Chapter 1: The Same Old Same Old
"Mum is so excited about Hugo's first Christmas. The kid isn't even six months old and he has his own special cookies," Ginny laughed. Hermione made a noncommittal noise in the back of her throat. She mentally checked out as Ginny continued about Molly Weasley's plans to make her second grandchild's first Christmas perfect. Personally, Hermione was sick of hearing about Hugo Weasley. No one seemed to realize she might not want to hear about her ex-fiance's affair baby. Especially since he married his affair partner. That while she pretended to be fine with everything for the sake of family peace, she might not want daily updates on the world's greatest baby. She and Ginny were supposed to be meeting to finish signing over the lease on the flat they shared when Hermione moved out of the one she shared with Ron. As Ginny had moved in with Harry it seemed silly for her to keep paying rent. But as always the conversation centered around Hugo. The same thing happened a few weeks ago when Harry and Ron took her out for lunch. At least she could forgive Ron for wanting to talk about his son. "Hermione! I asked what you thought?" Ginny sounded as annoyed as Hermione felt.
"Sorry, drifted off for a second, work things. What did you ask?"
"Do you think Hugo is old enough for a muggle ride in car?"
"No, those are for toddlers, not babies," she hoped Ginny would pick up on her flat tone and notice something was wrong. She did not. She kept on about needing to find the perfect present for her godson. Finished eating, and annoyed beyond tolerance for the day, Hermione interrupted, "Here, sign in three places next to the x." She then divided the papers into three sections and handed Ginny some back. "Those are your copies."
"Thanks for taking care of this, Hermione, and taking over the flat," the redhead smiled. "Hey, have you heard why those people are coming from Norway?"
"No, for once a ministry secret has managed to stay a secret. I just know they are coming."
"Well, pooh. Harry doesn't know either. I like being the team member with all the inside information."
"Sorry, Gin. Tell Harry I said hi."
"I will. See you Sunday."
"More likely than not," answered Hermione, wondering if anyone would really notice or care much if she skipped. She returned to work and stayed late polishing her presentation for her meeting with Gringott's goblins the next day.
Hermione sat at the head of the conference table tapping her foot silently in annoyance. The goblin contingent rudely began demanding concessions and tribute to be paid. She listened for another few minutes until things took a turn into the ridiculous. "Enough. You may leave." She gestured towards the door. Wizard and goblin alike sat staring at her. "I'm sorry, did I stutter? Shall I repeat myself in one of your three native tongues? Get out. Dismissed. Leave. We are not a conquered people needed to appease our new overlords. Do not contact us until your leadership is ready to behave in a reasonable manner. No one is giving you ¾ of one vault let alone every vault. Tell your masters if anything so patently absurd or insulting is uttered in my presence I, and everyone I can convince, will empty our vaults. Perhaps the change we need is a wizards bank run by wizards." She glared at the goblins who fled at her words.
One of the junior wizards looked at her wide-eyed, "Was that wise?"
"Goblin society values strength. That was most likely a test. And if it isn't then they know I am not playing. They'll be back." She stood, "For now we can move forward with the PR plans that don't require their feedback. Everything except trusting them to be our bankers. Just in case they try to call my bluff." The others nodded and went off to complete their assignments.
Hermione briefed her boss, Silas Brooks, and headed to the cafeteria to meet Harry for lunch. She recounted the interaction for him, much to his amusement, "Damn, Hermione. No punches pulled today."
"You know how goblins can be. So how go wedding plans?" Harry had proposed in October, citing wanted to fill the month with good memories.
"No, Ginny decided she wants to wait until Hugo is old enough to perform ring bearer duties instead of Teddy."
"Molly is going to let her wait that long? I thought she would have you down the aisle as fast as possible."
"Ginny dug her heels in, you know how she can get about her vision." Harry shook his head.
"Sure."
He looked at her and chuckled, "Guess what Hugo did yesterday?"
"Stop. Please. I would like one day with one conversation to not revolve around Hugo. I can't." Her voice cracked, "I can't keep smiling while everyone stomps on my heart. It has been going on for the last year. That bitch stole my life. She took away my future. And no one cares. I don't really care about what Wonder Hugo did today, okay? Can we please talk about anything else?"
Harry's face fell in concern, "Hermione, what's wrong?"
"Are you serious, Harry? My fiance cheated on me after learning that having children would take planning and effort. Not be impossible, just take some work. I forgive him when he confesses. Then the slag shows up pregnant and he marries her. No one checks on good old Hermione. She's a robot without feelings. She won't mind. You all focused on the positive: a wedding to plan and a new baby. So I smiled in the light and sobbed in the dark. Do you want to know what the worst thing Ron did? He asked me to by Hugo's godmother."
Harry stared at her in shock, "Please tell me you misunderstood him?"
"Nope. His exact words were, 'Veronica and I don't want you to feel left out. We want you to know we value you as family. We picked you to be godmother.' I had to spell out exactly why that was insulting." She shook her head remembering Ron's dumbfounded look when she refused and started crying.
"Mione, I thought you'd be pleased."
"Do not call me that. I hate that nickname. So, let me get this straight: you want me to be the godmother of my fiance's affair baby. If something happens to both of you, you want me to be forced to raise the evidence of your infidelity? What did I ever do to Ronnie to make her hate me so much?"
"She wants her best friend, Jeffery as godfather. I need a godmother. You were great with Tori. And she hates nicknames, Mione."
"So the fuck do I. As long as you both call me Mione I will call that twat Ronnie. You cannot ask me to do this. I cannot and will not make a magical vow to raise your child. Ask someone else." In the end, Ron asked his sister.
"Wow, that's insensitive even for Ron."
"I don't think it was his idea. Veronica frequently acts like she won something over me. Like she planned it. But I can't say anything without coming off as bitter."
"Do you think she planned on getting pregnant?"
"Yes, Harry, I do. First, all anyone talked about was the wedding. Molly made me make all the decorations and table pieces because Veronica fatigued so easily. Now all anyone talks about is Hugo and I am done with it."
"No more Hugo talk when it is just us," he promised.
"Thank you. Now, you have to excuse me, I have a meeting with Kings."
"Have fun, I suppose."
"Thanks," she vanished her rubbish and made her way up the minister's office.
Kingsley Shaklebolt's assistant immediately showed her into his office. He came around the desk to hug her in greeting. "Hermione, how have you been?"
"I didn't make the goblins cry, but I scared the crap out of them," she laughed.
"Have a seat," he gestured towards the door in front of his desk. "Have you heard of the hamingja?"
"The species of shape-changing beings that are thought to be harbingers of good fortune, or the envoys coming to meet with you this week?"
"Either, or rather, both."
"Yes, I believe I have," she answered primly. They both laughed.
"The envoy is here to speak with you if you are willing. I told them no one would be forcing you to do anything you don't want to."
"I appreciate that. Thank you. I doubt it will hurt anything if I talk to them."
"Excellent, I left them in my private conference room to wait. Shall we join them?"
She stood and followed Kingsley into the next room. The two people seated at the long table inside leapt to their feet as they entered. Standing closer to her, the woman greeted her first, taking one of her hands in both of hers. Her long blonde hair gleamed in the overhead light. Her partner had dark coal black hair. "Greetings, Hermione, it is an honor to meet you. I am Annika."
"And I am Balor. Thank you for meeting with us," the male said. "Shall we sit?"
"Yes, please." The two maneuvered Hermione to the chair at the head of the table, each sitting on the other side of her.
"Should I stay?" Kingsley asked looking directly at Hermione.
"Yes," replied Balor, "we will be needing your assistance."
Annika addressed Hermione, "At our Winter Solstice celebration, we honor one person as the focus of the blessing magic grants us during the rebirth of the year. In recognition of your efforts during your war, and your continued efforts to improve conditions for all those blessed with magic, our elders wish to honor you and invite you to be our honored guest this year."
"Should you agree, you would join us December 19th and be our guest until the year dies away, December 30th."
"Meaning you will be home in time for the New Year's event the next day," chimed in Kingsley.
"Oh joy of joy," she muttered. Louder, "I would be honored to join you."
"Wonderful!" Annika cheered.
Balor looked at Kingsley, "We need your assistance. Hermione will need protection. You can arrange this?"
Kingsley nodded, "I can. Is there a reason you keep referring to Miss Granger by her first name?"
"The hamingja don't have family names. They have only given names," Hermione explained.
Annika gushed, "Is it any wonder we want to honor her? We leave you to make arrangements.
We will send the portkey via your owl post." She impulsively hugged Hermione as they left.
"Okay, did that just happen?" Hermione asked Kingsley.
"It did," he confirmed. "So, bodyguards. I'm thinking of opening up a lottery to avoid accusations of favoritism and spare you the deluge of bribes."
"Yeah, why should I like the people going with me," she muttered.
"Fair enough. Would you still be open to a lottery, only from a smaller pool?"
"I can agree that it would be best to avoid accusations someone bribed their way into the position."
"What about one auror and one hit wizard? They are trained for this kind of mission."
"Ask for volunteers, whoever goes will miss Christmas. A family person shouldn't feel put on the spot."
"Good point. I'll call a meeting this afternoon and give them until Monday to put their names in. I think I will reserve the right to veto for myself, Robards, and Carter."
"Sounds like a good plan."
Hermione headed down to her office to break the news to Brooks. He smiled, "Why don't you go ahead and take off until your leave? We can hold down the fort until you return."
"The goblins..." she started.
"Can wait until you return. They want to play around, they can deal with the consequences."
"As you wish," she replied.
He picked up a piece of paper. "A reading list about Winter Solstice and the hamingja. Consider it your Christmas gift."
"Thank you."
"Have a good trip, Hermione. You deserve this."
Harry slipped into the chair next to Ron. The conference room quickly became standing room only. No one spoke in the tense atmosphere. Veterans worried about how they missed the rise of a new dark wizard. Newer officers had never sat through one of these. Kingsley, Gawain Robards, and Jason Carter entered the room. Kingsley stood at the podium. "First let me reassure you this joint meeting has been called for expedience, not an emergency." They visibly relaxed, arms crossed, and those along the wall relaxed into it. "A hamingja enclave in Norway has invited a witch from our society to be the honored guest at the Winter Solstice celebrations. They are requesting bodyguards. We will be sending one hit wizard and one auror. The trip will begin December 19th and end December 30th, so while you will be away from home for Christmas, you will be back in time for everyone's favorite holiday event." As intended they all laughed. "As it will be over a holiday it is volunteer basis only. Names need to be submitted by Monday. Any questions?"
An older woman in the second row waved her hand, "Who's the witch?"
"Hermione Granger."
Someone from the back of the room called out, "Then why aren't Potter and Weasley just going?"
"Because both myself and Miss Granger appreciate the immensity of this event and she has graciously placed herself in our hands and suggested a lottery from the names of volunteers. She reminded me that some of you have families and may not want to risk missing a holiday. Both Potter and Weasley are welcome to enter their names." After a few questions about expenses and compensation, Kingsley ended the meeting.