Hermione woke to the buzzing of her wand. Casting a Tempus charm she saw it was already 7:15, she needed to get ready for her meeting with Kingsley. The nerves that had calmed last night flared up with a renewed vigor as she started getting ready for the day.

She took her time trying to delay the inevitable as much as possible. Even going so far as to brush her teeth twice. Glancing at the clock she saw it was already 7:55. She couldn't put it off any long. Stepping into her fireplace, she flooed directly to the ministers office.

She was greeted by Kingsley with a bear hug. Squeezing back tightly she felt some of the tension leaving her body for the first time since she received his letter. Stepping back he glanced over her once as if checking for injuries. Old habits die hard, I guess.

"How have you been, love? It's been too long since we've been able to chat face to face!" His eyes twinkled, again reminding her of Dumbledore.

"Kingsley," She said giggling, "it's been a week. We had dinner together at the Weasleys last Saturday."

He let out a deep rumbling laugh, his smile made him appear younger.

"Be that as it may, we were surrounded by others, and unable to have a true conversation. Now, answer my question young lady. How have you been?" He took a seat in the lounge area directing her to sit across from him as he poured them some tea.

Taking a scone from the baked goods the house elves brought in she answered truthfully. "I have been good. Settling into the department has been a change. I often find myself jumping at the small noises and almost took out one of my colleagues for sneaking up on me." She grinned in a self deprecating way.

Kingsley nodded in understanding, a frown now marring his face.

"It is difficult to turn it off now that everything is over, isn't it? Everyday before I leave my estate I still have Moody's voice, gods rest his soul, yelling 'Constant Vigilence!'" They both grinned in earnest at the memory of their fallen comrade.

"How have you been, Kings. Answer honestly, none of that press bullshite that you've been spewing." Her face was strict again, showing just how much the war had aged her.

"Honestly Hermione, I am coping. I think we all are at this point. Just trying to get through it all with our heads above the water." They shared a look as a comfortable silence fell between them.

She couldn't hold out any longer, despite the tea and the friendly atmosphere she was itching to know why he had called her to his office on a Saturday morning. Groaning, she finally gave into her impatience.

"Why am I really here Kingsley?" She demanded.

Smirking to himself and he was amused it had taken her so long to finally ask. Walking over to his desk he pulled out a stack of parchments and set them down in front of her.

Reaching over she pulled them to her reading the first few pages as her confusion grew.

"Birth records? You called me here on a weekend to go over old birth records?" She looked at him incredulously.

"Yes." He simply stated. "For some odd reason these records had been hidden in a file that was so heavily warded it took three curse breakers for us to get through."

Impressed her eyebrows raised so high they almost hit her hairline.

"Are they records of magical creatures?" That was the only conclusion she could draw for her reason for being their and the incredible wards that had been placed on them.

Kingsley sized her up as he shook his head slowly.

"Ok, so why am I here? What does this have to do with me?" She became more confused and anxious the longer she was there. Instead of having her questions answered the more information she received the more questions that came to her.

"Hermione, we found these about a week ago. There are about 20 of them. Each one belonging to different parents and each one brought more confusion, there was no real reason to hide these under such a strong protection. Nothing seemingly special about them. Until, the parents started to become apparent. These records can be tracked back to Death Eaters. Only some of them have been convicted, other were cast off as supporters of Voldemort's cause." Realization dawned across her face before quickly being replaced with more confusion.

"So why am I here? How is this relevant to me?" The answer seemed to be on the edge of her mind. One that was so vile, so repugnant, that she tried to force it out of her mind. It was an impossibility.

"Hermione, we found your record hidden in that stack." He looked at her apologetically, as if he wished he could take back the words he was just forced to say.

Shock was written across her face, it quickly changed into disbelief and anger. This was a sick joke. Looking around as if expecting the twins to pop out at any moment she spewed venom with her next words.

"I don't know what kind of prank you think you're playing here Shacklebolt, but it isn't funny." With that she spun on her heel and almost ran to the Floo. Leaving the files laying on the floor behind her.