Author's Note: Hello, again. Thanks for sticking with me this far. Thank you SO much for your reviews. The phrase, "Patience, Grasshopper," keeps running through my mind as I read some of them. I don't even know where that phrase came from! Does anyone know?
Setting Up Shop
Chapter 27
Setting Up Shop
The night of the dinner party was one of the few times Harry wore his brackles at home. His broom allowed him free movement; however he couldn't use both hands. He was playing up his role as host and felt the brackles would be easier.
After dinner the sextet moved into the office Lupin had set up for Harry. It was arranged comfortably with couches and squashy chairs around the fireplace with a massive desk arrangement taking up the other half. A cubicle was established in one corner to allow private conference. It glittered with wards and charms, letting all who saw it know that it was secure.
As prearranged with Hermione, she got a conversation going to occupy Tonks, Lupin and Luna, while he asked Ron aside. He led Ron into the cubicle, unnoticed by the other guests.
"Now we've come to the reason for the dinner," Ron guessed. "Not that it wasn't a lovely dinner; but you've been twitchy all night, mate."
"Ron," Harry began, "you mentioned a time or two that quidditch isn't what you wanted for your career long term. What I'm about to tell you isn't common knowledge yet, so I'd appreciate your discretion."
"You've got it, mate. You should know that."
"I do, I just needed to hear it," Harry answered.
"This is about your new position at the Ministry, isn't it?"
"Yes," Harry responded. "I'd like to offer you a post in my department. I'll tell you everything I know, then give you time to decide."
"That sounds fair," said Ron.
"My department is a new one. I don't know how much it was decided, whether I needed a job, or to be able to announce that The-Boy-Who-Lived is back on the case or what, but for whatever reason the department was formed, I want to prove that it was a sound move. I'm responsible for intelligence regarding Dark Activity and coordination between the Aurors, the MLES and the Unspeakables. If you want to do this, I was thinking that with your strategic mind we could determine what the next batch of Death Eaters are planning and thwart it before it becomes a problem.
"But, Harry..." Ron protested.
Harry held up a hand to stop him. "Let me finish, then I'll answer all of your questions. Alright?"
Ron nodded and let Harry continue.
"We haven't seen the last of the Death Eaters, but they are splintered. While the main culprits are in Azkaban, there must be some low level scumbags that we didn't catch. Our job is to prevent the fiasco that was Fudge from ever occurring again. The post could require travel on occasion, but nothing like you've been doing now. We estimate that a trip every other month would be about it. Luna is welcome to join you, as they will be meetings more so than raids. I have been given a generous budget to work with and am willing to offer this amount for your assistance." He slipped a piece of parchment into Ron's hand. "Plus the standard Ministry benefits, like the top box at quidditch games and the like."
Ron looked at the parchment without reaction and returned his gaze to Harry.
"My first question is would this be of enough interest to you to ask you to give up your spot on the quidditch team?"
"I can't answer that without talking to my wife, but my opinion would be yes," Ron replied.
"My second question, Can you see yourself as my sidekick again or have you grown from that role?"
"Harry, you're my best mate. I've always got your back."
Harry smiled. "Did you have any questions?" he asked.
"Just one," Ron answered. "Will I get a fancy title like my git of a brother always brags about?"
"Yes, your title would be 'Senior Undersecretary to the Head of Ministry Intelligence'."
"Cool…" declared Ron.
"Talk to Luna and let me know what you've decided. I'll need an answer by the end of next week. Will that be enough time?"
"That's sufficient…" Ron answered.
Having concluded their talk, Harry and Ron rejoined the group. Harry winked at Hermione to let her know that it was a successful chat.
Hey, Tonks. Can I speak with you a minute?" he asked the woman with bubble gum pink hair. She gave Lupin a pat on the knee and followed Harry to the cubicle.
"I knew something was up!" she started the minute they were behind the shields. "I told Remus! I said, 'Remus, this dinner party is a cover for something and you know what it is…' He wouldn't tell me, of course, but I hate to be left out on a secret. What's going on, Harry?"
"How is the Auror division going?" he replied.
"That's it? You bloody want to know how it's going? I thought I was going to hear something juicy. I'm appalled…appalled and disappointed."
"Just answer the question, please."
"You know, it's dead boring at the moment. Low level raids, sorting testimony for trial, paperwork up to my arse…"
"That's what I thought. Have you given any thought to turning in your badge?" Harry baited her.
"Turning in my badge?" she asked, her voice rising. "To do what? Serve drinks at the Leaky Cauldron? Are you mad?"
"No" he replied. "Actually I'm not mad at all, that I'm aware of. You'd have to ask my beautiful fiancée slash Healer about that for an honest answer. Here's the deal. I have been offered a new position at the Ministry. They are creating a new department that I am to head. It's called the Department of Ministry Intelligence. We have been given an unbelievable amount of money to set up and run this department. In other words, they want the best. As Head, I am allowed two personal assistants, plus a bodyguard. I can hire two more people as Undersecretaries, who in turn hire three people to work under them, with my approval," Tonks stared at Harry with her jaw dropped. Harry continued. "I've already hired Lupin as my first personal assistant and he has accepted. He passed Ministry screening last week and starts work in two more weeks. Until then, he'll remain on my payroll. I see the department run in two separate phases, the first being Strategy. This person will develop out strategy for dealing with Dark Magic and its users to prevent its escalation into war. I've asked Ron to consider spearheading that and he is thinking it over. I'll know if I need to go to Plan B. If he accepts, he should pass his screening within two more weeks and he'll start work the first of next month. If he should decline, I'll ask Seth, from training. Remember him?"
"Yes, tall good looking bloke, moved to the States, didn't he?"
"That's the guy. My money is on Ron, but I need a second choice in case Ron sticks with quidditch. Now we come to you, my friend, I'd like you to consider the other Undersecretary position. This would involve coordinating with the Auror, MLES and Unspeakable staff to research their intelligence, make sure duplication of effort doesn't happen, and generally keep tabs on the movement of Dark Wizards, should any surface. I am able to offer you this amount…" Harry slid a piece of parchment toward her. "…plus the usual Ministry benefits.
Tonks' eyes grew wider than Harry had ever seen them before. "Harry, this is triple my Auror salary!" she gasped.
"I know…" he said with a grin. "The Ministry has placed the highest priority in preventing the errors of the past. The War cost the Ministry millions of galleons. They are looking at this as insurance against another war. So, I'll give you two weeks to think it over and report back to me. You've already passed Ministry screening, so that's why the extra week."
"I accept!" said Tonks.
"I don't want to hear that now. I want you to think about it. We've been peers for a long time. Think about if you would feel comfortable answering to me. Think about if you can handle directing Shacklebolt or even Kensington. You would be in a position of authority over them. I even struggled with that one, but seeing as my options are limited with these legs, I didn't have much choice, you do."
"Harry, listen to me. I accept! I don't need to think it over. I can do this and do it well. I've thought for a long time that the Ministry needs more oversight and coordination over those departments. The left hand never knew what the right hand was doing. This way, the changes I've written in my journal have a chance to be discussed and possibly even put into play. Remus didn't tell you to ask me, did he? He knows all about my journal."
"No, he did get a wicked smile on his face when I suggested it, though. I wondered what he was on about. Now I know. I guess the only thing left to say is 'Welcome aboard'. Our offices are being charmed as we speak. They gave me six months to put this together, with my medical challenges and all. I would love to be a functioning office by the end of next month. According to Arthur Weasley, the salary begins from the moment you accept, so you might see some changes in your Gringotts vault come morning."
Harry and Tonks returned to the outer room to find a game of wizard chess going on between Remus and Ron. For once, the pieces were not chastising the players, like they did Harry. They were intense and scrutinizing, offering suggestions and praise. Harry floated over behind Hermione and put his arm around her.
"Everything alright?" she asked in a whisper.
"Fine," he whispered back.
Soon Ron beat Lupin in a very close match. Winky and Dobby brought out the finest champagne and fluted glasses for toasts. Harry made the first toast. "To the future, long may peace reign over our world." he said raising his glass. Murmurs of "Cheers" were returned as they sipped the sparkling beverage. Many toasts and congratulations were passed around. Tonks announced her new position and they drank to her. Soon the men traded champagne for firewhiskey. The talk got louder and more raucous, so Luna, Hermione and Tonks took their drinks into another room and left the men to their own conversations.
"Basically," began Ron, "everyone here, with the exceptions of Hermione and Luna, is slated to take part in the new department."
"Yep," stated Harry.
"What am I facing, if I decide to join? You know, the Ministry screening…"
"Well, you won't have any trouble with the background check. You're clean and on record as part of the Order, which this department will emulate. The physical test won't cause you any worry. Nor will the neither morality nor aptitude tests. Those are standard. The one you will have the most trouble with is the Ministry protocol evaluation. Let's face facts here. You and etiquette don't exactly belong in the same sentence, Ron."
"Protocol, like which fork to use first?"
"That, yes, as well you need to know which topics to avoid when speaking with an ambassador to the muggles or to France, who to greet first when faced with representatives of equal stature. I'm sure Luna is an expert by now, having worked for her dad's paper. She can coach you. Hermione is well versed, herself. I can help too. We'll stage mock tests to make sure you are comfortable, if you choose to pursue this."
"Well there isn't much doubt there. Luna is expecting," Ron stated evenly.
"That's brilliant, mate!" exclaimed Harry. Lupin added his congratulations and they all drank to Ron and Luna's coming baby. They heard shrieks from the other room and knew Luna had shared the news as well.
Soon the guests all left. Harry and Hermione headed up to bed. "Did you need me to let you get ready for bed?" asked Hermione.
"Thanks," muttered Harry appreciating her consideration.
She went into the bathroom took care of her nighttime routine, while Harry took care of his own in the loo down the hall. He removed his brackles and struggled into bed.
She came into the room wearing a flowing gown of shimmering white. "I've never seen anything as beautiful as you look right now…" he said unable to take his eyes off of her.
She smiled demurely and blushed at his compliments. "This old thing?" she asked as she pulled the gown over her head, before tossing it to the floor. She crawled in beside him and into his awaiting arms.
"I stand corrected…" he smiled, feasting his eyes on her body.
She straddled his hips, carefully avoiding putting any pressure on his bound legs. "I can't wait until you can truly make love to me…" she sighed.
"Isn't that what we've done?" he asked.
"Well, yes, but…"
"You look forward to a time when I can genuinely and fully participate, rather than just lying here…"
Hermione laughed. "You do much more than that, love…"
Harry chuckled. "Let me see if I can make you fly…" he whispered. Her eyes grew wide in surprise as he levitated them a few inches off the bed.
"Harry! Put me down this instant!" she shrieked.
"It's only a couple of inches. I won't let you fall…" he murmured reassuringly. "I'll distract you…hang on just a sec" He slid his floating body down until his head was positioned at her bent knees. He gently trailed kisses across her knees and started up her thigh until she had no more thoughts, much less worries.
Very late into the night they were holding each other close and revisiting the earlier party. "Do you think Ron will accept?" asked Hermione.
"I'm almost positive he will. He was asking about the Ministry screenings and if they were difficult." he responded.
"You didn't give him false hope, did you? I've heard they were very difficult." Hermione warned.
"I told him that with a bit of study most should be a piece of cake and that the one he'd struggle with is the protocol test. I told him that Luna should be able to help him and we'd both help as well."
"I'll help all I can. But I'm soon getting a full patient rotation. I'm going to be working very hard now that I've been certified as a full Healer." she told him.
"I understand that. My schedule is picking up as well. I'm sure Luna will take the brunt of it. We can make up some practice tests when the time comes. We worked it out for our N.E.W.T.s, we'll sort it out again."
"I hope so," she said. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Ron. You are a true friend."
"No, I am a true Auror. I want the best and he is it. There is no nepotism involved." Hermione gave him a skeptical look. "Well, maybe just a little. I trust him and want my department full of people I can trust. If we needed a Healer in the department, you'd be my first choice as well."
"Oh, I couldn't work for you, Harry," she stated honestly.
"Why not?" he asked with a hurt tone in his voice.
"Harry, we are getting married. Most married people cannot work together, especially if one is in a position of authority over the other. It just causes problems."
"We aren't 'most people'…" he answered.
"Can you honestly tell me that if I screwed up massively at work, you could leave it at work and not have it affect our home life?"
"I see your point; however you could never screw up like that. We wouldn't have to worry."
"Alright… let's look at it a different way. A massive raid is coming up. You are planning to go, just in a supervisory capacity. If things go bad, will you be able to listen to me and not get involved?"
"You know me better than that," he said. "If things go bad, I'd HAVE to get involved. You wouldn't try to stop me."
"Or let's say, I was under suspicion, could you make love to me and still keep it from me. Your reputation precedes you on that, my dear. You'd spill it before your breathing rate returned to normal. I'm just glad the Death Eaters didn't know your little secret…"
"Okay. OKAY! I get your point. The question is do you get mine?" he asked.
"Yes, I do. Your point is that we worked well together before and you trust me and can't get enough of my company."
"Give the lady a biscuit, she got it exactly correct," Harry teased.
"With our schedules going mad, are we going to be able to still see each other?" she asked.
"We'll make time," he answered. "If you were to move in like I asked, you would save at least a half hour twice a day."
"I do worry about Crookshanks. He's not a kitten anymore." she answered. "I just…didn't want to really move in until we are married. Call me old fashioned if you want, but as long as I can call my parents' house home, I feel more comfortable about staying here with you."
"I'm not pushing you; I was only suggesting it as a way to make more time. If it helps you to keep things at their house then by all means continue to do so. I only want you to be happy. That's all."
"Well, I have to work tomorrow, so I am going to very unhappy if I don't get some sleep," she concluded and snuggled into him and allowed sleep to overtake her.
Harry lay awake for several hours going over things in his mind before he joined her in slumber.