Hello all! I'm excited to be writing again. I forget how therapeutic it can be. Hope you like it so far, and if not let me know! Let me know if you like it too, I guess. Just R&R, you are all the best for even reading this. A/N: I know I am being unconventional and non-canon in my character descriptions, but I'm writing the story. Don't read it if you can't think outside the box.
Disclaimer: This is the last time I'm going to write this, but I own nothing Harry Potter related. That's all belonging to J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Not me. I'm just a poor college kid.
Tyson Quinn cautiously stepped out, and brushed his shoulders. Standing at 5 foot 3, he did not have to stoop to walk out of the fire place. He had been a famous horse jockey before a tragic accident had prevented him from riding anymore. While he was healing in St. Mungo's, he had devoted his time to learning about politics and had made his way through the ranks of the Ministry with the same speed and good spirit he had won races with.
"Good morning Minister. So glad you could make it here." Dumbledore greeted the man with a handshake.
"Of course, Albus, I always have time to stop by the old Alma Mater. Especially when you write such interesting letters as you did for this meeting. Hello Minerva, Severus. Classes going well I hope?" Quinn asked.
"Better than could be expected, Minister." McGongall answered before Snape could open his mouth to reply. "We'll leave you to get acquainted. Just let us know when you're ready for us to come back."
With that McGongall and Snape walked through the door into Snape's classroom. Dumbledore smiled at the Minister and the two students. Hermione couldn't help but feel lost. She realized she had been rather confused as of late, and resolved to put an end to it. Malfoy was still standing next to the desk, obviously as confused Hermione.
"Professor, I hate to be rude, but…" She began.
"Of course, Miss Granger. Where are my manners? Minister Quinn, these are the two students I wrote to you about. Miss Hermione Granger, Gryffindor, Head Girl, Muggle-born, and top her class tied only with Mr. Draco Malfoy, Slytherin, Quidditch Captain, long family history of Wizarding politics."
"How do you two do?" Quinn asked.
"Very good sir. Thank you." replied Malfoy.
"It's a pleasure Minister. I'm still not sure why we are here, though." Hermione said.
"Allow me Albus. A few months ago my secretary and personal assistant ran off together. Seems they fell in love and decided to elope when the pressure of politics became too much. My life has been in shambles since. I've tried to replace them, but each new witch and wizard was more incompetent than the last. Then I remembered speaking to Professor a few weeks ago about a pair of students who seemed to show a remarkable interest in the Ministry. So, when I had a break in my schedule I decided I must come and meet you for myself." The Minister explained.
Hermione looked at Malfoy, a blush creeping up her cheeks at the idea of the Minister of Magic wanting to meet them. She could tell Malfoy felt the same sense of embarrassed joy in the way he suddenly hid his hands in his pockets. She looked back to the Minister and smiled.
"Well, it's a real privilege to meet you sir." Malfoy said.
"I hope this will be more than a nice meeting. I've come to offer the two of you the job."
Dumbledore broke in and explained further. "The two of you are quite beyond learning at this institution. Hogwarts and I would be failing you if we didn't see this, and so we've agreed to allow the two of you to use this job opportunity as a replacement for classes and exams. That is if you agree to the position."
"So we'll be working with the Minister. As his secretary and personal assistant?" Hermione questioned.
"Yes. You'll live in a flat in London, provided by the Ministry, and receive pay for your work. You'll be with me every step of the way, learning insight into the Ministry that no other position will provide. You'll go where I go. It's a simple enough job. Just maintain my schedule and appointments, deliver messages." the Minister said.
Hermione allowed herself to imagine her life in London as an assistant to the Minister. Leaving Harry, Ron and Hogwarts would be hard, but her life had to start some time. She slowly let out at a smile and looked at Malfoy. He had the same excited yet nervous look about him too. 'Well, as nervous as Malfoy can look.' Hermione thought to herself.
"I'll do it." She said.
"Me too." Malfoy affirmed.
Minister Quinn stood up, followed by Professor Dumbledore, and stuck out his hand. Professors McGongall and Snape were let back in and the preparations were made. They would have the morning and afternoon to pack, and would leave for London at six that evening. It all seemed very fast to Hermione who couldn't quite wrap her head around just what exactly was happening. She shook hands with everyone in the room and was deposited outside the office door with Malfoy.
"So, a job with the Minister of Magic." She said.
"Who would have thought? Well, see you later Granger." Malfoy replied as he walked down the hall.
Hermione smiled a small smile at his back and made her way to her own dorm room. She had a lot of packing to do.
At lunch time, Hermione had most her stuff packed, including the mirror she had befriended in her six and a half years at the school. She made her way down to the Great Hall to break the news to her friends. When they spotted her they opened the circle and allowed her to enter at her usual spot.
"Hey everyone, I have something important to tell you." she began.
"Hermione! Where have you been all morning? We looked for you in Charms, but no one had seen you since breakfast. Did McGongall have some secret homework she had to assign you?" Harry began.
"Bet you'll get a week's worth detention for missing classes. McGonagall will be right mad with you. I didn't think you had it in you to skip lessons. You weren't studying in the Library this whole time, were you?" Ron asked.
The light hearted teasing made Hermione's heart ache just a little. Today would be the last day in a long time that she would see her friends. She grabbed each boys' hand and smiled at them.
"No. I had a meeting with Professor Dumbledore and Minister Quinn. He's offered me a job. I'm to be his personal assistant." She started.
"That's brilliant Hermione. Do you start as like a summer intern?" Ginny questioned.
Hermione shook her head, "No. That's the thing. I start tomorrow."
Harry, Ron, and Ginny looked at Hermione with puzzled looks. It was obvious they did not fully understand what was going on. She felt bad for them, and shared their sense of bewilderment.
"But, we're still in school. What about N.E.W.T.S.? You can't just leave school." Ron began.
"Oh Ronald, I never thought I'd hear you be so concerned about exams. The Minister talked to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. They've set everything up. Our time with the Minister will count towards our grades. We'll be excused from final exams."
"We? What does Snape have to do with any of this? Who's we?" Harry asked.
"Professor Snape, Harry. That's the other part. The position wasn't offered to just me. Malfoy's been given the same opportunity. And we've both said yes. We leave this evening just before dinner. He and I will be working with the Minister together."
"No way, Hermione. You can't really be expected to work with that ferret? What was the Minister thinking? He's a snake, everyone knows it." Ginny argued.
Hermione smiled at her friends, reassured them of her decision and the opportunity that was being presented to her, and went to finish pack. She had just rounded the door of the Great Hall when she ran into Malfoy.
"Hello, Malfoy. Packing alright?" She asked.
Hermione firmly believed in a harmonious work place and had decided to be as civil as possible to Malfoy. While the seventh year Slytherin hadn't reduced the size of his ego over the years, he had at least stopped trying to shove it in everyone's face.
"It's going alright. I'll be glad to get to London where I won't have to share a room with four disgusting roommates." He said.
Hermione smiled at the turn of honesty, and continued on her way to the Gryffindor common room. After packing the last few things from the bathroom, she settled in front of the fireplace in the common room and was quickly asleep.