Chapter 2
February 2001
“I’m not going anywhere near that man” Hermione said, making the room pulse with energy, the light posts of the street outside flickered, oh, she was angry. She stood and left the room.
And that was that.
Little more than a month has passed since the meeting of the Order, and they have all kept to their promises, they were all exchanging information and keeping an eye open every time they left their homes.
Hermione, not one to be uninformed, looked everywhere for evidence of the elusive pamphlets. Mr Lovegood, Merlin Bless him, lost them apparently, if Luna hadn’t vouched for her father Hermione would have found it suspicious.
“They are no longer in his office and he doesn't move things from unknown origins around, he learned from the war and all the hate mail we sometimes receive” Luna told her over drinks one saturday night “ I remember it said something about more humane death sentences to criminals and that it was inspiration from muggles . What do muggles mean?”
Godric if she knew what that was about.
What a way to kill her buzz.
There was no evidence of anyone campaigning to be the new minister of magic, only very vocal petitions for Kingsley to step out of office and people criticizing his “reign”, as some were calling it, and how it was not good for the future of wizarding Britain, whatever that meant.
There was an entry in every edition of every journal against him and calling for candidates for an election but no one yet to step in.
There were strikes and demonstrations complaining about the budgets of different departments of the ministry and the payroll cutting. Hermione participated in these, not to act against Kingsley but to try and get more signatures for working rights for magical creatures and beings. No one signed “Figures! The time Wixens discover labor rights and unionizing wasn’t the time to discover empathy”.
Everything was going downhill and fast. Kingsley didn't think that the work of the Order or the help of Hermione was going to be enough to improve his popularity or amend the errors of his administration.There was no way in sight to stop what was coming their way.
The Wizegamont not only didn’t pass helpful legislation but was obviously delaying or sabotaging any attempts to at least leave his office a little better than when he got there. There was no way around it; he was surrounded and being attacked by all flanks, he was going to need to go on the offensive or give up altogether. The choice was made for him not long after.
Golden Girl aloud
Hermione Granger front and center in the latest manifestation against Ministry measures
by Rita Skeeter
“I should've squashed her when I had the chance” she growled “ I'll remind her of her place” She said leaving his office the morning The Prophet published her photo, muttering under her breath about where to buy mounted insects and if it was too fragile to send by owl post
“ try a cushioning charm” he told her, not knowing what she was on about.
she sent a thumbs up behind her back
“What do we know about Gringotts?” he asked Bill once the door was closed again and refreshing the locking and silencing spells
“It’s been hard to learn anything new, they are not very trusting since my brother broke out of there on their dragon's back. Also I believe they are keeping me out of the bank on purpose. Some of my colleagues tell me that there are very large movements of Big and old Vaults”
“What can anyone do to persuade the Goblins ? From my understanding they don’t care much about Wizarding politics, just their own “ said Harry from the couch of his office next to a very amused Ron who was cutting Hermione’s picture from the paper.
Kingsley sent a questioning look to Harry who elbowed Ron as if they were getting caught misbehaving at class.
“I’m making her a scrapbook, you see, with every time Hermione went mental” Ron chuckled quite proud of his idea “ that'll teach her to not complain for gift certificates and stop asking for thoughtful gifts” he took something out of his pocket and tapped it with his wand, that would be the scrapbook he supposed, and attached the cutting with a sticking charm
“ that is not a problematic plan at all brother” sighed Bill while watching the whole process with questioning eyes
Kingsley blinked at Ron then at Bill, moving on “Harry's question is valid, do you have any ideas?”
“ the largest and oldest Vaults are bound to hold goblin made items of great value, if I were them and already held power and status, giving away some of these items to achieve my goals wouldn’t hurt me”
“So, they have the ministry employees' ears, the press is on their side and a possible way to get the goblins. You said they are also spreading rumors about your professionalism?”
“Maybe it has something to do with holding meetings during his work hours with us and ignoring the paperwork that's balancing over the edge of his desk” Ron said while he pocketed his treasure.
Ron lost his invitation to the Minister’s office.
A week Later another headline.
Ginny Weasley Strikes but not the bludger
by Rita Skeeter
“I’m a chaser for Godric’s Sake” as if that was the point of it “And it wasn't me who stopped the game, several players of both teams stopped playing asking for Goyle to leave”
“ He cruciod many of us at Hogwarts along with the Carrows and didn’t even get a year in Azkaban”
“We had to impose house arrest on Goyle after that” Kingsley said
“On what grounds if he was already cleared of charges?” Arthur asked
Harry answered his face of stone and not deterring his gaze from Kingsley
“ With the excuse of insuring his own safety”
Cries of outrage echoed in Grimmauld place
-“WHAT?!”
“EXCUSE ME?”
“ YOU TAKING THE PISS RIGHT NOW?”
“SCUM! STAINS OF DISHONOUR!” Walburga agreed
Harry cursed under his breath and left the kitchen to cover and silence the portrait.
“It wasn't in my hands to stop this decision” Kingsley growled offended “if you’re going to complain ask the Quidditch league”
“Are you a puppet, Minister Shacklebolt?” Minerva Hissed “ if you’re not taking the decisions nor stopping this folly what are you good for ? How different are you from Pius Thicknes?”
A minute of silence, two
“We can see now, that maybe it is not that difficult to put the current office in bad lighting” Andromeda drawled.
Minerva felt a little regretful of her hard words and also the audience present, but she meant every word. The young Slytherings in the aftermath of the war were ostracized by their peers and she worked day and night for every student to feel welcome and safe in every space of the castle. She wasn’t going to let all that work be for naught when these kids leave school.
The floo lighted in that moment and a jolly looking Horace Slughorn walked in, not reading the tension in the room he carried on greeting everyone ostentatiously
“Harry M’boy!”
“Professor” a blushing Harry said
“Ms Granger, a pleasure to see you again , how is everything in creatures?”
“Professor, how are you? I'm working on legislation for Werewol….”
“Ah! Miss Weasley, it's so exciting to see you. I hope the season restarts soon I have a poster of you that is waiting for a signature”
without waiting for an answer he nodded to Ron “Walenby” and moved on to greet the Minister, Minerva and Miss Tonks
“He knows my name, Ginny it's the same name” Ron complaint under his breath followed by Hermione muttering.
“For this silly sport there’ll be risings but for werewolves rights? Nah, what are you thinking Ms granger?”
“Horace, I asked you here because of your many connections. We, along with Minister Shaklebolt..” Minerva added softly “ believe that your shelf of accomplished students might know what is really going on underwraps in the Ministry”
Nothing helpful came out of that reunion. Naturally.
And then the coup de foudre
“Mr Potter, do you approve of the behavior of your girlfriend Ginevra Weasley and the Quidditch league to stop playing until their demands are heard?”
“ I believe every and all victims of war have the right to express their discontent”
There we go Harry nice and diplomatic, Hermione is going to be so proud of me
“ But Mr. Potter, weren't you witness for the defence of Narcissa Malfoy, a clear supporter of you know who and related to death eaters and their activities?”
“ Narcissa Malfoy was a victim and a hostage in her house along with her late son Draco Malfoy, they were both under constant vigilance and menace, and although Draco was forced to do some unsavory things he helped us as he could during our short visit in Malfoy Manor” he continued “Narcissa Malfoy not only didn’t participate in any of their activities but she is also the reason why I survived long enough to defeat Voldemort, there is no comparing her with Gregory Goyle or other marked death eaters”
“Merlin” huffed Andromeda that night at the Order’s meeting “We didn’t even see her coming”