."

"No…no I'm not. Thinking about it, maybe. Because I have an idea, a rather good idea, and at some point, many months, possibly years from now, I might need to do a bit of practical magic to implement it."

Ron pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. "Would it be possible for you and Art to coordinate this shit a little better. I've only just sorted out this business with him and now you're starting."

"I'm not starting anything. Michelle just suggested that I use my wand as a way to expend less energy so I can build up my reserves. Not for use anytime soon—"

"But eventually even though you promised…" He gritted his teeth. "You promised you were only going to review projects."

"Yes…I know…but that was before I had this idea."

He glared at her.

"What? I can't control when I have an idea," she said. "It's not like I meant to have it. It just popped into my head."

"And I suppose you can't tell me what it is."

She bit her bottom lip. "You know I can't. At least not any time soon. If it works out though…"

He closed his eyes again and counted to ten, trying to calm down, when all he wanted to do was scream at her. "So," he said, as calmly as he could manage. "This idea, is it the sort that's going to leave you stumbling out of the fireplace late at night or the sort that lands you in St. Mungo's."

Hermione got to her knees and crawled to the foot of the bed to face him. "Neither. It's not aggressive magic, but at some point, in the very distant future, I might need more of a magical reserve than I currently have. That's all."

He shook his head. "That's never all."

She sighed. "But it is. I've done dozens of projects, the vast majority of which left me completely unscathed, but you never remember any of that. You only seem to remember the bad days at the Ministry and none of the perfectly humdrum days when I'd come home and we'd have dinner and put Art to bed and nothing bad happened. There were loads of days like that Ron, many, many more of those days than of the other sort.

He took her face in his hands and pressed his forehead to hers. "What am I going to do with you?"

She tilted her head back and kissed him. "You're going to love me, like you've always loved me, right?"

He sighed and kissed her back. "Right." He crawled on the bed with her and took her face in his hands again. "But please, please…we've only just got you sorted."

She sighed and pulled his hands down. "That's just it. I am sorted. It's liberating."

He frowned at her. "And let me guess, it's opened your mind to new possibilities."

"It has," she said, smiling.

He flopped on his back and stared at the ceiling. "Great," he said grimly.

She crawled on top of him, straddling him with her legs. "It is great." She bent over and kissed him.

He put his hands on her hips. "Convince me."

She smiled at him, that little smile she had, the one that still made his cock throb. "Oh, I will."

He knew she was right. She always managed to work him around to her side. He was too bloody easy, that was the problem.

xXx

The next morning, Ron was eating his breakfast and going through the post when Hermione came in. He handed her an envelope. "This came for you."

She sat down and a cup of tea and a plate of eggs and toast appeared in front of her. "Thank you, Winky," she said and looked at the envelope, which was navy blue and the lettering on the front was in gold. It was sealed with wax pressed with crossed bulrushes. Frowning, she opened it. She was surprised to see it was from Oliver Wood and not Viktor. She didn't have much contact with Oliver beyond their yearly Christmas card exchange, although she had seen him when she'd gone by the Puddlemere United training facility to release Viktor from his bond earlier in the year.

"So, what does Viktor want?" Ron grumbled.

"It's not from him. It's from Oliver and he wants to meet me for lunch this afternoon at the Leaky Cauldron."

"Really?" Ron said, raising his eyebrows. "Why?"

"He says he needs to ask me a favor." She bit off the corner of a piece of toast.

"Oh, bloody hell," Ron groused. "Doesn't anyone go to the Portkey Office anymore?"

She laughed. "I doubt it's that. Besides, only family asks me for Portkeys. Problem is, your family is so large, it seems like everyone."

"Well, that's certainly true," Ron said, returning to sorting the post. "So, are you going?"

"Why wouldn't I? Oliver is a good guy."

Ron glanced at her. "And Viktor's best friend."

"Actually, now that you mention it, I bet it has something to do with Viktor. He's probably planning something for the new baby."

"And he's contacting you? Why?"

Hermione shrugged. "Who knows? Probably needs help with a bit of magic. That's why people usually contact me."

"Alright then," Ron said. "Don't promise to do anything spectacular though, alright? You don't need to push it."

She frowned at him. "I'm fine. You fret too much."

He cut his eyes at her. "And you don't fret enough."

She squeezed his hand. The rest of breakfast went by in companionable silence.

When Hermione left for work, Ron called for Winky. "We need to talk about Hermione," Ron told the little elf when she appeared.

"Yes, Mr. Ron," Winky said, giving him her full attention.

"She was meant to put back on twenty pounds when she got out of hospital, but she's only put on five. I want her back on a regular feeding schedule."

"Miss didn't like the feeding schedule."

Ron nodded. "I know she didn't, but she needs to be eating more than she is, so I'm reinstating it. Do you understand? I don't care where she is. Three meals and three snacks and another at midnight if she's awake."

Winky's ear's drooped. "Yes, Mr. Ron."

xXx

At half ten that morning, Hermione went to file some parchment and when she turned around, Winky was standing on her desk. Hermione cried out in surprise and held a hand over her heart.

"Bloody hell, Winky! You'll give me a heart attack." Her eyes widened. "Wait, what's wrong? Why are you here?"

Winky snapped her fingers. A cup of tea and a plate of cheese and apple slices appeared.

Hermione frowned. "Ron's put me back on a feeding schedule, hasn't he?"

Winky's ears drooped.

Hermione sighed and picked up a piece of apple. She smiled tenderly at Winky. "Thanks for this."

Winky looked relieved and her ears perked back up. "Miss is not angry then?"

"No, of course not." Hermione smiled at her tenderly. "And never at you. You're the best. Besides, Ron is right. I thought I was doing fine on my own, but I backslid a bit returning to work. This is probably for the best. Thank you."

Winky beamed at her. "Yes Miss." She disappeared.

Hermione drank her tea and ate her snack while she continued reading and making notes on a project that had been submitted for approval.

Just before one the cat-shaped clock on the wall opened its eyes, meowed, and reminded her to go to lunch. She headed up to the streets of London.

xXx

The Leaky Cauldron was busy on the magical side. Since it had come under new management after the war, the magical side was expanded and much more welcoming. The Muggle side remained as grim as ever. Hermione looked around the room and finally saw Oliver sitting in a booth near the back and made her way over.

"Hermione!" Oliver said, standing and giving her a hug.

"How are you Oliver?" Hermione said, sliding into the booth opposite him.

"Fantastic! Absolutely bloody fantastic. I'm getting married."

"No!" Hermione teased. "I can't believe it. Surely there still must be women somewhere that you haven't managed to date."

Oliver laughed. "I'm sure that's true, but it doesn't matter. I've found the one and typically she's been right under my nose the whole time."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Do tell."

"I will, but let's order first. I'm starving," he said.

Hermione picked up her menu and ran her wand across the entry for cottage pie. A huge pitcher of ale was floating around the room as was a large tea pot. Oliver held up the pint glass in front of him and the pitcher floated over and filled it. Hermione turned over her tea cup and the tea pot sailed over and did the same for her.

Now situated, Oliver continued. "So, thing is, I've been dating Pietra for the last year."

Hermione was surprised to hear that. "Really?"

Oliver laughed again. "Yeah, I know. But, well, we've run into each other a million times at this party or that event. She and Viktor are close and since her husband died, did you know his cousin Todor?"

Hermione felt her stomach tighten. She nodded. "Yeah, we went on holiday several times with them."

"Oh, right, course," Oliver said. "So, you know how Viktor is, Pietra didn't have any family left after the war, and then when her husband died, Viktor made sure to invite her to everything, you know?"

"That sounds like him."

Oliver grinned. "Yeah, he's a teddy bear at heart, that one."

Hermione smiled tightly.

"So, I've been talking to her for well-nigh twenty years or so, but then I don't know, about a year ago, we were at this charity do and I was so relieved to see her there so I'd have someone fun to talk to and it just hit me that I always felt like that. That seeing her was always the best part of those things and so I asked her out and—" he laughed. "For some bloody reason, she agreed to go and here we are."

"That's brilliant Oliver," Hermione said warmly. Now that she'd had a moment to digest it, she could see Pietra and Oliver as a couple.

He sat across from her just grinning.

"In your note you mentioned a favor," she prompted.

"Right, right," Oliver said. "Well, for years Pietra has been hearing about that tropical party I threw at my parents' place, remember that?"

Hermione pursed her lips. "Hard to forget that party."

Oliver grinned again. "I know, right? So anyway, she's said several times how she wishes she'd been there to see it, so for our engagement party, I'd like to recreate it."

"Oh," Hermione said. "Well, that's…what did Viktor say?"

"He said he would if you would and I've got Neville on board for the foliage and Luna's going to do the lion again, and Fred and George have agreed to do the exterior of the house. Dean's got the music covered and I'll handle all the tents and decorations." Two plates came sailing over to the table. Fish and chips landed in front of Oliver.

The cottage pie dropped down in front of Hermione. "It sounds like you've got it all worked out."

"I have, you're the last piece of the puzzle," Oliver said, picking up a chip.

"Right," she said. She could hear Ron yelling now about casting such a large illusion, but it's not like it would be that taxing. It wasn't even new magic. She'd done it before. It was more the way it had to be cast that bothered her.

"And listen," Oliver continued. "Come the day before to do the spells, stay the night for a big dinner, and then for the party the next day. Bring Ron. It'll be a good time."

Hermione smiled at him. "I'm sure it will be. I'd love to say yes, but I need to check a few things before I can commit. Is it alright if I let you know tomorrow?"

"Of course, of course," Oliver said.

They finished their lunch happily catching up on mutual friends and acquaintances.

xXx

That night when Ron stepped out of the fire place at half six, Hermione was waiting for him in the parlor.

"How was your day?" she asked as he picked up the newspaper she'd left on his chair.

"Good," he said, frowning at the headlines. He tossed the paper on the hassock and dropped down into his chair. "How was lunch with Oliver? What did he want?"

"Well," Hermione said, "he had some very surprising news."

Ron turned toward her. "Yeah?"

"He's getting married."

Ron snorted. "Good for him. Finally found a witch that would have him, eh?"

"Yes," Hermione said.

"So, who's the lucky bird?" He looked at her and wrinkled his forehead in mock concern. "Do we think she's lucky?"

Hermione chuckled. "I think she probably is. I know he is. And they've known each other a long time so they should both know what they're getting into."

"Who is she?" Ron asked.

"Pietra."

Ron gave her a blank look.

"Todor's wife."

Ron's eyes widened. "Oh. Well, that's great then. Was she there?"

"No, she's packing up house this week. She's moving in with him and they're having a tremendous engagement party at his parents' estate in Scotland next weekend."

"Great," Ron said, reaching for the paper.

"We're invited," Hermione added.

"Oh. Do you want to go?"

"Yes—"

"Alright then." He opened the paper to the sports page.

She smiled at him. "Good, but…"

Ron lowered the paper. "But?"

"Oliver asked for a favor. He wants to recreate a party he had ages ago. It's kind of legendary in Quidditch circles and Pietra has been hearing about it for years, so he wants to do it again for their engagement."

"What's that to do with you?" Ron asked.

"The whole theme of the party was a tropical island but his parents' estate is in Scotland so—"

"Massive illusion," Ron said, frowning. "No way can you pull off something like that right now."

"Oh, I didn't do all of it. That would be too much for one person, even me. I don't think you get the scale of this party. Anyway, I did the ocean. He's asked me to do it again."

Ron's frown deepened. "That sounds like a lot of magic."

She shook her head. "It's not. I've done it before. It's not nothing, but it's manageable. I'll have big breakfast before I start. Not to mention I'll probably be in good shape by then since you've reinstituted my feeding schedule. Thanks for mentioning you were doing that, by the way. Winky popped into my office this morning and almost gave me a heart attack."

Ron didn't even pretend to be sorry. "It needed doing."

Hermione sighed. "I don't disagree. It just would be nice to be informed when you make these decisions. I suppose consulted would be too much to ask."

"It would be," he said crossly. "You're not to be trusted when it comes to making decisions about your health, which is why I'm not sure you should be doing this illusion."

"It's really not a big deal," she insisted. "At least not magically anyway."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She picked at the fabric of the arm chair. "Well, the ocean has to be cast at the same time as the sand or it won't be seamless and the illusion will be rubbish."

"Oh, come on," Ron said. "If you're doing the ocean and the beach that's definitely too much."

"You're right. That's too much for one person."

"Well, then…"

"Viktor cast the beach last time."

"Oh," Ron said, understanding. "You cast them together."

"Right," Hermione said, glancing at him.

"That's kind of—"

"I know," she said, shaking her head.

"What did Viktor say?" Ron asked.

"He said he would if I would, but I don't know if he said that because he was sure I'd say no or if he really is fine to do it either way," she said, wrinkling her brow. "How do you feel about that?"

Ron stroked his beard. "And no one else could do it?"

"They could, but it's a complex illusion. It took Viktor and I weeks of practice to get it right. No one else has that kind of time. The party is meant to be next weekend, which is why Oliver is going around gathering the same people who pulled it off last time."

"Right," Ron said. "So how do you feel?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. It's not that big of a deal."

He raised his eyebrows. "Casting a big seamless illusion together like that comes damn close to sharing magic and that is most definitely a big deal."

She shook her head. "It's not like that. It's a little on the intimate side, I'll grant you that, but it's not anything near as intimate as sharing magic."

Ron frowned at her. "Well, since you've done both and I haven't, I guess I'll have to take your word on that."

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Look if you don't want me to do it, I won't, but whether I do or not has no bearing on us. In the end, it's just a parlor trick albeit an elaborate one. It's fifteen minutes of my time and that's it. It's not as though I hold a torch for Viktor and he certainly doesn't hold one for me."

"Maybe not, but he definitely has a soft spot for you," Ron said pointedly.

"Yes, and I have one for him. We went through some very difficult experiences together, but in the end, I think we want what's best for each other, and for me that's you, and for him that's Gabrielle. I'm glad he's so happy and I'd like to think he feels the same way about me."

Ron scratched at his beard. "I think he worries about you. Even after all this time, I think he worries that you came back to me."

Hermione sighed and took his hand. "He doesn't really know you and his first impression wasn't good."

"Wasn't good?" Ron scoffed. "It was horrible. I'd done something monstrous and he's worried I'm still a monster."

Hermione squeezed his hand. "But you're not. I know that. You know that. And that's all that matters."

He sat silently holding her hand for a minute. He sighed and said, "I think you should do it."

"Really?" Hermione said, surprised he would feel that way.

"Yeah, I mean how often do you get to show off? Besides, I trust you. If you say it's not a big deal, then it isn't."

"That's very big of you," Hermione said, smiling.

"Well, I'm a big bloke," he said smiling back at her.

"Oh, I know," she said, and winked at him.