20A/N: It's only been what, four years since the last update? Cringe.
Anyhow...this little universe has always been one of my favorite things I've ever written. I started it when I was a sophomore in high school, and now I'm graduating college in a few months, hoping to make a living telling stories, so I thought I should finish this one. Here we go...
Part I: Chapter Twelve
1965
Alice sat cross legged on her bed. Her window was open, allowing the warm summer air to gently breeze in. She and Duke were sending owls back and forth, and she smiled when she saw his latest one arrive. She petted the top of the owl's head and opened the paper it held.
It is good. We're all settling in – the three of us make a nice familial unit.
She wrote a response:
I'm so glad. It's what you and Benny deserve. And knowing you, I'm sure all of your things are completely organized.
As she sent the note back to Duke, Jacob entered the room.
"You know, you could just floo him," he said teasingly, "More efficient."
"Yeah, but there's something nice about actual letters," she grinned, "You're the writer, I shouldn't have to explain this to you."
"Of course I understand that," Jacob quipped, "So how is Duke?"
"He's good. They're happy."
"I'm glad."
"Yeah. I might stop by for a visit tomorrow."
"Cool," Jacob replied, "Well, I'll let you get back to your owls."
"More like sleep. Night, Jacob."
"Night."
The next afternoon, Alice did stop by Duke's new place. It was a little cottage-like house, small and homey.
"Hi!" Benny greeted her cheerfully as he opened the door. He looked happier than she'd ever remembered seeing him.
"Hey Benny," she said, stepping inside, "How's everything going?
"Good. Really good."
"I'm glad. I like the place," she said, gesturing around at the bookshelf-covered walls.
"So do I," Duke agreed, smiling as he and Rebecca entered the room.
"I get a heavy discount off everything at work, so I often bring home more books than I should," Rebecca said, looking at the shelves.
"Seems like a good problem to have, honestly."
"I think we'd all agree with that," Duke replied cheerfully, glad to be amongst his favorite people.
Later that afternoon, Alice and Duke sat in the bedroom that Duke shared with Benny.
"Alice?"
"Hmm?"
"If I wanted to get in contact with Bartholomew –" he began.
"My dad has information," Alice supplied.
He nodded, "Good. I want to thank him. I don't think the ministry would have ruled in our favor had he not offered to help."
1966
That morning, Duke, Alice, Arthur and Molly and the rest of the Gryffindor sixth years received owls from Professor McGonagall. Alice opened hers, and the others followed suit.
"Career advice," Alice said, looking at the piece of parchment, "I go at ten thirty."
"I'm at nine," said Duke.
"Ah, career advice," Gideon remembered, "Twenty-five minutes of being reminded that I have absolutely no idea of what I want to do with my life."
Alice sighed, "Well, I'm essentially in that same situation."
"I like all the subjects well enough, but none of them really stand out to me," Gideon said, "I mean, writing's just a hobby."
"You guys are both brilliant," Jacob joined the conversation, "you just have to find your passions and what's right for you. What about you, Duke? Any career ideas?"
"You know, I've been toying with the idea of becoming an auror," Duke said thoughtfully, a distant smile on his face, "Put the bad guys in Azkaban. Contribute to the downfall of chaos."
Gideon grinned, "Sounds like you're set."
"It would be perfect for you," Alice agreed. She glanced at her watch, "C'mon, though, we'll be late to charms."
She, Molly, Arthur, and Duke headed in the direction of Professor Flitwick's classroom.
At ten to nine, Duke raised his hand and excused himself from charms class. He walked down the hall and arrived at Professor McGonagall's office. It was 8:59. He knocked, and the door was opened.
"Duke, you epitomize punctual," Minerva said with a smile that was generally reserved for family and a few select others, "Have a seat."
They both sat down, and Minerva looked at the paper in front of her.
"Very decent marks," she spoke, "Some of the highest in your class."
Duke smiled, looking satisfied.
Minerva looked up at him, "Do you have any idea of what you'd like to do in the future?"
"I want to be an auror," he replied.
She handed him some paperwork, "Here is some more information about the career you've expressed interest in, as well as recommended courses. And you're well on track to be an auror, Duke."
"Thank you, Professor."
"Good day, Duke."
Alice entered her mother's office. Minerva glanced up from a massive amount of paperwork.
"Good morning, dear."
"Hi, Mum."
She sat down on the other side of the desk, across from her mother.
"So," Alice said. She wasn't too fond of the idea of this meeting; she was bothered by the fact that she was very much uncertain as to what she wanted to do in the future.
"For the most part, your marks are fine. Now, where do you see yourself in ten years?"
"I have no idea. I thought you hated divination, Mum," Alice replied shortly.
"Alice," Minerva scolded.
"I don't know. I wish I did, but I don't," she said, exasperated.
"When I was your age, neither did I," Minerva told her.
Alice looked surprised, "Really?"
"No," she recalled, "I loved transfiguration. I just wasn't completely sure what I wanted to do with it."
"It seems like everyone else is so utterly sure of what they want to do in the future, though. Molly wants to work with children, and Duke is going to be an auror."
"You still have some time to think," Minerva told her daughter. She handed her a pamphlet, "It explores different options and helps you try to figure these sort of things out."
"Thanks, Mum," Alice replied, taking the booklet.
"You're welcome, dear."
Later that evening, Duke sat down in the Gryffindor common room. He took out a quill and parchment and began to write.
Dear Benny,
Hope all is still going well with you. The term here is nearly finished, and you'll be back home shortly after that. Then we will have an excellent summer with Becca, I'm sure.
But I get ahead of myself, as the summer holidays aren't quite here yet. I know we've both got exams coming up, which is admittedly less than ideal, but I'm sure we'll both do well. Anyway, my class had career advice today. I want to be an auror, essentially the wizard equivalent of what I believe is a police detective. Everyone laughs and says that putting those who disrupt order away would be the perfect job for me. And it's true. I like the thought of being an auror. I think it fits me.
Everyone here is more or less at loose ends, since it's so close to the summer holidays. Gideon's going to graduate soon, and the thought of him not being here is strange. He and Jacob are excited because the literary magazine that they edit is going to be released soon.
Good luck with the rest of your term. I hope you're still enjoying Germany .
See you soon,
Duke
"I can't believe I'm graduating," Gideon said to Jacob as they sat together under a tree one spring afternoon, a week before the Hogwarts graduation ceremony. He shook his head in amazement.
"It's an odd thought," Jacob said, with a slight smile, "I dunno what we'll do without you here."
"I dunno what I'll do in the real world. Bit of a scary thought. But with that whopping list of different jobs I applied to, something's gotta come my way," Jacob said, attempting to reassure himself.
"Someone will take you," Jacob affirmed, "They'd be insane not to."