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Tweak says, "hager train! hager train!"

Hermione Granger (mione_jane) wrote in veritaserum_rp,
@ 2008-07-12 22:12:00

Entry tags:

christopher warrington, hermione granger

Who: Hermione and Christopher
Where: Ministry of Magic, Hermione's Office
When: Late afternoon-ish
What: Hermione staying late to catch up on some work, Christopher coming to talk about Sally Anne's kidnapping.
Rating: TBD

The work day was coming to an end, and everyone was either gone or walking out the door. Well, not everyone. Hermione sat in her office, head in hand, heels occasionally tapping on the floor below her desk. After being beaten up by a Death Eater in an alley and seeing Sally Anne kidnapped, she'd decided to take a couple of days off of work to heal and regain some composure. There was still a visible wound on her left eye, but her cuts were healing nicely (it helped that they were mostly covered by her robes). Hermione was mostly just nervous. She knew the kidnappers didn't need her, they'd told her that, but she couldn't help but wonder if they'd regret letting her survive and come back.

Hermione put the document she'd been going over in her "finished" pile and glanced at her "to do" pile, which didn't seem to be getting any smaller. Taking time off had it's advantages, but it also meant there was a rather large pile of files and paperwork waiting for her to go over so Hermione decided to stay late and try to catch up a bit. As she paused between documents she noticed how quiet it was. There were probably few people still around.

Shaking off any feeling of discomfort, she paused to consider whether or not she'd leave. But as always, the prospect of finishing work won. Only a couple more and then I'll go. Hermione thought as she grabbed the next document and resumed working.

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wagemywars
2008-07-19 03:35 am UTC (link)

Nowadays, Chris walks around with a certain numbness, but his head is surprisingly clear, which is a good thing because that means he is still making financially sound decisions. Family members had already advised him to take a couple of days off- grieving period? Sally-Anne wasn't dead, y'all- but from what? He was already unemployed, all he had were days off and he was not about to spend it sitting with a thumb up his arse while they're doing to Merlin knows what to his wife.

After dropping off his application with another Ministry division- there was a spot open with some sort of quality testing thing person wizard whatever- Chris found himself standing just outside of Granger's office. He wasn't quite sure of his purpose here, but since he was here, Chris figured he might as well do something. Sighing, preparing to look like a fool, Chris knocked.

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mione_jane
2008-07-19 09:11 pm UTC (link)

At the sound of the unexpected knock, Hermione paused. She looked up from her paperwork toward the door. She had no appointments or meetings scheduled, and it was close to the end of the day. Who would be coming to her office? After a moment's pause, she pushed her chair back and walked over to the door.

"Yes, can I help--" Hermione started as she pulled the door open, but stopped when she saw who it was standing outside her office. "Mr. Warrington." She wasn't sure what to say, or why Chris was there. "How are you? Is there, ah, something I can help you with? Would you like to come in?" She asked, gesturing behind her.

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wagemywars
2008-07-20 02:46 am UTC (link)

To be honest, Christopher did not know Hermione Granger at all. Sure, he knew of her- after all, she was one of the best and brightest of Hogwarts, and a muggle-born to boot, which did not sit well with a lot of people in house. This will be the first they speak to each other face to face, and Christopher cannot help but foresee an immediate future with lots of awkwardness. Merlin, he hoped there won't be too many of those. He also hoped that this will be the first step to getting some answers since Miss Granger was the the only eyewitness. Christopher had already gone to the authorities, but only to be turned away like all other family and friends of other victims.

He may appear to be incredibly levelheaded on the outside-

"Uh," Christopher began intelligently, trying desperately not to fidget, "Sorry. Is this is a bad time?" He made a thumb gesture behind him, as if turning to leave, "If you're busy-" The former Slytherin paused briefly, thoughts falling into place as he straightened up his posture, and finished politely, "But I would like to speak with you, if you have the time, about my wife's disappearance."

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mione_jane
2008-07-20 12:14 pm UTC (link)

It was true, Hermione didn't know Christopher. She knew he graduated before she, and she had seen him on occasion at Hogwarts, but that was about it. As a matter of fact, she hadn't really known Sally-Anne that much either, though they had been in the same year and were on friendly terms. But seeing Christopher for the first time, and under the circumstances, the awkwardness felt like a rain cloud looming above them. That was inevitable, though; Hermione had seen his wife kidnapped, and until Sally Anne was brought home safely, she knew it would be there.

When he mentioned he wanted to discuss Salle Anne's disappearance, a hand subconsciously flew to Hermione's left eye, as though checking to see if the cut was still there. She couldn't help but fidget a little, the subject was not a pleasant one. Despite any discomforts, however, Christopher had the right to know what had happened. Besides, maybe they could find something in her story that would help find answers.

"No, it's quite alright. Just some paperwork, nothing important." She took a few steps back to allow him room to enter the office. "Come in, please."

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wagemywars
2008-07-21 01:57 am UTC (link)

Christopher gave the girl an apologetic smile as he stepped into her office, which seemed much like his- or what was his- maybe all the Ministry employees get this generic office to begin with. He can tell that this was still an uncomfortable subject for her, and he disliked the fact that he was the one being a bother, but he he felt that this was a necessary evil- or something to that effect. Christopher knew that he had to tread lightly at this point, his wife pointed that that he can be a bit on the... insensitive side at times.

Shifting slightly, Christopher tried not to seem too imposing. "How are you, uh," he asked, then stopped, scratching the back of his head sheepishly, "Bad question?"

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mione_jane
2008-07-21 03:59 pm UTC (link)

Hermione closed the office door behind him and took a few steps toward her desk, stopping next to it as she considered the question. "I'm...alright." She replied, shaking her head slightly as if denying the idea it was a bad question. "I've been better, yes, but I've also been worse. How are you doing?"

"Please, sit down." She said, gesturing to the spare chair sitting on the opposite side of her desk. "Well," Hermione started, not sure where to begin. "What do you want to know?"

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wagemywars
2008-07-24 01:56 am UTC (link)

Christopher sat, and the generic office chair was decidedly uncomfortable. At her inquiry, the former Slytherin could not help but shrug, he figured that he should be scared, which he was, but just... not enough. He was mainly, after some thought, irritated for rather vague reasons. And impatient, which is new. Christopher had always had pride for his patience, he was once a ministry accountant, after all. But all this waiting, for some messenger whose boss kidnapped his wife to come to take his money, that was pissing him off. "Ask me later," he decided.

"Again, I apologize, this must be difficult for you," Christopher offered quietly, not quite sure what to do with his legs and hands, and ended up folding them neatly together like something that came in a neatly folded package. "Anything you can tell me on the day it happened. That would be great..."

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Sorry this is SO long! Hermione wanted to say it all at once.

mione_jane
2008-07-24 06:52 am UTC (link)

Hermione tilted her head slightly. She wasn't sure what sort of answer she'd expected, but Ask me later wasn't it. Though, for some reason, it seemed to suit him. She imagined the difficult time he must be having and wished there was something she could do.

"No, it's alright," Hermione said, moving to why they were really there. She sighed slightly and straightened herself out. "I can tell you quite a bit. Maybe you'll find something helpful; no one here did." She said with a gesture of the hand to indicate she was talking about the Ministry. "But I'm going to go through it all at once so I don't miss anything if that's alright with you. It'd be easier that way." After a moment, she began.

"Sally Anne wrote me when this all began, not long after people started losing their magic. We both had lost ours and she wanted to get checked up at St. Mungos, like they were telling everyone to do." Hermione scratched a spot on her shoulder for a moment, going through the events which constantly flashed through her mind. "We were going to meet outside Mungos, but we ended up finding each other on the street. I had some tea; Sally Anne wanted some, so we were going to make a stop to get her some as well. She was very anxious about the whole thing. So was I." Hermione bit her lower lip slightly; this was where the trouble started. "There was a cat," She said, scrunching her nose slightly. "We were walking past an alley, and I heard a noise. It turned out to be an injured cat crying. I wasn't so keen on the idea, but Sally Anne went to go check on it, and..." Hermione trailed off. "That was when they came." She sighed, eyes glancing down to her fidgeting fingers. "There was only one at first; they..grabbed Sally Anne. I tried to get her away, but my magic...I started throwing bricks." Her tone was bittersweet. "Probably the stupidest thing I've done...but I couldn't just leave her. We both tried." For the first time since she'd started, Hermione looked at Christopher. A part of her felt it was necessary to let him know they'd tried to get away. "Then the second one came and grabbed me from behind. After that, well..." She looked down. "Here we are."

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It's okay :D

wagemywars
2008-07-24 10:40 pm UTC (link)

For a moment after Hermione finished, Christopher did not speak but sat silently in his chair, looking a bit thoughtful if anything else. Then he gave a small laugh, longer fingers touched the side of his head and over his eyes, "I'm sorry-" but he was still smiling- "but she's always doing that. She wanted to get a pet, like a dog or a cat, when we moved in, but I'm allergic so she had to settle for a fish." Christopher sighed, casting his gave downward.

"But you were very brave," he said as softly as his raspy voice would allow, turning to Hermione, "You tried to help her, and for that, I must thank you."

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mione_jane
2008-07-25 07:00 am UTC (link)

It was nice to see a smile on Christopher's face, and at the mention of Sally Anne's affections for animals, Hermione's face softened into a small smile.

"You're welcome," Hermione said quietly. "It's what anyone would have done in that situation. Well, what I hope anyone would have done."

Hermione's eyes fell to her hands again. "There is something that has been bothering me, though." She started, unsure if Christopher would be able to make anything of it. "The first attacker- they disguised their voice so I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman or anything. But the second one didn't disguise his voice; I could tell it was a man, young, maybe within range of my age or yours. I feel like I knew him and I've heard the voice before, even just a few times, but I can't place it." Hermione shrugged. "I don't know- I just know I've heard it before, but I don't know where." She looked up to him. "I know it'd be impossible to just go out and find him, whoever he is, but it's something I've kept in mind. Sort of silly, but maybe he's in society and one day I hear him."

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	wagemywars 2008-07-26 03:02 pm UTC (link)
	That called for an eyebrow raise. It was a longshot, but it got him intrigued. "Really," Christopher tapped against the numb side of his face, and did not feel it, "Where did you think you could have heard it from? The radio?" Although that was unlikely at this point, too high profile for somebody who went around kidnapping well known purebloods, "From school?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

mione_jane
2008-07-26 05:55 pm UTC (link)

"Not the radio," Hermione said, her brow furrowing slightly. "It could very well have been someone from school; I don't imagine I spoke to them much though." She sighed; it was frustrating to think that she needed just two words, she needed just a name, and maybe everything going on could be explained.

She continued to think for a moment. "I could have heard them at work, even." Hermione said, eyes flickered around her office. "A lot of people do through here, but it'd have to be someone who came through more than a few times." Hermione tilted back, trying to rack her brain. "I wish I knew more." She finally said, leaning forward again. "I'd know him if I heard him again, I'm positive about that, but it's not very helpful."

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I is sorry! I is slow :(

wagemywars
2008-07-30 08:41 pm UTC (link)

Christopher's lips curled into a tight smile, "Well, you know who to give a ring if anything ever came back." The man sighed heavily, staring down his hands with creases etched into his face like a weather-beaten statue. With every day that passes, and no answer, doubt began to cloud Christopher's mind. How can he be sure that his wife is still alive? It had been a while since he received any word from the kidnappers- days- and everything could have changed between then and now. Christopher cannot bring himself to put any trust in a Renegade's word- how can he? They hold themselves above common laws, how good is their word?

"Well," Christopher stood slowly, "Thank you for your time, and once again, I'm sorry to have dropped in unexpectedly like this."

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S'okay! :D

mione_jane
2008-07-30 10:01 pm UTC (link)

Hermione nodded. "If I remember anything, or figure something out, I'll be sure to tell you." She tried to sound as optimistic and hopeful as she could; she was certain something would come up, some piece of information or even that unrecognizable voice, that would lead to answers. And she had yet to give up hope that Sally Anne and the other kidnapped women were still alive.

"You're welcome," Hermione said, standing up herself. "And it's quite alright, there's no reason to apologize." She paused. "I'm glad we talked."

Hermione walked with Christopher to the door and stuck her hand out to shake his. "Don't hesitate to stop by again if you need to."

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