Spells and Spiders
~*RW*~
There was much commotion for the rest of that week, while the Ministry tried even harder to catch the Death Eaters responsible for the Minister's assassination. A replacement Minister, Blair Winston, was put into place, and elections would be held as usual in two years, so as not to mess up the election process.
Terror reigned among the people. If the Dark Lord could kill such a powerful and well-protected man, he could surely kill them just as easily.
After a month, the commotion died down and people went back to their normal routines. Ron turned nineteen and continued to do well at the Auror's Academy. Hermione received an owl from Blair Winston, apologizing for the delay, and agreeing to meet with her on Monday for lunch. Ron called her as soon as he came home from school that afternoon. "Tell me all about it," he said.
"Well, for starters, he's a very nice man, and much more attentive than Fudge was. He likes the idea, and he offered me a position in either the department of International Magical Cooperation or the Department of Muggle Protection."
"So either way, you'll be working for one of my family members."
"Yes. I thought it better to work under your father than Percy." Ron laughed and had to agree. "So, they have to run a few extensive background checks, then I'll start work."
"What are you going to do exactly? You're not going to make all the potions yourself?"
"Of course not! Don't be silly! My job will be to manage the manufacturing of the unicorn powder, the recipes, the sales, and the trade from Africa to Britain."
"Why Africa here? Why not here to Africa?"
"Don't you think that we'd try to take advantage of it and raise the prices? This way, the prices will be better, trade fairer - and if it isn't, I'll be there to oversee. Plus, there are lots more AIDS patients in Africa than there are here. Of course, they'll also have to trade with the rest of Europe and the US. I'm going to make sure that everyone is able to get treatment at an affordable rate. And while all this is going on, I'm going to set up better hospitals and health care in general."
"Jeez… someone's got big plans for the world. I'm sorry I asked!"
"Ron, this is very important to me, and the rest of the world."
"I know, I know. It's important to me, too. Good luck, and I hope they don't find out about that… 'incident' when they do your background check."
"Professor McGonagall took that off, remember? Harry was able to persuade her not to put it on our records. But if the Academy runs checks, I'm surprised they would accept you!"
"Ha, ha, very funny. Speak of the Devil, you haven't heard from Harry lately, have you?"
"No. I sent him a couple owls, but he never wrote back. And I sent him a birthday present and he never sent me a note or anything. That's not like him. I wonder if he's alright."
"I haven't heard from him either. But we know Harry can take care of himself, don't we?"
* * *
Hermione started work by the end of March, and they never found out about "the incident," or if they did, they didn't say anything. She liked her new job, and she especially liked working with Mr. Weasley. Even so, they were both much busier now, with Ron cramming all his information for the written exams at the beginning of May, and Hermione spending her days pouring over statistics, charts, and of course, books. They could still see each other once a week, when Mr. Granger taught Ron how to drive. Hermione had finally gone to take her Apparating test and had passed with flying colors. It was easier to Apparate into work than to drive, since the Ministry building was a small, ordinary-looking office building in the middle of London. City traffic was horrible, so it was much better to Apparate into the lobby and walk down to her office.
