Written on 01/04/2022

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Hermione nervously played with her hair as her eyes kept glancing at the clock between two bedroom doors. Five past twenty-seven minutes in the morning. She looked back at the book that's she's supposed to enjoy to pass the time. She's not due to her new job in the ministry for another two and a half hours. This is her first ever job since she "graduated" last June, and not having her brain challenged for one full month was making her feel uneasy, so when she was offered a job in the ministry, she jumped right to it. She got offered so many jobs, actually, but if she really wanted to make a change in the wizarding community, starting off as an intern in the Ministry is surely the right path.

She looked at the clock again. Only one minute has passed. How come time moved so slow when she needed it to pass quickly? She had woken up at 4 AM today and, afraid to be late, decided to get up and read some book with a cup of tea. She had succeeded the first 30 minutes but now it's just torture. Hermione finally gave up after watching another minute pass just as painfully as the others and made long strides to the front door before she stopped. She looked at Harry's bedroom, contemplating whether she should wake him or not. He was up late last night spending time with Ginny since she's returning to the Burrow today and will stay there until school starts. Mrs. Weasley had invited them both to spend the summer there, but Hermione had accepted the job offer and Harry, as much as he denied it, stayed so Hermione didn't have to be alone. Ron on the other hand...

Hermione knocked on the bedroom door on the left twice before poking her head in. Harry's red tired eyes had already stared back at her. Since their Horcrux Hunting days, the three of them got easily woken up, and she kinda felt bad to woke him, but she knew he's here for her, and right now, she needed the company.

"Morning, Harry," Hermione started unsurely. "Would you care to walk and get breakfast with me? I've made some tea."

Harry buried his head back into the pillow. "'S still dark," he grumbled.

"I- um, it's my first day and... I'm kinda nervous."

Harry grunted, and after 5 full seconds, he got up.

"Sorry, Harry," she apologized as she watched him stretch and wore his shoes.

"It's fine. I need to get my sleep schedule back on track anyway." He slipped his wand into his pockets and followed Hermione out and glanced at the clock.

"Bloody hell Hermione, it's not even seven o'clock!"

Hermione gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I know. I've been up since four and it's killing me. I needed a company."

Harry grumbled, but he still followed her out of the flat after grabbing his jacket.

"Are there even stores open at this hour?" he asked.

"Well.. no, but by the time we reached the bakery down the streets I bet there's some pastry ready."

They walked slowly in silence for a few minutes before Harry spoke again.

"So.. what's your job gonna be at the Ministry?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, honestly. I just heard 'we'd love to have you at the ministry' from Kingsley and I'm in."

They walked into the Bakery. Sure enough, there are already a few pastries fresh and ready. The shop clerk showed up from the kitchen, and seemed unfazed to see Hermione this early.

"Morning, Miss. I'm afraid the bagels aren't ready yet."

"It's alright. We'll take the muffins," she pointed at the only item available on the display. "Four, please."

They paid for their muffins and walked back to their flat. They had decided to rent one in a muggle neighborhood, not too far away from Leaky Cauldron. Hermione had originally planned to live alone, and when she told Harry and Ron, Harry insisted they should share so she'll keep him from slacking off. They all know though, that Harry just didn't want to live alone and didn't want to leave Hermione all alone. Last year they were still kids in boarding school sneaking around past curfew, and suddenly they were on the run and fighting wand to wand in the same schoolyard.

They were still processing the war, Hermione decided to jump to work immediately, Harry's still unsure what to do next, and Ron, spending all of his time with his family. They all cried at Fred's funeral and Ron told them he wanted to spend time with his family while he still can. So he asked George if he needed help opening his joke shop and if he can stay with him in Diagon Alley. For now, all the Weasley siblings went home to the renovated Burrow to spend time together before they continue with their life.

Harry was going through post-war anxiety too. Some nights he would wake Hermione in the middle of the night because he dreamt his scar was hurting again. He would stay alert most times, never fully relaxing, and buried himself in random activities, like learning how to cook. When he's not busy doing something though, he would stay very still and stared blankly at nothing. Hermione sometimes caught him looking through some memories with the pensive he brought recently. She suspected it was Snape's or Dumbledore's.

Hermione wasn't any better. She hardly slept, waking up at random hours and unable to keep her eyes closed. Reading books which supposed to bring her comfort barely did their job anymore. After the war, she immediately went to Australia to look for her parents. She found them, alright, but she's long gone from their memory. She's been talking to Hannah Abbott, who's an intern as a Healer now, about memory restoration.

The three of them got offered jobs immediately after she got back to London, but Hermione's the only one who accepted it. She respected Ron's wishes to 'take a break' from their relationship and not working immediately, but she told Harry to take one from the mountain of job offers he got in the past month. He's still grieving, though, so she's not pushing it. They all needed time to heal.

"Harry," Hermione turned to him when they got into the elevator. "I've been thinking. What do you think if I took you and Ron to see a therapist?"

Harry's brows disappeared behind his fringe.

"I know we're all having a difficult year, and maybe consulting a professional might help," she continued. "We're not okay, Harry. And it's normal, after what we've gone through. We're barely adults and we were sent to save the wizarding world. I know Ron and I mostly just tagged along with you but it's not your responsibility. It most certainly isn't your fault, either."

"I know."

"But you're still beating yourself up, Harry. And you're refusing to talk about it," she paused. "I say this to you because I care about you. If you can't talk to me or Ron, I hope you would consider talking to a therapist. He's my parent's friend and a Squib, so you can tell him anything about the war."

Hermione turned her head back to the elevator door and they fell into silence. They got into the flat and Hermione was pouring the reheated tea before Harry spoke again, "Thank you."

"And I thank you. I know you're here because of me," she said.

Harry smiled weakly. "I haven't thought about it, you know. Getting a therapist."

"What do you think?"

"Well," he paused. "I guess it's a good shot."

"Great! I'm actually meeting him for lunch today. Maybe you'd like to join?"

"Uh, okay," he paused again. "I don't know what to say to him."

Hermione chuckled, "Relax, Harry. It's not a session, just meeting an old friend. He's like my second dad."

They talked for an hour while enjoying their muffins and tea – Hemione had restricted coffee from the flat because it made them both jittery. After they finished their breakfast Hermione took a quick shower and poured tea into her tumbler that's charmed to always keep the liquid inside hot. Harry's head already bobbing down as he sat on the sofa by the time Hermione's ready to go.

"Sorry. You should get back to bed," she said.

"No," Harry's head snapped up. "Will not! If I do I'll stay up all night again."

"Just take a quick nap. I'll fetch you for lunch later," she watched Harry forcing his eyelids open by glaring at the innocent TV.

"Ugh, screw it. Wake me in five hours," and with that, his head fell on the armchair and he was out immediately.

#

"Welcome, welcome! Granger, isn't it?" said the man who just walked through the door, offering his hand. He has an oval face and droopy eyes, making him look sleepy and kind at the same time. He must be her new boss. "Yes. Mr. Brooke, I assume?" Hermione shook his hand and gave her sweetest smile, while being nervous from head to toe. He tsked her, "Just call me James."

With one swift move, he's seated behind his desk. He gestured for Hermione to sit.

Hermione took a quick glance at the name sign on the desk. Jeremie Brooke. She's in the right office. James noticed this and said, "Yes, my name is Jeremie, and I loathe it. And don't you dare call me Jerry. It sounds stupid."

"Understood, sir."

James looked at her.

"I mean- understood, James," she corrected.

"Thank you," he said. "So, I guess you're curious what your job will be here?"

"Yes, I wasn't briefed much. I've been wanting to work at the Ministry so I just took the chance," she said honestly.

James gave a small chuckle. "Well, I don't get briefed at all. Erwin just told me Hermione Granger's going to help me with the new, rushed, sloppy program. I guess they hoped you'll put their scattered work together and make it work," he rolled his eyes. "Way to exploit a 19-year-old war veteran."

Hermione smiled. She had a feeling she'll love working under Jeremie "James" Brooke.

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The Dramione fanfics I've read so far have so little scenes with Harry or Ron in it. They were besties and I love them, so there'll be a lot of scenes of them together :) Thanks for reading!