The future is a convenient place for dreams - Anatole France

At the end of it all, when the dust settled and all the dead were laid to rest, the world had to move on. This was the course of human history, wizard and muggle alike. And so, life continued. People mourned, but ultimately learned to live. Businesses rebuilt, communities healed, and the Wizarding World was once again at peace.

Worries for the soldiers remained, as they do. Molly Weasley had worried a great deal when it had come to Harry Potter. The boy was as good as her son after all. Her worries were ones that much of the wizarding world shared. What would become of the boy who had lived in danger most of his life? Would he be able to settle down into a life away from the adventure, or would he be miserable?

It was for this reason that no one batted an eyelash when he became an Auror. There he could seek the adventure and danger that he had grown accustomed to. But their world had misread the young man. For years he worked alongside Ron, catching and bringing to justice those who wished to ruin the peace they had gained. The shock came when one day Harry walked out of the Ministry, never to return.

Harry had once believed that the only life for him after the war would be as an Auror. He had longed for it in school and had believed it wholeheartedly after he was grown. But that life brought him no happiness. It was only after a gentle talk from his knowing wife that he realized something had to change. And so, just months after the birth of their first child, Harry hung up his Auror robes and donned the magenta ones of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Their world was stunned at the occurrence, but Ginny just smiled to see the way her husband glowed working alongside her brother.

With Harry gone many believed Ron would soon follow. But the young man had grown past his jealousy and any kind of perceived dependence on his friend. Ron had continued working as an Auror, going above and beyond until he headed the department. In later years he had made a name for himself as one of the best Aurors in existence. And any mention of him as "Potter's sidekick" had long ago vanished.

Where Ron had failed in the public's eye rested in his relationship with Hermione, or lack thereof. As many had suspected, the two had gotten together after the war. They were suddenly one set of the wizarding world's two sweetheart couples. But time had soon shown the two that theirs was a relationship best left as friends.

The only member of the trio that no one worried about was Hermione. She had always been the brains, the clever one, the one with everything planned out. Of course she would move on to the Ministry, making changes and their world a better place. And no one doubted that she would one day sit as Minister. But best laid plans and all…

Hermione had gone to work in the Ministry. With Kingsley as temporary, and quickly official, Minister things had gone more smoothly than before. Still, she found red tape gumming up every part of the Ministry and found herself at a loss. Her time in the Ministry had yielded little in the way of better rights for House Elves and Werewolves. And she found herself jumping from department to department trying to make a difference, only to end up disappointed.

It wasn't until sixteen years after the war that things seemed to change. She had been in her office, a small closet like space, when it happened. Before her appeared a small bird about the size of her thumb. It was a strange bird, built much like a hummingbird, but with plumage so black it seemed to absorb all light. The thing had hovered in front of her, a small strip of paper clasped in its tiny beak. The paper dropped to her desk and in the time that she looked down and back the bird had disappeared.

The strip of paper held a single word upon it; "Accepted." The moment she uttered it she was whisked away, no sign of her or the paper left behind. She had reappeared in an office that looked less like it belonged in the Ministry, and more like an old antique shop.

The office was large with dark mahogany paneling. A multitude of clocks covered most of the walls; small clocks, large, Grandfather, and not one ticked in sync with another. The resulting sound was enough to drive anyone insane. Though the woman sitting serenely at a desk seemed unphased by it. She sat comfortably in her chair simply staring at Hermione, a placid smile upon her face.

Though there were no windows in the room, a soft golden light emanated from behind the clocks. It was enough that Hermione could make out the grey robes that encased the woman. An Unspeakable. She had seen others briefly during her time at the Ministry. Most of them preferred the company of each other over other departments. But there were times that a couple would venture out. They talked to no one, but lately Hermione had gotten the feeling that they were watching her. Something she had dismissed until that very moment.

She was about to introduce herself when the small black bird appeared again. Instead of offering a paper to Hermione, it flew to rest in the middle of a flower pinned in the woman's hair. Unlike the Weasleys' bright ginger, this woman's hair was a deep bronze color liberally salted with strands of white. The bird settled down and closed its eyes. Had she been able to hear, Hermione was sure that a high-pitched snore emanated from the little creature.

So engrossed by the bird, she had failed to notice that the woman had spoken and was now walking towards her. Silently she took her hand, paying attention this time when she introduced herself. Lenora Ashby, current head of the Department of Mysteries.

That afternoon Hermione had learned that she had been watched since she had first started at the Ministry. Ashby had laid in wait, determining the right moment to bring her in. Hermione's obvious unhappiness was apparently the right time.

There was a part of Hermione that wanted to decline the offer made to her. Questions and worries ran through her head; would she be able to deal with the secrecy, would she be able to make a difference there, was it worth it? But the biggest part grasped the offer like a lifeline. Finally, she found had her place.

Hermione laughed to herself at the thoughts that had run through her head that day. Found her place? No, nothing had changed. It was four months since Ashby made her offer, and Hermione still felt unmaterial. Of course, she knew that she wasn't going to be given an assignment right off. There was training to be had. Still, she thought she would be more than just an errand girl.

It wasn't Ashby, the woman positively beamed when talking about Hermione. She was always going on about how she expected great things from the woman. No, it was her mentor, Richard Snodgrass. The man had been a peer at Hogwarts, though three years ahead. A Ravenclaw with excellent marks, that excelled in everything he did. She didn't remember him much, but then again, she spent much of her school career trying to keep her best friend from being killed.

Snodgrass hated her, she was sure of it. Though what she could have ever done to earn that hate she didn't know. But her assessment of the situation was ever more correct when he once again shot her down for a project.

She entered her office, slamming the door despite the silencing charms placed on them. Just the action made her feel a bit better. Dots of blood appeared along her bottom lip as she bit down to keep from screaming.

Everything, she had everything researched and written out. She had left nothing out, and still he turned her down. She wasn't ready, they couldn't spare the resources, she forgot to dot her I's. Every excuse he could think up he used. And now he had accused her of working for selfish means. She only wanted to gain notoriety. Hah, notoriety! They were Unspeakables for Merlin's sake, she could find the cure for death but no one would ever know.

She wiped her hand across her mouth, smearing the blood. She had thought about going above Snodgrass to Ashby, but in the end she didn't. The truth was she wanted the approval of her mentor. She wanted to show him that she was capable of doing what everyone claimed. That she was the smartest witch of her age.

The clock on her wall chimed five. Hermione would be the first to admit that she was a bit of an overachiever. Her third year at Hogwarts was enough to prove that. But after her latest encounter with Snodgrass she wanted nothing more than a glass of wine and a good book. So, she packed up her work and headed home.

Hermione lived in a small apartment hidden away in the middle of London. Most of her neighbors were muggles. The nice sort who kept to themselves and never asked questions when the quirky tenant of number 42 came home. She figured this had more to do with the woman living in number 43.

Miriam Trotter was an older witch who had taken Hermione under her wing when she moved in. She was the first tenant of the building when it had been built, and from what Hermione had gathered Miriam had already been old then. She never asked how old the woman was, but from the stories she told Hermione guessed her to be in her hundreds.

Though a bit dotty, Hermione adored Miriam. Most weekends when she wasn't working Hermione could be found at number 43 having tea and swopping stories. Though she didn't look it, Miriam had been quite the loose witch back in her day and delighted in telling Hermione about her conquests… and her many husbands which she had managed to outlive.

Reaching her apartment door, Hermione thought about asking the witch over for dinner. Though she couldn't tell her the nature of her job, she could complain about Snodgrass… or as Miriam called him, Sod-ass. But all thoughts of wine and a whine flew out of her head when she entered the apartment.

She just managed to keep in the groan when she realized that it was the second week of August and Teddy Lupin was visiting. The boy in question was sat on her couch, a variable smorgasbord laid out on the coffee table in front of him. She would have to leave work early the next day in order to get supplies. Teddy was a growing boy and would quickly eat her out of house and home.

"Actually home early, Aunt Hermione?" Teddy stuffed the leftover chicken she had been saving in his mouth. He smiled as he chewed, bits of food visible between his teeth.

Shutting the door, Hermione tossed her bag on the floor. It wasn't that she forgot that Teddy was staying with her until he returned to Hogwarts in September. It was more that she lost track of time.

"It is just after five, I get off at five." Hermione kicked off her heels and sank down into the couch beside the boy. She took the bit of sandwich that Teddy handed her and started chewing.

"Yeah, but you never actually leave at five. I wasn't expecting you until midnight." Teddy gulped down a huge glass of pumpkin juice.

Looking beside her, she noticed just how much the boy had grown. She remembered when he had just been a baby cooing at her from her arms. Sometimes she missed those times, when he was small and laughed at the smallest things. And yet, that time held so much sadness. The death of Remus and Tonks had been so fresh, it had been hard to look at the boy without crying.

"I wanted to be here when you arrived," Hermione lied. She didn't want him to know she had forgotten the date. Teddy had grown up a normal boy, but he did have issues when it came to abandonment.

"Nah, you forgot." Teddy shook his head at the woman beside him. "Don't look so worried. I'm not a kid anymore. Plus, you have this new job that you are so secretive about. It is understandable that you get a bit frazzled at times."

"Merlin, when did you get to be so grown up?" Hermione curled her legs the best she could up onto the couch. She should probably get out of her work robes before she got food on them, but she was just so tired.

"When I turned sixteen." Teddy dodged when Hermione went to ruffle his hair. He hated his head being messed with.

"Oh, yes, I forgot. You are a full-grown wizard now." Hermine laughed alongside the boy, the lightheartedness of the conversation managing to lift her spirits.

The two settled down into silence, both sharing the spread of food on the coffee table. Every now and then Hermione would look at Teddy, just look at him. He had become a fixture in her life that she had not anticipated. He had always been around, he was Harry's godson after all. But for a long time Hermione was just someone that was there when Harry was; an authority figure that had little to do in his life. It wasn't until the Christmas holiday of Teddy's first year at Hogwarts that things had changed.

As had been planned, Teddy was to stay the hols with his godfather. He was going to end up at the Burrow for Christmas lunch anyway, so it was decided that he might as well just go straight to Grimmauld Place. Things sadly didn't work out. Harry and Teddy had fought, and when the boy marched away to his room he had actually floo'd to Hermione's.

It had taken a bit of coaxing, but soon enough she had gotten him to talk. The poor boy had felt neglected. Harry now had three of his own children, and while he still loved Teddy just as much his attention had been on his own. To Teddy's young mind, he had been away and so his godfather's attention should have been on him at all times. In his anger and his hurt he had fled to the first place he could think of.

Hermione had tucked him up on her couch and waited until he was asleep to floo Harry. The man had been frantic and about to call in Ron for help when her head popped out of the fire. After some explaining and scolding from Hermione, Harry soon understood and promised to visit in the morning. The two had been able to patch things up, but unfortunately Teddy was still feeling hurt. It was agreed upon that he would spend the rest of his holiday at Hermione's.

That had been the start of it. She had grown closer to the boy during that Christmas, and soon enough Teddy had seen her as a confidant. Except for certain things best left for Harry, which Hermione was more than fine with, Teddy came to her for advice. And food apparently. Since then it wasn't unusual for him to spend a week or two with Hermione. This was the first time though that she would be taking him to Hogwarts.

Hermione had the sudden urge to reach over and pull the boy into her arms and just hold him the rest of the night. She wouldn't admit it to him, she barely admitted it to herself, but she saw him as a sort of son. Back when she was younger she had thought that she would have her life all sorted out by now. Her and Ron would be married and the two of them would have a couple of children of their own. But things had not worked out. It wasn't that she was sorry that her life was the way it was, but it just wasn't what she had planned.

Teddy slumped back in his seat, belly full of all her leftovers. He burped, but quickly smacked his hand to his mouth, apologizing before Hermione could scold him. She just shook her head. His grandmother expected the boy to always mind his manners, to be a little gentleman. But Hermione had grown up around two boys, one small burp wasn't going to offend her.

"So, you going to tell me what's the matter?" Teddy screwed up his face, his short blue hair changing into the bright red of Molly Weasley. It was a habit of his, one that meant he was listening and you better start talking.

"There's nothing the matter, everything is…" Hermione snapped her mouth shut when he crossed his arms. It was unnerving when he mimicked the Weasley matriarch.

"Right, so you just left work early because nothing is wrong? And I suppose that you normally wear tissues in your hair?" He indicated the top of her head with one hand.

Hermione reached up, her fingers finding a wad of tissues tangled in her mass of curls. Oh Merlin, how long had that been there? Surely, she hadn't gone to talk to Snodgrass like that? No wonder people looked at her weird when she left.

She sighed as she flopped herself even further back into the couch. Her fingers picked and tore at the tissue, eyes not focusing on Teddy.

"You know, sometimes you are too Hufflepuff for your own good." She tossed the tattered tissues onto the table and tried her best to explain without jeopardizing her job.

"Maybe I'm just overreacting, I mean I've only been there four months I'm still new. But on the other-hand I've been there four months and I'm not doing much but fetching my supervisor his tea and scrolls. I thought when I joined that I would finally do something, make some sort of difference. But it is all the same."

Teddy hummed and twirled a lock of the long red hair. It made him look ridiculous, and she found a small smile forming on her lips.

"I thought you had some sort of project planned?" He twisted the hair a little too far and winced when a couple of strands snapped off.

"I did, I do! But he… he told me it wouldn't work. That I needed to stick to what I was good at." This was what angered her the most. Stick to what she was good at? What was she living in, some 50's American television show? He had never told her what she was good at, but considering he sent her for tea afterwards she was pretty sure what he meant.

The thing was, that Snodgrass didn't treat the other women in the department the same way. They all got the respect that she yearned for. No, there was just something about her that brought the worst out in him.

"Look, Aunt Hermione, don't give up. I know you, and I know that you can do whatever it is that you put your mind to. You just have to make your supervisor see reason." Teddy's face morphed into the closest thing to Molly she had ever seen him do. "Or if all else fails, just sic Mrs. Weasley on him."

She just looked at him and burst out laughing. He joined and soon they were collapsed on the couch in giggles. It felt good, and Hermione gave into the urge to pull him into her arms. He struggled for a moment, but soon hugged her back just as tight.

With a kiss on his head she let him go and stood up. A few tears lingered in the corners of her eyes, and she wiped them away.

"Alright, it's bedtime for old people." She hopped out of the way when Teddy went to smack her arm. "I'm right in guessing you can get yourself to bed. Or do you need to me to tuck you in?"

"Haha, just go to bed old woman, before you pass out." He stuck his tongue out, but curled in on himself when Hermione managed to ruffle his hair.

"Just for that, make sure this is all cleaned up first." She laughed and headed for her room.

"Aww, come on, you said it first!"

"Night, Teddy!" She clicked her bedroom door shut just as a decorative pillow hit it. From just beyond the wood she could hear Teddy holler out his own goodnight, and she smiled.

The room was cold and damp. She could feel the fog around her nipping at her flesh, forming hoarfrost along her cheeks and lashes. She ignored it and continued on. The snow covering the ground made it hard for her to move, not even the thick boots she wore could keep out the cold.

This was the place, she was sure of it. No one had been there in centuries, even if they had she doubted that they would have lived very long. The walls around her were crumbling to the ground, and what roof still remained intact threatened to collapse under the cracking ice. Still, she had to keep moving, not much further she knew, not much further.

The deep, throaty caw of ravens followed her wherever she went. The fluttering of their wings seeming to stir up more snow. She knew they were watching her, but she couldn't care. There ahead of her it stood. A single archway.

It was familiar, she had seen its like once before. But this one was much smaller, only large enough to fit one person through.

She could hear voices the closer she got to it. They whispered in conversation, and it brushed against her from ear to ear. Soon the whispers became screaming as they felt her presence, and they called out for her to free them. But there was only one that she sought from that place.

Leaning against the archway she called out to him, calling his name like a plea. She begged him to hear her, to follow her voice. She would be his salvation, and he hers.

The ravens took flight, circling around her like she was prey. Their cries sounding more like laughter now that they were above her.

From within the archway a single hand emerged, and she grasped it in hope to pull him free. The fingers clapped around her wrist with an iron grip, and with a mighty jerk pulled her forward into darkness.

As the world around her faded away the only sound she could hear was the laughter of the ravens and her own screams.

Hermione jolted awake, her head spinning from how fast she sat up in her bed. She was covered in sweat from head to toe, the morning air chilling her as it hit the moisture. She tried to calm her breathing, but it felt as though water filled her lungs. She knew she was beginning to panic, why else would she feel as though death were moments away.

Laying a hand over her chest, she counted the heart beats she felt there. At first it was fast, fluttering like an angry butterfly. But soon her heart slowed, and with it her breathing. For a moment she sat there just trying to remember what had brought on the attack.

Her dream, it had been something to do with her dream. She tried to reach for the images still lingering behind her eyes. But with each passing breath it grew dimmer and dimmer, until all she could recall was the sound of beating wings.

With the dream beyond her she began to take in the world around her. The light streaming into her window suggested that morning had already come. A glance at her clock confirmed this. Thankfully she hadn't overslept.

The sounds of someone in her kitchen could be heard through her bedroom door. Unlike his godfather, Teddy was a naturally early riser, and whenever he stayed over he would be up even before her. Donning her robe, she left her room and was greeted with the smell of frying bacon. Quietly, she entered the kitchen.

Teddy stood in the middle of the room wearing the frilly apron Molly had gifted her and dancing to 20's music on her old radio. She smiled fondly as he danced his way over to the range. She wished that Remus and Tonks had been there to see their son. She wanted them to see how much he had grown, and what a wonderful man he was becoming.

Their deaths had unexpectedly hit Hermione hard. She hadn't been particularly close to them. But she still counted them among her friends. She oft wondered if they had allowed Remus to come with them when he offered if his death would have been prevented. Perhaps had they allowed for help back then Teddy would have his parents now.

She swallowed back the tears and guilt their memory brought. She didn't have time to dwell on it that morning. Or any morning if she could help it.

"You realize that staying here is not on the condition that you cook?" Not that she was complaining, mind. After the night she had she would have just ended up grabbing something from the cupboard to eat on the run.

Teddy gave an exaggerated shake of his hand, his toes tapping along with the music. It warmed her heart at how comfortable the boy felt around her. He was an outgoing boy, but there was a bit of his father's shyness about him. She had seen it around strangers, but when he was around those he called family it all went out the window.

"I like cooking." He gave her a winning smile, his hair turning a bright, sunny yellow. "And after yesterday, I figured you needed a break before work."

Giving into the urge, Hermione crossed the room and planted a kiss on his forehead. Not that it was easy. Over the course of his last year of school he had grown. Now he was taller than her by almost a head.

While he finished the food, Hermione went to set the small table she had placed in the corner. Her apartment wasn't very big, and she had to create a dining space by removing one of the counters. Still, she loved the little place.

The music continued to play as they tucked into their breakfast. Every now and then Teddy gave a little wiggle in his chair when a catchy song came on. Hermione almost burned her tongue downing the cup of coffee he had prepared for her. She set her cup down a little too hard when a bit of static came across the radio.

Half-formed images from her dream assaulted her. She felt cold, almost deathlike. Phantom hands grasped at her own, their icy fingers threatening to pull her in… as quickly as the feeling came it went. Looking over at Teddy she figured he must not have noticed as he was too busy stuffing eggs into his mouth. She cleared her throat, deciding that it was best to just move on.

"What will you do with yourself while I'm gone?" She didn't figure a teenage boy would like to be cooped up in an apartment all day and thought about flooing Harry to see if he might help out at the shop.

"Ms. Trotter made me promise yesterday that I would be round for tea today. I also have to finish that essay Neville set for the summer on comparing muggle and wizarding herb lore." He shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal. But you could see his distaste for having homework over the summer.

"Professor Longbottom, Teddy. I know he's a family friend, but while you are at Hogwarts he is your teacher." Taking a bite of her toast she thought through what she had in her library. "I have several muggle herbology books if you would like. Have you thought about adding in a few inches on Victorian flower language? There are a lot of good comparisons with their meanings and what we use the flowers for in potions."

"Don't you think that Professor Longbottom would know you helped me if I added that?"

"Believe me, he already expects it. He knows you are staying here." She tossed a piece of toast at him when he rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I'm just giving you pointers, not doing your essay."

"Too bad."

Hermione shook her head. Sometimes she thought he spent way too much time around Ron. At least he didn't actually mean it. Teddy was a very smart boy. He could easily have a future in academics if it wasn't for the fact he loved quidditch so much.

"Just make sure you work on your essay before visiting Ms. Trotter. You know how she likes to talk, you won't get away from there until tonight."

Teddy set down his fork, his hair quickly changing to ginger. Hermione suddenly felt nervous. It was never a good thing when Teddy went Weasley two days in a row.

"Speaking of tonight. You don't plan on coming home early again do you?"

Hermione looked at him strangely, but before she could say anything he continued.

"I'm not up to anything. I'm just worried about you. You always give your best, and this thing at work… I'm just worried about how you are dealing with it." Teddy curled his fingers around Hermione's hand when she reached over to grasp it. He was too young to remember what his godfather had been like when he had worked as an Auror. But he had heard stories, and he worried that Hermione was dealing with the same thing.

"Oh, Teddy." Hermione had a hard time not tearing up at the concern in his voice. "You don't need to worry about me. I'm a big girl, I can handle it."

"I know you are, Aunt Hermione, but it doesn't stop me from worrying."

Sometimes she thought that Teddy was too grown for his own good. When she was around him and he did something sweet or voiced something so kind she often thought of his father. Remus Lupin had been the same way; kind, quiet, and insightful.

"Anyway, I was thinking last night… have you talked to his superior?" Teddy focused on his plate, knowing that his suggestion would probably not be taken well.

"Look, I know you are worried, but I'll handle it."

"But…"

"No, Teddy, you just focus on your essay and enjoying the rest of your summer and I'll worry about my job." Hermione hated to break out the Mom Voice, as Ginny called it, but she couldn't have Teddy trying to take matters into his own hands.

The war was over, and it was no time for children to have such worries. Like Harry and the others, she wanted Teddy to enjoy his youth. She wanted him to be a kid unencumbered by worry. At that moment she understood Molly Weasley better than ever. What she must have felt, seeing her children and their friends dealing with things that were difficult for adults. Right then she had an overwhelming desire to visit Molly and just hold her.

"Fine, but if you don't I'm going to tell Harry."

Hermione rolled her eyes heavenward. Merlin help her.

Throughout the morning Hermione couldn't seem to shake Teddy's words. As she worked to file Snodgrass's paperwork a part of her urged her to go for a visit with Ashby. She didn't doubt that the woman would listen to her. But the biggest part of her kept her rooted to the spot.

When she had been in school she would have had little problem with going to the top. In fact, she had done just that many times. But time changed things and people. She wanted to be able to deal with this on her own.

Why couldn't Snodgrass just listen to her proposal? She slammed a file into the cabinet not even bothering to be quiet. At that moment she didn't care if the whole Ministry knew how angry she was. Of course, that was when Ashby entered the room, her small familiar fluttering about her head.

There was something about the woman that unnerved Hermione. At times she reminded her of Dumbledore, with the way she always seemed to know things. She put it down to being Head of the Department. But sometimes she wondered.

"Hermione, why don't you put down those files and join me for a cup of tea?" Ashby placed a single hand on Hermione's wrist. It wasn't threatening, but gentle and urging.

Hermione knew that although it sounded like a request, it was anything but. Ashby had a way of making her orders sound like suggestions. She figured it was a deliberate tactic in order to gain compliance with little effort. And it always worked.

She followed her boss through to her office. Since she had started in the department Ashby had added a few new items to the room. Now several tinkling chimes hung from the ceiling, swaying in a magical breeze.

Ashby waved a careless wand towards one corner, the simple table quickly adorning itself for tea for two. Hot tea steamed from the china pot, and delicate lace-like biscuits stacked themselves along a platter in the middle of the table.

For several minutes the room was filled with nothing but small talk and gossip. How the weather was, the new shop that had opened in Hogsmeade, who was sleeping with who in the department, and how they thought the Minister would handle the latest international scandal. It was all mundane and terribly boring, and not what she expected Ashby had asked her in for.

It wasn't until they were on their second platter of biscuits that the older woman finally got to the point.

"I want you to know, Hermione, that I have spoken with Snodgrass and everything has been sorted out." She gave a quick, but tense smile to the younger witch. It was obvious by her expression that the encounter had not been pleasant.

Hermione blinked. That had not been what she expected to come out of her boss's mouth. Not that she really knew what to expect, but Snodgrass had not been it.

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean." Alright, that was a bit of a lie. If she had to guess, she would say that Snodgrass had complained about Hermione's constant badgering for a project. And now Ashby would calmly and gently tell her to remain in her place.

Ashby set her cup down and looked Hermione directly in the eyes.

"I did not hire you to file papers or retrieve tea and coffee. I had thought that by assigning Snodgrass to you that he would utilize your talent to the benefit of the department. But it seems that his resentment is more important to him than the welfare of his career." She grabbed the teapot and refilled Hermione's cup and her own before continuing. "You will soon be assigned to a project and be given full access to the department's resources."

For the moment Hermione ignored the bit about resentment, she could think on that later. Right then all she could do was stare at Ashby.

"Oh, do close your mouth. You can't have believed that I would allow this to continue. I knew who you were when I offered you the job. I wanted you working with me for a reason." She once again set her cup down, this time reaching across to take the other witch's hand. "You are a very clever witch, and very talented. The other departments may have ignored your potential, but I won't. You, Hermione, are an Unspeakable, not a maid."

Hermione swallowed back the tears and nodded her head. It didn't matter how Ashby had learned of her problem, all that mattered was that she was finally going to do something. When she left the office, it was with a huge smile and her chin raised.

Her bright mood soon dimmed once she was back to filing papers. Ashby had promised her great things when she had been hired but look what had actually happened. Not just that, but Hermione had a hard time believing that Snodgrass would give her a real project and not just a time waster.

It was close to the end of the day before the man in question showed up. He didn't look happy, in fact he looked as though he had been forced to eat worms for lunch. Kind of like he wanted to throw up at the sight of her.

Instead of unloading his lunch, he tossed a large file at her with a sneer.

"You should be grateful that you get that." He pointed to the file. "I expect you to actually produce results, not just hand in a verbose essay. Remember, this isn't Hogwarts."

He turned and stormed off leaving Hermione gapping at his retreating form.

The file in her hands felt heavy, heavier than it looked. Carefully, almost not believing, she opened the file. Her eyes grew wide as she read down the first page. This was not what she had expected.

Author's Note: I hope everyone is enjoying this so far as I am. Anyway, as you can see I pretty much completely ignored the epilogue and all post book stuff.

Also, I know that Snodgrass is an asshole, but I'm not making a statement about Ravenclaws. I'm a Ravenclaw myself, but sadly each house has their bad-seeds.

Chapter two may be a little longer than a week as I'm not as far into it, but I do have it developed out. So, I just have to actually find the time to write it.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.