What a Vacation Can Do

Hermione sat down at her desk and sighed as she glanced around at all the papers laying spread across it. It was a mess, and she hated it. She had spent the entire day yesterday out working on the latest news story and never made it into her office. And now, because of that, it was a mess. She ran a hand through her hair before starting to sort though all her notes that lay completely unorganized and out of place, and putting them back where they belonged. She grabbed manila folder after manila folder, writing dates in the top corner and then placing her notes inside.

Because this became her life. Running around with a camera in her hand and notepad and pen in her other hand, pushing through crowds of people just to get a good picture or a good interview, hiding behind a fake smile so people would think she was happy when giving them an interview, keeping herself organized while on the go and at her desk, and being able to write the best article she could come up with so she could keep her job while staying at the top. That was her life.

It wasn’t that Hermione didn’t enjoy her job, because she did. She loved running around to get a good story because in some strange way, it reminded her of her adventures with Harry and Ron. When she would go to a place where something exciting just happened, that would be all she would see. She would see nothing more than the aftermath, and until she got to interview somebody, what happened was just a mystery to her. It was a mystery to her just like everything had been a mystery for the Golden Trio. And seeing that mystery, made her feel like she was the one who lived that, like she was back at Hogwarts or out destroying horcruxes with her two best friends. It reminded her of when she was happy, yet it wasn’t for her.

She just couldn’t see herself doing this for the rest of her life.

She would rather be back in England, with her friends at her side and with the career she wanted to live. But she also wanted to go back to England with her parents at her side as well. And the fact that they still had no clue they had a daughter and that their life ambition wasn’t to move to Australia, kept Hermione nailed to the spot. She couldn’t leave without them and that was why she didn’t.

That was why she didn’t go back after her counter curse had failed. That was why she didn’t go back after her heart had been broken beyond repair and she had spent days of exile locked in a hotel room. That was why she hadn’t gotten any sleep. That was why had practically starved herself with the grief that her parents might never be her parents again because she couldn’t figure out what she did wrong. That was why she didn’t go back seven months ago.

All because something had happened, something that she couldn’t explain.

And after the days she spent grieving in her hotel room about the fact that she might never see her parents as her parents again, she finally woke up. She looked in the mirror and saw who she was. She was Hermione Granger. She was a war hero, the brightest witch of her age, and a Gryffindor. She could do this if she put her mind to it. She could figure out what had happened with her parents and she could fix it, no matter how long it took. And with that in mind, Hermione got up from the bed, wiped the tears off her face, grabbed her purse, and walked out the door to the only place she knew of in Australia that had a magical community.

Adelaide, Australia. It was the fifth largest city in Australia, the capital of South Australia, and also the location of Australia’s own Ministry of Magic.

Knowing its location from reading about it, Hermione found it with ease and entered like she had been there on countless occasions. She approached the front desk and smiled back at the witch sitting on the opposite side. She needed a job, and with the Australian Ministry of Magic being the only place she could think of to go, she had limited choices. The lady smiled at her again, telling her that she would take a quick look to see what was available, when somebody suddenly called her name.

Hermione turned around to see a short, very plump man, with big, dark blue eyes, and a long mustache that ran past his chin, approaching her. Hermione was reminded of a walrus straight away, and although she didn’t know this man, he was smiling at her, so she smiled back politely. “Are you Hermione Granger?” He asked. Hermione looked down at the man who only came up to her shoulders and nodded her head. The man’s smile grew and he suddenly got all excited, extending his hand for Hermione to shake. Still unaware of who the man was, Hermione shook his hand anyway and continued to smile back. “The name’s Joshua Warbeck. Owner and publisher of Australia’s top wizarding magazine: The Magic Down Under.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Hermione said as he finally released his tight grip on his hands.

“Now what, if you don’t mind me asking, would one of England’s brightest witches and one of Harry Potter’s best friends being doing here… in Adelaide?”

“My parents moved here during the war and now I can’t get them to move back.” It was almost the truth, but she didn’t even know the man in front of her. She wasn’t about to tell him, especially after he had just called her England’s brightest witch, that she wasn’t able to reverse the spell she put on her parents and was now stuck here. “I’ll be here as long as they are here.”

Mr. Warbeck nodded in understanding. “So what brings you here to our Ministry?”

“I’m on a job search.” Hermione said with a little laugh.

She watched as Mr. Warbeck’s face suddenly lit up as he became all excited. “Job search you say?” Hermione nodded. “Well then look no further Ms. Granger. I happen to be looking for a new reporter for my paper and would be honored if you joined my team. Knowing your history and seeing how intelligent you are, I would have no problem hiring you this second.”

“That is a generous offer-“

“Indeed it is.” He said cutting her off with a smile. “Not an offer that people usually turn down. Why don’t you come with me to my office and we can talk more on the matter there.” Before Hermione could protest, the man was already walking back in the direction he had come from. And with limited choices and the knowledge that she could make a brilliant writer if she put her mind to it, Hermione followed.

She had every intention of landing the job, working to get an apartment, and on the days she had free to herself, she would study every book known to man until she could find the way to break the spell she had placed on her parents.

And she was still trying.

There was a sudden knock on her door as she was placing her notes from the previous day inside of the folder she had chose for that date. “Come in!” She yelled, not bothering to look up when she heard the door open and then shut. She continued to organize her work, jotting down quick notes that she remembered and placing them to the side, as her visitor slowly approached her desk. “Is there anything I can do for you?” Hermione asked, still not looking up and still having no clue as to who was standing in front of her. When she heard a small laugh, she finally looked up and nearly jumped out of her skin. “Oh, Mr. Warbeck!” She said jumping out of her seat, more shocked than anything else.

“Working hard I see.” He said, glancing down at all the papers she had left still spilled out over her desk. Hermione apologized and then quickly began cleaning them up. Mr. Warbeck simply laughed some more. “No need to worry yourself over my visit Ms. Granger.” He said with a warm smile. “I just simply wanted to talk to you about something.”

Hermione stopped cleaning up instantly and nodded at her boss. “Of course. Please, take a seat.” Hermione pointed to the two chairs that sat facing her desk and once her boss was seated, she followed her own advice. She bit her lower lip nervously and waited for her boss to speak.

“It was luck, wouldn’t you say, that I ran into you on that day when you were coming into the Ministry for a job?” Hermione nodded, not sure where this was going. “You have been one of the best things that has happened to his newspaper in years. We have sold more copies than ever before, everybody eager to read your perfect articles. You’re an amazing worker and the best reporter I have ever hired.”

“Thank you, sir.” Hermione said quietly.

“You came in with no knowledge of how to work in a newspaper company and write such amazing articles like the ones you have already writer, that it is no wonder you are England’s brightest witch. I wouldn’t be surprised if you are the Worlds brightest witch.” Hermione stared back at her boss, not expecting the compliments and still not knowing where he was going with them. “You come into work single day of the week and you stay for hours on end. You are never late and you never leave a second early. You also never cease to surprise me.

“You are aware, as I’m sure you are, of the article of the month?”

“Of course, sir.”

“I should have done this months ago, Ms. Granger. I’m sorry.” He said in a quieter voice, leaning forward in the chair. “If you would like it, you can take this month’s article.”

Hermione looked back at her boss, completely shell shocked, a small smile quickly appearing on her face. “Sir, the article of the month is-“

“An amazing honor. It is also not one I usually give to people who have only been employed with me for seven months. I need to make sure I can trust the person who I am giving it to considering it’s a big responsibility.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The person who is writing the article of the month usually travels to another place or country, a place unlike our own to get a story on something from another part of the world that would interest our readers. You are aware of all of this, am I correct?”

“Yes. I read the article of the month every month it comes out. It is one of my favorite parts of our newspaper.”

“Brilliant!” Mr. Warbeck said, suddenly standing up and clapping his hands together. “I take it you accept my offer?”

“Oh, yes sir.” Hermione said with a smile. “Do you mind if I ask where it is I will be going?”

“Of course not, my dear.” Mr. Warbeck smiled at Hermione before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pamphlet that was stuffed with papers. “All the information you will need, along with you plane ticket is in there. I think you will enjoy the place you are going.” He winked at her as Hermione took the pamphlet and looked at her plane ticket.

“London!” She exclaimed, half excited to be going back and half upset. Going back home would be amazing. She would be able to see all her friends and the people she called family again. But once she saw them, would she have the heart enough to come back home and continue living her life without them?

“That’s right. And I’m sure you’ll enjoy the assignment I am going to be giving you as well. A clothing store opened up in Diagon Alley about six months ago and the designer, who is also the owner of the store, became increasingly popular in that short period of time. The place is called The Purple Pansy and I would like for you to go and scoop it out for me. Get some good pictures of the place as well as some of the clothing, an interview with the designer, write me an amazing article, and then you’ll have to mail me the article seeing as an owl wouldn’t be able to make it that far.” He finished with a smile still plastered on his face.

“Sir, couldn’t I just bring the article back with me rather than mailing it to you?” Hermione asked.

“Ah, well I have another small surprise for you. You have been here for seven months now, correct?” Hermione nodded. “And out of all those months, how many days off have you taken?” Hermione looked at her boss as she thought and it shocked her that she couldn’t remember her last day off. Mr. Warbeck laughed. “You work way to hard for you age Ms. Granger. You could use a vacation, and seeing as you’ve worked here long enough to earn a paid vacation, I am sending you on one.”

“Oh, sir-“

“No buts.” Mr. Warbeck said, cutting her off and putting his hand up to stop her from talking. “You’ll be going to a familiar place and seeing as you haven’t been there in months, I think you’ll rather enjoy the time off where you can be with friends.” He put his hand down and placed it in his pocket before continuing. “When the person is doing the article of the month, they get one week to do it. Knowing you, Ms. Granger, it’ll only take you a couple of days. Finish the article, mail it to me, and then take the rest of the time as a vacation.” He smiled at her yet again and then turned to leave. Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but stopped once he turned back around again. “Your plane leaves this Tuesday at 11 a.m.. That’s the eighth. Like I said, you have one week to do the assignment and then a week vacation. You should be back to work the twenty second.”

And before Hermione could say anything else, he was out the door.

She sighed as she looked down at the pamphlet and started reading over it. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. It could be fun, going back home and seeing everybody. And she would just have to remember the fact that her parents were in Australia, and that would help to bring her back with them, to where she belonged. Not to mention that she did really need a vacation. And her boss did have a point. She could finish that article within a couple days without any trouble. It would be like a twelve day paid vacation, and an earned one for sure.

No it wouldn’t be so bad.

Hermione flipped through the pages and looked down at the one about the shop she would be visiting. She skimmed through the information and stopped dead when she noticed the name of the owner, her blood suddenly running cold. No wonder the name struck her as odd. Only one person would name their store after themselves.

Pansy Parkinson. Hermione threw her head back against her chair and let out a long groan.

She had spoke to soon.