Protecting the Future Minister - On Hiatus

Chapter Five

Monday came and went with little fuss. 

Except for the entire time she was getting ready and was completely ignoring his reasons for why she should stay in the flat. Hermione was awfully upset with him when they arrived in her office at 7:03am. All the arguing made her late for work and it would undoubtedly disrupt the rest of her day.

And every time he answered her door to interrogate whomever it was that tried to enter, then subsequently withdrew their requests to speak with her.

And the hour before lunch as they argued about whether she was allowed to go out for food, if the cafeteria food was safe, and if it wouldn’t be best to simply go home for the day. 

The time after lunch was actually very quiet in comparison to the first half of the day. Mainly because Severus told Hermione that he thought her work in the Ministry had been a waste. She didn’t take it well. It was meant to be a compliment. He thought the bureaucracy and all the paper pushing was a waste of her talents. Watching her sit at a desk, going through piles and piles of paperwork, was like watching a magnificent flower wilt due to neglect. She didn’t see it that way, not that he explained it to her. He didn’t think it required an explanation, how else would he have meant it? After that, she pointedly ignored him until he threatened to pick her up and carry her out of the office if she didn’t finally stop working. She didn't know why he was complaining. Since she didn’t end up dealing with the usual issues and concerns at his interference, she was able to complete her workload much quicker and was already wrapping up. It was only 6:55pm, which was earlier than she ever left on a night she wasn’t expected at Harry’s for dinner. 

Tuesday was somewhat strained in comparison. Hermione continuously attempted to persuade Severus out of her office. She told him that Kingsley had mentioned something about wanting to catch up with Severus, but he had no desire to see the Minister. Or perhaps lunch with Arthur, but he had seen the man only two days earlier and had no reason to see him again so soon. She suggested a visit to Harry’s office and get an update on the fugitives, but he was positive Potter would update them if there was any change. 

She tried and tried. Anything to get him out of her office! He simply refused. He continued to sit there, on her couch. Reading.

Hermione was going crazy. She was having a rather difficult time focusing on an amendment that would require vampires to register upon moving with the powerful wizard sitting there all quiet and stoic. He had the nerve to read. Read! One of her books too, because he somehow got through the ones he brought to her flat. How was she to get anything done with such an attractive man enjoying her book so intensely in her office?

She dropped her quill when the words of her rhetorical and involuntary question sank in. “What’s wrong?” he asked with a hint of concern.

“I cannot focus! How am I supposed to concentrate with you here?”

“I’m distracting you?” She nodded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I haven’t said anything in hours. I’m reading.”

“And… I can hear you… turning the pages. It’s very loud.” That was what she had chosen to say. Apparently. “I have never heard anyone turn a page so loudly.” And she was sticking to it.

“Alright.” 

Less than an hour later, there was a soft knock on her door and Hermione called for her assistant to enter. The young blonde woman walked in and closed the door behind her.

“Ms Granger?” 

“Yes, Maelynn?”

Maelynn had been Hermione’s assistant for several years. Though she was quite a bit younger, Hermione considered her a friend, someone for whom she cared greatly. When Maelynn moved to London from Georgia, without any experience outside of the United States, the culture shock was too much for the girl to navigate on her own. Hermione came across her application when another department head had passed over her. It was a bit of a risk taking on someone with such little experience, but there was something about the young woman that spoke to Hermione. She hired her that day and she never once regretted her decision. “I don’t want to step out of line, or anything, but is your guest going to be sittin’ outside of the office all day?”