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Career Day is a Family Affair
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 02-22-15 13:59
Bronwyn stood in front of her booth in the Great Hall at Hogwarts and talked all about what it was like to be a presenter at the Wizarding Wireless Network. By now she had accumulated a lot of experience in the field, having hosted several different shows both on her own and with others. Her current show was highly rated among stay-at-home mothers who liked to listen to the woes of others. Bronwyn was no psychologist, but she liked to think she could give sound advice to those who needed it.
She glanced over to one of the first tables by the Great Hall doors and saw her father hand an architecture kit to an interested student. Wotan Dewhurst was a veteran at Career Day, having promoted architecture on behalf of his firm Wren, Inc. since the inception of the annual event.
Last night Wotan had celebrated his sixty-second birthday and Wesley Diamond's fifty-third birthday in a joint party at a Muggle restaurant in Knightsbridge. All of the Diamonds had come from Seattle, including Bianca with her boyfriend Jay. At five and a half, Wolfie was a precocious and darling little boy who had finally learned how to pronounce Bronwyn's name but nevertheless still preferred to call her Bonbon. Only Desi hadn't made it to the party.
Wotan's brother Will had also attended the party but on his own, since both Kate and Tessa were at Hogwarts. As in years' past, Will promoted the printing business as a representative of the Ministry of Magic's own press, which printed all sorts of official government publications, not to mention all the in-house flyers and mass documents needed by the various departments and divisions.
Will spotted Kate with her boyfriend Hugo and waved them over to his booth. "Should I be alarmed that you both are making the rounds and don't seem to know what you want to do with your lives?"
"Oh, I know what I want to do with my life, Mr. Dewhurst," Hugo said, a broad grin stretching across his face. "I want to be a comedian."
Kate laughed and rolled her eyes. "And I'm going to university. We talked about that already, don't you remember, Dad?"
"Yes, I do recall that conversation," Will said, "but I hope you realize that while at university, you'll eventually have to choose subjects to match your chosen career path."
"Really?" Kate asked, feigning surprise.
Hugo chuckled.
Will shook his head and smiled. "Have you seen Tessa?" he asked, changing the subject.
Kate looked around and spotted her half-sister with Blakeney Ellis over by one of the snack tables. "Looks like she's fortifying herself with sugar."
"Just what we need. More first years bouncing off the walls," Hugo stated. He moved toward the snack table to corral the young girls. Kate shot her dad a quick smile and followed, passing by her cousin Siegfried's table.
Siegfried was talking to Orville Packard about sports photography. He was at Career Day to promote photojournalism with respect to sports and on behalf of his employee, the wizarding sports magazine Quidditch Illustrated. Siegfried had some of his latest photographs on a trifold display board set up on his table. They'd been taken only last week at a professional Quidditch match between Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago. It had been a nailbiter of a game, with Trinidad and Tobago winning with only a ten-point lead.
Siegfried's favorite photograph was taken just when a bludger hit one of the NIgerian chasers in the cheek and showed the moment of impact over and over again. Teeth and spittle flew out of the chaser's mouth to spectacular effect. Not surprisingly, Orville found the photo pretty fascinating too.
Checking Out Career Day
Author: Gerry
Date: 02-22-15 15:15
Gerry and Will entered the Great Hall, only a little bit curious about Career Day. As first years, they didn't yet need to know what they wanted to be when they grew up, nor was the event of any great interest to them. They were really only there for two reasons: 1. to visit with Gerry's mum, and 2. to pick up freebies. They had heard about the latter after one of the older Gryffindors returned to the common room with two bulging sacks, one bearing the Ministry of Magic's logo and the other the logo of St. Mungo's Hospital.
The boys moved away from the Great Hall doors and took in their surroundings, which were a bit different from normal since the four long house tables were gone. Gerry wondered where the tables went when they weren't in the Great Hall. Were they made so very compact as to be stored in a tiny closet somewhere, or had they actually disappeared entirely?
Will slapped Gerry's arm with the back of his hand and then indicated to the refreshments tables. Both boys immediately went over, where they were given brownies that were warm as if they had just come out of the oven and cups of hot cocoa. They made their way to the wall and sat down against it.
"Maybe I should get into the sweets business," Will said. "I could eat this everyday all day long."
"You'd have to learn how to make it all," Gerry said. "Do you even know how to cook?"
"Listen, genius. This," Will said, holding up his half-eaten brownie, "has nothing to do with cooking. It has to do with baking."
"I thought it was all the same," Gerry said, being both truthful and uninterested at the same time.
Will shook his head. "It's a wonder you haven't flunked out of school already."
"Haha. I guess it's a good thing we don't have a cooking, excuse me, baking class." Gerry polished off the rest of his brownie and wiped his fingers on his pants. He picked up his cup of hot cocoa, which was hot but not so hot as to burn his mouth.
"Seriously, I can't see myself having any sort of job when I'm old," Will lamented. "Nothing really appeals to me. What about you?"
"I want to be an auror like my dad," Gerry said.
"Not a librarian like your mum?"
Gerry just looked at his friend.
Will laughed. "Let's go say hi."
They got up and quickly wound their way through the various booths until they found the one manned by Gerry's mother. She was a librarian and ran the public library in the village.
"Hello, boys," Gigi said, smiling. "Are you enjoying yourselves?"
"Yes, ma'am," Will said. "Yeah, I guess," Gerry said.
"Have you seen anything you like?" she asked them.
"Not yet," Will answered, while Gerry said, "Only the snacks."
Will shot his friend an amused glance and said, "We only just arrived and don't really know what all there is, besides the refreshments."
"Well, why don't you start here and move in one direction or the other until you've made the entire circuit?" Gigi suggested.
Gerry nodded. "That's what I was thinking. Let's go that way––" but the appearance of someone slightly familiar cut him short. Gerry wasn't sure why the approaching wizard looked so familiar, at least not until he overheard his mother grumble, "Oh, not here of all places."
"Hello, Gigi!" said the wizard jovially.
"Hello, Officer Tweed," Gigi said, pleasantly but guarded.
Gerry recognized him as the wizard who had turned up at their doorstep one morning with the library books the Ministry had confiscated for an investigation.
"I asked you to call me Burton, or Burt, if you like," Burton Tweed said.
"Very well… Burt," Gigi said. "I didn't see you earlier. Are you here promoting magical law enforcement?"
"No, no," Burton said. "A few of my colleagues from Auror Headquarters have volunteered their time for that purpose. No, Gigi, I'm actually here to protect you––" There was a deliberate pause before he went on to say, "and everyone else at Hogwarts. I'm working security for the event."
"Ah," Gigi said. "How… nice."
"Indeed."
Officer Tweed noticed Gerry and Will for the first time and said, "Hello, lads. Are you enjoying Career Day? You're both awfully young to be thinking about jobs."
Gerry said, "It's never to early to start thinking about the future, Sir."
"Yes, well, why don't you think about your futures somewhere else?" And with that, he turned back to Gigi and smiled at her. "Where were we?"
"Well, Off––Burt. I'm actually quite busy," Gigi said. "Will, here, wants to know all about librarianship, don't you, Will?"
"Erm––" Gerry elbowed Will in the ribs. "Oh! Yes, ma'am. Absolutely everything. I just love books. So much." He rubbed his side.
Gigi smiled at Will and asked, "Have you ever heard of the British Wizarding National Bibliography, otherwise known as the BWNB?" She didn't wait for his response and prattled on about the most comprehensive listing of UK magical titles dating back to 1050. Will tried to look interested but wasn't really, while Gerry narrowed his eyes at Officer Tweed, who eventually took the hint and walked away to do his rounds.
Talking With Aunt Connie (Sylvestor)
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 02-23-15 15:00
Edmund Woodhouse has two entire regular sized fairy cakes stuffed into his mouth. He looks much like a chipmunk or gerbil or hamster or any other creature that packs food in its cheeks to save for later. The effect is comical enough that Sylvestor is having trouble not sniggering each time he looks at his friend.
Despite the plumped cheeks and the effort of chewing, chewing, chewing so as not to get choked on stray crumbs Edmund manages to say with a tilt of his head, "Going to go chat her up."
Sylvestor follows the direction of the head tilt to see a girl of their year who Edmund fancies just enough that he's slowly working up to asking her to go with him to the Hearts and Roses Ball for Valentine's. Food lover Edmund has decided he doesn't want to miss out on a feast. He's not sure if singles can attend the ball and rather than ask someone who'd know, he thought to go on his first ever date. That he does truly like the girl is a massive plus. Sylvestor wonders what Hufflepuff Edmund's approach would be if he didn't fancy her, or any other girl, even a little. Would he make it clear that though a Valentine's ball, the date would be simply as friends?
Edmund, another fairy cake in hand, trundles off to speak to their classmate. Sylvestor gives a small shrug at suddenly being on his own. He can go at his own pace now without having to hit the food tables every ten or so minutes because Edmund is famished. Turning to look over the assembled Career Day booths, of which Edmund and he have only visited three, Sylvestor decides to assume a methodical approach, the better to make sure he visits every booth where he might get freebies.
Like so many others his age, Sylvestor is in no rush to determine his career goals. He knows there are exceptions, like the brother of classmate, and Edmund's roommate, Cornington Marchbanks. According to Cornington, his oldest brother Baron has known practically since birth he wants to be Minister of Magic one day and everything Baron does is with that goal in mind. The only career Sylvestor ever truly imagined himself in was intergalactic sheriff. The disappointment he experienced at age 8 learning that such a career is strictly make believe as part of a favorite book series still runs deep. He still harbors a miniscule hope that the Wizarding world will have mastered interstellar travel by the time he's an adult so that intergalactic sheriff would be a career option.
As he's been deep in thought Sylvestor's feet have carried him to his Aunt Connie's booth. Connie Copperpot is representing her agency Davies & Llewellyn for the field of real estate. She smiles at seeing him and reaches under one of her booth's tables to bring out a cloth bag.
"Hello, Sylvestor! I'm so glad you stopped by. Your mum sent you something."
"Hi, Aunt Connie. Thanks." Sylvestor looks into the bag to find an assortment of snacks ranging from some of his favorite flavored pretzels to a couple of bags of his preferred brand of puffy cheese crisps to some of the chocolate dipped shortbread his mum makes. As he hooks the bag over one arm he decides this is the best freebie he'll get all day, no matter what the others might be.
"Having a good turnout so far?" he asks his aunt.
"Yes, though I doubt many are actually interested in become estate agents. It's not the most glamourous of jobs."
"Then why do you do it?"
"Most of the time I find it rather enjoyable. I help people find their first homes to buy or someone finding a first place all their own, be it a house or a flat. I help them find a place for their expanding families. For some, I assist them in locating the house of their dreams. It can be a challenge taking a list of what is being sought in a home."
"But you can't ever find them everything they want do you?"
"Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Usually, it's a compromise. Large rooms but smallish yard for the indoorsy type or smaller rooms but massive yard for someone with active children or pets. Nice sized sitting room but a smaller kitchen than desired for someone who plans on regularly having guests over. It can be difficult to check off every single item on one's list without building and even then people will find they didn't really want what they thought they did."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, for example, some friends of mine built what they thought was their dream home only to discover the floorplan they thought they loved was actually very restrictive. They ended up remodeling, taking down a few walls."
An older girl approaches then so Sylvestor bids his aunt goodbye, thanking her for her time, and accepting two frosted sugar biscuits shaped like buildings. He moves along to the next booth in the row, munching one of the biscuits and finding himself wondering if he should ask if that Valentine's ball is only for couples or if singles are allowed, especially singles who are just first years.
Jones Sisters at Career Day
Author: Illyria
Date: 02-23-15 17:58
Arsinoe eased herself into a chair next to the table on which she had all sorts of pamphlets on apothecaries and reached back with both hands to rub her lower back. She had almost bowed out of her appearance at Career Day, due to being eight, almost nine months pregnant but had changed her mind at the eleventh hour. The apothecary who was to fill in for her just so happened to be under the weather today, so things worked out nicely in the end, though Arsinoe did feel a little tired.
Olympia, whose table was next to Arsinoe's, was also pregnant but was due in April. She was at Career Day to discuss what it was like to be an obliviator. Her table was quite popular, since modifying and erasing memories was very interesting work. Olympia stressed to everyone she met that her job was a very serious one and not to be taken lightly. Changing memories was highly regulated and the wrong person doing it the wrong way was very illegal.
Illyria approached her sisters bearing two cups of tea and balancing a plate of biscuits on her wrist. Olympia took the plate before it could meet its end on the stone floor and then accepted a cup of tea.
"Thanks," she said. "I'm getting parched from all this talking."
Arsinoe accepted her teacup with a smile and said, "I've visited the toilet about ten times since arriving at Hogwarts this morning. This will only speed along my next visit."
"You need to stay hydrated," Illyria said, "and you should eat. You look famished."
"I'm not famished. I'm just taking a bit of a break. My feet hurt."
"I'd rub them for you, but I think there's a time and a place for that and it's not here during Career Day!" Illyria replied, laughing.
Arsinoe laughed too. "Excuses, excuses."
"Wait till it's your turn," Olympia said. "You'd probably be okay with Professor Snape rubbing your feet during dinner at the High Table!"
Arsinoe nearly spit out her tea, and Illyria let out a peal of laughter.
"Any news on the marriage front, Illyria?" Olympia asked after she was done laughing.
Illyria's smile faded and she shrugged. She was painfully aware that she was the only one of her sisters not married and not a mother. She really was the awkward middle child.
"I'm sure he's just waiting for the right moment," Arsinoe said gently.
"Yeah," Olympia agreed.
Illyria tried not to feel sorry for herself, but she really couldn't help it. She was glad when a group of students came by to talk to her sisters, as it allowed her to slip away and indulge in a thick slice of chocolate cake from the refreshments table.
Griet & Cornelia
Author: Griet
Date: 02-23-15 18:45
Griet never expected to find herself at Career Day as a presenter rather than a student milling around with her friends. She certainly never expected to turn up at Career Day as a representative of her company, not when she was inexperienced and hadn't even handled cases on her own yet. But she found herself at Career Day now, talking about outsourcing wizarding relations, which made the eyes of many students glaze over. She supposed she'd landed the Career Day job because she was new and nobody else wanted to waste their Saturday.
If anything, it got her within the walls of Hogwarts again and gave her some time with her youngest siblings. She would have much preferred to spend the day with Valentijn, however, whom she had been seeing ever since New Year's Eve. Theirs was a whirlwind romance and didn't seem to show any signs of slowing down. They had plans to meet up for drinks tonight in the village.
Cornelia also had a table in the Great Hall, and it saw a steady stream of visitors. Everybody wanted to know about the bounty hunting business, and Cornelia spared no expense in telling all her stories. She had a captive audience, especially among the boys, but some of the girls seemed interested too.
Cornelia's own relationship with Cassander was still going strong. They had finally decided to move in together and were looking for a flat. Cassander wanted something in Scotland, but not necessarily in Hogsmeade, while Cornelia preferred London. She wanted to live in Diagon Alley so she could walk to work and so far Cassander couldn't talk her out of it, even if it meant the criminals she sometimes chased through the cobbled streets would have a better chance of figuring out where she lived. As such, they hadn't yet found their ideal flat.
Beatrix entered the Great Hall on her own and immediately sought out her sisters. Griet's table was closer, so she went to her eldest sister first.
"Hey," Griet said, grateful to have someone to talk to. "On your own today?"
"Yeah," Beatrix said, shrugging her shoulders. Cate had made up with her old friends and was spending more time with them again, and though things didn't seem as frosty anymore between her and Rowan, they weren't really friends either.
"Would you like to hear about the exciting world of sacking people?"
Beatrix nodded. "Sure."
Griet smiled and launched into her speech. She wished she had more real life situations from which to draw but would have to make do with what little she knew.
Gaming And Education
Author: Blossom
Date: 02-24-15 18:37
A third year boy enthuses, "Is it work if you're playing games?"
Daria's smile broadens into a grin. "There are days I do feel as if I'm paid to do nothing but play and have a fabulous time but there are times when it is very much work."
His eyes widen more. "When is that?"
"Those times something goes wrong, such as the day that half the wizarding laser tag wands wouldn't do as they should. Took us hours to solve the problem. Or when we're testing a new game and glitch after glitch pops up."
"Having magic doesn't fix it straight away?"
"We always hope but no, it's often not that simple or easy."
"How did you find such a great job?"
Daria grins again and even chuckles. "I have that thanks to my sister." Daria gestures to the next booth over where Blossom is chatting with someone about careers in child care and early education. "Blossom started the gaming center and I ended up moving to it from working in her day care. I thought it might be only until I finished at university but I've ended up loving it so much I've continued with some university courses that will help me be better at it."
The third year asks a slew more of questions, a few others coming up during that time and listening in, inserting their own questions in here and there. As each leaves to look over other Career Day booths, Daria gives them free passes to any game of their choices at the gaming center, assuring a first year that the pass is good for a year. She also ends up sternly informing one student that each pass is charmed so it cannot be copied.
At that next booth over Blossom is currently speaking with seventh year Polly Potts, who seems very keen on becoming a teacher, perhaps coming to work some day at Hogsmeade Primary Day. Someone passing behind sarcastically snickers just loudly for Polly, and Blossom, to hear, "She'll be a bloody fantastic role model."
After a pointed comment from another passerby Polly, cheeks inflamed, voice quivering says, "With my reputation, I guess this isn't right for me afterall."
"Easier said than done but ignore them. If you think you'd like teaching, that you'd enjoy working with children, don't let mean spirited remarks change your mind."
"I'm not exactly sure yet what I want to do but I am extremely interested in becoming a teacher or professor; but, the mistakes I've made." Polly shakes her head.
Blossom has no idea what Polly has done though she's fairly certain she could guess. "Do you think ever person in education has a stellar, pristine reputation? Why, Professor Snape was once a Death Eater."
Polly flashes a small, amused smile. "He's not the best example. He hates us students."
"He might be a stern professor but the point is he is a professor and well respected in his field. Have you learned a great deal under him?"
"I'm not taking Potions now but when I did have him, yes, I suppose I did."
"When I was in school, one in America, a professor became pregnant by another. Both were married to others at the time. It was a scandal but they weathered it and are still teaching. If you let two snide remarks today sway you from possibly pursuing a career you might love, then it seems to me you're looking for an excuse to opt out before you even begin."
For a few seconds Polly considers Blossom's words before nodding. "You're write. It's so easy to give up without even trying then blaming others."
Polly stays a few more minutes, asking a number of excellent questions. When she does leave, she seems more sure of herself and with education as a possible career path.
Momentarily free, Blossom walks across the aisle to where Fred and George have the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes booth to see if either wants something from the refreshments table.
Career Day
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 02-25-15 13:40
Johanna, Gus and Felicia went to the Great Hall in order to check Career Day. Since she was young that Johanna knew she wanted to pursuit a career related with History of Magic. She wanted to become a famous historian, like Bathilda Bagshot. The first step would be to attend Agrippa College at St. Emrys and take History. She had a brief talk with Lavinia Newmarch, the responsible for the admissions at St. Emrys. The next person on the line, waiting for his turn, was Eric Ling.
"You're thinking about going to St. Emrys too?" she couldn't help herself to ask.
He nodded but didn't fill her in with any details because Lavinia Newmarch was waiting. Johanna was still rather fixated in Eric Ling. She wouldn't call it a crush, or anything like that. She didn't know Eric well and she couldn't even tell what his interests and hobbies might be. It was a pure physical attraction that had to do with his looks and appearance. Perhaps if she was like Gus she would have cornered Eric at a dark corner of the school and kiss him. Maybe she would even be disappointed with the result, at the end. But she was the school's Head Girl, she was not going to do such a thing. At least not until the day she passed the badge to her successor.
Johanna wondered why she couldn't be more normal like Felicia or Kate when it came to romantic relationships. Felicia and Baltus were still very much in love with each other as if they only started dating yesterday. Kate had dated Mark and despite his improper behavior and the suffering he caused her, she had managed to recover and now she had Hugo. They looked good together. Johanna's love history had been marked by Roger Gesner and Taran Tremaine but she felt that what she had with them had nothing to do with how Felicia and Kate felt with their boyfriends. Then there had been her feelings for Gus that had not been corresponded; and now this ridiculous thing for Eric Ling. She wondered if she might be cursed.
"Look what I got!" Felicia showed Johanna a silver ring.
"Where did you get that?"
"That booth over there, from Amber's. The jeweler is giving away some of his pieces. Of course this is a fake ring, but still kinda cute."
"So you're considering a career in jewelry?"
"Not exactly. I wouldn't mind designing the pieces, but not making them myself. I also checked the fashion booths and some are offering jobs as apprentices. I don't want to learn how sew with my wand and other techniques but it could be an opportunity to later build my own clothes. "
Just like Johanna, Felicia had a more or less clear vision about what she wanted to do in the future. She wanted to be related with the fashion industry, create pieces and of course to become a day where she would stand out and everyone would want to wear her designs. She wanted to specialize herself in wedding robes.
"Can we get out of here?" Gus asked, joining them.
"But you didn't check any booth!" Johanna protested.
Gus had just been following them around. He had not approached any of the booths by himself or asked any questions to the people there. He had looked around with a bored expression in his face, as he probably preferred to be spending his Saturday afternoon doing something else than being at the Great Hall.
"There's nothing here that interests me," he declared.
"What? There's Quidditch, Gaming, Fugitive Recovery, Magical Law Enforcement…some of those things should interest you."
"Do you really think I will become a famous Quidditch player? Or that I have the capacity to pass all my NEWTs with distinction?"
"How about enrolling in St. Emrys? A higher education would be a good thing."
"I don't think I can spend more years studying. I'm sick of school."
"So you won't be doing anything once you graduate from Hogwarts?"
"I didn't say that. There's still a long time before that happens. And once I'm out of here I'll figure out what to do. But not today."
Johanna didn't like Gus' attitude and she exchanged a look with Felicia. She shrugged her shoulders, showing there was nothing to be done when Gus was in such mood. Johanna thought he was losing an important opportunity here and she told him so, as the three Slytherins left the Great Hall back to the dungeons.
Katherine, Ariella, Alanna
Author: Beck
Date: 02-25-15 18:26
Katherine was not the only person at Career Day promoting the news media, nor was she the only photojournalist there, but she was the only one representing the Daily Prophet. In the past, she had always had a partner during her visits to Career Day, but this year she went solo because the colleague who usually went with her had a funeral to attend. Katherine had thought about inviting Jonathan to tag along to Career Day but never found the courage.
She still couldn't believe he'd invited her out to lunch on Wednesday, or that he had been somewhat flirty with her. Katherine knew it was wrong to want a married man, but she couldn't help herself. Jonathan was gorgeous! He was tall, blond, and just yum.
Nothing had happened at their lunch meeting. No touching, with the exception of him putting his hand on her back to guide her through the front door of the deli. Their conversation hadn't gone in any inappropriate direction either. The flirting had been rather innocent, all things considered.
And maybe she was reading more into what was actually there, since he'd hardly spoken to her since their lunch. After all, what could she offer him and why would she interest him when he already had a beautiful wife?
While Katherine pondered the question, Ariella spoke to Baron Marchbanks, future Minister of Magic, about international magical cooperation, something he would most certainly need to know about as leader of the British magical government. She told him about the places she visited in her small role as assistant to Representative Christiana Chadd and some of the things her division of the Department of International Magical Cooperation handled.
Ariella was glad to do something more at Hogwarts than just be the wife of a professor. Karina was spending the day in Manchester with Ariella's grandparents, since Ariella was busy and Lawrence would likely conduct some patrolling throughout the day. Ariella also really liked her job, even though she wasn't much more than a peon in the grand scheme of things. Maybe one day she would rise up in the ranks and do something a little more substantial, but until then, she was quite happy with her lot.
Alanna, on the other hand, had felt her morale take a dip. Reed's disgusting proposition from earlier in the week made her feel dirty but also nervous for her family. The whole reason she'd never told Jared about Reed kissing her was because she feared for his safety. Now Reed had threatened her siblings. What if he made good on his threat. After all, she had turned him down without hesitation and a lot of spite.
At least he wasn't at Career Day this year, like he was last year. His presence would only make her feel worse, especially with Ariella and Katherine also present. What if he made suggestive comments about them? Alanna knew she should report him, but fear prevented her from doing so.
"Are you okay, ma'am?"
Alanna realized a student was trying to get her attention and nodded. "Yes, thanks. Sorry. Are you interested in a legal career?"
I Spy
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 02-26-15 19:08
Alone at the moment while Ron takes a break, Griff answers a few questions from a couple of younger students, most likely first or second years, who have the notion that being an auror is somewhat glamorous. Griff hates to burst their bubbles but at the same time he's truthful, telling them that the job does have excitement and danger but there's also tedium and boredom at times, particularly when faced with the mounds of parchmentwork that goes with every single case worked.
Nothing Griff says dispells either young man from thinking that being an auror has got to be the most bloody fantastic job there is. Griff does love his job most of the time but it does have its drawbacks, such as that parchmentwork he'd mentioned to them and sometimes spending long hours on a stakeout with no payoff in the end. He wonders what the two students' reactions would be if he were to mention he once was an undercover operative for a black ops organization. He does not, however, broach the spy topic, and the two boys wander off to check out another job they think of as being awesome, that of professional Quidditch player.
Not five minutes later another student brings up the very topic Griff had been thinking about. Seventh year Anita Tuck, perusing the informative set out on careers in law enforcement, casts a sidelong glance at Griff. "It is true you were a student here but really a spy on a mission?"
"Where did you hear that?"
"Someone I know."
"If I were here as on a spy, do you think I'd confirm it?"
"Is that a denial?" she has with a slight smirk.
"Not confirming or denying."
"So you were. Maybe still are. Is it difficult?"
"Being a spy?
Anita nods. "Yes, is it hard? Does it take massive amounts of training?"
"If I had been a spy, I would think that yes, it's a difficult job and a hard life. I should also think that the training is much like for being an auror but more to it."
"Why is it a hard life?"
"Always lying. Be on a mission, encounter people you might genuinely like, could be great friends with but you can't tell them you aren't the you they know. Maybe don't even look like yourself so they wouldn't know you later if they literally ran into you and knocked you over in Diagon Alley. Lying to family, to actual friends. Having to get any love interest vetted."
Griff would go on but Anita holds up a finger to interrupt. "You have to get someone to okay a boyfriend or girlfriend?"
"So I hear. Have to ensure the person is trustworthy and not another spy trying to gain information from you. If you get married, there's the lying about where you are, what you're doing. If the spouse knows or has an idea of the job, still not being able to discuss it, even if going to be gone for weeks or months on a mission."
"Maybe that's why most of the spies in novels are single, dating someone who's usually part of the current mission then moving on in the next novel to another love interest."
"Could be. There are undercover operatives through regular law enforcement. Some of the jobs are short term but some aren't, such as when infiltrating some group to gather information and evidence. That type of work can mean months undercover, even years in some instances. The aurors and hit wizards who do that sort of work are much like spies. It can be lonely and thankless and dangerous."
Anita, law enforcement information pamphlets and brochures in hand, has a contemplative expression. After a moment she smiles. "Thanks for the information."
Griff smiles in return, watching her as she walks to another booth, knowing the information she was thanking him for has nothing to do with being an auror or a hit wizard. In a way, it's too bad he couldn't fill in more of the blanks for her but if Anita is truly interest and curious about being a spy, she'll continue gathering information.