Deliver me chapter 3- Excuse me?

Of course the first interview went fine. Of course it wasn't a real interview. Hermione was slightly elated when she returned home. She finally told her mom it was at Hogwarts.

"Well, it is a job, with benefits and good pay. What will you do about the kids?"

"There is a daycare in Hogsmead, it's not to far from the entrance of Hogwarts."

"What about Miki? He is still in school."

"I'll give him the choice to stay where he is or go to the school in Hogsmead. It'll be his choice."

"What about living arrangements?"

"I'll live here, like you want, and floo into the Hogsmead, then I'll drop off the kids and go to work. When I get off work I will pick them up and come home. You won't have to worry about picking them up or taking care of them. I should get home every day around 4:00. I'll even start dinner."

"Well you don't have to go that far, I'll cook some of the meals. Well I'm proud of you, you have done more with your life in one month than you did in ten years with Draco. When will you know if you have the job?"

"Well I have to wait for the ministry to finish their stuff, then I will have an official interview with the staff at Hogwarts, then I will have to interview with the head of the education department at the ministry, then I have to fill out all the paperwork and then I will have the job."

"So maybe you should still keep looking." Hermione sighed and hung her head, leave it up to her mom to spoil her one good day in weeks.



It wasn't long before Hermione had her notice from the ministry that they were done with her information. Dumbledore owled and asked her to come the next day. She was going to be interviewing with him, Minerva, Sprout and 'Oh Gods' Snape. This was going to be a very hard day.

She had gone out and let her mom buy her a new outfit, she was getting her hair and makeup just right when the fire popped.

"What do you want Draco?"

"I wanted to let you know that I sent some money, so you don't have to go talk to a lawyer about it."

"I already did, but thanks for the money, the kids need food and such." 'Wonder if he caught the bitterness in my voice.

"You look nice, where you going?"

"That's not any of your business anymore."

"I love you."

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry." Hermione closed the connection and tried to calm herself. She had an important interview in an hour, she couldn't loose it now. Unfortunately it was too late. The tears began flowing smearing her make-up. Next came the sobs and then the need to collapse. For thirty minutes she sat in the floor unable to comprehend anything but the pain. The ripping at her heart that made everything else seem unimportant. The kids sat in the TV room watching some muggle cartoons, laughing, unaware of their mother balled up on the floor completely lost to all rational thought.