Hi everyone!

Another chapter! A lot of exposure in this chapter - describing how Harry and Hermione's life is going forward for a bit is key here. Hints of sex, but no actual smut. A lot of nice fluffy homeliness, but not too much in detail. This chapter is absolutely necessary for the next couple of chapters, and in my opinion it's also nice to read how well adjusted Harry and Hermione are getting in their relationship.

I received a lot of reviews, comments, follows, subscriptions, favorites etc. over the last couple of days again - you guys are awesome. I literally can't explain how much you mean to me. I hope you are all doing well - stay safe, stay strong, stay healthy!

Love,

Flora

Chapter 27: How Hermione could get used to a mundane life with Harry James Potter.

The next couple of days had Hermione live on cloud nine. She had lost her virginity to the love of her life, and while she knew that sex was normal and natural, she couldn't help but feel 16 every time she thought about that first time. It made her blushy and happy and cheerful, it caused her to shine and beam and glow, it made her even more affectionate towards Harry and she felt their bond had increased even deeper, because they had shared their bodies in such a complete way, and it made her feel whole. Everytime she'd look at Harry, over the pages of her book or the top of the Daily Prophet, she couldn't help but feel giddy, no matter what he was doing. She was his. He was hers.

It finally dawned on her that their sudden chance in their relationship on Christmas Eve was not a fluke. She had hoped it wasn't, she had hoped it would be real, but now they had been together like that, she could feel it in her bones. This was it. He was it.

So, naturally, over the course of the next few days, they did it again. A lot. And while the beginning was always a bit trying for her - she could always feel herself tense involuntarily, no matter how much she knew that it was going to be okay - Harry knew exactly how to make her feel at ease, how to relax her muscles, how to make her open up to him. He was patient and understanding and she trusted him.

But, no matter how much she loved him, she knew she needed to treat boyfriend-Harry and colleague-Harry differently. So, when she sat down with Bill the next day, they came up with a plan to integrate Harry in their negotiation, giving him room to legally interfere into the Nott case without causing any problems with the Auror Department. She had felt quite nervous when she proposed the idea to Harry.

'Bill and I found a way to get you back on your case,' she explained to him, while they sat in her office, Tuesday afternoon. 'It will give you ample room to investigate into the Goblin-villages in relation to Nott's hiding places. We got personal permission from the head of the Justice Department, Delilah Bagman, to put you as one of our own on the case. Bagman will of course ask from us to report if we've found anything that would require Auror-interference, as you will be working at a Regulation-employee, not an Auror, and we might have to give a seminar about our findings when it comes to taking the investigation further, but she thinks it's a good idea if we explore this lead like this and she has assured us she'll talk to Holywell to agree as well.'

'That sounds perfect!' Harry replied, excitedly. 'That would allow me to continue exploring the Goblin-lead without Holywell's intervention!'

'Indeed,' Hermione agreed. 'There is one catch, though. We don't have room for another full-time contract: Greengrass can't fit the hours in right now, we checked. So, we want you to work at our department as an intern. I know it's a step back, but we did negotiate some kind of pay for you, something just above minimum wage.'

'No problem,' Harry replied directly. 'I will do whatever it takes to finish this case: I would have done it for free.'

'I know, but that wouldn't feel right. Now, second catch: as you're going to be an intern, you will-...'

'Have to fetch everyone a coffee for the first three months, as is common,' Harry joked. 'Yeah, I know the drill.'

'Well, it's not mandatory, I'm sure everyone would appreciate it though – but that's not the point!' she laughed.

'I know. I was just pulling your leg. You mean I'll need a supervisor,' Harry filled in. 'We've both been interns before, I'm aware of that and it won't be a problem. Whoever it is, I'll be as professional and forthcoming as I can be.'

'I know you will. It's just... Well, since Bill is on temporary contract, and we didn't want anyone else to interfere in the Goblin case - Greengrass specifically wanted things to stay confidential, same for Bagman - we are kind of forced to... Well...'

'You are going to be my supervisor?' Harry exclaimed.

Hermione didn't reply. She didn't need to, because the redness in her cheeks answered the question for him. She was glad she came clean to her own Department Head about their relationship, to be as open in their dialogue as she could. Bill assured Greengrass in her presence that Hermione would stay professional - he took their word for it, understanding that Hermione took enormous pride in her job and wouldn't think about defiling it, so he agreed.

'Well... That's perfect, isn't it? We can focus on the case as intensely as we want, we can go on raids together, we can discuss all the intel without some kind of stupid Unspeakable Agreement- it's just what we need!'

'I know,' she answered, relieved. 'I am so glad you're taking it well! I mean - our work-relationship has to be strictly separated from our own, but I think we can manage that.'

'Me too,' Harry nodded. 'It's going to be strictly old Harry and Hermione at work. We've done that for more than twenty cases at least, it has never been a problem before, so I'm sure it won't be one now.'

'My thoughts exactly,' Hermione said. 'We will need to set boundaries, though. Like the reminder that you will not be allowed to perform Auror-specific practices, as you will be a Law-maker, not a Law-enforcer. And the fact that I will be your supervisor and will have to stay natural in the assessment I make of your behaviour to Greengrass. But we will talk about that some more when you get to work.'

'Got it,' Harry said, with determination in his voice. 'Oh, I'm so excited! When can I start?'

'Tomorrow. You will have to work part-time, as you know is usual for interns, so you will be able to work Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday. That means you will have a lot of spare time-...'

'I've been thinking of asking Andromeda if I can take Teddy for a day,' Harry said contemplating. 'So she has a bit of time to breathe. And I don't mind getting an extra day off. I have been really stressed lately, maybe it will help me to relax a bit more.'

They smiled at each other for a while, noting to each other that this was actually a very good situation to be in, and they handled the tedious paperwork that came with accepting an internship.

'It surprises me you haven't made a weird intern-joke yet,' Hermione confessed after a while, as she filed the contract Harry had just signed. 'I thought you would jump right into it.'

'Please,' Harry said, rolling his eyes. 'I'm not Ron. I would never say anything insensitive about that. But, if you ask me kindly to butter your biscuit after I've given you your morning coffee, I might-...'

'Ew! Harry!'

He grinned boyishly and she slapped him lightly on the arm.

'Joking,' he followed-up, 'although I will probably tear your tube skirt from your body as soon as we are at home again from all the sexual tension that I can't relieve at the office with you. But I'm sure that as long as it's at home, you won't be able to fire me for that.'

'I might fire you if you won't,' she replied with a cheeky grin. They both fought the urge to kiss each other.

So, Harry started the next day. He got a desk in the hallway opposite to Hermione's secretary, as interns didn't get their own offices, and had an office outfit tailored. Whereas the Auror Department worked with a navy blue military look, the employees of the Law and Regulation Department were donned in brown pinstripe suits, ties and blouses. Hermione knew Harry disliked wearing ties while working – he wanted to be able to move in his working clothes, and found that the whole office-mentality reminded him of his Uncle Vernon – but he complied nonetheless. All for the Nott-case, she knew. And, if Hermione was completely honest, even though brown would never be Harry's signature colour, she loved it when Harry dressed up nicely. He looked very smart in a suit.

Harry began his first day by barging into her office, like a hyperactive puppy, balancing a tray stacked with coffee cups in one hand, a stack of files in the other. He told her, with a sly wink, that as an intern he was giving the entire Department their first rounds of coffee for the day, and as he left her office door open, she could hear her secretary Mimsy comment positively on his arrival. Actually – most colleagues were more than thrilled to have Harry Potter on the force, especially since he was bringing them their hot beverages every morning, and he also gained a lot of popularity from their secretaries as they were given some room to start-up the day. There was some speculation over his switch, obviously, but Harry explained sincerely to them that Hermione had given him an opportunity to work on an important case from another perspective. None of the lawyers questioned that: they knew Harry and Hermione worked in tandem since day one.

Over the next couple of days, Hermione showed him the ropes. She taught him the proper way to file their documents, whom to report what to, what colleagues were allowed what kind of intel, et cetera. The first hiccup occurred at Friday, when Hermione showed him where the mailroom for their Department was. A reporter noticed them walking side by side as they exited a staircase and asked some questions about Harry's attire, as a photographer made flashing pictures.

'Is it true that you are no longer working at the Auror Department, Mister Potter? Your uniform indicates a switch.'

'That is true,' Harry said. 'I am working alongside Miss Granger for the next couple of weeks.'

'What made you change Departments, Mister Potter?' another reporter wanted to know. 'Have you been falling out with your superior?'

'Well-…' Harry wanted to reply, thinking back about what occurred between hem and his boss, but Hermione cut in.

'Any questions about Mister Potter's employment for the Auror Department will be directed towards Head Auror Holywell, as is custom. If that's all – me and Mister Potter have other business to attend to. Thank you-…'

'Is this why you and Miss Granger left the same apartment a few days ago?' another reporter asked, a girl Harry recognised from a few days before. 'Is it the same case you're working on?'

'All cases I work on are confidential,' Harry replied coolly. 'Good day.'

Hermione and Harry didn't think too much of it, but apparently the Daily Prophet thought differently, as Harry noticed when the paper was rushed in the next morning by a barn owl.

"FAVOURITISM AT MINISTRY FOR MAGIC: HOW POTTER USES HIS INFLUENCE TO COVER UP HIS DISCHARGE."

'Oh for crying out loud,' Harry groaned, gesturing at the headline and the adorning picture: one where a very irritated looking Harry and Hermione tried to rush through a crowd, both adorning their working uniform.

'Of course they try to spin it like that,' Hermione huffed. 'No matter what we did for the Wizarding Community: if there is a chance to slander us, they'll take it. Sensation sells.'

'No, not like that, I know how horrible the Prophet can be. Look. We look like morose, unidentical twins that were dressed by a very hateful mother. Or even worse – a middle-aged, sexless couple going to a lecture at the local library about real-estate investments.'

Hermione snorted and peeked over Harry's shoulder.

'Oh Merlin, we do. Yikes!'

'I really appreciate you got this job for me, Hermione. I do. But if this is how we look together, I might want to go back to Holywell to beg for forgiveness on my bare knees,' he joked. 'Anything to be able to wear my original uniform again!'

In the end, he didn't. Harry quickly adapted to his place at Hermione's Department and more specifically, in her taskforce. He missed the legwork, so he told her over dinner almost every night, but the intense investigating and the fact he got to work with Bill made up for a lot of it. And, Hermione reminded him, he would be able to do legwork, as soon as Alan Greengrass would give them permission to do some research in actual Goblin Villages, but he had been reluctant so far given their past.

In the meantime, Harry and Hermione's life got mundane in a great way. Harry picked up Teddy every Thursday after school and they would go to the mall, or the zoo, or the park, and then they would cook dinner at Hermione's place, and he would return him to Andromeda before bedtime. On Tuesday Harry would visit Nicky in the morning, helping her deal with her pregnancy as Ron was unavailable at that time, taking care of groceries or help around the house and basically just catch up. Hermione liked that Harry had found a true and unbiased friendship in Nicky. He would usually leave her around 11 AM, to allow Nicky time to take a nap.

A new tradition was born when, on Harry's first free Tuesday, he paid Philip a visit during lunch to ask about him and Lydia. Now Philip wasn't acting like a pretentious cock 24/7, he and Harry got along quite well, and Philip actually appreciated Harry's honesty in conversation. Philip confided in Harry, Harry started to tolerate Philip, and it didn't take too long for Harry and Philip to get along in something that could be described as "friendly", so they met every Thursday to talk about Muggle sports and therapy and Merlin-knows-what men discuss when they're alone. Hermione couldn't imagine Harry and Philip share gossip or girl banter, but she was glad that Harry showed interest in her cousin and seemed to rub off on him.

Then, after lunch, Harry would go to Aunty Penelope to cook some dinner together. Hermione would join them after work, and she loved how caring Harry was towards her Great-Aunt, how well they got along, how playful they acted around each other. Harry would let her Aunty boss him around more than he would tolerate Hermione, she knew, and she would always grin when watching her old Aunty and her boyfriend semi-quarrel about how to prepare a certain dish. Harry usually gave in to Aunty Penelope and Aunty Penelope usually was right.

The first Tuesday Harry and Hermione had eaten dinner at Aunty Penelope's place, this time completely without a grandmother or either of her parents present, and Aunty Penelope confided in them that she was kind of bummed out that the wedding of Philip and Lydia was back on again. Harry had explained to her that it was for the best, that Philip and Lydia were actually a great match and that he and Hermione were honoured that they had been able to turn it around for the young couple. She insisted it wouldn't be easier to find a way to break the pair up again, and Harry had laughed hard at the deviance of the old lady, but he had assured her that Philip and Lydia were right for each other. Trusting Harry and Hermione's judgement, Aunty Penelope reluctantly agreed, but she did mumble something about "prejudiced scum the lot of them" and "white peacocks" until she gave in.

The week after, Grandma Eugenia joined them for dinner. The old ladies decided that they were not ready to let go of this whole "Harry and Hermione should be wedded ASAP"-concept, but this time, Harry and Hermione did succeed in convincing them that they at least wanted to wait until after Lydia and Philip's big day, as to "not rain on their parade". The two begrudgedly complied – the adjective specifically used for Aunty Penelope. Grandma Eugenia was tactful enough to then decide that "you two might not get married, but I will not allow yourselves to make a fool out of yourselves at my dancefloor yet again". Harry and Hermione wondered what she could mean by that – did word of their snogging under the mistletoe reach the old woman? - but they soon understood when she handed them an envelope with a card.

Grandma Eugenia had given them ballroom dance lessons.

Of course they said "oh thank you!" and "how thoughtful!" and "just what we need!" when they received the gift, but as soon as they got home, Harry and Hermione broke out in laughter in unison. It was ridiculous. They knew they weren't any good – Harry had two left feet, and Hermione tried to be graceful but failed for the majority of the time – but to actually put them on dance lessons as to not embarrass themselves… It felt rather humiliating, and they decided to return the gift the next week.

They spent the next weekend at one of Ginny's matches: Ron, Nicky, Luna, Neville, Harry and Hermione, all cheering their friend on, all celebrating the winning streak the team was currently on, and that's when Neville and Luna convinced them to actually go through with it. Neville had taken a lot of dance classes with Luna, apparently, and going by their stories, it had been a lot of fun. Hermione knew Harry needed some kind of physical work-out: his complaints about not being able to release his energy on raids had been non-wavering, and she had noticed his need for letting loose in his increase in libido. Now, Hermione didn't mind that, in the slightest. She loved how active their sex life was, how Harry would literally try to show her all the corners of her bedroom… And of her bathroom… And her living room… And how that one time he wanted her to go to the balcony but she called him crazy, so he opted for the next best thing, which was against the wall.

But, blowing off some steam through a dance work-out didn't sound that bad. Besides, it was a way to be very close to each other, and Hermione clearly remembered how Harry loved to dance, albeit crazy, guilty pleasure dances at the club. So, when they got back from the weekend and Harry had done his utmost best to satisfy her as thoroughly as he was able, and she had opened herself up to him so he could sink inside her heat, and they had made such amazing, amazing love together, she brought it up again when they were enjoying their post-orgasm bliss. And Harry had looked at her, squinting his eyes a bit, and he had smiled sheepishly, and agreed.

So, there they were. Hermione had used her telephone to call the business that was named on the card, she had set an appointment, and they were due to begin their lessons Wednesday the 18th of February. Hermione was glad they would start a week and a half later than planned: the upcoming week would be crazy, with Harry intending to go on his first investigation and Hermione having to finish her first draft on a bill regarding Elfish Welfare. Harry had already hinted that, come what may, at Saturday they would have a real proper date to look forward to. It wouldn't just be a Valentine's Day Date, it would be their first real date. And Hermione didn't want to feel sappy or overly giddy, but she was already really excited. Life was perfect right now. And surely, there was nothing that could ruin it.

Unbeknownst to them, an ambitious new reporter, was working on her newest scoop in secret. She knew it wasn't really legal to do a stake-out as a journalist – especially when it didn't concern investigative journalism – but right now, she couldn't care less. If she was able to break this story, she would be getting the promotion of a lifetime.

She had almost been caught, just a few days ago, when Harry Potter had noticed her after he came back from grocery shopping. He preferred the Muggle shops, Merlin knew why, and had decided to walk home to the apartment, instead of Apparating. It was a beautiful, sunny winter day, after all, and he didn't have that much to carry with him. She hadn't been expecting him, staring at the window of Hermione's apartment intently, when he asked her if he could help her with anything.

She thanked heaven and earth that she had decided to use Polyjuice Potion that day. Harry surely would have recognized her. She pretended to be a tourist with an American accent. He fell for it, and was actually very friendly in showing her the exact route to the metro-station she said she was looking for. She walked in the direction he had pointed her in, and turned around to see him walk to Hermione's front door and disappear. He didn't have a key, but Hermione must have allowed him access through her enchantments, she guessed.

Neighbours reported that Harry hadn't been seen in his own apartment for at least a month and now Harry Potter was bringing groceries to the house of Hermione Granger.

The scoop of a lifetime indeed. The only thing she needed, was one final push.