Careers Day 1996
Thanks be to JKR, for letting us play in her sandbox.
Minerva McGonagall, et al.
Professor Minerva McGonagall opened her office door and looked out.
Sitting on the wooden bench in the corridor was Hermione Granger. The small bibliophile was sitting nervously, a bulging bookbag beside her, reading a textbook.
"Miss Granger, you appear to be the first student in the queue" said Minerva, definitely not rolling her eyes.
Hermione Granger followed Minerva back into her office, closing the door behind her and sitting down.
"Now, as this is Careers day. We shall have a discussion about what career you aspire to, and I will discuss how that tallies with your progress in classes."
Hermione let got her bookbag strap and started to babble
"I think I'd like to go into the ministry, into the department for the regulation and control of magical creatures" said the young woman, earnestly.
"Indeed" said Minerva.
"Is that a problem?"
"So your aspiration is to be a clerk, enforcing regulations?" asked the Professor, with rolling R sounds.
"Well, and in time, to update the regulations, to make them better" said Hermione.
"A long term plan then" said Minerva, offhandedly.
"The laws around magical creatures and house elves need to be reformed. They are unjust"
"And you see legal reform as something you will do from the bottom of a ministry department?"
"How else could I get laws changed?"
"Oh, I expect lobbying your friend Harry Potter will net you two votes. Young mister Longbottom will probably consider your ideas on their merits."
"What?"
"Head of houses have votes in the wizengamot. It has been thus since the founding of the wizengamot. Perhaps if you desire political changes, you might have to learn to, dare I say Politic" said Minerva.
Hermione looked dumbfounded. "But… the department?"
"Does what it is told. The Department heads have votes as well, but the wizengamot is mostly made of heads of houses."
Hermione sighed.
"Given the likelihood of a war in the near future, Miss Granger, you would do well to expend more effort in Defence."
"But Umbridge..."
"And I am sure motivated students might set up study group… Perhaps teaching one another how to defend themselves."
Hermione stared at Minerva.
"Take care, Miss Granger, the Ministry has a lot of people like Dolores Umbridge."
"Yes… Professor" said Hermione.
Terry Boot sat down.
"Mister Boot. Have you turned your thoughts to a career?…."
"I dunno, I'm good at potions"
Minerval coughed "Yes, an O in potions. You could easily get a job making potions"
"That seems pretty simple" said Terry.
"If only all students were so easily placed" said Minerva.
Careers Day, 1998.
Twenty days after the battle of Hogwarts.
Minerva McGongall opened the door to her office. As she expected, Hermione Granger was dozing on the bench seat, propped up by a sleeping Ron Weasley. Mr Weasley was snoring. Minerva shuddered. Young love.
"Miss Granger!" said Minerva, just loud enough to wake her.
Hermione woke up and bolted upright, panting.
"Calm down Miss Granger." said Minerva.
"So your plans for legal reform are back on the fire?" asked Minerva.
Hermione nodded.
"Well, you know plenty of heads of houses. Recent deaths have resulted in many of the heads being younger."
Hermione shut her eyes and sobbed, just once, and forced herself upright and opened her eyes.
"I expect we'll have a lot of other things to do with the war" said Hermione, dark lines under her eyes.
"The funerals, for one" said Minerva.
Hermione nodded.
"I expect great things of you, Miss Granger. Are you coming back to sit NEWTs?"
"Oh yes, Headmistress" said Hermione. "A peaceful year."
Minerva smiled "It's been a pleasure" she said.
"Mister Weasley"
Run nodded.
"I take it you're going into the Aurors?"
"Shack said me and Harry, we should come"
"We are gravely short of Aurors these days" said Minerva.
Ron nodded and moved to stand.
"Have you put any thought into what you will do after the crisis is over? Or are you anticipating twenty years as an Auror?"
Ron stopped and sat down awkwardly.
"I dunno" he said, puzzling over the idea. "It seems a bit far off"
"Two years, maybe three" said Minerva.
"Well, there's always quidditch" said Ron brightly.
"And you feel confident of a professional quidditch position in three years?"
Ron stopped and thought. "Oh, that's not easy, I mean the scouts won't know me…."
"Something to ponder. Now are you considering coming back for a proper Seventh year?"
Ron shook his head "I've got to go to the Aurors. I've already accepted Kingsley's offer"
"When you have time, think of your future" said Minerva.
"Miss Moon"
Lilith Moon sat down nervously.
"Have you any particular ideas as to a career?"
"I thought perhaps an apothecary." said the quiet Slytherin girl.
"Well, there are a lot of destroyed Apothecaries, and you potions marks are very good."
Lilith brightened.
"So I think your idea will probably work out. Good Luck, Miss Moon"
"Miss Greengrass"
Daphne Greengrass sat nervously in the unfamiliar office.
"Your grades in most subjects are quite good. No O's, but quite good. Do you have some idea as to a career?"
"I thought for along time my Father would marry me off to a member of the sacred twenty eight, Maam" said Daphne, quietly.
"And is this no longer the case?" Minerva's face was not suffused with joy.
"Well. A lot of the are dead or in Azkaban" said Daphne.
"And is that something of a relief?"
Daphne blinked owlishly "I am unaccustomed to thinking of a future where I have my own choices."
"You are a capable witch, you are more than capable of a fulfilling career. Do you have any desires?"
"I'd like to… be an unspeakable" blurted the girl.
Minerva McGonagall smiled thinly "An excellent choice. Though you lack O's. The entry requirements are rather strenuous."
The girl's face fell momentarily, then hardened into a blase indifference. "Do you have any suggestions than?"
"The ministry lacks staff. The Auror office would take anyone with E's… you have E's. Most departments would accept you, and your background would keep most traditional staff happy. If you were to join the Auror office, perhaps in two or three years, you could transfer to the Department of Mysteries"
"But I'm a Slytherin" said Daphne. "Nobody would want Slytherin's in the Aurors."
"True, True… There is a lot of anti-slytherin sentiment, though you took care to stay out of the politics"
Daphne nodded.
"Have you considered doing a mastery. Your Runes and Arithmancy scores are promising"
Daphne's brow furrowed. "Could I?"
"Entry into the Department with a Mastery, that would be easier. Not a fiat-accompli, but quite likely."
"And I'd have a mastery" said the girl with a tinge of… pride in her voice.
"I believe you could do one in a year, three at the outside. Do see Professors Vector and Babbling, and see which thinks you are a better candidate"
"What if I did both" said Daphne hurriedly, as if racing her nervousness to speech.
"Would your family support that?"
"Father has quite changed his tune lately" said Daphne blandly.
"See what your Professor think. Don't forget, you could go to the Ecole Magique. I assume you speak french fluently?"
"Oiu"
"Well, be on your way, Miss Greengrass."
"Mister Nott"
"Headmistress"
"I find myself surprised Mister Nott. You have managed to avoid imprisonment, and also punishment by the old guard of Slytherin. Your political skills are to be applauded."
"I kept my head down" said Nott quietly.
"And now you are head of house" said McGonagall, tactlessly.
"Yes." said Theo, not sounding very upset.
"So, any career aspirations?"
"Research." said Theo.
"The ministry, or private?"
"Privately, I seem to have inherited sufficient funds"
"A mastery in whichever interests you best. Though your grades are not first class."
"I was a little busy this year" said Theo, euphemistically.
"And an excellent effort you made, considering."
"Charms" said Theo.
"I would suggest, you consider alchemy."
"Wherever could I get an NEWT in that?"
"There is a teacher at Beaubatons. Next year there will be a class at NEWT level"
"I was unaware"
"And that is why we have these little chats" said Minerva.
Theo blinked "Thank you, Headmistress. I will attempt to pursue that"
"Glad to be of service."
"Parlevou francias?" asked Minerva at Theo stood up
"Bitte" said Theo and left.