Tomorrow, Hogwarts would be flooded with students again and this time there would be no more fear plaguing the world in which they lived, evident in every young face passing through the massive entrance doors into the castle. On September 1, innocent happiness would once again spread through the stone corridors like lifeblood. The first day of classes would mark four months since the final battle on these very grounds that many had spent the last 119 days rebuilding.

Hermione took one last glance at the Great Hall which had been returned to its former glory. Happiness bubbled through her veins and sunlight streamed through the new window panes bathing everything in a warm light. Debris no longer coated every surface and the bloodstains had been scrubbed from the stone floors.

"Granger."

Fred had come to a stop beside Hermione, hands buried in his jean pockets. Hermione smiled up at him before returning her gaze to the large room in front of her, thinking how far they had all come in the last four months, when the rubble and dust had coated everything and everyone. Not only had they repaired the school but the magical community was starting to put their lives back together as well.

"Hello, Fred."

"Fantastic, isn't it?"

"The fact that we're done fixing this place up or the fact that an inordinate amount of food will soon be gracing these tables?" she laughed.

"Well, I had meant the first one but now that you mention it..." Fred returned with a chuckle.

"Are you also heading out for the day?" Hermione waved to Professor McGonagall who stood on the platform at the far end of the hall in front of the High Table. The older woman gave a small wave as Hermione and Fred turned and started for the front doors.

"Yeah. I should get back to the shop and help George with the last few hours of business before all the students get shipped here tomorrow. It's been a bloody madhouse - watch it!"

"Ooomph!"

"Ouch, Ron, that's my foot!"

"Sorry! Sorry," Ron repeated, holding a hand out for Fred to pull himself up. The older brother slapped his hand away lightly and looked pleadingly at Hermione.

"Be a dear and help me up, Granger," he laughed good-naturedly at Ron's open mouth. "I'd just get into more trouble accepting this git's help."

Hermione's small hand was extended out to the twin and he took it, waggling his eyebrows at Ron as his palm clasped hers. He sprung up and threw his arm over Hermione's shoulder.

"What say you to dinner at the Burrow? Mum insisted that we wrangle you in somehow for tonight, seeing as it's the end of all this Hogwarts overhaul and all," Fred continued as if nothing has happened and Ron trailed after them down the front steps and into the courtyard.

"Oh, yes please. I wasn't looking too forward to leftover takeout tonight, if I'm being honest," Hermione answered, brushing a large smear of dust from her cardigan sleeve.

"Then ye shall dine with kings, m'lady," Fred took three bounding steps into one of the temporary Apparition Points McGonagall had set up for the reconstruction volunteers in the Entrance Courtyard. He turned, snapped off a salute to Hermione, and spun on his heel, disappearing with a twinkling smile and a pop.

Hermione shook her head with a grin and held out her elbow to Ron who followed her into the circle. He threaded his arm with hers carefully and pulled her closer.

"Ready?" He asked, regarding the witch beside him with bright eyes.

Hermione answered with a small smile and squeeze on his forearm, and Ron whipped them away into the abyss.

Hours later, after a raucous supper with the large Weasley family that included second helpings of everything, Hermione sat with her feet curled under herself on one of the worn chairs in the living room, cradling her half-empty mug of tea. She had spent the evening laughing with the lot of them and discussing the efforts of the volunteers at Hogwarts. Arthur had just turned their conversation from his new appointment of Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation to Hermione and what she wanted to do with herself now that her time would be freed up to consider more schooling or a career.

"I'm not so sure at the moment. With everything..." she trailed off, feeling somewhat like her answer was lacking in every way possible; drive, direction, motivation, conviction.

"It has been a long time coming, the quiet peacefulness," Arthur commented with a thoughtful smile. "No one would begrudge you some time to just think and relax, Hermione. I'd say you deserve a break after the last seven and a half years of keeping my son's head attached to his neck. Not to mention Harry, of course."

Hermione smiled and swilled her tea around in her mug, casting her eyes downward.

"I know. It's just hard to think of me, with a normal life. No danger of being a human chess piece or planning on breaking into Gringotts or being Petrified for the better part of a year. Just a regular life with a regular job? That's all I've wished for us - all of us - for years. It feels odd having that as an actual possibility now, just waiting for me to reach out a grasp it."

Arthur laughed and pressed a hand to his middle, swallowing his almost-spewed mouthful of lukewarm tea.

"I can only imagine." He paused, the thoughtful look back in place upon his face. Hermione was quiet as she turned her head to survey the room of family around her.

Fred and George had their heads bent together over a few sheaves of parchment while Ginny sat next to them on the couch with a book propped up on her thighs. Her back was leaning against Harry's side as he tried in vain to save the chess game he was engaged in with Ron. Ron was sitting cross-legged on the floor with the board balanced on a footrest between himself and Harry. Molly had just come around the corner wiping her damp hands on a tea towel.

"Right, would anyone like a top-up?"

She made the rounds with the teapot floating along beside her, her wand making tiny gestures and dividing the remaining brew between George, Ginny and Hermione's mugs as they had been the only ones out of the lot to answer Molly.

"I'm going to take the laundry down from the line and head upstairs, Arthur. You lot, don't stay up too late tonight. Have a lovely sleep, dear," she said, speaking to the group at large and directing the last bit at Hermione.

"You too, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione smiled up at the older witch, lowering her mug as the teapot drifted away to the kitchen and Molly patted her on the shoulder.

"Oh, I'll come help you dear." Mr. Weasley drained his mug before extricating himself from his chair and patting Hermione gently on the shoulder as well. "Goodnight, Hermione. And don't think too hard about it. Just go with what will make you happy. You deserve it, truly."

"Thanks, Mr. Weasley," Hermione smiled up at him.

Arthur followed Molly out the back door and his footsteps could be heard lightly on the back steps after the clatter of the screen. Hermione turned her gaze out the window to her side. The moon shone down from a cloudless night sky accompanied by a few twinkling stars.

"Hermione," Ginny drew her attention back inside as she closed her book with a sharp snap, "do you want to stay here tonight? It's getting late." The redhead lowered her feet to the carpet and twisted so that her back was against the couch and she threaded her arm with Harry's. He was being valiantly slain by Ron at this point, the game coming to a close quickly.

"Yeah, that would be nice. I'll just nip home to set out some food for Crookshanks and grab some pajamas and I'll be back." Hermione rose and stretched before setting out to leave her mug in the kitchen sink and find her shoes at the back door. Ginny trotted after her.

"Do you mind if I tag along? I haven't seen Crooks in-"

"Two whole days?" Hermione laughed quietly. "C'mon."

The girls slipped their feet into their sandals and skipped down the back porch steps. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were staring adoringly at each other while folding a large bed sheet between the two of them, as if laundry duty was the most romantic pastime.

"Be right back, Mum! Hermione's getting some things to stay over tonight," Ginny called and received an unconcerned flap of the hand as an answer. The girls reached the corner of the property and clasped hands before Hermione apparated them into her flat.

"Croo-ooks!" Ginny immediately let go of her friend's hand and went to the kitchen to fill his food and water dish so Hermione could get her things. "Crookshanks!"

Hermione laughed as he appeared on the counter post haste.

"Hello, my lovely boy! I haven't seen you in so long, have I? Oh, I missed you, yes I did-" Ginny crooned to the cat as she scratched behind his ears and pressed her face into his fur lovingly. While Harry, Ron and her had been hunting horcruxes, Ginny had taken care of the aging half-kneazle and he had lived with Hermione at the Burrow until Hermione had found her own place.

It was just a tiny studio apartment in muggle London in a rather old building. They didn't ask questions about her life, her job, or even require references. Nobody minded her business and that was what Hermione has chosen this place for. She didn't want to be recognized and she didn't want people to pay enough attention to realize that she went out and came back and never seemed to use her front door aside from taking out the trash. It had just enough room for her purposes; clockwise from the front door was a small kitchen on one wall with a small fridge and half size oven and stovetop. Next came the large plush chair with a reading lamp standing behind it in the corner. That wall had two bookcases side by side, packed with her favourite volumes. After close to a year living with her books in scattered piles and heaps inside of a magically enhanced beaded bag, this was the first thing Hermione had set out to fix when she had moved in shortly after the war ended. The wall across from the front door had a large window with a few small flower pots sitting on the sill where the sunlight would naturally fall during the day. Under it was a small chest of drawers with some knick knacks sitting on the surface. Next came Hermione's small side table and bed; a large fluffy duvet over an equally large mattress sitting in an antique wrought iron frame. Pillows were stacked against the headboard as if she had been reading in bed the last time she had been home. In the corner closest to the front door, there was an open doorway that lead to her small bathroom.

Hermione let Ginny have her time with Crookshanks and pulled a backpack out from under her bed before pulling some sleep clothes from the top drawer of the chest along with some clean clothes for tomorrow. She padded past the mass of red hair and purring cat to the bathroom to fetch her toothbrush and toiletries.

"Do you have plans for tomorrow?" Ginny surfaced, combing a hand through her hair and picking cat hair out of her lip balm.

"No, I hadn't really thought about it. Hogwarts took up all of my time but now that's done with for the time being I'm not sure what to do with myself." Hermione threw in her shampoo, conditioner, and body wash into her bag before flicking off the light and setting the bag on the counter. Crookshanks wound around Ginny's arms and rubbed his head on Hermione's hand. She raised it to his fur and brushed along his spine, eliciting a hearty purr that reverberated loudly.

"Stay at the house with me tomorrow? I was just going to relax by the lake and soak in the last few rays of sunshine. Nothing strenuous. It would be nice to have a summer day like we used to, just hanging out."

"Girl time, you mean?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Yes! Hermione, I need girl time. You do to," Ginny stated, shaking her hair and smiling at Hermione. "C'mon. It'll be fun."

"Yeah, alright. Let me just-"

"Grab a book, yeah yeah." Ginny turned with a grin to refill Crookshanks' water dish and Hermione crossed around to the far side of her bed to retrieve her current read. Closing the blinds on her window, Hermione joined Ginny back in the kitchen. She swept her wand over the small room, renewing some privacy and protection charms before holding her hand out once again to her redheaded friend.

"Goodbye, my darling," Ginny crooned at Crookshanks, who gave her one last nudge before jumping down and settling beside his dish of food.

They reappeared in the same spot they had left and both girls started towards the house.

"I was thinking we could paint each other's nails or something equally as girly," Ginny was giggling before she stopped short and threw out a hand to stop Hermione, effectively killing the brunette's answering laughter. Both fell silent in order to clearly hear a commotion going on inside the Burrow. Hermione's eyes found the laundry hamper where they had left Ginny's parents. Only half the laundry had made it down from the line and tub of clothespins had been knocked over in someone's haste.

"Oh no-"

Ginny and Hermione sprinted toward the backdoor, wands drawn, and burst through the doorway with a clatter of the screen door.

"What-"

"No, I had no idea-"

"What was Kingsley thinking-"

"We don't know all the facts-"

"I don't want to-"

"Oh, bollocks, the tea-"

"George!"

"Sorry mum! I've got it, here-"

"But that can't be right-"

"Percy, explain-"

Ginny and Hermione came to a halt as they rounded the corner to see all the Weasleys safe and unharmed but all on their feet and in the centre of it all stood Percy.

"Oh, Ginny-"

"WHAT the bloody hell is going on? Hermione and I thought something terrible had-"

"Oh, no, dear, I'm so sorry. I didn't think what would have looked like, just left like that. Sorry, just - QUIET!"

The room fell silent at Molly's raised voice.

"We're all alive and well, dear," Mrs. Weasley turned back to the room. "Arthur, will you put the kettle on again? Let's take this to the table and figure this out."

Hermione sent a curious glance to Ron who looked quite confused. He met Hermione's eyes but he just shrugged. George prompted his brother into action and Ron stumbled forward in the direction of the kitchen table following after Fred, Arthur, and Molly.

"Harry, what's going on?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice as she shuffled into the kitchen beside her friend.

"I've really no idea, Hermione. Percy just came barreling in, talking like a madman about something and Mr. Weasley was trying to slow him down and get him to explain, but it doesn't sound good, whatever it is," Harry summed up, settling into a seat at the end of the table.

"Oh, Merlin," Hermione sat down to his left.

"You can say that again," George piped up from behind them, filing into the kitchen after them and rounding the table to sit on Harry's right, beside Fred. The look on his face made Hermione's stomach plummet.

So much for a peaceful day by the lake tomorrow.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't have time to think about it before-" Percy was still rambling to Mr. Weasley as he set the kettle on the burner, lighting the flame with the tip of his wand.

"I'm sure it's okay, dear. Just sit down, there's a good boy. Now," Molly pushed Percy's lanky frame down into the chair closest to him. "Start from the beginning. What is this all about?" She demanded sharply.

Percy took a shaky breath and cast his eyes around the room to his siblings.

"Okay. Okay. I was at work late, trying to get a few extra reports done for tomorrow and as I was leaving I noticed a group of Wizengamot officials leaving, which was odd, so I hung around to see what the issue was, since it was late and they usually don't stay at the Ministry past five since-"

"Right, son, get back to the point-"

"Right, sorry. So I overhear them talking and they just passed a law and I asked one of them what it had to do with and he handed me this pamphlet-"

Percy pulled a rumpled pamphlet from his robes and gave it to his father to look over.

"And so I ran back to my desk and read it over, because of the title, I just couldn't not know-"

"What is it about, you great prat? We're all sitting here waiting-"

"Fred!" Molly chastised.

"Well, we are!"

"Arthur?" Molly asked quietly.

"It's... they can't... This can't be legal..." Arthur's mouth opened and closed in quick succession, making it look like he was a fish out of water.

"What is it?"

"The Injunction for Magical Perpetuation," he read, quoting the header at the top of the leaflet in a tone of bewilderment.

"What does that mean?" Ginny exclaimed.

Mr. Weasley gazed up into the stricken face of his wife, a look of disbelief in his eyes. The room was silent apart from Percy's heavy breathing. In fact, the rest of the room held its breath while they tried to figure out just what the Ministry had done.

"It means babies," Hermione's voice cut through the silence, "Doesn't it?"

Percy looked down the table to meet her eyes before flicking to the rest of the faces staring at him.

"Yes."

"What-"

"Shhh, let your brother explain!" Molly hushed Ron quickly.

"It means," he started, before taking a gulp of air, "that the ministry is assigning people into a pair and expecting us to repopulate the magical community."

In that moment, you could have heard the gently fluttering cloak of a Dementor from a mile away.

"It says, in there, that the Ministry would allow any engagements that had been registered before midnight tonight and those people would be exempt from the matching process. They didn't want to allow people any time to figure out how to get out of their pair before they could implement it. So I - oh god, I'm so sorry, but I could think of so many worse pairings considering - I registered all of us as being engaged."

Arthur looked up from the paper in his hands, face lined with worry.

"Son, I'm sure you did the best thing. I don't see any other way... They didn't leave much time. Who did you - put together?"

"Percy, tell me you put me with Harry!" Ginny's voice ripped from her throat. The girl was clutching the table with white knuckles.

"Of course," Percy rushed out. "Of course I did. How could I not?"

"And everyone else?" Molly prompted.

The Weasley boys were all quiet for once. They were regarding their brother expectantly. Harry was the only one smiling; Ginny had left her seat and moved to sit on Harry's lap, tears glistening in her eyes in relief.

"Well, Fred and Angelina-"

"Cor, thank god, mate that was a close one-"

"Myself and Audrey, or course-"

"Yes of course, dear-"

"Ron and Lavender, since they already-"

Hermione's eyes flew to Ron, who looked shell-shocked at the turn of events for himself. Harry grimaced and patted Ron on the back.

"Charlie and Alyssa, since they've been together so long already, and George and Hermione," Percy ended with a heavy sigh.

Molly gasped and Ron grunted and the others made no sound.

Hermione felt George's eyes on her face, as well as the rest of the room, but she didn't dare let her gaze leave Percy's face.

"Thank you."

Percy looked at her, shocked.

"Thank you," Hermione repeated. "Who knows who the ministry would have seen fit to pair me with? I'm guessing there's something in there that has to do with bloodlines and mixing magical ancestry? Which means I would be paired with a pureblood, and we all know who the eligible candidates would have been."

Hermione stood and rounded the table to Percy before throwing her arms around his shoulders and squeezing. She didn't know how she felt about this turn of events but she did know that he had spared her a likely uncomfortable fate. When she returned to her seat, she convinced herself to look at George. His blue eyes didn't flinch from her, and he let his face slip into a dashing Weasley grin.

"All right, Granger?" He quirked his eyebrow and she nodded, rolling her eyes.

Although this whole thing was a shock, Hermione mused, it could have turned out so much worse for her considering that there were still many people in the magical community who, despite the downfall of Lord Voldemort, didn't support magic in the hands of people they considered less worthy because of their parentage.

"Pity you get the ugly one," Fred barked.

"Boys!" Molly scolded, letting out a breath.

"Well... That could have gone over much worse. But we do need to take care of this right away, I assume. Percy?" Mr. Weasley prompted.

"Yes. Well, I'm not sure how the Ministry is checking up on these 'registered engagements' but I would hazard a guess that we don't have long to prepare. We need to inform Angelina, Audrey, Charlie and Alyssa, and Lavender right away. Wouldn't hurt to have rings for them. I don't know where we're going to get them-"

"We'll figure it out somehow."

"Well, we have one less to worry about," Harry spoke up and the table turned to him. He had shifted Ginny from his lap and she was standing in front of him. Harry was down on one knee and digging around in his pocket. After a brief moment he pulled out a black velvet box and looked up at Ginny. She was shaking now and her hair had swung down like a curtain, blocking her face from view from everyone but Harry. Hermione couldn't see her friend's face but she could see the trembling of her shoulders. Hermione grinned, clasping her hands together and leaning forward expectantly.

"Ginny, I've had this in my pocket for ages, trying to get the timing right. I would have done this regardless of the law but, now seems like a good a time as any - I love you so much and I can't bear to live without you - Ginny, will you marry me?" Harry laughed softly, holding her gaze tenderly as he cracked the small box open, waiting for Ginny to answer. Hermione's heart swelled up in her chest at her best friend's simple declaration of love.

Molly hiccupped and Hermione turned to see the matriarch pressing a hand over her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.

Ginny didn't seem to be able to get it out, so she settled for a gentle nod, which grew exponentially into a frantic nod as she pulled Harry up and clutched him tight to her.

"Yes, of course - of course I'll marry you!" She finally found her words and burst into tears, hiding her face in Harry's shirt. Harry stood with the small girl wrapped around him with one hand still somewhat extended holding the open ring box as he grinned deliriously at the top of her fiery head. As he tightened his arms around his now-fiancé, Hermione caught a glimpse of the ring and her eyes widened.

"Oi, Ginny! Put the bloody ring on, will you?" Fred voiced from halfway down the table. "Poor bloke's been carrying that rock around for long enough."

"You knew?!" Molly exclaimed from her spot leaning against her husband.

"'Course," George answered. "He asked us about it months ago."

Fred, Percy and Mr. Weasley nodded absently, the latter of which was beaming at his daughter entwined with Harry at the other end of the table. He dislodged Molly softly and rose, circling to the other end towards them before pulling Ginny into a fatherly hug and slapping Harry's back.

"Congratulations!" The father laughed good-naturedly and Harry blushed a further shade darker. As Harry shook Mr. Weasley's hand a bit over-enthusiastically, Ginny broke away to embrace Hermione, who was only a step away.

The girls pulled each other tight and Ginny was still shaking from what Hermione assumed was shock and happiness, giddiness and nervousness all rolled into one. Her stomach fluttered in excitement for her best girl friend. Molly was just a beat behind and she wrapped her arms around the two girls tightly before cradling Ginny's face between her palms.

"Oh, my darling girl!" she exclaimed, "You'll be such a beautiful bride! And you too, Hermione! I'm so happy you'll officially be a part of the family!"

Hermione had been admiring the shiny ring on Ginny's finger when Molly had said her name, and she dropped the girls hand quickly.

"Oh, I thought - it's just that - I thought it was just for show and we wouldn't actually-" she stuttered, eyes snapping to George's over his mother's shoulder.

"Oh, don't be silly dear. We didn't raise any of our boys to be like that. If you'll be giving us grandbabies-"

"Molly, best let them discuss the particulars. That's really up to them. Not as if this is exactly conventional..." Arthur mediated.

The mother suddenly startled and flustered herself.

"Of course! You're right, Arthur. No matter what you decide, we'll support you. Though I can't deny I wouldn't be ecstatic if you got married..."

Hermione blushed as she watched the boys and Arthur sit back down after clapping Harry on the back and hugging Ginny. George took control quickly.

"We'll go over everything, mum, and then make the best decision." He shot Hermione a reassuring glance accompanied by a small smile which Hermione returned somewhat hesitantly, blushing even darker.

How was this all going to work out? She had to have children with George Weasley? She wasn't even sure she wanted children and now she was engaged to be married (in the very least as a charade and quite possibly as a precursor to an actual marriage that had been forced upon her all in the last hour).

"Yes, I uh, think I should say that the paper doesn't say that if you register as engaged that you must marry at all. It's not specific about anything of that nature. Of course once the general public is aware of all this, the terms and conditions will be spelled out quite clearly. I doubt the general public will be happy with this new law and the Ministry surely kept that in mind while drawing it up," Percy finished somewhat lamely and sat back in his chair. "Again, I'm so sorry to have signed you up for this without your knowledge."

"Nah, Perce, you did the best you could in a moment of crisis. However," Fred rose quickly, "I have a future wife to go propose to," the twin made his way along the table to his parents, patting Percy on the shoulder as he went. "I'll see you tomorrow, Mum, Dad."

"Yes, we should all agree to meet back here tomorrow for dinner and make sure we have everything sorted before we find ourselves answering to the Ministry," Mr. Weasley commented, waiting for a nod from his relatively silent sons.

"As if that wasn't going to happen regardless," George laughed and followed after his twin, pecking his mother on the cheek. "Hermione, could I have a quick word before we go?"

Hermione looked across the table at him, her face red. She rose and followed his tall frame through to the living room quietly. George had leaned his hips back against the back edge of the couch behind him and crossed one ankle over the other, accentuating his lanky form. With his arms braced on the back of the couch as well, he gazed at her intently with his blue-gray eyes. Hermione stepped beside him and imitated his stance against the couch.

"So..." she started, unsure of how to continue.

"Yeah," George laughed, raising a hand to rake through his hair. Silence fell between them as they both tried to process the last hour of urgency that had culminated in Percy admitting to pairing them together in the face of this new ordinance.

"Well, I suppose the best thing would be to wait until tomorrow, when the general public becomes aware of all this, and get all the facts. And go from there?" Hermione suggested timidly. "I have one of my mother's rings, so I can just use that for now until we figure all this out. I don't know about you but I'm still a bit..."

"Shocked? Stunned? Astounded?" George offered, turning his head to look down at her.

"Yeah, all of the above, really," Hermione gazed up at him, fighting the urge to blush again now that it had subsided somewhat. George paused, quirking his mouth to the side, as if debating whether or not to say something.

"What is it?" Hermione asked. "I mean, I know what it is, but..."

"Just thinking that you're blushing awfully hard over the thought of being married to me," George teased and Hermione's face once again burned. "But really, like you said, it could have been much worse. We'll figure this all out. In the very least, you're safe from some dirty old Slytherin's paws."

"How are you so calm? Your brother just saddled you with me!" Hermione's gaze found the floor.

"Hermione," George began, pausing, "Percy didn't saddle me with you. Do I seem distraught to you?"

"No," Hermione huffed, refusing to look up again.

"No. Because I'm not. So please don't you be. I'm sure you'll be up all night thinking this over and fretting but try not to worry," he paused again, extending a finger to raise her chin so that her eyes met his once more. "Hermione, we all care about you, myself included. So if this keeps you safe and happy, this is what we'll do. Besides, we're an alright match; I'm dashingly handsome and you're not hard on the eyes, are you?" George then grinned as Hermione's jaw dropped.

"George!"

"Well, you're not! All big brown eyes and lovely hips, you are."

"George Weasley!" Hermione pushed off of the couch and braced her hands instead on her hips.

"Yeah, those ones," George laughed, his cheeks a bit flushed under the spattering of freckles.

Hermione sputtered, not able to think of anything more to say. George laughed harder and reached out to pull her into his side.

"Relax, Hermione. I'll see you tomorrow night and we'll figure this out then. Don't know about you, but I'm knackered," George drew out for emphasis. He stood up tall and wrapped his other arm around Hermione, hugging her close. Hermione let her head rest against his chest, noting with an unknown feeling that his heart thudded rather quickly against her ear. "It'll all turn out all right."

Hermione nodded into his chest and sighed, pulling away gently.

"Goodnight, George," Hermione ambled back in the direction of the kitchen. "And thank you."

"For what?" He followed after her to say goodbye to the others.

"Just... for being so calm, I suppose."

"Anytime, Granger. Goodnight mum, dad. Be seeing you tomorrow," George called, making for the back door quickly. He caught Hermione's eye and gave her cheeky wink before disappearing into the back garden.

With Hermione's cheeks tinged red in remembrance of George's comments about her looks, she joined Molly at the sink to help clean up the tea mugs from earlier. Arthur had put the kettle on a second time but it had been all but forgotten in light of recent events.

"Hello, dear. George gone?"

Hermione grabbed a tea towel and one of the freshly washed cups Molly had just set on the drying rack with dripping hands.

"Yeah, just left," Hermione set about drying the mug, leaning a hip against the counter.

"What a palaver!" Molly commented, turning her head to survey Hermione's somewhat distracted look. "Not to worry, dear. George will take good care of you, no matter what you decide to do or how it turns out." She gave the girl beside her a reassuring smile, before plunking another clean mug up onto the draining board.

"I know," Hermione paused. "Do you think I could have a look at that pamphlet Percy had?"

"Of course. dear. It's on the table just there," Molly motioned over her shoulder. "I thought you might want to have a go at it after everything settled a bit."

The women made short work of the dishes and after putting the mugs away in the cupboard, Molly said her goodnights. Hermione regarded the empty kitchen for a moment, wondering where everyone had disappeared to. Percy had probably gone home, the twins had left, Ron was probably upstairs in his room and Ginny was probably in hers. Deciding to leave the paper for further study in the morning, Hermione grabbed her backpack, flicked off the light and climbed the stairs up to the second floor quietly. Ginny's door was ajar and Hermione pushed it open.

Harry and Ginny were sitting on Ginny's bed as close as two people could be without sitting on each other. They were grinning like idiots and whispering about something between the two of them as Hermione entered the room.

"Hi, Harry," Hermione voiced.

Her black-haired friend turned his head.

"Hey, Hermione. I was just about to go home," Harry stood from the bed. "Congratulations on your engagement!" He laughed.

"Thanks," Hermione chuckled. "And you!"

The two shared a hug before Harry turned to place a kiss on Ginny's head.

"See you tomorrow, Gin."

"Bye, Harry. I love you!"

"Love you too."

The two shared a sickenly sweet look before Harry closed the door behind himself and made his way downstairs to head back to Grimmauld Place. Ginny yawned and laid her head down on her pillow, facing the cot that she had obviously put out for her friend. Hermione set her bag down and pulled out her pajamas.

"So?" Ginny prompted. Hermione pulled her t-shirt over her head and replaced it with her loose sleep shirt.

"So what?" Hermione questioned.

Ginny rolled her eyes with an exaggerated sigh.

"What did George have to say?"

Hermione pulled her loose bottoms on and dumped her bag on the ground, moving to sit cross-legged on her bed.

"Well... he was surprisingly calm. He just said we'd work it all out tomorrow and not to worry about it if I could help it." Ginny grinned at her words.

"I can't believe all this. I mean don't get me wrong, I'm over the moon right now because of Harry, but if this thing is serious, you'll be my sister-in-law!" Ginny squealed, wide grin stretched across her face. "I know there's more to it, all the requirements and stuff, but I can't help just being happy that you'll be my family in name, too. Absolutely mad though."

Hermione grinned back.

"Yeah. I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be full of more of this. I'm so tired I don't even know what to think right now," Hermione tipped sideways and sighed as her head hit the mattress. "I just can't believe..."

"Things will be easier with George than you think," the redhead's eyes twinkled at Hermione.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione narrowed her own.

"Oh, nothing," Ginny breezed, grinning conspiratorially. Hermione couldn't help but think that Ginny reminded her strongly of the twins when she was obviously sidestepping a question.

As soon as Hermione closed her eyes, she was asleep.