And we work on those new beginnings starting the next day. We set rules for living together in the flat, from cleaning all the way to privacy, and quickly develop a routine. We always eat breakfast together, which Hermione makes, and whoever gets home first in the evening makes dinner. That's usually me. Hermione works a lot of late nights, so she often isn't home to eat with me. I grow to love weekends because not only is she home for dinner, we work in the shop together all day.

Work begins on our new shop and everyone is pitching in. Hermione and Lee are chiefly in charge of all things potions, though Angelina and I can give them a hand when they need it. George and I are chiefly in charge of charms, but Katie and Hermione pitch in as well. Hermione actually wants to do everything, so we let her. She's as committed to and excited about this project as we are. She promises to work every weekend to help out. It's great.

In the evenings, we work on rebuilding our friendship. Hermione makes it clear that she doesn't want to discuss anything that happened during her time as a Curse Breaker, but she does tell me stories about Egypt and Charlie when I ask. We talk about Hogwarts and joke about the days of Umbridge. We talk about our friends. Miraculously, she's kept in touch with everyone she was close to at Hogwarts. Owls are always bringing her letters. That's how I know that Malfoy and his wife are living and working abroad, Neville is teaching Herbology at Hogwarts, and Luna is abroad being a wizarding naturalist. Hagrid is doing well too; Hermione had gone to Hogwarts one weekend to visit him, McGonagall, and Neville. McGonagall was thrilled to see her, apparently, and gave her a packet of papers, which Hermione won't show me.

We take walks around town and enjoy the quiet while admiring the moon. Well...Hermione's admiring the moon. I'm admiring her. I can't believe how much better she looks; she's gained a little weight and her color back and has that sparkle back in her eyes. She's smiling a lot too, something else I've missed.

I think Hermione knows I read her letters, but she avoids the topic so skillfully that it becomes almost impossible to bring up romance. We talk about it in broad terms: our family and friends and their significant relationships, and also what we want. She doesn't want to just be a wife and mother; she wants a husband who understands how important her career is. Honestly, I couldn't imagine her being just a wife and mother.

Our most surprising conversation comes on our way to Bill and Fleur's for a family dinner. We actually discuss Quidditch in detail. Hermione's obviously been doing research; she used to just know the basics of the game, but now she can actually talk about players, team records, chances of winning the Cup, and the like.

"Who are you and what have you done with Hermione?" I finally ask.

She laughs. "All of you are so passionate about Quidditch. I wanted to be able to join in. Besides, I know how much it means to you."

"None of us have learned your passions."

"Mine are more difficult. Learning and helping people aren't as concrete as Quidditch is."

"I suppose so."

Fleur hugs Hermione more tightly than usual when we enter the house; she hasn't seen her since her illness. "You look beautiful."

They talk quietly with Bill for a few minutes, so I go to say hello to the others. Everyone's here except Ron, Lavender, Percy, Penelope, and Charlie. Percy and Penelope is no surprise; they've moved abroad too. Ron used the excuse that Lavender is too pregnant to travel, which Fleur had dismissed with a toss of her head. I miss Charlie, though. I hope he'll come for Christmas.

Dinner is delicious and I follow Hermione out to the back before we leave. She walks over to a little gravestone that reads "Here lies Dobby, a free elf." I still can't believe he's dead. She bows her head and a small wreath of flowers appears, which she sits on the grave. I look at her in surprise. "Did you do just do that without a wand?"

"Yes," she replies.

I'm impressed. "I didn't know you could perform wandless magic!"

"I've been performing nonverbal spells and wandless magic since my sixth year."

The words could be condescending, but her tone is matter-of-fact. Typical Hermione. She could be the most conceited witch in the world and nobody could say her skill isn't true. "You truly are one of the most brilliant witches ever."

Hermione rolls her eyes, but smiles, laughing a little. "Thanks, Fred."

We put Hermione's brilliance to good use helping us create enough inventory for two shops. The new location is opening the first of the year and we're determined to stay on time. By the time December rolls around, the shop is ready. All it needs is inventory. We all spend countless hours on that.

She's busy herself outside of the shop. She's excited about a string of little successes they've had, then a huge one happens: the repeal of a law that explicitly states that pure-blood wizards/witches are superior to half-blood and muggle-born wizards/witches. They are other laws biased towards pure-bloods that they're working on eradicating too, especially the ones created under Voldemort's reign of the Ministry. But that takes time.

"This is massive," Hermione says. "Mr. Shacklebolt wants to move me to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement next year because I've had so much success in working for the rights of non-human magical creatures. The law stating that wizards and witches are superior to non-human magical creatures is going to be repealed next year too!"

"That's incredible," I say, as we watch the snow fall outside. "If he wants to destroy bias and corruption, he definitely picked the right person to help him."

"One of the people in Law Enforcement is concerned about the backlash of repealing the non-human magical creature law. A lot of purist pure-bloods were upset that they're no longer superior to non-pure-blood wizards; can you imagine how they'll react to this?"

I reach over and squeeze her hand. "You'll handle it. You always do."

She smiles, not letting go of my hand. "So many good things next year. I can't wait to help you open your new shop."

"I'm nervous," I admit. "I don't want to fail."

"You won't. You're too smart and too careful to fail."

I laugh. "First time I've ever heard that."

She laughs too. "There's a first time for everything."

Before we head to bed, Hermione looks out the window one more time and says softly, "Maybe next year people will stop asking why we aren't dating."

My heart starts pounding instantly. "What?"

"Well, everyone else we know is paired up. We're both single and neither of us have made a relationship work. Never mind that we've both been too busy to date."

Oh. "I thought you meant why we aren't dating each other."

"Sorry. I should have been clearer."

After we say good-night and retreat to our own rooms, I promise myself that I will make Hermione talk about the possibility of us as a couple. I can't wait anymore.

"I wish we could go play in the snow," Hermione says wistfully as she helps George and me pack boxes.

"After work," I promise.

George, Lee, and I spend the day moving inventory into new shop while Hermione, Angelina, and Katie stay at the old one to work on more products.

"They're probably talking about us," Lee says as we take a brief pause for lunch.

"It's only fair," I say, laughing. "Since we've been talking about them."

"Are you going to ask Hermione to the Ministry's ball?" George asks me.

Ah the Christmas Eve ball. Shacklebolt wanted a way to honor all the people who fought in the Battle at Hogwarts. Everyone's going. It does sound fun, though.

"I plan to. It hasn't come up yet."

"Only two weeks left," Lee reminds me.

"I know, I know."

Hermione and I do play in the snow after we finish working. Her snowball aim has definitely improved. We're both soaking wet.

"That was fun," Hermione says, handing me a cup of hot chocolate to warm up.

She tells a funny story about something that happened at work yesterday, then sits up suddenly. "That reminds me. Do you have a date for the ball?"

My heart flips instantly. "No. Do you?"

"No. Everyone is so paired up that most of my friends are taken." She shrugs in a what-can-you-do way. "I was thinking we could go together. After all, I still owe you a dance."

I can't believe she remembers that. At the Yule Ball, I had asked her to dance, but Neville had already beaten me to it. She had promised that at the next ball she would save one for me. This is perfect.

"We'll be the hottest couple there," I say, grinning.

She rolls her eyes, but laughs. "You know it."

I believe my claim the night of the ball when I look in the mirror. Of course, George is my identical twin, but I look better in fancy clothes than he does. He rolls his eyes in a very Hermione fashion when I tell him that. My jaw drops when I see her, though. She's wearing a red gown that matches the rubies in the butterfly clip I gave her, which she's also wearing.

"You look amazing," I tell her, offering my arm.

"And you look very handsome," Hermione responds, taking it.

We see George, Angelina, Lee, and Katie as soon as we walk through the doors. Hermione immediately compliments how nice they all look. Katie's in black and silver and Angelina's in white and gold.

"Have you seen Lavender?" Katie asks Hermione.

"No," she replies. "Why?"

I look around, then tap Hermione's arm. "Over there."

Lavender is wearing a hot-pink feather-covered gown that looks like it would be better suited for Luna. I start laughing. I can't help it. Hermione laughs too. "That is one of the brightest dresses I've ever seen."

We make the rounds, saying hello to old friends from Hogwarts and, once again, I try to ignore a pang of jealousy when Hermione runs to Neville to hug him. He has a girl with him, so I don't have to worry.

Then we dance. George, Angelina, Lee, and Katie join us for most of the night as well. Harry and Ginny dance some, but spend most of the night with Bill and Fleur, who are also not fans of dancing. Ron and Lavender spend a good part of the night snogging, which is disgusting.

Hermione's an amazing date. I had no idea she could dance so well. I'm grateful for slow dances because they give me a chance to catch my breath. She lets me hold her close and holds on tightly as we waltz.

"I have a confession to make," Hermione says as we dance the final dance together. Unlike other people, we never stop talking.

"What's that?" I ask, my pulse quickening.

"I've had a crush on you since my first year at Hogwarts." She smiles kind of sheepishly. "It was a bit of hero worship at first, I think, because you always protected me."

I'm trying to be cool, but my hands are starting to sweat. "Do you still feel that way?"

"Hero worship? No. I fell in love with you during my fourth year."

My heart starts pounding and my head feels fuzzy. I vaguely aware that the song has ended, but all I can hear is "I fell in love with you."

We decide to walk home and I give her my jacket to keep her warm. "If you loved me, why did you keep going after Ron?"

Hermione shrugs. "Because I thought I would never have a chance with you. And Ron seemed to like me back."

"But I loved you too!" My voice is louder than I intended it to be.

"I know that now. And I don't want to hide my feelings anymore. I don't want to have to hear about you dating other women because you're too stubborn to admit you want me."

Her confidence and straightforwardness is really sexy. I can't make my heart calm down, though, and I'm having trouble breathing as well. But I stop and look at her as snow starts falling. So perfect. "Does that mean I can ask you to be my girlfriend now?"

She smiles. "I thought you'd never ask."