Hermione knocked on the door adjoining Jimin's. "Let me know when you're ready. I'll tell Gin we'll meet them down."
"I'm done." He was wearing a hoodie thinking that they will be finalising choreography within the day and needed to be comfortable.
"No tight jeans for today?" She teased.
"Those are for ARMYs." He studied her outfit of jeans and oversized shirt. "Why did you change from this morning's attire?" He teased.
"I thought it might distract the lot of you." She grinned at him.
"I actually agree. We need Jungkook to focus on the choreography."
"He's the naughty one, right?"
"Naughty? He's just a big fan." Jimin just can't stop smiling. "Is Harry joining us for breakfast?" He changed the topic.
"Depends on his schedule at work. Most likely, he'd join us for breakfast. Do you want a formal introduction?"
"Sure."
"Come on then." She motioned for the door leading to the hallway.
On the hallway, they met Ginny and Harry with J-Hope and Jungkook trailing behind them.
"Good morning." Hermione said out loud.
"How are you feeling?" Harry asked.
"I'm better." She noted the dark circles under his eyes. "I'll get RM and Taehyung and then we'll meet you downstairs."
"We'll get Paul and everyone else." Ginny informed her.
Jungkook frowned, wanting to be with Hermione. He caught Jimin's eyes and expressed his irritation while Jimin smiled in return.
Hermione nodded and went to RM's door and buzzed it. "Are you guys up?" She called out.
The door opened with RM pulling Taehyung out the door. "We're ready."
"Shall we?" Hermione led the way immediately followed by Jimin and Taehyung.
"How do you feel, Ms. Granger?" RM was concerned remembering her wound yesterday.
"They healed me. I'm just a little tired." Hermione glanced at him. "You can call me Hermione by the way."
"We were amazed with how you handled the situation yesterday." RM was impressed.
"Well, I think you guys are so talented. The harmonies were so good. Also, Jimin's and Jin's high range were amazing."
"You should watch us in full performance." RM was very proud of his members.
"Namjoon hyung, Yoongi hyung, and Hobi hyung produced and composed many of our songs." Jimin always had high regards for the rappers.
"When I get the chance, I'll watch you front and center." She promised.
"You can tell us when you plan to watch. We'll reserve seats for you." Taehyung promised.
She smiled at him.
They reached the elevator and got in.
...
Hermione directed them to the hotel restaurant that was specifically reserved for them. "I'll talk to you guys later." She found her friends and sat with them while the guys sat with the other members.
"Hey, we ordered for you." Ginny greeted.
"I ate too much cake, I don't think I can take another bite." Hermione looked at all the food.
"Eat." Harry managed to say between bites. "I feel exhausted, you must feel worse."
"Fine." She took a croissant and bit into it.
"Where's Ron?" Ginny searched for her brother.
"He said he had to relieve someone."
Harry rolled his eyes knowing that was a lie. "He'll be back today."
Hermione grinned.
...
"Stop staring at her." Jungkook noticed that Jimin was distracted.
"I'm just in awe at how she can still eat after all of the cake she ate earlier today."
"You two were up and talking earlier?" Taehyung frowned.
"I heard noise coming from her side and saw her getting a slice of cake. I offered to make some tea and we talked a bit." Jimin was careful not to mention her attire.
"Where did she get cake?" Jungkook didn't think the hotel restaurant was open earlier.
"Ron brought it last night."
"You and Hermione seems to be getting comfortable with each other." Taehyung shared his opinion.
"We do share a door." Jimin winked.
"I thought you didn't like her." Jungkook reminded him.
"She's... nice." He added when he saw his friends' disbelief. "She saved me. That changes everything."
"So it's not because of how good she looked with her hair down?" Taehyung started.
"Or how her lips form into a sweet smile?" Jungkook joined in.
"Those are your reasons." Jimin frowned.
"Enlighten us with yours." Taehyung challenged.
"Her eyes. They are very captivating. You feel like she sees into your soul." He paused remembering their discussion earlier. "In the same manner she opens up herself for anyone who cares to look."
"You must've forgotten that you're in a 'relationship'." Jungkook was annoyed that it seemed like Jimin is more familiar with her.
He pursed his lips and ate in silence.
...
Hermione felt nauseated watching her friends feed each other, touch each other and whispered with each other.
She turned to her phone and was pleasantly surprised to see a notification from JM.
JM: Do you want to talk?
JM: I'll call you if you'd give me your number.
JM: I'm here for you.
H: Where are you now?
JM: In a plane to London. The team need us online and gave us free WiFi on board.
H: It's rude to talk on a plane.
JM: I'll be discreet.
H: It's okay. Maybe we can talk in person...
JM: If you're comfortable with that... We can plan it out.
H: I'm still deciding.
JM: We can discuss this more later. I want to know how you are feeling.
H: I just want to curl up in my bed and blast on early Adele songs.
JM: Do you want some advice or do you need someone to just listen?
H: Right now, while I'm on the job I need a distraction. If you are free later, I can open up.
JM: Good thing we'll be on the same timezone.
H: That's a plus.
JM: So, when we meet. Do we bring like a flower so we can know we are each other?
H: I'm not yet convinced that we should meet.
JM: I have time to convince you.
Hermione smiled. She always liked flirting with him. Knowing nothing could come from it.
H: What about color coordination instead of flowers?
JM: I hope I brought enough colors.
H: Yellow?
She was convinced this would deter him from agreeing to meet up.
JM: I think I can get a hold of that color.
H: Wow. I haven't met a man who would readily have yellow in his closet.
JM: Well, you'll meet one soon.
H: I'm really shocked at how confident you are. Just to manage your expectations, I am just standard looking. Beautiful is never used as a description of me.
JM: I am not shallow. I hope you're not one too. I may be confident but I am definitely not European. You might not appreciate how I look.
H: I am not shallow. As long as you're taller than me, there wouldn't be an issue and I'm just a couple of inches from 5'
JM: I'm so glad I passed that condition.
H: Be honest, are you a man?
JM: I'd send a photo if you want.
H: No, don't.
Too late, a notification to download the photo prompted from her phone. She opened it, holding her breath and laughed. It was a group of people that looked like it was taken during a wrap up from a concert. She examined it and easily noticed Taehyung, Jimin and Jungkook on the front. Behind them were numerous men and women posed with a finger heart.
JM: Did you get it?
H: You will be working with this group?
JM: Yeah. They are a big deal in our country.
H: Who are you among these guys? This phot doesn't prove anything, there are women in the background.
JM: Just hold on to the photo and compare me in person.
H: I'll search this in the Internet to check if you used stockphotos or are claiming other people photos.
JM: Like I'm trying to use the popularity of BTS to wow you?
H: You already wowed me by how you 'talk' with me. I'm not drawn to popularity.
JM: I'll believe you. BTW, I sent you a photo, shouldn't I receive one as well?
H: I still have to check the authenticity of your photo and have one taken with a huge group like the one you sent.
JM: Did you know, these FAs are so good to me, they are giving me free stuff. There's this one who keeps on smiling at me.
H: Are you trying to make me feel jealous?
JM: Are you? I haven't flirted back at her, because we are supposed to meet...
H: I give you my permission to flirt back. Though, are you sure you are not mistaking their required hospitality with flirting?
JM: I would like to see you jealous in person. Would your eyes glare, or would your lips pout or would your face be flushed with irritation.
H: If I say all of the above, what would you think?
JM: I'd probably kiss you to lessen your fears or insecurities.
Hermione bit her lower lip. She raised her head from her phone and saw Ginny grinning.
H: I have to go. Tell me if you were successful with flirting with the FA.
She hid her phone and looked to her friend. "What?"
"I noticed you kept on looking at your phone. Is it a guy?" Her eyes widened. "A muggle guy?"
Harry coughed. "You're seeing someone?"
"Why is that shocking for you? Ron is dating somebody else." Hermione was irked by the double standard.
He raised his hand in defeat. "I'll get Ron back. You obviously need to rest."
...
Hermione rounded up Jimin, RM and Taehyung. "We've set up another suite by removing some furnitures so you can work on choreography."
"The three Js will deal with the choreo. Everyone else will rehearse their parts in the songs." RM gave his instructions.
'Three Js?' Hermione looked to Ginny for clarification.
"J-Hope, Jimin and Jungkook." Ginny mouthed.
"Okay, we'll rest for 30mins and I'll come get the three Js."
Jimin and Jungkook smiled at each other.
...
Hermione reached her room and decided to lie on the sofa and close her eyes for a while. Only it was already 15 minutes from the agreed call time.
Jimin knocked on their shared door. "Hermione?" He entered the room when he didn't get a response. He was worried that she was hurt or needed help.
He looked to the living room area and found her sleeping soundly. He sat on the floor next to the sofa watching the rising and falling of her chest. 'She's just sleeping.' He breathed a sigh of relief.
'Should I wake her?' He has an irrational feeling of wanting to keep her to himself.
She shifted her head and a few tendrils fell on her face.
Instinctively, he used his pinky and softly moved the hair strands out of her face earning him a soft sigh. He couldn't help but smile. He continued to stare when he heard his phone beep. He frantically brought it out and answered the call. "I'll be there. I was just checking on Hermione." He ended the call and as he stood from the floor he saw her eyes open. 'Crap.'
She shifted and stretched. When her eyes focused she stood up quickly from the sofa. "How long was I asleep?" She straightened her clothes and ran her hand through her hair.
"You looked tired. I didn't want to wake you up." Jimin explained why he was there.
"I'm sorry. This is inexcusable." She was hard on herself because she usually was a light sleeper. She trained to be a light sleeper in order to have a quick reaction in case of an ambush or attack. She really was tired.
"You're exhausted. You deserve to rest." Jimin tried to appease her guilt.
"I need Ron." She pulled out her phone to message Harry.
Mione: Where's Ron? I'm blacking out from exhaustion.
H: He's with your team, they're checking on leads. I'll have him there immediately.
She put away her phone and smiled at Jimin. "Let's go?"
"Let's get Hobi hyung and Jungkook." Jimin reminded her.
"Of course." She led Jimin out and to the rest of the 3Js.
...
Hermione watched as Jimin performed the moves suggested by J-Hope. Both J-Hope and Jungkook watch intently checking if the steps connected well.
"Join Jiminie." J-Hope instructed Jungkook to see how the steps looked, if the hand position should be adjusted. "5, 6, 7, 8" The three of them started humming their song.
Hermione was impressed by the three of them. Jimin was so willing to perform the same steps multiple times until J-Hope was satisfied. Very similar to how she practiced for casting spells.
She fidgeted with her hair as she suddenly became dizzy.
"Someone ordered a backup Auror?" Ron finally arrived and sat next to Hermione.
She smiled at him. He noticed that something was wrong, she looked tired. "Rest. He whispered in her ear."
She did not fight. She leaned her head on his shoulder but he held her on place. He turned to his side and crossed his legs. He tapped his legs, "Put your head here." She obediently followed his instructions. He removed his jacket and draped it on her body. "I got this." He assured her.
It didn't take long before she nodded off to sleep.
Jimin watched uncomfortably as Hermione slept on his legs.
Jungkook subconsciously bared his teeth.
J-Hope, confused by the disruption from the other members turned to the cause. He walked to a bedroom and pulled out a couple of pillows. "She'd be more comfortable with these. Or we can move her to a bed."
"Who's going to wake her? She gets violent when someone disrupts her sleep." Ron informed them.
"I can carry her to the bed." Jungkook moved closer.
"I'm not letting any of you touch her. She's your Auror, you are her charges. No one is to cross that line." Ron's voice became louder with every step that Jungkook made.
"Back in formation." J-Hope ordered, embarrassed with Ron's insinuation.
Hermione rolled to her side, her back facing the rehearsing members.
Jungkook licked his lips inwardly while Jimin sighed softly.
"Guys, let's focus." J-Hope clapped his hands to get their attention.
...
Hermione woke a couple of hours when her makeshift pillow moved. "What time is it?
"Sorry, my legs fell asleep." He pulled her up to sit on his lap. He needed to stretch his legs out.
Hermione missed his strong arms that easily carried her around. She turned her face to smile at him.
Jimin caught the intimate moment the couple shared. 'She obviously still have feelings for him.'
Hermione's phone buzzed. She pulled it out and read the message. She stood and announced, "Lunch break."
Ron stood next to her. "I'll bring you some food, you can rest in your room."
"I'll be fine."
"One more run." Jimin wasn't pleased with the results. J-Hope nodded in agreement.
"You go ahead and eat with Gin. I'll stay with them." Ron offered.
Hermione glanced to the 3Js and saw how passionate they were to getting a portion of their choreography right. "Jimin is so fluid." She could see how he hit the steps differently. With Jungkook, he hits them hard, Jimin connects the different movements with each other with the same intensity.
Ron nodded, not really caring.
"You should see him dance with music. He adds a special flavor depending on the rhythm." J-Hope showed how proud he is of his member.
"I'm more curious about you. Jimin has expressed his admiration of you." Hermione knew since he was the lead dancer and choreographer, he must be good.
"Oh, I'm just good." J-Hope deflected the attention.
Hermione smiled. She admitted to herself that she was slowly becoming an ARMY.
...
After the meal, Hermione excused herself and went to her room. She was still tired and she had to take advantage of Ron's presence.
When she reached her room, she went to lie on her bed. She closed her eyes and pictured herself last night lying next to Ron. How she longed to be enveloped in his embrace. A tear escaped her eye.
She fumbled for her phone and started typing.
H: JM?
H: Have you landed?
She waited a few minutes for a response until sleep took over.
...
Hermione woke up to the sound of her door opening. She grabbed her wand and turned to the intruder who was Ron grinning down at her.
"Are you up for dinner?" Ron sat down beside her.
"I thought I just ate?" She glance at her phone and saw the time and groaned.
"How do you feel?"
"A lot better."
"Good." He stood up and offered his hand to pull her out of bed. "I don't think I can stay longer. They're going to give Veritaserum to the mercenary and I want to be there."
"Shouldn't I be there?"
"Your little puppies would be lost without you." He teased.
"Puppies?"
"They've been asking about you a lot. Haven't you notice the puppy-dog eyes?
"Jungkook?" He's harmless.
"Yeah, Jungkook." Ron said incredulously. He knew she could be insensitive to other men's interests but he can easily spot them. This is something that contributed to their breakup.
"You sound sarcastic." She frowned. She wondered if he meant someone else aside from Jungkook.
He shrugged and kissed the top of her head and stood to leave.
"You'll update me?" She called out to him, though it sounded more like an instruction than a question.
"Yeah." He answered out before closing the door.
Hermione stood from her bed and stretched. She then left the room and walked towards the shared door. She opened it slightly and scanned inside. She heard three familiar voices. She silently walked in.
"It feels like we'll be trapped in this hotel." Taehyung complained.
"I'm pretty sure Hermione will think of something." Jimin reassured them.
"Since you are her roommate and you can come to her anytime you like, I don't think you would have any complaints."Jungkook argued.
"I'm in a relationship." Jimin frowned.
"So you say."
"Yet, none of us have met her yet." Taehyung interjected.
"Never thought that guys also gossip." Hermione teased.
The three men looked to her slightly embarrassed not sure of how much she heard.
"Let me know where you want to go and we'll determine the risks and how we can make it happen." She smiled at them. "For now, you guys need to eat." She motioned for the door.
The three men started filing out the door when Jimin turned around to check on her. "Are you feeling better?"
"I'm fine." She smiled. "I'll talk with the team if they're confident with going out in public."
"Some of them are getting claustrophobic." He grinned.
She frowned from the buzzing of her phone.
"Is something wrong?" Jimin was concerned by her frown.
Hermione pulled it out and saw multiple notifications. She only opened the one from Ginny.
G: 'Do you need me to look after Jimin?'
H: 'I'm coming down for dinner.'
"Nothing to be worried about." She put her phone in her pocket.
He studied her face and nodded.
"Let's go?"
He nodded.
...
When they reached the floor, Jimin tugged at her shirt. "Join our table?"
"I have to discuss with the team about your schedule and other requests." She saw notifications from her phone that she wanted to answer. She'd have more privacy with the Aurors.
She watched Jimin sit with J-Hope before taking a sit across from Ginny.
"Glad, you're up and about." Ginny smiled at her friend.
"Any news from Harry?"
"Not yet. I heard there's an issue with the enquiry."
Hermione nodded at the information. "The guys want to go out. Maybe we can do incognito?" Hermione started.
"I'll check with Harry on how many he can spare."
Hermione gave a knowing look at her friend. She then pulled out her phone.
JM: I did. Did you want something? Do you already want to meet?
JM: Are you there?
JM: I hope you're okay.
H: Sorry for the late reply. I was a bit busy.
JM: We're just settling in. Maybe tomorrow I could find time to leave the group for a bit?
H: You'll be staying in the same hotel as the rest of the staff?
JM: Yes. I really am excited to get a chance to see you.
H: Did you get together with that FA?
JM: I love it when you're jealous.
H: I just want to check if she'd offer you a tour or should I give you a recommendation?
JM: I'll be really swamped. We'll go to the locations and plan out the size of the stage. Also figure out if their props will be feasible so we can give recommendations to the artist about possible change in choreography.
H: Seems like a tough job.
JM: But...
H: Yes?
JM: If I do get some time to myself and I wanted a tour...
H: I'll find someone for you.
JM: I'd want it from you.
H: If you came another time, I'd probably consider it. But I have this project that I can't leave.
JM: How about coffee? The hotel has a cafe.
H: I heard that the security's tight there because of the BTS.
JM: I'll find some ways.
JM: Anyway, did you want to tell me something?
H: People are staring at me. Let's talk tomorrow.
JM: Since we're in the same time zone, we can talk later before sleeping?
H: I thought you'd be too tired from the plane.
JM: I guess you are right.
H: Until tomorrow.
JM: Tomorrow.
Hermione put her phone down and turned her attention to the people on her table. "We should resume with following their schedule."
"Tomorrow's schedule is shopping with their endorsements." Ginny noted.
"That's going to be a nightmare." Paul commented.
"On the contrary, these high-end shops have top tier security. It'll be like infiltrating Gringotts without the Goblins." Ginny argued.
"The media and paparazzo is what I'm worried about." Hermione turned to the members who were laughing and teasing each other. "These people have large personalities that naturally attracts their surroundings."
"We're only supposed to protect them from danger." Paul pointed out.
Hermione saw Ginny roll her eyes. "You and Ginny focus on that. I'll handle the media if needed."
"So, we're going out tomorrow?" Ginny looked excited.
"Harry's made aware?" Hermione wanted full support.
"Yes." Ginny smiled.
Hermione went to her charges. "Tomorrow, we'll fulfill your brand ambassador duties. There'll be additional events managers but Paul, Ginny and I will still be your main managers. J-Hope will not leave Ginny's side and Jimin, you're stuck with me." She winked at him. "You can have your staff go out for a bit as well."
Taehyung hit Jimin's head from the back. Jungkook looked disappointed.
"If that's the case, everyone should rest earlier. There's going to be multiple opportunities for media coverage. We shouldn't disappoint ARMY." with RM's instruction, the members stood from their table and filed to the door. Jimin waited for Hermione.
"Thank you." He said sincerely after the room emptied.
"Tomorrow, I'm only going to focus on you. If you want to go somewhere, you tell me. You better not ditch me or I swear, I will cuff you to myself." She warned.
"Were you this way to Ron?" He teased.
She understood his meaning, "I'm usually the one cuffed."
He laughed nervously. "That's something I'd pay to see."
"You wouldn't be able to afford it." She arched an eyebrow.
"I have a black card." He offered.
"Money is not the currency."
"What is it?"
"Your dignity." She winked at him.
"Have you not watched any of our Run episodes?"
"No. Not really."
"We've all lost our dignity at one episod or another."
"Show me later." Her remarked earned a mischievous smirked from him.