"What are you doing here?" Harry growled, trying in vain to force his voice to come out even. While the scars on his hands had disappeared years ago, he still remembered how he got them. It was one of the many reasons that made it hard to look at Dolores Umbridge's smirking face without wanting to tear her withered body apart.

"I see we still have a problem controlling our temper," Umbridge said sweetly, making Harry's blood boil so much he was surprised it wasn't rising up as vapor through his skin. Umbridge continued to smile, as if daring him to yell at her like he used to.

His hatred for Umbridge, if anything, had intensified over the years since she had tried to take over Hogwarts. The image of her evil, toad-like face leering down on a poor, innocent woman, threatening to have a Dementor kiss her for being Muggle-born, for instance, was seared into his memory. Sick, twisted, blood-purity obsessed hag! Harry yearned to scream those things in her face. But he bit his tongue. He was not fifteen anymore, and he would not give Umbridge the satisfaction.

"I just meant," Harry said, immediately changing his tone. "I wonder what the Ministry could have done to deserve you staying on with them." Umbridge's smile faded slightly. "Besides, the busy schedule of a Ministry official must be hard for a 1,000-year-old to handle." If Umbridge was responsible for him not getting a job, then nothing he could say could make her do anything worse.

He saw her hand plunge into her hand into disgusting, pale pink robes. Her smile was gone completely, replaced by a horrible scowl that made her look even uglier. Harry didn't bother going for his wand. He could hold his own against Dolores Umbridge. Besides, he doubted whether anyone who worked there would stand for her to get into a duel in the Ministry itself.

"You insolent little-"

"Madam Umbridge?" Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep, booming voice came from behind Harry, cutting off Umbridge's insult. Within an instant, Kingsley's eyes whipped from Umbridge's hand in her pocket to Harry's forced smile. "I'm sure the Minister will require your assistance to prepare for the coming cabinet meeting, Senior Undersecretary. You should return to your office."

"It is not your place to tell me where I should and shouldn't go, Shacklebolt!" Umbridge snapped at Kingsley, before turning her gaze to glare at Harry again. He felt some vindictive satisfaction. Umbridge had obviously come because she knew Harry would try and get an explanation from Kingsley. Knowing Umbridge, he wouldn't have been at all surprised if she had been skulking around the Auror Headquarters for the past week, waiting for Harry to show up so that she could gloat. Not that it worked particularly well for her, Harry thought grimly. "And I might advise you to keep your offices clean. Dirt tends to attract..." Umbridge eyed Harry disgustedly. "Insects." She gave a regal huff and stalked away.

"Awful woman. Wish Marius would let her go," Kingsley commented when Umbridge was out of earshot. He turned his attention to Harry. "I believe I already know the answer, but why are you here, Harry?" Harry glared at Kingsley. At that moment, anything associated with the Ministry got on his nerves.

He quietly told Kingsley about the rejection letter, and the injustice of it. Kingsley said nothing as Harry made himself feel a little like a two-year old. However, at that point, Harry found that he didn't really care. He was not saying anything untruthful and he had every right to complain. To know exactly why he didn't get the job. To curse Umbridge into a million tiny pieces. Well, perhaps a little self-restraint when it came particular right wouldn't go amiss.

"I understand why you are angry, Harry," Kingsley said sympathetically. "What you must remember," he continued quickly as Harry opened his mouth to reply, "is that the Ministry of Magic is a government body. As with every such body, there are those who are more interested in their personal agendas than the good of the people," he finished grimly.

"Which is basically a flowery way of saying this place is full of corrupt politicians," Harry responded bitterly. Kingsley sighed, but did not disagree. Harry's annoyance with Kingsley was starting to disappear. He knew that if Kingsley had had his way, Harry would be working alongside Ron at that moment. "So why am I not getting the job?" he asked finally.

"You know the answer, Harry," Kingsley replied, jerking his head in the direction of the corridor Umbridge disappeared down. "Dolores Umbridge, while senior to me in the Ministry, is the most malicious, vengeful witch ever to set foot in this building," he explained. Harry gave Kingsley a look. Did Kingsley honestly think he didn't already know this? "Surprising though it may be, this makes her a very dangerous political enemy. And unfortunately, she fits that definition for you."

Harry didn't reply. He knew it. Of course, he was perfectly qualified. Nobody cared that he didn't finish his seventh year at Hogwarts. It was simply because Umbridge hated him. Never before had he felt such terrible loathing for the woman. But why was Kingsley going along with it? Didn't he have the say in who was hired in his own department? Maybe she threatened Kingsley, Harry thought, maybe she told he'd get fired if he didn't play along. Would Kingsley cave to that kind of blackmail?

"Umbridge would never dare to threaten me, and I would never put my own career ahead of the career of a deserving young witch or wizard." Kingsley seemed to read Harry's mind, and responded to his unspoken question with a fierce tone he had never heard from the old ex-Auror. "In any event, the Minister would never let me go for anything short of an assassination attempt against him. No doubt she would have preferred to have me dead set against your hiring, but she decided to target someone lower down the totem pole, whose specific responsibilities included the decision of whether to hire Harry Potter."

"Darius Praetorian." Harry knew who Umbridge's victim was before Kingsley said anything. Praetorian wasn't an Auror. He was just another Ministry politician who was only interested in his own career. He didn't care if someone deserved a job or not.

"Don't think too badly of him, Harry," Kingsley said, reminding Harry a little of Dumbledore. "As I'm sure you recall, Umbridge can be an intimidating woman. But yes, she pressured Darius into rejecting your application. She specifically insisted that it be on the grounds of unsatisfactory qualifications."

"Why is she even here? I thought she was carted off to Azkaban for being…well, Umbridge!"

"She was, Harry. However, she got her conviction overturned. She used the age-old excuse, claiming that she was hoodwinked by Voldemort. Yes, I know," Kingsley added preemptively as Harry's jaw dropped in indignation. "It's ridiculous, of course. But Umbridge was never a Death Eater, and she was never anywhere near Voldemort's inner circle, so it was easier for her to make the case that she didn't know what she was doing. She's been placed on probation for, well, probably the rest of her career, and her official duties have been limited, but unfortunately, she's still here, and she's become very close to the Minister. I'm sorry, Harry," Kingsley said finally. Harry sagged his shoulders. "But you're not out of the race yet," Kingsley added. "I think we can get your rejection overturned."

Harry looked away from Kingsley. He didn't feel ready to start discussing how to claw his way into a job at the Ministry. Would it always be like this? People who didn't like him constantly trying to stab him in the back? Constantly trying to hinder his career? He still remembered the Ministry's smear campaign against him and Dumbledore. Would there be mini versions of that happening all throughout his life? He couldn't do that to Ginny and Teddy. Drag them into a whole mess of political games just to get his dream job.

"Kingsley, if I become an Auror, nothing's going to change," Harry said, not meeting Kingsley's eye. "Umbridge will still be here, trying to interfere with every promotion or appointment I might get. And it won't just be her. I doubt I've made many friends here over the years." He turned to Kingsley and sighed wearily. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, Kingsley, but I have a family to think about. I'm sorry, but it just doesn't seem worth it." With that, Harry started to walk away from the only ambition he had ever considered.

"Harry, if you leave now, you'll lose the opportunity of a lifetime," Kingsley said.

"The opportunity of a lifetime?" Harry asked incredulously. Was Kingsley just another Ministry stooge? Did he feel that the Ministry was right, in spite of what it had done? What it was still doing?

"To change this place," he added. Harry stared. "The Ministry may be, as you put it, 'full of corrupt politicians,' but there are also many dedicated people trying to make the world better for wizards and Muggles. We need more of those people, Harry. We can step into my office if you want to talk more," Kingsley offered, stepping aside and gesturing down the hallway.

"Ah, Kingsley...I mean, Mr. Shacklebolt? Ugh, not sure what to call you n-" Ron stopped dead as he exited the Auror Headquarters. Kingsley looked from Ron to Harry and back to Ron, obviously confused by the sudden tension in the atmosphere.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Kingsley quietly offered to wait in his office if Harry was still interested, and disappeared down the hallway. The two friends stood alone in the quiet corridor, refusing to meet each other's eyes.

"So... Kingsley's getting you the job, eh?" Ron asked eventually, with a brave stab at a smile. To Harry, it looked like he was having severe diarrhea. "That's, um, that's good. I mean, you should have gotten the job in the first place, I mean..." Harry nodded curtly. He knew he was being petulant, but somehow couldn't help it. I need to grow up, he decided.

"Ron, really, it's fine," Harry said, forcing himself to look at Ron. I can't keep taking this out on him, Harry thought. He wasn't going to rain on Ron's parade, especially since Ron hadn't done anything wrong. "Look, I just need to talk to Kingsley for a second. Yeah, I might get the job if I play my cards right, apparently."

"That's great, mate." Ron replied, sighing heavily. Harry raised an eyebrow, at which point Ron's ears started to redden. He knew Ron would have been in good spirits over him getting the Auror job, but what emotion was this? Relief? "That's really great," Ron repeated.

Harry nodded. Ron imitated him. Giving a grunt (Ron again copying him), Harry walked past him into the office. Ignoring the fairly conspicuous sigh of relief from his best friend, Harry went to see what Kingsley had in mind for getting his rejection overturned.

"What are you doing here?!" Hermione cried in surprise. No, she thought, please, God, no. Not in a million years could fate have given her such a cruel surprise. The blond man sitting in front of her had an unflattering look of disbelief on his face, which Hermione imagined was similar to the one on hers.

Draco Malfoy was in her office to, apparently, get a job in her department. Suddenly, she flashed back to all the times he had antagonized her while they were at school together. She had managed to shrug it off at the time, but she didn't think she had the energy to go through it again. He can't, she thought desperately, this is a work environment. If he gets the job, I'll be his boss!

He had changed since Hogwarts, Hermione noticed. Draco was no longer rat-faced and rail-thin. He seemed to have gained quite a lot of muscle, and might have even been attractive if not for the annoying sneer on his face. However, he still had the same cold, gray eyes, and spoke with the same bored drawl.

"Granger? You're the head of this department?" Draco asked disbelievingly. Hermione shook her head, clarifying that she was the Deputy Head. "Ah, that makes more sense," he said, with the same smug, condescending tone she remembered from Hogwarts. Just lovely, Hermione thought with annoyance, he hasn't changed a bit.

"So, it's Malfoy, is it?" Hermione asked shortly, though there was no real need. She rifled through the CVs and found his. How on Earth did I miss this? "You don't seem to have an awful amount of experience," Hermione noted. This was a lie. Draco had completed a year-long legal apprenticeship, and had freelanced for a few private businesses over the years. Hermione saw that he had handled many lawsuits where employees' magic had gotten out of hand. Well, a job here is not about using fancy language to make a magical accident look smaller than it really was. Hermione found herself becoming desperate to find a reason to reject Draco.

"No? Every case I've worked on has been a success," Draco pointed out. Hermione saw that this was true. She shook herself. She couldn't let her personal feelings get in the way of her job. If Draco was qualified...she would have to hire him. But I do not want Draco Malfoy working in my department.

"Perhaps you would be more at home in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department? I can send your resume along and I'm sure Mr. Perkins will be able to slot you in for an interview," Hermione said, setting the parchment down. Draco shook his head, maintaining that he wanted a job there. Hermione gritted her teeth in frustration. "Why?" she managed to ask, not trusting herself to say any more.

To her surprise, Draco looked down. Suddenly, he looked incredibly depressed. Maybe I took it too far, Hermione thought guiltily. Maybe he has changed, and he's just nervous. It was a bit of a stretch, but it could have been true. Draco apologized, and tried to get his words together.

"It's just, my father...I'm sorry," Draco wiped the back of his hand across his eyes. Hermione slumped back in her chair slightly. No, he wasn't nervous. Draco Malfoy was the same lying piece of scum he had always been. "My father died the other day, and his dying wish was for me to...you don't believe a word of this, do you?"

Hermione was taken aback. Was he admitting that he was lying? The thought that Draco had changed entered her mind again. She remembered Harry saying that he had apologized, and even thanked him, before they left Hogwarts. Did that mean that Draco was a better person? Hermione tried to push these thoughts out of her head and continued reading Draco's CV.

"No, Mr. Malfoy, I think it's a pile of rubbish," Hermione answered tersely. Hermione, said a voice in her head, talk like you would to any other candidate! You have to be professional! "Why don't you tell me the real reason you want to work here." Draco considered her for a second.

"They're not giving me a job anywhere else," he replied with a shrug. Shocking, thought Hermione. "You know, son of a Death Eater and all. Every time someone realizes I'm Lucius Malfoy's son..." he trailed off, motioning his hand slicing off his head. In spite of everything, Hermione felt a pang of sympathy. She had heard of the problem, how those who were merely related to Death Eaters were facing a fair amount of discrimination. Yes, well, Draco Malfoy was a lot more than just related to Death Eaters!

Despite her misgivings, they continued the interview. To Hermione's annoyance, she found that Draco was likely overqualified for an internship. His experience seemed make him perfect for a job as a Wizengamot investigator in cases involving the misuse of magic. While this would place Draco in her office, he would technically work for the Wizengamot, which was completely independent from her department. Hermione was beside herself. Not only might she have to recommend Draco Malfoy for a job, but she wouldn't even have the satisfaction of being his boss!

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy." Hermione kept her thoughts to herself as the interview came to an end. Resolving to put off what to do about Draco's application, and simply glad that she didn't have to deal with him anymore, she motioned for him to leave. However, he did not budge. "Your interview is over," she said curtly.

"Aren't you going to tell me that I'll be hearing from you?" he asked, that annoyingly superior smile still on his face. Hermione felt her jaw clench. How can he still think he's better than me? I'm the one he's applying to for an internship!

"Malfoy, I walked out of a Divination class," Hermione said, smiling sweetly. "Now, while I may not have much talent for making up predictions while staring at soggy tea leaves, I think I know who's going to get a job in my department, and who isn't. Next!" she called, tossing Draco's CV aside. To her immense irritation, he continued to smirk at her.

The next interviewee was a young boy, around eighteen. As Draco passed the boy, he suddenly stopped and threw out his arm, blocking his path. The boy looked up at Draco, clearly intimidated.

"You're out of luck, I'm afraid," Draco said, turning back to Hermione. "She's completely in love with me." With that, he dropped his arm and left. The young boy looked nervously at Hermione, who wearily motioned him to come in. For some reason, Draco Malfoy was starting to get to her. He'll be thrilled, she thought savagely, it only took 11 years.

Author's Note: Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that there's a joke in here which was ripped off directly from Half-Blood Prince. You can call it plagiarism, but I prefer to think of it as narrative consistency. Anyway, I've decided to start including previews of the next chapter, which will hopefully encourage me to keep up this pace. Time will tell...

Preview:

He thought back to his conversation with Kingsley.

"As I mentioned, there is a way you can get the rejection overturned," Kingsley said in a low voice, keeping an eye on the office door.

"What?"

"Well, Darius said that you're not being accepted because you didn't finish your seventh year. It turns out you can do just that."

"Kingsley, if you think I'm going to go back to Hogwarts and sit in class with a load of seventeen-year-olds…"

"No, no, of course not. Have you heard of overage magical education?"

What the hell possessed me to go along with this? Harry asked himself, annoyed.