Chapter 4
Hermione's morning starts out like any other, she has her usual morning tea and wears her hair the same way she always does, so she really didn't see the iceberg coming. When she walks into her office she finds a memo sent to her from the head of The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures:
Hermione Granger,
Something has come up,
I request your presence in my office at 5 pm sharp.
Let me know if this conflicts with anything.
Gethsemane Prickle
"5 pm? I have to sit around all day wondering what this meeting is about? Oh, I'll go absolutely barmy." Hermione can't help but exclaim after reading the memo.
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Just as Hermione predicted, the entire day was spent rehashing the memo over and over and trying to figure out what Prickle could possibly want. 'Something has come up', but what? What has come up? Hermione is absolutely fraught with anxiety, hoping that it is something good at least…
At ten to five, Hermione wipes her clammy hands on her skirt for the millionth time and stands up from her desk. It is time to figure out the mystery that kept her from getting any work done that day. She tries to steady her breath as she walks down the weaving hallways to the office. "Honestly Hermione, calm down, this is hardly anything to worry about, you've ridden a dragon for Godric's sake" she tells herself under her breath.
As she reaches the office she knocks tentatively on the wooden door and it is soon opened by a woman much taller than herself, with graying roots spiraling out of her head, her eyes are a deep green color with tiny spectacles perched on her nose. She is a woman you wouldn't want to cross on any given day. She has a stern look on her face, but Hermione swears she saw a small upward lilt to her mouth when she met Hermione's eyes.
"Ah, yes, Hermione Granger, please come in." She says as she ushers Hermione into the room. It is a quaint little office, much smaller than one would assume the head of an entire department would have, but Regulation of Magical Creatures is often overlooked here at the Ministry.
Before Hermione can even open her mouth to say anything, perhaps to start this meeting off on the right foot, Gethsemane Prickle beats her to it.
"Yes, well, let's get right to the point shall we, none of that unnecessary small talk," she takes a miniscule breath and continues, "I have had quite the conversation with the Minister of Magic about you, and lately there's opened up a new position that we think you would just be brilliant for." At these words Hermione instantly sits up straighter, she can see this conversation will be one of importance. She stays silent though, she doesn't want to miss a single detail that is said.
"There has been an opening in the department, one that wasn't foreseen, but could be to our benefit. The head of office for House-Elf Rights and Relocation."
"Yes!" Squeaks out a triumphant Hermione before she can stop herself. An opportunity like this was something she only ever dreamed of. To be back helping House-Elves would be, simply put, incredible and to be head of office - unimaginable. Although, she did feel she was starting to make a huge difference for werewolves…
"...and the four years in Switzerland will really be a drop in the bucket, but for such a bright witch as yourself…
"...I'm sorry, what?" Hermione asks confusedly, she had somehow zoned out a bit, thinking about this position, that she missed what Mrs. Prickle had been talking about. "Switzerland?"
"Yes, Switzerland," Mrs. Prickle says with a bit of annoyance at being made to repeat herself. "I had just said what makes this an even more unheard of opportunity is that the Switzerland ministry has reached out to us about their process and success with Elf rights and relocation and wants to bring you onboard with them for four years and show you everything." Gethsemane Prickle was now beaming, like she was being handed free candy, "simply put, an incredible experience for our department and for you."
Hermione was in awe, the opportunity was unheard of and she honestly couldn't imagine a more accomplished ministry department to be trained by. Of course she would have to take the job, there was no way she could say no to this.
"Yes…yes, wow, that sounds, once in a lifetime, how could I say no?" Hermione stutters, probably not the most professional way to accept a position, but she was still in shock!
It isn't until she's leaving her head of department's office that the niggling feeling she's had since she heard of the position, comes to light.
"Oh no! Draco!" She gasps. It hits her, she has someone in her life that this decision will affect. The very person who she is supposed to meet in ten minutes to see the place he has picked out for them to live in together.