A/N - Hello all! I'm sorry to say that Remus does not make an appearance in this chapter. Hermione had a few things to take care of. But he will be back next chapter. Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing!

Chapter 38

Plotting

6 September 1999

Hermione checked the clock once again, although only another minute had passed. Even though it was only half nine, she was already in the conference room that was used for staff meetings. Hermione didn't want to risk Mr. Satterfield changing the time of the meeting.

Although, she supposed, Gwendolyn would have informed her if this was the case. The older woman had been incensed when Hermione told her what she had overheard.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione," Gwendolyn had said. "If I'd had any idea you weren't really supposed to be my secretary, I never would have given you all that filing to do."

"It's all right," Hermione had assured her. "You had no idea and it actually gave me some time to do more research for my proposal." Hermione had then explained her proposal to Gwendolyn in detail.

At first, the other woman had been hesitant. If Hermione's ideas were implemented and successful, it would eventually make the House-Elf Relocation office needed only when a witch or wizard with House-Elves died with no heirs. Which would basically make Gwendolyn's job obsolete. However, when Hermione indicated that she was going to suggest the new policies be overseen by Gwendolyn's office, therefore giving her more responsibility, the woman was completely on board. She had promised her help in today's meeting. Now, Hermione just needed to convince Mr. Satterfield.

As the clock neared ten, the division and subdivision heads began to arrive. Most looked surprised to see Hermione there, but no one asked any questions, especially after Gwendolyn sat down next to her. When Mr. Satterfield finally arrived, Hermione gave him a smile. He looked almost disappointed to see she had shown up.

The meeting droned on and Hermione began to wonder if her boss had any intention of giving her a chance to speak. When she saw a few people glancing at their watches, Hermione knew that Mr. Satterfield had dragged the meeting out on purpose.

"I suppose that's all for this month," Mr. Satterfield finally said. Hermione's mouth dropped open. He was really going to pretend that he hadn't scheduled her proposal? She and Gwendolyn had suspected this, but it still hurt.

"Mr. Satterfield," Gwendolyn said. "I thought Miss Granger was going to give a presentation today." Mr. Satterfield looked less than pleased.

"Yes, well, that was the intention, but considering how long the meeting has run, we will have to put that off until next month." Hermione was furious. She opened her mouth to say something, but Gwendolyn nudged her foot under the table.

"I don't think anyone has anywhere they need to be that urgently," she said, looking around the room. No one protested. Mr. Satterfield was glaring at Gwendolyn.

"Fine. Miss Granger, are you ready?"

"Yes, sir," Hermione replied. She stood, took a deep breath and began her presentation.

10 September 1999

It had been four days since Hermione's presentation and she still hadn't heard from Mr. Satterfield. She had anticipated this, knew that he would likely ignore her proposal and hope that she didn't bother him about it. But a small part of Hermione hoped that he would have been impressed enough to follow through. She had looked around at the rest of the division heads after she had finished and many had looked interested. A few had even shaken her hand afterward and complimented her on the thoroughness of her research. Not her boss, of course, but Hermione hadn't expected him to. She was likely going to have to follow through on her plan to get around him.

Hermione had discussed things with Gwendolyn and was a bit surprised to find that the woman was completely on board with navigating around their boss. It turned out that there were more than a few people in their department who couldn't stand Mr. Satterfield. Hermione began to wonder why he had been made head of the department in the first place. He certainly didn't seem to care about any of the creatures their department was supposed to protect or work with. He was a holdover from the Fudge days, never outwardly supporting Voldemort, but never denouncing him either. The Ministry had been in such disarray after the war that Kingsley and Arthur had been focused on clearing out the Death Eaters and true supporters like Umbridge. People like Mr. Satterfield were kept in place simply out of need. Hermione hoped her plan was the beginning of exposing the man for what he really was.

"Is Mr. Satterfield in?" Hermione asked Victoria as she stepped into the office. The secretary barely glanced up from the stack of parchment she was assembling. Hermione knew from talking with Gwendolyn that these were the reports and memos that Mr. Satterfield had to sign for the week. For some reason, the man preferred to do everything at once, unless it was urgent, and every Friday without fail, Victoria brought him a stack of papers to sign just before lunch.

"Yes, but he's busy," Victoria said.

"That's all right, I'll wait," Hermione said. Victoria looked up and sighed loudly.

"He's going to be busy until lunch and then he has a lunch appointment," she said. Hermione doubted that he was busy straight through until lunch, but she didn't argue.

"What about after lunch?" Hermione asked. Victoria sighed again and continued adding parchments to the stack.

"He's busy all afternoon," the secretary said. Of course, he was, Hermione thought.

"I only need a few minutes," Hermione pressed. Victoria added a last piece of parchment, tidied the stack and looked up at Hermione.

"He doesn't have a few minutes," she said, irritation clear in her voice. "When he has time in his schedule, I'll let you know." Hermione let her shoulders slump.

"All right," she agreed dejectedly. "Thank you." Victoria nodded and stood from her desk, picking up the pile of parchment. She watched until Hermione left the office. Hermione grinned as she hurried back to her own office, closing the door behind her.

"Well?" Gwendolyn asked.

"He's going out for lunch just like you said." Gwendolyn nodded.

"Are you sure you're going to be able to get in?" she asked. "The Golden Phoenix is booked weeks in advance." Hermione smiled.

"You forget who my best friend is." Gwendolyn smiled.

"Good luck."

"Harry, I need a favor," Hermione said. She had hurried to the Auror department immediately after her talk with Gwendolyn.

"Sure, Hermione, whatever you need."

"I want you to come to lunch with me at the Golden Phoenix." Harry's brow furrowed.

"You got reservations at the Golden Phoenix?"

"Not exactly." Hermione bit her lip. Harry looked confused for a moment and then his eyes widened.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "Hermione, you know I hate doing that."

"I know, Harry and normally I would never ask you to, but this is important."

"The press is always there. They'll be photographers," Harry whined.

"Please, Harry, it's about my House-Elf proposal."

"We have to have lunch at the Golden Phoenix for your proposal?" Hermione nodded. "Do I even want to know?"

"Probably not," Hermione said brightly. Harry groaned.

"Fine." Hermione leaned down and hugged him.

"Thank you. Meet me in the Atrium at half twelve."

Harry and Hermione walked into the Golden Phoenix shortly after half twelve. Mr. Satterfield had left the office at twelve, so Hermione knew he would be well into his lunch and his Firewhiskey by now. They approached the maître d, whose mouth dropped open when he realized Harry Potter had walked into his establishment.

"Mr. Potter, what an honor to have you here," the man gushed. He glanced at Hermione and his smile widened. "And Miss Granger. Truly a delight."

"We don't have a reservation," Harry said.

"Not to worry, Mr. Potter, not to worry," the man said picking up two menus. "If you'll follow me?" Hermione pinched Harry's arm and he jumped, then glared at her.

"If you don't mind, we'd like to keep this quiet," Harry said. The maître d's face fell momentarily, likely disappointed that he wasn't going to be able to parade Harry and Hermione through the restaurant like a pair of show dogs. Then he glanced between the two of them, knowing smile on his face. Hermione nearly rolled her eyes at the headlines she was sure would be in the Prophet tomorrow. It was a good thing Ginny was completely secure in her relationship with Harry. Anthony would likely have something to say about it, but then again, maybe he wouldn't as Hermione hadn't spoken to him in weeks, besides a short note from him telling her he was busy with work and would contact her when he had time.

"Of course, Mr. Potter. Right this way." They followed the man down a short corridor, which brought them into the back of the dining area, away from most of the other patrons. Hermione scanned the tables until she spotted Mr. Satterfield. Nudging Harry, she nodded towards a table in a far corner that would give her a view of her boss' table, but not allow the man to see her. Harry looked at Hermione incredulously. The table was tucked into a small nook, well away from any others and clearly where those trying to enjoy a bit of privacy would want to sit. Hermione gave him a look and Harry closed his eyes in defeat.

"Might we have that table?" he asked, pointing to the one in the corner. The maître d's smile grew wider and there was a glint in his eye.

"Absolutely, Mr. Potter," he said leading them to the table and pulling out Hermione's chair for her. She thanked him and took a menu. When the man had left, Harry glared at Hermione.

"Do you even know what the headlines of the Prophet are going to say tomorrow?" he hissed.

"I know, Harry, I'm sorry, but like I said, this is important."

"Just what are we doing here anyway, Hermione?"

"Spying on my boss," she said. A server approached and took their drink orders, stumbling over himself when he realized who they were.

"And why are we spying on your boss?" Harry asked once the server had left.

"Because it's part of the plan."

"The plan for what?" Hermione sighed.

"The plan to get my proposal in front of the Wizengamot, Harry. Keep up." Harry rubbed his forehead with his fingertips.

"Hermione, you're giving me a headache. Can you just explain what's going on?" Hermione sighed again and proceeded to give Harry a summary of what had happened since she'd started working at the Ministry.

"He should not be running any department, let alone the DRCMC," Hermione said with a huff when she'd finished. "He doesn't seem to care a whit about any magical creatures or beings."

"So, you're going to what? Blackmail him into letting you present your proposal?"

"Blackmail is such an unpleasant word, Harry." Harry snorted.

"You didn't seem to have a problem with it when it came to Rita Skeeter."

"She deserved it," Hermione said simply. "And anyway, this isn't so much blackmail as…insurance. And an alibi."

"Okay, I definitely don't want to know," Harry said. Hermione smiled sweetly.

The two ate their lunch relatively undisturbed. Hermione kept an eye on Mr. Satterfield's table. He and his friends, of which there were two, had ordered another bottle of Firewhiskey and were now laughing jovially together. Hermione noticed that while the other two men were sipping slowly and almost nursing their drinks, Mr. Satterfield had no such compunction. He continued to refill his glass without reservation. Hermione's lip curled in disgust.

"Finished?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded and Harry motioned for the check. Hermione continued to watch her boss as Harry paid the bill. She had tried to pay her share, but Harry wouldn't let her. She hadn't protested too much, too busy making sure they left before her boss did. Part of the plan was to make sure he'd seen her.

"All right, let's go," Harry said. The two of them stood, but instead of walking out through the same corridor they had come in, Hermione headed straight for Mr. Satterfield's table. She kept up a steady stream of conversation with Harry as they walked.

Just as they reached her boss' table, she glanced to her right and feigned surprise.

"Oh, hello, Mr. Satterfield." Her boss looked up at her a bit blearily, clearly on his way to being pissed.

"Miss Granger," he said looking a bit stunned. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, we've just had lunch," she said turning to Harry. "Have you met my friend, Harry?" Mr. Satterfield's eyes widened comically and the two men with him immediately stood to shake Harry's hand.

"Harry, my boss, Mr. Satterfield." Mr. Satterfield managed to stand, although Hermione saw him sway a bit.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Potter." He shook Harry's hand. "We're very lucky to have Miss Granger in our department. Very lucky."

"Yes," Harry said. "You are." Hermione could tell by Mr. Satterfield's grimace that Harry had squeezed his hand just a bit too hard. She pinched Harry again.

"We had better get back to the Ministry, Harry," she said. "Lots of work to do. Enjoy your lunch, sir." She nodded at the other men and she and Harry left the dining room.

"Do you have to keep pinching me?" Harry snapped as they stepped out into Diagon Alley. Hermione shrugged.

"I was just trying to keep you on track."

"I still don't understand exactly why we had to do that," Harry said. "So, your boss is a drunk, how's that going to help you?"

"Don't worry, Harry," she said with a grin. "I have a plan."

"How did it go?" Gwendolyn asked once their office door was closed.

"Smoothly," Hermione said. "Although, there are likely to be a few headlines in the Daily Prophet tomorrow about Harry and I having some clandestine affair. But that's nothing new." Gwendolyn looked a bit shocked that Hermione was so blasé about it.

"And Mr. Satterfield?"

"Half drunk as you said, but I made sure that he saw the two of us. Fell all over himself trying to compliment me to Harry." Hermione rolled her eyes. "What now?"

"Now, I catch him as soon as he gets back from lunch," Gwendolyn said. "Right after he sends Victoria out for sobering potion." Hermione nodded, but began to feel a bit nervous. Gwendolyn put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry," Gwendolyn said. "This is going to work."

"Thank you for helping me," Hermione said.

"You don't have to thank me," Gwendolyn said with a grin. "I haven't had this much fun for a long time."

Hermione had been watching the door for the last fifteen minutes, hands twisting nervously in her lap. She looked up expectantly when Gwendolyn came back into their office. Gwendolyn pulled a piece of parchment from the pile in her hand and presented it to Hermione with a flourish.

"He barely even looked at it," she said with a grin. Hermione stared at the form in her hand. Mr. Satterfield's signature, although a bit messier than usual, was right there on the bottom of the parchment. The form that would be turned into the Wizengamot, directing Hermione's proposal be put on the schedule.

"I can't believe it," Hermione said. "It actually worked." She looked up at Gwendolyn with a grin.

"So far, it's worked," Gwendolyn said. "When he sees the schedule on Monday, you know he's going to be livid."

"Of course, he is," Hermione agreed with a shrug. "But I don't think he's going to do anything about it." The two women shared a smile.

13 September 1999

The department was quiet when Hermione arrived, although she hadn't expected anything less. The new schedule for the Wizengamot was not delivered until mid-morning. Hermione might have been concerned that Mr. Satterfield wouldn't even look at it if she hadn't known that the Wizengamot sent a separate memo to the departments that had proposals scheduled.

Gwendolyn smirked at Hermione when she entered their office. Hermione glanced at her desk and groaned when she saw the copy of Saturday's Daily Prophet lying there. Although Hermione had already seen it, Harry had been sure to stop by with a copy on Saturday, it didn't make it any less embarrassing. Hermione was sure she would be getting looks from people all day. At least the photograph they'd run with the story hadn't been at all compromising, just the two of them leaving the restaurant. Obviously, there had been no photographer inside as there were plenty of moments that they had leaned close together to talk. Hermione was sure the press would have had a field day with that.

As it was, the article was simply speculation on why Harry and Hermione would have been seated in a quiet corner of the Golden Phoenix, given they were both dating other people. Of course, it was suggestive and full of innuendo, but it didn't come right out and accuse the two of having an affair. People would obviously draw their own conclusions, as the Howlers Hermione had begun to receive could attest to. Harry had reset her wards and rerouted all her mail to Grimmauld Place so everything could be scanned by Auror level spells.

There was a tap at the door and Hermione looked up to see Neville standing in the doorway.

"Neville," she said. "It's good to see you." She hadn't seen her friend since Ginny's party a month ago.

"You too, Hermione," Neville said as he stepped into her office. Hermione introduced him to Gwendolyn. "Harry wanted me to bring you this." He handed Hermione a large envelope. "Said he didn't want to feed the rumor mill by delivering it himself." Gwendolyn snorted. Hermione opened the envelope to find a stack of mail that Harry had obviously deemed safe.

"Thanks, Neville."

"Anytime," he said. "Harry said Ginny's coming home this weekend so a bunch of us are planning on meeting at the Leaky after work on Friday. Are you free?"

"I should be," Hermione said. "Sounds fun."

"Great, I'll see you then." Hermione sat down at her desk and pulled out the contents of the envelope. Most were from people she didn't know, likely either letters congratulating her on landing the Boy-Who-Lived or full of insults about what a home-wrecker she was. At least she knew none of them were cursed or full of Bubotuber Pus.

Flipping through the stack, there was one with familiar handwriting. Hermione pulled out the note from Anthony. She had sent him three owls after their last disagreement and had only received the one short note about being busy. As it had now been over three weeks since they'd spoken, she was a bit surprised that he had decided to finally break his silence.

The note was short, simply asking if they could meet that evening. Hermione reached for an interdepartmental memo, then stopped. While not strictly against the rules, using memos for personal correspondence was frowned upon. Anthony likely wouldn't appreciate her using it, but as she didn't have any other way to contact him, she grabbed the memo anyway. She wrote a quick note inviting him to her place at seven, folded it and sent it on its way. She then pulled the report she had been working on last week towards her and tried not to look at the clock.

An hour had passed when Gwendolyn stood and, giving Hermione a wink, left their office. It wasn't more than ten minutes later that Hermione heard heavy footsteps heading towards her. She glanced back down at the report on her desk, pretending to be busy with her work.

Their office door flew open moments later without so much as a knock. Mr. Satterfield stood in the doorway, fuming. Hermione looked up at him in surprise.

"Good morning, Mr. Satterfield," Hermione said as he continued to stand there glaring at her. Her boss said nothing, but stepped into her office, slamming the door behind him. He then cast a privacy charm on the room.

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"Of what, sir?" Hermione asked. Mr. Satterfield shoved the piece of parchment he was holding towards her.

"This!" Hermione took the parchment and looked at it, unable to help the smile when she saw that her proposal had been scheduled to be heard by the Wizengamot a week from Wednesday at ten o'clock.

"You submitted my proposal, sir?" Hermione questioned.

"No, I most certainly did not!" Hermione frowned.

"Then, I don't understand."

"Don't play innocent with me, Granger," he snapped. "I know you had something to do with this."

"But, sir, you have to sign off on any proposals to be submitted to the Wizengamot," Hermione said in confusion. "How could I have done this?"

"I'm sure you went over my head!"

"I didn't, I swear."

"We'll see about that," he growled and snatched the parchment from her hand. He wrenched open the door and slammed it behind him, causing the frosted glass to rattle in its frame. Gwendolyn returned a few minutes later.

"He's sent Victoria to get him the copy of the request," she said quietly. "I wish we could see his face once he realizes it's his signature." Hermione grinned at her. Gwendolyn glanced out the door. "It won't take long for him to come back here."

"You'd better go then," Hermione said. Gwendolyn nodded and slipped back out the door, moving into the outer office and back towards one of the cubicles.

Hermione waited and wasn't disappointed when Mr. Satterfield came storming in again about ten minutes later.

"How did you do it?" he demanded. "Did you forge my signature?"

"No!" Hermione insisted. "I would never!"

"Victoria told me you were in my office as she was assembling the weekly reports I needed to sign," he said. "You must have slipped this in somehow."

"Is that what Victoria is accusing me of?" Hermione asked in shock.

"No," Mr. Satterfield admitted. "She insists that you couldn't have, but you must have tricked her."

"Mr. Satterfield, I swear to you that I didn't," Hermione said earnestly. Her boss narrowed his eyes.

"You've been hounding me about that proposal since you started working here."

"Of course, I hoped that after my presentation last week that you would submit it to the Wizengamot," Hermione said. "That's why I came to your office on Friday. I wanted to know if you had made a decision."

"I know you had something to do with this!" He stared at her for a few moments, as if he were thinking hard. "Lunch, you must have slipped into my office at lunch."

"Sir, I had lunch at the Golden Phoenix on Friday with Harry Potter," Hermione said gently. "Don't you remember seeing me there?"

"You left before I did," he accused.

"Yes, but you'd already signed all the reports for that day, hadn't you?" He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it again, brow furrowing. "Even if I had slipped this in without Victoria knowing, you would have seen it when you were signing everything. If you feel this strongly about it, I'm sure that you wouldn't have signed it." Mr. Satterfield's expression didn't change, but Hermione saw the slight shift in his eyes, confirming her suspicions. He rarely read everything that came across his desk. Hermione bit her cheek to keep from smirking.

"I know that you-" but he was interrupted as Gwendolyn opened the door. She looked surprised to see her boss standing there, looking incensed.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"I'll tell you what's going on," Mr. Satterfield snapped. "Somehow Granger got her infernal proposal scheduled with the Wizengamot."

"You mean the House-Elf proposal?" Gwendolyn questioned.

"Of course, I mean the House-Elf proposal!"

"Mr. Satterfield, you signed off on that," Gwendolyn said.

"I did not!" he insisted.

"Don't you remember? Friday after lunch, I came to your office with the report of mine that I needed you to sign. I was waiting on some correspondence and hadn't gotten it finished before lunch." Mr. Satterfield's brow furrowed and Hermione could tell he was trying to remember Gwendolyn's visit.

"Of course, I remember that," he retorted. "But that has nothing to do with this!" He shook the piece of parchment that he had indeed signed.

"Yes, it does, sir," Gwendolyn continued. "We discussed Miss Granger's proposal as well. I told you I thought she had done an excellent job and asked if you had made a decision yet." His brow furrowed further. "You said that you agreed with me and I gave you the Wizengamot form. You signed it along with my report."

"That's impossible," he roared. "I never intended to sign that proposal!" The two women stared at him and Hermione saw the slight reddening of his cheeks. "That is, I didn't think now was the time for such a proposal."

"I'm not sure what to tell you, Mr. Satterfield, but we did discuss it and you did sign the form," Gwendolyn said, glancing at Hermione. Hermione bit her lip and looked at her boss hesitantly, then flicked her gaze back to Gwendolyn.

"What?" Mr. Satterfield demanded.

"It's just that, well," Hermione twisted her fingers in her lap, looking uncomfortable.

"Speak up, girl!"

"Well, sir, it seemed that you had…quite a bit to drink at lunch," Hermione said quietly, looking down at her lap. "Is it possible that you don't…remember?" Hermione glanced up at him quickly, then looked back at her lap, hiding a smile. All the color had drained from Mr. Satterfield's face. He cleared his throat.

"No, that, that isn't what happened," he said, but there was no conviction in his voice.

"I'm sorry that you've changed your mind, sir," Gwendolyn said. "I thought Miss Granger's proposal was very well done. Would you like me to get you the form to rescind your request?"

"No!" Mr. Satterfield said immediately. "No, I'll, I'll just, just think on this a bit." He spun on his heel and quickly left the office. Gwendolyn waited until he had exited the Being Division and then quietly closed the door. Hermione cast a quick Muffliato before the two of them burst into laughter.

"His face, oh Merlin!" Gwendolyn said.

"Did you really ask him about the proposal?" Hermione asked. Gwendolyn nodded.

"I figured I should, just to be safe. I knew I could still get him to sign the form, regardless, he wasn't reading anything."

"What did he say about it?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Not much, but after I said I thought it was a great idea, he nodded and grunted a bit. That was good enough for me." She grinned and Hermione laughed again.

"You don't think he'll actually rescind, do you?" Hermione asked.

"No," Gwendolyn said. "That form is even more detailed than the request to present the proposal. He would have to come up with a very good reason and we both know he doesn't have one. He can't exactly admit he was too drunk to know what he was signing in the first place." Hermione smiled. She couldn't wait to tell Harry and Ginny about this.

Hermione's good mood lasted the rest of the day and as she made herself a quick dinner before Anthony arrived, found she was looking forward to seeing him. Perhaps he had come to understand that Obliviating them after the Department of Mysteries wouldn't have been a good idea. Smiling to herself, she quickly sent her dishes to the sink and grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. She had just set them down on the table in the living room when there was a knock at the back door.

"Hi," Hermione said with a smile when she answered.

"Hello," Anthony replied. He stepped into the house and saw the wine on the table, then glanced at Hermione. She grinned and took his hand, leading him to the couch. After they sat, she poured them each a glass of wine and handed one to him.

"What are we doing, Hermione?" he asked in confusion. Clearly, he had expected a much different reception from her, but Hermione was too happy to care.

"We're celebrating."

"Celebrating what?"

"I'm going to present my House-Elf proposal to the Wizengamot next week." His eyes widened in surprise.

"You are?" She nodded. "But you said your boss was opposed to it."

"He was," she said with a shrug. "I changed his mind." Anthony stared at her for a moment, brow furrowed. He set his wine glass on the table and turned towards her.

"How, exactly, did you do that?" Hermione grinned.

"I can be quite persuasive when I want to be," she said. "And I had help from Gwendolyn." Anthony stared at her for a few minutes.

"Hermione, did you," he paused. "Did you do something…illegal?"

"What? No, of course not!" Hermione said. "How can you even ask me that?"

"You've got a history of breaking the rules when it suits you," he said. Hermione opened her mouth to retort, then closed it again. He wasn't wrong.

"Trust me, Mr. Satterfield was the one breaking the rules in this situation," she finally said. "I just took advantage of it." Anthony rubbed his forehead with his fingertips.

"You blackmailed him?" he finally said.

"No," Hermione replied. "Not exactly."

"Then what exactly?" Anthony asked. Hermione sighed. She should have known better than to say anything. Anthony would never understand or accept what she'd done, even though she hadn't broken any rules. Technically.

"It's probably better if I don't tell you," she said. "I'm sure you won't approve." He laughed mirthlessly.

"No, I suppose I won't."

"Anthony, I-" Hermione began, but he shook his head cutting her off.

"Don't bother, Hermione. It's been obvious to me for the past few weeks that the two of us are not right for one another. I'm sure you and Harry are much better suited."

"Harry and I?" she questioned, then realized that he must be talking about the article in the Prophet. "Harry is my friend, that's all."

"Your friend that you go on romantic lunches with," Anthony said.

"There wasn't anything romantic about it," Hermione insisted. "It had to do with my proposal and Mr. Satterfield."

"You don't have to make excuses," Anthony said. "It's not as if we've really had a relationship for the past month."

"No," Hermione said again. "I agree with you that we're not suited. And I suspected that you were coming over here to tell me that tonight. But it has nothing to do with Harry." Anthony looked at her skeptically. "Do you remember what you said to me about Michael and Sally-Ann?" Anthony nodded. "Harry and Ginny are the same way. Harry is like my brother, there is nothing romantic between us. The Prophet has been insinuating otherwise for years, but I swear to you that it's not like that. And even if it was, I would not have gone behind your back."

"All right," he finally agreed. Hermione let out a breath. While she knew now that there was no future for her and Anthony, she didn't want him to think it was about Harry. Nor did she want him to think that she would blatantly cheat on him. They sat in silence for a few minutes.

"I suppose I should go," he said.

"I'm sorry that things didn't work out," Hermione said. He gave her a small smile.

"I suppose you're too much of a Gryffindor for me," he said. Hermione laughed. She wasn't even insulted. It was true after all.

"I don't regret it," Hermione said. "The two of us."

"Neither do I," he replied. She smiled at him and leaned forward, kissing him on the cheek. Anthony squeezed her hand and rose from the couch. Hermione followed him to the back door. He stared at her for a few seconds before he leaned forward and kissed her gently on the mouth.

"Good-bye, Hermione."

"Bye, Anthony." He stepped into the back garden and Disapparated. Hermione stared at the spot for a few moments, before stepping back inside and softly closing the door behind her.

17 September 1999

"Hermione!" Ginny called as Hermione stepped out of the Floo into the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione looked around and grinned at the crowd of former D.A. members, many of whom she hadn't seen since the anniversary ceremony, some not since the battle itself. She siphoned the soot off herself before crossing the pub to join Harry, Ginny and Neville. Harry asked her what she wanted to drink and he and Neville went up to the bar.

"Hey, Gin," Hermione said as she hugged her friend. "Training going well?"

"Very well," Ginny said with a wide smile on her face. Her eyes danced with delight.

"What's going on?"

"I got a place on the team!"

"What?" Hermione replied in shock. "But I thought you said that was months or even a year away."

"It was until Gemma Gibson fell pregnant."

"I'm so happy for you!" Hermione said, hugging Ginny again. "When's your first match?"

"In two weeks," Ginny said. "You'll be there, won't you?"

"Of course, I will," Hermione assured her as Harry and Neville returned with their drinks.

"Good, because Harry's already bought out a box." Ginny said with a grin. Harry put an arm around her and kissed her temple.

"So, Hermione, I see your proposal is on the Wizengamot schedule," Harry said. "I'm guessing our lunch was a success then?"

"Yes, let's talk about your lunch," Ginny said, mock growl in her voice. Hermione chuckled.

"I'm sure you had a laugh over that article," Hermione said.

"Yeah, especially after Gillian tried to hide it from me, sure I would fall to pieces after I read it." Harry snorted.

"You'd be more likely to get thrown in Azkaban for hexing my bollocks off," he said. Ginny smiled sweetly at him.

"It's cute that you think I'd get caught." Neville choked on his drink as he laughed. "Anyway, what did your lunch have to do with your House-Elf proposal?" Hermione spent the next few minutes explaining what had happened in the last week in her department.

"Hermione Granger, you Slytherin, you," Ginny said when Hermione had finished. Hermione shrugged. The Sorting Hat had thought about it for a few seconds. The door opened and a few more people walked into the pub. Hermione glanced up and locked eyes with Anthony. She gave him a small smile and he nodded in her direction before walking with Terry and Michael up to the bar.

"Given the death-glare Boot is sending this way, I assume that things are not going well with Anthony," Ginny said.

"Things aren't going anywhere with Anthony," Hermione said. "We broke it off a few days ago."

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Neville said.

"It's all right," Hermione said. "We just weren't suited for each other." Neville nodded, looking as if he understood, and took another swig of his ale. Hermione looked around and realized she didn't see Luna anywhere.

"Is Luna coming?" Hermione asked. She hadn't seen Luna since Ginny's party in August.

"No," Harry said, eyes cutting swiftly to Neville. "She's out of the country."

"Oh, doing what?" Hermione questioned.

"I'm going to talk to Seamus and Dean," Neville muttered and walked away. Hermione watched him go and then looked back at Harry and Ginny in confusion.

"They broke up," Harry said.

"Oh, no, when?"

"A couple of weeks ago," Ginny said. "Luna's going on some year-long hunt for new creatures. She told Neville that it wasn't fair to make him wait for her and it would be better if they were both free."

"Poor Neville," Hermione said. She looked over to where Neville was now talking to Seamus and Dean, feeling guilty that she'd brought Luna up.

"It would have never lasted," Ginny said. "Even if she hadn't left."

"You don't think so?"

"Neville's too grounded for Luna," Ginny said. "She needs someone as free-spirited as she is."

"I suppose you're right," Hermione agreed. The pub had gotten even more crowded and the three of them began to mingle. It was a couple of hours and a few drinks later, that Hermione found herself alone at a table. Ginny had gone to the loo quite some time ago. Hermione suspected that she and Harry were snogging or, knowing Ginny, likely more than that in some dark corridor somewhere.

"Hey," a voice said and Hermione looked up to see Ron standing in front of her.

"Hi, Ron," she said.

"Can I sit?"

"Of course," Hermione said with a smile. Ron sat down across from her.

"Harry told me you're presenting to the Wizengamot next week. Congratulations."

"Thanks, Ron." The two sat in awkward silence for a few minutes.

"So, how's the Auror department?" Hermione finally asked.

"S'okay," Ron said. Hermione's brow furrowed. Ron didn't sound all that excited about his job.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"Not wrong, exactly," Ron said. He sat back in his chair with a sigh. "Do you ever think that maybe you picked the wrong career?" Hermione snorted and took another sip of her wine.

"Almost every day," she said.

"Really?" Ron said in surprise. Hermione shrugged.

"I mean, I want to work in the DRCMC, I just wish I had a different boss." Ron nodded. "What about you? Rethinking being an Auror?"

"I don't know," Ron said with a sigh. "Maybe."

"You should do what makes you happy," Hermione said. He gave her a half-smile.

"Sometimes we can't have the things that make us happy." Hermione looked down at the table and Ron sighed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

"Did I really make you happy, Ron?" Hermione asked doubtfully.

"Sometimes, yeah."

"You deserve more than sometimes." The two of them looked at each other for a few moments.

"Maybe you're right," Ron said. Hermione opened her mouth to give her usual response to that statement and Ron shook his head.

"Don't say it," he groaned. Hermione laughed. Ron smiled tentatively.

"So, you and Goldstein broke up?" Ron continued taking a swig of his drink.

"Yes," Hermione said.

"Never liked him." Hermione snorted.

"You liked him just fine at Hogwarts." Ron shrugged.

"Well, now I think he's a tosser."

"He isn't," Hermione said.

"He let you go." Hermione blushed slightly.

"We just weren't suited." Ron nodded and finished his drink. He looked up from his empty glass.

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"You deserve more than sometimes too." Hermione smiled and reached over and squeezed Ron's hand. He kept hold of her when she went to pull back, raising her hand and kissing the back of it. Then he stood and turned to go back to the bar. Hermione watched him with a smile on her face. There might just be hope for their friendship yet.