Ethereal

"But what if you gain so much more?"

A few weeks pass and September is almost half way gone. Luna's words from back then are still resounding is Hermione's head. Meanwhile, her relationship with Alex is still progressing slowly. Slow is good, Hermione tries to remind herself but she is still uncomfortable with the thought of having a boyfriend. 

Alex is good... he is safe. Though she doesn't feel the urge to be around him. She appreciates the company, but doesn't long for him in his absence. 

Harry has yet to return, and his recent letter made Hermione's inner storm calm to a rest. 

Dear Mione, 

I am sorry for leaving abruptly. The mission has been going well. Will be back soon. 

Stay safe, 

Harry

A little lesser than what she would have wanted but something is better than nothing. Everything is going good, Hermione thinks, but it'd be much better if the Weasley siblings weren't here pestering her to celebrate her birthday. 

"It's the weekend Mione!" Ron protests, as if Hermione wasn't already aware.

"Not for the Ministress. I have to meet with some foreign officials, and then decide on the scheduling for next week," Hermione rebuts, setting down the paperwork she'd been reading on her desk.

"So what?!" Ron insists stubbornly. "That's early in the morning and it lasts what, maybe an hour or well five? You have plenty of time to hang out with us."

"Please Mione," Ginny opts for a gentler approach, which is very much unlike her. "It's your birthday and we all really want to celebrate with you."

Hermione sighs. "Everyone's schedules are all over the place anyways. There's no way they'll be free for tomorrow."

"Again, Hermione, it's the weekend. The mornings are busy, but we can work out the evening."

"You're coming," Ginny decides, slamming her hands down on Hermione's desk. Well it's not like the brunette expected the youngest Weasley to stay calm for long.

Hermione chuckles at her friend's brazenness.

"Ok, ok fine," Hermione's hands are up in defeat.

"Alright!" Ron shouts. "There you go Gin, I convinced her. Now if you would so kindly excuse me, I'd like to finish some paperwork to make myself available for Ms. Granger's birthday tomorrow."

Ron leaves, but Ginny chooses to stay. 

"I'm surprise you only brought Ron. I half expected the entire batch of Hogwarts to be in this office."

Ginny laughed, "I tried, they were busy."

Hermione stared at the redhead feigning anger and Ginny held her hands up innocently, "I just really wanted you to see how badly we want to celebrate this day with you."

Hermione laughs.

"Everyone's going to be so excited," Ginny adds. "I even invited Alex, I hope that's ok."

"Oh..."

"I'm sorry, was that not ok? I figured you would just say he's a friend if you're not ready to tell people. I just know he wanted to spend your birthday with you too, so I thought--"

"It's ok Gin," Hermione interrupts her ramble. "I'm pretty sure most of the people have already met him."

"Hehe, yea that might be true."

Hermione keeps her eyes fixed on the desk trying to be as subtle as she could, "so... everyone's coming?"

"We couldn't get in touch with Harry," Ginny replied, almost knowingly. 

"Oh... that's ok," Hermione assures her.

"He might still show up you know."

"Yea, I know."

__________________________________

"And now, please join me in wishing the Minstress of Magic a happy birthday!" Ginny shouts from their table, and Hermione waves at her to stop with rosy cheeks.

The entire restaurant erupts into a celebratory frenzy. Chants of happy birthday and loud applause roaring through the streets.

"Thank you everyone, thank you," Hermione's blush now covering her whole face as she manages a shy smile. 

Ron, Draco, Luna, Ginny, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, Fay Dunbar. Their smiling faces are all focused on her, and Hermione realizes this is everything she's ever wanted. Seeing all her friends gathered together, happy, safe. 

Well... almost everything. But she refuses to dwell on Harry. It has taken time, and her feelings are still wavering, but to some extend she has accepted she'll never really have Harry the way she wants.

"Thank you guys," Hermione says through glazed hazel eyes.

"Oh don't get so sentimental on us," Draco teases her.

"Leave her alone Draco," Luna scolds and reaches for Hermione's hand. "Sit down you."

Hermione is quickly sandwiched by Luna and Alex while the rest of the party shuffles into the remaining spots.

"So is this Alex?" Lavender asks eagerly, hugging her hands together. Alex had decided to pick Hermione up, and she didn't argue. Arriving with Alex and having some influence on his first time meeting her friends was better than blindly throwing him to the wolves. 

"Yes, this is--" Hermione starts.

There's a slight hesitation, but her eyes land at Ron. His comforting smile, encouraging her to take the step. To make it official, substantial. 

"This is my boyfriend."

"You're what?!" Lavender's eyes have never been wider.

"What?!" Parvati chimes in. "How did you not tell me about this? Ginny did you know?"

Parvati glares at Ginny from across the table.

"Umm," Ginny looks down innocently.

"She knew and I didn't?" Parvati turns back to Hermione.

"I knew," Ron raises his hand from beside Ginny.

"Ron, you're not helping," Hermione bites out, but the small smile is still showing on Ron's face.

"Everyone knew?!" 

"I knew too." Draco chimed in, and this time Hermione laughed out loud. 

Yea, this was good. This reaction, the interaction was all good. 

The food arrives, and Ron seems to have done an amazing job at choosing the restaurant because all the delicious aromas from all the plates, is making Hermione want to dig in and ravage each dish. 

One by one they each take turns discussing recent life updates as they eat, funny comments and snide remarks thrown about here and there. They ask Alex a ridiculous number of questions, and Hermione is frankly amazed the man hasn't made a run for the exit. 

"So where's Harry?" Neville breaks the comfortable but low chatter.

"He's umm..." Hermione plays with her fork mindlessly. "He's away for work."

"He's just like you Hermione," Lavender comments. "Always working."

"I'm sure he wanted to be here," Ginny says, trying to offer any kind of comfort. There's a hum of affirmation as if everybody realised how sensitive the subject of the conversation was. 

"Oh uh yeah. Don't worry about him, handling a drunk Harry would have been way too much work anyway" Hermione jokes, and everybody around her laughs. 

Ron can't help but patch the lingering sadness in his friend's face and voice. Damn it Harry, you idiot, Ron thinks. Hermione has no idea just how much you care.