Chapter Four
Luna was sitting at a corner table at the Leaky Cauldron as twelve o'clock rolled by. Hermione arrived exactly on the hour, her arms full of papers but a grin on her face.

"What's going on?" Luna asked in interest. Hermione balanced the papers in one hand and pulled out her wand. She waved it quickly and the papers disappeared.

"Guess who the new Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is?" she said excitedly. Luna's eyes widened and her mouth dropped so low it grazed the table.

"Are you serious? That's fantastic!" she shrieked. Her voice was so loud that two foreign wizards from Belgium turned to stare. Tom the barman wandered over, rag in hand.

"Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood. Is such noise necessary?" he asked.

"I'm sorry Tom, but Hermione is the new Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Allow us a little celebration over here," Luna pleaded. She was trying to reason with the barman when Hermione's bag started ringing. She pulled out her cell phone amid stares of confusion from not only Luna but wizards and witches occupying the bar.

"Hello?" she answered, ignoring Luna's whisper of 'What on earth is that?' Ron was calling to see if she wanted to meet for lunch. She quickly told him that she and Luna were at the Leaky Cauldron and that he could join them if he wanted. She was going to wait till he got her to announce her big news. Before she could hang up, Ron Apparated into the bar. Luna was still jumping up and down in excitement.

"What's going on?" he asked, restraining the urge to burst out laughing at Luna's behaviour. He pulled Hermione down next to him on the bench, awaiting an explanation. Tom plonked a tray down on the table with three Butterbeers.

Hermione took a deep breath before turning to Ron. "I'm the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," she said quickly. Ron's eyes widened. It was rare for Heads of Department to change at the Ministry and when they did, a twenty year old wasn't usually offered the position.

"Congratulations!" Ron cried. He wrapped his arms around Hermione awkwardly who shot a significant look at Luna as she tried to get out of the hug.

"So Ron, how is it going with your Auror training?" Luna asked brightly. Ron had been helping out at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes which had skyrocketed but now wanted to become and Auror like Harry. The training program was difficult and really tested your ability.

"It's good. Its hard you know, but it will be worth it in the end," said Ron. Luna nodded interestedly while Hermione got herself together.

***

Harry and Ginny were sitting in the tree but neither of them had said anything. Rather than sit in awkward silence for hours, Harry decided to make the first move.

"I'm really sorry Ginny. I honestly meant nothing by it, I was just stressed out from work," Harry said apologetically. Ginny pulled her red hair back and looked at Harry.

"Did you mean it? Do you really want the wedding to be over with?" she said quietly.

"I can't wait to marry you Ginny. The day I'm able to call you my wife will be the happiest day of my life." Harry meant ever word and hoped Ginny knew he meant it too. Ginny's face lit up and she threw her arms around Harry's neck.

"I'm sorry," Ginny whispered. Harry tried to put as much into the hug as possible. He wanted Ginny to feel safe with him and to love being with him as much as he loved to be with her.

"I love you," they said together, laughing as Harry lifted Ginny's chin to kiss her.

***

Luna walked briskly down the hall of Level Four, the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She was supposed to be in her office on Level One but Hermione had given her the idea to go and see Neville in Goblin Liason.

"Miss Lovegood. What can I do for you?" asked Padma Patil at the desk. Luna put on her brightest smile and straightened the pile of folders in her arm.

"I'm here to see Longbottom from Goblin Liason," she said sweetly. Padma nodded cheerfully and pressed a few buttons on a switchboard on her desk.

"Okay, go straight through," she said, pointing to the door on the left. Luna nodded in thanks and went through the door. Neville was sitting at the desk in the corner, his quill speeding as fast as possible across the parchment in front of him. He looked up when he saw Luna standing over him.

"Luna, how are you?" he said hollowly. He shoved the parchment and quill into a drawer and looked over at her. Luna put the pile of folders precariously on the only empty space on the desk.

"I just came to see how your trip with Ernie went," Luna said kindly. Neville's expression changed completely, as it always did when he talked about something he was passionate about like plants.

"It was fantastic. We spent three days in Nepal with the most fascinating wizard. His trees are phenomenal," he said excitedly. Luna nodded politely even though trees didn't interest her in the slightest. She spent the next ten minutes talking to Neville and was sure as she walked back to her office that he would be feeling better.

***

As Hermione walked down the hall on Level One she received congratulations from all the offices she passed. Harry had come back to the Ministry with an exuberant Ginny and been the most congratulatory as his friend had worked hard and deserved the promotion. The two hopped in the elevator to go to the Department of Magical Games and Sports while Hermione stopped by Luna's office.

"I can't believe I have to go down to Level Six!" she said to herself. Hermione was used to Luna reacting like this when she was angry and sat behind the desk to find out what was wrong this time.

"What's on Level Six?" she asked interestedly. Luna looked up and sighed.

"He's on Level Six, that's what," she said irritably. By 'he' Hermione knew she meant Draco, who'd been harassing her for weeks now because she wouldn't go out with him. Luna had clued her in on the whole scene at George's shop and was now more confident about her relationship. However, having to see Draco every day at work didn't help much.

"I can go with you if you'd like?" Hermione offered. Luna nodded desperately.

"If you come he can't corner me." Luna grabbed her folder and walked around the desk. The two best friends walked out of the office and down the hall to the elevator. It was empty so they had the ride down to work out a few strategies in case Luna ran into Draco again this week.

"Ah, Miss Lovegood. Does the Minister for Magic need to see me?" Draco asked eagerly.

"No, he sent me down here to see if you'd disconnected those Muggle houses from the Floo Network yet?" Luna said enquiringly, but smugly.

Draco's face visibly reddened as his skin was pale white and he disappeared into his office muttering under his breath. Hermione and Luna giggled all the way to the Portkey Office, where Dean Thomas was scribbling a letter. Dean had dated Luna last year but things were still friendly between them. Luna smiled as she stopped before him.