The Corridors of Power; Chapter 1- A Resignation
A/N: So this little idea has been bouncing around in my head. It's inspired by Emma Watson making her speech at the United Nations in New York on 20th September 2014 launching the HeforShe campaign. The speech is well worth a watch. But it got me thinking, what if Hermione was a political operative? JK Rowling has said that Hermione does go on to work at the Ministry after Hogwarts so what could have happened there? In this story, the Nineteen Years Later epilogue never happened, everything other than that will be canon. If we are looking for pairings, it will almost certainly, but subtly be Hermione/Harry. (Does anyone really see a political Hermione marrying Ron Weasley?) Ron will be there but for most of this story he'll be relegated to a minor role. It's all I'm prepared to say at the moment.
So we begin this (my second) foray into the world of imagination, political strive, factions, friends, enemies, prejudice and finance and we begin of November 7th 2000. It's half-past ten on a Monday morning and the Wizengamot is being gavelled into session. Chief Warlock, Tiberius Odgen presiding:
"…it is not the word that is important. It is the idea and the ambition behind it…" – Emma Watson
Monday 7th November 2000
Wizengamot Chamber, Ministry of Magic, 10:30 AM
"I call this meeting of the full Wizengamot to order!" called the Chief Warlock, Tiberius Odgen. "If the Minister for Magic could please take the floor as it is Ministry administrative business we are here to discuss."
"Thank you Chief Warlock." Kingsley gave a short bow as he strode into the well of the chamber. "We are gathered here today to elect the new head of the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to replace Mr Phillip Whitaker. This chamber would like to thank Mr Whitaker for his three decades of loyal service to this country, much of which was spent under difficult conditions."
"Hear! Hear!"
"If the candidates could please go to the well of the chamber when their names are called. They are as follows; William Joffre Burnham – the current head of the Spirit Division of the department, Meredith Elizabeth Channing – deputy head of the Department for Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Euan Oliver Goddard – current head of the British delegation to the International Confederation of Warlocks and Hermione Jean Granger – deputy head of the Beast division of the department.
To elect one of these candidates, it requires the votes of 301 of the 601 Wizengamot members. We will hold a series of ballots until there a maximum of two candidates remaining. Or until a candidate manages to gain the required majority. All those in favour of electing Mr Burnham? All those in favour of electing Mrs Channing? All those in favour of electing Mr Goddard? All those in favour of electing Ms Granger?"
Channing and Burnham got few votes, not because the Wizengamot despised them but because they thought that they were best suited to their current positions. They took votes form the Neutral section of the chamber who could be legendarily indecisive. Goddard and Hermione almost split the vote between them. Goddard took most of the traditional pureblood faction while Hermione took votes from the 'Light' side of the chamber.
"The current totals are as follows; Mrs Channing has 34 votes, Mr Burnham has 41 votes, Mr Goddard is on 261 votes and Ms Granger has a narrow lead on 263 votes. If the candidates have no objections, I propose the removal Mrs Channing and Mr Burnham from the ballot."
"Seconded!"
"Any objections? All right I would like to now invite the two remaining candidates to take to the floor and explain why you should support them. The order of the speeches will be decided by the toss of a coin. Ladies first; Miss Granger, heads or tails?"
"Heads."
"Very well." Minister for Magic; Kingsley Shacklebolt flipped a silver sickle. "I'm afraid it is tails. Ms Granger, if you would like to take a seat and would Mr Goddard like to take the floor."
"My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wizengamot, I would like to first congratulate my opponent for coming so far up the ranks of the Ministry in such a short space of time and wish her every further success in our world. However I see myself as more suitable for this role; I have no less than 22 years of experience in various Ministry departments since 1988 most recently I have represented this country at the ICW for the past 2 years. I feel infinitely more qualified. My opponent, as good as she is, would be a detriment to the post she intends to. If she were not a friend of Harry Potter, if she had no part in the downfall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, would she be here now? I think not. The fact is Ms Granger lacks the experience, fighting dark wizards does not mean you have the skills to run one of the largest Ministry departments. On a final point, I would like to raise to the attention of this chamber, Ms Granger's agenda while she has been at the Beast Division with proposals for the rights of House Elves and the repeal of the Goblin Act of 1746 which among other things limited the power and residential rights of the Goblin Nation in an effort to prevent further goblin rebellion. I attribute these radical thoughts to Ms Granger's blood status."
There were quiet murmurings in the chamber. Kingsley winced.
"Now I have nothing against muggle-borns but I can't help but feel that Ms Granger lacks the necessary understanding of the Magical World and our ways after looking at some of her proposed policies. I ask you all to ask yourselves this; who do you want to lead this prestigious department – the wizard who has the experience and understanding, or the witch who is a minor celebrity who is too idealistic in wanting to change our way of life irreversibly. Forever? Thank you."
"Ms Granger, your rebuttal."
Hermione was seething and said in a quiet voice; "I implore you to make the right decision. My blood status is of little consequence. I want to change the world because it needs to be changed. Changed for the better. Do we want to continue doing an old job badly or do we want to do something that changes our world for the better?"
"The question is for who?" muttered one old wizard to another.
"Thank you Ms Granger. If we could have the final ballot please. All those in favour of Mr Goddard, please raise your wands, and those in favour of Ms Granger…"
Wizarding Wireless Network - London Studios, Diagon Alley, 11:00 AM
"This is the Wizarding News at eleven o'clock, I'm Jane Hooper.
In the last half an hour the Wizengamot has voted on a new head for the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. As expected the front runners were Euan Goddard, the current head of the British delegation to the ICW and Hermione Granger, current head of the Beast Division of the Department. Mr Goddard won the final ballot with 320 votes to Ms Granger's 281. In his final speech to the chamber, Mr Goddard controversially suggested that Ms Granger who famously helped Harry Potter defeat the dark wizard Tom Riddle was only where she was because of her celebrity status, questioning some of her proposed policies such as the extending the rights of house elves. Mr Goddard attributed and I quote; "these radical thoughts to Ms Granger's blood status," and saying that she "lacks the necessary understanding" for the position.
Although Ms Granger admirably defended herself, Mr Goddard's suggestions were enough to thwart Ms Granger's attempts for promotion.
Mr Goddard has released a statement to the media saying that he is "looking forward to working Ms Granger and everyone else at the Department." There has been no such comment yet from Ms Granger. We'll bring it to you as soon as we receive it. Now in other news…"
Auror Office, Ministry of Magic, 11:02 AM
"She must be feeling crushed. You know how much she wanted that job." Harry looked to Ron as he turned off the radio.
"Speaking of Hermione; she's coming down the corridor." Harry's red-headed friend and colleague announced.
Hermione entered, leaned against Harry's cubicle wall and sniffed slightly.
"You OK?" asked Harry.
"Not my best day."
"Hey, don't hold it against yourself." Ron chimed in.
"But the thing is I do, sometimes I look in the mirror and I ask myself whether I'm the unfriendly, bossy, know-it-all. And then I look at this place," Hermione threw open her arms, "and I feel that it just sees me as the uppity muggleborn who only is where she is because of Harry Potter and I'm sure some in the Wizengamot only saw me as a upstart little muggleborn who has thoughts above her station."
"Don't ever think that!" Ron said shocked.
"You're the friendly, loveable know-it-all that we love to be with." Harry retorted before getting up and hugging Hermione. "You're the brightest person I know and the bigots on the Wizengamot are nothing but ignorant of the fact."
"You should listen to him Hermione. I was going to say that they should have written out their opinion then rolled it up and stuck it where the sun doesn't shine. But Harry says it better!" Ron said lightly. Hermione giggled before hugging him.
"A little eloquence does get you places you know Ron," she gave him a mock-glare. "Now as lovely as this is, I've got to get back to the office and write some letters. I'll see you both later." Hermione smiled at them before leaving the room.
But her heart wasn't in it, she almost seconds after leaving the Auror Office. Hermione had good practice at hiding her emotions ever since her younger cousin Philippa started to tease her for reading books at a family party. She had despised Philippa ever since. Her aunt and uncle were wonderful people, so she couldn't comprehend how they produced Philippa. But since then she'd had to endure the insults, the whispers behind her back, the rumours and the unfounded accusations sent her way. Not just at Hogwarts but from the Daily Prophet (who insisted such thing were in the public interest because she was a public figure) and also at the Ministry. For most of the time, she brushed it all off, like dust on a bookshelf, but there were times when she couldn't keep her guard up and broke down completely.
Department for Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures, Ministry of Magic, 11:21 AM
When Hermione arrived back at her office in the Beast Division, the work of the day was already in full swing. Hermione had nearly decided on her future. There were already over two dozen memos hovering over her desk, circling like planes waiting to land at Heathrow. She banished them out of the room before calling for her secretary.
"There's an urgent memo just arrived from the DMLE for you, something about a goblin trying to use the 'Europe-tunnel'?"
"It's the Euro-tunnel, Miranda. I don't want any memos, any calls or any visitors save the Minister himself. Can you get me the first five minutes he has around noon?"
"Yes ma'am. Right on it ma'am."
"I'll be in here writing some letters and I don't want to be disturbed."
Office of the Minister, Ministry of Magic, 12:12 PM
"Ms Hermione Granger is waiting outside Minister, she has an appointment."
"Thank you Andrea." Kingsley said before turning back to the other man in his office. "Well I'm afraid I'm going to have to end it there Euan. I wish you the very best of luck in your new role."
"Thank you Minister." Euan Goddard shook the Minister's hand before leaving the office.
In the ante-office outside Hermione almost tried to hide herself as Goddard emerged from the office. But she was to slow.
"Miss Granger! I do hope we can work together!"
"Yes, Director." Hermione forced a smile. 'Not after what I'm about to do,' she silently added as an afterthought.
"I'll have my secretary schedule a meeting. I'm sure it will be productive."
"Yes, Director," 'but I have no intention of being there,' she thought to herself.
"I best be off, lots to do," and the new head of the Department for Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures swept from the room.
Kingsley was watching the scene with interest, before approaching Hermione.
"I'm sorry about that. It can't be easy."
"No, which is why I have no intention of enduring that for any length of time."
"What do you mean?" asked a curious Kingsley, fearing the worst.
"Well that just made it easier. I've come to hand in my resignation."
"Are you sure?" Kingsley queried as his worst thoughts were confirmed. "It isn't workable?"
"Oh the situation is workable, the environment I'm in isn't. I'm a muggleborn Minister and even in this day and age despite the current lack of dark wizards, there is still insurmountable prejudice."
Kingsley was about to respond before Hermione ploughed on.
"Do you know why today's vote would have been significant?"
"Why?"
"Because it would be the first time a muggleborn has put him or herself forward to head a Ministry department since the 1730s. If I had succeeded, I would have been the first ever muggleborn Ministry department head."
"Surely it's something to aspire to in the future?"
"In a couple of centuries perhaps." Hermione said sarcastically.
"Change will come."
"Not until Magical Britain stops looking down upon the muggle world like they are nothing more than animals."
"Not everyone thinks that."
"Just look at the Wizengamot - they've just shown by democratic vote that they are scared of change, scared of a little muggleborn who could rock their world. But even calling them democratic is an oxymoron – that chamber isn't a democratic parliament, it's more of a royal court, whose members see it as their birth right, not elected by the people. Tell me how a governing body of old pureblood families is democratic when two in ten of the magical population have at least one muggle or parent?"
"It isn't democratic at all."
"Precisely. Did you know that well over 75% of the magical world have some form of public election to decide who rules them – America, China, France, Germany, Belgium to name but a few. We are in the backward minority."
"We can change."
"Not in either of our lifetimes. And even then, we are in Britain, it would require several billion galleons to get people to change their attitudes here."
"This isn't Fudge's administration Hermione."
"This isn't the world I want to spend the majority of my time in Minister, where there is racism and bigotry around every corner."
"You do know that if anyone else had come into this room and talked to me like this I would probably have had you fired by now."
"Well I'm saving you the trouble by resigning."
"Shouldn't you be speaking to Euan Goddard about this?"
"I should be telling the world about this. As for Mr Goddard, well Chapter IX, Clause II, Sub-clause I of the Ministry's code of practice states that resignations should be submitted to an employee who is more senior than the employee resigning."
"I didn't know that."
"You do now."
"And if I stop you?"
"Stop me doing what?"
"Resigning. If I refuse your resignation?"
"Then I'll send an open letter to the editors of the Daily Prophet and The Quibbler, explaining the full extent of the culture of almost institutional racism in this Lovegood will print it, the Prophet might and you and the Ministry would be left with egg on your face. Who wants to be led by a government whose highest elements discriminate against two in ten of them?"
"You'd really do that?"
"I don't want to. I want to go quietly. But if I have to, I will."
"Have you talked to Harry and Ron about this?"
"They don't know I'm here, and I'd appreciate if they didn't know. I've got to do this alone. I want to step out of Harry's shadow. They'd only try to drag me back here. I don't want to be dragged."
"Very well. I accept your resignation. I'll give you a good reference and you can add to any muggle job description that you had a minor post at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the current Secretary of State, John Prescott."
"Thank you."
"Now should you tell Harry and the others or should I?"
"Let's see how long it takes for them to find out. You can tell Goddard though."
"Somehow I didn't think he thought you'd stay for long, but I don't think he expected you to go so quickly."
Hermione smiled, "If you want to get something done, do it yourself."
"I think it would be fair to say that it's his loss."
"Thank you Minister and goodbye."
"Good luck Hermione, stay safe. Don't ignore Harry and Ron, they are your friends, they have right to know."
A/N: So, a resignation. What do you think? This story is either going to Geneva or New York. Let me know what you think in the shiny box below and by all means check out my other stories…