A/N: Here it is! Delayed again but that was due to some unforeseen personal family matters that came up suddenly. I hope you all enjoy and I am grateful for all of your reviews and support.
It turned out that two weeks did not fly by as Hermione had thought. From the Monday after Charlie left London to get back to the reserve her life had been nothing other than a comedy of errors. Straightaway that morning she had turned in her notice and was both surprised an affronted at the massive, ear splitting grin that came over her boss's features. There was no love lost between the aging wizard and her, but considering that Hermione was the best and most disciplined employee in the department she expected at least some disappointment. Instead it seemed she could not have provided more pleasing news. In fact, her notice of two weeks was rejected... in a way. Her boss accepted the notice but immediately reassigned all of her projects and gave her a two week leave. Meaning that while over the next two weeks she was technically still a ministry employee earning paid vacation, she was escorted to clear out her office and walked out of the department, not to set foot in it ever again. So much for wrapping up her work and looking for an eligible replacement. The lazy as sin department head seemed more than willing to add those little bits of extra work to his plate.
Hermione spent the rest of Monday in a fit over how her resignation went and processing what she would do with two whole weeks off. She could easily pack up her meager belongings in the span of a day, but couldn't show up at the reservation so early. Hermione had spent the last several years doing nothing but working. She worked so much and so often that her friendships became strained because she spent so little time engaging with them. The majority of her time spent at the ministry meant a sparse flat filled with only the basics. She ate at work a lot so her cabinets were nearly bare and from the few belongings she did own some of them would be irrelevant in her near future. For instance, she had no use for a telly on a dragon reserve. Therefore her telly, dvd player and small stash of dvds would be packed up and sent to storage somewhere. That night she made a list of what do over the next thirteen days, including things she had been putting off for a long time.
Tuesday morning, as she sipped on a cuppa of English Breakfast, she penned a quick letter to Charlie explaining the situation and her decision to not rush over to the reserve and spend the time with friends and checking off her bucket list. The next owl she sent was to Harry.
Dear Harry,
Been some time since we've spoken, much less written. I fear I am the one to blame in the distance put between us all and I am sorry for it. You know that the end of the war was not easy for me to bear and I admit now that my manner of coping with it, throwing myself into my work, was not healthy. I only hope that you can forgive my mistake and poor choices.
The reason I am writing now is... well, I have some news actually. I have some time off and some big plans for my future and would like to see you and Ginny to share it with you. Please respond with a date and time we could meet. Please don't invite Ron. I need to see him and share my news on my own, I owe him that courtesy.
Your Friend Always,
Hermione
She sealed the letter and placed it on top of the other, piling up what she would have to walk down to the Diagon Alley owlry. She repeated the same confession in a letter addressed to Ron. Finishing up her writing she jumped into a marathon shower and dressed for the day before heading off down the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley to the public owl posting station. As it was a weekday, and still only mid-morning at that, the little town wasn't as busy as usual. The only people about were the shop owners and the few patrons that needed an odd thing or two. With Hogwarts having started for the term and most of the Wizarding world hard at work before their lunch hours came calling it was rather a peaceful journey to her stop. Mailing the separate letters for a small fee Hermione set off intent on stopping by Flourish and Blotts for an overdue browse of it's well stocked shelves. Honestly, she couldn't remember the last time that she had read a book for pleasure.
However, her causal strides in the direction of the bookstore were halted as she neared the one store in the Ally she would like to avoid at all costs. No such luck it seemed as she tried to pass unnoticed by the store with the large head magically enchanted to lift it's hat off and wink at passerbyers. George had spotted her as he was exiting the building.
"Hermione," his voice rang out hallow in comparison to the easy jesting tone he used to always have. Certainly, he had made tremendous progress in getting back to himself since the loss of his twin, however, to those who knew him well when Fred was alive, there were stark contrasts to his personality.
"George," she replied cordially, "Good morning."
"Morning," he drawled out carelessly. "What brings you out of the Ministry at this time of day? Never mind, don't tell me. I am too fortunate to have caught you as I've been meaning to pick your brain about a small matter." Hermione groaned inwardly. Here it was. The reason she was avoiding this corner of Diagon Alley.
"Indeed?" She inquired. "What matter could that be?"
"Well, you see... Just the other day I ran into a certain brother of mine. The one who hasn't been home in at least five years, not even when our dear mum begs him to come for the holidays. The even weirder thing was that his hair was combed back and he was dressed up. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that now would you?"
"Why would I know anything about that Gerorge?"
"I figured you would have an answer considering it was your apartment building he was leaving when I bumped into him." The last statement was delivered like the punch line of a great joke, but there was no mistaking the frank interest in George's eyes as he said it.
"Fuck," Hermione muttered darkly.
"I had thought as much," George said seriously, a victorious grin erupting across his features. "Escort me to the café my dear witch and tell a bloke all about it." He offered her his arms and seeing no obvious methods of escape, Hermione sighed deeply and took it.
"Not a word to your mother, or anyone for that matter George. Swear it or I'll not tell you."
"You wound me fair lady," George bellowed in jest. "I wouldn't dream of betraying a witch's confidence."
"Swear it George Weasley. I have other people that need to know and they should hear it from me, not you or anyone else."
"Fine, Fine. I swear."
"Good. Thank you," Hermione simpered. "Its a rather long story, so in a nutshell... I'm bored George. It's a bed of my own making because I couldn't move on as quickly as everyone else and now I'm alone and miserable in a dreadfully dull job. One day at the pivot of misery I portkeyed to the dragon reserve in Romania, Looking for the director."
"Charlie?"
"I didn't know he was the director at the time... and well he found me before I found him."
"Naturally," George smirked, clearly imagining the situation. "But what ever possessed you to turn up there?"
"I informed him I wanted to be a dragon tamer." At this, much like Charlie had and no doubt everyone she would tell would do, George burst into laughter. "Yeah, that was his reaction as well."
"I'm sorry 'Mione, but that, well it's ludicrous!"
"I know. Anyway I left in a hurry upset at the reception and determined to get over my crush on Charlie once and for all."
"I knew it!" the redhead interjected swiftly. She ignored him.
"Unfortunately he turned up intent to talk things through and it turns out that it wasn't an unrequited attraction..."
"Of course it's not! Bloody hell Hermione, every Weasley male has had the hots for you at one point or another. Sadly none of us, apart from Ron, failed to notice that ever since you laid eyes on Charlie you were a goner, and him to. You lot have been oozing chemistry since then..."
"How can you possibly know that, I'd only met him on literally two or three occasions..."
"I'm not blind witch," George replied.
"Whatever, I clearly was because hearing he had feelings for me in return was a shock to my system. Anyway, we discussed my turning up at the reserve and came to the conclusion that while I don't have it in me to be a tamer, that I do have a small wild, rebellious streak. I'm leaving in a couple weeks to head up and well build really the new Dragon research facility on the reserve."
"Hermione, when I asked for details I wasn't looking for information on your career..."
"We went on a date George. To a wonderful Italian restaurant in London and had a lovely time. He walked me back to my flat, we had a nightcap and we kissed. You must have bumped into him as he was leaving for his room at the Leaky. Nothing untoward occurred."
"Obviously," George relied in a sad impression of the late Severus Snape's drawl. "The question is are you two finally making a go of it?"
"Do you think I would be moving to Romania for a job as the director of a Library and research center if we weren't?" Hermione deadpanned.
"Well, no, I suppose not. I am glad to hear you will be a Weasley after all." The sentiment was slightly lost as at that exact moment a large, snowy white owl swooped in and presented a letter to her. Hermione accepted the letter from Apachee, Harry's familiar after Hedwig's fate in the war. Skimming the contents of the letter she fed the regal bird an owl treat she was carrying with her.
"George, I've got to run. I have some errands I was trying to run before crossing paths with you," Hermione informed. "After I tell Harry and Ron and of course your Mum, I would love to catch up before I go."
"Do me a favor Hermione?" George requested before she could leave. "Work your magic on my brother and try and get him to come home every once in a while. We miss him you know."
"I do know George," Hermione smiled. "I will do that. I hope, if all goes smoothly in the next couple of days, that I can make it to Sunday dinner with everyone."
"It will go fine 'Mione and I will see you then," George replied and with a sweeping bow made his way out and back towards his Joke shop. Hermione watched him go before she departed for Flourish and blots for a bit, both nervous and excited to meet Harry and Ginny for dinner that night.
