What I've become

Chapter 8

Weeks went by in a whirlwind of colour for Hermione with all the work she was now doing and the fact that she had not spoken to Harry or any of the others in three weeks and she was starting to miss them.

But today was not the day for her to worry about this for today was to be her first assignment at Hogwarts.

Hermione felt excitement mixed with fear at the prospect, on one hand she would be able to be inside the castle again which she missed dearly but on the other she had to inspect the teachers and give her professional opinion. Setting off to the Ministry she hoped that all the teachers were going to do their best, the one thing she was looking forward to the most was seeing Dumbledore again, even though Harry and the others were not approving of her staying in her job she was sure Dumbledore would be happy for her.

At the Ministry Hermione was the last to take her seat at the panels table something Damon was quick to criticize her for each time she did so.

“You would think with how little she does to present herself she would be the first one to arrive,” Damon whispered not so quietly to Greg Toll who smirked in reply.

Hermione was getting used to this by now and held her head high as they all awaited the Minister to arrive and give instructions for the day.

A short while later he came into the room looking highly agitated.

“Sorry for the wait…” Fudge gasped as he tried to regain his breath and pull himself together.

“There’s been some problems in the Hall of Prophecies and the media have been going crazy about it,” Fudge explained as he arranged large piles of parchment in front of his seat.

“What happened…Not another break in?” Hermione asked her eyes darting to Lucius.

“No...Nothing like that…though that would have been more welcome.” Fudge replied with a grimace.

“It was reported to me this morning when I arrived, something about Prophecy Spheres exploding…and the media is trying to stir up that it’s a sign of an apocalypse,” Fudge said clearly not wanting to talk about the subject. “Anyway…were behind schedule as it is,” said Fudge taking his seat.

“Right…Mrs Granger, these are binders of all the teachers’ biographies and how long they have been there…also what they teach” said Fudge his voice back to being business like.

“Ok sir,” replied Hermione pulling the binders towards her and standing up.

“I understand the difficulty of this assignment… having gone to Hogwarts yourself, but you must give your professional opinion,” Fudge said giving Hermione a stern look.

“Yes sir I understand,” replied Hermione nodding her head curtly.

“Lucius will be attending with you, to asses your work,” continued Fudge, Hermione’s face fell into a look of confusion and her eyes darted to Lucius once again and noticed he didn’t seem surprised in the least and figured he must have known.

“But…sir…surely...” Hermione stuttered her eyes returning to Fudge.

“Lucius has the best insight of Hogwarts and is the best option,” Fudge explained looking slightly uncomfortable, Lucius got to his feet and swept to Hermione’s side who still looked in shock.

“You better hurry up Dumbledore will be expecting you shortly, your to go there by floo and get out in Dumbledore’s office” Fudge instructed, Hermione looking more uncomfortable by the seconds nodded slowly, turned and hurried from the room.

Lucius had known about the two of them been paired for an assignment for a long time and found he slightly enjoyed the look on Hermione’s face when she was told about them working together for a day.

Hermione had just got into the corridor outside the chamber when Lucius followed her closing the door behind him.
Hermione turned her head towards Lucius, opened her mouth as if to say something but then sighed in a frustrated manner and took off down the corridor leaving Lucius to follow in her wake; smirking Lucius followed watching her long ash blond hair bounce with every step.

Reaching the Floo network Hermione and Lucius Flooed to Hogwarts, the ride was as bumpy and horrible as normal but it was one of the safest ways of travel at this moment in time.

Arriving at Hogwarts, Hermione stepped out of the fire and smiled up at the man at the desk.

Dumbledore gave a small smile in return and didn’t seem to be surprised that Hermione was arriving as a governor and Hermione had the suspicion that the order had talked about her new job with Lucius Malfoy. It was then that Lucius climbed out of the fire and stood beside Hermione on the Hogwarts coat of arms rug, brushing ash off of his silver cloak.

“Good morning Dumbledore, I trust you know why we’re here?” Lucius said in greeting, his voice pompous and arrogant.

“Yes Lucius…I have known since I received a letter from the Minister telling me that my school was going to be inspected,” replied Dumbledore in a way one would answer a small child. Hermione had to hide a smile behind her hand as she saw Lucius’ cheek twitch.

“Precisely” Lucius sneered his eyes icy with loathing,
“Well I feel it is in my right to stand up for the teachers of this school and tell you that you are wasting your time…every single teacher in this school is the best there is,” Dumbledore said proudly his smile no longer reaching his eyes but in a polite but fake smile.

Hermione then remembered something she had heard from one of the other order members that Dumbledore didn’t like the Governors of the Ministry very much and she felt her heart sink.

“Well that is for us to decide…Dumbledore,” Lucius said coldly his eyes glinting.

“Shall we Miss Granger?” Lucius asked politely holding his arm towards the door to indicate she took the lead.

Hermione saw Dumbledore frown in the corner of her eyes and felt her suspicions were true; Harry…or one of the others had spoken to Dumbledore and he clearly was as unhappy about it as everyone else was.

Hermione felt different emotions hit her simultaneously, first she felt upset that the one person she thought would be happy for her wasn’t, then she felt guilty for being selfish and taking the job when the order clearly didn’t want her to but then a completely different emotion took over as she looked at Dumbledore’s disappointed look…Anger.

“How dare they!” Hermione’s mind chimed.
“I’m not selfish for taking the job of my dreams even if I’m working with Lucius Malfoy…he gave me this job”

Hermione lifted her eyebrows in a cocky manner at Dumbledore and nodded her head slightly at Lucius as she took the lead out of the office.