Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges at the bottom.

Word Count - 520

Warning for a single sentence of… probable inappropriateness

Shovel Talk

Harry put the beers down on the table, smiling at his friends. They were being very cute. Unsurprising, considering they'd only got engaged a few days before, but still, it made him happy to see them so happy.

"So, are we going to be introduced to the boyfriend today?"

Harry rolled his eyes, but his smile remained. Ron had been trying to figure out who Harry's boyfriend was for weeks. It had turned into something of a game between the two of them, though Harry wasn't actively trying to hide anything.

It was just… better to keep things private, until he knew if things were going to work. The press still harassed him quite a lot, even years after the war was over.

In fact, he would've told Ron and Hermione who he was dating almost immediately if Ron hadn't turned it into a game of guess who.

"He's going to try and meet us here when he finishes work," Harry confirmed. He was a little nervous about it. Going public with a relationship was never fun, and this would be even harder. "What have you two been up to? Made any wedding plans yet?"

Ron beamed and nodded, while Hermione shook her head at him. "Ron seems to think that orange is an acceptable colour for the colour scheme. I'm still trying to convince him that it's really not."

"It's already part of the scheme mate, all your family will be there, with the hair."

Hermione snorted, but Ron looked thoughtful. "That's not a bad point."

He had a twinkle in his eye that made Harry realise that he'd been teasing Hermione. He'd never actually had any inclination to have Orange in the scheme. Harry shook his head. When would she learn never to trust that twinkle?

They filled a couple of hours talking happily, being them in a way that they didn't get to do as often now that they were all bonafide adults and had jobs and homes and other things to pull their attention away.

Ron's wide eyes and Hermione's quiet gasp were the only clues Harry had before hands landed on his shoulders. He twisted his neck to look up at who was manhandling him and smiled widely when he saw who it was.

"You made it," he murmured, grinning.

Kingsley bent down to press a kiss to Harry's cheek. "Another round?"

Harry nodded, and Kingsley squeezed his shoulders before he let go, maneuvering around the many tables and people to the bar.

"You… You… You're shagging the Minister!" Ron spluttered, making Harry blush and Hermione laugh. "You utter dog, Harry!"

"Ron," Harry chided.

"Okay, okay, but no wonder I didn't guess right, Merlin!"

Hermione was watching him with a small smile. "I can see how that would work," she said quietly, looking over his shoulder at Kingsley for a moment. "I imagine he understands you more than most would."

"It… it's going well so far," Harry replied. "He… he makes me happy."

Ron grinned, then paled.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrow.

"How do I give the Minister For Magic a shovel talk?"

Written for;

Disney - S3 - Friendship fic

Book Club - Linus - Boyfriend / Smiling / Beer