A/N: This is for the 7spells prompt 'the greatest adventure' for the pairing Hermione/Thorfinn. its also for the 'more than a namek challenge for Thorfinn rowle, and the 'up to 50 pairings' challenge.
Hermione looked at Kingsley incredulously.
"Don't look at me like that, Hermione. You know you're the best person to help Thorfinn to track down Dolohov," he said placatingly.
"You mean you think I'm the only person he will reveal himself to?" she stated, raising her eyebrow.
"Yes," Thorfinn Rowle said from the seat beside her.
"With his...interest in you, we think that that will be the only thing that will work," Kingsley said.
"I understand, but why can't it be more than just Thorfinn and I? Surely there should be more than two of us?"
"It's complicated. We want him to think that you're there alone and vulnerable and we can't do that if there are a number of Aurors in the area. He will know it's a trap then."
"You know how smart he is, love. There is only one way this is going to work," Thorfinn reminded her.
"I know, and I'm not your love," she said.
She was frustrated because Kingsley could have chosen anyone to do this mission with her, but he had to choose her ex boyfriend who was determined to get back together.
It wasn't that Hermione didn't like Thorfinn that way - she did - but they were just so different it hadn't worked out between them.
"This will be an adventure then," Thorfinn said grinning.
"I doubt it, but it's definitely worth trying," she said sighing.
"I suggest you take some time to try and work where you are going, and what your plan is. Especially when it comes to calling back up. You leave in three days," Kingsley said.
Hermione and Thorfinn knew a dismissal when they heard one, so they stood up and left the Minister's office.
"Where do you want to do this planning then?" he asked, slowing his pace to match hers.
"How about we grab a coffee from the canteen and go to my office?" Hermione suggested.
"I was thinking about somewhere more private, like maybe yours or mine," Thorfinn stated.
She winced internally.
Logically Hermione knew it was right to discuss things in private, but she didn't think it was appropriate for either of them to go to one another's home. It would most likely lead somewhere she didn't want it to.
"How about we use one of the conference rooms in the Auror department instead?" Hermione asked.
Thorfinn frowned at her suggestion.
"Wouldn't it look...better if it was one of our places."
"I do see your point," she conceded. "But…"
"But what, Hermione?"
"This is just about work, not us. I...I know how you feel and I don't want to give you mixed messages if I let you come over," she said nervously.
It had been almost three months since they had broken up, and even though Hermione missed his presence everyday she didn't miss the arguments.
"I was only suggesting it because it would make our cover story more believable, not because I want to get in your pants," Thorfinn stated, sounding irritated.
Hermione knew that he was right and that it would probably be best for their mission if they did discuss it at one of their homes. She also knew that if the operation failed because Dolohov didn't believe they were actually together then Kingsley would be extremely disappointed.
"If we're doing this then I want it to be at mine. And you're right, it's more to do with our cover than it does with our personal lives," she said after a moment.
Thorfinn may have called this an adventure, but Hermione got the feeling it was going to be more of a nightmare than anything else.