March on

Everyone settled in the hall for the upcoming information.

Greyson was going through some report, which seemed like the one harry handed him. He cleared his throat and started speaking again, in his morbid voice.

"This team that we will be creating will be heading on a very risky mission, mind you, they seem to be worse than the followers of Voldemort. The safehouse location will be very secret, if you wish to pass any information to your family, it will go through the ministry first. There would be no materialistic information passed, all messages will be verbal. If an emergency occurs at your home, you will be informed but you might not be able to reach them in an instant. Meanwhile, the ministry will look after your family and adhere to any needs. This mission can go on for months, so you need to prepare yourself mentally. No one will be forced to go for it, but once you are in the only way out is sticking through the end."

Everyone seems to be still processing the information. Entering the mission means signing away their life for an indefinite time. And there is no telling whether or not they would survive.

"Here is the list for the ones selected, if you don't wish to comply, you can leave the meeting, and proceed on to the next room, your memories of this meeting will be altered. Those who wish to enlist, you will be needed to make unbreakable vows of secrecy."

Greyson's assistant passed a list to all the people present. At this point, everyone seems to be too overwhelmed with all this information.

Hermione looked at the piece of paper passed in front of her, she couldn't seem to gather enough strength to pick it up, this seemed like a contract to sigh away her whole life to uncertainty, but the Gryffindor voice in her knew enlisting would be the right thing to do. She picked up the paper and looked at the names listed.

Harry Potter- head for Auror faction

Auror faction: Lorenzo Kith, Ginny Weasley, Marcus Cohen, Jacob Nixon, Jackson Vang.

Hermione Granger

Draco Malfoy

Blaise Zabini

Antoine White

Hermione didn't bother reading further. "Antoine is listed, great just great" She was on a full debate with herself whether to do the right thing and live in an enclosed location with her ex or back away. She turned to harry, he had a look of anger mixed with worry on his face. Seeing his wife's name listed wasn't the top news for him.

"Harry, you should think this through, you have a family now whatever you decide to do, think it through" Harry looked up from the paper, the worry was displayed on his face much clearly.

"I need to talk to her, I can't risk her life. I won't back away but putting her on it, no I'm not sure about that. Now I know how Ginny must have felt when I went away to fight Voldemort."

"I know it's hard, but Harry Ginny is one of your best Auror, I know you don't want to put her in harm's way, but don't you think she won't want you to leave her behind."

"What are you gonna do Mione?"

"I want to go, Harry, I don't want to sit behind while a war is on the way." Harry gave a slight nod and went back to staring at the sheet of paper, that just seemed to have given him and his beloved a life sentence.

Greyson started speaking again.

"I believe you have gone through it, and Mr. Potter, I want you to discuss with your Aurors listed where they stand on it, I would appreciate having the top five of the department, however, if someone denies, you can replace them with another. Your Aurors will be required to go for training with the Russian troop, for a week. Rest all of you who wish to go for it, you have two days to decide, we will have a meeting again and those not enlisted should go for the memory alteration. I hope to see most of you coming forward, these are grave times, we do need the best of our people. Until then you all are not to disclose much about this meeting to the public, we don't want to have a panic wave."

The meeting was dismissed, Harry and Hermione went on to grab a coffee and to try not to think about the mission. Two tables away a blond was sitting with his Italian friend, contemplating the whole situation.

"A drink would have been better for the occasion don't you think Draco" Blaize Zabini, one of the top auror listed, seemed confident enough and had a mindset on enlisting.

"I need to think Blaise, can't do much thinking with whiskey in your blood" Draco had half a heart to go. War, battle, using dark magic for good this time seemed like an appealing opportunity, but going would mean leaving his mother behind, and since after the war, Narcissa has not been the same. With her husband rotting in Askaban, Draco had become her whole world, and leaving her alone, for an indefinite time wouldn't do her any good.

"Draco, I know you're worrying about Narcissa, and staying for her seems like the valid thing to do but, your talents would be extremely useful, talk to her she would understand"

"It's not about her understanding Blaise, I know she won't ask me to stay, but I don't want to leave her helpless and alone here, there's not much guarantee that I would return alive"

"Well the Narcissa I know isn't so feeble, I think she can take care of herself"

Draco didn't answer, he just kept sipping his coffee. His eyes were scanning the cafe when he saw them. Granger and Potter the wonder duo. Signing up would mean living with them, even at the ministry Granger and his bickering was a headache for others, he couldn't think how much worse it would be if they were forced to live under the same roof. He sighed thinking about it all.

"You are right, drinks would be better, lets go grab some whiskey, I need to forget about this blasted thing." Draco pushed the cup aside and stood up.

"Now that's the spirit my boy" Blaise happily walked up to the counter and paid the bill. They walked off to the nearest bar they could find with decent alcohol.

Meanwhile, Hermione was failing terribly to trying not to think about the mission.

"Ugh! Harry what am I gonna do, I won't have any problem going if my ex won't be there adding to the problem." Hermione started biting her nails, a habit that comes up when she is stressed, and right now being stressed would be a huge understatement.

"Yea, but you and Ron were friends before dating, maybe you could try being just friends"

Hermione thought she misheard him, why is he worrying about Ron, unless.

"What! Ron is listed too? Harry, are you serious?"

"Yea he is listed, you didn't see the whole list? who were you worried about then?"

"Antoine! Oh my God! Harry, I didn't read past Antoine's name. It's bad enough seeing my ex daily but living with them, this is all getting so complicated Ugh!"

Hermione's eyes started tearing up a bit, but she stopped herself. She survived Voldemort, she wouldn't fall weak on the idea of living with two of her exes, besides the reason for the mission is too important to hesitate over such petty things.

"Mione, I need to talk to ginny, would you come with me, maybe try persuading her to not agree to it?"

"Harry I will go with you but I won't ask her to do that, going or not going is entirely her decision."

"Okay, okay. Let's go now, I need to see her as soon as possible" And with that, both of them paid for their order and apparated to 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry and Ginny decided to move into Grimmauld place after their wedding. The place had a bit of a renovation done. Mrs. Black's portrait was moved to the basement, the walls were painted over, and there were photos framed on the walls, muggle photos of Harry, Hermione, Ron. There was also a picture of Dudley and Petunia. Uncle Vernon had passed away a year after Dudley graduated. A big wedding photo of Harry and Ginny, and a wizard photo of the marauders, and James and Lily holding baby Harry. The place looked lovely, Hermione always felt at home in here. Ginny was at the kitchen, cooking something that smelled incredibly delicious, and was humming to herself.

"Gin, look who's here" Harry shouted from the doorstep, putting away his shoes and coat.

Ginny came out, on seeing Hermione went up to hug her. She pecked Harry on the lips.

"You came in the right time, I am making pot chicken Mione, you should wash up I'll set the table"

"Sure gin." She smiled and looked at harry pointedly.

"Honey, we just had coffee, lets eat after half an hour. Besides, there's something we need to tell you." Harry looked at her wearily and put his arms around her shoulder.

Ginny was confused, she looked at him and saw fear on his face."What's the matter? Is everything alright?"

"Let's sit in the Parlor" Hermione stepped in. They all went into the parlor and Harry started filling her in on the events of the day. Ginny seemed to be at a loss for words after hearing everything.

"Ginny, I don't want to put you up for this, we can replace Aurors, I will ask someone else to enlist." Harry was holding her hand tightly, afraid as if letting it go would mean letting ginny go.

Ginny looked at Hermione"What about you? Mione would you be going?"

Hermione spoke softly "Yes, it seems like the right thing to do." Ginny nodded her head and looked back at Harry. It broke her heart seeing him so scared.

"Harry, I'm not letting you go in there alone. Beside's I would hate staying behind here, knowing that I would be much more useful fighting beside you all. And I can't ask someone else to take my place. I'm one of the best Auror of the department, you shouldn't be scared for me."

"I know I shouldn't be scared, and I believe in you honey that you can protect yourself, but the duty we have as an auror is very different than what they are asking us to do. You would be a soldier for war, against people who we know nothing about. Getting killed is a high possibility there." Harry hoped that she would let him go out alone there, but ginny would take none of it.

"Harry, in the department of mysteries I fought off a group of death eaters with you all and came out alive. When you went on to search Horcruxes, I gathered a whole group to fight back at Hogwarts, At the final battle, I fought death eaters. I know war Harry, and I can survive one too. I am going and that is final." Ginny said with a voice of finality and Harry knew it would be no use arguing over this, she had made up her mind and there's no going back.

Hermione was lost in her own thought, this was huge, another war, there would definitely be some casualties, collateral damage, innocent life would be harmed. Flashes from the Hogwarts battle came back to her.

"Hermione, you listening-" Hermione jerked up, she was too deep thinking about the war, she didn't realize Ginny was calling her.

"Let's eat Mione cmon" Ginny went on to set the table. Harry went on to freshen up, kissing ginny on his way out.

She decided to not think about everything going on right now, and concentrate on having a nice dinner with her friends. The rest of the evening went on smoothly, with food and wine and laughter on the table. Maybe this isn't so bad after all, she would be living with harry and ginny too, maybe surviving won't be that hard. Hermione smiled at the two of them.

After dinner, she bid the couple a good night and flooded back to her place. As she placed her coat, she saw an owl tapping the window. she went on to let it in, gave the owl a snack, and took the letter.

"Whose owl is this, it looks so posh" She patted its head, and the owl flew away.

She kept the letter on the table, deciding whatever it is could wait for the night. She was too tired and could hardly remember when she fell asleep.

P.S sooo a new chapter is done, hope you guys like it. reviews are very much appreciated.

Will try to update as soon as possible. Till then happy reading!

XOXO