After Us

One

Faces turnt at the sounds of the head auror's heals, clicking down the long tiled chambers. Her hair bounced with each stride, slicked back into a ponytail that eventually faded into a mess of chocolate curls. A color that perfectly completed the hazel hues in her eyes.

"Morning, Ms. Granger." The kind old man tipped his head, pressing the button that would send their lift to the correct floor.

"Good morning, Mr. Silas." She offered him a grin as she readjusted the bag sat on her shoulder, smoothing out her pantsuit in the process. Always was she perfectly wrinkle free.

"What's on the agenda today for the best auror in the world, huh?" He jutted his elbow towards her, almost teasing as he slightly chuckled. It wasn't a joke however, because Hermione Granger was known to be one of the best aurors in the world. She had little competition with a mind as sharp as her own.

"I have a meeting with Auror Malfoy," rolling her eyes, she checked her watch. Ahead of schedule as always, "As well as the minister. Ought to be interesting, you think?" She scoffed as the contraption let out a ding, both of their bodies lurching as it stopped.

"Always is with you two in the same room!" Winking at her, he waved his hand and the lift shot back into the depths of the ministry. She sighed as she headed to the minister's office, catching every single eye. This wasn't uncommon, but she truly wished it was. She felt like everyone had started looking at her the same way.

The all powerful head Auror Granger, right hand in the defeat of Voldemort.

"Hello, Hermione." Harry gave her a cheeky grin as he rounded the table, pressing a kiss to his best friends cheek. She smiled at him, as he always made her feel ordinary. When it was just them, she was just Hermione Granger. Not someone of high title.

"Hello, Harry," she laughed, setting her bag down in the chair beside her, "How's my favorite little Potter this morning?"

"I'm well, I'm well -" She turnt her head sideways, giving him a condescending look as he just laughed, "Sorry, sorry, James is well. Wouldn't set still long enough for Ginny to eat her breakfast, so it became a two person job getting everyone ready this morning.  Always on the move, that little one." He shook his head, almost in disbelief at how fast his little boy was growing up.

Hermione couldn't believe it either. It had been four years, but it felt like so much shorter than that.

"It's crazy, isn't it?" He sent her a look of confusion, but quickly caught on.

"Yeah, he'll be off to Hogwarts soon enough, and the second one will be born soon, too. I don't know how we'll do it, honestly." Hermione gave him a closed mouth smile, placing her hand on his as they both sat down on the table.

"You two will do amazingly."

The double doors opened, and Hermione could feel how she grew irritable by just his presence. No one managed to get under her skin how the one and only Draco Malfoy did.

"Malfoy." It was short and quick as Harry stood to shook his other head aurors hand, as even he still hadn't grown accustomed with being friendly to the blond.

"Morning, to both of you." He plopped himself in his chair, immediately laying his ankle over his knee and sighing out. Hermione never gave him the time of day, much less a good morning. She just stared at him with annoyance.