Harry stood staring in the mirror, his wand raised with a piece of parchment clasped in his other hand.

"Et Capillus Mundus" he said sternly giving his wand a firm flick.

When nothing happened Harry discarded the piece of paper by lighting it swiftly on fire and muttered "Damn it "to himself as he licked his palm and tried to straighten his hair without magic. The saliva had no effect.

Harry's hair just didn't get with the idea that he was an adult now. It continued to make him look like a ragamuffin, and with his hair like that it didn't matter how good his clothes looked, he always came across as a teenager. So instead he took to trying to look functional instead of mature. Being an Auror, it is important to look functional and Harry's messy hair went quite well with the long black leather coat and big black boots, or so he's told. Sure my hair's sexy, he said to himself as he walked down stairs. But what good are you really, he thought running his hand over it again. I should just shave it all off; do a Kingsley. You'd deserve it, he thought looking up into his fringe.

Today he was done up in his finest clothes, so its lack of order showed even more next to the dark silver robes. He had an interview with the Head of the Auror office today. The position had originally been offered to Harry but he had turned it down. He was over being the leader, having all the responsibility. He just wanted to be partnered with Ron and have a good time being normal for once. So instead Dawlish had got the job and the last few years had run quite smoothly; well until yesterday at 3 pm when Harry had received an owl requesting his presence at a formal meeting with Auror Dawlish. Harry didn't know what the meeting was about but he had a fairly good idea that it wasn't going to end well.

o0o0o0o0o0o00o

He knocked on the door of Dawlish's office and was told to enter almost immediately. Dawlish was sitting behind his desk smiling quite widely.
"Potter, how good of you to come," Dawlish said a little bit too cheerily as he gestured to a chair.
Harry sat down with a flump and looked Dawlish right in the eyes; Dawlish's smile dropped but only momentarily.

"Come on now Potter don't give me that look," said Dawlish perking his smile back up.
Harry still said nothing instead he dropped his eyes and stared at his hands.

"So," said Dawlish, followed by an awkward pause that Harry couldn't handle.

"So what?" asked Harry.

Dawlish looked pleased to have finally gotten something out of Harry.

"So I wanted to talk to you about how you're liking your job," said Dawlish. "Everything good? You feeling you're doing all you want to? Not bored or anything are you?" asked Dawlish, just a shake of nervousness in his voice.

Harry squinted his eyes at Dawlish, "No everything's great sir. Happy to be doing my bit," said Harry trying to come off as happy.

There was a long pause as Dawlish looked at the papers on his desk. He seemed to have been hoping for a different answer.

"Well, you see Harry," said Dawlish.

Oh he's using my first name, here it comes thought Harry to himself, ready…

"We were wondering if you could do us a favour," continued Dawlish.

And BINGO.

"What kind of favour? And who is 'we'?" Harry asked, not making eye contact.

"The Minister and I. He has asked me to ask you this favour," answered Dawlish, looking as though he wasn't liking it one bit.

"The favour involves… Well… You know how they how they discovered a new sort of dragon egg in Australia?" Dawlish asked tentatively.

"Yes…" said Harry completely lost.

"Well over in Australia they don't have that many wizards. So their research department is really small and they lack the resources that's needed to find out more about the egg. They aren't equipped to research a whole new breed of dragon. So they are going to bring in some researchers and representatives from a country of their choosing to help with the research," said Dawlish rather slowly.

"Which country have they chosen?" asked Harry
Dawlish looked down at his papers again.

"They haven't chosen yet," he said.

There was a long pause while Dawlish seemed to get his strength up.

"We really want them to choose us to help with such ground-breaking research. So we have invited the head of their research department to come and visit. See our facilities, meet a few of our research team. You know, show her what we can do for her research that others can't." Dawlish said all this with such pride in his country that Harry would have grinned if he wasn't so absolutely at a loss as to how that could have anything to do with him.

Dawlish got quiet again and he finally mumbled "She has shown a great interest in meeting you."

Oh so that's how it was, thought Harry. Use me to butter her up and get them a juicy piece of research and I bet a fair amount of press.

"Oh has she?" asked Harry.

Dawlish looked at Harry and in that moment he knew that Harry understood.

Dawlish squared his shoulders, straightened his back and said clearly, "She is to stay with you for the duration of her visit. You are to take her to all assigned locations on her itinerary and you are to, well, make us look good, Potter." Dawlish stood up, passed Harry a folder full of what Harry assumed were the details and then with the most apologetic look he could muster said, "You are excused from work for the next month to prepare. See you around, Potter."

He then gestured to his office door and slumped down in his chair, relief all over his face.
Harry bottled his rage. A month just kept ringing in his ears as he nodded to Dawlish and stalked out of the office making a beeline for the elevator.

0o0o0oo0o0o0o0oo

Kingsley's door was open. So Harry didn't get to throw it open and barge in quite like he had planned in the elevator, so he had to settle for storming in and trying to look as pissed-off as possible which wasn't that hard considering the circumstances.

Kingsley was sitting behind his desk. He looked up, smiled at Harry and gestured to a chair. Instead, Harry threw the folder down on Kingsley's desk and glared at him. Kingsley smiled at him and Harry was reminded so strongly of Dumbledore that he almost felt like he was back at school again.

"Oh good to see you've got all the details," said Kingsley, smiling up at Harry.

"Why me?" asked Harry "I could have met her, I could have smiled and had lunch and done all that stuff. Why does she have to live with me?!"

"You are the only one with a house that big, that close to the city," said Kingsley plainly.

Harry interrupted, "Oh 'cause we aren't able to like move from one place to another INSTANTLY! It doesn't matter how far away she stays!"

"You are one of our best Aurors," continued Kingsley. "She will need protection. Your house is beautiful and a real piece of English wizarding history." Harry was still fuming but at least now he was listening. "You have a house elf, so she can see up-close how we treat creatures under our protection and employ."

"Why does that matter?" asked Harry, cutting in again.

"Well Australians like their animals; it's what comes from having a lot of their very special and rare creatures going extinct. So they have a lot of national parks and things like that. So I bet it would help to see that we treat magical creatures with care and love and now, thanks to Miss Granger, a wage and security." He finished then looked to Harry for more questions. Harry quickly thought about why this was a bad idea again.

"Why do I need a month?" Harry asked forcefully.

Kingsley laughed quite heartily at this, "Harry, I have spent many hours in that house. I know what's inside it and even the great Molly Weasley couldn't get rid of it all. Plus I have a feeling you don't keep it half as clean as she did. So you will need a month. I also suggest that you get yourself some help, an Assistant of some kind," said Kingsley.

Harry looked sulky but knew he couldn't win this one. "Okay fine then," he said, picking the folder up from the desk, ready to storm from the room.

"Oh and Harry," said Kingsley making him stop. "Just a few more things. I got an owl this morning saying that she won't be coming alone. She is bringing a friend as a chaperone of sorts."

Harry looked horrified at the implication.

"A chaperone?" he said in disbelief.

"Oh come now Harry, she's traveling to a country she's never been to, to stay with a man who lives alone, it makes complete sense," said Kingsley almost rolling his eyes. "I will also be sending someone to inspect the house two days before she arrives. So June…"Kingsley looks at his forms "18th; that gives you enough time to fix things if need be," said Kingsley giving Harry a smile.

Harry was about to leave, he was standing in the doorway by this time.

"Oh and Harry, you look so nice in robes like that. Better get used to them because you will have to look your best around Miss Brown," said Kingsley as Harry left the room, steam coming from both ears.

o0o0oooo0