Author's Note
Thank you to Ravena D. Alister, invitada, hexinator, Melfoy4193, Neekah, jlchetti, miania1709 and convalla91 for leaving me reviews and absolutely making my days 1000 times better!
Please do leave a review if you're able to, I love to hear from you!
Hope you enjoy this chapter,
Love to you all,
Wishin' Girl
X x x
P.s. TRIGGER WARNING! Assault (it's very short and doesn't get graphic but it's at the end so if you want to skip that bit just skip the rest after the word "rambling".)
...
"No George don't you dare go anywhere near my stuff!" Ginny's voice rang through the corridors of Potter Manor on New Year's morning.
The four were moving into the manor today. Molly and Arthur were currently in the kitchen discussing recipes and sharing memories of the late Potters with the house elves, Hermione was unpacking her clothes into the walk-in wardrobe in her room opposite Ron's and next to Harry and Ginny's, Ron and Harry were carting their boxes upstairs for her and Ginny to unpack while George, it seemed, was causing trouble.
"Lovey" Hermione called from where she was sat cross legged on the floor, surrounded by stuff and suddenly the house elf appeared with a pop "I'm sorry to disturb you but I was wondering if Fred had arrived yet? He said he would help us unpack."
"I'm sorry Mistress Hermione, only George is here out of Master Ron and MIstress Ginny's brothers" Lovey patted her shoulder in a motherly way "I'll come tell you straight away if he arrives. Don't worry" she added with a wink before disappearing with a pop "I won't tell anyone you asked again."
Hermione's mind drifted back to the night before and Fred.
"Knut for your thoughts love?" Fred sat down beside her outside the marquee housing the Weasley's New Years Eve party, the music blared inside but out here it was quiet and felt like it was just the two of them and the stars that existed.
"I miss my parents" Hermione broke down the moment Fred's arm wrapped around her shoulders "I sent them away before the war broke out properly. I just wanted to keep them safe…"
Fred listened patiently as she recalled the whole story and the overwhelming emotions she had felt when obliviating her parents and relocating them to Australia under new names. He held her tightly and marvelled at the sheer strength of the woman beside him. She was truly remarkable and he would never meet anyone as fearless and loving as her.
"Do you want to bring them back?" He asked after several long minutes of silence
"Yes" she croaked "I've found how to reverse the spell safely and without them losing their new memories. I just need to find them. I can research it here to narrow it down, then I'll go to Australia to find them and bring them home in my summer break from the apprenticeship."
"I want to go with you." he blurted out "Please, let me go with you. I'll help you do the research and organisation for the trip too. I want to be there for you like you were there for me."
She tried to refuse but he gripped her hand and gazed imploringly at her.
"Okay" she heard herself agree as she got lost in his bright blue eyes.
"It's nearly midnight, fancy a dance?" Fred beamed at her acceptance and pulled her up and back into the marquee.
A new song by the Weird Sisters was playing so the pair danced around madly, her curly hair flying around her brightly smiling face and his limbs flailing wildly. A few minutes later though it changed to a slow song and the pair breathed heavily, trying to control their laughter. Fred grabbed her hand and waist, pulling her close to him before expertly leading them around the dance floor.
She had been stunned by his dancing prowess, happily following his guide as he spun her between the swaying couples filling the marquee. He was enthralled by her and so absorbed in the joy of dancing with her like he had dreamed of doing ever since the Yule Ball had been announced during her fourth year that he almost missed the start of the New Year countdown.
TEN!
They heard the other guests shout around them
NINE
Fred slowed them down to a simple sway and pulled her close
EIGHT
Once again she got lost in his mischievous eyes
SEVEN
He looked back into her chocolate brown eyes and fell even more in love with the incredible witch
SIX
Hermione placed her hands around the shoulders of the man who had become a very close friend
FIVE
He slid his arms around her waist encasing her comfortably
FOUR
Her eyes swept the room and took in the sight of all her wizarding friends paired up and counting down to midnight
THREE
He revelled in the warm smile that widened as she took in their surroundings
TWO
She looked back at Fred
ONE
He summoned every ounce of Gryffindor bravery he had
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
He brought his lips to brush them gently against her lipstick stained ones and his eyes fluttered closed.
The kiss was sweet and she thanked him before leaving his arms to embrace and celebrate with the rest of the Weasleys and their friends. Her muggle boyfriend didn't know about the wizarding world so she expressed her gratitude for not letting her be left out at midnight.
He felt like his whole world shattered at the reminder that she was dating another man.
She felt thoroughly confused by the swirling thoughts resurfacing from her long harboured crush on the tall ginger.
'He's just a friend' she thought to herself sharply as she finished unpacking the last of her clothes 'he would never think of me like that. He must have regretted it or not wanted me to get the wrong idea because he didn't even stick around afterwards.'
Little did she know that at that moment Fred was curled up in his bed in his flat with a bottle of firewhiskey, crying over her. Just like he had been doing since his twin dragged him out of the marquee moments after the kiss, before he could embarrass himself or do something even more self destructive.
…
Hermione flooed from the entrance hall of the manor to the atrium in the ministry of magic on the first Monday in January. She hadn't been here since their break in under polyjuice during the war but had decided she wanted do the journey alone on her first day.
The statue had, thankfully, been destroyed and replaced with a golden fountain in the shape of the word 'Welcome'. As she approached the water feature the ten foot tall letters morphed into the word 'Bienvenue', Hermione watched with glee as they slowly morphed back in 'Welcome' before switching to another language and then back to English. The chime of the clock reminded her that she could not stay to watch the fountain all day to see how many languages it cycled through and quickly made her way through security and up to the Magical Law department.
"Welcome Miss Granger" a portly woman with a rosy smile greeted her as she entered the department "we're so glad to have you join us. I'm Mrs Stone, the head of Magical Law since August, you won't see me around too much but please know that my door is always open if you need me dear." The motherly nature of the woman took Hermione by surprise and she had to scold herself silently for her own subconscious biases "This is Tyrone Green, he's my personal secretary so he is your go to guy if you have any questions. You will have various tutors as you work in different areas throughout the year but ultimately I will be the one to pass or fail you come December and Tyrone here has the breadth of expertise to help you settle in."
Tyrone was a statuesque young man in an immaculate three piece suit and dark blue tie that flattered his jet black hair. He waved at Hermione and followed the two women as Mrs Stone gave a tour of the department.
"You'll start in our policy team for the first few weeks, this is where the laws are formally written but they are debated by the wizengamot and policy lawyers before this. Here are the offices for our policy writers and our policy lawyers, but these lawyers often work out in the field or in libraries around the world conducting research and some work one or two days a week at the studies in their own homes." Mrs Stone indicated to two open office areas surrounded by glass walled meeting rooms. "The meeting rooms vary in size and can be used for discussions with colleagues, wizengamot members, external experts and members of the wizarding community, the glass walls turn frosted when in use to provide privacy.
"Along this corridor we find the Wizengamot support team where you will work during February, followed by the prosecution and defence lawyers who you will work with in March and April, then down here at the end" she finished as she rounded another corner bringing them almost back to her office where the tour had begun "is the solicitor team who work on less criminal matters, like purchasing property, for either the ministry itself or for members of our community who cannot afford their own private solicitors. You will work with that team in May and then you'll be back in as a policy lawyer in June.
"I'm sure the Minister has already mentioned that apprentices do not work in July and August, this is not negotiable as this is a time for rest, recuperation and critical reflection on your first six months. In the last week of August you are to make a decision on your specialism and inform us of this, you will then complete the year in the area of your choice. If you pass the year to our satisfaction you may be offered a training position in the following year but, if you specialise in prosecution, defence or as a solicitor you are also free to pursue training employment in the private sector. Any questions?"
"Thank you Mrs Stone" said Hermione with a wide smile as she processed the new information "who is my first tutor? I'm eager to get started!"
"Just what I like to hear! Tyrone will introduce you and help you settle in, I'm off to the courtrooms if anyone needs me" and with a swish of her floral cloak Mrs Stone strode off towards the lifts.
…
"So how are you enjoying your first week?" Tyrone questioned as he joined Hermione and her other new friends at a table in the ministry's dining hall on Thursday lunchtime.
"I love it!" Her hair sizzled with the excitement she felt for her new role and the others laughed kindly at her powerful magic's display of enthusiasm.
"And I love how passionate you are" Marcelle chuckled from beside her as he twirled one of her curls around his finger.
He had been very flirty with her all week, according to the other girls he was always charming but they hadn't seen him quite so taken by another girl before. She found the dark skinned defense lawyer incredibly sexy from his low voice to his broad shoulders which were accentuated by his well tailored italian suits. He was a few years older than Hermione, having been in Ravenclaw in the same year as Cedric Diggory, and knew what he wanted in life.
"Well, we're all going out to celebrate the end of the week tomorrow night at the Dragon's Roar in Diagon Alley, it's a new bar that Daisy's boyfriend owns" Aimee said with an eye roll at Marcell's constant advances on Hermione, she was one of the department's policy writers and easily the most sociable of the group.
"Oh yes, please come Hermione!" Daisy pleaded.
'It's no use arguing with lawyers' Hermione thought as she looked between the pleading eyes of prosecution lawyer Daisy to defense lawyer Marcell "Fine I'll come, what time?"
"I'll pick you up at eight," said Tyrone before Marcell got a chance to offer "I'll apparate to the village and walk up to meet you."
Hermione was excited for the following night and butterflies filled her belly when Marcell also accepted the invitation. She definitely needed to break it off with Justin tonight, she hadn't really been feeling it with him for a few days, since the kiss on New Year's Eve if she was really honest with herself, and it wasn't fair to string him along. So she phoned him up as soon as she was done for the day and arranged to meet at a London coffee shop near his work fifteen minutes later.
"Well don't you look professional" Justin greeted as he eyed her smart black trousers and burgundy lace top with lust evident in his smirk "how's your first week of your new job going?"
She had told him that she had an entry level job at a big muggle law firm to help her decide if it was the right career path for her. She excitedly told him tailored stories about her new colleagues and workplace while they finished their drinks and she gathered her courage.
"Listen Justin," she started as they pulled on their winter coats and stepped out of the noisy coffee shop "I've had a really great time with you but I need to be honest with you about where I see this going." he silently walked beside her down the quiet rainy street "You're a really wonderful guy but I don't want this to go any further. We come from two very different worlds and it's been really fun to date you but I want to end things between us."
She awkwardly walked beside him trying to control her nerves enough to stop herself from rambling.
"Is there someone else?" he asked sharply and she was surprised by the icy anger in his voice.
"Not really, no. I just realised that this isn't what I want and it's not fair to lead you on if I'm not completely into it." She explained, trying not to flinch at the vicous sneer on his face.
"I can make you feel into it" he countered, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her into an alleyway with him.
He forcefully pulled her into his chest and held her head still while shoving his lips roughly against hers. She struggled against his hold and tried to push him away so she could shout for help or escape. Her wand was inside her bag but she couldn't reach it, he rammed her against one of the walls flanking the alley and her head cracked sickeningly against the brick wall.