The week went by and Hermione had not heard from or about Ron. Ginny had refused to be around him so she had been spending most of her nights at Grimauld Place with Harry. Mrs. Weasley wasn't thrilled about this but she knew that they were of age and there wasn’t much that she could do, though she tried.

Hermione was eating breakfast that Saturday morning when she heard a pop in the fireplace (she had to transfigure one when she first moved in so that she could stay connected to the floo network). She looked over and saw Mrs. Weasley's face in her fire.

"Sorry to bother you dear, but I was just wondering if you wanted to come around tonight for a little get together that I am throwing for Harry's birthday. I know it isn't until Monday but I thought that since you will all probably be working, tonight would be better. It's a little last minute but with Ro..., well we thought it would be a good idea."

"I would love to come, Mrs. Weasley..."

"Please Hermione call me Molly, you are practically family."

"Fine, Molly, I would love to come, but I have a date with Seamus tonight."

"Well that's great bring him along, it isn't just going to be family... In fact if you wouldn't mind do you think you could get in touch with Luna, Dean, Neville, Hannah and anyone else you can think of?"

"Um... sure. I g-guess that would be okay. I’ll let everyone know."

"Thank you dear..." and a second later she was gone.

Hermione was torn, she wanted to be there for Harry and with Ron in town he would need all the extra support possible, but who would be there to support her? Sure she had Seamus, sort of, but it wouldn't be the same. She also was uncertain of how Ron would react, but she put that thought away quickly. Ron couldn't possibly care after all this time, and even if he did, so what? He left.

She got ready for the day; she didn't want to visit her friends in her nightgown. She popped into Luna's fireplace first. The former Ravenclaw was still as flighty as ever but oddly insightful. Her long blond hair, her thin yet shapely figure, and the fact that she stopped wearing radish like earrings had made her quite popular amongst the fella’s. Her boyfriend Dean wasn't too thrilled about it though. They had been dating since the war when they were stuck together at Ginny's aunt's home, before anyone had really paid any attention to her other than to tease her. His constant jealousy rivaled that of Ron's when Hermione went with Krum to the Yule Ball.

"Luna," she called as she looked around her kitchen. "Luna," she called again. After a couple more moments she left Luna's fire and went to Dean's. As soon as she popped in she heard yelling from another room...

"WHAT WERE YOU DOING UNTIL 8 THIS MORNING? I KNOW YOU WEREN'T AT HOME..."

"Well obviously," Hermione heard Luna's calm voice, "I told you I would be doing research on the Fliberty Bobble Head with Mr. Scamander. There was so much, did you know that it can breathe through its mouth, nose, and its toes..."

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE FLIBERTY WHATSIT!"

"Well you don't have to yell about it. You’re going to lose your voice and then who will sing me to sleep tonight."

There was silence and then little muffled whispers. Hermione felt that it might be safe to talk now. "Hello," she called.

A moment later blond head popped into the room, "Oh, Hermione, good morning!" The rest of Luna emerged from the doorway, followed by Dean. "Hey," he was a bit apprehensive, she was sure he was wondering how long she had been there.

"Mrs. Weasley, I mean, Molly, is having a birthday party for Harry tonight. I know it is a bit last minute but she wanted me to invite you two."

"I thought you were going out with Seamus tonight?" Dean piped in.

"I am, just a slight change of plans, that’s all."

Dean just smirked, Hermione ignored his look, "Well, I will see you tonight," and with that she popped right out.

The conversations with Neville and Hannah hadn't been nearly as awkward. Hannah, Hermione and Harry had known each other throughout Hogwarts, but they didn't really hang out until they all started at the Ministry together, Hannah worked in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures with Hermione and they all ate lunch together everyday. She was a lively girl with a very bubbly personality. She found the good in almost everyone (death eaters excluded of coarse). She was also really bright; Hermione sometimes wondered why she was put into Hufflepuff instead of Ravenclaw or even Griffyndor.

She saved Seamus for last, knowing that he wouldn't be pleased. Not because he didn't like Harry, but because this was to be their first date alone. She popped into Seamus' fire as he was sitting down to eat his breakfast. She called out a good morning to him.

"Hey pretty lady. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Then his face twisted into a frown, “You aren't going to cancel on tonight are you?"

She hesitated, it wasn't really canceling, just a change of plans. "No...No… nothing like that, it's just that Mrs... I mean Molly has asked us to come to an impromptu birthday party that she is throwing for Harry tonight. I um...said we'd go." She winced slightly at this waiting for Seamus to be upset. His frown remained, but only for a second.

"It's Harry's birthday? I didn't even know, but yeah that...that could be fun." He looked like he was trying to believe it, but she knew that he didn't.

"Maybe afterword we could do something, just the two of us? We don't need to be there the whole time." At this Seamus' smile widened and his eyes brightened a bit.

"Definitely!"

They said their good-bye's and Hermione spent the rest of the day trying to find the perfect present for Harry, not to mention the perfect outfit for tonight. She wanted to look nice for Seamus, and though she would never admit it, Ron too.

"You look bloody gorgeous" Seamus said when Hermione opened her door fully. He was right on time, another thing that she liked about him. She blushed slightly at his comment and walked out the door. "Those stairs are terrible," he continued as he put his hand in the small of her back to guide her down the hall.

"I know, but the neighborhood is so lovely, and my flat is everything I have ever wanted."

They walked down the horrible stairs and to the ally by her building, when they got there he grabbed her hand and apparated her right in front of the Burrow. They walked up the path, Seamus still holding her hand, and made their way towards the front door. Once inside Hermione noticed that they were the first one's to arrive. She took Seamus into the kitchen where they were sure to find Molly still slaving away at one thing or another. Sure enough she was in there handing some dishes to Ron to place out in the garden. There would be too many people to keep it all inside, so in usual Weasley fashion they had set up some tables out back along with some nice decorations and a big sign that said HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY.

Seamus, upon seeing Ron, gave Hermione a questioning look. Ron, who didn't even look up to see who had entered, walked straight out into the garden. "I thought he was gone?" Seamus whispered in her ear.

She knew she should have told him, but it was bad enough that she dragged him to this party instead of their more private dinner plans. He might not have said okay if she had. She blushed again and said, "Well, erm, yeah, he got back last week I think, he hasn't talked to anyone though." She said hoping that this would alleviate some of his apprehensions. Apprehensions that she knew he would have as he had been with them at Hogwarts, and apparently everyone knew about her and Ron, that is, except for her and Ron. She squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"Hi, Mrs...Molly" Hermione said as cheerfully as she could.

“Hermione! Seamus! I am so glad you two are here. Now if you wouldn’t mind, could you take this out to the garden?" She handed them a large punch bowl and they headed outside. Ron looked up as they were walking, his ears went slightly pink, but he just looked back down and didn't say anything. This was the proof that she needed to settle her mind of any thoughts she might have had about her and Ron. He was obviously not here because of her, she was a bit sad to realize that he was really over her, 'of coarse he is over you, and you are over him, you're here with Seamus, and he is nice and good looking and sweet...'
Sooner than she thought possible they were face to face. "Hey mate, long time no see." Seamus gave Ron a manly pat on the back. "R...Right, it, it has been a while yeah. How’ve you been? " Ron was choking out his words as if they were the slugs that he had puked up in his second year. The memory made Hermione chuckle slightly. Ron looked up confused while Seamus seemed to be amused by her little outburst.

"I have been well, quite well actually, me and Herms here have been spending some time together, I am working for Gringots and can’t complain. I got me self a gorgeous girl,” at this he squeezed Hermione around the waist, “and some money so life is pretty good."

"Yeah, well that's…er nice for you then. Congratulations and all that." Then he turned away to speak with his father who had just left the shed. Hermione wanted to laugh and cry at the same time what with Seamus’ pompous little speech about his Herms (a name which she detested) and Ron's complete indifference. She let him pour her a glass of punch. It was going to be a long night.

Surprisingly enough the punch was spiked. Molly usually didn’t allow too much alcohol in the house when George was around. He had been so much better these past few months though, and Angelina had been a big help getting him out of his ‘funk’ Her being Fred's old girlfriend and friends with both of them for so long they were really good at giving each other the support that they both needed.

"Well that was weird" Seamus said.

"Yes, it was” and she gave him a crooked grin. Seamus had just blatantly claimed her as his territory.

Others started to pile into the back yard. Hannah followed by Dean and Luna, Hagrid and Grawp, Mrs. Tonks and little Teddy, Bill and Fleur and their little girl Victoire and then Neville hand in hand with none other than Parvati Patil. 'Didn't know that she was invited?’ Hermione gave Neville a look and he just shrugged and said "She's my date". And thus the party of ‘weirdness’ continued, it was definitely going to be an interesting night.

When he saw her all he could think about was how much she had grown up. She looked incredible. Then he noticed Seamus with his hand in hers while she floated the punch bowl ahead of them. He couldn’t believe that she was seeing that git. He could feel his face get hot, but he quickly got control of himself. He had no right to care; she could date whoever she wanted now. They made their friendly enough greetings, though he noticed that Hermione had not said a word, Seamus had clearly marked his territory, and Ron hadn’t been quite sure what to say. The old Ron would have punched him in the face, but this Ron, though he cared, couldn't muster up enough energy to do anything and knew that he didn’t have the right.

He decided it was probably for the best, why would Hermione want to be with him anyway? Even before he had become this hollow man he never understood what she could ever see in him. So he busied himself with menial tasks like helping his mother make sure that everything was in place for the party. He didn’t know if he would even stay for the thing, it's not like he was really wanted. He was pretty sure that Harry wouldn’t want him there, and Ron couldn’t blame him.

When Neville showed up with Parvati he gave himself a half smile. Now there was something that he never expected to see. Parvati was the best looking girl in Griffyndor (or at least that was what most of the blokes thought) when they were in school, and Neville, well he was just awkward, goofy Neville Longbottom. He did look different though, much more confident, there was still a hint of his former self which was made apparent when he nearly tripped over a tree stump. Neville left Parvati talking to Luna and came up to Ron and with a big smile on his face and proceeded to give him a huge friendly hug.

"Ron, it's great to see you mate, how've you been?" Neville said as he stepped away.

Ron was speechless, and not like the remorseful kind that he had been with Harry, no this was utter astonishment at this confident man standing in front of him. Finally he was able to get his bearings and replied, "Good Neville, and you, you seem to be doing well."

"Actually I am. I have been working as an assistant in this really fantastic green house; Professor Sprout gave me the recommendation. It’s brilliant."

"That's great Neville, really." This was the most comfortable Ron had been since he had come home. "So, you and Parvati huh?"

"Dunno, it's supposed to be our first date. We were going to go to this fancy restaurant that she likes, but then Hermione told me about the party and I couldn't let Harry down y'know. She's not too thrilled....oh well." He shrugged.

Ron just laughed at this. Neville not only on a date with Parvati, but he was so calm about it all. Who was this guy and what had he done to that chubby boy that Ron had gone to school with?

"So how 'bout you? Whatcha been up to?"

Ron knew he would be getting this question from the minute that he had decided to come home, he had been able to avoid it so far, but he didn't think that his evasive maneuvers would work this time. "Nothing, I was away for a bit, trying out the muggle way of life. S'not so bad once you get used to it. They even have some pretty cool gadgets."

"What's a Gadget?"

"Um...well I guess toys sort of, ‘cept they are right useful ones."

They continued to small talk for a while, and Ron was starting to feel better by the minute, then the crowd of people had started to gather close together and he could tell that Harry had finally arrived. He felt as if he had a huge bucket of ice water poured over his head as the reality of the situation invaded his thoughts. Neville walked off to go say 'hi' to Harry and Ron slunk back into the shade of one of the big trees in the yard. He just stood there for a bit and watched the crowd of former friends greet his former best friend. They were all smiling, and Harry looked so pleased to see everyone, that is until he spotted Ron in the back. The ice in Harry's eyes made Ron step back a bit farther, and he looked away. He wanted to talk to Harry, to tell him everything, but even if Harry would give him a chance, he knew that it should not be tonight. This was a night for joy, not the drama that would follow any conversation that they might have.

Hagrid was the second person to voluntarily greet Ron, and though he wasn't his normal jovial self, he wasn't as cold as he had been when in their sixth year none of them had opted to take Care of Magical Creatures with him.

"Ron, s'good to see yer. Been a bit of a while. Hope you were keepin’ out O' trouble."

Ron just gave a wan smile at this. "Grawp looks like he is doin' good?" He said as he nodded in the direction of the Hagrid’s half brother.

"Yeah, he has really taken ter me. I've been trainin' him up ter take over some of me responsibilities of grounds keeper, now that I got a pretty full schedule teachin’ an’ all."

"Th...That's good." Ron was relieved that he no longer had to go to Hogwarts, no matter what Hagrid said, Grawp was a giant, and though he was considered small (for giants anyway), he wouldn't want to run into him more often then was necessary.

Ron glanced over to a group of people towards the other end of the yard, he noticed that it didn't look like the friendliest conversation, but he couldn’t understand why. It was just Neville, Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Parvati and some girl who looked familiar to Ron, though he couldn’t think of her name. What could they possibly have to argue about? Then he heard Harry shout at Neville, "IF HE WAS SUCH A GOOD MATE THEN WHY'D HE JUMP SHIP?"

Ron didn't need to hear the rest; he knew what the fight was about and giving Hagrid a quick good-bye handshake he made his way inside.