Hello again! Time for chapter 3! Please enjoy!
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Chapter 3
Hermione hummed to herself as she pulled books off their shelves in the library. All the books she pulled were about dragons.
She was obsessed. Getting that internship was her driving force; she had found a new purpose.
While she wasn't personally connected to the murdered dragons, it still broke her heart. For some majestic beasts to be murdered in cold blood, it was awful and sinful.
Hermione shuddered at the thought and returned to her table with seven books total. There were dozens more to be read, but she only had 2 hands to carry books.
Hermione had been researching non-stop for the past week. After Charlie had left, she had made her way back to Hogwarts where she practically accosted McGonagall to get more information on the internship.
About 2 days later, an owl arrived with the application. It had 3 required writing prompts.
What is your favorite dragon and why?
Why do you want this internship?
How do you think dragon/wizard relations can be improved?
Hermione had decided that her favorite dragon was the Ukrainian Ironbelly. After the war, the ministry tracked down the liberated Gringotts dragon and determined it to be an Ironbelly. It was promptly shipped off to Romania. The poor thing was unable to survive in the wild because it had been captured at an early age and didn't know how to hunt. Since arriving in Romania, according to Charlie, it had thrived.
So Hermione wrote about that, how that one dragon changed her life.
That experience bled into the rest of her prompts: her need to free captured dragons, to nurse the sick ones, and to improve and maintain the dwindling populations.
For the final question, she offered the solution of not holding the beasts captive unless necessary. To earn the trust of the wild ones, and to defend them from all poachers, both in the wild and in captivity.
She wanted stricter penalties on poachers. Most instances were met with a fine, when the poachers should be faced with prison instead. Fines did nothing because they could easily be paid off by the wealthy poachers. Mandatory prison time was what would deter them.
She emphasized on the issue of trust. Dragons were intelligent beings. They communicate different from wizards. So better communication tactics must be explored.
She wrote and rewrote her answers 5 times before asking McGonagall and Hagrid to review them.
The application also had the option of attaching letters of recommendation. So hermione set about collecting those.
McGonagall and Hagrid were easy to get. Hermione wrote to charlie after 5 days of complete silence, to see if he would write one. Yet had yet to hear back but owls took awhile to fly, so she wasn't too concerned.
Hermione also put in a request for Minister Shacklebolt to write her one. After all they had been through, he kinda owed her one.
Now all that was left was to wait for the responses and write her final draft, the one she would actually be sending.
Hermione was waiting on telling Ron and Harry, wanting to have the response before she told them.
She studied until the library closed and continued deep into the night in the comfort of her room.
She studied until 2am and still managed to wake up in time for breakfast with only minimum groggyness.
At breakfast, owls from both Charlie and the Minister arrived.
She read Kingsley's first.
Hermione,
I would be delighted to write you a letter of recommendation. I wish you all the best of luck in your endevor.
All the best,
Kingsley
Attached was a glowing letter of recommendation. Hermione smiled while reading it.
She went to open Charlie's, pausing and taking a deep breath before opening it.
Dearest Hermione,
I am honored to receive your request.
Attached is a letter you can send in. i thought about turning it in in person but figured it would be best for it to come with the rest of your application.
I am visiting my family next week for dinner. With the death of John, I am reminded of how important family is and I'm vowing to see them more often. I would love if you could make it out to dinner on Sunday. We have a lot to talk about.
On a side note, I heard from a little birdie, (Ginny) that you're abysmal at flying. I suggest you remedy that as soon as possible. We do a lot of flying here and you need experience to dodge flames and make sharp turns. I'm sure Madam hooch would be happy to help you.
I look forward to seeing you.
Take care,
Charlie
Attached was a lovely letter of recommendation. Hermione stowed all the letters in her bag. She walked up to the teachers table and stood in front of Hooch.
"Madam hooch?"
Hooch looked up from her plate, "Yes Miss Granger?"
"I need to get better at flying. I want to be a dragon tamer and they fly a lot. So I need to get good. Will you help me?"
Hooch looked surprised but nodded, "I would be delighted to help you."
Hermione smiled, "Thank you, I would like to begin as soon as possible."
"Hooch smiled, "Tonight, after dinner. I'll meet you on the pitch.
"Thank you." Hermione replied. She turned around and headed to transfiguration.
Classes went by fast and hermione found herself at the pitch with madam hooch.
Hooch went over the theory of flying first with hermione, then handed her a broom.
Hermione practiced lifting off and coming back down. She was wobbly and terrified at first, but soon got over it, forcing herself to get over it.
Her need for this internship was strong than her fear.
They ended around 9:30pm, when it was too dark to see.
Hermione returned to her room, where she wrote her final draft in careful penmanship. She compiled the letters of recommendation and her 6 page application all into one envelope.
The next morning started with a trip to the owlery, where she picked the largest owl and sent her on her way to Romania.
The next few days were monotonous. Breakfast, lunch and dinner with Ginny and Luna. Then classes, and finally flying practice with Hooch.
During their free periods, Ginny Also helped train Hermione on the broom.
Hermione would end her night by studying for NEWTS and reading dragon books.
Thus was her routine until Sunday afternoon, when she and Ginny (with special permission from McGonagall) walked to Hogsmeade to apparate to the Burrow.
They landed right outside the door, which flew open and they were engulfed in hugs b the Weasley matriarch.
Ushered inside, they were met with the entire Weasley clan (sans Charlie), Harry, and everyone's respective spouse if they had one.
Ginny sat next to Harry and hermione took an empty bench across from Harry.
Conversation was met with ease, they swapped stories about Auror training and classes at Hogwarts.
Hermione danced around the question of her post-Hogwarts plans. Not wanting to give herself away until Charlie arrived.
He arrived about 20 minutes after Hermione and Ginny. He stuffed the portkey into his pocket as he walked through the door
After greeting everyone, Charlie took the empty seat next to Hermione.
Dinner was then served and conversation continued to flow with ease.
After dessert, Charlie turned to hermione, "Can I talk to you in the Garden?"
Hermione nodded and they stood and left the table, heading out the door.
Everyone except Ginny looked puzzled.
"What's that about?" Ron asked Ginny.
Ginny shrugged, "Not my place to tell."
Ron groaned
Ginny knew everything, Hermione kept no secrets from her. Ginny just didn't want to break the news to anyone ,it wasn't her place.
Meanwhile in the garden, Charlie slipped his hand into hermione's and brought her hand to his lips.
Hermione blushed as he released her hand.
"How are you?" he asked.
"I'm pretty good. Been studying for NEWTS, reading about dragons, and practicing flying like you suggested. I practice every day. Sometimes multiple times per day. I've gotten a lot better. Hooch is going to release bludgers next time so I can practice dodging."
"Excellent," Charlie replied, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her close. His free hand brushed a stray curl out of her face.
He looked down into her eyes, a smile playing on his lips.
"Can I kiss you?" he asked softly.
Hermione nodded.
Charlie softly pressed his lips against hers. It was a chaste kiss, but Hermione pulled him back for a proper snog the moment they seperated.
A few minutes later, they seperated for air, both panting for breath. Charlie's arm never left her waist.
"Oh! I got news for you!" Charlie teased.
"What?"
"Now, you will receive an official owl this week, but i've been granted permission to tell you! You're been accepted!" he exclaimed.
Hermione squealed in delight and threw her arms around his neck.
Charlie hugged her back, lifted her off her feet, and spun her in a circle.
He placed her back down on the ground and released her and she him. Hermione pressed her lips against his again, and pulled away a few seconds later.
"I don't think you understand how excited I am." she said quietly, struggling to maintain voice control.
Charlie chuckled, "I think I do. I accidently blew up my desk when i was accepted years back."
Hermione smiled up at him and grabbed his hand, "Well come on! I must tell the others!"
They returned inside where Hermione told everyone of her plant to work at the sanctuary.
Jaws dropped and Ginny shouted with joy.
"What made you come to this decision?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"I fell in love with the Common Welsh Dragon that Charlie brought to class a few weeks ago. And just thinking about the Ironbelly we liberated, I've always had a passion for helping magical creatures. It's my thing. So it makes sense." She replied, smiling broadly.
They discussed Hermione's career choice, Charlie assuring them that she would be safe.
The time came for everyone to leave but Ron held Hermione back.
"So you and my brother, eh?" he asked, hands buried in his pockets.
Hermione paled, "What do you mean?"
"I'm not daft. You two act differently around each other. You're practically glowing. So how long?" He asked.
Hermione sighed, "Only a few weeks. I know it is a tad awkward, but-"
Ron cut her off, "It's fine." He chuckled. "You'll be good for him. I'm just going to give you my blessing because it's perfectly fine."
Hermione smiled, "Thank you Ron."
He hugged her then released her, smiling down at her, "You take care."
"You too Ron."
A few seconds later, she and Ginny were back in Hogsmeade, where they returned to the castle.
I sincerly hope that you enjoyed this! I have 1 more chapter left in already written out, so I'm going to type that up too and get it posted! I have a few things I need to do today but I'll see if I can churn out a 5th chapter later today! We will see! Thank you to the followers and favoriters who have already jumped aboard! Please continue to follow and favorite and I would love to see a review! Please and thank you! 3