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geovikiIs there something in the planetary alignments this week that's caused HP writers to finish their stories? Because yesterday, two WIPs that I've followed for a long time were completed. And they're both such good stories. No spoilers, but I will say they made me very happy.
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isolde's Twelve Days (mind the rating) DM/SS
novembersnow's Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow HP/DM
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Hermione felt the thick handful of mail escaping her grip but wasn't quick enough to prevent most of it from hitting her office floor.
"Oh, bloody hell," she muttered, but very softly, so that her words wouldn't carry past the door she'd left ajar. It wouldn't do for her secretary to hear – or worse, pass on – that the newest member of the team was unpredictably short-tempered. So far, he'd seemed to have a good impression of her, and she was working hard to keep it that way.
She'd been transferred here three short weeks ago, after this department had imploded in dramatic fashion when a nasty political battle left most of the team looking for new careers. Since her arrival, she'd taken care to stay in shallow water and keep away from the unmarked rocks and shoals farther out. And all the while, the department's shell-shocked survivors strayed around her, pretending to engage her sympathy or seeking to shift some of the blame her way. She often went home mentally exhausted.
Nevertheless, her new job was interesting, and she wasn't sorry she'd made the jump. But never in a million years had she expected to find herself caught up in the Malfoy estate settlement. Of course, she never mentioned her new assignment to Draco, or Harry for that matter.
She slipped into her chair with a barely-uttered sigh and began sifting through the letters and packages, marveling at the sheer quantity and suspecting – not for the first time – that someone in the office was diverting their share of work to her desk. Probably Marcus, she decided, who spent quite a bit of his time buttonholing everyone else and forcing them to listen at length to his post-disaster critique.
One large envelope in particular caught her eye and she pulled it from the stack.
Redmund, Hall, and Strongfellow was embossed on the envelope in a beautifully scrolling hand. She could feel the quality of the parchment with a single touch; it was almost too lovely to unseal. But she took out her Ministry-issued letter opener and slit it open with anticipation.
So. Her suspicions had panned out – her predecessor had found the Malfoy estate too tempting a prize and had dipped her greedy hand into its coffers. A fair few number of times, if the numbers were correct. The departmental purge had probably swept through so quickly that she'd been unable to cover up what she'd done, but the evidence of her theft was clear. What wasn't so clear, Hermione realized with some alarm, was who else among her new colleagues was involved. And was, in all likelihood, looking over an uneasy shoulder, watching her and waiting for discovery.
.~~.~~.~~.
Prologue part 4
isolde's Twelve Days (mind the rating) DM/SSnovembersnow's Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow HP/DMHermione felt the thick handful of mail escaping her grip but wasn't quick enough to prevent most of it from hitting her office floor.
"Oh, bloody hell," she muttered, but very softly, so that her words wouldn't carry past the door she'd left ajar. It wouldn't do for her secretary to hear – or worse, pass on – that the newest member of the team was unpredictably short-tempered. So far, he'd seemed to have a good impression of her, and she was working hard to keep it that way.
She'd been transferred here three short weeks ago, after this department had imploded in dramatic fashion when a nasty political battle left most of the team looking for new careers. Since her arrival, she'd taken care to stay in shallow water and keep away from the unmarked rocks and shoals farther out. And all the while, the department's shell-shocked survivors strayed around her, pretending to engage her sympathy or seeking to shift some of the blame her way. She often went home mentally exhausted.
Nevertheless, her new job was interesting, and she wasn't sorry she'd made the jump. But never in a million years had she expected to find herself caught up in the Malfoy estate settlement. Of course, she never mentioned her new assignment to Draco, or Harry for that matter.
She slipped into her chair with a barely-uttered sigh and began sifting through the letters and packages, marveling at the sheer quantity and suspecting – not for the first time – that someone in the office was diverting their share of work to her desk. Probably Marcus, she decided, who spent quite a bit of his time buttonholing everyone else and forcing them to listen at length to his post-disaster critique.
One large envelope in particular caught her eye and she pulled it from the stack.
Redmund, Hall, and Strongfellow was embossed on the envelope in a beautifully scrolling hand. She could feel the quality of the parchment with a single touch; it was almost too lovely to unseal. But she took out her Ministry-issued letter opener and slit it open with anticipation.
Miss Hermione Granger
Department of Restitution
Ministry of Magic
Diagon Alley, London, England
Dear Miss Granger,
In response to your most recent inquiry, we have verified the amount claimed against the Malfoy estate by your Department, to wit: 425 Galleons were indeed authorized and paid by the estate on January 25, 2002, to the Ministry upon our receipt of proof of expenses incurred on behalf of D. Malfoy. In addition, an amount of 360 Galleons was paid by the estate to the Ministry on February 2, 2002.
If, as you have suggested, these two claims were erroneously made against the Malfoy estate, that would constitute an abuse of the Ministry's authority to exact its legitimate expenses needed to conduct estate business until the final settlement is reached. However, as you have requested, I shall agree to a delay before filing a formal complaint of mismanagement against the Department of Restitution.
You must understand that I am prohibited from discussing many aspects of the Malfoy estate with you. However, in consideration of your discretion and diligence in this matter so far, and because it appears we have the same interest in seeing a just and fair outcome, I will endeavor to assist you within my ability to do so.
Yours Sincerely,
Lysander Redmund
Solicitor
Redmund, Hall, and Strongfellow
So. Her suspicions had panned out – her predecessor had found the Malfoy estate too tempting a prize and had dipped her greedy hand into its coffers. A fair few number of times, if the numbers were correct. The departmental purge had probably swept through so quickly that she'd been unable to cover up what she'd done, but the evidence of her theft was clear. What wasn't so clear, Hermione realized with some alarm, was who else among her new colleagues was involved. And was, in all likelihood, looking over an uneasy shoulder, watching her and waiting for discovery.
Prologue part 4
