Title: Trio (Part 1 of 9)
Originally published: July 20, 2007
Rating: PG
Summary: I wrote this pre-Deathly Hallows, because I wasn't wild about the idea that Harry was going to marry Ginny and Ron marry Hermione, making one big happy family, even though I knew that was what was going to happen in canon. I like the idea that what binds the Trio together isn't because they are all in-laws. In this fic, they all marry different people (which really was what I had hoped would have happen in cannon) but are still a strong family unit.
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If the O.W.L.s were stressful, it's nothing compared to the pressure of the N.E.W.T.s. The room is so filled with tension it's almost difficult to breathe. Only three people in the whole room seem perfectly relaxed. But then I suppose that some silly test would be nothing compared to defeating the most evil dark wizard who ever walked the face of the earth.
Professor McGonagall said that the war ought not to prevent those who should have graduated last year when Hogwarts was closed from pursuing their chosen careers. So, she convinced the examinations board to open up the N.E.W.T.s to all the students who should have taken them the year before. About half took advantage of the opportunity, including Harry, Ronald and Hermione. Everyone has been giving them a wide berth. Hearing them discuss wand theory was extremely intimidating before the exam. Now that it's over, they are the only ones with enough stamina to be able to discuss, in detail, what they had done. Whatever they had experienced looking for Voldemort's horcruxes, it had honed their skills to a level far beyond anything that could be learned from books alone.
"Luna!" Ron calls out suddenly, his face lighting up. "I didn't know you were taking the N.E.W.T.s too!"
"It's my seventh year, Ronald," I explain patently as he jogs over to me.
"I know that," he says a bit crossly. "It's just that I always thought you'd work for your father at The Quibbler. You don't need to take the N.E.W.T.s to do that."
"Oh! Well, I thought about it, but I decided I wanted a ministry job and I'll need to take the N.E.W.T.s for that. I'm not sure Dad's too happy with my decision."
"I'd have thought he'd be excited about getting an inside look at the Department of Mysteries," he says with a grin.
"How did you know that I wanted to work there?" I ask, startled.
"It's the only Ministry job I could see you in," he shrugs. "I think you'd make a marvellous Unspeakable. Well, if I actually knew what an Unspeakable did. Harry, Hermione and I are going to be working for the Ministry, too. Hermione wants to do more for magical creatures like house elves and werewolves and is going to try to fix things from the inside if she can. Harry and I want to go in to law enforcement."
"Harry isn't still planning on becoming an Auror, is he?" I ask and bite my tongue, afraid I've said too much. If I want to be an Unspeakable, I have to start learning how to keep silent.
"No, though he'll probably still train to be one. He's more interested in the justice side of things. Says things are very unfair and that we could learn something from the muggles. He's probably right about that, from the little I saw last year."
"What about you?" I ask.
"Oh I'm still planning on becoming an Auror", he says proudly, then looks like he just remembered something. He leans in to whisper conspiratorially. "Harry mentioned what you said the Rotfang Conspiracy. Don't worry, Luna. Both Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt are Aurors and they were Order of the Phoenix! They wouldn't be part of anything as underhanded. And if things get really bad, we'll call in Mad Eye Moody. He'll straighten them out!"
"That... that's good to hear," I stammer. It's rather odd to hear someone like Ronald talk seriously about things like the Rotfang Conspiracy. I would have thought that he would make fun of me, but he honestly seems to be sincere. Perhaps I've misjudged him.
"Oi, Ron! You coming, mate?" Harry calls from the doorway. Hermione slaps him on the shoulder and Harry glares at her, baffled as to what he's done to invoke punishment.
"I'd better go," Ron tells me, reluctantly.
"That's alright. I understand. They're waiting for you," I tell him.
"Would you like to come with us?" he asks suddenly. "I mean, we're only going to the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer. You know, to celebrate surviving the N.E.W.T.s. I'm sure McGonagall will give you permission. I mean… unless you have other plans..."
"Well... No, of course not..." I find myself strangely at lost for words. I wonder if Ronald managed to cast a spell on me when I wasn't looking. "But I... I don't really think I'd fit in."
"It's butterbeer with Hermione and Harry, not tea with the queen! Why wouldn't you fit in?" he asks, clearly perplexed.
"Well, I suppose... Alright," I flounder. "Shall I go fetch Ginny?"
"Ginny always comes with a gang of giggling girls lately," he sighs. "I'd rather it's just the four of us, if it's all the same to you."
"I'm not fond of crowds myself," I admit.
"I knew you'd understand," he grins and, placing a hand on my shoulder, leads me over to his friends.