Rune stone path

Epilogue

7 Years Later

Hermione Granger Potter scowled in annoyance as she signed the latest bill crossing her desk. She hated passing these types of pureblood-tradition-preservation funding bills. Narcissa Black had done her job well though and managed to convince the Wizengamot that any discriminatory practices were excised. Hermione had gone through the fine print of the bill herself to such a degree that her eyes had practically bled, yet she couldn't find anything to disagree with. Narcissa was a bitch, but she honestly only seemed to care about keeping some of the centuries-old traditions alive for another generation…something Hermione really couldn't bring herself to veto. So with a sigh, the Potter wife moved the bill to her outbox and watched it fold into a paper airplane and zoom out of the room, skimmed past the nose of a surprised Daphne Greengrass who had just opened the door.

"Wow, I know you're annoyed with the job, but trying to kill me with paperwork seems rather harsh," the blonde quipped with a smile as she pushed the door shut and perched on a chair across the desk.

"Haha, very funny. I hate you, you know that?" Hermione replied dryly. "Sure I get to make changes, but the politics involved in this job are awful! Just how many of your people did you have to buy off to get me into the seat anyway?"

"Less than you'd expect," Daphne shrugged. "I actually had to accept a few to promise to try and talk you into it. Considering I'd already talked to you about it…well I'm not one to pass up free money, but it felt like taking candy from a baby."

Hermione groaned and leaned back to rub her eyes as another paper folded itself up and flew out of the office. "Seriously? I'm twenty-four! What country votes for someone who hasn't even hit a quarter century to lead them!? I can't believe I let you talk me into accepting the Minister position…"

"You're the Witch-Who-Conquered," Daphne said with a grin and a waggled eyebrow. Hermione scowled in response and crossed her arms sending Daphne into a chuckle. "Honestly, Mione, I think people were just exhausted from the string of idiots we've had to deal with before Amelia and with her son on the way there was no chance of the woman running again."

Hermione cocked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. "Son? Sirius finally got her to agree to check the gender then? He must be thrilled."

"He is. Stopped by the Manor about an hour ago and couldn't stop gushing about how he was going to get Remus and Cissa's son together with his own so he could start corrupting them into the Marauders 2.0. Lily had to grab his ear and make him swear to wait until they were old enough to choose for themselves."

Hermione nodded. "That was not remotely detailed enough for that man…I'm still surprised that he accepted the Bones surname…"

"I'm not," Daphne said shrugging. "He always hated his family, he's still not fond of the Black Manor despite the cleaning efforts, 'Sirius Black' carries Azkaban baggage whether or not he ever admits it, Harry is officially the Black Lord…Sirius Bones nicely wraps all of those problems up and tosses them away while helping Amelia keep her own name going so Susan can take Neville's."

"I will never understand the politics in this world," Hermione muttered. She returned her narrowed eyes towards Daphne and huffed, "Tangent aside, nothing you said explains why I had to run for Minister."

"Well it was always going to be you, Harry or me. One of the three of us had to take the vacancy and we both know there was no way in hell of getting Harry to agree."

"You could've done it," Hermione replied glaring.

Daphne just snorted and waved it off. "No. I work from the sidelines."

Hermione just huffed and kept her glare going. It wouldn't do to let Daphne win so easily if she hoped to be able to use this against the woman for a bit of leverage eventually…that emerald ring had looked ever so nice… "I still don't think we needed to be on the first ballet after Amelia left."