A mad train ride begins
You couldn't find a more rebellious witch than Hermione Granger. Most of educators always believed she would end up as a teacher or magical rights activist, yet she went to the Ministry of Magic, got a good job and tried to live a happy quiet life with her beloved husband, Ronald Weasley. It didn't take her long to go up in the chain of command; just three years later she became the head of DMLE and only five years later she found herself replacing Kingsley.
"They cannot force you to accept it." had said Harry.
"The alternative is Draco Malfoy." she had responded.
"Then you must accept it." had said Harry.
"Harry, I'm not a good administrator. I love studying and helping people, but I've never been interested in governing them."
But Hermione couldn't get what she wanted. The political pressure pushed her into the position of Minister. She hoped people would see how insufficient her governance would be, but It had not happened. People loved her so much. In fact she felt they liked her too much. She had always suspected that Pansy Parkinson's unsuccessful assassination was done by a Granger fanatic. Pansy had never accused her of anything, but the very next morning she had shut down her campaign against Hermione. Until recently everything had been running smoothly. However, when she managed to lose a time Turner that had ended up in Albus Potter's picked and almost caused a disaster, she decided to step down.
The meeting with Kingsley didn't go as she had expected.
"I need your support. I want to step down, but I don't want everyone to hate me." she said abruptly the moment he arrived.
"Wow. That was quick, Minister, Almost like an order or decree." said the former minister jokingly.
"I screwed up," said Hermione panting heavily.
"I hear you," said Kingsley.
"And we found out that Voldemort's got a daughter." said Hermione.
The shock on Kingsley's face made her worried. His left hand was shaking madly.
"How?" he whispered.
"He had a child from Bellatrix. Her name is Delphi and she is in Azkaban because she tried to bring back Lord Voldemort and … and killed a person. That wouldn't have happened if… if I had been more careful."
Kingley quickly gained his composure and gave her a warm smile.
"Ah, that's … that's odd. You got me there." said the ex-minister with a shaky smile.
"Are you okay, Kings?" said Hermione with a concerned look.
"Yes, yes, I'm… I'm quite fine, thank you. Now this girl, who is she exactly?"
Hermione told him what she knew about Delphi. Kingsley simply listened and nodded occasionally.
"We're lucky that you got her. I'd hate to even imagine what would have happened otherwise."
"So you understand why I need to step down." said Hermione hopefully.
"I do, I do, but I believe it's not the best time." said Kingsley weakly.
"This job is ruining my family. I cannot be with them. I see Harry more than I see Ron!"
"Well, you could resign, but you won't be able to determine who comes after you. You're extremely popular and that makes people disappointed with anyone who comes from your party. The other side won't get enough votes anyway and that would result in both sides making a coalition. That would take at least six months to negotiate, so even if you start now, you will have to stay for six more months which is election time anyway. I suggest you pick a successor and endorse them until election and slowly get people used to having you out of the office." said Kingsley.
Finding a successor was not easy, but Hermione knew she would find someone strong enough.
**Two days later **
"They say you want to appoint Draco as the next Minister of Magic." said Ron moments after she arrived home. He was making some delicious bacon for them both.
"I am considering him as my successor." said Hermione. "But I don't appoint Ministers, Wisengamot does."
She gulped down some orange juice and sat behind the kitchen table.
"Do you want to elope?" said Ron without looking at her.
"We could? To France?" she said cheerfully, not noticing Ron's bitter tone.
"Huh! I wish that could happen."
"Is something wrong?" said Hermione finally feeling his sadness.
"Why are you leaving your job?" asked Ron. His voice was hard.
"To be with you."
Ron laughed bitterly.
"Do have something to say, Ronald? Then say it." said Hermione to her husband coolly.
"Ah, that's the Hermione I know." said Ron. "You're going to get a divorce, aren't you? You met with your lawyer today"
"I met him because I wanted to ask his advice about financial matters!" said Hermione frustratedly, "What's got into you?"
"I know you no longer love me. You don't kiss me anymore. We don't have sex. We are just roommates now." said Ron.
Hermione for a second. She didn't kiss him much, and it was true that they hadn't had have sex for some time. But he had to understand. She was always tired and that was a good reason enough.
"You're.. that nonsense, Ron." she said, "I love you, you're the father of my children."
Ron just stared into the bacon in the pan. Some oil jumped out of the pan and splashed on his hand.
"That's it? I'm the father of your children?" said Ron.
"What do you want me to say?" said Hermione desperately. "Look we just put a shitty experience behind us. I think you're still caught up with that."
"You know I noticed that Harry understands you much better. Hell even Malfoy's got a better understanding of you," said Ron abruptly, "On our little detour to the past, I noticed how different we think and how … how incapable I am of satisfying your expectations. You are always upset with me. You always try to control me and now … I thought we … I know you loved me for some time, but I don't think you do anymore."
Hermione just stared at his husband with blue pajamas.
"I don't think we can eat that bacon." she said.
"Oh, your right." said Ron with a smile.
"I will resign anyway. Even if we get divorced." said Hermione.
"Rose will be heartbroken." said Ron, "Hugo on the other hand won't mind. He asked if we were getting divorced a few months ago. Huh, he's a clever kid."
"He is." said Hermione.
She could not feel anything. Perhaps it was just a shock, but she knew her feelings better. She was calm and untroubled. A heavy burden was lifted from her shoulders.
"So do you have a lover? Don't tell me it's Draco Malfoy! The other option is unthinkable!" said Ron.
"No, I don't." said Hermione with an involuntary chuckle. "Don't worry, you don't have to deal with Draco Malfoy, or kill Harry."
*A few days later at Hermione's office*
"So, will you do it?" said Hermione to Draco Malfoy who was enjoying his very expensive tea.
"Humm, jumping after you, is a bit difficult. Your fans will not like me, Wizengamot won't accept it unless you give them something big."
"Something big?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Like becoming a member. They will want your political leverage and honestly they like you too much."
"I don't think that's what they would ask. They never want administrators within Wisengamot." said Hermione.
"You do forget Dumbledore." said Draco.
"Draco, I'm no Dumbledore. And he wasn't an administrator." said Hermione.
"That's correct, you're not him. You are Hermione Granger. The first muggle-born to lead the ministry for more than five years and I think you could survive another five if you made the right people happy."
"And that, Draco, is not my objective."
Draco Malfoy looked around for a second.
"May I ask you not to do this?" he said quietly.
"Draco, my office is protected from being overheard." said Hermione.
"It is, and I only agree with you because I know you are capable enough to ward it perfectly."
Hermione smiled broadly.
"Why shouldn't I step down," said Hermione.
"Because you'll upset the wizarding elite. They have finally found a leader who won't destroy magical traditions and at the same time they will not try to lord it over society."
Hermione seemed surprised.
"I am quite a controversial figure, Draco. Remember that it was I who introduced the House-elves Abuse Prevention Act." said Hermione proudly.
"But you also removed quite a few regulations and made the process of applying for certain licenses easier. Some might think you do that for that Hagrid, but I know better." said Draco Malfoy. "You have made flying carpets legal again. You are not afraid of magic."
"Look, I just said that if they could follow certain rules why should we ban them. They are easier to conceal than brooms." she said.
"I know. I could have said the same, but you have … a way with people. They listen to you. You always have the perfect reason." said Draco.
Hermione laughed lightly. Her brown eyes shined happily.
"You are very good with flattery, Draco." she said softly, "But I really need to be out of the office in six months. Ron and I are getting a divorce, so I want out before I will be showered with criticism."
For a second Draco was unsettled. He knew Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley didn't have the best of relationships, but he had always assumed that they would hold up for their children.
"What about your children?"
"Rose will be sad, Hugo will have expected it. Ron and I had a talk and we realised that we cannot live together any longer." said Hermione.
"I was where you are just two years ago. You shouldn't make any hasty decisions." he advised her as he took a sip of his tea.
Hermine started at the door. "Come in, Fella."
Fella Stein was a petite redhead witch and Hermione secretary. Draco absolutely detested the woman for her very cheerful behavior.
"Mr. Doge wishes to see you, Minister." said the tiny woman.
"Did he have an appointment?" asked Hermione.
"He has Wizengamot visitation request." said the secretary.
"I'll see him immediately," said Hermione, "Draco, please think about my proposition. You …"
"We cannot allow you to resign, Hermione!" said Doge as he hurried in past Fella.
"With all due respect, that is not something that you can decide, Corrigan." said Hermione.
"Of course not," said Doge. "You can resign, but we will simply not approve."
"I'm not resigning. I'm simply not going to partake in the next election."
"More than a few members have mentioned that choosing the next Minister will be extremely difficult. It might take up to a year." said Doge.
"Corrigan, I'm tired. I have so many things to fix."
Doge looked upset.
"They won't be happy with you." he said.
"Nobody will be excluding my father." said Draco.
"Your father, Mr Malfoy, is on his way here. I don't know what he wants, but I don't think he wants status quo disrupted."
Doge left an official letter from Wizengamot on her desk and left.
"I told you so." said Draco. " Maybe you should make some bad policies."
"Draco the good of people is more important than me. I will not betray myself by becoming a bad politician."
Lucius Malfoy arrived right after Draco left her office.
"I hear that you wish to make my son your successor." said Lucius as he walked in. "Our family is truly indebted to you."
"May I?" he said as pointed at a chair.
"Please have a seat,"
Malfoy sat gracefully and stared at her for a few seconds before talking.
"We would like you to remain as the Minister for at least two years." said Malfoy.
"That is…"
"Until you are old enough to be able to enter the Wizengamot." said Malfoy.
"Mr Malfoy, why you people are so intent to keep me in a position I clearly have decided to abandon?"
"Do you know why half of the supporters of Dark Lord aren't dead today?" said Malfoy gently, "Because you made that historic speech next to the fountain of magical brothers, where you invited everyone to forgive their enemies and forge a better and stronger society."
That iconic speech. Hermione had tried to stop the execution of hundreds of Voldemort's followers and she had miraculously succeeded. She was invited to work for the ministry the day after.
"I will accept on one condition, Mr Malfoy." said Hermione.
"I would be happy to oblige, and grateful for your compromise." said Malfoy eagerly.
"I want to know who tried to assassinate Pansy Parkinson." she said firmly. "It is a condition that must be met."
It would be worth it. She had five Aurors working on the case in secret yet they had not found anything so far.
"My dear lady, that will be impossible to find out." said Malfoy with a brittle smile.
"The Wizengamot took her case out of my hands in the name of neutral judgement and they buried it immediately. That indicates something. You must know who was behind it."
"That's a very serious accusation, Minister. One would say you are looking for ways to diminish the power of Wizengamot."
"You're there because of me!"
"And that is why I am making sure everything you need from Wizengamot is provided immediately, as long as you're willing to rule." said Malfoy.
"You hate muggle-born people, don't deny it."
Malfoy remained quiet for a few seconds before saying, "You're perhaps the most brilliant Minister of our times. You have united us and brought us under one roof. I do not hate you, Minister, I admire you. However, if you leave, the unity will be broken and we'll be lost in darkness."
*The next morning at the Burrow.*
Ron had told Molly. Of all the people in the world he had told Molly Weasley. Of course, Molly was his mother, but Hermione thought maybe Ronald would be a bit more careful when approaching his mother with the topic of their separation.
"That son of mine! He thinks he can get better than you!" said Molly while Mr Weasley sat in the kitchen uneasily.
"Molly, it was a mutual decision." said Hermione. She was wet and cold and Molly wasn't making her feel any better.
Molly was shocked. She sat next to her husband.
"Hermione dear, you seem to be cold. Let me light the chimney." said Mr Weasley.
"There is no need, Arthur, but thank you." she responded as she cast a dehydration spell followed by a warming spell.
She then cast another warning spell which made the kitchen pleasantly warm. Hermione sat behind the desk and began to eat her scrambled eggs.
"You can change, if you want. You have comfortable clothes in Ronald's room." said Mr Weasley.
"I'm good, Arthur. I must go back to Ministry soon. I came because Molly needed to talk."
"What about your children, Minister." whimpered Molly. Her tears could be seen visibly. Mr Weasley threw his arm around his wife and hugged her.
Hermione was heartbroken. Molly had never called her 'Minister' before.
"Molly…"
"Rose and Hugo, have you taken them into consideration? How will they be affected by this?"
"Molly, we don't love each other anymore."
It was a lie. Hermione knew Ron still loved her, but it would be cruel to say that to Molly.
"Molly, we could see that happening. The only person who hasn't been able to do so is Harry."
Molly pouted and left the kitchen.
"Molly!" said Hermione and stood up, but Arthur Weasley stopped her from going after his wife.
"Let her be alone. She needs to think about it, so do you." he said.
"Ron and I have made our decision." said Hermione with a finalising tone.
"Have you talked with Dumbledore?" said Arthur, "I mean the portrait that is in your office."
"Professor Dumbledore and I were never close, Arthur. He rarely comes by. I would dare say he's elusive." said Hermione, "And I know what he will say. Love is the most powerful magic in the world. That is the very ingredient Ron and I no longer have." Hermione ended her sentence rather tiredly.
The kitchen remained silent for a solid three minutes before Molly came back.
"Hermione dear, will you stay for dinner." she asked softly.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Molly. I have to go back to my office soon. It's a very busy week. We have the World Cup ahead and arranging everything perfectly is consuming all my time."
Suddenly something rang.
"Oh, dear! What's that?" said Arthur.
"It's my phone, Arthur. We're testing if we can have them work with the Floo system."
Hermione reached for her phone and answered.
"Hi, can we meet before you go to your office?" said Harry's voice behind the line.
"Where?"
"Press five." said Harry.
"Uhm, okay." she responded.
She looked at Molly and Arthur's intrigued faces.
"I'll come by and explain." she promised Arthur before pressing five on her phone. She thought she would be immediate transported to Harry, but a map appeared on her screen that showed Harry was in Sly Slug.
"I'll be going then." she said and used the Floo to get to Sly Slug.
"Hermione!" said a very excited voice.
"Ernie!'
She hugged the bartender.
"I didn't know you were open at this hour." she said. The bar was empty. Had Harry asked Ernie to open the Slug just for him?
"Ron was here. He and Harry had a talk. Harry's waiting for you over there."
Harry was sitting on the corner and despite the presence of an open half-empty bottle of Firewhiskey next to him, he seemed completely sober.
"Harry,"
He looked at her with his eyes almost piercing her soul. He looked at the bottle and sighed.
"Join me." he said wistfully. He poured her some Fire whiskey.
"Harry, I have to go back to the Ministry soon. I don't think I can do that drunk and wasted."
"Well, you're trying to resign anyway. I don't think that would hurt you." said Harry.
"Harry, I have to stay for six more months at least. And I might have to carry on to 2016."
"You don't. Although the Wisengamot does not want to lose their favourite minister, they won't hesitate to lay you off once your divorce is publicised." said Harry.
"You didn't drink with Ron."
"No, I'm on duty. There is a raid that might happen at any moment. I cannot let it slip." Harry responded.
"How's Ginny?"
"She's fine." said Harry, "At least until she finds out. She won't be happy. That I can guarantee."
"Well, wait until she hears that her husband went to a bar at midday." said Hermione with a devious smile.
"Ah, she knows. Ron went to her. Ginny said Tonks had volunteered to fix you up." said Harry cautiously.
"Fix us up? We're not broken, Harry." said Hermione, "We are simply incompatible."
"You're not incompatible; You have two children." said Harry desperately.
"And we will love them."
Harry poured some fire whiskey for himself.
"I don't think I can continue this conversation while I'm sober." he said before emptying his glass.
"What do you want, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"I want some dialogue and compromise. Ginny and I did the same."
"Your case was entirely different! You had cheated on Ginny, but she still loved you and you were so sorry. She forgave you. Ron and I have done nothing wrong. We don't need to apologise. I just don't love him anymore."
"That much I figured." said Harry spitefully. "What would you think of Ginny if she had done the same? What if Ginny said she didn't love me anymore? What would your reaction be then?"
"I would accept and respect her decision. A marriage without love is only hell for both sides and the children."
"And you know this because…"
"Because I lived it." said Hermione.
Harry seemed surprised. He had not known that Hermione's parents didn't love each other.
"You mean your parents?" he asked to make sure he had understood her correctly.
"The only time I saw love in my parents was when I razed their memories of myself. They seemed so happy. Apparently I had somehow sucked that love away from them. My parents used to resent each other and that, Harry, was never nice to see."
Hermione too grabbed the Fire whiskey bottle and poured herself some.
Suddenly, Harry's phone rang.
"Yes, it's Potter… Have they left anything behind?"
Harry stood up and walked to the counter and put a pouch of money on it.
"Don't let them touch anything until I get there."
Harry put the phone in his pocket.
"I have to go. They were late. The Butcher has already killed someone and left remainings for us to find."
"The Butcher, a serial killer?"
"Yeah, We call him that, he kills people and uses parts of their body to build artworks, as he claims them to be." said Harry.
"Harry, would you mind if I came with you?"
"I would. I don't want him to think he's got your attention."
"Do to have any reason to think your killer is a He?"
"The magical imprints indicate that he is male, probably around thirty."
"You're getting closer to finding him, right Harry?" said Ernie as he emerged from the little black door behind the bar.
"Yes, we are. We will find him, Ernie." Harry tapped on his shoulder and left.
"Ernie shook his head in a nervous manner and joined Hermione.
"Would you mind?"
He pointed at the almost empty bottle and when Hermione nodded he drank the remaining Firewhisky and sat next to her. Suddenly Hermione's phone rang.
"Hey, I changed my mind, I think you should come here." said Harry with an odd tone behind the phone. "We found something really disturbing and you need to see it."
Harry seemed nervous. "You know how to find me."
Hermione pressed five and the map appeared again. It was a Muggle territory. Hermione said goodbye to Ernie and disapparated. She appeared next to the café that she had been before in that area. She walked for ten minutes before she arrived at the location Harry had sent her.
"Hi, Cho." she said to Cho Chang the Magical technician.
"There is a lot of blood inside," said Cho. She waved her wand around Hermione's clothes. "This will make sure nothing sticks."
Hermione entered the crime scene.
In the middle of the room stood a pig. It seemed bloody and battered.
When Hermione approached it, she realised it wasn't a pig at all. It was an assembly of internal organs shaped like a pig and blood was dripping from the decaying tissues.
"Oh, God!"
"It had something in its mouth." said Harry.
Hermione gasped when she saw Pansy Parkinson's lost ring in Harry's hand.
"We need to cut into the pig," said Cho chang. "It's got something in stomach, too. Let's find out what it is."
Cho and a couple of his assistants began to dissect the pig.
"What does it mean, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"That means either the Butcher knows who wanted to kill Parkinson, or he himself was trying to kill her."
"That's is very unlikely," said Draco Malfoy, " The Butcher so far has managed to kill all of his victims from what I've read in the Daily Prophet. I think the Butcher came for Pansy, but for some reason he decided not to kill her. Perhaps he wanted to scare her."
"Butchers murderers don't follow a political pattern," said Harry. "Why are you here again?"
"This is my apartment where I conduct my private business."
Harry looked at him suspiciously.
"He cheats on his wife here." said Hermione. "Some birds told me you had a flat here."
"The Butcher does not follow any particular pattern, Harry," said Cho Chang. " He kills quite randomly."
"I didn't know we had a serial killer like this on our hands! why didn't you tell me?" whisperer Hermione in Harry's ear.
"We weren't sure if he was a serial killer. He is not peculiar about his victims. Blood status, sex, wealth and all the other criteria seem to be irrelevant."
"So who is this or was this?" said Hermione pointing at the dissected pig.
"We don't know, but I don't think this hand belongs to our victim." said Cho Chang
"Merlin's saggy balls! That's Pansy's hand." exclaimed Draco Malfoy.
"This pig was the wrapping for the main attraction." said Hermione disturbingly, "This was sent to you, Draco."
"To please him?" asked Cho.
"No, to warm him." said Hermione feeling a bit dizzy. "Harry, can you give me a list of his victims?"
"So far, we have managed to identify four of them; John Hobbs, Henry Wingate, Mary Marj Selvin and Greta Nightingale. They share nothing." said Harry.
Hermione seemed very pale. Cho immediately brought her a chair to sit on.
"No, Harry, you're wrong. They all share something. John Hobbs was a friend of Rita Skeeter who published a story about me trapping Rita in her animagus form and blackmailing her. It got nothing more than a laugh from everyone even though I confirmed it. Henry Wingate was a healer who launched a campaign against my Healthcare plans and Mary Marj Selvin had been refusing to vote for my proposals and always voted against them. She made great criticism of my work. Greta Nightingale was a friend of Pansy Parkinson and Pansy herself… well the presence of her hand is quite telling."
"You Do realise that such an accusation will destroy my department." said Harry. "The Wizengamot will have my head by morning if I go out there and say the victims were your opponents. The ministry will dive into chaos!" said Harry.
"Our killer is a Granger fanatic. Cool!" said Draco.
"The Butcher kills people who have somehow hurt you politically. Is that what you're saying Hermione? Look my Aurors are out there looking for a trace of the killer. If I go with your theory you will be officially put on the list of suspects."
"I know, Harry," said Hermione. "And I think that's how you can catch your serial killer."