POV Hermione Jean Granger
The girl was sitting in the library, her eyes flicking absently over the pages of one of the most expensive and valuable books in her collection, the first volume of The Complete Collection of Northern Runes.
Hermione had received this book, as had her three sisters, just in time for Christmas, when she had been paid for her work, as well as a 'diligence bonus'. In fact, the girl had taken this part-time job just for the sake of this four-volume book, and had thought about quitting it when she earned enough to buy it, but when she got the books, she wondered if she should take her time.
It all started when her parents asked her on vacation, "Where are the books from? I mean the books, because they are obviously not cheap, even in appearance. Hermione had said everything without a second thought, especially since it had become more and more difficult for her to find a normal topic of conversation with her parents in the last few years, and it often turned out that they just kept silent for a while and then broke up.
This time, however, it was an opportunity that both daughter and mother and father jumped at, so Hermione told everything in great detail, and her parents listened very carefully, asking clarifying questions. In the end, the girl confessed that she wanted to quit this unexpected part-time job in order to get more involved in her studies with new sources.
Then her mother, Emma Granger, reminded her daughter that she still had three years to study, and although she and her husband were private physicians, they were not elite, so they had limited resources.
And if you take into account the amount of information Hermione takes in, her appetite for expensive books, especially in the magical world these media are even more expensive, then very soon there will come a moment when the girl will either have to pinch herself again or look for a part-time job, and it is not a fact that she will be so lucky again.
So if she could combine effective study with a lucrative part-time job, why quit? They talked for a long time that night and discussed a lot of things, but Hermione hadn't made a final decision.
Thinking about it later, she remembered that Ron had given her the idea to quit when he found out what she was spending her legal time on and what she was raising money for.
He didn't mind spending the money on something fun, and he didn't understand, as he always did, what was so fun about books. On the other hand, his friend was not interested in earning his own money for entertainment, preferring what his parents or older brothers gave him for pocket money.
No, in the last few weeks the boy began to change for the better, and the attentive friend noticed it immediately, but the excellent memory did not want to forget the words of his friend, which caused Hermione contradictions. Moreover, her father advised her to think about talking to the employer about "further prospects", since both the girl and her parents had managed to find out what Hogwarts graduates could expect in the future.
The Ministry is not a bad option, especially if the teachers give good recommendations and the student will get a perfect report card, on the other hand, the girl's father characterized the work in such structures as a "swamp" or "quagmire" in which you are dragged, you turn green with boredom, but you can not get out.
Despite her impressionability and dependence on public opinion, especially that of the "elders", the girl was still able to think quite well, and her imagination was not lacking, so she was able to imagine in colors what her father had described to her. After looking at the result from different angles, Hermione admitted that she didn't want such a future for herself. But there wasn't much of a choice.
No, if she left magic and returned to the Muggle world, she would be able to find a place to her liking — she had no doubt about that. But the problem is that Hermione just can't give up magic, so she tortures herself with thoughts. And for some time now she has been thinking about how to start the conversation her father had advised her to have.
Maybe not to continue working part-time for a long time, but only for the time of her studies at Hogwarts, in order to earn money to buy literature.
The young Granger's thoughts didn't only revolve around this topic, but also flowed smoothly to others, in general she went deep into herself, so that Hermione didn't even notice the man who approached her until a blank sheet of paper appeared on the line of her gaze and slid across the pages. Hermione blinked a few times, then realized that she was looking at the guy sitting across from her, who was grinning understandingly, causing her cheeks to blush.
— Are you daydreaming? — Mr. Hoshino asked her sympathetically, but she could definitely see the laughter in his eyes.
— Did you want something, Mr. Hoshino? — Hermione had long since picked up behaviors and facial expressions from the professors she respected, and so she unconsciously copied them, but the habits she borrowed the most from her father.
— I wanted to talk to you, especially since I see you're not busy. — The boy nodded at some finished essays on charms and potions. — Do you mind? — Hermione wasn't in the mood to talk right now, so she had already opened her mouth to send the boy off gently, but he was serious. — Then it's okay with me. — Hoshino nodded, continuing to smile slightly, which was starting to annoy the girl.
— There are very few people at Hogwarts who haven't heard of a very talented witch, and some even call her the most talented student of the last decade. Most of the teachers praise her for her diligence and success in her studies, but on the other hand, many of the students are a pain in her neck, especially the lazy ones. Anyway, it's the same as always. — The guy paused to study the reaction of the girl who was pleased with the praise, and a slight smile appeared on her face.
— On the other hand, this girl, almost from the beginning, had declared her rejection of the existing system with her words and actions, as well as repeatedly expressed ideas that went against what this magical society stood for. I am not talking about "proper" acquaintances, friendships with influential people, or other connections to those close to power, for you, Ms. Granger, are in constant conflict with many purebloods. Based on all of this, it is very likely that all of your accomplishments will be worthless after you graduate from Hogwarts when Malfoy expresses his opinion as to whether or not you should be hired by the Ministry as anything more than a janitor. Attention, question: what are your plans for the future, Miss Granger, and how soberly do you assess your chances of realizing them?
Hoshino was silent, continuing to stare into the girl's face, and Hermione felt that just a little more and another impertinent Japanese would get a slap in the face. Maybe even with a dainty lady's boot. After a moment's thought, the girl came to a disappointing conclusion: she would not be able to act on her impulses simply because she had seen the training of this boorish and impertinent man, so she decided to postpone the righteous revenge until better times.
Better yet, she'd have to do it again, create some cunning plan with traps, work with someone else's hands, and... no, she was a Slytherin, and from where?
Thinking a bit more, becoming more and more calm, Hermione decided to pay more attention to the guy's words, to look at the described situation from a different angle. Hoshino wasn't in a hurry and didn't show any haste at all, so the Gryffindor began to take in what he was saying, weighing it up, comparing it with the known facts and her own thoughts. After a few minutes, the girl felt like crying: why hadn't she paid attention to all this before? What was wrong with her?
After all, she had seen and heard everything, learned a lot from the books Hoshino had given her, but why had she only seen one side of the situation? It was as if she was stunned by this very subject!
She closed her eyes and took a deep, measured breath, chasing away the silly hysteria and the tears that were blurring everything. Fighting back the unworthy urge to whimper, Hermione opened her eyes and looked at the Japanese man who was still patiently waiting for her.
— Why did you bring that up, Mr. Hoshino? — No matter how hard the girl tried, her voice still trembled slightly.
— If I told you I cared, that I cared about the lost Enchantress, would you believe me? — Snape arched an eyebrow at the boy, distracting him from his heavy thoughts with a new burst of irritation.
— No. — Hermione shook her mane.
— You should. — The boy grinned at her surprise. — You're the ones used to measuring friendship in terms of profit, and those who want to help for free are considered despicable thieves. It's like the marketplace with you Brits. — Hoshino shook his head in disapproval. — But I can't help everyone, I can't warm the whole world, so I choose those who are worthy of my help.
— Will you help me? Help you with what? — Hermione was genuinely surprised and didn't even think to hide it.
— Well, — the boy thought, raising his eyes to the ceiling and pausing for a moment. — With training, for example. — The girl didn't hold back, showing a skeptical look on her face: Help her with her studies? Hoshino continued as if he hadn't noticed. — Have you thought about going to school after Hogwarts? Get a degree, at least an Apprentice Ring? Or do you plan to go straight from school to work in a small room, maybe without windows? The Munich Higher Academy of Magical Sciences, for example, is known for its strong base in the fields of runes, space and complex spell arrays. By the way, your new acquaintance Erwin Schrödinger teaches there, and Grzegorz Jablonski also studies there, in the Department of Charm Design. Not interested? It's a good place, and the people there are serious, and the discipline...
Hermione involuntarily remembered a handsome Pole who asked very interesting questions, as well as a very imposing older wizard who made a huge impression on the young wizard and smart girl. The thought that she could learn from the master of such powerful and complex sciences took her breath away, and the hope that everyone at the Academy was as smart as Grzegorz painted an idealistic picture of the student's future.
— Are you interested? — Hoshino smiled snake-like, and his students became very snake-like. But this was of little interest to the girl — she was already there — at the Higher Academy of Magical Sciences in Munich. — Well, in that case, you will have everything if you agree to serve my family. — From the last words, all dreams and reveries were shattered by the sound of breaking glass, and the girl shot an angry and insulted look at Hoshino.
— I'll explain everything now. — The boy was only moments ahead of the angry tirade. — The thing is, there are more dangers in the wizarding world than you realize, and what happened at Hogwarts is child's play compared to what happens outside its walls. I don't want to frighten you, but just think, what can people do when they think they can take whatever they want with impunity? When you become my servant, you have not only responsibility, but protection. You can't be bewitched, kidnapped, or raped — I'll put protective seals on you, and the academy itself will protect you because they don't want to ruin your reputation. Besides, training there costs four thousand galleons a year, which is twenty thousand gold pieces. And that's not counting accommodation, the provision of study materials, and just food and clothing. Twenty thousand galleons is a lot of money, and no one will give it away for free.
— I'm not a whore," the girl hissed, barely holding back tears of painful resentment and disappointment: who would have thought that this good-looking guy would turn out to be worse than Ferret!
— Stupid. — The guy sighed heavily and shook his head. — Did I say that? I said that I was offering you, Granger, to be my servant, a man in whose future I would invest, with the expectation that in the long run you would be a good professional who would work for me, not for some outsider. Do you understand what I'm saying?
— Hermione understood, and it made her feel ashamed, but she had heard different stories, up to the fact that quite a few girls after graduation became the mistresses of rich men, and this in front of their fiancés or husbands, and some guys even look specifically for the most "profitable options", actually selling their loved ones, renting them out. — I can tell by the look in her eyes that I understand. — Hoshino nodded contentedly and continued.
— So, are you interested in my offer, or shall we haggle some more? — The Japanese grinned wryly, and the girl smiled back, deciding for herself that the offer was worth considering, and that it would be beneficial to arrange her future as her parents had advised, even better than they had hoped.