Author Notes: Well, This is just an idea that came to me. A twisted version of Jane Eyre meets my own perversions? Possibly, I don't know yet. We will find out. Obviously, this is AU, but magic exists. I hope you like the idea and tell me if you do! We'll see where it goes.
Summary: Six months ago Hermione's life changed. Her husband was killed, she lost her job, and her bills need to get paid… she is introduced to a bit of a bottom of the barrel option. She would be pressed to seek a bit of financial relief. There she starts to discover not only the secrets of the occupants at the residency but also so much more. Could there really be a spell to fix her life, the only thing she would need is a wand?
This is an AU where magic is only known by the few. Magical creatures exist, and purebloods are quiet about their lessons taught from their ancestors. This is based on the concept of if magic was nearly wiped out in the ages of hanging witches, etc. What if, families like the Blacks indeed passed down their knowledge to their children, but families like the Weasleys did not and chose a more normal life… What about werewolves… Yes, this is that type of universe.
Hermione was looking at the pink pages on the table as her son waved his spoon in the air. So many notices. So many bills. The mother couldn't look at her children and not have an option. It was enough to pull out her hair.
Speaking of which, her hair was a frazzled mess from not having the time to bother with appearance. She didn't listen to Ron about just chopping the chaos of it off; part of her wished she would have.
"Mum, do you think we can go see James today?" Rose questioned from the other end of the table.
"Maybe, lovely. I should talk to your Aunt Ginny about something anyway," Hermione sighed and scratched her face.
How? How was she going to admit her failure? It scratched and itched at her like a festering wound. After all, they've been through, how was she going to be their hero still? Their father was gone, and she was the only thing left for stability, but she wasn't even sure she could be stable.
Her erratic thoughts were interrupted when her cell phone jingled on the table, and she exhaled relief. Ginny was calling. The young mother answered, and the crackling on the other end announced that her friend was shuffling about.
"Don't bother coming over; we are on our way inside. Harry says we'll put the kettle on, and we will talk about this." Ginny said firmly.
"Oh, please tell me you didn't tell him I needed money, Gin," Hermione groaned, shuffling the pages back into their envelopes.
"No, he knows you do. You had a good job before it all happened. We know what you're going through and Mum would kick our arses if we didn't help you." She growled, and the front door sounded.
"Rose! Hugo!" James shouted.
Hermione hung up the phone as she tucked the bills under the tablecloth, hiding them from plain sight. "Hello, nephew," she announced as the boy ran into the kitchen.
Hugo started pounding the table in excitement, and Rose clapped. "I'm so glad to see you cousin!"
The Potters soon ambled into the small dining area with Lily in Harry's arms and Ginny holding onto Albus's hand and book. Harry surveyed his friend with empathy and sighed as his wife assisted getting her son's into chairs. "Hermione, how are you?" Harry asked with pursed lips.
The curly-haired woman bobbed her head and gulped. "Living, as usual, Harry."
They shared a similar memory. Both filled with green light.
Ginny was wandering around the tight kitchen as she put on a pot for tea and cleaned up some of the mess. She was twitchier than usual; this was going to be an awkward conversation.
"So, how about we all eat breakfast and talk about things?" Harry inquired with a nod.
"Bre-fest!" Lily shouted with a clap.
His examination of her was even more delicate as he sat his daughter down in the other seat next to Hugo. She was withered and unkempt, not typical of the astute woman at all. Hermione was a great mother, an excellent worker, and a hard-working wife, but her life had been halved recently. Her eyes were dim and forlorn. She was on the edge of losing the last bit of drive she had to her core when they were in school together. Ron's death was the hardest thing she'd faced.
Ginny skipped over and kissed Hermione's cheek before slipping her hand under the tablecloth. Hermione tried to fight the redhead for the pages, but Ginny won, handing the torn envelopes to her husband. "I'm sorry, Hermione, but we have to know what you're looking at," Ginny apologized as she sat down with the teapot.
The children were yammering over breakfast as the Potters glanced at the many pink sheets in the letters. The number of bills… oh, God. Harry's face hardened, and he sighed heavily. His wife was just as uncomfortable as they tore through the debt.
"I know you won't be able to help me," Hermione murmured as she traced her fork on her plate. "I have to move."
"We can help," Harry said, but his voice was edged.
Hermione reached over and touched his rough hand. "No, Harry, you can't. It's too much. My salary with Ron's smaller one was the only thing keeping things steady. We were waiting for my promotion which now is non-existent. I have to let this go," She voiced as a glitter of a tear summoned into her eyes.
"The insurance money?" Ginny hemmed with a pout.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders and wiped her eyes. "They're still in deliberation. Because of the way, what happened, it, well, my attorney said it's best to find other income until they sort it out."
"He died in a car crash! What more do they need from you? Blood diamonds?" Ginny raised her voice with a glower.
Hermione pressed down a need to sob and rose her chin up. "He says it's the incident that is in question. Until the police find the witness missing, it looks like Ron was at fault for it."
"You were there, you need to tell them what happened," Harry murmured, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I won't tell them I saw someone throw a green ball of fire at us, Harry," Hermione growled and shook her head. "No, the truth will come out, but until then, I have to move on."
Ginny scrubbed her face and groaned. "Well, what can you do about a job then? Will they rehire you?"
Hermione deflated slightly in her chair as she glanced at her children. They seemed to be still distracted by their meal. "I will have to find other means. They told me the circumstances are too odd to rehire me. I wouldn't have the daycare needed."
"Mum said," Harry started, but Hermione shook her head.
"Mum said, but that isn't going to fly for a career that requires international travel, Harry. I have to find other means until I can get on my feet."
Ginny tapped the table with a nod. "Alright, Hermione. Then what shall we do about the house?" Her question was laced with pressure, but the curly-haired woman just exhaled.
"Let it go. Ron wouldn't want us to crumble. I'll go live with Mum until I can get on my feet. My children don't deserve to go without," Hermione said with a grim expression.
The day was tarnished. The acceptance of the inevitable was determined. Hermione would have to start over.
Months wouldn't be so kind...
Her hair was bound back in a ponytail, and her suit was pressed neatly. It was nearly the only thing she had left as she liquidated everything else. They were debt free but at the cost of almost everything her and her husband gathered together. Now, she was sitting in a stiff room across from a woman with large glasses. The grey wire-haired woman was a bit ethereal and odd looking, her lens only making her seem more far-fetched.
"Yes, well, Ms. Granger, you have many prospects," the woman spoke in a witchy tone.
The keys were hit several times more by her long gnarled fingers. "You said you needed flexibility in regards to your children?"
Hermione bobbed her head and cleared her throat. "Ideally. Right now my in-laws watch them, but there will be days that they cannot," she responded while straightening her jacket.
The woman with the plaque 'Trelawney,' huffed. "The gods seem to be against you, Ms. Granger," she sighed as she shifted her mouse about. "For your spectacular resume, there are few that have that flexibility. Let me call my superior."
Hermione did her best to hide her distaste for the woman. Gods had nothing to do with her misfortune, and the shrewd woman would have said so if she wasn't desperate for a job. Miss Trelawney rose her phone to her ear and cleared her throat. "Dumbledore, I need you to look at my newest employment prospect. She is in a bind, and I don't see anything for her," the older woman spoke into the plastic object.
Hermione shifted in her seat and avoided dabbing her brow; she didn't want to seem nervous. There was little back and forth as the woman listened to the muffling from the other end and she was tapping at her keyboard a bit. With an exaggerated gasp, Miss Trelawney nodded and clapped. "Thank you; I am sure she will be pleased. As always, you know just the right answer."
The phone was placed on its holder and Hermione hemmed. "Was there something he found?" Hermione asked with a tilt of her head.
The grey hair shifted wildly as she nodded. "Oh, yes. He did indeed find you a new listed potential. It is a bit out of your traveling limit, but well worth the time. The lister is looking for a tutor that would not mind spending a few nights a month as well. They list no restriction on children, but I assume discretion as always will be needed. It's only for the summer months, so the position is temporary, but the salary is at the top of your bracket, Ms. Granger."
Hermione breathed out with a nod. "That's spectacular news. When should I go see them?"
The computer dinged loudly, and the woman fussed with her glasses to read the screen. Hermione was nearly bouncing with anxiety, but Miss Trelawney clapped and cackled. "Oh, my superior sent the email already, and the matron of the house has already responded. She sent the directions and asked for you to come right away for a proper interview. They must have liked your credentials. A recommendation by my superior was likely to spur them so swiftly as well."
A lightning bolt shot up Hermione's spine. "Right now? Where is it?"
"I will print out the directions. The spirits are on your side today, Ms. Granger."
Hermione stifled a groan and stretched a polite smile across her face. "Thank you, Miss Trelawney."
"Please, my dear, call me Sybil."
The directions soon in hand, Hermione left the temp agency and headed to the isolated home of her possible employers… she was crossing her fingers. No gods or spirits could help her, but maybe asking for their help wouldn't hurt either. At least, she hoped so as she drove out into the country.
