The Meeting

by Ydream08

Chapter 4

It was a cold day for March. Although the sun shone brightly overhead, Hermione felt the biting chill on her face. Perhaps in the afternoon it could be warmer.

Wouldn't matter, as she guessed Ginny and her would be holed up in Three Broomsticks well into the evening.

After last week's meeting, Hermione had immediately wrote to Ginny to meet up. The young woman was busy training for the new Quidditch season, but her Monday was free. And lucky for Hermione, she had no lessons after 12 that day.

Pushing the doors of the pub, her eyes scanned and quickly found the head of red hair. It was not everyday that Hermione and Ginny arranged a date so easily.

"Oh, you look lovely!" commented Ginny as she got to her feet.

They kissed and settled at the table. "Thank you. You too."

After a short time, Madame Rosmerta dropped by to take their orders. Not much changed in this pub anyway so it was easy to make a decision. When she was gone, Ginny winked at Hermione.

"You really look lovely," she whispered.

Hermione laughed and brushed her away. "I told you, you are just as pretty today."

"Rubbish! I never have a reason to dress like you do! Even shopping it must have been fun."

Hermione blushed. Today's pencil skirt and blouse was a combination she, too, felt quite pretty in. "I came right out of a class, so this is very everyday for me."

To that Ginny rose her brows, blue eyes sparkling.

"Bite my arse if that's true! You might be Gryffindor all the way, but I know you like blacks and blues." Ginny leered at her and sent an air kiss. "Red and cream means you are high in spirits."

"Well, in fact..."

Ginny shrieked. "I knew it! The last time you arranged for us to meet -the two of us alone, without Susan or Luna- you were freaking about a guy after the first date."

Hermione remembered that one. He had been a colleague from France. She had been visiting Beauxbaton for finalizing her research (on Flitwick's orders) and Louis had finally asked her on a date. It was bad timing, as Hermione was returning home in two days, but they had made arrangements on a second date here in Scotland.

She and Ginny had met just in between those two dates.

"Must you bring up that man." Hermione sighed. "I was blindsided in the first date. And the second was bloody awful."

Ginny snickered. "Wait— I remember what you said about him: 'He's like...like Cormac but ruder.' I still can't believe how you didn't notice on that first date in Paris."

Hermione shrugged. "Could be because he is a handsome man who asked me out."

"Fine, fine... I know the story. It's not often that you are asked out and he made you excited and nervous. I've been saying to you that you shouldn't avoid eye contact with males or scowl at them, then you'd get a variety of dates."

Blushing, Hermione took a deep breath before replying. "We can't all be natural flirts."

She sounded disappointed even for her own ears. And a bit jealous.

Ginny snorted. "Yeah, well, that helps me with a few sweaty encounters in locker rooms or in an apartment. But it's hard to find someone serious around. Maybe I don't want anything serious."

Hermione felt awful for bringing it up. It was true that after Ginny and Harry broke up, the youngest Weasley hasn't had a relationship more than three months.

In their silence came Madame Rosmerta with their orders, and food was good to lift their moods.

"Forget about me now," Ginny said smiling. It was amazing to watch her teeth show and one side of her lips stretch to reveal a sharkish smile. "You have news for me. Spill it."

"Okay, you won't believe..." Hermione swallowed and took a sip of her butterbear. She shook her head. "I don't believe it myself, but... Do you remember the meeting I had with the Board of Governors?"

"Yeah, you wrote to me in your last letter. How did that go? You said only, good, in this letter."

"It was fine. A bit chaotic, truthfully," Hermione recalled heated discussions where not a voice could be singled out. It had been a mess at some points. "But, I did fine. I explained my concerns and the curriculum I came up with that would counter the problems. There will be another meeting, to give the final decision, you know."

"That sounds great! I'm glad you feel good about presentation. It would be frustrating if you felt like you left out anything." Ginny filled her mouth distractedly.

"Yeah, I agree. Thank you. The thing is... in the coffee breaks I get to talk with someone... umm... someone I'll tell you later who but he asked me out on a dinner."

Although her mouth was full, Ginny's elation could be read from her excited eyes. She immediately reached to her butterbeer to wash it away.

"And you said yes? That's wonderful! Who is the guy? Do I know him? — but wait, you said you met him in the meeting..."

"About that..." With her fork, Hermione played with her salad. Her insides shivered both in anticipation and dread. What would Ginny say? What would anyone say?

"I don't think it could be anything serious... He... well, it could be just an invite to discuss my plans on education..."

"Who is it?" Ginny sounded hesitant now. "Hermione, when you say he is from the Board of Governors, I can only think of one person that I know was among their members..." Something caught in Ginny's throat; she was jumping to conclusions. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me—"

"It is Corban Yaxley."

There was a moment of silence that froze both women.

Ginny put down her utensils to reach her drink. Hermione felt her mouth dry but she awaited a response from her friend.

"Well, I know of one Yaxley... But a face doesn't come up when you say the name."

"You might not know him... I didn't know him, not much anyway... He is currently the Head of Magical Education, and he was at the meeting informally."

Ginny nodded, "That sounds okay."

Another silence stretched.

"He is a Death Eater, isn't he?—"

"Was," Hermione corrected her, but her own voice was small. She couldn't meet Ginny's eyes.

"— The one in the Ministry who chased after you, caused my brother to be splinched."

This time Hermione thought her own swallow was audible as silent as it was.

"I don't know what to say, Hermione." Ginny sighed. "What about his trial? And sentence? Do you know if he's been to Azkaban?"

"Well, it's only been five years… If he was locked up in Azkaban, he must not have stayed long. The man is the Head of a department. I don't think he could have taken the position without any experience."

"The Ministry still works by those who have money and who knows whom to suck up to," Ginny stated, matter of factly. "There are improvements, yes. My Father was promoted and Percy is doing a worthwhile job there now. But I think it is possible to resort to old connections."

"Let's…" Hermione's voice cracked but she cleared her throat and tried again. She wanted to give a chance to a man toward she felt something. "Let's think that he has been acquitted. And for the record of Ron's injury it happened after I cast the Revulsion jinx on Yaxley and we changed destinations mid-Apparition. I took a risk back then, you know how Apparition magic works."

Ginny closed her eyes, making those few seconds the hardest waiting for Hermione. It had been a hard decision to come clean with Ginny, not only because she knew Mr. Yaxley to be an ex-Death Eater, but also because of a different reason. The same reason Hermione has been reluctant to send an available date for Mr. Yaxley. Her empty parchment still lay next to her quill back in her room in Hogwarts.

"Ginny, I…" Hermione lifted her eyes to see her friend. Ginny gazed softer but Hermione knew she wasn't thrilled. Hermione smiled, noticing only now that a tear has slipped from her lashes. "I've thought long about this. I might be messed up because I even consider his invitation… You are right, he was a Death Eater. And, that time in the Ministry he really did try his best to catch us… and give us to Voldemort. He… He must have done worse things than that, too. He was most likely in the Battle, at the opposite side… To be honest, I just… for once in my life I chose to think later on all those things.

"But even if I overlooked his past, I couldn't be sure because… he is so much older. Sure, I had a crush on teachers as a girl. As I grew up, I admitted I found some middle-aged men attractive. I mean, it was just in my head you know…"

Hermione took a sharp breath, but Ginny spoke first. "It is not uncommon, the age difference. I don't know about the Muggle world, but in the magical world once out of Hogwarts, your family either matches you with someone in your age -one or two years give or take- or someone in a high standing who is a widow makes an offer for your hand. In older families, like the Malfoys, generally families arrange everything. In general even some purebloods leave it to their children for some time to make a suitable choice. And there are rare families like mine who respect whatever their children do."

At the last comment, Hermione couldn't help but snort, regardless of her previous demeanor.

Ginny snickered at her reaction. Both knew what Hermione was thinking.

"Your mother shouted for three hours straight when you said you broke up with Harry," Hermione reminded Ginny, still smiling.

"You forget the first time she heard about me and Oliver Wood," Ginny added. "It was worse when we broke up two weeks later."

"I can't believe George made a Howler of it. Remember how he sent it to you that night? As if you wanted to listen to it again."

"Oh, that little shithead. He has the worst sense of humor."

Both young women laughed and even when they calmed, their smiles lingered.

"So, the age difference?" Ginny asked. Hermione was grateful that her friend tried to lift the burden of her mind.

"Truth? I won't think about his past. I refuse to. I know it's not the same but I wouldn't want anyone coming for me because I'm a war heroine, so I think no one should shut down Mr. Yaxley because of his past. And I don't really care he is forty-something. It turns me on, even." Hermione giggled at the thought. Merlin! The thought was making her really wet.

Hermione continued, "He is charismatic and easy on the eye, and talking with him makes my heart beat faster, my knees feel weak and Godric is witness, I shake. I haven't been able to converse with anyone like that. I mean, even you or Harry, or Ron just look at me with this weird sort of blank eyes when I go on about my plan for my Charms lessons and my dates so far has had even less interest. But Mr. Yaxley… well, I see his eyes shine when he agrees with me. I just… I don't know… Ginny, it's just that, everyone gets to date whomever they want… and it is not like it will be anything serious. I started a 'serious relationship' with Ron and we know how that turned out."

Ginny nodded in agreement, so Hermione felt positive that she was on the right tract.

"I think I'll go on a date with him, have fun, talk as much as the conversation flows, and the rest… who knows?"

"Alright. That sounds like a plan," Ginny exclaimed. "You already have a plan! Gosh I feel so used coming here at my free day."

"Oh hush, you know I love you for this." Hermione squeezed Ginny's hand over the table. "And I'll buy you a chocolate cake, to make sure you miss me."

Ginny laughed. "Oh, Hermione, you know how to make a girl swoon."

It would be another dull day at work, Corban knew. The Department had its hands full of preparing for the OWLs and NEWTs, collecting exam questions and arranging examiners for the practical sessions, but as the Head of the Department Corban had little else to do than oversee all these were being done.

A week and a half ago, Corban wouldn't mind the routine. He was content with where he has reached in the Ministry. He had people working under him who recognized his authority, and even some respected him upon seeing past his convictions and realizing that Corban Yaxley did a thorough job. He would occasionally attend meetings that involved other Department heads and Corban didn't mind even reporting to Minister Shacklebolt.

It used to be satisfying. Corban had worked hard to be at his standing.

As an inner circle member of the Dark Lord, his crimes were listless. Willful injuring, depriving individuals of freedom, treason to the Government, and coercion to murder (there were witnesses for his insistence that Draco kill Dumbledore) and using Unforgivables (that was for the Imperius he had cast on Pius Thicknesse) were among them. And his case would have been unsalvageable, if it were not for the fact that Corban Yaxley had been severely punished by the Dark Lord for failing to capture Harry Potter at his break-in to the Ministry.

His wounds had been fresh when he had been dragged to the Battle of Hogwarts. Merlin knows how he had managed to hold his wand that day. The fight had been a blur but Corban remembered looking around himself and recognizing every wand that had pointed at him and inflicted immeasurable damage in the darkness of the dungeons.

What a waste of his efforts it had all been, Corban had thought, knowing that he had put his life a second time in the line for a madman. Corban Yaxley had been wishing the monster hadn't come back again.

Corban had had to put on appearances to avoid death, as close as the Dark Lord had seemed to victory.

After the Potter boy reawakened, Corban did not need another reason to remain in their allegiance.

When it was all over and the Healer assigned in Azkaban examined him, Corban's torture in the dungeons was unraveled and along with his last minute change of sides (He had duelled and incapacitated some Death Eaters) helped him avoid a life-long imprisonment.

Indeed the trials began and Corban found his trial took longer than most as contradictory as his whole story had been. However, it would have been a sorry sentence if Corban had not opened his vaults in the end. And opened them wide.

Thanks to his financial cooperation, his initial sentence of 25 years in Azkaban was reduced to 3 years, with an additional 10 years of wand-probation and a payment worth 5 million galleons.

To an early release Corban had not hesitated to agree with departing more than half his fortune. Regardless of how Lucius saw it as becoming poor, Corban had a decent amount left for him to last his remaining years. Lost money or not, once Corban was released, he would have been a fool to turn down Ministry's offer of a job either way, no matter how lowly it was.

Two years of hard work, the Ministry's desperation for capable employee and knowing exactly how to proceed in the Ministry, Corban had finally achieved his desired position this year.

Yet, he felt like his life lacked something.

When he turned over in his four-poster bed and saw that the other side of the bed was empty, he knew what. Or whom.

Some would call it greed but to Corban Yaxley, it was only natural that he desired to share his life with someone. Already he was feeling loneliness creep in and his life become meaningless. Ages ago, he had been blinded by absurd ideals. They were gone. No longer present in his life. Now, in his new life, having grasped the best position he could climb in his career (and he wouldn't dream further currently, at least within the Ministry) Corban was ready to reach to something else.

It was easy to imagine her next to him. She would be lying there, a pillow she hugged to her chest, and another invisible one obscured by her magnificent hair. Beneath all that curly mess, her amber eyes would sparkle and her lips would curl into a smile.

"Good morning, love," she would say before she rolled over and pecked him on the lips.

Corban wouldn't depart with her that easily, though. Capturing her lips, he would make them stay in bed more than half an hour… until the children woke up at least.

Blinking he saw the bed empty as it in reality was. Corban jerked from the daydream. "Fuckery," he murmured under his breath.

Glancing at the tenting visible over the blankets, Corban swore again.

A cold shower was imminent.

Getting out of bed, he started his morning routine. It wasn't until he was under the shower head that he thought perhaps his problem could be handled another way.

Leaning to the tiles with one hand, the other grasped the base of his member. He opened the shower to give the needed lubricity and got to stroke himself. It could have been her hand around his shaft right now. She would have been on her knees. Her beautiful eyes looking up at him as she showed her tongue. She would lick the head of his member.

Corban flicked his wet thumb over the head to mimic his fantasy.

"Fuck." It felt good. Could have been better if it were her tongue tasting him, her mouth taking him, her hand that grabbed his arse cheek.

Corban increased the pressure of his grip and stroked his shaft faster. His hips thrusted in rhythm. By now, he would have buried his hands in her lovely hair. He would be thrusting into her hot mouth, feeling the tip of his member pressing to the back of throat.

She would be moaning.

Not as loud as his growls.

Eyes tightly shut while he concentrated on every movement, he muttered,"Yes… Fuck… Like that!"

Corban's thighs were starting to hurt with the effort, but he liked the burning pain. His motions were becoming fast and clumsy, but he didn't give a flying fuck.

He opened his eyes and saw his own hand frantically stroking his enlarged purple-red shaft.

She was not there.

"Hermione," he whispered, and thought back to her promise. "I'll owl to you, is that okay?"

There had not come a letter addressed to him from the witch.

It has been more than a week.

Anger flared in Corban's chest and he pumped his member faster, harder, and slapped his other hand against the tiles. Where. Was. Her. Letter?

"Fuck her," he gritted out. He was hot, wet and aroused. All combined with anger.

A few more thrusts later Corban felt his balls squeeze, and his seed shot out. Climbing down from his orgasm left Corban empty. And disappointed. He was satisfied, but wanking off to a witch who did not reciprocate his attraction was only miserable.

He showered and cleaned every imaginary trace of her completely.

The past week has passed like this more or less. He pleased himself at the thought of the young witch. It wasn't always in the shower, but also in the bed, lying or sitting down. The first few days had not included the anger and disappointment that tainted his fantasies. It had been full of excitement and anticipation.

Fool, he has been.

You have a life, he thought, get back to it and find someone else.

Easier said than done, Corban knew. It might be a hard task very much like dressing without magic, getting to work without magic, overall living without magic.

Corban sighed and dismissed all his thoughts.

Three quarters of an hour later, he flushed the toilet in the visitor's entrance and arrived in the Ministry. He had filed a request to open his floo network in the Manor, and he had high hopes that it would be granted as the simple man the Head of Transportation Department was. Corban had treated the man to a dinner and they were friends ever since.

Snickering at his thoughts, Corban walked to his office quite confident with himself. He would not think about Ms. Granger. An image of her kissing him popped in his mind. He was holding her up on a wall. Her legs were parted, ankles hooked at his back.

Corban shook his head. The rush of blood southwards worried him but he willed his mind to calm down. Deep breaths, he reminded himself and desperately tried to think of something else when his eyes closed and the scene of him taking Ms. Granger continued at the back of his mind.

This would be a long day.

"Oh, good morning Mr. Yaxley! Before you join the meeting at ten o'clock…" The voice of his assistant Mrs. Willson startled Corban, but he was thankful for the distraction.

"Good morning Mrs. Willson."

The witch reached for a pile of letters in her desk drawers. "Letters arrived for you. One is from Hogwarts—"

Corban held his breath.

"— from Headmistress McGonagall. And there is also…"

Corban gritted his teeth, angry at himself. "That's fine. Here, let me."

He grabbed the letters from the witch's hands. "I don't want to be disturbed until the meeting. And remind Mr. Martin to be ready five minutes to ten. If he is not perfectly prepared for the meeting by then, he might as well not attend."

Corban returned to the letters in his hands. "Thank you, Mrs. Willson."

He then proceeded to his office and closed his door, his eyes skimming through the letters. There was the one from Headmistress, and another one from the Magical Games and Sports Department, and one more…

Corban halted one step before his desk. He blinked and read the envelope again. There was no mistaking it.

From : Professor Hermione Granger

Head of Charms Department, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Order of Merlin, First Class. the Second Wizarding War.

What has she replied, Corban immediately thought. A mocking part of his mind telling him that what wrote inside would be an apology letter that she would not make it to his dinner invitation. Rowena curse her, if the young witch was so cruel.

Only one way to find out, Corban thought and he tore the envelope open.

Hello!

This story will be longer than the five chapters I initially planned.

We'll see how that'll work. Hope you enjoy :D

Ydream08