A.N: More reviews! I can't believe it! Thank you, thank you! My cup of happiness is brimming….

Summary 1(by Alex): Harry is sent on a tough secret assignment involving a Quidditch team and a strangely enchanting Miss Hermione Granger. AU. Post Last Battle.

Summary 2(by Jeevesandwooster):Harry Potter is an auror for the ministry of magic, and he's good at his job. When members of a Quidditch team and their wives go missing, he's a natural choice for the assignment...but he'll need a wife to fit the victim profile. HHr

Summary 3( by Anime Princess): After a series of missing couples from an advertized Quidditch team, Agent Harry Potter and Agent Hermione Granger(of Beauxbaton)have been paired together in the investigation. Neither like the other-what will happen? HHR

Dedication: To all my reviewers-for helping kindle my creativity…

Chapter 3: And After

"…What is really surprising is Mr. Potter's decision to marry the relatively unknown Ms. Granger. Apparently, the constant sightings of him with the ravishing Ms. Weasley meant nothing. Mr. Longbottom, a close friend of the-Boy-Who-Lived, assured us that Mr. Potter was very much in love with Ms. Granger, a fact that he (typically) hadn't wanted to publicise.

Equally strange, though, was the absence of Mr. Ronald Weasley. Family members said that he was busy with his duties as coach for an upcoming quidditch team, and would make it to the private wedding party later on."

"Nice," said Kingsley Shacklebolt happily, casting The Prophet aside. "They made it very convenient for us. The enemy won't know we know Ron's disappeared. You of course are going there in all innocence. Clear?"

Harry's sighed in the manner of one whose mother had just reminded him to change his underwear everyday. "Yes, sir."

Kingsley cast Harry a mildly anxious glance. "Are you sleeping all right?" he asked casually.

Harry grimaced. "Yes I am. No, I'm not taking any of those potions. Stop worrying about me." He cocked an eyebrow at Shacklebolt, who smiled at him.

"Go on, then. I just want a private word with Hermione." Harry rewarded him with a curious look, before orbing out.

Shacklebolt looked consideringly at the brunette sitting quietly before him. "I actually need to apologize for pulling you into this without any warning, but you have some very admirable qualities. You're the best, you do your research and you aren't intimidated by Harry."

Hermione didn't know what to say to that, so she settled for a quiet 'Thank you'.

Shacklebolt went on. "He might be hard to get along with at first, but you need to maintain all appearances of a proper, happy couple. Also, make sure he doesn't take any potions to sleep. I suspect something is bothering him- he can be so oyster-like when it comes to talking about his problems-so he may not be sleeping well."

"But what's that got to do with…"

"He had to fight an addiction because he'd overused them after the war."

"Oh."

"Good luck, Hermione."

"Thank you, Chief." Hermione orbed out of the office, a little puzzled by what she'd just heard. Why would she want to know about Harry's problems? Her job was to watch his back during the assignment, that's all.

Chief Shacklebolt is an eccentric old geezer she thought, suppressing her puzzlement with that accurate observation.

…………………………………………..

" All ready?" came the query from the dark-haired individual.

"Yes, I'm done. You?" was the polite reply.

"Yeah…"

"When are we leaving?"

"The portkey to Australia will activate in half an hour."

Hermione looked at her partner for the assignment. They were currently sitting in Harry's bedroom, discussing, or rather, trying to discuss their upcoming mission.

The sudden loud knocking interrupted the uneasy silence that had fallen between them. Harry looked at Hermione expressionlessly, before yanking the door open.

It was Ginny. She looked like she'd been crying, which vaguely annoyed Harry. She glanced behind him at Hermione, before throwing her arms round his neck and kissing him forcefully. Harry stiffened, then relaxed, before gently pulling away from her. "Ginny, this isn't the time or the place to be doing this," he whispered seriously.

Hermione, in the meanwhile had averted her eyes from the doorway-the situation was just too awkward for her to handle. She turned round again when she heard the door close- Potter and his girlfriend weren't there, probably finishing what they'd started outside. Relieved, she pulled out her book of runes and was soon immersed in it, the world forgotten…

…………………………………………………….

Harry let out a relieved sigh and ran a shaky hand through his mop of messy, jet-black hair. Ginny had finally apparated out after a stormy scene, accusing him of carrying on an affair with the Granger girl behind her back.

And he'd let her go without trying to defend himself.

He returned to his room, to find his wife deeply engrossed in a book of runes. She looked up when he continued to stare at her.

"Do I have a third head?"

"No, but that third eye is quite fascinating," came the dry retort. "I'm sorry," he added quietly.

"For what?"

"No…she just barged in…" he began embarrassedly.

"Look, Harry, that's really none of my business. This is just an assignment. We both know that. As long as we don't mess that up, I don't really have any right to question what you do outside of it." Hermione smiled reassuringly at him.

Harry nodded. "Look, I…" The knocking of the door, interrupted him again.

Harry looked apprehensive, but opened the door anyway. He couldn't suppress a relieved grin when he saw it was Neville this time.

"Leaving in ten minutes, aren't you? Good luck, mate." Neville grinned and pulled Harry into a one-armed hug. "And don't forget, you're on your own this time. Don't do anything foolish, okay?"

"I'll see he doesn't," came Hermione's voice from the bed.

Neville looked a little sheepish. "Yeah, right, I forgot." He frowned and looked between the two of them. "Hey, I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?"

Harry and Hermione looked at each other blankly before bursting out laughing. Harry was holding on to a very puzzled Neville, laughing insanely, while Hermione just giggled hysterically. The whole situation seemed ridiculous, and Neville's clueless visage just sparked off this unbidden laughter.

"What? I don't get it…" Neville's voice was plaintive now.

"Never…mind…" gasped Harry. And as suddenly as it began, the laughter stopped. "Oh, darn it all, we have to leave in two minutes."

There was a sudden flurry of activity. Chaos, in other words reigned as both Harry and Hermione made a mad dash for their luggage, shrinking it, and hunting for the portkey which was, appropriately, a tattered stuffed kangaroo.

And in no time, the tug-behind-the-navel feeling settled on them and Neville's face blended with the general swirl of colours, as they were transported halfway across the globe by their portkey.

…………………………………………………………………….

"So Potter and his wife are going to be here in a while from now…"

"D'you think he suspects, sir?"

"I don't know. I don't think so. We'll just have to wait and see." The man in the chair tapped his fingers thoughtfully before cracking a crooked smile at his companion. "Either way, we still win," he said before humming happily to himself.

The woman stared at her employer, her insides twisting nervously at the thought of what was to happen in the future…"

……………………………………………………………………….

A.N: Okay that was a short chapter, to sort of fill the time, so to speak. Pointless, eh? Oh well. Hope you all liked it, though. Review and let me know!

Insignificant-Raindrop: Thanks a ton! Please keep reading and reviewing-it helps, it really does!
The Gryffindor Drummer: Hey, glad you liked chapter 2! I reiterate the fact that your reviews are a confidence- booster!
The Sorting Hat 100: Hiya Alex! You really know how to make my day, don't you? I'm really glad you liked it-very constructive reviewing, thank you! Yeah…I hope writers' block doesn't affect me again:-)
SummrMagic: Hey there! Yeah, they're my favourite couple too! Hopefully I can continue in the same vein…Thank you so much-nice to see my writing appreciated!
Romulus Magnus: Thanks for reviewin'! And ha ha, yourself. (I hate to admit it, but you're probably right).We just have to wait n see- my characters always have a mind o' their own, I swear…:-)
Rottenkittenstastelikebras: Grin ….Yeah, I'll try and update as regularly as my brain permits! And yes, I see what you mean…thanks a lot!
Lunastella13: Me too! Yes, I've updated as you can see…keep those reviews comin'! And thanks a lot for sparing the time to review!