Interns

A/N: Hey, readers! I am very excited to post this story. It will be my first attempt at a multichpater and a romance (cue suggetive eyebrow waggle). I am so grateful for all of you who have read/reviewed/followed/favorited my other stories and I hope you will enjoy this lighthearted (hopefully funny) little jaunt. Yes, Draco will be a bit OOC here, but roll with it-people grow.

I don't own any rights to these characters or places as they appear in the Harry Potter series as they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I make no profit from this work, it is simply for my enjoyment and entertainment and I hope yours as well.

So, without further ado...

Interns

Prologue

Draco Malfoy just wanted to be his own man, make his own choices; choices in which the wizarding world would find favor, not see cause to vilify him. That was why he took every opportunity to right himself to this world. He gracefully and humbly accepted a sentence of probation after the war. He returned to Hogwarts; kept his head down, his mouth shut and finished with high enough scores to pursue his degree in law at one of the finest wizarding universities in Europe. Studying on the continent gave him an opportunity to distance himself from the wizarding scene in England for a time. Distance helped people forget; distance could buy you a new start.

His mother had not been thrilled with his decision to study in France, but she respected his need for space and his request to not be constantly barraged with the goings on of his now former acquaintances and classmates. She was not alone. Lucius was still alive, but had been sentenced to Azkaban for ten years. There were six left. Narcissa had been placed on probation for two years and used that time to get involved in several children's and educational charities. She was busy, but she was healing.

She reconnected with her sister, Andromeda, and became a doting great aunt to Teddy. She even sought out Harry Potter hoping to thank him properly for speaking up for her and her son at trial.

Draco wrote her, and for that she was grateful, but she did wish he had kept contact with this friends. He wanted space and his friends that knew him best gave him his wish, but Narcissa kept them apprised of Draco's endeavors. She reluctantly conceded to Draco's wish not to hear about gossip from home; and as much as she wanted to tell him of all the exciting things happening, the Slytherin in her was elated at the prospect of watching Draco navigate the new social gauntlet that was wizarding London. If he wanted a fresh start, he would get it once he returned; it truly was a new world.

And what of the famous war heroine Hermione Granger? What does one say about Hermione Granger? Hermione wanted to make a difference in the wizarding world. She spent an inordinate amount of time in her early years at Hogwarts and during the war trying to prove her worth to the wizarding world; now she carried herself with an unshakable confidence that was allowing her to live on her own terms. That was why she returned to Hogwarts after the war. That was why she pursued her Magical Law degree after Hogwarts.

She sought out other pursuits as well; she had learned the lesson about balance in one's life. She was involved in charity organizations and spent time with her friends and family. She chased love, but was unsuccessful at this point, but she wasn't giving up on love.

Her attempt at a relationship with Ron had been an unmitigated disaster. They were incompatible. Not just in personality, in every way that can matter in a romantic relationship. As friends, it didn't matter as much to Hermione if Ron was less than considerate, but as his girlfriend it was a great personal affront and he didn't understand the distinction. He wasn't spectacular as a lover either, caring only about his pleasure with little mind to hers. She refused to settle for less than unbridled passion and want in the person that was meant to be a complement to her life. So, Ron was out; let him keep his bimbo fan girls, she fought too hard to allow herself less than everything her heart desired.

The new friendships had been the most surprising but welcome new addition to the new world they forged after the War. People were able to be openly friendly with each other, blood status be damned. Hermione started study groups in her last year at Hogwarts and wizards and witches from every house joined without hesitation. Perhaps most unpredicted was the addition of Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott in her study groups, but they were welcome and proved to be intelligent and loyal friends. She, Blaise and Theo even went to university together all pursuing magical law. That decision only magnified the contention with Ron; how could she possibly see the good in Slytherins? Professor Snape's unequivocal sacrifices for the victory of the light were inconsequential to Ron, but for Hermione, it touched a place deep inside her that made her take a look deeper inside a person before judging. Ron did always have the emotional range of a teaspoon.

Harry remained a faithful friend, supporting Hermione and embracing her open stance on acceptance. He was thrust unwillingly into war and with the evil psychopath gone; his life was his own to do with as he pleased.

Like Hermione and Ron's, Harry and Ginny's relationship was not destined to be forever either, but not for the same reasons. Sometimes your childhood crush is just not meant to be your one true love. Harry and Ginny remained tentative friends not wishing animosity on one another, but they needed to seek their own happiness without the cumbersome expectations of others. Ginny enjoyed her youth and freedom, while Harry had found an unexpected love. Life could really throw you for a loop sometimes; but you strap in throw your hands in the air and enjoy the ride. It certainly kept things interesting.

That brings us to the start of our story. The War, though still relatively recent in people's memories, was fading and shaping the landscape in a positive way. The sons and daughters of Voldemort's reign were finding their own way and setting their paths apart from their parents. The children of the light were blazing ahead and embracing their counterparts to show the world that no one sacrificed for nothing. They were working together for the future and it was glorious…well for most it was glorious…