If you're taking the time to read my first AU Dramione fan fiction - Thank You!

Before you dive into the story I want to call out a few things. Yes this work is inspired by the world of Harry Potter. And as much as I love HP and the story I would be reminisce to post my story without acknowledging the harm, lies and utter falsities utter by the original author. Please know that I 100% support transgender individuals and will always be a safe space for them. My hope in writing this story is to bring some of the same comfort we all found in the original series without supporting someone driven by hatred.

Also because this is my first published fan fiction I'm looking for beta readers! If you're interested please reach out and let me know. I also apologize for any spelling, grammar chaos that you read. If you see something obvious that I somehow missed please let me know and I'll try and fix it asap.

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The sun was bright, and a light breeze fluttered her curls, blowing her Hogwarts robes around her legs as Herminone trapsed across the castle lawn, clutching a thick parchment envelope that held her future. She willed herself to remain calm, wrestling her anxiety and the ever present urge to ripe the envelope open and read it's contents into submission as the Black lake finally came into view. Leaning against a tree near its banks one of her best friends Harry Potter looked up, his green eyes connecting with Herminone giving her a wave. His black hair was still in its signature messy state, his tie loosen around his neck. She couldn't help but think how much he looked like an old picture of James as Ginny looked up from where she lounged against Harry's legs grinning, her signature red hair pulled into a high ponytail as Ron stood to greet her.

"Mione, about time you got here" he said swooping her up into a hug as she approached. His hair had grown out in the last year, falling into his eyes in a roguish sort of way. Her stomach fluttered, full of butterflies as her boyfriend leaned down for a quick peck on the lips. "Eww gross" called Ginny from the ground as Herminone giggled against Ron's lips. He grabbed her hand and walked them back over towards there friends. Conjuring a blanket, across the grass, Hermione threw her book bag into a corner and plopped down uncermainously sighing. "Sorry all, I got caught up in a conversation with Professor Flitwick." Ron laughed. "Sure you're not using that as an excuse to say you snuck away into moaning myrtle's bathroom to open your results without us?" "Of course not!" Hermione replied indigiantly. "We said we'd all open them together. Besides we're still waiting for a few more of us, are we not?"

Harry laughed. "You can't blame us for wondering Mione, you've been a nervous wreck for weeks."

"Well can you blame me? These envelopes contain our futures! Aren't you the least bit curious?"

Following their NEWTs exams two weeks ago Headmistress McGongall had gathered the seventh years together and explained that representatives from various magical careers will be available to discuss their day to day jobs for a week. At the end of the week, students would submit their choices for potential future careers and their test results and school records would be sent to each group. On the last day of the year 7th year students would receive their assignment, a year long mentorship in a career their test results and interviews thought they were best for. It wasn't permanent McGongall reminded them, but a chance to explore a career field without the pressure of being 100% committed to it. The hope was that the program would alleviate some of the stress and pressure that came with choosing a job - and a reduction in stress was desperately needed by this new crop of seventh years given everything that happened with Voldemort last summer.

The entire week Hermione had spoken to many magical professionals from healers at St. Mungos to members of the Department of Magical Creatures. One group she had nearly passed on speaking with were the Aurors. Until Tonks caught her one afternoon in the library. "Hermione!" She called cheerily. "Tonks, how are you?" Hermione said rising to hug Tonks, her notes on various careers scattered all over the table. "Haven't seen you speak to any of my colleagues yet Hermione, aren't you considering joining the Aurors?" Hermione cleared her throat suddenly interested in a book on the table. Tonks gave her a quizzical look. "The spots are competitive and I know they're only taking two people this year…." "And?" Tonks asked. "Well I think Harry and Ron are interested." Tonks was silent for a bit. "Just because Harry and Ron are interested doesn't mean they'll be accepted. And from what I understand you were quite the asset while the three of you hunted horcruxes last year."

Hermione bit her lower lip. "I don't know Tonks…." "Look just stop by and see what they have to say - you don't have to apply if you don't want to but…." She trailed off eyeing Hermione's notes which lined the table. "Say what you need to say Tonks." "Okay but it might come out wrong Hermione and I don't want you to be angry." Hermione nodded in what she hoped was an encouraging way. "Finding the right path for you career wise isn't like studying for an exam, there's no right answer and sometimes it can be based more on a feeling than anything else. Harry constantly talks about what an asset you were in taking down Voldemort. Not only that but your passion for house elves and muggleborns allows you to bring a perspective into our department that is missing. I love my colleagues but being an auror isn't just about catching bad guys and winning, it's about looking past the obvious and striving for true justice. And I truly think you'd do it well."

Hermione did her best not to tear up but failed as she hugged her friend. As much as she didn't want to admit it the thought of being an auror intrigued her. The complex puzzle of understanding why some witches and wizards did what they did and giving justice to their victims appealed to her. "Alright Tonks, I'll talk to them and see…but no promises." Tonks grinned and waved her wand sending Hermiones copious notes into her bag beside the table. "I'll walk you over!" Grabbing the now full bag Hermione followed her out of the library.

Ron stretched out onto the blanket beside her "At this time last year, we were hunting horcurxes and running for our lives from Voldemort, finding out where we've been assigned for our future careers is a piece of cake compared to that." Harry laughed quietly as Ginny pondered aloud "Did you think you'd come back for your seventh year?" "As if Hermione would have given us any other choice!" Ron yelled cackling with laughter. She chuckled - Ron wasn't wrong she hadn't given them much of choice.

9 months earlier

"Ron we have to go back." Hermione said, pacing in front of one of the bookshelves in Grimmald Place's drawing room. Ron sat sideways in an arm chair legs dangling over the arm rest. "Why, Mione? Kingsley already offered us positions as Aurors, and there's no doubt he'll place you anywhere you want to be in Ministry if you asked for it." "Harry what do you think?" Hermione paused her pacing turning to where Harry was sprawled across the couch. They'd be debating for over an hour at this point, the Hogwarts letters from McGongall open on the living room table.

Harry sighed. "I agree with Hermione Ron." Ron spurted in defiance. "Here me out, Ron. Yes, we could go straight into work, but I honestly think it would be better for us to go back to school for a year. We have a lot to learn and I'm not sure if I want to be Auror." "What?!" Ron roared. Harry continued as if Ron hadn't interrupted. "For once, I want to go to school without the threat of Voldemort hanging over my head. I want to enjoy my time at Hogwarts and I'm not in a rush to join the work force. And honestly…." he paused "I want to take the time to heal. Rushing to fight more dark wizards isn't going to let me do that."

Both Ron and Hermione were quiet at that. Hermione agreed with Harry whole heartidly and while she didn't share it with either of them, she wanted to take the time to figure out what her next step was going to be.

Sensing the tension in the room Harry cracked a smile "and let's face it, Hermione won't let the two of us run off without a proper education anyway." Hermione cracked a grin walking over to her boyfriend who was still pouting slightly in the corner. Running her hands through his hair as she leaned over the back of the chair she crooned into his ear "Besides, it'll be the first time you and I have been together at Hogwarts, there could be some fun things to explore." He captured her hand and smiled "now that I could go back to school for."

Hermione withdrew from the memory smiling as Luna and Neville made their way towards them. "Hello everyone!" Luna said in her signature airy voice. She took a seat next to Hermione on the blanket, leaning over to give her a hug. Neville sat across from them smiling. "Has anyone open their letter yet?" "Not yet" Ron said "we were waiting for everyone to get here." Looking around he said "I think we can start."

"Now don't tell me you're starting without me Weasly" drawled a male voice. Hermione glanced behind her as Draco Malfoy wandered over grinning plopping down on the grass next to them.

"I saw you coming Malfoy" Ron growled as Hermione elbowed him, giving Draco an apology grimace. Draco laughed pulling his envelope from his bag. "Well what's everyone waiting for?"

The group went quiet, as they all started at the envelope in their hands that held their future.

"Okay" said Harry "who wants to go first?" interrupting Hermione's remonizing. "Oh come on Potter, we're really gonna do this one at a time?!" Joked Draco. "Fine everyone star…" The sound of tearing parchment filled the air as Ron anxiously unfolded his letter. Others followed while Hermione watched Ron's face turn red then white then red again. "What the fucking bloody hell is this?!" Ron exploded. Six faces suddenly looked up from their own letters. "Ron, what's wrong?" cried Ginny "this has to be a joke!" Ron cried. "What does it say?" Neville asked quietly. "They want me in the business department of the Ministry of Magic, I'll be working alongside small business owners like George." Ron raged throwing the letter in the center of the group. "Working alongside George would be nice.." Luna began but Ron grumbled "Don't Luna just don't." "Ron I'm sorry mate, I know you wanted to join the aurors…" Harry trailed off. "Don't start." Ron snapped "just because you made it." "Ron!" Gasped Hermione, as Harry's mouth pressed into a thin line. "I didn't." Said Harry. "I decided not to apply." Ron face deepened to a crimson color. "That wasn't the plan!" Ron said looking gobsmacked.

"Where were you placed then Potter?" Asked Draco quietly his head tilting slightly to the side. "Here" said Harry a calm smile taking over. "McGonagall asked me to teach." "Oh Harry that's wonderful!" Hermione cried "You did so well with the DA." Ron harrumphed glaring. "Since when do you wanna teach?" "I didn't at first, but after talking with the counselor this year I realized that being an Auror would….well it would do more damage to me emotionally then anything else." Ginny slowly patted his leg as Neville and Luna nodded. All seven of them along with numerous other students began seeing wizard psychologists upon their return to Hogwarts at the direction of McGongall at the beginning of the school year. It had been one of her first acts as Headmistress and in Hermione's opinion one that was desperately needed. "And when we met right before the career exploration week he asked me to think about where I felt the most happy and…it was here."

Ron nodded but refused to make eye contact, tearing blades of grass from the ground "still could've told me." Mumbled Ron. Ignoring the awkward silence that followed Luna cheerily said "I think it's great Harry! Where were you placed Ginny?" Ginny blushed her cheeks turning nearly as red as her hair. "Well I've actually been recruited to playfortheHarpies." The last sentence coming out in a rush as the group of friends let out a few screams and yells of excitement.

Ginny continued blushing looking down as Harry hugged her from behind - looking like she wanted to hid in his arms. "Luna where'd you end up?" Ginny said clearly trying to divert the attention away from herself. "I got placed at the Prophet" she said with a smile. "It'll be nice to write for them and educate more people about the nuisance that Nargles can cause." Hermione looked up making eye contact with Draco the two of them smirking and holding their good natured laugh at bay. If anything Hermione thought to herself, the prophet would finally be worth reading again with Luna as a writer.

"What about you Longbottom?" Draco asked. Neville looked down at his letter again. "I'm going to work with St Mungos in their magical herbs research division." "Oh Neville" said Hermione with a kind smile. Patting him on the back Draco said "That's great, man!" Neville smiled more broadly. It was no secret among the group that Neville hoped a cure for his parents memory loss lied in an unknown plant. Fighting back what were clearly tears Neville cleared his throat. "What about you Malfoy?"

"Oh I umm Nargle inspector with…Hey!" A balled up piece of parchment smacked him square in the face courtesy of Ginny as the group booed. "Well now I know why the Harpies recruited you." Mumbled Malfoy. "Seriously Malfoy" Harry said with a laugh "what'd you get?"

"I…well I guess I got into the Aurors program…." He said glancing at Ron. Ron refused to look up pulling more grass from the ground. "Congratulations.." he mumbled. The rest of the group was quiet with Hermione finally breaking the silence. "Malfoy that's great, is that what you wanted?" "Umm yeah, yeah it is. Who better to go after dark wizards then…" he trailed off. Silence fell once more, no one knew what to say.

"Wait Hermione where were you placed?" Asked Ginny. Hermione looked down. She still hadn't opened the letter. Ron leaned forward abandoning his bad mood for a moment squeezing her shoulder. "How much do you wanna bet they have her shadowing Kingsley as the next Minister of Magic." The group chuckled. "I could see it." Luna said. "Sounds like Granger the over achieved." Malfoy said with a chuckle. Hermione shot him an inappropriate hand gesture as the group laughed. Taking a breath she ripped into the envelope. Heavy paper fell into her lap. Looking down at the letter in her lap she slowly unfolded it, her heart pounding. And there written in dark green ink across the top of the page said

"Welcome Hermione J Granger, to the Ministry of Magic Aurors Training Program."