EDIT: I don't know why, but my chapters are never showing up to me so for anyone who's disappointed because they thought it was a new chapter: come on, it's not even 24 hours since the last! ;D

GUYSSS! I SAW FANTASTIC BEASTS AT MIDNIGHT AND IT WAS MAAAAAGICAL! It was honestly really really great :D
Well, this chapter is terribly long, but I didn't really find a place where I felt comfortable breaking it in two. So one REALLY long chapter it is! Enjoy and don't forget to review! (or I might spoil Fantastic Beasts as revenge next chapter)(lol no, of course not, I'd never do something like that!)

CHAPTER 16

I was sitting in the back of the Tempered Troll waiting for Mathilda and Aurora who'd meet me there at one. I was a bit early. Dad had nagged about me doing the dishes, saying it was character building, so I had escaped by saying I had to meet my friends. His face when I shot into my shoes told me that it wasn't over quite yet though but for a bit I was free to enjoy doing nothing at all. However I had to endure sitting alone awkwardly for half an hour.

I contemplated ordering myself a drink already but all the waiting staff were all very cute looking twenty something guys and they intimidated me so I didn't dare and make eye contact. I decided I could just wait for Mathilda to get here so she could get their attention.

When Mathilda and Aurora finally arrived I was starting to attract some weird looks and I was relieved that they came to prove that I wasn't a weird loner who sat by herself in café's all day. My friends had run from the floo apparently, their cheeks flushed and their hair frazzled. 'I'm so sorry we were late! I couldn't find my jacket.' Aurora explained. Mathilda rolled her eyes. 'It's like twenty degrees out but still she's making me wait in her living room with her parents so she can get a jacket she totally doesn't need.' She commented.

'It's a nice jacket though.' I said kindly and Aurora smiled, taking the violet coloured jacket off and hanging it over the back of her chair. 'Thanks, I got it from the Wizard Daily catalogue. It was only a little over 6 galleons.' She told us and Mathilda looked impressed by the purchase. 'That is not all that expensive at all.' She said, feeling the fabric of the sleeve.

As I suspected did Mathilda have no trouble calling a waiter to the table. Nor did she have trouble flirting with him as he took our drink order. He didn't seem to mind, a small smirk leaking onto his face. Aurora coughed a barely recognizable "Adrian" and Mathilda shot her a grin. 'Which reminds me!' Mathilda said, hitting the table with her flat hand. 'My birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks.' She continued. 'How did that remind you?' I asked and she stuck out her tongue at me.

'I wanted to throw the party at Adrian's place.' She answered. 'Why?' Aurora asked and she shrugged. 'Because his parents will be summering at their house on Malta and he, as he's overage, is staying alone at the family manor in Kent.' She explained and Aurora and I glanced at each other nervously. I knew what she was thinking because it was the same as I was thinking. Would this be one of those parties we always heard about but never attended?

'What kind of party were you thinking of?' Asked Aurora and Mathilda shrugged. 'Haven't really thought about it yet. Adrian only said I could hold it at his in his letter yesterday evening. I'm probably just going to invite a whole bunch of people and have Adrian buy a whole bunch of drinks and snacks and then they can figure it out for themselves.' She said with a chuckle. This sounded like a house party if there ever was any.

The waiter, a handsome boy with a tan skin, came with our drinks; nettle tea for Aurora, cherry syrup lemonade for Mathilda and gillywater for me. 'Could we also get a platter of dragon tartare?' Asked Mathilda and he jotted it down on his notebook. 'Anything else?' He asked and Mathilda looked at us. 'Maybe some chips?' Aurora opted and the waiter whisked off with our food wishes.

'What are you going to do with your birthday?' Asked Mathilda and it was a few seconds before I realized she was talking to me. 'Birthday? That's way off still.' I replied but Mathilda tsk-ed. 'Once my birthday rolls around it's only one month till yours.' She reminded me and I groaned. 'I don't know what I want to do!' I said. 'The same as always?' I suggested but once again did Mathilda not approve. 'You're turning sixteen. The first age of being old enough to do what you feel like and the last age of not having the burden of adult responsibilities.' She commented. 'What if I feel like just hanging around and eating cake with all my family in my living room, like I do every year?' I asked and Mathilda rolled her eyes. 'I think you should just let Cecil decide on her own. It's a month and a half away anyway.' Aurora said and I shot her a grateful look. Mathilda could be so demanding sometimes.

Conversation drifted onto other topics and once our food came we slowly ate, laughing and talking as we did. The chips were finished first and Mathilda snagged the last piece of bread to spread a generous helping of dragon tartare on it, popping it into her mouth whole. She had a satisfied grin on her face. We paid the 5G10S11K bill and as Mathilda looked it over, in the meantime walking outside, she laughed. '5 Galleons, 10 Sickles and 11 Knuts? That's nearly your jacket, Rory!' She said and Aurora smiled at that. 'Like I said; it was on sale!' She boasted. 'Because how else am I going to get a jacket this nice for only 6, 1, 15?' She asked us. We didn't know.

We hung around Diagon Alley for the rest of the afternoon, going through clothing shops without actually buying any at all and having ice cream at Florean Fortescue's at the end. It was a relaxing day, virtually worriless and pleasant. My yuzu and mint ice cream cone was melting quickly in the warm sun as we sat on top of the little stone wall in front of Florean's shop. Mathilda let out a moan. 'There's nothing like Florean Fortescue's vanilla flavoured ice cream!' She commented, taking a big lick. 'I think the horse radish is the best one.' Aurora said, seeming satisfied with her choice.

Far too soon it was time for me to go back home and I was not looking forward to it, knowing that dad would have the dishes waiting for me. Alas, all things must come to an end and I had to say goodbye to my two friends as I stood in front of dad's shop. 'Say hi to your parents from me.' Mathilda said as she gave me a quick hug. 'I will.' I muttered and I hugged Aurora right after. They lazily made their way further down Diagon Alley, towards the floo hubs and I turned back to the door, pushing it open with a sigh.

I was greeted with the familiar musty smell of the hundreds of books that were stacked on the shelves of the dozens of bookcases that were pressed together in the small shop. 'Did you have fun with your friends?' Asked dad and I looked to the back of the shop to see him standing behind the counter, bent over a big, ancient looking book. His hands, stuck in white cotton gloves, gently inspected the pages. 'Yeah, it was good. Mathilda says hi.' I answered him. He looked up briefly. 'Hi back.' He muttered.

Dad was a relatively short fellow. His mousy brown hair was tickling the bottom of his ears. His blue robes were of the comfortable sort, his sleeves pulled up and the front hanging open, showing the Spellbound band t-shirt he was wearing underneath it. 'You still have some ice cream on your nose.' Dad said suddenly. 'What?' I asked, not paying attention much before. 'Your nose. It looks like… mint?' He guessed and I quickly rubbed my nose with my sleeve. 'Yuzu and mint.' I corrected and he nodded. 'Maybe I should head out for some ice cream later. It's awfully hot today.' He said.

He stretched out, yawning. 'I've been cooped up in here all day already.' He told me. 'What is this?' I asked, stepping closer so I could look at the book he was working on. 'Don't breathe on it, it's as fragile as a veela's ego!' Dad warned and I laughed. 'I bought it off an auction a couple of weeks ago and it was delivered to me this morning. I'm just inspecting if it's still intact.' He told me and I leaned in a bit so I could look at the foreign script adorning the frail parchment. It didn't look like anything I would recognize. 'It's Sanskrit.' Dad said, carefully turning a page with his gloved hands, using both in order to support the page properly. 'It's from India but the auctioneer couldn't give me much more information. I'm having a translator come in next week.' He carefully turned another page. 'This poor baby hasn't been treated well at all.' He muttered. 'The auctioneer said that several pages were unhinged but were luckily still able to be reattached. It was found in a muggle archive in New Delhi. Did you know muggles don't wear gloves when handling old books?' Asked dad and I shook my head, a frown on my face. 'They don't?' I asked surprised. He shook his head vehemently. 'I mean, they don't have feather-light charms for their gloves, but still.' He said.

I pulled my bag further up my shoulder. 'Good luck with your book dad, I'll see you later.' I said, kissing him on the cheek. He accepted the kiss with a grin. 'Your mum will be home for dinner, but it's another late night at the Daily Prophet so be especially sweet when she gets home. Once she does we'll get ice cream all together, okay?' He suggested as I opened the door behind the counter that led to our upstairs flat. 'Sounds nice, dad.' I said. I started walking up the steep wooden stairs. 'Oh and Cecil!?' Shouted dad and I halted for a moment. 'When I close the shop and get up there, the dishes will be done, yeah?' He called out and I quietly cursed. 'Yes dad!' I shouted back. I had hoped he had forgotten.

I opened the front door and immediately kicked off my shoes, leaving them near the door. I walked through the narrow hallway, past the second stairs leading up, some jackets and outer robes and cloaks hanging off the coat rack. Another door brought me to the living room. A modest fireplace sat in between two fairly large but crooked windows (the house was old) both opened wide in order to hopefully catch a bit of a breeze. It was indeed very hot. I let myself fall down on the sofa for a moment, allowing myself a bit of relaxation. At the other end of the room was a large wooden dining table, mismatched chairs around it and a vase with sapwood sunflowers in the middle of the table. A stack of books and newspapers covered one end of the table, leaving the other end empty to sit at.

The walls, a soft blue and creamy white vertically striped wallpaper covering it, were hidden for the most part by floor to ceiling bookcases that were stuffed to the brim with books from both the non-fictional and the novel variety and binders with newspaper clippings and old articles in it. There was one door opening leading to the kitchen but the door missing, instead having a beaded curtain hanging there instead. It had the pattern of the Slytherin house emblem visible on it as mum had gotten it once as a joke years ago but nobody had bothered to get rid of it since.

I stood up, deciding to put off doing the dishes for just one more moment and I walked barefoot across the old hardwood flooring back into the hallway, making my way upstairs. The hallway upstairs was considerably lighter than the one downstairs as the one a floor down didn't have a window to let light in. Four doors led to the hallway. Two of them led to the bathroom and the toilet. The third led to Aidan's old room but since he had moved out it had been transformed into mum's office so she could work at home without occupying the entire living room. The last door was mine.

I pushed open the door and let my bag drop beside my bed, walking to my wardrobe to change into a pair of shorts. My room was a small room. Actually, the whole flat was quite small, but that came with living in the city centre. Everything was packed together closely and the buildings were fairly old and hadn't been renovated in a long time because it was hard to do when it was indeed build together so snugly, but in return we had a prime location right in the middle of Diagon Alley, everything we could wish for close by and in the end I didn't mind living small at all. "Living cosy" is what dad calls it.

My walls were a faded sandy yellow, and in the corner next to the door stood my bed. It was a light room, the sun shining in through the wide window, my desk sitting right underneath it, my school supplies scattered around on the table top, my desk chair covered in clothes. Once again a bookcase, filled with books that I had collected myself throughout the years. Above my bed there was a slightly torn Weird Sisters poster and a lot of pictures of my friends and family.

I shot into my shorts, throwing the robes I had worn today on top of the others that were stacked on my chair. I closed the door of the bulky wardrobe so I could look at the mirror on the outside of the door. I had that natural glow to my cheeks that comes from being outside in the sun all day. My hair was ruffled in a way that I didn't like but I didn't particularly mind right now. I took another critical look at myself in the mirror but then sighed. 'How about those dishes, eh?' I asked my reflection. 'Probably for the best.' My reflection answered.

I heard the front door open and close just as I finished the last dish. I dried off my hands and walked through the beaded curtain to the living room. Mum was sitting on the couch, her eyes closed and her bare feet propped up on the coffee table. I saw her peak from one eye. 'Cecil, my darling, come sit with me.' She cried out at the sight of me and I did as she said and sat down next to her. She pulled me into an embrace.

'Just what I needed. A warm hug from my daughter.' She said with a light chuckle. 'Was work really that bad?' I asked as she let me go again and I sat up. 'It was brutal.' Mum said. Her eyes were closed again as she leaned her head backwards on the back of the couch. If her eyes had been open I would've seen wonderfully blue eyes that I was sad not to have inherited. Her blonde, shoulder length hair was sprawled around her face, making her look deceitfully angelic. She was slender and pretty, even now at the ripe age of 40. She was taller than dad, only just (dad wasn't at all that short), but neither of them seemed to mind.

'Did you do the dishes like your father asked?' Mum enquired and I nodded. 'Just finished them.' I told her and she smiled. 'Good job, sweetheart.' She said, patting my hand. She yawned, opened her eyes and stretched her arms above her head, standing up. 'Time to do some cooking. You want to help?' She asked and I didn't really but didn't want to disappoint so agreed anyway.

I sat down on the small wooden chair at the tiny little table in the kitchen and watched as mum whipped her wand around, making the knife cut the vegetables, the potatoes wash themselves and the pot heave itself onto the stove to boil the water inside. She leaned against the counter, one eye on the proceedings of the kitchen but furthermore her attention firmly trained on me. 'How was your day?' She asked.

I shrugged. 'It was fun. I hung around with Tilda and Rory. We didn't really do much; we had some lunch, looked at some shops and had ice cream.' I told her and she raised her eyebrows. 'You already had ice cream today?' She asked surprised and I nodded. 'Then what's your dad on about? He wants to get ice cream after dinner.' She said and I shrugged again, a smile on my face.

Mum muttered some things I couldn't make out as she stirred her wand around in the pot of water. 'Your aunt was always great at this instant-boiling charm but I don't dare to try it again after I accidentally melted the pot. I still don't know what I did wrong.' She told me. I chuckled, having heard the story before.

I lazily made lemonade from fresh lemons as I sat at the small table. Mum squeezed past me in the crammed kitchen to open up the door to my parents' bedroom, which was oddly enough located behind the kitchen. 'Let's let some of that steam out.' She murmured.

She turned back to me. 'Are you nervous for your first day?' She asked. The next day I'd have my first day at the internship. I had only been back home for four days but I was off to the Ministry again on Monday. 'A bit.' I admitted to mum. 'Your dad and I discussed it and we decided I'll drop you off at the Ministry before work. August has to open the shop and I know the Ministry better after all; I've busted through many politician's door in my time.' She said as a joke, to ease the tension she knew I felt.

I didn't answer and she knelt down in front of me so she'd be at my eye height. 'You'll be okay, you know? You're an incredible young witch and I'm sure they'll see that too.' She said but that somehow made me feel even more pressured. I smiled though because I knew she meant well.

Half an hour later I went to set the table and mum went into the hall and opened up the front door to shout down the stairs; 'August, honey!? Dinner is ready!' to which he replied 'I'll be right up, Wendy, give me ten!'

Dinner was a pleasant occasion. I saw mum give dad the eye, which was their silent way of communication, to tell him to be nice to me because I was feeling nervous, but she didn't need to tell him because dad was always especially kind.

Despite mum's question marks behind the whole enterprise did we indeed end up going for ice cream after. 'August, Wendela, how are you doing!' Mr Fortescue greeted my parents as we walked into the still busy ice cream parlour. 'We're here to ease the heat of the day, Florean.' Answered dad. Mr Fortescue spotted me behind my parents. 'And Cecilia! Another yuzu and mint for you?' He asked and I nodded, a shy smile on my face. Mr Fortescue was on the board of the Diagon Alley Shop Owner's Union to which dad was treasurer.

The three of us sat at the bar and I quietly licked my ice cream as the three adults talked to each other. 'How's life at the Prophet, Wendy?' Asked Mr Fortescue and mum let out a dramatic sigh. 'Terrible.' She said. 'Ever since the Diggory kid turned up dead and Harry Potter is claiming You-Know-Who has returned, it's been an absolute killing at work.' She told Mr Fortescue. 'The Ministry is putting a stop to most of our articles, supposedly till they're able to get the whole ordeal in order.' Mum said as she leaned forward on the bar counter conspiringly.

Mr Fortescue leaned forward as well, the rag he was previously cleaning sorbet glasses with lay unused before him as he leaned his elbows on the counter. 'What do you think is going on?' He asked and mum thoughtfully savoured her walnut and honey ice cream. I could tell she loved being the centre of attention.

'It's hard to tell at this point. Sources are afraid to speak out and there aren't many to begin with. The Ministry is not letting anything out either. I found a secretary at the Minister's Office who admitted to confirming an appointment of the Minister at Hogwarts with Dumbledore but my editor hasn't let me report it.' Mum said.

That night I lay in bed thinking of my mum's words. It reminded me of that conversation I had had with Felix, months ago already, in relation to my Muggle Studies essay. He had been critical of the way the Ministry interfered in the media. But it were uncertain times. It was too early to tell what any of it meant and who was telling the truth. I lay on my back, looking at the ceiling and thought back to the end of the year. It felt all so surreal but it had really happened. Cedric Diggory was dead.

I turned on my side, staring at the wall instead. I didn't know him all that well but saw him semi-regularly because of Cho. Now he was gone. I felt like a fraud for feeling so empty because of it. But I did. I thought about that for a second. I didn't feel empty because of Cedric Diggory being gone. I felt empty because something inside me couldn't shake the feeling that this would forever change everything. I felt a bit guilty but knew it to be true.

I didn't remember falling asleep but I must've because mum woke me up gently in the morning. It was only seven but it was already fairly light in my room, my curtains drawn. I rubbed my eyes groggily. 'Wake up Cillyhead, your big prestigious internship is waiting for you.' Mum whispered to me. I didn't answer, not quite awake yet.

An hour later I was showered and dressed in a formal looking dark blue robe and sat at the dinner table munching on my porridge, a cup of tea in my other hand. I had butterflies in my stomach. I heard mum hurrying down the stairs from the bathroom and she came into my line of sight, carrying her heels in her left hand and brushing her wet hair with her right hand. 'You're almost ready to go?' She asked as she turned to me. I nodded giddily, a nervous smile on my face.

She put her brush down on the coffee table, grabbing her wand from her robe pocket and drying her hair with a flick of it, putting on the elegant heels clumsily at the same time. 'Well, come on then!' She urged and I jumped up, hurrying into the hallway to shoot into the Mary Janes I always wore at school.

We hurried downstairs and through the shop and locked the shop door behind us. Mum pulled me along in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron which was the closest floo hub and disapparition area to us. 'Hi Tom!' Mum called out when we entered the inn through the back. He waved at her with a sleepy face. Mum dug through her purse and eventually pulled a pouch out, giving it to me first. 'You know where to go?' She asked me and I nodded.

I took a pinch of floo powder from the pouch between two fingers and threw it into the hearth, the flames rising up green and I quickly stepped in after giving mum the pouch back. I felt the fire lick the bare skin of my legs and knees and warm my arms. 'Ministry of Magic, Atrium.' I spoke clearly and I squeezed my eyes shut as I felt myself being transported. I peeked through and saw hundreds of rooms go by in a few split seconds. I hurriedly moved my leg forward when I caught sight of the Ministry.

A couple of seconds later mum stood next to me and she waved her wand to charm the soot of both of our robes. 'Do you have your papers and identification ready, honey?' She asked as we made our way over to the security desk. I pulled out the folder, showing her. 'Don't show me, show him.' She said, pushing me to the wizard behind the reception desk. 'Wand please.' He said lazily before I could greet him.

I pulled my wand out of my robe pocket and handed it over. He measured it, using his wand weigher, a brass instrument in front of him, and inspected the surface but then gave it back to me. 'Larch, 11½ inches, flexible with a unicorn hair core? In use for about five years?' He asked, reading it off a receipt that his instrument produced, and I nodded in confirmation. He picked up his quill and wrote it down in his register. 'Your name and purpose of being here?' He asked, not looking up from his parchment. 'I'm Cecilia Wiggleswade and I..-' I started but he interrupted me. 'Wiggleswade?' He asked. Mum stepped forward. 'Yes, Wiggleswade.' She answered him instead of me.

'And yours is still Elm, 14 inches, unyielding with a dragon heartstring core, in use for 25 years, I'm presuming, Mrs Wendy Wiggleswade?' He said mockingly to mum. She showed him her press card while rolling her eyes but he shook his head. 'Oho, not this time, Wendy. If you're here on Prophet business, you should've owled ahead. You can't just barge in, no matter how much you've tried in the past.' He said. She pouted at him, widening her already big blue eyes. 'Not just tried, Andrew, succeeded too!' She argued. 'Besides, be a bit more lenient. You know who I am already. I'm just dropping off my daughter, she's here for her internship. The youngest participant in the program.' She boasted and "Andrew" looked at me curiously. 'You're here for the summer internship? You can't even be over sixteen yet, let alone overage.' He stated and I blushed. 'I'm fifteen.' I muttered shyly.

He pulled out a large list out from one of his drawers and went over it, his index fingers going over the names. 'You're right, you're on the list.' He said. 'You don't have to tell us we're right, we know we are.' Mum said but he decided to ignore her. 'Congratulations Miss, you can take a lift at the back of the hall to Level 2. You'll find that the new interns are expected at the office of Ms Kettledon, room 2.22.' He told me, grabbing a badge out of a large envelope. I looked at the square silver badge that said Cecilia Wiggleswade, Youngest Intern in loopy letters.

Andrew eyed my mother suspiciously. 'I'll allow this once because your daughter is underage but don't let me catch you snooping around.' He warned her and mum did the perfect impression of an innocent face.

We entered through the golden gate into one of the two dozen lifts, squeezing in with the other witches and wizards that were making their way to work in the morning traffic. Above our heads pale violet coloured paper memos were circling around, getting in and out of the lift whenever it stopped. Slowly we made our way from level 8 to level 2 and when we did we were left with only a few others. They all hurriedly left the cramped lift when we arrived. We exited last.

'Now, where to now?' Asked mum, looking around. 'The man at the security desk said room 2.22.' I reminded her and she muttered in agreement. I looked around for a sign but mum was always a lot bolder and pulled the sleeve of a young wizard passing us by. 'Excuse me, could you point us in the direction of Ms Kettledon's office?' She asked and he happily obliged, walking us halfway there even. She made sure to thank him thoroughly and I yanked her robe feeling embarrassed. 'Mum!' I hissed and mum rolled her eyes. 'Duty calls.' She said with a wink at the young wizard and I could only just suppress a groan at the pink blush high in his cheek and his equally pink ears.

We soon found room 2.22. At the door however there was a sign telling all interns that the meeting point was relocated to conference room 2.13. Luckily we found it soon after.

At the door was a witch of roughly thirty years old with curly brown hair and grey robes. 'Good morning.' She told me with a smile. 'You must be Cecilia.' She said and I nodded with a smile of my own. 'I'm her mother, Wendela.' Mum introduced herself, shaking the hand of who I assumed to be Ms Kettledon. 'Glad to meet you, I'm Abbey Kettledon.' She said, confirming my thoughts.

'Cecilia, you can join your new colleagues inside. I'm afraid your mother can't come with though.' Ms Kettledon said and I turned to mum who looked down at me with a grin. 'You look beautiful sweetheart.' She told me. 'And very professional.' She added and I chuckled, not really believing her but accepting the compliment anyway. 'I'll pick you up at five, yes? Wait for me in the Atrium and I'll be there.' She said and I nodded. 'Have a nice day, mum.' I said and she snorted. 'I'll be fine. You have a nice day.' She redirected.

The inside of the conference room was fairly plane. There was a large table taking up most of it, chairs surrounding it and about half of them were occupied. I immediately saw that everyone there was older than me by several years at least. I didn't know where to sit so I decided to just grit my teeth and not pay it any mind, just taking the chair closest to me, next to a girl with light brown, wavy hair and a slightly tanned skin. She looked up from a notebook she was scribbling in and smiled at me. She had pretty green eyes. I glanced at her visitor's badge. Hazel Willoughby, Intern.

Only two others came in after me and then Ms Kettledon closed the door behind her and moved to the front of the room, addressing all the interns.

'Hello everyone, welcome and congratulations on getting into the Ministry of Magic Summer Internship Program.' She started and mutters of "hello" were heard in response. 'We are getting started quickly because all the departments are waiting on their new interns and there's much work to be done.' She told us, pulling a clipboard from her briefcase and opening a pot of ink, dipping her quill in it.

'Most interning positions will be on this level at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, simply because it's the largest. However there's also one position at level 4 at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and two at level 7 at the Department of Magical Games and Sports.' I noticed the murmurs at that and concluded that it must be a popular one; I wasn't good at sports so I didn't think I'd do well there.

'Furthermore there's one spot left at the Department of International Magical Cooperation at level 5. An extra language is a must, so let's start with that. Who speaks a language other than English?' She asked a group and a handful of hands went up in the air. 'What languages, one by one please.' She said, pointing at a handsome fellow with an arrogant face who sat closest to the front. 'I speak Spanish.' He told her. 'French.' The guy next to him said. After Spanish and French, German seemed to be the most popular and there was even one girl who spoke Norwegian and Russian. After some quick debate Ms Kettledon decided that the last girl would join the Department of International Magical Cooperation. She seemed pleased with her position.

'Does anyone here have a N.E.W.T. in Care of Magical Creatures?' and a few others raised their hands. It turned out there was one boy (although he seemed way overage already but I felt weird calling him a man) who had an Outstanding N.E.W.T. at the subject and he was very eager for the position so he was granted with it, much to his satisfaction.

The two spots at the Department of Magical Games and Sports were quickly filled as well by the guy at the front with the arrogant face and the wizard next to him who he seemed to be friends with as they both apparently played quidditch for their house team when they were still in Hogswart. It only made me feel younger and younger because I couldn't remember them at all so they must've been a good deal older than me.

'There is one position at the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, so who has a N.E.W.T. in Mugglestudies?' She asked the room but no one raised a hand. She sniffed her nose, crossed something out on her clipboard and looked back up. 'How about an O.W.L. then?' She asked again and although I hadn't officially gotten my results back yet, I felt confident in saying that I probably had it in the bag. The girl next to me, Hazel Willoughby, raised her hand as well.

'Two candidates!' Ms Kettledon exclaimed. 'Does either of you particularly like to get the job?' She asked us and we looked at each other. Hazel looked at me pleadingly. I don't want it she mouthed to me and I felt red in the face at the attention of the twenty-five pairs of eyes. 'I'll take it.' I said, my voice soft. Hazel shot me a grateful smile but I barely registered.

Why did I say yes to this? I had no interest at working with muggles or anything. Why did I let myself be pressured into this? I didn't pay attention much at all to the rest of the assignment of positions and it wasn't until Ms Kettledon addressed the entirety of the group that I again tuned back in.

'..-work hard and I'm sure your time at the Ministry of Magic for the coming months will be outstandingly pleasant, making lots of connections and building relations. This is incredible work experience so I hope you will all take it with as much seriousness as we do.' She said.

One by one we were all sent to our new offices, Ms Kettledon giving us our paperwork and map of the floors. 'Cecilia, wait up, I'll walk you over myself as you require just a tiny bit more explanation.' She said and I patiently waited by the door while the other interns walked past me, casting curious glances my way. Hazel stopped in front of me. 'Thanks for that. I'm aiming to work at the Wizengamot in the future so the Muggle Office is not going to help.' She told me. I shrugged, blushing once again. 'No problem.' I softly lied. I didn't want to work at the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office either. 'We're at the same level, so I'll see you around; maybe during lunch?' She opted and I nodded in a non-committal manner.

Ms Kettledon walked out the room with me, sealing the door behind us, rearranging the inside of her briefcase as we walked. 'I think you'll like the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office; the stress levels are a little less high and you're still so young.' She explained poorly. I just nodded solemnly.

The hallways were buzzing with people but we rounded a corner and came into a corridor that was decidedly dustier than the others and a lot less busy. At the end of the corridor there were two doors, one leading to a broom closet and one to the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office according to the sign on the door. Ms Kettledon knocked and a voice behind the door told us to come in.

The "office" was a shock to enter. It was tiny. I was wondering if the broom closet next door was any bigger. Two desks were somehow fitted inside and the walls were covered with filing cabinets. Files were anywhere where there was room, on top of the cabinets as well as in and the in-trays on top of the desks were overflowing. All little wall space left seemed to be covered with posters and diagrams of various muggle devices that I couldn't recognize, although one of them seemed to be an automobile of some kind. However, the biggest shock still wasn't the office; it was the man sitting crammed behind his desk.

I knew who he was before Ms Kettledon introduced him. 'Cecilia, this is Arthur Weasley, he's the Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. You'll work directly under him during your time here.' She said. Fred's dad smiled at me, extending his hand. I numbly shook it. 'You go to Hogwarts? You may know my children.' He said and I nodded. 'Your children are quite well known across the school, Mr Weasley.' I said and he laughed. 'Well, I hope that's a good thing then.' He said.

'Arthur, Cecilia is only fifteen but her application was quite remarkable so we admitted her anyway. I hope you can support her and answer any questions she might have throughout her internship.' Said Ms Kettledon, handing Mr Weasley my paperwork. He dropped the stack of parchment on top of all the other files in his in-tray and nodded with a bright smile. 'Welcome to our humble abode Cecilia, we'll get along great, I'm sure.' He said. My face was red under Ms Kettledon's compliments.

Ms Kettledon left me with Mr Weasley and he scratched his slightly balding head. Fred looked like him, I realized. The narrow face, the twinkling eyes, the ready smile. His fading red hair was just the cherry on top. 'I have already memo-ed the people at Maintenance that we needed an extra desk down here but they haven't brought it yet. I'm afraid there's hardly any space left in here so we're going to have to put you in the hallway, but we'll keep the door open at all times so you're not all alone.' Mr Weasley rambled but I didn't really listen. How did I get myself into a prestigious internship only to get myself stuck at the office with my crush's dad.

Right at that moment though did a large man knock on the doorpost of the open door. 'Arthur, the desk you requested?' Said the man and Arthur clapped his hands together. 'Just in time!' Leave it in the hallway, we'll figure it out.' He turned to me. 'Well, I wish we could start on an easier note, but there have been reports of some very worrying toilets gone amuck so we got to get on that immediately.' He told me as he pulled a stack of files from one of the filing cabinets, putting them in his messenger bag right after.

'Should I tag along?' I asked as he ushered me out of the office, locking the door in the process. I saw a medium sized desk standing in the middle of the hallway. No chair. 'Well, if you'd like to! How else are you going to learn?' Asked Mr Weasley.

At the end of the day I stood sullen in the Atrium, waiting for my mother who was once again late. Today had been a disaster. Not only had I let myself be pushed onto a position I never wanted, it had also been a position under my crush's dad and then work with him had been terrible. It wasn't Mr Weasley's fault, he had been very kind and forthcoming, but it just didn't work.

Firstly the toilets; Mr Weasley's colleague Mr Perkins had brought the toilets in already, so we were stuck all morning in a forgotten basement of the Ministry trying to undo the charms done on the dirty looking ceramic bowls. I obviously couldn't legally do magic outside of Hogwarts so I was utterly useless and just stood by trying to think of spells they could try, only to find out that they were as basic as they got and were already tried out.

After that it was lunch. Mr Weasley suggested I'd have lunch with the other interns but the moment I walked into the little dinery at the Atrium level of the Ministry and saw all the other interns sitting together, talking and laughing loudly, I walked out again and spent the remainder of lunch sitting by myself in the bathroom crying. I had worked so hard for this internship and it had been a huge let down so far.

The rest of the day was spent doing paperwork for the toilets. I sat at my desk, my back to the broom closet door, filling out forms and writing letters in name of the department. Mr Weasley seemed to be pleased with me at least. 'Finally some help around here.' He said as he gave me another stack of files. 'It's too much for just Perkins and me.'

'Cecilia!' I heard mum call and I looked up to see her running my way, surprisingly elegant although on heels. 'How was your first day?' She asked, kissing me on the cheek. 'You're late.' I said moodily. She held me on arm's length. 'That bad, huh?' She asked and I ducked my head, walking past her towards the floo.

When we got home I had tea with my parents but then disappeared upstairs, ignoring dad's confused calls. I felt guilty about my behaviour ten minutes later and after putting on my night gown I moved to walk downstairs but I heard mum and dad talking and I paused, peaking through the hallway door that was open just a bit.

'…-hard day. I think it might've been a bit of a disappointment.' Mum said. 'Cecil always needs a bit of time to settle into things.' Dad answered her. 'She'll come around.' He told her and through the tiny crack of the door I could see dad leaning forward to kiss mum. I quickly, but quietly, bolted back up the stairs. I didn't want to interrupt anything either.

When I walked back into my room, there was an unfamiliar owl waiting for me at the window sill of the opened window. 'Hello there, how can I help you?' I directed at the brown tawny owl and it stuck out its paw, showing me the letter. The moment I untied it, it flew off again.

Hello Cecilia!

Just wondering when we could meet up? Did you start your internship already? Let me know how that goes. I've started practising with my band. It's great to see my friends again after such a long time. But we are very good friends. I know that because even after a year it feels like just yesterday.

I'll hear from you soon, I hope.

Felix

I put the letter aside, sitting down in my desk chair, facing away from my desk. I looked at my toes, pink and a bit wrinkly. Maybe I should invite Felix along with Mathilda and Aurora one time. I knew Aurora would be welcoming but I wasn't sure about Mathilda. Maybe I shouldn't after all.

My light pink night gown reached down to halfway down my shins. It was frilly and cotton and although it was fairly comfortable and reminded me so much of home, it now only made me feel impossibly young and naïve and inadequate in every way.

'Hello sweetheart.' I heard Aidan's voice say in a high-pitched tone from the doorway. I looked up in surprise. 'Aidan!' I called out, jumping up and swinging my arms around his broad shoulders. 'I didn't hear you, what are you doing here?' I asked and he laughed, hugging me close. 'I decided to come over for dinner tonight.' He murmured and I burrowed myself further into his robe, sniffing in the familiar smell of his cologne. He chuckled softly.

'You always miss me more when you're miserable.' He said as I let go. I scowled. 'I don't miss you.' I lied. He looked at me pointedly. 'And I'm not miserable either.' I added. For a moment he just looked at me, his lips pressed together but then he sat down on the bed and patted the spot next to him. I sighed dramatically but sat down as well.

'How was your first day?' He asked. I shrugged. 'It was fine.' I muttered. He didn't say anything. 'I'm interning at the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.' I continued. I groaned. 'What would I have to do with muggles?' I asked the silence in complaint and I slapped the matrass in frustration. 'I don't want to work with muggles in the future, am not particularly interested in them now either; I mean everyone knows that it's probably one of the most boring divisions you can work under.' I told Aidan who was still quiet. 'And I'm useless because I'm the only one there who's underage and still in school at that. I just wish I didn't sign up for the whole thing.' I finished tiredly. For another moment it was still silent but then Aidan spoke up.

'Cecil, buddy, can you just for once please show some bloody nerve?' Aidan asked me in annoyance. I turned red but shoved my elbow in his side. He didn't take much notice of it. 'You can physically abuse me all you want but the facts remain: you're being a coward.' He said. I turned to him. 'Maybe I should tell mum that you're dating a girl from your work.' I said by means of a threat, trying to make him shut up. Aidan let out a laugh. 'Merlin Cecil, you're not acting like yourself!' He said and I rolled my eyes defiantly.

'Why are you so hard on yourself all the time?' Aidan asked me and I didn't know how to answer. 'They admitted you to that stupid internship program because you're brilliant, you idiot.' He said in a rather contradictory manner. 'Listen kid, I know it's difficult but you can do it you know, you're braver than you think.' Aidan said while putting an arm around my shoulders and pulling me to his chest.

I leaned into him, pulling my knees up. 'I don't know.' I said softly. 'Ravenclaws aren't known for their bravery.' I said, half-jokingly. Aidan took my comment very serious though, pushing me away a bit so he could look at me. 'Hey, your house doesn't define you, okay?' He said and I nodded. 'When I was being sorted the Sorting Hat didn't know whether to sort me into Gryffindor or Slytherin.' He told me. 'Really?' I asked. 'Yeah, the infamous house rivalry didn't stop me from having traits from both houses.' He said and I could hear the smile in his voice.

'People are made up of all kinds of different things. Mum is smart and caring and loyal and fierce and although none of those are characteristics for Slytherin, no one will deny that she is Slytherin through and through, right?' He stated and I nodded. 'And dad? He is very much a Hufflepuff, but is he a pushover?' Aidan asked me and I shook my head.

'What I'm trying to say is that you should just fight for what you want and need. Don't worry so much about what others think of you.' Aidan ended his speech. And I took what he said to heart.

We were called down for dinner shortly after but before I went out of my room and down the stairs, he grabbed onto my arm. 'And don't you dare tell mum about Nina!' He said. 'She'll only bug me about grandchildren.' He added. He did a poor, whispery imitation of mum: 'Oh Aidan, when I was your age I already had you!' I laughed quietly. Aidan always made things better.

Maybe he was right, maybe my time at the ministry wouldn't be so bad after all. Mr Weasley was nice at least, so however bad the whole ordeal was, at the very least I had a nice boss. And it looked great on my CV, so whatever happened, at least I had great work experience, a foot in the door. The only thing that I needed to do was push through and show some bravery in the face of this challenge. Because I could do this, I really could. Not just because Aidan said so, although Aidan would never lie in such a way, but because I wanted to. I wanted to prove that I could do this. So I would.

So who's going to review this monster of a chapter? Please? Pretty please?

ALSO; how did you guys like her parents? You hadn't met them yet, have you?

PS: about the muggles not handling books and paper with gloves by the way; that's true. We have all kinds of oils and acids on our skin that's bad for objects in the long term however paper, especially old paper, is so fragile that handling it with gloves adds the risks of tears because your nerve endings won't be able to estimate force properly. Most museologists therefor rather take the known risk of the acid rather than the accidental rip. Although mostly the practice reads "DON'T TOUCH AT FREAKING ALL" - I figured though that with magic and all we can definitely have something like a feather light charm or whatever.