Hogwarts was such a lovely time and that is something that will never change, but we have to move on with the times. I graduated this year and that means that I'm moving on with my life. My best mate Charlie Weasley already knows he's moving to Romania in August, but I have to make a choice based on the owls I receive this summer. Bill Weasley has already agreed to talk me through my choices that I get from the owls. I applied to Gringotts, the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, Wales Dragon Sanctuary and to the Auror department of the Ministry of Magic. There's a lot to choose from should I get accepted into all 4. It's hard being Carmen Lune.
We're leaving to head home in about 20 minutes since everyone is still boarding. Charlie managed to snag a room for his family and I to relax in all the way home. "So you'll probably get the position of Prefect next year Percy," I greeted as I walked into the little cabin. He looked at me shocked. "Head Boys, Head Girls and the current Prefects all talk. Knowing your academics, loving the rules. Trust me when I say McGonagall will more than likely name you the Male Prefect."
"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. So where are you heading off to when summer's out? I doubt you're going to be like my brother and go study dragons," he responded. I glared at him and he chuckled. "I'm just saying."
"It'll depend on where I get accepted to and what Bill talks to me about. We have to make a decision together. Considering my parents and their status in our world, it wouldn't be prudent for them to have a say." Percy looked at me confused and I glanced at Charlie shocked as he walked in. "Does he not know?" Charlie shook his head at me and I looked at Percy. "My parents, much like Merula Snyde's, are in Azkaban. They killed my grandparents with the Killing Curse."
"Oh," he responded and I nodded. "So do you still get to see them?" I shook my head and chuckled darkly. "I'm sure they'll be released eventually."
"By the Wizengamot's decision under the leadership of Cornelius Fudge, I am not going to see my parents. They won't see anything of my life that's a milestone. They missed me getting my wand, me going through the pillar. They'll miss everything. It's not new to me, nor does it bother me at this point."
"I never knew where you lived during the 7 years though. You always came in the last week of August to spend some time with my family, which was appreciated. You were able to handle Ginny and Ron," Charlie responded.
"Fostered by a family of Aurors. A gay couple to be precise," I answered and that made Percy spit out his pumpkin juice at me. I groaned and wiped my face down with a handkerchief that was luckily handy in my luggage. Charlie snickered before I kicked his shin silencing him instantly.
"No offence but aren't you scrutinized for it?" I nodded at Fred's question before sitting down and holding a book. "For a witch under scrutiny, you don't act it. What's got you so calm about things?"
"The fact that they promised to get to the truth for me. About my family," I responded. Charlie looked at me shocked and I nodded. "It's why I remain so loyal to them. They have a deal with me."
"I hope your family relationship isn't merely based on a promise to get the truth," Percy responded and I glared at him. "You care about them."
"They've been the best fathers I could ask for. They've cared about me like I was their own," I answered. I looked out the window and smiled before pulling out a wallet photo. "If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have come to Hogwarts. Nor would I be here. I'd be getting tried again as a legal adult to go to Azkaban."
"You could have been in a detention center?" Charlie had never known that fact about me. I nodded and he chuckled. "Well, that's a new fact. I'm sure they're excited to see you as much as you miss them."
"No doubts about that. I know they missed me a ton over this semester. I kid you not, they almost tried to homeschool me for the resuming of the term after Christmas. I think it's just the fear that something will happen," I answered.
The trees were beautifully coloured with apples, flowers and even oranges as we travelled home. Peaches should soon be in season, so I'll buy some from the market. The trees that once showed colour soon became shadows in the light as the day faded into evening. Arriving in King's Cross was not too long after seeing shadows of trees. Rushing off the train made us see that we all were missed.
"Jamie," I cried out in excitement and crashed into my one foster father. He chuckled as I looked up and saw he had certainly not shaven since the holiday. He usually has a shadow but now there's stubble. "You have got to shave. I have to stand your mug for 2 months before I go to wherever I'm working."
"Nice to see you too," he responded before Bill Weasley walked over and I snickered at how long his hair had grown in a year. "Now I'm sure you two have a lot to discuss."
"We do but it can wait until the morning. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin will be joining us at Grimmauld Place for a meeting." I looked at him stunned as did Jamie. "What's wrong? You two look like I just used the Cruciatus Curse on you."
"Sirius Black is a convict that turned fugitive," I responded instantly and then Jamie put a hand on my shoulder. "Did that change since I last checked?"
"Yes. Remus Lupin and Sirius Black cleared that up over the school year. My concern lays in Grimmauld Place. We all know that's," Jamie began before Bill nodded. "Fine. We'll be there tomorrow."
"Noon," Bill dismissed as Charlie and I shoved each other around. "Hopefully all the childishness is out of these two by then."
"It'll be long gone, William. We've been cooped up in a cabin for 5 hours straight," I responded before going where Jamie was waiting. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, and it better be. We have a lot to talk about in the line of careers. I got all your owls," he informed. I nodded and as I walked home to the little apartment we lived in I flopped on the couch to only get greeted by a large dog on my stomach.
"Hi girl," I greeted petting the almost whitish blonde furry head. Belle was a gift to me for my 11th birthday and she's a golden lab. She's a huge suck up for attention and loves cuddles.
"So what career do you think you will follow?" Jamie has always wanted to know since he cared about my safety. I shrugged and he snickered. "Don't be like him. Don't plan n the fly."
"This is why we're having that meeting tomorrow and no you aren't allowed to listen in," I responded.
"But we deserve to be worried," a voice responded and I laughed running up to my other foster father Drew. They both liked to scare or surprise me at the end of the term. "So will we get to hear your decision tomorrow at least?"
"Yes. I just want a little time with Bill to work out the kinks of the plan," I answered. He nodded and then placed down our favourite takeout at the table. It's a family tradition that the night I come home we eat takeout for 2 reasons. The main being we don't want to wash dishes and these things come in containers ready to eat and then we can reuse them after we wash them the next day.
After eating I literally don't remember what I did, but that's fine since the night I come home is always a blur. We're currently walking up to Grimmauld Place and it seems we were being watched. "It's about time."
"William it's 11:52. I have 8 minutes before I was to be here on the dot as promised. I just literally got bored," I warned and he chuckled walking inside with me. "So where will we meet?" Walking through the almost dead house he stopped at a study and opened the door. "What happened to the convict and Professor Lupin?"
Bill pointed outside and I glanced before snickering. "They are otherwise occupied. I don't mind since it'll give you more of a chance to relax and speak your mind. I know you." I nodded at that and remembered almost hexing Professor Trelawney in front of Bill because she was trying to push me into talking when I was half asleep or not wanting to.
"Fair enough. So what owls did I get with job offers and which ones did I get that were rejections?" He pulled out all 4 owled letters and I looked at him. "Any rejections?" He shook his head and I chuckled. "Well that's a good start. So talk to me about them."
"Well let's start with my personal favourite and you don't need to guess. Gringotts already has made an agreement with me. If you choose to work as a Cursebreaker, you will study under me for two years while leading the occasional expedition. This will give you a full chance to get used to what really happens. Trust me when I say you should be grateful you were excluded from Rakepick's expeditions. Charlie and I can never forget that one Vault. You would have been severely wounded."
"I figured that much when I saw you two come back 3 sheets to the wind pale. I was just glad that my family let me go home with you for the first little while. I was so worried," I responded. He chuckled and then I looked at the other 3 owls. "What do you know about the sanctuaries?"
"Romania has a lot of good health coverage which I consider a positive. They also have a deal with Charlie that you two will work together. Wales, well I have heard nothing positive. They take good care of the dragons, but the staff is a whole different story. It's on my lowest ranking for you," Bill explained. I looked at him confused. "One of my mates from the seventh year is there. He literally said he got a third-degree burn and didn't receive medical coverage to get it treated. It was all out of pocket."
"Okay, I'm starting to not like Wales Sanctuary," I dismissed shoving that offer aside. Bill snickered and I held up the Auror offer. "What about Auror work?"
"Possible for you since you have lived under the same roof as two Aurors so you could have picked something up," he answered. I nodded and then shoved it aside. "What changed your mind?"
"Heard of not being called my fathers?" He chuckled and nodded while I glanced at the two owled letters that still had my interest. Gringotts as a cursebreaker or with the Romanian dragon reserve as a tamer. Decisions, decisions.
(A/N so this is the Prologue. In every chapter, you will have choices. One for Bill and one for Charlie. I'm working on the first set of choices as you read this. They will be labelled as such B-1 for Bill Chapter 1 or C-1 for Charlie. Sometimes there will be a chapter labelled B/C and that could be either Bill or Charlie depending on where you land in the story. But I have plans that near the end you will have to make a tough choice. It'll be labeled accordingly and I'll fill you in later. Enjoy the Prologue until I finish the first two choices)