Ministry of Magic, London, England

Hermione Granger stepped into the Ministry Atrium. People were running left and right to get to their offices. Hermione pushed her way through the crowd, trying to get to the elevators. She pushed her way into one of the elevators. She nearly dropped her work bag trying to get into the elevator.

"What floor ma'am?" asked a high pitched voice. Hermione looked down to see a house elf in a ministry uniform.

"Floor 4, Thank you" Hermione said. A man behind her snorted.

"Thanking a house elf, this new generation" he grumbled. Hermione was about to spin around when a familiar voice spoke

"Don't bother with him, Hermione" Arthur Weasley said

"Oh, sorry Mr. Weasley, I didn't see you there"

"Don't worry Hermione, How did Ron seem today?"

"He seemed fine, he's excited" Hermione said

"Did I tell you Perkins, My son's now a full auror!" Arthur said to a man behind him. Perkins was going to speak when the elevator started to move. It was always a nauseating ride but today was worse

"Floor number 4" the house elf squeaked. Hermione pushed her way to the entrance.

"Tell Ron we are proud of him!" Arthur called

"Of course Mr. Weasley," Hermione responded. She walked down the hall to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures Beings Office. She walked in and looked around the room. There were over a dozen cubicles and several offices on the sides. A young woman was sitting by the desk in the front of the room. She was pretty, with dark eyes, olive skin and curly brown hair. She was wearing a cardigan and skirt. It was more casual than Hermione's blouse and pants. She wondered if she over-dressed.

"Can I help you miss?" asked the woman at the desk

"Oh sorry," Hermione said "I'm Hermione Granger, I'm-"

"Oh! You're the new girl!" The woman said

"Er, yes"

"I'm Shayna, I was in Hufflepuff a few years above you. I can take you to meet the boss and then you can get set up" she said

"Thanks," Hermione said. Shayna led her to the largest office at the end of the hall. Hermione looked around the office as she walked. All of the women had straight hair and were wearing skirts and blouses. Perhaps Hermione was not dressed too formally. They arrived at the office. It had an old oak door and a window looking out to the middle of the room. Hermione knocked on the door

"Come in," a voice said from inside. Hermione opened the door and entered the office. It was the largest office in the department. Her boss was second in the entire Regulation and Control of Magical creatures office. Her new boss was an older balding man in his late 50s.

"You must be Miss Granger," He said sleazily

"Yes," Hermione said

"Kingsley was telling me all about you. Top of your class?"

"Correct," she said

"And you took care of Potter and what's his name"

"I never 'took care of' Ron and Harry. We were a team. We all fought and took care of each other"

"Of course dear" Hermione fought back a glare "you know you are very good at magic according to your transcripts, and so articulate too!"

"I know that sir, I would like to know about my new job"

"Right, you are working on our house elf legislation. Kingsley said you would enjoy that type of work" he handed her several folders. "Well you should probably get started on that"

"Of course, Sir"

"Oh and Miss Granger, You really should dress more properly for work,"

"Excuse me, but I am in office dress code"

"Yes, well you are in the men's dress code. Women are expected to wear ah, more feminine suits" Hermione did not even bother hiding her glare "also your hair, it isn't exactly proper for the office" Shayna, who was in the corner, tugged on her own curly locks. "Oh Miss Cohen, you do not need to worry, you are only a secretary. Do we have an understanding Miss Granger?"

"Yes, we have an understanding" Hermione said with a smile

"Good, I really do think you will do well here"

"I know I will," Hermione said. She left the room with Shayna. Once they were out of earshot of the office, Hermione spoke again "Are you alright?" Hermione asked Shayna

"Yeah, Mr. Loman says stuff like that sometimes"

"This has happened before?"

"Not exactly, He's a narrow minded man." They walked over to Hermione's desk. Shayna began to help Hermione set up her desk.

"So he's said stuff like this before?"

"Yeah, One time I asked him if I could take a couple of days for Passover last year and he told me I couldn't. I later overheard him giving one of the accountants nearly a week for Easter. The same thing happened to Kari when she asked for a couple of days for the Big Eid. Another time I heard him say that they shouldn't give me a promotion because I would probably get knocked up soon and it would be a waste of a position. What are you going to do about your hair?"

"Oh please, I didn't let Voldemort change who I am, I'm not letting Peter Loman make me change myself"

"You're braver than I am"

"You're more organized than I am," Hermione gasped. Shayna had perfectly organized her files alphabetically while talking.

"Well you know what they say, Hufflepuffs are great finders. Well, turns out, we're also got at making it possible for other people to find stuff too"

"Yeah"

"I'm gonna go back to the front desk. Let me know if you need anything"

"Thanks"

"No problem" She answered, walking back to her desk. Hermione began to revise the newest House elf legislation while silently seething. If Loman was going to belittle her, well, she was going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Draoidh University, London, England

Hermione Granger walked through Draoidh University's gate. She was still angry about her morning encounter. She stalked on campus, she looked over her schedule. It was typed on standard printer paper rather than written on parchment with a quill. It was odd to hold it. It felt almost nostalgic but also wrong. She refocused on the writing. She was in the 1 o'clock freshman dean meeting, in Fae Hall. She walked to the hall. She was still thinking about how jarring holding standard muggle paper was. She really didn't spend much time in the muggle world, especially the last 4 years. She looked around the building as she mused. Draoidh had some of the charm of Hogwarts, but also the feeling of any muggle academic building. She doubted that anyone who hadn't lived in the magical and muggle world would even notice. She walked into Fae Hall. She looked around for a seat and saw one next to an academic looking young woman.

"Is there anyone sitting here?" asked Hermione.

"No, you're good" she flicked her braids behind her shoulder. They were long, beautiful, and half up, tied with a blue ribbon.

"I'm Hermione Granger"

"Anna Kent"

"What are you studying?"

"Pre-law, what about you?"

"Psychology and Sociology,"

"Are you a science person? I'm more of an English-History person?" That was an interesting question, she didn't consider herself a science person. She disliked potions,

"Well, psychology and sociology are interesting among the sciences. They obviously have components of science but they also require philosophy, anthropology and History. They really are unique subjects."

"Ah so you're one of the people who are super into their major"

"I wouldn't say I'm super interested but I really like them" Anna chuckled

"Don't worry, I'm only teasing"

"Oh, uh cool! Where are you from?"

"Surrey. What about you?"

"Hampestead. What town?"

"Dorking, know the area?"

"I have a friend who grew up in Little Whinging"

"Ugh"

"Don't like it?"

"It's full of pompous, privileged, perfect people who think they're better than just about everyone else. No offense to your friend"

"None taken, he hated it"

"Smart man"

"Actually he's a bit of an idiot" Anna laughed again. Andromeda Tonks walked on stage.

"Welcome to Draoidh University!" She began "I am Professor Andromeda Tonks, head of the history department. Now, many of you have never met me, but you will. I am your group dean and if you choose to stay, I will be your dean for the next 4 years. As freshmen, you have already selected your first semester classes. You will also be taking your general education courses, such as History, English, Math, Science and Art. If there are any problems please contact your guidance counselor. Your dorms are in Púca Hall. You will have time to unpack after this meeting. When you get your dorm assignments, you will also get a map of campus. Now, I don't want to hold you any longer, so go and unpack"

"What are you taking as your Gen Eds?" Anna asked

"Gen Eds?"

"General education. Did your secondary school not call them that?"

"Not exactly"

"Oh, well they're History, English, Science, Mathematics, language and an art"

"Oh, ok, I'm taking Psychology 101 and Sociology 101 to cover science, Advanced Arithmecy-tic Arithmetic, Advanced Latin, Gothic literature, Art and Occult of the Ancient World."

"You sound so sad about taking art"

"I can't draw. What are you taking?"

"Forensic Sciences, Statistics, Monsters and Madness in Literature, Public speaking and history of the occult world too"

"You're not taking art?"

"Public speaking is in the art department"

"Maybe I should transfer"

"You'll be fine in art."

"I doubt it" Anna looked down at her watch

"Hey, want to grab a bite with me and a friend?"

"Sure" Hermione smiled. Anna reached to her side and tried to grab a bag that did not exist

"Oh shiitake mushrooms, I left my purse in my room"

"It's fine, we can go get it" Hermione followed Anna up to her dorm. She entered the room to see another girl lounging on her bed. She had wavy jet black hair, turquoise eyes and pale skin. She was wearing a long skirt and a high necked, long sleeved top. She was listening to music through a pair of bulky headphones

"Hey, Serena, have you seen my purse?"

"In the closet second, on the doorknob" she had a prominent southern American accent

"Thanks" Anna went to go get it. Hermione was left alone with Serena.

"Hi, I'm Serena Evans"

"Hermione Granger"

"Nice to meet yah, you from around here?"

"Yeah, I grew up in a suburb of London. What about you?"

"I live with my Gran in Nat"

"Where's that?" Hermione asked

"Alabama, most people don't know it. We got about 3000 people. We got our own Main Street and everything!"

"Huh" Hermione said

"Got my purse!" Anna said. "Hey, Hermione, we're meeting my friend outside."

"Where y'all going?" Serena asked

"Lunch, wanna join?" Anna asked

"Sure" she grabbed her bag. She looked up, thinking "is it warm today?"

"Yeah, pretty warm"

"Maybe I should change. Is that ok?"

"Yeah, I'll text Icarus," Anna said. Hermione and Anna left the room to let Serena change. She stepped out in a knee length dress, denim jacket and boots.

"You look good," said Hermione

"Thanks. Gran doesn't like me wearing immodest clothes. Turns you to sin, she says. But she's not here now right?"

"Yeah"

"Look at you, a little rebel!" Anna said "don't worry that's a good thing. We need to get going" They walked out of the hall towards a tall man with long dreadlocks.

"Hey, Icarus!" Anna yelled. He turned around and smiled

"Hey Anna! Hey Anna's friends" he said

"Icarus, this is Hermione and Serena, Hermione and Serena, this is Icarus"

"Nice to meet you," Hermione said. Serena was staring at Icarus' dreadlocks.

"Don't you have dreads in Nat, Alabama? Anna asked

"Er, no"

"Don't worry about it. I've gotten worse looks." He looked at Serena conspiratorially "Turns out, people don't expect teaching assistants to have dreadlocks," Serena giggled a little.

"Where are we going?" Anna asked him

"There's this lunch spot near here, it's not particularly popular. Don't know why, it's the best food on campus." They walked towards the east side of campus. Hermione walked with Anna, behind Icarus and Serena.

"So how do you know Anna?" Serena asked

"We grew up next door to each other. She absolutely loved it"

"I did not! You were the most annoying neighbor in existence!"

"I never said I wasn't. It could have been worse, you could have lived in Little Whinging"

"Hermione had a friend who grew up there" Anna said

"Ew." Icarus said

"He hated it" Hermione retorted

"Don't blame 'em. Might know his name if I don't know him. My mom used to love keeping up with all of the Little Whinging gossip"

"Harry Potter?"

"Was he that kid who used to follow that Polkiss kid to our block?" Icarus asked

"No, that was Dursley" Anna said

"I wish I had your knack for names"

"Was that a complement?"

"No, oh, was he the other one? You know, his cousin. Small skinny kid with glasses, scar on his forehead? The one who got sent to reform school?"

"Harry's got glasses and a scar but he went to my school, not a reform school!"

"Huh, what school did you go to anyway?"

"Highland College"

"Oh. Know a couple of kids who went there, Percy, Penelope, Oliver, Clara, Shayna, who else?" He thought

"Percy Weasley?" Hermione asked

"Know him?"

"Yeah, he was the prefect my first year" they walked into the small restaurant. It was a modern bistro with a similar restaurant that they had gone to during Hermione's first day in the city. Hermione looked around the restaurant to see a very familiar blonde haired girl enter behind her.

Owlands Bistro, Draoidh University, London, England

"Hi Hermione" Luna yelled. Hermione turned to face her roommate.

"Hi Luna"

"I didn't know you were gonna be here,"

"Well, I'm here"

"Hey Luna, you haven't introduced us to your friend." Parker said

"Right, this is Hermione, she's my roommate."

"Uh Hi," Icarus, Anna and Serena looked at the newcomers. Serena kept looking at Parker.

"You have a problem?" Parker asked Serena

"Er sorry, no of course not" Serena blushed

"Let me guess, you also don't have non-binary people in Nat, Alabama?" Anna asked

"Non-binerary?"

"I can't tell if you're serious or you're joking" Parker said

"She's probably serious" Anna said "Ok, Serena, someone who is non-binary doesn't fit into the strictly male-female gender binary"

"And you lost her" Icarus observed

"I can keep trying" Anna mused

"So Luna, I'll see you back at the house?" Hermione asked

"I thought we were gonna sit together?"

"I don't know, I mean your friend and we'll-"

"I'm fine with it" Anna said "anyone not?" There were some murmurs of agreement. "Alright, table for 8 then" they waited for a moment while their table was set. The group sat down at the table. Luna thanked their waiter as they sat at the table. She sat between Parker and Juniper. Everyone began talking and getting to know each other. Turns out, Icarus was Professor Tonk's teaching assistant and he was training to get his doctorate in history. Serena was majoring in music and Rolf was taking zoology, regular zoology not magizoology.

" Your favorite band is the Beatles too!" Juniper squealed

"Yup I've never been a country gal"

"Oh please," Anna mumbled

"Country music, I mean. Beatles was one of the best bands you could get in the record shop"

"So you don't know many other bands then?" Juniper asked

"No, but I think Beatles will always be my favorite"

"Well duh it's the best!"

"Definitely" Serena smiled

"So you and Serena are both from the states?" Anna asked Rolf

"Yes but I'm from Massachusetts"

"Is that similar to Alabama?" Anna asked

"No, not all," Rolf said gruffly

"Like the opposite side of the country" Serena said

"I live in a suburb of New York and she lives in the Deep South"

"Huh," Anna said. Luna looked on. She liked it when everyone got along. They still had to teach Serena pronouns though. But that would be a problem for a different day. Right now, she had a whole school year to look forward to.