Chapter 14
"I've Got You"
"This platform is always packed with Muggles, it's a wonder they don't notice people disappearing through a wall," Mrs. Weasley was the first to walk through the barrier at platform nine and three quarters followed by Mr. Weasley. Harry was pushing Ginny's trolley.
"Hold on a second," said Harry before Ginny went through the barrier.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to say another goodbye before you got on the train."
Ginny smiled slightly, "You're scared to kiss me in front of my parents aren't you?"
"No!" His cheeks turned red, "I'm afraid to kiss you in front of your father."
Ginny laughed, she grabbed her trolley and disappeared through the barrier and Harry followed.
"I suppose you don't want me to kiss you goodbye," he said walking behind her.
She turned, "of course I do," Ginny pulled Harry in for an intense kiss. He kept his eyes open trying to see who was looking but he couldn't do it he let loose and got into it.
(***)
"Where are Ginny and Harry?" Asked Mr. Weasley turning around, "My god!" He gasped when he saw the action between Harry and Ginny and immediately tried to go over and break it up but Molly stopped him.
"Calm down Arthur," she smiled, "They're in love."
"In love, she's only seventeen!"
"We were much younger than them when we fell in love, your only upset because our baby isn't a baby anymore," Molly slid her hand into Arthur's and rested her head on his arm.
(***)
Ginny pulled away from Harry, he slowly opened his eyes and had to shake his head out of the daze, "Wow!" He whispered and rested his head on her forehead.
"I'm going to miss you so much," Ginny interlocked their hands.
"I'm going to miss you too, I'll write you every day."
She smiled, "no you won't"
"Fine, every week," he chuckled.
They stood there silently for a few moments.
"I love you so much," Harry broke the silence and pulled Ginny into a tight hug.
"I love you too." The whistle blew and the doors on the train were beginning to close. "I better go."
Harry was getting ready to kiss her one last time but felt a hand on his shoulder pulling him back.
"That's enough of that," said Mr. Weasley Sternly.
Mrs. Weasley gave her husband an evil glare, she then smiled at Ginny, "have a good year darling," she gave her a quick hug.
"Bye," she quickly gave her dad a hug pulled her trunk onto the train and closed the door behind her. The train began to move Ginny stuck her head out the window and waved until the train disappeared around the corner.
_ABOVE WEASLEY WIZARDING WHEEZES_
THE FUCKING TRUTH
GOOD MORNING LONDON! Its 7am on Monday the 2nd of September yesterday began another year at Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry. It was believed that the school would not be able to open again after the detrimental damage done during the battle. But we were proved wrong! Nothing will ever keep Hogwarts doors closed. A special shout out to my favorite red haired girl and her starry eyed friend, who headed back to school yesterday. Good luck Professor McGonagall as the new Headmistress.
Whoever said that a Centaur was near human intelligence was seriously deluded. All the Centaurs I've encountered are beyond. But we all know how they feel about being including in political decisions, which is leave them out, and they wished to be categorized as beast. Well a mob of those truly brilliant beasts stole the Centaur from the United We Stand statue in the atrium at the Ministry. The monument was only two months old, whether or not the missing piece will be replaced has yet to be disclosed.
In ministry news Death Eaters are still being tried, if convicted they will be sentenced to life in Azkaban Prison. The new security measures at the prison have not been made public, but I am sure Kinsley is capable of keeping the vermin where they belong. Speaking of vermin, Dolores Umbridge put up a fight when the Law Enforcement Squad tried to arrest her. It took ten Law Enforcement officers to finally wrestle down the old battle-axe and cart her off to her new home at Azkaban.
In the world of sports the Holyhead Harpies slaughtered the Chudley Cannons Saturday 250 to 10. They are completely pathetic, will someone please help them! Next Saturday the Harpies will face the Appleby Arrows.
In October, on Halloween weekend there will be a break from the normal Quidditch schedule, as all of the UK's teams will be playing in a mini tournament to raise money for the reconstruction and restoration of Hogwarts School. This is going to be a wicked event and it's for a good cause and more importantly I will be there reporting live! Stop by the booth and I may have some complementary Weasley products for you. For tickets contact Dean Thomas at the Irish and British Quidditch League headquarters at the Ministry of Magic.
Harry, if you haven't seen the Prophet this morning, I suggest you not look mate. I'm Lee Jordan and you're listening to the Fucking truth on the WWN live above Weasley Wizarding Wheezing. Here are the Weird Sister's with "I love you more than my toad".
_THE BURROW_
Harry turned off the wireless and went downstairs, today he begins Auror training and he really didn't need anything to set him off. He stepped into the kitchen and saw the Prophet on the table and turned around.
"Bye!" He shouted as he retreated out the front door and down the drive to apparate to the Ministry.
I wonder what Skeeter wrote about me, she hasn't seen me in weeks, he turned and disappeared. He walked down the alley and joined the line of Ministry workers waiting to use the toilets to get into the Ministry. Nothing interesting has even happened in my life to make people want to pick up the Prophet and read about me… Well I suppose all it has to say is Harry Potter for people to pick it up.
He walked through the Atrium as people smiled, waved, and gave him a pat on the back. Some people even stopped to shake Harry's hand. Pansy was sitting behind the reception desk scowling and Romilda's place was taken by a happy blonde. He got on a lift and went to level two. He walked down the hall to the Auror training office and went inside. There was a young man sitting at the desk.
"Can I help you?" He looked up from his work.
"Yes, I'm…"
"Harry Potter, first day of training, go through the IN door, never go in through the OUT door," he said sternly, "On the left punch in your time card and get your schedule from Grace, then go to the changing room, your name is on your locker, and your training uniform is inside." He smiled quickly then went back to work.
Harry looked at the boy strangely and went through the IN door. There was a long hallway bustling with people, everyone had on matching navy robes, he thought that it would be quiet given the empty state the waiting room always seemed to be in.
"Mr. Potter," Harry turned to look at the little old lady sitting in a glass both, "punch in your time card," she pointed to the cards and the clock hanging on the wall next to the booth. Harry found his name took the card and punched in.
"Here is your schedule, every morning when you punch in I will give you any messages that have come for you," she smiled politely
"Thank you," he took the schedule and squeezed down the hall trying not to bump into anyone in search of the changing room. All the doors were numbered except for the one that said Hall of Records and another that said Coffee, when he got to the end of the hall he could either go left or right. It was a dead end to the right and the left had another hall branching off of it. He decided he would go left and as soon as he turned he ran into someone.
"Terribly sorry," Harry said without looking to see who he was talking to.
"That's alright Harry," said Angelina.
"Thank god it's you. Can you point me in the direction of the changing rooms," Harry was relieved.
"Yup, I was just heading there myself"
"Coed"
"We're all grown up now Harry."
"Why are there so many people I thought that there weren't that many Auror's," Harry asked curiously.
"There aren't, some people don't have what it takes in the end and most usually drop out after first year, Alicia did," commented Angelina, "The only reason it's bustling now is because of the 8:30 trainee meeting everyone has to attend every morning, but after that it gets quiet because people only stick around if they have lessons."
Harry nodded understandingly, "Why did Alicia quit?"
"She said that this wasn't for her, pity, she was really good. She's on the law enforcement squad now," she chuckled, "she helped wrangle Umbridge and cart her off to Azkaban."
"I'd have given anything to see that," laughed Harry.
"You can there's a picture of it in the prophet," she opened the door to the changing room, "but I'm assuming you didn't look at the Prophet like Lee suggested."
"No I didn't, is it really bad?" He looked nervous.
"No it's not bad, just an invasion of privacy mixed with lies and it's completely snobbish. I have a copy in my locker," she went off to her locker and Harry went to look for his.
There were rows of lockers and there were a few people here and there changing into their uniforms. He walked down one of the rows reading the names he stopped in front of one of the lockers that had the name Katie Bell on it. He smiled to himself and turned to look at the other side and the first locker he saw had his name on it.
"There you are," Angelina handed him the paper.
"Katie Bell is in training here too?"
"Yeah, I think she may have filing duty right now though," said Angelina sitting down on the bench.
Harry lifted the paper to look at it, his eyes widen…
HARRY POTTER LIKES SEDUCING TEENAGE GIRLS!
Parents lock up your daughters our hero's a chick magnetic! After Harry Potter successfully defeated Lord Voldemort girls are seeing him as a sex symbol and Harry is only more than willing to oblige to their advances. Harry was seen in an intense lip lock with seventeen year old Ginevra Weasley on platform nine and three quarter's yesterday morning. Now we all know that she is not of status to date him but he said and I quote, "I will romance all the girls who are interested in me."…
"Who the hell does she think she is?" On the front page of the paper was a picture of Harry and Ginny kissing…
"Skeeter's a bitch, no one believes that rubbish," Angelina assured Harry. Just then a boy walked past the aisle…
"Way to bag the babes Potter!" He grinned and walked on.
"He doesn't count, he's mental."
_WEASLEY WIZARD WHEEZES_
After work Ron went to Diagon Alley to purchase a few things for his gathering at his flat tomorrow night, food and drinks because he didn't have any, in fact he never goes into the kitchen. While in the store the Fucking Truth was on the wireless and he wanted to see what was in the paper that Harry shouldn't see. He wandered over to Weasley Wizarding Wheezes. He figured he'd find out from the source of the idea.
"Hey George," said Ron walking into the store.
"What's all that?" He asked at the bags Ron was carrying.
"Party, my place tomorrow, be there," he put his bags down on the counter.
"Don't you have to work?"
"Nope took the night off. What's in the paper that Harry shouldn't see?" He asked.
George's face filled with fury, "That hag Rita Skeeter printed some stuff about Harry and our sister," he slid the paper across the counter to Ron.
"What the fuck! Who does she think she is… not of status! Why the hell is Ginny snogging Harry on the platform anyway for everyone to see?" Ron's ears turned bright red.
"I'll get Skeeter all right. I sent her some puking pastilles disguised as chocolates from a fan without the antidote, that should have her in St. Mungo's for a couple weeks," said George as a devilish smile spread across his face.
"So is Lee always going to be broadcasting from here?"
"Yeah, new flatmate and I get free publicity for the shop, it's great," said George, "the grand opening in Hogsmead is going to be huge, Weasley Wizarding Wheezes at Zonko's Joke shop. Lee will be there live and we're thinking of getting a live performance."
"All that for the opening of a joke shop?"
"If you want to be big you have to dream big," he said with a twinkle in his eye, "Besides people will come from all over to this opening I actually got some mail order business from Bulgaria and Peru. And for the Quidditch tournament Dean and Percy were in here the other day trying to work out a deal with me to let Kenmare Krestels endorse my products and I give a portion of the proceeds for the reconstruction of Hogwarts."
"I had no idea that business was going that well," he was surprised, "Wait, what does Percy have to do with all this?"
"He was promoted to Senior Undersecretary," stated George unimpressed, "I was wondering if you could get some time off next month."
"What for"
"I'm going to look at a possible location for a store in France, Fleur's father set it up, and I will need someone to run the store," he said proudly.
"I'll see what I can do," he began gathering his bags, "I must go home and nap I promised Percy I would meet him on his lunch break and quiz him on how to work his air tank for when he goes scuba diving next month in the Arctic."
"He's officially lost his mind, but at least he isn't dull anymore," said George
"Speaking of dull Malfoy and I are going furniture shopping tomorrow morning."
"That's too funny," he chuckled walking over to a costumer signaling for his help, "I'll see you later."
"Bye."
_THE FUCKING TRUTH_
Its noon and I'm hungry so I want you guys to check out this wicked new band called "My Hairy Feet Don't Smell" with their first single "You Scared Me" while I run to get a bite, they are absolutely fantastic and they will be playing the Quidditch Tournament so make sure you get your tickets. But you can hear them here first only on the Fucking Truth!
_MINISTRY OF MAGIC VISITORS ENTRANCE_
"Stop fidgeting," demanded Draco as the telephone booth moved down into the earth.
"I can't help it I'm nervous," said Hermione making sure her hair was still smoothed down.
"Granger! You're the second smartest person I know you will probably leave here knowing you got the job," he pushed the door open and stepped into the atrium.
"I don't want to be over confident. Who do you know who's smarter than me?" She asked as they walked towards the reception desk.
"Me of course," he smirked then stopped walking.
"What's wrong?"
"Pansy's the receptionist, I'll go find out what floor and hold up the number of fingers, I'll see you up there," he took off for the desk.
Hermione stood by the fountain and waited.
(***)
"How can I help you," Pansy looked up and a huge smile spread across her face she immediately stood and flung her arms around Draco.
"Pansy you're going to pull me over the desk," he said struggling to get free.
"I haven't seen you in so long, how come you haven't written me? We must get together," she gave an attempt at a sexy smile.
"Yes of course, can you please tell me what floor the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is on?"
"Are you having another Hippogriff killed," she leaned forward and smirked, "Can I watch."
"No I'm not, what floor is it?"
"It's the fourth. So when do you want to get together?" She asked cheerfully.
Draco stuck his hand behind his back and held up four fingers. Hermione headed for the lifts as Draco stayed and was bothered by Pansy.
DEPARTMENT OF REGULATION
AND
_CONTROL OF MAGICAL CREATURES_
Being Division: House Elf Relocation Office
"Miss. Granger, you have excellent grades, 10 owls are really impressive and you come highly recommend by Minerva McGonagall and Horace Slughorn, but why do you feel that you should be a part of the Being Division?" Asked the interviewer
Hermione sat on the edge of her chair with her hands folded in her lap, "I believe that I will be a great asset because I have a passion for the equality among all living things. Being a Muggle-born I have faced injustices and I want to fight for parity amongst all. I also started an organization called SPEW the Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare to improve the treatment of house elves."
The interviewer leaned back in his chair and smiled, "Well Miss. Granger, you definitely have the drive that is required for a job in this office, the money is certainly not what keeps people here. I predict great things from you. With your NEWT scores I would have thought you would have gone straight for the Junior Undersecretary position."
I thought Percy was the Junior Undersecretary, she thought to herself, "Thank you, but my heart lies with magical beings."
"Great! You're in," he stood up from his chair, and so did Hermione, he shook her hand.
"Thank you so much!" She beamed. She picked up her bag and left his office.
She walked through the rows of desk. Draco was leaning against the wall next to the door that led into the hall. When he saw her coming he opened the door for her…
"So how did it go," he asked as they walked through the hall back to the lifts.
"I guess it went okay… I got the job," she said causally.
Draco stopped walking, "you got the job and you're this calm?"
"No!" She said excitedly, "I'm so excited, I not only got a job based on my cleverness but it's something I feel strongly about."
She skipped the rest of the way to the lifts. Draco rolled his eyes at this, "I know you're happy but is there really a need to skip."
Hermione sighed, as they stepped into the lift and the door closed, "you really need to lighten up."
He smiled inwardly, "Look who's talking"
Later that night
_THE SIGHLER_
"I can't believe you were promoted to Senior Undersecretary," said Hermione to Percy who sat across from her.
Harry, Hermione, and Percy sat in a booth in Ron's section at the Sighler.
"Yup," said Percy proudly, "Kingsley though I was perfect for the position after he had Umbridge shipped off to prison, the Ministry is undergoing extreme change," he massaged his temples, "these budget cuts are driving me crazy."
"What are you doing with the budget cuts?" Asked Harry
"Well it was originally cut so we could repair Hogwarts. Kingsley believes that the first step to reassuring security in our world is educating our youth. The problem is the school needs a lot of work and we can no longer take money from certain areas…"
"Like the fountain," interjected Harry.
"Exactly, St. Mungo's depends on that money and they were generous enough to let it go to Hogwarts for the summer. Kingsley has put me in charge of the whole save Hogwarts project. I ran into Dean in the lift at the Ministry and he suggested a Charity Quidditch tournament, which is perfect except it won't be enough…" Percy was cut off.
"That's why you're trying to use George's store to make money," said Ron placing menus in front of them, "if you're going to sit here you have to order something."
"It's not just George's store, if you walked past Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions you would have noticed the photos of Moran wearing her robes. I'm trying to get everyone involved," said Percy flipping through his menu.
"Sounds like you're trying to start your campaign to be Minister for Magic," smirked Harry.
"That's not a bad idea," beamed Percy.
Ron took their orders
HEAL'S
_ Tottenham Court Road_
"How may I ask did you find this place?" Draco asked as he watched Ron hopping up and down in an armchair.
"Hermione gave me a list of furniture stores," Ron answered as Draco flipped over the price tag on the chair Ron was currently hopping about in.
Ron and Draco were in the furniture section at Heal's, after work they went to the store. They decided that they should probably furnish their flat. Now was as good a time as any since Ron was hosting a gathering that night. It was ten in the morning, the store had just opened and there was no one in there except them and one of those overzealous shoppers who convinced themselves that if they weren't there when the doors opened everything would be gone.
"There are some others on here as well," Ron pulled the list from his pocket, "Ikea and some joint called Urban Outfitters she says to ignore the clothing and sexually suggestive reading material."
Draco rolled his eyes, "Yes if you ever suggest sex around Granger she may just blush. Whatever but that chair is not coming anywhere near our flat."
"What it's kind of comfortable," he said putting his feet up on the, coordinating footstool.
"It's lime green and covered in scales. This brown one's nice and around two hundred pounds cheaper," he yarned as he sat in the chair across from Ron.
"Looks like something that should be in an old man's house"
"It's sensible, let's just pick something so we can get out of here, you're cutting into my bedtime," he yarned and crossed his arms.
"I bought you a pastry and coffee and you promised not to complain," Ron stood, he went over to the chair Draco was in and took one of the item slips, from the pouch with the price, he grabbed one from the coordinating couch as well.
"Fine, we need to get throw pillows," Draco stood, heading towards the accessories department
"I want one of those fuzzy rugs. They look like they'd feel great between your toes." Draco looked over at Ron oddly
Four throw pillows, one terrible Burgundy shag area rug, extra sheets, a couple of waste baskets, a floor lamp, a pot and a pan, a complete place setting for four, and an extra glass that they would be taking home in pieces in a plastic bag later. Ron and Draco were in the bath section.
"Is that really necessary," Ron watched Draco piling towels into the cart
"Yes," is all he said before pushing the cart on, he tossed in a shower curtain, a toilet bowl brush, and a plunger. Not that he had any intention of cleaning or plunging the toilet himself but he knew a few charms that could get the tools to clean on their own.
"What's with you and towels," wondered Ron
"What's with you and leaving the wet ones on the floor?" He shot back.
"I do not…"
"I slipped across the floor…." They began to bicker
"Oh you did not…."
"Had to grab onto the sink for dear life…."
There bickering was cut off by a sales woman. "Is there something I can help you with," she had curly blonde hair that she had tied at the top of her head, she was plain and simple but not terrible looking, Draco put on his old charm.
"No," Ron began before Draco interrupted him.
"Why yes," he took the furniture slips from Ron's hand, he walked up to the woman. "Lucille," he read her name badge, "what a lovely name."
She half smiled, "Thank you but it's ghastly it's a family name."
"Imagine how I feel, my names Draco," he shook her hand, "and it's not even a family name, it just has me wondering if perhaps my parents were drunk."
She giggled, "it's certainly interesting, what did you need help with," she played with one of the curls in the back of her head that had escaped her knot and eyed Draco.
"We would like these pieces and is it possible to have them delivered today? Perhaps you can recommend a coffee table," he began leading her out of the aisle. "My flat mate has terrible taste, he choose that shag carpet in the cart," she looked over her should and chuckled at the rolled up area rug in the cart before they turned the corner.
Ron rolled his eyes, does he have to pick up women everywhere. He took a couple of the towels out of the cart then followed Malfoy and the sales woman.
(***)
"It's the wide doors, it makes moving into this building much easier," Draco explained to the deliveryman who commented on how the couch fit seamlessly through the door. He didn't need to know Draco enlarged it and charmed the rest of the doors in the building to look as if they were the same.
"More buildings should have this…"
"Especially with the three floor walk up and all," Draco said as he showed the men out, "thanks so much."
"Have a good day," Draco closed the door behind the deliveryman and watched as the door went back to normal size.
"Flirting with them too," Ron said as he rolled the new shag carpet across the living room floor. "I thought you were going to invite them out for a drink."
"Watch it Weasel," Draco said as he helped Ron lift the coffee table to the center of the rug. "My innocent flirtation with Lucille got us her 35% employee discount plus free same day delivery and assembly."
"True," he pulled the plastic off the throw pillows and tossed them across the room onto the couch.
They got the brown leather armchair and coordinating footstool, this rectangle three-section sofa that was made of this smooth brown fabric that was almost the same color as the armchair but most importantly it was on sale. The throw pillows were burgundy, gold, and brown paisley to match the rug. They had originally picked these orange ones but Lucille suggested the paisley to tie in the carpet and they conceal stains better.
"As much fun as this wasn't I'm off to bed," Draco yarned, "some of us still have to work tonight."
_THE FUCKING TRUTH_
It's 8pm and I must apologize that tonight you won't be hearing my voice. You'll have to just enjoy the sounds of your favorite artist. I have places to go and people to see, can you say PARTY! I'll see you guys in the morning… that is if I'm not too hung over. Here's "The Bent Broomsticks", I'm Lee Jordan and you're listening to the Fucking Truth.
Ron turned up the Wireless and the music was blaring, he had finished putting out the food and drinks, any moment now people would start arriving.
"Does the music really have to be that loud," said Draco coming into the living room and leaning on the counter that connects it to the kitchen.
"Oh don't be a party pooper just because you have to go to work," there was a knock at the door and Ron went to answer it.
"Hey! Are we the first ones here?" Asked Parvati as Ron stepped aside to let her Padma and Lavender in
"Yes," Ron was getting ready to close the door…
"Hold up there mate," Dean was coming up the stairs wearing a suit.
"This isn't a formal affair," commented Ron to his attire.
"I know, I came straight from work and I could really use a drink."
Ron closed the door
"Whoa," Dean said fully entering the flat, "did the 60s come back orgies, flower power, women's emancipation," he commented to the far out state of the sitting room, he ran his fingers across the beads hanging from the lamp shade of the floor lamp.
"What?" Padma raised an eyebrow
"I forgot I was the only muggle in the room," said Dean hanging is suit jacket on the back of the armchair Padma was sitting in.
"So this is casa de la Ron and Malfoy," commented Lavender sitting down on the couch.
"You like it?" Asked Draco still leaning against the counter
"Yeah, who picked out the furniture?"
"Lucille," Lavender's looked at him curiously.
"Draco's new girlfriend," Ron said handing Dean a firewhisky
"She's the sales woman from the store," Draco rolled his eyes, "and not my new girlfriend."
"She gave you her number," Ron reasoned
"I don't own a phone."
Dean pulled a mobile out of his pocket and offered it to Malfoy he shook his head no.
"No need to ask about this rug it has Ron written all over," Parvati said as everyone laughed.
"Be that way," Ron's ears began to turn red, "it was on sale," he tried to defend
"Probably because no one wanted it," chuckled Lavender
Dean changed the subject, "Has everyone got their Quidditch Tournament tickets," he asked taking a sip of his drink.
"No, we're waiting for you to give them to us for free," smiled Padma.
"Sorry love but no complementary tickets to anyone for this event, the money is needed," there was another knock on the door and Ron went to answer it.
"Well at least I know someone listens to my show," said Lee to the sounds of his station playing as he and George came into the flat, "I was afraid I was talking to myself."
"Are you kidding, everyone listens to your show. We have it on in the office all the time," stated Dean.
"Personally I prefer, Tilden Toots," commented Draco.
"Well everyone except for Malfoy loves that you tell the fucking truth," added Padma, "Unfortunately we're not allowed to have it on in the IMC (International Magical Corporation Department), but when no one's looking I pull out my portable," she chuckled.
"I'm so glad that I'm able to touch the masses. Now where are the drinks?" He looked around rubbing his hands together
Ron pointed Lee and George in the right direction. There was another knock on the door.
"Hey man I hope you don't mind but I brought these three lovely ladies with me," Harry was indicating Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, and Angelina Johnson.
"Of course not," beamed George stepping into the doorway to see the girls
"Hey Angelina, will you go out with me," called Lee from across the room.
Ron was closing the door when someone put their hand on it to stop him, he opened the door again it was Seamus. He went out into the hall and looked down the stairwell to see if anyone else was coming so he wouldn't have to open the door again.
"Hello Ron!" Luna looked up at him and smiled, she and Neville were coming up the stairs.
He waved and waited for them...
Everyone was eating, drinking, talking, and having a good time. Neville announced his job at the Quibbler he gets to go and search for new plant life and look for the ones that people think are myths. Fortunately no one started dancing and there was this general census that no one could get drunk because they had to be at work in the morning.
_THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC_
It was almost ten o'clock and Hermione was the only person left in the House Elf relocation office. It had been her first day on the job and she felt as if she was already behind. She had no choice but to stop working when she looked at the time she was almost two hours late for Ron's party. She quickly gathered her things and turned out the lights and rushed down the hall. She pushed the button for the lift and when it arrived Percy was already on it.
"Hi," she said stepping in.
"Already working late Hermione and it's only your first day?"
"Yes, I just want to make sure I'm on the same page as everyone else. Are you going to Ron's?" she asked
"Yes, I can only stay for a little while I have to be in early tomorrow," he ran his hand through his hair. "This new position may be the death of me."
"Percy if anyone can handle this it's you," she said as they stepped out of the lift and walked through the Atrium, they took the visitors exit together, once outside Percy extended his arm and Hermione accepted and they side apparated to Ron's house.
"My god this party's really raging," commented Percy as he and Hermione ascended the stairs, you could hear the music on the second floor.
Hermione knocked on the door… there was no answer. She banged on the door.
"Hey!" Said Katie as she opened the door, "Long time no see" She moved to the side so Hermione and Percy could come in. Everyone was sitting around chatting and laughing. George was dancing with a bottle of Firewhisky in one hand and holding Alicia's with the other trying to get her to get up and dance with him.
"How are you guys?" She asked rather loudly over the music.
"Great," Hermione smiled, "Will you excuse me."
She left Percy and Katie talking and went over to Ron who was leaning against the window talking to Seamus. Seamus saw her coming over and excused himself.
"Where have you been," asked Ron leaning in and kissing Hermione.
"Working, I completely lost track of time," she kissed him again. "New furniture?"
"Heal's"
"It's fantastic, far out but fantastic. I'm starving, do you have food?"
"Sorry everyone ate it all," he said taking another sip of his drink.
"You didn't save me any," she hit him in the chest.
He grabbed her hand and kissed her again, "in the fridge, there is an invisibility charm on it so no one would eat it." She smiled at him and kissed him again.
She went over to the kitchen and Seamus went back and continued his conversation with Ron. She opened the fridge door and made her plate of food appear. She smiled at the Ron size portion, there was so much food, she was quite sure he was expecting her to leave some for him. She sat on the counter with the food next to her and heated it up with her wand.
"It's either beer or firewhisky," said Draco coming into the kitchen with a bottle in each hand, "Weaselby didn't exactly get a huge selection."
Hermione rolled her eyes and took the beer. She swallowed her food and took a sip.
"Not adventurous enough to try the firewhisky," Draco smirked.
"I've had firewhisky before, but never the whole bottle but I'm sure that one beer won't get me even the slightest bit tipsy. Unlike you I will not be sleeping tomorrow morning but I'll be at work," She stated firmly.
Draco leaned against the fridge and looked down at his feet, "I have to go to work like…" he looked at his watch, "now. And for your information Granger I have this little hearing to attend in the morning that will decide the fate of the rest of my life." He walked out the front door and apparated to work.
Hermione felt bad for what she said, she had forgotten about the trial and Draco had confided in her…
"Hi Hermione," Padma came into the kitchen, "how's it going."
"Good, I heard you work in the IMC," she said politely.
"Yes, I'm a translator for the Confederation of Wizards, so what has the most clever witch in our year been up?" she asked leaning against the counter opposite Hermione.
She giggled at that comment, "I think you can give me a run for my money," Padma smiled brightly, "I actually just started in the House Elf relocation office."
"Still trying to get people to join SPEW?"
"No, I have found a new way to fight injustice," she took a sip of her beer.
There was a moment of silence…
"What's going on with you and Malfoy?" Asked Padma casually
Hermione almost choked on her food, "Why would you think there's something going on with me and Draco?"
"I may not be boy crazy like my sister but I'm not stupid, I saw you two in here doing your innocent flirting," she smiled slightly.
"I can assure you that nothing is going on between me and Draco. He's Ron's flat mate so we're obviously going to talk to each other. But it's nothing more than that, we're just …"
"We're just what?" Asked Ron coming into the kitchen and starting to eat off Hermione's plate
"We're just going to meet in front of the statue in the atrium for lunch tomorrow," covered Padma, "how's noon for you?"
"Noon is perfect, I'll see you then," Padma left the two in the kitchen alone.
"Sonce whn do yuk hng ou wit pada?" Asked Ron with his mouth full
"Don't talk with your mouth full," ordered Hermione.
Ron swallowed, "Since when do you hang out with Padma?"
"Since today," she yarned.
"Are you going to stay over," asked Ron still eating off Hermione's plate?
"I don't know, let's see how long I can last at this party," she hopped off the counter and grabbed her beer and went out into the living room to mingle.
Around one o'clock in the morning people started to leave and Hermione had decided to stay since she was already asleep on the couch. She had her head on Neville's shoulder he carefully slid out from under her. Ron got a blanket and covered her up. He kissed her on the forehead and went to sleep in his room.
"I've Got You" Mcfly
