Hermione sat in her office trying to sort the large stack of legal parchment on her desk. It had been a long day at the end of a longer week. Hermione loved her job but she was constantly amazed with the prejudices of the old wizarding ways. She had been working in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures ever since leaving Hogwart's. It was days like this thought that made Hermione think her efforts might be more effective in a different department.

With a sigh Hermione glanced at the clock Mrs. Weasley had given her in an attempt to get her to spend less time at work. Hermione was suprised to see it read half five already and it was Friday. If Harry knew she was still here he would tell her to get a "life" and order her to leave. With a snort Hermione started packing up her briefcase. Like Harry could order her around. He might be the saviour of the wizarding world but he wasn't her boss. Besides, the only place she had to go was her parent's.

Before she could start wallowing in self pity Hermione heard voices coming from the open office area. Hermione had her own office and a personal assistant but most of the employees in her department worked in cubicles. She often felt guilty about this and wondered about preferential treatment but Minister Shacklebolt assured her it was due to her work and not who her friends were. The noises and voices from the cubicle area proceeded to get louder. Curious who would be at work and making such a racket on a Friday Hermione went to investigate.

As she stepped into the common cubicle area Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. A group of people she had never seen before were banishing cubicles and moving desks.

"Excuse me! Who are you people and what do you think you're doing?" Hermione asked an older man who seemed to be in charge.

A man who looked to be the same age as Mr. Weasley turned and spoke, "Ah, Ms. Granger. I'm Senior Auror Smith and we're taking over your department."

"How do you know my name and what do you mean you're taking over?" Hermione asked while a young man moved the desk she had unknowingly sat on.

"No, Rook, move that one up against the other so we can lay out the map."

"Right Pops."

"I'm sorry Ms. Granger. Very busy," Sr. Auror "Pops" Smith said. "I know who you are because you're famous and I mean we're taking over in that we needed space and your department was available."

"Well, I'm sorry Auror Smith but you just can't barge in here and take over. I won't have it."

"Of course you wouldn't Ms. Granger," replied Smith, "That's why we have this." As he finished the sentence Pops pulled a very officious rolled parchment from his robes and handed it to Hermione.

Being a bit put out Hermione snatched the parchment a little more quickly than she would have. She unrolled the parchment and started to read as the Aurors continued to rearrange the room.

The Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures are hereby placed under the authority and control of the Chief Auror, Special Wizarding and Tactics. All personnel and resources are at the disposal of S.W.A.T. The Chief Auror of S.W.A.T. has supreme authority in all matters.

Kingsley Shacklebolt
Minister of Magic

Harry Potter
Interim Director of Aurors

"What. Is. This?" Hermione said through clenched teeth.

"Ms. Granger, I know it's kind of a shock but you and your department have been placed under our authority," replied Auror Smith nonchalantly.

"Well, we'll just see about that," huffed Hermione. "Harry happens to be a close personal friend and he'll straighten this out." With that Hermione headed down the hall only to crash into a blonde woman carrying an arm full of scrolls. Hermione temporarily forgot why she was in such a hurry in her embarassment when she realized she knew the person she had crashed into.

"Oh, I'm sorry Fluer," Hermione mumbled, "I wasn't watching where I was going. What are you doing here?"

As the woman started to pick up the parchments Hermione realized her mistake. Hermione gathered up some of the parchments while looking at the young woman. Although there was a striking resemblance the woman was far too young and her hair was cut in a bob. The girl was beautiful except for a long scar starting at her left temple and tracing down her jaw.

Holding several scrolls Hermione stammered, "I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else."

"Of course 'ermione. You would not recognize me."

"Gabrielle Delacour?" Hermione asked dumbfounded.

"Oui."

"Merlin, I didn't recognize you. I mean it's been so long. What've you done with your hair?"

"Vell, I-"

"Gabby! Get your skinny veela butt in here!" a voice bellowed from Hermione's former department. Gabrielle gave a start, snatched up the scrolls from Hermione, and hurried down the hall disappearing into the office. Hermione, momentarily forgetting her quest to see Harry, strode down the hall to see who could be so rude to Gabrielle Delacour. As Hermione walked back into the office she had just left she was welcomed by a fine display of chauvinism.

"Gabby, where's my coffee?" asked a tall man with a full beard and shoulder length hair.

The young Delacour responded by tossing the arm full of parchments on the nearest desk and launching into rapid fire French. The man responded by placing his large hands on Gabrielle's shoulders.

"Gabby, I'm kidding," he said with kindness. "I just need you to put up the wanted chart and help Rook with the map. Besides, I don't speak French and your coffee is terrible." The last was said with a lopsided grin and a twinkle in blue eyes.

Two steps later and Hermione's hand connected with the man's face.

"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY! YOU COMPLETE ASS!"

The ginger haired man looked down on Hermione with a sad smile.

"Well, I suppose I deserved that."

"Deserved it?" Hermione bellowed, "You deserve more than that." In one swift motion Hermione's wand was in her hand but before she could use Ginny's infamous Bat Bogey Hex she found her wand plucked from her hand and four Aurors training wands on her. Hermione's wand was in Ron's hand and her wrist held in the other. She tried pulling away but found that even though his grip was only firm it was immoveable. It took Hermione only a moment to realize Ron could snap her arm if he wished.

"It's good to see you too," Ron said while looking around the room at the wands trained on Hermione, "But, it might not be a good idea to pull a wand in a room full of Aurors."