The next week was spent catching up with friends and other members of the family. Scorpius had to tell the story about the bear at least a dozen times in the week that followed their return. Albus stayed with them almost as much as he stayed at home.
"Have you given much thought to the future?" Albus asked one night. "About what you want to be when you grow up?"
Rose smiled. "I think we are quite grown up. We have been through more than many people that are older than us."
"Yes. But sometimes I don't really feel like a grown-up."
"Speak for yourself. I am married and have my own house." Scorpius said. "Besides, since when did you want to be a grown-up? That sounds boring."
Albus grinned. "Fair point. But have you thought about what you want to do for the rest of your life? If you want to get a job, or just stay at home?"
Scorpius hadn't thought of that. He had always been focused on fixing the present, he had rarely had time for the future.
"I haven't really thought about it." Rose said. "But I suppose I would want to have a job of some sort. Something to do other than just house chores. But I'm not sure I could go and work for my mother."
"There are many Ministry jobs that would not have you in direct contact with her though." Albus replied.
"But we also haven't finished school. I don't know if I can go back to Hogwarts just to get my N.E.W.Ts. Two years ago, it was pretty much all I thought about, but now? Going back to Hogwarts would just feel strange." Rose said.
"What about you Albus? Are you going back to Hogwarts? Or will you find a job somewhere?" Scorpius asked. He suspected his friend had thought long about this, since he brought it up this way.
"I don't know. I mean, what I really want to do is to work in Magical Law Enforcement. But can I stomach working directly under my dad like that? And, as you pointed out, I haven't completed school. Do I want to ask for an exception for that rule? I know that's possible, but it's rarely granted."
"Well, it's not unheard of for it to happen. If that really is what you want Al, you should do it. But do you want to be an Auror? Or just more mundane jobs?" Rose asked.
"Oh, definitely an Auror. I never thought I would say that. When I was younger, I was absolutely certain that whatever I ended up doing, I would not be like my father. But now… I don't know. The things we have done? It felt so right. It was nice. feeling that you made a difference. That you were part of something important."
"I know what you mean. The feeling when I was able to foil the Death Eaters plan and was able to lead my mother and Uncle Harry straight to them? It was one of the best feelings I have ever had. But the days before, the feeling of helplessness at watching the two of you captured and hurt? I want to work so that no one needs to experience that."
"But Aurors are the elite though." Scorpius protested. "They only take the best of the best."
"What, and you don't think we could measure up to them?" Albus asked.
"That's not what I meant. All I meant was that I don't know if I want to aim that high."
"Aim high and the worst thing that happens is that you end up a little lower than planned," Rose said. "I mean, we have all handled things that the real Aurors have not. But I understand if you don't want to join them, Scorpius."
"As much as I would like to think that this is all over now, I realise that it is never really over. And we placed ourselves squarely in the line of fire, without even meaning to. Wouldn't you rather be able to take an active part in fighting back? I am realising now why my father finds that his work is so important. I wonder how many of his deeds as an adult are even known to the public."
"Being an Auror is all well and good, but it is not the only thing we can do." Scorpius objected. "There are many ways to make a difference. Look at Hermione. She never did that training, yet she is now Harry's boss."
"I'm not saying it is the only way, but I cannot think of many other areas I want to make a difference in. But we don't all have to do the same thing." Albus said.
"Scorpius, would you be able to stay back if I complete the training and become an Auror?" Rose asked. "Would you be able to face me going into danger alone?"
"I know better than most that you can take care of yourself, Rose. I will probably never like seeing you go off into danger, but I would accept it. And just because I don't want to be an Auror doesn't mean I don't want to work in Law Enforcement. But I am drawn to more regular work. I would also like to utilise my family's ties to the underground of the magical society. Finding information, searching for people, that sort of thing."
"That sounds like a good idea. Using the bad things that have happened in the past for something good."
They talked more about different options and decided to go and talk to Harry the next day.