It's evening on Christmas Day. Hermione is wearing a very ridiculous set of festive pajamas that her dad got for the three of them. They've spent the past few days doing all of their favorite holiday traditions. Christmas markets, snowman building, ice skating, baking. So many things that Hermione thought she might never get to do with them again.

She hates the war that she fought. Hates that she had to do that. Would never ever choose to do it again if she could go back and pick a different life. She would stop it all from happening if she could. But she did live through it. It happened. And now she has chosen to look at it with gratitude. Because she sees so much more with clarity now. Once she would have dismissed wearing obnoxious pajamas to match her parents as weird and embarrassing. Now she is on hour 23 of wearing said matching pjs and snuggled between her mum and dad on the couch.

They are winding down with popcorn and hot cocoa and one last Christmas movie before bed when there's a pounding on the front door. Hermione jumps and spills a little as she sets her mug down on the coffee table.

"What in the world?" Her mother says, frightened. Hermione grabs her wand and sets up a shield charm around the front door as her father looks out the peep hole. "It's Ron" he turns to Hermione. She rushes to the door as her father opens it.

"Ron?? What's wrong? Is someone hurt?" She keeps the shield charm up and waits. War precautions jumping in and waiting to make sure it really is him.

He looks sheepish as he clears his throat "I'm sorry to intrude like this. And I didn't intend to frighten you all. I apologize. I just need to speak with Hermione, urgently." He's wearing the hat she made for him and sent this morning so she is confident it really is him. She lets him step inside.

"Hello Ronald, it's lovely to see you. Can I make you some hot cocoa?" Her mother offers.

"Um no, thank you. I just needed to speak to Hermione privately for a moment. Then I'll leave you back to your celebrations. I'm sorry again for the intrusion." He looks agitated but like he's trying really hard not to be rude to her mother.

Hermione has no idea what this is about. She turns toward the stairs and leads him up. "We'll be right back" she says to her parents who go back to the kitchen. Ron follows her to her bedroom and she shuts the door, silencing the room, not knowing what he's about to say and not wanting to upset her parents if there's trouble.

He rounds on her "you kissed guys?" He angrily accuses.

She blinks. This is not what she was expecting. But she supposes that she should have been expecting it. "What are you talking about?" She tries.

"Ginny was being a right bitch after some talk with Harry and when I asked her what was wrong with her she started saying you kissed slytherins too and it wasn't a big deal." His face was red with fury and betrayal.

Fuck. She can't be mad at Ginny. She didn't technically ask Ginny not to say anything about her to Ron or Harry. But this is not how she wanted to talk to Ron about it all. She can picture exactly how it went down. Ginny and Harry behind a closed door. Harry leaving the room, silent and sad. Ginny exiting behind him, face streaked with tears. And Ron immediately coming to his mate's defense without knowing any of the facts or feelings involved. He was probably very rude and provoking towards Ginny who retaliated to hurt him back.

"Oh Ron, I told you not to say anything to her. It doesn't concern you at all. This is Harry and Ginny's thing, not ours." She tries to redirect this before his anger gets the best of him.

"Who?" He demands.

She is used to Ron's temper but she honestly was not expecting Ginny to throw her under the bus like this. "Theo Nott. It was just that dumb party and they played spin the bottle and it was quick and happened once for the party game and that's all. We never kissed or even held hands or anything couple-like when we went on the doubles with Ginny and Blaise. We were just chaperones honestly. And I made it very clear to Theo after that party game that I have a boyfriend that I love and there wouldn't be anything more." She was rambling but she wanted to stop this right here. Ron was overreacting about this.

"Who else?" He grits out. He didn't back down. "Ginny said slytherinS. Plural. Who else did you kiss and not tell?" He waits for her answer breathing heavily.

She swallows and bites her bottom lip, brow furrowed. She doesn't want to tell him because of how she felt about it at the time. But she has put it all behind her. It was over before it began. "Who!" He shouts again.

"Malfoy." She squeaks out. "But it was just that same party game!" She steps forward and reaches toward Ron.

He steps back and looks disgusted. "Who spun the bottle?" He growls out.

"They both did." She replies quickly.

"Who did it land on when it was your turn?" He continues, face red still.

"I didn't get a turn, I was about to leave the game in fact when the troll interrupted."

"Why did you leave out Malfoy just now until I asked twice?" He's losing steam now, less angry. But still betrayed.

"Because I knew you'd be mad about him more than Theo. And honestly it was nothing." Straight forward and direct answers now. Unless he asks if she ever kissed Malfoy again. She will absolutely lie about that. Nothing good could come from telling the truth in that instance.

"Why did you not tell me when it happened? It's been months now? Why would Ginny tell me this if it happened months ago?" He's still standing, hands clenched at his sides. He looks just like he did wearing the horcrux and shouting at her and Harry in the tent. Just before he left them. Albeit slightly less deranged.

"Ginny is sad and confused about Harry, and her brother accusing her instead of defending her probably set her off. This school year has been weird after a war and without you two. We're all just trying to cope, Ron. Kissing them was a silly game with all our classmates around us. It meant nothing." She tries her hardest to be completely neutral when she says it. Tries not to let anything show on her face. Even as she replays all the kisses with both Theo and Malfoy in her mind, it's against her will, really. She tries not to think about the dates and dancing and studying and seven minutes in heaven with Theo and the sitting on his lap, all of which contained more passion than she could remember sharing with Ron. She shoved the tapestry alcove with Malfoy deep deep down. Refusing to acknowledge its existence.

"If you wanted a break too I wish you would have just told me. At least Ginny was up front. Harry has been able to distract himself. I've had to play wingman all across South America." He turns and paces a bit. He's saying all of this angrily, like it's her fault he hasn't gotten some brazillian ass like his friend. She's suddenly livid. How dare he come interrupt her Christmas with her family. How dare he yell and accuse her. And then blame her for holding him back?

"Excuse me?" She spits. He suddenly realizes his mistake and back tracks.

"No I didn't mean, Hermione I just…" he's stumbling over words and she advances.

"You come here unannounced, frighten my parents and disturb our Christmas, and yell at me about two meaningless kisses, and then proceed to explain that if I had just told you I wanted to kiss other people then you would have been free to kiss other people during your travels with Harry?" She's fuming.

"Well when you say it all together like that it sounds bad." Ron laughs trying to diffuse the tension.

She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. She wants to salvage her holiday and she's surprisingly not disturbed by the thought of Ron off kissing people. It actually lifts a huge weight off her shoulders because of that thing she won't admit happened and won't think about again. And she tries to pretend she's not lying to him.

"Ok Ronald." She opens her eyes and begins speaking "since you left me behind, just like Harry left Ginny,"

"Hang on now that's not," he tries to interject.

"And since you've interrupted my Christmas and expressed how you really feel about kissing other people,"

"Wait, Hermione, I didn't mean,"

"Then let's do it. Let's take a break. Just like Ginny and Harry. And you can be free to kiss and fuck whoever you'd like,"

"Hey I never said,"

"And I'll do the same!" She finishes strongly and crosses her arms.

"Hermione." He tries talking to her like he's been calm and reasonable this whole time and she's the one who has lost it. "I was just..." he searches for the right words to make himself the victim again. "I was angry and I reacted. Ginny's a bitch but she's not a liar."

"What should I have done then? Written 'Dear Ronald, I kissed Theo Nott and Draco Malfoy at a party tonight. Oh and Ginny's going to date Blaise Zabini. Hope you and Harry are having fun?' I didn't want to upset you. I didn't want to ruin your trip. Because I know you and you would have reacted this way whether I told you then or now."

"You've gone on dates with him?" Ron seems to have just registered that part of her confession.

"We've been hanging out since Halloween. Ginny wanted to date Blaise but she wanted to double. My choices were Theo or Malfoy. I chose Theo. We went on two dates altogether." Hermione tries not to sound annoyed at Ron while she tells him this. He didn't know, and it's her own fault.

"You kissed him on Halloween, and then hung out with him and went on dates with him. Never once did you mention Theodore Nott in any letter you wrote to me." She can tell he's winding back up again.

She sighs. "I know. I'm sorry about that. My reasons for not telling you were the same as I explained before. But that doesn't excuse the fact that I was wrong not to tell you. I acknowledge that. And I'm sorry for it."

He paces back and forth a bit, processing the new information. "So let me get this straight. You've developed an entire relationship," she tries to speak but he stops her with a hand up, "an entire friendship with slytherins for the past two months and never told me about it in any of the letters you sent me."

She nods. There's a knock at her door. She turns and opens it. Her mother stands there with concern on her face. "Everything alright dear?" She asks.

"Yes mum. We're just discussing a... miscommunication." Ron scoffs behind her and she whips around to glare at him. She does not want to do this in front of her parents. "Just a few more minutes. Sorry mum." Her mother nods and satisfied that there's no danger, she leaves them alone again. Hermione shuts the door softly.

"It's not a miscommunication, it's a lie. A deliberate and intentional lie." He says angrily.

She's trying to feel sad and bad and guilty. But she can't for some reason. "You weren't there!" She shouts a bit, exasperated. "You left. You and Harry left us. Why can't we make friends with other people while you're gone?"

"Be friends with whoever you want, Hermione. You've got an entire house of gryffindors to choose from. Or where were the ravenclaws, huh? Tutor some first years if you need to fill your time. Why would you choose dates with slytherins?" He growls out the last part. As if it's an intentional slight to him that she chose the friends she did.

She rolls her eyes, "oh my god, Ronald. Enough. I apologized for not telling you, in that I was wrong. But I won't apologize for being friends with slytherins. And I won't stop it either. You don't get to control a part of my life that you aren't present for."

"Well then maybe you should spend new years with Ginny and your new friends." He spits out at her and starts toward the door.

"Are you serious right now?" She turns to face him as he grabs the handle.

"Kiss and fuck whoever you want, isn't that how you put it?" He sneers down at her before he rips open the door and leaves her house without another word.

She takes a moment to process. She's pretty sure Ron just broke up with her. And she's not sad about it. Maybe she's just in shock.

She walks downstairs and her parents are waiting for her on the couch. They wait for her to speak. She sighs and flops down next to them. "Ginny and I made friends with some guys from slytherin this year since Harry and Ron have been gone, and I didn't tell Ron about it because I knew he would be mad. And Ginny just told him about it all tonight because he was being mean to her." She drops her forehead into her palm. She's tired. But still not upset like she probably should be.

Her parents share a look for a minute before her mum says "why did you feel you had to keep it a secret from him?"

"They're slytherins. That automatically makes him dislike them. He ascribes to unfounded prejudices very strongly. I knew I wouldn't be able to explain things clearly through a letter, and I knew he would be upset no matter what I said. So I just didn't tell him. I was waiting until we saw each other again for new years before I updated him on everything that's been going on. Only tonight, Ginny was talking to Harry about a real relationship she's developed, and it set Ron off. And she defended herself by telling him I was friends with them too." She stops and shakes her head. Then grabs a handful of popcorn, "let's just finish the movie. I knew this would happen no matter what. I'm not upset by him breaking up with me."

"He broke up with you?" Her mother said, surprised. They were trying hard to be supportive and cautious.

"I suppose we broke up with each other. Because I refuse to let him dictate who I can be friends with. I have a good thing with these new friends. Theo is an amazing academic, he's been a great study partner to have. And honestly it's been refreshing to get to know someone new, even if we've been going to the same school for 7 years now." She munches on popcorn and picks up the remote, she lifts it up to push play on the movie but stops at the look her parents share. "What?" She asks defensively.

"Well, you didn't tell us about these new friends either." Her mother says cautiously. "I'm not saying who was wrong or right in this situation. And I'm not saying new friends are a bad thing. It's just an observation."

Hermione chews her lip as she considers it. She doesn't know why she didn't bring up her new friends at all to her parents yet. She doesn't know why she isn't upset about Ron breaking up with her. She doesn't know why she has the sudden desire to send an owl to Theo and ask to meet up.

"Let's just finish the movie." She pushes play and they continue watching. Except now she's not paying a lick of attention, but thinking about what she should do now. Why does she feel like a burden has been lifted? Instead of devastation and heartbreak? That's pretty telling, she can admit that much to herself.


She wrote letters to both Harry and Ginny that night, asking to meet. Harry wrote back immediately asking her to breakfast the next morning. She had yet to hear back from Ginny.

She met Harry at a muggle coffee shop near Grimmauld Place. He looked like he hadn't slept at all. "Hi!" She squeaks and jumps up to hug him. It's been almost 6 months since she's seen him. He holds her tightly for a good long minute, then kisses her cheek and sits at the little circular table.

They both sit there a moment, they share a small smile. "Can we just start with your trip? We'll get to the heavy stuff after breakfast." Hermione offers. Harry nods, leaning forward and rubbing a hand over the short scruff he's been growing on his jaw. A waiter brings them coffees and blueberry scones that Hermione ordered for them while she was waiting.

"It's been really cool, all the places we've seen I mean. The black sand beaches in El Salvador were awesome. I almost drowned trying to learn how to surf. We climbed up to Mach Picchu. We took a boat along the Amazon. Saw glaciers in Alaska and penguins in Argentina. It's everything I hoped it would be." He sounds like he's trying to muster up enthusiasm, but he's drained. He picks at his scone and downs half the coffee at once, black and hot. He sits back and rubs his eyes. "Ron and I are staying at Grimmauld until January. Then off to pacific islands and Asia."

She nods, it makes sense they wouldn't be staying at the Burrow. Not after yesterday. "How are the Weasley's?" She asks.

"They're pretty good I think. George brought Angelina Johnson to Christmas. They've been living together above the shop for a couple of months now."

She raises her brows in shock, but she's not too surprised, now that she really thinks about it.

"And Percy brought Penelope Clearwater. They are engaged now, getting married in the autumn." The waiter comes by to check on them and refill their coffees. Harry nods in thanks.

"Bill and Fleur have a newborn. So she was the center of attention for sure. I left after breakfast yesterday to go and visit Teddy and Andromeda and give him a present. So I'm not sure if they had any other news after that. But they seem ok. Coping well enough. Everyone looks healthy and well."

Hermione nods. "Good, that's really good. I'm glad to hear it." She finishes her own scone.

"How's school? You ready for NEWTS yet?" He says with a little smirk. He knows she will be thoroughly prepared when the time comes.

"Yes yes. Of course." She waves him off. "Hagrid sends his love. Oh my god, I never told you about the acromantulas!" And she launches into the story of Slughorn and the flowers. She even tells him about Malfoy getting roped into it too and him saving her life with the broomstick. She leaves out the walk back to her dorm and all the other...intimate details though.

"Wow," Harry raises his brows and looks into his coffee as he drinks. "That sounds extremely decent of him. I'm glad he was there with you." He sits back and examines her for a bit. Waits for her to go on. But he doesn't have judgement or anger in his eyes. So she continues.

"He's been significantly less rude without you two there provoking him, probably. Although he is still quite obnoxious and maddening. Don't worry." She assures him.

After another small pause she says quietly "will you tell me about your talk with Ginny?"

He sighs and leans forward again, rakes his hands through his hair. "I just don't think I'm what she needs. I love her. So much. But she has this... this lightness about her, that I feel like I darken. I feel like if she waits for me, she'll be settling. And I don't want that for her. I hate the thought of her with someone else. But I won't hold her back. If she ends up falling in love with Zabini and he isn't stupid enough to fuck it up, then I'll just be happy for her." He shrugs. "Ron took it harder than me I think." He adds as an afterthought. He looks at her then, and waits for her to talk about Ron.

"Yes, well. Timing and patience and empathy were never his strong suits." She sighs deeply. "It was wrong of me to not tell him I had become friends with Theo. I just knew he would get upset no matter when I told him. So I thought waiting was nicer to you both while out on your trip." Harry nods in understanding. She continues, "I like Theo a lot. He's a very good study partner. And I've never had that." She looks sheepishly at Harry and he nods again. She's so grateful for Harry and his true friendship, for knowing her fully and letting her be herself. Ron's always been the one who has teased her about being smart and hardworking. Harry hasn't been Theo, but he hasn't been Ron. If that makes sense. He's in between. And she loves him for it.

"He came home talking about how you want to kiss and fuck the whole slytherin eighth year class. I assume that was an exaggeration."

She rolls her eyes, "he's the one who said first that he wished I would have told him months ago so he could enjoy whatever female company he could get alongside you..." she looks at him for a moment and he shifts uncomfortably.

"Yes, well, he was a good wingman. Kept me from doing anything truly stupid in my inebriated state. But he was faithful to you the whole time. I don't know if he told you that to make you feel bad, or if that's how he really feels..." he trails off.

"I'll be honest. I don't feel upset about the thought of him out there with other girls. I love Ron. I love what we had. But, I don't know. Something about this year apart has me thinking that our future ambitions don't line up." She looks a little sheepish now. But Harry just nods in agreement.

"I not going to pick sides anymore. We're adults now. I'm always your friend and I'm always his friend. I'm rooting for both of you to live your lives fully happy and unapologetic. Whether that's together or apart, it's up to you both. And I'll support whichever one." He reaches across the table and squeezes her hand.

She holds on tight. "Thank you." After a minute she sits back and lets go. "I have a feeling that whoever all of us end up with, when we're ready for that sort of thing, will be the perfect person for each of us. And hopefully we'll all be able to get along enough to at least meet up for pub nights every week." She laughs and he smiles.

"So, you and Theo..." he says, the tone of their conversation now a little lighter.

"I mean... he's been pretty clear that he would be up for anything I give him. But initially I told him I had a boyfriend. So we settled into study partners and friends. But our last few interactions were..." she trails off a bit. "I just think he would definitely still be open to pursuing more. And I think I might be too, now."

"What's he up to during break? Will you see him?" Harry asks.

"His mum died years ago and his dad is in Azkaban for life. He said he is attending to estate business and getting things ready to sell. But that's all I know. He never got the mark, but his father did make him do death eater business during the war. We haven't had a deep conversation about it yet though. He seems to be, I dunno, a different person than before. More outgoing, more focused on his own wants and needs than what his father expected of him. I really like the person I've gotten to know so far. I'm not sure if I'll see him. Will it be weird to owl him and say 'hey by the way, I broke up with my boyfriend so like, want to hang out now?'" She chuckles nervously. She's not sure how to do this, now that she thinks about it.

"Mm, yeah I get it. It sounds bad that way." Harry laughs with her. "But estate business at home alone for the holidays sounds really really terrible to me." He gives her a pointed look.

She nods, "you're right, I should contact him. I will."

Harry pays for both of them, despite her protests and they exit the shop. The day is cold but sunny. They walk slowly toward the nearest secluded spot to apparate.

"So what are your New Year's Eve plans?" Hermione asks as they walk arm in arm.

"I don't know yet. I'd be fine just hanging out with lots of booze at Grimmauld." After a moment he says "I wish you could be there too." He gives her an apologetic look but she waves him off.

"oh no, don't worry. Maybe Theo will be up for something." She thinks maybe Blaise and Ginny will be up for something with her and Theo, but she doesn't want to bring that up in front of Harry yet.

"Well, I'll see you again soon. For weekly pub nights, I promise." Harry hugs her tightly again and she squeezes him back.

"Be safe out there, and have so much fun!" She kisses him on the cheek. And he steps back, waves, and then apparates away.


She's on her fourth attempt at writing to Theo, she has no idea how to not sound weird about asking to see him. She feels suddenly super shy about it. She crumples up the paper and tosses it to the bin. She shakes out her shoulders and breathes out, trying to summon her inner gryffindor, when her mum knocks on her open door, "you have a visitor." She says, smiling, and steps aside for Hermione to see Ginny standing in the hall.

"Hi" She waves lamely, and with a half smile.

Hermione hops up from her chair and rushes over, "Gin! Hi!" And hugs her friend. Her mum goes back downstairs. Hermione closes her door and turns to Ginny who sighs deeply and plops down onto Hermione's bed.

"So you're not too mad about me telling Ron then?" She asks in a sad voice. "I'm sorry I did, I know I should've let you do it. He just makes me so mad. He didn't even talk to Harry or me, just started calling me a whore. Fucking asshole." She adds under her breath.

"I figured that's how it went. It's fine. Seriously. I'm really not upset. I knew he would react this way. I think I've sort of been bracing myself for it." Hermione sits facing her on the bed and squeezes Ginny's knee.

"Harry was too nice, of course. I told him about Blaise and my feelings for both of them and how much I love him but how lonely I've been. He kept saying he won't take this from me. He wants me to just be me, and to not worry about him. I don't know how to tell him what I want from him without asking him to completely change himself. It's not fair to either of us." She trails off and then flops back onto Hermione's pillows. "Why can't it ever just be easy?"

"Well, without Harry in the picture, would it be easy with Blaise?" Hermione asks gently.

Ginny takes a moment to consider. "Yes." She whispers. "Yes Blaise is very easy to be with. He makes me so happy, giddy, excited everyday. I feel beautiful and desired and like I'm the center of his attention at all times. I know that feeling wears off the longer people are together. But it's still there now. And I love it."

"I think you should go for it fully then. Give him this whole term and see how it goes. No holds back." Hermione nudges her with her knee.

Ginny takes a deep breath. "Ok. I'll do it. You've convinced me." She sits up with an excited look on her face and then says, "Shall I ask him to do new years with you and Theo??" She wiggles her brows at Hermione and grabs her hands.

Hermione bites her lip with a guilty grin on her face, "well, I have actually been trying to come up with a way to write to Theo without sounding all weird and desperate," she gestures to her rubbish bin full of crumpled papers.

Ginny squeals and bounces on the bed, still holding Hermione's hands. She pauses, with a serious look "Are you sure you're not upset about Ron? We haven't really talked about you yet. I'm sorry, I don't mean to push you away from him. I hate him. But you don't have to." She gives a small smile.

"No, I think... I think it's very... telling. The fact that I don't really care that he dumped me. I dunno," She shrugs and stands up, walking to her desk. "The last few letters we exchanged were less and less 'lovers' and more '13 year old best friends' if that makes sense." Ginny nods, knowingly. "I just don't really feel a passion for him right now. And you've kind of influenced me to want to live a normal teenage life again. I love that." Hermione gives Ginny a genuine smile. "I'm a little concerned that whatever passion we shared was only inspired by war time uncertainty. I just hope we can both move on and be friends again. I missed seeing your family and catching up with everyone. Harry filled me in a bit on everyone's biggest news."

"well, once Ron can chill the fuck out, you're always always welcome at the burrow. You don't even need to ask or wait for me to be there. Mum will always love seeing you. She doesn't seem to be set on the idea of you and Ron together forever, at least there was no grumbling about when Ron said you weren't together. She seemed pretty unconcerned about it. She actually seems rather unconcerned about any of our partners now. Like when Bill brought home Fleur that first time she was very opinionated. But now I think she just wants to let us be and see us happy, however we choose, and to come home and be with her occasionally." Hermione nods, she knows and shares the sentiment.

"So!" Ginny stands up and changes the subject. "Let me ask Blaise what the plans are and then we can figure out how to ask Theo." They spend the rest of the afternoon together, writing and sending an owl to Blaise and then hanging out in the kitchen with Hermione's mum, baking more treats and gossiping about the new boys in their life. A few hours later, Blaise's reply comes and they scurry back upstairs to plan.


Theo,

Was wondering if you'd like to take a break from what I am sure is highly engaging estate business, and meet up sometime soon? Maybe coffee in London or somewhere in Diagon?

Let me know.

Hermione

She reads through it again, and decides it is good enough. She rolls it up and attaches it to her little owl. She purchased him just before school. But he's a small thing, grumpy and proud but unable to carry anything larger than a letter and she only uses him to communicate with her parents. He fits in well with Crookshanks who she also left home with them. He likes to keep an eye on her mum and dad and she lets him. He's a homebody now in his old age. Her dad spoils him a lot.

She paces back and forth in her room, anxious and unsure what to do now. Ginny left her just before dinner, turning down their offer to stay, but she wanted to give her own mum as many opportunities to feed her as possible.

She and Ginny had decided that Hermione should ask Theo to hang out first, and then Ginny would have Blaise invite him to hang out for New Year's Eve. Hopefully giving him the opportunity to ask Hermione to join him. Hermione was all of a sudden worried about sounding desperate. Before she never thought twice about her interactions with Theo. Now she was nervous and worried about making a good impression on him.

She went to her closet to find something to wear, she was pretty sure he would say yes. But she was still nervous about it. She ran through all of their interactions in her mind, now with the viewpoint of being single and open to dating him. She was sure they both could be straightforward in their communication about what they want from each other. That first time they talked after the Slytherin party was a good indication of that. But getting to the "do you want to try dating for real" conversation made her nervous still.

After fussing about for a while, she went downstairs to help her father with whatever project he was working on. She needed a distraction. She found him in the garage, a small heater next to him on a workbench. He was tinkering around with the toaster, one side of it had stopped working.

"Hey dad" She announced herself as she stepped into the garage.

"Hey hun" he replied, his face scrunched in concentration.

"Need any help?" She plopped herself down on a stool next to him.

"I think I need a new wire here, the bottom side isn't heating up anymore. He was looking around to see if he could find anything that would work, she pulled out her wand.

"Want me to try?" She grinned at him.

He smirked and handed it over to her. "I guess I should take advantage of having my magical daughter at home to help."

She fixed it with a simple reparo and cleaned it up till it was shiny and new. Her father beamed at her. "You're incredible." He kissed her forehead and squeezed her with one arm. "Now the lawnmower!" She laughed as he led her around the garage fixing things and cleaning up as they went.

"Man, I love having a witch for a daughter." He grinned as they surveyed the now spotless garage. She giggled at him and went to go inside. "Hang on, sweetheart." He stopped her. "I just wanted to give you one piece of fatherly advice. I've been thinking about it since Ron left yesterday." She leaned against the door frame, waiting.

"I just want you to know, that whichever bloke someday wins your heart, I want you to know that it should be fire, for both of you. Your whole soul should catch fire when you're with him. That's the only type of man worth settling down for, hun. Anchoring your life with someone else, it's only worth it if it feels like that."

She freezes as he says that, and thinks of only one time where she's felt that way when with a guy. And it's not the one she just asked out.

Her father continues, "you are beautiful and intelligent and powerful. You will win the heart of every guy out there who is interested, no question. But, my sweet daughter, make sure the one you choose not only wins your heart, but your soul too."

"Are you saying Ron wasn't that for me?" She asks, thoughtfully.

"No, sweetheart. I don't think he was. I think he's a good sort of bloke, but not enough for you."

She nods, "I think I knew that too. I love him. But I'm not sure I was ever really in love with him."

Her father puts his arm around her and they walk inside the house. "So does mum set your soul on fire?" She teases him.

"That she does, hun, even 24 years later, she sure does." They walk into the kitchen where her mother is cleaning up after dinner.

"What are you two up to?" She asks as she sees them come in.

"Dad was just telling me all about how in love with you he is." Hermione teases and starts helping her mother dry the dishes and put them away.

"Oh he was, was he?" Her mother says, her father wraps his arms around her mother from behind and kisses her on the cheek.

"Somebody ought to know it." He laughs.

The three of them spend the evening playing board games together at the kitchen table. The soft glow of the Christmas tree lights and a quiet hum of Christmas music accompanying them. Hermione's mother refused to stop celebrating Christmas until after she left to go back to school.

Late in the evening, when she was in pajamas and rereading a favorite novel in bed, she heard a small tap on her window. Her little owl had returned, bearing a letter too.

She jumps up and runs to the window, letting him in. He hops through and perches proudly on her desk, leg outstretched for her to remove it.

Hermione,

I would love nothing more than to be distracted from all this mess by you. Meet at the Leaky at 11:30 tomorrow? We can walk to a lunch spot I love nearby.

Theo

She feels so much excitement about meeting up with Theo that she can hardly contain it. She sweeps over to her closet again and goes through outfits. Now, to look cute walking through London in the middle of winter...