"Hermione?"

"Yeah Oliver?"

"I love you."

Hermione smiled and leaned into Oliver's arms. "I love you too."

Oliver sat up a little from his position on the couch and turned so he could see Hermione. "What are you doing this weekend?"

"I have a lovely book calling my name, as are a warm blanket and a certain boyfriend. How about you?"

Oliver's smile widened. Finding Hermione without a full weekend was very rare. "My parents invited us to their summer home to celebrate my sister's birthday. My aunts and uncles and everyone should be getting there around Friday afternoon around 2:00 and then we're having a pre-party party. Saturday is when the real party is, though. Think you'd be up for a Wood family reunion?"

Hermione's smile faltered just a little. She loved Oliver and she loved his family. Really. His parents were so nice and they really liked her and his sister Cecily had been referring to Hermione as her long-lost-sister two years into Hermione and Oliver's relationship. They were amazing people. And so were his aunts. His many, many aunts. And even more cousins. It's just those moments when there are 30-odd people surrounding you, all asking the same questions, "How's work?" "How can you stand living in a city?" "When are you and Oliver going to get married?", that made Hermione want to scream. Sure, she loved board games and charades as much as the next person, unless that next person was in the Wood family. They LOVED board games. And drinking together and telling awkward stories about their love lives. But, Hermione knew that Oliver loved these events and would go because it would make him happy.

"Always," she said.

"Perfect! I'm thinking about making a cake. I heard about this one recipe—potatoes and ginger with this cool carrot and blueberry glaze and for a garnish…"

This is where Hermione lost the conversation. She encouraged Oliver's love of cooking, but sometimes he got a little over enthused. But that is why she loved him. He threw his whole heart into whatever he did. His Quiddich, his Medi-wizard studies, his cooking… and her.

Hermione slowly made her way through the week. Nothing more interesting than a few exploding toilets and a sneezing telephone. Wednesday afternoon found Hermione packing up her briefcase, getting ready to floo home, when Kingsley stepped into her office.

"Hello Miss Granger." His voice filled the entire room.

"Hey Minister Kingsley," she replied. Formal titles were expected in the workplace, at least Hermione had always thought so.

"I notice that you've been doing a very good job working with our muggle friends. I'd like to thank you for taking your work so seriously."

"Oh! Thank you!" Hermione was a little taken aback. Regardless the ridiculous amount of work she did, she never really expected acknowledgement, or even praise.

"No, thank you. And to show you how appreciative I am, I would like to invite you to the Muggle Magic ball this Friday evening. It isn't as formal as you may think, just some people from the ministry who want to throw a party like the muggles. It should be quite an event."

"That sounds amazing. Something about Friday sounds like I'm busy, though…" For the life of her, Hermione couldn't remember what she was supposed to be doing that weekend.

"It can't be as fun as this, I promise you that. And that brings me to another thought. The folks who want to arrange this little party, well—err—they don't know what a muggle party is like. Would you be so kind as to advise them?"

Hermione sighed internally. More work. "Sure. Tell them to come to me with any questions. Just send me an owl or something."

"Thanks Hermione. Don't know how we'd get along without you."

With a charming smile, Kingsley left Hermione to herself. Still wondering why she had a nagging voice that just kept thinking about Friday night, Hermione shrugged and stepped into the fireplace.

"Friday night we were going to be with my family, remember?"

And there it was. The reason she shouldn't have said yes to Kingsley.

"I am so sorry. I can talk to Kingsley and tell him I can't."

Oliver sighed a little. "No, you should do this party thing. It sounds interesting and it also sounds like you'd be a big help."

"Are you sure? After all, I could just come to the summer house Saturday morning and then I won't miss the real celebration."

"Yeah, that'd be fine. I'll owl my mum."

Hermione felt bad. She really did. But at the same time, not that bad. After all. This party would give her a change to talk to Harry. He'd been busy, but she was pretty confident she could get him to help with this muggle party.

And the next morning she'd be with Oliver and all would be well.

"Sorry, 'Mione. I can't I'll be out of town."

"What? Why?" This did not play into Hermione's plans very well.

"Sudden business thing; it's boring. I'll tell you about it later but I really have to run. Take care."

"Bye Harry."

Checklist:

Big party with extravagant decorations, Check

A long list of very important people she didn't know at all, Check

A muggle band who had no idea what the party was really about, Check

A black dress that looked very flattering, Check

A single person to talk to during the night…

And finally, an ex-friend whose father insisted on including, definitely Check

Alcohol, Check, Check, Check