Thick Of It

The summer sun bathed the Granger home in a warm, golden glow, the perfect setting for a relaxed tea session. Inside, Hermione was sitting at the dining table with her parents, enjoying a quiet moment before the whirlwind of school would begin again.

Her father, ever the curious one, set down his teacup and leaned forward with an inquisitive glint in his eye.

Dad: "So, Hermione, what's happening in that wizarding world of yours? Any new excitement?"

Mum: "Oh, you and your questions. Let her relax! Although..." she trailed off with a teasing smile, "I did see her grinning ear to ear over a letter yesterday. Reminded me of the time I got your letters, love."

Dad: "Oh, really? And who might this letter-writer be? Who's the boy, Hermione?"

Hermione nearly choked on her tea, her cheeks turning pink.

Hermione: "Will you two stop? His name is Jason, alright?"

Her mother's eyes lit up.

Mum: "Jason, is it? Tell us more! Where's he from?"

Hermione: "London."

Her father raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

Dad: "What about his parents?"

Hermione's expression softened slightly.

Hermione: "They passed away when he was young. He was raised by his grandmother—she's a witch , adopted him."

Dad: "Fascinating. I didn't know magical folks adopted children."

Hermione: "They usually don't. She's a bit of a rebel, his gran. "

Her mother, the romantic, leaned in eagerly.

Mum: "What else? Come on, don't hold back!"

Before Hermione could respond, the doorbell rang, its cheerful chime interrupting the moment. Her mother sighed .

Mum: "Just as it's getting interesting! I'll get it."

As she walked to the door, her mind raced with thoughts. "Who on earth could it be now? Always someone showing up at the worst time…"

She opened the door and froze for a moment. Standing there was a tall, handsome young man, dressed impeccably and exuding a quiet confidence. His warm smile was enough to melt even the sternest of hearts.

Jason: "Hello, ma'am. I'm Jason. I was hoping to speak with Hermione."

Her mother's jaw nearly dropped. She quickly composed herself, though her voice betrayed her delight.

Mum: "Hello, Jason! Hermione! Jason's here for you!"

From inside, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed as Hermione dashed to the door, her cheeks flushed.

Jason: [grinning] "Hey there, beautiful."*

Hermione, trying to look composed, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Hermione: "Jason… you didn't say you were coming."

Before she could say more, her father appeared behind her, his presence filling the doorway.

Dad: "So, you're Jason."

The man extended his hand for a handshake, his grip firm and testing. Jason didn't flinch, meeting the challenge with ease, neither squeezing too hard nor backing down.

Jason: "Nice to meet you, sir."

Dad: "Nice to meet you too, Jason."

Jason turned to Hermione, his tone polite but resolute.

Jason: "If it's alright, sir, may I take Hermione out for a while?"

Hermione blinked, caught off guard.

Hermione: "Where are we going?"

Her mother interjected with a laugh.

Mum: "Oh, let the boy have his surprise, Hermione! Go on, have fun."

Her father looked at the clock, his brow furrowed.

Dad: "Back by eight. No exceptions."

Jason: "Of course, sir. Thank you."

The pair stepped outside, the warm summer breeze brushing against their faces. Jason turned to Hermione, his hand outstretched.

Jason: "Take my hand."

Hermione: "Where are we going?"

Hermione take Jason hand .

Jason's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Jason: "To tell you about my new job."

Without another word. With a soft pop, the pair disapparated, leaving the Granger household behind.

===

sometime earlier .

In the dimly lit meeting room of the Muggle Prime Minister's office, an atmosphere of tense diplomacy filled the air. Cornelius Fudge sat stiffly in his chair, his bowler hat resting on the table before him. Across from him were Prime Minister Tom and his sharp-eyed advisor, M. The conversation was on the brink of boiling over.

Fudge: "Believe us, Tom, we have the situation entirely under control."

M: [raising an unimpressed eyebrow] "And that's a lie, Minister. You're feeding us fiction straight to our faces."

Fudge fumbled, his composure cracking slightly.

Fudge: "It's not a lie! We have Dumbledore, Ministry forces, and Harry Potter the chosen one himself. We'll take care of the Dark Lord."

Tom: [leaning forward, his tone sharp] "Minister, you must understand. My reports paint a very different picture from what you're spinning here."

Fudge's face flushed red, his frustration evident.

Fudge: "That woman is making things up! You shouldn't trust—"

M: [cutting him off with a motion toward the door] "Then let me bring in my source. Perhaps they'll clarify things."

At her signal, a guard opened the door. In stepped Jason Bourne, impeccably dressed in a tailored three-piece suit, exuding an air of effortless confidence. His entrance was almost theatrical, his sharp eyes scanning the room as if assessing threats. Fudge visibly stiffened in his seat.

Jason: [with a faint smirk] "Hello, M. You called?"

M: [gesturing toward Jason] "Minister, this is—"

Fudge: [interrupting, his voice tinged with exasperation] "I know who he is! Everyone in the wizarding world knows him—Jason Bourne, the man who can save you from certain death."

The Prime Minister looked intrigued, leaning back in his chair.

Tom: " What do you mean?"

M: [to Tom] "Jason discovered the only known way in centuries to save someone from the Killing Curse."

Fudge: [trying to regain control of the conversation] "Yes, truly the discovery of the century. But what are you doing here, Bourne?"

M: [coolly] "He works for me. I intend for him to represent us—Muggle interests—in your Ministry. We need someone to ensure you deal with the Death Eaters properly."

Fudge's jaw dropped.

Fudge: "You can't do that! This is blatant interference in the magical community."

M: "On the contrary, Minister. A wizard working with other wizards hardly qualifies as interference. What it does ensure is accountability. Given the rising attacks on Muggles by your 'community,' I think it's overdue."

Fudge: "This is against our contract! We'll deal with the Death Eaters ourselves."

M: [her voice icy] "And yet, the attacks continue."

Fudge : " Tom how can you let this happen ."

Tom, ever the statesman, interjected calmly.

Tom: "Jason, what's your take on this?"

Jason straightened, his expression measured.

Jason: "May I speak freely, sir?"

Tom: "Of course. Speak your mind."

Jason didn't miss a beat.

Jason: "The Dark Lord returned during a Ministry-hosted tournament. His followers successfully kidnapped Harry Potter and used him to complete a resurrection ritual. And yet, for an entire year, Minister Fudge vehemently denied Voldemort's return, giving him ample time to regroup and gather his forces."

The room fell silent, the weight of Jason's words sinking in. Fudge's face darkened.

Jason: "Right now, Voldemort is consolidating power. His Death Eaters include pure-blood supremacists who already hold influential positions within the Ministry. Distinguishing friend from foe is near impossible."

Fudge's composure snapped.

Fudge: "I will stop the Dark Lord myself!"

Jason's voice remained calm but firm.

Jason: "Public pressure is mounting, Minister. Now that Voldemort's return is widely acknowledged, people are calling for your resignation. At this rate, you'll be forced to step down within two months, regardless of what you claim here."

The Prime Minister exchanged a glance with M, both of them visibly unimpressed with Fudge's attempts to deflect blame.

M: "That will be all, Jason. Thank you."

Jason gave a polite nod, his gaze lingering on Fudge for a moment.

Jason: "Pleasure as always."

As Jason exited the room, the tension hung thick in the air. Fudge sat in stunned silence, his bluster drained. Tom and M turned their attention back to the beleaguered Minister, their expressions a mix of disappointment and determination.

In the hallway, Jason smirked to himself, his stride confident as he muttered under his breath.

Jason: "Always a pleasure dealing with bureaucracy, when you have all the card."