RP: Hermione's Ministry appointment

[rar_kingsley]

Date: 12 June 1998
Characters: Hermione Granger, Kingsley Shacklebolt
Location: Ministry of Magic
Status: Public
Summary: Hermione has a house elf-related request and she's taking it to the top.
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[rar_hermione]

It had been wonderful to see the boys for lunch. Despite living together, they were now spending their days doing other things most of the time, so she missed them, oddly enough. She did like having her space, but it was still such an adjustment after being around them constantly. After they left her back at Ollivander's, Hermione worked for another hour before she left to keep her appointment at the Ministry

[rar_kingsley]

Miss Stiles knocked on Kingsley's door within a few minutes to tell him that Hermione Granger was here to see him. "Thank you," Kingsley said with a smile. "Please, send her in."

After his secretary showed Hermione into the office, Kingsley got to his feet, offering her a hand to shake. "It's good to see you again, Hermione. How are you?" It was a question that he had wanted to ask her for a long time. Hermione had been on the run with Harry, he knew, and he had worried about those children even after he himself was forced to flee, hoping that they were staying safe. Dinners at the Burrow the previous summer had always been a lovely time, particularly when he was able to engage Hermione in a conversation--it amazed him that she hadn't ended up in Ravenclaw, as intelligent as she was.

"Have a seat, please. I made tea, would you like some?"

[rar_hermione]

When Hermione entered Kingsley's office, she had a moment of panic. This was the Minister's office. Even if the Minister was someone she knew, it was oddly surreal.

However, Kingsley looked the same, albeit with a weariness that most of them carried around these days, and he seemed happy to see her. "Hello, Kingsley. Or should I say Minister?" she asked, frowning slightly. "I've never read the proper protocal for addressing a person in power when one is friendly with said person. If Minister is the appropriate etiquette, I'll address you as such."

"I'm doing as well as most people," she said, shaking his hand firmly. "Alive and living each day as it comes, it seems. How are you?"

She sat down where indicated and smiled. "Tea would be lovely."

[rar_kingsley]

"Please, Kingsley is fine." Most people tended to call him Minister by default, and Kingsley was getting used to the title, though he rather preferred just being known by his name--it was simpler. He and Hermione had had too many dinner conversations for her to start addressing him by title now.

"I'm glad to hear it. And how are the boys?" He trusted Hermione would know which boys he was speaking of. "I'm getting by," he said in answer to her question. "Living day to day is an accurate way of describing it." He poured her a cup of tea and set it on his desk in front of her, along with some sugar and cream, and took his seat again after pouring himself a cup. "So what can I do for you, Hermione?"

[rar_hermione]

"Alright, Kingsley. I'd have felt odd calling you Minister," she admitted with a sheepish smile. "So I'm glad you're not insisting on formality

[rar_kingsley]

Kingsley nodded, having anticipated an answer of that variety. Those children--Harry, Ron, and Hermione too, of course--they were strong children, able to deal with things he couldn't even imagine having handled at their age. He had no doubt that they would be all right.

"I'm glad you're all doing well. And thank you. I'm glad for your confidence," he told her with a smile.

He listened carefully and curiously to her request, occasionally sipping his tea. It didn't surprise him to hear that the Department of Magical Creatures had turned Hermione away--a lot of the Ministry, he was swiftly learning, was fairly conservative, and new ideas didn't come all that easily to them.

"I'm not familiar with Dobby's story," he admitted when Hermione was finished. "Could you tell me a little about why you're requesting Order of Merlin for him?"

[rar_hermione]

"You wouldn't be. He died quietly, and there's been no press or discussion about his passing. It's not a story that needs publicized, in some ways

[rar_kingsley]

Kingsley was quiet during her story, letting Hermione talk without interrupting. He was finally hearing something of what the children had gone through during their own time on the run, though Hermione seemed remarkably composed in relating it.

"I see," he said ruminatively when she was finished, looking down into his teacup momentarily as he reflected on what she had told him. "It sounds like he was instrumental in helping you escape. And he died providing a diversion?"

[rar_hermione]

"Without his assistance, the boys would have died and I'd have been Greyback's new pet," she said bluntly. "Not to mention Luna and Ollivander, who wouldn't be necessary to keep alive by that point, since Voldemort would have won

[rar_kingsley]

Kingsley nodded when Hermione was finished, reflecting on all that she had told him. He was well-aware that any wizard or witch who had made the kinds of sacrifices Dobby had and been an instrumental force in ultimately protecting the entire community would have been awarded the Order of Merlin without question. Custom was what stood against Dobby, custom and his being a house elf; non-humans were simply not regarded as worth recognition by many wizards and witches. Kingsley was aware of that. Dobby's case would be an unprecedented one, without any similar awards given to non-humans before him. Yet Kingsley's tenure in office had already been characterized by a number of unprecedented moves and policies

[rar_hermione]

"Oh, there is? I wasn't sure how that would work, since there are so many people involved in the war this time who deserve recognition for some part," she admitted. "I mean, there are some who played instrumental parts, like Dobby and Snape, but I'd certainly not want to have to decide who to honor among the living."

She smiled and nodded. "I know it'll be a battle, but I know it's the right thing to do. Hopefully other people will be able to set aside their prejudice to see that, too. I always tend to remember a quote that I heard ages ago from a Muggle about one ripple of hope leading to others to create a current of change. I have no problem being that ripple, if it's within my power to do something to help others."

"Thank you, Kingsley. I know you're extremely busy, and I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me and to actually listen. If I'd had one more person pat me on the head and send me on my was as if I were a silly child, I might have started hexing people."

[rar_kingsley]

Kingsley chuckled. "I expect it'll be a fairly drawn-out process," he admitted. "Then again, nearly everything at the Ministry is.

"You're a brave young woman, to stand up for what you believe in in the face of criticism or hostility," he told her seriously. "And I can't tell you how much it heartens me to hear of your willingness to push for social change, not to mention your perseverance. Young people like you give me hope for the future."

Kingsley smiled. "Please, it was my pleasure to meet with you today. I'm glad you're doing well, Hermione."