Just a few minutes after nine o'clock in the morning, Harry heard the familiar rap on the window of a Prophet owl. Harry groggily stood, made his way to the window where he paid the bird for the paper.

Mildly terrified of what he might see, Harry slowly flipped the paper over and was greeted with a side-by-side photograph of Amos Diggory and Hermione herself. Looking down, Harry noticed the article and began to read:

DIGGORY WINS CLOSE ELECTION
GRANGER STUMBLES INTO THIRD PLACE

BY PANSY PARKINSON

Less than twenty-four hours ago, the second ever public election for the office of Minister of Magic was held. Four years ago, we were surprised when dark horse candidate Amos Diggory rose to the top after only two rounds of voting calculation.

This year, we were treated to no such surprise. As had been expected for months, Minister of Magic Diggory has once again won the right to act as our Minister of Magic. However, while the winner of the election is a surprise to none, the outcome of the second, third and fourth place finishers are much more of a shock.

During the last election, Tiberius Ogden had been one of the prime candidates. In fact, most Ministry officials considered him to be the frontrunner for the position. In the aftermath of his first loss to Minister Diggory, Ogden had returned to his post as the head of the Wizengamot and worked efficiently, if not spectacularly, for the next four years. For Ogden to finish a very distant fourth in the race is a sure sign that his age has scared off potential voters, meaning that his time in the political spotlight may be at its end.

Our second place finisher, Samantha Lyman, was considered, by most, to be a surefire candidate for last place. Having only worked within the Ministry for a period of three years, Lyman was a political outsider. However, her campaign focused almost entirely on aggressively pointing out the failings of Amos Diggory. From the outset, she rarely mentioned the other two candidates at all. It was a strategy that nearly worked as Minister Diggory won this election by a much smaller margin than his previous victory.

But at the end of the day, the most important question lingers: What happened to Hermione Granger? Four years ago, Granger would have likely been elected without a true challenge. However, not only did Granger not win, she fell to a lowly third place finishes behind a Junior Department Head and a vulnerable incumbent.

Ultimately, the decision by Granger and her campaign team to avoid critiquing the policies and proposals of the other candidates was likely her greatest failing. Regardless of the esteem she is held in, Granger seemed like someone who was just happy to be considered rather than someone who would have gone to any length to win.

Harry couldn't help but growl at the commentary for a couple of reasons. The fact that it was written by a clearly smug Pansy Parkinson hadn't helped.

But the fact that it was likely true also hurt. He had been adamant from the beginning that Hermione had needed to go on the offensive against a group of candidates that were weaker than her. Unfortunately, she had disagreed and Harry had agreed not to bring the topic up again.

Harry was just about ready to set the paper down when a small byline at the bottom of the page caught his eye.

MINISTRY OFFICIAL FOUND DEAD

BY EDWARD SNOW

Elena King, 44, was found dead in her apartment last evening around ten o'clock. According to the Auror Office, there was nothing to indicate any cause of death, leading them to believe that she was murdered using the Killing Curse. Unnamed sources, however, state that her home appeared to have a single set of runes carved into the floor next to her body. When asked, Head Auror Kathryn Downey refused to comment on the matter and directed all further inquiry to the Auror Information desk.

King worked at the administrative offices at the Ministry of Magic under the Department of Magical Education, serving as a personal aide to the Deputy Head of the department, Samantha Lyman. Lyman was unavailable to be reached for comment before the publishing of this story.

If you have any potential information on the situation, please contact the Auror Information Desk or the Daily Prophet.

"Good morning."

Instantly, Harry dropped the paper and turned to see that Hermione was not only awake, but dressed and ready for work.

"G'morning." Harry shot back nervously. "Where are you going?"

"The office." Hermione replied. "I've let some things slide in the last couple of weeks."

"Hermione, it's Saturday. Stay in, relax for a bit."

"Why?"

"Hermione…."

"No, please explain to me, Harry. Please explain to me why I should stay in the house and not go to work."

"You've been working hard. You just need to take some time for yourself."

"Take some time for myself?" Hermione said, her voice unnaturally dark. "Is someone else going to do my work?"

"Hermione-"

"Harry, I lost." Hermione said bluntly. "Guess what? The world doesn't stop spinning because I lost an election. If I don't go do my job, then Amos is just going to appoint one of his friends to do my job. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement is the most important department in the entire Ministry."

"I know it is." Harry said, already starting to verbally backtrack. However, it was too late for that.

"We both know that I am great at my job, Harry. I help people. I meet with other people who can get things done. If you put someone else in my position, especially someone appointed by Diggory, who knows what will happen!?"

"Hermione, I get it." Harry said calmly, trying his best to keep Hermione calm.

"Then why would you ask me to stay home? Why would you think for a minute that I would want that?"

"I thought that maybe you would want to talk. We never did get to speak last night after the event. You hardly said three words to me after the announcement."

"We can talk later. I have work to do."

Hermione made her way to the door before she stopped and turned back to Harry. Her expression had changed entirely. Instead of the hard and defensive look she had worn moments earlier, she was now smiling, a beacon of warmth and love.

She stepped over to Harry and kissed him softly on the cheek.

"We'll talk tonight, ok?"

"Alright." Harry said sadly.

"I know that you're looking out for me and I appreciate it. But I have a meeting with Diggory today and I need to be at my best."

"That's understandable." Harry replied. "What's the meeting about?"

"I'm fairly certain he's going to offer me a job."

"You already have a job."

"Yes."

"A very good job." Harry added.

"Yes."

"What job could you possibly want that…." Suddenly, it hit him. "You think he's going to offer you a job as Senior Undersecretary."

"I do."

"What happened to Gordon?"

Up until the day of the election, Richard Gordon had acted as Senior Undersecretary.

"Richard's wife has been sick for months and apparently, the prognosis isn't good."

"That's terrible." Harry whispered.

"He told Diggory several days ago that he was resigning regardless of who won the election."

"Why would he offer the position to you? The results of the election be damned, you're still his main political rival."

"I'm not certain but if I had to bet, he thinks that having me as Senior Undersecretary would make me seem subservient. If he wants one go at this before his ten year limit is up, he's going to need every advantage he can get. Making me his Senior Undersecretary works in every way for him."

"How so?"

"He looks like he's mending fences, first off. Anything that I accomplish can be attributed to him since the Senior Undersecretary is first and foremost an ambassador for the Minister."

"That means he'll get to take credit for everything you do."

"He would." Hermione admitted.

"Will you take the job if he offers it to you?"

Hermione looked more conflicted in that moment that Harry could remember seeing her. On one hand, it's the second highest position in the country. On the other, she would be working as the indentured servant to a man that she could barely stand and definitely didn't respect.

"I'm not sure." Hermione said before altering the direction of the conversation. "What's your plan for the day?"

"Minerva and I are meeting to go over the candidates for our last vacancy."

"The Arithmancy position?"

"Yes." Harry said with a grimace. "Ever since Septima retired in June, we've had a hell of a time finding someone for the position. I've even started petitioning experts from the continent to take the position on a temporary basis."

"Well, I'm sure you'll find someone for the position."

"I know we will eventually. I'm just not sure that we know where to look."

"If you need any help, I can talk to Samantha."

"Samantha Lyman?"

"I have no problems with Samantha. If I had known from the beginning that she would have beaten me, I would have pledged my support for her. She's very good at her job and highly intelligent."

"If you say so. I barely know her."

"I do say so." Hermione said with a smirk. "Find your professor, alright?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And stop calling me ma'am." Hermione said as she rolled her eyes.

"Of course, ma'am."

"You're lucky I don't hex you for that cheek."

"I'm well aware."

"Have a good day, Harry."

"You too, 'Mione."

As Harry stood and looked out the window of his office, he couldn't help but think that this was the kind of summer day that, in years past, he would have spent all day flying. Now, he was stuck in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts, still unofficially his, preparing for his meeting with the Governors meeting the next day.

"I still think we need to confirm the post before the meeting tomorrow." Minerva said firmly as Harry paced the room. "The governors are upset about this transition."

"Can you explain that to me?" Harry asked, the question he had been begging to ask finally exploding out of his mouth. "Five years ago when you hired me, my contract included a clause that would allow me to become the next Headmaster upon your retirement, did it not?"

"It did."

"Then how can they be upset? They approve all of the contracts that the Headmaster signs."

"Yes but I don't think they ever expected you to stay this long. I can only assume that they believed that you would be dragged back into the Auror corps or that some external threat would have taken you away from the school."

"Or that I would have gotten bored." Harry added.

"Any of those options would have worked for them." Minerva agreed. "They agreed to the contract because it got you back to the school. You were a qualified teacher and a high profile one who could help the school recover after the damage left by Riddle."

"They never had any intention of letting me become Headmaster."

"Not without a fight." Minerva replied. "If we are well prepared for tomorrow's meeting, then it should be fine. But if you slip even once in that meeting, they'll call for an injunction."

"That will do what?"

"It will suspend your appointment until an independent party can review your plans and settle the dispute."

"How long could that take?" Harry asked as he dropped into the Headmaster's chair.

"Up to three months. They would appoint a temporary Headmaster in the meantime and likely push for them to take the position instead."

"What are the odds of all this happening?" Harry thought aloud.

"Low." Minerva said, allowing Harry to breath deeply for the first time in awhile. "They ultimately know that the press would dog them for going against you so aggressively. However, the Governors are not known for allowing the school to be run without them, even without Lucius Malfoy there to push them around."

"Then let's review the staff list again." Harry said as he pulled the list they had in front of them. "Potions is still Angelina."

"Of course." Minerva replied, taking note of their list. "Gemma is still returning?"

"I had to convince her but yes, she will be back."

"How did you convince her?"

"I promised her a pay bump and guaranteed that she wouldn't have to work on weekends anymore."

"The other staff won't like that."

"She's the longest tenured staff member not named McGonagall, they'll understand." Harry replied coldly. "Defense will be Padma Patil."

"You've confirmed that?"

"She told me two days ago." Harry confirmed. "I was fairly certain that she would take the job, I was just waiting for the actual confirmation."

"Understandable. Gemma's return was probably helpful."

"I'm not certain. I try and stay away from social gossip, especially between possible romantic connections between the staff."

"Getting a head start on ignoring these things?"

"No, I just couldn't be bothered to care." Harry said with a dry smirk. "Sarah remains as Charms professor as does Neville for Herbology."

"Good. What about Astronomy?"

"Susan Bones." Harry said without looking up from his paper.

"Susan Bones? Your classmate?"

"She was a Hufflepuff in my year, yes." Harry replied, finally looking up. "Why?"

"The fact that you seem to be hiring a number of people that you were in school with is something that the Governors may latch onto."

"Why?"

"They'll say you're biased."

"I am biased."

"Please don't repeat that in front of the Governors."

"Obviously." Harry said with a dramatic roll of his eyes. "But I am biased. The fact that I am less of a public figured hasn't changed the fact that I am still a target to some. I need to know that my staff will follow my every direction. So, they need to be qualified and willing to protect the students at any cost, even if it means betraying me."

"I understand, Harry." Minerva replied. "I didn't mean that I disapproved."

"Belby will be back as Flying Instructor."

"As expected."

"History of Magic." Harry said with a look at Minerva.

"What about it?"

"I haven't filled it yet."

"You would like me to keep teaching it?"

"There's no one interested." Harry bemoaned softly. "I'm having trouble filling the Arithmancy post but not for a lack of candidates, just qualified ones. But I have been able to find not a single person who will take the History position."

For a moment, Harry thought that Minerva might turn him down. However, after taking a few seconds, she closed her eyes and nodded.

"If you find no one else."

"Good." Harry replied, marking down her confirmation. "Luna is staying for Magical Creatures as is Dennis in Muggle Studies. Now, the big catch: Bill Weasley."

"You convinced him?"

Harry couldn't help but smile. "He'll be arriving tomorrow after the meeting to iron out the final details to take the Runes position."

"That's a coup, Harry. We've never had someone that qualified teaching the subject at this school."

"That's because there hasn't been someone as qualified as Bill Weasley in centuries. Hell, the goblins trust him like one of their own."

"I'm excited just at the thought." Minerva replied before noticing the next subject on the list. "Did you speak to her?"

"Divination will be on the slate this year once more with Sybil Trelawney at the helm."

"Good god." Minerva grumbled.

"She's the real deal, Minerva." Harry countered. "Plus, it's going to be a different kind of course. Much like the Auror course I am creating, it will be limited to a select group of students who show potential aptitude."

"Certainly a better position than what we had before." Minerva replied before noticing the one spot left on the list. "Arithmancy?"

"I've met with nearly a dozen candidates." Harry said with a sigh as he collapsed into his chair. "Some just interested in speaking with me, others interested in the position but woefully underqualified. One of them didn't even take the course but had simply done some reading, I knew more about the subject than they did."

"There is one option that you haven't explored." Minerva said with a tone of caution in her voice.

"Really? It seems like I've looked everywhere for someone."

"You haven't look in your own house."

"Sure I have." Harry replied. "In fact, I interviewed four separate Gryffindors. They just weren't very good."

"Not exactly what I meant." Minerva said, this time more deliberately. "I meant your house, your home."

"My home?" Harry said as her meaning suddenly dawned on him. "Hermione? You think I should ask Hermione?"

"I do."

"Why?" Harry asked sharply.

"Because she's one of the most gifted students of the subject this school has ever seen. Because above any student that I have ever taught, Ms. Granger is suited to teach and encourage discovery, a fundamental aspect of the study of arithmancy. Finally, I believe that her time at the Ministry is about to come to an end."

"How do you know that?" Harry asked in concern.

"I have friends within the Ministry, Harry." Minerva said, a conspiratorial tone to her voice. "I am sure that you know that Amos intends to offer Hermione the position of Senior Undersecretary."

"I do."

"If she doesn't take it, she will be removed from her position entirely. Amos has apparently already been calling in potential candidates."

"Can he do that?"

"Technically, no; but it's obviously not stopping him." Minerva explained. "Do you think that Ms. Granger will take the job?"

"No." Harry said confidently. "She knows that it's Amos' way of putting her on a leash. He's destroying any chance she has of becoming Minister someday."

"Then it's also likely that she is going to be unemployed regardless. Why not offer her the opportunity to come back to Hogwarts?"

The thought was certainly enticing. Hermione would be the most qualified person to teach just about every subject at Hogwarts but Arithmancy had been where she had really put her stake during her time at Hogwarts. Still, the thought of asking his girlfriend to work for him was something that made him uneasy.

Unfortunately, Harry didn't have much time to think about it. Just as the words were out of Minerva's mouth, his fireplace suddenly lit up with the face of Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Enter." Harry ordered the fireplace. The second the word was out of his mouth, Minerva stood and slipped out of the room as Kingsley entered through his fireplace.

"Kingsley." Harry said as he greeted the former Minister of Magic with a handshake. "What can I do for you?"

"I come with a message from Kathryn Downey." Kingsley said as he sat across from Harry.

"Why can't Kathryn come to me personally?"

"Because she can't officially bring this information to you." Kingsley informed him, causing Harry's ears to perk up. "Have you seen the paper this morning?"

"Seriously?"

"Fair point." Kingsley said with a smirk. "Did you see the bit about the Ministry official who died at home?"

"I did." Harry said cautiously.

"The Prophet only got a small part of that story. There's more to it."

"How much more?"

"You tell me." Kingsley said as he laid a photo on the desk. Instantly, the photo showed him something that Harry never thought he would see again.

Carved into the floor just above what was obviously Elena King's corpse was a single rune.

Only, as Hermione Granger had discovered, it was no rune: it was the mark of the Deathly Hallows.

Looking up, Harry saw a look of fear on Kingsley's face.

"Tell me everything."

In the aftermath of Draco Malfoy's attack on the Ministry, one large change had been made. Now, the Ministry was no longer one single building hidden within the bowels of Muggle London. Instead, the Ministry had taken its massive wealth and purchased a number of locations around the country. While the original Ministry building was still in use, nearly half of its former inhabitants were now located somewhere else.

The largest of these buildings was simply referred to as The Tower. Originally, the building had been a long forgotten precursor to Azkaban. Now, it held the executive offices of the Minister of Magic and the entirety of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Instead of operating from one of the largest power centers of all Europe, the head of the Ministry now operated from a seaside tower in the very north of Scotland, a well-hidden and private location.

However, that didn't mean that the Ministry had dwindled their desire for spectacle. In fact, the new Ministry building could easily be described using one word: opulent. Gold and silver lined nearly everything in the new Atrium with a replicated version of the fountain from the original Ministry building at its center. However, this version of the fountain and its statue was made entirely of glass, allowing the gold and silver around it to reflect through its translucent frame, creating a light show during the day and an eerie sense in the evening.

This also extended to the office of the Minister himself. Instead of a rather small and subtle office that had been traditional of the Minister, Amos Diggory had instead elected for a massive office. In fact, Hermione was relatively certain that the entirety of the first floor of the Burrow could have fit instead of the room several times over.

It was clear that as the first Minister to preside over this new facility that Diggory himself had been in control of much of the design. Within his own office, dark woods were accented by an overabundance of gold lining, even on the bookshelves that were built into the wall behind his massive glass desk, mirroring the same effect that could be found in the Atrium.

Diggory himself had changed much since her first experience with him. Back in her fourth year, he had seemed a fairly charming and jovial man, watching the Quidditch World Cup Final with his son.

Then, Cedric had died. In the years that had followed, it was clear to those around him that Amos had never truly gotten over Cedric's death. While he had continued working and going on with his live, he had initially seemed frail and delicate. Just after the death of Albus Dumbledore, that had changed. Almost overnight, Amos turned into a shrewd and cold politician. He had been one of the few to outright leave the Ministry when Voldemort's coup had taken place.

Now, Diggory's goal in life was clear: he wanted no one to endure the suffering that he had been forced to live with. With his wife dying just a year after Voldemort's demise, Amos Diggory now lived alone in a world devoid of a true dark presence for the first time in nearly a century. If Diggory had been any less cruel, Hermione may have felt bad for him. As it was, Diggory's hard nature and generally poor disposition meant that she rarely wanted anything to do with him.

Unfortunately for Hermione, no one turns down a meeting with the Minister of Magic, even when you know exactly why you've been called there.

Her only shock was to see Tiberius Ogden present at the meeting as well. After a few pleasantries, Diggory invited them both to sit and began.

"Now, I imagine you both have some idea why you're here."

"Richard Gordon has stepped down." Tiberius replied firmly. "You'll be needing a new Undersecretary."

"Too right." Diggory replied, feigning a joy that Hermione knew was a front. Gordon had been Diggory's right hand man for years. Losing him now as his grasp of the Ministry was starting to loosen couldn't be easy for him.

"With Richard leaving, I felt it was time for a shakeup within the Ministry."

"What kind of shakeup?" Hermione asked bluntly.

"Personnel." Diggory answered. "I've already moved around several mid-level employees to shake things up. However, I would really like to shake up the top."

"What were you thinking, Amos?" Tiberius asked suspiciously.

"My plan is this, Tiberius. I would like you to take over as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"Ms. Granger is the head of that department." Tiberius shot back.

"For now." Amos said before turning to her. "I would like you to take over as Junior Undersecretary."

For a moment, Hermione's mind blanked. When she finally realized that she was simply sitting in silence, she cleared her throat and spoke up, her voice barely operating.

"Junior Undersecretary?"

"Charles Hope will be my Senior Undersecretary." Diggory replied plainly. "Hope is currently the Junior Undersecretary and deserves the promotion."

"If you say so." Hermione replied, doing her best to bite her tongue.

"Plus, let's face it Hermione, you did your best work while you were Junior Undersecretary. The work that you did for Kingsley was magnificent."

"Are you implying something about my current work, Minister?"

"Of course not." Diggory snapped back. "You have done fine work as a Department Head but ultimately, you are a lawmaker. It's your prime skill and it's being wasted in your current position."

"May I ask you a question?" Hermione asked suddenly.

"Certainly." Diggory replied through gritted teeth.

"Would you consider this change to be a promotion for me?"

"Well, Ms. Granger-"

When it was clear that Diggory wasn't going to answer straight, Hermione immediately jumped down his throat.

"Yes or no, Amos." Hermione snapped. "It was a simple question and it deserves a simple answer."

"Remember to whom you are speaking, Ms. Granger." Diggory growled, standing slightly so that he could lean over his desk. "You may be sore over the results of our election but that does not give you the right-"

"Spare me the lecture, Diggory." Hermione said, cutting him off in the middle of his grandstanding. "We both know that we don't like each other. I'm not interested in working with you if it's not needed. Unfortunately, it is needed so I will for the time being."

"I am grateful for that." Diggory grumbled softly.

"But," Hermione said, not quite done with the Minister. "You would do well not to forget who you are speaking to, Amos."

"And who is that?"

"One of the two people in this country that can turn the media on you in an instant."

"Is that a threat, Granger?

"Not at all." Hermione said with a grim smile plastered on her face. "Just a reminder."

"Like I need one."

"You seem to. You forget that by even offering me this position, you've put me in an impossible position...and by extension, you."

"How is that?"

"If I take this job, you are going to be looked at as the moron who demoted Hermione Granger."

"This is not a dem-"

"Spin it however you want but you know that you will lose that battle. That's the problem with free elections, isn't it? You don't own the media anymore. But, the worst case scenario for you is if I flat out turn you down."

"You wouldn't." Diggory replied, finally smiling. "The Ministry is your life. Ever since you and Potter and the Weasley boy finished galavanting across the country pretending to be heroes, you've lived for the Ministry. It is your life. I know it, you know it. Don't pretend to think that you are going to walk away."

At that, Hermione couldn't help but let out a small laugh. As she stood and collected her things, she pulled out her Department Head badge and set it on Diggory's desk.

"Let Tiberius have the job but find yourself some other schmuck to be your Junior Undersecretary."

"You're bluffing." Diggory said uncertainly.

"I'm not." Hermione said coldly. "Spin this however you want but you knew that offering me this position meant either forcing me to work in your corner, something I couldn't morally do, or walk away, something you thought I would never do. You made one mistake in that line of thinking, however."

"Do enlighten me."

"You thought that the Ministry was my life." Hermione said softly. "But my life has been the same since I was five years old and put up posters from my neighbor's missing cat. My life has been dedicated to helping people, Amos, something you seem entirely incapable of doing anymore. Somewhere in time, you lost yourself to this crude monster you've become."

"I will not tolerate this kind of talk in my own office, Granger!" Diggory finally exploded, standing and pounding on his desk as he yelled.

"I was here to help people. Now, I'll have to find some other way of doing that." Hermione said sadly as she moved to the door. She had intended to leave but just as she opened the door, a thought popped into her head.

Turning back to Amos Diggory, Hermione spoke, knowing that her words would cut deep but hoping they would eventually do more help than harm.

"Cedric would be disappointed in the man you've become."

Whatever reaction Hermione had expected, silence was not one. Instead of doing anything, Amos simply allowed his hands to drop to his side at the mention of his son. Once again, Hermione nearly felt sorry for him. But then she remembered that this man had cared for people at one point.

Now, it was clear that he only cared for himself.

Slowly, Hermione stepped out of the door, leaving Tiberius in the room with a clearly occupied Amos Diggory. Once the door was closed, Hermione walked away, free from the Ministry for the first time in her adult life and completely unsure of what the future held for her for only the second time in her life.

The last time? She had been eleven about to board a train to a school of magic.