50. Chapter 50 (1/2)

previously on returning to his roots: chapter 49

after they finished up, theo shook declan's hand giving him a well done for his efforts before sending him out to the gardens.

a relieved theo put declan's wand in a desk drawer. his son was more aware than most seven year olds, but it wasn't because of any extra power. his son was a normal, boy wizard. theo gave a soft thanks to merlin as he pulled out several folders to review the properties he had for sale.

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hermione had found what she felt was a delightful gift for a seven year old wizard. a bound, pristine copy of the tales of beedle the bard. it would give declan years of enjoyment. just once it passed through hermione's mind that maybe a book wasn't the best present, but she shook off the thought. of course the book was a lovely present.

with her duty done, hermione apparated back to her office where she was approached by terry from one side and gloria from the other before she could hang her cloak.

terry was beside himself. "walter gave gloria and i your message. i imagine it's about this bloody letter," he groused, holding up a piece of paper. "it's bull shite hermione. you know it as well as i do."

"allow me a moment to catch my

eath terry, and please shut the door."

terry shut the door then he and a pink faced gloria took a seat.

pulling out her own letter and laying in front of her on the desk, hermione looked from terry to gloria before speaking.

"these letters have opened a hellhole, possibly of my own making. let me tell you how my day has been."

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returning to his roots: chapter 50

terry huffed while gloria remained mute.

hermione wasn't amused. "huffing and posturing won't get us anywhere terry. the truth of it was you were going out with della, now you're in a relationship with gloria. is there any truth to this letter?"

"gloria and i have declared ourselves to you as asked. what else matters?"

"first of all terry, that doesn't answer my question. secondly, have you done right by della?'

gloria kept her head down with eyes on her lap, but terry was angry.

"to answer your question hermione, there is isn't any truth to that letter. della and i were finished and i moved on." he snapped, gesturing towards gloria.

hermione took several seconds to form her reply. when she was ready to speak, the words came out as a torrent. "save your rage for someone who will be impressed. for your cause, i humiliated myself in front of kingsley today. i wanted to get in front of any disparaging reports that might come out of this piece of rubbish i'm holding in my hand. the minister of magic was very dismissive of me today he went as far as to suggest i move our firm somewhere where we could circumvent the rules willy nilly. so as your relationship flourishes, my level of respect diminishes. the sad part about it is i'm to blame. the right thing would have been to sack one of you. but, i didn't, so that ship has sailed. all this is to say that i might take kingsley up on his suggestion to move the offices to another location."

gloria finally spoke up. "there's no need to find a new location hermione. i'm the last in, so i'll leave. with recommendations, i'm sure i can find a suitable placement."

fairly shouting, and so incensed that spittle was flying from his mouth, terry was now beside himself. "no gloria. you aren't going anywhere. if you are made to leave, i'm leaving as well. hermione gave us her blessings. if she didn't want kingsley coming down on her, she shouldn't have gone to him in the first place. this business should have been handled in a different manner. this is bull shite. really fucking sloppy."

hermione was on her feet with wand drawn before she could stop herself, but terry would not back down.

"really? you think to hex me? go ahead. let's see where that gets you. let's just see how the princess fares when she is

ought in front of the cw. go ahead, hex me."

terry was right. hexing him would only

ing more problems. laying her wand down on the desk, hermione responded to terry's tirade in a frighteningly cold voice. "you've had your say mr. boot. thank you for your vitriol as well as your candor. you've become such a big man you think you can speak to me any way you like. my answer to that is fuck you. whether you meant to or not, you've crossed a line with me that no number of apologies will ever undo. i know you very well. you will try to apologize, but don't bother. never bother. here's my plan. since you are so disenchanted with my management style, i'll give you a choice. turn in your papers by the end of the day, or i will sack you at the end of the day."

turning to gloria, hermione spoke in a softer tone. "mr. boot was emphatic about what he would do if you were made to leave. i imagine you feel the same way. i'll make it easy. you have a choice as well. turn in your papers by the end of day or i'll release you from your position at the end of day. and trust me. this is not bull shite. close the door on your way out. thank you."

gloria tried to plead with hermione. "can't we…..?"

hermione was having none of it. they wanted to be together, so they could be together at some other offices. "i've said everything i needed to say. please close the door on your way out."

terry stood motionless until gloria took his arm to lead him out.

after the door closed, hermione found herself gasping for

eath. for several seconds it seemed as though she would black out. it was only after she grabbed her wand and uttered a strangled calming spell that her throat opened.

taking a few deep

eaths, hermione began to contemplate the carnage that had gone on in her office. with her surge of anger abated, she realized her predicament. she had just sacked her two best prosecutors. this was a shite show for sure. it would now be down to her and justin to keep the office running. in addition, walter was studying for a position within the ministry. the office would be down three people. basically, it would be her, justin and the three researchers. she had some thinking to do, but first, she had to speak to justin.

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hermione could tell by justin's hesitant manner and wide eyed look that he'd been informed of what she'd done.

he shot to his feet like a rocket was tied to his arse. "hermione! what can i do for you?"

"first of all justin, you can take your seat. there is information i need to share with you about our staff. as of this evening, terry and gloria are no longer associated with granger & associates."

even though terry had come to his office in a rage explaining the situation, it was still a shock to justin's system to hear the news from hermione's mouth.

"i-i-i…."

hermione held up a hand. "i haven't come to discuss what has gone before. i'm here to discuss how you and i will handle the cases we have going before the wizengamot this week. after that…. well after that, we'll see. we have cases tomorrow, thursday and friday. if agreeable to you, i'll take the morning cases and you may take the afternoon cases."

justin was trembling. this was almost too much to absorb. he knew things had gone downhill between hermione and terry, but sacking him was something he never thought would happen. "that's fine hermione. we'll make it work. if you need assistance in court, i'll be glad to sit second chair."

justin's thoughtfulness

ought a smile to hermione's face. "thanks justin, but i'll be fine. i have things to think over tonight. i may need to call an all inclusive meeting tomorrow. you've always been there for me, no matter the situation, and i appreciate that. we'll get through this one way or another. now i'm going to get myself a tea then get back to work."

hermione was almost out the door when justin called her name. "hermione. is there anything that can be done to change your mind? i mean about… about terry and gloria?"

"you're a great mate to terry. always there to take up for him. i hope he places the value in you that you deserve. in this instance, even a great mate speaking up for him will not change my mind. what's done is done."

justin had no rebuttal.

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behind the closed door of her office, hermione began to reflect on something that had crossed her mind a time or two. she wasn't that mesmerized witch anymore who thought the be all end all of life was prosecuting criminals. maybe there was something else in the magical world which would suit her more. hastily pushing that thought from her mind, hermione mumbled that she shouldn't be getting ahead of herself.

she and draco had plans to visit theo and declan, but perhaps she would stay at her own flat after instead of at draco's. she needed to think, and didn't want any distractions, even one as sexy as her wizard.

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even with all the rubbish that had gone on earlier, the day seemed to speed by. at exactly 5:05, walter knocked on the door frame.

"excuse me hermione."

"walter! come in. what can i do for you?"

walter walked into the office with his hand outstretched. "i was asked by justin to deliver these two envelopes on my way out."

hermione immediately realized what the envelopes contained. "thank you walter. i'll see you in the morning."

"right then boss. i'll see you in the morning." walter walked away wondering if what he'd heard about gloria and terry turning in their notice was true. one of his first thoughts had been was he hoped not, but if the information was true, he hoped it wouldn't interfere with his future plans, or he'd be turning in his notice.

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back in her office, hermione looked at the two envelopes as if they were snakes intent on biting her. she opened the one from gloria first and caught the employee badge and access pass that fell into her hand. gloria had remained professional. her message was simple.

please consider this my formal resignation from the position of prosecutor at granger & associates.

gloria isles

hermione put gloria's note off to the side to open terry's. terry hadn't bothered to turn in his badge or pass, but his message was simple as well.

shove the position up your arse. i quit.

mr. boot

the situation was not humorous, but hermione smiled. it was obvious terry was still in a rage. he had to be to put something that derogatory down on paper. in the past, she and terry had laughed over this error numerous times when one solicitor or another had contacted them to share their anger over being bested. never put anything down on paper in anger that can be held against you in the future had always been their mantra.

hermione filled out forms which would revoke all access and privileges to granger & associates for miss gloria isles and mr. terry boot effective immediately. even though she had done what she'd seen fit, the enormity of it all hit her as she sent out the intra-ministry packet knowing as soon as it was received, it would be stamped and filed. and that would be the end of it. terry and gloria could still enter the ministry, but access to the granger & associates floor of offices would be blocked.

with a sigh that sounded a great deal like resignation, hermione gathered up declan's gift along with her own things. as she stowed her wand, hermione was reminded how she had drawn it on her one time best champion, and was ashamed.

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