Somewhere in the Sands of time
Was written an order by design
One Hand unchanged and pure
Other be shrouded and obscure
Only when Found what we seek
Will peace Go the life we wreak
Less not end without matched
Or Remain always unattached
She read over the words many times to try and figure out the passage. It was unlike her to misinterpret much, but there she was, scratching her head. The witch tapped her finger on her desk and gazed over at the Minister talking to the archivist. He had not noticed she looked over at his paperwork to see what the small wizard brought in.
"Hermione Granger, come here," Minister Shacklebolt said gruffly.
"Yes, Minister?" She asked gently and walked over.
The man folded his arms and gave a gesture toward the smaller wizard, "This is Stevens, Stevens is an Unspeakable, this is Granger, as you know she is personally working with me on a few regulation laws from the MLE. Stevens brought me up an obscure prophecy and tells me the date is for a week from now. You read the passage, what do you think it has to do with?" Kingsley finished and Hermione chewed her lip.
"A prophecy? There is nothing more to it than that one passage?" The witch placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. "I need to see this globe to really know. There might be symbols." Hermione voiced and Kingsley smiled brightly.
"Always volunteering for extra work, Miss Granger. We have a list of symbols but they mean nothing. The team has been working on them for years and still have no answers. The only theme to this globe seems to be all-encompassing. The entire wizarding world will be affected by this prophecy and not one of the many times across the many countries that have been researching it know the answer." The minister finished and Hermione walked back to grab the parchment.
"Somewhere in the sands of time, was written an order by design. Sounds to me like this is addressing something written ages ago. Written an order by design... that is suggestive. Maybe back in the archives, there is some sort of laws or orders written to address this passage," she paused and tapped her chin with her index finger. "I can check and see about original laws and orders in my department. We have a historical reference section. If it is global, chances are it was written to salvage magic. I have a timeframe. I will get on it right away." Hermione slipped the passage into her bag and Kingsley nodded.
"Always the best at what you do, Granger," he declared and she gave him a soft smile.
Hermione fidgeted a moment and voiced professionally, "If I could get a copy of the symbols, that might help me narrow down what I am looking for. If you will excuse me, I have a week to find this and very little overtime hours." She bowed her head a bit and the minister chuckled.
"Good luck, and if you need assistance, Percy can come by and check on you." He told her and Hermione walked off to her department.
The witch knew where she was going and had the forethought to go to her desk first. It was dusty and a bit nerve-racking down in the archives of laws and regulations long since passed. An infinite number of rows, stacks and books left to rot in the death row of laws. The curvy witch slid on a pair of flats, tapped her power suit to be more of a slacks and blouse number before leaving down below.
"Hermione!" Her name rang out and she smiled, turning to see Harry.
"Harry Potter, coming to bid me farewell on my new adventure down to the room of old laws and fearful sounds?" She teased and he gave her a lopsided grin and shrugged his shoulders.
"Ron told me that you might make an appearance tonight. I was hoping so. Ginny wants to celebrate and it isn't the same without you." His voice was a bit playful still, but held less zip; he was being serious.
Hermione exhaled and gave him a motion of agreement, "Oh, alright. I have so much work, but if my boss requests it..." She trailed off with a smile and he chuckled.
"Now, that is more like it." He pursed his lips and furrowed his brow, "Hermione, I know he said you are happy with how things ended between you two, but you don't seem it. You told him you just didn't see eye to eye anymore, what does that mean?" He asked finally.
She knew this was coming, actually, she expected it a year ago when they broke up. Ron and Hermione decided they wanted different things from life. It wasn't hard to understand; she wanted her occupation and he wanted... well, he wanted to drink and go out. Not that it was wrong, she was supportive of his happiness. They never really experienced being alone since after the war. He wanted a chance to find out what his happiness was and she was satisfied with working through her emotions; in other words, she was a workaholic.
"I am a hard woman to date, Harry. I work long hours, I have a bold personality and truth be told, we don't mix well now that we have grown into ourselves. It was fine when we were discovering what life was after the war. Now, it just doesn't work. I still love him and wish him the best. Isn't he seeing what's her name..." Hermione scrunched her face in thought.
"Susan Bones, you know that," Harry muttered and Hermione giggled.
"That's the one. Don't give me that look, Harry. I am happy to be alone. When I want children, I will have children. When I want a wizard in my life, I will find him. Don't worry about me." Hermione finished with a nod and straightened her outfit. "Now, I have roughly three hours to dig in the archives of laws to find what Minister Shacklebolt needs. Hopefully, I can find it, if not I am down there all day tomorrow. I will see you tonight." She excused herself with a wave and Harry watched as she left, still trying to figure his friend out.
0o0o
Hermione was frustrated as she walked up to the door of the Burrow. The witch spent a large amount of time digging through ancient laws and found absolutely nothing. On top of all of that, she had been trying to figure out the passage to narrow down maybe what this prophecy was about. Again, she felt like she was failing herself.
Gazing down at her clothes, she shook her head, "this won't do. Molly will give me a tongue lashing for showing up in this mess." Muttering to herself, she flicked her wand and changed it to a soft black dress. Hermione tied her hair back with a black ribbon and exhaled before opening the door. Arthur was sitting down with Fred in his lap as the boy had a book out. The older wizard waved her over without speaking so it wasn't to set chaos started in the room.
"Hello, dad," Hermione murmured and kissed his cheek.
"You are looking splendid, dear." He told her quietly and she ran her fingers through Fred's hair.
"Hello, little Fred," she voiced and kissed the boy's head.
"Aunt Mione, thank you for the new book. Grandpa gave it to me today." Fred responded and she smiled and sighed.
"You are very welcome. The mind is ever expanding," she reminded the boy who gave her a nod.
Her side was poked and she jumped, turning around with a frown. "Merlin, George, must you always have to scare me!" She exclaimed and he hugged her and kissed her hair.
"I have missed you, I need to make up for lost time." She hugged him sincerely after his comment and he laughed. "You still feel like Hermione, but you sure don't look like her," he voiced as he held her out in front of him.
"Work, George. I always am working, no time for beauty." She declared and he shook his head.
"You are always beautiful, Mione. Don't discredit yourself," his voice was tender and she smiled and patted his chest.
"I best go say hello to mum before she thinks I am not coming," Hermione announced and strolled off to the kitchen.
Molly was flicking her wand about, prepping the last touches on dinner, "Hello, mum." The young witch declared and the matriarch jumped and clapped with glee.
"Hermione, dear, oh, I am so happy to see you!" She shouted and hugged the woman. "You go three months without a letter or even stopping in for dinner. That is bad manners, dear," the witch chided and Hermione nodded and pulled away.
"My apologies. Kingsley had me quite busy there for a while. Now that Harry is head of my department, he has been limiting my work flow..." Hermione trailed off and her cheeks tinted pink.
There was a bustle in the sitting room and a cute little Potter came running in and tackled the witch. "Aunt Hermione!" James shouted and Hermione picked him up with a grunt.
"James Sirius Potter, you are getting far too big!" She exclaimed and the boy grinned and kissed her cheek.
"I missed you, Aunt Mione," he told her and she gave him a peck on the cheek.
"I missed you more than you know, my love," her response earn her a giggle and she set him down.
James walked over and hugged his grandma, "I love you, Gran," he murmured and Molly went to doting on the child as Hermione walked into the other room.
"Are you going on a date or are you just looking good for me?" Ginny asked as Hermione approached and the older witch winked.
"Just for you, Gin." Hermione snickered and they embraced.
"I missed you last weekend for our Friday night film," Ginny grumbled and Hermione sighed.
"I was busy," she murmured and Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Shagging some knobhead does not mean you can cancel on me," Ginny retorted and Hermione tried to hush her.
"Too late! When did you start doing casual flings, Mione?" George asked walking up behind her.
"Since I became sexually enlightened, George," Hermione spoke flatly and the wizard blushed brightly.
Ginny's expression of distaste continued, "I just don't like that he is a muggle, Hermione. You deserve to be with a wizard."
The older witch waved her off, "it is not a commitment thing, Ginny. I just need a bit... well, someone who isn't going to get in the way of my job. He doesn't ask questions. He isn't serious. It is good."
George shook his head and rolled his eyes, "You sound worse than my older brother."
Hermione glared at him, "I am not barbaric, George. Just enlightened," she corrected him and George walked away to greet Harry and Ron walking into the house.
Ginny pulled the other witch to the corner of the room and frowned, "Tell me, why is it that you are so against a relationship? Harry tells me you turn down nearly half a dozen wizards who seek your affection. They come by your desk just to chat and you are icy and distant. Then you go and shag this... this moron. You told me yourself he is a moron."
"He is a moron, but he is a great shag, Gin. Like I said before. It isn't serious and I have no intentions of seeking something serious out."
Their row that was building was halted when a booming voice interrupted them, "You look like ballocks, Charlie! Come sit down," George exclaimed and Hermione rolled her eyes.
Ginny watched and narrowed her gaze, "When did you start to become annoyed with Charlie?"
Hermione waved her off, "It doesn't matter."
"It sure does, your face dropped and paled when you heard he was here," the redhead breathed and turned to see her brother being escorted in with a busted arm and leg.
"The healers said the bones won't grow back for two weeks fully! What a way to spend time off..." Charlie grumbled and Hermione pursed her lips.
"I need to hear this story," Ginny persisted and Hermione waved her off and retreated toward the kitchen.
"Book witch! You don't know how to say hello anymore?" Charlie shouted with merriment in his voice and Hermione cleared her throat before turning to him with a smile.
"Hello, Charles," she declared and approached him. "Seems you have gotten yourself into more trouble."
He grinned brightly and gave her a nod, "Nothing that killed me. Just some rowdy Ironbellies. A nasty fall and a few bites later and I am here now slowly recovering. Want to sign my cast?" He offered with a raised eyebrow and she glared at him.
"I think not," she declared smoothly and George chuckled.
"I believe she called you, what was the word, barbaric, earlier," George snickered and Hermione blushed with a glower.
"If you will excuse me, kindly," she said brusquely and left the room.
Harry frowned and spoke carefully, "what has her knickers in a bunch?"
"Ginny was scolding her on her sexual enlightenment earlier," George teased and Arthur cleared his throat.
"Time and place, son. That woman is like your sister." Arthur spoke simply and walked off to the kitchen.
"Why don't you tell me about this I telephone, Mione." Arthur started and disappeared from the doorway.
Ginny tugged Harry to the loveseat and they sat down, "I was not scolding her about that. She is shagging some muggle. I just want her to... well, she should be happy."
Ron waved her off and sat in a chair, "she is happy, Ginny. Hermione does not want someone in her life. I will be surprised if she ever finds someone to match her... personality." He finished with a face and Ginny groaned.
"Children. She wants children. This is not the woman I knew a year ago talking about how she would love to have them in two years. All her... aspirations are work oriented now." The witch murmured and Hermione came back into the room swiftly.
She was giggling and being chased by the kids. "If mum asks, we did not steal the biscuits." Hermione declared to the room with a handful of cookies and the boys chasing her.
"Aunt Mione wait!" Fred declared as they followed her up the stairs.
Ginny pointed as the woman disappeared, "that is exactly why!" She finished her argument and Charlie snorted.
"I play with the children too, doesn't mean I want any myself, Ginevra." Charlie rebutted and Harry chuckled.
"So, you think," he snickered and George nodded.
"I agree with him there. You just need a decent witch," George declared and Ron waved them off.
"You all are nutters. Leave the ice princess and Charlie alone."
"Stop calling her that, Ron!" Harry spat and Ron shrugged.
"Where are my biscuits? Hermione Granger!" Molly shouted from the kitchen and Charlie covered a chuckle.
"I do miss that on occasion," he admitted and Ron patted his shoulder.
"Sorry you are injured, but at least you are home," he told his older brother.
Ginny sighed and shook her head, "I am not even sure what to make out of this..." She told her husband who shrugged.
Harry hugged her and rubbed her shoulder tenderly, "She is going to do what Hermione Granger does best, Gin. Deny it until it is right in front of her face."
Ron and George both gave an agreeing motion, "that is what she does. Don't worry, she will come around." George tried to reassure her and Ginny exhaled heavily.
"We can hope so," the redheaded witch murmured.
"Dinner in ten minutes, come gather around the table!" Molly hollered and the conversation was held off for dinner.