After attempting several other Lucius/Hermione stories and scrapping them before they even got to my Beta, I've finally started one which will hopefully end up being as good as, if not better, than my previous ones (and hopefully pretty long). Enjoy!
Disclaimer – Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling etc.
Four years into her time at the Ministry, and Hermione Granger was already at the top of her game.
She was currently the Head Researcher and Consultant for Minister Shacklebolt and the other heads of department. If anything needed looking into, unclear laws, lost magic, you name it, and Hermione could find it out for you. It meant that she always had variation in her work, something which helped to keep it interesting, she doubted that she could stand doing the same thing all the time, and also allowed her to continue her passion to learn and discover.
On weekends however, Hermione worked towards her other goal - becoming a potions master under Professor Severus 'of-course-I-took-a-precautionary-antidote' Snape.
When going back to Hogwarts to finish her NEWTs, Hermione had discovered a new found passion for potions. She had always thought it to be a very interesting topic, but her enthusiasm for the subject had been limited somewhat by Professor Snape's apparent poor opinion of her. That, however,had changed in seventh year.
Severus had recovered from the attack by Nagini through the use of the antidote that had been used on Arthur Weasley back in her fifth year, and once he'd recovered, surprisingly enough, just wanted to take up his old position in the potions lab again.
Hermione had managed to wear down the professors resolve and had persuaded him to take her on as his personal apprentice, something anyone in the potions world would dream of, so now she spent her weekends back at Hogwarts, studying under her now favourite teacher.
Today, however, was Monday, and Hermione sat in her large oval office which overlooked the atrium, going through the list of work she had to do. It was larger than usual this week, not that it mattered too much because she could delegate the jobs amongst the several witches and wizards who worked under her in her small department, but it was always nice to have a good selection.
There was a request from the Department of Mysteries to see whether there was any way to fix all the time-turners that were stuck in a continuous loop – tactfully leaving out that it was Hermione and her friends which had inadvertently caused it to happen back in their fifth year. A research task from the Department of Magical Creatures about a cure for an outbreak of a particularly nasty scale disease in dragons. A slighter longer and more complicated request from the Department of Muggle Relations to put together a team to try and make muggle electrics functional around magic, something Hermione was glad she wasn't being asked to do herself as she was sure she really didn't have enough time, well, at least until she worked out a way to get all of those time-turners fixed.
The list went on until she came to two letters addressed specifically to herself. The first was from the aurors, and enquired whether she had made any progress on her polyjuice research. Since hearing of the potions frequent use in the war, especially to cause trouble, they had decided it best that they knew as much as possible about it. They also needed high quality batches for witness protection during court cases, amongst other things, and had entrusted Hermione, the expert she was on the topic, with the job.
She had done well so far, testing and documenting all its properties and effects, and a couple of months back had even managed to make an improved version. This one didn't need to be drunk nearly so often and its effects could be removed by the drinker with a simple spell, and it's only fault was one minor side effect which could be easily remedied. Suffice to say that even Professor Snape had been mildly impressed with that, not forgetting to mention however that it was most likely due to his excellent tutoring that she had accomplished it.
Making a note to get back to them with her latest findings soon, Hermione opened the second letter which she noted was sealed with the Minister's crest. It was an invitation to a meeting that afternoon, he did apologise for the late notice at least, about the upcoming anniversary of their victory over Voldemort.
This would be the fifth year and in order to commemorate it he wanted to do something really special and was putting together a team to make it happen, a team he wanted Hermione to be a part of. Sure, she had strong connections with the war, was well connected within the Ministry and wizarding world, was damn good at getting things done, but Hermione still wasn't entirely sure why she had been asked. She supposed there must be a good reason for it and decided not to think on it now, sure all would become clear after the meeting.
Three o'clock came around all too quickly and Hermione made it to the meeting with just a minute to spare, glad to see that she didn't look to be the last one there.
She recognised almost everyone present, all relatively big names within the Ministry, but a few less well known who Hermione knew were very good at what they did. Blaise Zabini was there from the Auror Department, probably to act as a liaison as he was assistant to the chief of security, and so was Neville Longbottom, Hogwarts newest and youngest herbology professor, who waved at her cheerily from the other side of the room. Most would have probably been surprised by his presence, but so many often forgot the strong ties he had with the order, the war, and Hogwarts that made him very knowledgeable on the topic.
Hermione knew that Harry wouldn't be here and was unsurprised to see that she was right. He would probably make a speech at the event but was fully committed to his role as an auror which usually had him away on long missions, making it impractical for him to be involved in something like this.
With fifteen seconds to go until three, the last person entered the room, walked over to the now only available chair, the one directly opposite Hermione's, and elegantly sat down, placed some parchment and a quill on the large table, and leant back comfortably just as the clock began to chime.
The Minister nodded to the man in greeting, and then began to tell them about what he wanted them to do. Hermione wanted to listen, she really did, but was thoroughly distracted by the man listening attentively to the Minister's words opposite her.
She didn't recognise him, that was the first thing that caught her attention. It was surprising since she could easily identify every other witch and wizard in the room and the reasons that they were invited to the meeting.
Secondly, was his appearance. He was tall, 6'3 at least, with a broad chest, and had sharply cut dark hair that was well styled. Hermione suspected he was in his forties, although it was always hard to tell with wizards as the powerful ones tended to age so slowly. He dressed well, very well in fact, his robes clearly the best money could buy, and fit him perfectly. His face in itself was nothing special, but his expression and demeanour were something else. He seemed confident, but not arrogant, intelligent, level-headed, a man who was very much in control, and something about the way his lips turned up at the corner when he smiled sent a shiver up her spine.
She felt inexplicably drawn to him, this man she'd never seen before, and it took a considerable amount of her concentration to focus on the Minister instead of him.
"This year, in order to properly commemorate the anniversary, we plan to make this the biggest event yet, but, my primary goal, is to celebrate those we lost and look to the future." Shacklebolt explained, before starting to introduce all the people at the table, thirty at least, and what they would be doing.
"I'm sure you all know Miss Granger." He said as he came to her. "Hermione, I would like you to help make an official record of all the events from Voldemorts return until his demise. We thought that it was about time we had one, especially now that all the trials are finally over, and that it would go nicely with the book remembering those lost in the war which Miss Lovegood has been producing."
"I look forward to the challenge." Hermione agreed with a smile, trying to hide the fact that she was a little worried about how daunting this job would be. At least she realised why she was here now, this was going to involve an awful lot of research and investigating.
"Excellent, well, that brings me onto the person who will be helping you with this." Said the Minister, turning to the man sitting opposite her. "I would like to introduce Mr Ezra Godtro, who has come here today specifically to help with this task."
"It is a pleasure to be here." Ezra replied, his voice low and smooth. "And to be working with such a talented witch." He added, his eyes settling on Hermione.
Their gazes connected for a mere second as he inclined his head towards her in greeting, that small, enticing smile on his lips, and Hermione couldn't help but notice the most striking part of his otherwise ordinary face.
His shining grey eyes.
I know it's a short chapter but I wanted to post it before I decided to back out again, because once even one person has started reading it and shown an interest I know I'll feel motivated to carry on with it.
I've got very little work to do at the moment and no internet at home (yes, it has been hell , after two months it gets really old), so with any luck I'll be able to get the next chapter done pretty swiftly.