The Importance of Being Different

A few days later Anne woke up even earlier than usual to get some studying in before her busy day. Irwin was getting here at nine and their first appointment was at quarter past.

It was for this reason that Anne was reading a potions textbook by wandlight at five o’clock in the morning.

Olivia moved in her sleep next to Anne. She needed to get that girl used to sleeping in her own bed again. Anne had been home a week now and Olivia had slept in her bed every night. She needed to break Olivia of the habit before she and Irwin got married otherwise it would be a very awkward situation.

At seven Anne sighed and pulled herself out of bed to go and take a bath and wash her hair. She put a drying spell on her hair as she pulled a silk blue blouse and a grey skirt out from her wardrobe.

She pulled the blouse and skirt on with a pair of nylon tights and then took her purple robe out from the wardrobe and pulled in on over the top. She found her black heels with the strap at the front before waking Olivia up.

“Come on Livi,” said Anne nudging her awake, “we’ve got a big day today.”

“Whats going on?” she muttered.

“We’re going to the Ministry of Magic.”

“Yay!” said Olivia jumping up excitedly.

“I washed your hair last night,” said Anne, “do you want to help pick a nice dress to wear?”

Olivia nodded and rushed over to help pick a dress.

They eventually picked a warm brown pinafore dress with a white shirt to go underneath. The brown went really well with Olivia’s shoulder length mousy brown hair and chocolate coloured eyes.

Anne did her hair in one plait down her back and then brushed Olivia’s into two plaits and tied some ribbons on the end before they both headed down to breakfast.

It was already gone half past eight, and they had to leave for the Ministry in half an hour.

Olivia tucked in eagerly to her bowl of porridge, but Anne just picked at her bowl of blackberries.

“You ok Annie?” asked Harry as Anne picked at her breakfast.

“Yeah im just nervous, haven’t been into the Ministry since Tom and everything.”

“It’s fine,” shrugged Harry. Harry had been in a few times now for Auror training with Ron. The Auror department didn’t seem to care that neither Harry or Ron had an NEWT between them, but they had on the job experience which seemed to be more important.

“You’ll be fine Annie,” assured Harry as he pulled on his robe before fluing to the Ministry.

“Are you excited?” asked Olivia.

“Yeah,” she nodded.

They had several reasons to go into the ministry, they had to file for a marriage license, sort out Olivia’s adoption, and sign up to take their NEWTs in March rather than in May next year with the majority of their year mates, they also both had to have interviews with the prospective head of departments for the jobs they wanted in the Ministry, it was going to be a long day.

“Hey Annie,” said Irwin as he came out of the fire place.

“How is my beautiful auburn locked goddess today,” he asked giving her a long kiss.

“Not eating?” he asked looking at her full bowl of fruit.

“Nervous,” she muttered.

“We’ll go out for dinner after,” he suggested.

Anne nodded and got up from the table.

“And how,” said Irwin picking Olivia up from the table and lifting her high in the air, “is my fairy princess?”

“I’m excited,” beamed Olivia.

“Why?” asked Irwin as he put her down on the ground and kissed on the top of the head.

“Because Uncle Ron has told me all about those paper airplanes they have instead of owls, they sound cool.”

“They are pretty cool,” admitted Irwin.

“Come on fairy princess,” said Irwin picking her up, and heading over to the fireplace, “let’s go for a ride.”

“Ministry of Magic!” called Irwin and he and Olivia span out of the room.

“Here goes,” muttered Anne picking up some flu powder and dropping it in the fireplace calling, “Ministry of Magic!”

“You ok Annie?” said Irwin as she arrived in the Atrium.

“Hmm,” she muttered as she dusted off her robes.

Irwin put Olivia down on the ground and they took one of her hands each as they walked up to the reception desk.

“Good morning how may I help you?” asked the Ministry witch.

“Irwin Scamander, Anne Potter and Olivia Jones,” said Irwin, “I believe we’re expected?”

“My my,” said the welcome witch pulling out a piece of paper, “we are busy today, aren’t we?”

Anne nodded slightly and the witch checked their wands.

“Mr Weasley will be here shortly,” said the witch handing them a schedule.

They had appointments back to back from 9.15 until 1.00, but at least they could sort out everything on one day.

“Hello,” said Mr Weasley as he appeared, “you ready for your day of fun?”

Mr. Weasley was going to be showing them around and escorting them from appointment to appointment today. He had been chosen because he had such a close relationship with Anne.

“Hi Arthur,” chuckled Irwin shaking his hand.

“Hello Mr Weasley,” said Anne as he gave her a hug.

“So this, must be Olivia?”

Olivia hid behind Anne and Irwin’s legs.

“She’s a bit shy,” chuckled Irwin.

“Reminds me of someone,” laughed Mr Weasley looking at Anne, as they started their way towards the lift.

They went straight to their first appointment; both of their first two appointments were in the department for registration, so they were starting there.

They went to the marriage licence appointment first.

“Good morning,” called a bored looking wizard as Anne and Irwin sat down opposite him. Arthur was watching Olivia.

“Mr Scamander and Miss Potter?” he asked in a monotonous voice.

“Yes,” nodded Irwin.

“Birth certificates,” he said holding out his hand.

Anne fished in her bag and pulled out the correct birth certificates.

“You are Irwin John Scamander, born on 5th of April 1980 blood status half-blood, Mother Mary Eliza Scamander, muggle born, Father Landon Theseus Scamander, pure-blood?”

“Yes,” Irwin nodded.

“Sign here,” said the wizard passing him a form as he duplicated Irwin’s birth certificate to put on file.

“You are Anne Lily Potter, born on the 31st of July 1980 blood status half-blood, Mother Lily Jane Potter, muggle born, Father James Florian Potter, pure-blood?”

“Yes.”

“Please sign here,” he said passing her the same form as he duplicated her birth certificate.

“It says here,” he said checking their form, “that you wish to marry on the 5th of April 1998, is this correct?”

“Yes sir,” said Irwin.

“Well, this all seems to be in order,” said the man stamping the form, “you should get the official licence within the next few days.”

“Thank you,” said Anne as they left his desk.

“Well he was cheerful,” mutterd Irwin as they left.

“What Reg?” asked Arthur, “oh yes, he’s always been like that.”

“You ready little lady?” asked Irwin as they held her hand as they headed to the adoption office.

“Yep,” Olivia nodded firmly.

They walked a few offices down until they reached the office for adoption services.

Irwin knocked on the office door.

“Come in!” called a cheery voice.

Irwin walked into the office followed by a very nervous Anne and a very excited Olivia.

“Good morning,” beamed the witch behind the desk who had blonde ringlets.

“Hi,” said Irwin, “I think we’re your ten o’clock?”

“Irwin Scamander and Anne Potter?”

“Yes,” said Irwin as he sat down on the other side of desk, Anne sat down next to Irwin and then Olivia sat next to Anne.

“So you two are interested in adoption?”

“Yes,” nodded Anne holding Olivia’s hand.

“Well adoption is a very long process but we can get most of the paperwork done today hopefully,” nodded the witch.

“The best place to probably start is birth certificates?” she suggested.

Anne reached in her bag and pulled out the three birth certificates.

“This is a muggle birth certificate,” said the witch reading over Olivia’s birth certificate.

“She’s a muggle born,” explained Anne, “but she’s already started showing her powers.”

“Really?” asked the witch with interest, “at such a young age?”

Olivia looked at Anne as if waiting for permission, and Anne nodded at her.

Olivia put out her hand and levitated over a book from the bookshelf on the other side of the room.

“Well she’s definitely not a muggle,” chuckled the witch shaking her head, “so we have no problems there!”

“Her parents are deceased?”

“Yes,” nodded Anne, “car accident.”

“Livi was only one,” said Irwin.

“You wish to adopt Olivia but according to these documents, you two are not married and you don’t even live together.”

“We’re getting married on the 5th of April,” said Irwin, “and we’re going to look into houses before then.”

The witch nodded and checked that problem off of her list.

“Well you’re both quite young,” she muttered looking at the documents again, “only seventeen, are you sure you are both ready to provide a stable environment for a five-year-old? Bringing up a child takes an awful lot of work.”

“We love Livi,” said Anne, “we’d do anything for her.”

“We cant wait to start a family together,” nodded Irwin.

“Well your both of age, so its your choice, and the finances from the looks of your bank statement Miss Potter are more than stable, I don’t see how there could be any problems.”

“So we can adopt Livi?” asked Irwin.

“It will take a few months for the paperwork to be sorted out, we need to get in touch with her muggle orphanage as well, but other than that yes you can.”

“Did you hear that Livi?” asked Irwin leaning across Anne, “we’re going to be a proper family!”

Olivia got up from her chair and gave Irwin a huge hug.

“I love you,” said Olivia as she hugged Irwin.

“I love you too my little fairy princess,” said Irwin as he sat back down with Olivia on his lap.

“There’s just one more question,” said the witch, “last names.”

“What do you mean?” asked Olivia.

“Well at the moment Livi, I’m a Potter, Irwin’s a Scamander and you’re a Jones.”

“On the 5th of April though Anne’s going to be a Scamander, so do you want to be a Scamander like me and Annie or would you like to stay a Jones?”

Olivia seemed to think for a moment.

“Scamander’s a cool name,” she said slowly, “and that way people will know we’re a proper family.”

“Well thought through Livi,” said Anne.

“It is a pretty cool name,” shrugged Irwin.

“So Olivia Scamander it is then,” said the witch writing that down, “it should all be official in time for the wedding.”

“Thank you so much,” said Irwin as he got up and shook her hand.

“That’s quite alright,” said the witch as they left.

“Oh and Miss Potter,” she called.

Anne turned her head around slightly as she tried to leave the office.

“Thank you.”

“What for?” asked Anne.

“For everything, You Know Who, helping the muggleborns just everything.”

“Um that’s alright,” Anne muttered pulling at the end of her plait.

“Come on Annie,” said Irwin putting an arm around her waist and holding Olivia’s hand with his other hand.

“Well,” sighed Irwin as they left the office, “two down three to go.”

“How’d it go?” asked Arthur who had been waiting outside.

Irwin nodded at him.

“So you’ve been approved?”

“Yeah, we’re going to be a proper family,” beamed Anne.

“In four months, I am going to be living with the two most beautiful girls in the world.”

“Do you really think I’m beautiful?” asked Olivia as they headed down to the department for education which was one floor below.

“You are a very beautiful young lady,” said Irwin as he picked her up and gave her a kiss on the head, “almost as beautiful as Annie.”

“Just ignore him Livi,” said Anne as she blushed slightly.

“It’s the truth, you’re both beautiful.”

“Here we are,” said Arthur, “the department of education.”

“Livi,” said Irwin as he put her down gently, “can you stay here with Mr Weasley for me?”

Olivia nodded and they both gave her a hug.

“We’ll be back soon Livi,” said Anne.

Anne and Irwin walked over and knocked on Grizelda Marchbank’s office.

“Come in,” called Professor Marchbanks.

“Good morning Professor,” said Irwin as they went into the office.

Professor Marchbanks was an elderly witch with iron grey hair and was a hundred and twenty-five.

“Good morning Professor Marchbanks,” said Anne beaming as they sat down opposite her desk.

“Firstly, congratulations on defeating You Know Who.”

“Um thank you,” said Anne pulling at the end of her plait.

Why did everyone keep thanking her?

“From what I remember from your OWL results you both got exemplary results, particularly you Anne,” said Professor Marchbanks.

Anne blushed slightly, and Irwin held her hand under the desk.

“The majority of your classmates are taking their NEWTs next year along with the younger year group, but I think you are both more than capable of passing your exams in March.”

“We’ve wasted so much time already,” said Irwin, “what with Voldemort and everything. We just want to get on with our lives.”

“You both want to work in the Ministry correct?”

“Yes Professor,” nodded Anne.

“You will have to both get at least six NEWTs and at least four O’s each.”

Anne nodded, she already knew all that, she was taking eight NEWTs and Irwin was taking seven. Now it was just a problem of putting the work in.

“How many students are taking their exams this year?” asked Anne.

“Apart from you two, about five.”

“When exactly are the exams?” asked Irwin.

“Well, they’re taking place over the course of a fortnight, the 10th through to the 22nd of March.”

She pulled out a schedule which had all the exams written down on them.

It was the same as her OWLs, theory exams in the morning, practical in the afternoon, apart from divination and astronomy, divination had no theory exam and the astronomy exam took place at night.

“If you could both fill in these forms with your date of births, full names and your NEWT subjects, then I think we’re all sorted.”

Anne filled in form and signed her name and the date at the bottom.

“Your exams start in three months from today, you’ve got a lot of work to do, good luck!”

“Thank you Professor Marchbanks,” said Irwin shaking her hand as he gave back the form.

“Good luck Mr Scamander, I believe our new head of Magical Law Enforcement Mr Boot is waiting for you downstairs, I’m sure Arthur can show you the way.”

Anne stared down at her shoes, here we go.

“Good luck Annie,” said Irwin kissing her on the top of the head as he left the office.

“Thanks,” she muttered as she pulled at the end of her plait.

“There’s no need to be quite so nervous Miss Potter,” said Professor Marchbanks smiling kindly.

“I have already seen what you are capable of when I assessed your practical exams two years ago, you are a very talented young witch.”

“Thank you, Professor,” said Anne.

“What I would like to know is why such a talented young witch wants to spend her time sitting behind a desk in an office?”

“Education is the most important part in a young witch or wizards’ life,” Anne said looking up from her shoes.

“You are preaching to the converted Anne,” chuckled Professor Marchbanks, “but why not teaching?”

“I’m not particularly good at being in front of big groups, I might not be best in front of a large class.”

Professor Marchbanks nodded as she wrote this down.

“It’s more than that though, I want to make a difference. The curriculum needs updating, the muggle studies curriculum for example is stuck in the 1960’s. We need to make sure that the curriculum is interesting and stimulating for the students, and the teachers need to be able to be engaging.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well Professor Binns for example,” said Anne, “I’m sure he means very well, but he bores half the students. The class is fascinating, but the students fall asleep in class.”

“We don’t have the highest pass marks for History of Magic, that is true,” nodded Professor Marchbanks.

“I feel like I can make more of a difference from an office than behind a teaching desk.”

“Can I be honest with you Anne?” asked Professor Marchbanks.

Anne nodded slightly.

“The department is desperate for young blood like you. Do you know how young our youngest member of the department is?”

“No Professor.”

“Sixty-seven.”

“What we need is someone who is young and enthusiastic like yourself, you clearly have the enthusiasm and the passion for the job. Lets put it this way, if you get the right grades on these exams in three months, the jobs yours for the taking.”

“Are you serious?” asked Anne slightly shocked.

“Of course,” said Professor Marchbanks, “do you think I’d joke about something like this?”

“Just out of curiosity Anne,” she said “we need a new muggle studies teacher, and as you say the course needs updating. They won’t be starting until September but any ideas?”

Anne thought for a moment, who did she know who was obsessed with Muggles and great with kids?

“How about Mr Weasley?” asked Anne.

“Admittedly he needs to better educate himself about the muggle world, but he has enthusiasm and school’s not even reopening for nine months.”

“I’m surprised I didn’t think of Arthur myself,” said Professor Marchbanks shaking her head, “he’s perfect, I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

“He’s certainly obsessed with muggles,” nodded Anne.

“Now Anne, I suggest you and Irwin go and enjoy an afternoon off, you two are going to have a very long three months.”

“Thank you, Professor,” said Anne as she got up and shook Professor Marchbanks hand

“I hope you do well on the exams, I look forward to working with you.”

“I look forward to working with you too Professor,” said Anne as she left the office.

“So Annie,” said Irwin who was waiting outside the office with Olivia, “how’d it go?”

“The jobs mine if I get the grades,” Anne beamed, “how’d you do?”

“Same,” nodded Irwin, “pass my exams and I start in June.”

“I can’t believe they’re just going to give us the jobs,” said Anne shaking her head.

“Annie, you defeated Voldemort, the Ministry will do anything for you,” he chuckled as they headed out of the Ministry, and Anne and Irwin put away their robes so they were now wearing normal muggle clothes.

“So,” said Irwin with his arm around her waist and holding onto Olivia’s hand as they walked out into the London street, “can I take two beautiful ladies out to lunch?”

“Yay!” exclaimed Olivia.

“What would you like for lunch Livi, we’ve got some celebrating to do.”

This was going to be their first proper outing as a family.

“Pizza!”

“Pizza it is,” said Irwin.

“Can we get ice cream after?”

“Anything for my fairy princess,” beamed Irwin.

They found an muggle Italian restaurant, and they all sat down for lunch.

“So what’s it to be then?” asked Irwin.

“Well I’m getting the lasagne,” said Anne, “and can we get some garlic bread?”

“Course,” said Irwin.

“Can I get a pepperoni?” asked Olivia.

“Of course,” said Anne, “what do you want Irwin?”

“You know what, I think I’m going to get the Four Seasons pizza,” said Irwin, “a bit of everything.”

They all ate huge amounts of food followed by large ice creams.

All the meetings in the morning had been a nightmare, but that afternoon was the happiest that Anne had been in a long time. She spent time with her family, they were adopting Livi, and both her and Irwin had got their dream jobs.