Music: Another Story, Nicholas Hooper (Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix)
Date: November 10, 2005. Time: 14:00h. Inspection location: Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire. Number of house-elves in possession: 4. Visiting inspectors: 2005001 and 2005002. Supervising inspector: Hermione Granger. Family contact: Draco Malfoy.
"Are you sure we don't have to come with you?" Ron asked for the umpteenth time, worriedly eyeing his girlfriend. He sat tilting on his chair, sipping his tea as he reached for another piece of toast. "Harry can easily make this an Auror-required mission, you know."
Hermione sighed and put her cutlery aside with a determined gesture. "Yes Ron, I'm absolutely sure. Nothing's going to happen to me and besides I'm not alone. I have my inspectors with me and they are trained by your actual Aurors to deal with problematic situations. Besides -" She frowned. "Do I have to remind you you don't even work in the Auror office anymore?"
For weeks Ron had been trying to talk her into this and he simply refused to let it go. He didn't understand, though. Not really. This was why she had declined to be escorted by Harry's department over and over.
Her remark received a faint mumble in agreement from the bespectacled young man next to her and she shot him grateful smile. He didn't notice though since he was currently hiding behind The Daily Prophet. Probably from Ron's annihilating look. It was clear as daylight that Ron had expected more support from his friend on this. But Harry actually seemed to agree with Hermione, though he was careful enough not to let himself drawn into their discussion.
"Still, I don't like it," Ron grumbled as he sat back in his creaking chair and folded his arms before his chest in a displeased manner. But Hermione only shook her head at this and brought her dishes to the sink. Mrs. Weasley's bewitched dishwashing brushes immediately set to work. She gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek.
"That's your problem. Get your cloak, Harry. We have to get going."
In a matter of seconds the two of them arrived at the Ministry of Magic, emerging from one of the enormous fireplaces in the Atrium. It was six weeks until Christmas and during the night the Ministry house-elves had adorned the stern Atrium with dozens of festive Christmas trees. Hermione waved her goodbyes to Harry and began to feel her way through the masses of civil servants heading for the lifts. It took her several minutes before she reached the lift that would take her to the fourth level and she suppressed a relieved sigh as the doors closed.
After completing her education at Hogwarts almost seven years ago, Hermione had enrolled in the Ministry of Magic's Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures thus finding a way of, as Ron always put it so encouragingly, getting paid for her loony obsession with house-elves. The way the wizarding world kept house-elves was slavery and if it were up to Hermione the practice would have been abolished yesterday. But having learned from her experiences in school, she also knew that things often took time to change, even if they shouldn't, and so she decided to start sowing some of the seeds from her position in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Within a year, she had managed to cause quite a lot of disturbance in the once so sleepy office by initiating several projects aiming to improve the lives of house-elves and raise awareness about their position.
The latest development was something she'd been working on for two years - the establishment of the Inspection on Elfish Labour Conditions, which was something she had copied from the Muggle world. The inspectorate was to supervise and uphold the sharpened regulations on the treatment of house-elves. Regulations that had been drafted by Hermione herself.
Once the Minister had indulgently approved of her little project, she had started to select and train the inspectors making sure that they would receive a thorough training in defensive charms by both Aurors and Hit Wizards. Though Ron seemed to take a different view Hermione was actually well aware of the dangerous situations the inspectors might come across while performing their duties. After all, most house-elves worked for the wealthy, old, Pureblood wizarding families whose ties with the Dark Side during the war had been a given. That's why she had decided to accompany them in the first place.
It wasn't that Hermione did not appreciate Ron's worries about her safety but it stung that he seemed to think she needed protection after all they'd been through. At least Harry trusted her ability to deal with problems if and when they might occur. She had tried to explain to Ron that the presence of Aurors during the inspections would only bring damage to the support for the new inspectorate. But if he chose not to accept that, she wasn't going to fight him over it.
Murky daylight coming in from the enchanted window welcomed Hermione when she stepped into her small office and with a flick of her wand she put on the lights while several scrolls appeared on her clean desk. Within moments she was emerged in her work and Ron and his objections were forgotten.
It seemed that only minutes had passed when Hermione looked up from a proposition she'd been writing at the sound of knocking on the opened door. Standing in the doorway was a bespectacled man with unwieldy dark hair whose line of work normally didn't bring him to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Hermione smiled and put down her quill. "Harry. What can I do for you?"
Her smile faltered when she noticed the contemplating look in his green eyes as he stepped into her office and awkwardly sat down in the uncomfortable chair opposite her simple desk. Apparently he didn't know where to begin.
"You know I'm fully supportive of what you do, don't you?" He finally asked without so much of an introduction. He didn't seem to expect a response.
Hermione's smile slowly disappeared. Inconspicuously she drew in her breath as she braced herself for the confrontation she'd already expected to come. Seeing the look on his face she knew that he was serious about this.
Harry adjusted his characteristic National Health glasses and gave her penetrating stare. "Having grown up in the Muggle-world like you I think I understand better than Ron what you're trying to achieve here with the position of house-elves."
Hermione nodded in agreement. Every primary school pupil in the Muggle world had learned about anti-discrimination and equal rights.
"But," he added, "I also think Ron's right to worry about you."
Hermione pressed her lips together in a stubborn way Harry was well familiar with. She wasn't going tot change her mind on this.
"I know what I'm asking of myself, Harry, but I'm not changing my mind on this. The inspectors need my guidance with this," she replied a bit sternly hoping this would end the discussion but Harry wasn't so easily put off.
He leaned in.
"Listen, Hermione," he said on a low voice, ignoring her words. "Are you sure you want to do this? What you're asking of yourself?"
His bespectacled green eyes looked hard at her and Hermione realised that he saw through her, having always been the more observant one between Ron and him. Ron had merely been worried about 'those filthy Death Eaters families' she had to encounter and to be honest, she had been secretly glad that was all he seemed to fuss about. Harry however knew. And he wasn't prepared to let her go without serious reconsideration.
She swallowed back a lump and lowered her gaze.
"I've been back to Hogwarts, Harry, and that was for a whole year. I think I can manage this one too," she replied with a slight tremble in her voice as she finally touched upon much deeper motives underlying her resolve to go. Her gaze met his in a silent plea for understanding.
For a few moments in which silence descended upon the small office Harry held her gaze, gauging her until he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Hermione let go of a breath she didn't know she had been holding as she inconspicuously wiped away a stray tear that had formed in the corner of her eye.
Harry didn't show it if he'd noticed but instead untangled himself from the office chair and went to stand by the enchanted office window, hands in his pockets as he looked outside with a dark expression on his face.
"Then do you know what you're asking of them, of him, Hermione?" He argued gravely. "Their situation is already precarious as it is and your plans might as well bring more damage to them than it will do to you. You know they can't refuse Hermione Granger even if they want to. Are you prepared to bear responsibility for that too?"
Hermione stilled. Not one moment had it occurred to her - the risks her plans might hold for him and his family. All she had been thinking about was the inspectorate and herself when she should have taken this into account as well.
Harry was especially protective of the family he owed his life to and he was right to be.
Suddenly Hermione's resolve, which had been solid as a rock, slipped away like sand through her fingers. Ashamed, she bowed her head and her voice sounded a bit choked when she promised, "I... I will keep that mind."
For a moment Harry was silent. Then he gave a heartfelt sigh and turned around. And as Hermione looked up at him pleadingly, she registered the sadness in his eyes.
"Let me do this, Harry. Please. I need this."
The day of the first round of inspections Hermione got up before everyone else, discovering that the landscape around the Burrow glistened with freshly fallen snow under the disappearing moon. The first snow of the season.
Quietly she got dressed in warm wool robes and put on a scarf with the emblem of the Ministry embroidered on it. Ignorantia juris neminem excusat, read the bronze motto surrounding the letter M resting on her chest. Ignorance of the law excuses no one. A motto appropriate for the task ahead, Hermione thought fleetingly as she plodded through the freshly fallen snow toward the Apparition shed.
She had already Apparated to her first destination before a hesitant light at the eastern sky announced the new winter's day.
Hermione was well pleased. All morning she had been accompanying the Inspectors on Elfish Labour Conditions and all had gone well. Even though old, pureblood wizarding families like the Notts and the Puceys naturally hadn't welcomed the inspectors with open arms they hadn't thwarted them in any way either. The fear for Hermione Granger still ran deep within those families who had supported Voldemort in the past.
The state of the once great houses had filled Hermione with slight melancholy. So many family members had been sent off to Azkaban and the estates and manors had become quiet and run-down. The empty places on the walls told a silent story of forced sale of family heirlooms in order to work up the severe reparation payments while the goblins at Gringotts had often frozen the bank accounts of the few who were left behind.
It felt like a relief to be able to leave behind the downcast Pucey Estate and Apparate to Diagon Alley for lunch.
But as the young inspectors chatted away cheerfully Hermione only fumbled with her sandwich. A growing tension had nestled inside her stomach and as she tried not to look at the clock every five seconds she wondered if it was true what she'd told Harry the other day.
Was she really ready for this? Months of preparation had taken her to this moment and she had defended her resolve before Harry for dear life. But now that it had come her courage rapidly seemed to seep away with every second on the clock ticking away.
Trying to distract herself she focused on the conversation between the two youthful inspectors and found out that they were discussing the dilapidated states of the estates they'd come across this morning. Sharper than she'd intended Hermione reminded them of their position of confidence and the rest of the lunch was finished in silence.
"What house is next on the list, Miss Granger?" One of the inspectors asked when they stood outside and Hermione, feeling a bit guilty towards the crestfallen inspectors did her best to give them an apologetic smile.
She looked up to the sky knowing she didn't have to check to know. Betraying nothing of the feelings raging inside of her she responded evenly, "Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire."
Following the end of the Second Wizarding War Headmistress McGonagall had invited all last year's seventh-year students to return to Hogwarts and complete their education. Only a handful accepted. Their numbers had not nearly been able to fill the gaping hole the war had left in the student body.
One of them was Hermione.
While Ron and Harry had already been accepted into the rigorous Auror training programme naturally there had been no need for them to go back to Hogwarts. Hermione however, had no desire chasing dark wizards for the rest of her career and much to the amusement of Ron and Harry she'd also professed to feeling dissatisfied with not having completed her education at Hogwarts. Ginny had eagerly welcomed her decision though. The prospect of going back alone had offered little attraction to the last Weasley to return to Hogwarts this year.
Hermione had thoroughly enjoyed the train ride and and had smilingly watched the Sorting Ceremony. Now she watched with a tender smile as the first years sat down at their house-table bashfully and gingerly looked at her. It filled her with deep gratitude. This was what they'd defeated Voldemort for - life was resuming its course in freedom.
She looked up when the Headmistress asked for a moment of silence for those who had fallen and announced that some of last year's seventh years would be returning as eighth years this year. A surprised whispering went through the Great Hall.
With a single gesture Professor McGonagall silenced the students.
"As I call your names would all of you eight years stand up for a moment?" She asked with her characteristic shaky voice, her friendly tone softening her stern Scottish accent.
"From Gryffindor House: Hermione Granger."
To this day Hermione remembered the thunderous applause she received from the other students when she rose from her bench. She smiled awkwardly as she noticed that even the teachers applauded. Headmistress McGonagall sent her a warm smile before she went on announcing the other eight years to return to Hogwarts this year.
It appeared that she had been the only Gryffindor to return and there were none from Hufflepuff. However Hermione was joined by as much as four Ravenclaws and they exchanged knowing smiles, simply grateful to see each other again.
In the mean time the Headmistress called the last name on her list.
"And from Slytherin House: Draco Malfoy."
The warm applause for the Ravenclaws suddenly died away and a shock went through the assembled students as all gazes, including Hermione's, were drawn to the Slytherin Table.
On the other side of the Great Hall a blond young man slowly got up and straightened to his full length. Draco Malfoy.
If he noticed the tumult in response to his presence he didn't show it. Standing tall in his black school robes, he kept his gaze fixed on a random point behind the Head Table, his sharp features a stony mask. He was just standing there, waiting resignedly for McGonagall's permission to sit down again.
Hermione was just as shocked as the other students to see him rise to his feet at the Slytherin Table. Of all the former seventh years she'd never expected him to accept the McGonagall's invitation. But here he was. Draco Malfoy, her former nemesis with whom she, Harry and Ron shared so much history. His gaze fleetingly crossed hers but he showed no sign of recognition as they sat down.
During the Start-of-Term Feast Hermione's gaze sometimes wandered off to the Slytherin Table but Malfoy kept his eyes down for the remainder of the evening, ignoring the many furtive looks in his direction. He refrained from interacting with fellow Slytherins as well. The moment dinner ended he'd already disappeared before Hermione and Ginny had untangled themselves from their bench.
As classes began Hermione noticed that, devoid of his perpetual bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle and without Parkinson hanging off his arm, Malfoy seemed lost and almost lonely.
Everybody knew of his family's betrayal of the Dark Lord and how they had had a narrow escape from imprisonment in Azkaban. Which was why Malfoy's housemates treated him with the utmost caution. They seemed to loathe him and his family who had once belonged to Voldemort's inner circle.
His commanding presence kept them from coming at him him though so they settled for simply ignoring him instead while the rest of the school avoided him like the Death Eater they still held him for.
It seemed to leave him cold though, Hermione noticed as she stole a glance at him once in a while. Something had changed about him that she couldn't quit put a finger on, but which had began to fascinate her enormously, much to her own chagrin.
Perhaps it was his presentable appearance, the Slytherin tie perfectly tied, in contrast to its former pubescent sloppiness.
Perhaps it was the way he kept to himself like never before, his scowls and disdain replaced by a stony indifference to his surroundings.
He had stopped picking fights with her, lowering his gaze whenever they met in the school corridors.
Hermione also noticed that he was sitting alone for most of the time during class, the school desk being almost too small for his long limbs as he was taking notes like it was the only thing left for him to do.
It probably was.
A/N: This Dramione fic takes place seven years after the ending of DH. Naturally, it's not epilogue compliant. In this story, Hermione has created a labour inspection for house-elves following her old wish to make life better for them. But accompanying the new inspectors she trained, also means that she will be stepping by Malfoy Manor and meet again with Draco Malfoy.
The italic parts are flashbacks. The story will follow the course of a supervision cycle.
This story is rated M for possible strong but non-explicit suggestive adult themes. See Fanlore . org for more information.
I hope you'll enjoy this story and please, feel free to review!