Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is just a figment of my imagination
Chapter Ten: Old Faces"Excuse me, but what is this?"
A young boy looked up nervously. "T- those are the files you requested, ma'am."
"It's 'miss' , and I did not request some junk about a...a joke shop." She said, almost repulsed.
The boy took the letter with a shaking hand. "S- sorry, miss Kramer. M- must have been in the stack of those files you requested. I'll get it back to mr. Hoot's desk."
Vivian shook her head. "Ignorant employees."
Next time she wanted to read something like jokeshop wars she'd go out to buy a tabloid. She started to read her file but was distracted by a loud giggle from outside her office. Obviously annoyed, she peered through the blinds.
"No way!" she heard Farlane say. "In the middle of Diagon Alley?"
"Right in front of Flourish and Blotts!"
"Oh, that's so romantic...So, you two dating now? Congratulations! It took him long enough."
Granger was blushing madly and nodded.
"Ugh..." Vivian said to herself.
So Granger had a boyfriend now. What a big deal. They should be concentrating on their job, not boys. There was nothing interesting about their conversation. And her niceties had been for nothing too, she realised. Apparentally Granger didn't know him after all, so she had failed at getting back in contact with-
She stopped her own thoughts.
'For goodness' sake, I sound horrible.' She told herself.
A small pang of jealousy hit her though, as she remembered the cute redhead she had seen Granger with before the holidays. She didn't know his name, but he sure as hell looked better than Greg Andersson did. She found herself envying Granger for such a cute boyfriend. She was sure that that was the boy the girls were talking about.
She sat back down in her chair. The case she was supposed to read was boring her so she decided that she would hand this one over to Greg.
"And I'm going out to lunch." She said out loud to her empty office.
She walked through the door, passing Hermione's desk and ignored their conversation.
"I can't wait to see him." She heard Tess say. "Does he look anything like his brother Ron?"
At this, Vivian found herself stopping. Wasn't Ron the name of his little brother? She hung back and decided to listen in just a little bit longer.
"No, not really. If you want, we can pass the shop today. He lives above it, so he'll be there."
"No, thank you. I'l leave you two lovebirds alone. The first few days should be spent without intrusion from others. Just so you'll feel the butterlies as long as they last."
Hermione giggled. "Well, we're having dinner at my place tonight. He said he was curious about my cooking skills."
They laughed.
"Well, you know what they say. There's no better lovin' than something from the oven."
Vivain shook her head. Perhaps this was a coincidence after all. She had probably been thinking of someone completely different. She was almost turning the corner again so she could hear more about this boy Granger was talking about, when the same boy as before tapped her shoulder.
"Excuse me, ma'am. But there is someone here to see you...A new client."
She looked at him with annoyance. "Can't he wait?"
"I don't think you want to make him wait, ma'am. His name is Parkinson."
She snapped around. "Come again?"
"It's a mr. Philip Parkinson...says he needs a lawyer."
She was at loss for words. Philip Parkinson? Here?
"What should I tell him, ma'am?"
She still said nothing.
"I'll direct him to your office, then?" the boy asked.
With a muttered whimper she nodded her head and slowly walked back to her glass window office, making sure all the blinds were wide open. She sat down, her hands trembling as she reached for a pen.
Parkinson, a name that was well known in the papers these days. And even though You-Know-Who had been defeated, people like Philip Parkinson still had some power you didn't want to come across in a dark alley at night.
A knock on the door made her jump.
"I was told that you could help me." A tall, dark haired man said.
She nodded.
"Philip Parkinson." He said, extending his hand.
"Vivian Kramer." She replied meekly. "How can I help you."
He unbuttoned his suit jacket to reveal a grey dress shirt. "As you might have heard, I have been summoned to the Wizengamnot. I have been accused of being a member of...He Who Must Not Be Named's followers."
She shivered.
"These are lies, of course." He continued. "But I need someone to help me show them the truth. So I seek the help of a lawyer."
She said nothing at first, taking a good look at the man. From her college days, she remembered it was her duty to defend everyone who came to her for help.
"Mr. Parkinson." She started finally. "I am fully away of the accusations and insitgations made towards you. And I know anyone has to right to an atourney. But I'm afraid I can't risk the name of this company. I feel very sorry to disappoint you, but Andersson, Hoot & Kramer can't be seen as the Devil's Advocate, even if it's just in the eye of the public. Whether you are innocent or not has nothing to do with it. There are other firms who would gladly help you, but I'm afraid that we have to decline..."
She looked at him from the corner of her eye. Was he becoming angry? Was he reaching for a wand? He didn't seem to move anything but his hand, to cover his mouth as he coughed. Even a simple gesture like that scared the living daylights out of her.
" I see." He said slowly. "Afraid of a bad reputation. I can't say I apreciate your atitude towards me very much but I do fear that I see your point. Guilty by association, these days."
Vivian nodded nervously. "Exactly...I do hope you won't...hold a grudge against us..."
"There is...no way I can persuade you?" he said, his voice low and careful, but threatening none the less.
"...No..." she squeeked.
Suddenly he stood up. "Very well. All I can say is that I hope you won't regret your decision. Good day, miss Kramer."
He nodded curtly and left her office. The relief that washed over her was so great that she nearly fainted with all the air that came rushing back into her lungs.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hermione watched the strange, tall man walk into Kramer's office. She looked at Tess with a knowing glance.
"Do you know who that is?" she whispered knowingly. "That's the father of a Slytherin girl who was in my year..."
"Death Eater?" Tess mouthed with a look that told Hermione how shocked he was. Hermione nodded.
"Yeah...Listen, I'm going to go talk to Hoot. I just want to disappear for a moment. I don't want to run a risk here. Perhaps he recognises me."
Tess nodded quietly. "I'll come get you when he's gone."
She watched Hermione walk away and turn a corner. Somewhere inside she felt sorry for Hermione. That girl had been through more than most people realised. All through her school years she had been in danger because of her friendship with Harry Potter.
Tess also felt admiration for her. Other people wouldn't have stuck by their friend through this much trouble, yet she had and she had survived. And now, she had retreated silently so she could avoid someone while everyone else she knew would have run away screaming their heads off, begging not to be killed there on the spot.
Tess had to admit that the admioration she felt was bigger than she'd let on, knowing Hermione would feel awkward and uneasy if she did know.
At that moment the door opened again and the man left quietly. Tess looked at her desk, fixing her eyes on something so she wouldn't have to look at his face.
"Excuse me, miss." He said.
She looked up slowly. His face was handsome, but knowing what she did, she was too scared to notice.
"Is there another lawyer in this office I can talk to?"
She said nothing, still looking up at him. What should she say? When she stayed quiet, he turned around.
"Very well. I will find it myself."
He walked down the corridor Hermione had just walked down towards Hoot's office a few minutes ago. Tess got up to shout something to stop him from going there, but at that moment Hermione came walking back, a file under her arm, a tissue to her nose and her head averted.
She avoided bumping into him and walked straight back to her desk. Parkinson never even glanced at her and walked straight towards Hoot's office.
"What happened?" she asked Tess.
"I think Kramer turned him down so he's trying to ask Hoot, I guess...Are you alright?"
Hermione nodded. "Yeah...he didn't see me. And I talked to Hoot about Fred and George's problem. He said he'd start writing an official complaint right away and he's going to try to sue Zonko's right back for false accusations."
She looked at the clock.
"Damn...Still an hour to go..."
"Don't worry, Parkinson won't come back this way. He'll take the other exit."
Hermione shook her head. "No, that's not it. I just want to see George again. I miss him...does that sound weird?"
Tess laughed. "Not at all! I know exactly how you feel."
"What, you're missing Ron?"
"No, I was talking about when me and Steven were together. You know, my ex, the one who worked at Florian Fortesque's."
Hermione nodded. "I've got some advice for you. Don't ever mention Steven to Ron. He might get a sudden attack of jealousy."
"Even though that was over a year ago?" Tess asked surprised.
"Yes." Hermione said seriously. "He never really did forgive me for kissing Viktor."
"...Krum?"
"Uhuh."
"No way! You kissed Viktor Krum and never told me?"
"Well, sorry! I was fifteen at the time...At that time, everyone seemed to know thanks to Rita Skeeter...I didn't think it mattered now."
"Of course it does! I want to know when you kiss someone famous! This is such a good thing to throw at someone like Kramer! Someone like that would hold a grudge against you just for something like that." Tess said with a grin that could possibly be considered evil.
Hermione grinned and leaned her head on her hand. "To be honest, he wasn't even that good a kisser. Ron's surprisingly better."
"I hope you're not talking about me." A male voice said suddenly.
She wheeled around and jumped up merrily.
"George!" she said excitedly. "I missed you!"
She gave him a kiss on his kiss when she hugged him. George smiled and kissed the top of her head.
"I missed you too." He said quietly so only she could hear.
When she pulled away from the hug, she looked at him.
"Why are you here?"
"I thought I'd come pick you up after work." He said sweetly.
She blushed at this attention and giggled. "But I still have another hour to go..."
"No, you don't." Tess said suddenly. "Go on, I'll cover for you."
"Thanks Tess." Hermione said sofly. "I'll pay you back soon!"
Tess smiled. "Just go. I'll get paid for overtime anyway. Nice finally meeting the face that goes with the name, George!"
George nodded at her with a smile and then wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders, guiding her away from her desk and out of the building onto the street. He was about to kiss her again when she suddenly turned her head away and started sneezing violently.
"Excuse me." She said, wiping her nose with a tissue. "I must've caught something at the office. Hoot was sneezing too."
George kissed the top of her head. "Do you feel okay?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. But I've got so much to tell you! Hoot is taking on your case and he's going to sue Zonko's right back! And he promised me to write an official letter of complaint to Zonko's lawyer. Oh, and you'll never believed who walked into the office tod-"
She bumped into a girl's back.
"Sorry." She muttered. "I didn't mean-"
"Granger!" the girl said surprised, her voice sounding rather familiar.
Hermione recognised that same pugfaced girl from her Hogwarts days.
"...Pansy." she acknowledged with a nod.
Hermione's grip on George's arm became stronger.
"...Not the Weasley I'd expect." Pansy Parkinson said, forcefully trying to be civil.
At that moment, the same tall man from before came walking through the office doors.
"Daddy!" Pansy said, clasping herself to his arm.
He looked grumpy. "Come on, Pansy. These people don't know when they've got a job to do. We'll find a different lawyer some place else."
"Yes, daddy."
She cast a look over her shoulder at Hermione as they walked away. George turned to face her.
"That's the person who came to the office today? A Death Eater?" he hissed when they were out of earshot.
She nodded quietly. "But I think he just wanted us to represent him...You read about the accusations against him, didn't you. He probably thinks a lawyer can help him out. Fat chance..."
"You're not actually going to help him, are you?" George said sharply.
"I don't think so. I can't imagine the company wanting to risk their name. But he tried fervently. When Kramer said no, he headed to Hoot's office."
George grabbed her shoulder. "If he walks through those doors again, I want you to walk out. All of them recognise you, they all know who you are. Who knows what they'd go to get revenge!"
She cupped his face in her hands. "Don't worry. We would never represent someone like him. And I think I've proven I can take care of myself in the past."
She turned her face away and reached for a tissue to blow her nose again.
"Must be coming down with something." She added.
George still seemed a little worried about what he had just seen, but he smiled at her and wrapped his arms around her again.
"Let's go and have a drink." He said. "And then you can tell me what Hoot said about our case."
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