A/N: Another H/Hr story! I love writing them as they're my Harry Potter OTP and I have a couple of story ideas about them in my head; this was just the next one to come out following Moments of Closeness. This was supposed to be a one-shot but it became a little too long in length, so I decided to convert it to a two-shot. The trope may be a little overdone but, hey, why not add to it? You can never have too much H/Hr content!

The Other Night

Hermione frowned as she set down her wand and peered at her reflection in the vanity's mirror. Her hair now sat atop her head in a slightly messy, yet attractive, updo thanks to magic. It was easier to deal with her mane via magical means at times, but why was she even doing this?

Agreeing with Ginny to go out to a nightclub… what had possessed her? Nightlife was not exactly Hermione's thing. It never really had been, but at age 27, it was even less appealing than it may have been in her early 20s. But her redheaded friend was relentless and convincing, and after assuring the older witch that going out was essentially just going to be a Dumbledore's Army reunion of sorts, the Muggleborn had conceded after two and a half weeks.

And now, here Hermione sat, having finished getting ready and waiting for Ginny to come out of the bathroom. She had gotten to Ginny's apartment an hour and a half ago and now she was having second thoughts, but it was difficult to articulate what precisely was giving her pause. She had not seen many of the former DA members for eons so it would be wonderful to see them, would it not? And the club was wizard, was it not? And it would be nice to have a few drinks with friends without inhibitions, would it not? (Especially since working for the Ministry kept her ridiculously busy more days than not). But maybe some of her old school mates whom were supposed to be there were the reason why she was second guessing going at all... and by some, maybe it was only one former DA member.

"Stop frowning, Hermione. You look great and we're going to have a wicked time," a voice instructed. The brunette snapped to and looked to her right. Ginny had walked briskly out of her en-suite bathroom, throwing a small pile of clothes onto her bed and looking her friend over.

"You're one to talk." Hermione replied. She thought the younger witch looked amazing herself. Ginny was wearing all white: a mid rise, form fitting skirt and a long sleeved shirt, which complimented her vibrant hair very well.

"What am I saying?"

"Nothing. Your ensemble and silhouette are doing all the talking for you."

"You sure do know how to make a girl smile, Granger." Ginny grinned.

"Hmmm," came the dry response. Hermione looked at herself in a grumpy manner one last time before getting up and moving away from the vanity.

"What's wrong?"

"What? Nothing."

"Hermione, you're an awful liar half the time. Something is obviously wrong and I'd like it if you'd tell me now before you carry this attitude out with us," the Weasley girl stated. The other woman pursed her lips as her eyes closed briefly.

"I'm not sure it's a good idea that I go." Hermione mentioned quickly.

"Why not?"

"Intuition."

"But you agreed to it." Ginny observed.

"Yes, but minds change," the brunette remarked.

"They do, but why?"

"Because! I just… you know me. This isn't something that I normally do on a Saturday night! You play Quidditch! You're social, you have teammates, you've always been a people person… this is more along your lines."

"Yes, I do know you, and you like spending time with people you care about. Whom, may I add, are the people mostly going. People you care about." Ginny attested.

"I can't see them elsewhere?" Hermione questioned, sitting on the edge of the bed and sounding a bit exasperated.

"Not all at once! It's rare and you know it! Hermione, what's really going on? Really? Tell me."

The Muggleborn let out a sound that was half sigh, half growl and put her head in her hands but she did not respond.

"Is it Harry?" Ginny asked quietly after a long moment.

Hermione's shoulders scrunched up involuntarily, which told her friend all she needed to know.

"I thought you two were good again," the pureblood patiently commented.

"We are. We have been for the past few months!" Hermione asserted earnestly, looking up and peering at Ginny.

"Then what is the problem?"

"I don't know… I'm nervous?"

"About what?" Ginny questioned.

"I don't know!" Hermione declared, "Sometimes I just still feel nervous when it comes to him. I don't want to do anything that is stupid or I'll come to regret... or that will set us back."

"Hermione, Harry is our friend. He's your good friend, even after everything that you two have been through. What is there to be nervous or afraid about anymore? When is the last time you spent time with him?"

"Two weeks ago."

"And was it terrible? Did anything bad happen?" the red head asked.

"No." Hermione admitted, thinking about their trip to a museum followed by dinner.

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Yes."

"Exactly! And it will be just the same tonight, only that there will be many more people there so it's even less pressure to be around him, if that's your concern. What makes tonight any different?" Ginny continued.

"I don't know…" the Muggleborn noted.

"Well you've given me a lot of 'I don't knows' and I've given you a lot of valid arguments, so I win. You're coming. Things will be fine and you'll have no issues with Harry and you'll thank me for it later."

"How do you know he's even coming for sure?"

"Ron." Ginny started, moving to look at her hair in the vanity.

"Of course." Hermione remarked, smoothing out a portion of her dress.

"Harry's actually over there getting ready. You would know if you spoke to my brother and The Boy Who Lived."

"Hey. I do speak to them and they are still my best friends."

"Then you should have no problem seeing them both tonight!," the red head smirked, "It's going to go well, Hermione, trust me! We can meet them up before leaving, if you'd prefer."

"No. We can meet them there, it's fine," Hermione answered, "And you're right- it'll go well. I don't know what I'm on about. Nothing will happen."

"There you go!"

The witches arrived to the London night spot half an hour later. It was busy, loud, and colorful, and they were hailed excitedly by many obsequious witches and wizards outside and inside the club. Their fame from Hogwarts had not seemed to abate very much some nine years later…. The group had a private section of the venue that was going to house everyone thanks to Ginny and Seamus, the planners and coordinators of the event. They made their way to this exclusive room right away and discovered they were some of the last ones to arrive. The room was large and perched on the second story of the building; it was surrounded by nothing but large, glass panels all around that gave views of the dance floor and DJ below. A number of plush, dark couches sat inside along with knee high tables, in addition to a manned bar that was located near the door. There were four other exact replicas of this room on the floor and theirs was right in the middle. Hermione glanced furtively into the others as she progressed to theirs, as there were no doors on any of them.

Hermione spotted people right away as she and Ginny walked inside the space and were greeted immediately. Neville, George, Angelina Johnson; Seamus, Parvati, Lee Jordan; Alicia Spinnet, Ron, Hannah Abbott; Dean, Luna, Padma Patil. And Harry. He was speaking with Ron and Luna and Hermione's eyes lingered on him longer than the others.

"Are we the last ones to arrive?" she asked as she attempted to simultaneously acknowledge as many of her old school mates as she could. (This consisted of nods, smiles, and short lived hugs).

"No, but just about. Still waiting on Ernie and Susan!" Seamus responded with a grin, pulling her into a hug.

"Are they coming together?" Ginny wondered, squeezing Alicia's hand affectionately.

"Yes. Haven't you heard? They're a couple now!" Padma supplied, welcoming Hermione.

"Good for them!"

"So there'll be 17 of us?" the Granger woman asked.

"Sure, that sounds right! Don't ask me to do any maths; I'm already a bit pissed!" Dean commented, winking at his ex-girlfriend.

"There would've been more but Katie, Terry, and Oliver couldn't make it." Ginny attested.

"Oh, we missed Oliver? How fun it would've been to have a go at him again!" Angelina remarked.

"That tosser retired from Puddlemere a year ago! Nothing but time on his hands! What kept him from coming tonight?" Lee remarked, bowing in front of the newly arrived witches.

"The fact that he knew he'd have the mickey taken?" Hermione pondered wryly, hugging Neville warmly.

"That's how we show love and he knows it."

"Oy! Sister! Granger!," a voice shouted suddenly. It belonged to George and he was peering at them with surprise and delight, "When you'd get here?!"

"Just now! Observant, aren't you?" Ginny replied, waving him over. He had been standing near Luna, Harry, and Ron but, now having noticed Ginny and Hermione, he jogged over and embraced the two women merrily.

Harry's attention had been drawn away from his best friend and the Ravenclaw blonde to George, and he attuned to whom the twin was speaking. His breath caught in his throat as he spotted the brunette. Hermione was here now. Harry found it difficult to do anything but stare at her as Ron also took notice of the new additions. How had he not noticed her entrance?

"Wicked!" Ron claimed in a happy tone, looking at his sibling and female best friend.

"The rest of my friends are here!" Luna said pleasantly. Ron peered at her and grinned. Harry, meanwhile, continued to gaze steadily at Hermione. She looked fantastic. She was dressed in a royal blue dress that fit her like a glove and her hair was piled on the top of her head in an appealing way.

"Come say hello, you lot! Don't be rude." George instructed, turning and gesturing to the trio he had just been with. Ginny and Hermione looked at Ron, Harry, and Luna, and Harry felt his heart clench when Hermione locked eyes with him.

"Hello boys, Luna." Hermione commented, smiling at them all and sounding somewhat coy.

"Salutations!" the blonde uttered.

Harry continued to stare at the Muggleborn. She smiled once more, one that seemed to be directed exclusively at him, and it jarred something within him. He took a step forward, intending to reach Hermione and say something at last, but Ron beat him to it.

"Move, Potter!" the red head ordered, rushing past Harry.

Ron reached his sister and Hermione in a few, long strides with Luna right on his heels. He kissed Ginny on her forehead before pulling the brunette into an all encompassing hug that lifted her from her feet. Hermione squealed in surprise and mirth as Ron twirled her around.

"All right, Hermione?" he asked.

"Yes, Ron. Thank you," she noted as he put her down. She kissed his cheek while wearing a content smile.

"Hermione." Luna stated simply, stepping up next and giving her a hug, which was returned.

"Luna."

"Well get over here, Harry!" Ron called, peering at his best friend. The Potter man started, having been shocked and a tad disgruntled by Ron beating him to the punch. He looked quickly at the Weasleys before his gaze came to rest on Hermione yet again. She was watching him curiously.

"Sorry." Harry offered, walking over to everyone else.

"Nice to see you dressed up, Auror Potter." Ginny grinned as he approached the group. They gave each other a cozy hug.

"This counts as dressed up?"

"Based on your normal state of dress, which is a T-shirt and jeans- yes."

There was laughter as he rolled his eyes and Hermione appraised his appearance. Harry was wearing black slacks and a black, collared, button down shirt with white stitching and details. He looked great. Black seemed to be his color.

"Hermione," he uttered, turning to her.

"Harry," she answered genially. They stared at one another, taking the other person in. There was brief silence but it was loaded, if their looks were anything to go by. However, it ended when he pulled her into a heartfelt hug that had been quite different from the one he had shared with Ginny.

She closed her eyes as she molded into his embrace.

"Glad to see you again." Harry murmured.

"Yes."

She noticed he was slowly stroking her left arm and she inhaled at the pleasantness of it, but in the next moment someone was clearing their throat loudly. They broke apart feeling a bit startled and saw Ron looking at them, wearing a smirk.

"Fancy a drink?" he questioned smugly.

"Oh! Er, yes!," Hermione said, breaking away from her dark haired friend and striving not to blush, "That'd be great."

"Still partial to rum?"

"Yes, that's fine."

"Right," Ron nodded, "Ginny? A drink?"

"Yes. I'll go with you," the witch claimed.

"As will I! Lee and I need another." George relayed.

"Luna, do you want anything?" Ron asked.

"No. I'm fine, Ronald, thank you," the blonde responded with a smile smile. He acknowledged this by squeezing her hand affectionately and then walked away to the room's bar with his siblings.

"Be right back!" Ginny called.

"So how are things, Luna?" Hermione pondered when it was only her, Luna, and Harry.

"Well, since the last time you saw me three weeks ago, I discovered a new fauna of beewittles!" the Ravenclaw revealed, looking pleased.

"Oh?"

"Yes, in Croatia! I was gone for six days and stumbled upon them on my second to last day. I need to return for further study in two weeks time, but I wanted to come home to England and spend time with Ron before leaving again."

"That's great, Luna." Hermione attested sincerely.

Luna's work as a Magizoologist seemed to truly fulfill her. She had started in the field right after graduating Hogwarts but her work had not garnered recognition and accolades until nearly two years ago, when she had been 23. Coincidentally, this was also the age she had married Ron in a large, joyous, and unusual ceremony.

Luna and Ron had begun dating when she was 20 and he was 21, and the two had wed three years later, which their families and friends had been gleeful about. It had been rather surprising when the pair had started dating but not entirely. Luna had always had nothing but positive things to say about Ron, even when at Hogwarts, and somewhere along the line this had transformed into romantic feelings.

She had been out with the golden trio, Neville, and Ginny one night when, somehow, the conversation had landed upon her love life and if she was interested in or seeing anyone. Looking and sounding utterly unabashed, as though mentioning the weather, Luna had declared she currently fancied Ron and had for quite some time. The table had gone deathly quiet at her admission while Ron's eyes widened and his ears burned a stark red; her response had been to merely smile. The rest of the night was fairly awkward and Ron avoided her for the five days following that, but somewhere along the line he had met with her and had a thorough conversation because, one month after her declaration, the two had commenced dating.

Harry and Ginny had been the best man and maid of honor at their wedding while Hermione and Neville had been a bridesmaid and groomsman, and the four of them had felt nothing but happiness for Luna and Ron as they stood beside them. It had been particularly interesting for Hermione because, once upon a time, she had thought she might have been standing next to the tall red head at the altar one day. (Consequently, there was no jealousy on her part- simply reflection).

Ron and Hermione had been over for two years by the time he and Luna had started seeing each other. Their relationship had started a few months after the Battle of Hogwarts and lasted just under a year; the best friends broke up the summer before Hermione turned 20. Their often conflictual way of communicating was nerve wracking on its own as friends, but in a romantic relationship it had been unbearable. They could not see eye to eye on many issues and their disagreements had the tendency to turn into fights too quickly. This clashing had been their undoing but it had not ended sourly. Ron and Hermione mutually decided to end their romance and actually seemed relieved when it was over. They fell right back into being just friends once more, acknowledging that they were able to bring out the worst in one another when dating.

This is why Hermione had truly been glad when the blonde started seeing Ron. Luna was great for her best friend and their love for each other was clear when they were together. He was a wonderful man and he deserved a woman whom would celebrate him while also keeping him grounded, which Luna did. Ron's only squabble was that his mother would occasionally mention children when he was around her, sometimes subtly and sometimes outright. She wanted her son to have his own brood but he was not interested at the moment. His wife's career would make it quite difficult to incorporate children in their lives and the pair had only been married for a couple years.

"She has grandchildren already. Why is it my job to add to her collection right now?," Ron would complain, "We have plenty of time! I'm not even 30! We're not worried about it."

"And how is work for you, Hermione?" Luna questioned, picking something off Harry's left sleeve that he was not completely sure was even there. (Luna was still Luna, after all).

"It's, it's good! Busy as always, but I do enjoy it as it's challenging," the brunette replied.

"I expect you see a lot of Harry."

Hermione looked to him and he grinned. They did both work for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

"Yes," she assured, smiling a bit.

"She's actually set to be promoted at the end of next week." Harry revealed proudly. The Muggleborn appeared a little chagrined and it only made his grin larger.

"Are you? How perfect!" Luna exclaimed.

"Yes. I haven't told too many people about it yet but I am happy." Hermione stated, smiling in a resigned way at the wizard.

"You should be. You've worked your arse off for it." Harry informed.

"Indeed! This night is like a celebration of sorts, then," the blonde observed, looking between them happily.

"What's a celebration?" Neville inquired. He walked up to the three with a butterbeer in his hand and his fiance by his side.

"Hermione's promotion."

"Promotion?! Congratulations, Hermione!" Hannah relayed, clapping her hands together.

"Oh yes! Harry told me!," Neville relayed, "That's terrific, love!" He gave her a one armed hug and her mouth fell open while her brows furrowed, and she peered at Harry disbelievingly. He looked away sheepishly although his grin remained.

"Did he now?" the Muggleborn pondered, her shrewd gaze not wavering, "Anyone else who knows?"

"Just Ron!... and Bill." Harry admitted. She made a noise of exasperation.

"It's not a bad thing," laughed Neville while the other women smiled.

"No! It's not. I am happy about the promotion, but I don't want tonight to be about me or that. I just want to catch up with everyone and have fun." Hermione explained.

"Of course!"

"Drinks are over here!" a voice then called. The group looked to see George waving them down right by the couches while Ginny was taking a seat and Ron was placing glasses of alcohol on one of the tables.

"Shall we?" Neville prompted, gesturing with his hand to the Weasleys.

"Excuse me for being proud of you." Harry mumbled to Hermione as they headed for the sofas and tables. They brought up the rear and she peered at him with surprise but he was smiling down at her.

"Oh, no, Harry- it's lovely that you are! Thank you," she mentioned, touching his shoulder lightly, "I'm not actually upset."

"You just make it easy to be."

"Be what?"

"Proud of you," he remarked. The witch felt surprise again as she looked at him, but soon after it was followed by some emotion that was beginning to make her cheeks hot so she looked away.

Ron handed out the drinks when the five of them arrived and began to settle on and around the sofas.

"Harry, got you another whiskey," his best friend relayed.

"Thanks, mate," the dark haired wizard cited as he took his glass and Ron gave Hermione her rum based drink. She sat down next to Ginny and Luna, on Ginny's right, and took a sip of the liquid. Harry glanced at where his friends were sitting or standing and took note that Ron continued to stand with George and Neville before resting his eyes on the witches.

"May I?" he posited, pointing to the spot on Hermione's right.

"Of course!," she declared, moving a bit as he sat down, "You don't have to ask. It's not like I'm opposed to you."

"Not anymore, at least."

He had meant this is a joke and it had come out impulsively but his statement resonated with them both a little too much. Hermione felt definite discomfort at his words so she took another sip as a distraction while he cleared his throat awkwardly and set down his drink. It was quiet between them for a long moment while their peers spoke jovially and the music from the DJ reverberated around them.

"So, when did you get here?" she asked, turning to peer at him.

"About 20 minutes before you and Ginny. Seamus and Dean were the very first ones here." Harry informed.

"Have you been here before?"

"Once. It was the starting point for Ron's bachelor party."

"Mmmm," she uttered, smiling.

"How about you?" he questioned.

"What do you think, Harry?"

He chuckled at this, rubbing his chin.

"I think it probably took a bit, or maybe loads, of convincing on Ginny's part to get you here in the first place, so, no- you probably haven't been here before," came the reply.

"With deduction skills like that, no wonder you're a brilliant Auror." Hermione claimed, her eyes shining with laughter. He smiled in return.

"Well, it's good you're here. It wouldn't have been the same without you."

She did not respond with words but peered at him with a pleased expression. He did not look away and she picked up her glass to take another long sip when she felt her cheeks growing hot once more.

"Erm, what did you do with your day?" Hermione questioned when she had finished fiddling with her drink.

"I spent the day with Teddy." Harry shared, appearing happy.

"Oh, did you? What did you do? How is he?" The witch looked and sounded eager, turning to face him fully.

Hermione treasured the young Lupin boy. She had not seen him in weeks and she felt guilty about that but work had been ruthless lately. What was more, her place in Teddy's world had shifted in a noticeable way one year prior, because her place in Harry's world had also shifted…. But that was over now and things were better, and she could- and would- make more of an effort to be regularly included in the boy's life once again.

"He's great. The absolute best," grinned Harry, "I took him to Muggle London for the zoo but we also ate, shopped, went to the park. He has so much energy! Andromeda and I both had to have a talk with him about not transforming while out among Muggles because he does it constantly elsewhere, and I know a part of it is because it antagonizes his grandmother."

"So what did he look like today?" Hermione wondered, smiling.

"He's recently gotten the habit of looking exactly like whomever he is spending time with- again, I think, to irk people- so I spent the day with a miniature version of myself. It was a bit unsettling."

The brunette laughed heartily as she pictured it, Teddy's enthusiastic reaction and Harry's weary one.

"He did the same thing the last time he was with Ron. Ron enjoyed the hell out of it, you know." Harry continued.

"He would, the self centered prat." Hermione joked.

"It's crazy to know that Teddy's eight. Eight! He's going to start Hogwarts before I know it. I can hardly believe it most of the time; I have all of these feelings about it."

"That makes sense. You're an amazing father figure to him, Harry- of course you're going to feel deeply about it."

"Thanks," he nodded, watching his untouched glass of alcohol. He was leaned over and had started to rub his hands together slowly.

"I miss him and Andromeda. I must see him soon. Will you… will you let me know the next time you visit him? I'd love to go." Hermione pondered. She sounded rather timid and appeared unsure. Harry stared at her and took a moment before replying.

"Yeah... of course. Of course I will. I know he'd be thrilled to see you. They both would," the wizard attested.

"Thank you. It would mean so much."

"Andromeda asks after you all the time... Well, y-you and Ron! She, uh, she asks after you both."

The witch peered at him but he was not looking at her anymore and appeared sheepish. She was successful in subduing a tiny smirk.

"Are you going to drink your whiskey at all?" she pondered, gesturing to it. Harry's gaze shot to it before finding her eyes again, which were a tad mirthful.

"In time. We've got all night," he noted.

"Bottoms up, you lot! A shot for everyone in this room! No exceptions!" a boisterous Seamus suddenly shouted. This earned him loud, verbal support from a handful of the occupants, including Dean and Ron. Harry gawked at his old roommates before looking at Hermione once more, but she was holding out his drink for him with a satisfied expression on her face.

"Drink up. There are apparently expectations for the night!" she asserted.

An hour later, everyone was present (Ernie and Susan had arrived not long after Seamus' round of shots) and seemed to be very immersed in the atmosphere of the club. The level of inebriation varied quite a bit amongst the Hogwarts alumni but no one was obnoxious, unmanageable, or sloppy. Luna and Padma, for example, had had nothing beyond the mandatory shot and butterbeers, whereas Lee and Seamus couldn't have passed a sobriety test if their lives depended on it. Currently, Harry was standing close to the bar, nursing his third whiskey of the night and watching his friends interact with one another. He had finished regaling with Ron and Dean about memorable events not too long ago and now appeared content with observing.

"See something you like?" a voice asked to his left. He was pulled rapidly out of his daze and attuned to the person. Ginny had sidled up next to him and looked amused.

"Do you see something I don't?" Harry answered.

"You're staring."

"I'm people watching."

"Yes. But is it people watching or person watching?" she posited slyly. He looked at her sharply and her smile grew.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Ginevra," the wizard asserted evenly. Ginny made some kind of noise in her throat.

"Okay."

She looked ahead exactly where he had been gazing and a group that consisted of Angelina, Alicia, Parvati, and Hermione fell right into her line of vision. There was silence while she continued to look knowingly entertained and Harry studied her from his peripheral, as though sizing her up.

"You look quite good tonight," he muttered. The red head turned to peer at him and grinned.

"Why thank you, Harrison! Is that a play for something more?" the witch inquired in a sultry tone. She looped her arm through his and moved closer in a theatrically seductive manner; he rolled his eyes and smiled at her chosen name. At 18, Ginny had joked that they should get everyone to believe that Harry's real name was Harrison and, seven years later, she would still refer to him as such.

"Do you want it to be?" Harry quipped with a smirk.

"Mmm… possibly. But you'll have to get in queue behind the hundreds of others who want me, I'm sorry!"

"Can't I just cut? I've already been in the queue- at the head of it, actually- and I think that should count for something."

They smiled at each other, both glad that bantering together was still a part of their relationship.

"How is that going for you? Dating?" he asked. Ginny took a moment before responding as she thought about it, her arm still through his.

"Well, Quidditch can cut into it, as you know-" she commenced.

"All too well."

"But! I did actually meet someone a few weeks ago. Maybe?"

"What do you mean maybe? This person maybe exists?" grinned Harry.

"I mean maybe something might come of this! I met him while in Spain with the Harpies. Italian bloke, though- wizard. He seems brilliant so far and it's kind of nice because he's rather busy himself so he understands. But it is still fairly new and I don't want to jinx it or get too hopeful just now. But I do like him." Ginny relayed, looking slightly bashful. He gave her a sincere smile.

"Have you told anyone about him?"

"Just Luna. And Hermione, whom I told earlier tonight."

"Well good for you, Gin. I hope this 'maybe' turns into a yes; you'd deserve it," he cited.

"Thank you, Harry," she kindly responded.

Across the room, Parvati, Angelina, Hermione, and Alicia were looking at Ginny and Harry and conversing.

"And so many people thought they would've ended up married." Parvati remarked, shaking her head unconsciously.

"Thought and hoped." Hermione added, stirring her drink's straw in an absent minded manner as she, too, watched the pair.

"Well, yeah! Who could blame them? Look at how good they look together!" Alicia exclaimed. Three sets of eyes quickly shot to her face, each telling of a different emotion. Angelina grimaced and discreetly hit Alicia's lower arm, peering rapidly at Hermione while she conveniently coughed. Parvati looked at Angelina astutely.

"Oh! B-But! But, obviously, l-looking good isn't enough to keep a relationship going! No! It's, it's about being good- together!" Alicia rushed to clarify. She laughed nervously once, glanced at Hermione, and then took an extended swallow from her glass.

"Yes. Looking good and being good are two very different things!" Angelina supplied.

"Yeah. They are," the Granger woman noted simply.

She could not be upset with Alicia's statement because droves of people had similar thought patterns. A large portion of people had wished Harry and Ginny would make it all the way when the two had dated, and while that had been more than half a decade ago, some had yet to let it go.

Harry resumed his romance with Ginny when he was 18 ½, about half a year after defeating Voldemort. The two had had a longer run than Ron and Hermione and remained a couple for a year and a half, but they ultimately broke up when he was 20. Conversely, the relationship between the Chosen One and the red headed witch had not ended as easily or as amicably as their best friends; it was rather tough for them for a few months following the breakup. Harry had been the one to go to Ginny and reveal he did not think it was working out. He had still been significantly affected, psychologically, by the war, then, and he believed that she was not giving him what he needed, while he was giving her what she did not deserve. She did not fully understand his erratic emotional state and he was too closed off too often.

Ginny had been resistant to end their relationship although she knew it had not been smooth sailing, and she argued and tried to convince him to regene his decision for two weeks after he called it off. When she finally accepted it after half a month, after 14 days of an emotional whirlwind, she left him alone to tend to her woeful heart. However, two weeks after that and one month following the breakup, Harry had appeared at the Burrow one night and informed Ginny that he wanted to it all back and be a couple once more. He had felt alone and distraught during that fortnight and thought it was the universe telling him he did need her in that way, so when she was the one to deny him this time, he felt utterly lost.

In retrospect, Harry realized that Ginny turning him away was probably the best thing that could have happened for both of them. They had both been gravely impacted by the war and had floundered as a pair in understanding and addressing it, together and individually. After three months of some healing and reflection, the two were able to reunite and be around one another again. They acknowledged that they had not ultimately worked out and that was okay, but they cared for each other too much to abandon their friendship as well. Their relationship also led Harry to recognize that he needed professional help in addressing his mental scars. It took him another year until he was able to bring himself to do it but, at 21, he did, and once he started it he never came to regret it in any way.

"Well they both look good with whomever they're with so of course they're going to look good together by default!," Parvati remarked airily, "I never did think Ginny and Harry were destined to be."

"What? Really? But you're the one who brought up this topic in the first place!" Angelina pointed out.

"Yes. I said loads of people thought they'd marry and grow old together- I never said I was one of them."

Hermione looked at her old roommate and partially smiled, twirling her straw once more.

"And what about you, Harrison?" Ginny inquired back on the opposite side of the room.

"What about me?" Harry responded.

"Don't play daft! What's dating like for you right now?"

"Mmm, rather non-existent."

"When's the last time you went on a date? Or better yet- when's the last time you were interested in a witch?" the red head posited.

"So long ago that it might be embarrassing to say, for your first question, and even longer than that, for your second," he explained. She appeared shocked.

"Why?! Harry, you do realize how appealing you are to women, don't you? You're not that blind?"

"It's hard not to see it when women blatantly make advances toward me or throw themselves at me. But that's the problem, Ginny- I feel like they do it just because of who I am in the wizarding world. I want a woman who is interested in me for who I am as a person, not what my name is. And sometimes it's hard to tell the difference."

She nodded her head while she also frowned, not because of what he said but because of the truth behind it.

"So what about someone who is not British?" Ginny proposed.

"When will I find the time to travel just so I can hunt down a potential mate?" Harry replied.

"Then what about a witch you know already? And know well? You can already be sure she likes you for you."

"I don't know about that…"

"And why not?" she challenged. He peered at her before his gaze flickered back to the group of the four Gryffindor alumnae.

"I've done that- twice now. I believe you were there for one of those instances! Neither time worked out," the Auror muttered. He glanced one more time at Parvati, Alicia, Hermione, and Angelina before taking a deep gulp from his glass while his ex-girlfriend followed his gaze. There was momentary silence.

"Well, if at first you don't succeed, try again." Ginny advised. She threw a small smirk his way, pat his arm, and then took her leave.

Once midnight had come and gone, the noise level of the room had risen a bit and the inhibitions of the witches and wizards present were notably more diminished. A good amount of them had started dancing and/or began to go explore different parts of the club. George and Dean left to go down to the lower level where most of the partygoers were clustered and when they returned some 20 minutes later, they were accompanied by two witches who looked pleased. (Susan grumbled that they did not need more women as they had outnumbered the men even before the new arrivals joined them). Harry, Ron, and Hermione had been cheerfully conversing with only each other near one of the windows, all intoxicated to some degree and with Harry's arm thrown around Hermione's shoulders.

However, when the two witches merged with them to introduce themselves after a few minutes, they all felt a bit perturbed to have their enjoyable time as a trio interrupted. Consequently, when it became fairly apparent after a quarter of an hour that one of the witches had her eye on Harry, and steadily sought him ought wherever he was in the room, Hermione found that she became increasingly aggravated. She wanted to tell Dean and George to supervise their guests or ask them to leave but she imagined how they might react to her and begrudgingly left it alone. So, when the brunette was with Susan and Luna and overheard Parvati tell her twin that she was going to "save Harry", she looked on with gratitude as the Patil woman marched over to Harry and his persistent admirer.

"You don't mind if I take him for a bit, do you?" Parvati asked the woman in a cheery voice, grabbing his hand and flashing a smile. He looked at her quickly.

"Oh! Er-" the witch commenced, appearing surprised.

"Thanks!"

Parvati then hastily pulled Harry away in order to put a decent amount of distance between him and the other woman. He followed without complaint.

"Merlin! Thank you, Parvati!" Harry exclaimed, exhaling audibly.

"You're welcome, Potter. I could see the panic in your eyes and the determination in hers," she remarked.

"I can track down and arrest dangerous criminals but I don't know how to handle a woman who's giving me a little too much attention."

"Noble Harry, as always!"

The wizard shook his head and shrugged, smiling in a defeated manner.

"How's the night for you?" Harry wondered.

"It's fun! I'm glad we're all doing this!" Parvati revealed.

"Yeah. It's nice, isn't it?"

"Mmm! It could be a little nicer, though."

"How?" he prompted.

"By you dancing with me," she attested. He gazed at her, an uncertain grin on his face.

"Dance?"

"Yes! That is what you do in a place like this! Don't tell me you're still horribly opposed to dancing."

"Still?" Harry repeated.

"Yes, Harry. Your attitude was the worst about dancing at the Yule Ball," Parvati stated. He gave an amused, robust laugh, "So, I figure that you still owe me for being a less than satisfying dance partner 12 years ago."

"The Yule Ball. That's how you see it, eh? All right, then- I owe you! Let's dance."

She smiled widely at him and took his hand again before moving a bit more to the right in order to bypass Seamus and Neville so they could have more space. When Parvati turned to face Harry, she put her arms around his neck and moved closer while his hands went to her waist. Hermione had engaged with Luna and Susan again when she saw the Patil woman swoop in to rescue Harry, so when she scanned the room to see where he was now, she saw that he continued to be with Parvati. But they were dancing. Dancing lively. And dancing closely. Hermione felt her mouth open, her heart stop, and her thoughts freeze.

"Oh, Harry's dancing!," Luna mentioned, "I've only seen him do that at our wedding! And, well, that's because he kind of had to." Susan giggled at this but Hermione only continued to watch the dancing couple, eyebrows taut and drawn.

They finished the first song but did not part, and in fact remained together to dance to another. They looked jovial and would trade occasional, short sentences in between moving with one another. Hermione persisted in watching them, her once alarmed countenance now replaced with one of deep irritation. At one point Parvati tightened her hold around his neck and stood on her toe tips to say something directly into Harry's ear, grinning. His own hold around her middle tightened as he listened and, when she was done, he relayed something in her ear that caused her to laugh gleefully and pull back to grin further at him. That was also when Hermione noticed she was gritting her teeth and was curling and uncurling the fingers of her right hand, only because Susan said something.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" the former Hufflepuff questioned, noticing the Muggleborn's tense state. Luna peered at her as well.

"Um, I… I'm fine!," she claimed, looking at them and then glancing at her hand in surprise, "I just need to, erm, go!, for a bit! Er, excuse me."

Hermione power walked away from them with her hand covering the right side of her face, letting out a fretful puff of air as her thoughts restarted with ferocity. She made her way to the sofas and was relieved to see Ginny there, holding a drink. She sat down stiffly and her gaze seemed to involuntarily land on Harry, which made her frown in vexation and temporarily shut her eyes.

"All right, Granger?" the red head pondered in a merry voice, peering at her friend. Hermione grumbled in discontent and opened her eyes, steadfastly determined to not look at Parvati and Harry once again.

Ginny raised an eyebrow at the noise her friend made that resembled a minor growl.

"Should I take that as a no?" she inquired.

"I'm fine," the brunette countered in an impatient tone.

"Are you? You don't sound, or even look, fine! Do you need a drink?"

"Yes!" the older woman asserted, turning to look at her properly. Hermione knew her frown was heavy and set but it was so hard to wipe off her face.

"Lucky for you Lee left this here before he could remember to take it. Got distracted by something or other." Ginny explained, picking up a shot glass from the table and offering it. Hermione grabbed it without a second thought and swallowed it in one go, grimacing a bit as her tastebuds recognized the clear liquid as vodka.

"So, will you be honest now and tell me what's got your face twisted up like that?" the Weasley woman continued.

However, before the other witch could answer, Parvati was bouncing up to the sofa on which Hermione and Ginny sat with a large smile on her face and her sister by her side. Hermione felt herself tense once more as she watched Parvati greet them with a wave and plop herself down right between them. Padma sat on Ginny's left.

"Having a good time, girls?" Parvati questioned.

"Very much." Ginny affirmed.

"Are any of these glasses filled with water and not alcohol?" Padma wondered.

"Yes! I'm parched!" her twin supplemented.

"I'm sure you are, what with your enthusiastic dancing with Harry." Hermione mumbled as the red head pointed out the water to the Patil women. Parvati heard her and the smile returned to her face.

"You saw us?" she pondered.

"I was close by. It was hard not to see."

"Harry's a much better dancer now than he was at 14!" Parvati observed, laughing once.

"You waited all this time just to test the waters again, huh?" Hermione replied, her sarcasm not very subtle. Ginny was looking between the pair astutely as Padma studied the Granger woman.

"It was a consequence of snatching him from the claws of aggressive seduction."

"I'm sure he is forever in your debt now."

There was brief silence as Parvati also appraised her old roommate, some of the humor slipping from her face.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" she asked.

"Yes! Will people stop asking me that?!" came the retort.

"When you don't seem so testy, I'm sure they will." Padma smirked. Hermione glared at her.

"You seemed fine the last time I saw you and that wasn't even long ago!" Parvati added.

"And I'm fine now!," Hermione insisted, although it sounded like she was snapping, "Don't you have someone else you need to go dance with? Someone else to save with your prolific moves?"

There was more silence and it was longer as the other three gazed at the brunette, although Ginny and Padma also shared looks with one another. Parvati, on the other hand was only staring shrewdly at Hermione.

"At some point. But I'm still recovering from Harry right now," she claimed in an even voice, a phantom smirk hovering around her countenance.

Hermione clenched her teeth, folded her arms, and turned rapidly away from the dark haired witch. She was clearly aggravated and did not feel like consorting with the other woman. She did not know what else would spill from her mouth but knew it would not be pleasant.

"Hermione… are you upset that I danced with Harry?" Parvati carefully inquired. The witch in question felt her shoulders tense but remained faced away with folded arms. No! She was not upset over that- of course not! But, now that it had been mentioned, it did make Parvati seem akin to a traitor of sorts, or at least a hypocrite of some kind. Hermione could not precisely voice why but that was of little consequence.

No answer was received and Padma and Ginny also had smirks playing about their features, particularly the red head.

"Hermione, I've danced with a few people tonight. Harry was just one of them! That's what you do at places like this- you dance!" The explanation came with a disbelieving laugh.

The Muggleborn persisted in saying nothing and scowling, her arms still crossed.

"So you're going to ignore me now, whereas before you were being snippy?" Parvati commented. Still, silence, "Well, I don't think it's a coincidence you suddenly seem pissy and don't want to speak to me after you saw me dancing with Harry. Which, of course, would only bother you if you felt jealous in any way."

Hermione felt herself bristle at the word pissy. She clenched her forearms and used an incredible amount of willpower to not turn back to face Parvati and say something scathing. Jealous? Jealous! How dare she!

"Hermione-" Ginny began, sounding both amused and reprimanding. But Parvati shook her head and held out her hand at the red head, indicating she had it covered.

"Look, I won't deny that I enjoyed dancing with Harry, or that I find him attractive. I have since third year," Parvati explained. The brunette's eyes widened and an angry flush swept through her body, "But I understand that we are friends! Just because I think he's fit doesn't mean I'm trying to make him my husband. I danced with my friend- nothing more and nothing less. If you saw more to it, Hermione, if it's bothering you this much, then maybe you should question if you're denying the fact that you still have feelings for Harry."

At this, Hermione did turn around, and fast. Her arms uncrossed and she peered at Parvati, dumbfounded, but the other woman was standing up and gesturing for her sister. The Patil twins bid Ginny a temporary goodbye and then left the sofa to merge back into the crowd of Hogwarts alumni.

Hermione's gaze then fell on Ginny, who looked surprised herself.

"Well…" Ginny initiated, shrugging her shoulders with her palms up, "She could have a point?" Anger shot across Hermione's face again and she hastily stood up from her seat, fists balled.

"Where are you going?" the Weasley woman asked.

"Downstairs!" the brunette snapped.

"For what?"

"A drink!"

"We have a bar in here." Ginny pointed out.

"I don't want one from here!" Hermione declared hotly. She then stalked past her friend, intent on getting to the exit, and the red head scrambled to get up as well.

"Wait, I'm coming with you!"

The pair made their way out of the room without saying anything to anyone but their departure was noticed by someone. Harry, who stood next to all of his former Quidditch teammates, furrowed his brow as he watched Hermione and Ginny leave, momentarily distracted from his conversation with Angelina.

A/N: The meat of this story is, clearly, in the second part so stay tuned! It should be out in about 2 weeks and I promise to [try to] make it worth it.