Chapter 4
Hermione arrived at her desk promptly at eight-thirty as per usual, her poor secretary, who arrived even earlier to beat her to the office every day, looked practically tired this morning. "Good morning Melody, you looked tired."
Melody stifled a yawn. "Yes, Ma'am, just had a bit of a late night, one of my girlfriends got engaged, so celebrations were in order, and well you know how those things go," she chuckled.
"You do know you have sick days for things like that, correct?" Hermione questioned, though she had never personally taken a sick day for any purpose, she understood the general use of them.
"Of course I know. I also know that I am the secretary to a very important women hell bent on changing the world." Melody smiled "Now, I put your coffee on your desk and Mr. Bateman has requested to see you today, he said it had to do with the Werewolf program being implemented soon. He's expecting you at ten." She passed Hermione the file to look over before the meeting.
Hermione nodded and thanked Melody and sat down at her desk, the program aimed to protect werewolves from various attacks that had been increasing over the past year. During the war, Voldemort used werewolves like Fernier Greyback to infect as many people as he could, most of which were children in order to terrorize and gain power in the war, thus there was a surge in the werewolf population. It seemed like everyone known at least one werewolf and while many were more sympathetic to werewolves, some people held on to thier prejudice. This most recent program sought to protect them as a special species and offer one on one liaisons to the ministry as well as provide special security measures. It was nearly ten when Hermione finished looking over the file. She gathered her things and went to see her Department head Mr. Bateman, she knocked on his door and he called her in.
"Hermione," he said not looking up from the papers on his desk, it looked like he was editing something.
"You wanted to see me?" She asked sitting down in the chair in front of his desk.
Mr. Batmen didn't look at her for a few moments finishing whatever sentence he was reading, then finally leaned back and looked at her. "Yes, as you know we've got this new program coming in to effect and while everyone will be given ten to fifteen people to liaison for, you will be getting the more high profile cases. The ministry seems to think that if you handle the high profiles that it may go over better. You being a War hero blah, blah, blah, so on and so fourth." He rolled his eyes.
Hermione bristled. She hated being used as a puppet for the Ministry's to impress the affluent, this was not the first time they tried to get her to play pretty for the wealthy. " Mr. Bateman, while I'm glad to help with the werewolf program I don't appreciate being used for my infamy" she said haughty tone.
"Yes, Miss. Granger, I understand that and believe me I fought with the minister about it too, I'm on your side, but Kingsley says that they need the best and you are the best. Now, if you really don't want to, then please talk to Kingsley yourself. I don't have have the patience, time or power to change it." He looked at her. "Look, I get it, being famous has it draw backs, and I've done my best thus far to keep you from being a Ministry marionette but this one is over my head, honestly." He sighed. "Now you'll be getting your files Thursday, meanwhile I expect that House Elves Decree on my desk by Friday morning, the Wizengamot wants to hear it that afternoon, so be expecting to take home revisions and retractions this weekend to have it sent back Monday, and hopefully we will have that decree passed that afternoon."
Hermione chewed on her lip, wondering if she should say anything more on about the werewolf program, but her boss gave her a look that warned otherwise. "Okay, I'll have it to you by Thursday night, I'd like to sit in on the Wizengamot if that's okay, just so I can take notes and perhaps get a jump on the rework."
He went back to editing the files in front of him. "If you want to waste your day listening to the old people droning on about decrees, be my guest, but still know I expect you to get started on your werewolves too. Now out, and let Smith know I want to see him, I have some issues with this centaur stuff he sent over."
Hermione nodded and left. She dropped by Smith's office and relayed the information also warning him that Bateman was in a mood, though Bateman always seemed to be in a mood. He said it's what twenty years of red tape did to a person and warned everyone to get the hell out of dodge sooner rather than later. That being said, Hermione knew Bateman had been offered promotions and other jobs other places but he always stayed. For a job he said he hated, he seemed to care enough to stay.
The rest of her week was spent shuffling between departments, and coworkers trying get the final wording and laws proposals right before the Wizengamot on Friday. Finally, as she finished up the last sentence on Thursday she took a sigh of release and walked it over to Bateman's office for final approval. She knocked and he beckoned her in. " I have that Decree." She said tentatively said because he barley acknowledged her since he let her in.
"Good," he grumbled over his paperwork, still not looking at her. She gingerly placed the decree on his desk and turned to leave. "Hermione," he began glancing up at her, "good work," returning immediately to his papers.
She smiled "Thanks." and she left. The next morning Hermione came in at nine with the rest of her co-workers, because the Wizengamot didn't meet until ten, she allowed herself to sleep in on days her decrees were being heard. She greeted Melody who also came in late for their normal standards and seemed to be in a chipper mood.
"Morning, Miss Granger. You excited for today?" Melody sang.
Hermione chuckled. "Yes I'm rather looking forward to it, but keep in mind there's still quite a ways to go yet, and I still have to get the rewrite done and then it'll pass."
Melody sighed. "You are very good at bringing down the mood, Miss Granger. Anyways, their supposed to see your decree at eleven, but rumors have it, the new decree for Azkaban living conditions is at ten, so be prepared to be delayed, my friend over in Law and Enforcement says it highly controversial and that they barely got the decree to the Wizengamot, let alone passing it through. Also the designer dropped off your dress for the battle ball tonight and I'm to remind you that your appointment for hair and make up is at five this evening and you are not to be late; the stylist said she would need every minute you could spare to tame your hair." Melody cautiously looked up hoping her statement took no ill will. "For the record," she added, "I admire you owning your curls, and I personally love your hair."
Hermione laughed. "Thank you, Melody. You can have them. They're such a hassle to take care of." Hermione turned to leave, then stopped. "Wait, did you say the battle Ball was tonight?"
Melody nodded "Well, the Anniversary was yesterday, and Mrs. Malfoy wanted to throw the ball as close to the Anniversary as she could, apparently she is very particular about such things"
Hermione sighed. "This day just got much much longer."
"Mrs. Granger, if I could ask something personal?" Melody mumbled. "Why go to the Malfoy's? I know they were on the wrong side of the war and rumors say their son was terrible to you at school. I was shocked when you told me to RSVP yes."
Hermione thought for a long moment. "Well, firstly, I owe Narcissa a debt, she saved Harry's life four years ago. Secondly, people change and Narcissa has been very generous to our department several times and she pushes our agendas through to the other pureblood and Ministry officials wives, which in turn get passed on to their husbands who happen to hold more than a modicum of power. Thirdly, her son won't be there." Hermione smirked.
As predicted the Azkaban Decree went past it's allotment and she had to come back after lunch and hear more on the treatment of prisoners. She had to admit after hearing the proposal of rehabilitation of those not serving life sentences, she was not adverse to the idea of fair treatment. Though a part of her hated the idea of death eaters having any kind of comfort after the pain and terror they caused. She mostly worked on her Werewolf files that she had received yesterday but hadn't got a chance to even look at until this morning. Hermione had been reading the background information each of her cases and making notes on how best to approach and protect them, she looked in their jobs, friends, and family ties, making sure there were no known racist within their social circles. Hermione got about half way through her cases before the decree was vetoed to be reworked. Next up was her Decree , Hermione listened intently as the Wizengamot debated the decree, finally it was vetoed as well, however with just minor wording and phrasing adjustments. Hermione sighed in relief. It took her several attempts to get this far; she had been at the Wizengamot three other times on this same version each time cutting more and more back to please the Wizengamot. Now finally she had something that would actually pass, she looked at her watch, stunned to see it was past four.
Hermione had to rush back to her office. She needed to get home take a shower, have a quick dinner, take care of Crooks for the night then floo to her stylist, who would have a conniption if she was late. She wasn't sure if forty-five minutes was enough, but by the goodness of Merlin she made it to her stylist's salon with five minutes to spare.
Amber was a tall red head and while she was sometimes too blunt, she was very good at what she did. Amber was the only person that could tame Hermione's curls and make them stay that way for more the two hours. Amber managed to get her hair in to some sort of bun thing that actually made her natural curls look beautiful and then did a subtle smokey eye and delicate make up to match the softer look. By the time Amber was done, Hermione looked like she could have walked out of a magazine. Yes Hermione was naturally beautiful, her family and friends told her so all the time, but with her hair done and make up flawless, she looked stunning. Hermione thanked Amber and paid her handsomely. Hermione returned home to put on her dress before she left for the ball. The dress was a black number with a very modest boat neck line and three-quarter length sleeves, from the front very classy and conservative. The back, however, had a deep v-cut that emphasized her curves and ended at the small of her back, with a layered train following behind her. She accessorized it with a long triple strand pearl necklace, a pair of pearl earrings and some black heels that no one would ever see because the dress was long enough to hide them. She checked herself in the mirror once more took a deep breath and headed for the floo.