…An elf whose clothing is with Hogwarts crest had intersected her. Before she could say something, he handed her a small cup. When Hermione look at the cup, her Cheshire grin appeared.
She was given a cup of vanilla ice cream.
Year 2000 | 3rd Seventh of May
Chapter 2
Still at the Luncheon | Favors
"Thank you." Hermione managed to express just before the elf in front of her disappeared.
With vastly improved mood, Hermione straightened to resume with her course to talk to her former boss, Mr. Gregory Bennette. She found him watching and seemingly waiting for her arrival.
"Hermione, how are you?" Gregory greeted her with cheerfulness that she did not see from him the 18 months she served under him. "Short period of time and I can see that you already have elf admirer bringing you a treat!" He good-naturedly stated as he motioned at the cup in Hermione's hand. "They do say that you are a sweetheart to them."
Hermione genuinely smiled before she answered, "No sir, he was just handing it from someone." Then she felt a jest would be okay so she added, "And I really like you Sir, but I will not share this. And too bad you can't threaten to fire me for not sharing." For good measure, she quickly reinforced the freezing charm and afterwards vanished the cup to her office downstairs.
Gregory Bennette deep booming laugher erupted. Hermione was so astonished at his reaction and with her current happy disposition from Minerva's ice cream surprise gesture, she got swept by her former boss' gaiety that she freely chuckled as well.
"You remind me of Minerva McGonagall— I mean, The Headmistress… She can drop some cracking remarks and have the receiver in bewilderment of whether to laugh or to draw one's wand for a duel."
Hermione eyes sparkled at the compliment and wryly retorted, "Thank Merlin it had you laughing Sir, because had you opted for a duel, I do not really want to send your bum on the ground and be sent to Azkaban."
Another round of laughter came out from her boss and once more Hermione could not help but laughed along with him.
"Hermione, I think you better drop 'sir' and just call me Gregory." Her boss warmly told her and she nodded and smiled at him as they both gathered themselves from their laughing.
From her peripheral vision, Hermione caught Mr. Jinn Leroy—the current MLE Head before she heard his banter.
"How did you get lucky Gregory that Ms. Granger opted to join your department, gave the retirement door that you've been bemoaning about— since the time I was still at Hogwarts?"
The wizard clasped her boss' forearm in a friendly gesture. Hermione tried to hide her surprise that her former boss and the MLE Head are this familiar with each other.
Gregory dramatically teased back. "Since you were at Hogwarts Jinn? More like when you were a baby!" He heartily laughed then continued, "But really, it's fate I should say." Then naughtily added, "plus her double mastery top ranks should be evidence enough of why. Only the smartest people opt to work at the Regulation and Control of MC."
Blue eyes of Jinn Leroy turned to her, studied her quite intimidatingly, before he asked, "Is that so Ms. Granger?"
Hermione heard the jest and the test.
"I reckon that silence is the best answer Sir… I hate to offend feelings and egos of either my recent former boss or my probable future boss. Surely I would need favors from both."
Gregory Bennette and Jinn Leroy roared with laughter and Hermione was completely taken aback at their full merriment that she did a double take.
"Bloody brilliant witch…! Truly brilliant just as they say! I think I have to start attracting you to join MLE now!
"Oy Jinn, let her wield her impeccable brilliance at the Regulation before you steal her away."
"What do say Ms. Granger?"
Another test, but more of a jest… Hermione could now see the amusement in Jinn Leroy's eyes, so she quickly gave a return.
"I say this is like having conversation with my best friends Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."
"How so?"
"Because?"
The wizards questioned at the same time in almost comical manner. Hermione suspended her laughter as she volleyed another quip, "For suddenly, I find myself in the middle of two wizards who are both handsome but too incorrigible."
Once more, the two wizards burst in laughter. And she also chuckled at their laughter, and at the notion of two wizards who are known as severe Ministry Officers are now laughing out loud... with her.
Truthfully, Hermione could not believe that her former boss is not the quiet old wizard she had tagged him. She barely exchanged words with him during the time she worked with him. Even when he was essentially transferring his duties as Department head, Gregory Bennette didn't really strike conversation with her. And they did not swap any joke. The man elected formality when dealing with fellow workers, although obviously, retirement has this amazing effect on people.
Equally shocking for Hermione is to find herself trading jabs with the tough MLE boss. She had heard quite a few stories from Harry on how demanding and gravelly serious Jinn Leroy is at work. She knew that the wizard was fatally wounded at the start of the last war and was lucky to live, unlike his boss Amelia Bones. Harry said that Leroy didn't bother with his label as the 'The Golden Boy who Lived' and treated him as one of the green Aurors who needed strict training like the rest, which Harry actually preferred. Also, Harry did mention that he always like the fact that his boss would shift into his casual self and engage them in good rapport outside work hours.
And so, for the next quarter of an hour, Hermione found herself in an exclusive repartee with two seasoned wizards until they had to talk to other people and needed to break their party. But not before Jinn Leroy insisted that Gregory Bennette owes him favors in exchange for 'letting' him have Hermione Granger at the Regulation and Control. They walked away still throwing banters.
For the next half hour, Hermione engaged in discussion with couple of wizards and witches here and there with her general positive disposition. But as before, she would mark Minerva's whereabouts from time to time, noting how people would either braved it and talked to the woman or just gave their apprehensive abridged greetings.
At one point when she checked to where Minerva was seated with Kingsley and Harry, she was motioned by Kingsley to come over… As soon as she was near enough, Harry immediately vacated his seat and made her take it, and so she found herself seated beside Minerva.
Before Hermione could give a proper greeting, Kingsley beat her with a question, "What were Gregory and Jinn pestering you about awhile ago?"
"Oh. They were just—" Hermione bit her lip and thought of what to actually say to the Minister and because she was really, really in a good mood, she said, "—they just wanted me to tell them who is the most charming wizard?"
"They asked you what?" asked Kingsley disbelievingly.
"Who is the most charming wizard?" repeated Hermione, and she could already see how Harry is battling to keep his laughter in.
When she looked at the face of the witch beside her, she found a brow in perfect arc but Hermione schooled her face gravelly when she returned to look at the Minister across them.
"And?" asked Kingsley still disbelievingly.
"I said, it is no other but Kingsley Shacklebolt!" replied Hermione with utmost seriousness.
Unmistakably Hermione heard a soft snort from the woman beside her but she did not let go of her serious expression as she watched Kingsley blinked in confusion.
And then as if they had a script, Harry followed with his over-dramatic objection, "Hermione! Who is the most charming wizard?"
Of course without missing a beat she said, "Surely no other but Harry Potter!"
Kingsley good-naturedly rebuked her and afterwards let out a laugh as Harry was already openly chuckling.
"So she is brilliant AND funny eh?" said Kingsley and seemed to address the non-question to Minerva.
Hermione shook her head in earnest and risked to follow Kingsley's direction and looked at Minerva's face. She curved her lips into a smile when she found Minerva's own lips quirked up.
"Actually sir, I just stole that from Ron. That's why Harry easily caught up with it. Ron would ask Harry a favor and had him ask aloud 'Who is the most gorgeous witch' within hearing distance of some girl that Ron would like to charm."
"And clearly he needs another scheme to actually charm one" rejoined by Harry that had them chuckling.
"Where is he by the way? I thought I saw him earlier" asked Kingsley.
"He is back at their shop. He had to switch with George in tending so both of them could actually attend today" explained Harry. "But I think he'll close early and try to come back."
Before anyone could continue their chat, Gil Williams—Kingsley's chief of staff needed to take the Minister for some matters and both wizards excused themselves. And just seconds after Gil and Kingsley took steps away from them; Harry stood up and also excused himself about getting them a drink. Hence leaving her with Minerva alone.
Unsurprisingly, the woman is in her public persona but Hermione seemed to be now proficient in scanning the severity— or absence of Minerva's walls. Sure, some walls are present at the moment, but she could also detect smallest hint of smile in the older woman's face, so Hermione decided to draw it out.
"Would you like to ask who is the fairest witch of all?"
Hermione knew that she is flirting and she could not help herself. She absolutely missed Minerva. She had last seen the woman some months ago…
"No..."
Minerva's short, quiet response in her thick brogue was apparent. It told Hermione that the witch is somewhat withholding her laughter. It certainly had Hermione grinned with abandon and teased Minerva further.
"Come on ask me… I promise it is my only answer… For I only have ONE name…"
Hermione watched the smile on Minerva's face slowly but surely appeared. Vaguely she knew that her own smile had magnified in its degree…
Then a disturbing snap accompanied with a blinding flash of light broke the moment…
Hermione turned her head at the source and she found a photographer from The Daily Prophet, who apparently just taken their photo. Before she could even gather her thoughts on how to express her displease, the camera vanished into thin air with one swift wave by Minerva who just confiscated the offensive camera.
"Come on now Headmistress, that camera is Daily Prophet's property."
"Seven years at Hogwarts and we failed to have you learned that one must not take something without asking for permission? I don't remember Severus Snape lacking in refinement for him not to make his house emulate it."
"With due respect Madame, if I would have to ask permission in my profession, I would be a very incompetent photographer because I cannot really capture the pure action. We need the pure moment and I would miss it if I need to be courteous before taking it.
"And what an exciting moment of action of two witches sitting." Hermione interjected with enough acid to thaw hard grade metals.
"True Ms. Ganger that it wasn't much in action. But capturing moments is also about the people in it. And I already have a perfect caption for your photo: The Past, Present and Future of Our Society."
The wizard air quoted the caption and obviously very pleased with himself by the look on his face. Plainly, there is a delay in his brain about recognising the mistake he just committed.
On the other hand, Hermione had to give it to this photographer-Slytherin-wizard. He knows his shit. Including its bullshit…
"Headmistress, Hermione, hello…" Audrey Weasley arrived hurriedly at their table with evident tensed countenance and irritation directed at the annoying photographer, a colleague at The Daily Prophet…
"Gaston, you're being a git!" Audrey let out her exasperated scolding to the Slytherin, and then turned to Minerva and Hermione, "I'm sorry for whatever he did."
"Hey, I was just taking the photograph of our revered Hogwarts Headmistress Minerva McGonagall with no other than Ms. Granger - the youngest Ministry Department Head. And like what I was telling them, I already have the most perfect caption and that is—"
"No Gaston. I turn for a second and you sneak away. I told you that we have strict instruction to keep our photo taking at a minimum today. I don't want to lose my job because of your inability to follow instructions. Go, our boss needs you to take their photo over there."
"But…" Gaston was visibly going to argue about his camera being taken by the Headmistress. Hermione watched the older witch merely raised one brow; the photographer wizard rapidly changed his mind and actually muttered, "Didn't mean to be intrusive Madame." And then scampered away.
"I really apologise Headmistress," Audrey stated when Gaston was gone. "He is a pain in the bum but a brilliant photographer so we have to suffer bringing him around."
"He managed one, I'll appreciate it if you'd shelve it Mrs. Weasley." Minerva said after she conjured back the confiscated camera and floated it to Audrey.
"Yes Ma'am" replied Audrey and took hold of the offensively used item. "I am sorry too Hermione, our boss even reminded us about our agreement with you. We didn't tell Gaston, well, exactly because he'll be more insistent to take your photo tonight."
"Don't worry Audrey, we're still even in favors."
"Okay, thanks… I will see you at the Burrow later, right?"
Hermione nodded and watched Audrey walked away after bidding her and the Headmistress goodbye. When she turned to look at the Headmistress, she found the woman with raised walls, undoubtedly from what just happened... She internally sighed at now finding herself in a ruffled situation. She was deciding what to say or how to expel the tightness, and at the same time bloody wishing for Harry to return to them when Minerva opened a discussion.
"May I ask something?
"Of course..." Hermione tentatively responded and she dared to study the woman's face again. Although Minerva was still wearing her public persona, Hermione was glad that the stiffness caused by the Gaston incident is already gone. She also noted that the woman didn't sound sharp. Minerva even sounded curious.
"Even in favors…."
"That was not a question." Hermione quipped but her golden brain already comprehended what Minerva would like to know… or perhaps Minerva already knew but just like to get confirmation from her.
Minerva's brows knitted in reproach but there was tugging at the corner of her thin lips. Hermione let out her own smile then she lightly asked, "And the Headmistress' actual non-questions would be?"
This time Minerva let out a small smirk at Hermione's quip, before speaking what Hermione already knew— more or less…
"You gave The Daily Prophet the heads-up last January about your promotion? In return that they leave you alone tonight? And is that the same premise on how you're managing to keep your recent Charms level 2 mastery completion out of public?"
"Yes, not exactly, and no." replied Hermione without hesitation but she deliberately excluded details and she knew that Minerva would catch it.
Minerva did. And then the woman merely raised one brow to compel Hermione to say more…
"Just after New Year when the Minister told me that my boss pushed for his official retirement, therefore my official promotion as Department Head to be finalised. I decided to talk to Audrey to ask her boss if they want to exchange favors. When they agreed, I told them of my upcoming official promotion, giving them advantage of getting the information instead of catching up to report afterwards. I know that for them it was already a tremendous difference. Although I was adamant that they do not release ahead but the same day. And since it has no bearing to me, I went for it— in exchange of a future favor… "
"Future favor."
"I didn't know yet what to ask that time." Hermione shrugged her shoulders. Then when the luncheon was being planned, I thought I could use the favor so they will limit reviving the 'Golden Brain' label in relation with today's commemoration."
"And your mastery?"
"I had a talk with the Records Department."
"You mean you pulled your Department Head rank with them…"
"I just talked to Mr. Thompson, it turned out he knows about extending courtesy to a fellow Department Head."
Again, Minerva raised her brow. And again, Hermione was compelled to come forth.
"I miscalculated. Last week I managed to finish the last of the mastery level-2 requirements. I'm sure Filius mentioned such to you as soon as I was done with it."
Hermione said the last part with a matter of fact tone and she watched the Minerva's corner lip twitched in amusement.
"But really, I thought it would take me until end of June or mid-July to complete Charms despite not taking Transfiguration because of the significantly increased workload I have. So—"
"After you've completed the requirements and even before the official confirmation was available, you talked to Mr. Ewan Thompson as favor from fellow Department Head…"
Again, Hermione shrugged. "I asked Ewan to withhold releasing the information so it will not get attention from this week's commemoration… in respect to those who have sacrificed their lives during the war. He understood and even agreed to keep it for about a month or so in his office… All the better, the belated broadcast would help lose some of its sensationalism."
When Minerva didn't say anything back and just stared at her, Hermione tried to read the apparent contemplation going on inside the older woman's head. For a moment she worried if there was something questionable with her actions, but she knew she didn't do anything wrong. Of course she made a thorough thinking before doing any of them. But really, she has one concern— Minerva's opinion.
"You are learning the inner workings of Ministry post and taking hold the advantages of being a Public figure at a breakneck speed and it should not really surprise me. And yet, I am…" then she heard Minerva added in almost a murmur, "Brilliant indeed."
At Minerva's words, Hermione face's adorned her Cheshire grin. "Well, people keep telling me that I have a chance to be a 'tenth' version of this venerated woman that we all refer as THE Headmistress… But I know I have to work very, very hard in order to be so."
"No… You'll be—" Emerald-eyed witch paused, unknowingly withdrawn one of her walls, and another wall, and then in heavier brogue quietly stated, "You will be so much more… Much more."
Hermione's heart surged. Try as she did, she lost her grip on her control and gave her truest response, "I just want to afford more…"
Even knowing that they are in the middle of a Ministry luncheon, at the Ministry official ballroom, where about three hundred wizards and witches are in attendance, Hermione did not falter. She bravely held emerald eyes as she whispered, "I need to afford more… "
Hope in Hermione's soul fired up as Minerva's one wall fell… then another… then another…
Then suddenly, to Hermione's utmost horror, every withdrawn bloody wall went back up…
And the bloody public persona of The Headmistress Minerva McGonagall re-surfaced with clarity…
End of Chapter 2 | Year 2000 | Favors
Minerva's bloody bloody walls!
Why?
AN:
-Once again, borrowing from JK Rowling.
-I am really poor in making names so I apologise for just grabbing known fictional & non fic names.
Additional created characters:
1| Gaston - a shout-out to Beauty and the Beast.
2| Mr. Ewan Thompson, Head of Department of Records (also made-up department)
3| Mr. Jinn Leroy, Head of MLE - a shout out to NCIS Leroy and StarWars Qui-Gon Jinn
Repeating created characters:
1| Gregory Bennette - Hermione's former boss
2| Gil Williams - Kingsley chief of staff