Harry stared at the Muggle mobile in his hand, the screen sitting open on his contacts list.
“You’re finally using your Muggle phone?” Hermione walked over carrying two glasses of juice and sat down beside him.
Harry snapped the phone shut the moment he heard her voice.
Realizing how odd that must have looked, he gave a casual nod and accepted the juice she offered.
“Ron didn’t come by to bring you lunch today?” Percy walked over and joined them at the table.
“Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes is busy at lunch.” Hermione deliberately ignored the teasing edge in Percy’s tone.
“Michael!” Harry waved at Michael, who was hovering near the entrance looking around uncertainly.
“Over here.”
It was the Ministry’s lunch break, and nearly every seat was already taken.
Michael’s eyes lit up.
He nodded eagerly and made his way over at a quick, excited pace.
“He really does admire you.” Hermione watched Michael’s approach and couldn’t help smiling.
“Though he’s much more reserved than Colin was.”
The moment the words were out, she pressed her hand to her own mouth in regret.
Harry’s expression dimmed.
He gave a small shake of his head.
“Being an admirer of mine is no good thing. I hope he’ll always be luckier than Colin, too.”
“Boss! Miss Granger, Minister Weasley.” Michael dropped into the last empty seat and greeted each of them in turn.
Lunch was warm and easy, with Percy and Hermione doing most of the talking about Audrey’s situation.
“You really should have come to the Department of Magical Transportation back then.” Percy sighed.
“Then I could hand everything over to you without a second thought whenever I needed leave.”
“Eric is perfectly capable,” Hermione said reassuringly.
“Nothing will fall apart. When the time comes, just focus on being there for Audrey.”
“Audrey has been a bit anxious, as you know. Fortunately the due date falls after George and Angelina’s wedding. If Audrey missed their wedding, it would be a real blow.”
“I imagine that’s exactly why they set the date so soon.” Hermione wrinkled her nose.
“Honestly, Angelina is already at her wit’s end, the wedding is completely overwhelming her.”
“It’ll probably be the same when it’s your turn with Ron.” Percy smirked.
“Nearly everyone goes through it. Audrey came crashing into my flat at three in the morning to ask whether the bouquet should be roses or lilies.”
Hermione cleared her throat uncomfortably, sensing the conversation was about to turn toward her and Ron.
Before Percy could go any further, she redirected the question at Michael.
“Speaking of weddings — George invited you too, didn’t he, Michael?”
“Yes. Mr. George Weasley gave me an invitation at dinner last time.”
“Are you planning to bring a date?” Hermione asked with curious interest.
“A date?” Michael looked a little surprised, then gave an honest shake of his head.
“I don’t really have anyone to bring.”
“You don’t have a girlfriend?!” Hermione looked even more intrigued and leaned toward him.
Harry thought of what Hermione had said back at the Burrow.
He paused mid-bite and glanced over at them.
“No.” Michael shrank back slightly, watching Hermione with wary eyes, completely baffled by her reaction.
“Then what kind of girl do you like?” Hermione turned on a warm, enthusiastic smile.
“I could introduce you to someone.”
“Very good, Miss Granger.” Percy pointed a fork at her and shook his head with a playful grin.
“Very warm-hearted.”
Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
Michael had no idea why Hermione had suddenly brought this up, but he pressed his lips together and gave it genuine thought.
“Hmm… someone pretty, with a gentle personality. Emotionally steady. Ideally someone who shares a lot of my interests.”
With each thing Michael said, Hermione’s expression grew more animated.
Harry knew exactly what Hermione was thinking.
He had to admit that the moment those words left Michael’s mouth, he thought of Chloe too.
“What do you think of Chloe Aiken?” Hermione asked, testing the waters.
Michael’s eyes went visibly wide.
His face flushed scarlet in an instant, as if he’d just heard something utterly unthinkable.
“You… you said… you said who?”
He stammered the words out.
Hermione attributed every bit of it to shyness.
“Chloe Aiken, you even picked her up last Friday and brought her to the Burrow for dinner.” She looked at him encouragingly.
“Remember?”
“Merlin!” Michael trembled and covered the lower half of his face with both hands, muttering under his breath.
“Don’t you think Dr. Aiken is wonderful? She’s so lovely, and her personality is genuinely so good…”
Michael’s expression grew more and more horrified.
He sincerely wished someone would give him a reason to leave this terrible place, or simply take away his hearing.
“You dislike her?”
Harry had been watching Michael’s face.
He asked with a slight frown. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
“What? No — of course I don’t dislike Chloe —” Michael’s reaction was dramatic.
He nearly leapt out of his seat.
Hermione’s expression grew even more satisfied.
Michael knew he had to stop whatever she was planning.
“But she’s,”
“She’s what?” All three of them were looking at him.
Michael couldn’t bring himself to say it, if he let slip his connection to Chloe, it would affect her treatment of Harry and George.
“She’s a Muggle.” Michael said with difficulty.
“You don’t like Muggles?” Hermione’s expression shifted to surprise as she studied him.
“It’s not that I dislike Muggles. It’s just… I couldn’t possibly marry a Muggle or anything like that.” Michael’s shoulders slumped.
He bowed his head.
“A marriage between a Muggle and a wizard is a tragedy, my own parents were proof of that. It isn’t fair to the Muggle. And it isn’t fair to the… children, either.”
Hermione looked genuinely sorry.
She said “I’m sorry” softly and patted Michael on the shoulder.
“It’s fine. I just… don’t want to be that selfish.” Michael gave a small smile.
“At the start, I definitely couldn’t reveal my identity. But if she later couldn’t accept who I am, it would hurt us both badly. And I… I don’t want to deceive a Muggle girl, stringing her along until we’re married with children, and only then telling her everything.”
“My father was contemptible. But my mother… she was very brave.”
“You’ve inherited your mother’s bravery.” Harry gave him a quiet, warm smile.
“Oh, you’re right.” Hermione sounded a little wistful.
“It’s just, I genuinely think you and Chloe Aiken seem very well-suited.”
The corner of Michael’s mouth twitched.
He looked absolutely pained.
[M: Chlo! Do you know what I had to go through today?]
[C:?]
[M: Hermione Granger thinks we’d make a good match! Merlin! I’m going to be sick!]
[C:…Why are you telling me this? You’re only getting a sandwich tonight. I’ve decided to abandon any thought of roasting a chicken for you.]
[M: Compensate me, Chlo! Compensate me! I didn’t even finish my lunch! Sis! Dear sis! Please!]
[C: The only reason I agreed is because you were adorable when you were little.]
[M: I’ll consider taking an age-reducing potion to keep your love alive.]
➤ Next: D.A