Chapter 15

Hermione wracked her brain thinking of a way to get back at Draco, but she hadn't managed to think of anything that made any sense. She had already told the world that he sucked in bed, so that one was already gone. There was the prejudice against muggleborns, which was obviously still alive and kicking, but now that his father was safe from further prosecution, he wouldn't really care, nor probably anyone else at this point. The problem that was he hadn't actually done anything, other than being a total arsehole, but that wasn't a surprise to anyone.

She had to concede that she was not as gifted in the art of underhanded persecution and character assassination as he was. He was a Slytherin after all, this is their strength and she was a babe is the woods compared to him.

Harry and Ron's only suggested recourse involved copious amounts of violence, which would just get her in trouble, giving Draco some true ammunition against her. Her mother's less than helpful comments were about forgetting all about it and getting on with important things. All those times she had lectured Harry and Ron about how he wasn't worth the effort, now she realised how completely annoying and unhelpful that was.

Being at home with her parents was alright. She would have liked to be on her own, but without a job, there wasn't much hope for independence. Greg, her now recognised boyfriend, was her saving grace and distraction. He made her forget about the less than stellar post school entrance into the world.

The number of engagements now that school was out was eye popping, every week there were announcements. Much too young as far as Hermione's family was concerned, but in the wizarding world, it was normal that people got engaged just out of school. Hermione ended up going to both the Gryffindor and the Ravenclaw engagement parties.

Luckily she hadn't seen hyde nor hair of Draco all summer. They obviously didn't travel in the same social circles and for that Hermione was eternally grateful. It did grate everytime she heard of someone getting a nice job at the Ministry or Gringotts, or St Mungos based on their good NEWT scores. Hermione couldn't even apply for them as NEWTS were a requirement. She did come across a filing job at the Ministry. It wasn't a great job, but it was a way in and it was the only thing going.

She spent an inordinate amount of time putting together her application, making sure it was perfect. Everyone kept on telling her that they would be mad not to give it to her, and after a week of waiting she was awarded with a letter saying she was being granted an interview. Greg took Hermione out to the pub to celebrate. She was really happy, even though the job was a bit lower than she had hoped, after a year, with her NEWTs completed, she could move onto anything she wanted.

Things were finally starting to go her way. With the new job, she could afford to move into a flat with some of the other girls and could start her life properly.

The interview was with a Mr. Heraldson, who was a thin middleaged clerk with severely thinning hair, who was the assistant manager in the filing department of General Records. He was responsible for a hall full of records, which he believed was the most vital part of the Ministry.

The interview seemed to go well and Hermione thought she answered all his questions well. Hermione had a pretty good feeling about it at the end of the interview and Mr. Heraldson was chatting about the latest developments in interdepartmental communications within the Ministry as he walked her out.

He brought her down the hall in the basement where the General Records department was located and shook her hand before leaving her to walk around the corner to the lifts.

Hermione felt someone walk behind her as she made to turn the corner, when she looked back, she was encountered by Draco standing a couple of meters away. He was looking down his nose at her and wasn't saying anything.

Hermione had not expected him and couldn't think of a reason for why he would be there. He certainly wasn't saying anything to her, just staring at her like she was dirt that was putting a bad taste in his mouth. Hermione was too shocked and confused to say anything. Not that she particularly wanted to deal with him. She had an impulse to rip into him, but her future potential boss was still walking down the hall.

"I told you that you don't belong here." He said slowly before displaying that horrible smirk that seemed to tell of him knowing something she didn't. He was smiling as he stepped backwards down the fall before turning and effortlessly running after Mr. Heraldson.

Hermione realised that Draco was going to intervene in her job interview. She wanted to yell after him, but what was she going to do? Plead with him not to? The thought occurred to her, but honestly she'd rather die. She could go after them and try to convince Mr. Heraldson that whatever Draco was telling him was untrue and that he was just a bitter ex trying to ruin things for her. That wouldn't look very dignified and it may even give credence to what he was accusing. Or she could hope that Draco's intentions were transparent and the pathetic nature of what he was doing would shine through. How could it not? What kind of person goes and interferes in someone else's job interview. Surely Mr. Heraldson would recognise what a jerk Draco is. She had done a good job in the interview and surely that will count for more than Draco's petty behaviour.

Hermione decided that dignity was the way to go and walked out of the Ministry with her head held high. Deep down she knew that Draco would do his very best to be convincing, but there was the hope that his status as a former Death Eater would count against him considering he is openly attacking a muggleborn.

The letter apologizing that the Ministry could not give her a position at the moment came the next morning. Hermione was bitterly disappointed, mostly because they couldn't see through Draco's persecution. This wasn't supposed to happen. Dumbledore always made sure that fairness prevailed in the end and at the moment it seemed that fairness was a state he had created rather than a commodity in the world. How can a world be right where someone like Draco can ruin things for her? All her potential, skills and knowledge must count for more than Draco and the Slytherins' nasty influence. This gave a strong hit to her confidence that common sense will overcome.

Harry and Ron indulged in another bout of articulation of the horrible things they would do to him, which detailed everything the horrible hexes would inflict to him. Ginny was also for revenge, but Hermione wasn't sure. She wasn't actually angry with Draco as much as she was disappointed that the world put up with what he was doing.

George offered her a job on the stop in the Joke Shop. He would even reward her if she made the Slytherins complain. He managed to convince her that he was serious and she accepted. There wasn't anything else on the horizon at this point and it could be fun.

Hermione was pretty sure she couldn't compete with Draco on the horrendous shit of a human being scale and she was pretty certain that she didn't want to. In the scale of things, it didn't mean much, the Ministry job was a shit job that would bore Hermione to tears. He hadn't really damaged her, she still had a great boyfriend, more friends and support than he could comprehend. When it came down to it, he couldn't really touch the stuff that mattered.

She wanted him to know that he couldn't really get to her. Try as he might, he can't get to her. Maybe her mother was right in that being happy and content was the best form of revenge. Draco had reached the end of his influence. He would never be able to budge George and she was damned if she was going to fall apart over this. Stuff him the fucking bastard. She was going to get on with her life and he can run after her and try to ruin things for her if he wants. She is not going to care or waste her energy thinking about it. She's got a great boyfriend, a job he can't touch and friends who don't give a flippin hoot what he things or says.

Her determination did take the sting out of it and Hermione started at the Joke shop a couple of days later. It was complete chaos, but she enjoyed it far more than she would spending her days filing. Turns out the bastard did her a favour and if she ever saw his ugly face again she would let him know.