Hermione,
I miss you too. I'm sorry about missing the game. I had already set up a schedule with Andromeda and I didn't want to break the schedule only the second week in. I've just had a lot of things to take care of–by the way, do you know I own a bloody mansion? And the Godric's Hollow house? I mean, I suppose if I thought that through I would have supposed it would go to me, I just had so many other things on my mind. And apparently, I also own a property in France… Gringotts allowed me in but informed me I was to have my own personal goblin with me at all times for 'security.' I'm fairly sure they meant their own security and not mine, but just glad they let me in and to my vault without too much of a fuss.
Anyway, do you think you would be okay with the three of us, plus Teddy? Do people even go out with babies? How does that work? I need to get a book on that. Maybe a picnic? Between Molly and Ginny, I'd like to avoid the Burrow for a bit if you don't mind, just until things calm down. Let me know what you think.
Yours,
Harry
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Grimmauld place looked much more cheery since Andromeda had given firm direction to Kreacher on the changes she expected to allow her grandson to stay there with his teenage godfather.
They had charmed the walls a soft blue, and the furniture a light charcoal color that matched nicely. They were engaging the services of a professional curse breaker to try to get Walburga Black's portrait off the hallway entrance, but in the meantime, curtains had been warded closed so that she couldn't interrupt anyone or startle the baby with one of her heinous screaming fits.
Harry was honestly surprised Kreacher hadn't put up a fuss about the removal of the portrait, but strangely enough, the crotchety and grouchy house-elf had taken an extreme liking to little Teddy Lupin, and although he was sad his mistress's portrait needed to be removed, he was firmly in the camp that Teddy crying for any reason was unacceptable.
Now, Harry held Teddy on his shoulder sitting on the couch of the newly renovated Grimmauld Place facing Ron, who sat across from him eagerly trying to persuade him against joining him and Hermione for a last get-together before Auror training beginning in July.
"Well, with a baby, and then you- you know how people are- as soon as they spot you, they're going to swarm us," Ron advised earnestly.
"I've been casting notice me not charms. They've worked pretty well unless someone bumps into me directly…"
Ron laughed. "You and Hermione are so alike sometimes."
"What do you mean?"
"She wanted me to cast one when we went to the Hollyheads game. I mean, of course, I didn't. Might as well take advantage of it now—not like this will last forever. I know you'll be famous forever, but me and Hermione? Probably not."
Harry rubbed Teddy's back soothingly and tried to rein in his temper. He took a deep breath. Powder and the sweet, innocent baby smell drifted up. Embarrassing, but he loved that smell now. He looked back at Ron, a bit more centered after focusing on Teddy.
"Are you smelling him? Does he need a nappy change? Because we're best mates, but I'm not helping you."
Harry rolled his eyes. "No, he doesn't need a nappy change."
"Maybe you've been stuck watching him too much. You're seventeen and the hero of all of the wizarding world. It's weird to just hole up in here casting notice me nots and taking care of a baby's nappies, Harry."
"You know I've never wanted to be famous."
"I know, mate. It's just you already had most of your life messed up by you-know-who. Don't you just want to have some fun now? You're rich and you have your own place. Most wizards in your position wouldn't be taking care of babies. They'd be shagging their girlfriends."
"I want to be happy, and taking care of Teddy makes me happy. Anyway, so how's everyone at the burrow?"
"Ginny is right pissed at you. She thought you would contact her before now, and she's probably going to start going out soon, so unless you want her to get another boyfriend, I'd suggest owling her soon. Dad's been working so much he's hardly home. Mum is still cooking everything that George likes at all time. Angelina came over to visit him, and for once, Mum was nice to her. You know how she can be with girls sometimes. And well, George is…" Ron shrugged and trailed off.
A silence fell as they both thought about Fred. Maybe one day it would get easier to be reminded of him and they would smile, but today was definitely not that day. Harry bounced Teddy gently as he made gurgling sounds as he laid against Harry's chest.
Ron broke the silence determinedly, trying to pretend the sad moment hadn't happened. "Anyway uh, I actually wanted to talk to you about the picnic- you know, the one with all of us together?"
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Between Hermione's stuff and then my own stuff to take care of, I haven't seen her in weeks. Plus, she wanted to see Teddy too."
"Well…" Ron rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I was wondering if you could do me a solid and make an excuse like you did for the Hollyheads match? It's just that me and Hermione have had trouble making timing work for us too… and well, you know, since she's my girlfriend…"
Harry froze at the words. "Oh. So you two are official, then?"
"Oh yeah. Remember the way she kissed me during the last battle, in the room of requirement? She's like that all the time with me. So… I was kinda hoping you'd do me a solid and cry off, I mean it's not like it's the last chance you'll have to see her, right? We'll get time off training, probably to go see her off to Hogwarts, I think. It's just want to try to um… you know, take it to the next level.
"Me and Hermione have been a thing for a while now, and we're older than you and so you know… we'll be probably…" Ron trailed off and waggled his eyebrows suggestively while Harry barely refrained from setting down Teddy and punching him.
Harry remembered in the middle of the freaking battle at Hogwarts he had just been trying to make sure Ginny was protected, and yelling at her to come back to the room of requirement to hide when they were done, and he basically turned around to Hermione jumping on Ron.
He had known Hermione had a crush on Ron, but honestly, he always thought she would get over it. Who would even put them together? Hermione… and Ron? They were both his best mates, but he would be the first to admit he never saw any type of commonality between the two.
Harry frequently thought if he hadn't brought them together - making Ron go help him rescue Hermione in first year, they would never have become friends at all, because Ron disliked… well, learning so much.
He realized Ron had been staring at him, waiting for his reply, and forced a smile. "I don't know mate–I mean I haven't had the chance to see Hermione in a while… since the trial, our time just hasn't lined up…"
"Harry…" Ron drew out his name in a wheedling manner. "Mate. Best friend. My wingman. I know I'm asking a lot, but it's not like you won't see her again soon, it will just be a few more months right? And you can use the extra time for Teddy! Weren't you just telling me you wanted to spend as much time with him before Auror training?"
Teddy's head wobbled up from his shoulder, and his hand reached out as if trying to pull Harry's face closer.
"See! Teddy's on my side. Give the little man some one-on-one time." Ron grinned at him and Harry sighed.
Hell.
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The tapping at the window late at night woke Harry up and he went to let in the small black owl.
"Hey, Archimedes."
He reached out to pet the owl, but it barked at him and ruffled its feathers. Ah. Even her owl was pissed at him, he almost cringed at taking off the letter bound to its leg. The small owl took off immediately, not even waiting for a treat. It wasn't even a letter, the writing angry slashes, unsigned.
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I can't believe you. What's going on with you? I thought it was just timing, but if you don't want to see me… or something. Really. What the bloody hell Harry.
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Why had he let Ron talk him into doing something stupid?
Fuck.
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The Atrium of the Ministry, as always, was busy with people dashing around, everyone trying to get their work done or be on time to appointments. But even with everyone on their own business, their little group garnered quite a bit of attention.
Harry followed quietly at the end of their little group, Shacklebolt and Robards leading side by side and Ron between them. It was an uncomfortable start to his first day in Auror training as everyone watched the Minister of Magic and the Head Auror escort them in for training to the second level.
Ron walked with a spring in his step and his head held high as he grinned at the spectacle they made, no doubt thinking of rubbing it in Percy's face as he worked in a senior assistant role to Shacklebolt. Ron had always taken a particular delight in the type of public adulation that Harry usually tried to avoid.
"Alright boys, welcome to the bullpen." Robarts stepped to the side as they entered a large open room on the second floor of the ministry.
To the far left of the room were enclosed offices but the majority of the floor was filled with cubicles in no particular arrangement as if they had just played bumper cars with each other and stopped in random places, some cubicles were right next to each other while one or two were several feet from the others.
Each cubicle was littered with paperwork- maps and wanted signs and pictures of known dark wizard associates were pinned everywhere. Notes whizzed by, propelled by magic to their recipients as witches and wizards in Auror robes moved around working busily. It was a type of controlled chaos that Harry found interesting to observe.
"As we discussed due to the unusual circumstances of your joining the Auror team, we have a unique introductory period set up, taking into account experience you may already have." Robards started.
Harry and Ron nodded.
"Robards and I discussed the selection of your trainers carefully. Nothing but the best for our heroes, eh?" Shacklebolt interjected.
Ron elbowed Harry in the side. "So, no testing or anything like that? My brother Bill told me that there's some written test? We're exempt, right?"
"Well, the testing is just going to be speeded up a bit, not necessarily done away with altogether. The trainers selected are going to evaluate your performance and knowledge and make the recommendation for testing. It could be in a year—it could be next week."
Harry saw Ron's face fall at the idea they would still have to test. He couldn't help but think of what Hermione would say about this circumvention of the normal process. She would be pissed.
"Since we've already been to war, it seems like a waste of time for us to do testing, right Harry?" Ron asked, trying to prompt him into pushing for an exemption.
Harry shrugged. "Normal process is three years of training and five N.E. . I would be fine even if they required the full three years of training. I'd rather not struggle so much as an Auror like we did against Voldemort."
"Excellent! That's exactly the way to think about it, Harry." Shacklebolt patted him on the shoulder. "Gawain, you got them from here? I have a meeting in five minutes. I'm probably already going to be late for."
"Of course."
"I'll check in with you two in a few weeks, maybe to see how your progress has been." With that, Shacklebolt nodded and strode swiftly off, leaving them with Robards. With a tilt of his head, Robards motioned them to follow as they maneuvered among the flying notes and busy Aurors.
He paused at the desk of an older woman with curly hair, who gave them both a big smile. "Gentlemen, let me introduce you to Charlotte Halstead. She has over ten years of experience in the British Auror division and before that, worked with MACUSA. She's going to be helping and evaluating you, Harry, for your training."
Charlotte jumped up to shake Harry's hand. "I'm happy to meet you, Harry Potter! I saw you a couple of times but never got the chance to meet you and thank you in person for everything you did during the war. I'm sure we'll be moving at a quick pace through the training."
Harry smiled back at her. "No thanks are necessary. Happy to be working with you, too."
"What about me?" Ron asked, looking between the two of them. "Aren't we going to be training together?"
"Oh no, giving two trainees would be a bit much to handle with the schedule we have set up. Lenowitz! Come here!" Robards loud call caused a tall, balding man to stand up and move quickly toward him.
"Sir." Lenowitz's voice was quieter as he observed them on his approach.
Robards motioned to Ron. "Here is your trainee we spoke about. Gregory Lenowitz meet Ronald Weasley."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Weasley." Lenowitz held out his hand, and Ron shook it reluctantly. It was clear he had thought he and Harry would be together as they went through training, and that was obviously not going to be the case. "I was actually about to leave on a call. You ready to go then?"
Ron's eyes widened, and he looked a little panicked at Harry. Harry shrugged back. Didn't he just say he wanted to go through faster?
"Ye-yeah. Definitely. Nice to meet you too, mate." Ron still looked a bit panicked and pale as he followed the Auror as he led him away.
"Alright. Halstead, take care of our poster boy! I'll be off." With a somewhat gleeful attitude, Robards turned back around towards the other end of the room where enclosed offices were situated.
"He didn't mean it in a bad way," Halstead said, looking at Harry's face.
"Yeah. Of course."
She cleared her throat, sitting back down and motioning to a chair next to her. "Sorry, we're not going out immediately. I've got to get through some reports of incidents and filing."
Harry sat next to her, observing the detailed report she was writing out on yellow paper. Apparently, this morning she had apprehended a thief from Knockturn Alley.
Halstead noticed him reading and gave him a quick glance. "Typically, I wouldn't be handling thefts- although of course, you will until you have more of a track record… well, a track record as an Auror at least. But with everything that happened, we lost so many Aurors, it's pretty much all hands on deck. We're in a rotation now and it's just whoever is here for the next call."
"What were you normally called for?"
"I specialized in investigative work. Before everything, my calls consisted of crimes already committed and I collected evidence, interviews, and tracked down the perpetrators. It takes a knack to pry information from people and make the investigative leaps necessary to complete an investigation."
"Is that how you caught the thief?"
Charlotte laughed. "Oh no, this one was much less impressive. He literally tripped over my foot running out of a shop, the git. The minister wants to make sure people feel safe, so that means the presence of Aurors on the street and visible per his words."
She gestured around the room. "See all these people so nicely done up in their uniform robes? Never would have happened before the end of the war and the ministers' decree. You could wear the robes, but honestly, it's just a flag to people of who we are. Most dressed in their everyday clothes to make it easier to work - or safer depending on the thinking."
"Safer without the Auror robes? I thought they had protection spells?"
"Oh, of course, they do. But they're like targets on your back - especially during the war. Walking down an alley in Auror robes was just asking to get jumped by Death Eaters or their sympathizers."
Now that Harry thought of it, none of the Aurors he had known consistently wore their Auror robes. He had just thought it was due to their status or membership in the Order. His eye caught a picture frame on her desk. Charlotte was holding a cute curly-haired toddler that looked very similar to her and standing behind them with his arms wrapped around them was a tall, bookish-looking man.
Charlotte smiled, noticing his attention to her picture. "That's my daughter and my husband. He works at the Wizen Library."
"I can't wait until my godson reaches her age."
"Oh, how old is he?"
Harry reached into his robes, fishing for his wallet, eager to show her pictures had taken of Teddy while visiting him. Looking at Teddy always gave him a warm calming feeling, and this was no different as he showed Charlotte the pictures.
"Oh," Charlotte said, looking down at the teal-haired baby, her eyes becoming a little glassy and she blinked rapidly. "I mean, I knew, I just had not thought… Tonk's baby."
"Were you good friends with her?"
Charlotte gave a strained smile. "Not well. I helped with her training, too. She was so talented, though, Moody took her almost immediately away to be part of his specialized team. A metamorphmagus is so rare."
They both stared down at the picture of Harry holding Teddy. The baby's hair wavered briefly in color as his tiny fist clenched on Harry's shirt to an almost black, before going back to teal and then repeating the motion again.
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Hermione,
I'm really really sorry for not coming. Please forgive me. But I'm coming to see you off for your last year, promise. It's already arranged and time off approved.
They have me assigned to Auror Charlotte Halstead for training. She's amazing. She knew Tonks too! I'm learning so much that sometimes I wonder if I'm making the right decision to join like this. (I can practically hear you saying 'I told you so.')
Charlotte specialized in investigative work, and previously Aurors had specialties - I mean more than we already knew with Hit Wizards and the like, although I suppose I should have guessed that. I mean you have your lowest level or newer Aurors doing common stuff like burglaries and patrols around Diagon and Greater London. Then, as you gain skills, you can specialize in investigative work, the Hit Wizard squad, protection details, etc.
Nothing really appeals to me yet, but we're still going through the ropes, and visiting different districts to get a handle on how all the UK is managed by the Ministry.
I keep thinking about how when I first met Charlotte she showed me a picture of her family and her little girl Caroline. She talks about her all the time, and the thing that gets me is how she can do this job–being away from her for so long. I miss you guys, but it's different from the way I miss Teddy. When I see you, I know you'll be the same, although maybe you'll be a little mad at me. But with Teddy… even in the short month I watched him, he changed so much. She tells me though that some jobs need doing, and her little girl is safer for the work we do—which is true. That's why I wanted to join the Aurors after all.
But still… It bothers me a little.
Your (hopefully) still best friend,
Harry
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Harry & Hermione,
I don't really have time to write separate letters, so you are both getting a copy of this one. I caught a dark wizard in Germany! Can you believe it?
Lenowitz (that's the guy training me Hermione) he's flipping amazing. He had me keep watch outside when he went in to make the arrest just in case and sure enough, the stupid git made a run for it. But guess who caught him?
Guess, guess, guess!
ME!
Anyway, like I said, time is short. We're heading back to London soon, I think? Not sure, since the assignments are still all backed up.
Best,
Ron
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Harry,
Of Course, you're still my best friend, I just really wanted to see you before you went off for training. Our next meeting is me going off for school and then what? I suppose that's life though…
I mean it's not like we can remain in each other's pockets forever like when we were kids right? I don't know why I thought differently…
I'm glad you're with someone competent, who can help you be the best. Aurors have a dangerous job and I can't help that it bothers me a little bit thinking of you out there again. We just got out from under threat and you both rush back into a job with such a high level of risk.
I understand what you mean about missing us versus Teddy differently, with Teddy once that time is gone, it's never coming back. He's only a baby once right? Then he won't make those cute little noises anymore. I just think it's so wonderful you're bonding with him like that. You're giving him the godfather that you missed out on with Sirius.
No news with regards to my parents, they questioned some of the death eaters- including the Malfoys. They did look for my parents, it gives me chills just thinking about what might have happened. I wish it could have been different. I wish I could have persuaded them to go, but they would have never left me.
I'm a terrible daughter.
Best,
Hermione
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Ron,
You stupid git! Hermione is still pissed at me. I never should have listened to you about the picnic thing. I hurt her feelings.
Oh, and congrats on the capture, mate.
Harry
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Hermione,
You are not a terrible daughter. You are the most amazing, caring person I know. And we are going to find your parents and everything is going to be okay, I promise.
How are things going with setting up the house? Did you have any trouble with Gringotts? If there's anything I can do, just let me know. Even with the training, I could write to someone or help you in some way.
I think I forgot to mention it- but I've been wanting to tell you the weirdest thing. Do you know that Kreacher absolutely adores Teddy? It's so bizarre to see the house-elf get so agitated when he cries, not because he's annoyed at the noise but because he wants Teddy happy all the time. Teddy's ears even slightly stretched out one time while Kreacher was trying to cheer him up and you would think Merlin himself came to the house with how excited Kreacher got about it.
The Auror training… is progressing. We were trailing a thieving ring when we caught them in Thetford near the forest. I hadn't paid attention to the reports of what they were stealing, I was concentrating on the clues to where they might strike next or where they might go. Everything moves so fast, you know? I was so focused on putting it together - like a puzzle. Myrrh, aconite, moonwort... I should have put that together sooner, you would have. I helped arrest four wizards and two witches infected with lycanthropy for the large-scale theft of potion supplies. One of the witches was crying that she needed wolfsbane for her child, who had been infected by Greyback.
I'm… not happy.
Harry
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Hermione clenched the letter so hard it crinkled in her hand. Oh, Harry. His hurt practically radiated from the words. She wished she could go there and…
She went to the study, searching through the drawers, and pulled out her map. How many apparitions would it be to the Norfolk Auror Station? Maybe she could pull it off in three?
Three there and three back. That would be cutting it close to the edge of exhausting herself. She ran back up to her room, pulling out her potions trunk and looking through the bottles before plucking out a pepper up and putting it in her bag along with his letter.
Standing outside, she took a deep breath, apparating thirty miles at a time to avoid splinching herself. When she finally stopped in Norwich where the Norfolk Station was located, she paused, a little dizzy, feeling the tug of exhaustion. But she shrugged it off, marching towards the station, determined to get in and see her best friend.
She was almost at the steps about to stride in when movement at the corner of her eye made her jerk her attention to the dark gloom at the side of the building. The caution of the war still crept out at times and she froze staring unblinking into the darkness and her hand tensed ready to yank out her wand.
Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she saw a very familiar profile. She ran back down the steps and went around the back of the station.
Harry jerked around at the sound of her steps, his wand up in a flash, but she didn't pause, trusting his reflexes to stop before he cast at her. She threw her arms around him in a hug.
"Hermione." He paused, frozen for a second, before he hugged her back tight. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in London?"
"I was in the area."
There was a pause, and he hugged her tighter, a slight tremble in his exhale. "You know I'm not supposed to have visitors without authorization during training."
"To hell with their bloody rules, and no one saw me." They both giggled at her words, and she didn't mention the wetness that she felt against her neck.
"I want to help people, Hermione."
"I know."
"This is what I know how to do, the clues, finding them–the thieves. Even the traveling light - it's an old hat. And I screwed up. Charlotte only found them because I helped put together the clues. It was exciting to put it together…" He rambled a little incoherently into her shoulder.
Hermione stroked his back as he went over everything again. "Just because you know one way doesn't mean you can't learn another. You know I've played with the idea of joining the ministry to try to change some of the laws. That's real help for people, Harry."
"I couldn't do anything so close to politics."
"What about potion making? You did amazing with potions in sixth year, then you could offer them for reduced or free to people in need…"
"The potions were all due to the book and am I really the type to be a potioneer? All I've done is fight."
Hermione finally pulled back, looking into his face. Her hands came up to grab tightly onto his shoulders. "You can be anything, Harry Potter. You are not under a prophecy for the rest of your life. You can be a potion maker. You can be a healer. Hell, you can be a flying teacher! Anything."
He gave her a small half smile. "You're kind of biased being my best friend."
"Always."
"Harry?" A female voice called out from the station.
Harry leaned forward until his forehead touched hers. "Thank you for coming."
"Yeah."
He stepped back slowly as the voice called out again. "I'll see you soon, okay? Kings Cross, I'll be there to see you off for eighth year."
Hermione didn't move as he turned and walked swiftly back to the station. Damn that interruption. She felt like she almost persuaded him. She walked a little further away from the stations before grimacing and throwing back the pepper up to get back home to London.