Act III

Changes

It wasn't as if Bill had never experienced unemployment, a newly graduate is not as appealing as someone with experience, yet it was never like this. Magic made job interviews quick and Bill had been able to got to multiple interviews- from curse breaker for the DoM to paper pusher for the Improper Use of Magic Office- but each had resulted in rejection. It was as if Gringotts' firing him before his contract completion had branded him as untrustworthy and having two family members going to be inspected just sealed the belief, thus it was nearly impossible for him to get a job.

He needed to leave by September 2 as his family did not know of his predicament, Charlie was the most likely to figure it out but had to leave two days ago due to an inspection at the reserve he worked at. He had enough money for twenty days in a decent hostel with 8 galleons left over for food and supplies along with 67 galleons reserved for travel. At least he had been compensated, even if Bill gave away half to his family - he and Charlie had been putting half their pay checks into the family vault since they started working, Mum didn't know and Dad pretended he didn't as every time he tried to stop them they stopped one pay check only to send the entire pay check the next time.

In hindsight Bill shouldn't have been surprised when Dad took him aside while everyone else was occupied- word was bound to get around that a Weasley was job hunting and, with Charlie was gone and Percy occupied then the rest in school, it was obvious that he was aforementioned Weasley- yet he was.

"Bill," Dad said seriously, "There's rumors that you're looking for a job, are they true?"

Bill had hesitated all of three seconds before giving into the often unused 'You better answer me. Now.' look of his Dad, "They are."

"And why are you looking for a job?" Dad asked.

Merlin, did Bill feel like a toddler with his hand in the cookie jar. "Gringotts sacked me before the World Cup."

"And you decided not to tell anyone." Dad stated. Damn, Bill was too old to flush like a scolded child. "I spoke with Remus who sent me to Sirius, poor man needs to prepare for the full moon tomorrow. Sirius said that if you didn't have luck here looking for a job that he'd allow you to live with him- Harry agreed- so you can use the house as a home address to apply for jobs in America."

Remus and Dad bonded when the werewolf acted as a translator for Dad and the Grangers, Sirius and Dad just 'clicked' after a conversation on magically enhanced vehicles- it had been oddly endearing to witness. "That's charity." Bill protested.

"Sirius called it an investment." Dad said tiredly and Bill had to wonder how long Sirius had spent arguing with his father for Dad to consent to this. "I am not in any position to help you with the screenings..."

Ah, Dad felt guilty, that's how. Bill hesitated, watching as his father took off his glasses and cleaned them with an air of weariness. "I'll pay him back." He promised, a concession, unable to shrug away the help as accepting made his father feel that much better about not only being a cause for his being fired but then unable to be of much help.

When Dad deflated in relief, Bill knew he made the right choice as a tenseness he hadn't been aware of eased. "Good...that's...good."

...

The 'official story' they decided to tell the family was that Bill had worked out a transfer so he could earn more experience, learn some tricks that were taught outside of Britain, and Sirius had agreed for him to stay with him so long as he paid rent or helped with updating the wards. His mother, Ron and Percy believed with Ginny following suit when she realised that Dad was aware of this. The twins were suspicious about the timing but were distracted by their inventions and the nigh impossible task of keeping Mum from finding out. Charlie, Bill knew, would have practically tied him up then interrogate him at wand point.

What was surprising was that Hermione joined him when he left, completely packed and tearfully shoving a letter into Ron's hands, leaving for Marauders' Manor before him. Bill had paused to watch as his youngest brother crumpled while reading the letter, "That's it," Ron said dully. "I've lost both of my best mates."

"Oh, Ronnie..." Mum cooed, pulling his unresisting brother into a hug. "Here- why don't we make dinner together, we can make all your favorites. Fred, George why don't you two go flying. Percy- take your sister to visit the Lovegoods."

Bill left as Mum herded Ron to the kitchen, arriving to find Sirius hovering while Hermione cried into Harry's arms. Harry awkwardly patted the witch's back, "It'll be alright, Hermione- just think of it as an extended vacation."

Sirius spoke when Harry shot a half-pleading, half-panicked look. "You'll be able to see each other and write. Harry- why don't you show Hermione her room?" Hermione sniffed but allowed Harry to lead her away. "Berry!"

"Yes, Mister Black?" Berry was a relatively young house-elf so she had no wrinkles and her shock of brown hair wasn't thinned, her outfit was a smart lavender dress that matched her eyes.

"Can you put Bill's things in his room?" Sirius asked.

Berry bobbed in agreement, "Yes sir, Mister Black!" With a crack she and Bill's trunks- just two as one was his 'travel' trunk that held the necessities and could be shrunken into a necklace.

"After the House-Elves I grew up around, I don't think I'll ever get used to her." Sirius remarked as he sat, motioning for him to do the same. "What do you have planned?"

Bill sighed, "Ideally I'd want to get another job as a curse breaker but that will be nearly impossible as an early dismissal of my contract- it's like a brand that marks me as an oath breaker, as I wasn't the one to dismiss it, so no one would trust me to keep the secret I'll learn as a curse breaker."

"Well," Sirius started carefully. "Remus figured that would be the case- Unspeakables go through the same if their fired- when Arthur spoke with us. Smith said that, as curse breakers and Vigisorem have the same basic training, you can take an assessment test to place you as a Vigisorem. It all depends on your own work, mind you."

Bill, who had started to tense at the thought of being hired as a favor, relaxed slightly and nodded. "Thank you. Is there a date set?"

"Tomorrow or the day after," Sirius answered. "It depends as we have to get Harry and Hermione ready for school then make sure Remus is set for the full moon."

Bill nodded, "The day after tomorrow then."

I think I'll keep up with the timeline as there are things left unwritten that do have an impact.

August 27 [Now]: Bill makes plans which Arthur disrupts, Harry comes to a decision, Hermione has news, Percy's still freaking, Remus has joined the freaking due to the up coming Full Moon, the Twins bargain, Ron has comfort food, Molly goes shopping, Ginny visits Luna, Hedwig gains a feathery admirer and Sirius ends up being the most level headed (freedom, Harry and exciting work helps him) which leaves him as the one finding solutions.

Also, I have a new story up called "The Courage To Continue" which is basically a dystopian AU where the famous Dumbledore Vs. Grindelwald duel ends in a stalemate and Grindelwald ends up adopting Tom Riddle Jr. After a bit of maneuvering, where Dumbledore dies and Voldemort along with the Death Eaters are claimed to be heroes of the wizarding world, Voldemort wins control over Britain and proceeds to ship muggleborns off to their own school which teaches then their place (at best a servant and at worse a slave to purebloods) with anyone whom disobey the laws sentenced to the Arena.

The story centers around Sirius Black, Bill Weasley and Charlie Weasley. It starts with Sirius in an Arena starting cell looking over old newspapers that he ends up burning, Sirius had been sentenced to six months in the Arena for helping two fugitives- Lily Evans and Remus Lupin- escape to the Potters and freedom.