Beta love to CarbConnoisseur.

"Kitten!" Alex's beaming smile lit up his face from where he was seated next to the most beautiful woman Hermione had ever seen. Sparkling brown doe eyes followed her as she headed for the table, swallowing back her own insecurities in the face of the other woman. When Alex had begged her to meet his girlfriend, Hermione hadn't thought much of it. Faced with the woman, she now wondered if perhaps she should have. She'd never been great with other females and Alex was clearly in love with this one. Steeling herself, praying to whoever might be listening that it wasn't a horrific meeting, Hermione neared the table.

"You must be Hermione?" the woman smiled gently, as she sat down.

"And you must be Izzah." Hermione returned her smile.

"I must admit, I've been looking forward to meeting you. Alex speaks of you often."

Hermione smiled, taking in the poised woman across from her, before turning to Alex. "Are you potioning her?"

"What?" Alex spluttered, his eyes going wide.

Hermione smirked, raising an eyebrow pointedly. "Thirty seconds and I already know she's far too good for you."

Izzah laughed, mirth replacing her previously confused and slightly offended expression. "I think I'm going to like you," she murmured.

Alex groaned. "This was a phenomenally bad idea," he muttered.

"Nonsense," Hermione dismissed with a grin. "Alex tells me you work at the Ministry?"

"Yes. I am apparently a glutton for punishment. Although I understand you're considering joining us?"

Hermione hummed. "Perhaps," she hedged. "You're part of the DMLE?"

"Yes, I put together the cases for the WIzengamot. It's both fascinating and demoralising. Some people are truly awful human beings."

"Oh I know," Hermione murmured.

Izzah's eyes blew wide. "I apologise… I…"

Hermione shook her head sharply. "Don't. It… well it happened, but despite several people's best efforts, I am alive. You do not need to apologise. Are you the reason Alex haunts the DMLE driving Uncle Charlus demented?"

Izzah laughed. "No. We all thought there was more to Alex's friendship with Kingsley, to be honest. It wasn't until he asked me on a date that we realised they were just friends."

Hermione's jaw went slightly slack before she laughed. "Oh my Merlin! That's amazing! And Kingsley's parade of pretty vacuous blondes was, what? A ruse?"

"It seems an unusual choice for a man like Kingsley," she murmured diplomatically.

"True," Hermione nodded. "And yet, that would appear to be his type."

"I know," Izzah sighed. "I've sat through more than one date with them. I have no idea why I agree. I spend the night drinking enough that I can pretend they're interesting."

Hermione let out a little choked laugh, attempting to stifle it when Alex glared. "Don't encourage her!"

"Oh, come on!" Hermione protested. "We all know Kings could do much better than the delights he seems to prefer. And if he's happy that's wonderful, but it doesn't mean we can't want more for him."

Rolling his eyes, Alex stood. "Tea?"

"Coffee," Hermione countered. "Oh, and that fluffy little pink cake, please. I have no idea what it is but it looks adorable."

Alex snorted. "Coffee and adorable cake?"

"Please?" Hermione batted her eyelashes at him.

He huffed but didn't comment. "And you?"

"Such love when you speak to me," Izzah teased. "I'll have tea and the adorable cake."

He rolled his eyes. "Wonderful. Two adorable cakes," he muttered. "I sound like an idiot."

"Only sometimes, darling," Izzah commiserated with an amused smirk.

They watched as he headed to the counter. "He's really missed you," Izzah murmured, her eyes scanning Hermione's face. "I… I'd really like it if we could find some common ground. He's… we've been together a while, despite the nontraditional form of our relationship, and I love him. But you, you will come first."

Hermione frowned, startled by the abrupt change in the woman's demeanour. "I shouldn't."

Izzah gave her a small, sad smile. "When he told me his mother had informed him of your return, you should have seen his face. I've always known there was something he was holding back. I couldn't have begun to guess what it was, but it was there in the background. A little niggly feeling that I was missing something significant. And when he told me about you, it all made sense. He has missed you his entire life, and he is going to do anything to keep you in it now."

"I… I'm not entirely sure what to say to that," Hermione admitted slowly. "It's… I would never… as long as you treat him right, you'll have no issues with me."

"Thank you," Izzah smiled, some of the tension Hermione hadn't even been aware she'd been holding releasing from her shoulders. "I've been… so scared of meeting you. The way they all talk about you, it's clear they adore you. I thought Dorea was going to cry when she told Charlus you'd called her Aunt."

"If you'll forgive my nosiness," Hermione began, changing the subject, before the discomfort became overwhelming, "Why are you untraditional?"

Izzah rolled her eyes. "We were too young to consider marriage originally. Daddy would have had me down an aisle within weeks of leaving school if he'd had his way. And then… I had wondered if the niggly thing I was missing was that he wasn't altogether serious about us. It's… well, I'm sure you've noticed, while Alex can, and does occasionally, take things seriously, it's not his default setting."

Hermione inclined her head with a smirk. "I'd noticed."

"Obviously, I know now that that was my own insecurities talking but… truthfully I don't know why he's not brought it up since then."

Hermione hummed. "I could find out?"

A brief look of horror flashed over Izzah's face. "No, thank you!"

"Aww," Hermione pouted. "He's going to be horrific if I ever show even the slightest hint of interest in a man. I was hoping I'd get my turn in early."

Startled, Izzah laughed. "Gods, he is going to be ridiculous isn't he?"

"Yes," Hermione sighed. "It's fine. I'm not… it's unlikely…"

Izzah frowned. "You don't want a relationship? Not now, obviously, but once things settle?"

Hermione shook her head. "It's… complicated."

"You left someone at home?" Izzah guessed.

"Not… not exactly. There was someone I had feelings for, but we never… It was complicated."

"You don't see yourself moving back?" Izzah probed gently, knowing that Alex wouldn't survive her returning to America.

Hermione shook her head. "It's not currently an option, and even if it was… he wouldn't be there. I don't know what Alex has told you…"

"Not much," Izzah admitted. "He was unusually vague. He said your parents died and you came here to reconnect with family."

Hermine nodded. "More than my parents died," she murmured softly.

"Oh." Understanding flashed over Izzah's face. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too," Hermione murmured. "I'm… I'm not ready to consider…"

"No! No of course you're not! Gods, you must think I'm an insensitive bitch."

Startled, Hermione laughed. "No. You're already doing better than Alex, who dragged me out of Hogwarts' Great Hall after breaking into the castle and demanding answers."

"He did not!"

"Oh, he did. I beat him in a duel in his cousin's class as punishment afterwards."

Alex's head jerked sharply towards them when Izzah let out a loud peal of laughter. "You are a fucking arsehole," he muttered to himself. "What the fuck were you thinking introducing those two?"

Behind the counter the assistant snorted. "Introducing the girlfriend to your family?" he hedged.

"Little sister," he muttered.

He hummed, nodding. "Good luck mate. It's almost worse when they get on. You'll never win another argument again."

"Thanks," Alex replied weakly, wondering if it would be safer to sneak out and deal with this nightmare later before he realised giving them unsupervised time to plan was an even worse idea.

Sighing, he picked up his tray with the ridiculous cakes and steeled himself for what was to come.

"Hermione!" Alex called, stepping out of the floo. "Hermione!"

"Merlin, lad, do you never work?" his Uncle asked scathingly, appearing in front of him.

Alex shrugged. "I've several potions that don't need looking at for hours."

"And you came to disturb my peace?"

"I came to see if Hermione wanted to go Christmas shopping," Alex countered.

Alastor scowled. "I want her back for dinner," he warned. "Lolly!"

"Yes Master?" The elf appeared at Alastor's elbow in a bright yellow jumpsuit and a shocking pink bobble hat.

Alastor met his eyes. "Hermione has some ideas about elves and clothes," he muttered. "Because I'm technically their Master, she can't free them with clothes so she's free to give them whatever they want."

Alex's jaw dropped. "Of course," he mumbled faintly. "Lovely hat Lolly."

Lolly beamed. "The little Mistress made it for me! Lolly picked the yarn!"

Alex nodded, his eyes wide. "Of course she did."

"Lolly, can you tell Hermione that Alex is here. I think she's in the library."

"Of course, Master."

"Are all your elves that… ah… eccentrically dressed?"

"Aye," Alastor sighed. "I swear I saw one of them in a kilt and a poncho yesterday. They're loving it."

"Dear gods," Alex muttered just as Hermione appeared next to him, clutching Lolly's hand.

"I was summoned?" she asked.

"I came to see if you wanted to go Christmas shopping?"

"Oh. Oh, I could, I suppose."

"Diagon? Hogsmede? Paris?" he pressed.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to Paris today. Will we try Daigon and consider international travel if it fails us?"

"Sounds good to me," Alex agreed with an easy smile.

Twenty minutes later they arrived in Diagon Alley, the street bustling with what Hermione assumed were Christmas shoppers. "Where do you want to start?"

"Gringotts," Alex replied pointedly.

Nodding, Hermione followed him into the bank, allowing him to usher her up to a goblin and then into a cart. "I'm under orders to ensure you take out enough," Alex warned.

Hermione sighed. "I don't like it," she muttered.

"Tough," he countered. "Uncle Alastor will set up your own vault shortly, but he wanted to wait until after the Blishwick ball."

"I know," she sighed. "He mentioned it. It feels like stealing though."

"How on Earth can it be stealing, Hermione!" Alex retorted impatiently. "It's your money!"

"I know but… it still doesn't feel like it."

"Ridiculous!" he muttered. "Come on, fill the bag."

"Right then, where to?" He checked, once they were back on the street.

"I have no idea," she admitted. "I haven't a clue what to get anyone."

"Who are you shopping for?"

"I don't know! Your parents, Dad, my Grandparents, my Great-Grandmother, Uncle Malcolm and Aunt Elspeth, Callum, Marie, Scott, Sarah and… oh and the children I suppose. I should get Izzah something. She'll be there at Christmas, won't she? Um… Aunt Minerva?"

Alex hummed. "What about Jamie and Sirius"?

She sighed. "Gods, probably. Oh and Saul!"

"Right then. Let's… Merlin, I have no idea where to start with that list. Mother likes the fancy chocolates from Sugarplums. Father likes a book?"

"Books I can do," Hermione agreed, with something nearing relief. "Let's start there."

Laughing Alex directed her into Flourish and Blotts.

Two and a half hours later, laden down with bags, Hermione felt something nearing relief. "That's almost everyone," she sighed. "Thank Merlin."

"And what about you Kitten?" Alex countered. "I need ideas!"

"Miss Moody!" Hermione whirled at the sound of someone calling her name, cutting off her reply to Alex.

"Auror Prewett," she smiled.

"Ah come on now, love! It's Gideon!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Of course it is, Fabian."

Fabian Prewett stared back at her for several seconds as the man beside him lost his composure and laughed. "Caradoc Dearborn," he grinned, holding out a hand. "And I've never met anyone who can tell those two idiots apart. I implore you to tell me all of your secrets," he begged in a soft welsh accent.

"Alexander Potter," Alex cut in pointedly when Caradoc made no move to greet him.

"I remember you!" Caradoc exclaimed, finally acknowledging him. "You were Gryffindor's keeper weren't you?"

Alex scowled. "I don't remember you."

"I don't imagine you would," Caradoc shrugged. "I was but a lowly Ravenclaw several years below you."

"We were just heading for lunch, Miss Moody, if you'd like to join us?" Fabian grinned his eyes darting between Caradoc and Alex.

"We could," Hermione agreed before Alex had opened his mouth.

"Then to the Leaky we go."

"Does the lovely Miss Moody have a first name?" Caradoc murmured, falling into step with her, causing Alex's frown to deepen.

"Hermione," she smiled.

"Hermione," he repeated. "I think I like it."

Shaking her head, Hermione laughed. "Oh, well, as long as you like it, that's all that matters."

He grinned, holding open the door. "After you, Cariad."

"I don't like it," Alex muttered as they sat down. Caradoc insisted on getting them drinks.

"My name?" Hermione queried, goading him slightly.

"No! The flirting!"

"Oh, I don't know," Hermione mused, with a slightly impish grin. "Red hair and an accent, two of my favourite things."

"Red hair you say?" Fabian teased.

"Oh, I do like a redhead," she agreed. "But a redhead with an accent… that wins hands down."

"No!" Alex spluttered. "Absolutely not!"

Hermione pouted.

"Tell me what you know about boys with accents, Miss Moody?" Fabian grinned.

"Well my first boyfriend was Bulgarian," she smiled, recognising Fred and Georges brand of mischievousness on his face and deciding to play along. "He was sweet and gentlemanly. Then there was a Scot, he moved next door during my fifth year. It was brief… and I lost my virginity to an Irishman, so there is that."

Alex choked on air. "For the love of Circe," he exclaimed as Fabian laughed. "This isn't… you can't. We're not discussing this!"

"We are not. You're correct," Hermione grinned. "Fabian and I on the other hand…."

Fabian snorted. "You're trouble. What would your father say if he could hear you?"

"I imagine he'd splutter much like Alex," Hermione mused.

Everyone turned to stare at them when Fabian laughed loudly. "Merlin, I don't think anyone's ever accused Alastor Moody of spluttering in his life. Now tell me about the redheads."

"The boy next door was a redhead. Sadly, he was the only one."

"That is sad," Fabian agreed solemnly,

"What's sad?" Caradoc queried, rejoining them with drinks.

"The lack of redheads in Miss Moody's life, of course," Fabian responded with a wink at Hermione.

"I'm going to tell Father," Alex muttered petulantly. "And he'll tell my mother and then you'll be sorry."

Hermione laughed. "I've grown up surrounded by overprotective boys and wonderfully vindictive witches. I think I'll be fine. Now Mr. Dearborn, tell me what it is you do?"

Caradoc's grin turned wolfish when Alex huffed. "I'm currently doing a dual mastery in charms and potions."

"Are you really?" Hermione dropped all pretence of flirting and lent forward.

"Yes. It's fascinating," he replied honestly. "Hard, but fascinating, I should graduate at the end of this year, assuming Master Travers allows it. What is it you do?"

"Technically, I'm attempting my NEWTs having had to put them on hold. After that, I haven't decided. I have open invitations from the Department of Mysteries and the DMLE, although Aunt Minerva brought up a Transfiguration apprenticeship in her last letter. I need to make a decision soon," she sighed.

There were several beats of silence. "Merlin, that's some list, Cariad," Caradoc murmured. "And Aunt Minerva. Professor McGonagall's your aunt?"

"Great-Aunt, technically. My Grandfather is her brother."

"Gods, so why didn't you go to Hogwarts?"

Hermione grimaced. "That's a rather difficult question to answer. The short answer is I was adopted and didn't know. I only discovered my family recently."

"And the long answer?" he asked intrigued.

"Roughly the same as the short but with far more interesting details," she teased.

Caradoc hummed. "One day, Miss Moody, I'm going to persuade you to share those interesting details."

"Not if I have anything to do with it," Alex muttered.

"Tell me, big brother," Hermione smiled sweetly, "how is the lovely Miss Shafiq?"

"Well, that's not the point!" Alex spluttered.

Hermione pinned him with a look. "I rather think it is."

"I think I preferred it when you were three and didn't question anything I said," he muttered.

Hermione looked at him incredulously. "There is no way I didn't question you," she stated.

"Fine. But it was much cuter when you did it then!"

He scowled as the rest of the table laughed.