Young girl, don't cry,
I'll be right here when your world starts
To fall.
Young girl, its all right, your tears will dry
You'll soon be free to fly.
Oooh..
When your safe inside your room you tenderly dream
Of a place where nothings harder than it seems.
NO one ever wants or bothers to explain
Of the heartache life can bring and its meaning.
When there's no one else
Look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend
Just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength
That will guide your way
You'll learn to begin
To trust the voice within.
- The Voice Within, Christina Aguilera
Harry came home from his last Auror exam, three weeks after the funeral. Hermoine had finally returned to work, seemingly in good sprits. Her job as a Healer was very time consuming, Harry hardly saw her anymore. He had convinced her to move in with him and they had spent the majority of the weekend moving her things from one apartment to another.
"Hartford is a bitch." Harry said, sinking into his favorite leather chair that evening with a beer. Hermoine came and sat on the arm next to him, rubbing his scalp.
"What did he do now?"
"He's just a stubborn arse. I finished the exam, passed by the way, top in the class," he said, rubbing his forehead, "and then these guys come and tell me that Hartford said I cheated on my exam or something and made me retake it. I did just as well and they couldn't find any way that I could have possibly cheated but I could hardly walk."
"I'm sorry, my day wasn't any better either. Being Head Healer isn't all its cracked up to be."
There were several moments of silence as the couple stared into the fire, Hermoine tenderly stroking Harry's scalp as he took sips of beer with his eyes closed. Hermoine nearly jumped out of her skin when he spoke.
"I don't know if its worth it, Hermoine."
"Not worth what?" she asked, her hand stopping its gentle circles in his jet black hair. He opened his eyes and sighed, swishing the beer around in the bottle.
"Training. I know I passed, I'm going to give it a try but…"
"But what, Harry?"
"All my life," he sighed sitting up," I've been fighting Death Eaters and Voldemort. It was expected so naturally I thought I should be an Auror. I just…I don't know if its what I want to do. I think the only reason I wanted to be an Auror was because it was what was expected of me…I want to do something for myself for once."
"Like what?"
"I've been thinking," Harry slid her into his lap," about opening my own business…with a partner." Hermoine looked at him, her curiosity aroused.
"Business? What kind?"
"A restaurant. At the Dursley's, I learned to cook. Now that I'm not forced to do it, I've actually gotten interested in it. Sometimes I'll pop into some classes and I've gotten really good. I was thinking of opening a Muggle Italian cuisine restaurant and maybe get in touch with some of Ron's Quidditch connections and try out for some teams…you know, do the things I never thought I'd do because I was an…Auror."
"A restaurant is a huge investment Harry. You have to buy or rent the building, buy the food, staff, furniture, silverware, glassware, maintenance, insurance…who's looking to be your partner?"
"Ron, actually. You remember in Hogwarts he was the chess champion? He's good with numbers and strategy and kind of has a flare for marketing…I figured it'd be the perfect combination. You know, me doing the dirty work like cooking and stuff and him out on the front line advertising and such. What do you think?" Harry looked at her as she pondered.
"I think," she spoke slowly," that it's a great idea…as long as you remember what your getting into. I know your really well off Harry but its still really risky. I'll support you just…think what your going to do. It's a life altering decision."
"I know. I've thought about it a lot. I'm going to give the Auror position a shot."
"Ill do whatever you want Harry, I'm here for you." Hermoine told him, catching his gaze. He looked at her for a long moment before nodding.
"I know."
Hermoine walked into work the next day, tired from the long hours of talking she and Harry had done the night before.
" Hi Millie," she greeted the receptionist who returned her smile with one of her own, "any mail for me?"
"Yeah, just a few things. Slow day so far. Probably can slip out early." She mentioned, handing Hermoine a bundle of envelopes. Hermoine laughed.
"We'll see. Thanks Millie, see you later."
Hermoine brought her mail to her office, sitting down in her chair and rubbed her forehead. She looked fondly at the picture of her mother and father that sat on her desk near the numerous piles of various sizes of parchment.
"I miss you so much, mom." She whispered, kissing her fingertip and pressing it to the picture. She stared at the frame for a few moments, reminiscing, before turning to the pile of parchment Millie had given her. Halfway through the pile, which mainly consisted of reports from the staff about patients and a few newsletters on new medical procedures and diseases, she found a bright red roll of parchment. Immediately, she thought it was a howler but a loud wailing voice did not erupt from it as she had expected. When she opened it, she immediately dropped the letter as if burned. A black powder had fallen from the parcel and onto her fingers where bright red welts were forming. Sharp pains shot up and down her hands into her wrists and her eyes started watering.
"Oh, ow ow ow ow…" she cried, dropping the letter and running to the sink in the adjoining exam room. She washed her hands with cold water, rinsing the remaining black specs off. The existing welts burst open and began bleeding when the water hit them. Now almost in tears, Hermoine rushed to Neville's office across the hall, kicking on the door.
"Neville! Help!" she cried and the door immediately swung open. He looked at her then noticed her bleeding hands and ushered her inside.
"What happened?" he asked as he rummaged through a cabinet next to his desk, bringing out several jars of ointment and bandages.
"I don't know, I opened a letter and all these black things fell out…they looked like Poisonous Wart caps but those are only found in Mexico…"
"Why'd you wash your hands? You know Poisonous Wart caps split when they get wet, if they were under your skin then they'd make you bleed."
"I just wanted to get the rest off me, I wasn't thinking." Hermoine sighed, Neville admistering the cool cream that would kill the Wart caps.
"Alright," he said, wrapping her hand, " that should do it. I'm going to give you this ointment to put on it for about a week."
"I have to work though! I have so much paperwork!" Hermoine protested, sliding off the desk.
"I'll split it up and give it out to the trainees. You cant do anything without your hands. As your friend and fellow Healer, take my advice…go home. I'll call Harry to assist you." Neville said, turning to the fireplace. Hermoine started to protest but the whoosh of green flames silenced her weak mumble.
" Harry Potters apartment." Neville said, sticking his head into the flames. Hermoine heard him conversing but couldn't hear what he said, his voice mumbled by the flames. A few minutes later he withdrew his head and the flames died.
"Harry will be here soon. In the meantime, show me the letter that you opened with the Wart cap's." Neville said, helping her through the door. She showed him to her office and gestured at the red parchment.
"I didn't get to read what it said. Can you read it to me?" She asked as Neville picked it up with glove protected hands. As he read silently, his eyes widened and narrowed and he growled angrily at the end.
"I'll wait till Harry gets here and let you two read it together. It concerns you both. I think…I think someone's after you Hermoine."
Hermoine looked at Neville, stunned, and looked back down at her bandaged hands.
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