Chapter 1
Harry scowled from where he sat across from Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister of Magic, and currently a complete pain in his arse.
“I’m not sure why you’re surprised Harry, it is an annual gala.” Kingsley said, a bemused expression on his face at his Head Auror’s clear discomfort.
Harry hated galas. He hated dancing. And most of all, he hated having to interact and rub elbows with politicians, and just about everybody else for that matter. The ministry’s annual gala celebrating the end of the war, of which Harry himself unfortunately played rather a large part of, practically involved all those situations and he had to be there every year. It sucked.
He said as much to Kingsley, who just hummed and looked at a note on his desk before speaking again.
“You know why you have to be there Harry - the war related stuff aside, you are my Head Auror and therefore an important person within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement - which means you would have to attend anyway even if you weren’t, well, you.”
“I know, I just-,” he was interrupted by a knock at Kingsley’s office door.
The pair shared a look before Kingsley invited the person in.
“Minister, sorry to interrupt,” Kingsley’s secretary gave a bashful smile to the two of them, “but Auror Potter is being requested back at his office.”
The Minister thanked her as she left the room, turning to Harry before he could make his escape.
“The gala is in a week Harry. I not only want you to try and interact with some of those politicians you seem to hate so much, but also find yourself some new dress robes, please. It is becoming quite clear you use the same set every year as we all got to see your ankles at the last gala as you have somewhat outgrown the robes that fit you at 19 years old.”
The older man smiled down at Harry, who huffed at the prospect of having to go shopping. He hated shopping for robes - it was why he’d tried, and clearly failed, to wear the same robes any time he was forced to and adjusted them the best he could with magic.
“Fine, I’ll play nice with some of your colleagues and will go shopping for new robes,” he paused, smiling at the man who seemed too pleased with himself, “if I get a week off with pay whenever I like. I am an important person within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement after all, you wouldn’t want me to be overworked with the little holiday time I actually get, it might start leading to mistakes soon enough.”
He grinned as Kingsley scowled at him, his momentary victory in getting Harry to buy new robes gone when faced with the ultimatum and the (admittedly false) threat of Harry being less than exemplary at his job.
“You will play nice with all of my colleagues, as well as those attending from foreign governments, and will buy three pairs of dress robes so that you can attend the Ministry Yule gala and another event which can be decided at a later point as well. In return you can have two weeks holiday with pay.”
Kingsley held his hand out, an eyebrow raised in question as Harry considered the counter offer. Two weeks off was good, he never got to see his friends and the Weasleys as much anymore - he’d had to cancel on meeting Ginny’s new girlfriend at least twice now because he kept getting held up at work. It was, quite frankly, upsetting that not only everybody was moving on with their lives more so than him but also that he didn’t even get to spend time with them whilst they lived these lives.
But two weeks - he’d be able to rest and cook (which he sorely missed doing - just last night his meal was cold plain rice eaten over his desk like an animal, it was awful). And he’d see his friends, which in his opinion would be well worth suffering through buying new robes and, ugh, rubbing elbows with politicians.
He reached his hand out to shake Kingsley’s, “You have yourself a deal Minister.”
———
It was a surprise when the following day Harry managed to leave work on time to head to Diagon Alley to buy his robes. According to his Auror partner Seamus, unbeknownst to himself, he’d been muttering about robes all day, so when it got to the end of their shift Seamus offered to cover their paperwork just so he didn’t have to listen to it again the next day.
So now Harry found himself stepping into a robe shop that Ron had recommended to him, as according to him ‘they’re not as prissy as some of those other ones, you’ll be in and out before you know it.’
The bell on the door echoed into the shop announcing his arrival. A man with the largest handlebar moustache Harry had ever seen appeared in front of him, a tape measure around his neck and a smile on his face as he went to greet him.
“Good evening! Welcome to Riverside Tailoring & Co, my name is Aleksander, how may I help you today…Sir” The man faltered as he seemed to recognise Harry, but gathered himself quick enough Harry didn’t feel uncomfortable.
Harry smiled at the man and began to describe the style of dress robes he usually wore as Aleksander waved his wand causing a tape measure moving at a speed Harry almost struggled to follow and wrote down whatever measurements he was seeing.
Before Harry even had the time to become bored, Aleksander clapped his hands, the tape measure returning to his neck.
“Fantastic! Now I have all your measurements, I was thinking perhaps a different accenting colour on each of the robes, to distinguish themselves for the various events you have to attend perhaps?”
Harry just nodded at the man, not really caring either way. Aleksander asked a few more questions about the colours Harry would prefer before exchanging payment and confirmation his robes will be sent to Grimmauld Place within two days.
He may have been in that shop for less time than expected, but he was still desperate to leave, not even looking at his surroundings as he rushed out the front door… and right into someone else, both of them toppling to the floor.
“Shit, I’m so sorry,” he moved to stand up, wincing at the sharp pain in his elbow, and turned to help the person up.
“It’s okay don’t worry I wasn’t looking where I was going-“
The two of them stared at each other in shock as they finally made eye contact, before both called out in unison.
“Harry?!”
“Parvati?!”
He didn’t have time to register how nice it was to see his old classmate before she enveloped him into a tight hug.
“Merlin Harry, it’s been so long,” she pulled back from the hug to look him over, “how are you? Still saving the world?”
She was smiling at him and his brain seemed to stop working other than the helpful observation at just how pretty she was. Of course she had always been pretty when they were at school, but she had grown into her features even more as a woman, and she was stunning.
It took a few seconds for him to realise she was waiting for an answer, “Nope, I’m all out of saviour opportunities nowadays, people just don’t have the ambition to try and take over wizarding Britain anymore.”
“Oh what a shame, I guess you’ll just have to be normal like the rest of us.”
He laughed, “I’m not sure you were ever normal Parvati, people who stand out like you can’t claim to be anything but special.”
She ducked her head, stepping away from him, her skin darkening as she blushed.
Shit, he’d said that out loud, and now she was going to think he was weird, or he was a creep, and how did this conversation spiral out of control so quickly? What is wrong with him?
“Thanks Harry.” Her smile was small but at least she was looking at him and not running for the hills.
“How are you anyway? You’ve been travelling a lot since school ended right?”
“Um yeah, I’m good, and I’ve actually moved back to England now, although with my job I can’t say I won’t still travel a lot, but it’s nice being back.”
They both began walking up the street, talking as they went.
“Oh? What’s your job?” He asked, “I know you were interested in divination whilst we were at school, does it have anything to do with that?”
“It does and it doesn’t. I’m an aurologist which basically means I study and investigate the auras of people, creatures or places.”
“Okay, sounds great?” Parvati laughed at his questioning tone, “Honestly, I’m not really sure what that all means but it definitely sounds like it should be interesting.”
And with an enthusiasm parallel to Hermoine describing a new book she read, Parvati began explaining. Apparently, the witch she trained under was often called around the globe to investigate ‘sinister’ auras located within establishments or cities, regularly assisting local law enforcement in finding the cause of these auras, stopping awful things from happening. Parvati, as passionate as she was about this method of study wanted to focus more on people - studying their auras and using related divination methods to help determine their future. Admittedly, a lot of it went over his head as he’d never been good or interested in the more subjective forms of magic, but the way she spoke about it found him curious to know more.
“I actually came back to England to basically set up a permanent shop where I may still be hired by various magical institutes, but I want to focus more on everyday people and their auras, and fill my life with more of the good than the bad.”
She smiled up at him when she finished her explanation, eyebrow raised in question.
“Wow Parvati, that really does sound amazing. Despite my past experience with divination and related magics, you’ll have to tell me where you’re based I’m interested to know what my magical aura can say about me.”
There was a genuine smile on both their faces as they slowed to a stop outside the Leaky Cauldron.
“I hate to break it to you Harry, but you’ve always projected a pretty powerful aura that even those untrained in the art can at least notice, so I already know what most of it means.”
He found himself disappointed that he might not be able to spend time with her again, however brief this reunion had been, and found himself needing to convince her she was wrong
“Well you clearly just said most of it, not all of it, so there’s something to be learnt right? And hey, you may know what my aura is, but I certainly don’t, so I think that warrants a meeting does it not?”
She stepped backwards towards the apparition point, a sparkle in her eyes as she pretended to mull it over, “Harry Potter you drive a hard bargain... but you’ve convinced me. I will owl you when I have my office set up to figure out a day where you can hear all about your oh-so-powerful aura.”
“Great! It’s a date- wait! No not a date! Um, I can’t wait-“
His stammering was interrupted by the crack of apparition, her lovely smile the last thing he saw of her as he stood in the alley.