PT: 8 years a student…
Neville groaned as the sun streamed through his curtains. He had become lazy during the summer. His grandmother had eased up on him since the Battle of Hogwarts and let him sleep and do what he wanted more. It was weird, good weird but Neville couldn't help but be scared about starting school in September. 17 years of being ignored was not as bad as one might imagine. Now he was pretty sure that everyone was going to be all over him, if the fan mail and looks he got in Diagon Alley were anything to go by. Frankly, he was terrified. Partly that he would not meet everyone's expectations, but more that he was capable of being powerful and successful. In the past year he'd led Dumbledore's Army, stood up to Voldemort and destroyed a horcrux. He'd also learned to study and his grades had increased. There was not really anything standing in the way of him doing whatever he wanted.
His daydreaming was interrupted by a rapping on his door.
"Neville! Get downstairs right now!" his grandmother yelled.
Years of habit had him up, dressed, shaved and bed made (without magic) in under three minutes. He walked down the back stairwell into the kitchen, where the family ate informally. Longbottom Manor was one of the largest in the country but money didn't really mean much when you grew up without parents and friends. Neville had always preferred Luna's sprawling, messy house to the austerity of his own.
His grandmother had a scar down her right trick courtesy of the death eater, Selwyn, before she had ended his life in the Battle of Hogwarts. She sat at the table, back straight, not a hair out place, clothes perfectly pressed. She was the way she had always been, except for the fact she was grinning ear to ear when she saw him.
"Good morning, Grandson."
"Good morning, Grandmother" Neville replied, kissing her lightly on the cheek.
"Millie has made you eggs and bacon" she paused, smiling again "there is also some mail for you."
Neville nodded his thanks, sat at the place opposite his grandmother and began to eat. She cleared her throat and he looked up with a raised eyebrow.
"Aren't you going to open the mail, Neville?"
Neville glanced at the envelope for the first time, he recognised the writing in green ink as Professor McGonagall's. He broke the Hogwarts seal on the back. It was the usual stationery and book list. He put it back down and picked up his knife and fork.
"There's something else in there, Neville."
Neville prised the envelope right open something shiny was at the bottom. He pulled it out. It was a badge with the Hogwarts crest with the letters "HB" engraved on the front.
"There's been a mistake, they've got me and Harry mixed up."
"No Neville, you're head boy. Read Minerva's letter."
XXX
Hermione looked at her head girl's badge apathetically. This was something she'd always wanted but it was nothing compared to fighting in a war, or the hassle of the rebuild that followed, or the thought of finding her parents, whether she even should.
"That's amazing, babe." Ron said, kissing her on the cheek.
Hermione forced herself to smile "yes, I'm very lucky, and quite nervous."
"You'll be amazing" Ron said before picking up his broomstick to join Ginny, George and Mr Weasley outside.
Hermione stared at her badge.
"You don't look thrilled" Harry observed as he sat down on the sofa opposite her.
"Neither do you" Hermione observed. Harry had been made a prefect which meant the head boy had to be from Griffyndor as well. Hermione and Harry were both fairly sure it was Neville. She was thrilled for her friend, she only wished someone else had been made head girl.
"I suppose these sorts of things matter less now" Harry said quietly.
"I'm not sure they ever did" Hermione responded.
XXX
Minerva McGonagall waited at the Three Broomsticks. The start of the school year was only a week and a half away and Diagon Alley was becoming busy again. The physical damage to the wizarding shopping hub had been repaired but there were reminders of the war everywhere, mostly from the way people were guarded and subdued than they had been only a year earlier. Tom the barman was still his cheerful self, however, welcoming patrons in his booming voice and flirting with the witches.
Tom was silent, however, when the person McGonagall was meeting entered. The bartender's smile froze then turned into a look of disgust.
"What is your business here?" the bartender asked, voiced tinged with malice when the man pulled his hood back.
The man hesitated, his eyes briefly showing hurt before he frowned.
"He's with me, Tom. Don't worry I'll see him in my suite."
"Minerva, are you sure that's wise? And what business do you have with him? Surely nothing he can say can change what he's done."
Minerva took a deep breath, wishing for the thousandth time since becoming headmistress that she had Dumbledore's patience. "Tom, please we need to move on and remember Mr Malfoy had only just come of age during the war. If I need assistance, I will call for it. Thank you for letting Draco in, I know it can't be easy for you."
Tom knew that if he pushed he'd be on the receiving end of Minerva McGonagall's temper. He nodded and let Draco Malfoy pass.
XXX
Kingsley Shacklebolt had never really wanted to be Minister. As the only black person in his year at Hogwarts, he'd simply wanted to try and promote equality and reduce poverty, somewhat more vague and idealistic aspirations than his classmates. He'd been lucky enough to find school work easy and enjoyable and to socialise effortlessly. Somehow his natural leadership skills meant that he'd been appointed temporary Minister of Magic a year ago. Now the votes were being counted for the real thing. He'd been reluctant to stand for Minister but Andromeda Tonks had sharply reminded him that her daughter and Mad-Eye Moody had not died so that he could live a comfortable and small life when he had the potential to do so much good.
There was a knock on his mahogany door and one of his aides, Aaron MacDonald. The slim man nodded a greeting. He had worked for Shacklebolt for four years and Shacklebolt trusted him completely.
"A message from Ms Clearwater, sir" Aaron said softly. Penelope Clearwater had been appointed registrar of elections, she was a lawyer with a reputation for fairness, diligence and occasional bloody-mindedness. He opened the note, read it twice then scrunched it into a ball and threw it into the fire. If Aaron was surprised at his boss's behaviour, he did not show it.
"Right, Aaron, find Mr Zabini's aide and arrange for Mr Zabini to meet me at the stairs above the great hall at the Ministry, then send and owl with this letter" he furiously finished the note he'd been writing and rolled it up, "to Mrs Molly Weasely at the Burrow, and this letter to the muggle Prime Minister, I presume you know how to send muggle letters?" He paused for Aaron to nod "good, and then an owl to Oliver Wood, I'm not sure where he is, but the owl should be able to find him, and once you've done that, put on your formal Ministry robes and meet me at the great hall in seven minutes."
"Certainly, sir."
"Good" Kingsley said, dismissing him with a nod.
Aaron cleared his throat, Kingsley stopped combing his hair and looked up at this unusual display of impertinence.
"I presume it is good news then, sir."
Kingsley laughed "depends on your definition of 'good', Aaron."
Aaron smiled "very well then, Minister-elect. I shall see you in the great hall in seven minutes."
"Six-and-half!" the older wizard called out.
Aaron waited until he had left the Minister's chambers before smiling. His job was about to become a whole lot more interesting.
XXX
"I presume you asked to meet me on election night because you wanted to avoid being detected" McGonagall commented to Draco Malfoy.
"Correct, professor I had hoped everyone would be too distracted to worry about me."
"It will ease over time, you were cleared of all charges."
Malfoy grunted.
"You were, we are not a society that punishes teenagers for the misfortune of being born into a uh less than perfect family."
"I only got off because of you and Potter, bloody noble Potter."
"That's not true, and you know it. You need to stop punishing yourself, it's childish."
"You're the one who is forcing me back to school."
"Mr Malfoy, your insolence is distasteful. You know full well that you all need to return to school to complete your education and also the students on different sides of the war need to try and learn to work together."
Malfoy rolled his eyes but refrained from saying anything.
"Anyway, perhaps you would like to tell me why you wanted to see me, Mr Malfoy."
"I came to give you this back" Malfoy said, holding out his prefect badge, its silver P glinting in front of a green background.
"Why, do you want a new badge?"
Malfoy glared at her "you know I don't deserve it. I'm so…so horrible, evil, disgusting. I shouldn't be a prefect." His eyes were overbright and he was shaking. McGonagall hid her concern behind a mask of calm.
"Sit down, Malfoy" she said softly "I fancy a hot chocolate, would you like one?"
Grateful that his headmistress was giving him an opportunity to gather himself in private, he nodded. He turned on the wireless, listening to Kingsley Shacklebolt's victory speech, and Danziel Zabini's concession speech. Minister Shacklebolt was as eloquent as ever, Draco thought bitterly. But Mr Zabini would have been better at uniting different groups of wizards.
McGonagall returned with two steaming mugs. Malfoy grunted his thanks as she passed his drink to him. He was too exhausted to remember his manners.
"Kingsley is not small minded Mr Malfoy, he also seldom holds grudges."
Draco stared into his cup "uh huh" he mumbled, sounding as disinterested as possible.
"He will use Mr Zabini as a strong ally, mark my words, and I am sure, should you want to join the Ministry, your skills will be most welcomed."
Draco couldn't help it, he burst out laughing. "Please, I am the son of the biggest traitor in Britain, I tried to kill Dumbledore and I stood by while one of the golden trio was tortured, my career is over before it's begun."
"This is all true, however you are also the son of the witch who saved Mr Potter's life after Voldemort had tried to kill him in the forest, until your most recent year at Hogwarts you were second only to Miss Granger in your studies, and your conduct this evening demonstrates that you do in fact have a conscience."
Malfoy almost smiled at the elderly witch's words.
"Having said that, if you continue to sulk and feel sorry for yourself and care too much what other people think of you, then yes, your career is over before it has even started."
McGonagall picked up her trench coat and hat and began to walk out.
"I've booked this suite until the start of term. There is a back passage if you don't want to be seen leaving, if you would prefer to spend time with your Aunt Andromeda, that's perfectly fine." Narcissa and Lucius were under house arrest at Malfoy Manor and their other properties had been seized, Malfoy had been living with Andromeda Tonks and Teddy Lupin.
"Thank you, headmistress" Malfoy said quietly.
McGonagall nodded goodbye and apparated out of the room.
XXX
Rita Skeeter stood at the back of the Great Hall at the Ministry. She'd managed to avoid the public eye since the war, a very difficult task, but she had been slowly managing her investments and living off her passive income. Now though, it was time for revenge on the "light" as they called themselves. They were so high and mighty but no one looked at how they had treated her, how they had suppressed freedom of speech, how they had allowed children to be slaughtered in the Battle of Hogwarts. No, she would not rest until she had sullied their reputations beyond repair. But she needed an ally, someone in government who could help her. Had Mr Zabini won, she would have had ample pickings, but this was not going to be so easy with Kingsley. She had learned to be patient, though.
XXX
Molly Weasley opened the letter Kingsley had sent her, and then re-read it, confused.
"What does it say, Mum?" George Weasley asked apprehensively. His mother had gone as white as a sheet.
Molly looked at her son and then her husband and daughter sitting around the dinner table.
Molly folded the parchment and placed it back in its envelope, she stared at the table for a few seconds, knowing her family was holding its breath.
"Kingsley wants me to be his chief of staff." Molly said softly. The salary was huge in comparison to what Arthur earned, and much more than she'd ever earned. She knew she would be embarrassing Arthur if she took the job, but Ron and Ginny were almost finished Hogwarts and this job would be interesting and challenging.
Suddenly she felt someone come and kiss her cheek. She was shocked, it was Arthur! Her husband hugged her shoulders tightly.
"I can't think of anyone who would be more competent."
Molly looked at George and Ginny, silently asking them to leave, they complied.
"Arthur, I'd be earning a lot" she left off the remainder of her sentence, that she'd be earning more than him, but she knew Arthur would understand that's what she was worried about.
"Oh Molly, you know I don't care about that sort of thing. I think this job will make you happy, and it will mean that our nation will function better and so there will be a better future for our children and eventually grandchildren."
Molly put aside years of a prudish middle class upbringing and kissed her husband square on the lips.