Harry Potter and the Hall of Justice

Chapter 9 The Executive Assistant


Professor McGonagall and Hermione walked into the chamber of their new Chief Justice. In the courtroom behind them, the crowd could still be heard wildly celebrating the momentous ceremony.

“Professor, Hermione!” Webster called out from behind his desk. “Come in! Professor Dumbledore and I were just about to have a little tea, would you please join us?”

“We’d be honored,” McGonagall said, bowing her head slightly and smiling grandly.

Hermione reached out and placed a hand along the arm of her old headmaster. “Professor Dumbledore?” Hermione whispered out nervously, as she stepped close to the old wizard. “Sir, could I have a word with you, please?”

“Certainly, my dear, certainly,” Dumbledore replied, looking down into Hermione’s anxious face. He then turned slightly, looking toward Webster. “Your Lordship, Hermione and I will be along in a short minute, if you don’t mind.”

“Certainly, Professor,” Webster said, turning towards the door leading into the residence and opening it for Professor McGonagall. “We will be in the library.”

“Library?” Hermione’s eyes doubled in size. “He has another library?”

Dumbledore laughed out. “Actually, yes!” he gleefully replied, raising his arm and pointing a long, skinny finger toward the entry to the library. “But no, my dear, it isn’t as large at the one behind that door over there. He meant one of the personal libraries within his residence.”

“That door goes into his residence?” Hermione asked, lifting a finger and pointing towards the door the Chief Justice had just closed.

“Yes, yes. That and more,” he said. “Now, you said you wished a word with me?”

She slowly inhaled, collecting her thoughts and squaring her shoulders before the old wizard. “With your permission, I would like to submit my application for the Executive Assistant position.”

“You would?” Professor Dumbledore exclaimed, tears of joy instantly welling up in his eyes. “Why nothing would make this old wizard prouder, my dear, than to recommend you for that post. I am so pleased. You were my first and only pick, too, you know? When, might I ask, did you decide?”

“When he put the ring on his finger. I knew then I just had to do it,” she said, with a large smile on her face.

“You do realize, Hermione, it is a very demanding position, I must say,” the old professor replied, squinting his eyes and looking over the top of his half-moon lenses. “I trust Professor McGonagall explained things to you?”

“Fully,” she replied, coyly lowering her eyes.

“And you have no problems fulfilling the duties of the position?” Dumbledore asked.

“None whatsoever, Professor,” Hermione replied, again lifting her eyes to lock onto his.

“Very well,” he said. “I will bring your request for an interview to His Lordship’s attention at the earliest possible moment. I must say I am very delighted with your decision.” With that, the old wizard reached around the young witch, pulled her tightly into his arms and hugged her. “My, my! You have grown have you not?” Dumbledore backed away looking down at Hermione’s chest.

“Yes, I have, Professor,” she said, following his eyes down to her chest. “These old robes do not expose much do they?”

“No they certainly do not,” he said, in a disgusted sounding voice. “Maybe we should do something about that one of these days. It’s probably about time we updated our fashions.”

Professor Dumbledore and Hermione then walked into the residence and found McGonagall explaining the function of house-elves to His Lordship. Hermione had once planned a campaign to free the house-elves from their enslavement. Much to her chagrin, the house-elves themselves displayed obstinate resistance to her plan to free them. Moreover, she was unable to gain the support of her peers and finally dropped the crusade altogether.

Professor McGonagall was the first to notice the old professor and Hermione enter the library. “I was just explaining to His Lordship how and why things seem to appear out of thin air when he makes mention of wanting something. For instance, when we entered the library, there was a tea service for four, well, actually eight. It appears we have both hot and iced tea on the trays.”

“Splendid!” the old headmaster exclaimed. “We wouldn’t know what to do without our fine house-elves helping us along the way. Now, Minerva, I see you are trying the iced tea?” Dumbledore said, raising his eyebrows and smiling at his old friend.

“Yes, I am,” she replied. “I must say it has a grand taste. But you won’t catch me drinking something this cold in the dead of winter with a foot of fresh snow on our school grounds.”

“Yes, yes, I quite agree,” the old professor said. “But, it is wonderful.”

“And you Hermione, which would you prefer?” asked Webster.

“I think I’ll have the iced tea, too, thank you,” she said, smiling down into the big man’s face before taking a seat next to him, melting from the warmth of his hazel eyes. She caught her breath and continued, “Yes, thank you. A proper English family, Your Lordship, would never put a cube of ice in their tea. However, my father prefers it that way and we have enjoyed iced tea in our home as far back as I can remember, during the warm months of the year anyway. I really do miss it at Hogwarts when the weather is warm.”

“Your Lordship, if I may, I am very pleased to inform you that our Miss Hermione Granger, here before you, has just informed me she wishes to be interviewed for the position of Executive Assistant,” Dumbledore announced.

“Wonderful! I’m glad to hear that, Hermione. Professor Dumbledore speaks very highly of you. After our tea, maybe you and I can have a little chat,” he said, strangely feeling happier about the news than any other event of the day. “Except, maybe the best since the first time I laid eyes on her,” he thought to himself.

“Thank you,” Hermione said, noticing her hand shaking uncontrollably as she lifted her iced tea off the tray. She suddenly realized the three elders were aware of it, too, and quickly sat the glass back down. Webster, seated just to Hermione’s right, reached over and took her right hand in his left and squeezed it lightly. His large hand swallowed her smaller hand but she felt comforting warmth from his touch.

“You know,” he said, “if I were you right now, I’d be a nervous wreak, too. I really would. And, truthfully, we’ve all been in similar situations. You’ll be just fine.” He released her hand, picked up her glass of tea and, as she reached for it, noticed the tremors were gone.

Professor McGonagall was patting her chest again and reaching up to wipe tears from her eyes. Dumbledore grinned at Hermione and raised his glass of iced tea to hers, peering at her over the top of his ever-present reading glasses. They both took a sip and broke into large smiles.

A blue-caped security officer knocked on the door of the library. Webster raised his hand and waved her in.

“Your Lordship, I’ve been instructed to present these applications to you. The two witches are waiting in the courtroom,” the young female officer said.

“Thank you! Would you please inform them I will be out to speak with them as soon as my current interview is completed?” Webster instructed, as he took the applications from the officer.

“Yes, Your Lordship,” the officer said, quickly turning to leave.

Dumbledore sat his glass of tea back down on the tray and glanced at his deputy headmaster. “Your Lordship, if you would please excuse Professor McGonagall and me, we need to make our way back to Hogwarts. You have much to do. Whenever you need me, at whatever hour, I will be ready for your call. And I will begin the task you assigned me immediately,” the old professor said.

“Thank you, Professor,” he said and rose to shake the hands of Dumbledore and McGonagall. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Professor McGonagall. Please come by every chance you get and we’ll enjoy a little more of this fine iced tea with our chat.”

“You are most gracious, Your Lordship,” said McGonagall, smiling grandly. “I’m honored you asked and will look forward to it.”

The two professors left the room, after each gave Hermione a small tap on her shoulder and a smile. Webster followed them back as far as the door to his chamber and bid them each another farewell.

When Webster reentered the library, Hermione was still seated in her chair. She made an effort to rise but he waved her down. He walked around the table, took a chair and reached across for his glass of iced tea.

“Tell me what you’re thinking, Hermione,” he said, looking deep into her brown eyes.

“I’m nervous. I feel I’m not in control - - - out of my element. I’ve never experienced a day like this in my life. This morning I woke up thinking only about beginning another year at Hogwarts and now, well, here I am,” she replied, holding his gaze and speculating what he might want to hear her say.

Webster lifted his glass of tea and sipped a bit of the pungent liquid, taking his time. Even though it seemed overly bitter, there was something very special about the tea. It was somehow exhilarating and refreshing beyond anything he had ever drank.

“All this is just as new to me as it is to you; believe me. Just a day ago, I was sitting in front of my computer at home in a pair of sweatpants and an old work shirt when all of the sudden the next thing I know I’m sitting in a chair in what could be a mausoleum being guarded by young women dressed in those vampire-ish looking heavy blue cloaks. Very next thing, this old man walks into the room looking as if he’d just come from some Halloween party and drops this amazing story on me. Twenty years ago, I’d have been totally freaked out, but, well, I don’t know, the old man seemed so damn odd and harmless. The next thing you know I’m believing in this world of magic of yours and ready to jump in head first,” Webster admitted.

Hermione laughed at his story and immediately began to feel more comfortable. Initially, she had been intimidated by his powerful persona. He looked to be all business, certainly, but she now plainly sensed a jovial, playful air about the big man.

“What duties would you expect your Executive Assistant to perform, Your Lordship?” Hermione asked, suddenly wishing she could rephrase the question.

Webster noticed as much, too, the very second she finished the query. It was a little comical but awkward all the same.

“You probably know as much about the position as I do, Hermione. As you can only imagine, there are many questions I still have for your old headmaster. At this moment in time, I don’t even vaguely have the slightest idea what they should be or where to even begin. He seems quite confident I’ll find my way. And, it seems, the Executive Assistant’s primary duty is to help me get my feet on the ground and keep them there.”

Webster then asked Hermione to tell him about herself. This she did, of course, as only Hermione could do. If Ronald Weasley had been present, his eyes would have surely rolled right out of their sockets within minutes, but the Chief Justice was enthralled. He was amazed at how quickly she became comfortable with him. Hermione’s eyes glistened while her diction, and the cadence of her story, mesmerized him. Not only was she a beautiful young woman, Hermione Granger was intelligent, vibrant and extremely confident.

“Hermione,” Webster began, as soon as she finished the uncharacteristically abridged chronicle of a muggle born, yet gifted witch of seventeen years of age. “I will demand unquestionable loyalty, honesty and trustworthiness from all those who work with me. Along with that, I will expect everyone, but most especially the one holding the position of Executive Assistant, to be reserved and tight-lipped about what goes on within this court.”

“I understand,” she replied.

“Professor Dumbledore did explain some things to me, especially how this ring will directly affect me in the coming days. But he also mentioned, in some detail, how the powerful charm guarding the Hall of Justice will affect those living here. You are aware of this?” Webster asked, carefully studying her face.

“Yes, a little,” Hermione said, blushing just enough for Webster to note her embarrassment and sufficiently enough to know she knew exactly what he was referring to.

“Are you the least bit put off by that?” he asked.

“No!” she blurted out. “I mean, if it is part of my duties. I’ll do whatever it is I’m expected to do.”

“I’ll hold you to that, Hermione,” Webster said with a grin, reaching out for the two applications on the table. He then came to his feet, walked around the table and held out his hand. She looked up at it, raised her right hand to his and came to her feet.

“I want you to be my Executive Assistant, Hermione. Are you willing?”

Hermione swallowed hard and blinked her eyes, hardly believing what she had just heard. Her heart was racing away with itself. “You mean it?” she exclaimed.

“Yes, I mean it!” Webster shouted out.

Hermione pulled herself into his chest and squeezed him as hard as she could. Her whole world had just been turned upside down, but she was ecstatic. Webster lowered his head and kissed her lightly on her forehead.

“Now, you take a look around here while I go back out into the courtroom and talk to these other applicants. I’ll be back in a while,” Webster said, patting his court’s first employee lightly on the shoulder.

When the Lord Chief Justice walked back into his chamber, he saw his black judicial robe had been neatly folded. Thinking he should make the right appearance to the young students awaiting him in the courtroom, he put the robe back on, picked up a pencil and legal pad from the desk and headed back into the courtroom.