Hi! Long time no see. Just a real quick note here, this chapter begins at the end of chapter one. It's only a week after the crew left school, and the day they met up at Grimauld Place.
Jean and Dan Granger had always been happy with one another. They were childhood sweet hearts who meet in their teens and eventually married after both became dentists. Soon after they had their own practice and were planning for the future. Their future plans had not included a child, but they were thrilled when they found out that Jean was pregnant.
They bought a house instead of the flat they had been living in. Decorated a nursery and began reading all the books they could get their hands on. When their little girl was born everything was right in their little world.
They quickly realized that Hermione was different. She was quite as a child and seemed to be much more observant at an early age. She walked and talked before average and could read well above her grade level by the time she entered primary school. That was when they began to worry. Her quiet nature lasted stayed the same, but her intellect was starting to cause a few problems. Their little 'Mione wasn't making any friends because she was already too intent on her studies.
Soon came the bullying, it started off with little things. A mean name here, a hair pull there. Jean and Dan weren't sure what to do to help their little girl. They tried talking to the teachers, to Hermione, but nothing seemed to work. Then the weird occurrences started happening.
When Hermione was in year 3 one of the girls who couldn't seem to leave her alone walked up to her on the playground and simply yanked on her hair while walking past. A moment later she tripped over an upturned root and fell, breaking her arm in the process. The girl, Jenny, kept saying that the root hadn't been there before and tried to blame it on Hermione. Of course, no one believed the little girl.
Unknown to all, Hermione had noticed the root suddenly come out of the ground. She had always known she was different. When the little eight year old book-worm saw this happen just as she was wishing it, she saw unlimited possibilities.
Now, Hermione wasn't a malicious person. But if anyone tried anything physical from that point on they learned, and learned quickly, to leave Miss Granger alone.
Dan and Jean knew none of this however, and were just pleased to find that their little girl was being left alone. Yes, they were saddened that she didn't have any friends but as long as she was fine with it, so were they.
When they received a letter for her to attend Hogwarts they had been startled. They were even more astonished when their little girl wasn't surprised. When she explained why she wasn't shocked she simply explained how she had noticed her powers three years ago and had been working with them since. She hadn't been able to completely control them but had been able to keep the incidents more controlled when she learned that her emotions were part of what moderated them.
The Grangers were happy that this would give Hermione a new chance. Maybe this was why she was unable to connect with her peers!
The first few letters they received from her were a bit disheartening. After Halloween that changed. She started talking about her two friends, Harry and Ron. They never knew what happened to bring them together, considering they had heard of Ron a few times and not in a good way, but they were happy none-the-less.
Over the past five school years their little girl had changed. Grown up quicker then she should have. They were proud even as they were saddened. She had come home from her fifth year wearing a new, thick gold bracelet and quieter than ever. It was a week later when a letter, that changed their lives once more, appeared.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Granger,
We are writing to you today to inform you that your daughter, one Hermione Granger, has been invited to join our ranks in the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department, as a junior operative. Her training program is slotted to start immediately and she has already been informed of when and where she needs to go.
We have had our eye on your daughter for a while and feel she will be a great asset to our department.
Yours Truly,
Tseng.
Head of Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department
To say they were even more shocked then when she received her Hogwarts letter was an understatement. The name alone set the Grangers into a slight panic. They hadn't heard of the sector or department but they could guess that it was some type of government work. Whether it was the magical or mundane world they didn't know. But they were proud. And when their little girl should up at breakfast the next morning in a black suit they grinned at her as she simply nodded goodbye to them and left. They knew that was she was doing could be dangerous, and they may never talk to her again. It was with heavy hearts, sadness but also pride, that they got ready for work and never brought up their daughter again to friends, their family having all passed away by now.
oOoOo
Molly Weasley loved all of her children, but she would also be the first to tell you that raising all seven of them was hell on her nerves. It was easier when the eldest had been able to help after the twins were born but it was still hard on her health, and sanity.
When Ron and Ginny were born it became even harder. She had so much to do between running the household and trying to take care of the older boys that even she knew she hadn't been able to properly bond with her two youngest as she should. With seven kids to put through Hogwarts money was tight, causing Molly to brew and sell potions in the neighboring towns to supplement their income. By the time the twins were finally in school there wasn't much she could do to try to fix the bond between them but she did try. And then in only a few short years they were both off to Hogwarts as well.
She couldn't help but feel bad about it and that was one reason she was so smothering when they were home for school breaks. She knew it didn't make up for all the times they helped each other because they knew Mummy was too busy, or had something else to do.
Sometimes she wondered if her lack of attention is why Ronald especially was involved in so many 'adventures', if he was trying to make his family notice him. The stone fiasco incident in his first year, then the whole incident with the car and that blasted chamber in his second. Ginny was involved in that one too, but luckily she stayed out of the ones in third and fourth year. A mass murderer, Dementors, a werewolf and an irate potions professor in third year. In his fourth year he was dragged into that bloody tournament. While she was happy that he renewed his friendship with Potter, since unbeknownst to Ron he had to stay friends with the orphan on Dumbledore's orders, she wasn't happy he was placed in the lake.
And then, fifth year happened. That blasted Potter caused two of her children to leave school. She wasn't blind. She knew he was responsible for the funds that the twins suddenly had. Then he dragged two of her brood into the battle at the Ministry of Magic! Curses flying everywhere! Death Eaters left and right! All because the stupid boy didn't know how to stay where he was supposed to! It almost made her wish she had never pushed Ron and Ginny to be friends with the little cretin. If she had known about what her children would be put through, then she never would have told Ron to make sure he made friends with the boy she had helped through the barrier onto the platform.
And when Dumbledore had asked her at the end of that year to help him keep an eye on the miscreant in exchange for funds she would have thought twice as well.
But no matter, she would make sure that changed this year. When he got back wherever he was now she would just have to make sure she told Ron to stay away from him. And Ginny would have to be told to set her eyes on someone else as well.
What Molly didn't know was that she was unlikely to see her two youngest for the rest of the summer. She was unable to remember when the Order was kicked out of Headquarters a day ago, and she had already been charmed to forget anytime she tried to find her children's location now. But at that moment none of that mattered, for a large barn owl flew in the window.
Molly immediately took the letter from the bid before her and was about to offer it refreshments when it suddenly took off.
"Must not need a reply." She mumbled to herself as she sat at the kitchen table and began to read aloud from the letter.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Weasley,
We are writing to you today to inform you that your daughter, one Ginevra Weasley, and your son, Ronald Weasley, have been invited to join our ranks in the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department, as junior operatives. Their training program is slotted to start immediately and they have already been informed of when and where they need to go.
We have had our eye on your son and daughter for a while and we feel they will be a great asset to our department.
Yours Truly,
Tseng.
Head of Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department
For a moment Molly was confused. She had never heard of this department but it sounded very similar to the Department of Mysteries. Maybe this was her chance.
"Good. Maybe now my children will be able to stay away from the Potter brat. Oh, my two littlest one working for the Ministry! I can't wait to tell Arthur!" She quickly stood up from the table and made her way to the floo. Unknown to her, she had two listeners who had heard everything she had said.
"Well, this changes things quite a bit doesn't it? The Turks are back."
"Well, we had been wondering if anyone else was back. I believe our ickle Ronniekins and dear Ginny are two of them. And Turks!"
"And how much do you want to bet Harry is right in the middle of it all?"
"Isn't he always twin of mine?"
"You really are going to be more difficult than ever aren't you?"
"Come on; don't take all the fun out of it Kunsel!"
"Come on Zack. We need to look at that empty shop on Diagon before the next Order meeting."
"Ever the responsible twin George."
"One of has to be. And we both know you aren't."
oOoOo
Xenophilius Lovegood was staring out of the living room window while deciding which article he wanted to put on the front of his newspaper when he too received an owl. This owl was one of the Scops breed, it was tiny but carried the letter easily through the window. It was dropped on the table before the bird flew out once more. Xeno's dark eyes watched as the bird flew out, temporarily disregarding the letter.
It wasn't until lunch that he opened the envelope that had been delivered. Two letters fell out. He grabbed the official looking letter first.
Dear Mr. Lovegood,
We are writing to you today to inform you that your daughter, one Luna Lovegood, has been invited to join our ranks in the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department, as a junior operative. Her training program is slotted to start immediately and she has already been informed of when and where she needs to go.
We have had our eye on your daughter for a while and feel she will be a great asset to our department.
Yours Truly,
Tseng.
Head of Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department
Xeno's white eyebrow simply lifted a bit before conspiracy theories began to flit through his head, some of them very close to the truth. He placed the first letter down and picked up the second.
Dear Daddy,
Don't worry. I'm safe and the nargels are on the run and we're fine. Love you.
Luna.
A smile grew on Xeno's face. He knew his daughter would be fine. And if this department was what he thought it was, then she would be better able to take care of herself.
oOoOo
Augusta Longbottom sat at a small table in back of the Longbottom Manor drinking her tea when a post owl appeared. She wasn't sure of the breed, but then she never had paid much attention to the birds. They were a means to an end, nothing more.
After cracking the wax seal on the envelope she pulled the letter out.
Dear Mrs. Longbottom,
We are writing to you today to inform you that your grandson, one Neville Longbottom, has been invited to join our ranks in the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department, as a junior operative. His training program is slotted to start immediately and he has already been informed of when and where he needs to go.
We have had our eye on your grandson for a while and feel he will be a great asset to our department.
Yours Truly,
Tseng.
Head of Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department
Augusta couldn't help but feel pride for her grandson and shame for her own actions over the years. She had already been impressed by his actions at the end of term but he had seemed to grow exceptionally over the last week, before heading off to train with his friends. Since she received this letter she was sure that they were all in the same program yet she was sure it wasn't part of the Ministry. No matter. She had learned her lesson and would stand behind Neville this time. Stand by and support, but not push.
I hope you guys enjoyed the longer than usual chapter. Thanks to Nala RAK King for betaing this chapter for me. This page also has it's own tumblr. The link is on my profile but the page is .com