Right, another distancing mechanism: the difference in class, in blood, and in sex. She represses a little huff of frustration, and walks up to give him a hug. They are friends, and that is that. There is no forbidden familiarity, and she doesn't want Neville to act any differently around her than he used to in school.

The hug lasts a few seconds, as long as proper, and then she pulls back to give him a little smile. There, that does it.

"Ah, thankfully busy! Her Ladyship runs a very popular salon, and I find myself with many notes to take."

Her Ladyship runs what would indelicately be put as a feminism venting club. Dozens of young ladies trickling in every month for a meeting, grumbing about their social standings and rights and trying to figure out how to manipulate the Wizengamot into giving them more.

Needless to say, Hermione loves it here. "I'm sorry I never wrote to you since I took this post, I wasn't sure I could."