The room was so quiet that you could hear a quill drop and I found my heart racing as the clock slowly ticked by. I could see all around the table because of the round shape and I found myself trying to gauge the reactions of the colleagues with whom I had sat here and joked around with just yesterday morning. Some looked tense and nervous, ready to switch their positions based on the majority feeling. Some looked excited at the prospect while others just avoided my gaze. Those were the ones I'd probably have to worry about.
Beside me, Lupin exuded calmness and tranquility, but I could tell that, regardless, he felt the tension, given his clenched jaw and white knuckles. I tried to slow my breathing and focus my mind, but I couldn't help but feel as if my life hung in the balance of this committee's decision. I needed Harry to get better more than I needed the air I breathed; in a way our friendship was the air I breathed.
I found myself wishing that Lupin wasn't so noble, but I knew he needed to be if he wanted to be respected as Minister. This was a decision he could have made completely on his own, but, like a good leader, he had left it up to a vote because it affected more than just him, and it all just made me curse myself more. Why had I stupidly believed that Lupin would jump at the chance to have Harry working with us? I knew it would be a controversial issue to the entire group, but I didn't even consider the possibility that Harry might be voted out.
Now Harry had agreed to finally get out of his house and help and I didn't even know if I could let him, all of my plans seemed to be slipping through my fingers and I could barely breathe. And, still, the only sounds were the tick-tock of the lonely clock and my galloping heart beat.
"Before we put this to a vote," A nasally voice, that meant no good for me, spoke up across from the room. "I'd like you all to remember why Mr. Potter got kicked out of his Auror program. He was drinking too much, he never showed up, was talking back to his instructors, and we've seen no progress on sobriety thus far. If we elect him into RARP there is a definite possibility he won't even show up to his speeches, or that if he does appear, he'll only make rude remarks to our audiences. His name is a bonus only so long as he uplifts it, anything other than that and we're likely to digress in our cause."
I winced then set my face back into an emotionless mask. Members of the RARP, the Race against Race Prejudice, shifted nervously and cleared their throats, considering what was just said. Damn Steinbeck, the snotty owner of the nasally voice, for having a plausible point. I squeezed my hands together and waited for someone, anyone, to say something. I couldn't speak up because my point would be received as biased.
"That's one possibility," Dean Thomas piped up from the side. "There's also the possibility that he'll do a damn good job, and just think of how much publicity he'd bring if he did. Everyone, no matter what race or species, respects him for getting rid of Voldemort. Even former supporters of Voldemort would be willing to follow Harry because they believe he has more power than Voldemort. What it comes down to is if we're willing to give Harry the chance we're willing to give vampires, goblins, werewolves, and even giants. Are we going to give him the chance to redeem himself just like we're fighting to give every other race? Is he somehow less than them?-That's a dangerous thought process for someone whose fighting to give everyone equality."
A few people murmured their agreements, the undecided shifted their gazes faster than a tennis match, the others cast their gazes even further down, and Steinbeck went bright red. He opened his mouth to answer back and question Dean's own authority, but Lupin cut in with a clearing of his throat. We didn't need another credential, experience, or morality fight right now. I felt like running around the table to Dean and kissing him.
"Alright," Lupin cleared his throat again a few minutes later. "Unless anyone has anymore to say, I'd like to put this up for a vote." I looked around the room cautiously for the next couple of quiet minutes and let my gaze linger uneasily on Steinbeck. He was still rather red, but his mouth was clamped shut, I wouldn't let myself feel relieved yet.
"All those in favor of letting Harry Potter join the RARP please raise your right hand," Lupin continued, and a silence descended upon the group and it took more effort than it should have for me to turn my head and look. It was close, very close. Just about half were raising their hand. I began to count, but fumbled in my anxiousness and had to count again. My heart was beating faster than it did after a mile run.
"The motion has passed," Lupin breathed out and the relief was tangible in his voice. "Harry Potter is the newest member of RARP." Some people cheered while others remained silent, I couldn't really say because I wasn't paying attention. I just sat in my chair and slowly let the tension wash out of me and the stark sense of relief and happiness overwhelm me.
*~*
I walked as quickly as possible to my office, but as the Minister's assistant I couldn't look too excited. The extra minute and a half that it took me to go slowly cost me in quick breaths as well as a world of impatience. I heard people greeting me and I waved back distractedly. My mind was focused on one thing, and that was Harry.
When I finally burst into my office and saw Harry leaning against my desk, looking at a picture of the two of us last Christmas, I couldn't take it anymore. I pushed the door shut and ran into his surprised arms. I lay my head into the crook of his shoulder, breathing out "Welcome to the RARP!"
His arms slowly snaked around my back and one came up to cradle my neck. His head tilted glacially, before resting against my own and I began to realize I was pressed up against him, far closer than I usually allowed myself to be. I tried to pull back a little bit to give him space and myself an ounce of brain power, but his arms pulled me back tighter than before. I began to wonder when the last time he'd been held like this was, but then I threw the thought out when I realized I probably wasn't the one who had done it.
I could feel the contours of his chest against the curves of my own and the strong muscles of his arms around my waist and arms. I tried to keep my breathing steady and my heart rate slow, but knew I was failing miserably. I settled for trying to keep Harry from noticing and, belatedly, thought that my heart had gotten more of a workout today than it had in the last year. All those thoughts were swept away when he moved his head slightly and I could smell the musky evergreen scent that was all Harry. I had always been intoxicated by it, but now more so than ever, seeing as this was the first time in months it wasn't covered by the smell of alcohol.
He pulled back before I made a complete idiot of myself or ruined our friendship by pushing him back onto my desk and snogging the hell out of him. I gulped nervously and looked up into Harry's forest green eyes, sharp and clear without the haze of alcohol. He looked utterly confused and I immediately felt horrible.
The guy was getting over the love of his life and what do I, the stable best friend who's always supposed to be by his side, do? I go and jump on him the way a starved kid would a muffin. I flushed and cleared my throat as he shifted a bit and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. It was silent for a few moments before Harry said something and then again for another minute while I tried to force my over-stimulated mind to understand English.
"So…erm, vampire rights?" Harry asked in a quiet voice.
Right. Right! Oh hell, we were supposed to be in Lupin's office five minutes ago! I grabbed Harry's arm, said something in the general vicinity of, 'late, office, and now,' and high-tailed it out of the office. How low the Brightest-Witch-of-Her-Age had sunk and all because of a man-a wonderful, sexy, heartbroken, utterly cuddly man.
*~*
When we finally arrived at Lupin's office, he was on the Floo. I took the few moments to regain my ability to think, a task made harder by the fact that Harry's arm was still in my hand and I immediately dropped it, trying not to flush. Sensing my discomfort, Harry rubbed slow circles into my back and whispered, in my ear, "calm down, I know you're excited I got in, I am too. It'll be alright."On the day I was supposed to be comforting him, he was reassuring me. That realization snapped me back into reality. I gave him a slow, steady smile, saying "you'll do great."
We entered Lupin's main office and I was touched by the warmth in his face when he saw Harry. He gave him a quick hand-shake, clap on the shoulder, and wink, before saying "lets get down to business." That was my cue, and the three of us went and sat down at Lupin's desk and I opened the files I had left there earlier.
"For the past year, the Ministry has funded a special program towards the creation to make vampirism less blood-thirsty and dangerous," I informed Harry. "They've finally succeeded. There is a potion, much like wolfsbane, that they can take every other week to keep them in control and an easy spell to transfigure blood so they can have sustenance during that time without killing. We've contacted the vampires and they're giving our solution a lot of consideration. However, we are still trying to convince them. Once have their cooperation, we'll have to clear the other races of their fear of vampires. Our ultimate goal is to have Vampires attain entirely equal rights. Our short term goal, however, is to get them jobs and in school."
"We've set up a campaign to visit each and every race with more times spent on the races that have had bad experiences with the vampires," I explained, "We're planning on comparing them with the calmer werewolves, especially Remus, hoping that they'll feel more secure with Remus's good example and the support he's received-mainly, with war heroes and you, of course."
"I like the idea of showing prominent people's support," Harry said after a moment, "but isn't it dangerous to use Remus? There are a lot of people who weren't happy to have a werewolf Minister. Plus, many races who didn't have a vote when Remus was elected, that can vote now and aren't convinced. It could degrade Remus's power and put him on the level of what other races are still convinced is a beast. Why not just show straight support for the vampires? If prominent individuals spent time with these calmer vampires and testify that the potion works, wouldn't it have more clout than just saying it worked for Remus so why not them?"
I stopped and considered that for a moment. He had a really good point. Not everyone was happy with a werewolf as Minister, either because they didn't trust the potion he was taking or because they wanted someone of their own kind to be Minister. We knew Harry's idea would work; after all it was how we campaigned to get Remus into office in the first place. I started running different ideas of which famous figures could talk to which race and glanced briefly at Remus.
He was pleasantly surprised, eyes widening and a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. I was so used to Harry being an intelligent leader that I just readily excepted his ideas, but now that I stopped to consider the situation, I felt a lump rising in my throat. Maybe Harry wasn't completely himself again, but I could feel the changing of the tide as his caring and leadership were starting to pull through again.
"That's… that's brilliant Harry," I said after I could control my voice. "Absolutely brilliant. We should have thought of that before." He turned his piercing gaze to me and gave me the ghost of an-honest-to-Merlin-smile. The first one I could feel relieved about in the last few months, and I was lucky I didn't start bawling.
"Of course it is, Hermione," he teased, "since it was your original idea. It won Lupin the title of Minister. How couldn't it be brilliant?" He gave me a slow wink and I nearly toppled over. Merlin, Harry had been so depressed before that his personality had taken aback seat and now even the smallest "Harry traits" returning knocked me off my feet, I really needed to get a hold of myself. I looked back at Lupin who was giving my blush a considering look, still smiling, before pulling myself back together quickly.
"So, I figured Dobby should be a main representative when we're talking to the House Elves," I trailed off. "Griphook could talk to the Goblins again, Firenze can handle the centaurs…" The list continued on and I tried to figure out how to reign in my hormones, too bad that wouldn't stop all the other feelings I had.
AN: I hope you all liked the H/Hr moment in this chapter! Tell me what you think! Thank you to my wonder Betas!!!