Anyone who had regularly worked or been in the Ministry for the last two years would recognize the witch walking towards them. Her curly hair was in a loose but controlled bun and she had a pleasant expression on her face. The witch's day robe was open over her clothing and the click click click of her heels told them all she was heading their way.

Hermione smiled at the array of looks she got, no doubt wondering if she was back. That would be sensational news but it wasn't true. The department heads were being called in for a meeting, a list of their senior or relevant staff had been included. That was where she was heading. Prepared for this meeting as she had been for any other during her tenure. This time in addition to the ongoing issues she had been consulting on there was a list of her demands.

As she reached the lift, three people left it and she shared a smile with Seamus. He had already been in the lift and raised his brows in question. She just smiled and shook her head, she wasn't coming back. Then he looked speculative and she gave him a genuine smile before watching him leave at the floor containing the Auror headquarters. Harry's voice asked her to hold the lift and she laughed slightly. If she hadn't been in here, the lift wouldn't have waited. She was though and so silently cast what was necessary to halt it.

"I didn't think." His voice broke off when he saw her and then he just smiled indulgently when she pulled down her spell work as silently as she had cast it, and the lift started moving again.

"Going too?" He asked her. There were people around and she smiled a bit meanly at him and then grinned.

"Yes. Dinner soon?" She wanted to talk to him, thank him for knowing when to get involved and how to do so.

"Tomorrow?" He asked and she nodded. His head tilt indicated his question and she nodded once more. Hers would be fine. Clearly he too thought they needed privacy more than a culinary adventure.

When the lift spoke their floor and opened, the two exited with more intent expressions than had graced their faces a minute ago. Harry naturally having taken her lead and adjusted his bearing slightly. He was a brilliant friend and colleague.

The door was open and he gestured her through before following and neither expressed surprise when it closed behind them and sealed. It was a surprise though, and she caught Kingsley's eye for a moment. Nothing. Alright then. He would have forced the issue, no need though. Harry sat in his seat as a department head, at the long oval table. One end held the Minister and the other had been left for her. It usually was when there was someone from out of their own departments involved. The rest were seated in the three tiers of chairs around them. Desks in front of them and all they might need for whatever their superiors demanded.

"Good afternoon ladies and gentleman. The Minister was kind enough to organize this meeting so I could make a few things clear and then you could decide on the issue of my continued involvement with the British Ministry of Magic." This was enough to heighten the focus, though all had been paying attention. Kingsley looked tense and she shot him as much reassurance as she could in the two seconds she allowed herself. Even if she never stepped through those doors again, Kingsley, and others, were her friends and she would always be there for them. However she could.

"In front of you is a list of the current projects my input has been requested for and beside that a list of the hours I have dedicated to these and the completed projects in the six months since my resignation. As you can see both total to a significant amount of effort. Underneath is a list of the meetings I have been invited to and a list I have been summoned to. Underneath that is a list of my demands. Shall I read them or will your reading them suffice?" She started meeting eyes now. Some she knew well and others were just people she had interacted with for projects or in department reorganization. Two were interns from her project and by her count she had hired eleven of the fifty seven people in this room.

"Why would you have things like courtesy and uninterrupted speech on here?" Jones, the head of Games and Sports asked.

"You haven't been here often Mike." Sheffield put in. As head of Records he had been in far more of the meetings she had. Then Jones seemed to look around more closely and he could see who didn't understand. It was few.

"I see." He looked up at her with discomfort and then seemed to decide to speak.

"Shouldn't have to ask for that Miss Granger." He sounded as if he had been brave, in speaking and she smiled her agreement. The man was a bit quidditch mad and somehow was part of several gobstone teams too. Very nice but limited in his interests. Family man, with four kids. The oldest just about to start Hogwarts.

"Before we vote, or I open the floor to discussion." Kingsley's deep voice resonated and he had everyone's attention. "Hermione, Miss Granger, has no need of this Ministry. Her apprenticeship and master are enough for any witch or wizard, I assure you. Were said master standing in the last meeting, you would probably still be stuck to the wall." His tone showed that he was serious and she let herself meet eyes with Harry and the girls. They agreed and though their faces were as serious as hers, their eyes danced.

"For the girl?" Selwyn put in, from Avery's far side. Half of the back middle row were that years elected Wizengamot representatives to the Ministry. Avery looked up and she could see the tension in him.

"That is precisely what I mean." Hermione spoke into the silence. "The Minister is right. I have no need to subject myself to this. The only thing I will say about my master is that he has indicated that I am to take nothing he would not." She let that sink in.

"Feel free to indicate clearly that I am not welcome here. Whatever your reasons for thinking so." She spoke firmly and then looked to Kingsley. He didn't like it. Didn't like how it could go either way.

"Everyone in this room gets a vote, after all the ones at this table won't be here forever, and the ones behind will be doing our jobs someday." Ballot slips appeared in front of each person and then disappeared when they had been marked. The tally on the wall rearranged the stones of its complex magic as the tallies came in and then changed from red to black at completion.

"If you can not allow these basic courtesies when dealing with me then send a representative. Each time I feel blatantly disrespected, I will walk out the door. As usual I am open to debate." She let some of her smile out now and chuckles sounded around the room. Most, if not all, had argued with her before.

"As a last thing, I would like to point out that as part of my consultation agreement, press security was included." She let some of her anger into her voice and continued. "The blatant and targeted specific information being leaked to the press from inside closed meetings will end. If it happens again I will discover who it was. That person can face me in the courtroom or dueling ring. I don't care which." Then after scanning everyone she relaxed and watched the startled reaction at the thought that she could settle outside of court. As a private citizen she had that right.

"Now these are progress reports and my ideas for the fourteen projects ongoing that I have been asked to help with. Would the Heads of Records and Internal Affairs please give us their reports or have the appropriate subordinate do so." It was phrased as a polite request but there was none of that. Today at least, it would be as it had been before. In reminder of her contribution and sheer knowledge of their problems. Kingsley caught her eye and neither grinned. Both looked their appreciation of the instant response and lack of any quibbling.

"Selwyn." She spoke quietly as the man passed her and watched him snag Avery's sleeve. Both stopped and all three waited, together, without seeming to, until the room emptied. Harry caught her eye and just gave her a look before exiting.

Immediately she put wards up, good ones. Then she met the man's eyes.

"Dolohov has indicated verbally to me that I am to take nothing that he wouldn't. I can assure you that even a witch can wield a wand. If you would like to find out exactly how skilled I am, speak to me like that again. Inside or outside of the Ministry." Her tone was polite and he didn't react for a moment. Then his face reddened and she watched his wand come into his hand. She didn't react. Didn't need to and perhaps that spooked Avery.

"Simon, that's enough. Being found here, whenever she lets you out will not be good for your image. Stevens." The last was a reference both clearly understood and the man took a step back.

"Has my son avoided you, Miss Granger?" Avery's question surprised her. In front of the other man too.

"He has not sought me out." He had taken every instance of being in the same place to try her patience though. That too would end. His eyes asked the question and she decided to respond.

"I haven't killed anyone I didn't mean to." Nothing in her expression changed and both men just stared at her. Perhaps that had been dramatic. She felt good though and like it was appropriate. She would return him home alive, if he didn't drop the smarmy insults routine.


"You don't have to leave Rowle." Harry called from the kitchen. Having seen the wizard walking towards her floo. Not having known he was there at all.

Hermione looked up at her friends words and met Finn's eye when he backed up.

"I was finishing my twigs for today." He explained his presence and Harry looked to her for an explanation.

"He's doing another broom, this one alone." She explained. Not caring either way whether the man stayed or left. She would see him after if he did go and he wouldn't starve. Food usually abundant between the three homes they frequented.

"I don't want to interrupt your routine." Hermione could tell that he meant it and smiled, gesturing at Harry.

"Stay. Tell me about your broom." His interest was clear and she finished putting dishes on the table in the closest dining area and called them both in.

"I love your lasagna." Harry nearly moaned the word lasagna and she laughed.

"She doesn't cook." Hermione pointed out gently and Harry nodded in understanding.

"You've softened towards elves though so I don't anticipate starving." His reply was cheeky and she stuck her tongue out at him.

Most of the meal was spent talking about the intricacies of brooms and then both of their eyes were on her.

"Pardon?" She had missed something, slightly tuning out their intense discussion of handle shapes. She didn't care that much and could fly but didn't like to enough to make herself a broom.

"You're going to call us right? For the last one. Can't depend on stumbling over you." Harry was grumbling by the end and she couldn't help her laugh. Not calling them last time had led to multiple versions of this demand.

"Yes, yes. I will. Don't ask me again or I won't." Both could see that she didn't mean it really and laughed at her stern face.

"We need a pensieve." Harry sounded serious and she raised her brows in question.

"For things someone misses. Like a duel or the meeting yesterday. You should have seen her. Admittedly I think you might have jumped her and a lot of people were there." She threw a roll at her friend and laughed at his silliness.

"Give me a quote." Finn suggested with a wink at her that had Harry laughing too.

"Don't you dare!" Before she had finished speaking Harry had slid out the booth seat and was standing in the doorway.

"Something like 'if I find out who leaked information to the press, and I will, that person can meet me in the courtroom or the dueling ring.' You know how she looks when she lets her voice get all dark and that aura kind of darkens around her." She rolled her eyes but Finn was looking at her and then nodded at her friend.

"You are ridiculous." She grumbled and then decided to turn the tables.

"Have you decided on a token for Astoria?" He froze and slowly slid back into his seat. Finn caught her eye and she nodded. The witch wanted to do things traditionally.

"No." His tone was a bit defensive and she put down her knife and fork.

"Excuse me?" Maybe her tone had darkened because Harry winced. She took a breath and rephrased.

"Are you not planning on eventually marrying her?" She asked directly but more kindly. His shoulders relaxed and she felt Finn nudge her foot under the table. She got the message, be gentle.

"Yes. You know I am." He didn't bite the words out but they were a bit curt. Ignoring that, she went on.

"Astoria Greengrass? Beloved daughter of a Noble House." Her tone was as if she was actually checking that was the witch he meant. A nod.

"Surely it will come as no surprise after the beginning of your courtship that she expects it to proceed in the same way." He just looked at her and she looked back. Surely he knew what she meant.

"I'll have one made." His tone was defensive and she cocked her head.

"Why?" Now her tone was soft.

"I don't know how to do this! No one taught me how to be scion Potter or whatever." He burst out and she was surprised. Not by his feelings but his expression of them while Finn was here. The man was silent and just watching the two of them. Bless him. Thinking for a moment, she decided to just confront the actual issue instead of making him spell it out.

"Your parents would want you to give a witch from her background a family token Harry. Your mother accepted one, that had been your great grandmothers bracelet. There is a beautiful necklace for the wedding." He looked up at her and she could see something, something painful and she tried to understand what else it would be.

"We will do the ritual. I will stand for you." Her tone was firm and she decided in that moment that they wouldn't mind. He had asked her and asked her, she had demurred. Now she wouldn't. Whatever her feelings for taking the Potter family blood adoption ritual, for Harry she would.

"No. I can't..." She cut his soft words off.

"You can and we will. My magic is settled enough that I won't take on very many physical changes at all. That was my concern. Erasing my parents." She admitted what she hadn't when discussing this before.

"Hermione." His tone was understanding and they shared a look of orphans, as they called it.

"So we will go and get the bracelet then? If you prefer something else." She trailed off and looked at him.

"No. It's the one I thought of too. If you are sure Mione." He looked so relieved and she felt terribly for the boy without a family. All of them really. Finn too.

With that thought she looked up and the look on his face made her blush. It was so warm and she could see the approval there. That made her feel better too.