In the blink of an eye, it was August.
Loren carried a steaming cup of milk in one hand and fried eggs in the other as he padded lightly toward the dining table. "Minister Granger, help me unscrew the jam and set out the cutlery."
Hermione looked up from her newspaper and silently did as she was told.
After setting down breakfast, Loren sat beside her and spoke in a deliberately affected tone. "Oh dear, Minister Granger is so busy with official matters, and I still have to trouble you with this. I'm terribly sorry."
"I forgive you."
Hermione lowered her head and spread jam over her bread. It was her favorite strawberry jam, rich with fruit and sweetly fragrant. The color was not quite vivid enough, though, and she had no idea where he had bought it. There was no label on the glass jar.
"You really don't stand on ceremony."
"The Ministry of Magic really is busy right now. If a certain Legendary Wizard who proposed a plan but refused to take responsibility could join us and help, things should ease up considerably."
"Umm..."
Loren pondered for a moment, then decided to pretend he had not heard. "When are you taking leave?"
Hermione focused on spreading her jam with meticulous care. "We have our regular time off this weekend, but your birthday is on thursday."
"..."
Loren immediately frowned deeply and looked up at her.
Hermione pressed her lips together without saying anything.
This was the very person who had taken Grandpa Bates and her parents out for a late meal while she was working overtime last time, without waiting for her. They had played around until late at night before coming home with several cold dishes. She had never forgotten it.
And who knew what they had