CHAPTER 9

A/N: sorry about the few day wait. I had finals this week in my classes and haven't had time to update. Hope this tides you over until I can get a few more chapters up! As always thank you to all my followers/reviews/favoriters! I love you all. You make writing and posting worth it. xXMizz Alec VolturiXx thank you for the review. I am glad that you are enjoying it. And now without farther ado…the chapter!

"Care to dance?" Hermione looked up to see Harry holding his hand out for her. She smiled and accepted.

Harry had become quite the dancer. Hermione was sure that it was Ginny's doing, and she winked at the younger witch as they passed her. Ginny giggled and lifted her drink in response.

"So, you are getting married, Mr. Potter?" Hermione asked playfully.

"I sure am, Ms. Granger."

Hermione giggled and held on the Harry a bit tighter. She had consumed a few too many drinks and was feeling the effects. "I am so happy for you, and I am glad that you finally got up the courage to do it" She murmured into his chest. She felt it rumble as he laughed.

"How much have you had to drink, Hermione?"

"Too much."

"Upset because Sam isn't here?"

Hermione bit her lip; she was not sure how much she wanted to share with Harry. He was her confidante, but she did not want to lay her problems on him. Plus she did not know if she really wanted to talk about it with anyone yet. Unfortunately, the alcohol did not have this same problems.

"He got upset with me. He always gets upset when I mention the full moon. He doesn't trust me, Harry. He is always so testy when the subject comes up, and he doesn't want to talk about it!"

Harry frowned, obviously thinking the situation over. "Remus was the same way. He hated that side of himself. Sam probably just needs time to adjust to having someone like you in his life. If he knows what is good for him, he will figure it out. At the end Remus was so open with Tonks. Remember?"

Hermione smiled lightly, they both had a hard time talking about those that they lost in the war. It was a touchy subject and for Harry to mention it seemed odd, but Hermione appreciated it all the same. She let Harry lead her back to Ginny. "I think we better get this witch home. She has had a bit too much to drink." Ginny nodded her head and the two of them helped Hermione home and into bed. Hermione protested the whole way that she was fine, and could manage on her own. After the third time Harry had to catch her from falling to the ground. She didn't protest as much.

Once Hermione was safely in bed, Ginny and Harry smiled at each other and left her to sleep.

"You look beautiful tonight, Ms. Weasley."

"Well, you don't look to bad yourself, Mr. Potter." Ginny slipped her hand into Harry's as they reached Hermione's living room. It was a cozy place where the three of them had spent quite a few nights sipping tea and reminiscing about the past. Ginny, Harry and Hermione had been very close since the end of the war and did not go too long without seeing each other. "How is she doing?"

"She and Sam are having problems. To be honest, I am not surprised. Sam seems very reserved and self-conscious about himself. Hermione needs someone who she doesn't have to be careful around, she needs some that can be completely themselves around her. She needs someone who makes her completely and totally happy. She deserves it."

"What a sap you are," Ginny whispered, kissing his lips softly and pulling him out the door, making sure to lock in behind her. They smiled, Harry grabbed her hand and disapperated back home.

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The orphanage was finished and Hermione had moved on to her new assignment reluctantly. The vampires had not wanted anything that the Ministry was not willing to give. The vampires had been banned from any and all Ministry jobs for hundreds of year, but now they were asking for a seat somewhere. They wanted their voices to be heard. Luckily, her boss thought it was a wonderful idea. She had been a bit worried after the last time she had asked the Ministry for something. She wondered if it was because money was not involved or because werewolves were not involved. Either way she was happy to inform her contact with in the vampire society, Devan, that there would be a few positions opening with the intent to hire vampires.

A few months passed and Hermione was not put on assignment, but she continued to work in her office. She met with her various contacts and made sure her previous projects were still running smoothly. She visited the orphanage once a week and read to the children.

She and Sam were still dating, though things had been strained. She loved him, she was sure of that, but she was worried that he didn't feel as strongly as she. He was always polite, caring, and sweet. But Hermione walked a fine line. If he was reminded in any way that he would be turning into a wolf on the full moon, he would shut himself off. Hermione was still searching for a way to stop this behavior. She was struggling with it because most of the time he was the perfect man. He took her to dinner, the Ballet, and the Opera. He always held the door for here, he always pulled out her chair, and he always kissed her good night. A kiss that made her toes curl, and on the rare nights that he decided to spend the night, he worshiped her like she was the only woman in the world.

Hermione was getting ready to head over to the Weasley's home for a Sunday dinner. Mrs. Weasley had insisted that she come. The only thing she regretted about going was seeing Ron. She and Ron had grown apart a lot. They only saw each other on Sundays, and only if Hermione was able to make the Weasley Dinners. The two of them had very little to talk about, and things had grown slightly awkward between them. Mrs. Weasley was still hoping that the two of them would patch things up and she could eventually bring Hermione in to the family in a formal way. Hermione knew it would never happen, but she wasn't going to tell Molly Weasley that.

She apperated to the apperation point on the Weasley land and walked to the front door. She knocked lightly and waited for the door to open. Every weekend she was told just to come in, but every weekend she still knocked. She felt strange just walking into a home that wasn't her own.

The door flew open and she found herself face to face with Ginny.

"Hermione, how are you!" Ginny pulled her into a hug.

"I'm great. How are you?"

"Busy planning a wedding that mom is trying to completely take over."

Hermione laughed lightly and smiled at the younger witch. She started to ask when the wedding was, but a bundle of violet hair grabbed her around the knees. She looked down to see Teddy's chubby face looking up at her. When their eyes caught, she watched as his hair changed to match her brown hair and his eyes change to a deep chocolate brown that matched her own.

Teddy lifted his little arms and looked imploringly at Hermione. The little bundle of child was a little over a year old and he was a handful. Hermione smiled at his grinning face.

Hermione smiled and picked up the little boy. "Well, hello Teddy." Teddy babbled back, not quite making sense. She just nodded her head along with him.

She played with the little cutie as she walked over to where Harry and Charlie were having a conversation. They both turned and looked over at Hermione with smiles.

"Glad you could make it, Hermione. It seems like we have been missing each other lately. Every time I can come to dinners, you aren't able to make it. What's it been two months?"

"Well, Charlie, if you didn't choose those dragons over me," Hermione teased the red headed wizard.

Charlie smiled and winked at her. He turned back to Harry and was about to start a new conversation when he suddenly remembered something.

"Hey, I almost forgot! I was going to give you a heads up. There is going to be a petition coming through your office in a day or two. Some of the higher ups are requesting a new dragon sanctuary for the abused dragons that we have been wrangling up in the last year."

Hermione nodded and thanked him for letting her know. She was suddenly very giddy. She was sure that he boss would hand the job over to her. He had let her know a few weeks ago that she was his best worker. Hermione was excited to get out of the office and working with the dragon tamers meant a trip to Romania.

She tickled Teddy and nuzzled his cheek while she made her way to the kitchen were Mrs. Weasley was finishing up dinner.

"Oh, hello dear! I see Teddy found you. He loves you, you know."

"Hi, Molly. I seem to be quite fond of him also. How have you been?"

Molly smiled brightly, but Hermione could see the sadness that still lay in her eyes. She knew that Molly would never fully lose the sadness in her eyes. She loved her family more than anything in the world and she had lost one of them. She would never be whole again. Hermione walked up to her and wrapped her open arm around the older woman.

Teddy giggled and wrapped his little arms about Molly, too. "Thank you for being so wonderful to me, Molly. You are an amazing woman."

Molly gripped Hermione tightly, "There is no need to thank me, dear. You are family."

Hermione felt a stinging behind her eyes. She tried hard to hold it back and answer, "After…after my parents. It is nice to have someone who is just like a mother to me."

Hermione could tell that the woman was fighting to keep her composure. She smiled to Molly and left the kitchen in order to let the woman have a few moments to herself.

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Dinner had gone well and that night when Hermione walked to the apperation spot, she smiled and was happy that she had come. Most of the time she felt sad after spending time at the Burrow. It always reminded her that she would never have that with her family. Her parents were gone, out of her life forever and there was nothing she could do about it. It was difficult to be around all the love in the Burrow and not feel sad, but after tonight, she felt excited and happy.

Teddy had clung to her all throughout dinner and only left her when it was time to go home. Hermione found out that he had been spending more and more time at Harry's flat. She was sure that it wouldn't be too long before he was living there permanently. He was a handful for his grandmother, and he hated to be away from Harry.

She was so happy for Harry, he was getting married, he had his dream job, and he had a wonderful Godson that held his heart. Hermione usually felt sad when she thought about all that Harry had. Remembering that she had to return to her lonely flat, but tonight she was just too happy to care.

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A/N: As always, I ask that you drop me a review! Eternal love to those that do!