February 10, 2010

A week to the day of Allbright's resignation, Harry walked into the law division to join Hermione for lunch as he always did. He came upon a scene of Hermione in fight mode, facing Gareth Hamilton; raised chin, dilated eyes, fists clenched tightly at her sides.

"You can't sack me, I already quit!" she declared angrily and marched to her office.

"You might as well forget about a reference from me!" Hamilton called after her.

"I neither want nor need a bloody thing from you! I'll be gone within the hour!" she called out as she walked away.

Katie and Clarice followed quickly. Hamilton suddenly looked embarrassed when he saw none other than Harry Potter standing there with a single raised eyebrow. Harry gave him a sardonic look from head to toe, cleared his throat, and continued to Hermione's office. He had heard enough about the man from Hermione over the course of the week.

"What's going on?" Harry asked when he came into her office.

"Hamilton's a prat of the highest order, and I can't put up with the hostile work environment he's created here. I know I'm not the only one who thinks so," she said, glancing at Katie.

Hermione's sudden resignation wasn't the only surprise of the day. That night, Ron came into the dining room flourishing a stack of parchment.

"I bought a house today!" he declared. "And I have another bit of news. I announced to the Cannons that I'm resigning at the end of the season."

Harry dropped his fork. "Why in the world would you do that?!" he asked incredulously.

Ron grinned and handed him another set of papers. Harry read them, shuffled some pages back and forth, and rose to shake his hand with a smile.

"The training's tough, but you can do it. They're always in need of good wizards."

"What's going on?" Hermione asked.

"Ron's joining the Hit Wizards," Harry said.

Hermione stared at him in shock. Why would he give up Quidditch? The next day, Ron's decision made The Daily Prophet Quidditch section's headline.

STAR KEEPER TO RESIGN!

Ron Weasley, hero of the Voldemort War and star Keeper for the resurgent Chudley Cannons, announced that he will resign from the team at season's end. He plans to pursue a new career as a Hit Wizard with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Teammates were reportedly "gobsmacked" at the announcement and the owner of the Cannons, Miles Miller, had only this to say:

"The Cannons are saddened at Ron's decision to depart at the end of the season. Ron is the hardest working player and the heart of the team. We wish him only the best in his new career."

Ethan Marksen, Head Coach and General Manager for the Cannons, had this to say:

"It's been a joy to coach a player with such a love for the sport as Ron Weasley. Thanks in large part to his leadership on the pitch, the Cannons have ranked within the top five spots for the past six years, a first since 1872. He's working diligently with Hayden Grassley, the reserve Keeper, who shows great promise as next season's new starting Keeper. As Mr. Miller said, we wish him the best of luck."

February 18, 2010

She took a large bite of eggs and tossed the papers aside.

"Don't stress, I'm sure something will come up. It's only been a week," Harry said.

"It just feels odd to be out of work," Hermione said, swirling her eggs in jam.

Harry avoided looking at her plate, which was happening more and more these days. She craved the oddest food combinations, like this morning's eggs covered with jam. What would today's lunch bring- a pickle and peanut butter sandwich? She seemed to like it yesterday. Or spaghetti topped with raisins? Okay, creative but disgusting.

"Relax and enjoy your free time," he said. "Why don't you take Ginny and see that new baby store you were telling me about. She may even let you steer Hermione's pushchair."

" ," she deadpanned.

"While you're at it, you can show her your wedding gown, to share the thrill of finally finding it," he added.

"You're wonderful, you know that?" she asked.

"I have my moments," he quipped.

At the newly-opened Baby Magic, Hermione babbled to Ginny and paid for a set of crib sheets.

"...and since we don't know whether it's a boy or girl, we decided to go with green. Hey, are you hungry?"

"Sort of," Ginny said warily, wondering what culinary horror Hermione was going to concoct that day.

At The Burger Shack, she raided the salad bar to add olives, cucumbers, and Italian dressing to her cheeseburger. Not so bad as raisins on spaghetti, I suppose. It wasn't until Hermione took packets of honey from her handbag and dribbled it over her chips that prompted Ginny to speak.

"Hermione, seriously, you're putting me off my lunch."

"What?"

"You carry honey in your handbag?"

"Well, I might need some. You never know with these things."

"You're insane."

"Humor me, I'm pregnant and unemployed."

"Which would be a problem if you were anyone else."

"Remind me why we're friends?"

"Because you shagged my brother? By the way, you have a bit of olive there on your lip."

After lunch, Hermione revised (again) her c.v. when an owl arrived with a letter. It was addressed to her from the London Wizarding College, her alma mater. She looked at her Mage Science diploma on the wall and realized it would be nine years this May since she received the diploma.

London Wizarding College

School of Legal Studies

London, UK

Dear Miss Granger,

London Wizarding College has a position available in our School of Legal Studies. Based on your qualifications and experience, we feel that you would be ideal to instruct our Creatures and Beings Law course, as well as the Wizengamot foundation course. We look forward to hearing from you, so feel free to reply at your earliest convenience at the above listed address.

Master Aiden McDonald

Department Chair, College of Legal Studies

Senior Professor of Criminal Law

When Harry arrived home and hung his cloak in the foyer, Hermione hurried to him and tackled him in a hug before he exited the foyer. Her excited eyes were shining and she was clutching a letter.

"Look!" she said and gave him the letter.

He read the letter and chuckled. "I bet you already replied, didn't you?"

"Of course I did, this is a dream come true!" she exclaimed and hugged him again.

The next day, she met Katie and Clarice for lunch at The Leaky Cauldron. She adored the deep bowls of thick, tasty stew which she thought of as a perfect meal for a hungry, pregnant woman.

"So, how are things in the dungeon?" she asked.

"Hamilton's pride took a beating when you left, so he's making up for it," Katie said.

"Yeah, he sacked two clerks," Clarice said. "I could be next on the chopping block."

"He needs a good reason to sack you, that's Ministry procedure, not because he just feels like it," Hermione said.

"You remember Noonan?" Katie said.

"In Contracts?" Hermione asked.

"He's on employment probation now," Katie said.

"What the hell is employment probation?" Hermione asked. "I've never heard of such a thing."

"Something Hamilton came up with to frighten us peons," Katie replied wryly. "I'm so fed up that I'm about pull a Granger."

"Pull...a what?"

"It's what we're calling what you did when you left," Katie said.

"I never thought I'd actually see something like that, I've only read or heard about it," Clarice said.

"You got any prospects?" Katie asked.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Hermione said and took the letter from the college from her clutch for them to read.

"You lucky hag! I hope you replied," Katie said.

"I'm meeting with the department chair tomorrow."

"Good luck with it," Clarice said.

"Speaking of new careers, what do you think of Ron's announcement?" Hermione asked.

She had an inkling that Katie had something to do with it, be it directly or indirectly.

"I was as surprised as everyone else, I thought he was joking about getting a real job," Katie replied, quoting the words with her fingers. "I told him he was nuts, Quidditch is a real job, it brings a pay packet, doesn't it? He just kissed me and said yes, but I'm your nut and off he went to the Ministry."

"Sounds just like him," Hermione said.

The next day, in the middle of a division meeting, Harry felt his mobile vibrate, indicating a message. He slipped the mobile from his pocket and read the text on front:

I got it!

He grinned and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

On Saturday morning at Murray's of 1898 Fine Printers, Hermione and her mother gushed over the finished wedding invitations.

"Is the order to your satisfaction?" the clerk asked.

"Very much so, thank you," Hermione said and took one from the box.

She turned it over to follow the trail of intricate, hand-painted flowers that flowed from front to back. That's funny; I didn't specify anything to be printed on the back. She read the inscription and put her hand to her mouth.

"Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over."

"Harry wanted it to be a surprise," Grace said and gave her daughter a tissue to wipe her eyes. "Now, let's go to that leaky place so that I can have a taste of the stew you've been raving about."

March 5, 2010

16 weeks

"I warmed the gel this time," Luke said and applied the gel to her stomach. As before, he pressed buttons to focus the image and started the exam.

"Hmm...she appears to be sucking her thumb," he said and stopped the probe when Hermione gasped.

"She?" she asked at a whisper.

"A little girl," Harry said, his face awed.

"I'm dreadfully sorry. I completely forgot that you didn't care to know the sex."

However, the couple didn't appear to be concerned. They only had eyes for each other. Luke cleared his throat and resumed the examination.

"She's approximately 11 centimeters long, the hair follicles have started to develop, and the ears and eyes are in the proper place. The circulatory system is almost completely developed, and her tooth sockets are forming. I'm perfectly satisfied with her development. Now, let's check out her mum."

He moved the probe around her abdomen. "Kidneys, bladder, stomach, and most importantly, the uterus, appear normal."

He closed the robe, printed two thermal images, and turned off the machine.

"I'll see you in my office in a few minutes."

That evening, Harry sliced the turnips and listened to Hermione excitedly talk to her mother on the phone.

"It just slipped out, but we're not angry, not at all. A girl! You should have seen Harry's face!"

"We have no idea yet."

"God no, nothing like that...of course mum...okay, see you tomorrow, love you."

She ended the call and joined him in the kitchen. "Mmm, turnips and chicken!"

"Just as long as you don't put ketchup on it," he said.

She put a hand to the small of her back and sat down.

"All right?" he asked.

"Just a twinge, happening more and more," she said.

"A warm bath should help, that's what the book says," he said.

"You read the book?" she asked.

"Cover to cover."