Disclaimer: I don't own it.
Author's Note: This story is supposed to be posted under the penname of HPCultleader, but I'm not sure if I can do that. Writing this author's note is Ptrst, who is posting this for a friend. BTW, I beta-d this story, too, but I have absolutely nothing to do with the plot.
I. Hermione Granger
"The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare works to give house elves the same rights that we witches and wizards have. I urge all of you to become active in such a promising – Oh, what's the word?" Rummaging through the rest of her cards for the next line, Hermione looked up at the crowd, seeing that there really was not crowd.
"Where could they all have gone to?" She emerged from behind the podium. "Hmm… That's strange. They were here an hour ago when I started. Why would they leave before I was finished? Maybe they were so impressed that they ran to go sign up. Yes, that has got to be it. I told Ronald I could do it. I knew that coming to the Ministry of Magic to do a seminar was the best thing to do. They would all take an interest."
"HERMIONE!" Ron yelled from the back of the room. "I told you! Look, everyone is gone! I told you that no one would be interested. The elves like working. Don't you get it?"
Hermione, who had been startled at the sound of a voice other than hers, gathered herself, and replied with as much dignity as possible, "Just so you know: the whole audience left early, so they could beat the crowd to sign up. I bet if I go out there, I will find a whole list of people, just wanting to take part in this -" Hermione had forgotten the word again.
"Organization?" said Ron with a smile.
"Yes! That's the word I was looking for!"
Ron shook his head, bade Hermione farewell, and left the room, giggling to himself.
Minutes later, Hermione had gathered her things, and set off down the hall to the booth that she had said up just outside of the elevator. She grabbed the list, thinking about showing it to Ron the next time she saw him.
Looking down, she could not believe her eyes. Not a single person had signed up. She flipped through the pages, and found a whole list of names. It had just gotten mixed in.
She read the names out loud to herself, "'George Washington, Adolph Hitler, Bertie Bott, Justin Timberlake, Nick Carter, Harry Potter.' Well, at least we know that Ron isn't bored or anything. Late! Sure, he was. He was probably sitting here coming up with names to throw off my list. At least Harry signed up. I think I'll go see him."
Hermione ran down the hall towards the elevators, still staring at the list. It took a while for her to realize that the elevators were at the other end of the hall.
"Nice one Hermione," she said to herself. She ran back the other way, and jabbed at the button for the first level.
