753 words. Getting juicy, eh? Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed!
Hermione Granger stormed down the long, winding corridors of the Ministry of Magic. She paused at a smooth wooden door labeled Hermione Granger, Laws and Regulations, before slamming it open and shutting it loudly behind her. She slumped against the wood, shielding her eyes against the bright artificial lights of her own personal hell.
Charts, Graphs and Pictures were pinned neatly to every inch of available wall space, files and folders were neatly stacked in or around boxes filled with newspaper clippings and magazine articles. The only messy area of the room seemed to be a large inbox crammed with files, letters and papers.
Clearly Evan had been slacking.
"EVAN!" she shrieked, crossing the room and plopping down into the comfortable desk chair, repeatedly beating her forehead against the surface of her desk. Evan Carter came bounding into the room, wand raised. Seeing his roommate abusing her forehead and her desk, his arm dropped and face softened. He quickly ran to her and grabbed her head, forcing her to desist her hammering.
"You bellowed, love?" He asked cheekily.
"Evan Reese Carter, the only thing I ask of you, your one task, your job in a nutshell, is to keep my inbox tidy. You bloody purpose in life should be doing so. I go on vacation for one weekend for my bloody honeymoon and LOOK at this mess!" She whined pitifully.
"Ah, right." He grinned guiltily. "You see, I…erm…may have…forgotten?"
"You. Purpose. In. Life. EVAN!" Hermione hissed.
Evan began to massage her temples, whispering soothing words of comfort and slowly moving her head downwards until it rested on the desk and soft, rhythmic breathing could be heard. He pointed his wand and her desk seemed to melt to a soft pillowed-top. He then took the inbox and went through an adjoining door to his office, set on righting his friend's temper.
Two hours later, Evan re-entered Hermione's office to find her absent. Checking his watch, he assumed the lack of coffee had sent her sniffing down in the cafeteria. He set the inbox back in its place and quietly left the room.
Hermione moved numbly into the elevator and pressed the button corresponding to the tea room as she leaned against the corner and prepared for the inevitable jerky movement. All her life Hermione had hated elevators. Almost as much as she hated Portkeys and Flying. Apparating was also much loathed, but a necessity so she had adapted and come to terms with the discomfort.
"Miss Granger." a voice acknowledged cordially.
Hermione's head shot up, and she was instantly awakened from her caffeine-lacking stupor.
"Malfoy." she said blankly, "What are you doing here?"
"Filing a few papers, Miss Granger." he answered politely. "Rough day?"
Hermione looked at him curiously until she remembered her unorthodox position in the elevator corner and haggard appearance.
"Rough lifetime, more like." she muttered.
Lucius Malfoy then did something that completely fascinated and horrified Hermione.
He threw his head back and laughed.
"I assure you, Miss Granger, I share your sentiments." he replied.
"Er…right." Hermione heard the soft ding, indicating the elevator had stopped, and looked up to see 'tea room' illuminated in bright green lettering above the door. "Well, that's my stop." she muttered, "Good day, Mr. Malfoy."
"Miss Granger." he nodded with a slight smirk.
Mercifully, the doors slid open and Hermione left the elevator without a backward glance.
"Muah!"
Hermione fluttered into Evan's office and kissed him loudly on the cheek before bouncing away and settling herself at her desk. Evan grinned to himself and rolled his eyes.
"And the good Lord said, let there be coffee and chocolate for females everywhere."
Hermione began to sift through the paperwork that had accumulated over her short vacation, mumbling to herself as she went.
"Anti-Elf Legislation, damned Umbridge bitch, Cauldron Thickness Mandate, Percy get off my ass, Divorce Petition, Muggle Le….wait…..Divorce Petition?" Hermione looked at the parchment curiously.
Wizarding Divorces were very rare. In fact she had only seen two cross her path since beginning her work with the Ministry two years before. Hermione softly read the parchment to herself, and then let out a shocked squeak. Evan came running into the room and snatched the offered parchment, reading it quickly aloud.
"Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy, hereafter known as "Miss N. Black", requests to involve in divorce proceedings, separating herself from husband Lucius Xavier Malfoy, on this day…" Evan stopped. "Bloody hell!" he said softly.
"Indeed." Hermione agreed. Slumping in her seat and staring blankly at her employee.