As Hermione expected, the ministry was deserted upon first inspection, she checked the atrium, it was bare of people, the memorial fountain gleaming in the centre of the large room; the names of all those lost in the war etched into the shiny marble. Hermione walked past the fountain, approaching the golden lifts, here she found her first clue, as the doors opened to reveal Percy Weasley dressed as a footman.
"Percy," she greeted, thankful that Fred's brother hadn't opted to charm himself to look like a fish or a toad, the way Luna had to resemble a hare.
"Miss Granger I am here to escort you," he told her seriously, Hermione nodded, and stepped into the lift.
"I see and where will you be escorting me too," she asked quietly.
"The minister," the redhead replied, as the lift began to move.
"Why am I going to see Kingsley," she asked.
"That's the surprise," Percy told her, seeing she wouldn't be getting much more from the man, she stood silently as the lift made its way to the correct floor. Hermione was most surprised when the lift stopped at the floor where she worked, and even more surprised that Percy led her to her own closed office door.
"What are we doing here," she asked Percy, the man grinned uncharacteristically.
"The minister is waiting for you Hermione," he said, gesturing to her office, Hermione stared at him flabbergasted, why would Kingsley be waiting in her office this late on a Saturday evening, Percy didn't wait around to explain, instead the redhead turned around and walked at pace back the way that they'd came. When he'd first told her she'd be meeting Kingsley she'd expected they'd go to the minister's office not her little one in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, she raised her hand to knock tentatively and a smooth chuckled sounded from within the room.
"You don't have to knock, Hermione, it is after all your office," Kingsley told her as he opened the door, gesturing for her to come inside.
"Sir what are we doing here," she asked, perching on the edge of one of the chairs she reserved for guests, Kingsley chuckled, taking the chair beside her rather than the one on the far side of the desk where she usually sat.
"We have a couple of things to discuss Hermione," he told her calmly.
"We do," she asked confused.
"Yes, we do, firstly your current project, how is that going," he asked, his eyes fixed on a large board filled with facts and ideas for her project.
"Good sir, I plan to submit it to the Wizengamot at their next session," she told him proudly, Kingsley smiled.
"No need," he told her.
"What do you mean," she asked, her heart pounding.
"Hermione, Remus, and I fought in two wars together, he was a good friend of mine. Anything created in his memory is a worthy project to back, especially one as well thought out and meticulously planned as yours, it is my honour as Minister to approve the Remus Lupin Lycanthrope Support Centre, providing free Wolfsbane potion, medical care, and safe lands to transform upon for all werewolf's," he told her firmly, Hermione's eyes began to water, and she was thankful Fleur had used magic to protect her makeup.
"You do," she asked breathlessly.
"I do, I was going to tell you this when you submitted the project at the next Wizengamot session, but it is my understanding that you will be unable to attend it," Kingsley grinned.
"Why wouldn't I be able to attend it," she asked him.
"That brings us to our second order of business, your request for two months leave has been excepted, you really don't have enough holiday's, I want you to relax, have fun and be young," he told her.
"Two months, I didn't put in for two months off, I have so much to do, I need to set up the lycanthrope centre," she argued.
"Fred put in the request, the centre is approved, we have enough information for us to start the preparations for it, you will have plenty of time to sort out the finer details and adapt it after your vacation," he commented as a knock sounded on the door.
"So that's my surprise I'm off on holiday," she asked.
"One of the surprises yes," he answered, "Arthur you may come in," he called slightly louder as the door opened to let in her boyfriend's father.
"Arthur, I wondered when I'd be seeing you, I've seen almost all the other Weasley's today," she laughed.
"It is my job to take you to Fred," Arthur replied, holding his arm out to her, Hermione smiled standing up to take it, finally she'd be able to see her boyfriend.
"Where is he," she asked.
"That is a surprise," Arthur smiled.
"The apparition wards are down, I hope you have a fabulous evening and holiday Hermione," the minister grinned at her, with a pop Arthur apparated them away to meet Fred, Hermione found that she had nervous butterflies fluttering within her belly as they appeared in a thicket of wildflowers beside a small beach. Two children were waiting with excited smiles on their faces.
"Mione," they squealed, and she found her knees getting tackled by Victoire and Teddy, each of them hugging her legs tightly.
"What are you two doing here, isn't it past your bedtime," she asked as she lent down to kiss each of their foreheads.
"It is but we really wanted to see you," Teddy told her, Victoire nodded.
"You look like a princess," Victoire told her excitedly.
"So do you," she told the blonde girl who was dressed in a lilac tule princess dress, the small girl grinned.
"Please say yes to Uncle Freddie," the blonde pleaded, Hermione's eyes widened, understanding flooding her at the young girls' words.
"Is he," she gasped as Teddy shoved his hand over his best friend's mouth, his hair cycling madly through a rainbow of colours.
"Follow the candles and you'll find him," Arthur told her quietly, flicking his wand to ignite a pathway, that led out onto the beach, with an apologetic smile for the ruined surprise he took hold of each child's hand and apparated them away, Hermione turned towards the lit path, and took a deep breath as she began to follow the candles to where her true love waited, her butterflies summersaulting excitedly within her stomach.
