As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.

Chapter 32 Tryouts 2

Breakfast the following morning brought an owl from the Weasley twins. "Hey, this is good news. Another team heard about my tryout with Puddlemere United. They want me to try out with them." Harry said.

"Wonder how they found out?" Hermione asked.

"No surprise there, they signed a new reserve keeper."

"Oliver?"

"Of course." Harry replied with a smile.

"Go ahead, I know you want to keep flying."

Harry smiled before jotting a note on the bottom of the letter before re-tying it to the awaiting owl and sending him on his way. "I told them set it up the same as before but I fly my Firebolt for the tryout." Harry said before tucking in to breakfast.

Hermione was glad she'd kept her peace about the broom issue. She'd been tempted to remind Harry about the problems he ran into last time but she heard her mother's voice in her head advising, 'Sometimes it is best to just keep your mouth shut and let your husband handle his business his way.' Hermione felt and watched her husband's spirits rise as the thought of playing Quidditch again once again took a prominent place in his mind. She let her mind drift to the future. The version of her original plan that she had ended the last school year with had been to marry well and after spending time apprenticing to a well known person in transfiguration or charms she would return to Hogwarts to teach for ten or fifteen years allowing her children to become school age then she would leave school and work in the ministry running for Minister of Magic after a few years spent learning the ropes. Reviewing the last few months it was obvious her plan needed some revision. She'd managed the first step and married well, almost too well. Should she choose to be a teacher at Hogwarts, That would be automatic if Harry chose to teach Defense against the Dark Arts after defeating Voldemort. The Wizarding world would fall all over him to accommodate what he wanted to do. She loved Harry to death but there was no way she would become Minister of Magic as his wife and she was surprised how comfortable she was with that thought. Normally when she had to revise her master plan it almost caused a physical pain. Now she was revising it almost weekly to take into account her changing situation. 'You two have also changed my plans, but I don't regret both of you one bit. I love you two.' She thought directing the thought towards the two individuals growing within her.

"Hermione think about something else." Harry whispered in her ear.

"What?" Hermione said her attention drawn back to the present.

"You were starting to glow."

"Well they always say pregnant women glow."

Harry shook his head then tried again, "No, you were starting to give off light." Harry replied.

'Well that's something to ask Madam Pomfrey about during my next class.' Hermione thought before switching to thoughts of just how she was going to manage the Halloween feast in two weeks. This morning she realized that her midsection was starting to bind on her robes when she moved.

'Just over two and a half months'

'A little soon but you are carry around two babies.'

'Yes, a boy to play Quidditch like his dad and a sister for him to study with and keep him straight.'

'Don't forget they are half Harry, what do you want to bet both are Quidditch fanatics.'

Hermione almost groaned at the thought of both of them being Quidditch fanatics. It was bad enough growing up with two Quidditch obsessed boys as best friends that trait in her off spring would need careful pruning to insure it didn't become obsessive like a red haired boy she knew.

The following Monday brought new surprises as Bill had a few words with Dumbledore before coming over and sitting next to Harry and Hermione. "Hermione I've just received the okay from his highness for you and Harry to go with me after classes. You've been invited to a meeting." Bill said as he filled his plate. Looking at his plate Harry could tell he was Ron's brother it was heaped to overflowing but unlike Ron Bill's mouth never opened when there was food in it.

"Who are we meeting with?" Hermione asked.

"Not we just you, well Harry is invited as he is your mate but it is you they want to meet with."

Harry and Hermione exchanged looks as Harry thought, 'It's obvious he isn't going to say who you are meeting with.'

'I agree but do we trust him?'

'Yes he was my best man and with the oaths he's under from Gringotts I think we'll be safe.' Harry replied but more to act as expected than any real concern Harry asked, "I have your word we will be safe?"

"Safer than at Hogwarts. I have a port key that will take us directly there and back."

"Alright but it's wands out until I know we are safe. You might tell whoever we are meeting that."

"Of course." Bill said happy things were going this smoothly.

Harry and Hermione returned to their rooms putting their books away and clean robes on before meeting Bill in the entry hall as they had agreed to during lunch.

"Ready for a short walk?" Bill asked when he saw them.

"A short one." Hermione offered not wanting to overdo after a full day of classes.

"Just to the Hogsmeade gate. That will put us right outside the anti-port key wards. We can port key from there." Bill assured them.

A short walk and port key touch later Hermione landed with her wand out quickly looking around she noted she was in a side alley just off Diagon Alley in London. Harry was beside her while Bill was walking up to a door set in a marble wall directly beside them that opened quickly at Bill's knock. "Come on, once we are inside and the door's shut you will be safer than if you were at Hogwarts." Bill urged.

"This way" Griphook said ushering the trio through a maze of corridors before arriving at an ornate door. Harry entered first, warily scanning the room he noted the standard boardroom table of a highly polished dark wood surrounded by goblins with two open seats and empty spots beside them like chairs had been removed to insure no one sat next to them.

The Goblin at the head of the table Harry recognized as Ragnok the head of this branch of Gringotts who looked at him saying, "Lord Potter, Gringotts has an offer for your wife," motioning towards the two open seats.

"I believe you should address her then." Harry said while moving to hold out one chair for Hermione.

Hermione sat in the chair before saying, "I'm not sure what a sixth year student could do for you."

"You give yourself far too little credit. You are well known at school and becoming known outside of it for being a magical beings activist. That and your connections are what has Gringotts interested."

Hermione knew by connections he meant being Mrs. Harry Potter. Still it wouldn't hurt to hear them out. "What could I do to help you?"

"Ah a directness that we goblins appreciate. Gringotts would like you to be our ambassador at large to both the muggle and magical worlds." Ragnok said.

Hermione scanned the faces surrounding the table noting all their eyes were watching her. Not daring to glance at Harry she none the less heard him in her mind saying, 'Do what you want.' She felt lucky that only he hear her comment 'you've got to be kidding me.' The goblins probably would not understand sarcasm. Gathering her thoughts she asked, "What would the position entail?"

Ragnok smiled to himself this was going better than he'd hoped. "Not much while you are in school. An occasional meeting with our ambassador to the magical government and who ever he might be meeting with. There will be one additional meeting a month with various goblins in attendance depending on the topics being discussed."

Harry felt the tension leave her when she realized there was an ambassador in place and it would not all rest on her as Ragnok continued, "I realize it is not needed but you would receive an allowance for formal robes and such. Additionally over the summer you will need to spend some time with us to learn Goblin Culture. You will also need to accept a Goblin guard detail starting at the time you become our ambassador."

"Excuse me a Goblin guard?" Harry said speaking up for the first time.

"Yes, we will assign a guard detail to your wife upon her acceptance. It should be around six Goblins or so depending on the situation. They will room near you and at least one will always be awake and guarding her."

"Even at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, According to our current agreement with your ministry we are allowed 2 ambassadors with guard details but we have always had just one for the last two hundred or so years. If you agree I expect your appointment to generate a lot of discussion within your ministry."

"Do you need an answer now?" Harry asked.

"Only if your mate desires. I suspect it would be better if we allow you both some time to think this through. I would like you to know that as our Ambassador at large Lady Potter will be free to address issues concerning other magical beings."

"Other magical beings?"

"House elves, centaurs, even werewolves would fall under her charge. The only requirement would be that she keeps us informed and allows us to distance ourselves should we wish."

"I would like some time to think this over. It is obviously a big decision that will affect our entire family. Speaking of which are you aware I am expecting twins?"

"We were once you entered Gringotts. There are charms and such at all the doors. If you have no more questions our meeting with you is finished." Ragnok said easily.

"How will we contact you?"

"Either have your house elf drop off a letter or I'm sure Mr. Weasley will deliver one."

"It will have to be Bill, we are not allowed to have Dobby at Hogwarts." Hermione replied.

"That will also change should you decide to accept the position." Ragnok assured them before turning to Bill who was still by the door and saying, "Weasley you know what to do once you escort them to their rooms."

"Yes I'll take care of it."

Hermione and Harry rose from the table and with a nod towards Ragnok they followed Bill back outside were they port keyed back to the Hogsmeade gate.

"So what's your task once we are in our rooms?" Harry asked as they walked the path to Hogwarts.

Bill looked over at Harry walking hand in hand with Hermione before saying, "I am to erect wards around your rooms to prevent anyone spying on you two and to make the walls as impenetrable as I can to insure your safety. Then I can go home to Fleur."

"We should have done that when we moved in." Hermione said only to hear Harry kicking himself mentally for not thinking of the same think.

"In your defense it's not something students normally think about." Bill offered.

"Yes but we are not your normal students." Hermione said holding a more biting comment as they had reached the front steps to Hogwarts. The group proceeded quietly though the halls with Harry leading the way to their rooms that Bill quickly warded then left. Leaving Harry and Hermione to a discussion that continued the next morning when they awoke.

"My only concern Hermione is if you accept this position you will always be perceived by a portion of the wizards and witches as being under the control of Gringotts not matter what is said or done." Harry said as they went about their morning routine.

"Harry I realized a while back that there was no way the wife of Harry Potter would become Minister of Magic and I am actually happy about that. That realization took a lot of pressure off me to behave correctly and not say anything that could be used against me in the future. You are the only one I have to explain myself to."

"No you don't."

"Harry what I meant is my husband is the only being that can request an explanation of what I was thinking that I would feel obliged to answer."

"Oh, okay then. But what are you going to do about Gringotts offer?" Harry asked doing his best to remain neutral in this discussion.

"Think on it for a day or so then make a decision. But right now it's been a long day and I need to clean up, care to join me?" Hermione said tossing her robe in the hamper and heading for the bathroom.

A smile blossomed on Harry's face as his robe followed hers while he followed her.

It took two days for Hermione to come to a decision, two days Harry spent watching every word he said in her presence doing his best not to influence her decision. "Harry, tomorrow morning I'm going to ask Winky to contact Dobby. I've decided to accept their offer." She said as they settled in for the night.

"Okay love. I wonder when their going to want to officially appoint you?"

"I hope it's not a big ceremony. You're a lot better at that than I am."

"Hermione, I have the feeling there's going to be more than one ceremony in that position."

Hermione didn't get her wish Thursday morning Bill Weasley again stopped by the headmaster before making his way down the table to join Harry and Hermione. "You two have an engagement this Friday after school and then next Wednesday during the day." He said after sitting down and helping himself to the eggs and sausage.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked.

"That will be discussed only in your rooms." Bill replied cryptically.

"We'll meet you there for lunch." Hermione replied before turning the discussion to other items.

After breakfast while Harry and Bill left to set up for their first classes Hermione headed for their rooms and a conference with Winky. They hadn't taken advantage of the privilege to eat in their rooms yet but this seemed like a good time and they could cover it as a meeting between the two Defense Against the Dark Arts instructors.

Lunch time Harry and Hermione arrived together from Herbology to find Bill waiting in the corridor. "Sorry we are late." Harry said.

"Don't worry about it. My classroom is a lot closer than the greenhouses."

"Five Iron." Harry whispered to the painting, which quickly opened up and let them in. Winky had laid out a feast on one of the two desks and a small table had been set up in the open space beside the couch with three chairs around it.

"Wow the elves really out did themselves." Harry said looking at the table.

"That reminds me did I see you eating a croissant this morning Hermione?" Bill asked.

"Yes."

"Fleur told me to stay away from them here. She said they were nothing like the one's I am used to in France."

"As a general rule she is right but Hermione has a house elf wrapped around her finger and a delivery is made every morning specially for her."

"What?"

"Dobby isn't suppose to have any contact with us while we are at Hogwarts but every morning Winky visits him at the Grangers just as he finishes making them for her parents. She manages to bring back one or two for Hermione and occasionally myself." Harry explained.

Bill nodded his understanding as he started to fill a plate from the buffet Winky had laid out. Once everyone was seated and the first part of the meal was underway Bill said, "Now to what you wanted to know this morning. Friday you and Harry are returning to Gringotts to meet with the full board. They will formally outline your duties and you will have one last chance to say no. If you agree then you will take an oath and so will Harry." Seeing the looks on their faces he added, "Don't worry you will have a chance to see the oaths before you agree to take the job."

"What about next Wednesday?" Hermione asked in between bites Harry had learned the hard way not to comment on the fact her plate now resembled Ron's normally overflowing one.

"Friday you will be measured for robes Hermione. Wednesday morning you and the other ambassador will present yourselves at the Ministry of Magic where he will introduce you as the Goblins Ambassador at large. Once you leave the Minister's office it will be a quick trip back to Gringotts for lunch with the board followed by an afternoon press conference."

"Will Harry be with me?"

"Only at Gringotts, you will go to the Ministry with the Ambassador and your guards. They will begin guarding you on Wednesday during that trip."

"Any idea how restrictive the oaths will be?" Harry asked.

"From what I gathered talking with Ragnok both of your oaths will be a lot less restrictive than mine. One thing I forgot, you will also be assigned a female goblin as an aide."

"That's a great honor." Hermione said.

"Been reading up on goblin culture have you." Bill teased.

"Of course I'm not taking any position blind." Hermione countered.