A True Hufflepuff

Chapter 2 - Self-Discovery

"So, Susan," he asked in a would-be casual voice that didn't quite conceal his curiosity, "Did you get your O.W.L. results back?"

Susan's mind desperately fought to deny it. She had been dreading this all summer. Her parents looked at her hopefully and expectantly and Justin had an innocent not-my-fault look on his face that made her want to slap him. Susan didn't want it to be true with her whole heart, but, against her will, she remembered a big barn owl carrying a letter with the Hogwarts crest.

She looked in horror at the envelope sitting on the table four feet from where she stood. She managed an uncomfortable, nervous laugh and in a weak voice said, "I thought it was just the booklist..."

Susan broke the wax seal and pulled out three sheets of thick parchment. The first was the usual reminder that term would start on the first of September, but just beneath that were the results. Susan glanced down and breathed a sigh of relief. Still shaking, she handed the parchment to Mrs. Bones, who read it aloud.

"Charms: Theory-A

Practical-E

Defence Against the Dark Arts: Theory-E

Practical-O

Transfiguration: Theory-E

Practical-E

Potions: Theory-O

Practical-O

Astronomy: Theory-E

Practical-P"

Mr. Bones interrupted his wife. "What happened, Susan?" he asked. "You've always been good at Astronomy. I mean, you got an E on the theory exam!"

Susan looked over at Justin, who was shaking his head. She wasn't exactly sure what to say, but he answered for her.

"I'll bet almost everyone got bad marks in Astronomy. While we were taking the exam, Umbridge and some of the Ministry's Aurors tried to arrest Hagrid, but he fought them. If that wasn't distracting enough, McGonagall, sorry, Professor McGonagall ran out to try to stop them, but Umbridge attacked her. It made it very difficult to concentrate."

"Oh, dear!" Mrs. Bones exclaimed. "How terrifying! Is she alright?"

"I wouldn't expect that sort of behaviour from a Ministry official," Mr. Bones said angrily. "It's people like her that give us a bad name."

"She's fine," Susan assured her, smiling. Her parents were so entertaining sometimes. "I told you that woman was evil."

"Well, I don't think it's fair that you had to suffer for it," Mrs. Bones pouted. Mr. Bones rolled his eyes and took the parchment from his wife, who showed no intention of reading more any time soon.

"Herbology: E

Care of Magic Creatures: O

Arithmancy: A

History of Magic: P

"Ah, well, no one ever gets good marks in History of Magic. I remember sitting in old Binns' class and not being able to stay awake for more than ten minutes. Good job, Susan." But her mind wasn't in the present anymore.

Susan remembered feeling overwhelmed when the career information pamphlets appeared in the Hufflepuff common room. She had never given much thought to what she wanted to do. She simply assumed that she would be working for the Ministry. Everyone else in her family had since its creation about 400 years ago. She set to work at once reading through each and every pamphlet there, but none of the jobs sounded remotely interesting. Treasure was not worth risking her life for, she had discovered that she really disliked magical creatures, and the more she read about it, the less interesting working for the Ministry sounded.

All of her friends knew what they wanted to do. Ernie had convinced himself that he would become Minister of Magic and had been boasting of his future career. Hannah had decided that she, too, would work for the Ministry. Justin had settled on Muggle Relations, as he felt he could help handle disputes between the Muggle and wizarding governments, having lived in both worlds. Susan was beginning to lose hope. Her appointment with Professor Sprout was in two days, and once classes resumed, she would be too busy with schoolwork to give her decision any more thought.

It was on the night before her appointment that Susan caught a glimpse of a pamphlet lying halfway under one of the armchairs by the fire. She had just finished the essay McGonagall had assigned and was trudging her way toward the girls' dormitory, glad to have it out of the way. She was deep in thought and had almost walked right passed it, but a log in the fire popped loudly and startled her back into reality. The crossed bone-and-wand logo seemed very familiar, but it wasn't until she began reading that she recognised it.

Susan had never given any thought to Healing, but as she read, it began to sound like the perfect job. "Are you a compassionate person who likes to help people?" the pamphlet read. Yes, I think so. "Do you have a knack for making people feel better?" Now that she thought about it, she did. When she was eight years old, she had nursed a sick puppy back to health. Mr. Bones had told her that she wouldn't be able to save it, that it was too sick, but she had tried anyway. It had made an amazing recovery and had run off to its home a week later. She had always been able to have that effect, but had never really realized it. "Do you want to make a difference?" More than anything. Susan went to bed with her head buzzing with half-formed thoughts and dreams.

Susan wasn't quite sure what to expect when she entered Professor Sprout's office that Tuesday afternoon. But the Herbology professor tended to put students at ease, especially the students of her House. "So, Susan, what is it that you're interested in?" she asked kindly.

"Well, I...I thought Healing might be interesting," she replied uncertainly. She had been fairly confident that morning, but actually saying it out loud made it reality.

"An excellent career," Professor Sprout nodded. "But you do know that it will require a lot of hard work. You will need no less than five N.E.W.T.s, and you will need an O on your Potions O.W.L. and an E on your Transfiguration O.W.L. to be able to take the N.E.W.T. level classes. I daresay Professors Snape and McGonagall are a bit picky about whom they teach. But you're doing very well in almost everything. I would put some extra work into your Defence Against the Dark Arts and Charms, though."

Susan had smiled inwardly at this. She most certainly had been putting extra work into her Defence Against the Dark Arts, though none of her practice could help with the way that horrible woman taught. She and Justin had even found a book on counter curses and jinxes that they could learn together on the last Hogsmead weekend. After all, why stop learning even though Harry couldn't teach them anymore? She had, however, needed to work on her Charms.

Now, it looked like she would be able to live her dream. She pulled out her booklist for the coming year and, sure enough, she would need Advanced Transfiguration, The Standard Book of Spells Grade 6, and various in-depth books on Defence and Potions.

Susan became aware that everyone was looking at her expectantly. It seemed a long time had passed since she had stopped paying attention to the here-and-now.

"Sorry, what did you say?" she asked, embarrassed. Mrs. Bones sighed loudly and dramatically, as though repeating the question was a difficult task that she was being forced to suffer through.

"I said, what is it that you wanted to do after Hogwarts? You never did tell us." Susan could feel everyone staring at her, waiting for her answer. She had never told anyone, not even her best friends.

"Well," she began hesitantly, "I think I rather fancy...Healing." Her words were greeted with a surprised silence from her family and best friend and blank stares from Mr. and Mrs. Finch-Fletchley. "You see, I really like to help people. A Healer can help loads of people, and it doesn't matter who they are, they're just people who need help. I couldn't find any other job that could do so much good or that is nearly as interesting. It's what I was meant to do!" She had gained momentum as she spoke, and by the time she had finished her speech, her voice was strong and her eyes were alight with excitement.

Justin was grinning at her, but Susan's parents seemed stunned. It was true that she had never shown much interest in any sort of career before, and that they had just assumed that she didn't really care where she worked. In fact, the previous summer, Mr. Bones had talked to Susan's Auntie Amelia about the possibility of his daughter working for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She hadn't minded then, but now the thought of it made her shudder.

Mrs. Bones recovered first. "That's wonderful, dear!" she assured Susan, who had begun to look crestfallen at the lack of support. "I'm sure you'll be a wonderful Healer. Now, I do believe it's time we showed our guests to their room."

"I'll just go...owl to Amelia...let her know....won't be needing...Ministry," Mr. Bones managed to mumble as Susan led Mr. and Mrs. Finch-Fletchley out of the kitchen to the spare bedroom. Her head was buzzing, but not from her O.W.L. results anymore. She turned to go back downstairs, but decided that she didn't want to be near her parents. She decided to go to her room, instead. She liked to sit at the window and watch her Muggle neighbours living lives without magic. It had always amused her and cheered her up.

She closed the door behind her and sat down on the window seat. Across the street, six-year-old Samantha Collins was having a tea party with five-year-old Erin Randal from down the street. The two little girls were serving the imaginary tea to a stuffed monkey and a baby doll and having a wonderful time.

Next door, Steven Abraham was drawing on a pad of paper. He was an amazing artist, and she loved to watch him work. Susan remembered the time two years ago when Steven had professed his undying love to her in a painting. She smiled at the memory. She had been shocked, not because she couldn't see him while she was at Hogwarts, or because he was a Muggle, but because he had never given her any sign of it. Things didn't really work out, but they were still friends.

Susan realised that she hadn't seen any of her Muggle friends all summer. Mrs. Bones had kept her so busy that she had never been able to find the time. Susan had had a very strange childhood for a witch. Her parents had encouraged her to play with the neighbourhood Muggle children since she was old enough to walk. Many wizarding parents did not let their children anywhere near Muggles, but Susan had grown up like one. She had even attended a Muggle school until she had gotten her Hogwarts letter. She had never realised how lucky she was until she arrived and met witches and wizards who had no knowledge at all of the Muggle world. Maybe now that Justin was here she'd be able to spend time with them. It would be nice to combine her two lives. Just then, there was a knock on the door and, as if he had read her mind, Justin walked in.

"Do you want to talk?" he asked quietly. Susan shrugged as if it didn't really matter. She really just wanted to be left alone. "Let's go outside," he suggested.

"Okay," Susan said.

Susan wasn't looking forward to this conversation. She didn't like to let her feelings out; it made her feel foolish. But she realised that Justin was probably the only person she could talk to who wouldn't fret or boast how it wouldn't have bothered them.

Susan found that she couldn't make a sound even when she tried, but Justin didn't seem to have the same problem. He chatted animatedly all the way outside about anything and everything and, upon leaving the kitchen, whistled. "Wow, you'd never know from the front that your garden is so big!"

Susan rolled her eyes and finally found her voice. "My parents are wizards, Justin," she laughed, glad for the distraction. "What Muggles call the 'Laws of Physics' don't always apply to us."

"Oh, yeah!" Justin said. "I keep forgetting that even though I'm not at Hogwarts, I'm still in the wizarding world. Oh, look! You have a lake!" Susan smiled as her friend looked around in wonder, but all too soon, he turned back to her.

"Are you okay?" he asked. "You don't look very good."

"Oh, I'm just fine!" she said in a falsely-cheery voice that sounded a lot like Mrs. Bones'. "I thought that went rather well, don't you?"

"Susan, I haven't seen you so upset since you were Sorted into Hufflepuff. You can't pretend forever that it doesn't bother you," Justin told her.

Susan didn't say anything for a minute. Instead, she pulled a few leaves off a nearby tree branch and started shredding them. She had made a fair sized pile of green confetti before the time she spoke again.

"Why do they care so much?" she demanded suddenly, kicking the confetti so that it was caught by the breeze and danced through the air. "I mean, what's wrong with being a Healer? What's so great about the Ministry? And why does it matter?"

"It's probably because your entire family works at the Ministry. I imagine it's become a bit of a tradition, like being Sorted into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. And you've been breaking traditions ever since you started school," he replied.

"Yeah, I'm sure what they really wanted was a daughter who couldn't manage to be sorted into a respectable House, who can't manage to be the most popular girl in school, and who doesn't have the common sense to work in the Ministry like every other member of her family," Susan said bitterly. Susan could feel the beginnings of a full-blown rant just below the surface, but Justin was able to head her off before she could build up too much steam.

"I'm sure they aren't really as upset as you think they are. They're probably just a bit surprised. I know I was." Susan glared at him mutinously. "I don't think I've never seen you so passionate about anything in your life. I don't really know what I was expecting, but I didn't think it would be something so" - he seemed to struggle to find the word he was looking for - "big. I think it's really great."

Susan couldn't help but smile. Justin always had a way of making her feel better. And it sure explained the goofy grin he had on his face in the kitchen earlier. The sun was sinking, and the air had begun to cool off. Susan shivered slightly.

"Thanks, Justin," she said softly. Then, grinning, she added, "Hey, we should probably get back inside. Let's see if my parents have gotten over themselves yet. Last one there's a bloated billywig!" With that, they both took off toward the house as fast as they could.

But when they entered the kitchen, they stopped cold. There were two people sitting at the table that Susan didn't know, and her Auntie Amelia was talking to Mr. and Mrs. Finch-Fletchley, who were very pale. Mr. Bones looked worried and Mrs. Bones was fluttering around the room nervously, never settling for very long in one spot. Before Susan could ask what was going on, Auntie Amelia called her over.

"Susan, do you think your friend would mind talking to us about what happened the other day?" she asked quickly without so much as a hello. "His parents obviously can't answer the kind of questions we need to ask, but your friend-Justin, is it?" - Susan nodded - "should be able to help."

"I'm sure that would be fine," Susan told her aunt.

"Very good," Auntie Amelia said quickly. "Oh, and I would like to speak to you before I leave, if you can spare a minute." With that, she ushered Justin to a chair at the table and set to work.

After an hour and a half of intense questioning, Auntie Amelia was finally satisfied. She thanked Justin, who had been forced to relive the experience four times in great detail, and called Susan aside. She was expecting to hear her aunt's disappointment in her career choice, and steeled herself for it. However, Auntie Bones was more concerned about other things.

"I think you ought to know, Susan," she began in hushed tones, "that your friend is the seventh Muggle-born to be searched this summer. We've already talked to Dean Thomas, Hermione Granger, Colin and Dennis Creevy, Orla Quirke, and Kevin Whitby." Susan's blood ran cold. She knew many of these students from classes or the DA, and couldn't imagine anything happening to them. "I'm afraid the list will only get longer. We're doing everything we can, but we can't protect everyone all the time; we're stretched very thin. I expect this year will be difficult for everyone."

"But there was nothing about it in the paper!" Susan protested. "If so many families are being searched, why isn't the Daily Prophet having a field day?"

"The Ministry doesn't want the public to panic. No one's been hurt yet, and we hope everything will go smoothly at least until the children return to Hogwarts," Auntie Amelia told her calmly. "I know you think everyone has a right to know, but it's really best this way." Susan nodded reluctantly. Her aunt was right. Printing the story would only cause panic.

"And this doesn't seem to be a case of Muggle abuse, either," Auntie Amelia continued. "No one's been hurt, and nothing's been taken from anyone's home. The Death Eaters are searching for something that they think a Muggle-born student is more likely to have than a pureblood or halfblood student. I wouldn't be surprised if, when they don't find it, they begin searching wizarding houses, as well." Susan's heart skipped a beat. She had always felt safe in her home, with her parents. "Please be careful, Susan. I don't want to worry your father. He's got enough on his mind right now. And, frankly, your mother's a nervous wreck. I need you to keep an eye out for anything strange while you're here." Susan nodded, feeling more than a little overwhelmed.

"Well, I should get back to the office. This report needs to be filed right away. I'll let you know if anything happens." Auntie Bones started to walk away, but turned back, grinning. "Oh, and congratulations on your career choice. It's about time someone in this family got some common sense!"