Chapter 6
"Come in Ms. Granger. And congratulations on all of your awards you won last night." Minerva motioned for Hermione to sit and she placed herself on the edge of her desk.
Hermione breathed deeply and steeled herself for a confrontation. She knew her mentor, now Headmistress of Hogwarts, would not be the least bit pleased of her plans. Hermione had been working tirelessly on not only her independence, but to prove to Professor Snape that he was wrong. There was a way to do just what she had envisioned without living under someone's authority.
"So Ms. Granger, here we are. You are officially a graduate of Hogwarts and your life is ahead of you. Come now! The suspense is killing me!" Minerva McGonagall sat with a rapturous expression on her face. She was sure that the young woman would stay on at Hogwarts and help create a more competitive school.
"Professor, first I want to thank you for all that you have done for me over the years. You have taught me and guided me in a world I knew nothing about. Now, here I am; top of my class, head girl and ready to walk into the world with every advantage. I owe you a great deal Professor. I have considered all of my options very carefully. And…well I have decided…I have decided that I will not be teaching at Hogwarts. Nor will I be returning here in any other capacity." Hermione sat and waited for the outburst, but it did not come.
"Well, I am sorry to hear it. Am I to understand that you will be working with the Ministry then?" Minerva's voice was tight and barely above a whisper.
"No. I have declined all offers from the Ministry of Magic as well" Hermione said matter of factly. She was building steam and adrenaline rushed through her. Her excitement was taking over any anxieties she had had.
"Then what will you do Ms. Granger?" Minerva could not understand that there were other options other than Hogwarts or the Ministry.
"Well, I have signed a contract with a new spell company. They have already bought one of my spells and it will be marketed this coming year. I have been granted a laboratory, rooms and a library. The pay is small, but I receive residuals from any and all marketed spells, charms or potions I create. I have free reign to work in whatever capacity I wish. However, my name will not appear on the new items. I will be working as an anonymous Spells Mistress. That was one of my conditions. I am under contract to not divulge any of my creations with anyone at any time unless it is deemed necessary by myself or my employer. To be honest, I can't even tell you my employer's name. That was a part of the contract as well." Hermione finished off her speech with a smile.
"You mean to tell me….that…that…you would rather wither away in some laboratory, getting no recognition at all for your work than…than be here?" Minerva's voice was high and she had stood up with her last words. Hermione smiled her most patient smile.
"Yes Professor. That way…no one will know what I am doing. I can not be used for my prestige or my name or even…who I associate with. As far as anyone will be able to tell if they check, I went to work for a private company. I do not need recognition. I fear it to tell you the truth. I do not need praise, for I praise myself! I have every resource imaginable Professor! It's amazing! I-" Minerva cut her off.
"It's rubbish if you ask me! Where on earth did you get an idea like this? Haven't we all gone out of our way to help you succeed in life? To make a name for yourself? To educate you to help the people who have helped you?" Hermione felt an uncomfortable squeezing in her gut. Guilt. Hermione was always susceptible to guilt trips. They have been the bane of her existence her entire life. She allowed the anger to swell within her. Minerva was still talking. "And another thing…Dumbledore would be so disappointed in you! How could you? He was -"
"He was what?" Hermone cut her off, much to the surprise of the elder witch. "He was a great man Professor. But he is gone. So is the constant threat of Voldemort. The Ministry is flooded with new employees everyday. Let other people make names for themselves. All I want to do is work in peace. I wish to do what I feel is right. Not by the direction of other people!" Hermione was now standing, facing her long time mentor.
"What has happened to you Hermione? You are throwing away your future…for what? To dabble in experiments? Where on earth did you get an idea like this?" Minerva's voice had softened to that of a mother hen, in an attempt to cajole Hermione into seeing things her way.
"Well, I am able to think for myself with out the guidance of others Professor. This is something I have often thought of, but never considered as a possibility until…" Hermione's voice trailed off. She hadn't meant to tell any of what she and Professor Snape had spoken of.
"Until what?" Minerva's voice had a sharp edge to it again.
"I had a meeting with another Professor and I was able to see things…differently afterwards. I just needed a push to do what I felt was right for me."
"Who was it?" Minerva's eyes were but tiny specks as they bore into Hermione's.
Hermione exhaled loudly and smiled. Might as well put the nail in the coffin. "Professor Snape." Minerva stared at Hermione for a long moment and turned her back to her. She walked over to the fireplace and roughly tossed a fine dust in the hearth. Then her voice echoed throughout the room.
"Severus! Severus I want you in my office NOW!"
Severus had just sat down for his morning tea and was looking forward to his last day in the office when he heard, or felt rather, Minerva's voice in his fireplace. He swore as he spilled his tea.
"Do you mind Minerva? I am busy right now-"
"I said NOW Severus Snape! My office. You have exactly two minutes to produce your body in this office or else!" The connection was closed.
Or else what? She really thought she could threaten him? What made….ah yes. Ms. Granger opened her mouth. Brilliant.
Severus stood and tossed Floo Powder in the fireplace. He mumbled 'The Headmistress Office' and then he was gone.
Hermione almost laughed at the crazed look that Professor McGonagall was wearing. She watched the usually calm and collected woman, pace her office, wringing her hands and mumbling to herself. Hermione also wanted to laugh when she heard Professor Snape's silky voice come through the fireplace. He was always so calm, so in control. It would do her some good to take after Professor Snape a bit more, and Professor McGonagall a little less.
She watched as he came through the fireplace in a swirling mass of black robes. He raised his eyebrows as he studied Minerva pacing and then his eyes fell on Hermoine. Hermione smiled at him and nodded her hello. His eyes went back to Minerva as she began yelling.
"How dare you undermine me! You knew that I had plans for this girl and that it was in her best interest to stay on at Hogwarts! How dare you? The nerve of you Severus!" Minerva had stepped into, what Severus called, his personal space.
"Kindly remove yourself from my face Minerva before I consider it a threat." His voice was cold and harsh. Hermione began to panic as her eyes went back and forth between the two Professors. Minerva backed up, slightly.
"Severus I demand an answer from you."
"You demand? I merely listened to her babble on about wanting to do this and that. Something about creating new spells. I, in fact, told her it would be in her best interest to abandon the idea. I am aware of the extra efforts you put into Ms. Granger's education. Biased though it is. What has she done?" Severus stood, straight as a arrow, looking as cool and calm as ever.
"She…she is going to work for some Spell Marketing company! It's all classified information! She will be wasting her time fiddling with silly spells and potions when she should be out in the world sharing her gifts and talents with others! Helping make our world safe again! Helping to rebuild our society!" Minerva stood, panting for breath. Hermione stood to leave.
"Professor McGonagall, I am sorry to disappoint you. I really am. I hope that someday, I will be able to help the Wizarding World with my creations. I hope to make you proud of me again. But until then, I will work on what I feel is necessary for me to be proud of myself." Hermione's eyes found Professor Snape's and she held his gaze. His black orbs showed no emotion and no warmth. "Goodbye Professor McGonagall. Goodbye Professor Snape. Thank you both."
Hermione turned and left Hogwarts grounds.
She didn't look back.