The war was over and the death toll had been high.

However, although Dumbledore had always maintained that there was no spell to reawaken the dead, Fred Weasley had seemed determined to prove the old man wrong.

He had almost given his family a heart attack when he had sat up, perfectly alive, a few hours after the battle in which he had died. His shocked and elated twin had questioned him about it, to which Fred had replied that the afterlife was deadly dull (pun very much intended) and that life was much more fun.

Hermione was pleased to see him back alive. She had already discovered that kissing Ron made her feel nothing and although she had little to compare it to, she couldn't help remembering her secret first kiss, which had been with Fred, and that she should have felt more than nothing when kissed by someone she was supposed to be in love with.

She had explained this to Ron who, though upset, said he understood and had also not felt right kissing her. They amicably agreed that they were better off as friends. That factor had surprised everyone; the relationship was all over so fast and so peacefully. They simply responded by saying that if they did go out they would probably wind up killing each other.

After the formalities and victory ball were over they all settled down to decide what to do next. For their services in the war Harry Ron and Hermione were awarded Orders of Merlin and their pictures on chocolate frog cards and a great deal of money. They were also offered extra individual honours. Harry was drafted into the Aurors, Ron as keeper for his favourite team the Chudely Cannons, and Hermione was allowed to empty out various libraries. This included those of rich death eaters with old houses, the mostly demolished Hogwarts library and Snape's personal library. Florish and Blotts also said that she need never pay for books from their shops ever again. She had gallantly declined this offer and said that if they wished to make that kind of offer towards her then some sort of permanent discount on her purchases in future would be agreeable. Eventually 70% was agreed on. The three of them were now extremely famous and Ron certainly looked like he was living his dream.

He certainly managed to pick up his team's performance in the quidditch league. Not that it was possible to make them any worse.

Hermione meanwhile had purchased a small shop with a flat above it opposite the Weasley twins shop in Diagon Alley. The shop remained closed but she had a vague plan to sell potions in it.

Mrs Weasley, fearing that her 'little lambs' would be thrown to the wind and drift apart, declared that every Sunday evening was Family Time and that attendance, though not officially mandatory, was actually mandatory. After the way she had dealt with Bellatrix Lestrange, nobody liked to upset her.

Hermione packed the last of her books into the bookshelves in her bedroom and glanced out of the window and caught sight of Fred in a window in the flat above their shop. She reasoned that that room, opposite hers, must be his bedroom. He was arguing with Angelina about something. This wasn't the first argument she had witnessed between them. They had got back together after the war but it didn't look like it was working out with them either.

Angelina stormed out and peering down Hermione saw her exiting the shop and storming off towards the Leaky Cauldron.

Hermione spotted a notepad. Hastily she scribbled a brief note with the permanent marker she had used to label her boxes. She knocked on her window to call his attention to her and held up the notepad.

'You ok?'

He smiled a little sadly. She saw him pick up a pad too and he wrote a note.

'Broke up with Angie.'

'How come?'

'She slept with George.'

'Oh Merlin. Poor you.'

'Saw it coming.'

'Why?'

'He's more fun.'

'Never!'

Here she saw him laugh at her reply.

'You can do better.' She wrote.

'So can you.'

'?'

'Ron.'

'We broke up ages ago.'

'Still.'

'Is G taking A to Burrow tomorrow?'

'Think so, why?'

'Wanna mess with them?'

'How?'

'Flirt with me.'

He looked confused so she wrote another note.

'Make A see how fun you are.'

'Jealousy?'

'That too.'

'Genius.'

'Glad you approve.'

'Discuss tomorrow?'

'Sure.'

They grinned at each other for a while. Then Hermione's grin grew impish.

'If you're lucky…

'I'll make you lunch.'

Fred looked horrified. Hermione had a hard time restraining her giggle.

'Oh Merlin no!

'Dying twice in a year

'is a little excessive.

'Don't you think?'

Hermione thought for a moment.

'Drama Queen.'

'Whatever, girl, you still can't cook!'