Scars That Heal (Dramione Fanfiction) [COMPLETE]

48 - Flung Open Windows

With all the new freedom in the days ahead of them, there were a lot of opportunities for Hermione and her friends to discuss the next stages of their lives. It was very different talking about it now, as the end of their time at Hogwarts was so near now; all those plans they had made candid references to months ago were starting to hit a little close to home. Somehow it seemed disconnected from reality as they talked about jobs and homes and families and pets and responsibilities. None of them could really believe they were expected to be adults very soon.

Luna had been speaking to Professor Clark a lot about applying for Ilvermorny, and her father had come into school a few times so they could work on her application forms. Hermione became quite wistful, wondering how often she would see Luna if she did indeed move to America. They had all talked about how on earth they would all stay in contact, and it turned out that Ilvermorny offered placements that would give Luna the opportunity to Floo back to her father's house at weekends, although it was very strictly regulated and she would have to prove she was reliable enough to be trusted to leave the country and return again every Sunday night.

Dean and Seamus were going to be looking for a place to live together at some point in the future, but had no plans to just yet. Both of them still had family homes to go back to, so were instead looking at their various jobs. Seamus was out of Hogwarts for nearly a week, looking for a Muggle job. He had to apply using Muggle agencies, and was weighing up his options for something in public services. Currently he was most enthused by the idea of becoming a firefighter, and from what he told the others Seamus would be able to have his NEWT and OWL results converted to A-Level and GCSE results for job applications in the Muggle world.

"It's so complicated," he groaned one night at supper. "I'm going to have to almost entirely renounce magic in my life if I become a firefighter. I can't use it in front of anyone in my job, and I will have to be monitored by the Ministry as someone working with Muggles."

Dean was looking into becoming a Minority Welfare Officer at the Ministry, working almost as a counsellor for people in the magical community with lessened rights and problems with Muggle relations, often in the relocation of those who needed it. His work would be mainly with werewolves, goblins, house-elves, and Muggleborns and Squibs that needed help with their lives as magical beings. A few times Dean had gotten Hermione to re-read his application forms and interview plans, and from what she saw he had all the necessary skills to be excellent in that role.

Much to her shock and delight, Ginny didn't have to apply for a job. The Holyhead Harpies, her favourite Quidditch team and inspiration, had had a bad accident involving drunken broom-riding and an escaped Bludger a month ago which had been massively publicised. They had all managed to sober up and most of them were fine, apart from their Seeker; she had been badly hit with a Bludger and was now looking at a lifetime in the magical equivalent of a wheelchair, meaning that the all-female team needed a new Seeker. When the letter had arrived in the morning post Ginny had opened it, read it in silence and then burst into tears.

"T-They want me, to be their new Seeker!" she had sobbed. "The H-Holyhead Harpies are asking me to be a professional Quidditch player on their team!"

It had taken a while to calm her down, but when she had, Ginny instantly borrowed parchment and a quill from Hermione and started penning a response. For her, it was a dream come true. Her favourite Quidditch team, and the only all-female professional team, wanted her to play for them. Ginny was very nervous, as she had never met any of them before, and they wanted her to travel up to their pitch one afternoon and essentially show them exactly how good she was. In the end it was very successful, and she was signed to the team that very day.

"Oh, the Daily Prophet is going to have a field day with this one!" she said gleefully. "The girlfriend of the Boy Who Lived is a professional Seeker at the age of seventeen! They even did it a month before my birthday, and seventeen sounds far more impressive than eighteen! Quidditch professional aged seventeen..."