She woke up in the morning, extra early, in case she needed to get a replacement badge. She let Harry sleep in next to her, since he looked so comfortable, but woke her before she went to leave.
"Why are you leaving so early?" He asked, barely able to lift his head off the pillow. "Come back to bed."
"The badge thing," she said.
"Oh right," he said, reaching for his glasses. "I'll see you in the office."
She headed straight for the Administrative department, looking for someone to help out. The woman who accepted her case looked old enough to be Liv's great grandmother, and had a horrible, pinched looking face.
"I just need a temporary badge to get into the Auror department," she said.
"What happened to your old one?" She asked, in a monotonous tone. "Lost?"
"No, someone else has it, I'm in the process of getting it back-"
"If it's been stolen, I need a copy of the report of theft from the Aurors."
"Which I would be glad to get for you if I could just get into the department."
"Can't let you in without a badge," she said, looking entirely unsympathetic to Liv's issue.
"Fine, it's lost then," she said. "Just give me a new one."
"That'll be ten galleons."
"Ten galleons?" Liv asked, reaching down to feel her pockets but knowing they would be empty. "Someone took my bag, I have no money on me at all. Can't you take it out of my paycheck?"
"No."
"Fine," Liv sighed angrily, stepping away from the help counter. What was she going to do? She went to the main Atrium, trying to see if she could sneak in with someone else's badge, though she knew she'd need at least a supervisor level badge to do that.
Harry showed up about ten minutes later, looking very concerned as to why she was there.
"They won't give me a new badge," she said. "Unless I show them a report of the theft, straight from the department, or I pay them ten galleons."
"Jesus, that's gotten steep," he said. "Just go pay them the galleons, Liv."
"I don't have my wallet," she said, and it all came together for him. He reached for his. "No. Can you just double swipe us both in, and I'll deal with Ames from down there."
He nodded solemnly, and made sure she got into work. The first thing she did was write to Ames, demanding the return of her wallet, and all contents.
She said good morning to Anne, asking that any visitors be run by her before allowed into the department. Then, it was time to begin her work for the day. She spent a few hours with Coorsworth pouring over bank receipts and looking for suspicious activity, before Anne told her she had mail.
She recognized Ames' handwriting, and tour it open quickly.
"I'll be happy to give them back when you come talk to me so we can settle this."
She felt chills on the back of her neck, but she shoved the letter in the drawer and went back to helping Coorsworth. When Coorsworth left, she had at least two leads to follow up on.
With shaking hands, she grabbed the letter and headed to Harry's office, closing the door behind her. Wordlessly, she handed him the letter.
He stood up, grabbing his jacket, and grabbing his badge. "Don't go anywhere, Liv."
"I just wanted to update you, you don't have to do this," she said. "I can settle it after work."
He shook his head. "I'll meet you in your office, okay?"
He was gone before she could say a word.
"What was that all about?" Holly asked, surprising Liv from behind. She had forgotten Holly worked over here now.
"Long story," Liv said, putting her hand on her head, and walking back towards her office. It did not deter Holly, who followed her.
"Are you free Saturday?" She asked. "Cian wanted to invite you and Ames over-"
"We broke up."
"For a bit of a barbecue- wait, what?"
"Ames and I aren't together anymore," Liv said slowly, trying to keep her eyes dry and her voice stable.
"Since when?"
Liv looked at her watch. "About sixty hours ago."
"You have to tell me what happened!" Holly said, looking aghast. "I thought you two were in it for the long run."
"Me too," Liv said. "But things change, and I have a really long list of things that need to get done today-"
"Who are you staying with?" Holly asked.
"A friend," she said. "Now, please-"
"Last time I checked, you didn't have any friends other than me-"
"Like I said," Liv said, her patience worn thin at this point. "Things change."
Before Holly could say anything else, Liv made it into her office and shut the door behind her, not having even half the strength that finishing that conversation would require.
She sat in her office chair, and bent her head down until it touched the ledge of the desk. On a count of three, she took deep breaths, before exhaling. People here were depending on her to do her job. She needed to pull herself together.
The door opened, and she was ready to be an arse to someone, but found it was just Harry. In his hand, he held her olive green bag, her employee badge sticking out the top of it.
"Oh my gosh," she said, standing up and taking it. "Thank you so much."
"Not a problem," he said. "But here, take this, I was supposed to be in a meeting five minutes ago."
He thrust her purse and a small plastic bag in her hands and walked quickly across the office. She shut her door, wondering what that was all about, and sat down with it all. It seemed to have everything she had left in it, but she had doubted that Ames would take anything. There was nothing of value there... a tube of Chapstick, a bus pass, some tampons, and a load of receipts. She looked over her wallet, finding every card in its spot. No money was missing, either, though Ames had twice as much money in the bank as she did, and had no reason to pick out of her wallet.
The plastic bag had one of her favorite tabloids in it- one she hadn't had a chance to pick up for herself yet. It was a very kind gesture from Harry, though she wished he had not done it if he knew he was going to be late. She didn't want to draw any attention to their... whatever it was they were doing.
She decided it was time for lunch, eating a granola bar and apple out of her desk while she thumbed through the magazine. She was able to find a little bit of zen throughout what was an insanely crazy Monday morning.
She worked late, distracting herself as much as possible, before Harry was able to pry her out of her office and come home.
"All the work will be there in the morning," he said, picking up her work bag for her.
"It's just easiest not to think about upsetting things here," she said.
"I know," he said. "Believe me, I worked 60 hour weeks regularly after the divorce. But it's not good for you. You need to be kind to yourself."
She stood up and flicked her desk light off and stretched. She took her work bag from him and followed him home.
He grabbed them takeaway Chinese food on the way home, since it was getting late. They ate it in the upstairs bedroom, across from Harry's. She needed somewhere to put all her clothes.
He sat on the bed, his legs crossed, skillfully eating pork fried rice with chopsticks as she pulled things out of boxes.
"So how'd you get my belongings back?" She asked, casually hanging a bra on a hanger and sticking it in the wardrobe.
"Told him that I didn't think his coach or manager would be very happy if I went to him with an open case regarding him stealing your wallet."
"Ah," she said. That would not have fared well for him at all.
"He produced everything rather quickly after that."
She moved on to hanging up t-shirts, noting that it was certainly time to go through her wardrobe.
"Evanson's something," he remarked. "Grilled me today about you."
"Ugh, Holly," she sighed. "She can be… persistent, I'm sorry."
"I played dumb," he said. "You can handle her when you're ready. I just get to tell her what to do and she has to listen."
"Put her on some boring assignments," she suggested. "Drive her nuts."
He laughed. "You're twisted."
"And I'll assign Houston to all her cases," Liv mused, holding up a dress to see if it would still fit. "She despises him."
"You're evil, y'know that?" He asked her, smiling. "You own an awful lot of evening gowns."
"Quidditch girlfriend," she said, examining them all. "C'mon, you should know this for yourself. Everyone's constantly getting married, plus pre-season gala, plus any post-season celebrations, and God forbid you repeat an outfit or Paisley Pappel will have all the women wondering where your spouse's money is going if he can't afford to buy you a new dress."
"Easier for a bloke, I 'spose," he said. "Same suit, different tie for every event."
"Alright, that's all the energy I've got in me tonight," she said, laying down on the bed beside him.
He put his arm around her, bringing her closer to him, and burying his face in her hair. Her contented sigh made him feel happy. He was glad he could provide her a sense of security.
"I don't want anyone at work to know what's going on," she murmured into his ear. "Between us, I mean."
"I told Rutherford today," Harry said. "He guessed something was going on and I don't like lying to my boss," he explained.
"I understand," she said. "I just don't want to make a big deal about it. I don't want people thinking I'm the one filling in for Kensington because of any connections."
He nodded. "Don't worry. We can be discreet."
"Good," she said. She nuzzled her head into his neck, taking in the musky scent of his cologne. He noticed that her breathing began to level out.
"Liv," he said, gently. "Let's get you in bed."
She sat up. "No, it's fine. I'm awake."
"Don't believe you for a second," he said, and nudged her to get up. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground.
"Definitely awake now!" she screeched, as he carried her across the hall and placed her down on his bed. He looked quite pleased with himself, and she couldn't help but laugh. "You're a real prat, Potter."
"So you've said," he said, getting under the covers next to her and dimming the lights.
"Why'd it take me so long to discover how kind you are?" She asked, quietly.
"Because you were too hurt and closed off to let anyone in," he said, quite matter-of-factly. "You've started allowing yourself to be vulnerable again."
The sound of it scared her, but she knew he was correct. Being abandoned by Holly and then hurt by Ames had left her very bitter. Maybe she was finally ready to get over that.
"One step at a time," she murmured to herself, before falling asleep beside him.
Friday night, she sat in the living room, going through the last of her boxes: her mother's things.
Harry had cooked them some marvelous roasted chicken, and brought her a plate that also included some fried polenta and sautéed greens.
"This looks amazing," she said, taking a bite.
"I might know how to cook a thing or two," he said, turning on the radio at low volume. "Anything cool in there?"
"Loads of stuff," she said. She held up a large, multicolored knit blanket. "She made this for me for Christmas one year."
"Why don't you use it?" He asked, feeling the soft fabric between her fingers.
"Too afraid of something happening to it," she said, but she wrapped it around her shoulders for now.
"All sorts of jewelry," she said, picking up the bracelets and necklaces which had become knotted over the years. "I think this is the only one worth anything."
She handed him a delicate cameo necklace on a broken silver chain. "It's beautiful."
"I gave it to her for her birthday the first year I worked at the Ministry and had a real paycheck," Liv explained. "I think everything else got pawned when she needed drug money. But this stayed no matter what, and that means a lot to me."
She dug through a few journals full of her mother's writing, far too painful for her to read, still. "Oh, this is good."
Harry inspected the light blue velvet bag, which looked like nothing really. "What's that?"
"My mum's tarot cards," she said. "Whenever rent was due and she didn't quite have enough, she'd go do readings for Muggles. They went mad for her shit."
"Do you know how to read them?" he asked.
"Of course," she said. "You Aurors and your strict schedules, Divination's actually a pretty good class."
"Read them for me, then," he said.
She held the worn deck in her hand for a moment, then began to shuffle them. She spread them out across the carpet. "Pick six."
He did, slowly, and without a discernible pattern. She took them in order and flipped them over. "The first card represents how you feel about yourself right now."
"The Hanged Man?" he asked.
"Signifies a time of passage," she said. "A new perspective or a new mindset you might be exercising."
She looked up at him, seeing if he acknowledged what she was saying. She had ideas of her own, but would let him be. It wasn't her job to do anything but interpret. "What about the next one?"
"The High Priestess," she said. "Listen to your instincts and the little voice inside your head— the Divine feminine is acting upon you to help you pursue what you want."
He nodded, though they both knew exactly what she was talking about.
"Your fears," she said, holding up The Chariot. "Are of failure. In this time of change and movement, this card is telling you that your best weapon is a calm, well-reasoned demeanor."
She picked up the next card, examining it in her hand while she decided how it fit into the others. "You have a lot of things going in your favor."
"You're setting yourself up for something great," she continued, as she picked up the next card. "But if you act too hastily, that could all slip away. No hasty decisions."
"And the outcome," she said, taking the last card. "Strength. You have all the tools you need to succeed inside you already."
She collected all the cards, putting them back in the baby blue velvet bag and tying the strings.
"I see why Muggles paid for that," he said, getting up and taking their plates to the kitchen.
"Did I upset you?" she asked, getting a strange vibe from him as he tidied up the kitchen.
"Not at all," he said, his face genuine. She placed her arm on his, and he encircled her in a tight hug. She kissed him, her lips meeting his warm mouth and sending shivers down her spine. She could easily find his affection overwhelming, but in that moment, she was lost in the pleasure.
He gave her a small boost, her ass resting on the counter of the kitchen, putting them on more equal levels. Her fingers were in his soft hair, pulling him to her. His tongue slipped beyond her lips, demanding but gentle, and she felt lost in the embrace. She'd never felt quite this way before, not with anyone she'd been with.
He pulled away, but her hands followed, cupping his face. She looked confused, trying to discern the exact message his dark green eyes were trying to convey.
"You are intoxicating to me," he whispered.
"So let's keep going—"
"I don't have the restraint," he said. "That you just reminded me is so important."
"Not me," she gasped. "The cards. Screw the cards…"
She reached for his face again, but he shook his head and stepped away. "No, Liv," he said. "One step at a time."
The tone of his voice told her he was convincing himself instead of her, but she let it be. She wanted him, oh did she want him, but he was right. Not today.
"I think I'm going to go shower," he said. "I'll be down in a bit."
She slumped down on the floor, trying to feel respected rather than rejected. There was only one thing left in the box of her mother's belongings: a night light that projected the night sky on the ceiling. She set it up, grabbed a pillow off the couch, and laid on the ground to enjoy the show.
"What's this?" Harry asked, laying down next to her.
"My absolute favorite thing as a child," she said. "Whenever I was upset, or had a bad dream, she'd set it up for me. Probably bartered it off someone, who knows. I'm amazed it still works."
"It's fun to watch," he said.
"I'm guessing you never gave much thought to Astronomy either?" She asked.
He gave her a look. "We've got entirely different skill sets, Wellwood."
After a moment of silence, she turned to him.
"How long did it take you to feel normal after the divorce?"
"Hmm," he sighed, and she wondered if she was pressing too much. He thought about it for a moment. "A few months until I didn't think about it every day. A year in, I finally felt at peace with the decision."
"Wow," she said, not wanting to feel like this for that long.
"We were together almost ten years," he said. "Married for six. Went through a lot together. Our lives… they were so enmeshed. That's hard to walk away from."
"I bet," she said, suddenly feeling guilty for complaining about her situation when she'd been with Ames less years than he'd been married.
"It's hard any time you walk away from someone you've built a life with," he reminded her. "Married or not."
"Has it been hard to date?"
"I haven't, much," he said. "Some women just want to date me for their fifteen minutes of fame, maybe a small picture on the front of the Daily Profit."
"That's disgusting."
"That's reality," he shrugged. "But yeah, I suppose it's hard. Though whether that's me or the situation, I couldn't tell you. Had a few short flings with girls traveling, especially easy abroad when they've no idea who I am, but not a single person worth introducing to Teddy or my friends."
She nodded. She didn't allow herself to dwell further in the possibility of them, because she was wholeheartedly content with everything they had going at that moment.
Author's Note: So sorry this is up a few days later than intended! I really appreciate eerypne wh dropped me a line to make sure everything is okay. Friday's chapter will be up tomorrow, and on Monday we shall return to our regularly scheduled M/W/F upload schedule! Thanks to my beta, potter-reading-coastie. Reviews appreciated! Thanks all!