No Time For Epilogues
Chapter 11
Now that she had the credentials to take her place in the world, it didn't take Hermione long to decide what she wanted to do: look for a job and her own flat. Lately, she felt childish about her present arrangements. First off, she was a perfectly capable witch, perfectly capable of making her own way in the world. Second, she felt childish about Ron always coming over to her parent's house, when he should be coming to mine! Her parents were more than happy to let her live there as long as she liked, were crazy about Ron, but she felt it was time to get off her arse and do something. She announced to her parents at breakfast that she would start looking for a job that day.
"And when I've secured said job, I'll start looking for my own place. I'm going to be 19 next month, that's no age to be mooching off one's parents," she said.
"You're can't mooch the willing, pumpkin. We're happy to have you here," Elizabeth said.
"Take as long as you need to get yourself established," Ian said. "It takes a pretty shilling to get started."
She absently nibbled her toast and flipped through the Daily Prophet until she came to the 'Ministry of Magic' section. Kingsley announced another wave of sweeping reforms aimed at de-corrupting the long corrupt Ministry. It might not be such a bad place to work at nowadays. She smiled in satisfaction and moved to a large advert at the bottom of the page. In light of the reforms and the sudden, recent absences of hundreds of Ministry employees, a massive career exposition was to be held the following Monday to fill the void of positions. Every department had openings, including the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. In a flash, she knew where she would apply.
Non-humans are treated so unfairly, house elves especially, and maybe I can do something about it! All creatures just need to be understood!
Her parents noticed her look of pensive look. "Something interesting in the paper?"
She grinned, nodded eagerly and pointed out the advert. She glanced at a calender on the wall, noting that she had a week to prepare to present herself as the best witch for the job.
That same morning at the Burrow, Ron was mulling over his future as well. He saw the advert for the career exposition, but the only thing that interested him was the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Maybe I can see if any Quidditch teams have spots on their reserve squad. That's where Wood started out, and now he's a first string! He frowned and shook his head. As a reserve on a team, it would be hard to afford his own flat, then there was Hermione. He knew she didn't care about how much or how little money he had, but it mattered to him. He couldn't take her to a dump and he wanted to do nice things for her. He heard the snapping sound of Bill's apparition and saw him and Fleur come into the house.
"Just the man we wanted to speak to," Bill said and held a chair for his wife and took a seat beside her. "You've seen the Ministry job expo? Anything catch your eye?"
"Magical Games and Sports maybe, or see if a Quidditch team has any spots on their reserve squads. I'm fair hand with Charms too."
"I see...well, I have a idea for you."
"I'm listening."
A pop of apparition sounded from outside and George came in. "Asked him yet?" he asked Bill.
"Just about to," he said and returned his attention to Ron. "As you know, Fred left me the stake in the Diagon Alley store. As it turns out, I have no time for day to day dealings with the store with my job at Gringotts. I would like to turn over my stake to you."
"Me?" Ron asked. Keeping a shop?
George cleared his throat and spoke. "I know what you're thinking; me a shopkeeper? However, it is a profitable, popular business and I would prefer to keep it in the family. You can run the Diagon Alley branch and I'll stick with the Hogsmeade branch. I know it's a big decision, but this might help. It's the sales figures from the shops before all that unfortunate business with you-know-who."
He slid some papers for Ron to see.
"As co-owner and manager, you get a generous salary and a cut of the profits. You don't have to worry about the math of it all, Gringotts does that for us. We bring them the money, they do the figuring, less chance of mistake that way."
Ron's eyes went wide. He had no idea that the stores were making so much money. "All right, tell me more."
He took the job, and after a week, Ron was sure the only things he disliked about his new job were the outlandish robes he was required to wear and watching out for kids trying to nick from the shop when they came in. Business was steady and it wasn't as hard as he thought. His duties were as such: keeping track of the money taken in during the day; making sure the shop stayed clean, presentable, and appealing; keeping the shelves stocked with product, and submit ideas for WWW adverts. Being knowledgable about the products was also big thing, so he spent a lot of time learning the myriad product line. George stopped in once or twice a week to make sure everything was alright and sometimes Hermione would arrive at lunchtime with takeway for them to eat. What pleased him most about the shop was the no-rent flat above it. It wasn't big, but well-kept and suited him perfectly, especially when Hermione commented how cozy it was and that she liked it. A large sitting room opened to a small dining room and kitchen that opened to a balcony, and had a bedroom with an adjoining bathroom. There was even a small yard with a pleasant garden and picnic table in the back, perfect when Hermione dropped by with lunch.
Harry was at the Ministry, taking the orientation for Auror training. Seven others from his year were there as well, all talking excitedly. He was relieved that the talk wasn't about Voldemort, but there would always be Dark Wizards to catch and Death Eaters who fled justice after the defeat of Voldemort. They had no real support system, so it would only be a matter of short time before they slipped up. Harry vowed to be right there when they did and throw them in Azkaban himself. At lunchtime, he left the Auror Division to snag a bite to eat at the Ministry canteen. In the main lobby, he saw Hermione emerge from a lift, looking like a different person; like a beautiful, full grown woman. Ron, you lucky bloke! He hadn't seen her for almost a week, so he raised his hand and called out to her. She saw him, smiled brightly and waved back, making her way toward him. She was in a new plum-colored formal robe, that she was unbuttoning to reveal a crisp white blouse and knee length, flared black skirt. Her hair was pulled back from her temples, gathered in a high ponytail. He had never seen her hair like that and he thought it made her look so grown-up.
"What brings you to the Ministry?" he asked.
"I just got a job!" she answered proudly.
"Great! Where?"
"Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures," she said proudly.
"Why don't I treat you to lunch and you can tell me all about it."
He gallantly held his arm for her to take. "You're going to Ginny's birthday party tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
That night, Ron was reviewing advert ideas when a familiar soft knock on his door was heard. Hermione stood there in a pretty beige skirt, a white off-the-shoulder poet's blouse and sandals. She held a take-away bag and bottle of wine.
"Let's celebrate," she said and came in.
"Congratulations on the job," he said and swept her into a heated kiss.
After the hero sandwiches, they sat at the kitchen table, looking over the papers from the shop. He suddenly gathered them together and set them aside.
"I don't mind helping you with your work," she said.
"Let's sit on the balcony, I got new chairs. I want to look at you, not work."
They sat on the balcony, sipping the wine and watching the sun set.
"This is nice, isn't it?" he asked and patted the chaise lounge. "Come sit with me, I have plenty of room."
She sat next to him, then moved between his legs and scooted back to lean against him. "Hmm...very nice," she said.
"So, what did you get Ginny for her birthday?" he asked.
"A new bookbag with the newest edition of Prefects Who Gained Power inside. I even got Percy to sign the chapter he's in."
Ron chuckled. "Harry got her a Firebolt."
"Quite a gift, I still have my Cleansweep from first year."
"We really need to work on that, what would it take to get you on a broom?"
"A brain transplant."
"I'm serious."
"So am I. This balcony is as high as I go."
He noted the growing irritation in her voice and let the matter drop. "So, tell me about your new job. You know all about mine."
Her eyes lit up as she told about the funny wizard who interviewed her, and the wizard who flirted when he gave her a tour of the Niffler lab.
"Some bloke flirted with you?"
She laughed and flipped her hair behind her shoulders and took a sip of wine. "Yes, but he was absurd. He had the worst come-on lines and winked at me repeatedly, so I asked him if something was in his eye. When he asked me to lunch, I told him I was taken."
"That's right, you're taken. Very taken."
"Why Ron, is that jealousy I hear?"
He answered by drawing her close and whispering to her. "I love you so damn much, just the thought of another wizard-"
She put a finger on his lips and cupped his face. "They mean nothing to me, nothing. I'm yours, and you're mine, and nothing is going to change that."
When she captured his lips, he drew her closer and deepened the kiss. Her loving declaration and sweet kiss easily ignited the passion he felt for her. "Mine," he said and moved to her heck and shoulders, accessible due to her off the shoulder blouse. He paused and ran his fingertips along her bare shoulders, admiring the soft, smooth skin.
"Your skin, it's so soft and smells so good," he said, replacing his fingers with his lips.
Hermione felt as if they were being watched a sure enough, a small child from the flat next door was giggling at them. "Love, let's take this inside," she whispered, "we have an audience."
"Huh?" he asked and saw the child. "Oh."
"Hi Mr. Weezy!" the child called out. Hermione giggled. Ron waved back and led her inside to the sofa. "Now, where were we?"