Tropical Scotland
The following weekend, Ron and Hermione stepped out of the fireplace at Oliver's parents' estate in the evening just before sunset.
"This way," Hermione said, and walked out of the long hall where they'd emerged and through French doors onto a terrace. Ron couldn't help noticing how familiar she seemed with the house and its grounds as she led him to where the others were gathered.
"Well, there's wee Ronny now," George said as Ron and Hermione walked up.
"Wee?" Oliver said. "He grew up to be a bloody giant. What happened to you two runts?" he said pointing at Fred and George.
"Oi, we're not runts," Fred said. "We just took after Mum's side, the smart side of the family."
"Bollocks," Ron said. "You're just short."
"Oh, stop," Karl said. "I don't think I can take a whole weekend of sibling squabbling."
"Hear, hear," Hermione agreed.
Ron, Fred, and George all shrugged at the same time. "Yeah, alright," they said simultaneously and then laughed.
Everyone else shook their heads and laughed too.
"So," Oliver said, clapping his hands. "That's everyone here then. As I recall, Fred and George did the illusion to disguise the house first, then Viktor and Hermione created the sand and the sea, and then Luna and Neville did the lion and the palm trees, and then I fixed the tent and we all did the heating charms. Is that how everyone else remembers it?"
There were nods all around.
"Great," Oliver said. "Then take it away Fred and George."
The twins pulled their wands and advanced on the house. As always, they worked in perfect synchronicity. Twenty minutes later after they'd completely circled the imposing manor house, it now looked like a tropical resort hotel complete with rattan furniture on the terrace and a vast thatched roof.
"Perfect!" Oliver said, delighted. "Pietra will lose her mind. Okay," he said to Hermione and Viktor. "You two next."
Viktor and Hermione looked at each other and then began to walk down to the brick wall that ran along the outside edge of the gardens around the house.
Ron tugged at his beard as he watched them stand back to back. She faced the wall and he faced the house. She said something over her shoulder and they both raised their wands. They moved along the wall looking for all the world as though they were engaged in a bizarre dance, always touching back to back they moved in perfect rhythm to unheard music. Their perfectly timed movements reminded Ron of seeing them dance a tango years ago in Madrid. He was in Spain to make arrangements to sell his charmed televisions in a shop in Madrid's magical community. By sheer coincidence, he ended up in the same hotel where Viktor and Hermione were staying. He didn't know why they were there. He'd caught sight of her walking through the hotel in a very pretty red dress and followed her. She didn't see him. When she reached a ballroom where there was dancing, he slipped in as well and took a seat at a back table and watched as Viktor led her on to the dance floor where they performed a very sexy tango, seemingly oblivious to the other couples dancing around them. When they finished their dance, Ron slipped from the room as they went to the bar. He checked out of the hotel and found another place to stay in Madrid.
Viktor and Hermione took thirty minutes to complete the circuit around the grounds, but when they were done a crystal blue sea rolled in steady waves against a vast beach that went right up to the terrace where Ron and the others were standing. When they lowered their wands, Viktor said something to Hermione. She leaned forward with her hands on her hips and shook her head. Concerned, Ron walked down to where they were still standing.
"You alright?"
Hermione nodded. "I'm fine. Just a little winded."
Viktor looked at Ron with concern clear on his features.
Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out a packet of Hobnobs. "Biscuit?"
Hermione nodded so he opened the packet and handed her one.
"Did you go to a Muggle market for me?" she asked before biting into the chocolate covered biscuit.
"I did," he said proudly, "and I'd do it again. I know you love these." He held the packet out to Viktor who took one.
"Thank you," Viktor said. "I haven't had one of these in a long time."
Ron gave him a tight smile and slipped his arm around Hermione. "Come on, let's see if Oliver can scare up a cup of tea."
When they came back onto the terrace Oliver clapped Viktor on the back. "Bloody brilliant! Just like last time." He turned to Hermione, but then stopped. "You look a bit peaked."
"Can we get a cup of tea?" Ron asked.
"Sure thing," Oliver said. He shouted for his family's house elf and then turned to Neville, "Can you get started on the trees?"
"Yep," Neville said and drew his wand.
Luna pulled hers as well.
Hermione took a seat at what looked like a rattan table and chairs on the terrace. A moment later a house elf showed up with two enormous trays, one with a large tea set and the other with assorted cakes and finger sandwiches.
"Pippa," Oliver said to the elf. "Can you set up the tent now so I can get it transformed."
"Yes, Master Oliver," the elf said. She disappeared.
Luna came over to the table followed by a large lion.
"That is some tremendous spellwork," Karl said.
"Yes," Hermione agreed. "Incredibly life like. Even better than last time, I think."
"How'd you manage that?" Karl asked.
Luna shrugged. "You only have to think of a lion and then there he is."
"I'm fairly certain I'd have to do a bit more than that," Ron said.
"That might be true, Ron," Luna said, taking a cucumber sandwich and pouring herself a cup of tea. Ron poured two cups and handed one to Hermione. Then he put a couple of coronation chicken sandwiches on a plate and put it in front of her. "Eat."
"The whole thing looks amazing," Karl said looking at the transformation of the manor and its gardens.
George draped his arm over Karl's shoulder. "It is, isn't it. And if the party is half as fun as last time, you're in for quite a treat."
Just past the terraces a large tent appeared.
"That's my cue," Oliver said, and went to transform it into a huge tiki hut.
A little while later Neville came on to the terrace. "Palm trees are done," he said.
"Very nice," Fred said. "They look like you could climb up and get coconuts."
"And you could," Neville said. "As long as you didn't expect to be able to eat them."
Everyone sat around chatting and enjoying their tea. When Oliver was finished he jogged over to the others and poured himself a drink. He looked around surveying their work. "This looks smashing. Thank you all so much for coming and setting this up. Pippa has outdone herself on the food and drink. Pietra is going to love it. All we need to do now are the heating charms. It's going to be amazing."
Ron looked around. "This is pretty incredible. I can understand why you'd want a repeat."
Oliver chuckled. "Well, I don't want a total repeat. We were in our twenties then and that party was…well…wild doesn't quite capture it."
Viktor and Hermione glanced at each other and then looked in opposite directions. Hermione's cheeks went a bit pink.
"This time will be a bit more sedate. First off, only about seventy-five people are coming tomorrow. Last time it was more like two hundred." Oliver shook his head. "The next morning the estate looked like a bomb went off. There were bodies everywhere. Personally, I woke up under a shrub near the house." He looked at Viktor and Hermione. "What about you two?"
Hermione's cheeks went a deeper red. As she said, "I don't remember," Viktor said. "On the sofa in the parlor."
Oliver laughed. "Oh, that's right."
"What?" Ron said. "On the sofa doesn't sound so wild."
"It wouldn't have been," Oliver said, laughing harder. "If they'd had any clothes on."
Ron raised his eyebrows at Hermione who said demurely. "I was very drunk."
Everyone laughed.
"We were both very drunk," Viktor said.
"Hell, everyone was very drunk," Fred said. "George was so drunk that night I think he hooked up with a woman."
Karl raised his eyebrows at George who held up his hands. "Completely pissed. And where were you?" he grumbled at Fred.
"Upstairs in one of the bedrooms with my wife, you wanker," Fred replied. "Truth is, I think John might have been conceived at that party."
Everyone laughed again.
Oliver pointed at Neville and Luna. "You two were together then. Where'd you end up?"
Neville shook his head, but Luna said airily, "On a chaise lounge by the pool."
"But were you naked? That's the question," George said.
"Erm," Neville said.
"Yes," Luna said in the same ethereal voice.
"But we had a blanket," Neville hastened to add.
"More of a large towel really," Luna said.
Everyone laughed again.
Ron shook his head. "No wonder people still talk about that party." He glanced at Hermione who was looking out over the illusory sea.
"It was legendary," Fred said. "By two o'clock in the morning there were only about twenty people left standing and some of us decided to go swimming."
"Oh, right," Oliver said clasping a hand to his forehead. "And, like an idiot, I opened the pool house. Pippa was in a right panic making sure no one drowned."
"Ah," Karl said, raising an eyebrow at George. "Hence the nudity."
"Well, you can't swim in clothes, now can you?" George said.
"Then we really would have drowned," Fred added.
Karl just shook his head. "That sounds like a very awkward morning."
"Not for this one," Oliver said, pointing with his thumb at Hermione. "Some of us from the team walked through the parlor on the way to the kitchen to get the big cauldron of hangover potion I'd brewed the week before, and there they were in the altogether. They wake up when we come in and Viktor pulls a pillow over his lap. But this one, she just stands up, flicks her wrist, so a towel rises up from the sofa and wraps itself around her, and she marches into the kitchen. By the time we made it to the cauldron, she had her hair up and was bringing potion to Viktor."
All eyes went to Hermione, who continued looking at the artificial ocean. She shrugged.
"Cool as a cucumber, that one," Oliver said admiringly.
"Let me guess," Ron said. "You took the mickey out of her forever after that."
Oliver shook his head. "I should think not."
Ron looked confused.
"None of us had ever seen them before," Oliver said.
"Oh, please," Ron said.
Hermione snorted. "He's talking about my scars."
"She silenced a whole team of Quidditch players that day." Oliver said. "We'd fucking do anything for her after that. I was at the final battle, but I never saw the state of you two. I only read the accounts after, but that's not the same as seeing for yourself, is it?"
"No," Karl said, and took George's hand.
There was a long silence as everyone thought of their own war experiences.
"Well, enough about that, we've got a party to finish," Oliver said, clapping his hands. "It's going to take ages to do the heating charms. Shall we?"
"Might as well, Neville said, standing. Hermione got up with everyone else.
Ron put a hand on her shoulder. "Not you."
She rolled her eyes. "I can do heating charms."
"But you don't need to, there're plenty of us." She opened her mouth to protest, but Ron said in a low voice. "I've been more than reasonable."
She sat back down.
"Alright," Oliver said, breaking the tension. He began instructing everyone where to go to get maximum coverage. "I want everything at seventy degrees. Warm, but not hot." Everyone trotted off to their assigned areas. Hermione remained behind. She wandered into the house to look for Oliver's parents' library. If she was going to be stuck waiting she needed something to read.
It was three hours before she heard the others coming back into the house. She could hear Ron in the hallway ask Oliver where their library was. A moment later he opened the door and stepped in. He was a bit sweaty.
"All done?" she asked.
"Yeah, that took ages, but the ground floor of the manor and the estate inside the ocean are covered for the next forty-eight hours. Did you find something good to read?"
"Actually, yes, I think I'll ask to borrow it."
He stepped over to look at the book in her lap and she closed it so he could see the cover. "A Highlands History of Magic," Ron read. "Sounds right up your alley."
"It's quite good. Bathilda Bagshot cowrote it. You know she wrote—"
"Hogwarts: A History, I know, luv," Ron said, smiling. "As if I could be married to you and not know that."
Hermione chuckled. "Right."
"I'm disgusting. I need a shower," he leered at her. "Care to join me? We have some time before dinner." He held out his hand.
She took it. "Yeah, alright."
They went up the grand staircase and into a long wide hall, off of which were many bedrooms. When she'd dated Viktor, Oliver always put them in the same large room at the end of the hall, but this time she and Ron were in one of the more modest rooms. Oliver had given all the doors glowing magical numbers to make it easier for everyone to find their place. She and Ron were in room five. Ron opened the door and she followed him in. He looked around. "Ah, no ensuite, I'll have to shower down the hall. Still want to join me?"
"I don't think so," Hermione said. "I'll just stay here and read."
"Really?" He said, teasing. "What happened to that unflappable girl of yore?"
She frowned at him. "She grew up and got sober."
"Hey, I was only joking," Ron said.
"I know. It's nothing," she shook her head. "Oliver acts like it was such a big deal that I was cool and collected. But what was I meant to do? Fall all over myself trying to cover up? They'd already seen everything."
"Most people wouldn't think about it that way. Most people wouldn't think at all. They'd just react."
Hermione sighed. "Right."
"But you're not most people," Ron added. "Which is good, because most people are dead boring."
She chuckled. "Well, I'm glad you don't think I'm too dull."
Ron smiled. "Far from it. And look, you don't need to say you don't remember something that happened back then for my sake. I'm not so jealous that I can't handle old stories from twenty years ago."
"What?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Earlier when Oliver asked where you and Viktor ended up after the party you said you didn't remember."
"Because I didn't."
"Seriously?" Ron asked.
"Yes. I have a vague memory of jumping into the pool and then nothing."
"Oh," Ron said.
"Those were heavy drinking days. Actually, after that party, Viktor started to cut way back on his drinking and shortly thereafter started harping on me about mine."
Ron shook his head. "He should've just taken you to St. Mungo's like Dad did me."
"He tried."
"What?" Ron said, surprised.
Hermione sighed again. "Ron, do you imagine it's easy to take me somewhere I don't want to go?"
"Oh," Ron said. "No. I suppose not."
"I just didn't see it as a problem. I would be sober for weeks at a time at work. And then we would go out and I…" She sighed. "Wouldn't be."
"Right," Ron said.
"Eventually, Viktor got so mad about the binging that I really thought he might leave. After that I drank less but more often."
Ron nodded. "Same amount but done differently."
Hermione nodded. "Right."
"Bloody hell," Ron said. "How is it I can have the occasional drink, even get drunk on rare occasions and you can't?"
She shrugged. "We're just different is all. It's not as though I'm known for doing anything in half measures."
Ron chuckled. "That's certainly true."
"And, I think my dad might have had a problem with drink. I remember he and my mum arguing some about his drinking and when I was emptying the house I found a lot of bottles hidden here and there among his things."
"Really?" Ron said. "What'd you do with them?"
"I drank them, of course. Have you met me?"
He laughed. "Yeah, stupid question." He took her hand and kissed it. "I love you, you know that?"
"I do," she said.
"I like that you don't drink now and I know it's not easy," he said.
She nodded. "It isn't but I like it too."
"I'm going to go get in the shower," he said, reaching for his dressing gown.
"Right," Hermione said, climbing onto the queen size bed with her book. "I'll be here when you get back."
He gave her a cheeky grin.
"Don't make assumptions," she said demurely but smiled back at him.
xXx
When he returned to their room a little while later, Hermione was still reading in bed, but she was under the covers and appeared to be naked. He grinned at her. "Can I make assumptions now?"
"I think that's fair," she said.
The bed was made Scandinavian style with a down comforter in a duvet instead of a top sheet and blankets. Ron lifted up the comforter and crawled up her body, licking and nipping as he went. He heard her lock and Impreturb the door as she squirmed beneath his ministrations.
xXx
As they walked down to the drawing room for cocktails, Ron said to Hermione, "Would you like a place like this?"
"A big manor house in the middle nowhere? No, I don't think so," she said.
"Really, because we could get a topping house like this, if you want."
She shook her head. "What would we do with all this space? Unless Art and Emma decided to have a dozen kids and move in with us, it would be just you and me rattling around. That seems rather grim doesn't it?"
He looked around as they descended the grand staircase past portraits of Oliver's ancestors most of whom seemed to be sleeping. "I suppose. It is really impressive though."
"I like that we live in my parents' house," Hermione said. "It makes it feel like they're still part of my life. Besides, I like London. There's nothing to do out here unless you want to take up riding or landscape painting."
"Alright, alright," Ron said. "I won't buy you a gigantic estate. You're so bloody difficult to shop for."
She was chuckling as they went into the drawing room.
"What are you two giggling about?" Angelina said as they walked in.
"Hullo," Hermione said, hugging her. "I was wondering when you were going to get here."
"I was out at my dad's. Since my mum passed he needs seeing to," Angelina said. "But it's not like I could miss an opportunity to revisit the Tropical Highlands."
"Yeah," Ron said, "Fred was telling us what a memorable weekend that was for you two."
Angelina looked appalled and shot daggers at Fred. "Was he really?"
"No, Ang, Ron's just taking the piss," Fred said, glaring at Ron, and putting his hands on his wife's shoulders.
Looking around the room, Hermione noticed Luna's husband Rolf was there, as was Michelle who had been dating Neville since Hermione had introduced them at the New Year's party she and Ron threw at the beginning of the year.
"What can I get you two to drink?" Oliver asked as he came over with a tray of empty glasses.
"Just a club soda for me," Hermione said.
"I'll have the same, with lime if you have it."
"Right," Oliver said. He tapped a couple of tumblers with his wand. As they each took their drinks, Oliver gave Hermione a questioning look, but she ignored it. George and Karl came in and Oliver went to offer them a beverage.
Viktor came in alone. Oliver gave him a drink and Viktor stood on his own for a minute surveying the room. Since Oliver was playing host, Viktor came to stand by her and Ron.
"Where's Gabrielle tonight?" Hermione asked him.
"She and the girls are with Bill and Fleur tonight, but she will join me here tomorrow afternoon."
"I was wondering if she would with Iskra being so small," Hermione said.
"Ah, yes, it is hard for women to leave a baby so young, even though she will be with Fleur and Bill and their girls as well as her own sisters. Still Gabrielle worries."
Hermione smiled sympathetically. "I remember that feeling. It's so hard to leave them that first time."
"How old was your son the first time you left him?" Viktor asked.
Ron answered for her. "Sixteen."
"Sixteen days or sixteen weeks?" Viktor asked.
"Years," Ron said chuckling.
Hermione swatted his arm. "I wasn't that bad?"
"Come on, luv, you went with him to Hogwarts."
"I left before his final year," she said making a weak argument.
Ron leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Yes, you did. That was very brave." He rolled his eyes at Viktor who laughed.
"Oh, please," Hermione said, but couldn't really refute anything Ron had said.
"Ron!" Fred called from across the room. "Come tell Angie about that bloke from Estonia."
Ron laughed and headed toward his brother.
Viktor looked at Hermione. "That is a funny story about the Estonian."
"Yes," Hermione said. "Ron has loads of those."
Viktor nodded. "He makes you laugh."
She nodded. "Yes, always has done."
"And you are okay, about the other son?" Viktor asked.
Hermione shrugged. "Nothing to do with me. That all happened ages ago when I was with you. It would be pretty hypocritical to be too bothered about it, don't you think?"
He shrugged. "Perhaps, but I think most people would be."
"I'm not most people," Hermione said.
"No," Viktor agreed. "You are not."
A bell floated into the room and chimed. "Dinner is served," Oliver announced. "If you lot will make your way into the dining room and look for your seats we'll have us a well tidy scran."
As they took their seats, Hermione turned her wine glasses upside down to indicate to Pippa not to fill them. Ron did the same. Hermione leaned over and whispered to him, "Have wine with dinner if you like. I'm fine."
Ron shook his head. "No, I'm good."
"Suit yourself," she said.
"Don't I always?" he said smiling.
She chuckled softly.
When everyone was seated, platters of food appeared on the table. Hermione was delighted to see tatty scones. "Ooh, I love these," she said to Oliver. "Pippa makes them so well."
"I wouldn't normally have them on the menu for a dinner like this, but Pippa remembered you love them."
"How sweet," Hermione said, putting one of the potato cakes on her plate.
"House elves are the best," Angelina said. "I wish one would move in with us."
"Probably shouldn't have had nine kids then," George said. "No elf wants that much work."
"Three too many anyway," Ron said. "You only need to have six to get a good one."
"How's that when you only had one?" Fred groused.
Ron laughed. "Well, that's because Hermione is an overachiever and managed the perfect child right out of the gate. Other people require more practice."
There were groans from the other parents around the table.
"Oh please," Angelina said.
"I'd have to say Angelina is the overachiever regarding children," Hermione said.
"Hear, hear," said everyone else at the table.
"Too my lovely wife," Fred said, raising his wine glass.
Everyone toasted Angelina's good health.
Behind Luna's seat, the lion roared and the room fell silent.
"Bloody hell, Luna," Oliver said. "Did you have to bring him in with you?"
"It's best to keep him close, solidifies the illusion." I'll let him roam free tomorrow."
"It's a bit scary," Karl muttered. "It's so real looking."
"Yes," Luna said airily.
Her husband smiled adoringly at her. "You should see her dragon."
Oliver held up his hands. "Not in the house, please."
Everyone laughed.
xXx
After dinner, they all retired to the game room where there were two billiards tables and four card tables set up. Fred and Angelina played George and Karl in billiards.
"You two want to play?" Neville asked.
"Sure," Ron said, but Hermione could tell the idea of playing billiards with his wife and his ex-girlfriend made him uncomfortable.
"I'm actually, really tired. I think I might go read and make it an early night," Hermione said.
"Alright," Ron said.
She put a hand on his arm. "Stay and play. I'm fine."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah," she said. "Have fun."
He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. "See you in a bit then."
She nodded and went upstairs.
"Well, now we're uneven," Neville said. "Hey, Viktor, come and play."
Ron didn't say anything but he couldn't help thinking it was weird to be playing billiards with his ex-girlfriend and Hermione's ex-boyfriend, but then that was the magical community for you, small and incestuous. No wonder people married Muggles. It didn't take long to go through your entire age group in the magical world unless you wanted to date people from other countries. He knew Neville and Luna had dated right out of school and he was pretty sure she'd dated Oliver for a while some time ago before she met Rolf. He shook his head and racked the billiard balls. He was glad to be done with all that. The stability of married life suited him more than running around with all those women had, fun as it may have been at times.
Oliver came back in with Luna and her husband and they sat down at one of the card tables to play three-hand cribbage.
xXx
When Ron came to bed a couple of hours later, Hermione was still reading.
"Hey, you're still up?" he said coming into the room and closing the door behind him.
"This book is really good. How was the game?"
"Viktor and I won two, lost one," Ron said as he sat on the edge of the bed and began pulling off his shoes and socks.
"You were on a team with Viktor?"
Ron chuckled. "I know, right? But you went to bed and he was on his own and Neville and Michelle wanted to play billiards." He pulled his shirt over his head and dropped his trousers. "Budge up."
Hermione slid over and he crawled in next to her and gave her a kiss pulled her close.
"My goodness, twice in one day," Hermione teased. "What's got you all amorous?"
"Probably thoughts of a twenty-year-old you flouncing about this gigantic house naked."
She set her book on the night stand and scowled at him. "First, I was twenty-one. Second, I was not flouncing around naked. I clearly came in wrapped in a towel otherwise it wouldn't have been on the sofa. It just came undone while I was asleep. Besides, it doesn't say much for my sex appeal if a team of Quidditch players saw me naked and all they noticed were the scars."
"I'm sure that's not all they noticed," Ron said, feeling the conversation getting away from him. He hadn't meant to upset her.
"I assure you it was. Oliver was right, after that I was treated differently. Like a symbol or an icon or something instead of a person."
Ron took her hand and winked at her. "Clearly, Oliver had a bit of a crush on you. I'd be worried if he wasn't so short."
She chuckled and pressed her palm against his cheek on the side with the scar hidden under his beard and then surprised him by kissing him. She came out of the kiss and pressed her forehead against his. "Fill me up," she whispered.
So, he did.
xXx
It was just after one o'clock in the morning when Hermione woke needing to use the loo. Ron was snoring softly beside her, so she pulled on her dressing gown and went out into the hall, closing the door behind her as quietly as he could.
As she was coming out of the loo, Viktor was walking toward her on his way to his room.
"You're up late," she commented.
"I was talking to Oliver. He is nervous about getting married and being a good husband."
"Ah, I'm sure he'll be fine," Hermione said.
"Me too," Viktor agreed.
"Well, goodnight." She went to move past him but he put his hand on her forearm.
"I am sorry about earlier. I should not have answered Oliver's question about where we ended up that night."
Hermione shrugged. "Not to worry. It's ancient history."
"Not one of our finer moments," Viktor said.
"No," she conceded. "But not our worst either."
He let out a soft snort. "No."
"Goodnight," she said again.
"You too," he said and continued down the hall.
She went back to her own room, grateful to be sliding in next to Ron. She looked at his sleeping form and marveled that they had ever managed to make their way back together after all they'd been through when they were apart. She smiled and kissed his bare shoulder before settling down and going back to sleep.
xXx
The day of the party arrived cool and cloudy. It was only fifty degrees that morning and only expected to rise to sixty-two, but the manor and its grounds were an even seventy degrees. Breakfast was served buffet style in the dining room. Ron was last to get up. He piled eggs and bacon on his plate and joined Hermione and the others at the table.
"Anyone fancy a game of tennis this morning?" George asked.
"I'd play," Oliver said.
"Singles or doubles," George asked. "Karl and I can play as a team."
Oliver looked at Viktor. "Fancy a game?"
"Sure. Why not? Gabrielle won't be here for hours."
"Is the pool open, Oliver?" Hermione asked. "I wouldn't mind a swim."
"Ooh, la, la," Fred said.
Angelina swatted his arm.
"I brought a suit, you git," Hermione said in mock indignation.
Ron chuckled. "Always best to check with you."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"It's open," Oliver said, "although I'll lock it up for the party just in case you lot decide to run wild in your dotage."
"Dotage? We're in our forties, mate, not our hundred forties," Fred said.
"All the more reason to lock up the pool tonight," Oliver said.
Angelina shook her head. "I wouldn't mind a swim."
"Me either," Luna said.
xXx
After breakfast, Hermione went upstairs to change into a one-piece bathing suit that had a high enough neckline to cover all her scars. The one on her back was slightly visible through the armhole of the suit, but it wasn't significant enough to bother expending the energy to do a glamour charm. She joined Angelina and Luna in the pool house. For most people, a pool house was the little building near their outdoor pools so people had a place to change their clothes. For Oliver's family the pool house referred to an elaborate stand-alone building that housed their indoor pool. The whole building was meant to evoke a Roman bathhouse and Hermione, having gone to Bath with her parents, felt like they'd successfully achieved their goal.
When she opened the door to the pool, Angelina and Luna were sitting on the side with their feet in the water discussing the temperature. Luna was twirling her wand between her fingers.
Hermione sat next to Angelina and stuck her feet in the water. "Ooh," she said. "That's a bit chilly."
"Yes," Angelina said. "We were just talking about what temperature to set the charm at."
"Eighty is nice," Hermione said. "Not too hot for swimming, but not so cold your muscles stiffen."
"I was thinking eighty-five, and then cool it back down before we leave so they don't get algae."
"I'm fine with eighty-five," Hermione said.
"Alright then," Luna said and waved her wand over the pool.
Hermione could immediately feel the difference on her feet. "Perfect," she said, and slipped into the water. "This feels good," she said, stretching her side.
Angelina and Luna joined her and they all stood around talking about when they expected various people to start showing up. Officially, the engagement party started at nine, but given Oliver's reputation as a host, people were likely to start showing up as early as five. As they stood there chatting, Winky appeared with a plate of chocolate biscuits and a cup of tea. When she saw that Hermione was with other people two additional cups of tea and more biscuits appeared.
"Thank you Winky," Hermione said.
"Yes, Miss," Winky said, and disappeared.
"Well isn't this lovely," Angelina said, reaching for a cup of tea.
"Yes," Hermione said and took a biscuit.
"I didn't hear you call her," Luna said, perplexed.
"Because I didn't," Hermione said somewhat exasperated. "Ron has me on a feeding schedule and she adheres to it no matter where I am or what I might be doing."
Angelina raised her eyebrows. "That seems like it could be awkward."
Hermione shook her head. "Oh, you have no idea. The other day I was in a rather high-level meeting for the Wizengamot with the Minister of Magic and Winky pops in with tea and biscuits. Of course, to her credit, she immediately summoned enough for everyone just as she did here and the Minister was delighted. But it was still awkward to explain why my elf appears uninvited with food and drink."
"Not to be rude," Angelina said, "but can't you manage to feed yourself?"
Hermione's cheeks went pink. "You would think, but apparently, not adequately. I get caught up in what I'm doing and forget to eat."
"That would explain what Michelle was talking about at cards last night," Luna said absently.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Rolf went to bed not long after you did. He'd had rather a long day, so Ron, Neville, Michelle and I ended up playing cards for about an hour."
"Really?" Hermione said, raising her eyebrows. "Wasn't that sort of awkward?"
"More so for Ron and Michelle, I think," Luna said. "Neville and I parted ways amicably. I get the feeling that wasn't so much the case with Ron and Michelle."
"I don't know the details," Hermione said. "But I always got that impression."
Angelina nodded. "Me too, but he never said much about it. One day she was living in his flat and they seemed rather serious and the next she was gone and he never said why."
Hermione shrugged. "To hear him tell it, I caused the end of all his relationships."
Angelina chuckled. "How's that?"
"He talks in his sleep and I guess he used to call my name," Hermione said.
"Alright then," Angelina said. "That's fair. If Fred called another woman's name in his sleep, I'd scalp him."
Luna pursed her lips considering. "Yes, that would be hard to take."
"Funny thing is," Hermione said, "he still talks in his sleep, but it's mostly about work. He mutters about filling invoices and sorting out charms, but mostly it's too garbled to understand. Every once in a while, I catch the word Gringotts. Does Fred talk in his sleep?"
"No," Angelina said, "but he snores like a bandsaw."
"Rolf doesn't snore exactly," Luna said. "Instead he occasionally makes little puttering sounds like when you're little and playing with toy boats. It's rather adorable."
Hermione and Angelina chuckled.
Hermione excused herself from the conversation and started to swim laps. She wasn't a particularly strong swimmer, but the motion of swimming helped stretch the muscles around the scar on her side, so she tried to go a few times a week to the Ministry pool or the pond at the Burrow.
Michelle came in and went down the stairs into the water and walked over to where Angelina and Luna stood talking. "Tennis is getting a little too competitive for me, so I thought I'd join you three."
"Wise," Angelina said. "Tennis when played by Fred and George really evokes their days as beaters."
Michelle nodded. "Ron and Karl aren't much better. I wanted to leave before someone needed me in my professional capacity. Although I told Neville to come get me if anyone started bleeding."
"It doesn't usually come to that," Angelina said. "I don't know how they manage given how reckless it looks from the outside, but the brothers rarely draw blood."
"I wouldn't know," Michelle said. "Ron and I didn't spend much time with the family when were together, which come to think of it, should have been a clue that we weren't going to last."
Hermione stopped swimming and came over. "Hullo Michelle."
"Hullo," Michelle said. "It's good you're swimming. That should help strengthen the muscles in your side."
"Yes," Hermione said awkwardly. She didn't want to talk about her recovery in front of Angelina and Luna.
Michelle seemed oblivious to her discomfort. "Ron said he put you back on regular feedings. That's smart. That should help your progress. You should be further along than you are."
Hermione could feel her cheeks flushing. "So you've said," she said tightly. "Could we not discuss this right now."
"Oh," Michelle said. "Of course, but you should come in for a check-up soon."
"Okay," Hermione said, wanting the conversation to stop.
"Right," Michelle said. "Time I did some laps." She swam to the other side and began going back and forth along the length of the pool.
Hermione frowned.
Luna and Angelina gave her sympathetic looks.
Hermione sighed. "I think I'm going to go in." As she walked out of the building she could hear all the jeering and calling from the tennis courts. Only the Weasley men could turn what was meant to be a gentile sport into something more familiar to football hooligans. Hermione shook her head and went into the house.
xXx
After showering and changing into a skirt and light summer top, Hermione went down to the parlor with the intention of reading until Ron came in but as she was walking in she heard Oliver say, "There's my girl." He and Pietra were locked in a rather passionate kiss.
"Excuse me," Hermione said, backing out.
Pietra disentangled herself from Oliver. "Hermione? What are you doing here?" She looked at Oliver.
"Oh, well, I thought you might like to see her. It's been donkey's years since you two got together," Oliver said.
Hermione realized Pietra must have just gotten there and hadn't seen the party he'd set up for her yet. "Yes," she said. "Ron and I came in last night."
"I'm so glad you're here," Pietra said, smiling warmly. The two women embraced.
"I've invited a few other people," Oliver said. "I thought it might be nice to have a party to celebrate our engagement."
"Aren't you sweet," Pietra said, cupping his face.
Just then they heard the front door open and Neville bellowing for Michelle. They went to see what the commotion was about. George and Karl, were holding up Fred who looked quite pale. He was holding his hand at an awkward angle. Ron was anxiously standing next to them and Viktor was trailing behind.
"Have you seen Michelle?" Neville asked. "Fred's crushed his hand."
"She's in the pool house," Hermione said and Neville turned and went back outside.
"I didn't crush it," Fred said weakly. "Your giant oaf of a husband stomped on it."
"I didn't stomp on it," Ron said in exasperation. "I was running for the ball and you tripped and fell under me."
"I think Karl cast a tripping jinx," Fred said.
"I did not!" Karl said indignantly.
"Fred," George said in disapproval.
"Well, bring him in here and put him on the sofa before he passes out," Oliver said.
As George and Karl got Fred settled, Hermione leaned over and looked at his hand. "That's pretty nasty. It looks like you've broken several bones."
Angelina came racing in followed by Michelle and Neville. Angelina looked at Fred and said, "What have you done you foolish man?"
"I didn't do anything," Fred said meekly. "Ron stomped me."
"I didn't, Angie," Ron cried. "Not on purpose." He turned on Fred. "Stop saying it like that."
Michelle made her way to Fred and pulled her wand. "Was this strictly a physical event or was magic involved," she asked.
Fred went to open his mouth, but George said, "Tell the truth or she won't be able to fix it properly."
Fred frowned and said, "I just tripped and Ron stepped on it."
"Unfortunately," Ron said, "I was running at the time, so I stomped it pretty good."
"No worries," Michelle said. She raised her wand and recited a series of complex rune statements."
Fred's hand began to snap back in place, but he cried out as each bone righted itself. By the time Michelle was done, he was sweating and quite green in the face.
"That's got it," Michelle said. "Take it easy using that hand for the rest of the day. You've gone rather pale. You might want to lay down for a few hours."
"Thank you," Angelina said. She held out her hand to Fred. "Let's get you upstairs for a bit."
George got on Fred's other side and they helped him back to his room with Karl trailing behind them.
Neville put his arm around Michelle's shoulders. "Isn't she fantastic?" he said to the others.
Michelle's cheeks went pink, but she smiled. "Oh, Neville, it was just a few broken bones. Not exactly a medical miracle."
"But you've performed medical miracles," Neville said earnestly. "There's one right there." He pointed to Hermione.
"How's that?" Pietra asked.
"Michelle was the healer who saved my life after the accident at the Ministry."
"Really?" Pietra said, clearly impressed.
"Yes," Hermione said. "Actually, Neville saved my life once too. He carried me through the Ministry after I was cursed in a battle with Death Eaters."
"Good heavens," Pietra said. "Your Ministry sounds like a very dangerous place."
"You have no idea," Ron muttered.
"Yes, well, at times. Anyway, I introduced Neville and Michelle. I like to keep my heroes all in one place." She smiled.
"Convenient that," Ron said. "Now something happens to Hermione and I only have to send the one owl."
Everyone chuckled.
Pietra looked around the room and caught sight of Viktor. "Hullo you," she said.
Viktor gave her a hug.
"Where's your lovely wife?" Pietra asked.
"She should be along any time now. I've been here since yesterday, but she didn't want to leave the baby for that long."
"Understandable," Pietra said. "But why have you been here since yesterday? Oliver has a house elf, surely he didn't need additional help with a dinner party."
"Well," Oliver said. "I needed a tad bit of help."
Pietra looked askance at him.
He smiled and winked at her. "Come along and I'll show you."
Pietra gasped as they stepped out on to the terrace. A vast swath of sand went from the edge of the terrace to a Mediterranean blue sea, its waves lapping against the beach. Everywhere she looked there was something tropical. Palm trees rustled in the breeze. The manor and the pool house, instead of looking like the Georgian architecture she was used to, looked Spanish colonial instead. There was a vast tiki hut set up where the gardens used to be. Somewhat alarmingly, a lion was wondering around the estate and a dragon appeared to be sleeping on the roof of the manor. Even the tennis courts seemed to have a rattan fence around them.
"What have you done?" Pietra asked in a hushed voice.
"You always said you wished you could have been at that tropical party, so I thought I'd recreate it for you."
"You did this for me?" Pietra said, her mouth open in surprise.
"Of course. Well, I mean, I didn't do it all. But I brought back everyone who made it possible the first time and here you are," Oliver said.
"This is amazing," Pietra said as she walked along the length of the house. She slipped out of her shoes and stepped onto the beach. It even feels like sand.
Oliver took her hand. "Come down to the water's edge, you can feel the ocean spray on your face."
Ron put his arm around Hermione. "She seems pleased."
"She's an artist," Hermione said. "She knows what goes into a good illusion, so she really appreciates something like this."
"Oliver's a clever dog then," Ron said appreciatively.
"I should say so," Hermione said chuckling.
xXx
By ten o'clock that night, the party was in full swing. Luna's dragon illusion had woken up and now perched on the roof periodically blowing fire into the night. Ron was talking with a large group about the Quidditch season and Hermione had excused herself to go to the loo. When she came back outside, she saw Pietra down by the water by herself. She strolled down to join her. "Hullo," Hermione said standing next to her.
Pietra turned to her. "Hullo. This is amazing. It reminds of that island we stayed in Greece. Remember?"
Hermione nodded. "When Viktor and I first put together this illusion years ago, that's what we used as our template."
"Oliver told me you and Viktor did the sand and sea. I really appreciate the effort. I know that must have been a bit awkward."
Hermione shrugged. "It meant a lot to Oliver. We're both pleased to see him so happy. I didn't even realize you two were dating."
"I know," Pietra said. "I haven't been a very good friend."
"Nonsense," Hermione said. "You and Viktor have been friends since school and you were married to his cousin. It's not as though I thought you and I would remain close after I left him."
"No, but that was twenty years ago and now I've moved to Scotland. I'd like to be real friends again, not just the Christmas card sort," Pietra said earnestly.
Hermione smiled. "I'd like that too."
George came up behind them. "There you are," he said to Hermione. "Come on let's dance."
"Duty calls," Hermione said to Pietra who chuckled.
xXx
Ron stood at the side of the tiki hut watching Hermione dance with George. Karl came to stand beside him. "I envy her that," Karl said.
"Not much of a dancer, Karl?" Ron asked.
"No," Karl said. "I can manage a passable waltz, maybe a mediocre foxtrot and that's about it."
Ron nodded. "Yeah, I can do the ballroom dances, but not this fast swing stuff."
George twirled Hermione and she fitted back against him. He put his hands on her hips and they moved together in a suggestive wiggle.
Ron shook his head. "If I didn't know for a fact that he was madly in love with you, I'd rip his head off for that, brother or not."
Karl sighed. "Well, I'd gouge her eyes out if I didn't know she only had eyes for you."
"Why don't you two just take dance lessons?" Ginny asked, coming up and standing next to Ron.
"Oi," Ron said, "When did you get here?"
"Just a few minutes ago."
"Where's Harry?" Karl asked.
Ginny pointed with the fruity cocktail she was holding to Harry surrounded by a group of people. "Where he always is at parties, surrounded by admirers. Why do you think we always come so late?"
"Ah," Ron said. "Should we go rescue him?"
"Nah, we'll give it a minute. If they don't wander off we'll go in."
"Fair enough," Ron said.
"So, dance lessons," Ginny continued. "You could take them together as a surprise for your respective spouses."
"I don't think so," Ron scoffed.
"Why not, Ron?" Ginny said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Don't want anyone thinking you're a poof?"
"Hardly," Ron said. "Thanks to that bloody interview I did ages ago, loads of people already think I'm a poof. I don't care about that. It's logistics. Who would lead?"
"You would," Karl said, warming to the idea. "Bloody hell, Ron, that could be amazing? We'd shock the hell out of them."
Ginny grinned.
"Can you even take classes for that kind of dancing?" Ron asked.
"Of course, you can," Ginny said.
Ron sighed and looked at Karl. "Alright, find a bloody class and if I can work it around my schedule, I'll give it a try."
"Fantastic," Karl said. "I know just who to ask." He trotted off toward the house.
"Aww, look how happy he is," Ginny said.
"He might be happy now but wait until he discovers I've got two left feet."
Ginny chuckled.
He looked across the dance floor to where Viktor was dancing with Gabrielle who'd finally arrived. "It's all that wanker's fault," he said to his sister.
"Hermione loved to dance long before she met Viktor," Ginny said.
"Yeah," Ron grumbled. "But he took it to a whole new level."
Harry came over then and took Ginny's hand. "Come dance before anyone else wants to talk to me."
Ginny chuckled and followed him on to the dance floor.
When the song ended, Hermione came over to Ron. "Having a good time?" he asked.
She nodded. "Fantastic. I won't be able to move tomorrow, but I'm having fun right now."
He smiled at her. "Good."
She looked at the drink in his hand. It was orange with a red swirl and had an umbrella. "What is that?"
He handed it to her. "Just orange juice with a little Grenadine."
"Thanks. I'm parched." She drank half of it and handed it back to him.
"How much longer do you think you'll want to stay?"
"Well," Hermione said. "Harry and Ginny just got here and my husband still hasn't asked me to dance."
"Really?" Ron said. "What is wrong with that guy?"
Hermione shrugged. "I think he's insecure about his dancing but he needn't be."
"Sounds lame," Ron said. "You should drop that zero and get with a hero." He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her tight against him.
"Does this hero dance?" Hermione asked.
"Oh yes," Ron said. "He's best at horizontal dancing, but he'll give it a go around the dance floor if that's what the lady wants."
"She definitely wants that," Hermione said, smiling.
"Come on then," he said, taking her hand. She happily followed him.
xXx
They danced for a half an hour before Hermione decided to let Ron off the hook. She really appreciated his indulgence, but she was getting tired and figured they could both use the break. It was after midnight and the party had started to thin out considerably. When they walked up on the terrace, Oliver, Pietra, Gabrielle, and Viktor were sitting on sectional outdoor sofas arranged around a firepit that sat cold.
"Hermione," Viktor said as they stepped onto the terrace, "could you make one of your heatless fires?"
She pulled her wand. "Sure," she said and stepped over to the firepit.
Pietra watched her perform the spell and then said. "Why did you take out your wand? You never used to when you cast that spell?"
Hermione shrugged. "I'm tired. Using my wand is less taxing."
"Oh, well have a seat then." Pietra said. Hermione sat next to her and Ron took the corner seat on the adjacent sofa.
"Listen," Pietra continued, "I was wondering if you'd like to get lunch sometime this week. I need to do some shopping so I can come into London whatever day works for you."
"I'd love that," Hermione said. "How about Wednesday?"
"Sounds good," Pietra said.
"Leaky Cauldron at noon?" Hermione asked.
"We can meet there, but I'd like to go to a Muggle restaurant not far from Diagon Alley called Darwin Brasserie that I really like, if that's okay with you."
"Fantastic," Hermione said.
As the women talked about the area of Muggle London just outside Diagon Alley, Ron looked around. More people had gone home, Fred and Angelina had already left and George and Karl came over and said their goodbyes before heading into the house. The lion was still walking around, but Luna had let the dragon dissipate. He noticed that Gabrielle appeared to have fallen asleep against Viktor's chest. Harry and Ginny came over then and sat on the sofa with Ron.
"Smashing party, Oliver," Harry said.
"Thanks for coming," Oliver said. "When trying to impress your future wife, it's always good to know Harry Potter."
Harry let out a soft snort.
"Darling," Pietra said. "I met Harry ages ago at the Magenta Comstock Memorial."
"Rats," Oliver said. "There goes all my cachet."
Everyone chuckled.
"Sorry Oliver," Hermione said, "but anyone trying to build cachet from knowing Harry always has to get in line behind Ron and I."
"Stop," Harry said, blushing.
"You're not used to the fuss by now?" Oliver asked.
"Used to it? Yes. But that's not the same as being comfortable with it," Harry said.
Oliver nodded. "Yeah, the notoriety gets old. I have to say I prefer being a coach over being a player when it comes to that. Wouldn't you say Viktor?"
Viktor nodded. "I miss playing, but I don't miss the photographers. I don't have to deal with them nearly as much now and that's nice."
Hermione nodded. "Yes, they've mostly lost interest in me too unless I do something work related that gets me in the papers and then they drag everything back up. When I came up with the most recent use for dragon's blood the article also mentioned the war and Harry," she looked at Viktor, "that I once dated you and that I was married to Ron. What's any of that to do with dragon's blood? I wish they'd stop doing that."
"They do it because it sells papers," Ginny said. "You're a much bigger story than the dragon's blood. Tittle-tattle is always more lucrative than information."
"But it's old gossip, why do they keep reprinting it?" Hermione said. "Who cares?"
"You'd be surprised," Oliver said. "Besides, you just saved the Ministry from being blown up. It's not like you're keeping a low profile."
"The whole Ministry wasn't going to blow up," Hermione scoffed. "At most I saved one wing, probably more like a couple of floors."
"Oh, luv," Ron said, shaking his head. "You're so barmy sometimes."
"And aren't you likely the next head of the Wizengamot?" Harry said, arching an eyebrow at her.
"Maybe," Hermione said. "Singh hasn't stepped down yet."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Still, as Oliver already pointed out, you're not exactly fading into the wallpaper. People want to know about you because you do things that effect their lives. So does Harry when he goes around with the Aurors breaking up dark magic rings and fighting evil wizards. If he'd stop doing that, people would forget about him too."
Ginny shook her head. "He just can't help himself. I thought, when he took the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts, I'd be married to a nice quiet professor who came home for his tea and wore patches on the elbows of his robes, but no. I got an action hero instead."
"Right?" Ron said. "It's like you live with Gilderoy Lockhart if Lockhart hadn't been completely full of shit."
Everyone laughed.
"Now take me, I'm a simple shopkeeper," Ron said.
Everyone groaned.
"What?" Ron said. "I am!"
"You make loads of Galleons, Ron. You've got shops all over the bloody world," Harry scoffed. "You're not a simple anything."
"But I'm not in the paper all the time?"
"What are you talking about? Your ugly mug is in the paper every week," Ginny said.
"Those are ads not articles," Ron said. "That's different."
"Hardly," Harry scoffed. "You probably have the most recognizable face of the three of us these days."
"I wouldn't go that far," Viktor said. "You are still Harry Potter."
Everyone amicably agreed.
Harry grumbled something noncommittal and Ginny kissed his cheek. "It's alright, luv," Ginny said. "Ron's still a tosser."
Everyone laughed, even Ron. "On that note," he said, standing and holding out his hand to Hermione who took it and stood. "We're off."
"So soon?" Ginny said.
"Soon?" Ron said. "We've been here since Friday afternoon. Besides we're having breakfast with Dennis later and I'd like to get some sleep first."
"Fine, fine," Ginny said waving them away.
They said goodbye to the rest of the group and took the Floo from the manor back to their townhouse in London. As they were getting ready for bed, Hermione pulled her shirt off and Ron saw her wince. "You over did it," he said.
She sighed. "Probably, but I had such a good time. The last time we danced was at the New Year's party and we only danced a couple of slow songs then."
He smiled at her and went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. When he came out he was carrying a small bottle of potion. He handed it to her. "Drink this."
It was an analgesic for pain. She took it and lay down. Ron kissed her forehead. As she was dozing off she realized there was something she urgently needed to address at work at Monday morning's meeting.
