Hello! :) Well let's just get on with it then, happy reading!

Oh, but I just remembered, it's been a while since I've done one of these; DISCLAIMER: No. I don't.

Chapter 6

When the questions came, Hermione was surprised at them. They were clinical yet personal, and she found herself blushing when the question came about if she had ever been sexually active. 'If yes, please see a Healer to cure you for any sexual deceases you might have received.' Honestly. Some of the questions she was fairly comfortable with; what were your NEWT level scores? Your OWLs? What do you enjoy reading? What do you enjoy doing? – all sorts of questions, to determine her personality, she assumed. She had no idea if she would be paired with someone like her, or if she would be paired with her polar opposite. The day after she had sent her answers, she got a reply saying she would have her life decided for her, the next Friday. Okay, so maybe the reply went a little more like 'Thank you for your cooperation, you will receive an answer on Friday, the 14th of August 1998'
Hermione was suddenly nervous. The following week, she had problems concentrating on finding herself a job. She wondered if she should go back to teach at Hogwarts, but decided against it. With her new marriage coming up – she shuddered slightly at the idea – she would need to be home.
She had moved back into her flat just outside of Wizarding London, and was now trying to determine what she wanted to do. She had survived off of her parents during the war; she was a Muggleborn, and it was a stupid idea to leave public records of her whereabouts. But now, she had the opportunity to pursue what she wanted. She knew her grades were good enough to get her in just about anywhere.

It was the Sunday of the same week she had received the questions, 5 days before they revelation of her husband, and she was reading The Daily Prophet. She was reading an article written by an anonymous man, calling himself J. Evans, about the prejudice of the Wizarding World. It was in that same moment, that Hermione realized she wanted to help people. Not help people in the way a Healer saved lives, or the way an Auror did. She wanted to make the Magic World a better place for less fortunate. Like Werewolves – she had loved Professor Lupin back in her 4th year – and even House Elves. Like Muggleborns. She could help there, of that she was certain.
"So I'm going Ministry" Hermione said out loud to herself, with a small smile on her face.
The first thing she did Monday morning was apparating to the Ministry, but she got into a bit of a hurdle. Witches and wizards were flocking around the guest-entry. They were all very angry looking, and even if Hermione thought it might not be the safest route right now, there was little she could do. Of course, she could use the main entrance, but she did not have the coins it required. She knew about the entrance because of Harry and Ron. She had been smart enough to not use the Floo; she was positive it was closed off for the time being, until the anger of the Wizarding World dampened down. So she waited like all the others. When she could finally squeeze herself in between a group, she suddenly felt more nervous than she liked to admit. She clutched her handbag; in it were her recommendations from former professors, her OWL and NEWT results, and her résumé though it wasn't very long; just the occasional Muggle summer-job, and where she had been working once she had left Hogwarts (though that was for all of 3 months before she decided to go underground).

She walked with determination to the counter, where she would have her wand checked. Security after the war had been tightened considerately; every group who came out of the elevator – or the Guest Entrance – were escorted by 2 sourly-looking guards, who would lead them to the counter, where they would check their wands, their bags, and search them with a funny looking device Hermione thought she had seen Filch with in her 6th and 7th year.

When she reached the counter with the group, all the others started yelling and pointing loudly. Hermione stood somewhat quietly in line, until she could see the frazzled wizard behind the counter. She smiled softly at him, handing him her wand and he looked almost relieved that he wouldn't be getting any death-threats and whatever else the Wizarding Community of England could come up with at the time being.

"Not here to yell at me, even if there's nothing I can do?" The wizard joked, though rather jumpily if Hermione had to comment, but she just shook her head.
"While I'm not happy with the Ministry for their decision, I have come here to apply for a job." With a small smirk at his astonished look, she walked away and started for the elevators at the other end of the Atrium.

Hermione knocked softly on the door of the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures' office, and waited to be called in.
The balding wizard behind the desk looked mildly frustrated. He smiled slightly at Hermione when she walked in, stood up and shook her hand. Indicating for her to sit down, he summoned a bottle of water and gulped it down. Even if it wasn't the greatest first impression, Hermione held her face composed, though she was mildly disgusted by his behaviour; 'at least drink a little more civilly', she thought.
"Hello, my name is Hermione Granger; I am here in search of a position." She started, when he did not introduce himself. Either he was very stressed out, or he had never been on the receiving end of a manner-lesson. Hermione kept back her frown.
"Ah yes; my name is Phelps McKemp, I am head of this department" Hermione resisted the urge to say 'no shit, Sherlock' but decided that if she wanted this job, she better not insult the man.

During their interview, she had to bite back many sarcastic remarks, but she held them in check. She wanted to make a difference, and here, she could. It might take years, but Hermione was a patient woman, she could deal. In the end, they shook hands, and Hermione was told she would have the answer, within the week. As she walked out, she felt fairly confident she had the job; it looked like he was glad to have an intelligent mind come and seek a job in his Department.
She decided to swing by the Burrow to say hello; she had not yet been by to see them since she got home, and she felt a little guilty for that. Picking up some flowers from Muggle-London, she went home, changed, and apparated to the Weasley residence.

"Hermione dear, how nice to see you! Did you have a good trip to Australia? Did you get home alright?" Hermione smiled warmly at the witch; she had missed Mrs Weasley on her trip.
"Hello Mrs Weasley; I had a fine trip thank you. My parents are coming home soon enough, so it'll all be fine." Mrs Weasley smiled though she asked Hermione to call her Molly – Hermione still had a hard time adjusting to that. Even Harry still called her Mrs Weasley when he was around (which was often) and he was her son-in-law to come. Though Hermione suspected it was more to tease her than anything.
Making their way to the kitchen, Mrs Weasley chatted excitedly, though it was with an undertone of regret and anger.
"I am quite nervous about this whole Marriage Law thing dear; Arthur has said there has been such a hassle at the Ministry, and I'm worried. I have been saying to my boys to get a move on, get me some grandchildren but they never were ready to settle down. I don't like how they're taking all this, dear, no not at all" Hermione, though not having known Molly for long, could tell she was genuinely really worried for her sons; how were they going to take to forced marriage? Charlie, the Twins, even Ron were all rather happy with their freedom. For it to be taken away so forcefully would be horrible for the Weasley sons.
Bill was already settled with his beautiful bride, and before she had gone to Australia she had seen Molly and Fleur talking animatedly about babies; something Fleur kept hinting at was right around the corner (Mrs Weasley was so pleased – the woman appeared to be seeing babies before her eyes, like some saw Galleons). Percy was a bit more diplomatic about the whole thing from what she gathered; he just hoped his new bride would be willing to travel the world with him. Hermione secretly thought it would be good for them to have that opportunity to get to know each other, without the hassle from their daily lives.
"I know Mrs Weasley; I think this is tough on all of us; all we can do is hope we will get paired with someone we can at least stand to be around." Mrs Weasley's eyes watered, startling Hermione, and before she knew it, she was pulled into a tight hug by the older witch, who stammered out that she really hoped so.

Their embrace was interrupted however, when Ron came hurdling into sight.
"'Mione! You're home!" And then she was swept into another hug, being swirled around before being passed on into the arms of her other best friend – brother really – Harry Potter. Laughter rang out as she hugged them back. Her vision suddenly blurred as long tendrils of red hair was in her face.
"Ginny! I've missed you!" She heard the muttered gush of 'I missed you too!' before she was let go, and could breathe properly again. Truthfully, she had been back for a couple of days, and the Weasleys knew this; she'd just been too busy setting up her parents' practice again, dealing with the whole Marriage Law thing and the whole job search thing, that she'd been too distracted to swing by. Not like the Weasley's hadn't had theirs to look to; they'd been just as – if not more – busy as she, but now that she was there, she wished she had gone a little earlier. She had truly missed them all; she loved spending time around them, loved being included in their family gatherings, and in truth, also their family.

That evening, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Percy, Ron, Ginny, Harry and Hermione sat seated around the table. Percy was talking about his impending departure, speaking animatedly about all the things he wished to learn. Mrs Weasley – though still a little wary – had been warming up to the idea, and was really rather looking forward to hear about Percy's observations and discoveries. Harry and Ginny were content; they didn't have to rush their wedding as so many would have to in the upcoming months. They were searching for houses at the moment, and Hermione was pleased to see them so relaxed with each other. It made her heart warm, that at least two of her friends would be happily going into their marriage.
When it was time for Hermione to leave the Weasley household, it was with promises that she'd return that Friday, and open her letter along with the Weasleys. She agreed; she didn't want to be alone when she opened hers. She would be apparating there first thing in the morning, when she got her letter.

The week slowly crept by. Hermione would wake sweating, from nightmares of horrific weddings with grooms who went from being Draco Malfoy, to Fenrir Greyback (even though she knew he had died during the Battle of Hogwarts – good riddance) to that Zorn fellow that had captured her that fateful night, in the forest. Now that she thought about it, she wasn't quite sure what happened to him, other than the fact that Harry had taken his wand, and that Ron had been using it to train duelling with two wands, or something like that. It was very likely Ron had snapped it, after the war…
The waiting was driving Hermione crazy. She had already started organizing her wedding; it was always with a grim expression she sat to do it, but she needed to do something, and planning the wedding would make for a good pastime, even if she dreaded the actual event.
She was jumpy and her fingers trembled every time she received an owl. She was constantly berating herself for being such a, such a- she really didn't know how to describe herself, but she didn't like it.

Wednesday, she received an owl from the Ministry for a brief moment she panicked and thought they had sent her, her new groom-to-be's name early, but relaxed slightly, as she saw it was just an acceptance letter of her job-interview… Wait a minute- ACCEPTANCE LETTER!
Hermione nearly jumped with glee; she had gotten the job! Without further ado, she apparated to her parents' temporary flat, they had just gotten in two days before, but they were still quite eager to get back to work, and maybe even settle back into their old house.
They were less than pleased with Hermione's government for making their little girl marry before she was ready, but there was little they could do about it; they knew this.

"Mum! MUM! DAD!" Hermione yelled excitedly as she unlocked their door, and walked into their flat – and then promptly turned and walked out, wishing she had never gone in to begin with, eyes wide with horror. Her parents. Inside. Snogging. Against the kitchen counter no less. And by the looks of it, it would have gone further, if she hadn't walked in. Hermione thanked her lucky stars, that if she had to go through such a horrific experience, at least she had been early. She shuddered at even thinking about imagining what she could have walked in on. Hermione believed, that no matter how old you got, you would never be able to think about your parents' sex-life. She shuddered. It was with faces burning with embarrassment that her parents came out to invite an equally embarrassed Hermione in. There was a long awkward silence, before Hermione's dad cleared his throat.
"So, what has got you so excited, Mimi?" Hermione seriously had no idea where her dad got 'Mimi' from 'Hermione' but he had always called her that, and she revelled in that little piece of her childhood; some things never change, and even with Hermione turning out to be a witch, that stayed the same.
"Right, I eh- I got an acceptance letter from the Ministry! I got a job!" Hermione was quickly back to her exuberant self. Her parents beamed at her, and praised her for her accomplishment. She flushed with pleasure at the praise; she had always thrived for it when she was little, and it hadn't changed one bit in her adult life.

The day went rather quickly for Hermione after that. She wasn't expected at work before Monday, but Hermione was ready the next day. She decided that she really wanted to get settled and started right away, so Thursday morning she had a small box of things she wished to have with her. Even if she didn't get a private office just yet, her cubicle would still be her space, and she wanted some personal belongings with her. Mr McKemp didn't waste any time when she came in four days early. He showed her to the booth she would be working in, and promptly gave her a case-file with assignments for her. Yes, Hermione knew that it might take years for her to actually make a difference, but she would be happy with what she got at the moment. Maybe wait a month or two before she really got to work.

So, 'Mione's got herself a job! Next up is the arrival of the dreaded letters! :D

Love,

MissH-95