Sighing, she tossed the Daily Prophet page onto the table, and glared at it. Forty-five jobs advertised, all asking for skilled, intelligent witches or wizards, with varying NEWT requirements. With her qualifications from Hogwarts, Hermione was well-suited for forty of them. And so she'd owled every one of those places. At the beginning, all had been eager to meet her. But in person, upon learning she was a vampire, they'd all turned her away immediately.

"'It's not that we don't think you wouldn't fit in here'" she mimicked angrily. "Right, and I'm related to Malfoy." With a huff, she plopped herself down in a chair, wondering whether she should just give up and go work at Hogwarts after all.

Though most half-human legislature pushed through the Ministry by Dolores Umbridge had been repealed after her fifth year – rumor had it Dumbledore had leaned on Fudge a bit, saying that most half-humans were likely to join Voldemort's forces as they felt no love for the wizarding community that treated them like dirt, unless something changed their minds - many in the wizarding community continued to act as though the laws still existed.

"We already have two half-humans in our employment," one witch had squeaked at her, as she motioned for Hermione to leave the room. "We can't take on any more..there's a quota…and our other employees might get too nervous…"

This wasn't helping. If she continued to think of this, she was liable to go crazy. C'mon, Mione…get up and do something…maybe go see Harry…Her lips quirked into a smile as she thought of her boyfriend. He'd been nothing short of perfect these last few weeks, meeting her whenever he didn't have Auror courses, and not pushing her to talk or do anything when she was upset. She still didn't know how she'd become so lucky, but perhaps it was the six and a half years they'd known each other before dating. They didn't need to mess with as many awkward get-to-know-you conversations as other couples did. Simple, companionable silence was a frequent occurrence when they were together.

Catching sight of her clock, however, Hermione frowned. Harry wouldn't be home for another hour or so. He was still living at his aunt and uncle's, much to his disappointment, for he'd thought that once he was of age, he could leave them behind forever. But finding a flat as a wizard was a difficulty when you didn't plan to live in Hogsmeade or rent a room above one of the taverns in Diagon or Knockturn Alley. Once you located a place, you needed to file paperwork with the Ministry, stating the address, how long you thought you might be residing there (if you knew), and other bits of information. Then you waited to see if your choice was approved. The number of wizards in any given area was to be strictly monitored, even if the wizards knew full well how to avoid prying Muggle eyes. So far, everywhere Harry had considered living had been turned down, as there were too many wizards in the area already.

Hermione, oddly enough, had been lucky, finding a place almost immediately, about fifty miles from her hometown. How she had managed this, she didn't know, other than Ministry approval had come almost immediately. Then again, she'd heard rumors of the sorts of tempers vampires were supposed to have, and so perhaps the Ministry just didn't want to risk angering her.

"No, they'll just give in to me, then hope I forget them entirely, like they'd like to do about me," she grumbled. She scowled. This frustration was leading her in circles, and since Harry wasn't around, she needed to vent to someone. Ron wouldn't be home either, nor would any of their other friends, most likely…

Hermione smiled faintly. When every avenue is exhausted, go to Mom.

It wasn't that she didn't trust her mother to offer advice, or that her parents had a problem with their daughter being a vampire – though it certainly had come as a shock, and she'd had to convince them that she would not be as easy to kill as the vampires in Buffy, nor was she simply a walking corpse. Clarifying the issue for her parents made her realize just how much mythology Muggles had corrupted almost beyond recognition throughout their history.

No, it was nothing to do with vampirism, and everything to do with her independence. By all laws of wizarding society, she was an adult, fully capable and totally responsible for her life. In Muggle terms, she was still only on the brink of adulthood. And when her two worlds clashed like this, she wasn't sure how her mother would treat her: as her darling daughter, or as a mature young woman.

She headed for the kitchen phone, when there was a tapping at the window. Glancing out, she noticed a jet black owl gazing coolly at her, a small envelope clenched in its beak. Hermione walked to the window, opened it, and the instant her fingers had the envelope, the owl flew off. Puzzled slightly by the owl's behavior, she shook her head, and then glanced at the envelope in her hand. There was no indication of the sender, and she opened it curiously.

The short note written in looped handwriting made her sit down, and rub her forehead. So much for that phone call to Mom, she thought wearily. Her mother would have no advice on this situation.

Hermione glanced at the note again, and wondered if the gods had it in for her.

Miss Granger,

As the Ministry has received information that you still have not found an occupation, there is to be a brief inquiry as to why this is so and your objectives for the future. Please report to the office of Vampire Support Division in the Ministry of Magic Headquarters tomorrow, August 25, at 10:00 am.

Thank you,

Glenda Aurelium

Being Division

Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures

A/N: I decided to not use a year, as it's possible I might mention things that happen after 1998, which, according to canon, is the year Harry will graduate in the books.