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Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys got swept up in the flood exiting the courtroom. Outside, cameras flashed, and Harry instinctively ducked, disoriented. When he looked up Hermione and the Weasleys were nowhere in sight. Instead, he was surrounded by reporters.

"Harry, why were you at the trial?"

"Harry, did you say anything?"

"Harry, what's your opinion on the Death Eaters that are being pardoned?"

"Harry, Harry, over here, Harry!"

He looked up at Mrs. Weasley's voice, but the cameras snapped again, and he was once more blinded. The reporters pressed in tighter.

"Will you continue to wipe out the Death Eaters?"

"Do you prefer the Weird Sisters or Taylor Swift?"

All questions stopped as every reporter stared at the one who'd made the Muggle reference. She blushed, and was swallowed up by the ring of reporters squeezing tighter together and forcing her out.

"Harry, are you single?"

Was he? He hadn't talked to Ginny at all since the war. The reporters were still firing off questions, but he ignored them. He would have to talk to her.

"He's blushing!"

"Quick, write this down: Boy-Who-Lived Currently Dating… wait, who is he dating?"

"Wasn't it that Weasley girl?"

"I'm more of a Harmione fan myself…"

"Love triangle! Ha, they'll love it."

"Harry, what do you-"

Just then the reporters were interrupted by Ministry security. Finally, Harry thought. Somehow, despite hearing about all the improvements the Ministry had made, he didn't really expect a difference. That was true enough in the courtroom, but at least he didn't have to be harassed.

Wait. Those priorities sounded wrong. Corrupt court proceedings allowing potential innocents to get their soul sucked out was worse than Harry getting asked a few questions. Okay. Priorities sorted.

Harry cast his eyes about the crowd, searching for the brilliant Weasley hair. Before he could find them, however, an old man was beaming at him and grabbing his hand.

He introduced himself, but Harry wasn't listening. He had identified the wizard as the leader of the Wizengamot who'd joked about people's souls. He wrenched his hand back and walked away. He had no idea where the Weasleys were, but he had to move or he would drown in the crowd. He made it about two steps when a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

He spun around, hoping for a familiar face, but he didn't recognize the sharp-jawed woman. "Harry, have you heard of the controversy surrounding puffskein products? I can assure you, they are morally unsound! If you would just give me your endorsement, I-"

Harry surged forward through a gap in the crowd, effectively cutting her off. He finally caught sight of a red-haired man and managed to make it to his side, but it turned out he was just some Ministry worker. Frustrated, Harry turned around and immediately spotted the Weasleys near the opposite wall. They appeared to be making their way toward someone else, but he couldn't see who it was. Sighing, Harry dove into the crowd once more.

This time, he refused to stop for anyone. He ignored the multiple times he heard his name, and every hand that clutched at him, seeking to grab a bit of his fame for their own. He forged ahead, not even looking up until he realized that was probably not the best way to move in a straight line. Harry looked up. Sure enough, he had gotten off track- not too badly, but he knew it would have gotten worse. Looking up, he accidentally made eye contact, but gritted his teeth and moved on before he could be asked to sign an autograph that was actually a legal document.

It was slower going, and he had to actually see people, but at least he knew he was going in the right direction. He could occasionally catch glimpses of red hair, just often enough to assure him that he was still on the right track. On his way, he spotted Narcissa Malfoy chatting with a rather fat old Wizengamot official. She appeared relaxed and invested in her conversation, but every time the man blinked or coughed, her wide eyes would dart around anxiously. Draco was conspicuously missing from her side. Had anyone even told her his fate yet? What about that of her husband? Harry shivered. He didn't know what had happened to Lucius Malfoy, but he found that despite his revelations about keeping families together, the senior Malfoy was one true Death Eater that could not be allowed to walk free.

He moved on, expecting that that was the last he would see of her, but he found that she was always in his vision, talking to some other no-doubt wealthy and influential member of the Ministry. She must have been moving in the same direction Harry was. As she laughed with a woman wearing an ostentatiously plumed hat, her eyes burned over the woman's shoulder. It appeared she, too, had a target.

Harry spotted a Weasley again- Percy, he thought- and noted that they had made more progress than he'd accounted for. He adjusted his path accordingly, and realized he was close enough to distinguish every single Weasley, as well as Hermione. Usually her hair would have been an excellent beacon, but in this crowd, there were so many outrageous hats that he was going off color, not volume.

Harry finally saw who the Weasleys had been trying to reach- Bill and Fleur. Harry vaguely remembered some mention of planning to meet them here. It occurred to him that the Ministry was not the best place to meet up, unless you were hoping for a chance encounter. It appeared Bill and Fleur had found one, although probably not one they were hoping for. They were talking to Draco Malfoy.

Harry stopped in his tracks, but was jolted into motion when a man twirled around to illustrate some point, his arm flung out dramatically. His friends laughed uproariously, but Harry had to dodge it quickly and move lest he become accosted once again.

He really didn't want to talk to Malfoy. Sure, he'd spoken at his trial, but that was just him being a decent human being. He still didn't even like him! But it seemed that was where everyone was heading. Narcissa Malfoy was probably going to him as well. At least she'd found him.

Harry managed to make it to the Weasleys and Hermione before they made it to Bill, Fleur, and Malfoy. "Harry!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "Are you all right, dear, I should have known we'd all get swept away, it took me twenty minutes just to find Ron…"

He smiled and nodded, but was still thinking about the possible encroaching encounter with Malfoy. "Mrs. Weasley…" he started. She nodded encouragingly. "I know I just spoke at Malfoy's trial, but-"

"Oh, I know, and I don't want to see him either. We don't have to talk to him, just get Bill and Fleur and go, all right?"

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said gratefully. As they got closer they noticed that Bill had a rather reluctant look on her face. Mrs. Weasley strode forward determinedly. As soon as Bill saw her, he broke off whatever he was saying to Malfoy to hug her. As soon as he stepped back, Fleur swooped in and kissed Mrs. Weasley on the cheeks, as if as long as someone was moving they wouldn't have to speak. Bill turned back to Malfoy, hopefully to excuse himself so they could leave, when a voice stopped him.

"Mr. Potter," Narcissa Malfoy said. "I understand that you are the reason my son is not in Azkaban. You have our thanks."

Malfoy's posture hadn't seemed tense, but he instantly seemed to unwind as his mother stepped up beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder. He nodded at Harry, and muttered something that might have been "thanks". Harry couldn't blame him. The situation had to be awkward for everyone, yet Narcissa Malfoy was treating it like teatime. For her, it probably was.

"And Ms. Granger." Hermione seemed to take a deep breath before lifting her eyes to look grimly at Mrs. Malfoy, but she was smiling. "I hear you conveyed the Minister's message. Thank you."

Hermione's eyes widened, but she managed a nod.

Harry had been dreading how they would excuse themselves, but once again Narcissa handled everything gracefully, saying something about them having other business, and she was sure they were busy as well, and it had been wonderful talking to them. She and her son had swept off somewhere, and Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys were left dazed but relieved.

In the lift, Harry realized that they hadn't spoken a single word to the Malfoys.

As they were going through security on the way out, Harry thought he heard Hermione mutter, "I am not an owl!" But when he looked at her quizzically, she avoided his stare.

Ron just looked confused, but by the time they arrived back at the Burrow, everyone was asking Bill and Fleur questions and life finally seemed to be back to normal.

Chapter word count: 1513

Total word count: 6729

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