She left everything and everyone behind to persue a healer position. She had even left Ginny, the one person that she loved. She was just incapable of having to stand back and watch her lover and friends put their lives on the line to keep the wizarding community safe. She still didn't know if Ginny understood. When she had left she had left a very hurt Ginny and an upset Harry and Ron. At least she knew she had Harry and Ron's support.
They had told her to keep in touch, but after a couple of month's she found that she was just holding on to something that she just couldn't anymore. So eventually the owls stopped. She threw herself into her work to keep from thinking of them, especially Ginny. Her heart had broke when she had to tell Ginny she was leaving and she thought it best if they weren't together anymore. But she had to do it. She knew Ginny would become an Auror also when she got out of Hogwarts. It's just something she had known she wanted to do from the very beginning. After the war was over it had just escilated her drive for the job. Ginny had done her best in everything and even started studying the things that where needed to become an Auror.
Hermione couldn't take it anymore, watching everyone she loved becoming something that could and possibly would kill them one day. So she had left as soon as possible to go to the best healer's school. After she had finished there she had been traveling all over the world. Taking in the different sights and meeting with the various healer's to discuss the various theories she had. She helped out at some of the hospital's and in the process learned a lot more. Writing everything down as she always did, she had wrote a magnificent paper on the various unusual magical ailment's she ran into. That is how she came to be standing in front of the ministrey of magic.
She dreaded going in there. She knew that the Auror's headquarter's was in that building also. The idea of running into somone she knew thrilled her, but at the same time she had this knot of dread forming in the pit of her stomach. Then without warning a hand was on her shoulder making her jump slightly. She was about to pull out her wand, old habits still not leaving her especially after the war and her travels, till she recognized who it was.
" Mr. Weasley."
" Hermione, it's nice to see you. I heard you where going to be here today. I had hoped to run into you, just not with you standing in front looking positively frightened. Is everything alright." Of course Mr. Weasley hand known of Hermione and Ginny's relationship. Everyone had and no one had a problem with it. Actually he had suspected something of the sort would happen eventually.
" Yes I'm fine. I was just lost in my thought's for a moment."
" Quite alright, since I'm here why don't I go in with you, and don't worry about bothering me. I was going to sit in on your lecture anyway's. I try and keep up on where our healer's are, as much as I can understand anyway's. Beside's I can show you around afterwards." of course Mr. Weasley would show her around, running into some people along the way.
He had known of Hermione's arrival for a couple of day's now. But he hadn't told anyone, though he did make sure Harry and Ron were going be in their offices today. He had to fight to get Ginny to be at headquarters as well. Apparently she was doing a really good job, she had even passed Harry's status among the other Auror's. She just didn't take break's and it was hard to catch her in the office, all this had started after Hermione had left. If there was an assignment to be done she was the first chosen for it. He was proud of her as he was all his children. But Ginny was in the most dangerous position and he knew that. So he wasn't about to pass up the chance to try and get the two back together. If he had his way he would make it to where Hermione was needed to stay in london but that was all to be seen after her lecture, and the children thought their mother was the one they needed to worry about in these particular subject's.
Hermione knew Mr. Weasley was up to something when he had told her he would show her around. Sometimes he was worse then his wife. She just hoped Ginny was off on assingment. She didn't think she could handle seeing her again. She did hope that Harry and Ron were in though. She hadn't seen them in so long. It would be nice to see them again.
They talked about the different thing's Hermione had been up to since she had left as they walked inside. She told Mr. Weasley of all the places that she had gone to and everything that she had learned. He listened intently only asking quetion's every now and then. Finally they had come to the lecture hall. He sat in the first row as she went up to the podium the get ready.
" Mr. Weasley," Hermione said, " seeing as how you are now our minister can you tell me who all will be here?"
" Yes well obviously a board off healer's will be here to review you findings, me as well and the Auror's that are not on an assignment will be attending also."
" Auror's" Hermione said uneasily, " why are they attending?"
" Well seeing as they are constantly put in dangerous situation's they are now required to attend any lectures in the healing department. I added this when I got into office. Some think it is unnesecary but some of my children are now Auror's and i want them to be prepared for anything." That had been his reason for putting that order in effect, now he was praising his early judgment. Now they would both would be in the same room. So there would be no reason for them not to see each other. He had to smile at his own brilliance.
" Very well, so I guess there will be quit a number attending my lecture than I previously thought. If you don't mind I am going to gather some last minute things and get everything ready. Would it also be possible for me to take a small breather while I wait for everyone to get here. It has been a long trip and I have yet to do so."
" Sertianly, I will inform you when everyone has arrived, until then relax. Don't want to be nervous with the healer board here."
Hermione walked out of the hall and into a private bathroom she had guessed was for the one's giving a lecture. She didn't think that all the Auror's were going to be there as well. She rellied on her hope that Ginny was off on assignment, but she was starting to doubt that. Actually she was very certian that she was going to be there as well as Harry and Ron.
Mr. Weasley sat in the first row as some of the people started to show. As usual The board was there first, only becasue the Auror's saw no reason to be in a hurry to get to any lecture. He had thought Harry and Ron wouldn't do the same but he was wrong as usual. Those two usually feel asleep in these thing's. But today he knew that would be different. As he was thinking this as Ron and Harry had come in with Ginny in tow. Apparently she didn't want to be there anymore than they did. Though at least she stayed awake and paid attention.
" Hey dad, so who are we going to get the pleasure of sleeping to today." asked Ron.
" Well Ron I'm sure this one will keep you awake and attentive. Why don't you three sit here with me. Everyone always sit's everywhere else besides with me. It get's kind of lonely." So Ron sat on his left with Harry beside him and Ginny sat on his right. He looked around to make sure everyone was there. " Good look's like we have everyone, I'll just go inform our speaker."
Mr, Weasley got up and went to the bathroom where he knew Hermione would be. He waited a few moment's before knocking on the door.
" Everyone has gotten here Hermione if your ready I'll introduce you and we can get this show on the road."
" Of course Mr. Weasley, since when have you known me not to be ready for anything?"
" Your absolutely right."
With that he turned Hermione following, but as he went out to get the lecture started she waited behind the wall that seperated her from the audiance. She searched the crowd for familiar faces, that was when she saw Harry and Ron with an open space obviously for Mr. Weasley and then she saw her. There sat Ginny watching as her father crossed the stage to the podium to introduce the newest addition to the healer's. She was so not ready anymore, but she had to be. This was one of the most important things she would be doing and a lot was riding on it.
" May I have your attention please," Mr. Weasley said in a demanding voice and immediatly everyone went quiet, " today's lecture is going to be given by someone who has traveled all over the world and discovered many new thing's. The healer's board has read her paper on the subject and has asked her here today to get a better understanding of how she has come to her conclusion's. So without waisting anymore time I give you Hermione Granger."
Harry and Ron's eye's went wide. This was the last person they had expected to see up on that stage. Ginny was egually startled if not more. She had thought she would never see her again, but there she was walking across stage with beautiful grace to meet her father at the podium.
Hermione had taken a second to get her nerve back after seeing Ginny in the first row. When Mr. Weasley had said her name she noticed a look of shock on the three faces she had been looking at, but none the less she gathered her composure and walked out to meet Mr. Weasley at the podium. He took a second to take her hand and shack it. Leaning in he wispered some reassuring words in her ear.
" Remember the board are just like use, maybe with a greater understanding of healing. But they wouldn't have brought you here if they weren't interested in you." with that he walked off the stage and took his seat leaving Hermione there to start her lecture.
" Good morning, I am Hermione Granger and I am here today to talk to you about the thing's that I have encountered in my travels as a healer." Hermione took out her wand and started on her lecture puting up different theories with a spell she had invented to write things on the wall. It wouldn't be perminate. Actually after she was done with one theory and ready to start another it would erase itself so she could put the next one up for viewing as she explained her conclusions.
" Well as I have nothing further to present to you, I can now answer your question's if you have any." No one raised there hand. Apparently she had done a very good job in her explination's, leaving nothing out. " Then I will not hold you up any longer."
Everyone broke out in applause then started to leave. Most of the board were now talking to Mr. Weasley. Hermione of course was gathering her thing's from the stage when Harry and Ron took no time to get there.
" Hermione," Harry said and not taking any further dellay in getting a hug from her. Ron was next in line. It had happened so fast that she had barely enough time to catch her breath in between the two. " why didn't you tell us you were going to be here today?"
" I was just busy with getting everything prepared to present to the board that I didn't even have time to think about it. I'm sorry I should have wrote and told you."
" Don't worry about it, though it would have been good to know why dad making us stay in the office all day." Ron had said with little enthusiasm.
Hermione took a second to look around for Ginny, though apparently she had left already. Harry and Ron both took notice to this. Harry was the first to say something though.
" Don't worry Hermione she doesn't stick around much anymore. Actually I'm surprised Mr. Weasley was able to get her to be here today. She goes off on assignment every chance she get's. I'm actually a little worried about her, every Auror has a partner except for her. She say's she work's better alone, she doesn't have to worry about someone else. She is doing a good job but it's a little disconcerting."
" Yeah, mum worries to no extent when it come's to that one. She's barely home, once I remember after dad got into office that he literally made her take a vacation. Said she was putting to much strain on herself. She's really got everyone worried. Hey I just got an idea how about we all go out to lunch."
" I don't know Ron, I've got a lot of stuff to do."
" Aw come on Hermione we haven't seen you in forever, it'll be like the old day's." Harry said this with a little pout on his face. How could Hermione say no to that.
" Alright, fine. Where are we going?"
" Harry why don't you go with her there is something I gotta grab out of the office and I'll meet you two there." Ron gave Harry a look that he understood completely and gave him a mischevious smile in return.
" Sure Ron, we'll go ahead. Don't take to long."