Chapter 430: with translation of chapter title

Summer vacation arrived as scheduled.

Of course, this is a benefit for students.

Our newly promoted workhorse Hermione at the Ministry of Magic has no summer vacation.

She still has to get up early every day to go to the Ministry of Magic to work, handling piles of documents and various thorny cases.

Although she seems to be enjoying it quite a bit...

After a year of work, Hermione has fully adapted to the workflow of the Magical Law Enforcement Agency, and even started voluntarily taking on some high-difficulty cases.

John sometimes goes to the Ministry of Magic to pick her up after work, and by the way checks out her work environment.

But every time he goes, Hermione gets teased by her colleagues.

For example, right now.

"Yo, Hermione, your guy's come to pick you up again?" a middle-aged witch joked with a smile.

Hermione's cheeks flushed slightly, but she still forced calm and replied, "He just happened to be passing by..."

"We get it, we get it, it's an after-work date, we all understand." The witch winked, and the surrounding colleagues laughed as well.

Hermione felt a bit embarrassed by the remarks, so she sped up packing her things, pulled John, and hurried out of the office.

"They're always like that."

Hermione muttered under her breath, while John smiled.

"They're not wrong, I really am here to pick you up for a date."

"Hmph, you sure know how to take advantage." Hermione scolded with her lips, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help turning up slightly.

The two walked side by side toward the elevator, and Hermione naturally hooked her arm around John's.

"Huh? John, you're here to pick up Hermione again."

In the elevator lobby they also ran into Harry and Ron, with Harry greeting them first.

"Yeah, you guys aren't on duty today?" John nodded at them.

The Auror Office is right next door; Harry and Ron had just come out of it.

After serving as Aurors for a year, Harry and Ron have acquired a bit more of a capable demeanor, no longer the greenhorns they were when they first graduated.

"Today's my day off; I was just about to go have a drink."

Ron had one arm around Harry's shoulder and the other making a drinking gesture toward the two of them.

"Want to join us?" Harry also asked the two of them.

"No thanks, there's nothing good to drink with you two big guys; I'd rather drink with my Hermione."

John refused without even thinking.

That remark left Harry and Ron speechless.

At least they're comrades-in-arms.

Really, can't you even pretend a little?

"Fine, fine, go enjoy your sweetness." Ron rolled his eyes, grabbed Harry and walked off in another direction, "We don't want to be a third wheel."

Harry also waved helplessly at the two, saying, "Then we'll be off; see you tomorrow."

Hermione also waved at them, watching them disappear down the end of the hallway.

"Those two are getting more and more in sync." Hermione said softly, her tone carrying a hint of relief.

It feels like a mother watching her eldest son grow up.

John laughed and responded, "I think we're pretty in sync too, huh?"

"Nonsense." Hermione gave him a look, but didn't argue.

After leaving the Ministry of Magic,

John took Hermione to a newly opened French restaurant in London's West End.

The restaurant's decor is elegant, with a soft piano melody flowing through the air.

Hermione looked at John somewhat surprised.

"Why did you suddenly bring me to a place like this?"

Since they've been living together, they occasionally go out on dates like this, but usually they just go to casual little eateries.

Then they'd stroll around some interesting spots, and finally head home together.

A formal restaurant like today's is actually their first time.

"Well... I thought, after taking you to so many dive joints, it's time for something different."

Hearing John's explanation, Hermione let out an amused remark.

"Turns out you're not romance-averse after all, knowing to bring me to a place like this."

"Cough... what kind of talk is this..."

John awkwardly rubbed his nose.

Being with Hermione this period has indeed been too rough.

I haven't taken her to experience any worldly romance.

Hermione pursed her lips and smiled, stopped teasing him, and opened the menu.

Her gaze swept over the refined French dish names, she paused slightly, then immediately gave John an amused look without ordering right away.

French naturally poses no difficulty for her, but she thinks John is just trying to show off.

So she gave him the opportunity.

But she overthought it.

John was staring at the menu, feeling completely overwhelmed.

He simply hasn't studied any French at all; although French and English are linguistically related, the specialized terms on the menu still left him utterly clueless.

No, what kind of restaurant is this? I didn't know this was Britain?

There isn't even an English note on the menu.

Even without having eaten pork, one has seen pigs run; John knows this is what those so-called 'high-end' places are.

Bringing Hermione here without preparing a strategy is my fault....

"Cough, that... you order for me..." John chuckled, closing the menu and looking at Hermione.

Hermione froze again upon hearing that.

After a moment, she finally realized she might have misunderstood something.

Then she couldn't help laughing out loud.

"Pfft... I thought you had recently learned French, so you specially brought me here to show off... haha..."

Seeing Hermione laughing until she doubled over, John's face turned even redder, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to hide in.

"Stop... laughing..."

John said through gritted teeth.

The waiter beside them stood politely, jaw clenched, clearly also trying not to laugh.

"Okay, okay, no more laughing."

Finally done laughing, Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes and picked up the menu.

After calling the waiter, she fluently ordered several dishes and even exchanged a few sentences in French with the waiter.

Hermione was dressed in professional attire, her slightly curled long hair simply tucked behind her ears, fluent French flowing from her lips, carrying a Composure elegance.

Just as she had always been, confident and charming.

John stared at her, for a moment becoming somewhat fascinated and dazed.

Even if he became a great hero who saved the Magic world, becoming a success in worldly terms.

But in her presence, he still felt like a clueless kid, at a loss.

And Hermione herself had never stopped moving forward.

She continued to grow in her own way, silently polishing her own light in the corners he couldn't see.

She was so outstanding that it made even him, this 'great hero', occasionally feel ashamed.

"Don't space out, dear Mr. Merick, how would you like your steak cooked?"

At this moment, Hermione looked at the dazed John, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous smile as she asked.

John came to his senses and blurted out: 'Um... well-done...?'

"Well-done?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, her tone tinged with teasing, "Ordering a well-done steak in a French restaurant—are you sure you're not provoking the chef?"

Then Hermione turned to the waiter and added a few sentences in fluent English; the waiter nodded and turned to leave.

"I ordered yours medium-well, not because I'm chasing some so-called ritual or fuss, but because a well-done steak is really too tough—hard to bite and gets stuck in your teeth."

John certainly understood that himself, but he had been thinking about Hermione just now, so his mind short-circuited.

Now hearing Hermione so calmly and composedly help him out, his heart warmed even more.

And Hermione rested her chin on her hand, gazing softly at John.

"You, you're still the same—whatever you think of, you just do it."

"You came without preparing a strategy, didn't you? Even though you invited me to dinner, I still have to help you order."

John was left speechless by her string of remarks.

But he immediately put on a proud, satisfied smile and teased her back.

"That's also because having you by my side lets me act so willfully."

"You are my greatest reliance, right?"

"My dear all-knowing miss~"

Hermione, upon hearing that, did not show the annoyed expression she used to.

Instead, a smile blossomed in her eyes and brows, softening John's entire world.

"Mm-hmm~ Of course~"