The Dobby the House-Elf Regulations Against Corporal Punishment
"Miss Hermione Granger, with this signature, I officially make into binding law this legislation - the Dobby the House-Elf Regulations Against Corporal Punishment. I thank you very heartily for your dedication to the well-being of House-Elves in the service of Wizarding families."
Kingsley Shacklebolt put his quill to the parchment before him, signing each of the ten pages on his desk. Hermione grinned like mad where she stood beside him, and the photographer from the Daily Prophet said,
"Can I get a quick smile, Minister? Miss Granger?"
Hermione inched closer to Kingsley and said through the clenched teeth of a smile,
"Thank you, Minister."
There was a bright flash, and Kingsley put the parchments into a folder as he said sincerely,
"It's a good law, Hermione. You're doing good things. The ceiling for you in this Ministry doesn't exist. You'll do great things for wizardkind."
"Miss Granger, if I might get a few quick words from you?" Arden Colporter, the aging reporter for the Daily Prophet, shoved her spectacles up her crooked nose. When Hermione nodded, striding across the spacious Minister for Magic's office, Arden asked, "Why is it so important to you that House-Elves not receive corporal punishment?"
"Well," Hermione said, "growing up in the Muggle world, I knew nothing of House-Elves. When I learnt how much labour they put into daily life at Hogwarts, I was alarmed. And when I saw first-hand the way that caring, kind House-Elves were mistreated, I became determined that they be given more respect. That's why I founded the S.P.E.W. as a Hogwarts student, and it's why I was so happy to get my position here at the Ministry."
"And what's next?" Arden asked. "Will you now turn your attentions to Squib rights?"
"In the immediate future, certainly," Hermione nodded. She hesitated, and then said, "My long-term goal is to help facilitate reconciliation between the two sides of the war that we're still healing from. The ones who sided with Voldemort, and the ones who fought against him. To move forward, we'll all need to find enough common ground to live and work together, in some semblance of harmony."
Arden Colporter looked very surprised, and from his desk, Kingsley Shacklebolt said cautiously,
"Thank you, Miss Colporter. I think that will be -"
"Is it true that you are dating Draco Malfoy, the son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, himself a former Death Eater and the sworn enemy of the Golden Trio during your school years?"
Hermione's stomach flopped. Behind her, Kingsley said in a deep rumble,
"You don't have to answer that, Hermione."
"Yes, it's true," Hermione said at once. "Draco's family owned a House-Elf called Dobby. Harry Potter freed Dobby through a bit of benign trickery, and Dobby became one of our closest friends and allies. He was murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange whilst helping us escape Malfoy Manor. This legislation is named in Dobby's honour. And, yes, it's true that Draco Malfoy and I are together, because he and I are living proof that real reconciliation is possible - guilt, atonement, sorrow, forgiveness… affection. Yes, I'm dating Draco Malfoy."
"Hermione," Kingsley said in a warning voice, but Hermione whirled round and said rather sharply,
"You're right, Minister. I think that will be enough, Miss Colporter. Minister Shacklebolt, thank you so much for signing into law these incredibly important regulations. I am so grateful to see physical security become the new normal for House-Elves everywhere. Good day, Miss Colporter. Minister Shacklebolt."
"I'll get it, Mum!" Hermione dashed down the stairs to the front door before remembering that her parents had gone to a matinee at the cinema and weren't even home. She flung the door open and froze, for Harry Potter and Ron Weasley stood before her. They both looked more than a little irritated, though Ron looked like he'd been crying for hours.
"May we come in, please?" Harry asked sharply, and Hermione held the door open for them. She led them into the sitting-room and asked softly,
"Shall I make tea?"
"You've seen this morning's Daily Prophet, I assume?" Harry shoved a copy at her, ignoring the question about tea. Hermione sank onto her mother's cream-coloured sofa and read the lead story on the newspaper, which was located beneath a photo of her smiling with Kingsley Shacklebolt.
HERMIONE GRANGER, WAR HEROINE, ACCOMPLISHES HOUSE-ELF RULES, SETS SIGHTS ON MAKING PEACE WITH FORMER DEATH EATERS.
Hermione Granger, the war heroine known for being instrumental in the downfall of Lord V-, stood in Minister Shacklebolt's office with a grin of sheer delight as the Minister signed into law Miss Granger's draughted rules intended to protect House-Elves from corporal punishment of all kinds.
There is no doubt that Miss Granger's role as Deputy Director Of House-Elf and Squib Welfare has made such legislation possible. But when pressed on her future goals, Miss Granger hovered for only a moment on Squib welfare before insisting that her 'long-term goal is to facilitate reconciliation' between former supporters and soldiers of Lord V- and those who fought against him.
This reporter was shocked to hear Miss Granger herself confirm that she is in a relationship with an apparently reformed Death Eater, Mr Draco Malfoy. When pressed, Miss Granger insisted that her relationship with Mr Malfoy is evidence that atonement and forgiveness are possible. 'Yes,' she said, 'I'm dating Draco Malfoy.'
The Daily Prophet has no doubt whatsoever that Miss Granger played a pivotal role in seeing Lord V- defeated once and for all, and her House-Elf regulations are noble and well-intentioned. But we will be watching carefully to see what this third of the Golden Trio has in mind when it comes to playing nice with former Death Eaters.
Hermione set the newspaper down and scowled.
"She barely even mentioned the legislation. She was there to cover… she didn't even name it! She didn't discuss Dobby at all."
"Hermione." Ron's voice cracked terribly, and when Hermione looked up, she confirmed in her mind that he had been crying. Fresh tears formed in his eyes, and he shook his head.
"You left me, our relationship, because of Draco Malfoy? That son of a -"
"We mutually ended our relationship because you and I have very different views on what the future should look like," Hermione said firmly, "and because you were not open to the idea of forgiving Draco, no matter how sorry he was."
"There are some things you can't forgive, Hermione," Harry pointed out. "He Cursed Katie and poisoned Ron, and -"
"That wasn't on purpose!" Hermione exclaimed. "He was trying to kill Dumbledore, and he didn't even want to do that! He'd been ordered by Voldemort. His family had been shamed and tortured because he wasn't able to do it, to kill Dumbledore, and in the very end, he still couldn't do it. He didn't mean to Curse Katie or poison Ron!"
"Come off it!" Ron flew to his feet, his fists balled at his sides. "Look at your left arm, Hermione. What word does it say there? Mudblood. The word he threw at you over and over again. You forgive him for that?"
"It's my right to forgive him for using a slur he was trained to use," Hermione said defensively from where she sat. "Many people have horrible upbringings and have to grow out of the hatred. It takes a very big person to not only recognise the wickedness of what they were taught to believe, but to stop believing it."
"You think he's a big person, do you?" Ron snarled. "Bet he feels real big inside of your cunny."
"Ronald Weasley!" Hermione shot up to stand and slapped Ron as hard as she could. He looked shocked, and Harry looked helpless as he carefully pulled Hermione's wrist away.
"Right. We should go," Harry said. Hermione wrenched her wrist from his hand and gave both boys the most vicious glares she could. She picked up the copy of the Daily Prophet and shoved it into Harry's hands.
"Get out of this house, the both of you. You're both too immature to move beyond your own prejudices to realise some people grow out of theirs. How dare you, Ron, say something like that to me? How dare you? Get out. Get out."
They'd moved toward the door, and Hermione shoved both boys' chests until they stumbled backward onto the step. She slammed the door shut and wrenched the deadbolt so hard she nearly broke it. She turned her back to the door and sobbed, sinking down to sit as she cried and cried and cried.
"I was wondering when you'd come."
Draco stepped aside so Hermione could come in. She said nothing for a very long moment. Draco cleared his throat and shut the door.
"I'm assuming that your eyes are nearly swollen shut because you've been crying, and I'm assuming you've been crying because of Potter and Weasley reacting to the Daily Prophet article." Draco pinched his lips, and Hermione said darkly,
"I did not come here for you to foul-mouth the only two friends I had for seven consecutive years."
"All right," Draco said simply, and Hermione was surprised. She stepped out of her flat black shoes and stepped closer to Draco. She breathed in and smelled something warm and soothing.
"You're cooking."
"Just chicken and roast potato. There'll be plenty for us both, if you'll stay." Draco shifted on his feet and pushed his hands into his pockets. He scuffed his foot on the ground and stared at his toes as he said, "You know, I was angry that the Prophet didn't even mention his name. Dobby's name. It was important to you that the legislation be named after him, and all they cared about what making you look bad. It's good legislation, and they ought to have focused on that."
"Oh. Draco." Hermione's eyes burned, but she was all out of tears. She let him wrap her up in her arms, and she breathed in the warm scent of him as she admitted against his chest, "My bag's Expanded and I've brought toiletries and pyjamas and a change of clothes for tomorrow."
There was a little pause, and then Draco said, "That makes me happy. You make me happy."
"Do I?" Hermione raised her swollen eyes to him, and Draco nodded silently. He licked his bottom lip and told her quietly,
"Nobody's ready except for us. They all need so much more time."
"I should have just told her I was looking forward to doing my job," Hermione moaned quietly. Draco chewed his lip and asked,
"May I recommend something?"
"I suppose," Hermione said begrudgingly, and Draco said,
"Draught up a really solid piece of Squib rights legislation. Something, for example, like making registration optional so Squibs can live among Muggles without Ministry of Magic intervention. Then focus all the attention on that work, and don't discuss the idea of reconciliation again. Not publicly. No one else is ready. They may need a few… a few years, Hermione. War isn't a paper cut; it's a gaping bloody wound, and healing isn't simple. You're too logical for them to go along with you."
"And you?" Hermione asked. "Are you too logical?"
"No." Draco shook his head. "I'm just a wizard who made all the wrong choices and is determined to do better. That's all. I'm just a wizard who… a wizard who cares very much for you, Hermione Jean Granger. The chicken and potatoes need another forty-five minutes, and I'd like to use that time making love to you, if you don't mind."
Hermione curled her lips up and shook her head a little. "I don't mind."
Author's Note: Found a tiny bit of time on Christmas Day to squeeze in just a little writing! I'll save the big juicy lemon for the next chapter. ;) If you're reading, thank you SO MUCH for doing so, and if you're celebrating, a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to you. Please do be kind enough to leave a review if you get a moment.