This is a long chapter to make up for the previous short one.
Chapter 26 – Ministry of Magic Meeting
The three of us were made wait in a very old fashioned waiting room which had tattered looking red seats scattered around on a worn grey carpet. I don't know why but since I had arrived at the Ministry I had gotten even more nervous than I already was. I felt like I didn't belong there which technically I didn't as I wasn't a witch. I hadn't been born into a wizarding family nor did I attend Hogwarts when I was 11 years old. I was a muggle who had been given magical powers. I didn't see myself as being part of the wizarding world. I expected some high up wizard or witch to attack me or throw me out of the building and modify my memories. However I knew I was perfectly safe with Hermione and George.
A witch dressed in a pale blue suit and her dark brown hair tied in a neat bun appeared and called my name.
"George will you come with me?" I asked as I didn't want to go on my own.
"Of course I will." he answered
"I have to go and do some paper work so I will meet you in the canteen afterwards." Hermione spoke standing up and making her way to the door.
George and I followed the young witch into a very flashy office which was very bright and modern looking with coffee coloured walls, a huge chocolate coloured rug placed in front of the marble fireplace. There was a desk in the middle and various moving pictures hung up on the walls. I sat myself down on one of the comfortable black chairs.
"I'm Jennifer Watson and how can I help you?" She asked in her posh London accent.
"I would like some information on the Wizardry course. I received my magic in January." I answered my voice shaking slightly.
Jennifer sat down at her desk and with a swipe of her wand made an A4 sized booklet appear on the desk in front of me entitled
"Wizarding Course for muggle borns and new wizards and witches." I was surprised when a laptop appeared on her desk but then remembered that George had said they used computers now.
Jennifer began typing away on the laptop while I had a flick through the booklet with George glancing over my shoulder. Jennifer then asked me various questions such as my full name, date of birth and when I got my magic. She then checked my wand. By right my wand should have been checked as soon as I arrived at the Ministry. I assumed that because I was with Hermione and George that I didn't need too. I found that rather odd.
"Why are you thinking of applying Miss McAleese?" she questioned clasping her hands together on the desk.
"Well, as you know I got my magic back in January and I'd like to learn more about the wizarding world, learn important spells, charms and potions and what not." I answered wrecking my brain as to why I wanted to actually apply.
I looked at George to help me so he took my shaking hand in his for moral support.
"Laura only became aware of our world just recently; it's all new to her even though she's had magic for months. I think it's only right that she learns everything that we all learnt." George added.
Jennifer began typing again.
"Ok Miss McAleese please have a good read through the booklet as it will give you information on the subjects we offer on our course and what jobs you can apply for afterwards. Of course you don't have to apply for jobs in the wizarding world, you can continue working in the muggle world. You can study every subject that is taught at Hogwarts but you can choose as many of them as you like, some will be more beneficial to you than others. We recommend you take charms, potions and defence against the dark arts." She explained opening another copy of the booklet and flicked through each page with flicks of her wand.
"Also you can choose to sit your classes here in the Ministry, being taught by Ministry officials or you can take them at Hogwarts and be taught by the professors there."
"Do you have to live in Hogwarts if you choose to sit your classes there?" I asked.
"You can if you wish or if it would be easier for you however you can floo there each day. There is an anti-apparation charm around the school so unfortunately you can't apparate there. You can apparate to Hogsmede if we wish though." Jennifer answered. "I know you can already apparate Miss McAleese but we also recommend you sit your apparation test officially."
"How much will it cost to enrol?" I asked.
"It doesn't cost a thing Miss McAleese. It is totally free." Jennifer answered. "As well as taking the various classes you can participate in Quidditch which Mr Weasley here often takes classes on or you can join the choir and various other groups. That is of course if you choose to live at Hogwarts."
Jennifer was extremely helpful and gave me loads of information. I found out that if we picked to live at Hogwarts we'd have our own bedrooms and wouldn't get sorted in a house if we didn't want too. All students such as myself are required to participate in muggle studies talks. We could sit up to 10 subjects including the three that Jennifer mentioned as well as Care of magical creatures, herbology, History of magic, Astronomy. Muggle studies and transfiguration.
"If you choose to enrol, please fill in these forms and send them back as soon as possible. You will then be called for an interview to discuss your accommodation and subjects. You will also meet with either the Ministry officials or professors who take those subjects." Jennifer explained.
"Is there any chance that she won't be accepted onto the course?" George questioned.
"Yes but once you apply we will look deeply into how you have used your magic in the past to see if we can trust you. We don't want to churn out any more dark wizards." Jennifer answered. "If your track record is clean you will of course be accepted."
I thought back to the night of the attack and thought it might go against me.
"What sort of things will go against me?" I wondered.
"If you have used your magic to hurt someone or for very selfish reasons or if you have used any of the three unforgivable curses which I assume you know." Jennifer answered. I nodded to show that I did.
"What if Laura came under attack and used some spells as self-defence?" George asked and I was thankful that he did.
George leaned forward in his chair so he was closer to Jennifer, took a quick glance around to make sure the pictures weren't listening.
"Look Laura was attacked the other night by those death eaters that were caught; she used a few self-defence spells but not any of the unforgivable ones. Just go easy on her." he spoke quietly but loud enough that Jennifer and I could hear him.
"Oh yes I heard about that attack and it was you my dear. I am sorry to hear that. You are ok I assume?" she asked me.
"Yes luckily I'm fine. Just a few scratches that's all." I answered sheepishly.
She didn't ask any more questions about the attack and I was very glad about that as I really didn't want to have to recall that horrid night. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to go to trial about it.
The meeting was very informative though I went out with my head buzzing. I was definitely not one for retaining large quantities of information without my head feeling frazzled. I had however found out enough information on what the course entitled but there was the huge decision of whether or not I was going to apply. It would be beneficial to me if I did as I'd learn most things that every witch and wizard learns through the years. I had a huge decision to make.
George and I left the room and headed to the canteen to find Hermione who was sat chatting to Susan Bones a pretty red head who wouldn't look out of place at the Weasley's.
"Oh there you both are. I thought you'd vanished." Hermione chirped looking up from her coffee.
"Shall we grab some lunch?" George asked.
"The food is lovely here." Hermione spoke so I agreed.
The food was really nice but I just didn't feel comfortable sitting in the Ministry surrounded by all these witches and wizards. I tried to eat my food as fast as I could so we could leave. As soon as we got outside we apparated back to the twin's house, Hermione coming with us.
"Did you get your paper work done?" I asked Hermione as we entered the kitchen.
"Yes it means I can enjoy the rest of my week off without having to worry about it all." she answered. "Would you like to come to Ginny's me? I need to talk to her about what I'm going to do about Ron."
"Yes I'd love too. I was going to talk to her about something too actually." I replied. "Actually can I talk to you?"
"Yeah sure." Hermione answered putting a silencing spell around the room.
"I kissed George last night." I blurted out dropping my head.
"I know you kissed him as a dare." Hermione answered back.
"No afterwards, when I went to get ready for bed, I went down to his room and we kissed." I admitted. "Part of me really enjoyed it and part of me also feels guilty because I've only broken up with Liam. My head is in such a mush at the moment."
Hermione was silent for a second.
"You definitely shouldn't feel guilty about kissing him, you are single after all. Do you like him in that way?" she asked me.
"I do really like him. He's been so lovely to me since I got here and he is rather handsome but I don't know if I feel anything for him. Is it possible to have feelings for two guys at the same time? I still love Liam but I just can't get George out of my head." I answered.
"Yes it is possible. I liked Fred while liking Ron. I think you have that one guy, the one you love with all your heart and then there's the one you have a crush on, if that makes any sense." Hermione spoke.
I think I got what she meant.
"Who's to say that when I break up with Ron I won't meet someone else a week later and he could be the guy I end up marrying." she had a point.
"I just don't want people especially George thinking I'm on the rebound because I'm not that type of person at all." I said fiddling with my bracelet.
"No one will think that about you Laura. If you find that you do really like George and he likes you back then go for it. Life's too short." Hermione said.
"I just wish everything was so simple. After that message Liam sent me calling me a slut, I'm so worried about people thinking that about me especially after he said about me going with George too." I said.
"Liam didn't mean that message though and the worst thing you can do is worry about what people think about. I learnt that years ago. Being a mudblood I had to grow some thick skin." replied Hermione.
She had her fair share of rude and horrible comments over the years from comments about her hair to her teeth to her being a book worm and a know it all.