Carreer Decisions.
Hermione was at a loss over what to do about what had happened between Ron and Harry. Harry refused to talk to Ron. She had to push to even get him to talk with her. What was even worse is Harry completely withdrew from the Weasley's. Molly was heartbroken when Harry did not come in for Christmas or the New Year. Ron and Hermione would only tell the rest of the Weasley's that Harry and Ginny were no longer a couple. They did not say who had ended it.
Finally when the rest of the Weasley brothers had decided to pay a visit to Harry Ginny finally told the rest of the family what had happened. She did not say she had ended the relationship, but that she had asked Harry go give her some time for herself. The Weasley brothers knew this meant Harry and Ginny were over.
The brothers still wanted to go talk to Harry. No matter what had happened between him and Ginny was no excuse for upsetting Molly by not joining his family for Christmas. Hermione knew the reason Harry had not come over for Christmas was because of his fight with Ron. She started to explain but Ron stopped her by taking her hand.
"I don't think that would be a good idea guys." He stated softly.
When the brother asked why, Ron told them about his going to see Harry after he found out Ginny had been upset. Molly was ready to kill him when she heard how he had beaten Harry. Luckily neither Ron nor Molly knew how badly Ron had hurt him.
Hermione had comforted Harry for about a half hour before she noticed he seemed to be having trouble breathing. She convinced him to let her look at him. Ron had broken a couple of is ribs when he was kicking him. She was sure that Ron would have killed him had she not shown up when she did.
With Christmas and the New Year having over, Hermione had to start thinking about returning to work. Hermione's problem was that she did not want to be an Auror. She had joined the Aurors to do something about Benedict. After all she had been through she wanted to live a normal life, without constantly being in danger.
To his credit when she talked to Ron about how she felt he was very supportive. He suggested that she talk to Kingsley. He was sure that he would still want her to be a part of his ministry. Hermione knew Ron was right.
After thinking about her future she found she wanted to do something about the many Wizarding laws she felt were outdated and unfair. The laws governing house elves and the pureblood laws did not outlaw crimes such as Rape. Even though at one time Hermione had no interest in going into the law, she now found herself wanting to do just that. Once she decided that was what she wanted to do the set up a meeting with Kingsley.
***
"Harry are you sure about this?" Kingsley asked as he looked at Harry. Harry knew that he was trying to figure out what was going on with him.
"No." Harry answered. "The only thing I am sure of is I need to get away from London."
"Does this have anything to do with your asking to be assigned a new partner after Christmas?" Kingsley asked.
Kinglsey did not know what had happened to cause Harry to begin avoiding the Weasley's. Everyone in the Auror department noticed things were strained between Ron and Harry. Shortly before Podmore bought Harry and Ron in to find out what was wrong, Harry had asked him to assign him a new partner.
Podmore reluctantly split the two of them. To his surprise Ron did not try and change his mind. He assigned Ron to the Investigations division since he did not have a Partner for him to work with. He did not have to re assign Harry since he was running the Special Services Division. He simply made Harry's role more about running the Unit than being involved personally in each of the cases. The solution had not been perfect since Harry was still Ron's CO but at least they did not have to work with each other on a daily basis. Both Podmore and Kingsley thought that would be for the best until Harry and Ron could work out their differences.
That was until Harry had come to see Kingsley to resign his position with the ministry.
***
Harry regarded Kingsley. He was not sure he wanted to answer Kingsley's question. The truth of the matter was that his wanting to get away had everything to do with Ginny's breaking up with him and the subsequent fight with Ron.
Harry had been deeply hurt that Ron would just assume he would hurt Ginny again. When he returned to work after the Christmas Holiday he and Ron barely spoke to each other. Harry knew that partners would have to trust each other with their lives in the field. He also knew by Ron's reaction to what happened with Ginny that Ron did not trust him. That was why he asked for a new partner.
Harry thought with getting a new partner that would end the story of his life with the Weasley family. However Molly had sent him a couple of letters begging him to come by the Burrow, assuring him that no one blamed him for what had happened to Ginny. Harry knew if he did visit the burrow he would be going against Ginny's wishes. She had ended their relationship and the best thing for the both of them would be for it to be a clean break so he did not respond to Mrs. Weasley's letters.
Not answering Molly's letters earned him yet another visit from Hermione. Hermione informed him that she did not understand why he was punishing Molly for what Ginny and Ron had done.
Harry tried to explain to Hermione that Ginny did not need her ex boyfriend coming around and visiting. Hermione tried to point out that Ginny just needed some time. Harry then reminded Hermione that if he started doing things with the family Ginny would not be getting the time she had asked for. Besides if he was not involved with the Weasley family Ron could not accuse him of "messing around" with Ginny. In the end Hermione could not argue with Harry's logic.
It was after that conversation Harry decided that it would be best for everyone involved if he just disappeared. After checking his vaults at Gringotts, and what he would take in from selling Grimwauld place he would have more than enough gold to live comfortably for a while without working. He decided that he would move to the United States which would put more than enough distance between his old life and the new life he planned on starting.
Harry saw that Kingsley was waiting for him to answer his question. Harry owed him an answer.
"Yes it does." He answered "Ginny and I split up just before Christmas."
"I see" Kingsley said as Harry continued
"Ron did not take our splitting up to well, and with several of the Weasley's and a future Weasley working here in the ministry I think it is best I move on."
"Harry I am sorry you feel that way." Kingsley seemed deep in thought for a minute. He then continued. "I think I have a solution that will allow you to stay with the Ministry as well as allow you to get away from England for a period of time."
Kingsley explained to Harry that he was looking for someone to start a new Rapid Response Team in the Auror corps. The team would be based on similar teams that had been started in the United States. The team would be a specialized unit able to respond incidents involving terrorist attacks like the Order of the Dragon had made. Rather than muggle police the team of Auror's would respond.
Kingsley explained he was looking for someone to start up, and lead the team. That person would need to spend some time in the United States training with those teams.
Harry accepted Kingsley's offer. He would leave for Chicago in two weeks.
***
"This has not been a good day for the Auror department." Kingsley motioned for Hermione to sit down as he continued. "However I am not surprised by your request Ms. Granger."
Wait a minute. Hermione thought, why was this not a good day for the Auror department. Kingsley must have seen she had questions because he answered the question she was thinking before she asked it.
"Almost losing two of its newest Auror's is not considered a good day."
"What do you mean two Auror's?" Hermione asked.
"Harry tried to resign from the ministry earlier today." He answered.
"You said he tried, so you were able to convince him to stay?" She asked.
"Kind of," Kingsley tried to change the subject, "let's not worry about Harry. I am hoping you are not going to try and leave the ministry as well."
Hermione did not let him get away with changing the subject.
"What do you mean by kind of?" She asked.
Kingsley sighed. He knew he would have to answer her question. He explained to Hermione the only reason Harry had not resigned from the ministry was he was able to take an assignment in America. He would be leaving in two weeks and be gone between six months to a year. Hermione pushed Kingsley for further details but he told her he was sure that she did not come to see him about Harry. He asked her what she wanted to do.
"I want try and end the slavery of the house elves, as well as other magical creatures as well as change some of the pureblood laws that are on the books" She answered.
Kingsley smiled to himself. He wanted to change some of these laws as well. He was going to start looking for someone to be his point person for those changes. He just might have found that person. He had a position open in the department for the Regulation and control of magical creatures. This would be an idea place for her to work on helping he House Elves, and give her the experience she would need to go after the pureblood laws.
Hermione accepted Kingsley offer as a Jr. Para Legal. He explained to her that unlike the Muggle world you trained to be a barrister in the Wizarding world on the job. He assured her that she should have no problem in becoming a barrister, and using that position to overturn the pureblood laws.
****
Hermione's announcement that Harry planned o leaving England did not go over well at the Weasley's. Mrs. Weasley was distraught at the news, even though things had not worked out with Harry and Ginny she did not understand why Harry was avoiding the Weasley's. She did not know how severely Ron had beaten Harry.
Arthur Weasley sighed heavily as he sat in his office. Molly had decided that he should talk to Harry. Shortly after Molly had told him to talk with Harry, Hermione had taken him aside and told him what happened between Ron and Harry. Hermione told him that Harry had not spoken to Ron or Her since that day.
Arthur knew why Harry was staying away. He could not really blame him when he thought about it. After all if his best friend had wanted to kill him over what happened with his sister, what would her other brothers do?
Arthur approached the door to Grimwauld place. He had tried to catch Harry at the Ministry but had no luck. He ran into Ron whom had told him that Harry had not been to his office at Scotland Yard or the ministry since Ginny had broken up with him. He knocked on the door.
After a few seconds Harry opened the door. Harry was surprised to see Arthur.
"Harry. Good to see you!" Arthur greeted Harry.
Arthur saw the hesitation in Harry's eyes. After a minute of awkward silence Harry invited Mr. Weasley in.
"Hello Mr. Weasley."
Harry said stiffly as he walked into the house. It seemed like Harry was expecting him to lay into him as well. This was going to be harder than he thought.
"So what brings you here?" Harry asked cautiously.
"We are worried about you Harry. You did not come by for Christmas or New Years, and we have not heard from you."
Harry nodded as he answered. "I thought it would be better if I stayed away."
"Harry," Arthur answered "How can you say that. No matter what happened between you and my daughter you are still like family to us."
Harry looked at Arthur. He could see a hint of anger in his eyes.
"Ron made it perfectly clear what you thought the day he came to see me." Harry answered hotly.
Arthur answered by telling Harry that Ron had acted on his own that day, and had He or Molly had known what he was about to do they would have stopped him. He also made it clear to Harry that they were not happy with Ron about his visit. He asked Harry to come by and see the family.
He could see the hurt in his eyes as he answered.
"Mr. Weasley" He answered, "I cannot do that."
"For Merlin's sake why not Harry?"
"Ginny has asked for me to give her some space." Harry answered "If I am coming to her home I would not be giving her she space she asked for."
"Is that why you are leaving England Harry?" Arthur asked gently.
Harry answered that was indeed one of the reasons he was leaving. He needed to give Ginny the space she asked for. He explained that by being away from England he would not force Ginny to see him, since many of Harry's friends were either relatives, or her friends. He also stated he needed time to get over Ginny.
Arthur could not really argue with Harry's points. He had not realized how much Harry and Ginny moved in the same circles. He wished Harry luck and asked him to keep in touch. As he left Grimwauld place he knew he had to think of some way to tell Molly she had lost another family member…