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Harry through squinted eyes with suspicion regarded the witch sitting before him. For any other wizard at Ministry Hermione Malfoy , dressed in a elegant purple dress which emphasized her rounded belly, with a mass of tumbling curls and innocent smile on full lips constituted the image of absolute purity and innocence but Harry knew her far too long to be fulled. Hermione Malfoy appeared that day in his cluttered office with specific target on her mind and nothing in this world would be able to stop her from achieving it. He sighed reconciling with his fate.
„ So?" Hermione asked raising one perfectly shaped eyebrow. Harry shrugged his shoulders and combed his messy hair with his hand desperately looking for an escape.
" I really don't feel like celebrating" he began " between that split-up with Ginny ... and work... and..."
„ Harry James Potter! You and Ginny have been breaking up so many times in the last eight years that you really should get used to it. Everyone else had!" Hermione started ready to refute all his possible arguments and Harry knew he lost.
When the war had ended eight years ago, Hermione had worked for a short time at the Ministry but she'd resigned just before her marriage to Draco, tired with fighting stiff rules ruling this place. Instead of wasting her time on that futile job she committed her energy to create together with her mother-in-law a line of various projects in order to help the youngest victims of war and all those who couldn't find themselves in this new world. Being herself a war-heroine and with her husband's constant support she's really making a difference, she made people listen.
Hermione's recipe for success was rather simple: she was doing her job with passion investing all of herself in it. Nobody and nothing could ever stop her. Not even Harry's a famous dislike to formal parties of any kind.
" And besides we are not talking here about simple reception !" her eyes were glowing now with inner fire "We are talking about the whole program of scholarships for orphaned children from both light and dark side! Cissy and I have been working so hard to pull it together, and your presence could really help. You know how the situation looked after the war! And there is still so much to do! Those children simply need our help. Am I really asking so much of you, to accept a invitation?" Hermione's lower lip trembled perilously and her hands rested on her belly.
„ Of course it's not much, you're absolutely right" Harry uttered quickly wincing slightly upon hearing his own pleading tone. But the sound of Narcissa's name combined with Hermione's almost-crying expression caused rapid evaporation of his resistance. Harry Potter was undoubtedly a savior a hero who defeated Voldemort and for the last 4 years one of the best Aurors but even he wasn't ready to risk a certain dead which was a very possible outcome if you had a misfortune to irritate two Mrs Malfoy.
„ That's wonderful, I knew I can count on you!" Hermione was smiling now, her tears all but forgotten
" I should have thought twice before I gave Malfoy my blessing. He corrupted you" Harry grumbled watching her smiling and now completely calm face. He was tricked, he didn't have the smallest doubt about it.
„ Nonsense" Hermione waved her hand dismissing his suspicion „ and now I really have to go, there so many things I have to do!" she got up gathering her things " You became definitely too thin. A bachelor's life is not good for you" Hermione hid her smirk seeing his grimace.
Jokes about his bachelor status annoyed him , but there was some truth in them. All of his friends were in some kind of steady relationships. Even Ron lately started talking about the engagement with Lavender! And he? He had an empty house and an empty heart to match it and no one who could fill it in the way Ginny has never been able to.
„I keep telling him that" a man's voice sounded " But he doesn't want to listen to an old man"
„Mr Weasley!" Hermione greeted the man standing in the doorway. The passing time was changing color of his hair to noble white but nothing could change the gentle look of his eyes.
" Ah, my dear, how many times did I ask you to call me Arthur" Mr Weasley hugged the young women who was as close to him as his own daughter.
" My dear, you're glowing " he complimented her „ this little one is going to have a very beautiful mom".
Hermione blushed and with a quick " Thank you" kissed the cheek of an elderly gentleman.
" I hope that You and Molly will come to the party ?"
" Of course „ Arthur guaranteed and seeing an unspoken question in her eyes added " An entire Weasley clan will turn up at Malfoy Manor on Saturday, you have my word" he promised solemnly.
Traitors. Harry thought bitterly. They're all traitors who condemned him to spend few hours in uncomfortable clothes surrounded by too interested and too nosy women . What a wonderful perspective!
„ Mr Weasley! Mr Weasley!"a young Auror burst through the door calling „ We've been summoned ! Somebody used dark magic"
„ Where? Are they any casualties ?" the smile rapidly disappeared from Arthur's face
„A house on the edge of the Pearl lake. We don't know if anyone was inside " Arthur nodded his head thanking an Auror and turned to Harry.
" Go and check it. Take Thomas and Dominic with you. If necessary call Ron from his day-off" Harry grabbed his wand.
„Well, that's definitely a signal for me to flee " Hermione briefly hugged both men.
" Watch out" she asked Harry.
„ Yes, mom" Harry teased her while giving a salute with his wand.
It's been eight long years since the end of a war and their world should have been safe and free from dark magic influences. It should have been.
But standing amongst the charred remains of the house Harry Potter had a strong feeling that there's a long way ahead till they'd achieve that kind of peace. Holding his injured shoulder with right hand he straightened up at the sight of the approaching head of the Aurors
" What did you find so far? „ Arthur Weasley asked
„ Only remains of two house-elves" Harry reported pointing at two small pills covered with blankets " Someone killed them and then burnt down entire place"
„ And what about the man that notified us? „
" He lives on the other side of the lake " Harry explained „ he claims that he didn't see anybody and didn't hear anything suspicions. The house itself was abandoned since owners death in a battle"
„ They were Voldemort's followers?" Arthur guessed
„According to him they're"
„ And what happened to you?" Arthur directed his attention toward young Auror noticing blood leaking from Harry's arm.
„ It's nothing, just a scratch. One of those" Harry showed lying nearby burnt remains „ wasn't as stable as I thought"
„ Harry we found something" Thomas, one of two Aurors who searched charred remains of the house called. Both Harry and Arthur turned in the direction of the running wizard who held in his hands dirty round object.
Harry Potter knitted his brows . He's pretty sure that he's never seen anything like that before. Still, it could be nothing important.
Thomas whispered „Lumos" and with his wand lightened the ball .
Harry flinched when the light fell on the image of intertwined snakes.
The ball was repulsive.
„ Thank you Thomas" Arthur reached for the object and slowly turned it in hands.
The ball wasn't bigger than a fist, but it's definitely heavy.
" Do you know what it is?" Harry asked with curiosity
" No, " Arthur denied " but maybe at Ministry we' ll find something about it" he looked around making a decision "I will stay here with the team until they finish, and you go to St. Mungo's "
" There's no need. It's only a scratch" Harry assured but Arthur insisted „ Someone used dark magic here, there's never enough cautious with that. Let the healer check it"he stated and seeing that Harry's about to protest added „ don't force me to make it an order"
Harry reluctantly agreed and with quick goodbye disappeared with a pop.
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