A/N: okay... i am pretty excited about the direction of the story. is anyone out there reading and enjoying? i know all fanfic authors beg for reviews? But seeing as this is my first attempt ever, i'd really appreciate any feedback at all! i know there are typos, i'm trying to go back and fix them as much as possible, but i don't have a beta at the moment - so i'm doing it all solo! any beta volunteers? hehe. this is long one, so enjoy. i promise to update as quickly as i can... there are a LOT of unanswered questions, i know.

disclaimer: i own nothing from this world, its just my imagination applied to JK's great work.

Chapter 2: Gold and Green

The tiny figure of Hermione Granger stepped out of the Potters' fireplace at one minute till six in the evening. Her trademark punctuality was the same as an adult as it had been in her Hogwarts days. It was a Wednesday night, the Potters' 'date night,' and Hermione was going to sit with James, their baby son, whilst they enjoyed a dinner out.

"Gin? Harry? I'm here!" Hermione stepped into the familiar kitchen of Grimmauld Place, and looked around for her friends.

"Sorry! I'm right here." Ginny's voice announced from the hallway as she opened the door to the kitchen.

"You look lovely! Those jeans are so flattering!"

"Oh, thanks 'Mione. I hope I look, ya know, normal." Ginny gestured towards her outfit and stepped back for her friend's expert once-over.

"Turn around and let me see the back?"

Ginny acquiesced. The tall redhead did in fact look stunning. She was wearing a fit emerald green blouse, made of the lightest linen. There were delicate white beads along the v-neck of the collar, and the cuff of each long sleeve. Form-fitting, tight muggle jeans in a light wash hugged Ginny's feminine hips and trim, athletic legs. Her shoes were soft brown, pointy, and with two or three inches of heel. She looked one hundred percent the role of normal muggle girl, going out on a date."

"You look perfect. You make it look so easy, if only all pureblood witches could go muggle so seamlessly!" She chided. Hermione had always felt comfortable in muggle clothes, and never drew suspicions when she left the wizarding community. Maybe her look wasn't as glamorous as Ginny's now, but her late summer attire was trendy in a comfortable way. She wore boots with shorts, a common muggle style, which exposed her slender, pale legs. The boots were brown, and clunky, from an Australian company. Her small white shorts had tiny blue stripes, and were topped with a snug, blue long-sleeved shirt. A relaxed look, for relaxing with a baby all night.

"Look Hermione, I transfigured my purse to match my shoes! Oh, err… where on earth did I put it? Let me go grab it, and James, and we'll be off," Ginny pushed open the door and headed up the hall stairs.

"I'll just go into one of the sitting rooms then." Hermione said more to herself than Ginny's ascending back. Walking across the hall, she saw her friend's husband through the open door. "Oh hey Harry! Where are you headed tonight?" Hermione sat opposite from him in the cozy living room.

"Muggle sushi restaurant in London. How have you been? Y'know, since I saw you last?"

"Really Harry, I think I'm fine with this. You know, I've done a lot of thinking. I know I haven't really moved on romantically, but I've had a few years of real success academically and with my career. I've patented seven new potions since Ron went off to Portugal. I'm happy with the life I chose. I mean, maybe its time I thought about my own romance some, and now I feel…" she searched for the right way to say this, "I feel like I have the nudge to move on too. Closure. Is that weird?" She looked to him for understanding.

"Its unbelievably normal. And, I'm glad to hear you say it. I mean, I know I give you a hard time a lot, but I don't want to see you so alone. I want you to know happiness like I do now." He leaned over across the coffee table and grabbed her small hand. "I know seeing him with Estrella will be hard on you, but I think you have a good mindset going into this weekend." Harry and Hermione had been through everything together. She had been his most loyal supporter, even more so than Ron, and this had left them with a special connection, an ability to read each other better than anyone.

"I know you do, Harry. Now, just because I'm open-minded doesn't mean I'm going to date every wizard with a pulse! I'll still need to work up some nerve. Its, you know, been more than quite a while." She looked at the carpet as a warm blush crawled onto her cheeks.

Harry laughed, kindess in his eyes. "Just say the word and I'll set you up with any single Auror!"

"Oh great, matchmaker, just what I need." She jokingly slapped his hands away. She knew he would give her time and was just happy to hear she's be okay for Ron's engagement party this weekend. "Speaking of potions I've made, I brought Gin some more of my ache remedy that I'm working on."

Hermione had a small bag slung over one shoulder. She opened it up and handed Harry three vials, each marked with a number, one through three. "You know the routine, just have her use a different one each of the next times she has a backache, and tell me which one is best. I won't tell you what the differences are, I want to see unbiased notes."

"Ah thanks 'Mione. The last batch you sent over all worked well. If you've been able to curb the side effects, I imagine you'll have the fullest vault in Gringotts in no time flat."

Ginny's back had been injured in the final battle of V-War 2. Post war, she had healed almost back to normal, but the weight of carrying James had re-triggered her pain. Hermione, being a healer and potions mistress, was creating new cures to all kinds of wizarding ailments. Helping her friends was a perk of her occupation that she really had loved. In return for endless supplies of tonics and elixirs for all kinds of injuries and maladies, she just asked her loved ones to help test them for free. It was much like Fred and George using the Gryffindors as test dummies for their joke shop products, only slightly more sophisticated, as Hermione liked to think.

This had caused some mixed results. Hermione really was a genius, and more often than not, her concoctions were bottled miracles. It was just the odd, and somewhat unpredictable side effects that had to be worked out until all of the ingredient ratios were perfect. Just last week, Ginny had felt immense relief in her back, and immense embarrassment at a rather strange side effect.

"Although," Harry continued, "last week's side effect wasn't too terrible for me."

"Harry, you swine! Poor Ginny, already swollen with milk, and you laugh at how engorged she became. I felt awful, it had to be uncomfortable." Hermione bit her lip. An accidental, and very bizarre side effect to an ache potion had caused Ginny Weasley's breasts to swell to ridiculous proportions for her tiny athletic body.

"Oh I had plenty fun diagnosing and working on that problem myself!" His green eyes were simply mischievous.

A moment later Ginny's footsteps sounded down the stairs.

"Ready love?" She called to her husband.

She smiled at Hermione and walked towards her, purse on one shoulder the perfect match to her shoes, and a perfectly adorable son bundled in her arms. James eagerly reached out to his godmother, who was happy as always to see him. Hermione loved James Potter and rather enjoyed this Wednesday night tradition.

Harry's face turned up. "Look what 'Mione's brought us to test this week on your back. Maybe we'll get lucky with some additional swelling this time?" He raised an eyebrow eagerly at his wife.

She playfully smacked him on the chest. "I should hope not! It wasn't as much fun on my end, as it was on yours!" She looked at Hermione, "thanks so much for working on this for me, so far the batches are unbeatable for easing the tension, I'm sure you've fixed it all now. I'll owl you notes as soon as I can."

After a few more minutes of small talk, the couple left and Hermione settled James into his bassinette they kept downstairs. She fetched some notes and a book out of her bag, and began quietly working away on her research. James was only about six months old, and slept most of the time on her visits, save for the occasional changing or feeding on some nights. Tonight was quiet, and three hours quickly passed while Hermione studied her current research and made more notes.

The couple came home, Ginny a little tipsy from a glass or two of sake and thanked Hermione for being such a reliable friend. Ginny swore the Wednesday night date night was a lifesaver in their marriage, and that Hermione was the best for always staying with the baby.

"Aww Gin, I don't mind at all. He's such a sweet baby. I'll just get my things together and head back home now."

"Hermione, I just want you to know that Harry and I are really glad you're okay with the concept of Ron's engagement." The rice wine had given Ginny the bravery to approach the subject bluntly.

"Yeah. Its just, I don't know how else I should react. I've barely seen him in recent years, and well I have no right to be jealous or sad anymore." Hermione was demure in her statement, tired after a long day.

"Well, Fred and George are meeting up here beforehand, so come over too and we'll all apparate over together if you like. We all know Ron has been a prat ever since he became a pro, so you'll be in good company. He'll always be my brother, so I am happy for him. But I love you too, Hermione, and while I don't expect you to be over the moon, your maturity about it all is very appreciated."

Hermione hugged Ginny. "I do know, and honestly, I'll try to be as happy about this as I can."

Ginny yawned, "That's good 'Mione, you're always so good to everyone."

Harry stifled a chuckle. Hermione was indeed a great friend, but hardly was she as mild and tame as a tipsy Ginny surmised. He broke up the women's conversation. "Thanks again 'Mione, have a good night." And he led Ginny towards the door.

Hermione waved a tired good-bye, and flooed home.

As always when you're dreading an event, time flies too quickly. The rest of the week tumbled along and next thing Hermione knew it was Saturday morning and she found herself getting ready for the party. She held up the ridiculous invitation for the event in her hand.

Come Celebrate the love that Ronald and Estrella have found together!

The parchment was dyed a minty green color, and the words were golden and glittery. The details of the event stated guests were to be at the Burrow around one o'clock for a summer luncheon party. Glittery hearts and stars magically swirled amongst the information. It was like a lovesick teenager had designed the thing. Tacky, very tacky she thought to herself.

She took a step back from the mirror and sighed to examine her appearance.

I'm actually happy for Ron. Maybe now I can find a man and be happy too. Blah, blah, blah. Why did I say those things aloud? I was merely trying to force myself to actually believe them. But now that Harry and Ginny think I'm okay with this, I'll have to act okay all day.

It was true, Hermione was dreading today's luncheon far more than she was letting on. She was rather nervous to actually see Ron, and the famous Spaniard that was to be his wife. Nothing to do now except just go and get it over with, hopefully keeping as much of my dignity intact as possible.

Hermione had chosen soft pink dress robes for the occasion. They were tailored and fit her perfectly, accenting the soft curves of her tiny frame. Her hair would always be quite excessive, but as she aged, it had lost some of its frizziness. A small pearl necklace and tear drop pearl earrings were the perfect finishing touches. She looked elegant, and lovely. She was trying to make herself look as far opposite of Estrella the trollop as possible.

Well, its now or never, she convinced herself. She walked out of her room to the fireplace. As the floo powder turned the flames green she leaned in and announced, "Grimmauld Place."

...

"Hello love!" a beaming Fred greeted her as she walked into the kitchen.

"Fred, hi. You look, uhh…" she grasped at a word, and stuttered as her jaw dropped.

"Devastatingly handsome?" George finished her sentence for her and he walked up behind Fred. His outfit was the spitting image of his brother's.

"You two. Insane. Totally insane." Hermione was so shocked by their suits she didn't make sense as she spluttered. Both twins were wearing matching suits from head to toe. They seemed to be some type of old fashioned muggle tuxedos in the same awful mint green of the invitation. They each had on an identical cummerbund and matching bowtie that was a glittery gold, with magical swirling hearts and stars. The effect was rendering her speechless. It was a total mockery of the invite, of the party, of the engagement itself. She loved them for it.

"We know we look completely stunning Miss Granger," Fred gave a tip of his hat.

"And now for some drinks," George chimed in, passing a butterbeer to his twin and to Hermione.

"I love you two so much. This is so over the top. Molly may just wring your necks, but I love for it!"

"We just want to show…"

"How much we love our little bro."

"The little git!"

"I hope his tiny tart of a wife-to-be isn't offended by our sincere gesture here."

"Nicely played brother, you almost sound convincing!"

The twins quipped back and forth so quickly Hermione couldn't keep track of who said what, but they had achieved the desired effect. She was laughing so hard she leaned forward and grabbed her stomach. Peels of her tinkling giggles bounced off the kitchen walls. The brothers didn't ease up.

"Now Hermione, please, allow us to transfigure those boring robes into ones to match ours and it'll be the icing on the cake!"

"No way. Not a chance! I couldn't possibly…" Hermione couldn't complete a sentence, as she was laughing so hard. "I'm trying to be..." laughs took over again as the bowties began spinning in unison, emitting gold glitter.

George was puckering his lips and batting his eyelashes, "As prim and elegant as possible? Oooh Ron, see what a complete arse you've been and see how entirely lovely I am?" He cooed in a pretend-Hermione voice.

She gave him a playful punch in the arm, "closer to the truth than you know, mate."

...

When Harry, Ginny and James had finally joined the party and everyone had sloshed back a few or more butterbeers the group collectively apparated to the party. By Hermione's watch, it was about twenty after one. Fashionably late, you could argue.

Molly had warned them to apparate on the hill and walk down so as not to disrupt the guests and decorations already in place. The raucous group was noticed immediately as they laughed and sauntered down the hill. The August afternoon was lovely, with a slight breeze. Most of the Order members alive had been invited, as well as some of the Golden Trio's classmates and friends. The extended Weasley family were all invited, and as was usual ever since the war, some wizarding press was on hand to photograph and report on the event.

"Oh my." Minerva McGonagall looked up at the scene descending upon them.

"What is it Minerva?" Severus Snape was at her elbow. She had invited him as her guest. Post-war he was quite friendly with most of the Order members, especially since his name had been cleared for Dumbldore's death, and he was awarded an Order of Merlin, First Class. Still, this event felt quite intimate, and he wasn't quite sure why on earth he should be at some family gathering for the Weasel's engagement. The headmistress had insisted though, and promised her reasons would prove legit. He knew there was a new position Hogwarts had been petitioning for, and he had an idea that the Headmistress wanted to speak to one of the attendees about its process in the petition stage. He was sure that had something to do with it.

"Hogwarts finest have arrived." She jerked her thin head towards the approaching pack.

Severus gave a small chuckle. "I assume that at least the baby is sober? But, given he's a Potter-Weasel hybrid, I doubt it." He knew it was his place to say something snarky and mean, and he did it with routine. While the boys in the group looked red in the face and the twins were each wearing some kind of crazy costume, he couldn't help but notice a sight for sore eyes amongst the motley crew. Hermione Granger, who hardly looked drunk at all, captured his eye. In fact, he thought she looked quite mature. Possibly graceful was even more accurate.

The group reached the backyard and entered through the little gate in the fence. Molly was stalking up to them, trying to keep a fake smile plastered to her face.

"You two," she pointed at the twins. Of course. "You two had better have a very good explanation for this, this, mockery you're trying to pull off." Her voice was full of anger, although her face remained ever pleasant, any on-looker would simply see mother greeting sons.

"Ah Mother now, lovely to see you too. Where is that right little prat of a brother of ours?" George kissed her on the cheek in greeting.

She reached out to smooth Fred's lapels, and immediately the suit began singing Weasley is our king. "You cannot be serious? Turn that thing off this instance!" Molly was beginning to break character and the blissfully serene mother-of-the-groom was about to give way to a Hungarian Horntail in a red wig.

"Come now Mum, you couldn't expect us to not have any laughs at all. I personally think we look rather dashing." Fred kissed the other cheek as they strode past the steaming Weasley Matron and into the throngs of guests.

The backyard of the Burrow had a lovely group of tables set up, all with mint green tablecloths. The dishes were all enchanted in various shades of gold with different levels of sparkles. Hermione, if she was being honest and not rather judgmental, may have actually admitted the effect was lovely. However, she was a little tipsy and instead thought that the twins ought to not get too close to the tables for fear of blending in. She walked through the party with Ginny at her side, making their way to an empty end table where they could sit with the baby, away from the crowd.

"I'll just go and get us a couple drinks, while you get James settled down, okay?"

Ginny nodded to Hermione, who was already walking towards the beverage table. Hermione was startled as she walked past the old shack used to store quidditch brooms and yard tools by a loud bang from the walls of the shack. Instinctively, she grabbed her wand and with the grace of a cat jumped deftly to face the shack.

Boom!

Another loud noise against the wall, this time followed by a high pitched female voice. "Oh no! No, no, no! Stop!" The voice was panicky and shrill. Something about the tone made the hair on her arms stand up.

Hermione's instincts were in sharp focus now; she almost forgot she was at a family party. Quickly sobering up, she was in a dueling stance as she moved closer towards the cries. The war had been over for five years, but the training and instincts had never left most of the veterans. Wand pointed straight in front of her, she walked around towards the door of the shack, leaving the view of most of the party.

As if he had a sixth sense for intensity, Severus Snape looked up just in time to see Hermione Granger take take out her wand, a most concerted look on her face. Twice in once luncheon she'd found a way to snag his focus, and if he was being honest - he didn't really mind so much. Well, the post-war years had been very kind to Miss Granger. But ever the warrior, he shook away the frivolous notion and began to assess what the hell was going on. Professor Snape saw Hermione stalking, wand out, towards the shack. What on earth is Granger doing? Years of spying, as well as fighting alongside Miss Granger in the final battle told him that she was reacting. He knew how she operated in dangerous situations, and she was one of the most adept fighters he'd ever known. His body was moving before his mind registered that he too was making his way, wand out, towards the back yard shed to help Miss Granger with whatever it was she had sensed.

More banging was coming from inside the shack. Hermione carefully turned around the corner of the small, wooden structure and at last she could clearly see inside. The scene before her stopped her dead in her tracks. It was horrifying, practically worse than seeing Voldemort himself.

Severus Snape was closely coming up behind Hermione. He hadn't turned around the edge of the wooden wall yet; he couldn't see who or what was inside the shack. However, he could indeed make out clear as day the unbridled anger all over Granger's face as she stood in front of the doorway. He saw as she threw her hands up in the air, full of rage. She appeared to be having some sort of angry fit. A hot rage was coursing through her body; what started Severus was that he could see it. The wobbly neon aura of sheer rage just radiated off her petite figure. She opened her mouth and was surely going to scream at any moment. But before any noise could come out, the walls of the small shed began to shake. Severus watching in fascination. The shaking wasn't coming from within the broom shed anymore, there was something emanating from Granger that was making it shake. His skills in magical tracing were incredibly fine tuned, and there was no mistaking the magic he could sense coming from her now.

Wandless Magic, so strong she didn't seem to really control it herself. He blinked in amazement.

Her lips moved as if she was saying something, but the words emitted were lost in background noise. All Snape could hear was the giant sound of thrashing wood tearing itself apart. The entire roof of the shed blew clear off of its walls, and split into a million pieces mid-air. Mulch rained down as the awed professor stared at a most pained Hermione Granger and a spectacle of another sort altogether.