The ten years following the Battle for Hogwarts had changed the lives of the entire Wizarding World. Harry Potter was one of the best aurors in the department and a strong candidate for Robard's successor. He had proposed to Ginny Weasley the moment she had officially graduated. They'd been married in a small ceremony at the Burrow. Ginny went on to play for the Hollyhead Harpies for several years before James Sirus Potter arrived.
Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger made a go at a relationship, but ultimately decided to go their separate ways, yet remain good friends to this day. Ron ended up marrying Lavender Brown not long after he and Hermione split. Hermione spent the time jumping from one department to the next, trying to find her own place within the Ministry. Most recently she had settled in the Department for Magical Law Enforcement. This position allowed her to work closely with Harry, and by extension, his partner Draco Malfoy.
Draco had joined the Auror department rather than return to Hogwarts. He and Harry were partnered just after training and had been together ever since. They had become the best of friends, which, if you asked Hermione, was still unnerving. Through his connection to Harry, his work as an auror, and his sizable donations all across Wizarding Britain, Draco had risen from former Death Eater to the darling of the Ministry. He had also been named Witch Weekly's most eligible bachelor eight years running. It was this that irritated Hermione the most.
She stared down at the cover, watching the photo on its loop, Draco raking a hand through his hair, giving a devilish look to the photographer and reader. She groaned angrily and slammed the magazine cover down on her desk. Turning her attention to the mound of paperwork on her desk, she grumbled under her breath about stupid, handsome ferrets.
"What was that Granger? I didn't catch that." Draco smirked as he dropped onto the couch along the wall of her office, kicking his feet up to get comfortable as if he planned to stay all day.
"Nothing that bears repeating Malfoy. Get your feet off my couch. What do you want?" she grumbled without looking at him.
"Potter sent me for our reports." He shrugged, hanging his feet off the couch, "and to see my favorite witch."
"Ginny's your favorite." She said absently, still focused on her work.
"Ah, yes, she's my favorite married witch. Different categories." He grinned. "Have you got your copy of Witch Weekly? I know you ladies follow that garbage."
"Yes, if you must know, it came this morning. I haven't read it." She deadpanned, a blush creeping up her chest and neck.
"Ah, but the blush says otherwise my dear," he smirked, "which photo did they choose this time?"
"Take your reports and get out." Hermione hissed, shoving a stack of parchment at him.
"Touchy today, aren't we?" he teased "Don't you have a date tonight? Poor bloke won't know what to do with that attitude."
"It was last night." She said crossing her arms "We had a lovely evening despite the problem with our reservation." She leveled him with a look.
"Such a pity." Draco tsked as he sat up.
"I would appreciate it if you would stop meddling in my dating life."
"I only meddle when they aren't good enough for you." He shrugged. "Pick a better one next time."
"Malfoy," she growled, rubbing her temples, "you've deemed every man I've dated in the past five years not good enough. Pray tell me just who I should date?"
"Me." He shrugged, "see you, Granger." He stood swiftly and swept from the room without another word. Hermione groaned and let her head fall on her desk. A few minutes later Harry rapped his knuckles on the doorframe before he entered.
"What's he done now?" he asked casually. "He came back without the reports."
"He's being an insufferable git," Hermione muttered.
"Well, he's been that way for years." Harry laughed. "But really, what happened? He wasn't himself when he came back, and then I come and find you all flustered."
"Nothing I'm going to tell you about Harry James Potter." She hissed.
"Uh-huh, well, Gin will be by to pick you up for lunch in ten minutes. Take the rest of the afternoon to go do girly things." He chuckled.
"I have work to do and I keep getting interrupted." She glowered.
"Either go with Ginny or I'm sending Malfoy in to help you catch up." Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Fine." She hissed. Just then Ginny flounced through the door.
"Hi Mione! Harry said you needed me" the heavily pregnant red-head greeted them.
"Let's go before I end up with any more unwanted visitors." Hermione muttered, grabbing her bag and ushering Ginny out the door.