AN: I own nothing...still.
Thank you all for the reviews, for following, for adding to your favorites, or just taking a quick read-through.
So...Hope everyone had a fun New Year, and hoping this year is infinitely better than 2016. (It better be.)
I know, I know - it's a short one. My apologies. The next one will be longer.
Oh, and I know that Neville doesn't actually have a patronus shape, but I gave him a rabbit.
Now...on with the story. Enjoy!
Thursday evening - Percy's flat - Diagon Alley
Thursday night found Audrey guiltily enjoying a free night with Percy, while the rest of the family put some finishing touches on the wedding. She had wanted to stay at the Burrow and help - it was her wedding, after all, - but Molly had practically pushed her out the door, insisting she take some time and relax. So, she had decided to use her night off moving her things into Percy's flat in Diagon Alley.
"You're not too terribly attached to this, are you, Percy?" she asked, handing him - in her opinion, anyway, - a ghastly, multicolor glass toad. "Gods, where'd you get such a thing, anyway?" she asked, frowning.
"Uh...I don't know." he said vaguely. "It was...it was just a gift from a former colleague at the Ministry one year." he said, running a hand over it fondly. Like Audrey, Percy also found it ghastly, but it had been one of his only Christmas presents the first year after he'd distanced himself from his family, and he had gotten somewhat attached to it.
"Well, why don't you just vanish it, or transfigure it into something a bit more pleasant to look at?" Audrey asked, waving her wand to clear the shelf of the thin layer of dust that had covered it. "Ugh! When was the last time you cleaned this place?"
Sliding the toad into his work satchel with a mental note to put it in his office tomorrow, Percy chuckled at his fiancée's scrunched up nose as she took in the amount of dust lingering in his flat before flinging her arms in the air, and plopping down on his sofa, proclaiming she was taking a break.
"It's been awhile, love." he said. Clearing his throat, he stood and stretched. "Now, would you like some dinner? I can throw something together, or I can run to the Leaky for takeaway. Your choice, Aud."
"No, not the Leaky. I'm getting sick of takeaway." Audrey said, her eyes closing as she was hit with a sudden wave of nausea. "Oooh, how about a chicken and rice casserole?" she suggested.
Smiling, Percy nodded. "Alright. I'll just have to run to the market and get a few things first." he said, leaning over to peck her on the cheek. "I won't be long."
"Why are we doing this again?" Ron asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead on his arm. "I mean, Perce's wedding isn't for two days."
"Actually," George said, "it's more like thirty six hours, give or take."
"Yeah, because that's important." Ron said sarcastically, rolling his eyes at his brother.
"Well, Ron," Harry said from his position on the floor, "we'll be too busy tomorrow and up to right before the wedding, so now's the only time to do this."
"I know that, but we put the tent up for Bill's wedding in...like...an hour. Probably less than that." Ron said.
"True." George nodded, absently reaching up to feel the hole where his ear used to be. "But, Mum's got other stuff for us to do before the wedding, Ron."
"Like what?"
"Oh, uh...setting up tables, putting tablecloths out, laying the carpet down that Audrey's walking up..." George listed.
"Ugh!" Ron whined. "That sounds like something they should be doing! I mean, what's so important that they can't come out and do that?"
"Um, Ron?" Harry said. "They'll be getting themselves, and the bride, ready for the wedding."
"Lucky." he grumbled. "At least they'll be inside, not out here where it's hotter than Merlin's left nutsack." he said in his regular voice, making George and Harry burst out laughing before throwing cooling charms at him.
Friday Afternoon - St. Mungo's - Healer James Baldwin's office
"Come."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione opened the door to her supervisor's office. "Good afternoon, Healer Baldwin." she said.
"Hello, Granger." Healer Baldwin greeted as Hermione entered his office. "Take a seat." he said, indicating one of the green chairs in front of his desk.
"Thank you, sir." she said, sitting primly on one of the hard chairs.
"Now, Granger," Baldwin said, clearing his throat, "you're due to receive your orders, are you not?" he asked.
"I am, sir." she nodded.
"I thought so." he said. "I want you to know something before I assign you, Granger. When you first started here, I thought it was...a mistake. You see, you're known far and wide for your deftness with spells, hexes, jinxes...I mean, you're a well known war hero, after all. I thought, based on stories I'd heard about you, and what I foolishly believed based on what was written about you in the Prophet, that you'd be cold and harsh with your patients." he said, locking his fingers together flat on his desk.
"Oh, well...I try...I don't mean..." she stammered, flushing bright red.
"Granger, I said when you first started." Baldwin interrupted, giving her a look reminiscent of Professor Snape. "I have come to realize that you're not a warrior at all. Or, not the way the Prophet described you, anyway." he added with a chuckle. "I do know that, when provoked, you are quite formidable. But, I also know you are caring, and extremely patient with your patients, if you'll forgive the phrasing." he chuckled.
"Thank you, sir." Hermione said, her face turning even redder.
"Now, I know you wrote in your apprentice application that you'd prefer to care for smaller children, and after what I've seen lately, I think you'll be happy with where I chose." Baldwin said, handing her a schedule. "From now on, you'll be completing your apprenticeship in the pediatric ward, Granger."
Hermione's face broke out in a wide smile as she looked over the paper in her hands. "I...thank you, Healer Baldwin!" she exclaimed. "Sir, if I may...what ward was Maggie given?"
"Johnson wasn't given a ward, Granger." Baldwin said. "Due to the marriage law, she has unfortunately been forced to quit the Healer program." he said.
"What?" Hermione asked, confused.
Healer Baldwin sighed, briefly closing his eyes before opening them and giving Hermione a stern look. "Look, I shouldn't be telling you this, but Johnson was paired in this law with a wizard who now resides in Italy, and due to her having to move there, she had no choice but to quit." he said. "Also, I believe, due to the last conversation I had with her, that her new husband would prefer if she didn't work." he added sadly.
"Oh. I see."
"Yes, it is a shame. She could've been a fine Healer. A damn fine Healer." he said. Clearing his throat, he said, "Well, anyway, you're to start your new training on Wednesday, so when you come here, report to Healer Grant, the head of pediatrics." he said.
"Oh, yes sir. And thank you." Hermione said, smiling.
"Now, if that's all, have a good day, Granger." Baldwin said.
"You, as well, Healer Baldwin." Hermione said, standing. "And, thank you, again." she said, giving him a smile.
As Hermione walked up the drive to Longbottom Manor, she couldn't wipe the smile off her face if she wanted. She had gotten her dream job, she was going to be married to one of her best friends, someday she'd have the children she always dreamed of, and she was going to be living in a huge Manor. All her friends - her family of her heart - were happy, and well on their way to having families of their own.
Things were going good for once.
Spotting Neville walking out to his greenhouse, Hermione broke into a run, calling his name. "Neville, Neville, Neville!" she shouted.
Turning to where his name was being called, Neville barely had time to brace himself as his little brunette fiancée launched herself at him, wrapping her body around him as he held onto her tightly.
"IgotitIgotitIgotit!" she laughed, kissing his cheek hard.
Neville laughed, her cheery mood infectious. "You got what?" he asked.
Hermione pulled back far enough to look him in the eye, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I got my assignment! Oh, Neville, I got pediatrics!" she said in a rush.
"Oh, love, that's fantastic!" he exclaimed, squeezing her to him.
"Isn't it? I wanted this, and I got this, and...Oh! I'm so excited!" she laughed.
"And you should be, love." Neville said. "I think this calls for a celebratory dinner. Let's go someplace special, like La Magie, or..."
"Oh, don't worry about that, Nev. Let's just go somewhere simple, like...Oh! How about the Three Broomsticks? It'd be like old times when Harry and Ron would disappear into Honeyduke's and you and me would have lunch together." she said, moving to get down from where he still held her.
"That sounds like a great idea, love." he said. "Just let me send Gran a patronus to let her know I won't be here when she returns." he said, pulling his wand out of his sleeve and conjuring his patronus, who bounced in front of him awaiting his message.
As Hermione watched Neville's adorable little rabbit patronus fly off, she was still smiling.
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Til next time!
XOXO - Onyx Obsidian