"It's so good to have you home! I hated come home from work to an empty apartment," Padma said, her head against Hermione's shoulder as they ate ice-cream.

"It's good to be home too. I love visiting Harry and the rest but I miss my work and my own apartment," Hermione agreed.

Hermione had arrived home two hours previously. It was currently eleven at night and the girls were still up, chatting and avoiding going to sleep.

"I really should be getting to sleep," said Padma, "I have to go in to work early tomorrow."

"Bindy still being an arse?" Hermione asked, frowning.

Padma laughed, "No, actually! It's for a much pleasanter reason. William wanted to talk to me before work so I said I'd meet him early in the morning."

"That's great, Padma! I hope it goes well," Hermione smiled, giving Padma's shoulder a squeezed.

Padma magicked the ice-cream bowls clean with her wand and set them in the cabinet. She yawned loudly and made her way to her bedroom, shutting the door softly.

Hermione stayed out for a while, unpacking her things and hew new gifts. As she was taking out her Arithmancy lesson plans a note slipped out from between two papers.

It was the note Malfoy had given her.

She unfolded it. It was wrinkly and the ink was somewhat smudged, but she could still make out the words. Malfoy had a unique style of writing. It was slightly messy but very sophisticated and curvy, elegantly put together. She stared at the note for a while, wondering why she wasn't throwing it out. She put it in her desk drawer for safe-keeping. She tried not to think about it, but she knew she didn't want to throw it out. Probably because it showed that Draco Malfoy was human. He was being playfully teasing; he wasn't being outright mean to her like he would have done in school. It was almost flirtatious, and Hermione wanted to savor that.

Hermione awoke early, feeling grumpy and confused. She really wasn't looking forward to making a fool of herself on her first day of teaching. She knew she'd forget how to do a certain equation, or just completely blank on what she was going to say. She was always nervous speaking in front of people – it came with being a paranoid genius.

She forced herself out of bed and started boiling a pot of coffee on the stove with a flick of her wand. She washed her face and took a quick shower, then put on her Assistant Professor robes. They were long and flowing, colored in solid green with golden rimming along the sleeves and neckline, with the Hogwarts crest above her right breast.

She wandered out into the kitchen eating a piece of toast and pouring her coffee into a thermos so she could drink it at Hogwarts, and noticed a note attached to the cabinet above the coffee pot. It read:

Hermione

I knew you wouldn't be up until after I left this morning so I put some leftover kidney pudding and treacle tarts into containers for you, in case you wanted them for lunch. I know you hate eating in the Great Hall when you have papers to grade so I thought a quick lunch would be satisfactory. I hope your first day teaching goes well!

Love,

Padma

Hermione smiled, grateful for Padma's thoughtfulness. She slipped the two containers into her lessons bag and with the thermos of coffee in hand, she Apparated to Hogwarts. She landed in Professor Vector's office. Professor Vector wasn't in her office currently, presumably running errands before her first morning class, so Hermione settled herself into her own little desk in the corner and took out her lesson plans to look over one last time. She added some adjustments here and there, crossing this and that out and adding more in. Adding and subtracting from a plan was what Hermione did when she was nervous. She didn't just fidget like normal people did, she had to change things and rearrange them.

Glancing at her watch, it was fifteen minutes until the first glass with 5th year Slytherins and Gryffindors. She didn't relish the rivalry that was to ensue for her first class, but a challenge never stopped her.

Professor Vector returned ten minutes later, with a warm smile on her face. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Hermione said, laughing nervously.

The students started to pile in and Hermione exited the office and made her way to the lecture room, arranging her plans on the lectern. She cleared her throat several times before she began.

"Hello everyone, I'm Hermione Granger. I'm sure you've all seen me sitting and observing your classes from the corner for the last two months, so I hope you're not seeing me for the first time," Hermione laughed again, a nervous hiccup erupting at the same time. She cleared her throat and continued, "For the next month or so, I will be teaching you Arithmancy. I will be teaching you the fundamentals of Arithmancy, along the theory of Numerology. By the end of my course I hope that you will be able to tell the difference between theorems and explain each of the 32 theorems to me in detail."

As she was talking, she looked around at the students. Not one of them seemed to be very enticed by her monologue, nor were many even paying attention. She immediately singled out three students. There was the Draco Malfoy of the Slytherin side: the tall, pointed figure with cronies on his side, not really paying attention but still having the brain not to disrupt the class. He obviously had connections and thought himself rather cool, for he was laughing discreetly at a joke he had just told. Then there was the Ron Weasley – the nice Gryffindor boy who hadn't a clue about Arithmancy or any clue why he was even taking this course. He was twirling his quill between his fingers, humming to himself. Then last Hermione saw herself in a Slytherin girl. This girl was sitting up straight and on the edge of her seat, with an automatic quill that took note of everything Hermione said. She looked so interested in everything going on around the room that Hermione thought she might burst.

Seeing these three students made Hermione realize she couldn't go through this again. She couldn't go through school again. She was a learner, not a teacher. She didn't want to be teaching kids, who didn't even pay attention to her, save for one excited girl in the front row. She didn't want to teach undeserving kids. She wanted to get out there and make a difference on the Wizarding world, and she couldn't do that by teaching the theories of Numerology to uninterested kids.

Hermione stopped talking. Her long pause puzzled the class, as well as Professor Vector. Professor Vector was observing from her desk by the window and was frowning slightly at Hermione. Hermione's mouth was still open from the last word she'd said.

This pause was crucial. It was in this pause, in this moment, that Hermione threw her dream out the window.

"I'm sorry," Hermione stuttered, "I can't do this anymore."

She grabbed her things and ran out of the room, leaving a shocked class behind. She heard Professor Vector call out her name and the rest of the students ask what was going on, but she kept running. She ran all the way across the castle length to Professor McGonagall's office, out of breath.

Professor McGonagall looked up from the notes she had been writing, confused as to why a breathless and scared looking Hermione Granger was standing in front of her, leaning over the catch her breath.

"Miss Granger?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Professor, but this is urgent," Hermione pleaded.

Professor McGonagall conjured up a chair in front of her desk and motioned for Hermione to sit down. "What is the meaning of this?"

"I…I…" Hermione struggled to say. She finally took a deep breath and gained the courage she needed to do what she was about to do. "I'd like to resign."

Professor McGonagall's eyebrows shot up until they were lost in her hairline. "My dear girl, why? You were doing so well according to Professor Vector, and I believe today was supposed to be your first day teaching the class."

Hermione looked down at her feet, "I thought I wanted to be an Arithmancy Professor. I made this decision in my 7th year, and I was just so set on it. I loved Arithmancy, it was my best subject, and numbers always fascinated me. I liked working with money and of course my original thought was to work at Gringotts, but I was so afraid to leave Hogwarts. I was afraid of the war and all I wanted was to stay as close to Hogwarts as I could. But after the war was over, I realized I could live away from Hogwarts. Once Voldemort was really gone, I didn't feel scared anymore. I wouldn't have come back here to be a teacher but I had no back-up. I didn't know what to do with myself.

"So I moved to Edinburgh, away from my friends and family and I made due. I've been here for over three years and I've managed to make due. I went through the Ministry-approved training for a year and half, I took courses and I did studies abroad all in the hopes of becoming half of what Professor Vector is. But today, when I spoke in front of those students, ready to begin my first lesson, I realized it wasn't what I wanted. I want to do something that will directly benefit the Wizarding society. I want to forge connections between Wizards and Muggles, I want to travel and do business work. I want something that doesn't exist."

Throughout this speech, Professor McGonagall was politely quiet, listening to what Hermione said. She replied to Hermione, "But it does exist. There is one job that includes all the attributes you listed, and you'd be perfect for it. The Department of Muggle Relations is looking for a Head of Department – poor Riegelwood retired last month when his wife took fatally ill – and it addresses all of which you're looking for. You would be working with other Ministries across the continent for magical and Muggle cooperation. You would meet monthly with the other heads of Muggle Relations across Europe and another meeting with the Muggle Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I think you would be a perfect addition to this Department. You are hardworking and have a long list of experience with international relations, and have always displayed exemplary work in anything you choose to do. If you're willing to apply for this position, I would be more than happy to write a letter of recommendation. It would be most effective, as the head of the Employment department was a student of mine years ago. She still listens to everything I say." Professor McGonagall was smiling wickedly.

Hermione's heart was caught in her throat, "Professor! You have no idea how much this would mean to me. This position sounds perfect and includes everything I'm interested in. I want you to know how grateful I am for this."

Professor McGonagall said, "I'd better start on your letter of recommendation. I'm sad to see you leave, Miss Granger, but as someone who has watched you grow all these years, my personal advice is to take this job. I know it is right for you, and I wish you all the happiness and success in the future."

Hermione surprised Professor McGonagall by giving her a hug. Professor McGonagall was stiff for a second, but eventually put her arms around the girl, squeezing her quickly. She returned to her usual brisk manner as Hermione left the room, but there was a warm glint in her eye. She sat down at her desk again, and began to write a letter of recommendation that would knock the socks off of anyone who read it. Professor McGonagall was determined to see Hermione Granger as the Head of that department.

After explaining and apologizing to Professor Vector, and also saying her warm goodbyes and regards, Hermione Apparated back to her apartment, feeling light and free. She knew Padma wouldn't be home as it was only a little past 2, but she suspected Padma had been home for her lunch break earlier as she found a new note.

Hermione,

William asked me out on a date this morning! He told me he had liked me for almost a year and was just too afraid to do anything about it. When he heard I might like him too he decided to chance it and ask me out. He's taking me to a swank restaurant tonight. I won't be home for dinner but I'll see you tonight! I'm so excited!

Padma

Hermione decided today was possibly one of the greatest days of her life. She was unbelievably excited about her possible new job at the Ministry. It sounded perfect. Traveling. Working with other countries. Forging relations between Muggles and Wizards. Absolutely perfect.

She wrote letters to both Harry and Ron, telling them both of her exciting news. She also told them if she got the job she'd be moving back to London, most likely. She figured Harry or Ron would tell Ginny and the rest, so she didn't worry about writing an extra letter for everyone.

She spent the rest of the day unwinding, vegging out on the sofa, and reading. She took a nap between 6 and 9:30 in the evening. At 10:30 Padma walked in through the front door, walking in an almost dream-like state.

"Tell me all about it!" Hermione cried happily, making room for Padma on the sofa.

Padma plopped herself down, sighing happily. "It was absolutely perfect. He took me to a beautiful restaurant and we talked all night. We have so much in common! But not so much that it becomes boring. It was just right. We went for a walk by the lake and he walked me home and kissed me good-night!"

Hermione was so happy for Padma. She was glad they were both having a great day. She was excited to tell Padma about what happened today, but suddenly realized that if she moved back to London, she'd be leaving Padma all alone in this apartment.

Padma stopped smiling suddenly. At the same time she and Hermione said, "I have some bad news, though."

Padma stopped Hermione, "Me first. I know that William and I have only been on one date, but we really connected. I felt like I'd known him forever and I know he felt the same way. Right after he kissed me he handed me a key to his apartment and asked me to move in with him. I know it's sudden, but I was really considering it. I don't want to leave you by yourself though; I know this isn't a cheap apartment to pay for."

Hermione's face brightened, "This works out perfectly! Padma I quit my job today! Oh don't look at me like that; I really did it for myself. I wouldn't have been happy being a teacher for the rest of my life. Professor McGonagall is referring me for a Ministry job in Muggle Relations. If I get the job then I'll have to move back to London."

"That's wonderful, Hermione! This job sounds perfect for you," Padma said, beaming, "So if you get the job, I guess we'll be selling this place?"

Hermione nodded slowly, "We've had so much fun living together, Padma. You've become one of my best friends in the whole world."

"And I'm not going anywhere. You, however, are. That doesn't mean we won't still be friends, because if you move back to London and suddenly lose touch with me I will most certainly kick your arse," Padma said, hugging Hermione.

"Well I haven't even gotten the job yet," reminded Hermione.

Padma tugged on Hermione's ear, bringing her face close, "You know you're going to get it. And when you do, we're not going to say good-bye. We're going to say see you later, because we will. Different postal codes are not going to keep us apart."