The three of them waited for Hope to leave the kitchen and carried on their conversation for a few minutes longer
"Well find out what's going on soon enough Granger"
"You know we will"
Hermione just looked at the pair and laughed, she knew deep inside her own head just how cunning they are and she knew eventually, if they really wanted to they could get anything out of her, and they'd find out in the end, but for now she's put up a good fight and at least try to keep her business her own
"Shall we boys?"
Hermione held out her hands for the boys and they both took one each and the three of them walked out of the kitchen into the front room
Everybody was in place looking at Charlie who was mumbling on about his work with Dragons.
"And we all know how dangerous my Job was, so the only good thing to take out of my dismissal was the fact that I could look for something safer and closer to home"
Charlie looked at his parents who were sat to the side of him, Looking up proud at their second born son.
"So rather than sit on my backside and moan about the loss, I got myself a new job, one that I could be happy about."
"I'll take it from here boys."
Bill tapped his brothers on the shoulders and winked at them moving them away from Hermione, Bill had never had a problem with how close the group were, he found it to be rather a good thing, but Hermione always wondered how he would take it if he found out the truth of their past, not that it would make a difference in her eyes, in fact it's always something she's wanted to tell Bill, but George would never allow it. He thinks the family would look down on him, they've had the discussion of telling people before, and it's always ended in an argument. Hermione can't see the big deal about it, but George refuses to let it go.
Bill took Hermione by the waist and pulled her into him and hugged her tight, something that told Hermione he was just as glad about the night before as she was, and they both continued to listen to his younger brother.
"You're looking at the new Care of magical creature's professor at Hogwarts"
Charlie had never looked so proud of himself.
"Three cheers for professor Weasley"
Shouted out Ginny from the back of the room where she was standing
"Hip Hip"
"Horrayyyyyyyyy"
Everybody raised there glass while they cheered for him
"Hip Hip"
"Horrayyyyyyy"
Hermione couldn't help but notice the proud look attached to Molly's face, like she'd gotten her long lost son back from somewhere awful.
"Hip Hip"
"Horrrraayyyy!"
"How's about a few fireworks then?"
Arthur looked over towards the twins and for the first time, it wasn't due to them doing something stupid.
"Wait"
Charlie shouted out to the group of people who had started to discuss Charlie's announcement. Everybody turned and looked at him.
"Do you really think I would have got everybody round here just for that measly bit of news?"
Charlie winked and laughed.
"You ready Neville?"
The entire crowed looked towards Neville.
He'd become a dashing and confident man over the year, a rather successful Professor at Hogwarts, but for the first time in years, the Neville from their third year seemed to rear his head, he looked shy, and nervous and didn't move from his spot in the front of the crowed.
"Come on Nev, it's now or never"
Charlie grabbed Neville by the arm and placed him next to him and whispered something in his ear all the group could see was Neville shaking his head trying to get out of whatever was happening.
"Come on Neville what's going on?"
Dean was trying to egg him on, everybody was just wondering and Bill looked at Hermione
"Any idea?"
Hermione looked back and him with a smile on her face saying no, but looked like she couldn't wait to find out.
"Its good news I promise"
Hermione looked confused, did Bill know what was going on, he seemed to know everything about everybody so why wouldn't he know this?
She thought back to what he had said about Neville in their argument, that he was never home and had nobody to love, but was cut off by Charlie's words once again.
"Okay guys, looks like I'm going to have to help the boy out"
Charlie winked at a still feeble looking Neville.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Neville is the boy who managed to get me this job within Hogwarts and while doing so I stumbled onto something that I knew he wanted to do, something that I thought due to past was a brilliant idea, so me and my brother William"
Bill made a coughing noise from within the crowed.
"I'm sorry, me and my brother Bill decided to put this party together, sort everything out, and make it happen; give Neville his chance to make ask something he's been longing to do since he was a small little pubescent teenager."
Charlie looked out into the crowd of people
"Where is she where is she he questioned while searching"
Neville pointed into the crowed the girl in question.
"Ah there we are, Luna Lovegood, would you please join us?"
Charlie again whispered into Neville's ear and just before he left and joined next to Hermione he said
"Now's your chance boy"
and with that Neville was standing in front of everybody waiting for Luna to make it to the front.
Luna hadn't changed at all since the end of Hogwarts, still the girl she always had been, she was wearing a long green wavy dress that dragged on the floor, and by god had she become even more beautiful, she had purple, red and blonde hair now though, Main colour blonde, purple underneath with fire red tips. It was something you had to get used to when you first saw it, but it didn't take long, anything seemed to suit the vacant eyed woman.
Neville stood there a pasty mess; he had a black suite with a white shirt and a black tie, the classic well-dressed male.
He looked at Luna who had now joined him at the front
"Lu..Luna.. I.. I've been, I've been want"
"Neville"
Luna walked closer to Neville and took him by the hand and smiled as if nothing was going on.
Neville's skin colour changed instantly, he'd become less white, he took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes.
"Luna, I know things haven't gone well with us lately, and this last year without you, has been painful, we were strong together, we made each other work, perfect couple we may not be but something made is right, and I refuse to believe that you really wanted us to break after what happened, you were scared and upset and so was I, but I don't care, You left me for the wrong reasons and you wouldn't let me explain when you left, what happened hurt yes, of course it was hard for the both of us. But Luna I know we'll only get over it together, Luna Lovegood, I love you"
Neville slowly lowered to one knee and everybody in the audience cheered.
"Luna, will you marry me? I need you."
Luna looked down to Neville just staring at him smiling.
"Of course I will Neville"
everybody screamed and cheered with each other the chant of
"Neville Neville Neville" coming from the males and the girlish "Awwhhs" coming from the females.
Neville just jumped up and looked at Charlie who gave him the ring he was holding and Neville placed it on Luna's finger, Luna's only reply being
"It's a funny feeling this love thing isn't it"
Neville just smiled and held her tight.
Hermione Looked at Bill and Bill knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Go congratulate them"
Hermione jumped up Kissed bill on the lips and ran to the front and tapped Luna on the shoulder smiling.
as soon as Luna turned around Hermione grabbed her and hugged her and pulled her upstairs into Bills old bedroom in the burrow.
"Luna, oh my god! Getting married, to Neville, Neville longbottom, Neville and Luna, Luna Longbottom! I'm so happy for you!"
Luna just smiled at Hermione
"I think I might just keep my last name Hermione"
Hermione just smiled
"Oh, erm, Luna Lovegood-Longbottom or Luna Longbottom-Lovegood?"
Luna just laughed.
"Longbottom-Lovegood sounds about right"
"Wow, first of all of us to be married then"
"I'll be honest I didn't see it coming, after what happened I didn't think we'd ever end up back together"
Hermione couldn't keep her curious nose out, she knew it was best not to ask, but with it being talked about so much in Neville's speech, and being talked about now, it might be slightly rude if she didn't ask about it, like she wasn't interested, or at least that was the excuse she was going to stick to.
"You don't mind me asking do you Luna?"
Luna just looked at Hermione as if she knew the question was coming.
"I had a still birth, It was rather traumatic"
Hermione looked at Luna stunned
"I didn't even know you were pregnant Luna"
"Nobody did, we were away all during the pregnancy, France, It hit Neville pretty hard, Evan we were going to call him, a little boy, but when he was born, obviously he wasn't breathing and since then, me and Neville couldn't really talk about it, I never wanted to try again, I don't really like children, to many wrackspirts, confuses me a little, but Neville's always wanted them"
Hermione stopped Luna's talking and just hugged her.
"I'm sorry Luna"
Luna just returned the hug and held Hermione.
"I might try again for him, maybe we could have one, he's worth it"
"I think maybe you should, You'd be a great mother Luna, besides, just thinking about one child being raised by Luna and Neville, that would be one certain head of House at Hogwarts"
Luna and Hermione giggled a little longer and came downstairs and returned to everybody, a lot of people had gone and the burrow was much emptier than before, but there were still enough people to have some fun and good conversation.
Hermione walked straight up to Neville and hugged him
"Congratulations, I'm so happy for you"
Neville smiled at Hermione.
"You to Hermione, I'm glad you and Bill are back on track"
Neville looked over Hermione's shoulder to Bill who was standing behind her.
"Thanks for all this Bill, without you and Charlie It'd never have happened."
"You're welcome mate"
