AN: For Amanda! 3

Hermione Granger to Dr and Dr Granger, dated September 21, 1999

Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm safe in London, staying at the Leaky Cauldron for now until I can get a place of my own. If you want to come visit me I'm in room number seven.

I've just had my first official day at work. A very nice young wizard named Michael Stamford helped me get started, showing me my office and introducing me around and everything. He invited me for a drink and really seemed quite disappointed when I told him no; I felt rather sorry for him.

I'm working in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, under Mr Amos Diggory. Along with a desk and a little name plaque I received a copy of the official Laws and Regulations, which is taking me some time to memorise due to the unusual legal phraseology. Mike told me that most people use it for a paperweight, or to hold up tipping desks, but I think he must have been joking, because of course it's absolutely central to an understanding of the whole office. I've been reading it through and some of it is quite surprising, there are laws that haven't been addressed or altered in three hundred years, since the entire system had to go underground.

And really, some of the official policies are quite disgusting, especially concerning house-elves, you remember, I've told you. They're sentient beings but they haven't got any rights at all, like slaves, imagine that this goes on in a supposedly civilised society!

There are all sorts of rules about what a house-elf can't do, but only one about what a human can't do to a house-elf: You're not supposed to order a house-elf to kill him-or-herself, but even then, the maximum penalty is "up to a five hundred galleon penalty and/or the immediate relocation of any house-elves still in possession of offender".

This isn't taking into consideration that house-elves have no way of countermanding a direct order of that kind; such an order would be tantamount to murder! And there's nothing about killing a house-elf yourself, which seems an egregious oversight.

I've been writing up a few addenda for the section on house-elves, and I'm hoping to convince Harry and Ron to help me get together a petition when they get back. The elves may enjoy their work but they ought to have at least some semblance of protection.

I've noticed several other discrepancies—even creatures classified as Beings have severe restrictions imposed on them, such as being prohibited from owning wands, which is racism and discrimination legalised. I've also been told there still are laws in effect which curtail the rights of Muggle-born witches and wizards, ridiculous and incomprehensible any way you look at it. Perhaps I will address that once I have made myself heard on the issue of elves.

At least we will have a decent leader in charge, for a change. Things have finally settled down enough to hold elections for the new Minister of Magic. The last one was an Imperiused mouthpiece for the Voldemort administration. The two before that weren't anything special, either; more concerned with popularity than with doing the right thing. We're all for Kingsley Shacklebolt here, and I think he'll win. He's been Acting Minister for more than a year and the Prophet just loves him; they're calling him "The Hero of the Wizarding War"; "a central figure in the much-lauded Order of the Phoenix" and "proof that the underdog can rise triumphant against the oppressive forces of evil".

Aside from the indignities in the Laws, I quite enjoyed my first day of work. Mr Diggory took me and a few other new recruits to subdue a Jarvey (a sort of large ferret that can talk) which had been terrorising a playground full of Muggle children. When I told him I was quite good at Memory charms he was impressed and let me perform them on several of the children while he wrestled the creature into a crate. Mike said that we were lucky because on his first day he had to help with an infestation of Chizpurfles and got bites all over him.

Ron's father, Mr Weasley, who works in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, stopped by my desk to say hello and give me some (sugarless) fudge that Mrs Weasley made for me. He said he was on his way to investigate a floating computer. He seemed quite excited as he'd never seen a "toplap" before and I suspect that he may take it home to examine it but I'm sure there's no law that says he can't because he writes the laws.

I also heard from Mr Weasley that Ron is coming home. Bill and Fleur just found out they're having a baby and Ron wants to congratulate them in person, but he has to tie up the business in Albania first and it's too far to Apparate. He and Harry will be flying in as early as next week. I think it was supposed to be a surprise, because I got an owl from Ron this morning and he didn't say anything about it, so I asked Mr Weasley not to let them know that he told me. I'm planning to act very shocked.

Along with a progress report I'm sure was supposed to go to Mr Robards, Ron writes (not nearly as neatly) that he and Harry have been very busy, that they have personally almost eliminated the threat (I'm sure the senior Auror with them had a little to do), and that he misses me "more than expected"; he wishes I had gone with them to "do the smart stuff". Ginny assures me this is practically a proposal of marriage.

I miss him too. His letter made me laugh so I wasn't nervous going into work. I miss Harry, of course, but I find myself especially missing Ron. Ginny says it's just the opposite for her—she misses Ron a little and Harry almost more than she can bear. Isn't that odd?

Anyway, that's really all my news, after all I've only been away from home for a day and a half. Send your reply back with my owl because the postman can't see the Leaky Cauldron and certainly can't get into Diagon Alley and anyway I'd like my owl back!

Lots of love

Hermione

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