Hermione returned to her office, excited about what she had heard during the meeting with the Department of Mysteries. A whole new world was opening up for her in this new position, and she found herself grateful that she had taken it. A short time later, she and Richard were called to a private meeting with Scrimgemour where they filled hi min about the new developments they had been told about. The Minister was pleased indeed.
The day passed quickly, with Hermione meeting several times with both Richard and Rufas to go over agendas for other meetings that were coming up during the week. 4 p.m. came quickly, and Hermione headed down to meet Ron.
Her husband met her excitedly, and he wasn't alone. Everyone wanted to know how Hermione's first day at her new job had gone. She told them ALMOST everything. She could not tell them about the meeting with the Unspeakables nor tell them anything about the exciting things they were doing. She wished she could, but Rufas has explained to her how important it was to keep information given at these meetings secret, and Hermione had understood and agreed. Trust between the Minister's office and the individual departments was very important. Some information, if known , could be quite dangerous in the wrong hands. People were informed on a need-to-know basis, with the approval of the department heads and the Minister's office. Each department understood this, including the Auror's Office. They did not question her on which office she met with, or ask anything personal at all. She saw that they appreciated that bond of privacy, and, knowing what Aurors do for a living, Hermione also appreciated it, imagining what could happen if word got out about a raid by the Auror's on one expected of breaching the ban on using the Dark Arts.
The feeling left Hermione relieved. Everyone understood that there would be things she could not tell them, and respected it. She knew Ron would too.
Ron an Hermione apperated home together, looking forward to a good dinner and some relaxing hours before bedtime.
The week went fast for Hermione. She found herself soaking everything in like an overly dry sponge. It was not always fun, especially when she attended one meeting and found herself sitting across the table from none other than Delores Umbridge herself. Umbridge had, of course, been dismissed from the Minister's Office in disgrace after her disasterous attempt at taking control of Hogwarts. When word leaked about about some of the methods she had used...from setting Dementors on Harry at his aunt and uncle's house, the hand cutting quill she used as punishment on the students, the attack on Professor McGonagall and Hagrid, and especially the intention of using an unforgivable curse on Harry to force information out of him about Headmaster Dumbledore...well, needless to say, Umbridge might still have a low-rung job inside the ministry, but she got little respect from anyone there. Despite this fact, Umbridge seemed as haughty as ever, and eyed Hermione with a smirk on her face before acting as if she had dismmissed Hermione as unworthy of her notice. If Hermione had been sitting alone in the room with Umbridge, she would have laughed out loud. "Talk about illusions of grandeur!" Hermione thought to herself! The meeting turned out to be as exciting as one of Professor Binn's lectures, but Hermione dutifully kept her notes to relay to Rufas later. And she was relieved when Umbridge finally stood, dismissing Hermione and Richard from the meeting after about an hour of meaningless hype. As Richard and Hermione exited the room and made their way down the hallway, Richard looked at Hermione and made gagging sounds. Hermione could contain herself no longer! She broke down laughing so hard, she had to steady herself against a wall to keep from falling over. Richard was laughing just as heartily. Others walking past, looked up to see which office was closest to the couple before nodding their heads and grinning themselves in a knowing way. That made the two of them laugh even harder.
Suddenly, the high pitched sound of "Hem, Hem!" brought them to silence. They stared at each other a moment before turning around to face the source of the sounds. Umbridge stood looking disgustedly at the two, who suddenly felt like they were unruly school kids. "I don't know what it is you find so amusing," Umbridge croaked. "But one would expect more mature behavior from Scrimgemour's employees! I think you had better move on!"
Hermione and Richard glanced at each other again, and Hermione caught herself before she answered, "Yes, Professor!" almost instinctively. Richard took hold of Hermione's arm. With a toss of her head, Hermione turned and allowed Richard to escort her wordlessly away from Umbridge. They didn't stop or speak until they were far away from that corridor that led to Umbridge's office. Then, they started laughing again, almost in unison.
"Will she report us to Rufas?" Hermione asked, giggling.
"Probably," Richard said, eyes twinkling. "But don't worry about it! Scrimgemour detests her, and more than once I have seen him breakdown laughing after a meeting with her! She's bizarre!"
The two made their way back to the office where Rufas immediately called the into his office.
"Got a flying fax about you two from Umbridge," Rufas growled, although both Richard and Hermione both noticed his lip quivering and his eyes sparkling. "Next time I send you to a meeting with her I expect to hear you've done more than just laugh outside her office to annoy that woman!!! You understand me?"
"Yes sir!" Richard answered crisply.
"I understand completely, Sir," Hermione said.
"I understand completely, What?" Rufas growled
"I understand completely, Rufas?" Hermione said.
"And don't you forget it!" Rufas said, breaking into a wide grin. "Now, get back to work!"
"We're going now," Richard said, bowing deeply as he took at step backwards and spun around neatly to head down the hallway to his office.
"Now, cut that out!" Rufas barked. "People'll think I let my staff get off too easily!"
Richard raised his hand and waved as he kept walking. Hermione also headed toward her office, but before she had entered, she heard Rufas chuckle deeply. She smiled. "Wait until Ron and Harry hear this!" she thought, chuckling softly to herself. They are going to be on their faces laughing!"