Emboldened by her assurance, her husband resumed his kisses. Hermione thought that if that was what she could hope to experience on her birthday, maybe she was too quick to suggest they ignore it that year. Lost in each other, neither of them heard the first knock on their front door. Only when their late-night visitor pounded harder did they break apart to stare at each other, unsure that they could trust their ears until they heard it a third time. There was only one person it could be and only an emergency would bring her there so late. Both of them scrambled out of the bed at once, fearful of what horrible news Hannah might have to share.