Author's Note:
After I got tired of reading the similar love stories of Hermione Granger and Severus Snape, I decided to give them a twist and a different setting. Muggle background along with magical setting will be used. An employee-boss relationship still kind of keeps the student-teacher charm going, as Severus is still in a position of power. Will eventually be HGxSS.
This story is a bit inspired from the Fifty Shades book, but not completely. There won't be any Dom/Sub or BDSM involved here; the relationship will be completely different. If any of this disagrees with you, then you have been warned. I do not own the Fifty Shades characters, we have EL James to thank for them.
Also please don't expect the characters as they were in canon. I will be experimenting with their character evolution as the story progresses.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter characters, we all owe J.K. Rowling for them. Also, I will be taking a few liberties concerning MACUSA and wizarding trends for the purpose of this story.
Hermione looked at the packed boxes around her as she sat on the edge of the empty bed in her house. She glanced around her empty room and checked it for anything that she had missed to pack. Reassured that the room was completely empty except for her and her luggage, she levitated her boxes and came out into her similarly empty sitting room.
A sense of finality hit her. She was finally leaving her house; the very house she was born and grown up in. The house had belonged to her parents and after they had moved to Australia, after she had to wipe their memories; Hermione had been living alone here for the last five years. Since there was nothing she could do now to retrieve their memories without risking their sanity, she had decided it was best to let them continue with their lives blissfully. They were her parents and though she loved them dearly and wished to tell them that and she wasn't going to be selfish enough to disrupt their happy lives. Hermione had gone to Australia once, to see them and it had been so satisfying to watch them leading their lives. She hadn't even tried talking to them, however much she had wanted to.
But, now she was going to move on; away from her past, and all the things that constantly reminded her of everything she had had to sacrifice. It wasn't like she hadn't tried.
After the demise of Voldemort, Hermione was the only one among her friends to return to Hogwarts to complete her N.E.W.T.s, while Harry and Ron had gone on for Auror training. Ron and Hermione had continued their romantic relationship rather well despite their distance and the attention they were getting by the wizarding media. They had kept in touch through mails and mirror calls. Everything had went on smoothly until Hermione too had joined the Ministry, after completing her education.
Once she started working at the Ministry herself in the Muggle Relations Department, Hermione came to know soon enough, about all the affairs Ron had been having behind her back, some of them even dating back to when they had just gotten together. She had seen the proof of his disloyalty through her own eyes and had broken off their relationship immediately. Ron had admitted that he had continued the charade of their relationship simply to comply with his mother's wishes. Hermione's friendship with Harry had also taken a bad hit after that; she had expected her best friend to have been honest with her. Harry's excuse that he didn't want to be the reason of their split hadn't done well to convince Hermione at all.
She had then decided to take a break from the wizarding world. After she had completed the first year of her job at the Ministry, she quit and enrolled at the famous muggle university of Oxford. The muggle world was after all her second home. It had been a refreshing relief from the wizarding world that had started to feel suffocating to her. It was good to lose herself back in studies, to be academically challenged by the advance research that the muggle science and technologies offered her. She had made quite an impression on all of her professors there and they had even offered her to come back anytime she needed to. But Hermione knew in her heart that she was a witch and hence belonged with the magical world.
After three years now, Hermione had completed her four year muggle course with an impressive degree in Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences. She was encouraged and inspired by the leaps of muggle advancements but she also knew there was little effort by the British wizards to involve themselves with the muggle technology. The purebloods specially, were simply too proud.
Hermione had thought very hard, about what she was going to do once she had completed her muggle degree. She wanted to make advancements in the wizarding world as well, but the one year stint at the Ministry was enough for her to know how much importance the Ministry placed in muggle matters. She had then researched about the other wizarding nations and found that America was one of the few places where wizards did work in close association with the muggles, with strict discretion of course. She had decided then to spend at least a year of her life in the States and experience the culture that it had to offer.
Of course, it also had the added bonus of starting all over. She didn't have to worry about living in the wizarding community where she was a well-known face, with people always giving her odd glances in public. Some, because they recognized her for her efforts in the war; while some, because they had read all about her disastrous relationship with Ron Weasley. And there were some who snapped photographs without her permission. However, her decision to move was cemented by the exciting new things a new, advancing wizarding community had to offer.
Sadly, that also meant having to part with her roots, her home. She had been living in the same house for all her life, even after her parents had left. The building was under a heavy notice-me-charm, so that it remained unnoticed by the other muggles. The house and its various memories were the only things she had left of her parents. But now, she had decided that it would be the best for her to take a break from her past altogether. Her parents too would have wanted her to seek out her purpose in life, rather than willow in guilt after them for years.
Hermione took out her one-way flight ticket from her pocket and glanced at it. She still had some time left before she had to depart for the airport. She sighed as she realized that it would be a good idea to say goodbye to somebody, rather than vanishing all of a sudden. Not that anyone's going to really bother, she thought bitterly.
Hermione apparated to the Burrow, before she had time to think about changing her mind. She knew that Ron and Harry would be at the Ministry at this time and it was probably better that way since the last thing she wanted was to argue with them. She knew Harry would do his best to stop her from going away; he had been hoping to get her back into the Ministry again once she finished her muggle degree. He had offered to get her 'any job she wanted'.
She stepped inside the familiar crooked house and looked around, feeling awkward for coming without any notice. She only found the youngest Weasley, lounging on the dining table. The redhair was glad when she saw her, breaking into a wide, somewhat surprised grin and rushed forward to greet her.
"Blimey, Hermione! It's been ages. How are you?" Ginny said, while crushing her into a bear hug. It's probably a family thing!
"I'm Fine, Ginny. I finished my graduation last week." Hermione replied, trying to breathe.
"Wow, congratulations! Come sit, will you have some tea? Nobody's else is home." Ginny told her, leading her inside to the dining table.
"I just wanted to talk to you, actually." Hermione said in a serious voice, as she took her seat.
"Oh. What about? You know, you can tell me anything, right?" Ginny said, taking in her cautious tone for the first time.
Hermione didn't know how to tell her estranged friend that she was going to be leaving the country. Ginny was the closest girlfriend she had ever had, but breaking up with Ron and her inconsistent moods with Harry had eventually strained her relationship with Ginny and her family as well. So, she decided to go straight for it.
"Ginny, I have decided to move to America." Hermione said, in the same breath.
"America? Whoa, that's a long way from here! Have you thought it through, though?" Ginny asked, incredulous. Well, that's not surprising since I've never even suggested this to any of them! thought Hermione.
"Who am I kidding, you are Hermione Granger. Of course, you did!" Ginny continued in the same line.
Hermione looked at Ginny patiently waiting, as she came to terms with what she had just heard.
"It will actually be a good thing for you; you have been rather cut off from the magical community for the last three years. So, when are you planning to leave?" Ginny pondered, after a minute.
"I'm leaving today, Gin." Hermione told her.
Hermione saw the shock in Ginny's eyes, which slowly turned into despair and pretty soon, the redhead was tearing up.
"I know that you would have a hard time believing it, but I'll miss you 'Mione." Ginny said, trying to control her tears.
Hermione knew that her words were sincere. Ginny had been always a good friend to her, until the tension had started with Ron and Harry. Somehow, being the sister and girlfriend of the people Hermione was trying to avoid, Ginny was inevitably pushed out of her life as well.
"I know, Ginny. I'll miss you too. And when I do, I promise to write." Hermione said.
"I'll write too. After all, you have to be kept updated of the things that go on here. Without you here, who knows what Harry and Ron will wreck upon our world next?" Ginny laughed.
"Well, they have managed pretty well for the last three years." Hermione couldn't help retorting.
"Harry misses you, you know. He will be devastated when he hears this." Ginny said quietly.
"Would you tell him that I'm leaving? I can't have that conversation with him right now." Hermione asked her.
"Of course. He might not let you go if you told him yourself." Ginny replied sadly. That, I do know!
"Just tell him it was the only thing that I thought was best for me. I should leave now; I have to get to the airport."
Hermione sighed and got up. As an afterthought, she took out her cellphone and handed it to Ginny.
"It will help you contact me." Looking at the curious look in her friend's eyes, she added, "Harry will know how to use it. Once I get a number there, I'll contact you."
"I'll keep it on me at all times. Take care, 'Mione."
Ginny hugged her one last time before she apparated back to her house. Now back to being alone again, Hermione let her unshed tears fall. It was difficult to say goodbye to her whole life, especially to the people who had been an important part of that life. She knew that Harry wouldn't be pleased that she had left without saying goodbye to him. She had been the one to push him away; it was only because of the repeatedly persistent efforts on his part that they were even talking to each other again.
A glance at her watch told her that she should be leaving for the airport. She pushed away all thoughts of grief out of her mind and began casting warding spells on her house before leaving it for an indefinite time. After she was done, she pulled her luggage out of her house.
When she was sure there was no one on the road to notice her, taking out her wand, she hailed for the Knight Bus. She was glad to hear the familiar horn of the purple bus and was greeted by an enthusiastic Stan Shunpike.
"Well, well Ernie, if it isn't the famous Miss Granger who helped defeat Voldy and got me out of the Azkaban! Where do you need to go, my lady? Stan Shunpike will always be in your service!" the pimple-cheeked conductor bowed his head low and started moving her bags onto the bus.
"Heathrow Airport, please." Hermione answered. Because, I can't afford the international portkey right now!
Stan's eyebrows shot up. "Are you be leaving the country, missy?"
"Don't worry, Stan. I've already taken the required permission from the Ministry." Hermione answered.
Taking the permission would have been almost impossible if she didn't know the Minister for Magic personally. Leaving their country for good was a rare thing for wizards, especially if the witch in question was their war-hero. However, Minister Shaklebolt had been kind enough to ease the process for her and even helped with the exchange from Gringotts; the goblins were a nasty piece of work when it came to losing business.
And now that all was done and in place, Hermione sat down in one of the seats of the Knight Bus and the bus sped away. She wondered how fast the news of her departure would spread. Knowing Stan, probably much sooner than she had anticipated. She was happy that she wouldn't be around to see any more editions of Daily Prophets.
The rest of her journey was uneventful, except for the curious glance she received from the security personnel at the airport at the sight of her wand. She had confounded the woman, just for the sake of good measure.
Some eight hours later, Hermione found herself in JFK airport of New York. After checking out through security and exchanging muggle currencies, she found herself in ample time to go to the MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America) Headquarters. After putting all her belongings in her small beaded bag, she decided to take the muggle way to get there; the address was well-known even to the muggles. Also having spent the last three years in the muggle world, she was more comfortable living in it.
Hermione stared at the Woolworth Building when she got there. As she entered inside, a detector caught her magical signature and a guard dressed the same as the muggle security guards, guided her through the left most door with an owl marked. She looked around in surprise to find the headquarters hidden in plain view inside the muggle building. It was an excellent testament to the capabilities of the American wizards.
She asked the guard for the directions to the Federal Identity and 'No-Maj' Department, recalling that's what muggles were called in America.
MACUSA's main hall within the Woolworth Building was several hundred feet tall, filled with light and featuring black and gold accents. It contained a large Magical Exposure Threat Level Measurer above the front staircase along with a magical portrait of President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America Samuel G. Quahog.
At the centre of the main room was a monument with four columns featuring Phoenix statues. In the middle was a group of statues commemorating those who died in the Salem Witch Trials. Under the monument were four words — Integritas, Unitas, Virtus, Magia which meant Integrity, Unity, Valour, and Magic. Around the exterior of the hall were desks and columns topped with statues of the original twelve Aurors. It was all quite impressive, even for wizards.
Hermione found that there were house-elves and goblins working here; however, their rude demeanor made it clear that they were paid servants rather than slaves. She decided to get on with the tasks at hand rather than get distracted by the new atmosphere. She had a lot of things to go through before she could tour the building properly.
First, she had to register herself in the Federal Identity Commissioner's office, where her identity proofs were thoroughly checked. A strick looking, uniformed Auror interrogated her on every detail, until he realized that she was one of the "Golden Trio" that had defeated the British Dark Lord. Hermione was surprised to find that she was known here and she asked the Auror about it. However, the Auror assured her that they were known only among Aurors, the general public here was too engrossed in their own affairs to give any importance to international wizarding news. To say that Hermione felt relieved, would be an understatement.
After that she was directed to get a wand permit from the Federal Wand Permit Office. It was a young official wandmaker who examined her wand, with great care. Hermione was pleased to know that the witch was familiar with Ollivander's work, before she proclaimed that she was a huge fan of his. Hermione didn't know what to say to that.
Hermione was then directed to the office of the Keeper of Treasure and Dragots to get some of the wizarding currency where a goblin handled her accounts with its infamous arrogance and yet efficient skills. After that, she had to get a certificate from the Apparition officer too.
Despite being totally exhausted by then, she made her way to the No-Maj Department and was surprised to find that it was one of the prominent departments here, contrary to the British Ministry of Magic. A pleasant looking young man greeted her and asked politely about how he could help her.
Here, Hermione acquired a list of all the apartments which were available on rent to both muggles and wizards, as she found that there were no wizards exclusive colonies here, as were back home. She also got a list of places where both muggles and wizards were employed. She asked the employee for his suggestion on the apartments, which he was happy to provide. Hoping that all the people here were this helpful, Hermione decided to leave the Headquarters to look for a hotel to retire for the night.
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