AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
The quickest way to a girl's heart was through her best friend.
Cormac plastered on a smile as he knocked upon Harry's door.
"Come in!"
Cormac stepped inside. The parchments cluttered on Potter's desk were so cluttered it was difficult to see any of the tan oak underneath. Still, there was space for a picture of a four month pregnant Luna winking at her husband.
Harry continued scribbling on his parchment. "What can I do for you?"
"I just needed to drop off some reports."
Harry glanced up. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome." Cormac set them down. "How are you today?"
"Very well."
"Work hasn't been too overwhelming for you lately?"
"No, in fact it has calmed down." Harry set down his quill. "Once we captured Rakh Zoatham things really settled down."
"That's so great to hear." Cormac leaned onto his desk.
"Yes, it should be an open and shut case. We're just getting the last of the evidence processed."
"I look forward to prosecuting it then." He glanced at the photograph. "Has Luna been doing well?"
"Indeed she is." Harry's face lit up. "She's in her seventh month of pregnancy, and as beautiful as ever."
"Oh I'm so happy for you. It must be so exciting to have a little one on the way."
"It is." Harry sighed.
"It's so nice that you're doing well." Cormac frowned. "I only wish I could say the same about Hermione."
"What's wrong with her?"
"I don't know. I went into her bookstore a few days ago, but she was too busy to speak to me for long."
"She's been swamped ever since that Severus Snape book came out."
"I know. I tried to ask her for dinner, but she claimed she was too busy for me."
"Oh, she did," Harry paled.
"Yes, I'm really getting worried for her."
"I'm glad you're concerned, but there's no reason to be."
Cormac raised an eyebrow.
"She's been really busy with the store and the potion. It may be difficult for her to have dinner with anyone."
"She needs to relax though. I don't know why she won't allow me to wine and dine her for an evening."
"I don't think she has her eyes on you."
"She hasn't had her eyes set on anyone."
"Nobody that we know of anyway."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Harry shifted his gaze to the side.
Cormac furrowed his eyebrows. "Is someone else wining and dining her?"
Harry bowed his head.
"Who is it?"
"I don't know. She didn't give me any details."
Cormac gritted his teeth.
Harry turned to him. "I'm sorry. I know you have a crush on her, but I don't think she feels the same way."
"Why not?"
"I don't know, but clearly she doesn't feel the way about you that you do about her."
"So she's dating another man?"
"I don't know that for certain. All I know is she was dressed up for someone yesterday evening."
Cormac's eyes hardened.
"Look." Harry exhaled. "I'm sorry to break the news to you. Knowing how you feel about her I thought you deserved to know."
"No, I was going to find out sometime. Better to hear it from you then from some tabloid."
"This doesn't have to be terrible news though. Perhaps you could give her some space and perhaps focus on another woman. That may be in the best interest for everyone."
"How am I supposed to prove to her that I'm a changed man if she's snogging someone else?"
"You could start by just being a friend, and perhaps not pushing her so hard. Some space could really help her see that you've changed from your time at Hogwarts."
"I've given her plenty of space. So far, it isn't working."
"Give her more space. Absence makes the heart grow fonder after all."
"Or it could make her forget about me."
"Trust me, nobody who meets you would ever forget about you."
"Very true." Cormac smirked.
An owl pecked upon the dirt encrusted window.
Harry raised a finger and strolled over to the sound. "Excuse me."
"Sure," Cormac muttered.
Harry pushed the window open, allowing the grey owl to perch upon the ledge. Then, he tore the letter from its leg.
"You have a good point about me being memorable. The first time we went out she was enraptured by me. If it hadn't been for…"
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt." Harry's eyes were wide. "But I need to leave."
"Is everything okay?"
"It's fine, but forensics had a breakthrough on the Aurelius murder. I need to get over there immediately."
"Oh certainly. I wouldn't want to prevent you from doing your job."
"Thank you." Harry took the coat from the back of his chair and through it over his shoulder. "Sorry about Hermione. Just give her some time. If it's meant to work out it will, and if not then you can set your sights on someone else."
"That's easier said than done, given how special Hermione is."
"I know." Harry rushed to the door. "Still, things have a way of working out for the best. You just have to believe that."
Before Cormac could answer, Harry scurried down the hallway.
Cormac huffed before stomping out of the office. What was Hermione thinking even looking at another man? Didn't she know they would be perfect together?
He flung open the door to his office and sneered.
Two could play at this game! Cormac was going to find this mysterious suitor and make sure he regretted ever looking at her! It wouldn't be difficult either.
After all, there were perks to being next in line for Chief Warlock.
Dismas appeared in the room.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice," Severus replied.
"Sorry it took me a couple of hours. When Gabriel wants to put on a concert everyone is expected to listen regardless of how convenient it is."
Severus frowned,
"Don't get me wrong, he really is kind, but sometimes archangels forget that other spirits have afterlives and," Dismas' glow brightened. "Never mind. What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if I could have a parchment and some quills."
Dismas cocked his head.
"I finished looking over Ms. Granger's notes, and I think I have some ideas on how to stabilize her potions. Still, I would like something to record my ideas."
"Is there not parchment at Hermione's house?"
"There is, but I would like to work on this problem while she is not around and when Sirius isn't whining in my ear."
"I'm sorry, but you need to work on this project with her."
"I will, but when I'm alone I would like to do some calculations."
"You can do them in your head, but cannot write them down."
"Why not?"
"To start with, we use only special materials for any kind of item a spirit can touch. A mortal couldn't see them."
"I had not considered that."
"More importantly though, Hermione needs to work on this project with you. If you discover all the answers and give them to her, then it is no longer her project."
"Why is that important? Was I not sent to help her?"
"In order to achieve eudaimonia, do you think it would be better to accomplish a task on your own, or to have the answers handed to you by a supernatural force?"
"From that perspective I can understand your point," Severus answered. "Still, I fear forgetting something between the time I leave her apartment and come here."
"Spirits don't forget anything," Dismas replied.
"They don't?"
"No. That is why hell is so horrendous and Purgatory is so difficult. Every mistake and thing we could have done differently flashes before our eyes. No matter how hard we try, we cannot forget anything."
Severus' eyes widened. "What about heaven? Do we forget things there?"
"No, the spirits in heaven remember everything too. Yet, we have peace with their memories." His glow lessened. "At least as much peace as we can."
"I would not mind being at peace."
"At the rate you're going, I am confident you will be joining me in heaven in no time."
"Are you simply saying that to give me hope?"
"I'm a heavenly spirit. There is no inclination in me to give false hope."
"Why?"
"Because I fully understand the effects a lie would have on you."
"So heavenly spirits are all-knowing?"
"No, only the Trinity can claim to be omniscient. Still, we have a fairly good grasp of how our actions affect each other, at least more so than souls in hell and Purgatory do."
"So heaven is a type of spiritual maturity?"
"I guess you could call it that." Dismas' glow brightened. "Back to your original point though; you will forget nothing you see or think of, so there is no need to worry."
"That is good to know," Severus replied. "Yet I may think of something while I am here. Is that in violation of the rules?"
"Of course not," Dismas answered. "Still, you need to discuss your findings with Hermione before creating any concrete calculation."
"I see."
"Good." The saint glanced up.
"Wait."
Dismas returned his attention to Severus.
"Would you please explain a few portions of The Timaeus? It is such an odd view of the physical universe and I would like to know if there's any truth to it," Severus replied.
"Wouldn't it be better to discuss this with Sirius when he returns from spying?"
"Do you think he can grasp something this complex?"
"I do, but I also know he hasn't read enough philosophy to fully comprehend what is Plato is arguing in this particular piece."
"If you could discuss it with me I would appreciate the company."
Dismas shrugged. "I have nowhere else to be at the moment. I'd be more than happy to discuss Plato with you."
Severus smiled, thankful to receive some intellectual stimulation other than that which came from Ms. Granger in an inappropriately short dress.