AN: Hi, all! I know, I disappeared and I haven't updated my fics! I just got writer's block and this plotbunny wouldn't get out of my head! I'm sure I'll finish this one though, it's what I do during boring lectures! Have fun, please R+R!

Muggle Livin', Muggle Lovin'

Ch. 1: Amos' Request

"Hermione." Her name traveled above the humdrum noises of the busy hallway in the Ministry. The secretary to the Minister turned only to find her boss running to catch up to her. She thought about the mountain of late paperwork that he had dumped on her desk earlier today and felt the urge to pretend not to have heard him and keep walking. But, alas, er damned conscience once again got in the way.

When he finally caught up to her, he paused with labored breath. With an amused smile, her infamous wit bitingly remarked, "you know, Amos, for a man your age, you should exercise more." He glared at her good-naturedly and she couldn't help but laugh. Indeed, after the fall of Voldemort, Amos Diggory replaced Rufus Scrimgeour as Minister of Magic with the recommendation and support of Harry Potter. Those against the obvious leniency towards the treatment of muggles cried foul play, that Potter was just a kid and only supported Amos because of a guilty conscience regarding the comatose state of one Cedric Diggory. Those complaints, however, could not overpower the word of the Golden Trio that brought about peace and the Wizarding world welcomed Diggory into the position of Minister and the one and only Hermione Granger as his successor.

"You know, I don't keep you around to be ridiculed. However, no matter. I have a very important request, one thhat I would much rater entrust in you than anyone else." Seeing his serious expression, she asked him to elaborate. "Well, you best come with me to St. Mungo's."

"St. Mungo's?" Before he could reply, he had alredy disappeared with a pop.

"Took you long enough." She heard his voice before she opened her eyes to the blinding white walls and furniture in the waiting room. Wen she did, her brown eyes narrowed to a glare at her boss before looking at the room around her. A few magazines laid scattered on a coffee table and se could hardly suppress her laugh when she saw Harry's photo on the cover of Witch Weekly under the headline: Witch Weekly's annual best smile award. She tore her vision from her best friend's artificial smile and saw the name plate next to the door at the end of the room that read in bold, capitalized letters, "CEDRIC DIGGORY."

"Wha-?" She could hardly utter a complete word from her astonishment. There hadn't been any progress for years, and yet...

With a sigh, Amos sat on the pristine couch and gestured at the seat next to him. Hermione, seeing the gravity of the situation, followed without objection and waited until he finally spoke. "Mrs. Diggory was sitting next to his bed. You know how she is." Hermione bid him to continue with a sympathetic nod. Indeed, everyone knew of Mrs. Diggory's devotion to her only son. Even as he laid motionless and unable to respond, she sat by his bedside everyday, occasionally cutting his hair and clipping his nails. He would be horrified to see himself so unkempt when he wakes up, she would say. Others who believed he would never waken just nodded with a smile. "Well, yesterday, when she changed his shirt, she realized it was soiled wit the sweat of fever. She called for the mediwitch and an hour later, he woke up."

"Well, that's great! Congratulations!" Having worked with him since the days of the order, she knew how important this was to him.

"Yes, it was an excellent surprise. However, there was a catch, and this is where I need your help." He glanced at her and, noting her serious and sincere expression, continued. "When the mediwitch examined him, however, se couldn't find a trace of magic in him." Her eyes widened in disbelief and he nodded in a grave reassurance. "Essentially, he's a mggle. Granted, tere has never been a precedent so no one knows whether or not he will regain his magic."

"Oh... well, what can I do?" Her eagerness to help moved him and he could only hope tat her kindness will remain after he voices his request.

"To be frank, I need your help. You would only be responsible for this. No more paperwork or dealing wit pureblood snobs." He paused. "My son... he needs help assimilating to muggle culture. I know that there is a chance that he may regain his abilities, but if he doesn't, I don't want him wasting his life away due to some false hope."

Hermione had never been so shocked in her life, except maybe when she received her Hogwarts letter. Wat he was asking was a lot. Granted, it made sense since she is probably the only person he knows with a muggle home. But to give up her life's work and dedicate herself to te care of one person... "I-I don't know."

"Please, Hermione. It's only until he can live by himself." She continued to hesitate. "I beg-"

"Do it for me, Mione." The two turned to find Harry emerging from the door behind them, his sparkling eyes somber. "You know how this has been weighing on my conscience. Please." She looked between her best friend and her boss and their pleading glances. When she finally nodded, the two engulfed her in a bone crushing hug. "Do you want to see him?" Harry asked tentatively, knowing how unfair it had been to ask his best friend to make such a sacrifice for his guilt.

She shook her head. "I have to get my house ready." With that, she apparated away.