BETA READ by Dani Werner

Chapter 1

Hermione gently knocked on the door to Kingsley Shacklebolt's office, uneasily balancing the weight of the report folder on one arm. The thought of a charm to make it feather light or a Wingardium Leviosa must have slipped through her mind. She waited until she heard Kingsley's deep voice, giving her permission to enter. The door flew open to let her inside as she awkwardly reached for the handle. Hermione smiled apologetically though very gratefully, moving to the desk. The door fell shut again with a wave of the Minister's wand.

The Minister for Magic seemed very surprised indeed as she handed the full heavy report to him with a smile – heavy enough to make sure an adult would have to use both of his or her hands not to let it escape their hold.

He had just given this to her last Tuesday, but even with her very busy schedule he knew Hermione had set for herself for the week, she had finished this, too. "You surprise me every day still," he said. He laid the file down and slowly opened the folder, finding that Hermione had made sure to add a tabulation and some page markers to make handling the file easier. Kingsley was stunned at her thoughtfulness. He leafed through the first couple of pages, then closed it and pushed the report folder aside . "I've got absolutely no doubt that it is perfectly in order and ready to be classified."

Hermione smiled. "I try," she said. Kingsley Shacklebolt never forgot to mention how his people did their work well, which was a nice way of working. "You're coming to the memorial at Hogwarts tonight, too?"

Kingsley's eyes momentarily fell shut at the mention of Hogwarts. She could see the man damn himself internally. "Of course – so many years since the Great Battle. I thought of it when I came in early this morning." Then he opened his eyes and considered her carefully for a long moment, sighing deeply. "I definitely hope to be there," he said, "but I have a rather late meeting set with the French Minister for Magic, so I'm not sure I'll make it. The memorial is mostly for the British Wizarding folk, so he didn't consider it, nor I when I confirmed it then really…"

"Ah, don't blame yourself," Hermione said. "The memorial is after all three days early this year because of the circumstances, so it is no surprise it has escaped your busy mind. I'm going home. Ron and I are meeting Harry and Ginny, and we're going to Hogwarts together then. If not later tonight, I guess that I'll see you here on Tuesday again… and in that case, I hope you have a good weekend!"

When Hogwarts got rebuilt, a tall grey marble stone pillar was erected at the bottom of the Astronomy Tower, where Albus Dumbledore, one of many lost, had fallen when he had tumbled off after Snape had taken his life. It contained names of all those who had gone down in the Battle and before, beginning when He returned to his body at the TriWizard Tournament finale and told poor Wormtail to kill Cedric Diggory, the 'spare'. Each year, those names, those people, were remembered by the pupils and staff and a few guests, survivors of the Battle now seven years prior already. They would dine together in the Great Hall after that.

Minerva McGonagall, headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, had taken to hold the memorial that Friday, April 29, given May 2 that year was a Monday, and a Friday was easier for all parties involved. It fit the schedule of the guests – after all, most were working people – and the pupils better.

She fleetingly hugged Minerva McGonagall, who momentarily tightened her arms about her ex-pupil as well before letting go of her. As both women parted after the brief hug, the smell of the older woman's perfume immediately rose to meet the younger's nostrils, and it reminded her in a flash of afternoons sat in the grass at Hogwarts, with sunshine gently burning her skin and the tall grass and small flowers beneath her and surrounding her for so many feet.

The headmistress of Hogwarts wasn't usually affectionate, and certainly not in public, but they were survivors of the same Battle they were commemorating today. "I haven't had the joy of seeing you in a little while," Minerva said. "I've read that your decree got accepted."

Hermione nodded, laughing lightly. "Finally!" she confirmed. "I'm so glad, though. I worked long and hard enough on that one, so I'm quite relieved it did get accepted in the end. I hadn't hoped on it anymore, since it had taken so long already for them to reach a decision. It came really as a nice surprise."

"Ah, don't forget to relax sometimes, too; don't get overworked…" Minerva cautioned.

Hermione slightly quirked her eyebrow, as if to dare the other witch. She herself had worked like mad right after the Battle to get the school rebuilt even though she really wasn't well yet, having escaped St. Mungo's rather than having awaited release.

"I'll remain quiet," Minerva said, her eyes telling the younger woman she was amused. Her eyes had always been windows to her heart, no matter how often closed for those she didn't know well – clouded maybe.

Both women shared a look between them that spoke of… harmony, and small smiles directed to each other naturally.

Author's Note: I have had this idea for months. I have been uncertain about whether I should write it or not, though; then whether to post or not –– this is the result!