Drarry One Shots

1. Arrangements

A/N For this story, I have played with a well-used trope that I've avoided so far because I've never agreed the premise would work. It turned out completely different to how I intended but that's how things happen sometimes. I'm not saying it's longer than usual—that seems to be the norm these days. I enjoyed writing it and working out the complexities, hope you enjoy it too.

***

Harry frowned to himself as he reached for the top letter of the latest pile of interdepartmental post that Sheila had put on his desk while he'd been in his Friday meetings. He carefully broke the seal and slid out the fancy gold-embossed card. It was, he thought ruefully, the seventh invitation in five weeks. His Auror senses were twitching.

When he read the names on the card, Harry's eyebrows shot up. Not that he didn't know about this particular relationship but they'd certainly kept it very secret. Mostly because Fifi would lose her job. Well, he assumed it would be Fifi rather than Kingsley Shacklebolt, what with him being the Minister for Magic and everything. It would certainly make more sense for her to be the one to step away from her role as it was very much against Ministry policy to have within department relationships. Still, Harry was surprised by the invitation and his suspicions arose somewhat regarding the matter. His brow furrowed as he read the wording:

Kingsley Shacklebolt and Fiona Alocara would like to invite Mr Harry Potter (plus 1) to join them in celebrating their forthcoming nuptials.

He studiously ignored the 'plus 1' part, noting instead that the date was in less than one month's time, as with the other six invitations. It was a spat of nearly two weddings a weekend. He'd have to spend Sunday gift shopping again. He hated gift shopping.

Kingsley's wedding was two Saturdays tomorrow. He wondered if he could find a plus 1 before then as he scribbled out a reply saying congratulations and that he'd be delighted to attend. He wondered if Luna might portkey back from Sweden for the weekend even though he could do without those rumours starting up again.

He frowned as he looked at the invite again and drew out a personal notebook from a locked drawer in his desk. He wrote in it:

Kingsley Shacklebolt (and Fifi Alocara)—Minister for Magic

Cerberus Langarm (and Rebecca Avery)—Assistant Head of DMLE

Susan Bones (and Terry Boot)—Legal Dept, DMLE

Araham Nichols (and Carolina Turnberry)—Legal Dept, DMLE

Elenora Spencer-Moon (and Hetty Malcolm-Smitha)—Magical Family Liaison Officer, Dept of Births, Marriages, and Deaths

Astrid Copper (and Shelly Cardiff)—Head of Magical Students Programme, Dept of Magical Education

Garrick Fawley (and Kenny Fulcrum)—Head of Research and Manager of the Pure-Blood Directory, Dept of Births, Marriages, and Deaths

Looking at their job roles, his immediate thought was the list read like an interdepartmental working party for some initiative within the Ministry but he didn't know of any such committee and normally a list of such things was circulated to the Heads of Departments.

He also couldn't help noticing that they all held seats on the Wizengamot too. Albeit, apart from Kingsley and Susan, the temporary associate seats that came with certain rankings in the Ministry rather than the more powerful and influential hereditary seats.

His thoughts were interrupted by raised voices outside his office door, all the more noticeable because the Ministry was quiet at the moment with the onset of the school summer holidays and with many people away with their families.