Chapter Text
Hermione
My own gasp wakes me from yet another nightmare. I can feel my chest heaving as my eyes shoot open and I try to return my breaths to normal. I don’t even remember the dreams when I wake anymore. Just that I’m fighting for my home, for Hogwarts, and something truly awful happens. Somebody who I know is dead dies in front of me all over again, or worse I find myself at the end of a wand that has just cast the killing curse. I am thankful that I always tend to gasp myself awake just before the spell reaches me.
It takes a few minutes for my breathing to steady itself. I lightly run a hand over the scar that disfigures the smooth skin of my arm. It’s a bit faded now, but still isn’t pretty to look at. At least you can hardly tell there was once a word written there with a dagger. It just looks like something with a straight jaw and one row of teeth bit into my forearm.
I sigh deeply as I relax back into the cushioned pillow on my bed and stare up at the ceiling of my small room. It has become a bit discolored in the corners but it’s not a bad place to live. There isn’t much money in the Muggle Department at the Ministry but it’s enough for me to have a decent apartment close to Headquarters. Although after tonight, it should become much more lucrative. At least if everything I’ve planned goes right.
I throw the blankets off myself and sit on the edge of my bed, stretching my arms over my head and rolling my neck. My bed is close enough to the window that I can pull back the curtains from my perched position on it’s edge. Sunlight pours into the room as I move the fabric away from the window, illuminating me along with the bed and wardrobe on the far wall. I squint into the light and let it warm my skin for a few moments before standing up and padding over to the bathroom.
The tiled floors are cool beneath my feet. I keep having to remind myself it’s nearly winter and that I should probably invest in a good pair of slippers for the season but it constantly slips my mind. Surely they would have them in the Muggle Artifacts Office… I should ask Arthur when I see him later.
I finish up in the bathroom, grab my wand from my nightstand, and am met with the long garment bag as I walk over to my usually barren wardrobe. The light from the window catches on the metallic zipper and I am tempted to open it. I haven’t yet read the small note attached. Ginny asked me not to read it until I was alone on the day of the ball.
Hermione,
You’re always welcome to borrow my things. We’ll all be at the ball to support you!
Love, Ginny
P.S. Please prioritize having a decent shag tonight, that’s what this dress was made for! Plus you deserve it and need one desperately :)
I chuckle a little to myself and put the note aside as I smooth a hand over the garment bag. Ginny had only worn the gown once and made me promise not to look at it until I was getting dressed tonight. She has tons of dresses just like it for galas, charity events, banquets, and red carpets–– anything you could possibly imagine. Who knew being a professional quidditch athlete would require such an extensive wardrobe? I couldn’t possibly memorize each look so I have no clue what she’s picked out for me. She insisted that she hand select the dress from her collection and keep it a surprise. Since I am simply borrowing it, I didn’t protest. Besides, I trust her judgement.
I open the door that the bag is hanging from and shake my head, still smiling to myself. Ginny is kidding herself if she thinks I would shag on the same night I am celebrating my biggest professional achievement. Then again nothing feels quite as good as victory sex… I shake my head again to rid myself of the idea. It’s been long enough that I don’t even miss it. After Ron, I went on a hook up rampage that kept me satisfied for a while and since the last one it’s been months… almost a year now. I suppose I got it out of my system at this point.
I look back over the clothes in my wardrobe and get dressed quickly. A solid jumper and a pair of black trousers that fit well. I don’t bother looking into the full mirror on the open door for more than a few seconds. My wand tucks nicely into my belt as I finish dressing. I previously planned to show up to the office early today so that I could get everything ready in time for the ball tonight with time to spare just in case something went awry and I want to stick to it.
I try not to rush out the door as I move from room to room between my bathroom, bedroom, and finally end up in the kitchen. My coat is hanging by the door right above my shoes. I slip into the shoes and coat easily. Before leaving, I palm an apple from the bowl of fruit on the counter and take a large bite as I head out the door then lock it behind me.
The commute to work is quicker than usual and I am thankful to be having a good day for once. Even the apple was absolutely delicious, the perfect amount of ripe and juicy. Plus, a rubbish can was on the sidewalk right when I finished eating it so I could discard the core. Today would be absolutely perfect. I want to make sure of it. I technically already did.
The ball alone has been months in the making, honestly I’ll probably have an easier time planning my wedding. At least that will have a perfectly set guest list. Anyone– wizard, witch, or muggle is welcome, although there is a presumed guest list of all the people who will likely be in attendance. A new addition to the ministry hasn’t been approved since before the Wizarding War and even then it was just another office in the Muggle Department. The integration of muggles into the Wizarding World isn’t just a change to the ministry, it changes the entire structure of the Wizarding World. And I have been at the forefront of it since I started working for the ministry years ago.
Even though I am early, Percy is somehow always at the office before me. If I love my job, he must absolutely adore it. Although I do believe that his passion for his work at the Ministry stems from his ambition to be better than every one else. How passionate can one really be about Magical Transportation?
“Good morning Percy,” I greet him politely as I pass his desk the same as I do every morning with a small smile.
“Morning Granger,” he says with a smirk and acknowledges me with a nod. What is it with the Weasley boys and always having that stupid smirk on their face? I have to keep myself from rolling my eyes.
I nod at him as I pass his desk on the way to my office, hurrying a bit as I want to get to work as soon as possible. I’m sure there will be certain things that pop up all day long about the arrangements for tonight. I need this ball to go off without a hitch. I practically staked my career on it. Well, my dream career anyway. If I am able to pull this off and have the integration of muggles into the Wizarding World go smoothly, it’ll set me up perfectly to become Minister one day. A witch can dream.
When I reach my office, I am met with a stack of papers on my desk and note in Percy’s handwriting.
Here are all the files on each muggle you’ve chosen for the integration project. These need to be alphabetized TODAY before the ball seeing as though many of them will be there. You should also acquaint yourself with the information on each one.
That’s what the smirk was about I suppose. I know he’s right though. I should acquaint myself with the muggles who are undertaking this project. It could put their livelihoods at risk. Most of them are the kind of muggles who always had a hunch about the Wizarding World but could never prove it. The ministry is offering to let me oversee an office of muggles who will work in the ministry – Muggle Engagement . It’s the first small step in the complete integration of muggles into our world but still, an incredibly big one that we are celebrating tonight.
I sigh as I sit behind my desk and begin to sort through the papers, one by one.