She stood to one side of the ballroom, trying to catch her breath as she wriggled her squashed toes and recovered from her partner's unique dancing style. She smiled as the red-headed man made his way towards her and handed her one of the drinks he was carrying. She accepted it with a smile and let the cool bubbles slide down her throat.
"Thanks" she said, "I needed that." He caught her eye and laughed.
"Knew you couldn't keep up Granger. You're just not woman enough to cope with a man like me." He puffed his chest out as he spoke, causing her to giggle. She adored George, he was sweet and funny, and great company at official events, keeping them from being stale.
"You're right Georgie," she said, and heaved a dramatic sigh before continuing. "It's not going to work between us is it?"
"Oh Mione, darling, I can't live without you, we'll make it work my goddess." He swept her into his arms and kissed her cheek lightly before the pair of them broke down laughing. Although they attended things together and were the constant focus of Molly Weasley's matchmaking schemes they were just friends. Although the twins had irritated her constantly through school Hermione and George had grown close after the war. George was reeling from the loss of his twin and Hermione was hiding from the unwanted media attention. Finding themselves together a lot they had got talking, spilling their deepest fears and desires to each other, finding a way to move forward together . It was Hermione who convinced George to reopen Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, and she had got blind drunk with him on his birthday, the first he had ever had without Fred. In return he had travelled with her to Australia to find her parents, had held her as she cried when they had rejected her, telling her to put the memory charm back on and leave, that they didn't have a daughter. They were brother and sister in everything but blood.
As they laughed together, their arms around each other a flash went off. Despite their denials the press were determined to make them a couple. They rolled their eyes, knowing the image would grace more than one publication come the morning.
"I wonder what crazy rumours they'll dream up this time." Hermione grinned wickedly at George's words.
"Hmm. I'm not Hermione Granger at all, I'm actually the spirit of Fred trapped in Hermione's body and you're involved in a sick relationship."
"Gross! I like it. How about, you're secretly pregnant with Kingsley's love child and I'm a cover. When the baby is born you're going to glamour it to look like a Weasley and no-one will ever know."
They continued to make up more and more silly rumours about their 'relationship'. George was in the middle of a complex story which involved a conspiracy between Centaurs, Merpeople and House Elves when his eyes locked on something across the room and his grin faltered and became a scowl. Hermione followed his line of sight and understood his sudden change. Bill was sat at a table on the other side of the room, Tonks in his lap as he kissed her.
"Honestly, they make me sick. Remus is a good bloke, he didn't deserve what Tonks did, and he really doesn't need them flaunting themselves at him. And while Fleur could be a bit of a bint she came through in the end, just to be tossed aside for that tart." George shook his head in disgust. Hermione couldn't really argue with him. It had come as quite a shock when Bill had shown up alone to a Weasley lunch just after Christmas and announced that Fleur had gone back to France and they were getting divorced. Once it had sunk in most people had put it down to being another wartime marriage that didn't last in peace and thought nothing of it. That was until Bill had turned up to the first gathering after Remus and Tonks ended with Tonks apparently surgically attached to him. It didn't take a genius to figure out that both their previous relationships had ended because of this, and opinion of the pair dropped dramatically, while Remus and Fleur were widely sympathised with.
"I know how you feel George, but don't let them ruin your evening." Hermione moved slightly so that George could no longer see the couple, and wracked her brains for something else to talk about. Luckily she was spared from creating a new topic of conversation when a tall figure approached them.
"Remus!" she cried. "It's lovely to see you, having a nice time?" she moved towards her former professor and gave him a brief hug, brushing her lips across his cheek.
"Hermione" he said, returning her hug. "George, it's nice to see you both. Although you'll set the gossip wheels spinning again you know."
George laughed. "Yeah, we were just guessing what rumours they'd make up this time. As if there's nothing better to write about."
"Mmm. Listen George, I'm sorry I didn't respond to that owl you sent about your new product. It's been a funny few weeks."
"No worries Remus mate, just let me know what you think if you get time, I've hit a bit of a wall with it and the opinion of a member of the almighty Marauders is always welcome." George's smile was full of mischief as he replied.
"Well, I had a think and I reckon you need to make it a bit more subtle for it to work." Hermione smiled to herself as the two pranksters debated the issue, both seemed to lose some of the shadow of grief that hung around them when they planned chaos. She supposed it was a reclaiming of part of what they had lost, someone to plot with. She left them to it, moving through the crowds until she spotted the people she was looking for.
"Hello you lot. Ginny, Demelza you look gorgeous. You two don't scrub up too badly either." Her last comment was directed at Ron and Harry.
"I just wear what Mel tells me to, it's easier." Ron grinned goofily as he looked at his girlfriend. Demelza Robbins had been in the same year as Ginny at Hogwarts and played chaser on the Gryffindor team in Harry's sixth year. She and Ron met again at Ginny and Harry's engagement party in December and had hit it off.
"What, you just do whatever she tells you? I find that hard to believe." Hermione teased.
"Harry's the same, I reckon they just got used to you telling them what to do that you've trained them up for us!" Ginny laughed then dodged to avoid the swipe that Ron took at her arm. "Come on Mel, let's get a drink. Mione will protect these two from big bad journalists and man-eating fan-girls." Both women waved as they wandered off, leaving the trio together.
"Things seem to be going well for you two then Ron." Hermione smiled at the man she had once thought she had a future with. After a long conversation they had decided that their friendship wasn't worth the risk of romance and were better friends for it, now that the sexual tension was removed.
"They really are. She's great. I'm, well, I'mgoingtoaskhertomarryme." Ron babbled the last bit out to his best friends.
"Sorry Ron, what was that?" Harry asked.
"I'm going to ask her to marry me. I know it's soon but when you know you know right?" Ron was blushing now, almost the same colour as his hair.
"Oh Ron, I think that's great." Hermione threw her arms around him, an action Harry followed. They stood in their triple hug for a moment then let go, Hermione smoothing her pale green dress. They just stood for a while, comfortable in the silence as only friends can be. Their silence was broken when a serving elf offered them glasses of champagne, it was time for the Minister's speech so the three focused their eyes on the stage.
"Ladies, gentlemen, honoured guests," Kingsley began in his deep, reassuring voice. "Today, on the third anniversary of the fall of Voldemort, we gather at the first celebration ball to honour those who fought to rid out world of evil, that all could be seen as equal. All who raised their wands to help fight are worthy of recognition, but tonight we especially thank Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley." Kingsley paused and raised his glass to the trio, who drew closer together as a magical spotlight focused on them, and the people in the ballroom followed Kingsley's example and raised their glasses. To their relief Kingsley continued. "Most of all, however, we remember those who paid the ultimate price, who laid down their very lives that we might live in peace. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast to all those who died in both Voldemort Wars. To absent friends."
"To absent friends." Echoed the room. As people drank from their glasses Kingsley stepped down from the stage and the band resumed playing. The atmosphere was slightly more subdued now, as the assembled guests remembered those who they had lost.
A/N Review please! I'm not sure about this chapter, let me know what you think, good bad or ugly!