Mad Eyes's words swirled around in Hermione's mind since she'd arrived at the Ministry. She and Malfoy had the luxury of disappearing forever and no one really missing them.
Thoughts of her current isolated state and constant worry for her friends kept her distracted from the conversations between Malfoy and his co-worker unfolding before her . The words 'loving wife' brought her back into reality. Once she was fully aware of what was occurring, Malfoy had left his office. She remained alone with Addison.
"To be honest, I didn't think he wouldn't take it so badly. Well, Hermione Granger, I have the honor of escorting you through the offices and getting your disguise in order for your trip. I can answer any questions you have; after all, I am the P.R.C. for this case." Addison had begun to ramble as soon as he'd noticed Hermione's attention was on him.
"Personality Research Consultant?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, you know about us?" Addison was surprised she knew about his job.
"I do work in the Ministry after all, Mr. Addison." Hermione seemed a bit annoyed at his surprise.
"Of course you do. Most people don't know about us. When they think of the Auror department, all they really think about are the Aurors. However, behind each Auror there is a team of wizards. The P.R.C. create and maintain the disguises, teach protocol and languages, and find informants. Usually, once a case begins, we become the main response unit. That's just our division, D.A.C. , Deciphering Abnormal Communication. We track messages, break codes, and keep an eye on all forms of public media- any way that can pass information. Then there is the Wizard to Muggle Communication department. They handle our relationship with Interpol. The case your on now is working with Interpol."
Hermione spent most of the time walking down the hall with Addison politely listening to his description of the Auror department. Her mind was mainly occupied with the past. As they walked through the Auror offices, she remembered the lunch meetings she and Harry had when the first started working for the Ministry. For the first few months Hermione would always be waiting at his office when the clock struck twelve. They would take an hour lunch break either eating out or having a picnic in his office. After some time, she no longer went up to his office. Soon, he was meeting her in the Mysteries' library. And before the year was out he was waiting outside the lab for her to finish the current experiment. When that happened they decided it would be best to message one another an hour or so before lunch so that they wouldn't waste time waiting. Soon the daily lunches became weekly, and then monthly.
Recently, the only time they had gone to lunch was when Ron was in the city. Wherever he and Harry were at this moment she hoped for Ron's sake that they at least fed them well. Not being able to eat his fill would be torture enough. Hermione's memories were interrupted when Addison mentioned the W.M.C, she decided to interrupt his monologue.
"Interpol, Mr. Addison? Why is the Ministry working with a Muggle agency?" The wizarding world had completely isolated itself from the Muggles, so the bit of information surprised Hermione.
For the first time since Hermione met Addison, he paused before responding. He tapped his wand in a rhythmic pattern on one of the walls. Slowly it slid down into the ground to reveal a second passage. Hermione followed him into the new passage, startled as the wall closed behind her.
"Well, Interpol doesn't know it's working with the wizarding community. As you know, after Voldememort was defeated by Harry Potter and company, the Death Eaters scattered to the winds. Now, the average wizard in England feels like the threat is over. Both you and I know that it's different." Addison took this moment to take a breath as his brisk walking and over talking had finished the little oxygen he had left.
Hermione took this opportunity to interject, "From the news I've gotten from the Order, it seems like they've decided to enter into the Muggle world. They saw that attacking wizards that went against them first wouldn't work. So now they are focusing solely on exterminating Muggles."
There was something bothering her about the whole situation: why would these wizards want to live amongst Muggles, and why was Interpol involved? In her mind, she remembered Mad Eye mentioning that the wizards that captured Harry were disguised as terrorists. "Without their magic, they are in a sense invisible to us, and they are disguised as terrorists to be able to encourage Muggles to kill other Muggles."
She became agitated as the words she said sunk in.
"They are trying to create an all-out war with nuclear warfare. They are going to make the Muggles to exterminated themselves." Her face was livid with the emotion she felt.
"They have talked of your intelligence, but hardly done any justice by it," Addison mockingly said in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"I'm just trying to piece together the situation," Hermione quickly brushed aside the compliment.
"What I don't understand, is how are we working with Interpol without them knowing it?"
"Right. Well, we've always kept a Squibb in government agencies; this way, we have someone on the inside. Whenever cases like this come up, the Squibb takes control of the assignment and works with the Ministry." Addison paused dramatically as he came to a stop at the double doors.
"We have arrived at the Workshop. This is where all the P.R.C. work gets done."
Once inside, Hermione investigated the area before her. Floating near the ceiling were large glowing orbs lighting the work stations. People moved from station to station; some P.R.C. personnel had books stacked on the tables in tall piles, while others went through closets and bins sorting through clothing. On one of the walls was a large switchboard, which surprised Hermione greatly. She supposed those were for contacting the Muggle informants. On another wall were shelves of paperwork and documents; about half of the workers were filing them while others placed them into neat folders.
At the sight of the folders, Hermione remembered she had been carrying one of those folders for a while and hadn't read its contents.
"Mr. Addison, I was wondering if I could have a seat so that I could look over the folder Professor Dumbledore gave me?"
"In just one moment." Addison turned around on the heals of his feet and quickly walked in the direction of the switchboard. Hermione slightly smiled at the thought that they would be walking in silence. After all most of her immediate questions had been answered, so there was nothing really to discuss. Sadly, this was one of the few times she was wrong. As they turned the corner behind the switchboard, Addison let the dam burst.
"Since you're so close to Mr. Malfoy, I was wondering if you could tell me why he refuses to join our Quidditch team? From what I've heard, he was a good Seeker. Of course, he could never beat Harry Potter, but then who could? He's the Boy-Who-Lived. It's not that we need a Seeker; we have Harry Potter. It's just that we are trying to promote comradery in the office and the Chief felt that creating a Quidditch league for the Ministry would help us out. Have you been to any of our games? Oh, what am I saying? Of course you have! You're Harry Potter's close friend."
Hermione felt her face grow warm. Addison's simple curiosity about Malfoy's disinterest in Quidditch reminded her of the distance that had grown between herself and Harry. She was unaware that he had continued playing. She felt this was her own fault, because she knew of the Ministry's league. Her own department had a team, though they weren't very good. She should of realized that Harry would of been playing for the Aurors. It was becoming more apparent to Hermione that she had been wasting the last few years of her life. How could she have let her work consume her life? Mad Eye's words echoed back to her, 'both of you live solitary lives, your jobs occupy most of your time; no children or spouses.'
Her thoughts were interrupted by an annoying nudge from Addison. "We've arrived."
Her eyes focused on the room around her. It was laid out like a beauty parlor. A young witch flashed a smile at Addison and briskly walked toward them.
Addison leaned towards Hermione and whispered, "That is Vivien. She does wonders with those who need to undergo changes for alternative identities. I never work with anyone else."
Before Addison could continue, Vivien had arrived.
Addison was in his element. With a quick salutation to Vivien, he proceeded with the introductions.
"Vivien, may I introduce Hermione Granger- Hogwarts '98 top student, youngest Unspeakable to date, and best friend to one Harry J. Potter."
Hermione winced at the words 'best friend.' Some best friend she was! She hadn't even known about his Quidditch games. That's probably where Ginny was going on Sunday mornings. Hermione felt like kicking herself for being so blind.
"Just Hermione, thank you," Hermione cut in before Addison overwhelmed the conversation once more. Luckily, before this occurred, Vivien spoke with Addison.
"Lorry, dear, why don't you leave Hermione with me and you go see what's keeping Mr. Malfoy." Vivien noticed Addison take in a breath in preparation to dispute her. She sternly continued. "I'm not going to argue this point with you. If you don't go I'll begin to think you don't trust me . . . You do trust me, don't you Lorry?"
With that simple question, Addison's fate was sealed. "Right. Well I'm off to see Mr. Malfoy then. I'll see you two lovely ladies later."
Without giving him a moment to change his mind, Vivien lead Hermione to her cubicle.