CHAPTER ONE
Hermione glanced at the time and frowned. Pressing her quill even firmer to her parchment, she proceeded to write faster, attempting to finish her report before five minutes were up. The fading light from outside was suddenly shadowed and she looked up to see Blaise leaning against her door, his tie loosened and his sleeves rolled up. He held his robes loftily over one shoulder.
"You still here?" he asked with a grin.
Hermione blinked a few times and then smiled. "You are," she pointed out, before glancing back down and finishing the last few sentences.
"Ah, yes, but I have been lounging about for the last hour or so, first having a cigar with Kingsley and then having a drink while overseeing Jessa tidy my office."
Hermione smirked and looked up folding the parchment and stuffing it into an envelope. "You sure you weren't just overseeing Jessa?" she teased.
Blaise grinned, tugging at his collar and stepping into Hermione's office. "Touche. But really, Hermione!" He walked over and pulled the next piece of parchment she was holding out of her hands, ignoring her protests. "It's seven thirty! You don't get paid overtime, so just leave it! Besides, I thought you were meant to be somewhere!"
"Well I'm working on... shit! Yes you're right!" Hermione going into panic mode.
"As usual," Blaise muttered.
"Oh crap, crap, crap, crap, crap! How could I forget?" She pulled out a bag of clothes and make up from a bottom cupboard. Kicking her shoes off, she quickly started to unbutton her shirt.
"Whoa! Easy there! Let me get out of the room first! It's hard enough to have to witness Jessa's state of decency all day long without having you go nude on me too!"
Hermione ignored Blaise and pulled off her shirt, exchanging it for a tight, sparkly top. Blaise, feeling rather miffed that Hermione had ignored his joke, suddenly realised he was gazing at her rather inappropriately and baulked from the office. Hermione reappeared shortly after, her hair let out, her skirt much fuller and her heels certainly higher.
"I don't have a present!" she whispered, her face white. "I can't believe I could have forgotten!"
"You seemed to remember to bring clothes," Blaise observed.
"That's because I always have a spare pair of clothes just in case. What am I going to do? How could I have forgotten Harry's birthday?"
"Seriously, Hermione, I think you need to drop something..." Blaise thought for a second. "Come with me. I think I might have something..." He grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her after him.
Blaise, while being the head of his department, the Department of Historical Affairs, had his office on the highest floor. As historical affairs were rather unimportant and, in Blaise's opinion, very tedious unless an archeologic site was involved, his department was given the rather inconvenient
place of the top floor. However, it was not the dungeons, which the department could thank Blaise's good charm, looks, money and connections for. Hermione stumbled a few times as she ran up the stairs after Blaise, grabbing on his hand for help. Finally they reached his office, which unlike her own, was very orderly and well kept, and Hermione stopped to catch her breath.
"Well?" she panted.
Blaise strode to one of his cabinets and began rummaging through his things. Hermione came over slowly, wondering what he had in mind.
"You can have this if you like, when I find it. Draco gave me one when he came back, but he didn't know I already had been given one by Mother..."
"Draco?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Ah, here it is!" Blaise pulled out a box about the size of Crookshanks. Hermione peered forward to read the words emblazed on the front. "All Broom Repair Kit!" Blaise said happily. "Fixes anything from a Shooting Star to a Lightning Flash, anything from twig repair to hard out smashes, or charm malfunctions. And I know for a fact Potter doesn't possess this because firstly, they are only on the market to specific people living in France and secondly, I read about how he had to ditch his old Firebolt recently."
"Oh! Wow, thanks Blaise. You sure you don't need this?"
"No, no."
"So how much do I owe you?"
"Oh don't worry about that! It was a gift anyway."
Hermione stared at him uncomprehendingly.
"Don't worry about it! Anyway, go! You're late as it is!"
Hermione was about to say something more, but Blaise gave her a friendly push towards the door and so she left quickly with a wave.
Hermione apparated onto the Potter's front step. Adjusting her skirt, she stored her wand away and then knocked on the door. After a few moments, a familiar face peered from out around the door.
"Hermione!" Ginny said pulling the door open and letting Hermione in. "We didn't think you were going to come! How are you?"
Letting Ginny close the door and then hug her, Hermione smiled. "I'm all right. Sorry 'bout being late! Getting kind of busy..."
"When is it not busy, Hermione?" Ginny asked with a laugh. "Come, come... everyone else is here... Harry's been dying to see you. Says you haven't been doing your duty as a friend. And I must say I quite agree!"
Hermione gave a small blush. They turned into the dining room where the table was nearly full with people. They all turned to Ginny and Hermione and smiled.
"Well! Here's Hermione, everyone. Hermione, I'm sure you know most people here... Luna, Neville,
Dean, Lavender... all went to Hogwarts of course, um... the clan..." Ginny continued, referring to most of the Weasley and Delacour family and friends who all gave her grins and nods, "Remus, Kingsley, Tonks... Harry of course... Teddy, I'm sure you know..."
"Hello, Mimi..." the little boy said fondly.
"Hi Teddy," Hermione smiled back.
Ginny smiled before continuing around the table. "Um... not sure if you know Jason here... Jason, Hermione Granger, one of Harry's first friends, Hermione, Jason Downsriver, one of Harry's team mates..."
Hermione smiled at Jason and shook his hand.
"Pleased to finally meet you, Hermione," he said, a charming smile on his face. Hermione nodded, smiling too and quickly turned to Ginny before she could blush.
"And this..." Ginny said indicating the couple Hermione had not seen before, "This is Janet and Peter Glover, our neighbours." As Hermione politely shook both their hands, noticing that they seemed rather tense, Ginny added, "Peter was telling me he went to er... Eton... er was it?"
Peter, a rather scrawny looking man nodded, smiling.
"Ah!" Hermione quickly understood and sat down in the chair beside the muggle couple, resulting in Ginny walking away with a relieved look on her face. "Yes, my Grandfather and father were both at Eton. The grounds are lovely aren't they?"
Both Peter and Janet looked rather surprised and relieved to finally be talking to someone who seemed to know what Eton actually was. Within ten minutes, Hermione had managed to convince both of them that she was as sane as they were and they were starting to ask her question about the other less sane people.
"This is quite an interesting group of people, isn't it?" Janet asked, looking across at Luna who was starting to follow the path of an unidentifiable, invisible flying creature, attempting to catch it every now and then. "They all seemed to be talking about... Waterhogs was it darling?" Janet asked Peter, who looked equally confused.
"Hogwarts," Hermione corrected. "It's a school most of us went to."
"Ah. I've never heard of... of... it."
"Oh haven't you?" Hermione said, wondering how to get out of the subject. "It's up in Scotland."
"Scotland? But most of you sound English! What on earth would make you go up to Scotland for when there are perfectly good schools here! What... what do you do again, Miss Granger?"
"Hermione," Hermione said with a smile. "I work in the Ministry."
"The ministry? You mean... government...?"
There was a slight hesitation. "Yes. In the ministry of justice," Hermione said dredging up her muggle studies to get the name right. "It's like my life now, I just call it the ministry, forgetting that there's a whole government behind it!" She gave a shaky laugh to cover up her lie.
"Ah... Yes it must be hard work and long hours," Peter said, both Glovers placing her back in their 'not insane' category. "How do you find it?"
After a long conversation that ended up dehydrating their work story reservoirs, Janet leaned forward. "Ginny introduced you to that man as one of Harry's first friends...?"
Hermione smiled at the memory. "Ah yes. We met at school. He and Ron saved me when I was locked in the bathroom and there was a... er... flood."
Janet looked over at Harry who was laughing at a joke Jason had told him. "Wow! That's sure one way to meet a friend."
Peter, however, looked confused. "Which one's Ron? I can't remember."
Hermione hesitated for a moment and sucked her breath in. Speaking low to the Glovers she said, "Ron's not here... He... he died some years ago. You see all the red heads? Well they are his family and they don't... appreciate it when he is brought up. Neither does Harry, really. He was his first friend ever."
There was a slight silence and then Janet said quietly, "How awful!"
Realising she had dimmed the mood, Hermione added brightly, "But Ron was the reason Harry and Ginny got together!"
Peter, realising that Hermione was trying to change subject, latched on to it. "Oh, yes. They are a lovely couple! When did they get married?"
"Um... just shortly before they moved here, I suppose," Hermione said. "Pity you didn't know them then. It was a wonderful wedding!" she added, knowing full well that the muggles wouldn't have been able to be invited to the magical wedding.
"Oh what a shame. What about you, Hermione? Who's the special one?" Janet asked with a small smile.
Hermione smiled back. "Well to be honest... no one... despite Ginny and Harry's attempts to set me up with someone. I've just got so much work and... really... not enough time to look after my friends let alone a boyfriend." She gave a small laugh.
Janet looked confused. "But... you're wearing a ring..!"
Hermione glanced down at her hand. She often forgot about the ring, though she was sure it wouldn't feel right to take it off. "Yeah... Ron gave it to me..." she said simply.
"Oh..." Janet's face turned bright red and she looked like she was struggling to find something to say. That was when Teddy, nestled between his parents, suddenly burst into flame. Despite the boy's obvious giggles, the two Glovers stared in open shock. Everyone seemed rather confused as to what was happening and those that did understand, were trying to find their wands. Hermione, realising that if a wand was taken out the muggles would have to be obliterated, quickly took the water jug off the table and poured it over the boy. Harry discreetly put the fire out with his wand under the table and then there was a shocked silence before Teddy burst laughter. Tonks, realising that her son was changing his hair colour quicker than ever, quickly pulled him to her breast and hurried him outside with Remus hurrying after.
There was a mad panic as Kingsley, Ginny, Harry, Neville, Dean, Lavender and most of the Weasley family hurried about looking for signs of dark magic, Luna started accusing the pot plants and their inhabitants, Molly started shrieking at Fred and George, who for once looked completely innocent and Jason and the Delacour family laughing at the whole situation.
The Glovers both looked shocked and started to rise saying that they probably should get out of the way of whatever Harry and everyone else was doing. Hermione offered to show them to the door which they accepted gratefully.
"Will the boy be all right?"
"Yeah, Tonks knows what she's doing," Hermione assured Janet.
"Wonder how it happened?" Peter asked.
"Flammable pyjamas, I think" Hermione said. "Modern material. Well I hope you have a great night and I look forward to seeing you again."
As Hermione closed the door, she distinctly heard Peter say, "Lovely people, but just a tad strange."
Once Teddy had been watered down and everyone had realised that it was the own boy's magic that had caused him to flare up, people began to realise the time and left one by one. Finally, only Hermione was left and, as Harry said good bye to Jason, she helped Ginny clear some things up.
"This must have been a lot of work!" Hermione said, thinking about the amount of food and decorations gone into the party.
"Not really... Kreacher helped out a bit and I found this old book in Grimauld Place to do with parties and what not. Obviously for the Lady of the house, but it certainly had some good tips."
"Well... it was certainly a party to remember!"
"You can say that again!" Harry stepped back into the room and went to hug Hermione. "How are you, Hermione? Haven't seen you forever! And thanks so much for holding conversation with the Glovers. Ginny said we shouldn't invite them, but they are such nice people, and I certainly didn't expect that to happen!"
Hermione laughed. "No worries. It is rather nice to talk about old things again. Oh and happy birthday, Harry!"
She pulled out the broom kit and passed it to Harry. He tore the paper off and opened his eyes wide. "Wow! Thanks soo much! To go with the broom cleaning kit eh Hermione?" They both laughed and then Harry turned his eyes accusingly towards Ginny. "Now all I need is a broom! But Ginny said she wouldn't give me my present until later."
Ginny laughed. "Alright! I did get you a broom. But you'll have to wait for the rest of the surprise." She smiled suggestively at him.
Hermione grinned as Harry took his wife in a kiss. "Ok guys! I'm still here!"
The Potters laughed and turned to Hermione. "So, did you get to speak much with Jason?" Harry asked, steering both girls towards the sofa.
"No, unfortunately. With Luna and her cork things and the twins causing random sparks to appear, I'm afraid the Glovers needed too much distraction for me to be distracted."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Bloody boys! Shame. Perhaps you should come to a training with me sometime, Hermione. He's bloody hot. Well all of them are, really. Especially when it gets too sunny.
Lovely oogling eye candy!"
Hermione gave a lop-sided grin as Harry frowned. "Hey! I'm your husband!" he muttered.
Ginny pecked her husband on the nose. "Yes. And you're for my eyes only. And my eyes are for you only. You're the hottest one there is. But sorry, Hermione. He's taken!"
Hermione laughed. "Oh damn!" she said grinning.
Harry grinned back and then asked, "So how come you were so late?"
"Well... I kinda lost track of time..."
"What? You mean you were working until seven?"
"Seven thirty, actually!"
"Merlin, Hermione! You don't get paid overtime!"
Hermione laughed. "That's exactly what Blaise said."
Ginny grinned. "Oh yeah! How is Zabini? You should have brought him along!"
"No thanks! Having Luna do odd things was enough! Blaise would have actively engaged the Glovers in some sort of conversation about his flying pots or something! His latest discovery," she added to Harry and Ginny's questioning stares. "But, no he's good. Been especially cheery since that discovery. Fired three secretaries in a row until he got Jessa who's fresh out of Hogwarts and is excellent perving material, from what I gather."
"Dunno why you're friends with him," Harry said frowning.
"Because he's witty, has a great sense of humour, is charming, very interesting and doesn't try to set me up with every male that comes along. And he's an excellent friend," she added as an afterthought, not noticing Ginny and Harry's reddening faces. "Hey do you know if Malfoy is back in town? Blaise said something, but then I forgot to question him."
Harry glanced at Ginny. "Not that I've heard of... I sure hope he isn't..."
"Oh. No that would be a bit of a dampener on things. Well any way, I'd better go. Crookshanks will be destroying the house otherwise. Thank you both so much for dinner. I'll catch you again soon."
"Must you go so soon?" Harry asked.
Hermione gave him a smirk. "Yes. I must leave you to receive your... broom," she said her eyes glancing to Ginny and back.
"Hermione Granger! You have one dirty mind!"
Hermione laughed. "Did I say anything? It's yours that's dirty if you thought I meant anything! Ginny get in touch with me so we can go watch... Harry... fly..." She smirked at Harry again, who was trying, but failing, to look annoyed.
"Will do!" Ginny said cheerfully. "Night Hermione!"
"Night!"
A/N: Allrighty... I wasn't going to write for a little while but... temptation calls. I don't have a set idea where this might be going, so any suggestions are very welcome. HOWEVER it won't be going anywhere unless you all REVIEW. So press that little blue button... really... you do want to. I know.