She felt grateful for Hagrid’s meal the night before because breakfast was out of the question. The quarters for the aurors and other specialty witches were set apart from the students and professors, in a seldom-used wing of the school. Appointments were bare and the water rarely warmer than tepid, but the quarters were meant for sleeping not living. She complained about the lack of a working lock for weeks and still her door only occasionally secured itself, with a temperamental response to both magic and mechanics.

  She selected a comfortable ensemble considering the warm weather predicted, a pullover knee-length skirt with a short jacket. She felt self-conscious as she brushed her hair.

  She shook her head.

  She checked her phone again. No messages.

  At the last minute, she changed into a pair of comfortable slacks with a button-down, then hurried out the door to the meeting.

  ***

  The smell of coffee filled the bright but cluttered room. Harry and Ginny sat together while Ron poured over notes in a corner. Luna sat sandwiched between two burly wizards chatting to each other, completely oblivious to her presence. She doodled on a parchment with a faint smile on her lips. She wore a pastel thigh-length dress, her bare shoulders practically glowing.

  Hermione shuddered at the thought.

  They exchanged glances as Hermione approached Ron.

  “Hey,” he said as she stood before him, not taking his eyes off the notes.

  “You didn’t text me.”

  “Can we talk about this…later?” He looked up, bags under his eyes.

  “You didn’t sleep,” she said. It sounded more like an accusation than she wished, but he was being rude again.

  “From the looks of it, neither did you.” He turned back to his notes.

  Hermione suddenly flushed.

  Someone approached.

  Dr. Hestia Lacewing smiled sweetly and spoke softly. “I found a whole list of novel potions,” she said excitedly. “Or, at least, I think they’re potions. It’s written in a runic dialect, something I’m not good at. After this, can you meet me in the library when it’s your time?”

  Hermione nodded, not quite ready for another round of humiliation.

  “We have a full agenda,” Riparious announced in his warm baritone, his robes trailing as he entered.

  Hermione found an empty seat near the back.

  “We are here assembled for a grave honor,” Riparious continued, pointing to the ceiling. “The Battle of Hogwarts was no small feat of honor, valor, and wit. You have been chosen to memorialize that day as the Anniversary Gala Organization Group. As you know, AGOG has been tasked to plan and execute a flawless event so that the world will be, indeed, “agog” with wonder at the resilience and strength of Hogwarts. I say this as a solemn preamble to our ultimate goal of returning this great nation to its past glory, free from evil, darkness, and corruption. AGOG will set the standard for what it means to make England great again!”

  Hermione suppressed a groan. Hagrid then pulled up a chair next to her.

  “What a bunch of malarky,” Hagrid said under his breath, as Riparious droned on. “We’re already great.”

  Hermione nodded in agreement.

  “Hey,” he continued. “I spoke with Firenze this morning. Gelien is willing to meet you later, after this nonsense,” Hagrid flicked his massive hand towards Riparious.

  Heroine’s heart raced. “Just me?” she asked breathlessly, her chest tightening up, palms sweaty.

  Hagrid regarded her curiously. “Er, no, he was going to meet the two of ye, Luna and yerself. Everything all right?”

  “Yes, fine,” Hermione replied a little too quickly, her mind racing.

  She felt a wave of relief at the thought.

  Hermione gathered herself. “I can’t. I have to go to the library with Hestia. Can they do it later?”

  “I’m not so sure. They were going out of their way. It took me a lot of convincin’. Galien doesn’t trust me much, and he’s not well-liked among his fellow centaurs. I would say you’re not going to get a second chance.”

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Hermione felt that tightness in her chest again.

  “I’ll let Luna know. Maybe she can go by herself.”

  Hermione’s mind wandered during the meeting, trying to figure things out but was no close to a conclusion when the meeting adjourned.

  “We are writing history!” Riparious concluded, the two burly wizards next to Luna clapping the loudest.

  Hestia quickly approached Hermione. “Meet me in the study. There’s a group from the Department of Mysteries coming to talk with you.”

  “What?” She was snapped back to reality and she wasn’t ready.

  “You heard me, dear. This is important.” Hestia smiled and left.

  Hermione liked her, she was a demanding if fair boss, but she was too tired and too flustered to be firing on all cylinders. Ginny and Harry approached as the room cleared out.

  “Hey, you look a bit tired,” Ginny said softly. “Everything okay?”

  Hermione shot a glance at Ron. “Oh I don’t know, ask him.”

  “You two aren’t fighting again, are you?” Harry asked somewhat bemused. “You know, the best part of fighting is making up!” He tried to steal a kiss from Ginny who blushed and pulled away.

  “We just need time to talk,” Ron said somewhat dejectedly. “We’ve both been so busy and worn down, it takes a toll, ya know?”

  Hermione sighed, seeing how comfortable Ginny and Harry were with each other; colleagues, friends, and…maybe something more? But, as much as Ginny and Harry obviously loved each other, she was certain they weren’t sleeping together. They’d planned to get married soon after the Gala, and for all her talk about kink and steamy liasons, she knew at heart Ginny was a hardcore traditionalist, like herself.

  “Let’s just say Harry knows how to please a woman,” Ginny had said, blushing brightly, one evening over butterbeers, with Luna and Neville.

  “You mean you two-” Neville asked incredulously, eager for a story to back it up.

  “No! We’re waiting until we tie the knot. But that just means we have to get creative. And let me tell you, Harry creative!” Ginny’s laughter made the two of them smile, but there were no further stories.

  As the room emptied, Hermione caught up with Luna.

  “Hagrid arranged a meeting. Later today.”

  Luna squealed. “Oh how delightful! Surely this is a good sign! What are you going to ask him?”

  Hermione shook her head. “I can’t go. I have to meet a bunch of people from the Department of Mysteries at the library right now. Can you go without me?”

  Luna shook her head. “You need to go. I can see it.”

  “What can you see?” Hermione felt her face get red again. How she hated how easily she blushed!

  “The question is, what did see?” Luna smiled.

  Hermione felt her heart racing. She can’t possibly know about the dream.

  What does she know? Do I tell her?

  Hermione was shaking. “This is wrong. I can’t. I really can’t. I don’t know what any of this means. I mean, me…and ? That’s crazy!”

  xerbas

  “How is it crazy? Desire is a force of nature, like gravity. It pulls souls together. You have a destiny with him! Oh Hermione, it’s so beautiful!”

  Hermione made a sour face. “How can you say that? Oh,

  xerbas

  Look, I don’t have time for any of this. I’ve got to go.”

  “Oh Hermione, there you go again, burying yourself in work. Please, you need to let go. It’s for your own good.”

  Hermione sighed. “But Ron-”

  “He would be happy for you. You owe it to him, actually.”

  Hermione frowned. “I don’t owe him anything.”

  “Okay, yes, but let’s just say if you want your relationship with him to work out, you need to explore these feelings with Gelien. It will forever haunt you otherwise.”

  “Oh Luna, can you go without me this time? Hestia pulled this meeting out of nowhere, and I can’t very well let down the Department of Ministries.”

  Luna nodded. “All right. But promise me that the next time you’ll come.” Hermione’s heart was a swirl of emotions, but she knew Luna was right. Unless she was ready for more dreams and torment, she needed to face Gelien. Soon.

  “Miss Lovegood, a word?” Riparious said gravely.

  Hermione made a face of alarm.

  Riparious approached, smiling, as the last of the wizards and witches filed out.

  “Ms. Lovegood, thank you for your tireless efforts seeking aural anomalies. Your last report was simply… stunning.” He smiled and placed his hand gently on her shoulder.

  “Oh, that electrical charm was just a joke. I hope it didn’t cause any untoward embarrassment.”

  Riparious chuckled. “Not atall, not atall. I do appreciate a well-placed magical pun. May I ask what your next assignment is?”

  Luna winked at Hermione. “Certainly. Ms. Grainger and I are endeavoring to study centaur migration patterns. I’m told it will afford us a natural method to glean security deficiencies without imposing on their notoriously reclusive social hierarchy.”

  Riparius’ face beamed. “Ms. Lovegood, you’re not only charming but simply brilliant! When do you start?”

  “I’m working out the details with Hagrid. But truth be told, these are uncharted woods, if you get my drift. I feel this may be my most ambitious project yet. Thankfully, Miss Grainger has offered her assistance.”

  Riparious nodded to Hermione. “A worthy associate.”

  “However, Mr. Mulch-”

  “Please, my closer colleagues call me Parious, my…closest ones River. So,” he leaned down so his lips were close to Luna’s ear,” “Please, please do call me River,” he said softly before righting himself, looking down at Luna, pleased.

  “Yes of course Mr. M- River,” Luna stammered. “Miss Grainger here is presently is committed to aiding Ms. Lacewing in her research efforts. Perhaps if she were to have an official reassignment…”

  Riparious clapped his hands. “I’ll see to it.”

  Luna winked again at Hermione. “Why thank you, sir. I’m forever grateful.”

  “Yes, yes, of course! And Ms. Lovegood, anytime you’d like to go stargazing…”

  “Oh yes, Mr. M- River. Of course. I see you are doing just that…right now…” Luna said lightly. “I might consider returning the offer, if it works to my advantage.”

  Riparious twisted his mouth in confusion. “Yes, of course. Until next time.”

  “Goodbye…River,” Luna smiled, then stood up and left with Hermione trailing behind. Hermione noticed how Riparius followed Luna with his eyes.

  “What did you just do?” Hermione asked breathlessly as they hurried down the corridor.

  “You can’t just talk to a man, man, like that!”

  “Why not? I am always direct. If he wants to flirt, it will always be on my terms. I thought I was very up front about that.”

  Hermione shook her head. “You’re too much! And you just made all that up about centaur migratory patterns? When he finds out…”

  “And? I spoke the truth. I never lie. These are all valid questions our research - our research - can answer.”

  “But does he really let you do whatever you want?”

  Luna smiled sweetly. “And he does what I tell to do. It’s a lovely arrangement!”

  Their steps echoed in the cavernous lobby.

  Luna became introspective. “I just feel bad for his wife. She must feel lonely. I wonder what happened between them?”

  “happened.”

  “Or maybe not enough of .” Luna smirked.

  “Luna! He’s old enough to be your father!”

  Luna rubbed her chin. “Indeed, I think he was a few years ahead of him in school. Hufflepuff.”

  “Luna! You’re incorrigible! And how do you know all this?”

  “I do my own research,” Luna said brightly, the two laughing as they stepped into the sunshine.