III

"Sir… Mr Jerome, if you could just look at these photographs, I can assure you that –"

"That will be enough, Miss Lovegood. Your family has been coming to us for years claiming to have discovered new creatures and all claims have been proven false. What was the last one again? A Crumple Horned… whatever."

"They turn invisible when people are around, sir. My father discovered that only a year ago. It is why we have never been able to see one with our own eyes."

As if bored, Jerome shuffled some parchment on his desk. With a sigh, he looked up to Luna. "I have important business to attend to, Miss Lovegood," he said. "And I am sure Miss Granger here would much prefer to be back in her office dealing with other matters of importance rather than listening to your squabble. It is none of my business what you and your family do in your spare time, but please – as we have asked over and over again – do not disturb us here." He passed the photographs back to Luna having not even looked at them. Before she could say anything else he picked up a quill and began to write.

Hermione, who had witnessed the whole thing and had not breathed a word, looked sympathetically to Luna. She gave her a reassuring smile and took up the chair opposite Jerome's desk.

"Excuse me," she said.

Jerome looked up, left eyebrow raised, but with a great more deal of respect than he had ever shown Luna. "Miss Granger?" he questioned. "Is there something you wish to discuss?"

Hermione nodded, taking the photographs from Luna's hand. She hadn't wanted to become involved if she could help it but she certainly wasn't going to sit back and let him bully her friend either. He may have been a close colleague of hers, but Luna was something different – someone of more importance to her than Jerome ever would be.

"There is, in fact," she said, and she laid each photograph out on the desk in front of him. "As you can see by these pictures, this creature Miss Lovegood claims to have seen is in fact real. They were taken by myself in the depths of an unexplored forest in America. And if that is not enough to convince you, you have my word that I have in fact seen this creature with my own eyes." It wasn't the entire truth, but it was close enough. He didn't need to know that Luna had taken those pictures long before she had even asked Hermione to go with her.

Now as if debating with himself internally, Jerome looked from Hermione to Luna and then down at the photographs. "You… you've seen this creature, Miss Granger?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly.

Hermione nodded. "I have indeed."

"And you believe Miss Lovegood when she says… when she says it's real?"

Hermione pointed to the pictures. "I've seen what you've seen, Jerome. It is real."

As if this statement had ruined his whole day, Jerome pushed aside his other work and looked more closely at the pictures Luna had brought with her. With a stern look on her face and unmoving, Hermione waited patiently.

"Ah… well… I see… but… where did you say you discovered this creature?"

"Forests in America, sir," Luna answered politely.

This seemed to satisfy Jerome. Smiling, he pushed back the photographs. "Well, then," he began, "that would make the reporting and recording of this being that Ministry's job. It is clear that it does not exist in Britain, and therefore, it is not my concern." He looked to Luna. "It appears you'll be taking another trip back sometime soon."

Hermione opened her mouth to respond in her friend's defence, but it seemed Jerome was no longer willing to listen to her.

"I will see you next time," he said forcefully. "Good day."

Hermione sat there for a moment longer, but when it was apparent he wasn't going to listen she indicated to Luna that they should leave. Once back out in the corridors of the Ministry, Luna stopped, facing Hermione.

"Thank you," she whispered, smiling.

"I'm sorry, Luna," Hermione said. "Jerome isn't well liked by many, I can assure you. He's –"

But Luna cut her off, placing a kiss to Hermione's cheek and squeezing her hand. "You've done enough, Hermione," she said. "And I really appreciate it. But it's my business now."

Slightly stunned by Luna's sudden show of affection, Hermione brushed her cheek where Luna's lips had touched. "I –"

"Thank you again," Luna said, smiling at her. "But I know what I have to do now."

Hermione had no time to respond. Luna was gone, her long, blonde hair disappearing into the suddenly crowded workplace.

Touching the place where Luna had kissed her again, she smiled to herself. She would make sure Luna's mission was accomplished – no matter the cost.

Okay, yeah, so this is obviously going beyond 3 chapters. I did not intend at all when I started writing for it to be a multi-chap, but it looks like that is what it's turning into. I am actually having a lot of fun writing this, so let's just say this will be ending when I feel I have accomplished what I want to write.

Thank you all so much for your reviews and favourites and follows again. I hope you continue to enjoy this.