June 15th, 1999

Dear Hermione,

I guess you already know this, but Gabrielle is an aunt! Her sister Fleur had a baby girl on May 2nd and Gabrielle is the godmother.

My studies are going fine, my Transfiguration professor is excellent. All my teachers are women and a lot of them graduated from the school.

Are you excited to be graduating? I can't believe I'm almost a third-year.

I hope you are doing well.

Love,

Emma

Hermione smiled and closed the letter from Emma. She had graduated two weeks ago, but she supposed that it might have taken Emma's letter a while to get here.

Victorie was now a month old. Hermione saw her once and awhile, since she often visited Ginny at the Burrow. Hermione had decided that living at the Burrow was just not a good idea right now and she had rented a little flat in London. It had a bedroom, a small kitchen, a bathroom, and a sitting room and was all she really needed. Occasionally she was invited to the Burrow for Sunday dinner, but she rarely spoke to Ron. The two were trying to be friends, but his vow to wait for her made it a little awkward. However, Hermione missed him and found herself wishing she could just erase the events with Seamus and their break-up. But what was done was done and she wasn't sure she could just go back to the way she was before.

Ron paced angrily in his room. It was like the whole world thought he was an idiot, when he really wasn't. "Grow up," his mother had said. He had grown up!

Ron fired a spell at a practice dummy, reducing it to ashes. He loved Harry like a brother, but it was hard to stand in his shadow all the time. Ron may not be a master of defencive magic, but he was no amateur. He would protect Hermione, no matter what the costs. Now that she was living away from the Burrow, it was even harder because he saw her most every Sunday and all of the feelings came back.

Ron sat down on the bed and repaired the dummy.

Ginny Weasley had just finished the written examination on basic defensive maneuvers and spells. It also contained an essay about the importance of laws. There was also a section on recent magical and muggle events, which

Ginny Weasley stood in the examination rooms at the Ministry. The only part left of her trial was the practical part. She was going up against a young Auror called Herbert Greene. He came out behind her and she sent her Bat Bogey Hex at him, which he blocked. Ginny frowned, this would be interesting.

Greene fired an unknown jinx at her and Ginny threw up a Shield charm, then retaliated with Impedimenta. Greene tried to run at her, but failed. Ginny ran a few feet away before saying "Augumenti." A jet of water hit Greene in the face. Ginny sent a Binding Hex at him and he fell over. Suddenly Ginny felt a strange stinging sensation and felt blood spurt from lashes on her face. She looked at Greene, but he shook his head. The ropes magically came unbound and Ginny pointed her wand at Greene, but he sent a curse in a different direction. Ginny was still wary, but then Greene was knocked to the ground and lay still. Suddenly Ginny was knocked off her feet and blacked out.

She woke up to Dawlish standing over her. He helped her sit up. "What happened?" she asked.

"You were attacked, but not as part of your trial. Which, by the way, went excellently. We don't know who did it, but we'll catch them. For now, though, you can go home. An owl will be sent informing you of our decision. And don't worry, the random attack doesn't figure into the score."

Draco walked hand in hand with Astoria up a street in France. She had just graduated and had come to visit Draco where he was hiding.

Draco finally found the place he was looking for, a small open-air cafe. The couple went inside and got two croissants.

They walked along in the summer air, avoiding mention of Draco's father or the events of two years ago. Draco had no idea what was going on, but he thought he might be falling in love.

The night of June 18th found three couples in the Three Broomsticks. Hannah Abbott and Neville had officially started dating and had decided to meet Harry and Ginny and Luna and her mystery friend in the bar.

Luna's friend was Rolf Scamander, grandson of the naturalist Newt Scamander. He was a cross between Hermione and Luna. He was open-minded, but he did require a little bit of proof. Right now he was trying to convince Luna that nargles now longer existed.

It was nice, being around friends. Harry and Ginny held hands under the table and not too many people bothered them. Of course, Ron and Hermione were missing, but there wasn't much anyone could do about that.

After about an hour Seamus walked in with Lavender and Dean walked in with another girl. He introduced her as Nadia Sums, a Muggle whom he was engaged to. They had dated off and on and had known each other for years. Dean proposed right after he graduated from Hogwarts.

Ginny, Luna, and Hannah all talked with Lavender and admired Nadia's ring before they had to go. Harry and Ginny Apparated away to the hill they had once spent a sunny afternoon on. Harry kissed her deeply, running his hand through her hair, before they Apparated back to the Burrow and said goodnight.

"Ginny! GINNY!" Mrs. Weasley called.

Ginny rolled out of her bed, wearing a T-shirt of Harry's and a pair of muggle athletic shorts. "What?" She yelled.

"An owl from the Ministry is here! Hurry downstairs!"

Ginny ran her fingers through her hair before running down the steps and grabbing the letter. She ripped it open and read:

Dear Miss Ginerva Weasley:

Congratulations. You have passed with flying colours the entrance examinations to the British Ministry of Magic Auror Training Programme. Due to current departmental issues and you outstanding test results, the department feels that you may skip your first year of training. You will begin training in November of 1999 as a second-year trainee. Further instructions will follow.

Sincerely,

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Minister of Magic

Interim Head of Auror Department

Two short chapters in a row. Sorry guys! I'm hoping to make the next to longer.