Happy Saturday! I hope everyone is keeping warm and dry. Missouri just had a cold snap from Montana, and now the warm air is coming up from Texas. We've had four days of fog. Like bad fog. But it is gone. Thank you to everyone who sent lovely reviews. I just adore them, and all of you. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.

Chapter 2 Hermione Gets Her Party On

Promptly at seven, Harry flooed in. "Hermione," he called.

"Tidying up the dishes. Be right out," she answered. She entered drying her hands with a dish towel. "I'm ready."

Harry looked over from the window he was looking out of. "Holy hell, Mione! Warn a bloke."

"How? Hey, Harry, I'm wearing clothes?"

"You could have told me you were..." he trailed off.

Hands on her hips, weight shifted on her left foot, "I'm what?"

"Looking..." he gestured up and down.

"Nice, sexy, put together?" she suggested.

"Yes!" Harry exclaimed. "I expected demure Hermione, not sex pot Hermione."

"Sorry?" she shrugged.

"No, you're not. But I'm being stupid, so let's go."

Deciding the weather still fair enough to skip a jacket, she grabbed her beaded bag and headed over to the twins' flat.

George greeted her as she exited the fireplace, "Hello, Hermione, need a drink? A back rub?"

"A new pick up line?" she joked. He grinned unrepentant. "Your girlfriend might hurt you."

"Perish the thought. We're both weighing our options," George grinned.

"Sure, her soulmate might be sane."

"I would say you wound me, but she made that joke first. Come on in. Seamus is manning the bar, so the drinks are safe."

"But prone to explosions," quipped Harry.

"There is that," admitted George.

Hermione moved through the modest flat towards the makeshift bar. Fred gave her a shocked look then shook his head. "Tasting anything sweet? Hearing anything?"

She touched his cheek, "Nope and no shock either." They both laughed.

"Can't blame a bloke for trying," Fred told her.

"Next you'll demand we play seven minutes in heaven to mix everybody around," she joked.

Fred's eyes lit up, "What is..."

"Never mind. Forget I said anything. We're not fourteen," she said quickly, snatching her drink and starting to chug.

"Harry! Haarryy?" Fred ran off for the other muggle raised person he knew was present.

"I'm going to regret that slip," she said to no one in particular.

"Aye,probably," agreed Seamus. "More social lubricant?"

Forty-five minutes later the gathering swelled to fill most of the flat. George stood on the coffee table to get everyone's attention. "Welcome, dear friends, to the first of many gatherings we will be subjected to. Hopefully, you find this one more enjoyable." Everyone cheered.

Fred joined his brother, "We just learned about a muggle party game, and may I say, shame on you lot for withholding from us poor wizards."

"It's for teenagers!" yelled Hermione.

"Sure, but it fits our purposes. And before you point out it would take hours, we have done some modifications," George assured her.

"That's right," Fred explained, "We've created some magical stones to pair people off to spend seven minutes in the closet together. Muggles usually snog, but no one should feel obligated to do anything."

"Right," George took over. "Now to the modification. There are four bedroom closets, two coat closets and two linen closets. That is eight staging areas all color coded. Report to the area matching your stone."

"And, yes, we know not everyone will be matched up, sorry, but really this is for fun." The twins hopped down and swiftly distributed colored stones. Hermione held up a green one while Harry showed her a yellow one. He shrugged.

Hermione found the green door upstairs in one of the spare bedrooms. She recognized a few faces as upperclassmen she barely knew, and a few she hadn't seen in years. She perched on the bed. Padma Patil joined her, "How have you been?" asked the Ravenclaw.

"I've been good. How about you?"

"No real complaints, well until this fiasco started anyway," Padma picked at the blanket.

"Same. What are you doing now?" asked Hermione.

"Still at the ministry slaving away in Magical Transportation

"There are worse places."

Padma laughed, "Oh, trust me, I know. Jenkins threw a horrible wobbly after you left. Nearly lost his entire staff."

Hermione chuckled, "Idiot."

Padma's stone lit up, "That's me. Wish me luck."

"Good luck, I suppose." She giggled at the timer created when the door closed. An hourglass appeared on the door closed. Multi-colored hearts floated from the top counting down the seconds. Seven minutes later Padma emerged followed by a stocky blond. She returned to the bed. "So how was it?"

"Not my soulmate and a rather sloppy kisser."

"My sympathies," she tried not to laugh at the Indian girl.

Padma swatted her arm, "Go ahead, laugh. You still have to go."

"Yes, but now I know not to snog him." Both girls laughed. Hermione finished her drink, she briefly wondered what Seamus used to give it the sweet cherry taste. She quite liked it. As more turns occurred the level of noise increased to dull roar again. The two schoolmates continued to catch up until Hermione's stone glowed. She popped up and felt the effects. The dizziness lifted quickly. "Looks like it's my turn."

"Have fun," teased Padma.

Hermione slipped into the closet. The twins illuminated the space with a gentle glow resembling candlelight. Seconds later a man entered, shutting the door behind him. "Hello," she simply said, standing in the middle of the space.

"Hello yerself, lass," he stepped closer.

She recognized his voice, "Oliver?"

"Hermione? Wow, ye grew up, didn't ye?"

"Thanks, I think," she smiled. "You look good, too."

He stepped next to her, "They've outdone themselves."

"And all in less than an hour."

"So, we're suppose to snog?" he asked hopefully.

She shrugged, her heartbeat speeding up, "We can if you want."

"Oh, Ah want," he raised a hand to brush against her cheek. The resulting spark surprised more than hurt. "Sorry, are ye hurt?"

"I'm fine. Um, Oliver, you don't think?"

"Aye, Ah do." He brushed his lips against hers. They tingled warmly. "Do ye?"

She leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I do."

Deepening the kiss, Oliver lifted her up and braced her back against the wall of the closet. She responded by wrapping her legs around his waist and slipping her tongue into his mouth. He moaned in response and gripped her arse. The seven minutes passed swiftly. They broke apart at the sound of the timer chime. He lowered her to the floor and took her hand. He kept hold of her as they exited the closet. He steered her from the room, up and out onto the balcony on the roof. The late summer breeze ruffled their hair. At twenty-six his face remained line less, his brown hair lightened by his time in the sun. He still won Witch Weekly awards for good looks. She tilted her head to regard his face. He stood a head taller than her, which wasn't much of an issue. She was used to being towered over. He had grown out his hair since Hogwarts. It had a slight wave to it adding to his boyish charm. He appeared to be studying her just as intently. She gave herself a mental shake and addressed the graphook in the room. "Soulmates, then. Opinions?"

"Ah want to ken what ye think first," said Oliver evenly.

"Why?"

"Ladies first, Ah'm a gentleman."

She giggled, "I am quite pleased with the result. If I had to have one, I'm pleased it's you."

"Ah think it's pure dead brilliant meself," he grinned.

"So we want to move forward towards accepting it?"

"Aye. If that's what ye want. Ye might not want a husband and bairns. I want a wife and bairns."

"At least two, maybe three. I think I draw the line at three, but definitely no more than four."

"Fair enough. Ye'll being doing the heavy lifting during the pregnancy."

"I have no intention of being a stay home parent," she blurted out.

"That does not surprise me. Ah understand and agree."

"Any other deal breakers?" she asked.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, tugging her close. "If yer an Arrows fan."

"I am decidedly not."

"Ah believe Ah'm good then. Ye?"

"Kids? Check. Work? Check. You okay mingling with the muggle world, because my parents there? I like it and I work there."

"While Ah'm not the best at navigating it, ah enjoy it every time Ah go. Ye can teach me."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, "That's all of my inquires." She pressed her lips to his.

"Dead brilliant," he kissed her again. "How long can we hide out here, ye think?"

"Another five minutes tops. We were towards the end of the middle. People will be getting antsy and start to wander. Only a matter of time before someone misses one of us and comes looking.

"How much will ye hate getting caught?" he asked.

"I'd rather we feel this out before others add their two knuts."

"Make sure we're as compatible as we feel?" he clarified.

"Yes, I mean, I know we're soulmates, but..."

He kissed her, "We might find we cannae combine our lives?"

"Exactly."

"How do ye propose we move forward?"

"In general, we can spend tomorrow together and go from there. Tonight, you're going in through the door and I'm using the escape hatch to come out near the living room."

"Come again?" he looked about.

"You go back in the way we came. I'm using the twins' war time escape route because I'm keyed to it and you're not."

"What time tomorrow and where?"

"Um, 9 o'clock cafe two door down from the Leaky on the muggle side."

"I'll be there." He pulled her in for one more kiss, "Good night, leannan."

"Good night, Oliver." After he re-entered the flat she slipped down the disillusioned fire escape. She climbed through George's bathroom window. She flushed the toilet and washed her hands before exiting.

A rather drunk, disheveled Ron looked from Hermione, to George's bedroom door, and back again. "Uh, Hermione, how did you get there? When did you come in?"

"I've been here the whole time, Ronald, keep up." She patted his cheek.

"No sparks, I guess we're not soulmates," he slurred sadly.

"Afraid not, but I'm not Harry's either."

"Me, neither," said Ron, "shook hands with him earlier."

"Well, it's getting late. I think I'm going."

"Okay. Bye, Mione," he hugged her, leaning most of his weight on her smaller frame.

She hugged him back, pushing him back onto his feet, "Good-bye, Ron." Slowly she weaved through the crowd, most well on their way to quite pissed. Discovering her soulmate drained her earlier buzz to nothing. She located Harry and waved. He shook his head. She rolled her eyes and pointed to herself and then the fireplace and waved again. He flashed her sad puppy eyes. She shook her head and blew him a kiss. Then flooed home.

Her flat had a small kitchen, living room and half bath on the first floor. Upstairs two bedrooms flanked a full bathroom. Photographs of friends and family hung on the walls. Still images covered the magical originals. Crookshanks woke briefly, eyed his witch, and returned to sleep. She shook her head and headed to bed herself. She often wondered how much cat her familiar really was. He had been an adult when she adopted him nine years ago and remained quite spry for an at least eleven year-old cat.

Upstairs she washed her face, cleaned her teeth, and changed into pajamas. She heard Crookshanks slip into the room and settle onto his bed at the foot of hers. He only joined her in bed when he sensed she was upset. The system worked for them. She snuggled under the covers and tried not to obsess over Oliver Wood.

BUZZ! BUZZ! The alarm jolted Hermione awake. She shut it off and stretched. If she got up and moving she could get a run in before she left to meet Oliver. Her mobile chirped. She looked at the id, Daisy. "Good morning."

"Woman, where did you disappear last night?"

"Party at a schoolmate's place. What's up?" she asked climbing out of the bed.

"Going running?"

Hermione began collecting clothing, "Considering it."

"Great. Letting myself in. See you in a few."

Hermione chuckled, "Sure, I'd love the company." She started dressing. She shook her head. Either last night went really well or really bad. Daisy liked to sleep in, she only sought out company when she needed to talk. She pulled on her vest and shorts then slipped on her trainers.

Downstairs, Daisy handed her a bottle of water and her breakfast bar. "What's up?" asked Hermione stretching for the run.

"Two things: Brett was at Sinner's last night."

"Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry I wasn't there."

Daisy waved her off, "He was on a 'I miss you' kick so bothersome, but not heartbreaking."

Hermione looked up and down the road, "To the stadium and back?"

"Sounds good," Daisy began to jog. "Onto problem number two. Sleazy Donovan asked after you, quite aggressively."

"Ugh, that man needs to get a clue," Hermione groused.

"Starting to think you need a restraining order," Daisy retorted.

"Or a reminder of why he needs to me the fuck alone." Hermione jogged in place waiting for traffic to clear. "and I might have a boyfriend soon. One would hope that helps."

"Wait, what's this? A boyfriend, not just a fast fling? Spill."

"We went to school together and some sparks flew last night. We're meeting to talk more around nine."

"And you're running with me? You need to be getting ready."

"Girl, he needs to see post workout Hermione before he commits. I wore the butterfly top last night. He's seen made up Hermione."

"I suppose that's fair. Where are you meeting?"

"Non-disclosed location, that way you can't follow."

"Oh, because I'm your concern," Daisy protested. "Reporters, photographers, hello."

"When you threaten to lit one of them on fire the rest become much more polite."

"You explained how you would do it and described what would happen. I was afraid for them."

"And yet you all insist I'm sweetness incarnate to them when interviewed." They laughed and finished talking to focus on running.

Freshly showered and dressed simply, Hermione flooed to the Leaky. She waved to Tom as she exited onto the streets of Muggle London. Two doors down she found Oliver waiting. "Have you been here long?" she looked at her watch, worrying she was late.

"Ah didn't want to be late. And Ah couldn't wait to see ye."

"I felt the same way," she embraced him. He returned her affection. "Have you eaten?"

"No, I worked out to keep from leaving hours ago."

She laughed, "Me, too. Though mine included a gossip ambush."

"Anyone Ah ken?"

"No, one of my teammates." At his confused look, she continued, "I play for a professional football club."

"Ah want to hear all about it as soon as ye tell me where we're eating."

"I know we met here, but there's a great place across town. I've gone there my whole life."

"Lead on, madam." He offered her his arm. She took it then ran her hand along it to catch his hand in hers. Deciding to increase his muggle exposure she hailed a taxi. He paused, "Ah just realized Ah can't help pay for any of this."

"I promise not to protest next time when you pay for everything at a wizarding place."

"Deal." In the backseat he put his arm around her shoulders absently playing with her hair as he observed the streets outside the window. He only white knuckled the door handle twice. "Are ye testing me bravery?"

"Nope, acclimatizing you to London cabbies."

"New to the city, mate?" asked the driver.

"Um, aye, first time here."

"You've come to the best city on earth, my friend."

"Ah've the best looking tour guide anyway."

"Don't disagree there, lad." He pointed out several attractions and famous places as they drove past. "And lovely Croyden, home of Crystal Palace. Not exactly arch rivals to any Arsenal team," he said slyly, "but still a contender."

Hermione laughed, "Astute of you. And your discretion gets you points."

"My daughter's a fan, nearly an ultra, and just crazy about Arsenal's lioness.

"How about an autograph?" she offered.

"Best tip I'll get all month, hell, all year. Thanks," he grinned at her in the rear view mirror. "Brother-in-law got opening day tickets, I had you in my cab."

"What's her name?"

"Abby." Hermione pulled out a small pad and ink pen out of her purse and jotted down a note and signed her name with a flourish. She handed it to the cabbie with the fare. "Thank you, miss." He read it, "Courage is more exhilarating than fear, and in the long run easier."

Waving farewell, she directed Oliver into the cafe on the corner. "Inside, I'm willing to be seen with you by the people I know inside, but the gossips have to work for it."

"Ah understand yer feelings and agree with the sentiment," he held open the door for her.

Vinyl and metal chairs surrounded square tables. Each one seated four people. A few were pushed together to accommodate larger parties. A heavyset older woman exclaimed, "Oh! Oh, Hermione! Harold, Hermione's here. And she has company!" The woman hustled over, her arms wide to envelope the younger woman. They hugged before a thick balding man of the same age pulled her in for his own embrace.

"Edith, Harold, I'd like you to meet Oliver Wood. We're something, we just haven't decided what, yet."

Oliver held out his hand, "Together, we're together."

Harold shook her hand firmly, "Good answer, lad."

"It rather is, isn't it," Edith beamed at him approvingly. She gave him a smaller hug than Hermione, but no less warm. "Sit, sit, take the nice table in the back. I'll get the menus."

Hermione lead Oliver to a back corner, as hidden as it got in the little dining room. Edith brought menus, but Hermione held up her hand. "Bring us two of Harold's American scrambles, sausage, bacon, and shredded cheddar cheese and all the veg." She looked at Oliver, "Juice to drink?" He nodded, "Orange juice for me, apple for Oliver."

Edith nodded, "Be right out, my lambs."

Hermione smiled at Oliver sheepishly, "I hope that's okay? Harold's scrambles are to die for."

"Scrambles?" he asked.

"Scrambled eggs, onions, mushrooms, sausage, bacon, and shredded cheddar cheese cooked together, but not like an omelet. Harold learned how to make them in college, he did a semester abroad."

"Ah trust yer judgment."

She dropped her head to hide the slight blush she felt spreading across her cheeks, "Thank you. I should have asked, any allergies?"

"No, ye?"

"None."

"So, in the taxi..." Oliver started.

"You know I left the ministry, right?"

"Ah remember, big tizzy about managerial abuses and such."

"Yes, part of the reason I could just quit like I did is I had an offer to play for Arsenal. In exchange for hiding during the war, I promised my father I would attend open tryouts for the women's football league. I did. I took the offer because I got fed up being overworked and trotted out like a show pony. Jenkins assigned me twice as many reports as everyone else and wasted hours of my time at his press conferences, or loaning me out to others for theirs. I stood behind them, smiled like an idiot, and was bombarded by personal questions unrelated to the topic at hand. No one does that to Ron or Harry."

"Doesn't seem fair," he remarked.

"It wasn't. I was on the reserve team last season. Moved up to starting when Wilkes broke her ankle skiing over the Christmas holidays."

"So, nae, ye start for Arsenal?"

"Yes, the Arsenal Gunners. I'm the goalie."

"Like a keeper, Ah remember," he gave her a crooked grin. "From that time at Hogwarts. The Slytherins were giving ye a hard time so ye kicked the quaffle into Black Lake."

"I forgot that. Oh, good times." Edith brought out their meals. "Looks amazing," she praised.

"You let me know if you need anything," Edith smiled at them.

"We will," promised Hermione. "Tuck in." She took her first forkful of breakfast. "Okay, we've been talking about me, you talk about you."

"Ah'm still with Puddlemere. Ah've been starting for the last three years. Still a keeper." He paused to eat a few bites. "This is tidy. I suppose ye knew that."

"About Puddlemere and that Harold's cooking is delicious? Yes. What about your family?"

"One older brother, and three older stepsisters. Me parents were school sweethearts, but me mother had an arranged marriage. They had three daughters before he passed. She and me da reconnected not long after. They had Liam and meself. We have family dinner twice a month. Two of the stepsisters are married, one with a kid. So, I have a niece." He looked expectantly at her.

"Only child, but my father and his siblings have tight relationships that have lead to unhealthy and annoying rivalries that they drag their children into. My mother has one sister. Aunt Ivy has two sons. None of them care too much about what we do. We occasionally get together with my mother's parents. They started traveling the world when they retired. They comes back to England every so often to regal us with their adventures. We have family dinners with Dad's mum once a month. I apologize in advance."

"Why are ye apologizing?"

"If we continue moving forward, which we seem to be doing, you will eventually be dragged into this."

"Ah see, well, ye'll be coming to mine, tae, so there ye go." He took a few more bites and moaned, "This is beyond brilliant."

She gave him a sly smile, "Harold may have taught me how to make these."

"Marry me."

"I'll consider it," she giggled. "Addressing the hippogryph in the room, we are moving forward, yes?"

"Me thoughts haven't changed since last night. Ah find ye attractive, loyal, smart, and kind. Those kisses haunted me dreams. Thoughts of ye keep sneaking in, and Ah find Ah like it."

"Same," she looked down and blushed again.

"So, Ah admit to only skimming the article, what do we have to do?"

"At this point a simple reversible bonding ritual to keep from getting sick and not get overwhelmed. They want us to notify the new office, but I'm hesitant."

He cocked an eyebrow, "Why?"

"I will not be their showcase relationship or poster couple. I didn't mess around with unknown magic. I owe no one an easy fix. I am a regular citizen, decorated military veteran,even. I have done enough."

"Military?" he asked confused.

"The muggles considered our fighting Riddle as saving the realms. We can petition for, and have or will be enlisted and discharged from service. I am a former lieutenant in Her Majesty's Armed Forces. I even have a few medals and a pension. So is Harry."

"Color me impressed."

She smirked, "You should be, I'm awesome." He chuckled in response and changed the subject to other matters. They discussed mutual friends and Hermione explained football.

"So when do ye want to do this ritual?" Oliver asked after they finished eating.

"Um, any time really. It isn't binding and not a big deal."

"So, today then?"

"Sure, want to come back to mine?" she suggested.

"Absolutely," he took her hand, "lead on, leannan."

She side-along apparated him to the secluded side of the alley behind the row of townhouses. She led him to the front garden, "Home sweet home." She unlocked the front door and pushed it open.

Decorated in neutral colors the plain furniture promised comfort. Bookcase lined one wall. Oliver examined a team photo on the wall as he surveyed the room. Hermione smiled from the middle of the front line. "Um, Hermione, new question, why are ye the only one in blue?"

"You remember only the goalie can touch the ball with their hands?"

"Aye,"

"The goalie needs to be instantly recognizable for the referee,

so different colors."

"Ah see, so no red and white for you."

"Nope, disappointed?"

"Nah, Ah've got old school jerseys ye can wear."

"Good, the ones I stole from Victor are wearing out."

"Uh, Viktor?" he asked confused and concerned.

"An ex. We can discussed all this on our second or third date."

"Good idea. So, bonding, yeah?"

She smiled, "We hold arms. Then we each promise the other to hold them in the highest regard, as first thought and last deed. I'll go first." She grasped his right arm. "I, Hermione Jean, promise to hold you, Oliver," she paused.

"Quinn," he supplied.

"Oliver Quinn, in the highest regard, as my first thought and last deed." Their joined arms glowed.

He nodded, "I, Oliver Quinn, promise to hold ye, Hermione Jean, in the highest regard, as my first though and last deed." Their arms glowed with a pure while light.

"That will keep it from overwhelming us. And if we decide we don't suit, we can reject each other." She tried to smile, but her stomach twisted at the thought.

"Ye say such silly things, lass. Ah think today went quite pleasantly."

"It did. I just get nervous. I've had some messy relationships in the past."

Oliver pulled her into his arms, "But not with yer soulmate. Ah'm not saying we won't bicker. Ah can be a complete eeijt. And Ah remember yer stubborn streak from school. But Ah ken that communication is key. So, talk to me, Ah'll talk to ye, and we'll fix things."

"I'd like that."

"Good. Nae, give me a kiss to keep me til next time." He looked down at her. "When is next time?"

She considered the question, "I have training until around four Monday through Friday for the next week.

"Me, too. So, Ah can take ye to dinner Monday night if ye like."

"That sounds good."

"It's a date then," Oliver leaned in to kiss her deeply. "See ye them, leannan."