"Pull yourself together and use what you have." Betsy Cañas Garmon
"If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be 'meetings.'"
Dave Barry
"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child." Carl Jung
She didn't know why she turned around to look for Severus as the spiral staircase behind the gargoyle spun slowly towards the headmistresses office; to steady herself maybe, or see his reaction or just to reassure herself that someone was with her.
Which made seeing his cloak whip around the corner and the empty expanse of stairs below her all the more jarring. She took a step down, but as the stone shuddered to a stop, the door before her sprang open.
"SEVERUS SNAPE!" Minerva barely looked at Hermione, and in an instance was on the stairs beside her, then past her. "Oh no you don't, you miserable git. You are not apparating through the wards and legging it away after coming all the way to the bloody door!" Hermione stalled as the brogue echoed down the stone tower and she was sure the miserable git in question had to have heard.
"Go in Miss Granger, take a seat. I shan't be long" was added over the Scottish witches shoulder as she advanced down the stairs, disappearing into the corridor beyond.
Hermione stepped through into the office, automatically following an instruction from her former teacher, but soon wished she hadn't.
The room had changed only subtly since her school days, a touch more tartan, the occasional doily, but the most heart wrenching alteration started back at her beneath the veneer of oil and brush strokes, blue eyes as piercing as ever.
He was outside the office before Burges arrived, a true feat, and if the wizard wondered what Emmanuel was doing with several maps of France bulging in his arms, he made no show of it, proceeding them into his office and cinching the door quietly behind them.
"I can find out where she is." was all Emmanuel managed to get out before the older man met his gaze and nodded towards the desk without comment.
Hastily, Emmanuel unfurled the map he thought best, encompassing the whole of France, and pulled the small vial from his pocket.
"No."
He looked up and despite the eager rage stemming below the surface, Emmanuel knew enough not to second guess the man right now. Not after losing Granger yesterday. It was imperative this worked.
"I have one of Paris, if-"
Burges sighed.
"She is bright. Something you have yet to fully appreciate. Broader Europe."
Emmanuel was at least bright enough to appreciate that wearing his confusion on his face would be a poor decision. He unfurled the correct map, which spanned the UK to Eastern Europe and thought himself lucky to have prepared it at all.
"There should be enough for three applications." He told his superior, handing over the vial. "We can pinpoint her location further, you're right sir."
Burges said nothing as he spilled five drops of the molten potion, almost like mercury, and watched intently as the drops scattered, impervious to the thick parchment they rolled over, spinning in small circles across the scope of the map.
Emmanuel had to force himself to breathe evenly and keep the predatory delight from showing in his eyes.
Still the silver beads circled, until finally, finally they seemed to converge… directly in the centre of the map where they had initially landed, before dissolving completely.
Emmanuel felt the blood rush from his extremities.
"Sir, I will return to the apothecary immediately, I will ensure-"
Burges only smiled down at the map.
"No matter. The potion works. Miss Granger is clearly somewhere that is unplottable."
The savage desire to find and curtail the witch burnt ever more fiercely in his blood as he left the office, closing the door on the still muttering Burges.
"Bright indeed".
"Professor Dumbledore."
Again, learned propriety had her addressing the former head with respect as clear thought escaped her and autopilot took control.
"Hermione Granger. I can't tell you how thrilled I am, my dear, to see you putting your astounding intellect and courage to use once more. As a former Wizengamot leader, I am sure you will do wonderful things. As you have already, with my eternal thanks."
Hermione felt the numbness melt from her and the adrenaline rekindled in her blood, swiftly shifting to pure bloody rage. How many nights, freezing and starving in that Godforsaken tent, has she cursed this man?
"You sent Harry to die."
Her voice was tinged with steel, a statement of irreversible fact, not a question or accusation.
"I don't deny it."
"A children's book. That was all the help you left me."
"And apparently all the help you needed. Along with the sword I had Severus deliver of course."
"And you set him up to die too. After everything."
At this, the portrait frowned slightly, his head tilting and she had the curious feeling that those electric blue eyes were X-raying her, from beyond the grave.
"Did I hear Minerva correctly? He has accompanied you here?"
Hermione only nodded, doing her best to quell her rage before either of the people in question returned.
"I don't wish to pry, my dear, but the portraits have heard a great deal about a marriage law… is that to say-"
"Ha! He always protested when I called her a mudblood."
Hermione's eyes tracked the instantly recognisable voice, and found Phineas Nigellus scowling down at her.
She smirked back.
"Removed the blindfold I see, I barely recognised you Headmaster Black." she let the honorific hang sweetly in the air.
"There's no way that the only other Slytherin headmaster since myself would embroil himself with this…"
"Choose your next words carefully Black." Growled a voice.
Snape stomped through the room.
Black robes flying, clearly in a foul temper, he strode through the office, snatching the morning prophet off Minerva's desk and seating himself in the small alcove and couch leading to the private rooms; as far removed from the main office as could be, and determinedly out of sight from the portraits .
He made it clear he was here under suffrage, and Hermione briefly longed to know what the Headmistress, who even now was huffing up the stairs, had said to him.
He disappeared behind the paper and Hermione caught the headline: "Hermione Granger's Secret Engagement?" above the moving photograph of her and Dennis' embrace.
"Can I see that when you're done?"
"It was here for a full five minutes, hardly my fault you weren't focused on the objectives and choose to talk to dead pictures instead."
He didn't even look up as he spat the over-exaggeration, and when Minerva finally entered the room and heard the tail end of the exchange, she rolled her eyes, lips thin, and took a deep breath as she sat down; clearly determined not to snap at the obstinate man.
"Hermione. I'm pleased to see you. Severus has just now mentioned that you need my help, although a letter requesting an appointment is more regular."
Hermione almost apologised to her mentor, then caught herself and bit her lip. Since entering the office she had let autopilot drive her to act like a student. Severus was right, she needed to focus on the objectives.
"I want to know what Hogwarts reaction to the marriage law is."
The headmistress stared at her, silent, and for a moment Hermione could make out the worry and concern fighting annoyance on her face.
She continued stoutly,
"I want to lobby for an educational decree making students and apprentices exempt from the law."
She felt like she was lying about an incomplete home work project as she sat before the older witch.
Snape didn't help with his snide interjection, "A piece of friendly advice, if you will, from a former Headmaster, Minerva; Your Gryffindor cub has agreed to share her memories with Miss Skeeter, in a rather Slytherin deal for the woman's… services."
Hermione breath caught and she could feel her face reddening. Minerva eyed her with a steely glint.
"Well, Miss Granger, lobbying for educational amendments should be directed to the board of governors. They have not cemented their response, and a meeting was hastily scheduled last night after a certain radio broadcast. The meeting takes place this afternoon if you would care to attend?"
Shit. An afternoon to complete the unfinished assignment then.
"I would welcome your input towards the petition, Head Mistress. I also require some data, on the number of students who will be affected." Hermione hedged, her words slowly and carefully chosen.
"I believe arithmetic principles could be employed to aid decision making, if I could possibly access the Hogwarts Register."
Minerva looked away for a moment, to the bookshelf on her left, and Hermione followed her gaze to the glass paneled section which displayed the magical register, held open to the room.
"The Hogwarts register is an important magical document, which for security reasons, cannot leave this office."
The headmistress clearly looked reluctant to deny Hermione, and eyed her once more.
"Hogwarts does have a fully trained and resident Arithmatist, if you have a research proposal ready for her."
"Or, there is an interesting tome on the bottom of the bookshelf, third from the right if I recall, which you may have no such legal issues lending out, Minerva."
Again Severus spoke from behind the newspaper, his voice oily with snark. Minerva glared at him, but nodded slightly, as though to herself.
"Technically, that is not legally protected property, and has already left this office." Still, Minerva hesitated. "Miss Granger might find the contents distressing however."
In that moment, Hermione knew Severus had told the Headmistress what had transpired in the corridor. Shame welled, spilling over into anger.
"That won't be an issue." Hermione bit out, and there was that dreaded concern on her former mentor's face once more.
"Hermione, I want to help. Yes you can take it… as for my input, you should know that I've already been in touch with Kingsley and I am sure he would be relieved to meet and work with you, if you will permit me to call him here?"
Panic swam through her mind as she imagined Kingsley's reaction to her ad hoc plan, and worse still, the shame rose once more at the thought of having to admit she had not yet found a healer to work with in Paris and somehow embroiled herself with the Malfoys. And Severus.
But he could help, and making contact with him had made her hasty list last night, so she nodded, doing her best to look slightly above Minerva's left ear, refusing to focus on her face. Minerva rose and crossed the office, descending the stairs to reach the floo, kneeling to deposit her head into the now green flames.
No sooner did Severus rise from behind the paper. He didn't look at Hermione as he shoved the Prophet on the desk before her, and she was almost, almost, distracted by the front page article, before she saw him deftly reach to the bottom of the bookcase on her left. He held a tome the same size and shape of the Hogwarts register; an exact replica, down to the shading of the leather cover and deep sepia hue of the pages.
"What's-"
"Later." He interrupted her in a low voice, devoid of his typical malice and she remembered the calming tone he'd used not fifteen minutes earlier. She remembered the feel of the words in her mind as he asked her how she could trust him, and she dropped the question.
She turned to the paper and began to read until she realised he was making to leave the office.
"Where are you going?" There was definitely panic in her tone and she winced at the sound.
"The greenhouses. I'll retrieve the plant and return."
Hermione recognised that explaining his presence to Kingsley might come as a surprise, and he clearly had no intention of being present for it. But he had added, rather uncharacteristically, that he would return. It was reassuring, and she wondered if he had meant it that way. His brusque tone held no concern as he exited, and Hermione was left to read the article before her, thankful for its absence.
"Previously considered missing, Hermione Granger has emerged finally to the shock of many. Sporting a white robe and the traditional braids typical of engagement ceremonies, she was seen visiting a bridal wear store in Paris with a young muggle born that the Prophet can exclusively reveal as Dennis Creevey.
Mr Creevy recently voiced criticism of Hogwarts reaction to the Marriage Law and is reported to have reached his magical majority mere days ago.
The MLE were seen surreptitiously following Miss Granger's outrageous appearance, possibly ensuring her safety as loud crowds of international paparazzi hounded the world famous witch.
Miss Granger made no comment to the press, but an exclusive insight to her trip to the prestigious Enchantress Salon continues on page 4 followed by speculation on the expense the ministry is outlaying for her protection detail on page 12."
Hermione skipped the page 4 article and turned straight to page 12. Skeeter had gone beyond her remit, never a reassuring thought.
But the page twelve exclusive was no more than two inches, mentioning a squad of MLE from the British Ministry were currently detailed in Paris to ensure Hermione Granger's security. The reporter was not named and the "speculation" listed the cost of the operation at 80 Galleons a day. There was no mention of how any such operation would generally require the overview of the French Ministry and their own law enforcement. Nor how unusual it was for the Ministry to concern itself with the security of a private citizen. It did however imply that she was somehow embezzling the Ministry by acting like a valid celebrity. Hermione wondered absently if Skeeter had been behind the mention after all.
She lay the paper down on the desk in time for Minerva to return to it, brushing loose ash from her robes.
"Kingsley will be here shortly, we still believe his fire is being watched, so he doesn't know you're here, but he shan't dither. Wherever has Severus got to now?"
Hermione sympathised with her mentors annoyance for a fleeting second as she realised she would be the one taking the heat for sending an illegal plant to a high school.
"He has sourced a plant I need researched, in relation to the Marriage law. Due to it's nature, he had it sent here and has gone to collect it." Hermione felt awful hedging her words but the less she admitted to Minerva, the less the woman would be accountable for knowing.
Her mentors lips thinned again, and apparently she had come to a similar conclusion, deciding to offer no more comment than: "That man will be the death of me."
"I said it many times myself, Minerva"
Hermione stared, shocked at the portrait of Dumbledore and knew her mouth was gaping.
"Shut it Albus! Now is really not the time- Ignore him my dear. Here, let's go through to my quarters." Minerva paused and looked down at the thin, revealing white shift that was all the worse for nearly two days wear. "Better suited for Paris than Scotland. You must be freezing, you can freshen up and borrow a robe."
Hermione had never been more thankful to her old professor and she followed her out of the office with a final glare at the still twinkling oil blue eyes.
A/N
The muse finally struck.
