She was confused; her mind was in a mess. How could he have done this to her? Did she mean nothing to him now? Was some other witch really more suitable for him than her? Had she been an idiot while she had waited for him, knowing he would probably never be her Harry?
She knew she was wrong and knew that he had hurt him greatly, but she had waited for one more chance, one right opportunity. But it had never come. He had never come.
Sighing in despair as she got into the MOM lift, she received another surprise.
Rita-bleeding-Skeeter.
Hermione made haste to hide her face by bowing her head a bit and letting her damned curls cover her face. But it didn't hide her from Rita Skeeter; instead it attracted her attention.
'Well, well, bushy hair, can this young lady be Hermione Granger?' said Rita with a false smile, as she adjusted her jewelled spectacles for a better view.
Hermione was trying hard not to punch her in the face. Seems like the day is full of surprises for me, she thought as she gave her a glare that nearly broke Skeeter's glasses.
'I've heard that Mr. Potter sent a letter to his girlfriend, earlier this morn..' started Rita, but she was cut off by Hermione.
'One more word about him, one more lie, and I swear to Merlin, I will Avada you myself or better trap your animagus form in some bottle or... well you must've got the idea.' whispered Hermione in such a deadly whisper, that it had Skeeter trembling.
'Oh, no, Ms. Granger, I was merely curious,..' replied Rita who was sweating from Hermione's threat.
'Two words, Skeeter : Get lost. Get it?'
Without even wasting another second, she jumped on whatever floor came when the door to the lift opened, and she was out of Hermione's sight in another.
When Hermione reached Department of Foreign relations, she wondered for a split second if this was really a good idea.
Yes Hermione, it's brilliant, you're brilliant. Don't back down, you can do it, she encouraged herself.
Upon entering the office, she asked the attendant if the head of department was free. As soon as she received an affirmative answer, she opened the door and asked if she could entre.
The HOD, who was sitting on a chair and was busily scribbling on some documents, was startled at her voice. He granted her permission to enter and asked her he reason she was there.
'Sir, I am Hermione Granger. I wish to apply for an International Passport of Apparition.'
'We meet at last, Ms. Granger. I am Neil McLaggen. I'm sure you must've known my younger brother, Cormac? He talked a lot about you, your beauty, and of course your intelligence. I was dieing to meet you.'
Oh crap!
'Oh,yes. I have.'
'Well, so an international passport? They are really dangerous, you know. People get splinched, get to wrong destinations or even sometimes are injured fatally.'
Of course, she knew that. Even while apparating locally, these mishaps could occur. For the sake of Merlin, she wasn't learning Apparition for the first time!
McLaggens have a desire for bragging, even about the petty things, she mused.
'Yes, I do. But you see it is urgently required.'
'When do you want it? These matters have a lot of paperwork.'
'I need it in an hour, it is very urgent. You know some Death eaters are reported to be seen there. Of course, this is official, but I trust that you won't reveal it to anyone, would you.' She said, as she batted her eyelashes at the HOD.
She had him wrapped around her finger, she knew it.
'Of course, I wouldn't. Anything, for a charming young lady.' He replied, grinning from ear to ear as he showed her his yellow teeth.
Ewe, gross! Her parents would have puked at the sight.
'So I'll wait in the veranda...'
'No need, make yourself comfortable here, just fill this up.' He said as he pointed at a form.
After filling the form correctly and making sure that she hadn't left out anything, she handed it back to the HOD, who was, very spookily, watching her all the while she filled the form. McLaggen then called his assistant and ordered to approve of the passport as soon as possible, as it was necessary for confidential reasons.
He then told his assistant to bring some cool Pumpkin juice for them both. After the assistant left and reappeared few minutes later, with juice in his hands and served it to them, and left the room again, McLaggen started, bragging about how good he was at keeping secrets, how everyone felt free to share secret matters with him, how worthy he was of being the minister for magic and etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
He even said that he could have been the boy who lived and defeated He-who-must-not-be-named.
The nerve of some people! Hermione resisted the urge to slap the idiot on his face.
Not even once bothered if she was paying him attention, he went on and on and on. Hermione soon found it difficult to even remain awake in his presence as she caught herself the third time before she fell asleep.
And so, she thanked the assistant a million times in her mind when he appeared again with her passport, thankfully ending her "meeting" with the HOD.
She clutched her passport tighter to herself as she made way to the MOM lifts. After waiting in the crowed lift for about 10 minutes, she was desperate.
Desperate to go to Australia. To find her parents.
As soon as she arrived in the foreign departure department, she took the permission stamp on her passport and apparated away to Australia.
