Living in the Muggle World- Hermione and Ernie

'Right, well I think I'd better be making a move' said Hermione as she rose from the edge of the sofa. She didn't fancy having to stay with Ron and Cho any longer than she needed to, not with Cho in the mood she was.

'Yer, that's a good idea' replied Ron 'and thanks for coming, you will visit again won't you?'

'I expect we'll bump into each other from time to time.' Hermione was picking up her bag, trying to suppress the smile on her face. She made her way to the stairwell just outside the flat and Ron followed. 'I'll see you tomorrow' she whispered. Ron nodded and grinned as he shut the door. Hermione slowly made her way down the steep stairs to the ground floor. Once outside, she snuck a glance up to the fourth floor. Cho's face could be seen watching her out of the window. Hermione smiled cheekily and waved. It was only once she had reached the end of the road and turned the corner that she dared emit the giggle she had been suppressing for so long. Cho's face had been a picture. Ron had been right, she had been extremely jealous. Hermione wanted to hug herself with joy; she had never ever got one over on Cho in her entire life. Cho had been the pretty and popular one, who was good at Quidditch. Hermione was the plain girl who hung around with the Wesley's and Potter and was ridiculously cleaver. And who now was living in the larger house. She, Hermione Granger was. It was fantastic! Ron hadn't minded in the least. He was just so pleased that he didn't have to work for a whole month. Hermione looked both ways, crossed the road and then knocked on the guilted door she stood in-front of. It opened from the inside and in she stepped.

'Where have you been?' demanded Ernie from his armchair by the fireplace. 'I've been home for at least forty-five minutes and you didn't even have the courtesy to ring and say you would be late.'

'Will you please be quiet for a moment, Ernie, I've hardly walked through the door' replied Hermione as she removed her shoes and placed her handbag on the hall table. She saw Ernie eyeing the bag closely and smiled. He couldn't understand what they were for and thought they were a funny invention. She's told him that all Muggle women carried them round and put their purses, and makeup and mobile phones in them. Hermione didn't have a mobile but was planning to go and buy one this afternoon as soon as Ernie had returned to work. As she sat down in the chair adjacent to Ernie, a man in a black suit appeared with a cup of tea. He held it out to her. 'Why thank-you Smith.'

'When would you like lunch to be served Madame?' Hermione looked at the grandfather clock by the door.

'Say, in ten minutes or so. Is that alright with Mrs Ridges, only the master will want to eat before he returns to work, won't you Ernie?'

'I'd have happily eaten nearly an hour ago when I returned' Ernie scoffed. Smith looked down at Ernie and then looked over at Hermione, rolling his eyes

'Ten minutes it will be then.' After Smith had left the room, Hermione turned on Ernie

'Please don't act like that in-front of Smith. It is very inconsiderate. He doesn't want to be caught up in a domestic and it isn't fair to ask him to be. He's only doing his job.

'Well I like that' retorted Ernie 'you who thinks House Elves should all be free and do what they want, yet you happily boos around and give orders to Muggle servants.'

'There is a world of difference if only you would listen when I try to explain. Smith, and Mrs Ridges and Fran the maid are all paid. They all received a good salary and for that money they complete their jobs, which are to look after the family residing in this household. They are used to it and, most importantly, want to do it. There is no one forcing them to stay or do the work. If they were unhappy and wanted to leave, they would be more than free to go. House Elves aren't Ernie, as I'm sure you know only too well, your parents forbidding your elves to leave, unless they find you a replacement.'

'Yes, yes it's all different when it's not the magical world we are talking about. Anything can happen in the Muggle world but not the magical one. Two totally different set of rules. I used to wonder why Hogwarts let Muggles such as you in and then I thought I was being cruel. But now I'm not so sure. I think that may be the only thing the Slytherins ever got correct, keeping the blood pure.' There was a stunned silence broken only by the ticking of the grandfather clock. Hermione stood up, shaking

'In all my life I have never heard such insults. I didn't think that you could even think like that, let alone speak it aloud. You have been very cruel, to me and all other Muggles. You are branding us and it is not right and I will not stand for it.' She started to move towards the door. 'I hope that you will think about what you have just said and see the errors with it. Unfortunately I cannot dine with you; I can hardly look at you. I hope your afternoons work isn't too stressful.' And with that she left the drawing room.

Ernie sat at the dining table, thinking hard. How had that just happened? The argument had spiralled out of control and he hadn't meant it to. He had only been annoyed because Hermione's morning work ended at half past twelve and she hadn't returned home till nearly half one. And she hadn't taken the car- she'd walked. It was because he had been hungry and tired. Yes that was it, purely because his stomach has been empty. He hadn't meant anything of the things he had said. And he felt better now, with a sizable piece of steak in his stomach and a large slice of chocolate cake. Ernie signalled for Smith to take his plate away and sat back, wiping his mouth. He really owed all this to Hermione anyway. The house, the service they got here, the car, all was down to Hermione. Well, her job at any rate.

Hermione was a scientist. But not just any scientist. A very intellectual and influential one. She was so good at what she did that she only had to be in the labs in the morning, monitoring the people she employed and checking that any research wasn't going horribly wrong. The afternoons were to spend however she needed to. That could be doing extensive research at the libraries, talking to other scientists, writing reports for magazines, writing a book, giving lectures, whatever she wanted to do and whatever people wanted her for. And her success meant that Ernie could happily work whatever hours he wanted in his job, as a taxi-driver. Yes he Ernie McMillan was a black cab driver around London. When he'd first found out that that was what his job was Ernie had been very annoyed. A taxi driver. Was that all the school thought him capable of? But, after the first morning, he discovered that it was actually quite fun. You got to talk a lot about, a whole variety of subjects to the passengers; you could try out all these different routes to places and see the sites while you were at it. He had wondered what it was that Snape had put in him at school. When he'd gone to hand his magic in, Snape had poured some liquid over his head, saying it was skills for his career. Looking back, it must have been, the knowledge of how to drive a Muggle car, as well as knowledge of all the London roads for he always seemed to know where he was going.

Before he set out on his afternoon's work, Ernie popped upstairs to Hermione's bedroom. The door was locked. He knocked. 'Hermione, it's me Ernie. Look, I'm really sorry about what I said earlier, I was completely out of order and I really really regret it. I don't think things like that and I've never spoken like that. I was annoyed at you being late and I shouldn't have been. It won't ever happen again, I promise. Hermione, Is that ok?' he heard a key scrape in the lock and Hermione's door opened a little.

'Yes, that's fine Ernie. I'm sorry I lost my temper too. I'll try to control it.' Ernie turned to go. 'By the way, before I forget Ernie, I've invited some of our friends over tomorrow for drinks and a buffet in the evening. I hope that is ok?'

'What a wonderful idea, we can show off our house to everyone. She them what a talented brain like yours can achieve. What dress code did you give?

'I don't think I said. Why, should I have told them what to wear?'

'Only whether it will be a formal or informal occasion.'

'Ok, informal it is.'

'But according to the etiquette and mannerisms handbook most evening events are to have a dress code of formal attire.'

'In that case, formal it is!'

The following evening was a warm one. Hermione was walking through the house one more time, to ensure that everything was in order. She wanted the evening to be a success, especially as she's heard a rumour while at Hogwarts, that any events such as these would contain at least one teacher incognito, examining you. After Ernie had decided that the evening should be a formal one, Hermione had spent the afternoon making phone calls to hairdresser's manicurists and dress boutiques. She then spent the following afternoon at all of these places and she was quite pleased with the result. She was kitted out in a knee-length strapless green dress. It had detailed decoration all along the top and the bottom was slightly ruffled. Her hair was pulled back by hair grips and cascaded down her back. The hairdresser had made it poker straight by using hair-straightners and the result was amazing. The shoes she had one were quite high and difficult to walk in, but so worth it. She heard the doorbell go. Ernie appeared at the top of the stairs, wearing a rented dinner suit. Together they made their way to the front door and waited while Smith opened it.

Reluctant though she was, Hermione had to admit that she was enjoying herself. The party seemed to be going well. At least, the food was being eaten and people were talking and laughing away. And everyone looked so glamorous. All the men in their matching dinner suits looked sweet, like a line of penguins. The girls dresses varied greatly, but all looked sophisticated.

Katie was wearing a close fitting, thigh length, violet, halter-neck dress. With her hair all curly and flat shoes she really looked like she's been to these sorts of parties her entire life and was simply going slightly casual to this particular one, but still oozing class. Luna Lovegood had arrived with her partner Seamus and even she looked well presented. She'd gone for a black dress that covered down to her calves and most of her arms but it suited her frame. Parvati and Dean had arrived and the pair of them looked like a couple of celebrities. Parvati had a floor length sky blue gown on and white gloves but she walked with such elegance and confidence that she stole the limelight away from all, except from one. Ginny.

Ginny and Neville had arrived late. Neville's car had broken down enroute but when they finally appeared, they made an entrance and a half. Ginny, was dressed in a floor length dress. But it wasn't plain like everyone else's. It was made out of patterned material with many holes that was sewn over a red silk. It was strapless and a very close fitting dress from the bodice all the way down the legs but when it reached the floor, it suddenly fanned out in a circle but somehow didn't flop onto the floor. You could see the toes of her red glittetering shoes and they perfectly matched the earning, necklace and bracelet she was wearing. Her hair had been scooped up onto the top of her head, adding several inches to her height and a few loose curls tickled her neck. But what made the couple look so breathtaking were their facial appearances. Neville and Ginny were holding hands and both wore smiles so wide, they stretched across the entire face.

Throughout the evening they barely left each others side, only to go to the toilet or to get a re-fill for the other. Hermione thought it was adorable. And she told Ron this.

'Humph' came the reply but Hermione knew why. Cho had come with him to the party. When Hermione had told him the day before he'd planned to go alone and have some time away. This hadn't gone according to plan for although Cho was extremely jealous of Hermione and her house, she wasn't going to let this prevent her from having an evening out! And right now she was talking animatedly to anyone who would listen to her about her career on the stage. She also appeared to have drunk quite a bit. Hermione leant in closer

'Would you like to take her home?'

'No, let her make a fool of herself if she wants. I can't wait to see people's faces when they find out what her real job is.' Ron laughed but stopped when he saw Hermione's agitated face. 'You want her to go don't you- in-case it affects your score?' Hermione nodded guiltily. 'Alright then, but you owe me.' Ron made his way over to where Cho was. 'Hey Cho I think we'd better make a move. You've got an early start tomorrow and you need your beauty sleep.'

'No I don't. I'm staying here for a good night out, something you never give me.'

'Now come on Cho, I think it's best.' Ron looked round for support and found that Harry had joined him.

'I think it's a good idea Cho, Katie and I will be making a move too, same reasons you know.'

'NO!' shouted Cho. 'I'm going to stay here.' Ron made to take hr hand but she pulled away 'get OFF me. I'm not leaving no, no, no.' as she pulled away from Rons outstretched hand, Cho tripped over the train of Parvati's dress and stumbled. As she fell backwards, she hi her head on the buffet table. Ron leapt to catch her but wasn't quick enough and Cho fell right into the plates of food and onto the floor.