In Another Universe

Chapter 11

Dr. Shacklebolt paged through Granger's files as she anxiously teetered on the edge of her chair, trying to discern a reaction or expression from his impassive features. She'd just handed him the preliminary outline of her research plan, including the profiles of those involved in her investigation, and where she planned to take it. Eager to please as always, she hung on a pending thread, waiting for him to deliver judgment on her work so far (and, as always, expecting the worst). Shacklebolt's silence, punctuated only by the sound of his fingers turning the pages, was not helping.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Shacklebolt set the file aside and raised his gaze to meet hers again. "Good, Dr. Granger, very good," he gave her a small reassuring smile, and Granger found herself breathing more easily, her shoulders dropping forward slightly, no longer held taut by tension. "Just as I expected from you, a very strong starting point."

"Starting point?" said Granger, confused. What did he mean 'starting point'? She'd just given him the plan for the entire project!

"Well, yes— I'm assuming this is only the initial database? It is, if you will let me say so, really quite small."

"Oh— well, how much larger would you like it to be?"

"Ideally, to include several dozen people from each division, and to integrate them all into a comprehensive scheme."

Granger, who was really quite proud of the work she'd done (even in spite of her initial reticence), rose up in defense of it: "Dr. Shacklebolt, I don't mean to offend you, but I would much prefer to keep my database as reduced as it is. If I may offer my two cents, I think Linguistics as a discipline is nothing without depth, and I think expanding my database so much would mean forfeiting the opportunity to develop profound information."

"So you'd like to keep a reduced database, just because it'll allow you to deepen the extent of interaction with each subject?"

Granger thought about a couple days ago at Remembrall Records, where she'd felt so natural and welcome with Ginny. She wouldn't have had that opportunity had it not been because Ginny was part of a select group of study subjects, and if she expanded her database as much as Shacklebolt would like, she wouldn't have enough time to hang out with her so much anymore, much less for things outside the project. This, she realized with a hint of sad hopefulness, might be my best way to finally make some more friends.

So, her mind still on Ginny and how much she'd like to get to know others the way she had the young redhead, she once again defended her project: "I know it's not the most conventional methodology, but I think if you really want to give prospective students an opportunity to learn what the University is all about, we need to go for deep rather than many."

Shacklebolt pondered this for a few instants, and Granger thought, not without dismay, that he was about to just call the project off entirely. For the first time, however, she wasn't afraid that he'd be disappointed in her so much as that he'd end the project and, with it, her reasonable excuses to see the people she hoped would become her friends. The silence pervaded for what seemed like an eternity.

"All right, Dr. Granger," he finally announced, and Granger once again felt herself sighing in relief. "I trust your work and I trust your reasons. But I'd still like you to go have a talk with the PR department, since this isn't what they were expecting, so you can put them up to date with the development of the project."

"Perfect," said Granger, perking up: it wouldn't be a challenge to win over the PR department, considering how easily she got along with those older than her and how charming they found her. "I'll do that as soon as possible."