An Unconventional Fairytale: Moving Forward, Stepping Back

"Dinner was delicious, Sweetheart, as usual." Margot Granger stood in the entry to her daughter's small galley kitchen as Hermione swished her wand around to set the plates to washing.

"Thanks, Mum." Hermione had been somber all evening, despite the good news she had shared.

Walking over to her, Margot held Hermione's shoulders to turn her. "Time to confess; what is wrong?"

"What? Nothing?"

Margot knew for a fact that Hermione could lie with the best of them. Unless some part of her really wanted to talk about whatever was troubling her- then it was written so plainly across her face it was a wonder she bothered going through the motions.

"Hermione, I'm your mother. Don't tell me nothing is wrong when something clearly is." Margot habitually pushed a strand of her daughter's hair behind her ear. "I thought you'd be more excited- Head Girl. It's what you always wanted."

A small smile brightened Hermione's face. "I know. It is... or was. I don't know, I thought I'd be more excited as well. And, I am happy about it, it's just…" She looked to some distant place, searching for the words.

"You're torn, between still being a student and moving into adulthood."

Hermione looked back, relieved that someone had found the words. "Yes."

Stroking her hair again, Margot sympathized. "It's perfectly natural, Sweetheart. Here you are, at the beginning of an adult life- Ministry job, living with your boyfriend- but you're going back to your childhood school again, without said boyfriend. It feels like going backwards."

"Now that you've said it, yes, that's exactly how it feels." Hermione worried her lower lip in that way that always caught Ron's eye. "I keep thinking about that Exemption letter."

That caught Margot's attention. "You're thinking of not going back?"

Shaking her head, Hermione turned to the now clean plates and set them drying. "I don't know. Sometimes. But, I really want to finish. I want to take my N.E.W.T.s."

"And Ron will be gone for eight months as well. At least at Hogwarts you'll be distracted- it will help the time go by quicker. Unless you think a position has opened at the Ministry and you can go back."

Margot watched Hermione stiffen, turning her face down to hide it behind her hair. "I don't think that's an option, right now."

Concern creased Margot's brow. "Why is that?"

"Well, I didn't want to say before our trip to Paris, but… the funding didn't run out. I'd been sacked."

Margot looked up as if she'd been slapped. "What? But, why? On what grounds?"

Hermione turned back to her mother, but still looked at her toes. "It's not entirely clear, but from what I can gather, my boss, Mr. Stockade, had been complacent over the last year- kept his head down. Now, he's afraid of being accused of neglecting his duties and is trying very hard to be ignored. So my going through the old files and finding problems was drawing too much attention."

Her voice was still indignant. "But wasn't that your job?"

"Yes, but I apparently I wasn't supposed to actually do it."

"But, that's preposterous! Have you spoken to someone above him? You know the minister, correct?"

Hermione seemed bolstered by her mother's support and stood a little taller. "No, I didn't and yes, I do. Honestly, I didn't say anything at this point since it's so close to September anyway. I was only a clerk; I didn't want to jeopardize any chance to returning by rocking the boat." She pulled back her shoulders and took a deep breath. "Ron put it best: I'll get my N.E.W.T.s and go back with more experience and credentials. At that point, if Stockade is still there, I'll go to Minister Shacklebolt and ask for a fair interview to become a full employee. Then I'll be in a better position to 'rock the boat'.

Still reeling from her daughter's revelation, Margot shook her head to clear it. "I agree with Ron about going to the Minister for a fair interview. And the 'rocking the boat' part," she added with a wink.

Hermione blushed and quirked her lips, "Ron called it 'almighty righteousness'."

Eyes opening wide, Margot threw her head back. "Ha! Well put. Been on the receiving end once or twice then, has he?"

A chuckle finally broke through Hermione's ennui. "On occasion."

"And he keeps coming back for more." Margot squeezed Hermione's shoulder. "You're very lucky, you know- to have found your match so young."

"Even when he drives me mad?"

"Especially then!" Stroking her hair again, Margot asked, "Out of curiosity, have you talked about it?"

Hermione's brow lifted. "It?"

"Getting married?"

"Oh." The blush crept from Hermione neck to her hairline. "Well, not as such. We haven't actually said," whispering, "marriage. But we do talk about the future and wanting to spend it together." Hermione laughed at a memory. "Some time ago Ron asked if he should have asked, you know, gotten a ring- if I had been waiting and he was slipping up."

"What did you tell him?"

"No. Well, not yet. That it would feel strange to be a student, wearing a ring. It's already going to be strange enough. So I asked him to wait. He said that was his same thought, but he didn't want to be messing up and not know it."

Mother and daughter shared a laugh. "Probably a safe call on his part. So, someday then?"

Hermione's blush had just started receding when it came back. "Yes. Someday. You don't think… we're not rushing…"

"Oh goodness, no!" Margot shook her head. "Sweetheart, I've said it before; I don't think you're rushing anything." She leaned into Hermione to whisper, "In fact, it was shortly before our weekend visit to his family's home- your father was having one of his 'moments' over his little girl and I told him then Ron would be his son-in-law someday."

Hermione's eyes widened with a sharp intake of breath. "How did dad react? I know he's been a bit slow to adjust to it all."

Margot waved it off. "Oh, the wind slipped from his sails and he conceded I was right. You know, he does like Ron, very much. It did take him a while, but he's come around to his little girl growing up and becoming a woman."

"Yes, we talked about it." She gave her mother a shy smile. "I know it hasn't been easy- on either of you. I'm just worried about us growing apart- even more so once I finish school and start a career. I'll be immersed in the Magical world even further- I'm afraid we'll have less and less in common to talk about."

Margot grasped Hermione's arms. "All the more reason to keep up our weekly dinners- so we can keep up on each other's lives. You may have elves and dragons and spells, but when you distill it down- Magical or Muggle- we all have the same issues and concerns. I know I'm not going to let semantics stop me wanting to know what my daughter is up to."

Pulling Hermione into her arms, Margot kissed her temple and smiled.

"Hermione, we are going to have dessert tonight…" The two women looked up to see Ron leaning around the door jam. "I've walked in on something."

Rubbing her daughter's back affectionately, Margot smiled at Ron. "Oh, just a little mother-daughter bonding. And you are quite right- dessert! Enough of this emotional business- my daughter made Head Girl. Time to celebrate!"

Margot watched as Ron shifted his gaze to Hermione. Their eyes connected, she smiled and he nodded. With no words, he inquired to her well-being and she let him know all was well.

As Hermione turned to get pudding from the ice box, Margot picked up the plates and spoons to follow Ron back to the table. Before he got too far, Margot touched his arm to stop him. "Thank you."

Ron turned to face her. "For?"

"For being everything she needs."

A/N: Yeah, I know this is very similar to the last chapter- but there it is. I haven't quite settled on the next chapter yet, so there may be a small delay so nobody panic.

Tea stains provided by HalfASlug and 'Ennui' is for Julia although she has not died of it.

Although this story bears striking similarity to a story written by J.K. Rowling, they are in no way related.