Ch One: The Mistress' Job
Hermione Granger sat content and focused at her desk. When she behaved in this manner, she would never notice a single thing happening around her. So naturally, she didn't notice Minerva McGonagall and Jamison Randall, the newly instated Minister of Magic, enter her office and fill the two seats in front of her.
"Ms. Granger?" Mister Randall inquired, attempting to break Hermione Granger away from her work. Need it be added that breaking Ms. Granger's magnificent focus is usually a particularly difficult task. However, today Ms. Granger was already a bit distracted, and in hearing the Minister's voice, she looked up only a bit startled.
"Oh, Minister, I didn't see y -" Ms. Granger began but soon broke off, letting out a squeal of excitement. "Minerva, you're better. You have no idea how pleased I am to see you. I mean you are better right?" Hermione Granger jumped from her seat, suddenly remembering the rules of hospitality. To her dismay, she had already broken a quite a few and would need to make up for her rudeness. "Tea? Butterbeer?" She offered. "Fire whiskey?" she directed at Mister Randall.
"Tea would be fine, dear." Minerva replied, while the Minister stated "A nice butterbeer would be outstanding." Hermione Granger nodded and with a quick whip of her wand, both her guests were satisfied.
"Now, Ms. Granger, I say we get down to business. You have been temporary Headmistress to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry since current Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, had a fateful accident, in which she has made a full recover at St. Mungo's." Mister Randall said formally. After a quick glance at Minerva, Hermione Granger nodded. "Nonetheless, the Healers at St. Mungo's have advised Mrs. McGonagall from, err, overly stressful positions as for it won't help her health in the slightest. Therefore, I, and may I add I have the backing of many important parties of the Ministry, have a proposition for you. We would like for you to be the new Headmistress to Hogwarts."
Hermione Grangers eyes widened with excitement. "M-m-me? The r-real Headmistress-s-s? At H-h-ogwarts?"
"Yes, Ms. Granger, all of your colleagues are in complete agreement as well. They feel you shall do an outstanding job." The minister answered.
"I remember in your fifth year, during career advise, you hadn't any idea as to what career you wished to pursue, but I do believe your exact words were 'I have to do something wonderful and outstanding, for our world.' And I think, Ms. Granger, you are doing so here." Minerva McGonagall said encouragingly.
''Well, I believe we shall let you, err, think it over. I expect an owl by the end of the week with your decision. Good day Ms. Granger." And at that Jamison Randall left the two Professors alone.
"I shall leave you now to ponder over what the Minister has just told you," Minerva said following Mister Randall swift exist. "I know you'll make us proud Hermione." She added as she left Hermione's office.
Hermione Granger sat pondering about the memory she just had. That was happening a lot lately. This was the eighth time in two weeks that she had had a flash of a random memory. 'At least this time it had been a good memory,' she thought. 'Unlike some of the others, but maybe that was because this was more recent.' Her latest memory had been of the day when The Minister of Magic, Jamison Randall, had given her the position of Headmistress. It had been eight years ago to the day, and she was on her way to becoming one of the most beloved Heads of Hogwarts. 'I'll never be better than Dumbledore though, no matter how hard I try.' 'But maybe,' a voice in the back of her mind told her, 'Maybe you're not meant to. It might not even be possible to be a greater Head than Dumbledore.' She knew the voice was right, but then again the voice was always right no matter if she believed it or not.
Hermione checked her watch. It was almost time for the meeting of the coming term. The booklist would be established along with the picking of new prefects and the Head Boy and Head Girl. She heard voices coming from the outer room and knew the staff had begun to arrive. Hermione, being the Headmistress and all, ran to greet them.
After an hour of arguing, the meeting finally came to end. They had chosen the eight new prefects (Fifth Years) and Head Boy in record time but choosing Head Girl was like trying to run in mud with a boulder ten times your weight attached to you. In other words, it was impossible. The Head Boy was the easiest decision; no one in the Seventh Year came close to Evans Riley. The problem they were facing lay with a new Head Girl. And all Hermione Granger could do was sit back and listen to her colleagues bicker because she wasn't aloud to intervene. In this matter, the Headmistress opinion simply wouldn't matter.
"Well, Leniera is so much like her mother. That in itself is saying, wonderful Head Girl."
"Now, now Minerva, I think you're being a bit biased. Just because she's like her mother…"
"But Maliegha is like her father, who I may remind you, was on his way to becoming Head Boy during his years at school."
"Yes, that is true, but we know how that turned out, don't we?"
Hermione bit her tongue, desperately wanting to get a word in. But she knew she couldn't and she hated that. 'Don't say anything, Hermione, your not aloud to' she told her self. 'Don't say anything, don't say anything, don't say anything.' "Who's at the top of the class?" Hermione Granger heard her voice ask. 'Shoot I wasn't supposed to say anything.' The Professors looked a bit taken aback, because they too knew Hermione wasn't supposed to say anything. Shuffling through all the papers of the students throughout the years, Minerva McGonagall discovered, "They switch, we don't have one who's been top all six years."
"Ok. Well who was it last year?" asked a very frustrated Headmistress.
"Maliegha."
"Ok then. Maliegha Malfoy is Head Girl. Make sense? Good, cause you are all bickering like little children. And I personally cannot take it," said Hermione Granger angrily.
"Leniera will be very upset with."
"On contrary to what you said before Minerva, Lenie isn't that much like me. My daughter will be fine with not being made Head Girl. It might ruin her reputation anyways. May I remind you Lenie is in Slytherin."
"Yes, but Lenie and Mal hate each other. Much like you and Draco in your school days. She might not forgive the fact that she lost out to Maliegha Malfoy." At that all the Professors left the Headmistress' office, leaving Hermione alone once again.
"She's right you know, Ms. Granger." The picture of Albus Dumbledore said. "Loosing out to Ms. Malfoy will not be the highlight of your daughter's life."
Hermione looked up at the man who'd been her headmaster during her years at Hogwarts as she collapsed into her chair. "Aarrrggg." She yelled out in frustration, as that voice in the back of her mind said 'They are both right you now.' But Hermione Granger didn't need to be told again. She already knew.