Chapter 02

It was the new year, the official 15th year since the war ended.

Hermione Granger had very much enjoyed her week or so break from the Ministry with a man, publicly at least they had a 'verbose sparring match' whenever they encountered one another. Draco looking after the old magical families that were worried about not being able to pay off people in the Ministry. Which he believed in somewhat, though acknowledged he'd mostly fallen into it by being one of the more powerful families to survive the war.

Now she was being roughly awoken by a whistling. The sound of her floo, or rather the relay from the floo in the cellar going off.

Pulling herself out of bed and out of the arms of her lover she slipped into her study and took the lid off the floo relay.

"Susan, what is it, six in the morning?" Hermione asked of Susan Bones, she was deputy Minister for Magic and acting Minister while she was on holiday. Susan also oversaw the Department of Magical Education, something that after the war everyone acknowledged was a department that needed more attention. It was also somewhere Hermione had focussed her attentions following the war and while she'd been pregnant with Rose.

"There's been an incident. A death and a murder." Susan was saying.

Hermione swore. "Where and how?"

"Escaped prisoner, tried to get far north to the Faroe Islands. Was turned back by their border patrol wizards."

Hermione exhaled again. "It's in Ron's patch up in the Orkney Islands then?"

"Yes. Peregrine's already gone up to secure the scene and begin the investigation. I've called Percy Weasley in."

"Percy?" Hermione asked.

"To manage the transport up there. He's suggested getting the house elves and wizard on standby there to start the floo relay station thorough cleaning procedure."

"Which will put everything back and only allow urgent travel," Hermione smiled broadly at the small fire pot that showed Susan's face. "Remind me to praise Percy when I return."

"He's also put a restriction on Knight Bus travel that far north. The Knight Bus Gild won't like it, but he's assured me he'll make them understand."

"Very good Susan, I'll get up there as soon as possible." Hermione said as she mentally decided what to wear and what to throw into a bag.

"Do you need an escort Minister?" Susan asked in a tone that suggested she knew the answer.

"No." Hermione said flatly. "Peregrine will no doubt be expecting that I'll want to come up. No comment to anyone Susan till I've spoken with Peregrine and Ron."

"Understood Minister."

-/

"Trouble?" Draco was sat up in bed when she came back into the room.

"Yes." Hermione said shortly. "Problems I need to deal with."

"I'll dress and depart when you do so," he said rising out of the bed.

"You don't…" Hermione began.

Draco turned around seemingly managed to half dress in the process "I am still a guest in your house Hermione, I would not presume to be left alone without you here."

Hermione smiled broadly as she walked past him into her walk in wardrobe. "How did we find one another Draco, so understanding?"

"We both got divorced from our childhood lovers Hermione. Mature and worldly knowing," he said from outside the walk in wardrobe.

Hermione laughed as she dressed for the cold Orkney Islands. Throwing in some other items of clothing into one of her expanding bags. They were something she'd not shared with many people. There were expanding bags you could create yourself, but hers were hardy and tested during the war.

Looking around the cupboard she reached around one of the drawers and pulled out a light slippery cloak and weighed it in her hand.

It was Harry's invisibility cloak. According to some the only surviving of the deathly hallows. Luna had once said her father had been a follower, had Xenophilius survived the war she'd have liked to speak with him concerning it.

Ron had exclaimed quite vocally at Harry's will reading when it had been announced that it had been left to her, though she had let him borrow it on countless occasions, when they'd been married.

She stuffed it into her expanding bag, just in case.

Stepping out of the wardrobe she found Draco finishing packing up his trunk. Walking past him she gestured her wand at the cellar whispering for a book.

The apparition survey book for northern Scotland including the Orkney Islands.

There were countless complicated areas in that part of the world. Not just Hogwarts but various family estates and other naturally occurring problem areas.

The Orkneys were small and complicated and anyone who wanted to apparate somewhere away from the main wizarding areas needed a book of survey maps.

"Going somewhere interesting?" Draco asked as the book flew into her hand.

"I hope not, but know that's not the case." Hermione admitted putting the book down and embracing the man kissing him. "We'll meet later?"

Draco nodded. "I enjoyed this Hermione, even if you made me live a muggle lifestyle for a week," he wrinkled his nose in mock disgust.

"Now you can dazzle all your friends." Hermione teased.

"Yes, all my friends who live in muggle houses," he said as he walked over to the rear door of the house and bade her farewell.

—/ — \\-

Hermione Granger paused, as she apparated into Finstown, a short distance away from the Ministry of Magic outreach office for the Orkney Islands. It also technically covered the Shetland Islands as well, but there weren't any permanent magical residences there.

She was under the invisibility cloak. She still thought of it as Harry's…and her's. She intended to pass it onto Rose at some point probably in her will. She still had a lot of use for it in her working life. Unlike herself, Harry and Ron Rose did not need to be sneaking around the corridors of Hogwarts. The castle's dark secrets had been vanquished by them and the resulting surveys of the castle following the war. She was pleased she'd pushed her various supervisors to look into it. It was well and fine to be an ancient castle of learning, but during her time at Hogwarts there were things that just should not have happened where children were expected to get an education. It was during that time she'd re-met Susan in a work setting.

Looking around her, she'd been her a few times in the last couple of years, she couldn't just dump an up-and-coming Auror as far from London as you could go and just expect no one to notice.

Ron and his two associates had done excellent work, and she had been intending to promote him away from the Orkneys, if he so desired. Reports were he was enjoying himself being the only official for several hundred miles. She had meant to discuss it more with Peregrine, but various other things had got in the way.

Knowing Peregrine he was probably working on it behind the scenes regardless.

The outreach office backed onto The Ouse. The building used to look like a bit of a wasteland, but had been rebuilt, without the usual protections against muggles seeing it that other Ministry sites adopted.

The Statute of Secrecy, she understood was a little more lax here. Small populations, everyone didn't necessarily know everyone, but they certainly recognised outsiders.

Looking around she saw Peregrine walking out of the building over to where she was stood.

"How did you know I was standing here Peregrine?" Hermione asked once he was stood beside her.

"I can't reveal all my knowledge Minister," he smiled. "Though there is a depression in the grass where you're stood."

"Which only helps once you're stood beside me," Hermione countered as she crouched down and pulled off the cloak; stuffing it into her expanding bag. "Well, you'd better brief me," she said standing up.

-/

The man who'd been murdered wasn't a local, Ron had said that was fortunate. Murders by magical elements, not just witches or wizards but beasts or even mis-used potions had a tendency to cascade in small communities.

The people who'd found the man already had their memories modified of finding him.

"Make sure anyone who he was staying with has their memories modified as well," Hermione ordered.

"A subtle modification, he was a transitive individual, I will ensure a plausible fiction will be crafted." Peregrine commented.

"We've got some experience with that sir," Ron started and looked to Hermione. "Or we can wait for someone from London."

"You're the expert here Weasley," Peregrine said casually.

The other man, the escaped prisoner had been held at a Ministry detention facility. After the war and Azkaban's destruction the Ministry had moved to other sea forts that the British government no longer used. Warding and protecting them in the sea was easier and stronger than on land. But some people were still held on land before their case went before the courts.

The man was Albert Runcorn.

He'd escaped wizarding Britain at the end of the war and had gone on the run through innumerable countries in the past few years.

He was wanted for his participation in Voldemort's ministry during the war and for his actions that lead to the death of Dirk Creswell, his partner the five muggles that were under his protection.

It had taken some time to find and extradite him, and from all reports, muggle and magical he had been dying from exposure to the by-products of the creation of certain potion ingredients when captured.

"I want a full autopsy on Runcorn's body. Get our medical experts up from London Peregrine. None of this is to get out. Ron, you're the expert here, find out everything about how he came to be here," Hermione paused. "I'll get in touch with International Cooperation and we'll see what was in the Faroe Islands and what he looked like when he was turned back, in his condition he shouldn't have been able to fly a broom."

-/

Hermione could have apparated back home to stay the night, but had elected to remain in the Orkneys until the autopsy had been completed and the investigation was properly underway. She also wanted to meet with the Faroese Magical Minister to assure him that she was here and personally looking into this. Fudge had done poorly with their immediate magical neighbours during his ministership.

But from all reports Ron and his associates had done a small part in smoothing over those past issues.

They'd even held a Quidditch match in the waters between the Shetland and Faroe Islands, it was all very much not approved by either ministry, but had gone a small way to building bridges.

Hermione looked up from her diary at a knock on the door.

"Are you decent, uh Minister?" Ron's voice came through the door.

Hermione smiled in slight amusement. "Yes, Ron."

The door opened. "I've made a pot of hot chocolate if you'd like to…"

Hermione nodded, slipping the diary into her coat. The muggle autopsy expert and healer would be up in the morning by portkey. Peregrine was out with one of Ron's off-siders investigating and modifying a few memories.

"You've done excellent work here Ron. I'm sorry my praise comes in such unfortunate circumstances." Hermione said as Ron ladled a cup of hot chocolate out of a pot and handed it to her.

"Thanks Minister," Ron said ladling himself a cup.

"I think as it's just us two you can call me Hermione Ron," she said blowing the mug and feeling the steam around her fingers.

"Not sure if that's proper, we've not really spoken like this for a while…Hermione," he looked at her smiling awkwardly.

"Time passes. I hope we mellow Ron. Especially this year, I wouldn't want us to be at odds." Hermione looked to her ex-husband.

Ron was shaking his head. "No." He exhaled. "I enjoy it up here Hermione. Really."

"Not just being the lord of the manor?" She asked in a curious tone.

Ron shook his head. "Nah, it's like, it's like being on an adventure, like not being able to pop anywhere. Well most people don't like to."

"No like us." Hermione smiled. That was one thing about the war, she and most of her peers had learnt to apparate early. Earlier than most, it fostered a hardier apparating method. Less exhausting over long distances. From London all the way up here, many wizards usually stopped in Glasgow or Inverness for a drink or a bite to eat. Or they came by portkey.

"Don't tell anyone but I was going to offer you the chance to return to mainland Britain," she began in a conspiratorial tone watching his face. "But it's clear to me now you've really made something of it here."

Ron looked surprised at her and nodded. "Yes Hermione, I have, I think I really like it here. But I'll follow my head of department and Minister's orders."

"After the anniversary and memorials, later in the year we might look at a little more funding here, and maybe more staff," Hermione sipped the mug of cocoa. "Peregrine has kept me informed that your associates are learning good things up here."

"Pity it's a murder that's brought you up here." Ron mumbled.

"I've been up a few times, more so than some other locations Ron," she countered.

Ron looked up surprised, seemingly worried he'd been so honest. Hermione kept her expression neutral.

"Rose says she's doing well at school, tried out for the Quidditch team again." Ron offered, changing tone.

Hermione nodded, when they had lived together they'd tried to have Rose interested in everything. She was glad that Rose was more adept with a broom than she was. When she'd continue to visit her father she'd play more on a broom than when she was with her.

"We'll be able to see her at the anniversary at Hogwarts," she said. "I'll tell her you'll be coming, I need to be there for several of them."

"For the teachers, the battle…" Ron trailed off.

Hermione nodded, there had been many battles, fights and other things throughout the war. It had all ended at Hogwarts with the death of their enemy and their friend.

—/ — \\-

Hermione Granger walked solemnly through the garden towards a medium sized oak tree. It was planted by Harry Potter, the first and only memorial he planted himself for the teenager, the man who was commemorated here. His body was buried elsewhere.

But Harry had wanted somewhere for him, for Cedric Diggory to be remembered. The first casualty in the war.

He said something similar near the end of their hunt for the horcruxes, looking back, Hermione thought Harry knew the final encounter might end his life.

There were flowers around the tree; other people paying their respects.

She hadn't told anyone in the press or anything tasteless like that, that she was coming here. Not like her predecessor, who liked to curry favour with the press. There would be plenty of time for speeches at the Hogwarts memorial and the war anniversary later in May.

But for now, here she stood. Not on the day Cedric died, just a day, that was set aside to remember him.

She never knew what to say, Harry had returned her once during the war, that last time. That was the day she chose to come back, to honour Harry's decision that even during the war to return here and to honour Cedric Diggory. The wizard Harry thought they should remember. No him.

—/ — \\-

Remembering the professors who had fallen at Hogwarts was a less somber affair. Dumbledore had wanted to be remembered with a celebration and that of the learning institution.

It was one of the crimes of the war that several of the portraits of the former headmasters including Dumbledore had been lost in the battles that happened within Hogwarts.

Minister for Magic Hermione Granger and several of the department heads would be taking a class or five during this time of remembrance at Hogwarts.

But this first night was a celebration and remembrance for those who had known Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Horace Slughorn and Sybil Trelawney.

Hermione sipped her Champagne as she made her way around the crowd until she found herself on the edge able to look around at everyone. There were people inside the Great Hall, outside in the courtyard and milling around.

She fancied there were some strong charms placed around the houses to make sure they didn't disturb the sleeping students.

"I hear you're making Draco happy," said a voice beside her.

Hermione didn't jump, she did, even after so many years since the war have to fight the instinct to fire a spell at the voice.

"Mr Malfoy and I spar verbally on many occasion." Hermione said simply as she sipped her Champagne. "Astoria Greengrass," Hermione finally said in greeting.

"Minister Granger," she smiled gleefully at her.

"I've heard from my departments that your business interests are reaping rewards from the rising trade with Oceania." Hermione asked of Astoria Greengrass.

"Indeed Minister, your reforms have made running a business much easier. Taxes are predictable, bribes are not. My sister and I predict a 30 percent increase in trade for our business."

Hermione was impressed and said so. "I'm surprised, I may have to get you to come and say that the next time I'm faced with-"

"My ex-husband?" She waggled her eyebrows suggestively at her.

"The louder minority. Mr Malfoy's demands should be easy enough to deal with," Hermione answered.

Astoria laughed. "Of course, Minister, of course." And with that she wandered off.

Much later when much finger food and drinks had been consumed Hermione found herself wandering the corridors of Hogwarts.

Thinking on the scars it still bore from the battles waged, and of the memories she had of it.

She found herself after some wandering up on the balcony of the astronomy tower, surveying the landscape around Hogwarts. What things had remained the same, what things had changed and what things had changed because of the war.

—/ — \\-

Hermione Granger, British Minister for Magic stood at the podium looking out at everyone in attendance, they were sat near the lake.

A small distance from them was the permanently blackened ground. Where the final fight took place between Harry James Potter and Tom Marvolo Riddle.

The fight, what some might romantically call a duel, ended the lives of both combatants and ended the war.

Hermione had mostly finished commemorating everyone who fought, but had reserved something for the end, something which she had run past Cedric's parents, because it concerned him. "Harry once told me," she paused. "When we were nearing the end of the search for the horcruxes," she explained for context. "That he didn't want his name held up as something. He never wanted that. It was a surprise, when he came to the wizarding world, that he'd had such an affect, by surviving, and his parents dying," she paused again. "Harry said, with this war he knew going into it, the search, what it would entail, he knew," Hermione paused again. "he told me to remember Cedric Diggory." Hermione paused again. "Cedric didn't go into the war, he didn't even know there was one. None of us knew then. Harry didn't want Cedric to be forgotten. Cedric Diggory was the first casualty of the war." She paused again. "I would now ask for a minute's silence. To remember all those who lost their lives in the war, those who were injured and those who will never return." She nodded over the other side of the group and a bell rang out.

Hermione took the chance, during the silent contemplation to look around the group and to look to the edges where there were Aurors carefully placed. Peregrine was standing nearby her. But the others were on the look out for POC or any other group that might try and storm this gathering of diplomats, Ministry employees, survivors and students. Peregrine and his department had rounded up a lot of the members of POC and other groups like it in the past months. Although Ginny was suspicious by her absence from all the POC meetings and he usual hang outs. The Aurors noticed Hermione looking and gave the slight signal of 'no problems', it wasn't anything as noticeable as a shake of the head, just shift in how they were standing or something like that.

She was a Minister that didn't need overt directions or indications from those around her. She'd been in a war, she knew what to look out for.

-/

Hermione Granger had to admit, she hadn't been expecting this.

"You're sopping wet," she said calmly as Ginny Weasley jabbed her wand into her throat.

"You're a traitor to wizarding Hermione Granger," she grunted.

"Minister Granger." Hermione idly corrected.

The guests for the anniversary had been moved back, but they were all well within ear shot of Ms Ginny Weasley.

"Hermione Granger. I say again you're a traitor to wizarding culture." Ginny said again.

Hermione thought back to the psychological profile that had been done of Ginny Wealsey and the rest of her group. Delusional, psychotic episodes. Blamed Hermione for her brother's assignment to the Orkney Islands. Her injuries in the war and her possession by Voldemort meant she had trouble apparating the distance in one go.

It recommended immediate sanctioning to a psychiatric facility.

If they'd been able to find her that's what she would have done.

"You must have been under the lake for a while, at least a week." Hermione commented idly, annoyed that Ginny had made her throw away her wand. Peregrine she'd seen had picked it up. She wasn't scared, not of Ginny, she had faced far more intimidating people during the war and this wasn't the first time she'd had a wand at a vital part of her body. It wasn't even the first time someone she'd once counted as a friend had turned on her.

"What do you want?" Hermione asked her captor curiously.

"For you to resign, for you to return the wizarding governance to its proper path." Ginny snarled.

Not going to happen. Hermione thought to herself as two men, both looking annoyed at one another walked out of the crowd.

Hermione felt like she shouldn't laugh, but did, although it was more like a dark chuckle. "And cede my powers to someone like Mr Draco Malfoy, he the protector of wizarding culture as you claim to be?" Hermione asked.

The wand jabbed into her neck harder. "Yes," then she called her towards her brother. "How about it Ron, we can lead the Ministry behind the scenes."

"Ginny," Ron began in a warning tone.

Hermione reflected it was the same tone he'd used during their meetings as they'd begun their divorce.

"You really think I'd want to be Minister Ms Weasley?" Draco drawled. "Playing politics is hardly something I wish to engage in."

The wand became a bit looser, though still close enough for her to suffer quite extensively were she to make a dive for it now.

"Ginny, I like where I've been stationed." Ron was trying as he approached from one side, trying to place himself between Ginny and the lake.

"What, no! You…you were taken away from Britain, away from your family and friends, sent off to the rubbish end of Britain, hidden away. Like she's trying to do to our culture." Ginny breathed on her neck.

Lovely, the Orkney Islanders will definitely hate that description. Hermione was thinking to herself all the while wrinkling her nose at the smell of Ginny's clothes and breath. It was only via this thought she realised the smell of breath was gillyweed.

Hermione was sure she'd read a research paper on long term gillyweed use on the body.

"Wizarding culture will change Ms Weasley, otherwise we end up with Voldemort, the war was something I didn't want to participate in. Are you trying to begin another?" Draco was asking.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, he wasn't really helping calm down the psychotic witch holding her.

"Ginny, why can't we talk about this, I'm your brother, the only one you used to talk about this. Come on, please, you didn't even owl me." Ron was approaching slowly, Hermione could just about see him in her peripheral vision.

"I…I…Ron, you've seen what she and the others have been doing, manipulating, changing our world. 15 years Ron, 15 years and the world isn't like when we grew up," Ginny was saying in gasps.

"I know, come on, tell me about it Gin." Ron was slowly approaching more, Hermione could hear his feet squelching on the lake's edge.

She also felt Ginny's grip on her loosen, just enough for her to drive her elbow back into her stomach and leap forward.

She felt, rather than saw the spells fire out from Hit Wizards taking down Ginny Weasley. Then she felt a hand on hers helping her up.

Accepting it she wrapped herself around the blond man standing firm and tall; kissing him. "I'm glad you were here."

"Will you still be glad when you remember that the diplomats, guests and press are also here watching you embrace me?" He asked with a mixture of emotions in his voice.

"Or my ex-husband?" She asked with an amused whisper.

"He's helping his sister," he whispered as she stepped back. "And he's shocked."

Hermione smirked at him. "And I so wanted to see his expression when he found out."

"Minister. Your wand." Peregrine was suddenly beside them.

Hermione quickly cast a drying and cleaning spell over her robes and looked up at the collected people. "Have you found anyone else?"

"My Aurors are about to take gillyweed to investigate, once we've secured the perimeter of the lake. And Ms Weasley." Peregrine reported.

"Make sure she's taken to St Mungo's, under heavy guard," Hermione ordered.

"Understood Minister," Peregrine said.

"Peregrine, this is a woman mentally disturbed, any threats to me or the Ministry come second to that, anyone else located needs to be assessed mentally," Hermione ordered.

Peregrine nodded.

-/

The decision to have a Quidditch game just seemed to happen, with ex-Hogwarts students and diplomats forming together and meeting out on the pitch. She'd flipped the knut to decide which side went first and the climbed the stands to watch.

"If someone had told me, back all those years that I would be sitting in the Slytherin box in the arms of Draco Malfoy watching my ex-husband play against Viktor Krum…" Hermione began and chuckled. "I think I would ask what scheme I was playing at and who had drunk the Polyjuice Potion."

The man whose arms were wrapped around her laughed. "I'm going to announce that I'm stepping down from my position of advocacy," he paused. "Conflict of interest."

Hermione sat up, twisting slightly so she could lean against the side of the box. There wasn't anyone else here with them. "Draco, you don't have to,' she paused. "There's still time to modify everyone's memories," she toyed playfully with a smirk.

Draco laughed again. "No, seeing her attack you and speaking to some former associates, there's a few things I've been curious about. 'Not befitting a Malfoy' my father once said. Vanishing cabinets and the like."

"It's almost a lost art, it's one of many things on Susan's education to do list." Hermione pondered and looked at him seriously. "Are you alright Draco, my open display of affection was rather…"

"Open?" Draco asked in an amused tone.

Hermione nodded. "Yes," she conceded.

"No matter. I got to see your ex's surprise and shock, that will keep me amused for a long time." Draco chuckled.

"He seems to be flying out his frustration," Hermione observed. "No desire to join them?"

"My broom flying days are far behind me Hermione, only with my son have I ever returned to flying a broom," he added.

Hermione chuckled. "No doubt the information of us embracing will have reached our children."

"No doubt." Draco agreed. "Something for tomorrow to worry about."

Hermione nodded. "Yes. Tomorrow and the future."

—/ — \\-

A/N:

I quite enjoyed writing this, and writing romance between Hermione and Draco.

I hope through the glimpses into the universe seen through this story it's revealed that Harry, Hermione and Ron had a somewhat worse time of things during the war, which informed what happened after the war.

I didn't want to go too in depth into the murder investigation in the Orkneys, as Minister Hermione wouldn't be involved really deeply. But I wanted to show a glimpse into how Hermione as Minister for Magic does things.

At the end with Ginny I wanted to bring Ron and Draco together for Hermione, and that seemed plausible.

Thanks for reading.