Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.
Many thanks to my beta DHLane, for all of her help with this chapter.
The click of her heels against the marble floor rang in her ears; a sound she had become familiar with over the past few months.
As Hermione walked in a direct line towards the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she took note of just how many people were trying to subtly stare at her on their way past. They were as bad as the Hogwarts students, gawking at her as though she had not been working there over the past three months. She had received a lot of press because of the Malfoy trial and as such, people were staring at her wherever she went these days. Rolling her eyes, she pressed on, walking through the door into the office.
As per usual, the witch at the front desk ignored her, which comforted Hermione somewhat. At least the woman was consistent. Without a single word, she headed straight to Kingsley's office at the back. As she approached, she spared a glance towards Neville's office and found that the shutters were closed and the light was off. With a somewhat disappointed sigh, she knocked on the door before her crisply.
A moment later Kingsley appeared before her with a broad smile. He allowed her to pass him and enter the room before closing the door behind them. When they were both seated on either side of his large desk, he clasped his hands together on the table before him and looked at her expectantly.
'So, what can I do for you today, Hermione?' Kingsley asked, crooking a thick, dark eyebrow at her.
'I have some paperwork for the Malfoy trial that I need you to look over and sign,' she answered immediately. 'Just trying to tie up any loose ends for my firms files and for the Ministry archives.'
'Ah, yes,' he replied with a nod. 'Well I certainly wont be able to put off any official Ministry paperwork. If you give it to me now I can have it done for you by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.'
Hermione nodded and picked up her briefcase, entering the combination and pulling out the various documents needed before sliding them Kingsley.
'This is everything I will need signed for both. I have attached markers to each section indicating where I need a signature and date,' she explained. 'I can come back tomorrow to collect them, unless you'd prefer to send them either to my office or house.'
'Excellent,' Kingsley announced. 'Now, if I'm not mistaken, congratulations are in order? I heard you were promoted to partner and offered a share in the firm?'
Hermione flushed with pleasure and nodded. 'You heard correctly,' she replied. 'It's a huge step up in responsibility, and I'll have to hire a personal assistant soon, or so I have been told.'
'That sounds like it's going to be a rough job,' he commented.
'I'm looking forward to the challenge,' she said with an excited grin.
'I expect I shall be seeing more of you now that it seems you will be a permanent fixture here in London?' he asked.
'I will most likely be doing a lot of liaising for the firm,' Hermione answered with a nod and a smile.
'Perhaps, if you were amicable, we could have dinner some time when you aren't busy,' Kingsley said, startling her with his forwardness.
She was stunned speechless for a moment before she regained her senses and her mind started turning over what he had just said. She had absolutely no idea why she had never noticed him being overly friendly. She wanted to hit herself in the head for being so obtuse once again. She had to come up with some excuse really quickly – saying that it would be inappropriate probably wouldn't cut it in this instance.
'Kingsley, I am flattered…' she began, but he halted her with a raised hand and a nod.
'I don't require an explanation, Hermione,' he said with a chuckle. 'I just thought you ought to be aware that you are a very beautiful woman. Any man would be lucky to have a smart, desirable woman such as yourself.'
Hermione blushed to the roots of her hair. Unable to think of anything smart to say she simply murmured a quick 'thank you'.
'Right, well I won't keep you from the rest of your day,' Kingsley announced, completely unshaken by her refusal. 'I'd better get started on the reading if I'm going to have it done by tomorrow afternoon.'
Knowing when she was being dismissed, Hermione closed her briefcase and stood, holding a hand out to Kingsley. He smiled warmly and accepted the handshake with his own large, rough hand. After she let go, she nodded and turned on her heel, trying not to run from his office like she desperately wanted to.
'Thank you for all of your help,' she said quickly before opening the door and slipping outside.
After shutting the door behind her, she took a moment to compose herself. Taking a deep, calming breath, she turned around to leave, only to come face to face with the one person she simultaneously wanted to see, but also desperately wanted to keep her distance from – especially after her awkward conversation with Kingsley. Neville flashed her a brilliant smile however, and it sucked the air from her lungs and left her feeling unguarded, with legs like jelly.
'Hello,' she said softly.
'Hello, Hermione,' Neville replied, taking a step towards her.
'How have you been?' she asked, looking down at her feet.
'Great,' he answered. 'Have you been busy these past couple of weeks?'
Hermione looked up at him and nodded. 'I had a week off between jobs, so I spent a lot of time catching up on some recreational reading and visiting with friends,' she said quietly.
'Congratulations on your promotion by the way,' Neville said, taking another step towards her. 'Do you have time for a cup of tea? Or have I caught you at a bad time?'
Hermione immediately tensed, conflicted as ever whenever she was around him. Much as she desired to stay and spend a little time catching up with him, she was afraid that if she did, she would be unable to hide her attraction from him. Another voice in her head reminded her of Harry's words to her recently also. She should be more willing to take risks with people – not everyone was untrustworthy and bad. And Neville was as good as a person could be. Realising that she'd paused for too long, she looked up into Neville's hazel eyes and automatically knew that she was lost.
'I'd love a cup of tea,' she replied.
Neville flashed another smile at her and led the way into his office, switching on the lights and closing the door behind her. He ushered her into one of the chairs at his desk and turned on the small portable stove on the bench in the corner of the room, placing a kettle full of water atop it. Instead of taking a seat in the chair on the opposite side of the desk, Neville sat in the free chair beside her while they waited for the water to boil.
Hermione glanced at him, unsure of what to do or say. For someone who was normally so composed and confident, every time she was around Neville she turned into a bumbling idiot. She felt her cheeks heat and turn red when his eyes met hers. She had to prevent the gasp from escaping her when she realised that his cheeks were stained red also.
'Hermione, I want you to know that I didn't just ask you in here for tea,' he said, clearing his throat uncomfortably.
Hermione felt her words catch in her throat for a moment before she coughed to clear it. 'Oh?' she croaked out.
'I understand that when we were working together, the idea of us seeing each other in a social capacity would have been inappropriate and might have made you uncomfortable…' he explained.
'I think I know where you are going with this, Neville,' she said, cutting him off, her old reflexes kicking in. 'I-I don't think this is a very good idea.'
'Where do you think I am trying to go with this?' he asked.
'You have to understand, I don't think I will be able to give you what it is that you want,' she said, inwardly cursing herself for being so stupid.
'And what is it that you think I want?'
'A relationship,' she whispered, her heart and stomach tightening in fear.
'I am attracted to you, Hermione. I like you and I've come to care for you,' he said with a fierce look in his eyes. 'And if I'm right, you feel the same way that I do.'
She could hide it from him no longer. 'Yes,' she murmured softly.
'There is not a single reason I can see for us not to make a go of something together,' he argued fervently. 'I don't understand why you have been fighting to keep a distance between us this entire time.'
Hermione felt panic kick in. Why did he have to confront her this way? What was happening to the men in this department? It was like jumping out of the frying pan with Kingsley and straight into Neville's fire. He had her backed into a very tight corner and she was finding that the barriers were beginning to crumble. She was about to open her mouth to speak when the kettle began to whistle loudly in the corner.
Neville immediately stood and grabbed the kettle before pouring boiling water into the teapot, sprinkling some dark leaves in to steep. He carried the pot and two mugs over before resuming his seat beside her.
'I've made my argument,' he said softly, breaking the silence. 'What are your thoughts?'
'Well, apparently there is no point trying to convince you that I don't feel something for you,' she said, all in a rush. 'It's just I don't - I'm not sure I am ready for another relationship. After what happened with Ron…'
'I'm not Ron Weasley,' Neville said, his brow furrowed slightly. 'It's been seven years since he hurt you, and I know that kind of hurt doesn't just go away, but don't you think it's time to let go? Don't you want to give us a chance?'
Despite wanting to give in and give a relationship a try, the terror of letting someone in overwhelmed her. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and stood, almost knocking her chair over in the process. She went for the door and clasped the handle, about to turn it when she felt Neville come up behind her swiftly and wrap his hand around hers, halting her departure. She released the handle at his insistence and without missing a beat, he spun her around to face him, her body pressed flush to the door by his long, firm frame.
Hermione looked up into his eyes and gasped at how dark his eyes were.
'I'm going to kiss you, Hermione,' he said softly, inclining his head towards hers slowly.
'Okay,' she whispered, exhaling slowly; shakily, her entire being giving in to the inevitable finally.
Neville released her hand and put both of his hands to her shoulders, pulling her towards him. The warmth of his breath washed over her lips until his mouth hovered so close, their lips were almost touching. Just as she was beginning to think the kiss would never happen, his lips connected with hers, and her breath left her completely. If he had not been clutching her to him with his strong arms, she was certain her legs would not have supported her. She felt him withdraw a moment later and could not help but to follow his lips with her own.
A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest before he captured her lips with his own for a second kiss. This kiss caught even faster than the first, one of his hands plunging into her hair, tilting her head for a better fit. She squeaked in surprise when his tongue touched her lips, seeking entrance. After a moment of hesitation, she allowed him entry and his tongue slid past her lips, touching hers briefly before withdrawing again. He gently released her lips a short while later, taking a step backwards, his breathing heavy.
'So,' he said a little breathlessly. 'Will you go to dinner with me now?'
Hermione laughed softly, leaning heavily against the door behind her. 'How could I refuse such a request now?' she replied.
The smile he flashed her was the same mysterious smile that she had become so familiar with over the past few months. It immediately became clear to her what it meant. She put as much feeling into her answering smile. He took her hand then, leading them back over to the desk and gestured for her to resume her seat. He sat beside her once more and poured a mug of tea for each of them.
'Thank you,' she said, accepting the mug he passed her.
He smiled warmly in response. 'I meant to ask you earlier, but what brought you here today?' he asked, taking a sip of the hot liquid.
'I was actually bringing paperwork over for Kingsley to sign and look over for me,' she answered, suddenly reminded of her earlier meeting. She flushed, which made Neville quirk an eyebrow at her curiously.
'Did something else unexpected happen in your meeting with Kingsley?' he asked, which only caused her to turn a brighter shade and nod, staring at her mug.
'Kingsley asked me on a date,' she whispered so softly she hoped he wouldn't hear her.
Apparently he had the hearing of a bat. 'I should have known he would do that,' Neville said with a chuckle. 'He has been talking about you far to often for it to have been a coincidence.'
'Why didn't you say anything?' she said, snapping her eyes up to look at him.
'To what end?' he asked. 'Would you have said yes or liked him more if you had known he was interested in you before now?'
'No, I suppose not,' she answered with a sigh. 'It caught me rather by surprise. I hope I didn't offend him when I refused.'
'I'm certainly glad you did,' Neville said, reaching over to touch her free hand.
Hermione turned her hand over and linked her fingers with his loosely. They sat there like that as they finished their tea, both unwilling to let go of the other with any haste. Eventually Hermione realised she would have to get back to work. She had letters to write and had many job applications to sort through before setting up interviews for her personal assistant.
She stood and Neville saw her to the door, dropping his head down to steal another sublime kiss from her. Hermione left the Ministry that day in a bit of a haze, unable to believe what had happened. As she made her way to the main hall to Apparate, she smiled to herself.
Life had certainly taken an interesting turn – she just hoped it was a good one.
To be continued.
