Since it's Wednesday and I said I'd go back to the schedule I set... And I feel bad for making you wait so long: NEW CHAPTER


The next day, Hermione woke before the alarm clock go off and smiled. It was her first day of work. She got up and refreshed herself, before heading downstairs. Mid way, she was greeted with the smell of fresh coffee and waffles. Harry always woke up before her, she reminded herself.

"Good morning…" She said yawning as she got to the kitchen balcony and saw Harry on the other side making eggs and bacon.

"G'morning!" He smiled at her. "Nice pj's…" Hermione blushed, she was wearing shorts and an over sized shirt which were transfigured so they had her house colours and an oversized badge on the shirt front.

"Thanks… Where's Ginny?"

"Sleeping, obviously. She said she will go back home as soon as she wakes up as we will be out most of the day and she knows she won't be up before we go." He smiled.

"Right." She had a cup of coffee on her hands and was slowly taking sips.

"I was going to suggest that we go to the ministry by foot. There is an entrance close from here. And I could use the exercise…"

"Same here."

They had breakfast together and went upstairs to get ready. They left the flat and headed to their first day at the ministry of magic as interns. The entry was, according to Harry, not far but it would still be a nice walk. Both were using muggle clothes but Hermione had shrunk more formal vests for them to wear if really needed.

"'ermione! 'arry!" Hermione heard the french accent and immediately knew who was calling them.

Harry eyed her and smiled. "Relax… Breathe." He said as the stopped and looked back only to see the older Delacour sister running to them, also wearing muggle outfit.

"Bonjour! 'ow 'ave you been?"

"Bonjour, Fleur!" Hermione said, feeling her face getting hot.

"G'Morning! All wonderful! And you?" Harry said, sensing his friend wouldn't be able to answer the blonde question. Hermione's brain seemed to be turning into mush the more she analyzed Fleur's face.

"All right. I'm 'eading to zee ministry, actually. First day."

Hermione felt Harry's hand on her shoulder and snapped back into reality just as Fleur begun to answer him.

"Oh?" Was all she managed to say and she mentally kicked herself. "Right, you said you would begin today too… We should get going. I really don't want to be late…" Really? That was the best she could say? Merlin's beard! The brunette complained to herself as she turned around and shook her head. They began walking once more to the ministry entry.

"You came from zee Leaky Caldron? I understand you don't live in London…"

"We just moved!" Harry smiled. "We actually spent yesterday figuring some issues out and decided to move sooner than we planned."

"Oh…"

"We are sharing a flat. It's right across yours, actually." Hermione smiled, "I forgot to tell you that on Saturday…" She added and soon as she noticed the confusion on the blonde's face.

"You moved yesterday?" Fleur smiled at the other girl as both, Harry and Hermione nodded. "I would probably 'ave noticed eef I left zee 'ouse, but I was razer occupied wiz an incredible muggle book…"

"Oh, right! Sorry for breaking into your place… I did notice you was tired I didn't realize you would be asleep…"

"Not a problem, 'ermione. I wasn't planning on sleeping. As I imagine you could see, I slept while reading."

"What were you reading? If I may ask…" Harry asked, noticing Hermione's curious glance when the blonde said her occupation for the previous day.

"Oh, A Midsummer Night's Dream." The blonde beamed. Harry nodded. Even though his friend didn't tell him what was the book she had brought for Fleur, he instantly knew it was the one. He knew it was Hermione's favorite and didn't need to look at her to know she was quite happy.

"Did you like it? I was hoping you didn't read it already…"

"Eet's one of zee best books I ever read. Zank you, 'ermione. Eet's a wonderful book and story. And 'onestly I believe I only read French muggle auzors…" Fleur was beaming and Hermione mirrored her as the French eloquently praised her favorite book.

Soon the three of them were at the Minister's entry. Hermione grew anxious and nervous so was Harry. The three of them walked through the fireplaces at the entry hall and Fleur excused herself as she had to immediately go to the minister's office. The two friends looked at each other trying to calm themselves and reassuringly smiling to the other.

"I should probably go. I must meet the head of department within ten minutes and I don't exactly know where her office is. Good luck 'Mione! Lunch together if possible?" Harry hugged his friend and went to the general direction he was supposed to as she nodded at the invite and gave him his shrunk vests.

Hermione stood by the fountain for a few more minutes taking in the magical building. When she looked at the huge clock that hovered above all heads at the hall, she gasped. "Shit." And almost raced to the opposite direction Harry had gone. She managed to get to the office she was supposed to go rather quickly and with a couple of minutes to spare and regain her breath. A flick of her wand her robes were back into its normal size and over her muggle clothes. She knocked at the door.

"Come in!" She heard a female voice from inside the room. With a sharp breath, she opened the door. A middle-aged witch with black hair fixed in a tight bun looked at her and instantly stood. "Miss Granger. A pleasure to meet you."

"Equally, Mrs. Lufkin." Hermione shook the witches hand.

"Please seat." She motioned to an empty chair as she sat back into her own. "Tea?" Hermione politely declined the offer. "Well, let's get to business, then. Hermione, if I may…"

"I'd very much prefer, ma'am" The brunette managed do smile at the older woman.

"Evangeline, please." The older witch mirrored the younger smile. "Hermione, I honestly didn't think you would get to work so early after the war. But I'm truly honored to work with you. I personally share your concerns towards the house elves and hope we are able to make some difference. As you might know, Minister Shacklebolt renamed every head of department so they met his expectations. I'm might be new in this post but I've been working here for about fifteen years. You will be my assistant until your return to school. For the time being, we have to revise every law in the department jurisdiction so you will direct the other new interns through it." Seeing the younger's concern shown in her face, she smiled. "I talked to your Headmistress, she made sure to commend your work not only as a learner but as a leader too. The other interns will only begin working in two weeks and by then we will have gone through everything you will need to lead them. That being said, we should get to work."

Hermione got to work, absorbing every new information she found. Her lunch time was spent with Harry and both exchanged their first impressions about their jobs. Harry was glad to have a safe quiet time for the first time in what seemed to be ages and Hermione was rather happy to be learning so much. The day passed rather quickly and soon they once again met by the fountain, robes once again shrunk and safely inside Hermione's purse. They got to the exit and begun their walk home. Hermione's mind ran to Fleur as soon as she got outside the building.

"Fleur said she would have to stay later and apologized for not being able to walk home with us." Harry said as soon as he appeared besides the girl. She looked at him in question. "You actually make a face when you think of her." He smiled. "And we both work at the same department we are bound to cross ways. She went by the office to let me know she wouldn't leave with us." Hermione smiled. Fleur was indeed thoughtful. "Uhm, 'Mione, Molly invited us for dinner to celebrate our first day…"

"Yes, she sent me a message too. I imagined you would agree to it and did too. I actually miss the whole family. Should we get home and get there by Floo?" Harry nodded.


Fleur had a hard day, revising the official training plan with Bill and Shacklebolt. As the three of them decided to take a break and the minister was called back into his office, she looked for Harry in the department and found him at the director's office.

"Excusez moi…" She said, entering the office as it had its door open ajar. Making Harry look up from the book he was reading which she thought to be the one containing the departments rules.

"Oh, hello, Fleur! How has been your day?" He smiled at her, marking where he had stopped reading.

"Wonderful! I've been revising zee training wiz Bill and zee minister. You?"

"Great! Safe and sound once in my life…" He mocked his own unfortunate luck. "It's good to have a quiet time."

"I can imagine… 'arry I should get back, but I wanted to let you know I'll probably be 'ere longer zen you two, so I won't walk wiz you… Sorry…" He nodded. As she turned to leave the room, a purple haired witch entered.

"Fleur!" The woman greeted her with a warm hug. "How have you been?"

"Good. And you? 'ow's zee little one?" Fleur smiled at her as she replied saying her son and husband were quite well. "'ead of department, uh?"

"Kingsley said he needed someone he could trust his life and offered me the job then told me I would have Harry as assistant…" The witch smiled at Harry and again at Fleur who mirrored her.

"I should get going. A pleasure to see you, Tonks! See you tomorrow, Harry?" Fleur left the room after getting a nod from the boy and hugging the other woman once again.

In her way to the office she shared with Bill, her mind wandered to the fierce Gryffindor she managed to make smile earlier that day. At that moment, she decided she would make every possible effort to be a good friend to Hermione. Fleur thought about the mating process and hoped to have the courage to say something to the lioness before she got back to Hogwarts. The rest of her day was spent discussing what new practices they would implement in the training plan. She went back home quite exhausted.

Fleur entered her flat and went straight to her bathroom and begun to prepare a bath for her. While the tub was being filled, she picked the book she had been reading before she begun to read Hermione's present and treated herself with a glass of wine. Soon she was relaxing in her bathtub, reading a previously waterproofed book and sipping her wine. About an hour later, she was on her kitchen, wearing a silk robe and making herself a light supper. The blonde had been longing her bed and complied her desire as soon as she finished eating.

The next few days were quite the same for her as the three were still preparing for the new auror trainees. According to Hermione and Harry, their routine was too the same they had on their first day. It was Friday and Fleur made sure to confirm their meeting after work to discuss what they would do about the war reports before they parted ways that morning. She was growing anxious as time passed even though it wasn't a date. She begun pacing until Bill made her sit on her chair and told her to calm down and that she would be alright. Kingsley looked at them curiously.

"Well, she has a meeting with Hermione in a few hours…" Bill said, trying to explain. The other's man confusion only grew.

"I thought they were friends. That's why I asked them to do the work."

"Zee problem, Kingsley, eez zat I'm attracted to 'er, in a way. We are friends, I 'ope at least."

"Oh, I see…" He smiled at her apologetically.

"Not a major problem. You couldn't know eet." She smiled at him. She couldn't sit still and begun bouncing her knee.

"If you want to leave earlier, there is no problem." Kingsley said, understandingly.

"Non, I'd better 'ave something to occupy my mind."

"Alright." And they continued working. When they called it a wrap, Fleur bid them farewell and went to the atrium level and found her way to the fountain, where they would meet every day to go home together. Soon she was joined by Harry and then by Hermione, carrying a rather big tome. They all looked quite drained.

"'ermione, would you rather meet me zere later so you can rest for a while, or get going?"

"If I get inside, I won't be able to get out again, I'm afraid." The Gryffindor smiled at her. "Harry, could you get this book to my room or the library? It's rather heavy and I will need it during the weekend" The boy nodded and took the book. "Thank you…" She nervously smiled at him. "Oh, I'm sorry! I stipulated what we would be doing without asking you. Do you want to go home first, Fleur?"

"Uh, non. I'm alright." Fleur smiled. "Let's go, zen?" After saying goodbye to Harry, they began their walk to the Leaky Cauldron. They made the short walk in silence, both absorbing the sensation of going somewhere with the other. Fleur more than ever feeling the veela inside her and herself (not that a difference really existed) longing to at least hold hands with the younger woman. The veela walked with pride but even with Hermione right beside her, her mind was in another world. Merlin's beard, she needed to try and make conversation.

"How are your parents doing? I remember them from the Triwizard Championship…" Hermione said, not being able to think of a better subject.

"Très bien. Zey are at zee moment preparing zemselves for Gaby's arrival. Maman ees already complaining zat zee 'ouse eez too quiet but will complain even more two weeks after Gabrielle gets zere…" Fleur chuckled with that notion remembering her sister's antics.

"Oh?"

"Let's just say the twins remind me of her."

"Remind me to never get too serious near her…" Hermione smiled.

"Oui… And your parents?"

"They are great! Mom is really happy that I managed to connect their fireplace to the floo network. Apparently, the ministry developed a charm that keeps the floo from working if any muggle except for them is in the house." Hermione smiled. "She is still getting used to it but it's great." Fleur smiled back at her.

"We always talk about our days in our way back 'ome but I never got to ask you eef you are enjoying zee work…"

"Oh, I love it! I'm actually nervous because I'm supposed to lead the interns until we go to Hogwarts and I just begun…"

"You will be perfect. You are a natural leader, 'ermione." With that Fleur gathered all the courage she had to give the brunette a side hug. To her relief, Hermione didn't flinch nor immediately pulled back, but snuggled closer and held her by her waist. Hermione begun to chuckle shortly after that. "What ees eet?"

"Oh, nothing. It's just that I think that if Skeeter sees us like that she will say I'm hunting Triwizard champions out to date and that you are my latest victim." The brunette said that blushing.

"Not zat I would care…" Fleur felt her own face get hot. "Zat woman ees incapable of telling a true story for 'er life!"

"She did actually. A few months after the Triwizard incident, when the Daily Prophet was slandering Harry and Dumbledore she wrote the true story to the Quibbler."

"'ow you managed zat? Assuming eet was you…"

"I just discovered a secret she didn't want anyone to uncover and made it very clear that I would tell everyone about it if she didn't help…"

"She can be 'onest eef et's for 'er life, zen!" Fleur laughed.


A/N2 : Hope you liked it! Please review!

Thanks for reading!