Chapter 26

A week had passed and already the oldest pupils of Hogwarts were counting the weeks until their next break from school. The professors were piling on the pressure, referring constantly to their upcoming NEWT examinations and increasing their workload accordingly. As a result, the 8th Year common rooms were generally quiet, with its students head down over their books or else absent in favour of the school library. Aside from their studies, the other topic of conversation among the mature students was careers. Professor Snape's announcement had caused much discussion amongst the group over their chosen jobs and possible career paths as each carefully considered their own future and then fretted once more over their prospective grades.

On their second Monday of term, Hermione Granger was just so engaged; reading, for the seventh time, the Ministry internship routes and then flicking back over the brochures on achieving subject mastery.

"It's just so hard to choose!"

Ron groaned, knowing his girlfriend had been over this more than a dozen times. Harry, meanwhile, tried to focus on his Charms essay, dipping his quill and endeavouring to not smudge the parchment. Seven years he had been doing this and he still couldn't write without getting ink all over his hands.

Nonetheless, he was distracted by his own thoughts on careers. For the last few years there had not been much point thinking about his job prospects. He didn't think he would live long enough to have one. He tried to picture himself doing something for the rest of his life but came up short. He thought about his skills; flying, defense, an uncanny ability to avoid death. Harry wasn't sure if they were great employment skills but being an Auror seemed to fit.

Being an Auror was all he'd ever really wanted to do. It was like fulfilling a legacy; he was duty-bound to help protect the Wizarding World. If he was an Auror, no one could stop him from going after the rest of the Death Eaters – he would be expected to. And if he was an Auror, he'd be trained to the highest standards in spell-casting and defense by the best duelers in the country. Harry couldn't deny that this sold it for him. He knew he wasn't bad at defense but he also recognised that he'd survived the war by a mix of ancient magic, a lot of help and some bloody good luck. He had no confidence in his actual ability to defend himself against dark wizards, despite his new apparent connection to the world's magic. It made him feel vulnerable. The same fear he had when they were horcrux hunting, that he would be captured and killed, still clung to him. More than anything, he did not want to feel afraid anymore.

"I've got to go for my meeting." Hermione announced, packing the brochures away in her bag to take with her to Professor Snape's office.

"I'll walk you down." Ron said standing up.

"See you later, Harry." Hermione said.

"Have fun." Harry smirked and she flicked his head in punishment as she passed.

Ron and Hermione headed down to the dungeons together, pausing to share a sneaky snog in a secluded corridor before Ron left his girlfriend at Snape's door.

"Miss Granger, have a seat." Professor Snape greeted warmly, gesturing her into the chair.

He filled a cup full of hot chocolate from his magical china set and allowed her chance to settle.

"Did you have an enjoyable Christmas break?"

She smiled. "Yes, it was lovely, thank you."

"I understand that you went to stay with your parents abroad."

Hermione noted how Snape always seemed to ask questions without actually asking them; like he was just stating what he already knew to be true.

"That's right, in Australia."

"Good weather?"

"Yeah, great, really hot. Ron came out to join me for a few days too which was nice."

"I assume you came back when you heard about the Death Eater attack."

Severus didn't miss how Hermione tensed. "Yes."

"Do you want to talk about the threat they made?"

"I thought we were supposed to be talking about careers."

"I am far less concerned about your ability to find a good career than I am about you having to handle a bunch of murderers threatening to kill you." The Professor said bluntly.

"To be honest, Sir, I think I'm more worried about the careers." Granger answered flippantly. "I mean, they aren't going to kill me when I'm at Hogwarts, are they?"

"No," Severus agreed. "They would never attempt to get into Hogwarts."

"So, I'm safe."

"I'm not sure that makes this a less harrowing experience. Have you experienced any flashbacks since Christmas?"

"None." Hermione said with some pride. "Really, Professor, in the grand scheme of things, this isn't such an issue. I was shaken up when it happened, but we already knew they were out there, and we were always going to be high profile targets. It's scary, but ultimately its just a threat, it doesn't really compare to all the horrific things that actually happened."

"Very well." Severus conceded, pouring more hot chocolate out. "So, your career options?"

"Well," Hermione perked up instantly, reaching into her bag to haul out the many information brochures she had and dumping them onto the desk with a thump. "I've been doing some research."

"Some?" Snape raised an eyebrow at the amount of paperwork the girl had produced.

"I like to be thorough." The Gryffindor grinned, unashamed. "So, I've been looking into academic masteries, but then I don't know which subject I would choose. I mean, Charms has always been my passion but ancient runes is just so interesting and that could lead to a profession in warding." She shuffled through her papers. "But then there's also wandlore and spell design apprenticeships, or the Ministry internship. I always swore I wouldn't work for the Ministry because it was filled with all those Umbridge and Malfoy types and was so horrendously corrupt, but obviously things are changing there now. With Kingsley in charge there's so much opportunity to make changes and lasting influences. Just think of the impact we could have on blood equality and species welfare. We could change laws and reduce the muggle-born pay gap. Think of the difference we can make in the lives of sufferers of lycanthropy or in the treatment of house-elves." Severus smiled at the young Gryffindor's enthusiasm. "Wouldn't it be incredible? Of course, this is assuming I get the grades I need."

"I think we can safely assume that you will achieve the required NEWT level to go into any profession you desire."

"Okay, but which profession?" Hermione asked, somewhat desperately.

"I can't tell you which career to choose, Miss Granger, but I can tell you that it's important to do something you're passionate about. And I can tell you what you just spoke most passionately about."

Hermione looked at him curiously.

"You want to make a difference, Miss Granger. All of the other things, the academics, the magic studies, they interest you, but it is not where you thrive. You have always been passionate about helping others."

"You think I can really do all of that?"

"I believe you can do anything you put your mind to."

On Wednesday evening, Severus was once again in his office, working on lesson plans while he waited for Draco. He was still furious with Minerva for making him do the careers talks with the final year students. It was supposed to be done by their Head of House and it was supposed to have been done already in their 5th Year. Minerva, however, felt that it would be appropriate for the students to revisit their career meetings given that the wizarding world had changed dramatically in the last few years. Severus thought that if that was what the Headmistress thought was appropriate then she should be the one to have to sit through the 12 different careers meetings.

A knock on the door heralded Draco's arrival and the young Slytherin walked in, full of that usual Malfoy pride but untainted by the arrogance that had previously been present.

"Hello, Uncle Severus."

"Come in, Draco." He invited. "How are you? I haven't had an opportunity to speak with you since before Christmas." Severus began once the boy was settled.

"Well, you've been hiding away since I got back from the Manor."

"I have been working." Severus corrected. "And how is your mother?"

"Fine." Draco picked at invisible lint on his blazer.

"Draco."

"Yes?" He raised a sardonic, blonde eyebrow.

Severus sighed. "I realise your mother is not easy to be around at this point in time." Draco made a scoffing noise. "This is a period of adjustment for her, for all of you."

"I know."

Severus narrowed his eyes at the boy's flippancy but decided to move on. "So, tell me about your career options."

"Options? Do I have any options?"

"You have exceptional grades in every one of your subjects, of course you have options."

"I never used to have any options." Draco said softly. "It was all decided for me. I had to follow my father's footsteps. I was to take over the family assets, live off the family estate, go into politics and live up to my family name." Draco laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. "Not that there's any 'family name' to live up to now."

"That means you have an opportunity, Draco, to choose who you want to be."

"But I don't know. I don't even know what I want to do."

"That's why we are having this meeting, Draco. To help you decide what you want to do."

"Right."

"You have always shown an aptitude for Potions. Would an academic mastery interest you?"

"Perhaps. To be honest, I was always more interested in sabotaging Potter's potions than I was in creating my own."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me."

"I find Ancient Runes more engaging."

"Very well, that is one possible direction for you then. There are also a number of Ministry internships."

The young Slytherin gave his professor a dark look. "They are never going to let me work at the Ministry."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Severus countered. "I never thought I would be allowed to stay on at Hogwarts, yet here I am."

"That's different. You were a spy, you're a bloody war hero. It's well-known that I was one of his followers; that I took his mark."

"And it's well-known that you were a child and that you were bullied and threatened into taking the dark mark. If people didn't believe that, you wouldn't have been found innocent."

"There's still a big difference between not sending me to jail and letting me in the Ministry with this on my arm." He thrust his sleeve up his left forearm revealing the faded, mottled scar of the Dark Lord's mark.

"Just don't rule anything out." Severus said. "The Ministry is changing under Shacklebolt, if you wanted it, you'd get a fair shot there. I realise you are in a difficult situation, but you also have an opportunity at a life you never thought you could have. You have choices now. You have the power to do things differently, Draco. You can restore the pride to your family name."

Draco was soon replaced by Harry, who sat before Severus looking refreshed after the winter break.

"Let's start with your career plans."

Harry flattened down his hair with one hand, feeling uncomfortable. He was embarrassed to talk to Snape about his plans to join the Auror Corp. Maybe Snape would think his dream was stupid. Maybe he wasn't good enough.

"Anything in particular you are thinking of?" Severus pushed when Harry didn't say anything.

"I thought I might apply for Auror training."

Severus had expected it, but hearing Harry say that he intended to join one of the Wizarding World's most dangerous professions still settled like lead in his stomach.

He dragged a hand down his face and groaned, "Dear God, why?"

"Why not?" The boy-saviour asked defensively.

"Haven't you done enough? You have been fighting dark wizards throughout your childhood, your whole life. Can't you leave it to someone else now?"

"You don't think I'm good enough."

Severus saw the boy's shoulders droop disappointedly. "Of course, you are. You have the best Defence scores in the class, not to mention your real-life experience. I simply don't understand why you would want to continue that."

Harry ensured his mental shields were in place, protecting himself once more. He didn't know how to explain the obligation he felt to follow in his father's footsteps and to continue to protect this world he had saved.

"It's just something I've got to do."

Severus sighed, adjusting the cuffs of his frock coat. "I've spent the last seven years trying to keep you alive and now that danger is gone you are determined to find some new way to end your existence."

"Well, what else would I do?" Harry answered flippantly. "It's the only thing I'm good at."

"That is categorically untrue." The professor said sternly. "You are adept in many areas of magic, you have good leadership qualities and teaching skills. You are a skillful flyer. You could play professional quidditch." Harry scrunched up his face. "You like quidditch."

"I love quidditch. I don't want to ruin that by turning it into a job. Plus, I really don't need to be any more famous than I already am."

Sometimes Severus could not believe he had been so blind to this boy's true nature. To have ever thought that Potter was proud and enjoyed his notoriety seemed ridiculous when he looked at the painfully modest young man before him.

"Your mind is made up then? You will become an Auror."

"I mean, I'm going to apply. I've got to get a place on the programme yet."

Severus rolled his eyes at Harry's insecurities. "I highly doubt there will be a problem there. You're on first name terms with the Minister for Magic for one thing."

Harry frowned. "I don't want to get in like that. I should earn my place like everyone else."

"Then I'm sure you will." Severus said with some resignation.

The ex-spy took a moment to refill their mugs with steaming mint tea and then sat back in his chair.

"Will you continue your story of last year?"

Harry finished his sip of tea and put his mug back down on the desk, nodding. "Yeah, okay. We're nearly at the end, might finish quite late though."

"We can keep going for as long as you wish."

"Okay," Harry took a deep breath and felt the magic zip between his finger tips. He flexed his hand discreetly. "It was my fault we were caught by the Snatchers…"