A Gift Fic for Newt for their amazing work in Round 6 of the Houses Competition! Prompts were "That Green Gentleman" song and Harry Potter.
Harry is dropping out of the Auror program.
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"You're dropping out?" Kingsley asked Harry, leaning back in his chair in surprise. Harry just nodded in reply, trying to remain as calm and casual as physically possible. Kingsley pursed his lips. "And this… Does this have anything to do with Ginny? I know you two were close."
"Nothing has to do with her anymore," Harry muttered. Then he recovered, smiling back at the man across the desk. "No, this is entirely about me. I just feel like a change."
Kingsley narrowed his eyes. "A change from the only job you've ever wanted?"
"Yes." Then Harry thought he should elaborate, "I don't mind staying within the Ministry, but I feel like I'm done with being an Auror. I know it seems like a big character change, but it's just not something I want to do anymore. I'm ready for a quiet life. And I'm not just doing this for the sake of making a change, I genuinely feel like this is the right move."
"Right," Kingsley said, obviously still not totally believing in Harry's sanity. "And this has nothing to do with Ginny leaving you for Dean? Not just as your boss, but as your friend, I know that that upset you - as it would do, her being… Your wife and all."
"Ginny left months ago," Harry bit out, starting to get angry. The man wouldn't take him seriously and it was frustrating. Why couldn't he see that Harry was so obviously desperate for a change in his life and that it had nothing to do with the world that was crumbling around him? "This is about me and my life - I just need to do something different. Please. Things have changed for me, so I need a change. It doesn't matter who she's kissing, or what my dreams were. I just need something different."
For a moment, it looked as though Kingsley was deliberating this argument.
"This is only because I trust you," Kingsley said eventually, still frowning. "If you really think that this is going to help. I'll get you a department swap. But just know, if you want to come back - literally any time - you will be more than welcome."
Kingsley stood up and Harry took that as indication that he should too. The two men shook hands, and Harry left the Minister's Office feeling a little less dead inside than when he had entered.
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Thanks for reading!
