At twenty-three years old, Hermione Granger was not where she wanted to be in her life. She had always been organized, and had always been a planner, and being a receptionist for the sales team of the Daily Prophet? Not part of the plan.
Hermione Granger was born August 31st, 1980, to Muggle parents. She hadn't known she was a wizard until she her eleventh birthday. Up until then, Hermione had attended a Muggle school, and was the brightest in the class. Hermione had always been smart, and that was probably why she was sorted into Ravenclaw. She saw this as a great opportunity to converse with people who were at her same level of intelligence. However, this was not always an advantage. Hermione had gotten used to being the smartest in the class, being known as a know-it-all, and outshining everyone else. When she reached Hogwarts, she learned the Ravenclaws were all up to speed with her. Yes, in some things, she was smarter than the rest of her classmates, but not in all things. And she was always used to being two steps ahead of everybody, but so were the rest of the Ravenclaws. Also, her birthday came as a disadvantage, making Hermione the youngest in the whole year.
Hermione spent first, second, and third year being independent and tending to herself and to her studies. When she realized she was lonely, she spent fourth and fifth year chasing after Cho Chang and her posse, but realized that she didn't quite fit in. And in 6th year, well, that was when she met Jerry Richardson.
Jerry fascinated Hermione. He was everything she was and wished to be; smart, organized, and ambitious. He was year older than her, in his 7th year. Jerry was the first real friend Hermione had made in Hogwarts. In time, they began to date. Jerry and Hermione were ambitious people, and started to plan work towards jobs at the Ministry of Magic together. Hermione had big plans with her life. She wanted to do something. She wanted to change the Wizarding World. When Jerry graduated, he went straight to the Ministry, and Hermione finished off her 7th year at Hogwarts, still in contact with him. After she graduated, she spent the summer with Jerry, only to find out that when she wanted to start her job, she had to go into hiding, because Muggle-borns were being questioned. Hermione fled the country, and Jerry sent her a few letters, but stated they couldn't be together because if the Ministry found out he was dating a Muggle-born, he would be in trouble, or worse, loose his job.
Hermione came back home to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts, and after that, there was nothing stopping her and Jerry from being together, as the hostility against Muggle-borns was lifted. When she applied for a job at the Ministry, she got nothing she really wanted. Jerry advised her to take a job anyway, even if it wasn't even close to what she wanted, because there she could make connections. So, as Jerry climbed ranks in the Ministry, Hermione was now stuck as a receptionist, in the Daily Prophet section of the Ministry. She didn't even want to work for the Daily Prophet. This was not going according to plan.
There were two promises that Jerry made in her life, that she knew would go according to plan. One: A promise to get her a better job. Two: A promise to marry her.
So, like any other day, Hermione took all the memos sent to her office wing, sent them back, schuduled meetings, and attended to her psychotic boss's needs. And just like any other day, it was boring. Except today was not like any other day.
Hermione had totally forgotten that a new salesman was coming to work today, until he walked though the doors.
"Hi." He said.
"Hi." Hermione smiled. A receptionist always had to be friendly. "You must be the new salesman."
"Yeah." He said, shaking her hand. "Ron Weasley."
"Hermione Granger."
"Nice to meet you, Hermione."
"Nice to meet you too, Ron." Ron Weasley was tall, gangly, with a long nose, freckles, and sparkling blue eyes. Although, Hermione assumed nobody usually realized the pretty color of his eyes because they were too distracted by his flaming red hair. "Allow me to show you to your desk."
"I would enjoy that." He said.
Hermione led him to the desk nearest the receptionists'. "Watch out for your desk mate." She whispered. "He's a piece of work."
"Mean?"
"Kinda. Mostly just a little strange." She said in an undertone.
"Good to know." He laughed.
"You need me to help me place all your stuff?" Hermione asked.
"Sure." Ron replied.
Hermione helped Ron place his things everywhere, reaching for the mountains of Chudley Cannons posters at the bottom.
"Oh," Ron grinned. "Yeah. I assumed I'd have a cubicle to place all this stuff, but I guess not."
"Yes." Hermione sighed. "That is a downside, when you're trying to avoid watching Dirk clip his toenails."
"You're joking?" Ron laughed.
"No. He's a strange guy. And he'll be at the desk next to you for a while."
"Lucky me. Where is he anyway?"
"In a meeting with Scott Johnson, our boss. Enjoy your time not knowing them. You won't be the same afterward." Hermione explained, and Ron laughed. "No. Seriously."
Ron smiled before taking off his robes. He was wearing a light blue wrinkled collared shirt; he had rolled up the sleeves to his elbows, and was wearing a red and gold tie that clashed magnificently his outfit. Unlike Jerry, he was not the sharpest dresser.
"Gryffindor?" Hermione asked from behind her desk, nodding at his tie.
"Oh," Ron said, looking down at it and smiling sheepishly. "Yeah. Well, I got dressed, then realized maybe I should dress up a little more, so I got the first tie I could find."
Hermione laughed. "Very classy."
"So, Hogwarts too, I expect?"
"Ravenclaw." Hermione told him. "Class of '96."
"Class of '97!" Ron said excitedly. "Hermione Granger, right?" He asked, and she nodded. Ron thought for a moment. "No, sorry, I don't ever remember meeting you, but if it helps, your face looks familiar. Maybe I've seen you around the halls."
"Weasley..." Hermione mumbled. "Weasley. I know I've heard that name before!"
"Could you be thinking about Ginny Weasley? My younger sister, captain of the Holy Head Harpies?" He suggested.
"No, but that's really cool." She giggled.
"Or Fred and George Weasley? The creators and owners of Weasley Wizard Wheezes'. My older twin brothers, you see, except well...Fred was killed in the Battle of Hogwarts."
"Battle of Hogwarts! That's it! You're Ron Weasley, Harry Potter's best friend!" She said excitedly.
Ron smiled widely. Yeah, he was simply known as 'Harry Potter's best friend' or 'Potter's sidekick', but nobody remembered him by name. And nobody ever remembered him compared to Ginny, famous Quidditch player, Fred and George, wealthy and hilarious business entrepreneurs, or even Percy, highly ranked Ministry official.
"Yeah, that's me." He said.
Hermione gave him an admirable smile, and he smiled back until all of a sudden he heard, "Ah! Ginger!"
Ron turned around suddenly in his seat, to face a middle-aged, dark haired man with a crooked smile and maniac glint in his eye laughing hysterically at his own joke.
"Scott, this is the new salesman-" Hermione began.
"Wazlib, isn't it?" Scott said as he shook Ron's hand.
"Weasley." Ron said.
Scott's eyes widened. "Weasley? Like, Ginny Weasley, the-"
"Holy Head Harpies Captain?" Ron said, slightly bored. "Yeah, she's my sister."
"Wow, she's really something. I'm not just talking about on the field. She's pretty hot."
"Ummm...thank you?" Ron was starting to understand what Hermione meant about him.
"What about that store, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes? Got any relatives running that?" Scott asked.
"My older brothers, Fred and George, started it. I was working there until I came here."
"Merlin, that is cool! Wow, I go there at least twice a week."
"Yeah, I think I've seen you there. Buying stuff for your children?" Hermione gave him a warning look.
"Nope. Just for me." Scott said happily. "Don't have any kids. Don't have a girlfriend, either. So if you wanna set me up with any of those Holy Head hotties-"
"I'm thinking their a little young."
"I'm thinking I'll give you a raise." He laughed. Ron gave a shaky one too. "And you'll need one. I mean, you've got famous brothers and a famous sister, and here's you, not even writing for the Daily Prophet, you're simply selling Daily Prophets to stores."
"Thanks, Scott." Ron said bitterly, knowing that Scott had been wording the very ideas he was thinking.
"Ron's Harry Potter's best friend." Hermione piped up. "You know, the Harry Potter?! The Boy Who Lived! The Chosen One! Ron helped Harry fight Voldemort."
"Harry Potter has friends?" Scott joked, and was the only one who laughed. "Well, everyone's gotta have friends I guess, but, well, I never heard of any of Harry's.
"Well I did." Hermione said coolly, noticing the glum look on Ron's face. "And bet everyone else in the office has heard of him."
"Thanks, Hermione." Ron mumbled, liking her more and more and Scott Johnson less and less. "But Harry's the celebrity, not me."
"So, it's looked like you've gotten settled." Scott said suddenly. I'll have your desk mate, Dirk, our top salesmen here, and show you the ropes, if you have any questions, just ask Hermione and if they're really important you can come and ask me! Good luck!"
"He really is a charmer." Hermione joked, and then added, "Oh, and Ron, this is Dirk." Dirk was tall, with light blonde hair and gray eyes. He would've looked much more intimidating if it weren't for his large glasses.
"Hey, Dirk. Nice to meet you." Ron held out his left hand.
"Stop." Dirk said suddenly. "I do not shake with my right hand. Only my left. So you may switch hands now." Ron laughed. "Go on." He commanded.
"Oh, you were serious?"
"He's dead serious." Hermione whispered from her desk, enjoying the entertainment.
"Stay out of this, Granger." Dirk said.
Ron raised his eyebrows and Hermione, and she laughed. "Alright, Dirk," Ron said casually, holding out his right hand, and Dirk shook it. "Please to meet you."
"You as well." He said stiffly.
Hermione gave Ron a big smile with a mock wave, and Ron could've sworn he saw a gleam of light coming of her left finger. An engagement ring, perhaps? And what did that mean to Ron?
"Welcome home." She giggled. Ron smiled at her. True, this wasn't his dream job, but as long as she was around, maybe it could feel like home.