Happy Wednesday! Hope yours is going better than mine! I have two essays to write today, so obviously I am posting a new chapter instead! ;-) I hope you enjoy!
Hermione goes up in front of the Wizengamot to have her new laws and policies scrutinised.
Betsy was an enthusiastic and hard worker and by the end of her first week working at the Ministry, she had read all of Hermione's new House-Elf Welfare Law and new policy changes. The elf had hurried in to work on Friday with a rolled-up piece of parchment clutched in her hands and had nervously presented Hermione with a list of suggested amendments. Most of them were minimal; tweaks to phrases and wordings so that they would be understandable to elves as well as humans.
There was still a rush against the clock for Hermione to get the document updated before submitting it to the Wizengamot for scrutinising, but it was the kind of environment she was used to working in. She spent the whole weekend and most of the following Monday and Tuesday working, but finally got Betsy's changes added before the end of their workday on Tuesday. Hermione lifted her wand and cast a proofreading charm, then gave Betsy a smile across their desks.
"I think we're done!" She gave the elf a tired smile.
Betsy smiled back. "We worked hard Miss Granger. When house-elves work hard up at the castle, we treat ourselves with something small. A snack or a walk in the castle grounds."
Hermione laughed softly. "We will definitely have a treat. In fact, why don't we go and hand these to the Wizengamot secretariat and then I will take you for a Butterbeer!"
"Oh, Betsy does love Butterbeer!" Betsy clapped her hands enthusiastically.
"Perfect!" Hermione glanced back as her wand announced the proofreading charm had completed. "Oh…" She frowned at the document. "I forgot to name it…"
"What does Miss Granger mean?"
"Well, when a new law is introduced; it's sometimes good to name it something. I don't want it to become just another Magical Decree, because I'm not Dolores Umbridge and the House-Elf Welfare Law just sounds a bit, well, dry…"
Betsy looked like she was thinking about it for a second then smiled. "Betsy has an idea…" The elf looked a bit nervous. "Why don't we name it after Dobby?"
"Dobby's Law…" Hermione smiled again. "I think we should check with Harry, but I can't see that being an issue. Shall we pop down to the Auror Department?"
Betsy scrambled out of her chair and began to follow Hermione to the elevators. A week or so working in the Ministry meant she had gotten used to the sensation of riding in the lifts.
Hermione and Betsy entered the Auror Department and weaved their way through the vast department to get to Ron and Harry's desk.
"Hermione, hey!" Harry waved them over. "Have you come to distract us from learning all about the mistakes other Aurors have made throughout their time in the department?!"
Hermione laughed as both her friends were sat with piles of folders around them, looking thoroughly bored. "No, I'm actually here to check something with you Harry. Betsy and I finished the final version of the House-Elf welfare documents and we were about to go and submit them to the Wizengamot when we realised we hadn't named it. So, Betsy and I were wondering if you'd be okay if we named it after Dobby?"
"Dobby's Law?" Harry's eyes lit up instantly. "I think that's brilliant Hermione, a perfect tribute! He would be so happy to know…"
"Well actually, it was Betsy's idea…"
Betsy gave Harry a low bow. "Dobby was a great friend to Betsy and taught her all she believes in today."
"Betsy, you don't have to do that…" Harry blushed bright red and looked a bit awkward as some of his colleagues laughed at the house-elf's actions.
"Sorry Mr. Potter, but Betsy is still not used to working as equals to wizards as great as you!" The house-elf blushed too but straightened up immediately.
"That's settled then…" Hermione tapped the top of her document with her wand, smiling as the title was added to the front page. "Just need to hand it in now…" She let out a shaky breath.
"What you looking so nervous about?" Ron finally spoke up from his pile of folders.
"Well it's only the culmination of over a year of research and Betsy and I have worked so hard these past few days…"
Ron got up from his desk and placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "The session with the Wizengamot is going to be fine…" He rubbed her shoulder softly, not caring if Harry saw him. "With Kingsley leading it, you'll be in safe hands…"
"I just wish you two could be in there to support us…" Hermione sighed slightly.
"We tried…" Harry looked up at Hermione. "We're supposed to spend some time shadowing the Wizengamot to learn about the law-making process, but Robards drew a line under Ron and I watching your sessions. Shame, I would have liked to have seen the inside of the courtrooms again…" He gave his friends a smirk.
"I haven't seen them at all yet!" Ron scowled. "Cattermole was stuck fixing the rain in Yaxley's office…"
"Oh yeah…" Hermione giggled. "I'd forgotten about that! I just hope they don't bring Dementors…" She shivered slightly.
Betsy let out a scared squeak. "There's Dementors at the Wizengamot?!"
Hermione laughed again. "No, the Dementors were banished after the war. The Ministry no longer use them…"
"It's going to be fine 'Mione…" Ron gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before sitting back down at his desk.
"Ginny is on a training week at Holyhead, so I'll be free for you every evening to let off steam…" Harry gave Hermione a smile.
"And me…" Ron butted in, not wanting to miss out.
"That'll be good!" Hermione stared back down at the document. "I better go hand it in then…"
"Yes, before you lose it!"
Hermione let out a shaky breath. "We'll see you later…" She gave both boys a small wave goodbye before heading out of the department, Betsy hot on her heels.
The scrutiny of new Wizarding Laws takes around a week. The first two days are for members of the Wizengamot to read the new law and make notes. On the third day, the law is debated between them and a set of questions are prepared for the bill writer to answer on day four. The final day is reserved as a wrap-up session just in case questioning takes more than a day.
Frustratingly for Hermione, those who sat on the Wizengamot were bound by a simple charm that stopped them from talking about anything discussed in the courtroom. Nevertheless, Hermione made sure she was waiting outside the doors of Courtroom number 10 to try and work out from the member's expressions how things were going. On Wednesday, she had even followed Kingsley back up to his office, throwing questions at him which he had no chance in answering, even if he had wanted to. Hermione had gotten herself a warning for that and she'd spent the evening in the Leaky Cauldron ranting to Harry and Ron about it.
By the time Thursday came around, Hermione's nerves were completely shot. She had woken up early and dressed herself in the smart trouser suit that she'd bought just for the occasion. She was just getting ready to leave when her floo activated. Frowning, she gulped down the last of her coffee before rushing through to the living room.
"Oh good, you're still here…" Ron dusted himself down. "I just wanted to check if you were okay, and I thought it would be safer for me to do it here than at the Ministry…"
Hermione smiled fondly, despite her nerves. "I'm okay. It's going to be a tough day but I guess I know the laws inside out. There's nothing they can throw at me that'll put me off…"
"That's my girl…" Ron headed over to her, taking her face in both hands before giving her a kiss. "I tried asking Robards again but he's taking a firm stance on not letting Harry and I into the courtroom…" He pouted slightly. "But I'll be waiting outside for you!" He kissed her again.
Hermione let out a small moan as she returned his kiss before carefully pushing him away. "You'll make me late…" She smiled at him.
"It'll be worth it… I'll see you later okay?" Ron left as quickly as he arrived, leaving Hermione to grab the last of her belongings before flooing to the Ministry.
Hermione's day with the Wizengamot was long and the questioning was hard. There were still a number of pure-blood members of the Wizengamot who owned house-elves and definitely didn't want the laws changed. There was one member in particular, Madam Radford, who was the head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, who gave Hermione a particularly hard grilling.
Eventually, Kingsley invited Hermione to make her closing remarks. It was very late in the day; and a lot of the members of the Wizengamot were starting to look bored. This didn't put Hermione off though; she had been preparing for this moment since she was 14. She stood up from the chair in the middle of the courtroom and steeled herself.
"Most house-elves seem to be happy with how they are treated because they do not know better. Madam Radford, you seem to be one of the biggest critics of my proposed new laws. Your house-elf is named Colly, is that right?" Hermione smiled as Claire Radford nodded. "I visited Colly as part of my research, which you know because you had to give permission for me to do so. Colly seemed to be very well looked after, very well fed and she was wearing clean clothes. There were no outward signs of abuse and I'm sure you look after Colly very well. But Colly is a rarity.
"There are still elves across the country that get beaten daily for getting small things wrong, like spilling the milk or neglecting to dust the handrail on the stairs.
"Dobby the house-elf thought he was happy when he was working for the Malfoys. We all remember the Malfoys, don't we? Dobby tried to warn my friend Harry Potter that his life was in danger if he returned to school the year the Chamber of Secrets was reopened. Because he did this, Dobby used to beat himself regularly."
Hermione was disturbed briefly as she heard a door in the viewing gallery close. She turned and looked up, smiling slightly as she watched Ron and Harry sneak into the back of the courtroom. She took a deep breath and carried on.
"Harry discovered that Lucius Malfoy was mistreating Dobby, but Dobby was happy living with the family because he thought that treatment was normal. After Harry escaped the Chamber of Secrets, he freed Dobby by tricking Lucius Malfoy into giving Dobby a sock. The change in Dobby's behaviours and attitudes was almost instant and his loyalty switched to Harry. Dobby even protected Harry moments after his release when Lucius Malfoy threatened him in a school corridor.
"Dobby came to Hogwarts to work as a free elf. He built up a relationship with the students, including me and my friends and also helped to look after other elves, like Winky – Barty Crouch's house-elf – when Barty cruelly banished Winky from his house-hold. Dobby also started making friends with some of the other elves at Hogwarts, though this took him a lot longer than he'd hoped…" Hermione smiled at Betsy. "Because he was a free elf, Dobby was able to rescue myself, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley from torture and inevitable death at Malfoy Manor. Because he was a free elf; Harry, Ron and I were able to continue our mission to destroy Voldemort's horcruxes. Without Dobby, I wouldn't be standing here today. In fact, I'd be willing to put all of my reward money on us living very different lives if Dobby hadn't been a free elf. Probably under Voldemort's regime. Not that Harry, Ron or I would be around to see that."
Hermione paused for a moment for dramatic effect, braving a glance towards where Ron and Harry were sat. Both of them had huge grins on their faces, which strengthened Hermione's resolve to finish her speech. She turned back to the Wizengamot.
"Dobby died so that wizards and witches could live their lives free. House-elves deserve this basic freedom, including the right to a wage and a safe place to live because we don't know when we might need another Dobby. I truly believe that my proposed changes will benefit our wellbeing as well as theirs. Dobby is a great example of that. This week, you have had the chance to speak to Winky, Betsy and Kreacher – three other house-elves who have benefitted from their own choice of life. All three elves are thriving because they are doing something that they love, in safe environments. House-elves should be allowed to choose where they work and the conditions they work under. Just the same as you and me.
"So I beg you to accept Dobby's Law so we can continue to make the Wizarding World such a better, more inclusive place to live and work. It's already proven to be successful in Australia. It can work well for us too."
Hermione sat down with a satisfied smile, her heart pounding. She looked up again at Ron and Harry and could have almost cried as she saw their proud faces. She bit her lip and fought back the tears, turning back to Kinglsey and listening carefully as he summed up the discussion over the past four days and the outline of the next steps. Hermione waited patiently to be dismissed and left the courtroom quickly when it was time.
Ron and Harry were waiting for her at the courtroom door and she was pulled into Harry's arms first when she got to them.
"That was brilliant Hermione! Dobby would be proud of you!" Harry held her close. Hermione watched as Ron lingered behind them, a huge smile on his face. He gave her a wink and Hermione buried her head against Harry's neck with a smile.
"Thank you so much! Although you two should not have snuck into the courtroom, you could get into so much trouble!" She stepped back and gave them both a stern look.
Ron shrugged then stepped forward hug Hermione briefly. "Worth it." He tightened his grip around her, giving her a firm squeeze. "Seeing the looks on the Wizengamot's faces as you so brazenly mentioned Voldemort in their courtrooms was bloody brilliant, as well as hearing your speech live after spending all week listening to you rehearse it!" He reluctantly let go of her.
"Was it okay?" Hermione wrung her hands nervously. "I wasn't sure that I should be mentioning you Harry…"
Harry grinned. "We have to be able to use this fame for something, right?!"
The trio and Betsy stepped aside as the Wizengamot finally started filing out of the courtroom and Ron took the opportunity to take Hermione's hand while Harry was distracted.
"How about we debrief at the Leaky Cauldron?" Ron suggested. "Betsy, do you want to join us?"
The elf's ears pricked up, a huge smile on her face. "Yes please Mister Weasley…"
Harry grinned. "I need to go grab some stuff from my desk, meet you there?" He didn't wait for an answer, but hurried up the corridor, followed closely by Betsy who also had things to pick up.
Hermione started to follow them, but she felt a tug at her arm as Ron pulled her back towards him. He checked the corridor had emptied out before pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "You were just… so fucking amazing in there… I just wanted to tell you that before we joined the others…" He gave her a huge smile.
"Thank you Ron…" Hermione let out a long, shaky breath. "It's such a relief to finally get it over and done with…" She gave him another kiss with a smile.
Ron returned her kiss, wrapping his arms around her. Eventually, he pulled away. "Come on, let's go celebrate!"
"Not celebrate, I won't get the final verdict until at least next week!"
Ron chuckled at her hesitancy as he started to lead her down the corridor. "We'll find something to celebrate, even if it's just me getting you back so I can carry on dating you!" He gave her a cheeky grin before pulling her into the lifts with him.