Chapter 13

14 July 2003

Hermione came through the Floo into Padma's flat still annoyed about her run-in with Ron. She siphoned the ash off her clothes and sighed before sitting down on the couch with Padma.

"Something wrong?" Padma asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I ran into Ron in Diagon Alley just now," Hermione said. "It wasn't pleasant."

Padma grimaced.

"You wouldn't happen to have any old Daily Prophets lying around, would you?" Hermione asked.

"Yesterday's probably, maybe the day before, why?"

"I just thought it might help me to know what happened after the war and with Ron and the other me." Hermione didn't want to waste the little time she had with Padma talking about Ron but she was extremely curious. Especially after what Kingsley had said yesterday about Megan Jones.

She looked over at Padma again. "Ron got his matches yesterday."

"Ron told you?"

Hermione shook her head. "Kingsley apparently asked that he be informed so he could tell me before there were any public announcements." She paused. "One of them was Megan Jones."

The look on Padma's face told Hermione there was definitely a story there. "You obviously have some idea what happened."

Padma sighed. "Ron started publicly dating her only a couple of days after the two of you broke things off. Well, the other you, at any rate. There was rampant speculation that he'd been dating her before the break-up."

Hermione was honestly surprised by that. Yes, Ron could be a complete prat but she'd never taken him for a cheater. Of course, this was a different Ron.

"That surprises you," Padma said, not voicing it as a question.

"Honestly? Yes. Don't get me wrong, the Ron in my world can, and has been, a colossal prat at times but that's not something I would have ever expected."

"Did the two of you date in your world?"

Hermione nodded. "Still are, actually. Although, even before I jumped, I'd decided it was likely time to end things. It's just not working anymore. Sometimes I wonder if it really ever did. Maybe I was just forcing something that never should have happened in the first place."

Padma gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Enough of that," Hermione said. "There's something else I wanted to ask you." She pulled the parchment with the other Hermione's schedule from the pocket of her robes. "I need to know who these people are and what I might be meeting with them about. I know that Bertram Dankworth is the head of St. Mungo's."

Padma took the parchment from her. "Evelyn Smythe runs the magical orphanage that was opened after the war. I'm guessing you'd be talking to her about charity work there. Unless you and the Minister are planning to adopt a child."

"Under the marriage law, can you adopt instead of having children?"

"Only if one of you can't have children or if you're in a same-sex relationship. And even then, they encourage surrogacy. Of course, anyone can apply to adopt a child or children from the orphanage as well but the law was intended to increase the magical population so they want those babies too." She rolled her eyes then looked back at the parchment.

"Alistair Wright is a solicitor." She looked up at Hermione. "You're thinking about going into law?"

"I have no idea," Hermione said. "I'm an Unspeakable, remember?"

"Right, it's just, I can see you doing that. Or the other Hermione, I guess."

Truthfully, Hermione could see it too. For herself, anyway.

"And this last one, I'm not sure. But I've seen this name somewhere." Padma's brow furrowed in thought. "Hold on a tick."

She stood and left the room, walking down the corridor to her bedroom. Hermione heard her rummaging around for a few minutes, then Padma returned to the front room with a business card in her hand. She handed it to Hermione.

"I knew I'd seen it. She's an editor. Ernie has worked with her before."

"What does Ernie do?"

"He's a copy editor for Obscurus Books."

"The other Hermione is thinking about writing a book?" Hermione said in surprise. She'd never even considered it really.

Padma shrugged. "I mean, there have been plenty of books written about the war but no first-hand accounts."

"I can't imagine wanting to relive all of that again."

"Maybe it's something else then," Padma said. "Some of the textbooks at Hogwarts haven't been updated in years."

Hermione nodded and handed the card back to Padma. At least she knew whom she was dealing with now. Sort of.

"You intend to be here for all of these meetings, I assume?" Padma said.

"That depends on what we figure out," Hermione said. "As much as I don't like having to pretend and try to navigate a world I'm not familiar with, it makes no sense to just keep jumping when I know I'm not going to get home. I could do that for the rest of my life and never land back in my own universe."

Padma nodded. "What do you want to know about the war?"

"Things have been a bit different in every universe I've been in," Hermione said. "The war has always ended the same, but some people that died in my world, survived in others. In one, the Ministry was particularly suspicious of children of Death Eaters, even if they weren't Marked themselves, to the point of continuing to harass them even five years later. Here, I've already discovered the Remus and Tonks Lupin are still alive, as is Colin Creevey. I was so taken aback when Harry mentioned Remus and Tonks that I almost burst into tears at the Ministry party. I'd just like to know so I'm not taken by surprise. But I also know that your time is limited so I didn't want to spend it talking about this. That's why I asked about the Prophet."

"I've got something you should see," Padma said. She rose once again and crossed the room to a small chest that sat on one of the bookshelves. Opening it, she took something out and then returned to Hermione.

It looked like a small pamphlet but when Hermione looked at the cover, she realized it was a program from a memorial service.

"It's from the first anniversary ceremony after the war," Padma said. She hugged a throw pillow to her chest. "All the names are in there. There's a list from the first war and then the second."

Hermione bit her lip, then opened the program, not really wanting to see it but knowing she needed to. She scanned down the list from the first war, most of the names familiar to her and seeming to be the same as in her world. When she turned to the second list, however, things were different. First off, there were many more names on the list than Hermione knew had died in her world. It was a bit shocking how many more. Hermione had also hoped that Remus, Tonks, and Colin being alive didn't mean that others were dead instead, but she was wrong.

Seamus Finnegan was on the list, as was Andromeda Tonks. Both of whom were alive and well in her world. Hermione had no idea why Andromeda would have even been there. Had she convinced Tonks to stay with Teddy and gone in her daughter's place?

When she saw Percy Weasley's name right below Fred's, Hermione's breath left her. The Weasleys had lost two sons? That had likely contributed to Ron's demeanor here. Losing one brother had been hard enough on him. She couldn't imagine what it would have been like if he'd lost two.

He'd been angry after the war about Fred's death. They'd even broken up for a short time because Ron had felt that he needed to figure out how to deal with the anger instead of inevitably taking it out on Hermione. She'd been rather impressed with his maturity if she were honest. The break-up hadn't lasted long, only six months or so, and she'd been back at Hogwarts so it wasn't like she would have been seeing him every day anyway. When they'd reconciled, he had been a much different person. Still grieving Fred, of course, but not lashing out anymore.

But if the Ron of this universe had lost two brothers, well, Hermione wasn't surprised by the amount of anger he still seemed to be carrying around inside him. Perhaps he blamed her in some way, given they were all there when Fred and Percy were killed, if it had happened the same way here. Hermione knew that her Ron had partly blamed himself for not reacting quicker when the wall fell on Fred. And if this Ron had affairs, that was likely part of it too. Knowing herself, Hermione would have likely stayed and tried to help him. She wondered who had broken things off in the end.

Turning back to the list, the next name brought her immediately to tears. Her breath hitched and she ran her finger over it before looking up at Padma. "Luna?"

Padma nodded, her own eyes glassy. "When you mentioned her in the café, what she'd told you in the last universe, that's when I believed you. The other Hermione would never use Luna in a story like that if it weren't true."

"What happened?"

"The other you, Ginny, and Luna were dueling Bellatrix Lestrange during the Final Battle. Lestrange shot the Killing Curse at Ginny but it missed. Molly Weasley came charging in, screaming at Lestrange and they dueled. Mrs. Weasley eventually killed her but no one realized at first that while the curse had missed Ginny, it had hit Luna. Luna had tripped and fallen just as Lestrange cast the curse and she fell into its path."

"Oh, god," Hermione said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "We dueled Bellatrix in my world and Molly did kill her for trying to kill Ginny but Luna never fell like that. I can't, I can't believe it."

The two sat in silence as Hermione stared at Luna's name. She couldn't imagine any universe without Luna in it. The guilt that this Hermione must feel. Hermione knew she would if it had happened in her world.

And what about Ginny? She and Luna had been very close in Hermione's world. They'd known each other since they were children and had led the D.A. with Neville while Hermione, Harry, and Ron had been Horcrux hunting. Ginny must have been even more devastated knowing the curse had been meant for her.

"I'm sorry," Padma said. "I knew this would upset you."

"No, I needed to know," Hermione said, attempting to compose herself. "Can you imagine if I had asked anyone about her?" Hermione had already mentioned people without knowing for sure if they were still alive, like Minerva. She made a mental note not to do that if she ended up in some other universe before she got home.

Padma nodded, then glanced at the clock on the mantel. "I don't have much longer, unfortunately. We'll have to plan another meeting."

Hermione sighed. She had no idea how to explain this to Kingsley. Not to mention Padma had Ernie and Sam to think about.

"I've got an idea," Padma said. "Do you have the device with you?"

"Yes," Hermione said and pulled the box from an inside pocket of her robes.

"Let me take photographs and I'll work on it for a couple of days. Can we meet again at lunch on Thursday?"

Hermione glanced down at her schedule. She had the meeting with Alistair Wright on Thursday at two. She'd have plenty of time to meet with Padma and still get to her meeting on time.

"All right," she agreed.

"And if you need anything in the meantime, just let me know," Padma said. "I'll figure out something to tell Ernie."

"Thanks, Padma."

When Hermione had returned home, she debated asking Jinx about old copies of the Daily Prophet but decided against it in the end. She couldn't be sure that the elf wouldn't mention it to Kingsley and Hermione had no idea how she would explain it. She'd gotten enough information from Padma to be able to function in this universe, so she left it alone for now. And honestly, she didn't really need to read speculation about Ron's infidelity. He obviously wasn't part of this Hermione's life.

Instead, she'd spent the rest of the afternoon in the library looking for any information that might help with the Universe hopper. There really wasn't anything, the library wasn't overly large, but Hermione had found quite a few books that she was interested in reading. Given she wasn't working right now, nor was she able to meet with Padma whenever she liked, she was going to have to find something to fill her free time or she'd go mad.

She had pulled out the book on Healing that she'd purchased, as well as a couple of others she'd found in Kingsley's library and read through all of them in preparation for her meeting at St. Mungo's tomorrow, curled up in an overstuffed armchair near a window. Jinx had served her tea in the library and it was where Kingsley found her when he returned from work just before supper.

She smiled as she looked up at him. "Long day?"

"You have no idea," he said with a sigh, settling into the chair next to hers. He glanced at the small stack of books on the table between them. "Preparing for your meeting tomorrow?"

"Yes," Hermione said, sitting up and stretching. She had changed into jeans and a t-shirt when she'd returned from Padma's and she didn't miss Kingsley's gaze flick to the small strip of skin she exposed above her waistband when she stretched. She blushed slightly and he cleared his throat.

"How was your shopping this morning?"

Hermione hesitated. She should tell Kingsley about what happened with Ron. If for no other reason than to avoid having to explain why she didn't tell him if it ended up in the press. She hadn't seen anyone around but she had no idea what Rita Skeeter's status was in this world. Or any other reporter who might be an illegal Animagus for that matter.

She apparently stalled too long because Kinsley frowned, looking concerned. "Did something happen?"

"Nothing important."

"Hermione," he said warning in his tone.

She sighed. Damn Auror instincts. "I ran into Ron."

She saw Kingsley immediately tense and she wondered if there had been other incidents she wasn't aware of.

"And?"

"And nothing. He acted like an arsehole and I put him in his place."

"Explain please."

She sighed again. "After I left Flourish and Blotts, I decided to take a stroll down the Alley, do some window shopping. I ran into him in front of the twins' shop. He accused me of 'hanging about' trying to get him change his mind about marrying him." She rolled her eyes. "I told him I was much better off and that pretty much anyone would have been a better match for me than him. Then I left."

"I knew I should have sent an Auror with you," Kingsley said.

Hermione bristled at that. "I don't need a guard, Kingsley. I can handle Ron."

"You shouldn't have to," he growled, getting to his feet and beginning to pace.

Hermione rolled her eyes again. Merlin save her from overprotective men. Like Ron Weasley could ever best her in a duel. Still, she owed Kingsley the entire story, she knew she did. She just wasn't looking forward to his reaction.

"In the interest of full disclosure, in case someone that I didn't notice was watching and makes it out to be something that it wasn't, he did grab my arm at one point."

"What?" Kingsley asked, voice low and dangerous. He looked furious.

"He didn't hurt me," Hermione assured him. "And he let go when I told him to." He hadn't done so immediately, but she wasn't about to tell Kingsley that. "I'm fine."

"I think I need to have a chat with Ron," Kingsley growled.

Hermione's eyes narrowed and she jumped up herself. "No, you do not. There's nothing to chat about. I told you what happened and it's over. Yes, Ron was a prat but that's nothing new."

"He cannot assault you, Hermione! You're my wife!"

"Firstly, he didn't assault me. And second, I am not a possession!"

"I never said you were! But I bloody well have every right to be angry if someone puts their hands on you without your permission!"

They stood there fuming at one another. Kingsley looked like he was ready to murder Ron. Hermione willed herself to calm down. Screaming at one another wasn't going to solve anything. She took a breath and blew it out before looking back at Kingsley.

"I wasn't assaulted. I understand why you're angry but it was nothing more than a disagreement between two people that used to be friends."

She felt a pang of sadness at that. It was obvious that this Hermione and Ron weren't friends any longer. She wondered how long that had been the case if what Padma had said about Ron having an affair was true. "And the very last thing we need is the Minister of Magic getting into a duel with his wife's ex-boyfriend."

"I didn't say I would use my wand," Kingsley said darkly.

Hermione took a step towards Kingsley and laid a hand on his arm. "I'm fine. Ron is a prat but he's never physically hurt me. He wouldn't."

Kingsley stared down at her before startling her by pulling her into his arms, holding her tightly. She realized that his anger had been a mask for the fear he felt that something might happen to her. She knew it had more to do with the fact that she was the wife of the Minister of Magic than her run-in with Ron. She'd never thought about the fact that she might truly be in danger from whatever enemies he might have. Or her own, come to that.

Hermione wrapped her arms around his middle and returned the embrace. After a few moments, he relaxed, then kissed the top of her head and released her. "I'm sorry for my outburst. Ron Weasley is a…touchy subject."

"I know," she said, smiling up at him. They were still rather close together. "But like I told you yesterday, Ron's business is his own. He has no place in my life anymore."

He stared down at her. "I'm glad to hear that."

Hermione hadn't realized that she'd stepped closer to him, their bodies nearly touching once more. The silence lengthened as she looked up at him.

"I came to tell you that supper is nearly ready," Kingsley said, his voice gravelly.

"Is it?" she said, her voice barely more than whisper.

"Yes," Kingsley said, head lowering a fraction.

"Kingsley." It was more a plea than anything else and Hermione surged up on her toes as he gripped her around the waist and kissed her.

Kissing Neville had been amazing, but kissing Kingsley was pure heat and want and a million other things that Hermione couldn't put into words. Her arms wound around his neck and Kingsley pulled her impossibly close. He did nothing short of devour her. It was a good thing that he had a hold of her so tightly because Hermione thought that her legs might have given out at some point.

She felt as if they'd been standing there snogging for hours, although surely it had only been a few minutes, when a small chime sounded in the room. Kingsley pulled his mouth away from hers and stared down at her, both of them panting and still locked in each other's embrace.

"Supper is ready," he said.

"Right," Hermione replied, still trying to catch her breath. Food was the very last thing on her mind at the moment.

"We should go before Jinx comes looking for us."

"Right," she said again. She was so very eloquent this evening.

Kingsley smiled at her and tucked a curl behind her ear. Then he grasped her hand and kissed her knuckles before tucking it into his arm, leading her from the library towards the dining room.

Hermione was surprised that she could walk to be honest. She was surprised she could do anything coherent after that kiss. A kiss that a day ago she had told herself wouldn't happen while she was here. The same laughing voice that she'd heard then echoed once again in her head. Hermione had a feeling that she was not completely in charge of her own actions. Merlin, she was in trouble.

Supper was awkward. Hermione concentrated on her food but every so often she would glance up at Kingsley and inevitably be caught. Hermione didn't think she'd blushed this much since she was a fourth year and Viktor had made it his personal mission to make her blush as often as possible. But she wasn't fifteen anymore and she was being ridiculous. Still, she couldn't seem to stop.

When supper had finally ended, she excused herself to her room, saying she wanted to finish looking through the Healing books she'd been reading in the library. Kingsley asked Jinx to fetch them from the library and insisted on walking her back to her suite.

When they reached the door to her sitting room, Kingsley stopped and turned towards her. "I overstepped."

"You didn't," Hermione insisted. She had practically begged him to kiss her after all.

"You're uncomfortable and that's the last thing I want."

"I'm not it's just," she trailed off and tried to decide how to explain it. There was no way to explain it, that was the problem. "I think I just need a bit more time."

Kingsley smiled at her. "I understand. I promised you that I wouldn't push you into anything and I meant that."

Gods, he was such a gentleman. Hermione felt horrible because she suspected that the other her wouldn't have complained at all. In fact, she thought that the other her might just have kept Kingsley in the library, Jinx and supper be damned. Hermione had certainly thought about it.

"Sleep well. I will see you in the morning." Kingsley squeezed her hand before letting it go.

Before he could turn away, Hermione grasped his arm and went up on her toes to kiss the corner of his mouth. It was like she couldn't stop herself.

He closed his eyes as her lips lingered for a few seconds. She heard him take a ragged breath as she pulled away.

"Good night," she whispered before stepping into her sitting room and closing the door behind her. She rested her forehead against the door and heard his quiet 'good night', then his retreating footsteps as he walked back towards his study.

Merlin, she was so fucked.

15 July 2003

Hermione made her way to the fifth floor of St. Mungo's and Bertram Dankworth's office. She had to admit that she was a bit nervous, given that she had no idea if her other self had already spoken to Healer Dankworth, and if so, what about. And Hermione honestly had no interest in being a Healer or a Mediwitch. If the other Hermione did, though, she supposed she owed it to her to present herself well in this meeting.

Thoughts of Kingsley and their kiss had plagued her dreams, as well as her thoughts last night and this morning. She hadn't read even one page of the books on Healing that Jinx had brought her from the library. She'd tried but every time she'd opened a book, her thoughts had drifted to Kingsley instead. Hermione was more convinced than ever that her other self had some semblance of control of things. Maybe even more than she had when she was in the last universe with Neville. Hermione wondered why that was.

Finally, she had taken a shower and crawled into bed, hoping sleep would help. Instead, she'd simply dreamed about Kingsley throughout the night. And there was nothing innocent about the dreams either. At one point, she had woken and thought seriously about going to Kingsley's bedroom. She'd managed not to, but it was a near thing.

Shoving those thoughts from her mind, Hermione greeted Healer Dankworth's receptionist and followed the woman to his office. She pulled in a breath and put a smile on her face as the man stood to greet her.

"Mrs. Shacklebolt, how lovely to see you."

"Thank you, sir," Hermione replied as he shook her hand. He ushered her into a chair in front of his desk.

"So, you are considering becoming a Healer?"

"Possibly," Hermione said. "Can you tell me a bit about the program?"

"Of course," Healer Dankworth said. He began a long-winded explanation about Healer training, as well as Mediwitch training. Three years of coursework and training, plus two of supervised work in hospital for Healers and two years of coursework and training plus one year of supervised work in hospital to become a Mediwitch. It wasn't until he mentioned something about research that Hermione perked up.

"Research department, sir?"

"Oh, yes, we have a research department that specializes in treatment and cures for various illnesses. It includes Potion development or improvement, spellwork, counter-curses, and the like. Do you have an interest in research, Mrs. Shacklebolt?"

"I do," Hermione said, thinking this was something more in line with her interests. "What type of training is required for the research department?"

"Basic Healer training. It's only a yearlong program and specialized for things researchers would benefit from knowing. Outstandings on your Potions, Charms, Herbology, and Transfiguration N.E.W.T.S., which obviously isn't an issue for you." Healer Dankworth smiled. "A base in Arithmancy is beneficial, and I see that you received an Outstanding on that N.E.W.T. as well. If you are interested, our next training program begins at the beginning of August. Our Healer and Mediwitch training starts a few weeks later, near the end of August."

Hermione was very interested in the research department, but it wasn't her decision to make, obviously. Still, she would take all the materials Healer Dankworth was giving her and leave them for the other Hermione to find once Hermione jumped again.

"Let me give you a tour," Healer Dankworth said as Hermione shrank the information and tucked it into her handbag. He rose from behind his desk and ushered Hermione from his office taking her through the various departments.

Hermione could feel people staring, both staff and patients, as she followed Healer Dankworth around the hospital. While she was used to it from her own world, it had fallen off significantly since the end of the war. Now, however, being the Minister of Magic's wife, along with Hermione Granger, seemed to attract even more attention. By the end of the tour, her face hurt from the polite smile she'd held in place the entire time.

She hadn't missed this kind of attention at all. One of the things that she liked about being an Unspeakable, besides the job itself, of course, was the anonymity. Not that people didn't know she was an Unspeakable but she was down on level nine all day long, not having to worry about the politics and socializing that came with other positions in the Ministry. She suspected the research department at St. Mungo's would afford her the same peace and quiet.

"Thank you for meeting with me, Healer Dankworth," Hermione said once they'd finished their tour.

"I look forward to hearing from you, Mrs. Shacklebolt. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions." He shook her hand again and then took his leave. Hermione hurried from the hospital before she could be asked for an autograph by those in the waiting room.

Kingsley was late getting home that evening and Hermione ate supper alone. She found herself missing his presence at the table. Jinx tutted and fretted about her Master working too hard and Hermione couldn't help but smile. Bossy she may be, it was obvious that Jinx cared for Kingsley very much.

After she finished eating, Hermione went back to her suite to get one of the books she purchased from Flourish and Blotts. Instead of remaining there, however, she found herself settling in the sitting room that held the Floo. She'd made no conscious decision to do so but here she was curled up on the settee in front of the fireplace anyway.

It was strange, really. While Hermione had done things in the last universe that she hadn't intended, she had never felt like someone else was controlling her actions. It was more like instinct or muscle memory or something. She felt the same way here but more somehow.

Shaking off that thought, Hermione returned to her book. A few minutes later, the Floo activated and Kingsley stepped through. He caught sight of her almost immediately and looked a bit surprised, then pleased that she was there.

Hermione smiled up at him as she closed her book, sitting up on the settee. "How was your day?"

"Extremely long," he said. "You haven't waited supper for me, I hope."

"Jinx wouldn't hear of it," Hermione said with a laugh.

Kingsley chuckled. "No, I can't imagine she would."

Before either of them could say anything else, the elf in question appeared, scowling at Kingsley. "Master is being late again."

"My apologies, Jinx. It couldn't be helped." Kingsley looked suitably chastened. Hermione hid a smile behind her hand.

Jinx huffed, her hands on her hips. "You is to be eating your supper. Jinx will bring the tray." She popped out of the room with another scowl.

Hermione couldn't help but laugh once she'd disappeared. Kingsley shook his head sheepishly and chuckled. "She does still know how to scold me, even after all these years."

He took off his outer robes and settled next to her on the settee with a sigh. Leaning against the back, he closed his eyes, head tilted up towards the ceiling.

"Anything you'd like to talk about?" Hermione asked. "Or can talk about I suppose I should say."

"Certain members of the Wizengamot do not appreciate the fact that your werewolf rights research is still moving forward. I think they thought that once you were gone, the DRCMC would forget about it."

"I'm glad they haven't," Hermione said.

"Yes, well, I've been told in no uncertain terms that regardless of the fact that you completed most of the research before you and I had even taken the compatibility tests, it is still a conflict of interest and should be dropped."

Hermione's brow furrowed. "But it's not as if you're voting on it."

"No, however, they feel that my allies in the Wizengamot will vote yes just because you're now my wife."

"That's ridiculous," Hermione scoffed.

"Of course it is," Kingsley said with a sigh, opening his eyes and looking at her. "And no matter how many times I have assured them that I have not spoken to anyone about any possible legislation, they don't believe me."

"Just because their side trades in backroom deals doesn't mean you do," she said darkly.

Kingsley chuckled. "Well, there is always give and take in politics, regardless of what side you're on. But I appreciate the sentiment. However, what I've told all of them is true. I haven't spoken to anyone about the werewolf legislation, as much as I'd like to."

"Do you have any idea how long it will be until it's ready for presentation?"

"No, and I don't want to. Not that I don't support it, I don't mean that. But the less I have to do with it, the better."

She nodded in understanding. She could understand the other side's point. Even if the other Hermione weren't working for the DRCMC anymore, she'd still done all of the research for the werewolf legislation. And as her husband, Kingsley was likely privy to at least some of the ideas or plans the other Hermione had been intending to include. Still, it didn't give them the right to accuse him of trying to unduly influence anyone to vote for it.

Jinx returned with a tray that she placed on the table in front of the settee.

"Thank you, Jinx," Kingsley said.

"Master must be taking care of himself," Jinx said, hands on her hips.

"I promise to do my best."

Jinx stared at him for a few moments before she nodded and popped out of the room.

"How was your meeting today?" Kingsley asked after he had taken a few bites.

"It went well," she said. "Did you know that St. Mungo's has a research department?"

"I did, actually," he said. "They worked on a treatment for Arthur when he was bitten by Voldemort's snake. Severus found one first, though. Are you considering the research department then?"

"I think it's a better fit for me than a Healer or Mediwitch," Hermione said honestly.

Kingsley nodded. "Yes, I can see that. What is the training like?"

She proceeded to explain the training and the fact that, if she chose research, she could start her training as early as a few weeks from now.

"It sounds like a good fit if that's what you decide. I know that you're likely getting a bit bored sitting around here all day."

They chatted a bit more, Hermione mentioning her meeting with Evelyn Smythe the next morning. Hermione had taken the risk and asked him a few questions about the orphanage. If Kingsley thought it was strange or information that the other Hermione would have known, he gave no indication.

"Have you spoken to Minerva?" he asked, having finished his supper and leaned back into the settee once more.

"Not yet," Hermione said. "And I'm not sure if I will, to be honest." She had thought about it and decided that if the other Hermione had really wanted to teach, she likely would have contacted Minerva already. Maybe she even had and there were no positions available. Or perhaps she had decided, like Hermione had, that it wouldn't exactly be easy to be a professor while married to the Minister of Magic.

"Why did you change your mind?"

"I thought more about the logistics of everything and it would be difficult. Plus, I'm not sure that Minerva would want the Minister's wife on staff with all the disruptions that could bring."

"This is exactly what I didn't want to happen," Kingsley said with a sigh, running a hand over his head.

"What?" Hermione said in confusion.

"I don't want you to discard possibilities you're genuinely interested in because I'm the Minister. I've already forced you out of the Ministry."

"That's not what I'm doing," Hermione assured, moving closer to him and putting a hand on his arm. "It really was just a passing thought. I haven't been yearning to be a professor for years or anything." She smiled at him when he looked at her uncertainly.

"Are you sure?"

"If I had, don't you think I'd be working there already? Minerva's offered me a job before."

"I suppose so." He sighed and took her hand. "I feel like I'm limiting you already and that's the last thing I wanted."

"Kingsley, I knew that marrying you would mean changes in my life. I chose to do it anyway."

He smiled and raised her hand to his lips, kissing her fingertips. "And I'm very glad you did."

Heat instantly ignited in Hermione's belly. Which was ridiculous, he'd kissed her hand plenty of times since she'd arrived in this universe. But the memory of the kiss last night popped into her head, as well as her reaction to it.

She leaned closer to him on the settee and saw the desire flare in Kingsley's eyes. He moved towards her and captured her lips with his. Hermione's arms immediately went around his neck as he snogged the life out of her, pulling her as close as he could given their positions on the settee.

It wasn't close enough for Hermione. She found herself moving to straddle his lap and Kingsley responded by tightening his hold on her hips, pulling her flush with his body as he continued to kiss her. Her breath hitched as she felt him growing hard beneath her. She ground against him and he groaned, one hand still on her hip, the other traveling beneath her shirt.

His hand slid up her side, stopping as he cupped a breast, thumb circling over her bra. She gasped and moved against him again, momentarily breaking the kiss. He responded by moving to her neck, kissing and suckling as she ground down against him.

"Gods, Hermione," he gasped out.

She kissed him again and the hand that had been under her shirt moved back to her hip. He grasped both hips and helped guide her movements. Hermione whimpered while he moaned into her mouth. There was a stray thought that maybe she shouldn't be doing this but it was gone as soon as it had come, almost as if someone had swatted it forcefully out of her mind. And honestly, Hermione likely wouldn't have stopped even though she knew she should. She really, really didn't want to.

She continued to rock against Kingsley and it only took a few more minutes before she was crying out, tumbling over the edge. He swallowed her cries with his lips and thrust up against her a few more times before letting out a guttural groan and stilling beneath her.

Hermoine was panting, cheek resting against his chest as she came back to herself. Kingsley ran a hand languidly up and down her back and kissed the top of her head as she recovered. She didn't move for several moments.

"Are you all right?" Kingsley asked quietly.

"Fine," she said but she could feel her cheeks heat. Kingsley drew his wand and whispered a cleansing spell. She grimaced. What the hell had she done?

"Hermione," he said when she still hadn't moved.

She finally forced herself to sit up and look at him. She knew that her cheeks were still red and he frowned at the sight. "What's the matter?"

"It's just," she trailed off and shook her head. "I just sort of…attacked you."

He smiled. "I wasn't complaining." When she looked away, he brought a hand to her chin, gently forcing her to look at him again. He frowned. "Do you, well, do you wish you hadn't?" He shook his head before she could answer. "I should have stopped you, asked if you were sure."

"No, Kingsley. It's not that, not at all. I initiated everything and I would have stopped if I'd wanted to." She bit her lip.

He gently pulled her lip from between her teeth with his thumb. "What is it then?"

"It's just," she trailed off. What could she possibly say? It's just that I'm not really your wife? Right.

"Just what?" Kingsley prodded, concern on his face.

"We've only been married a few weeks," she said lamely. There was really no other way to explain her guilt, except to disguise it as embarrassment. She'd felt guilty with Neville too but at least in that case, the other Hermione had already experienced everything with him. This Hermione hadn't even kissed Kingsley yet for god's sake! And here Hermione was getting herself off with someone else's husband.

"We're moving too fast then?" Kingsley asked.

"No, I mean, I don't know, I," she broke off again and shook her head. It didn't help that she was still sitting on his lap. She went to move off him but he stilled her with his hands on her hips.

"I realize that our marriage was very quick and we're still learning about one another. But unless you regret it, you shouldn't be embarrassed about what just happened. Either of us could have stopped it if we weren't comfortable and neither of us did."

She nodded, not looking at him.

"Hermione, did you want to stop but were afraid that I wouldn't?"

Her head snapped up. He looked horrified at the thought.

"No, absolutely not." She put a hand to his cheek. "I know that you'd never force me to do anything I didn't want to do."

He visibly relaxed, then turned his head and kissed her palm, before taking her hand in his. "If you feel like we're moving too fast, I want you to tell me. Otherwise, please don't feel guilty. There's no timeline we have to follow."

"You're right, I know you are. I just don't want you to think that I'm, well," her cheeks heated again and she looked away from him. She really hoped she wasn't making things worse. It's not like the other Hermione had been some innocent virgin when she married Kingsley. She'd been with Ron for two years and who knew what other relationships she'd had since then. But there was no other way for Hermione to mask her guilt without telling Kingsley the truth. Which was out of the question, obviously.

"Trust me, love," he said, voice lowering and making her shiver. "Nothing you did made me think about anything other than how much I want you."

They stared at one another for a few seconds before Hermione let out a shuddering breath. Gods, this man. She really hoped that Padma had some epiphany about the Universe Hopper soon because Hermione was in serious trouble.