Monday at 7:30, Hermione walked into the Ministry of Magic. She had a meeting with Miraphora Mina, at eight, in Runes & Symbols on the third floor and didn't want to be late. Stepping into the empty elevator Hermione composed herself. There was no reason she would run into certain someones.
It was a quick ride, due to the early hour, and Hermione stepped into an empty floor. Walking toward the head's office, she noticed that the floor was completely deserted. The witch snorted as she took a seat in the empty waiting room. Not even the secretary for the Head of Runes & Symbols was here yet.
I wonder if the meeting will start on time. Hermione glanced around the office. At least I don't have anything to do today.
At exactly eight, Mina walked into her office and dropped her cup of tea.
It would have shattered on the floor, had not Hermione whipped out her wand and stopped its descent. She levitated it into the older woman's hands. "I do believe this is yours."
"You're Hermione Granger." Miraphora stated. "My eight o'clock."
"I am." Hermione shifted her weight onto her back foot.
"You're early."
"Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable." Hermione shrugged.
"Oh, I think I like you." Mina smiled as she walked toward her office.
Shaking her head, Hermione followed the woman.
"Take a seat." Mina absentmindedly sated. She was ruffling through a filing cabinet.
Sitting down, Hermione surveyed the office. She had to hide a frown, this woman obviously worked an eight to four job.
"Okay, let's see." Mina sank into her chair and looked at the file in her hands. "Let's see, you have eleven O's in you O.L.W.S. very good. And you took your N.E.W.T.S. and got eleven N's. Divination would have made twelve, why didn't you take it."
"The teacher was almost always drunk on sherry." Hermione carefully stated. "I also have dealt with enough prophecy in my lifetime."
Mina nodded, she knew 'all' about the Golden Girl. "Why do you want to work in this department?"
"Ancient Runes was one of my favorite classes." Hermione didn't bother telling her that the only class that wasn't 'one of her favorite classes' was Divination. "With Ancient Runes you are always learning and discovering something."
"There are other jobs you could take." Mina shrugged. "You apprenticed in Transfiguration."
Yes, but then I wouldn't be overlooked. Here I have an 'in' into the Ministry and no one will look twice at me. Hermione thought. "Yes, but I would prefer not to be in the public eye in any way."
Miraphora nodded. That made sense, she hadn't head much about the Golden Girl; not since a few weeks after the War and that have been five years ago. "Where have you been these past few years?"
"Here." Hermione passed over a folder that dwarfed the one in Mina hands thrice over.
Mina's eyes widened as she read through the file.
Miss Granger had studied under Filius Flitwick during the restoration of Hogwarts and, apparently, re-charmed the ceiling in the Great Hall. He wrote that, his favorite student, had a knack for Charms. Her wand work may have been odd, but worked perfectly.
During her Eighth Year, Granger had become an animagus under the tutelage of Minerva. Her animagus form was a raptor hawk. Minerva had further wrote that her apprentice, while not tested, could easily be a level five Transfiguration Master.
I guess war is a great teacher. Miraphora thought.
Hermione had helped Sprout restore the Greenhouses, and the stout Herbology professor wrote, in detail, all that the Gryffindor had done to improve the Greenhouses.
Bathsheda Babbling had written a glowing letter of recommendation, stating she thought Hermione could take over her post at Hogwarts anytime she wanted. She had interesting views on Runes, especially those found outside England.
Septima Vector praised her ingenuity in Arithmancy (Hermione used Trigonometry and Calculus in her calculations).
Aurora Sinistra wrote that Hermione was one of the few students not in Ravenclaw to finish her tests early.
Nymphadora Tonks, an ex-Auror and ex-member of the Order of the Phoenix, praised Miss Granger's kindness and ability to cast the 'dark' spells.
Both Bill and Fleur wrote, in length, Hermione's ability to resist the allure of the Horcruxes and ability to break wards. Fleur wrote that Hermione had broken the wards to the Hogwarts' Library by her Fourth Year.
"It was actually my Third Year." Hermione shrugged.
Bill wrote on her ability to produce powerful potions and her tendency to not follow the instructions to the letter. Severus wrote that she had brewed a Polyjuice Potion that lasted an hour in her Second Year. Mina noticed that this letter was dated: April 25, 1998; a week before he died.
There was a petition, which passed, for the better care of House Elves. There was also other petitions, that were in various stages of completion, which had three distinct handwritten notes in the margins.
"Oh, Fleur Delacour and Nymphadora Tonks are helping me." Hermione smiled.
"It also says here that you were a Prefect for Gryffindor, Head Girl, member of Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix." Mina shook her head. "And the proud owner of two wands, one of which you had to win ownership over."
Hermione nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Okay, now I'm going to ask you a few questions. What are your ideas on salary?"
"I was thinking about a galleon per hour." Hermione shrugged. "We could talk raises as my work dictates it."
Mina snorted. "Starting pay is two galleons, eight sickles, and twelve knuts per hour. And you will probably get a raise."
"Sounds good." Hermione smiled.
"Okay, what are your special abilities?" Mina read off her next question.
Hermione had to hide a smile. "I just handed you a folder full of them."
"Yes, so you did." Miraphora shook her head. "Are you having other interviews?"
"No." Hermione shook her head. "I have not been asked to come in anywhere else."
Mina frowned, that didn't seem right. Perhaps the other departments thought she was overqualified? "What are you future career plans?"
"I don't have any." Hermione lied.
"Do you plan to apprentice under a master?"
Raising an eyebrow Hermione smirked. "I have, although it was unofficial."
"Your file." Mina sighed. "What positions of leadership have you held?"
"I was a Prefect and Head Girl, and the driving force behind Dumbledore's Army in my Fifth Year." Hermione decided not to remind the other witch that the information was in her file.
"Have you ever suffered serious injury or illness?"
"Yes." Hermione flatly stated.
"And what were they?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "I'd rather not say."
Mina paused at her tone of voice and decided to forego any more questions. "Okay, Miss Granger, when can you start?"
"Honestly, I can start today." Hermione shrugged.
"Sign these papers and then you can start, Assistant Deputy Researcher of Ancient Runes, Symbols, and Translations."
Hermione stated signing. "Who's the Deputy Researcher?"
"Eduardo Mina Filho, he's on vacation for two more weeks."
Hermione smiled, operation get a low level job in the Ministry – complete.
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A/N: Well, what do ya'll think, still good so far?