Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot.
They stayed like that for what seemed to them an eternity. They gazed more at the stars, searching for falling ones and trying to outline the constellations. Once the clock struck 12, they both decided to go home.
Hermione gave Harry a long fervent kiss as the limousine parked in front of her house. "See you, tomorrow."
"I bet you will." Harry said to her, smiling.
Hermione stepped out of the car and turned to see Harry one last time for that evening. And as the window went up, the limousine started to leave and Hermione made her way to the porch. The lights of the house were off and Hermione searched her bag for the keys. It was getting colder by the minute. As soon as she found them, she opened the front door and slipped inside, careful not to wake anybody. But to her surprise, as she opened the lights, her parents were there, fully awake, eager to hear all about what happened. "Mom, Dad, goodnight."
Hermione way her way past them, to the flight of stairs, to go to her room. Halfway up, she heard her dad call out, "We deserve to know what happened!" This was followed by a set of giggles from her mom.
"I'm tired. Can you at least wait until the morning?"
"Okay, we'll wait here in the sofa. Rest well, honey," her mom called out.
"I just don't understand my parents," Hermione whispered to herself as she moved toward her room.
She opened the lights and almost screamed as she saw a large barn owl screeching on top of her bed. Its claws were buried deep on the mattress, as if not wanting to let go. Hermione walked towards it and tried to grab it from her bed but it only screeched more as it resisted her efforts. Hermione gave up as she noticed something tied on the animal's left leg. She reached for it, and as soon as she untied the knot, the owl released its grip from the mattress and flew out the window. Hermione noticed that part of her beddings was ripped off, but she ignored it and concentrated on the paper on her hand. It was obviously a letter, but from whom, Hermione wasn't sure. The only way she would know was to open it. As Hermione unrolled the parchment, the first thing she saw was the logo of a dragon on the top. "Draco." And as she spoke that name, Hermione felt her face blush and her breathing was held back. She didn't know why, but saying out Draco's name gave her great relief. While she was questioning her feelings, she started reading the letter. And as she did, she distinctfully remembered all the events that happened the day after her graduation, the day that she was to leave Hogwarts.
"Dear Hermione,
I know you would never want to receive a letter from me, but I just had to tell you that I miss you so much. That day after our graduation, there were so many words left unsaid, so many issues left unresolved, but I am willing to ask for another chance. If I could only turn back time, I wouldn't have let Harry take you away, I would have told you what I felt, what I was thinking. I know I surprised you when I suddenly grabbed you as you walked out of the Great Hall. But I knew as well that there was no other way in which I could talk to you. You're probably wondering by now what it was I wanted to tell you. This may sound crazy, even insincere, but I really want to apologize for all of the things I had done for you in the past seven years. You're probably cursing me right now, saying to yourself how could you just forget all the mean words I said, all the things I did that hurt you a lot, how I made your life in Hogwarts a living hell. But its okay, I deserve more than just cursing, maybe I even deserve to be fed to the basilisk for all the evil I had done in the world. But I still want to say sorry. I know you still aren't believing me, because it's hard to think of a malevolent person like me repenting for his sins, but that's the truth. And before you burn this letter because of uncontrolled fury over me, I just want you to know that I made that necklace I gave you. You probably have opened it by now and perhaps in now lies on the deepest trenches of the ocean but I still want to tell you I meant to give it to you and no one else. This is not to say I was using the necklace to acquire your forgiveness and to gain your trust, I only wanted you to know that I am willing to work hard for anything I want, and I did work hard to give you that necklace. But if you still have it, and you don't want to wear it, please don't destroy or throw it away, just keep it. If you don't want to be reminded by me, you can hide it anywhere just as long as it's in your house. Please understand that I will not stop from trying to show you how sorry I am. Someday we will see each other again, and even if you try to run away from me I will follow you. Just tell me you forgive me and I will never bother you again.
Draco"
A couple of tears dropped on the letter, which caused the ink to smudge over the paper. Hermione rolled back the parchment and hid it inside a box, under her bed, where she keeps all the letters she had received from her friends. She wasn't sure if Draco was her friend, but it sounded like he was willing to be. Hermione wiped her tears and comfortably laid down her bed. She stretched out her arms and legs and looked up the ceiling of her room. She turned her head to her open window, where the owl had just left and focused her sight on the distant stars. She realized she was still wearing her dress and remembered she was wearing the necklace as well. She pressed her right hand over it and at that same moment she saw a falling star. Hermione closed her eyes and made a wish. And in the process of wishing, she had fallen asleep.
***
"Hermione, honey, wake up!"
Hermione opened her eyes and was almost blinded by the light of the morning sun. She turned her back to the window and closed her eyes again. But she felt being shaken and heard her mother's voice once more, "Hermione, you'll be late for your job interview."
She felt a sudden surge of electricity and she jumped out of her bed, running out of the room and towards the bathroom. "What time is it? 8:30! Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" Hermione shouted as she threw her clothes into the basket and rushed to the shower. She was about to turn the knob when she realized she was still wearing the necklace. She quickly removed it and dropped in on the side of the sink. After a quick shower, she grabbed the towel, dried herself, snatched the necklace and hurried off to her room. Her mom was there and was holding up a pair of outfits for her to wear. "Thanks, mom," Hermione said, grabbing the pink top and blue jeans on her mom's left hand. Her mom quickly left the room and Hermione dressed as quickly as she can. She put on the necklace and paced in the direction of the mirror. She wore a disappointed look. "It doesn't really match my outfit, does it? Too elegant." Hermione still wanted to wear it so she slipped the necklace behind her shirt, which revealed only the chain. She reached for her rubber shoes and put them on. Running down the stairs to the kitchen, she saw that breakfast was already served. She wanted to eat as much as she can, but it was almost 9:00, and she still had to go to the Ministry of Magic for her interview. She had a few bites of the egg and bacon, a few sips of her juice, then went to brush her teeth. At exactly 8:57, Hermione was ready to go. "Mom, Dad! I'm leaving!" Her parents, who came from the living room rushed to the kitchen and gave her one last look.
"Perfect, honey," Her dad approached her and gave her a hug.
"Dad, careful, my shirt!"
However, her mom ran out of the kitchen, and after a few seconds emerged, holding a hair brush. "Just one more thing, you forgot to brush your hair." She walked behind Hermione and started combing long, straight hair.
"Mom, you know I don't brush my hair." With one swift motion, Hermione flipped her hair and turned to face her mother. "Now, is that okay?"
"Perfect," her mother said, grinning.
"I have to go now." Hermione glanced at the wall clock and saw that it was 8:59. She closed her eyes and with one popping sound, she was gone.
***
Hermione opened her eyes and came face to face with the crowded office of the Ministry of Magic. It was a large building, definitely aged, but somehow, Hermione thought it looked most definitely different now. The place seemed cozy and warm enough just like her home. And though several wizards and witches keep on emerging from thin air and several others walk past around her, making the place look more crowded than the busiest street, Hermione had this odd feeling that she wanted to work here. But as she made her way to the admission table, and came face to face with a mean looking wizard, Hermione hurriedly dismissed the thought. *It was just magic* "Good morning, I'm here for my interview." The man, who looked like he was in his retiring age, gave Hermione a strange smile that made Hermione back away a little. Rising from the counter, the old wizard studied Hermione very seriously. Hermione wanted to run away and just forget the whole thing, until he spoke, "So you want to work here, huh."
"Uh, yes." Hermione's insides were shaking. *Why does it feel like this is my interview? Is this the first stage? More like an elimination round.*
As quickly as he had stood up, the man took his seat again and lifted a heavy leather-bound book that Hermione thought was probably the records. "Name please."
"Er- Hermione Granger." Hermione saw the man's index finger brush through the parchment, and finally, after several turning of pages, he finally declared that he has found her name.
"You are scheduled to be interviewed today, at exactly 9:00 AM. And - according to my time - you are late."
Hermione suddenly felt the butterflies flying all around her insides. "I - I - but I came here on time - you - I."
"A little nervous, my dear? Don't worry, we can probably reschedule you after a few weeks, but I doubt that by that time, there'll be any favorable jobs left for you."
Hermione has had enough. She doesn't deserve to be treated like this. "Look, can't I just talk to my interviewer?"
"No one's allowed to go inside without my permission," the old man said with a twisted tone of authority.
*Then I'll just apparate inside*, Hermione thought.
"And you can't apparate even if you try," he followed his words as if reading Hermione's mind. "You can go now, miss, you're wasting my time."
Hermione's eyesight is getting clouded. This is her first job interview, and she's being treated like dirt. She wasn't really late, and she couldn't believe that after 7 years of working her butt off at Hogwarts, she couldn't even get a decent welcome at the Ministry. "I'm not going! Tell your boss I'm here, and that I'm not going unless I get interviewed!"
The old wizard stood up once again and his face was lined with madness. His eyes seemed to be piercing into her skin, ripping out all of her insides. But to her surprise, that look suddenly shifted to a warm smile, that of a grandfather. Hermione couldn't believe this man could be so good at changing his expressions. *Well, he was worked here for years,* Hermione thought. "You can go inside," the man's now gentle voice told her.
"What? What do you mean I can go inside? I need to see your boss!" Hermione was confused.
"You can see the Minister if you like, Ms. Granger. Actually, he is most anxious to see you. I couldn't very well bear the idea of trying to dissuade the smartest girl in this year's batch, but it is my job to test the applicants on the most important skill they have to bear when they desire to work here on the ministry - being able to stand up for yourself."
Hermione was very much surprised. *So that was a test, a sort of password so I can enter. Now this place gives me the creeps.* She saw a door to her right open, and to her amazement, it was an elevator. She turned to the old man, her brows raised. "You use elevators here?"
"Standard operating procedure. Actually, it's more of caution. I wasn't kidding about apparating a while ago. If you try to apparate inside one of the offices, you might end up outside the building, or worse, inside the boiler room." He gave her a meaningful glance. "You choose."
"Ah- er- I think I'll pass." Hermione turned to the elevator and began to walk towards it. She slipped inside and saw that the numbers ranged from G or groundfloor, where she was at, to 13. "This building's as high as regular muggle hospitals, though it does have a 13th floor. And that floor's where I'm going." She pressed the button which says 13 on it and the door of the elevator closed. Hermione hasn't even started blinking, the door had opened once more, and she was in a different floor, or rather, office, as Hermione put it, questioning the fact if there really were floors in that building.
"Highest floor is the office of the Minister of Magic. I guess this is it." Hermione glanced around the room that was quite larger than Dumbledore's office. Actually, Hermione noted, it was more prestigious and elegant than Dumbledore's. The floor was tiled with marble, which seemed to be polished up to the corner. Hermione could make out her face when she looked down. She then looked up and noticed several maps and charts pinned on the walls. There were piles and piles of paper on the farthest corner of the room, and a long wooden table with about 13 chairs around it was positioned at the very end. There were also pictures of the past Ministers, just like that in Dumbledore's office. The latest was that of Cornelius Fudge, who retired during the comeback of Lord Voldemort, when Hermione was in her 5th year at Hogwarts. Some say the pressure on him was too much that he decided to rid himself of the duties. While others say that he was actually fired because of his indifferent views and opinions regarding the trials and tribulations that the Ministry was facing during that time. Hermione wondered who the new Minster could be. Only a few employers of the ministry actually know his identity. They say the new minister saw it fit to keep others from knowing him, for his own security and for peace in the ministry. In fact, Hermione knew she was very lucky to be standing inside the Minister's office, for many have said that only a few have entered the office ever since Fudge took off, and that the new head was very discreet of his works.
Hermione flinched as she heard the elevator door open. She didn't know what to do, if she was in fact allowed to face the Minister. She was pondering on her next move when the man at the door spoke to her. "Ms. Granger, would you care to turn around and face an old friend?"
Hermione's heart began to race. She knows that voice, which means she knows that person. And if she's not mistaken, the new Minister is none other than - "Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione shouted in delight as she turned around.
Hermione rushed to him and give him a warm embrace. After which, she looked up to him and began to survey his smiling face. "You're the new Minister? Why didn't you let us know?"
Dumbledore started to move towards the table and Hermione followed him. "I believed it would be appropriate to keep that information from as many people as possible. Only the proper authorities know I am here, because they were the ones who put me here."
Hermione began thinking, then she spoke again. "But how did you get here without letting the others know? I believe no one could apparate into the offices, and the only way you could get here was to use the elevator - from the ground floor."
Dumbledore was amazed by her usual keenness. "Do not tell this to anybody, Ms. Granger, but there in an apparate-able floor below the ground floor. That's where I come from. Aside from me, the other councilors, Salvador, and of course, you, no one else knows that."
"Well, that explains it. Wait, who's Salvador?"
"He's the one that allowed you to get here. He has the keys to all the offices. He alone could control the elevator and lead you to your destination. Actually, there's no other office you can go to besides the one he allows you to. He's more like the boss here."
Hermione was confused again. "Boss? Aren't you the boss?"
"I run the organization, he runs the building. There's a difference. Nonetheless, we are friends."
"I see. Well, does that mean that the other buttons in the elevator are useless, that you can only press the one he allows you to?"
Dumbledore seemed to be enjoying Hermione's play of curiosity. He had pulled two chairs. He sat on one and he pointed Hermione to the other. "Actually you can still press any number, but you'll just end up going to nothingness. The elevators don't actually lead you to floors, Ms. Granger, they transport you towards the place you have to go inside the building. This is more like a secret underground tunnel, actually."
Hermione smiled. It was exactly the same as what she had thought. "Wait, Professor, does that mean you are the one who's going to interview me?"
Professor Dumbledore straightened up in his seat. "Actually, there will be no interviews."
Hermione straightened up as well. "What do you mean Professor? I'm sorry I was late but this is important to me. I."
"Don't worry, Ms. Granger, I have better things to offer you," Professor Dumbledore cut her off.
"You're going to give me a job?" Hermione said with a grin.
"Not exactly," Dumbledore said as he surveyed her with his glasses. "I am going to offer you something that I think will be more useful for you now, and for your future. You are much too younger to work for the Ministry, Ms. Granger. Youth doesn't belong in a rugged old building like this."
Hermione was anxious to know what it is. "What are you going to offer me then, Professor?-I mean, Minister."
Professor Dumbledore stood up and went to a smaller desk at the corner of the room, where the piles of paper were situated. "You can still call me Professor, Ms. Granger," he said, smiling at her. "I may well be past my teaching years at Hogwarts, but that doesn't mean that I will have to stop teaching you. I am still your professor." He reached for a folder on the desk and gave it to Hermione. "I thought you might be interested in this."
Hermione took the folder from Dumbledore's hand and opened it. She was surprised by what she saw written on the paper. "But Professor, this is a."
"Yes, Ms. Granger, an application form for Harvard University. I have communicated with their headmaster, and you very well have my recommendation. I believe you are a vying candidate for a scholarship. And once you get accepted, you are going to leave this year."
Hermione couldn't believe what she just heard. She came at the Ministry for a job interview, and now she's going to leave with an application form and a recommendation for Harvard, not to mention a possible scholarship. She has always dreamt of going to college after studying at Hogwarts, but she never really thought of applying, for Hogwarts is a very different school compared to those of other candidates. A formal college education? At Harvard? This is definitely a dream come true for Hermione.
"Thank you so much, Professor Dumbledore!"
After giving Dumbledore a well deserved hug, Hermione left the building, even thanking Salvador as she walked past the ground floor. But on the way to Hogsmeade to look for Harry to tell him the good news, Hermione suddenly remembered that she hadn't told her parents about it. How would her parents react? She knew they were excited for her to start work, but they may also like the idea of her getting formal education. On the other hand, sending your only daughter miles away from home to study college, not to mention after 7 years of almost living at Hogwarts, isn't such an agreeable idea for parents. Stopping halfway, Hermione came face to face with the first ever dilemma she had for the day. *Why do great things always come with great setbacks?*
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot.
They stayed like that for what seemed to them an eternity. They gazed more at the stars, searching for falling ones and trying to outline the constellations. Once the clock struck 12, they both decided to go home.
Hermione gave Harry a long fervent kiss as the limousine parked in front of her house. "See you, tomorrow."
"I bet you will." Harry said to her, smiling.
Hermione stepped out of the car and turned to see Harry one last time for that evening. And as the window went up, the limousine started to leave and Hermione made her way to the porch. The lights of the house were off and Hermione searched her bag for the keys. It was getting colder by the minute. As soon as she found them, she opened the front door and slipped inside, careful not to wake anybody. But to her surprise, as she opened the lights, her parents were there, fully awake, eager to hear all about what happened. "Mom, Dad, goodnight."
Hermione way her way past them, to the flight of stairs, to go to her room. Halfway up, she heard her dad call out, "We deserve to know what happened!" This was followed by a set of giggles from her mom.
"I'm tired. Can you at least wait until the morning?"
"Okay, we'll wait here in the sofa. Rest well, honey," her mom called out.
"I just don't understand my parents," Hermione whispered to herself as she moved toward her room.
She opened the lights and almost screamed as she saw a large barn owl screeching on top of her bed. Its claws were buried deep on the mattress, as if not wanting to let go. Hermione walked towards it and tried to grab it from her bed but it only screeched more as it resisted her efforts. Hermione gave up as she noticed something tied on the animal's left leg. She reached for it, and as soon as she untied the knot, the owl released its grip from the mattress and flew out the window. Hermione noticed that part of her beddings was ripped off, but she ignored it and concentrated on the paper on her hand. It was obviously a letter, but from whom, Hermione wasn't sure. The only way she would know was to open it. As Hermione unrolled the parchment, the first thing she saw was the logo of a dragon on the top. "Draco." And as she spoke that name, Hermione felt her face blush and her breathing was held back. She didn't know why, but saying out Draco's name gave her great relief. While she was questioning her feelings, she started reading the letter. And as she did, she distinctfully remembered all the events that happened the day after her graduation, the day that she was to leave Hogwarts.
"Dear Hermione,
I know you would never want to receive a letter from me, but I just had to tell you that I miss you so much. That day after our graduation, there were so many words left unsaid, so many issues left unresolved, but I am willing to ask for another chance. If I could only turn back time, I wouldn't have let Harry take you away, I would have told you what I felt, what I was thinking. I know I surprised you when I suddenly grabbed you as you walked out of the Great Hall. But I knew as well that there was no other way in which I could talk to you. You're probably wondering by now what it was I wanted to tell you. This may sound crazy, even insincere, but I really want to apologize for all of the things I had done for you in the past seven years. You're probably cursing me right now, saying to yourself how could you just forget all the mean words I said, all the things I did that hurt you a lot, how I made your life in Hogwarts a living hell. But its okay, I deserve more than just cursing, maybe I even deserve to be fed to the basilisk for all the evil I had done in the world. But I still want to say sorry. I know you still aren't believing me, because it's hard to think of a malevolent person like me repenting for his sins, but that's the truth. And before you burn this letter because of uncontrolled fury over me, I just want you to know that I made that necklace I gave you. You probably have opened it by now and perhaps in now lies on the deepest trenches of the ocean but I still want to tell you I meant to give it to you and no one else. This is not to say I was using the necklace to acquire your forgiveness and to gain your trust, I only wanted you to know that I am willing to work hard for anything I want, and I did work hard to give you that necklace. But if you still have it, and you don't want to wear it, please don't destroy or throw it away, just keep it. If you don't want to be reminded by me, you can hide it anywhere just as long as it's in your house. Please understand that I will not stop from trying to show you how sorry I am. Someday we will see each other again, and even if you try to run away from me I will follow you. Just tell me you forgive me and I will never bother you again.
Draco"
A couple of tears dropped on the letter, which caused the ink to smudge over the paper. Hermione rolled back the parchment and hid it inside a box, under her bed, where she keeps all the letters she had received from her friends. She wasn't sure if Draco was her friend, but it sounded like he was willing to be. Hermione wiped her tears and comfortably laid down her bed. She stretched out her arms and legs and looked up the ceiling of her room. She turned her head to her open window, where the owl had just left and focused her sight on the distant stars. She realized she was still wearing her dress and remembered she was wearing the necklace as well. She pressed her right hand over it and at that same moment she saw a falling star. Hermione closed her eyes and made a wish. And in the process of wishing, she had fallen asleep.
***
"Hermione, honey, wake up!"
Hermione opened her eyes and was almost blinded by the light of the morning sun. She turned her back to the window and closed her eyes again. But she felt being shaken and heard her mother's voice once more, "Hermione, you'll be late for your job interview."
She felt a sudden surge of electricity and she jumped out of her bed, running out of the room and towards the bathroom. "What time is it? 8:30! Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" Hermione shouted as she threw her clothes into the basket and rushed to the shower. She was about to turn the knob when she realized she was still wearing the necklace. She quickly removed it and dropped in on the side of the sink. After a quick shower, she grabbed the towel, dried herself, snatched the necklace and hurried off to her room. Her mom was there and was holding up a pair of outfits for her to wear. "Thanks, mom," Hermione said, grabbing the pink top and blue jeans on her mom's left hand. Her mom quickly left the room and Hermione dressed as quickly as she can. She put on the necklace and paced in the direction of the mirror. She wore a disappointed look. "It doesn't really match my outfit, does it? Too elegant." Hermione still wanted to wear it so she slipped the necklace behind her shirt, which revealed only the chain. She reached for her rubber shoes and put them on. Running down the stairs to the kitchen, she saw that breakfast was already served. She wanted to eat as much as she can, but it was almost 9:00, and she still had to go to the Ministry of Magic for her interview. She had a few bites of the egg and bacon, a few sips of her juice, then went to brush her teeth. At exactly 8:57, Hermione was ready to go. "Mom, Dad! I'm leaving!" Her parents, who came from the living room rushed to the kitchen and gave her one last look.
"Perfect, honey," Her dad approached her and gave her a hug.
"Dad, careful, my shirt!"
However, her mom ran out of the kitchen, and after a few seconds emerged, holding a hair brush. "Just one more thing, you forgot to brush your hair." She walked behind Hermione and started combing long, straight hair.
"Mom, you know I don't brush my hair." With one swift motion, Hermione flipped her hair and turned to face her mother. "Now, is that okay?"
"Perfect," her mother said, grinning.
"I have to go now." Hermione glanced at the wall clock and saw that it was 8:59. She closed her eyes and with one popping sound, she was gone.
***
Hermione opened her eyes and came face to face with the crowded office of the Ministry of Magic. It was a large building, definitely aged, but somehow, Hermione thought it looked most definitely different now. The place seemed cozy and warm enough just like her home. And though several wizards and witches keep on emerging from thin air and several others walk past around her, making the place look more crowded than the busiest street, Hermione had this odd feeling that she wanted to work here. But as she made her way to the admission table, and came face to face with a mean looking wizard, Hermione hurriedly dismissed the thought. *It was just magic* "Good morning, I'm here for my interview." The man, who looked like he was in his retiring age, gave Hermione a strange smile that made Hermione back away a little. Rising from the counter, the old wizard studied Hermione very seriously. Hermione wanted to run away and just forget the whole thing, until he spoke, "So you want to work here, huh."
"Uh, yes." Hermione's insides were shaking. *Why does it feel like this is my interview? Is this the first stage? More like an elimination round.*
As quickly as he had stood up, the man took his seat again and lifted a heavy leather-bound book that Hermione thought was probably the records. "Name please."
"Er- Hermione Granger." Hermione saw the man's index finger brush through the parchment, and finally, after several turning of pages, he finally declared that he has found her name.
"You are scheduled to be interviewed today, at exactly 9:00 AM. And - according to my time - you are late."
Hermione suddenly felt the butterflies flying all around her insides. "I - I - but I came here on time - you - I."
"A little nervous, my dear? Don't worry, we can probably reschedule you after a few weeks, but I doubt that by that time, there'll be any favorable jobs left for you."
Hermione has had enough. She doesn't deserve to be treated like this. "Look, can't I just talk to my interviewer?"
"No one's allowed to go inside without my permission," the old man said with a twisted tone of authority.
*Then I'll just apparate inside*, Hermione thought.
"And you can't apparate even if you try," he followed his words as if reading Hermione's mind. "You can go now, miss, you're wasting my time."
Hermione's eyesight is getting clouded. This is her first job interview, and she's being treated like dirt. She wasn't really late, and she couldn't believe that after 7 years of working her butt off at Hogwarts, she couldn't even get a decent welcome at the Ministry. "I'm not going! Tell your boss I'm here, and that I'm not going unless I get interviewed!"
The old wizard stood up once again and his face was lined with madness. His eyes seemed to be piercing into her skin, ripping out all of her insides. But to her surprise, that look suddenly shifted to a warm smile, that of a grandfather. Hermione couldn't believe this man could be so good at changing his expressions. *Well, he was worked here for years,* Hermione thought. "You can go inside," the man's now gentle voice told her.
"What? What do you mean I can go inside? I need to see your boss!" Hermione was confused.
"You can see the Minister if you like, Ms. Granger. Actually, he is most anxious to see you. I couldn't very well bear the idea of trying to dissuade the smartest girl in this year's batch, but it is my job to test the applicants on the most important skill they have to bear when they desire to work here on the ministry - being able to stand up for yourself."
Hermione was very much surprised. *So that was a test, a sort of password so I can enter. Now this place gives me the creeps.* She saw a door to her right open, and to her amazement, it was an elevator. She turned to the old man, her brows raised. "You use elevators here?"
"Standard operating procedure. Actually, it's more of caution. I wasn't kidding about apparating a while ago. If you try to apparate inside one of the offices, you might end up outside the building, or worse, inside the boiler room." He gave her a meaningful glance. "You choose."
"Ah- er- I think I'll pass." Hermione turned to the elevator and began to walk towards it. She slipped inside and saw that the numbers ranged from G or groundfloor, where she was at, to 13. "This building's as high as regular muggle hospitals, though it does have a 13th floor. And that floor's where I'm going." She pressed the button which says 13 on it and the door of the elevator closed. Hermione hasn't even started blinking, the door had opened once more, and she was in a different floor, or rather, office, as Hermione put it, questioning the fact if there really were floors in that building.
"Highest floor is the office of the Minister of Magic. I guess this is it." Hermione glanced around the room that was quite larger than Dumbledore's office. Actually, Hermione noted, it was more prestigious and elegant than Dumbledore's. The floor was tiled with marble, which seemed to be polished up to the corner. Hermione could make out her face when she looked down. She then looked up and noticed several maps and charts pinned on the walls. There were piles and piles of paper on the farthest corner of the room, and a long wooden table with about 13 chairs around it was positioned at the very end. There were also pictures of the past Ministers, just like that in Dumbledore's office. The latest was that of Cornelius Fudge, who retired during the comeback of Lord Voldemort, when Hermione was in her 5th year at Hogwarts. Some say the pressure on him was too much that he decided to rid himself of the duties. While others say that he was actually fired because of his indifferent views and opinions regarding the trials and tribulations that the Ministry was facing during that time. Hermione wondered who the new Minster could be. Only a few employers of the ministry actually know his identity. They say the new minister saw it fit to keep others from knowing him, for his own security and for peace in the ministry. In fact, Hermione knew she was very lucky to be standing inside the Minister's office, for many have said that only a few have entered the office ever since Fudge took off, and that the new head was very discreet of his works.
Hermione flinched as she heard the elevator door open. She didn't know what to do, if she was in fact allowed to face the Minister. She was pondering on her next move when the man at the door spoke to her. "Ms. Granger, would you care to turn around and face an old friend?"
Hermione's heart began to race. She knows that voice, which means she knows that person. And if she's not mistaken, the new Minister is none other than - "Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione shouted in delight as she turned around.
Hermione rushed to him and give him a warm embrace. After which, she looked up to him and began to survey his smiling face. "You're the new Minister? Why didn't you let us know?"
Dumbledore started to move towards the table and Hermione followed him. "I believed it would be appropriate to keep that information from as many people as possible. Only the proper authorities know I am here, because they were the ones who put me here."
Hermione began thinking, then she spoke again. "But how did you get here without letting the others know? I believe no one could apparate into the offices, and the only way you could get here was to use the elevator - from the ground floor."
Dumbledore was amazed by her usual keenness. "Do not tell this to anybody, Ms. Granger, but there in an apparate-able floor below the ground floor. That's where I come from. Aside from me, the other councilors, Salvador, and of course, you, no one else knows that."
"Well, that explains it. Wait, who's Salvador?"
"He's the one that allowed you to get here. He has the keys to all the offices. He alone could control the elevator and lead you to your destination. Actually, there's no other office you can go to besides the one he allows you to. He's more like the boss here."
Hermione was confused again. "Boss? Aren't you the boss?"
"I run the organization, he runs the building. There's a difference. Nonetheless, we are friends."
"I see. Well, does that mean that the other buttons in the elevator are useless, that you can only press the one he allows you to?"
Dumbledore seemed to be enjoying Hermione's play of curiosity. He had pulled two chairs. He sat on one and he pointed Hermione to the other. "Actually you can still press any number, but you'll just end up going to nothingness. The elevators don't actually lead you to floors, Ms. Granger, they transport you towards the place you have to go inside the building. This is more like a secret underground tunnel, actually."
Hermione smiled. It was exactly the same as what she had thought. "Wait, Professor, does that mean you are the one who's going to interview me?"
Professor Dumbledore straightened up in his seat. "Actually, there will be no interviews."
Hermione straightened up as well. "What do you mean Professor? I'm sorry I was late but this is important to me. I."
"Don't worry, Ms. Granger, I have better things to offer you," Professor Dumbledore cut her off.
"You're going to give me a job?" Hermione said with a grin.
"Not exactly," Dumbledore said as he surveyed her with his glasses. "I am going to offer you something that I think will be more useful for you now, and for your future. You are much too younger to work for the Ministry, Ms. Granger. Youth doesn't belong in a rugged old building like this."
Hermione was anxious to know what it is. "What are you going to offer me then, Professor?-I mean, Minister."
Professor Dumbledore stood up and went to a smaller desk at the corner of the room, where the piles of paper were situated. "You can still call me Professor, Ms. Granger," he said, smiling at her. "I may well be past my teaching years at Hogwarts, but that doesn't mean that I will have to stop teaching you. I am still your professor." He reached for a folder on the desk and gave it to Hermione. "I thought you might be interested in this."
Hermione took the folder from Dumbledore's hand and opened it. She was surprised by what she saw written on the paper. "But Professor, this is a."
"Yes, Ms. Granger, an application form for Harvard University. I have communicated with their headmaster, and you very well have my recommendation. I believe you are a vying candidate for a scholarship. And once you get accepted, you are going to leave this year."
Hermione couldn't believe what she just heard. She came at the Ministry for a job interview, and now she's going to leave with an application form and a recommendation for Harvard, not to mention a possible scholarship. She has always dreamt of going to college after studying at Hogwarts, but she never really thought of applying, for Hogwarts is a very different school compared to those of other candidates. A formal college education? At Harvard? This is definitely a dream come true for Hermione.
"Thank you so much, Professor Dumbledore!"
After giving Dumbledore a well deserved hug, Hermione left the building, even thanking Salvador as she walked past the ground floor. But on the way to Hogsmeade to look for Harry to tell him the good news, Hermione suddenly remembered that she hadn't told her parents about it. How would her parents react? She knew they were excited for her to start work, but they may also like the idea of her getting formal education. On the other hand, sending your only daughter miles away from home to study college, not to mention after 7 years of almost living at Hogwarts, isn't such an agreeable idea for parents. Stopping halfway, Hermione came face to face with the first ever dilemma she had for the day. *Why do great things always come with great setbacks?*