Even though she was still a few months away from giving birth, Hermione had opted to take early maternity leave, with the date of her return still to be arranged. As much as Hermione loved her job, and fully intended to return to work after giving birth, her priority at the moment was the child she was carrying and preparing for the fact that her entire life was about to change. Becoming a mother was not something she was going to take lightly, and by the time the baby did arrive, she intended to be completely ready for it.
During Hermione's last week at work, she was sorting out paperwork and ensuring any work she was doing was either finished or handed over to someone else in her department. With several files only needing someone in the Minister's office to add a signature, Hermione headed up to the top floor where Kingsley, and his staff, worked. Leaving the files with one of the admin staff, Hermione was just about to return downstairs when she spotted the familiar figure of Harry Potter exiting Kingsley's office in a hurry.
For a second, Hermione was so stunned she couldn't react, and by the time she'd gathered her thoughts, the figure had vanished into the private rooms reserved for Kingsley's most important visitors. Shaking her head, Hermione figured she must be mistaken. The wizard she'd just seen must have just looked like her old friend. There was no way she'd just seen Harry. He'd been gone five years now, and surely if he was back, he would have alerted his friends of his return. Not to mention the Weasleys, who were as good as family to him.
Muttering to herself about her imagination, Hermione departed the top floor, and instead of heading back to work, she took herself to the Auror department to see if either Draco or Ron were free for lunch. She found the pair standing in front of a map of a large house, debating over the best way to gain entry. Amused, she listened to their differing ideas. Ron was all for just marching in through the front door, whereas Draco was advocating sneaking around the back and entering with stealth. To be honest the debate summed up their personalities, with Ron being blunt and straightforward and Draco being sneakier in nature. However, Hermione had no doubt that they would reach a compromise and whatever they were up to would run perfectly.
"Hermione," Ron cried, turning his head and spotting his best friend. "Tell your husband that not every operation needs to be approached in such an underhand way."
"Tell your best friend that sometimes sneaky is the only way to get things done," Draco retorted.
"I am not getting involved," Hermione laughed, holding up her hands as if she was surrendering. "You fight it out between yourselves. Although if you are going to fight, it should be over who is going to take me to lunch."
"I think we can both manage that," Ron said. "Besides, a break might be just what we need."
"Yeah, it will give you time to realise that I'm right," Draco said with a smug smirk.
"Or it will give you time to see that I am right," Ron countered.
"If you are going to keep arguing, I'll forget lunch," Hermione warned. "Now play nice together, and I'll tell you all about the fact I'm going crazy."
"I figured that out when you married Malfoy," Ron laughed.
Shaking her head as her best friend and husband continued to bicker, Hermione led the way from the Auror department. Not in the mood for the mediocre food in the staff canteen, they left the Ministry altogether and headed to a nearby café, where they all ordered toasted sandwiches, cups of coffee and large slices of cake for Ron and Hermione.
"So how are you going crazy?" Draco asked his wife once they were settled at their table with their food.
"I thought I saw Harry," Hermione answered. "I was up in the Minister's offices, and I could have sworn he came out of Kingsley's private office."
"Who did it turn out to be?" Ron asked.
"I don't know, I was so shocked that I did nothing, but then he was gone," Hermione said. "But it couldn't have been Harry, could it?"
"I don't see how," Ron replied with a shrug. "Him and Ginny ran off five years ago, and aside from a few post cards after they'd first left, we've heard nothing from them. I don't think they're ever coming home."
"And if they were home, surely they would have been in touch," Draco added.
"Yeah, if they were back, we would know," Ron agreed. "You must have been seeing things, Hermione."
"Or working too hard," Draco said with a concerned frown. "Maybe you should see if you can finish early, instead of waiting until the weekend."
"I can wait until Friday to leave," Hermione assured her husband. "And I am not working too hard. The hard work begins once I leave work. I've got an entire nursery to fix up."
"We finished the nursery last week," Draco reminded his wife.
"Oh, did I not say, I've changed my mind," Hermione said with a causal shrug. "I don't want an underwater theme after all. I'm thinking a safari theme instead."
"But that would mean changing everything," Draco pointed out. "The wall mural has only just been completed and enchanted."
"I know, but I saw this gorgeous lion-cub outfit, and I thought it would be perfect for the little one," Hermione argued.
"If you must dress our son in animal costumes, then do so, but we don't need to change the theme of the nursery just so he blends in with the scenery," Draco protested. "He can be a lion having a swim."
"You could always wait and update the theme as he grows," Ron suggested, even as he chuckled at the marital dispute he was witnessing. "Leave it as it is for now, but in a year or so, switch it up. You could change the room every couple of years, and when he's older, he can help pick the theme."
"That is a good idea," Hermione conceded with a nod of her head as Draco shot Ron a thankful look. "Maybe I should come up with a few different ideas. Oh, this is going to be so much fun, thank you Ron."
"What are godfathers for," Ron joked. "Hey, maybe one year you can do a Chudley Cannons themed room."
"Hell no," Draco snorted. "I won't inflict that sort of pain on my son. And neither will you, Weasley. No trying to convert him behind my back. Scorpius will be a Tornadoes fan, just like his father."
As the boys began to bicker about quidditch, Hermione sat back and enjoyed the fun, all thoughts of Harry forgotten. Maybe if she'd realised it had been Harry she'd seen, she would have given it more thought, but she wasn't to know her best friend was back. Or at least not yet, but soon everyone would learn that Harry and Ginny had returned.
Leaving Harry to mull over his job options, Ginny made an excuse to leave the house and set off to try and sort things herself. After a restless night's sleep, she knew she couldn't just sit back and do nothing. Harry was too nice for his own good and would just sit back and let opportunities slip through his fingers. But Ginny wasn't going to stand for it. She was going to fight for Harry, and for the career he deserved.
Glamouring herself like she'd done a few days before, she headed to the Ministry and bagged a meeting with Kingsley by lying and claiming she wanted to make a compliant about one of his staff. Clearly the Ministry were worried about complaints, and she was hurried up to the Minister's office. After a short wait, she was directed into Kingsley's office, where the Minister for Magic himself was settled behind his large, ornate desk.
"How can I help you Miss…?" Kingsley asked, waiting for Ginny to give her name.
"Weasley," Ginny supplied, lifting her hand and undoing her glamour charms.
"Ginny, what a surprise," Kingsley exclaimed, clearly baffled by her presence in his office. "What can I do for you?"
"Harry came to see you, yesterday," Ginny began.
"Indeed he did," Kingsley confirmed. "Are you here to submit his forms for Auror training?"
"No, but that is why I'm here," Ginny said. "Harry told me what you said about him having to start his training from the beginning. Surely there's a way around it."
"I'm afraid not," Kingsley said with a shake of his head. "I explained all this to Harry."
"But he doesn't want to start from scratch," Ginny argued. "He won't come back to training as things stand, Kingsley."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Kingsley replied.
"But you can stop that," Ginny urged. "You're the Minister, Kingsley. You can change the rules if you want to."
"No Ginny, I can't," Kingsley said with a shake of his head. "I also have rules to follow. I am disappointed that Harry won't be joining us, as he would make a great Auror."
"He really would," Ginny interjected eagerly. "He would be the best you could have. He'd certainly beat the losers you've got working for you now. He's ten times better than any of the morons he was doing training with. He's Harry Potter, for Merlin's sake."
"I am aware of who he is," Kingsley said coldly. "And his fame does not give him the right to subvert the rules. He did not pass his end of year exams during his past training; therefore he has to start again. That is my final word, Ginny."
"I wonder what the press will make of this," Ginny hissed as she got to her feet. "What do you think they'll say when they learn you've denied Harry Potter the chance to become an Auror."
"Do not threaten me, young lady," Kingsley hissed angrily. "You go to the press if you want, but the Ministry's stance on this subject is clear. I will not bend the rules for Harry. Now, if you don't mind, I have real work to do."
With a huff, Ginny reapplied her glamours and stormed out of Kingsley's office. Her meeting with Kingsley had not gone as she'd hoped, but she wasn't giving up just yet. Next up was Professor McGonagall, and if Kingsley wouldn't see sense, hopefully her former head of house would.
As with Kingsley, Ginny got in to see McGonagall via a little white lie. Arriving in Hogsmeade, she sent an owl up to the school, begging for a meeting with McGonagall to discuss a complaint regarding a member of her staff. Like Kingsley, McGonagall seemed eager to deal with the potential complaint as soon as possible and she allowed Ginny to come up to the school. When Ginny arrived at Hogwarts, one of the prefects was waiting for her, and he led Ginny up to the headmistress's office. Before entering the office, Ginny removed her glamours and her presence clearly stunned McGonagall.
"Ginny," McGonagall muttered. "What are you doing here? I'm afraid, I can't talk as I have someone coming to see me."
"That was me, I needed to get in to see you," Ginny explained.
"Oh, about what?" McGonagall asked, frowning at the deception.
"Harry," Ginny answered as she sat down in front of McGonagall's desk.
"What about Harry?"
"I want you to reconsider giving him a job," Ginny said. "We both know you couldn't find a better Defence Professor."
"I agree, Harry would have been a good candidate if there was a job on offer," McGonagall said. "But as I explained to Harry, the position is filled. I have a Defence Professor."
"But he can't be a patch on Harry," Ginny argued. "How can anyone possibly be better than Harry. He defeated Voldemort for crying out loud. Just what has the loser you've got working for you now achieved?"
"My Defence Professor has years of practical experience," McGonagall replied, giving Ginny a questioning look.
"Well if he's got years of experience, then he must be some old fossil you can pension off," Ginny declared.
"Pension off?" McGonagall scoffed. "My Defence Professor is not yet forty. He is young, vital, knows his stuff and most importantly of all, he's a valued member of my staff."
"If he's so good, then move him to another subject," Ginny urged. "What about Potions? With Snape dead, Slughorn must want to retire again."
"I have a new Potions Professor," McGonagall replied. "Not that it would matter even if I didn't have that post filled. I am quite happy with my staffing arrangements and there is absolutely no question of me sacking a member of my staff to make room for Harry."
"But surely it would be to Hogwarts credit to have Harry on the teaching staff, he's a hero. He saved our world," Ginny protested.
"He did, and everyone will always be grateful to him for what he did. But let's not forget, other people fought in that war. He wasn't the only one to face the Dark Arts and emerge triumphant. In other circumstances, he would have been a fine addition to the staff, but not right now when I am fully staffed."
"You're making a mistake, Professor," Ginny cried. "I don't care who you've got working for you, he's not as good as Harry. You need Harry."
"I do not need Harry," McGonagall said sternly. "Nor do I need you trying to reorganise my staff. Goodbye, Ginny."
Furious as to how the meeting had gone, Ginny stormed from McGonagall's office. She didn't even bother to reapply her glamours as she flew through the castle at top speed and the second she was free from the castle, she apparated back to Grimmauld Place. Her day had not gone according to plan, but she wasn't ready to give up just yet. Maybe she should go through with her threat to Kingsley. Maybe she should go to the press and get them onside. After all, what would the wizarding world say if they discovered that their saviour, Harry Potter, was being denied jobs by both the Minister of Magic and the headmistress of Hogwarts?