A/N: Hellooo darling readers. Another chapter is here! I have been holding onto this while working on the next one so that there isn't such a long gap between updates. I don't own HP, as always. More Draco coming up soon, I promise.
CHAPTER 9 - "Never Ever Give Up" by Matthew West
Hermione showed up at her parents house that Saturday at 10:00 AM sharp. After being late the last few weeks due to exhaustion, she had decided it was time to show them some respect.
"Muu-uum," the witch called as she entered the house. She heard clattering in the kitchen and headed over. "Hey! How are you?"
"I'm alright, dear. You still like kippers, right?" Mum was wearing a loose fitting blouse. She shared Hermione's wild hair, although hers was a few shades darker and cut short. She was about the same height as her daughter and looked in her early fifties, despite being closer to sixty.
"Yes, I do. I'm well. Just… crazy busy. I actually ended up taking off yesterday and just sleeping all afternoon."
"Oh, you finally decided to take a break? Who managed to talk sense into you?" The muggle pulled over a platter and began piling food onto it.
"Harry, actually. Can I help?"
"I'm fine, you just sit. Harry, you say? How is he? I haven't seen him in ages…"
"He's well, all things considered. James is getting so big. I must invite you all round some time."
"Invite us where?" Dad asked, stepping into the dining room where the pair of women were currently standing. Hermione rushed to kiss her father on the cheek.
"We were just talking about Harry. His son is still just a baby, but so cute." The witch took her seat and waited for her parents to run through the usual questions (What did you get up to, any dates, what happened at work, any major cases, who she'd hung out with, how her big case was going) before she brought up the matter that had caused her such worry the past few days.
"Mum, Dad. The other day the Minister and Christina gave me a visit. They offered me a promotion."
"Oh! That's amazing!" Mum jumped up to hug her.
"Just what you've been working towards! Why do you sound so… conserved, though?" Her father asked, always one to notice what others missed.
"It was just a bit odd, the way they talked about it." The witch proceeded to recount the meeting with her bosses from a few days earlier. "It sounds so perfect. Too perfect, almost."
When she looked up, she saw her mother had tears in her eyes. "Mum? What?"
"Hermione," The older woman shook her head. "You shouldn't have to think like that. That when something good happens, there has to be a catch. You're too young for that. This is good. This is perfect in every way. Like you say, it's your dream role. There isn't always a catch, you know."
"I… I know. But in my life, there always has been a catch - a price. Mum, I -" Hermione caught herself. Even all these years later, she'd never really explained the emotional toll the war had had on her to her parents. At first, hse was too scared and scarred. Then, she had waited too long and it felt awkward. Now, it felt redundant. Ish.
"We can't tell you what the right choice is here," Dad said calmly. "But we can say to follow your heart. As cliché as it sounds, it is also true. What do you want?"
The witch stared out the window toward the yard. What did she want? At this point, she wasn't quite sure anymore. "I don't want to lose anything else. Anyone else." She swallowed. "By taking the promotion… my colleagues…"
"That's not it." The confidence in Mum's voice shocked her daughter. "You don't want to lose this big case you're working on."
"Of course I don't! But that's not holding me back." Hermione insisted. It wasn't quite true, though. The brunette did not want to lose her new friend or this challenge. The time she spent talking to Astoria and Malfoy were some of the best hours of her week - even if she refused to admit it aloud. They talked about the case, yes, but they also just chatted. There were strained moments, of course, but she didn't feel like the golden child around them. She was simply a lawyer and a witch. Never the war heroine most others treated her as/. They hadn't spoken of ehr role in the war since… Well, not at all Hermione released.
The young woman shook her head, bringing herself back to the present. Her mother was looking at her skeptically, Dad appearing amused. "It's not why!" the witch insisted.
"I'll do it." The words were out of Hermione's mouth before she could wonder, reconsider, or overthink anymore than she already had in the past four days. "I'll take the role. I am honored to accept it, and so glad you presented it to me. I have enjoyed working for you so much, Christina. Thank you."
The witch had arrived at the Ministry early Monday morning and gone straight to her bosses' desk.
"That's great, Hermione. That's brilliant. I'm so glad you chose to take this position. Although, I have to admit, I will miss having you working for me. You have been excellent. I am excited to be working as your equal." The smile on Christina's face was as genuine as Hermione's.
"I have one question. Will I be able to carry the Malfoy-Grengrass case with me or will it stay under you? I am really enjoying the challenge." Hermione swallowed as she voiced the one thing that had been holding her back.. She had finally admitted it to herself and was nervous for the response.
"That will be up to Davis. He'lll give you all the details after you let him know your response." Christina replied, returning to her worm.
"I'll let him know once he's out of court." The young witch nodded and walked back to her office. Thai was going to be a wild change, but also a much needed one.
Cameron Davis was a middle-aged burly man with dark, slick hari and a strong personality. Most people in the departments feared him, and all respected him. He had been appointed head of the Department of Magical LAw Enforcement soon after Kingsley was appointed minister. He had been an auror before the war, during which he fled and fought underground to defeat Voldemort. In his day, He had done exceptionally well as an auror and even better as the head. Hermione couldn't deny her nerves as she knocked on Davis's door, his secretary informing her that she was expected sometime today.
"Come in," a deep voice called.
She pushed the heavy, oak door open. Davis was seated behind a large wooden desk. Parchment, books, and memos were stacked on the desk in neat piles on the desk as well as on the side table and towering bookshelf. No personal details adorned the space.
"Ahh, Miss Granger. I take it you've made a decision?" He asked, folding his hands on the desk in front of him.
Hermione squared her shoulders and called forth her confidence. "I have, sir."
"Oh, please - call me Davis. Everyone does."
"Alright, Davis. I would like to accept this position. I am truly honored to have been offered this role and am thrilled to report to you."
"To be honest, Miss Granger, you are only here because your boss and the minister talk highly of you, as do many of your co-workers. I feel you are still too young. So, don't be too thrilled. Since you have accepted, I will have Janice send you the paperwork later today." He returned to his paper, so Hermione nodded and took that as her dismissal. She nodded at the secretary - Janice - and walked to Harry's desk.
He was chatting with Ron when she walked up, but the raven haired boy had already spotted her, so she couldn't very well walk away.
" 'Mione! Talking to Davis? You accepted then?" He said in a way of greeting.
"I did. Christina thinks I'll start on the first of the month." She responded, nodding at her ex-husband.
"Congrats! That's Wednesday, no?"
"Harry, don't act like you haven't been counting down the days' till tomorrow." She chuckled. Feeling that she had interrupted the pair of wizards, she excused herself ("I have so much to do before I transfer") and headed back to her office.
Hermione began the next day, her last day as a low level employee, decorating Harry's cubicle. (The aurors worked in an open-plan setting.) She hung a banner reading, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHOSEN ONE" and put little hats and stickers all around his desk. She also put a cake she had ordered (Happy Harry Potter Day) on his desk. Itw as vanilla with chocolate ganache and strawberries.
Next on her agenda was going over any cases she had to wrap up and handover. By the time noon came around, she was feeling elated. She had a few things left this afternoon, but then she was off. In fact, the only detail still up in the air was the one she was trying the hardest to ignore; what would happen with the Malfoy-Greengrass case.
Christina entered Hermione's office. "Hermione? I know we have our final review this afternoon, but I thought I should share this now. Davis and I have been working together since I was his intern summer before my sixth year and… I convinced him to let you keep your big case, since you've done all the work for it. Don't make me regret it." She winked, and left so quickly Hermione wondered for a moment if she'd imagined it.
Wow. Okay, I have this case. I need to win it. For Davis, for Christina, for me. To prove I deserve this role. Hermione thought, quickly scarfing down the rest of her lunch. As a matter of fact, she was meeting with the pair for the first time in a week this afternoon.
The witch pulled the file of her notes on the case towards herself. It was the only case she had to work on - until the next day, anyway - so she might as well go over it one more time. She opened a large tome next to her and began scribbling dates, names, and other past cases she could reference.
Two o'clock rolled around, and Hermione welcomed her clients into her office with a smile and cups of tea. "Good afternoon. I have some news for you both."
"You do? Good news, I hope," Astoria gave a nervous smile as she took her seat. "Particularly considering the letter we received this morning."
Malfoy handed over a folded piece of parchment. It was from Cromwell, Lucius Malfoy's lawyer. "The date of the hearing is now August twenty-first? How did he get away with it?"
"Because he's a conniving bastard, that's how." The wizard's worlds were harsh, not that anyone blamed him. "Granger, this news better be beyond brilliant. WE need every god, spirit, and whatever other deity and mythical being on our side."
"My news is… well, decide for yourself. As of tomorrow, I will be working under Davis - head of the department handling only criminal cases. However, my superior has passed this case as Criminal. We are convicting Cromwell for unlawful and unjust actions. I also suspect foul play - particularly with the new court date. And, Mr. Malfoy shouldn't be able to have such in-depth conversations with a lawyer over a separate case due to his life sentence to Azkaban. We have a busy three weeks ahead of us," Hermione explained, hurrying to add her new ideas to her paper. "Malfoy, I'm going to reread your father's sentence, but until then, do you happen to recall if he had any communication restrictions?"
"Er… he was barred from communicating with certain people without some restrictions in place after a particularly nasty event during our eighth year," Malfoy looked down. He almost seemed... Ashamed? No way. Although, his father was a prat, if Hermione was honest. She'd never liked the slimy bastard.
"Hmmm… I'll look into that. You two, we might actually have a strong case to go on here. I didn't think… Well, that's beside the point now. I appreciate your patience and how open you've been," the lawyer paused. "Malfoy, you and your family are being examined closely in this case. I'm really glad you've let us - let me look through your personal stuff and share so much information."
"Not like I had a choice did I? And anyway, you're doing all the hard work. All I have to do is rant about Daddy Dearest," Malfoy's smirk didn't reach his eyes.
An awkward pause ensued, broken by Astoria saying, "Hold up - Hermione, did you say you're going to be reporting to the head of the department? Like a promotion?" At the brunette's nod, the blonde woman jumped up and hugged Hermione across the desk. "That's spectacular. Why didn't you tell us?"
"Thank you. I only just found out last Thursday. It's been a crazy few days. I'm really thrilled," Hermione grinned widely, unable to hide her excitement from her friend.
"We'll have to go out for drinks tonight, to celebrate!" Astoria clamored. "I mean, if you can. You'll probably go with your other friends so…"
"Today is Harry's birthday, so I have something at six-thirty, but if you want to go early. We have so much to catch up on - last week we barely even spoke." The two witches hurried to make plans for the evening.
Astoria turned to her "fiancé", "Draco, will you be joining us? Or would you rather go home and brood about your father some more?"
The wizard chuckled. "I can't say to some firewhiskey, now can I?"
A/N: 20,000 words, let's go! Awful cliffhanger, I know. I'll update as soon as I can. Thank you for reading, pls review!