'The Wedding'

*******************************************************************

On Monday morning Harry woke feeling refreshed and invigorated, despite the long hours of partying and the copious amount of alcohol he had consumed the previous night at the Three Broomsticks.

‘M-m-m-morning’ Ginny stammered through a wide yawn ‘How’s your head?’

Harry felt his head theatrically.
‘It’s still attached to my neck’ He joked leaning down and kissing her on the lips.

‘Oh ha ha veeeeery funny’ Ginny said dryly rolling her eyes ‘That new Hangover Potion I’ve made works then?’

‘Yeah it does I don’t have a hangover at all’ Harry said swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

‘I can’t believe we shagged in the middle of Hogsnmeade!’ Ginny exclaimed with a shrill giggle ‘That’s sure as hell not something I’d do sober’

‘You sure about that?’ Harry said pulling a pair of discarded boxers on.

‘Oh yeah a hundred percent’ Ginny said ‘Last week at the Ministry eh? Looking forward to it?’

‘Yes and no’ Harry said ‘Yes because I’m excited about my prospects for the future and no because I’m leaving a great group of friends in the Auror office and I have to make the decision on who will replace me’

‘You would be able to go and visit everyone in the office whenever you like though wouldn’t you?’ Ginny said.

‘I’m sure I would be able to but I’m not sure how much time I’d have to do that once I start at Hogwarts. I mean in the next six weeks I start a new job and we organize a wedding then get married and go on a honeymoon I’m going to have my hands full with that, I’m not going to have time to go for a pint at the Leaky Cauldron’

‘Oh I daresay you’d find time to do that’ Ginny said with a grin throwing back the covers and getting out of bed ‘Will you have time to come for lunch with me today?’

‘Awww Gin I really don’t know this week is going to be really stupid at the Ministry’ Harry said ‘I’m going to be up to the gills in paperwork every single day right up to close of business on Friday, I may have to work through lunch. I’ll say yes but I’ll owl or patronus you if things change’

‘Fair enough so how about Fortescues at one?’

‘See you there'

*******************************************************************

Down in the kitchen forty five minutes later Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry gathered for breakfast in the kitchen. It started normally the only sounds were of clinking cutlery and the lingering smell of bacon but the peace of the early morning was broken by the screech of four approaching owls.

‘Mailsherly’ Ron who’s mouth was fit to explode said (How he even managed to breathe was beyond Harry)

‘They’re all from the Prophet Office!’ Hermione exclaimed opening the window in time for the owls to soar through ‘What did you three get a Prophet for? One normally does us’

‘The quidditch’ Came the chorused reply.

Hermione made sure each owl got their Knut and watched in amusement as Harry Ron and Ginny pounced on their copies.

‘That figures’ She said taking her seat at the table and resuming her breakfast ‘You could’ve shared mine you know’

‘Nah this morning we don’t want to share’ Harry said with a grin his eyes not leaving the page ‘We’ll do the same after the Grand Final next week too’

‘You all want a copy just to read the results?’ Hermione said in surprise ‘That makes no sense whatsoever’

‘I know’ Ron said with a grin.

Hermione just rolled her eyes.

‘Gawd that Rita really is the end!’ Ginny said a minute later.

‘What’s she done now?’ Hermione said who had been reading an article on the forthcoming Dark Force Defence League elections, an organization they were all members of.

‘Oh she’s crapping on about next weeks game and wonders if Harry playing Seeker for United and me playing Seeker for the Harpies in next weeks game is ethical, she reckons it’s against the moral values we all hold dear’

‘What the hell would she know about moral values?’ Hermione said in amazement ‘She knows less about quidditch than I do and that’s saying something!’

‘I thought that too’

‘Hey Harry the elections for the Dark Force Defence League are coming up why don’t you nominate for the board?’ Hermione said holding up page seventeen of the Prophet ‘Nominations have to be in by the end of the week’

‘Mione when would I have the time if I did get on the board?’ Harry said flicking his wand and levitating his dishes over to the sink ‘I have my hands full with the Ministry, Quidditch and my new job at Hogwarts and Gin and I have the wedding to organize. The Dark Force Defence League meet all the time, they have dances, meetings, gatherings and soirees every day of the week’

‘Oh bullshit don’t exaggerate’

‘I’m already the patron isn’t that enough?’

‘I don’t think so the patron doesn’t really do anything, they’re just a figurehead. I reckon you ought to nominate for the Presidency’

Ron snorted his juice up his nose, Ginny who was in the process of levitating a bowl of milk and cornflakes, stopped concentrating on her spell and the bowl crashed to the floor shattering on impact and splattering cornflakes and milk everywhere.

‘Pardon?’ Harry said convinced he’d heard Hermione wrongly.

‘I think you Harry James Potter ought to nominate for the presidency of the Dark Force Defence League. I think you could revolutionize it’

‘I think I’ve done enough revolutionizing in my life’

Ron sniggered.

‘What’s wrong with the way the League is run now?’ Harry said pouring himself a juice ‘Alfred Collingwood is doing a fine job’

‘He’s retiring the article says so, it’s open elections so you don’t have to be on the board already to go for the positions’

‘Why don’t you nominate?’ Harry countered hoping if only half heartedly that the argument would cease.

‘I’m going to nominate for the secretary’s job, I reckon Ron you should nominate for the Vice Presidency and Ginny I reckon the Tresurers job would be your thing you’re good with money’

‘Excuse me?’ Ron exclaimed ‘When would I have the time to attend all the stuff the Defence League does? I’m barely less busy than Harry’

‘And I wouldn’t have the time either’ Ginny said ‘I’m finishing up my Maternity internship at St Mungo’s AND I plan on being pregnant by the end of the year and having a baby will take some time’

‘You do?’ Harry said in mock surprise ‘Were you planning on involving me in your plans?’

‘Oh ha ha’

‘Think about it you lot I really think you could do a lot’ Hermione said enthusiastically.

‘I’ll think about it’ Harry said.

*******************************************************************

‘Bloody Hermione’ Harry espoused an hour later as he and Ron entered the Auror office.

‘What’s she done now?’ Ron said sweeping his wand around the room so all the lamps lit up bathing the high ceilinged room in a soft light.

‘Aw nothing really , just bringing up the Defence League elections, as if I didn’t already have enough on my plate. If I nominated for the board there is no way I would have a life. Ted’ll forget who I am if I join the board. I don’t want him turning into a rebellious shit of a kid’

‘I see where you’re coming from but if you nominated and got on the board you could fix things so you would have plenty of time at home’ Ron said heading over to his desk which as usual was cluttered with an array of items such as Sneakascopes and books relating to the Aurors job.

‘You sound like you’ve been thinking about what Hermione said’ Harry said going into his office.

‘I have been’ Ron said leaning on the door frame of Harry’s office ‘It’s not a totally stupid idea you know. The Dark Force Defence League hasn’t had a new board for years maybe it is about time some new people got in there’

Harry pondered Ron’s point.

‘Well I suppose you’re right’ He said ‘Aww but I dunno I’m going to have my hands so busy with quidditch and the job at Hogwarts and finishing off here this week’

The league elections aren’t til the middle of September and you’ll be well and truly finished here by then And your job at Hogwarts isn’t going to take up as much time as this one does at least you’ll have the holidays and weekends off whereas in this job you quite often have to work on the weekends. And with the wedding Mum, Ginny and Hermione seem to have everything under control just answer the questions they fire at you then turn up on the day, I reckon with careful planning you can devote equal time to the league your job and Ted. And after the wedding there’s even more time’

‘Gawd it sounds like Hermione got you behind closed doors and tried to convince you to convince me to nominate for the league board’

'Nah she didn’t the first time I heard anything about the elections was an hour ago at breakfast but I’ve been thinking about it since. She’s got a point and Hermione rarely says anything stupid’

‘I’ve never heard Hermione say anything stupid’ Harry said with a grin sliding into the chair behind his desk ‘In the thirteen years you’ve known her, have you?’

Ron laughed.
‘No’ He said ‘You once or twice but not ‘Mione’

Harry rolled his eyes at Ron and lazily aimed a hex at him Ron easily dodged it with a laugh.

‘Get to work before I sack you’ He said dryly ‘Go on piss off’

*******************************************************************

The rest of the week was ridiculously busy for Harry not once did he have the time to go out into Diagon Alley for lunch and more than once he worked over hours in the attempt to get as much work as done as possible. To keep him company during those long hours behind the desk Ron stayed behind and helped him go through the mountains of paperwork that was involved in him tying up loose ends in the last days of his job as head of the Auror office.

Then on Wednesday Harry had a meeting with Kingsley to discuss the appointment of his successor.

‘Okay everyone I’m going downstairs to see Kingsley’ He announced to the office hoisting up a large armful of folders ‘Ron you’re in charge Mack you’re his second, Patronus me if something urgent comes up’

‘Aye aye capt’n this ol’ ship is in foyne ‘ands’’ Mack said in a cockney accent and delivering a smart military style salute.

‘Oh ha ha’ Harry said rolling his eyes ‘Smartarse’

Harry left the office and made his way down the hall and into the lift, which took him down to seventh floor. He was concentrating so hard on his thoughts of the meeting to follow that he didn’t notice where he was going which resulted in him crashing hard into someone and falling to the floor knocking his glasses askew and scattering his folders everywhere.

Harry pushed his glasses back up his nose and Percy Weasley surrounded by several of his own folders all of which had their contents scattered around him swam into view.

‘Shit Perce I’m sorry are you okay?’ Harry asked apologetically getting up and holding a hand out ‘I am so sorry I was miles away’

‘No worries Harry I was away with the pixies myself’ Percy said taking Harry’s offered hand and getting to his feet then flicking his wand so the folders reorganized themselves and flew back into the arms of the person they had come from ‘You going to see Kingsley?’

‘Yeah we’ve got a meeting in five minutes’ Harry said re-arranging his robes ‘About my replacement’

‘Ah yes Kingsley did say it was the most important meeting he had today’ Percy said ‘I’ll join you in the meeting shortly I just have to make a quick trip to the Department For International Magical Co-Oporation and Experimental Charms’

‘Okie dokie see you soon eh?’

‘Sure’

Percy got into the lift and Harry continued down the hall whose window today displayed a periwinkle blue sky with accompanying bluebirds before entering the Minister for Magic’s and support staff office.

‘Heya Harry’ came the collective call.

‘Hey y’all’ Harry said in a fake southern American accent.

‘Ace quidditch last night aye?’ One of the newer staff Colin a wizard from Australia said.

‘Yeah it was did you go?’ Harry asked going over to the cluster of desks and sitting in the chair at Percy’s desk.

‘Nah I couldn’t get tickets’ Colin said ‘I had to make do with staying at home and listening to the game on the wireless. Your Ginny can fly a bit she’d get a game with any of the league team in Oz. Should make for an interesting final next week’

‘Yeah it should’ Harry said a swelling of excitement in anticipation sweeping though his stomach ‘You going to that game?’

‘You bet I lined up early at the box office in Diagon Alley first thing this morning ‘The whole family is going wouldn’t miss out on a game like that in a million years. Lee Jordan reckons it’s going to be the game of the century’

‘Dunno about that but it ought to be a good game anyways’ Harry said as the door of Kingsleys office opened ‘I’ll leave you to it though I have a meeting with Kingsley’

‘Right y’are Harry’

Harry got up and went into Kingsley’s office knocking lightly on the door as he entered.

‘Ah Harry come in come in!’ Kingsley greeted him ‘How’s your day been?’

‘Steady’ Harry said ‘There have been a few call outs but Ron, Mack and Gordon have handled them, so while it’s been quiet I’ve been helping Geoff and Trish revise for the Junior Auror exams at the end of the month and they’re both cramming’

‘Yeah? How are they going?’

‘Great they’ve got no issues with passing the exams, they could do them tomorrow. I think they’ll both be an asset to the Auror office. Geoff’s strength is Transfiguration and Charms and Trish’s is Potions and Ancient Runes. Hermione’s favourite subject at school was Ancient Runes and more than once she’s tutoured Trish on the subject. Ron’s more the Transfiguration type so he’s been helping both out there and the rest of the office have been helping out in the other areas when Ron and I can’t’

‘You’ve trained them well’

‘Oh I’ve only done it for a two years Archie Melling my predecessor laid the foundation in their first year I was still training myself when Geoff and Trish joined the office’

‘I’m aware of that Harry but I think you underestimate how influential you are. People want to learn from you I think that’s why we’ve had so many applications for the Auror training program since the last battle and especially since you became Auror director. The kids at Hogwarts are going to be lucky buggers to have you teach them’

Harry’s cheeks pinked up.
‘Thanks Kingsley’ He mumbled ‘Sow how’s you? Gotten laid recently?’

Kingsley rolled his eyes.
‘Oh ha ha’ He said ‘You’re a real nosey bugger Potter and take way to much interest in others sex lives, why do you ask? One would think you’re not getting any yourself considering how often you ask me if I’ve gotten laid recently’

Harry laughed heartily.
‘I’m getting plenty thanks’ He said ‘As I said to you at my birthday party I think there would be plenty of ladies and even some blokes out there that would give their wands to have a piece of you, women like men in power you know’

‘Who told you that?’ Kingsley asked with a raised eyebrow.

‘Gin and ‘Mione they both fancy Ed Wilkinson the head of International Magical Co-operation you know’

‘All women fancy Ed, is he taken?’

‘Yeah don’t tell anyone but he’s dating Andromeda’

‘Tonks?’

‘How many Andromeda’s do you know? Yeah Andromeda Tonks. They’ve been dating for a few weeks now I’ve gathered’

‘Well I’m happy for her ‘Dromeda deserves some happiness especially after losing Ted and Nymphadora in the last war’

‘That’s what Ron, Gin, ‘Mione and I think. She’s so much happier now, I think since the final battle she’s been operating on auto-pilot. If it weren’t for Ted she would’ve gone to pieces’

‘After what she went through anyone would’ Kingsley said sagely ‘Speaking of Ted how is he?’

Harry lit up.
‘Oh great’ He said ‘Hermione’s already teaching him basic Ancient Runes and History of Magic. He’s going to be a smartarse first year when he gets to Hogwarts and he’s already showing strong signs of magic’

‘Already?’ Kingsley asked in great surprise ‘He’s only six!’

‘I know but on my birthday he was play fighting with Ron and disarmed him with his toy wand that George and Katie gave him for Easter, the one that used to turn into a rubber chicken. He then disarmed Andromeda and Hermione. And in the past few days he’s been turning lights on and off in the house willy nilly he’s like a human version of Dumbledore’s deluminator’

‘That’s the earliest I’ve ever heard of a wizard showing magic, I didn’t show any myself til I was eight’

‘Molly said Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Gin didn’t show any magic til they were seven, and even Minerva when I ran it past her said the earliest she’s heard of magic showing was seven, she’s not sure if Ted’s Metamorphasing is a contributing factor but I suspect it is even though Andromeda told me Tonks herself didn’t show anything til she was seven’

‘Sounds like he’ll be a skilled Wizard’

‘Yeah I think he will be too’ Harry said.

‘Has he done any other magic?’

‘Only odds and sods, turning the lights on and off opening and closing the windows and doors and he’s taken to turning off the T.V without the remote control. If he had a wand he’d be here in front of the Improper Use of Magic office all the time. He doesn’t do it all the time it just happens in bursts’

‘Sounds like he’s keeping you on your toes’

‘Yeah he is but he’s a good kid’ Harry said ‘He’s good practice for when Gin and I have kids of out own’

‘You plan on havng loads then?’ Kingsley said with a sly grin.

Harry turned fire engine red.

‘Maybe one or two’ He said ‘But not as many as Molly and Arthur did two of each would be good’

‘Well good luck t’ya kids’ll be the best thing that ever happened to you Harry trust me. When my four were born it was out of this world. On can’t describe it until you have kids yourself’

‘Molly’s said that to me several times’ Harry said ‘Even before I asked Ginny to marry me, she says that to every one in the family even to Percy and Penny who have two, Charlie and Charlotte who have two and Bill and Fleur who have two’. She loves being a grandmother I think she’d be in her element if all of her kids popped out as many as she and Arthur did’

Fifteen minutes later Percy returned from his trip to the Experimental Charms and International Magical Co-operation departments.

‘Sorry I took so long’ He said taking a seat next to Harry and conjuring up a roll of parchment and a self inking direct quotes quill ‘Shall we get things started?’

‘Yes lets’ Kingsley said ‘So Harry after all of our meetings have you decided who you’d like to have replace you in the Auror office’

‘You mean you haven’t said anything yet?’ Percy interrupted in amazement ‘Not even in small talk?’

‘No not yet I wanted to wait til you got here’ Harry said.

‘Please go on sorry for my interruption’

‘Well I’ve thought about it long and hard over the last six weeks since I decided to take the job at Hogwarts and I’d like Ron to take over the job’ Harry said ‘He’s conscientious knows the job like the back of his hand. He doesn’t favour any one party over the other is the most fair person I have ever met next to Hermione, I reckon he could do the Auror directors job on his ear’

‘Did you consider anyone else besides Ron?’ Kingsley asked as Percy’s Direct Quote Quill scratched details across the parchment suspended in mid air.

‘Yeah I considered Mack and John’ Harry said ‘But I chose Ron in the end because both Mack and John prefer to be out in the field as opposed to being stuck behind the desk whereas Ron is happy with anything as long as he has some contribution to the running of the office. I know Mack took over for me when I was on holidays and she did a good job but it was almost as if she were glad to be free of the responsibility of the directorship when I returned, Ron revels in the responsibility. He does a great job when given the opportunity’

‘I agree with you totally’ Kingsley with a wide smile ‘I’ve thought all along since you handed in your resignation that Ron was the appropriate replacement for you, but I wanted to see if you thought the same. He’s like a dog at a bone he never gives up even on the most tiresome and difficult cases and last year when he was the principle Auror on the McIntosh case he excelled’

'He’s going to go mental when you tell him he’s got one of the most sought after jobs in the Ministry’ Percy said a smile spreading across his normally stern features.

‘That’s nothing on what Molly’s going to do when she finds out’ Kingsley said with a deep rumbling laugh.

‘That’s after she's woken from fainting’ Percy said.

Harry laughed.
‘Oh Ronniekins, my baby boy!...HA HA HA!’

And soon Harry, Kingsley ad Percy has dissolved into uncontrollable laughter.

‘Oh that was funny’ Kingsley said wiping his eyes ‘Percy if you could compose a interdepartmental memo and make sure it gets to Rom immediately I want him down here as soon as possible’

‘Right away Minister’

‘Ron is going to shit a brick you know’ Harry said to Kingsley after Percy had left the room ‘I don’t know if he thinks he was ever in the running for the Auror Director’s job. I’m kinda surprised you didn’t spread the word amongst the Auror departments in Europe an in fact worldwide’

‘Nah I think we have the best Aurors here in Britain’ Kingsley said ‘We’ve got plenty of good stock here there’s no point in looking abroad. Plus I know you want to keep the fact you’re leaving to the last minute if I advertised the job amongst the other Ministries you’d be hounded by more journalists than just Rita Skeeter and I don’t want you to go through another episode like that. You had enough media attention immediately after the war’

Harry made a face at the memory.
‘A bit full on wasn’t it?’ He said ‘If it weren’t for you and Minerva and in particularly Molly and Arthur I’d have gone nuts. The media scrum would’ve filled the Hogwarts Great Hall. It seemed all the worlds magical media were there’

‘I think they were’ Kingsley said an apologetic expression spreading across his face ‘I know I keep on saying it Harry but I am sorry you had to go through that especially the day after the battle’

‘Thanks but there’s no need to apologise’ Harry said ‘Rita Skeeter has soured my whole view of the media but the world did need to know what went on. I’m skipping town if a press conference that big requires my presence again’

Kingsley laughed.
‘You’re quite skilled in dealing with the press Harry’ He said ‘If you ever do decide to leave the D.A.D.A job at Hogwarts you could be my PR/Media officer or the editor of the Daily Prophet’

‘Get fucked’ Harry exclaimed making a face as Kingsley laughed at his own joke ‘I don’t plan on leaving the D.A.D.A job but if I did I’d go back to the Auror office. Fuck being the editor of the Prophet that would mean I’d have to deal with Rita all day every day and no one alive deserves that’

‘But the bonus would be you’d have the power to sack her’ Kingsley said with a grin.

Harry lit up.
‘That WOULD be a bonus’ He said ‘Mind you to get that privilege I’d have to fight Gin and ‘Mione particularly ‘Mione for that privilege through’

Ten mintues later Ron arrived in the office looking extremely apprehensive. Harry could see nervousness etched across his features as he took a seat between Percy and Harry.

‘Okay no bullshit’ He began without greeting his brother, best friend and Kingsley first ‘I want to…no I need to know weather I have the job or not don’t beat around the bush I don’t need that’

‘Well I’m going to let Harry tell you that’ Kingsley said with a grin.

Ron turned in his chair and looked at Harry expectantly.
‘Don’t screw me around Harry or I swear I will hex you to the second hearafter’ He said.

Harry raised his eyebrows theatrically.
‘That’s not very appropriate behaviour for the next Auror Department head is it?’ He said so casually he may as well have been discussing the weather ‘What would your mother say about threatening your best friend?’

‘Sod what Mu….are you serious? I have the job?’

‘No we brought you all the way down from the fourth floor just to torture you’ Percy said rolling his eyes ‘Things are a bit quiet down here and we needed some entertainment the Weird Sisters are booked til New Year so we thought we’d get you here and hang shit on you’

Harry and Kingsley snorted.

‘Fuck off Perce’ Ron said making a face then turning to Harry ‘Can we be serious Harry do I have the job?’

Harry grinned and held out his hand.
‘Yeah you do mate congratulations’ He said ‘As of next Monday you are Ronald Bilius Weasley Order of Merlin First Class member of the Dark Force Defence League and succeeding head of the British Ministry of Magic Department of Magical Law Enforcement Auror Office oh and creator of the Frypan Assault Hex’

‘You invented a hex called the Frypan Assault?’ Percy asked Ron in surprise dropping his quill ‘What does it do?’

‘It conjures a frypan out of thin air and assaults the hexee over the head’ Harry explained seeing as Ron who apparently was still digesting Harry’s words sat with his mouth hanging open ‘It’s quite an effective hex Ron used it when we arrested McIntosh last year he had to spend a week in St Mungos before going to Azkaban’

‘What’s the incantation?’ Kingsley asked in growing interest.

‘Custulum Oppugno’ Harry said ‘It literally means Kitchen assault in Latin’

‘I’ll have to use that one day soon, though I can’t imagine a situation arising that would require its use though I’m not in the Auror office anymore’

‘Well it’s part of a series of hexes and curses Ron, Hermione and I invented in out spare time. Hermione invented a really cool one that causes the hexee to take on the characteristics of someone drunk. It took her ages to perfect’

‘That’s because she’s a perfectionist’ Ron said in a wavery voice.

‘Oh you’re alive then’ Harry said.

A huge grin spread across Ron’s face.
‘Yeah I’m alive’ He said ‘I can’t believe I’ve got the job are you serious?’

‘Yes he’s serious’ Kingsley said ‘I’m serious we both think you’re the best person to succeed Harry as the director of the Auror Department. You’re one of the most dedicated people in the whole office and Harry and I have been watching you over the past few weeks and you’ve performed brilliantly’

‘Especially in the L’Carrieire case’ Harry said ‘That was brilliant stuff you ought to join the Deulling Society’

Ron turned a brilliant shade of scarlet and snorted.
‘I’m a member of enough societies’ He said ‘Are you really serious? I’m the next Auror director?’

‘YES!’ Harry exclaimed in amused exasperation ‘Geez you’re thick sometimes, bloody hell’

Ron grinned.
‘I can’t believe it!’ He exclaimed ‘Me? Geez. I dunno what to say’

‘You don’t have to say anything right now save it for Friday’

‘What’s on then?’

‘A press conference'

Harry and Ron groaned loudly.

‘I’m sorry guys but some announcement has to be made considering how prestigeous the Auror director’s job is’ Kingsley said apologetically ‘It’s not going to be an all day one just half hour, hour max. Also Harry this would be the perfect opportunity to announce your departure from the Ministry too. We can start with you announcing your departure from the Ministry then Ron I can introduce you and Harry’s successor then you can say your bit’

‘Erm….my bit?’ Ron said uncertainly.

‘Yes I need you and Harry to write a small speech nothing like the Order of Merlin ceremony just a few words.

Harry and Ron groaned even louder at this piece of news.
‘Fuckin’ teriffic’ Harry said ‘That on top of Hermione wanting me to run for President of the Dark Force Defence League has made my day just spiffing’

‘She wants you to run for president?’ Kingsley asked in surprise.

‘Yup and she wants Ron to run for the Vice Presidency and Gin to run for Treasurer, Hermione herself is going to nominate for the Secretary’s job’

‘That’s ambition for you’

‘Hermione’s that type though’

‘I’m surprised she hasn’t gone for the top and gone after your job Kingsley’ Ron said with a grin.

‘Don’t let her find out that or she’ll get you with the Frypan Assault Hex’ Harry said with a giggle as Percy and Kingsley laughed.

‘Will you two be okay with writing a small speech?’ Kingsley asked Harry and Ron ‘You both need to say something at this media conference even if it’s just to thank friends family and colleagues that sort of thing’

‘We ought to be able to manage that’ Harry said ‘When can I announce to the office Ron is taking over?’

‘You can do it when you go up’ Kingsley said ‘But make sure everything stays in house til Friday eh?’

‘Sure thing’

‘Okay you can go now, go catch some bad guys’

*****************************************************************************************

‘I can’t believe what just happened in there’ Ron said to Harry fervently as he and Harry made their way up the long hall to the lift ‘Geez me the Auror director? That sounds SO peculiar!’

‘Why?’ Harry asked pressing the button to call the lift ‘You’ve worked hard to be where you are especially to be the two I.C within five years of leaving Hogwarts and you finished Auror training early. You’re a gifted wizard mate and I’m not just saying that because you’re my best friend. Everyone I’ve talked to reckons you’re a highly skilled and ethical professional. I can trust you to continue on taking the office forward in the direction it’s going in, You’re the right person for the job I know in my heart you are’

‘Thanks’ Ron mumbled ‘How’s that Kingsley making us write speeches eh? I don’t know what the hell to write we didn’t go back to Hogwarts after the battle so we didn’t have to do anything for the graduation ceremony…maybe we ought to ask Hermione for a bit of help, she had to give a speech as Head Girl and knows what to put in a speech’

‘I have a few ideas knocking around I’ll write them down then get ‘Mione to look at them’ Harry said as the lift arrived ‘I think she might want to help anyway’

Harry and Ron reached the Auror office a few minutes later and Harry gathered the staff together.

‘Okay you lot time for an announcement’ He said ‘As you all know my last day in the office is Friday and I have been making the decision about who would take over from me once I leave. I’ve just come from a meeting with Kingsley and after many weeks of deliberating I would like to announce Ron as my successor’

The staff burst into applause and Geoff Calcutt one of the junior Aurors actually whistled.

‘Congratulations mate you’re perfect for the job’ John Dawlish said striding forward and grasping Ron’s hand.

‘Thanks mate’

‘Congratulations Ronald ‘You are Parfait être de service à pour un jour travail, eh ‘ow you say in eenglish? Perfect for ze job’ Olivier Giteau said shaking Ron’s hand ‘I better b’ave myself eh? No going to girlee bars during work hours’

‘You go to girlie bars during work hours?’ Harry interjected in mock annoyance ‘Oh great Olivier get your rocks off on yer own time eh, fuggin’ frog’

‘Oh ‘a ‘a ‘Arry veeery funny’ Olivier retorted rolling his eyes.

‘Okay everyone better get back to it’ Harry said ‘No spreading the word about Ron til Friday eh? Kingsley wants to keep things in house til then’

‘Right y’are Harry’

*****************************************************************************************

‘So what do you think ‘Mione can you help us write our speeches?’ Harry asked Hermione as he, Ginny and Ron sat around the kitchen table after he’d come from downstairs and putting Teddy to bed later that night.

Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry and Ron.
‘Yeah I’ll help you’ She said good naturedly ‘Writing speeches really isn’t that hard you know’

‘Yeah but ‘Mione you’re the best at it’ Ron groveled putting an arm around her shoulders and running a finger down the shell of her ear.

‘Oh get a room you two’ Harry said making vomiting gestures with his fingers.

‘Don’t crawl Ronald’ Hermione said playfully slapping his hand away her cheeks a healthy shade of pink ‘I suppose we better start now the press conference is only on Friday got any ideas?’

‘No we thought you might be able to give us some’ Ron said with a grin.

Everyone but Hermione who just rolled her eyes laughed.
‘I am not writing your speeches for you!’ Hermione exclaimed summoning a quill, pot of ink and some parchment from the nearby sideboard ‘Somewhere in that thick head of yours Ronald a brain lurks somewhere, I’m sure of it’

‘Just jokin’ ‘Mione, just jokin’

‘When you two have quite finished’ Harry began.

‘Okay lets get started’ Hermione said dipping the nib of her quill in the pot of ink.

*****************************************************************************************

Four hours later Hermione laid her quill down and gave Harry and Ron a piece of parchment each.

‘There you go’ She said ‘That ought to get you through Friday’s press conference’

‘Thanks ‘Mione you’re a lifesaver’ Harry said getting up and going to the stove which he lit with a poke from his wand ‘I don’t know what we’d do without you’

‘You’d stumble through your press conference and make a total arse of yourself’ Hermione said with a laugh ‘Ah I didn’t mind helping I haven’t had to write a speech since graduation four years ago’

‘You’d do well as Kingsley’s speechwriter’ Ron said.

‘Doesn’t Percy do that?’

‘Yeah but I reckon you could give him a run for his money’ Ron said with a grin.

‘No way I prefer doing what I do’ Hermione said kicking off her shoes and putting her feet on Ron’s lap ‘I really like being a prosecutor it’s a meaty job. When I was a child I wanted to be a lawyer but then I found out about Hogwarts and the wizarding world’

‘And now you’re a lawyer anyway’ Harry said levitating a tray with the kettle and tea and coffee on it over to the table.

‘Yeah it’s sort of a dream come true to be in a job I love. Few people are that lucky'

‘We’re all blessed then’ Ron said ‘We’re all in the jobs we love. Harry and I are Auror’s, you’re a lawyer and Gin you’re a Healer. Gin wanted to be a healer from when she was a little kid’

‘You did?’ Harry said to Ginny in surprise.

‘Hell yeah I was always wrapping the limbs of my dolls and Teddy bears in bandages and pretending to operate on them with cutlery’ Ginny said with a reminiscent grin.

‘And when Dad fell asleep on the couch once she bandaged his head’ Ron said with a grin ‘He woke up and started yelling at Fred and George thinking they’d done it. Mum tried undoing the knots by hand but had to end up doing it with her wand’

They all laughed.

‘I was about four years old at the time’ Ginny said reminiscently her cheeks a faint hue of pink ‘Dad ended up looking like one of the Mummies I saw on our trip to Egypt ten years ago’

‘It was hilarious’ Ron said ‘Dad sleeps like the living dead so he didn’t even flinch as Gin was wrapping this enormous bandage around his head.

‘I could get away with doing that to you, you know’ Ginny said fingering her wand ‘You sleep like the living dead too ‘I could probably wrap your whole body up and you wouldn’t notice.

‘I’ll give you a hundred Galleons if you can manage that’ Hermione said with a giggle.

‘Hey!’ Ron exclaimed.

‘You’re on’ Ginny said to Hermione shaking her hand.

‘I’m going to have to be careful around you Ginevra’ Ron said making a face ‘You’re dangerous with a wand, you ought to have the trace put back on you with that attitude’

Harry snorted loudly.

‘Bite me’ Ginny said ‘I’ll get you when you least expect it, your guard will drop eventually Ron and zap! I’ll get you’

‘Ooooooh scary’ Ron said.

‘I wouldn’t tempt fate Ron Gin can do some major damage with her wand’ Harry said in amusement adding sugar to his tea ‘I’ve got a scar on my bum where I dared she wouldn’t do what she eventually did’

‘What did you do to get that?’ Ron asked in great interest.

Harry blushed.
‘I can’t tell you that but it hurt’

‘What Hex did you use?’ Hermione asked.

‘The Stinging Hex’ Ginny said conversationally sipping her tea.

‘Hell you must’ve really meant it if you left a scar’ Ron said ‘The Stinging Hex doesn’t usually leave a mark’

‘Well I had to do something to stop Harry tickling me’

‘You got a Stinging Hex in the arse?’ Ron asked loudly wincing ‘Bloody hell, I was on the wrong end of the stinging hex once and I almost scratched myself a new arseole it itched so much’

‘Yeah well when Gin got me I thought I would have to go to St Mungos’ Harry said.

Hermione let out a loud rather unladylike snort.
‘That would be a sight’ She giggled ‘The Boy who lived, the Man Who Won turning up to the emergency department with hives all over his arse…ha ha!’

Harry made a face.
‘Don’t laugh’ He said ‘It almost go to that point’

*****************************************************************************************

The following two days at the Ministry went by faster than was absoloutely necessary in Harry’s opinion and it was with some trepidation that he flood to the Ministry of Magic on Friday morning.

‘Harry you’ll be fine’ Hermione whispered in his ear giving him a quick hug as he climbed out of the grate in the Ministry foyer ‘Just follow your normal routine and you’ll be fine’

‘Thanks ‘Mione I’ll do that I think it’ll be the only thing that’ll keep me sane’ Harry said as Ron appeared in a rush of flames ‘You have a good day eh?’

‘Yep see you at the press conference’

‘Nervous huh?’ Ron Said as he and Harry joined the hoards heading for the lifts.

‘Yeah just a little’ Harry said absentmindedly hoisting his dragon hide satchel over his shoulder ‘I’ll just follow Hermione’s advice and drown myself in my work so I don’t have to think about the press conference, I still can’t believe she made us practice our speeches to her and Gin last night ‘That‘s something Minerva would’ve done’

Ron laughed.
‘It helped though’ It said ‘Mind you it didn’t help Gin kept on laughing at us’

‘She was laughing at you not me’ Harry jested as the lift arrived and they climbed in ‘You say Um a lot when you’re nervous’

‘Bullshit!....do I?’

‘Yep but apparently I twirl my wand like a baton’

‘Apparently? How could you not notice twirling your wand? It’s eleven inches long’

‘I know but it’s not something I consciously do’

‘You’ll want to do something less obvious during this press conference’ Ron said ‘Some people might think Kingsley’s called this conference so you can show off your wand twirling skills’

Harry rolled his eyes.
‘Oh ha ha’ He said as the lift reached the fourth floor ‘It’s funny though twirling my wand is not something I can do if I try it purposely it’s weird’

‘Well we can all do things we normally wouldn’t do in extraordinary situations’ Ron said ‘Look how Mum took out Bellatrix LeStrange I never thought she was capable of that sort of magic’

*****************************************************************************************

From the minute he entered the office that day Harry was run off his feet. There were two court cases to attend a lightning quick trip to Azkaban and the rest of the time he was out on the field with the others in the office as to lighten the load. He and Ron then arrived back at the Ministry at five to three five minutes before the commencement of the press conference.

‘Where have you been?’ Percy asked ‘The press conference starts in five minutes’

‘Oy ease up Perce we were out on a mission’ Ron said making a face.

‘Ron, Olivier and I have to go to a call out in Doncaster’ Harry puffed taking the bottle of water Hermione handed him ‘Ta ‘Mione. ‘The bastard didn’t want to come quietly we went straight to Azkaban instead of going to the remand centre it took an hour to book him in. Some of the guards there have the I.Q of a Hippogriff sometimes I swear’

‘Better than Dementors though’ Hermione said flicking her wand so a cool breeze swept across their faces then smoothing out Ron’s lapels.

‘Yeah is Rita out there?’ Harry asked straightening his tie.

‘Yeah front and centre’ Hermione said with a sour expression on her face ‘She was the first one to arrive ‘I have something planned just in case she plays up’

‘Yeah what?’ Harry said in amusement fastening the clasp of his cloak that had come loose as he apparated back into the Ministry.

‘I’m not telling you, the less you know the better’ Hermione replied in a low voice.

‘Hermione you’re not planning anything are you?’ Percy interjected.

Hermione laid a hand on Percy’s forearm.
‘Percy what could I possibly do?’ She said with a deadpan expression(Ron snorted loudly but disguised it with a realistic hacking cough) ‘I’m two I.C of the Improper Use Of Magic office it wouldn’t be a good look if I did anything improper would it? I’m not going to do anything stupid. Come on you ought to know me better than that’

Harry had to exercise all the self-control he possessed not to roll about the floor laughing. He purposefully avoided Ron’s gaze in the attempt to do so. Hermione gave him a subtle wink then gave Percy a gentle push toward the door where Kingsley was waiting.

‘Hermione Jean Granger you are so full of shit!’ Harry hissed as he Ron and Ginny gathered in the corner of the room as Percy went over to Kingsley and began conversing ‘You DO have something planned, I’ve known you for twelve years you can’t pull the wool over my eyes. I’m not stupid you know’

Hermione patted his cheek.
‘Harry James Potter you will be an Auror til the day you die’ She said with a grin ‘Just go out there and do your thing don’t worry about me’

‘Hmmph’

‘Harry, Ron it’s time are you ready?’ Kingsley called to them waving them over.

‘Yeah it’s now or never’ Ron said lining up behind Harry ‘Let’s do this thing eh Harry?’

‘You lead the way Perce’ Harry said taking a deep breath and drawing himself up.

‘Oy where’s Hermione?’ Ron said a split second before Percy opened the door.

‘Nerver mind you lads go and do what you have to’ Ginny said with a knowing grin nudging her brother and fiancé forward ‘Your adoring public await’

‘Oh fuck off Ginevra’

Hermione’s whereabouts flew out of Harry’s mind as he went from the small back room into the main press room. The gathered throng went wild as Percy followed by Harry, Kingsley then Ron went over to the gathered desk. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ginny go to the corner of the room where she joined Molly, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Percy’s wife Audrey, Fleur and Charlotte. He gave them a subtle wink then took his seat between Percy and Kinsley. He transfigured a quill on the desk into a stylish pair of sunglasses and put them on to shield his eyes from the blinding flash of the cameras gathered. Ron, Kingsley and Percy followed suit.

‘Oh you lot are a pack of wolverines’ Percy said in exasperated manner.

‘C’mon Perce what’s the big news?’ A reporter form the Wizarding Financial Review said keenly casting an eager eye over Harry ‘It’s got something to do with Harry I know it. This is a big story I know it. The head of the Auror office and the Minister of Magic don’t call a come hither all conference every day’

‘No they don’t’ Percy said ‘Minister shall I turn things over to you?’

‘Thankyou Percy’ Kingsley said ‘Ladies and Gentlemen it is not my intention to talk all afternoon. I called this conference not for an announcement by me but an announcement directly from the Auror Office. Harry? Over to you…’

Harry took a deep breath and pulled the speech Hermione had written for him out of his robes pocket.
‘Thanks for coming everyone’ He said ‘Well I suppose it’s best if I get straight to the point. Today Friday August twenty second two thousand four I’m announcing my intention to leave employment of the Ministry of Magic and the Auror Office specifically…I..’

The press throng went mental camera flashes burst forth almost blinding Harry despite the sunglasses perched on his nose. Every single reporter present began yelling out questions trying to get their question to Harry first. He held up a hand til they quietened down and continued on.

'I had aspired to be an auror since my fourth year and after final battle I immersed myself In the auror training and with all the help of colleagues and friends managed to graduate the training program early. I was immensely privileged to take on the directors job in two thousand and two and have been grateful to have worked with the many gifted people within the Department for Magigal Law Enforcement. I would like to thank a few people in a personal and profession capacity before I make my depature from the Ministry. First of all to my boss but more importantly my good friend the Minister himself Kingsley. I have known Kingsley for nine years and in that time he has mentored me both personally and professionally and I thank him for that. Next I would like to thank my predecessor and last director of the Auror office Archie Melling. He was my direct mentor when I first joined the Ministry and instilled a belief in myself that I could be the best Auror I could be. Next I would like to thank the current staff in the Auror office. Mack, Ron, John, Geoff, Tom, Stuart, Nadia, Trish, Kym, Will, Frankie and Olivier it’s been a true pleasure to work with them as a boss and a colleague and I wish each and every one of them well in the future make the Auror office a group of professionals not to be messed with peoples!’

A muttering of laughter coursed through the gathering.

‘Next I would like to thank the people in my personal life’ Harry began feeling a lump forming with the rapidity he associated with the arrival of a particularly nasty Dementor. ‘To my fiancée G-inny Weasley…'

Tears sprang to Harry’s eyes and he swallowed hard willing them to disappear. He felt a soft pat on his shoulder but no one was present(Physically at least)

‘To Gin I thank you for being in my life particularly in the six years since the end of the War, you have been my rock a shoulder to cry on and someone to sound off to when work hasn’t been great thanks, next to my future in laws Molly and Arthur Weasley. They have been the parents I never had and have supported me through thick and thin. Right from that first trip to platform nine and three quarters when I had to be shown how to get through the barrier. In fact I would like to give my thanks to the whole Weasley family every single one of them even the late Fred are special to me in one way or another and I thank the heavens that they are in my life. They’re all good for a joke or an in depth discussion about Cauldron bottom thickness’

From where he was standing with the rest of the Weasleys George let out a loud snort and out of the corner of his eye Harry saw Percy turn a respectable shade of pink. He grinned at the private joke and continued on.

‘It has been a true pleasure to work for the British Ministry of Magic for the time I have’ Harry said ‘I will be sad to leave it but I have been offered an opportunity that is too good to refuse’

There was a short pause before the press crush once again burst into a question frenzy. This time Kingsley held up his hands and quietened them down.

‘Of course, this conference today has a dual purpose’ He began ‘In addition to announcing Harry’s depature, which no one but me regrets more than I, is also to announce his successor, and I am very pleased to announce that as of Monday the twenty fifth Ronald Weasley will assume the post of director of the British Ministry of Magic Auror office!’

Ron burned a magnificent shade of scarlet as all the Weasleys and all the Auror office staff who were lined up behind the table burst in loud applause (George and Olivier actually whistled and Mrs Weasley burst into tears) . From behind him, Harry heard a short sharp whistle that he was sure was Hermione but he couldn’t see her anywhere.

‘As you all know’ Kingsley continued ‘Ron is an exceptionally sharp and gifted wizard and played a pivotal role during the final battle. He possesses the know-how and correct mindset to undertake the job of Auror director and it is because of those qualities that Harry and I offered the job to him and as Minister for Magic I congratulate him’

There was a smattering of polite applause and Ron drew himself up to give his speech.

‘Thank you Minister for those kind words’ He said ‘I am extraordinarily pleased and proud to succeed Harry in the post of Auror Office director. When I finished my time at Hogwarts I had ambitions to be an Auror but if you had asked me back then where I would be in five years time I wouldn’t have said as director of the most important department in the entire Ministry.’

A ripple of laughter washed over the gathering.

‘My intention is to keep the Auror office going in the vein it is currently working and to add my own touch where necessary. Harry has done an amazing job to get the office where it has going and in my opinion if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I’ll make changes where it is required but otherwise leave it be'

'I would like to thank a few people who have helped me in my journey up to this point. First of all my brothers and sister even though they annoy me no end at every opportunity I wouldn’t be without them. I’d also like to thank my parents for their support too they supported me with my decision not to return to Hogwarts and through the easy and hard times of auror training’

George and Ginny grinned broadly. Harry thought it wise for Ron to have any eye contact with them as the look on their faces and the fact they were whispering to each other suggested they were planning something.

'I’d also like to thank Harry here for being the best mate any bloke could hope for, there were times where I wasn’t sure I would make it through Auror training but he helped me in the areas I sucked most in…Transfiguration’

The Weasleys laughed.

‘And last of all I’d like to thank my girlfriend Hermione Granger. She has been my biggest support of all my rock, my reason for existing…..’

Ginny gave an almost undetectable flick of her wand casting an amplification charm and whispered so only those at the table could hear.
‘Oh vomit’

Ron’s ears turned pink but he continued on.
‘Mione is a walking talking library and aside from Harry was the one person who helped me get through my academic years, she even managed to get me through my auror exams while she went back to Hogwarts’

‘I will kill him!’ Came Hermione’s voice hissed from behind Harry.

'`Mione is that you?’ Harry hissed out of the corner of his mouth while all the attention was on Ron ‘Where ARE you?’

‘I’m right behind you’ Hermione whispered ‘Ginny cast a Disillusionment Charm on me and I’m going to hex Rita if she shits me’

‘You will get in so much trouble’ Harry whispered back.

‘Okay now time for questions!’ Kingsley told the media throng holding his arms wide.

'Yes lets get the stupid ones out of the way first’ Harry said looking at Rita Skeeter with his arms across his chest ‘Rita now’s you time toots’

Every one in the room roared with laughter. Kingsley trying to uphold the respected office of Minister of Magic and Percy as his second snorted loudly but covered their amusement with polite coughs.

‘Harry you’re AWFUL!’ Hermione hissed through a giggle.

Rita Skeeter unpeturbed by the rooms reaction stood up and drew in.
‘Harry, it’s generally regarded in our world you the most competent and skilled director of the Auror office since Alastor Moody why then have you chosen a successor, your best friend no doubt who himself admits is more than lacking in one of the most rudimentary skills of being a fighter of the Dark Arts Transfiguration? Doesn’t that smack of favouritism?’

Harry felt a ripple of power rush past his left ear and Rita Skeeter fell to the floor all her papers and her quick quotes quill scattering.

'SOMEONE STUNNED ME!' She screeched.

No one present in the room seemed to care about Rita and her predicament and Cho who Harry saw sitting next to Dennis Creevy directly behind Rita laugh out loud.

‘Rita are your ears painted on?’ Harry said struggling to withhold the anger he felt

Ron and Hermione sniggered.

‘Didn’t you hear what Kingsley said? Ron is an exceptionally gifted and talented wizard and is the perfect man to succeed me’ Harry continued ‘Every witch or Wizard has areas where they are stronger than others but in my opinion and everyone elses except apparently yours Ron is skilled enough to be the director of the Auror office. I’ve seen first hand how skilled Ron is especially during the McIntosh case, he performed magic I didn’t think was physically possible, the fact he’s my best mate is irrelevant if he were my enemy I would still say he’s the best man for the job’

Harry stared Rita down as she gathered up her belongings with a sweep of her wand then turned his gaze to the rest of the reporters.

‘Now, how about some sensible questions?’ He said with a grin.

*****************************************************************************************

Half an hour later Harry followed Ron, Kingsley, Percy, Ron and the rest of the Weasleys in the back room. Hermione magically appeared and gave Harry a knowing wink.

‘Where the hell have you been?’ Ron asked her in loud relief enveloping Hermione in a hug ‘I didn’t see you out there, I was packing death! Did you see? Someone hexed Rita!’

‘Yeah I saw Rita hit the floor I was there’ Hermione said with a grin returning the hug ‘You couldn’t have looked properly’

Ginny and Harry snorted then tried unsuccessfully to cover their amusement.

‘What’s so funny?’ Ron said raising an eyebrow ‘You two know something!’

Ginny’s face turned a deep beetroot before she eventually burst out in hysterical laughter, Hermione joined in as everyone in the room turned their gaze to them.

‘I cast a Disillusionment Charm on Hermione and she was standing behind Harry during the press conference’ Ginny said quietly pulling her brother aside.

‘So you hexed Rita?’ Ron asked Hermione.

‘Yup and it was a great bit of spellwork even if I do say so myself’ Hermione said with a grin.

‘That explains the rush of air I felt by my ear’ Harry said with a grin putting an arm around Ginny’s waist.

‘Yeah it took all my concentration to do it non verbally I was so angry at her question’ Hermione said.

‘You are so lucky you were invisible or you would’ve gotten into so much trouble’ Ron said ‘There would’ve been so many witnesses’

‘That’s why Ginny ad I came up with the idea of the Disillusionment Charm’ Hermione said ‘It was that or nick your invisibility cloak Harry’

‘I would’ve given you my cloak had you told me what you were going to use it for you know’ Harry said.

‘We knew that but we thought we’d go for the disillusionment option should something happen and Hermione get found out’ Ginny said ‘We didn’t want to implicate you’

‘Fair enough’

*****************************************************************************************

The rest of the day was quiet for the Auror office so Harry spent the time packing up his things. Every item seemed to be attached to some significant occurrence in the time Harry had been working in the office and it was with some amusement that he came across papers showing his exam results for the first year of Auror training four years previously.

‘Oy Ron come and have a look at this’ He said with a chuckle.

Ron entered Harry’s office.

‘At what?’ He said.

‘My first year Auror training exam results’ Harry said handing Ron the piece of yellowed parchment ‘Have a look at the Potions mark’

Ron’s eyes ran down the page til he came to the Potions grade. He broke into a grin and laughed.
‘O for outstanding’ He said ‘That’s hilarious Snape would be rolling in his grave at that mark. You never got that high at Hogwarts did you?’

‘No way the highest I ever got was ‘Exceeds Expectations’’ Harry said ‘Even with Horace in sixth year, I was thinking Snape would think that quite amusing. The exams in Auror training is the only time I’ve ever gotten Outstanding on every subject studied, remember Neville joking I was turning out like Hermione?’

Ron laughed.

‘Yeah I remember that’ He said handing Harry back the parchment ‘I know Neville is Herbology nerd and plants are his first love but I still can’t understand why he didn’t stay on in the Auror office after going through all the training’

‘Sprout offered him that apprenticeship at Hogwarts’ Harry said ‘She must’ve known even then she was going to retire at the end of this school year just gone and that Neville was the most appropriate and suitable candidate to replace her. Plus if we ever run short we can call him he comes to the relevant meetings and conferences just to keep updated on the latest goings on’

‘Will you be doing that once you start at Hogwarts?’

‘Sure, I’ll have to keep on top of things should I ever have or need to return to the office’ Harry said flicking his wand so several folders flew from a nearby bookshelf and packed themselves in the open box on the desk ‘Plus I may pick up on things useful to the D.A.D.A job. The week long conferences I won’t be able to go to but you can always pass on info that’s relevant’

‘You know I’m not good at taking notes’ Ron said rolling his eyes.

‘So get some of George and Lee’s Direct-Quote-Quills’ Harry said ‘They’re brilliant and every one I’ve ever used has never failed me’

‘Hermione reckons they make a lazy note taker’

‘She got you under the thumb already?’ Harry said with a laugh.

Ron rolled his eyes and shot Harry a withering look.
‘Prat’ He said ‘I’m going to finish off for the day, do you need any help?’

‘Nah I’m fine’

Harry finished packing up his things then he shrunk them and sent them back to the manor with a simple spell. Then five PM rolled around and officially ended his time as a Ministry of Magic employee and Auror Office director.

‘Well this is it you lot my time here is finished’ Harry said walking into the office and fastening the clasp of his cloak ‘Before we all go home I’d like to thank you all again for being the best bunch of blokes a bloke could hope to work with’

‘Hey!’ Mack, Nadia, Patricia, Frankie and Kym exclaimed.

‘Sorry girls’ Harry said ‘The best bunch of Aurors a bloke could hope to work with. It truly has been a privilege to first be your colleague then your boss. You’ve been most accommodating in working with me even though most of you are older than me. I know it can’t be easy having a boss years younger than you’

‘Mate next to Mad Eye you’re the most experienced person in fighting the dark arts I’ve ever met’ John Dawlish said ‘You’ve done more in the last ten years than most of us have done in our whole careers. You fought and brought down the darkest of dark Wizards. If a five year old had your experience I wouldn’t mind it being my boss’

‘As if that’d happen’ Mack said rolling her eyes.

As quick as a flash Harry felt a lump formed in his throat and his eyes stung with barely contained tears.

'Well it’s truly been a privilege to be you boss' He said 'I’ve enjoyed first your colleague then your boss, I like to know little bits about the people I work with and it’s helps to know how you all tick, and believe it or not, I do remember how you all have your coffee and what quidditch teams you support'

'Oh bullsheeeet you do not' Olivier said skeptically 'Zaire are twelve of us ‘ere ‘Ow can you remember all zat? ‘Ow do ‘ave my coffee zen?’

'You don’t have coffee you have tea' Harry countered with a wide grin 'Usually with Goats milk and two white chocolate and macadamia biscuits, but you have been know to have a skinny hazelnut vanilla latte and a death by chocolate muffin'

Olivier scowled as the rest of the office laughed.
'Ow do you remember zat?' He exclaimed 'My maman can’t even remember ‘ow I ‘ave my tea'

'Call me gifted' Harry said with a laugh slinging his dragon hide satchel over his shoulder 'Okay come on its home time, piss off, go home or I’ll hex you all'

Everyone filed out of the office and before he left the office for the last time Harry cast a last look around the extinguished all the lights with a sweep from his wand. By the time, he locked the door only Ron remained the rest of the staff having made their way down to the atrium before heading home.

'Well that’s it eh?' Ron said as they made their way down the hall to the lift 'You are now Harry Potter civillan, you’re not saddled by a government job anymore'

'Ha ha’ Harry said rolling his eyes 'I still would be as you put it ‘Saddled by a government job’ if Minerva hadn’t offered me the D.A.D.A job. But I feel I can do more good in society as a teacher, plus if you ever get desperate and lonely and desperately need me I can come back and show you how to work out the filing system'

'Oh you’re funny aren’t ya?' Ron said dryly 'Bloody smartarse, you ought to try the amateur comedy night Rosmerta has at the Three Broomsticks at the end of every month, you’d win that fifty galleon bar tab easily'

'Nah I’m a public enough figure I don’t need to put myself out there anymore’ Harry said ‘I did that enough during our training when you and Hermione insisted I try the Karaoke nights'

'Hey we didn’t force you’ Ron said laughing at the memory 'Never thought I’d see you sing and dance in public'

'And you’ll never see me doing it again' Harry said pressing the button to call the lift 'My days of publicly embarrassing myself are over, next time you see me dance in public is when Gin and I do the waltz at our reception'

'So you decorating the steps of the Leaky Cauldron with vomit on Neville’s stag night was going out with a bang was it?' Ron said with a grin 'What a way to go mate'

'I’m surprised you remember that night you go so pissed' Harry said 'My thing that night was upchucking on the steps of the Leaky Cauldron yours was yelling ‘Look At Me’ at the top of your voice and leaping naked off the Blackpool pier'

'Mind you were were all sober as judges compared to Neville' Ron said as the lift arrived with a musical ‘ding’ 'Reckon Hannah ever found out about his escapades that night?'

'Nah I doubt it' Harry said stepping into the lift after Ron 'As Seamus said ‘What goes on the road stays on the road'

'I reckon he said that because he didn’t want Lavender finding out that he flashed a group of muggles in London' Ron said now snorting with laughter 'If she did he would have his balls in a jar on the shelf'

'If the Ministry found that out they would have his balls in a jar on a shelf' Harry said pressing the button for the ground floor 'That’d be a classic case for the breaking of the International Statute of Secrecy'

'Would it though?' Ron wondered 'Seamus didn’t actually do any magic in front of them and he wasn’t wearing his Ministry robes'

'Hmmm maybe not but it’d be enough to have a formal warning from the Law Enforcement Department'

'Well I suppose that’s what you get for guzzling Firewhiskey'

Harry and Ron made their way down the hall and to the lift.

'I’m going to miss this place' Harry said pressing the button to call the lift 'It’s been my life for the last five years'

'You can always come back and visit' Ron said 'I’m the director now I can allow certain visitors and you qualify for the secret pass'

Harry raised his eyebrows.

‘Yeah it’s a new initiative I’m bringing in’ Ron said with a grin ‘Only those trusted and valued individuals will be allowed this pass. It’ll allow varying degrees of access to the Auror office and in special cases it’ll be like an honourary badge that the aurors have to identify themselves’

’You are an idiot’ Harry said rolling his eyes as Ron fell about laughing ‘I can’t believe I hang around you. Remind me why’

’Because I make you look good’ Ron said with a great snort.

'I don’t need you to make me look good' Harry said going along with the joke 'All women muggle and witch think I’m da bomb'

Ron stopped laughing instantly.
'What the hell does ‘Da Bomb’ mean?' He said in surprise.

Harry snorted.
'It means to look good or to be popular' Harry said 'Haven’t you been watching the television? Gin and ‘Mione are hooked on that show ‘In Da Hood’'

'Vaguely I’m still getting used to having a TV. Growing up in the Wizarding world we didn’t have one'

'I have to admit since I’ve been in the wizarding world I’ve hardly watched any shows but I thought it would be good to get one for Teddy' Harry said as the lift arrived 'Plus Hermione has bought him loads of movies to watch and you need a TV for that'

The lift doors shut behind them noiselessly and began the unusually fast journey up to the Atrium.

'Bloody hell what’s happening?’ Harry yelped in surprise grabbing hold of a rail to prevent from falling 'Going a bit fast isn’t it? Someone’s messed with it'

'How could you mess with the lift?’ Ron said ‘It’s an exceptionally powerful magical object you’d need to be really smart to fix it'

'Fuck!' Harry exclaimed as the lift picked up speed again 'It’s like a bloody Gringotts cart!'

'Oh come on enjoy it!' Ron said with a laugh steadying himself on the rail ‘It’s a bit of fun and you’re less likely to vomit on this ride'

'Wanna bet?'

Just as the level indicator hit ‘1’ the lift slowed to it’s normal pace and arrived at the Atrium with a musical ‘ding’.

'Ground floor the Atrium’ the usual ethereal voice announced 'Have a good evening'

'Yeah we’ll just have a dandy one thanks' Harry returned.

Ron snorted.

The lift doors opened with a scrape of metal and Harry and Ron made their way out into the Atrium.

Harry’s jaw dropped.

Packed into the Atrium was every employee of the Ministry of Magic. Right from Kingsley and Percy and all those who worked under them in the Minister’s department right down to the canteen ladies and the Magical Maintenance staff. On noticing Harry arrival they burst into thunderous cheers and applause. Ron gave Harry a little push in the small of his back and nodded his head.

'You knew about this didn’t you?' Harry said to him as he made his way through the crowd shaking the hands of everyone that approached him.

'You got it' Ron said with a grin 'It’s something Hermione organised

'I should’ve guessed' Harry said rolling his eyes 'Who else would have the sense and know-how to mess with the lift?'

Harry made his way through the crowd and over to the Fountain of Magical Brethren upon who’s edge Hermione was standing. She held out her hand and gestured for him to join her.

'Hermione I am not climbing up on the fountain!' Harry exclaimed 'Are you nuts?'

'Please Harry just for me?' Hermione said 'I won’t keep you long'

'You and Gin are the only people who would get me to do this you know that? Harry said grabbing Hermione’s hand and climbing up on the fountain.

'I know that’s why Ginny told me to crawl and you’d do it' Hermione said with a grin 'And she also said if you didn’t I was allowed to hex your bollocks off'

'I’m having words with that woman when I get home' Harry said dryly.

Hermione pointed her wand at her throat and muttered ‘Sonorus’ she then cleared her throat and waved her hands above her head to catch the gathered crowd’s attention.

'HEY EVERYONE COULD I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION FOR A MINUTE?' She called ‘EXCUSE ME EVERYONE…HEY!’

Eventually everyone gathered in the Atrium turned their attention to Hermione.

'THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOU PATIENCE’ She said ‘NOW I WON’T KEEP YOU LONG BECAUSE IN KNOW YOU ALL WANT TO GET HOME. AS YOU ALL KNOW, TODAY IS HARRY’S LAST DAY AT THE MINISTRY AND I THOUGHT IT’D BE NICE IF EVERYONE REMAINED BEHIND TO FAREWELL HIM. AS I’M SURE YOU’LL ALL AGREE SINCE HE STARTED AT THE MINISTRY FOUR YEARS AGO HARRY HAS REVOLUTIONIZED HOW OUR GOVERNMENT IS RUN PARTICULARLY THE AUROR OFFICE AND AS A WHOLE THE DEPARTMENT FOR MAGICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. WITHIN EACH DEPARTMENT HARRY HAS CONTRIBUTED EVEN IF IT IS IN SOME SMALL WAY AND HAVING DONE SO MADE OUT JOBS THAT LITTLE BIT EASIER SO IF YOU’D LIKE TO JOIN ME IN A LOUD CHORUS OF ‘FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW’ TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR ALL HIS EFFORTS OVER THE YEARS’

Harry turned a magnificent shade of scarlet as Ron joined them on the edge of the fountain and held his wand aloft much like a conductor does with a baton.

'Fucking ‘ell' Harry said under his breath.

Enthusiastically the crowd followed Ron and Hermione’s lead and began singing.

'FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW, FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW, FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW, AND SO SAY ALL OF US, AND SO SAY ALL OF US, AND SO SAY ALL OF US , FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW, FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW, FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOOOOOOOOOW AND SO SAY ALL OF US!’

The last note died out and immediately followed a deafening cheer.

'THREE CHEERS FOR HARRY!' Ron called after casting the Sonourus charm on himself 'HIP HIP…'

'HOORAY!'

'HIP HIP!'

'HOORAY'

'HIP HIP!'

'HOORAY!'

Another thunderous round of applause rose from he crowd as Harry still blushing a respectable Weasley red raised an arm and acknowleged the crowds cheers.

'Hermione Jean Granger you are a tart' Harry whispered giving Hermione a hug 'But I luv ya'

'No worries Harry, I just wanted to show you how much everyone at the Ministry appreciates what you’ve done for them’ Hermione said returning the hug after removing the Sonorus Charm from herself.

'And we wanted to do it in the most public way possible' Ron said with a grin after they all got down from the edge of the fountain.

'Bastard' Harry said good naturedly as his blush receded 'But thanks it kinda was nice'

'Something for you to remember when you’re old demented and drooling in the dementia ward at St Mungo’s’ Ron said with a snort.

'You’ll get to that stage before I will' Harry said as he followed Ron and Hermione to the apparition point.

'Git'

'I’ll see you two back at the Manor' Hermione said ‘I need to go to Hogsmeade to pick something up'

'Okay, and thanks ‘Mione you’re a pal' Harry said.

'Oh no worries Harry it was nice to do something for you' Hermione said 'Beats Ron’s idea of taking out a full page and in the Prophet and hosting a ‘Harry Potter is the greatest living human ever’ show on the Wizarding Wireless Network'

'What?'

'See ya' Hermione said with a grin and disapparating with a crack.

'What the hell was all that about?' Harry said rounding on Ron.

'Don’t believe her mate that was crap' Ron said as they waited their turn to disapparate 'I’ll be having a word to that girl when she gets home'

'I reckon you have a hankerin’ for a spankerin' Harry said with a grin in a fake American accent.

Ron blushed.
'Oh there’ll be some spankerin' He said.

'ZIP!' Harry exclaimed holding his hands up and making a face 'I don’t want to know what you and Hermione get up to behind closed doors. Unless of course you want to know in gory details how I fixed your sister up on the kitchen table last week!'

'Yuck no WAY!' Ron said 'You shagged my sister on the kitchen table? We eat off that thing!'

'I’m not confirming or denying that fact' Harry said with a grin as the person in front of him disapparated with a snap 'See you at the Manor'

Harry pictured the Manor in his mind’s eye and was swallowed by the tight darkness, he appeared a second later at the head of the driveway of the Manor. Ron joined him a second later.

'Ah home sweet home' He said straightening his cloak.

'Yeah lets get inside' Harry said pulling his cloak around him 'I’m staving ‘I didn’t get to having lunch today'

'It’s Murphy’s Law you’d have a packed last day on the job eh?' Ron said with a grin as they started down the drive.

'Yeah you’re not kidding' Harry said 'I’m glad for it though I wouldn’t have wanted to sit idle behind my desk all day thinking about the end, I get crabby when I stew on things like that'

'Then Hermione and I put the cherry on top by publicly embarrassing you' Ron replied with a laugh.

'Yeah you did. But that was nice' Harry said 'If anyone else did that I would’ve hexed them so badly it would have necessitated a trip to St Mungos'

'Well public embarrassment is what friends are for' Ron said.

'And so are returned favours' Harry said 'I’ll return the favour to you two even if I have to wait fifty years, I have a good memory for things like that'

'I’ll watch my back then'

‘Ha ha’

As he and Ron made their way closer and closer to the Manor Harry became aware of a subtle whining noise coming from just off the left of the drive.

'Hey can you hear that?' Harry said to Ron holding out his arm and stopping him in his tracks.

’Yeah it’s my stomach growling. Ron said ‘I didn’t get lunch either, let’s get inside’

'Honestly Ron if you thought about anything else apart from your stomach your brain would explode from the effort’ Harry said dryly walking toward the sound.

Harry pushed his way through the undergrowth and toward the noise, which became louder and louder as he progressed. With a groan Ron followed him.

’Bloody hell!’ Harry exclaimed stopping in his tracks and causing Ron to walk into him and stumble.

’Bloody hell Harry, give me some warning!’ Ron exclaimed ‘Sod this....bombarda!’

Ron blasted a clearing in the undergrowth and went to Harry’s side. In front of them were two of the smallest puppies the two had ever seen. They were curled around each other like a yin yang symbol.

'I wonder who these belong to?’ Ron said crouching down and holding his hand out to the most curious puppy that bounded forward enthusiastically.

'No one I’m guessing' Harry said going to the other puppy that clearly had a broken leg 'Looks like someone’s dumped them'

'But who? This place is invisible to muggles and unplottable to the magical community unless you reveal the location to them' Ron said 'And you ‘Mione and I put enough anti muggle spells on this place to force the entire population to the coast' Ron said.

'I don’t suppose we’ll ever find that out' Harry said taking off his cloak and wrapping the injured puppy in it.

'Well what are we going to do with them?' Ron said picking up the uninjured puppy who was wagging it’s tail so hard it’s whole body was wiggling.

'They need to go to a vet' Harry said 'Hagrid can’t do broken bones'

'What the hells a vet?' Ron asked following Harry back through the undergrowth.

'Erm a muggle animal healer' Harry said distractedly 'I know there’s one in Rochester'

'How are we going to get there?' Ron said 'We can’t apparate with an injured animal it’ll get splinched and I have issues repairing human splinches'

'We’ll have to take Sirius’s bike' Harry said climbing the steps to the front porch 'If we fly we’ll get there quicker, wanna come for a ride?'

'Sure why not?' Ron said 'But oughn’t we change though? We’re in full wizards dress and Rochester is a muggle town'

'Yeah we better do that' Harry said flicking his wand so the front door opened.

Harry and Ron made their way into the manor and upstairs.

'You wait here and I’ll go and change' Harry said to Ron leading him into his study and laying the injured puppy on a bucket chair 'Won’t be long'

'Sure'

Harry went to his and Ginny’s room and quickly changed into some muggle clothes he then went back to the study and waited while Ron went to his and Hermione’s quarters and changed.

'Okay now what?' Ron said as they made their way back down the stairs.

'We got to Rochester' Harry said 'Should only take ten minutes'

'Five if you fly as fast as you normally do' Ron said ‘I still can’t believe you did a loop-the-loop on that thing, remember our post Auror training graduation party? You did a loop-the-loop over the Burrow? I thought Mum was going to die, what possessed you to do that?'

'Ah it was a fit of high spirits' Harry said with an embarrassed grin 'I won’t do that again in a hurry, especially in front of your Mum. She didn’t want your Dad to fix it up after that night I fled from your Aunt and Uncles, then she finds out your Dad had fixed it up then sees me loop-the-loop on it'

Ron laughed
'I don’t know what Mum wanted to do first, kill you for your aerobatics or Dad for fixing the bike'

'Oh I’m betting your Dad got a bollocking that night' Harry said as they headed to the kitchen.

Harry scribbled a quick note to Ginny and Hermione explaining their absence then he and Ron made their way outside and down to the garage. Sirius’s bike stood before them in all it’s chromed glory.

'I know Dad’s obsessed with muggle stuff but I think he went a bit overboard with the chrome' Ron said squinting as the garage lights reflected off the mudguards.

'You say that every time you see this thing' Harry said 'You get in the sidecar put your pup by your feet and this one on your lap'

Ron got in the sidecar and put the uninjured put between his ankles. Harry then laid the injured puppy wrapped in his work cloak on Ron’s lap.

'Comfy?' He said.

'No that little shit is chewing on my ankle!' Ron exclaimed wincing.

'Well you’ll just have to grin and bear it' Harry said rapping his wand on the petrol tank of the bike then Ron’s head casting the Disillusionment Charm on them.

'But the little bugger has teeth like razors!' Ron exclaimed as Harry cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself 'Ow!'

Harry climbed astride the bike and kicked it into action. He drove it clear of the garage and within five feet of clearing the doors it was in the air.

’FUUUCK HARRY!’ Ron exclaimed as the bike climbed almost vertically 'You sick bastard do you want me to vomit on you?'

'YOU’LL LIVE!' Harry yelled over the rumble of the engine.

'FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!’

Ten minutes later with Ron cursing Harry made the decent into Rochester.

'You are mental!’Ron exclaimed as they landed in a backstreet ‘Bloody mental!’

Harry laughed.
'It wasn’t that bad' He said guiding the bike to a spare park under a leafless tree 'George is worse you’ve seem him fly it too'

'George is mental too!' Ron exclaimed as they came to a stop 'Let me fly it on the way home eh? Or here’s a novel idea how about we go back the muggle way?'

'You are such a wuss!' Harry said cutting the engine and removing the Disillusionment Charms on them 'You were on the front line in the last battle but can’t face a ickle bike ride?'

'A ickle bike ride? Merlin’s testicles! Fuck off I’d rather face a hundred homicidal Death Eaters that go through that again!' Ron exclaimed 'I thought you were going to do another loop-the-loop'

'That I wasn’t going to do’ Harry said getting off the bike and gathering the injure puppy up from Ron’s lap.

'And this little shit chewed on my ankle like a rawhide bone!’ Ron exclaimed getting out of the sidecar and pulling the uninjured puppy out by the scruff of it’s neck 'Little mongrel if you weren’t so cute I’d hex you to Paris'

'Awwww cute' Harry said tucking the puppy he was holding inside his jacket.

'Bugger off Potter'

'Oooh on surname terms now are we?'

Ron rolled his eyes.

Harry and Ron walked down the deserted road and into a busier café strip. They passed a recreational park and several posh café’s before coming to a vet clinic on the corner of two main streets.

'So this is the ‘vet’ eh?' Ron said in interest as they walked up several steps and entered brightly lit room smelling strongly of antiseptic 'Bloody hell what stinks?'

'SHHHHHHHHHH!’ Harry hissed 'A bit louder why not? I’m not sure Hermione in Hogsmeade would’ve heard you'

A moment later a nurse dressed in a fluorescent pink top with several dog and cat motifs on it emerged from the examination rooms.

'Oh ‘ello!' She said brightly 'How can I help you?'

'My mate and I found these two dumped at out house' Harry said showing the woman the puppy in his jacket 'I think this one has a busted leg. The one my mates holding is fine'

'Ohhh the poor lovie!' The nurse cooed scratching the ears of Harry’s puppy 'First of all I’ll get you to fill out some forms and then we’ll get you in to see tonight’s consulting vet, do you mind if a student joins him in the exam? He’s here from Bristol at the moment'

'Nah that’s okay' Harry said taking the clipboard that the nurse gave him.

Harry went to a seat in the waiting room and the nurse went back to the back of the clinic.

'What are we going to do about a phone number?' Harry whispered to Ron as he came to the part of the form that required a phone number 'We don’t have a phone at the Manor'

'Hermione has one of those mobile phone gadgets so her folks can ring her put that number there' Ron suggested 'Or cast a charm that makes whoever looks at the paper think there’s a number there'

'I can’t do that they’ll need to contact me and last time I checked muggles don’t use owl post' Harry said scribbling down the number 'Might be worth me getting one of those things myself'

'What for?’ Ron said 'You don’t know anyone in the muggle world except your Aunt, Uncle and cousin and you haven’t seen them for love years, there’s no point really'

'I suppose so'

Harry filled out the form and then waited for the nurse to return to the waiting room. She came back a few minutes later.

'All done?' She said brightly.

'Yep here you go' Harry said handing back the clipboard.

'Great I’ll look at that in a sec just follow me'

Harry and Ron made their way down a long hall and into a small examination room decorated with dog and cat ‘Breeds of The World’ and veterinary pharmaceuticals posters.

'Just wait here and the doctor will be with you shortly' The woman said 'He shan’t be long'

'No worries we’ve got the time' Harry said.

'This place reeks!’ Ron hissed after the nurse left the room 'What is that smell?'

'Industrial grade antiseptic' Harry said laughing at Ron’s expression 'Muggles use it instead of cleaning charms. It’s not that bad you know, better than Hippogriff shit'

'I’d rather stick my nose in a great steaming pile of that stuff'

'Drama queen'

After a few minutes of waiting the examination room door opened and in came the senior veterinarian. Followed by the last person in the world Harry expected to see….

*******************************************************************