Minerva rarely left the castle these days though she wasn't comforted to have a young auror there. Yes, it meant more security for her students, but that didn't mean she trusted the woman right off the bat. She didn't fear that the auror was working a double life of sorts since a large chunk of her family had just been killed by radicals. Granted she would still be watching her like a hawk. After all Barty Crouch Jr. Had spent almost a full year parading about as Alastor Moody with no one suspecting a thing. She felt her lips turn down at the thought. While she agreed Crouch Jr should have been dealt a harsh punishment she was still vexed over the Ministry sentenced him to the dementor's kiss right in front of them all.

Her heart felt heavy thinking of the loss of Alastor. She had lost far too many people during the war causing her usual stern demeanor to intensify. It had been seventeen years since the war and she still mourned the losses that occurred during it. It didn't help that she could already feel another shift in power happening. The Minister and his obscene rules were going to push them into another war of sorts. Radicals were popping up everywhere and starting to cause severe damage.

She strode through the long rows of books, pulling out a few times here and there to glance over. She wasn't looking for anything in particular. Minerva just knew that she needed time to think of plans to keep her students safe in case another rebellion was indeed on the rise. She absently flipped through a book on transfiguration as her mind worked over the worst possible scenarios. She truly hoped she was wrong this time and things would die down in the near future though she was still actively trying to keep things balanced in the school as she felt that shift even within her own school. She continued to flip through the pages, looking up just in time to see two familiar faces.

@harry
Hermione Jean Potter

All and all, her day at the Ministry had been rather uneventful. Working in the Muggle Liaison often could be considered dull by some people’s standards, but she found it rather rewarding. It was a fantastic way of interacting with both worlds that she’d grown up in, and Hermione would rather do that herself than trust anyone else to—especially with the current state of the Ministry. Although she had been seriously considering leaving there altogether when Durant had cleared out her division, she’d realized that that had actually made it far more essential to stick around. It felt as though the Wizarding world was at the edge of something, though she’d hadn’t a clue what—with the quickly deteriorating treatment of Death Eaters, their families, and the attacks on purebloods by radicals increasing… something had to be done. The Minister clearly didn’t care about the ramifications of his actions, or if he did, then he was obviously enjoying it—even if it meant plunging the Wizarding world into chaos again.

Hermione thought that joining Dimitte would be a good place to start, as she at least wanted to see what the group planned to do about the situation, but it was clear that all they really could do was make noise about it and try to get everyone to realize that they were stooping as low as the Death Eaters had in Voldemort’s reign. Bringing themselves down to those deplorable levels by treating other human beings like this was hardly going to benefit anyone. She shook her head, drawing herself from her thoughts, as she realized that she hadn’t spoken in several minutes, though it seemed that Harry was equally deep in thought. Hermione knew that he saw more of what was going on—as the Auror department was incredibly focused on Death Eaters at the current time. That was another problem, she realized, department resources were being wasted propagating the Ministry’s bloody agenda.

She had just been about to speak to her husband, wondering if his day had been at all eventful, when she noticed a familiar face, “Minerva,” she said, smiling brightly as she approached the woman. Although at first it had been a bit of a transition to realize that she hardly had to address her former professors by their titles now, Hermione had broke the habit eventually. It had been a long time since school, after all, “How have you been?”

Outfit

He had been told that the older he would get, the more he would grow to appreciate a good book. Through time, Harry had realized they were right. He could appreciate a good book…that had pictures…and information that interested him, like Quidditch, perhaps. Otherwise, he would leave the book loving to Hermione, whom had always seemed to live and breathe books. This was, he supposed, why their kids learned to read so quickly…because he’d much rather have them reading the books to him rather than the other way around.

But now, Harry found that it was annoyingly time for him to look for any useful information, though he was still slightly doubtful he would even be any use in the bookstore. He and Ron were just never book people, becoming more of a hindrance to Hermione than anything. However, he supposed it was a good husband thing to at least pretend he had a clue what he was looking for and walk through, aimlessly browsing the books. Finally, he found a book that looked interesting, flipping through the pages until he got to an article he could read to look busy. Of course, it wasn’t exactly a useful book to be reading in their current need, but it at least made him look busy while Hermione did the real work. His eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to at least look like he was reading something useful for the current predicament.

Clearly, he knew that they had things to work through as the world did seem to be on the decline rather quickly. It was difficult to miss when he worked so closely with the Ministry, on purpose. He really liked to keep an eye on the situation, not trusting anyone anymore, really, outside of a select few. Harry supposed he never really trusted anyone all that much, always assuming that people had a different agenda. More often than not, it seemed to prove true. The treatment of Death Eaters was all wrong, and the beginning trials, again, on purebloods was uncalled for. It didn’t help that rumors were spreading about his sanity since he had been trying to help put a stop to the treatment. Now, he had to step back, as bloody difficult as that was, and try to figure out another way to help the situation out.

He was halfway through the article on the longest playing Quidditch player when he heard Hermione speaking to someone. Quickly closing his book and shoving it back onto the shelf, he looked up and saw their old professor and Head of House, one of the select few that he actually trusted anymore.

“Minerva,” Harry nodded, smiling slightly in greeting, waiting to hear her response. It had been quite some time since he had seen the older woman, but he knew that they were all on the same page about the strange happenings that the wizarding world was now facing and that none of them would sit by and watch it fall apart.

Minerva’s lips twitched into a very slight smile as her old students approached her. She had been around long enough to get used to seeing her students grow into adults though it felt a bit different when it came to Harry and Hermione. She had never been one to get so personally involved in a student’s affairs. From the moment Harry was born there had already been an odd connection started that she had never been able to shake. Seeing he and Hermione married with children was not something she had really anticipated, then again it wasn’t as if she put much thought into Harry’s romantic life. That was none of her business. They seemed rather happy and she had always cared greatly for Hermione even if she had driven her mad as a child. She wasn’t sure who drove her up the wall more, but Harry and Hermione had certainly tied several times.

”Hermione, Harry.” She said nodding to each in turn as she slowly closed the book in her hands. It took her a moment to think over the question Hermione had just asked her. She was never one to just blatantly lie, and especially not to two people she had grown so close to. “I’ve been better.” She answered, her Scottish accent lingering over the last word. It seemed like no matter how long she had lived in England the accent still remained. Things seemed to be going downhill fast all around. She knew the pair still worked for the Ministry, and for a split second debated on asking them if they had noticed anything strange occurring. She knew them well enough to know that even with a family they most likely still had their ears to the ground. "Yourselves?" She asked not feeling it would be appropriate to ask anything else that was really on her mind.

It was always incredibly quiet when the kids were off at Hogwarts, and Hermione did miss the days where they had been too young to go, simply because she missed their presence when they were gone. However, she knew that they were safe at Hogwarts with Minerva there, and enjoying their learning—maybe not as much as she had, but they were always happy to head back to school. The problem with them leaving was the sudden emptiness of the house really gave Hermione, and she was sure Harry as well, time to really focus on everything that was going on. Hermione loved her husband, and spending time with him without the distraction of the kids was always a fun change, but without being constantly busy with Liam, Adaline and Deacon, thoughts of the worsening conditions of their world always came back. Working at the Ministry let them see this firsthand, and Hermione knew that they were one push away from chaos or worse, another war, breaking out. Death Eaters were being treated like they weren’t even humans, purebloods were facing worse persecution from radicals than Muggleborns had in Voldemort’s reign, and Hermione didn’t even know what terror the Minister had planned in the Beast Division—but firing them all had certainly proven his motives were dubious at best.

She lifted a shoulder in a shrug, feeling pretty similarly to Minerva. With everything going on, it was hard to be doing all that well. The stress of figuring out what had to be done was enough to put anyone in a sour mood—and Minerva was running a school, for Merlin’s sake. Hermione found herself concerned enough worrying about Harry, her kids, her job, and work for Dimitte and the Order; she couldn’t imagine worrying about an entire school of students. Granted, she was concerned for the school and all of its inhabitants, obviously, but she wasn’t directly in charge of its safety. It had to be incredibly stressful, “House is quiet without the kids around, which is a nice break,” she joked, lightly, though the serious topics couldn’t be stalled forever, “As for everything else, I hold a similar opinion to you—I could be better,” Hermione paused, wondering if there was anything at all the woman needed help with—though this probably wasn’t the place to get into details about it, “You know that if you ever need help with anything, to just let us know, right? We’re always happy to help lighten the load—Merlin knows how much you have going on.”

There had been a time, long ago, when talking so casually to his professor had seemed odd. Though, he supposed by the time he was leaving Hogwarts, it was hardly something he was concerned about when the world seemed to be at its end. Of all of the adults he had ever met when he was that age, he had known that she was someone to be trusted. Of course, he didn’t always listen to whatever advice she had passed on, but if ever he was in a rut, there was no doubt he could turn to her. She was, in his eyes, someone who had filled the late Albus Dumbledore’s steps quite nicely as she took over Hogwarts. She would never be the Headmaster, but she was certainly the best fit for her position. Though, this wouldn’t be something he’d go blabbing about, never one that was really comfortable discussing feelings or personal thoughts.

The conversation seemed like it was masking the real conversation, actual questions that wanted or needed to be asked. They all knew that there was something amidst, but it was quite debatable on what exactly it was. It seemed that no matter what happened, the world always circled back to attempting to destroy itself, irritatingly enough. Harry nodded in agreement to Hermione’s response, casually glancing around the shop for potential listening ears. There was nothing they could really discuss in such a public location with so many possibilities of people overhearing, but it was tempting, nonetheless. He wanted to ask how things were at the school and if the Ministry had gotten involved there without his knowledge. He then wanted to ask if she had heard from any of her connections about anything else going on with the Death Eaters or with the Ministry. Being who he was, it was rather difficult for him to gain any information, especially when rumor had it, he was going insane for siding with the Death Eaters. And he did. He would side with them over the Ministry any day with what the Ministry was doing to them. That decision, however, was quite the blow to most people who had lost loved ones during the war by the hand of a Death Eater, wanting nothing more than to see ‘justice’ served, no matter how wrong. “Things never really change, do they?” Harry stated casually, a lopsided grin forming on his features as he shook his head casually. Though, he was feeling anything but casual, his thoughts on the fact that it always seemed to circle back to people wanting power and willing to do whatever they could to get it.

Minerva watched her old students closely realizing that all three had far different things ion their mind than the idle chit chat they were participating in. She knew that both of them working in the Ministry lent to a great deal of answers but probably double the questions than they could answer. Durant was obviously up to no good. Minerva had been through enough wars to know what it felt like when things were coming to their breaking point and that moment was drawing closer by the second. Things in the school had been uneventful thankfully, but she could even feel the tension within the students as rumors flew and biased conclusions were drawn as to who was ‘right’ and who was ‘wrong’. The summer was coming up quickly and once they were outside of those castle walls there was no longer any solid way she could protect them. They would have months to hear and see what catastrophes lay ahead. Part of her feared a few would be sucked into the situation, bringing it into her school causing chaos. She already had an auror lined up to help with protection but it didn’t feel like nearly enough.

She smiled lightly with a nod at Hermione’s statement about the Potter’s home being quiet without the children home. Minerva’s eyebrows rose gently at her offer of assistance. She didn’t even want to chance anyone overhearing that she had any real concerns when it came to the school. That was all the Minister needed was a reason to doubt her ability as a Headmistress and put one of his own in her place. ”Thank you, Hermione. I assure you things are well taken care of, but thank you” She said with a nod before turning her attention back to Harry. It seemed like he had grown into a rather good auror as it was obvious he had gone for a very discreet approach. ”I’m afraid they don’t, Mister Potter.” She said casually using his surname out of habit when things were a bit more serious. To anyone else it would sound like simple conversation though the statement itself was loaded.

This was clearly not the right setting for any kind of serious conversation, but it was obvious to Hermione that they all were quite deep in thought more than likely about everything that was going on. The Minister and the departments that he had negatively influenced had a way of seeping into her own thoughts at any time of the day, and working there only made matters worse regarding that. Her own office had not yet been under the microscope of any of the man’s scrutiny, as apparently Muggles weren’t the focus of any of his current agendas. There was some good in that, she supposed, but it did give him more time to focus in on his vendetta against purebloods, which wasn’t any better. She knew that Minerva would be worried about him attempting to get involved at Hogwarts, as well as trying to keep everything under control as it seemed to be spiraling out of control again. It certainly was starting to feel like it did last time, like something was about to happen. Only this time, it was hard to say just what that would be.

“Of course,” she replied, nodding, almost missing the woman’s response as she had been so deep in thought. Hermione was realizing even her own comment could have sounded a little off-putting if the wrong person had heard them, and decided she needed to make sure she chose her words quite carefully. She wouldn’t be surprised if the Minister had anyone he deemed suspicious followed, and that would at least put Minerva and Harry on that list. Smiling slightly at Harry’s own casual question, Hermione wondered if this was going to be another situation they found themselves involved in. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to sit back and watch as something bad happened, but she had been holding out hope that it wouldn’t get to the point that it was obviously rapidly approaching.

Harry would be lying if he said that the school years were something he regretted pass by, now that his children were in attendance at Hogwarts. He knew that they would have so many adventures, building different memories with the people that they met, but it made the house rather quiet. When his children were gone, he really didn’t spend much time flying his broom anymore or doing other activities that he found enjoyable, pushing himself to work hard during the year. He wanted to provide for his family, much like the way he felt his father would want him to. His family was important to him, with his loving wife and their three children. A part of him wished that he and Hermione had more relatives around, neither having any, really. But, people like this woman here had seemed to join their family, becoming a kind of mother figure to Harry. From the start, this woman had such great faith in his ability, believing in him much like Dumbledore had. His children certainly knew not to rub her the wrong way as she was considered a close family friend, a part of the family.

But honestly, why were they in a bloody bookstore, of all things? Books were Hermione’s thing. He could go…follow some leads, or something…anything that was a bit more exciting than sitting in this stuffy place reading the thoughts of some tosser or other. To him, all books were merely opinionated nowadays. He was pretty sure he might be allergic to places with too many books as he could already feel as if his sinuses were warning him to leave. His lopsided grin remained intact before he responded to the Headmistress again. “What a shame, and here I thought the both of you would outgrow your love of books,” he shrugged casually, picking up a random book from a shelf and flipping through it. Merlin, these types of conversations could be obnoxious when they had to reword everything they meant. Luckily for him, he knew they both would continue searching for answers in these lengthy texts, even if he would much rather be anywhere else but the bloody bookstore. Except the library, he supposed.

Minerva watched them both carefully feeling that maybe that three of them being in public together may not be the best idea. There had already been some minor slip ups that could be misconstrued as anything. As cordial as she had tried to remain to be she feared that they should probably go their separate ways soon as to not draw too much more attention to them. While they hadn’t been talking for a substantial amount of time it seemed like there was no such thing as being too vigilant when it came to surroundings. For all they knew someone was nearby that could try to use even the tiniest bit of information against them.

She gave Hermione a solid nod before turning back to Harry with a very slight smile at his comment. It was true, though she couldn’t fault him for his opinion. Merlin knew he wasn’t much for books as his wife had always been the one resourceful when it came to text. ”There is still time to broaden your horizons.” She said glancing around them casually. Minerva did not want to place any more burdens on Harry and Hermione’s shoulders, but she knew that in order to make sure things were taken care of to the best of her ability she needed to say something. ”I do apologize that I can’t stay here and chat for long.” She began setting the book back in its proper place. ”But we must make it a point to get together in the near future.” She said casually though she figured both would catch on to what she was hinting towards.