Hermione was rather proud of herself. She managed to get out of the house without Hugo or Rose begging to join her and she'd made it into and through Diagon Alley without a single awkward reunion. There'd been a few curious looks from people as she'd done her business. Those stares where one could clearly see the person trying to put a name to a face.

That's why Hermione had worn her hair up. After her teeth her hair had been her most recognizable quality growing up. She didn't have a scar or glasses or bright red hair, just big teeth and bigger hair. She had no idea if people still remembered her teeth (she certainly did), but she didn't take chances with her hair.

Last thing she needed was someone like Rita Skeeter noticing her and publishing it in all the papers and having it get back to Ron and Harry before she had the chance to contact them.

And she would contact them. Soon. It was only fair. Years with nothing but some vague owls. They owed it to each other to sit down and have a chat. But Rose still needed books and robes for school and Hugo still needed uniforms and Sarah was getting in in only a few hours and then they'd be busy buying warehouses and office space and contacting clients.

Ron and Harry could wait another day.

"Hermione?"

Or not. She resisted a cringe and turned to greet the voice. She was surprised to find a curvy beauty where once there'd been the stocky Ginny Weasley. Time had done the woman quiet well.

Ginny smiled. Wait, it wasn't a smile. It was a grin, a warm and contagious grin. She crossed the bit of street between them and wrapped Hermione up in a rather strong pair of arms then swung the taller woman a bit.

"Look at you!" She said exuberantly while setting Hermione down.

Not especially a vain woman, Hermione's hands still reached up to check her hair. "Yes. Look at me. Wait no. Look at you Ginny Weasley…er Potter right? You and Harry got married."

Ginny's grin never wavered and Hermione found the unbridled joy nearly infections. "Married and divorced. Like a proper Quidditch couple."

Well she was certainly taking things well wasn't she?

Hermione wasn't nearly as happy, but she tried to keep it from showing on her face. How could they be divorced? They'd been such a good couple! Ginny leading the Hogwarts rebellion and Harry spending endless hours in the tent staring at the Marauder's Map when he thought Hermione was asleep. He'd pined for Ginny. Harry Potter! He didn't even pine for Cho. That had just been dopey looks, and as she gathered, even dopier kissing. But he and Ginny. They were meant to be. He'd saved her from Voldemort and cheered her on the Quidditch field. They were perfect. Had to be perfect. If they couldn't make it who could?

"Oh Ginny. I'm so sorry." She wasn't. She was horrified. "What happened?"

Ginny waved her hand dismissively, not the least bit upset. "Another woman. Water under the bridge! You though! Got Ron all sold on educated Muggle woman. Disappeared. Broke my mother's heart. You! Where have you been?"

Molly Weasley. Scarier then Voldemort on a tear. Someone she hadn't said goodbye to. Someone she was terrified of saying hello to.

"America."

"And you're married yeah? Loads of kids. I read your owls you know."

"Widowed. The kids are here with me."

For the first time Ginny's grin faltered. "Oh Hermione. When?"

No time for pity Granger. "Three months ago. We moved back here to be closer to family. But I'm good," For Ginny. "I am good." For herself.

Ginny was quiet a moment. Hermione watched Ginny's eyes narrow as she absorbed the information. Then that infectious little grin returned. "Of course you are. I wouldn't expect any less. But what do I call you now?"

She looked at Ginny in confusion. "What?"

"Your last name?"

"Granger. Professionally it's still Granger."

"Professionally? Hermione we shared a room together. You had to listen to me ache and moan about Harry's hairy bum for years. So personally what do I call you when Hermione's too big a mouthful, because I have to warn you, I'm a bit done with first names. Especially at home. Weasley's so much easier you see. Just shout it and someone always comes running. Even those sister-in-laws. Took their names without a second thought. Not a hyphen from the lot of them." Her smiled turned almost sly. "But you. Hermione Granger, founder of SPEW. You had a hyphen didn't you?"

"Granger-Thomas. Not as colorful as some but—"

Ginny let out an exhalation of air that sounded and awful lot like a "pft" and snaked her arm through Hermione's guiding the older woman towards the exit and away from the sea of people watching them. "Granger-Thomas is a fine name. Good and British. You had me worried. Living in America. All sorts of odd names there. Now kids. Two right?"

"Rose and Hugo."

"Rubbish names."

"And yours are better?"

"Albus, Lily and James."

"Well see that's not fair. Naming them after dead heroes. Of course they'll sound a bit better."

"But Hugo? Really Hermione. All those years saddled with your name why'd you go and do a thing like that to your son?"

"He's after my father."

"Oh. Oh goodness your dad's not dead is he? If he is then it's a wonderful name. Very heroic and clean teeth sounding."

"No he's alive and well and still cleaning teeth. The pair of them are fine."

"Good. Rose is nice though. Very flowery. We'll get her together with Lily and they can start a garden."

They were on the streets of London now. Away from the crowds of Diagon Alley where the two of them together would have been newsworthy. Hermione was a little surprised. Ginny had effortlessly guided her out and hadn't even needed to ask if she should.

They parted and Ginny looked around before drawing something that looked rather suspiciously like car keys out of her bag. Ginny followed Hermione's eyes and looked at the keys in her hand. "What? You need a lift?"

"No I apparated. Are those care keys?"

Ginny buffed them against her chest in pride. "They are. Maggie thought it'd be good if I learned. For when the kids are in Muggle school."

"You have your kids in Muggle school?"

"Of course! Harry and I both work. You think I want to hire some nanny to take care of them? No ma'am. Muggle school until they're ten. Then," she snapped, "Off to Hogwarts."

"They're all at Hogwarts now?"

"Except Lily. She starts next year."

"So does Hugo."

"Oh good! We'll get them together. Start them on the Gryffindor path early."

Hermione shook her head trying to sort out everything.

Ginny asked, "What?"

"You. Ginny. You! I mean look at you. Single mom. Witch driving a car. Sending her kids to a Muggle school. Working."

Ginny grinned. "Well I am the Modern Witch. They said it in a magazine and everything."

"I'm happy for you."

Ginny clapped her on the back, "You should be! Life's brilliant. Well love life isn't, but that's because the pot's so small." She then took up both of Hermione's hands in her own and looked at her very intently. "The important question is when are we getting together Hermione Granger-Thomas? I'm going to warn you. You're probably thinking I'm asking so that I can force you back into the Weasley fold. But it's entirely selfish. A lot of folks weren't too keen on me and Harry splitting and I've got a complete dearth of drinking buddies. I'm recruiting you."

"Into a dinner party?" Too soon. A house full of Weasleys. Molly Weasley chopping up food loudly while glaring at Hermione. Harriet insisting on coming and bringing that awful prune cake. She could feel the blood draining from her face. The very thought of it all about to send her into shock. Ginny must of noticed the change in Hermione's pallor. She shook Hermione's hands a little to get her attention.

"Not everyone. You and me for drinks. Maybe once a week. And a dinner with the boys sooner. Your place? Just me, Harry, Ron and Maggie. Lily and the wee twins can come too maybe."

"Twins?" she croaked.

"Maggie and Ron's. We Weasley's like to do babies in pairs apparently. They're four."

"Oh. Maggie. Ron's—"

"Wife," Ginny finished, nodding sagely. "Afraid the HMS Ron's sailed. Maggie's some kind of doctor and she's got him using a telephone and Mom lets her cook in the kitchen. Fleur says she's going to lead a rebellion of the women married to Weasley men if the favoritism doesn't stop."

"She sounds perfect for Ron."

"I like her. She's not you, but your not her so I won't hold it against either of you. But dinner, the fabulous trio and their immediate family. You have to Granger-Thomas."

Hermione looked down the street watching lots of important looking men walking in and out of important looking banks. "I haven't told them I'm back," she finally confessed.

Ginny shrugged. "Of course not. Nothing's ever easy with you three. Me. I'd send an owl. But you lot have to have faraway looks and angsty sounding voices." She shook her finger at Hermione. "Seven o'clock. Saturday. That gives you three days to have it all out with those two and reconcile so we can all eat treacle pudding and figure out who's gotten the fattest since school."

Hermione knew that she really would be far too busy with work to say yes, but she said yes anyways because it gave her a goal and when Ron and Harry were concerned a goal was very much necessary. "Friday. I expect you to have put on at least two stone by then so you can win the fattest award."

"I'll try for three." She waved at Hermione, the car keys jingling in her hand then apparated away.

Dinner with Harry and Ron. And a muggle doctor. And children. And Ginny Weasley (who Hermione strongly suspected was on some sort of controlled substance). It was never simple and easy was it?