Chapter 48: Plans After Graduation
Instead of going to bed, Claire decided to Apparate to the Ministry's All-Purpose Room. There, she found Olivia Green and Elton Elderberry talking amongst themselves.
"Hi, Claire!" Olivia said. "We were just talking about you and your friends' battle on the Hogwarts bridge."
"You were able to stop 'R' and the wearer of Dai Ryusaki's amulet!" Elton smiled. "That's a great relief for these old bones."
"Well, I wish the ending could be more happy," Claire admitted as she sat next to Olivia. "My father fell off the bridge, with the amulet. But it hasn't been confirmed whether he's truly dead or not, and if the amulet's still on him."
Elton's brow furrowed. "That is quite troubling…."
"I haven't heard anything since I got back," Olivia said. "Then again, I haven't been back at the Ministry for long."
"So why did you resign from Hogwarts?" Claire asked Olivia. "It's why I came here."
Olivia paused and said, "As much as I like teaching, I felt…out of sorts after learning my memories were tampered with. It made me feel like I could do something more, like, serve a greater purpose. Thus, I decided to come back to the Ministry and they offered me a new job. Can't say much about it, though I will be seeing a lot of interesting and confounding things."
"Not sure if that's a hint or not," replied Claire.
"Don't worry about it. What matters is that I thank you, for helping me get my memories back and reconciling with Jacob and Duncan."
"And I thank you for helping me defeat 'R,' in your own way."
"What did I do to help? I'm not sure I understand."
"Your lost memories clued me in to 'R''s ultimate plan. Without that knowledge, I wouldn't have been able to stop them."
"Oh, I see. By the way, a very charming wizard came by asking for you."
"Did you get his name?"
"I'm not sure, though he said he was Charlie's older…brother?"
"Bill!" Claire realized. "Would you tell him that I can meet him tomorrow afternoon?"
"Sure."
The next day, Claire was so preoccupied with taking her N. E. W. T.s that she forgot about her arranged meeting with Bill. So when she was between tests in the afternoon, she decided to walk around the Training Grounds to clear her head when she saw a familiar red-haired young man.
"How are your N. E. W. T.s going?" Bill asked.
"Can't say," Claire said, trying to hide her surprise with a calm smile. "They are quite difficult."
"Yes, they are. But knowing you, I'm sure you'll do fine." Bill's friendly smile then vanished. "Charlie filled me in on what happened to you, including…the fate of your dad. But I wanted to congratulate you and the Circle of Khanna for defeating 'R'. I bet Rowan would be so proud."
"She would."
"Now the reason I talked with Charlie was to discuss graduation plans. Apparently, he's been offered a job in Romania at the Dragon Sanctuary! He could barely contain his excitement when he told me."
"I didn't know he was going to Romania."
"And he didn't know what your graduation plans were either. Do you…have any?"
Claire didn't know how to answer Bill. "I haven't thought about it, but I will figure out something soon."
Bill scratched his chin. "Looks like you still have some things left to figure out. But as my dad always says: look to the future, but enjoy the present!"
"Sounds like something he would say."
"What are you looking forward to after graduating from Hogwarts? Having a job? A place of your own? Or no more tests?"
"No more tests, for sure!"
Laughing, Bill said, "Well, I guarantee there won't be too many tests in the real world. But you will still get tested."
Once again, Bill's face looked concerned which made Claire nervous.
"Is something wrong, Bill?" Claire asked.
"There's been a sense of unease in the Wizarding World lately," Bill said. "Like, there's something lurking in the shadows waiting to attack any moment. We could use your prowess as a Witch on the frontlines, Claire, to protect us from whatever it is."
"I guess I'll keep that in mind. But thanks for coming to see me, Bill."
"Anytime!"
Once the N. E. W. T.s were over, all the Seventh-Years went back to their dormitories to pack their things. After Claire did this, she went down to the Slytherin dormitory and found Barnaby standing outside with his things at his feet.
"You know, when I first entered this house…I thought I would end up like my parents," Barnaby said in a melancholic tone.
"And now?" Claire asked.
"I'm glad I didn't turn out like them," Barnaby said. "But I still consider myself a Slytherin, being resourceful and ambitious as I am."
"You can also be a bit cunning."
"Oh, stop it! You're giving me too much credit."
"No, I'm serious! The way you fooled my dad with your charm at the Shrieking Shack was brilliant, and you have a certain intuitiveness that other Slytherins lack."
"Well, if you say so." Barnaby leaned down to hug Claire, which she accepted. "I've actually got a job lined up. Going to be a Houndmaster!"
"Houndmaster? What's that?"
"Basically, I'll be taking care of the albino bloodhounds at the Magical Creatures Department's Pest Division."
"So you will get to work with magic creatures, just like you wanted!"
"I guess so. Merula's planning to live in London, and Liz is going to be a Magizoologist."
"That's great!"
"Do you have any plans?"
Reluctantly, Claire shook her head. This made Barnaby concerned.
"You could stay with me at my new flat, until you get things sorted out," Barnaby suggested.
Deep inside, Claire liked the prospect of living with Barnaby. Though she broke from Barnaby's embrace. "I can't."
"Why not?"
"My brother, Jacob, he's still blind. Though the Healers are doing everything they can to rid him of Verucca's curse, he must accept his condition for now. So I'll probably have to stay at home and help him adjust."
"I understand. But my door is always open, in case you need a place to crash."
"Thanks." Claire gave Barnaby a parting kiss before leaving to find Hagrid.
To be continued…
