Hermione could hardly remember the carriage ride back home to their town house. She was sure Molly had noticed how distracted she was but she found that she didn't really care at the moment. Her head was in a spin trying to think of a way of getting out of her engagement with the toad that was Viktor Krum. There was no logical explanation for her to have done so in the first place and the idea of spending an eternity with him made her want to throw up. It was only when they arrived at the house and Lavender touched her hand to let her know that she realised they had stopped.

Her friend gave her a pointed look as they walked into the house in silence. Hermione had already seen the look and so knew she would be followed up to her room. She was not disappointed. Lavender gave her no moment to think, instead she just started talking, "Alright," he said placing her hands on her hips, "What in the name of Merlin has gotten into you?" she demanded.

"Why did I ever agree to marry Krum?" she asked as she flopped onto her chair, "He is a complete swine!" she added. Lavender's face instantly softened and she came to sit beside her.

"I'm sure he isn't," she started.

Hermione shook her head, "I cannot marry him! He wants me to move to Bulgaria after we're married and he didn't even ask me! It's not as though I am his property or anything like that." She seemed unable to prevent the words from leaving her mouth, even as her friend's eyes widened with surprise.

"How awful."

"I know. I don't think I could bear to be away from you all on a permanent basis. And to do so without asking! I don't know what he was thinking but there is no way I can do that." Hermione pushed loose curls from her forehead and sighed, "I'm going to have to think of a way of getting out of this engagement without compromising my own reputation." She could hardly believe the words that were coming out of her mouth – she sounded so old fashioned.

Lavender's brow puckered in thought as Hermione mentioned her thoughts, "Thing is though, if you don't marry Krum, who else is there?"

"I don't care at the moment Lavender," she admitted slowly, "I am not moving to Bulgaria or being chained to a man that gives my feelings no consideration what so ever."

"And he seemed so thoughtful too," Lavender sighed. Hermione shook her head and felt her throat tighten.

"What am I going to do?" she asked, knowing that her voice sounded strained when she spoke. Lavender slumped a little and shook her head.

"I have no idea."

"Me neither." Hermione pressed her lips together and dismissed Krum and the whole situation from her mind. "I should reply to Severus," she muttered. Lavender nodded.

"I didn't get the opportunity to speak to him at the Malfoy's." she said.

"That's alright, do you think he will consent to meet with me?" Hermione asked. Lavender gave a little shrug.

"I don't see why not," she replied, "Just don't ask his fiancé to go too."

Hermione nudged her friend with her shoulder and laughed, "I want to talk to him, not have her shout at me for existing." Lavender gave her a smirk, "I do wonder what her problem with me is, I'd rather like to find out."

"I'd do it Hermione, if only for your own sanity. He might have some ideas of how to get rid of Mr Krum for you as well," she added. Hermione shifted a little at the idea. Somehow, the thought of Severus getting rid of Krum seemed a little distasteful, and yet, she was more than happy for Draco to help out in that regard. Lavender must have read something in her face because she shook her head, her smile slipping, "No?"

"Doesn't seem right to me," she muttered

"Is it because you want him to take Krum's place?" Hermione had the decency to look shocked at the suggestion but there was no point trying to deny what she knew was true. Lavender knew her far better than that as well.

"Let me just write this letter first, we can worry about those details later," she said with a sigh. Lavender gave her arm a sympathetic pat before rising from the stool she had sat on.

"I have a few letters of my own to write so I shall leave you to it." Hermione nodded as she glanced up at her friend. The look in her eyes was almost too much to bear and so she returned her attention to her desk, not wanting her to know how close to tears she was about the whole thing. The moment Lavender left, she pulled out a clean piece of paper and her quill, it was time she got the reply penned so she could send it.

Dear Severus,

Thank you

She took the parchment and screwed it up, deciding that using his Christian name was overly familiar and didn't seem right in this case.

Dear Mr Snape,

Thank you for your letter regarding the conduct of your fiancé.

This one she rejected as she decided that it sounded too accusatory. Yes, Fleur had been very rude to her the other day but he had apologised for that and as such, she wanted to leave it at that. She tried again

Dear Mr Snape,

Thank you for your apologies but I assure you, they are not needed. I do not know what I may have said to Ms. De La Cour to cause such upset, I just hope that we are able to put it behind us and remain good friends. As such, I would be delighted if you would be able to meet me for lunch one day in the near future,

Yours

Hermione.

Thirds the charm, or so they say… Taking a deep breath, she folded the letter, placed it in an envelope and sent for one of the owls. The moment the bird was there, she gave it the letter and sent it away before she could change her mind. Done was now done and she would have to live with the consequences of that, regardless of what they were.

Hermione let out a deep breath, one she didn't realise that she had been holding and rose from her desk. There didn't seem to be anything else she could do for the moment and so she returned to the sitting room. Fresh tea was there, as was Ginny and so she decided that catching up with her other friend would be a good idea.

It turned out that she really had caught Harry's eyes, which she was thrilled about. He was apparently coming to call for her later that day and they were going to have a long chat about a variety of subjects. Hermione couldn't help be thrilled about for her friend and decided that her own troubles needed to be kept far from the girl's happiness. When Ginny asked about Krum, she merely brushed it off and changed the subject again. Ginny knew exactly what she was doing and was about to protest when Molly entered the room.

Hermione looked up at the woman who defended their honour and frowned. Her face was bright red and the frown that marred her brow was deep. She knew this meant that the woman was about to lose her temper. Ginny rose and guided her mother to a seat while Hermione poured her a cup of hot tea. Forcing it into her hands, she asked, "What happened?"

"Ron," Molly managed to breath.

"What about him?"

"Him and that bloody Dean Thomas," she hissed. Hermione exchanged a glance with Ginny before looking back at Molly.

"Go on," she said.

"Quidditch accident," Molly replied. Hermione was under the impression that this was a semi regular occurrence for Ron and she tilted her head, "Nothing serious, except this time, they crashed into the Minister and sent him into the mud, before a big meeting. He is furious!" Molly said.

"Was Ron alright?" Ginny asked.

"Of course he was!" Molly snapped, "He always is, I don't know about the Minister. He was fuming. Ron and Dean are in serious trouble and your father might lose his job." Hermione's eyes widened and she let out a sigh.

"I'm sure the Minister is a reasonable man," she muttered, he had been in her time after all. Ginny and Molly looked a little horrified at her suggestion and she realised that she had made another mistake. "Maybe not," she said, trying to make a bit of a joke about it. They seemed to buy it, which was something and she laughed a little awkwardly. Molly sipped her tea and shook her head.

"They just don't seem to take care of anything," she muttered. Her face had returned to a normal colour now and she had calmed significantly. Hermione let out a small sigh and picked her mug back up, taking a sip of the now tepid liquid. Ginny also relaxed but she found they were unable to continue speaking so freely. Molly and her daughter began speaking of her coming engagements and so Hermione picked up a book and started to read.

The volume was on the creation of healing draughts, one that she found rather interesting as it differed from what she knew from her time. It wasn't archaic or out dated, it was just different. Some of the ingredients she learned were odd, some she had never heard of before but they were interesting anyway.

She was unaware of how much time had passed until there was a tapping at the window. Looking up, she saw that their owl had returned already. Her eyes lit up at the thought of a letter from Severus and she opened the window, letting the bird into the room. Indeed, there was a letter looped around its foot and she flushed. "What is it Hermione?" Ginny asked when the cool air touched her skin.

"I have a letter," she said as she took it from the bird.

"Another one?" Molly asked with a frown. Hermione nodded, not informing them that she had already recognised the script and was about to go off and read it. She got the idea that Molly would not approve of this clandestine meeting with Severus, if he had agreed of course. Instead, she rose and excused herself, wanting to read it in private.

The moment she was in her room, she tore the envelope open and tugged out the parchment, reading it hungrily.

Dear Miss Granger,

I find your invitation to meet acceptable and shall meet you tomorrow at noon at the Leaky Cauldron for a spot of lunch. I will come alone due to the sensitive nature of this meeting and look forward to our conversations.

Forever Yours

Severus

Her heart leapt into her throat and she nearly squealed with joy. He had agreed! All of a sudden, her engagement to Krum didn't seem to matter all that much anymore. It seemed like a small inconvenience that she would be able to solve easily enough. For the moment, she had something to look forward to.