Vignette 9: Career Advice

AN: So it sounds like most people don't care about the length of the story, they just want a good story. I hope I can keep writing good stories for you guys! The reason I was concerned was that I felt like I had made a promise to you guys to write small dopamine hits, and the last chapter (as Freudentraene pointed out) was neither.

This chapter is dedicated to Yaw6113, who wrote the 100th review for this story and has also been generally supportive of my other works.

"Absolutely not," said Daphne, so vehemently that Harry was momentarily stunned.

They were lazing outside on the Hogwarts grounds, taking a break from the rebuilding going on around the castle. Harry had his back to a tree and he was watching the giant squid swim around in circles in the lake, while Daphne had her head in his lap as she read a book about Wizarding Traditions. Behind the lake, the sun had gone down far enough to take the edge off the heat of the day. A gentle breeze blew over the lake and towards them, cooling them down and rustling the leaves of the tree they sat under. Behind them they could hear the distant chatter of teachers and students and former students working on the outer walls of the castle.

"But I already talked to Robards!" he protested. "He said he would fast-track me through training because of the whole, you know, Voldemort thing."

Daphne rubbed her temple and sat up, setting her book down on the ground next to her.

"You mean to tell me," she said, disbelief marring her face, "that you think the best way to capitalize over your victory over the greatest Dark Lord in recent memory is to become a deadbeat bobby that issues citations for violations for the Statute of Secrecy?"

"Well no," said Harry, looking abashed, "it's not exactly that. There are some Death Eaters still loose out there. Robards says they could really use my help in tracking them down..."

"I see," said Daphne, tapping her lower lip with her finger. "And what happens after you catch those Death Eaters?"

Harry hadn't thought that far ahead, so he didn't quite know what to say. Daphne scooted over next to him and leaned back against the tree trunk as well, slipping her hand into his.

"I know you're not used to thinking that far ahead," she said gently, stroking the back of his hand with her thumb. "You've had a really difficult seven years. But you have to start planning ahead. You want to make the world a better place, right? Make it so that things don't go back to the status quo, back to what they were when the Dark Lord first rose? Back to when Muggleborns like your mother and Granger were barely tolerated, but almost certainly never respected?"

"I suppose no, not really," said Harry doubtfully. "But that won't happen, right? We've got some good people heading up the Ministry now."

Daphne snorted. "It's amazing how all the good people are crawling out of the woodworks now," she said, scorn lacing her voice. "Where were they when the Dark Lord was taking over Britain?"

Harry winced, knowing that she spoke the truth.

"The Ministry," Daphne continued, "is good at one thing and one thing only - and that is resisting change. That's why they want you in the Auror department - so that you're under their thumb. And they want you there as quickly as possible, before you can do any damage. When you're there, they'll keep you busy for five, maybe ten years. After that, people's memories of the war and everything you've done will have faded. Oh, they'll listen politely and nod if you talk, but that's all you'll ever get from them. If you want to enact change - real change - the time to do that is now, when the war is fresh on these people's minds, while they still remember that you just died for them."

Harry tugged at a stray dandelion, slowly processing what she had said.

"So what do you think I should do?" he asked, handing her the dandelion. She blew on it right as the breeze picked up again, and its seeds scattered with the wind, sailing overhead and behind them, flying towards the castle.

"Join the Wizengamot," she said quietly. "Take up your family seat. Start campaigning for real change."

He was silent for a moment as he contemplated her words.

"Do you really think that will work?" he asked distantly, looking out at the lake. A merman had appeared at the surface and was screeching at the Giant Squid. "You think they'll listen to me?"

Daphne let out a light laugh and kissed Harry on the cheek, bringing his attention back to her.

"Of course they will," she said in an amused voice. "You're Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. And with me by your side," her voice dropped and she looked at him earnestly, patting her book on Wizarding Traditions, "I grew up among those old fogies, Harry, I know exactly how they think. With the two of us together, they won't know what hit them. The two of us," she kissed his hand, "together, we're going to change the world, Harry."

He pulled her close to him.

"Together," he said, the word coming out as both a statement and a promise. He buried his face in her hair and kissed the top of her head, breathing in the strawberry blossom scent of her shampoo. "Together. As long as we're together."

AN: I actually have a (short) sequel / follow-up in mind for this one, so if you like it, let me know and I'll see if I can flesh it out!