I hope you enjoy this chapter (even though it's a week late :/). I know it's a bit short but longer ones will be coming out soon - interesting things are going to start happening :)
Also thank you for all the lovely reviews! I hope everyone is doing well! :)
16th March 1988
Minerva narrowed her eyes as she tried to decipher a word a fourth-year student had scrawled on their homework. By the looks of it, they had tried to write the spell in a small script in hopes that she would mark their answer as correct. Unfortunately for them, Minerva had been a teacher for over forty years and knew the difference between poor handwriting and deliberately unintelligible one.
Just as she scored out their answer and wrote the correct one next to it, there was a knock at her door.
"Professor?" Charlie Weasley poked his head around the door. "Could I have a word please?"
"Of course," she said, pushing the stack of parchment to one side. She then indicated at the empty chair opposite her desk. "Please, take a seat."
He flashed a quick appreciative smile then closed her office door and sat down.
"How can I help you, Mr Weasley?" she asked, folding her hands.
Charlie cleared his throat. "Erm—Well, I know we had the careers meeting last week," he began, his ears turning red - a family trait Minerva had come to notice. "And, I know I said I'd like to join a Quidditch Team after my NEWTs, but, well, that is to say, I—I think I've changed my mind. Sorry."
"Mr Weasley, nothing you said before was set in stone," she assured him. "No teacher expects their students to have their lives planned out at the start of their fifth year. All we want is for you to begin thinking about a career that might be of interest to you. Changing your mind is not a crime."
Charlie looked relieved, and he smiled tentatively. "I know," he said finally. "I just didn't want you to think I wasted your time last week."
"Not at all, Mr Weasley," Minerva reassured him. "Now, what career is it that you have in mind?"
"Well, during Care of Magical Creatures yesterday, Professor Kettleburn talked to us about dragons," he explained, beginning to turn a little red, "and—ah—I mean I've always enjoyed his classes, so—so I was listening quite carefully. Anyway, he told us about dragonologists and, well, I've had an interest in dragons ever since I was young really, so finding out that I could work with them after my NEWTs sounded–sounded perfect I guess."
He teased a colourful leaflet out of his pocket and handed it to her.
"They're recruiting people to work at this new dragon sanctuary in Romania," he continued, now on a bit of a roll. "I've been reading up on a lot of Harvey Ridebit's work there and I think that it's something I would really like to get involved in—dragonology I mean."
Minerva finished skimming the article then passed it back to him. "I don't see why not, Mr Weasley," she said causing Charlie's expression to morph from nervous to excited. "But I am assuming you didn't come to my office only to tell me that."
"No," he said, much more confidently now. "The thing is, we only study dragons briefly in Care of Magical Creatures but I've never actually seen or worked with one before. I don't want to start a job as a dragonologist after Hogwarts and realise that I hate it. So, I was wondering if perhaps it would be possible for me to get some work experience of some sort before I graduate?"
"I understand," said Minerva, putting her fingertips together and thinking for a moment. "Now, I will be honest, Mr Weasley, due to the nature of the profession you are interested in, it may be difficult to find a volunteering or internship scheme. However, my brother works at the sanctuary you are interested in–"
"Brother?" interrupted Charlie, surprised.
Minerva smiled faintly. "Don't look so surprised, Mr Weasley. Teachers have lives outside of Hogwarts as well."
"I'm sorry–I didn't mean…" he stammered, looking embarrassed until he realised she wasn't offended by his nosiness. "What were you saying, Professor?"
"That I can get in touch with him and ask if they have a programme available for 5th year students," she finished.
Charlie's eyes widened for the second time. "Working with dragons? R-really?"
"Really," Minerva said, "However, I cannot promise anything. There is a chance they don't offer anything of the sort."
"Right," Charlie nodded.
Minerva put her hands down and wrote a note to herself on a piece of spare parchment. "I will speak to him this evening and I will let you know as soon as I get a reply."
"Thank you, Professor," said Charlie appreciatively.
Minerva put her quill down then looked back up at him. "You are very welcome, Mr Weasley," she said honestly. "Now, I believe you have Muggle Studies with Professor Quirrell starting in five minutes. If you are quick you should make it on time."
Charlie stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder. He then smiled at her before slipping out of the classroom.