CHAPTER THIRTY: Career Choices
The weekend went by in a blur for Ron. Before he knew it, it was Monday morning and he was getting ready to leave the house for his Auror examination. Though he had studied much harder then he had for anything else in his life, he was nervous – so nervous he barely finished a single piece of toast, even knowing later he would regret not eating more.
Harry looked just like he did before a Quidditch match. He sat at the table not saying much and putting more effort into pushing the scrambled eggs around his plate than actually eating them.
Hermione was doing much the same thing, but when their eyes met she gave him a tiny smile. Her mood had changed considerably since she had received the ministry job offer letter. She was eager to help him and Harry study, and offered them hints or advice wherever she could. Though she had told them she wasn't completely convinced she was going to take the job, she agreed to an interview when a second owl arrived later the next day. Her interview was scheduled during the time they were supposed to be writing their Auror exam, and that had almost been enough to make her ignore the offer altogether. She had talked to Tonks, who had informed her there was a second batch of examinations scheduled later on in the day, because they wanted to minimize the numbers of those writing the exam in one room. The matter was settled then. She would attend her interview in the morning and then Tonks would bring her back in the afternoon so she could sit the written exam and then take the practical one. Ron prayed that her interview would go well enough she would decide not to sit the examination.
Ginny was the only one who was eating normally. She had gotten up to wish them luck, but right now Ron wished she hadn't because the sight of her eating was making him rather nauseous.
"Is that the article about Hogwarts closing?" She asked Hermione between mouthfuls of cereal.
The other girl nodded and passed her the paper. "Go on, I've already read it over twice. It's still hard to believe it's really closed," she said sadly.
Ron got up and looked over his sister's shoulder at the paper, while Harry shuffled his chair closer to Ginny's. Without meaning to, his hand came to lie beside hers, just barely touching it. She didn't look at him, but a small, almost undetectable smile formed on her face as she began reading the front page of the paper.
There was a large picture of Hogwarts covering the front page with the caption underneath:
Hogwarts Closes its Doors for the First Time in 300 Years
Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy announced this morning that the school would be closed indefinitely. The Headmaster does not wish to put the lives of his students in any unnecessary danger after the attack on Hogsmeade village, where some students were killed and dozens more injured in the surprise Death Eater attack. All students attending Hogwarts were sent home immediately after the attack on the wizarding village, only receiving word last night that they would not be returning to finish their year.
Since it is well known that Hogwarts is protected by centuries old magic by some of the most powerful wizards (and witches) of our time, it leads to speculation as to Albus Dumbledore's rash decision. Without question, Dumbledore, a decades old member of the Order of Merlin – First Class, has always put the welfare of his students above all else, so if he believes the school is no longer safe then it is not for wizarding kind to question his decision. Of course, if a sanctuary like Hogwarts, which was kept open throughout You-Know-Who's last reign of power, is suddenly defenseless, it leaves the Daily Prophet with only one conclusion – You-Know-Who is much more powerful now this time around.
At the request of the families, the Daily Prophet respects their wishes and will not release the names of any of the deceased students.
See page 2 for a list of You-Know-Who's speculated whereabouts and most recent Death Eater activity.
See page 3 for the Daily Prophet's exclusive report on why You-Know-Who is more powerful this time around.
See page 4 for the full story on why Headmaster Dejean closed Hogwarts the only other time in history during the Goblin revolt of 1614.
See page 5 to learn how you can provide a full magical education for your children right in your very home.
"They're making Hogwarts closing sound like the end of the world," noted Ron.
"It's not like they're exactly wrong," said Harry, his hand still resting next to Ginny's. "If a place like Hogarts isn't safe, then no one's really safe anywhere. I mean if Dumbledore's that worried about Voldemort planning an attack there, things could be a lot worse than they've been letting on."
"The Order, you mean?" Said Hermione.
Harry nodded. "Hermione, it's like what you said, with us here they don't have to worry about being overheard or us finding out about things they're trying to keep hidden. Voldemort is getting stronger. He's planning something."
"Your scar?" Ginny asked him.
"No worse than usual," he said to her, "but that doesn't mean something's not going on. He knows I can get in his head and see what he sees, so maybe he's figured out a way to block his murderous intentions from me."
"We'll all be of age next year and can join the Order," said Ron, forgetting about his sister. I'd like to see them try and keep us in the dark then."
"Thanks for reminding me of that, Ron," said Ginny miserably. "Then I'll be the only one out of the loop."
"Sorry, Gin, I forget. But we'll tell you everything," Ron promised her.
Tonks chose that moment to arrive and all talk of Hogwarts closing and Voldemort's plans stopped. She was going to be the one to take them to the Ministry since she had to go in for work anyways.
They had rarely seen much of her lately with all the extra hours she and Moody had been putting in due to the Auror shortage. Neither Tonks nor Moody would reveal how low the numbers were, but when you had to work a fourteen hour day seven days a week, that was definitely not a good sign. Aurors had always been in short supply that it could take years to recover from Fudge's latest scandal. The wizarding world could not wait years. They needed a solution – and fast.
"Ready to go?" Tonks said to the trio.
Hermione nodded while the boys looked extremely glum.
They said good-bye to Ginny, and then Lupin who was in the study before leaving with Tonks to catch the Knight Bus. In only a few hours time they would be back at Lupin's and it would all be over – good or bad.
At this hour in the morning, The Ministry of Magic was a zoo of activity to say the least. Witches and wizards who were going to be late for work, hurried towards available lifts, or scrambled towards stairwells, not wanting to wait. The security card, who was logging in visitors or ministry employees, did so at an extraordinary rate, so that the long line up the four of them were waiting in quickly diminished.
"State your business," the guard grumbled at Harry after Tonks had gone through.
"Writing the Auror examination," he answered, handing his wand over to be inspected.
The guard gave him a dubious look, likely because of his age, before handing him a visitor's badge and allowing him to pass.
"State your business," the guard said in the same monotone voice to Ron.
"The same," Ron replied.
This time the guard looked over at Tonks, but she simply nodded her head. Shrugging the guard took his wand and handed him a visitor's bade.
"You here for the same thing?" He asked Hermione when she approached the check in.
"No. My name is Hermione Granger, I'm scheduled for an interview with Jack Anderson in the Department – "
"You're early," he cut her off, reading a list in front of him.
"I know," she responded.
"As long as you don't mind waiting," he said and let her pass through, making a note on the list in front of him.
Once they had all passed the inspection point, Tonks led them towards a stairwell off to their right.
They passed by dozens of dazzling pictures of the wizards running for Minister of Magic, with their campaign promises listed underneath. Mr. Weasley's picture was smiling and waving. Every few seconds it would say things like "Equal rights for non-humans" and "Time for a Minister whose policy is honesty, not deception". A poster in the middle identified that coming Thursday as the vote for the next Minister of Magic, with a chart beneath listing available polling stations across Britain.
"The only way to reach the examination area is by stairs," Tinks explained to them. "All the examination rooms are held on the same floor in the sub level basement of the Ministry. Your wands will be transferred down there and when it comes time for the practical exam they'll be given back to you."
They had to walk down five flights of stairs before they had reached the bottom and could not go down any further. Tonks led them straight into the dreariest looking hallway Hermione had seen in her few visits to the Ministry. The walls were bear and looked to be made of concrete. They passed by enormous wooden doors with signs that read Magical Education Upgrading or Spell Doctorate Testing. She also noticed there were a number of doors that had no sign, just on an odd symbol on it that she didn't recognize. She also noticed there were doors marked OWL and NEWT Examination.
"It's for those kids that are home schooled," said Tonks, seeing where she was looking. "The parents or whoever else gives them their regular lessons, but they have to write exams here."
At the end of the hall there was a single door left marked Auror Testing Facility.
"This is where you go in. There's a waiting area you'll sit in until they call you in for the exam," she told them "You three will be on your own to get back to Remus's," she continued. "Even though it's a given, I'm going to say it anyways – stay together, okay? And while you're doing that, try to keep out of trouble."
It wasn't as if they purposely tried to get themselves into dangerous situations on purpose every time they were together, but they understood Tonks point and nodded their heads.
"When you're done, you'll meet Hermione back in the main reception area, since she'll be done before you," she told Ron and Harry. "Good luck and stop looking so dreadful. You'll do fine. Just think every question through logically. Think about what you would do in the actual situation. For the section on potions and antidotes I hoped you studied because you won't be able to fake your way through that."
Harry and Ron both paled.
"You both studied, you'll be fine," Hermione assured them. "Good luck." Without giving it any thought, she gave Ron a quick kiss, much to his shock and that of Tonks and Harry. They were never that open about affection in front of other people, but it was just Tonks and Harry, so she didn't see it as a big deal.
"Your interview will go great," Ron said to her. "He'd be a idiot not to give you the job."
"All right you two, break it up," Tonks said teasing. "This is a ministry regulated hallway after all."
Blushing furiously, they separated. Without looking back, Harry turned the door handle and they walked in, the door closing with a loud thud behind them.
As soon as they were gone, Tonks began leading Hermione back the way they came. Once they were back on the main level, they went to catch a lift. It wasn't so busy now, and they only had to wait a few moments for one to arrive. They stepped in and had the entire lift to themselves. Tonks hit the button for the fourth floor.
"I didn't say too much back there with the boys," the Auror began, turning to Hermione, "because I didn't want them to think I was mothering them – Merlin knows that's the last thing I want – but since you seem to be the most level headed and reasonable, though I'm not so sure now after what I witnessed down there – "
"Tonks!" Hermione cried indignant, her face reddening.
"Just keep them in line," she finished with a grin.
"Oh great, now I get to be the one to mother them," Hermione grumbled.
"You don't have to do that, but it has been awhile since any of you had any real freedom. I understand how frustrated you are by being stuck in that house for days on end, so enjoy it, but be careful," she said warily.
The lift arrived on their designated floor and they got off. They barely stepped into the hallway before Hermione caught sight of the door marked Department of Experimental Charms.
"Just go right in," Tonks told him. "Jack wouldn't mind that you're early."
"You know him?" Hermione inquired.
"Of course. He started back in February after the committee's previous director was murdered by Death Eaters. He comes down to the Auror offices a few times a month with improved charms or spells for us to try out when we're in the field. He's a smart bloke and rather good looking too. Takes his work seriously, though – so you should fit right in," Tonks finished with a wink.
She stepped back into the waiting lift, which closed its doors almost immediately, leaving Hermione alone in the corridor. There was no point in just standing there. Swallowing her nerves, she grabbed the brass handle to the door and walked in.
The Department of Experimental Charms was by no means glamorous, but it had a humble important look to it that Hermione was instantly drawn to. She could see how new it was. There wasn't a lot of furniture yet and there were boxes stacked in the corner. She told the friendly witch at reception she had an appointment with Jack Anderson but was early. She conjured a chair for Hermione to sit on and went to tell Anderson she was there.
When she returned, she said to Hermione, "he'll be with you momentarily."
Hermione nodded and smiled her appreciation, politely declining the receptionist's offer for a cup of tea.
She willed herself to calm down. There was no reason for her to be nervous. She had made sure to prepare for this. She had reviewed the more complex spells she had been taught at Hogwarts and through the books Lupin had given them to study for the Auror examinations had learned a great deal more. She had also asked Ron's dad if he could get her any information on the Committee of Experimental Charms, so she would have a more sound idea of what they did. He had been able to grab whatever information the Ministry had deemed not classified, which was not a whole lot – but at least she wasn't going in completely blind. That didn't stop her from feeling like she could have done more to prepare.
A man in casual blue robes stepped out into the reception area then, his gaze falling immediately on Hermione.
"Hi, Hermione. I'm Jack," he introduced himself and stuck out his hand for her to shake.
"It's nice to meet you," she said politely, shaking his hand. "I know I'm early. I hope that's not a problem."
"Of course not," he said good-naturedly. "Why don't we go back to my office and talk?"
He led her in the direction he had come from and began apologizing for the state the department was in. "We just got settled in here almost two months ago and we're still waiting for the filing cabinets to put away all our research. When they packed up our committee room, the Ministry workers just threw everything in together, so we've had a hard time putting everything back where it belongs."
He showed her in to his office and she took the single seat in front of his desk. Their were boxes stacked neatly along the walls of the room, and there were three separate piles of folders stacked on his desk that he pushed aside so he could see her.
"We're still in the growth stage," he informed her. "Mostly everyone in here, including myself, are just starting off. A lot of the individuals who were on the original committee were approaching retirement and didn't want to take on a new project. Before, for the most part the committee would approve or disapprove, charms and spells other wizards had developed. We would do the occasional research and use previous ideas to develop new spells, but there wasn't enough people for that to be the main focus. Our purpose here is to study existing spells and use that knowledge to better the spell or come up with a new one entirely. A lot of it involves in-depth study into the magical properties that make a spell work. Hands on research is another big part of the job, and occasionally testing to see if what we've developed actually works. That tends to be a bit more on the hazardous side of things," He explained. "I hope you don't mind but I looked through your Hogwarts transcript, read the recommendations of your Professors before I even contacted you."
She didn't mind at all. She had figured as much herself. She didn't have anything to hide anyways, except the incident with Cho back in December. She was sure Snape wouldn't have passed up the opportunity to destroy her clean record. "It's your job to thoroughly research each person you consider for this job. You need to ensure they're qualified." She wasn't sure if she should have said that last part. If she was up against other candidates they were likely to have years of experience over her. Merlin, what had she been thinking? She was in way over her head. There was no way he was going to select her when she didn't even have a completed magical education. It didn't matter how high her marks were.
"I'm glad you don't mind. Some people don't like having their record dug up. It makes them uncomfortable. Though I can see why it wouldn't bother you." He looked down at the piece of parchment on his desk. "You're at the top in all your classes, you made prefect, and your OWL scores were the highest in your year. But you're dad pulled you out of Hogwarts back in January, is that right?"
"That's correct," she replied.
"Did you try to continue with your studies after that?"
"I brought all my books with me. I would try and study whenever I had the chance."
"Are you still continuing with that now?
"Yes. My former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher from Hogwarts is educating me now."
"Aside from what you've done in school, you have absolutely no experience. You also haven't completed your NEWTs or the other wizarding tests required to take on a job of this magnitude. What makes you think you'll be able to perform here?"
It was a brutally honest question that he had every right in asking, and the only way she knew how to answer without stuttering or sounding foolish was to be honest back. "Examinations and grades can only tell you so much about a person. There's a difference between being able to write an essay on shield charms and actually being able to conjure a strong, working one when you're under a pressure and wasting time thinking about it could get you killed. I'm a fast learner, as you probably read in my transcript, which means I could break down a spell to its most simple components and use that to improve the current comprehension of it or build solutions and other spells. I learned in Arithmacy that spells are really just equations. If you take the time to see them at their simplest elements you can understand how they work. I may only have academic experience, but I know I could do this job as well as anyone else."
Anderson looked impressed with her response, and she couldn't help but feel the interview was going in her favour.
"Tell me about the sacrificial and life-bonding spells you managed to accomplish."
She felt her stomach plunge. She should have known if he could get a hold of her school records he would do a background check to see if she had a Ministry record. Though the charge had been dismissed, there would probably still be a record of it somewhere. The excitement she had been feeling was replaced by dread. She suddenly realized how badly she wanted this job and there was no way he was going to hire someone who blatantly ignored magic labeled as forbidden and dangerous and went ahead and did it anyways. He wished he would just save her the humiliation and ask her to leave now. "What do you want to know?" She asked, struggling to keep her voice from giving anything of what she was feeling away.
"For starters, how did you even find out about a spell that no one has tried in the last century?"
"I used the Restricted Section of the library at Hogwarts and began doing research."
"Why?"
"Because my mother had just been murdered in a Death Eater attack and I didn't want the same thing to happen to my friends," she said bluntly. "I wanted to protect them."
"The fact that wizards and witches with experience well beyond yours and were still never able to perform one successfully, didn't make you think you shouldn't do it?"
"I knew I could make it work," she told him, knowing that everything was over anyways. "The others who had tried it had only done it out of necessity, or as an experimental application. I reasoned that they failed because they never had any personal connection to the subject in question. In order to share a life force or a soul if the situation arose, that bond makes the difference. Based on what happened, the person's life that I was able to save, I believe that to be correct."
"If you had to do it all over again, would you still do it?" Anderson asked, leaning forward.
She thought about Ron and answered without hesitation, "yes."
Anderson was nodding his head as if in approval. "I'm glad that's your answer because otherwise I would have shown you the door and I really didn't want to do that."
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean," Hermione said in confusion. In her mind he should have kicked her out long before then.
He chuckled. "I'm sure that wasn't what you were expecting to hear, so let me explain myself. The work we're doing here requires an enormous amount of ingenuity and initiative – the willingness to take risks because there's something much greater at stake. That's not to say we proceed blindly without any regard for procedure. There is protocol to be followed – we wouldn't be alive if there wasn't. But we want someone who doesn't stop just because they were told it can't be done. They'll view every challenge as a step towards bettering the magical world, whether it be something as complex as a cloaking charm for Aurors or something as simple as a spell that keeps two day old food fresh. If you think that you'd be able to do that – that you would want to do that – then I promise you, you'll love every minute you're here."
She was unable to keep the excitement out of her voice. "Are you saying I've got the job?"
"I still have to talk it over with Cecily – she was the assistant director of the original committee – but I have a feeling she should be fine with it. It will be one less position for her to try and fill."
He began talking to her about some of the projects they were currently working on, and giving her information on the others in the department. She took it all in eagerly. Any previous notions of going through with the Auror testing purged from her mind. This was where she could do the most good in the fight against Voldemort. She was convinced of that.
Harry left the practical part of the Auror exam feeling completely drained. The written exam had been exhausting enough, but once that was over each person was assigned to a different Auror and an illusion charm was placed on their section of the room, so no one could see what they were being asked to do and cheat from it.
As Harry was sure had happened with everyone else, he was put through over an hour's worth of practice throwing and defending against various spells. The final test had been to conjure a perfect patronus that would destroy the boggart hidden in a trunk. As always, Harry's had turned into a Dementor, but he battled it away with ease. He had a feeling his instructor was the most impressed with that. After each test, his instructor would scribble down something on what Harry assumed to be a scorecard. When it was over, the Auror directed him out of the testing area and back out into the waiting room. He sat there for a few minutes before Ron came out and joined him. Neither one said a word as they trudged wearily down the corridor and back to the stairwell. It appeared that Ron was just as worried about how the testing had gone. Harry was sure he hadn't done that great on the written portion, so he prayed the practical part was worth much more.
Hermione practically flew towards them when she saw them emerge from the stairwell. If there was ever any doubt that her interview had not gone well it was erased then.
"Well? How was it?" She asked them immediately.
"I don't think I did that well on the written," Harry admitted. "I hope my practical mark makes up for it."
"They asked the most screwed up questions on that test," Ron said. "Harry, remember the one that said, 'if you found yourself caught in an impossible situation and had to make a choice, who would you kill – your mother, your father or yourself. What the hell kind of question is that?"
"A psychological one," said Hermione. "They want to know how you would react under pressure. It can also reveal a lot about who you are. If you picked your mother it would suggest you have issues with abandonment, while picking your father would imply the absence of a strong male figure in your life. If you choose yourself it shows your willingness to give your life to save others."
Ron gaped at her. "I think it's safe to say I missed the point entirely on that one."
"Did you interview go well?" Harry asked her, not wanting to talk about the exam anymore.
"It was brilliant!" She exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "He had all my records from Hogwarts and it was going really well, until he brought up the sacrifice spell we did – no, wait let me finish. I thought I lost any chance I had at a job but he said that was the kind of dedication and ingenuity necessary for modifying and creating spells."
Harry was frowning. "If he thinks it's all right to mess around with unstable magic, maybe this job isn't such a good idea."
"It's not like he was approving of what I did," she said dismissively. "He wanted to see that I wasn't willing to back down from a challenge when there was something great to be achieved from it."
There was something about that that bothered Harry. "Still…" he trailed off seeing Ron was shaking his head and mouthing for him shut up.
"I told you you'd get the job," Ron said, his voice proud.
"Nothing's for sure yet," she reminded him. "He still needs to talk it over with the assistant director of the committee."
"Are you kidding me? He just said that so you wouldn't start jumping up and down, begging to start working right then and there."
She hit him playfully on the shoulder and he grinned lopsided at her.
"Can we get something to eat? I'm starved," Ron complained, slipping one arm around Hermione's waist.
"We could be back at Remus' in twenty minutes – "
"Nothing against Remus, Hermione, but we haven't been out of that house for more than an hour since we got there – and playing Quidditch out in the back doesn't count. What do you say, Harry? There's that whole section they built up so the ministry staff could go to there for lunch."
One look at Harry told Hermione he was going to side with Ron on this one. Tonks warning came to mind then, but she too was finding a hard time seeing the harm in finally getting to eat a meal in a different location. And if Harry and Ron made it into the Auror program they were going to be spending a lot more time out in the open, alone.
Harry and Ron had to give their wands back after the examination, so the three of them collected their wands and handed back their visitor badges before heading back up to the surface. A short walk from the red telephone booth was a road that led to a tunnel that was blocked off. There were warning signs up all around that said Under Construction: Keep Out! They ignored these warnings and crossed the barrier that would take them to a decent sized wizarding shopping area. Despite how the sky looked ready to open up and pour down on them any second, the streets were filled with eager shoppers and Ministry employees looking for a place to eat at.
"My dad ate at the Mad Scotsman one time," Ron said to them. "He said it was good."
Not knowing any of the other places there, they decided to take Mr. Weasley's word for it.
They found it next to a teashop, and there was already a large group of people lining up outside to get in.
"I thought it was strange that there were so many people our age there to sit the exam," said Harry as they walked to the back of the line.
"Hey, I noticed that too. Do you reckon – " Ron stopped talking and glanced at Hermione, who had gone stiff beside him. "What is it?"
"I think we're being followed," she said in a low voice.
He and Harry exchanged worried looks. "Are you sure it's not someone from the Order?" Ron asked her.
"I can't be sure," she answered. "But Tonks did tell us we'd be on our own, unless she didn't want us to know we were being watched."
"We're not hanging around to find out," said Harry, his face grim.
Trying to look as natural as possible, they slipped away from the Mad Scotsman and into the busy streets.
"Can you still see him?" Harry asked her.
"Yes," she answered, looking over her shoulder. "I only see the one. There might be more though."
If there was any doubt that they were being followed, it was erased when they saw the wizard in the dull brown robes match their pace to catch up with them. It was definitely not someone from the Order, and Harry knew Moody no longer trusted the Aurors enough to watch him. He came to a decision while pushing his friends down an alleyway out of sight.
"We need to split up," he said immediately.
"That is the absolute worse thing we could do!" Hermione protested. "We stand a better chance against them if we're together."
"Hermione, don't argue with me on this," he said, sharply. "It's me they're after. If there is more than one, they'll split up and probably have most of them follow after me."
"What if they all go after you? What then, Harry?"
"I don't know," he answered, running a frantic hand through his hair.
Ron severely disliked this plan. "Harry, we should – "
"Ron, we don't have time to argue," Harry silenced him. "Go with Hermione and get as far away from here as possible."
"Harry, this is insane – "
"Do it," he said, his eyes burning emerald orbs. "And don't go to Lupin's until you're sure you haven't been followed."
He then stepped back out into the streets and Hermione lunged for him, but Ron held her back to keep her from being spotted. They quickly lost sight of Harry in the massive crowd, and it was hard to tell from their position if he had been followed.
"Ron, we have to go after him."
"I hate it as much as you do, but he's right. Whoever they are, we stand a better chance if their numbers are divided. Hermione, Harry will be all right. He can take care of himself." His voice was urgent because he knew they had to move before they were discovered.
It took a bit more coaxing but he finally convinced her to leave. They started running down the alley, knowing that any more time wasted could end up costing them their lives.
