WC: 506
Harry huffed into his cup of coffee, and the liquid gurgled angrily in response. "You think you can be angrier than I am?" Harry said, glowering at the cup as he wiped away his newly painted mustache.
He pretended that the coffee retaliated with its own remarks. "I have ever right to be angry with you when you're... what do we call it... killing me! Drinking my life essence!"
Harry sighed. "All right, you do have a point." He laid the cup down so softly it didn't even make noise when it touched the glass table. "I'm gentle, see."
"Thank you," the 'coffee' whispered to Harry. "I appreciate the kindness. But why would you bring me into conception when I'm just doomed to chill and then be discarded into the sewage?"
"Hey!" Harry peered into the cup with a glare. "Aren't you already dead? You were plucked from your mother plant months ago and then slowly roasted over what I assume to be a roaring fire, then transported over land and sea to come to my counter, where I ground you up and then drowned you! You shouldn't be talking to me!"
"Are you talking to yourself again?" A shadow stood in the doorway, its arms stretched above its head in an amused eagle-stance.
"Again?" Harry looked up. "You've caught me doing this more than once?"
"If by this, you mean talking to your coffee, then yes, I've seen you every morning for the past week. I didn't really want to say anything, but..." Hermione trailed off as she walked towards the Harry.
"You could have said something sooner," Harry said. "Then I wouldn't have to shoulder a week's worth of embarrassment."
Hermione took a seat near Harry. She reached towards Harry and rubbed his hand sympathetically. "Is work stressing you out?"
Harry smiled at the contact. "Yeah, a little. Kingsley wants me to go through tons of old files, and work in the field, and go to conventions, AND talk to new recruits, all at the same time. It's a bit much." Harry paused before adding, jokingly, "Even for a guy like me."
"Oh boy, that does seem like a lot. Is there anything I can do?"
"Oh, Hermione," said Harry with a shake of his head. "You are always asking to help me lighten the load, but I really have to do it by myself. It's an Auror's job, not one of an activist."
"I'll go rally for you. Form a Union for all of the Chosen Ones around the world who must suffer through an over-packed schedule."
The two of them leaned back in their chairs, giggling at each other like children sharing a silly joke. Perhaps it was sleep deprivation that made them laugh so hard over the unfunny joke (admittedly, neither of them had slept more than four hours for the past five nights), or perhaps it was their terrible senses of humor. Coffee completely forgotten, they sat in the kitchen (their kitchen) as the morning sun shined through the window.