<span style="color: #008000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Martin Girard</span></span></span></span><br/>Jacob was home from school. He attended the Albus Dumbledore university. An advanced institution had been created by the ministry of magic in honor of one of the finest headmasters; albeit wizards to have served at Hogwarts. This gave young aspiring witches and wizards another option, to further their education after finishing their secondary schooling.<br/><br/>Martin's sister, Gwendolyn was traveling abroad in Germany, France and Switzerland. She was working for Garrick Olivander, the famous wand maker. She has taken up  the task of being his apprentice. Currently, she is on a business trip securing woods and cores for wands, Olivander will craft for future witches and wizards.<br/><br/>Meredith, the bespectacled Ravenclaw who studies excessively spends most of her time reading books. Not all of which were written by her father. Aside from meal times, the seventh year student at Hogwarts is rarely seen out of her room. It is said she can consume a 1000 page tome in roughly five hours.<br/><br/>Judith and Caiden, 4th and 2nd year students at the school, were out exploring the moors for insects and other magical creatures near their home in Penrith.<br/><br/>The family lived further from London than Martin's mother, Kaitlyn would like, but  Philip, her husband wanted the family to remain near ancestral lands. He felt connected to the land here. It was his muse; helped with writing. He knew almost all of the muggles in town and felt comfortable with that. Kaitlyn, on the other hand preferred the company of magic folk in and near the Ministry of Magic. She had several hangouts she enjoyed visiting to meet with friends. Philip was right when he told her, she could always use the Floo system to visit. With that fact in place, Kaitlyn remained content so far north.<br/><br/>"What are your plans after school?" Philip Girard asked Martin Girard. This was a question, Philip had asked the 16 year old Ravenclaw on numerous occasions over the past few years to see what the boy was thinking.<br/><br/>"I dunno," Martin did not want to play this game. While some kids knew exactly what they wanted to do when they grew up, Martin had no clue. He would love to be Minister of Magic or maybe head of some department in the ministry, but he had no clue how to get there.<br/><br/>"Have you given it any thought?"<br/><br/>"Yea," Martin picked up a parchment he received from Leandra. He glanced at the words on the sheet hopeing his father would leave him alone.<br/><br/>"So what have you been thinking?"<br/><br/>She was in Diagon Alley today. Visiting relatives. "Dad, could I go to Diagon Alley today?"<br/><br/>"Stop avoiding this conversation. I am concerned about you."<br/><br/>"Well dad, I would love to be Minister of Magic one day."<br/><br/>Philip held back a smirk. It was a challenge, but he seemed to suppress it well. The smile slowly eeking its way across his lips, "would ye now? How exactly are you gonna accomplish that?"<br/><br/>Martin looked at the letter from Leandra again. "That's the problem. I have no idea how one becomes Minister. Where do I start? After school, I mean."<br/><br/>"Do any of your professors have experience in the Ministry? They might be able to give you some advice."<br/><br/>Martin knew who he should speak with. He knew Professor Jordan could help him. But frankly that man disturbed him. "Professor Jordan used to work on the Committee on Experimental Charms. He is very good at charms, but teaches transfigurations."<br/><br/>"Why don't you plan to schedule a meeting with Professor Jordan and speak with him about your future?"<br/><br/>"Dad, the man is a Slytherin. You know how those people are. Besides, he has some beef with Ravenclaws."<br/><br/>"Jordan, you say?" Philip Girard focused on Martin and attempted to remember him. "brown hair, blue eyes, slightly shorter than me?"<br/><br/>"Yes, dad. I figured you may know him."<br/><br/>"He was a year ahead of me in school. He was a dirty Quidditch player, constantly committing fouls. Pulled his wand on Percy Farnsworth during a match. Madame Hooch sidelined him for that one."<br/><br/>"Yea, well. Can I go to Diagon Alley?"<br/><br/>"We're all going tomorrow. You can wait till then and meet up with your friends. Send them an owl to let them know you are coming.<br/><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #008000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Professor Tyresius Jordan</span></span></span></span><br/>"Oh bloody hell, what shall I do with you, Charlie?" Professor Jordan scratched the back of the Irish Wolfhound's head. "Would you like to go for a run?" The dog stood up, wagging its tail. "I will change my clothes and we'll hit the path around Kensington and Hyde Park. Professor Jordan's flat was near Bayswater Rd in Paddington. Kensington Palace and the Royal Albert Hall were a mere hop, skip and a jump from his home. He would often go for a run with Charlie around the Park. One lap is roughly four miles and one time, they made five laps around the park.<br/><br/>Within minutes, Professor Jordan changed into a pair of navy blue Addidas running shorts, running shoes and a yellow London Titans football jersey. Bonnie Prince Charlie followed the Hogwarts professor out-of-doors. They trotted  across the street and found themselves headed west along Bayswater. They turned at Kennsington Palace Gardens and ran across the back of the palace. They couldn't see much with the high hedgerow concealing everything. Shortly after turning east on Kensington Ave, Tyre passed an entrance. The King's Guards manned the portal, dressed smartly in crimson and black. They remained frozen, like statues. Previous, the regiment guarding the palace had been The Queen's Guard, up until the death of the Queen Mother in 2016. But since William was coronated in 2017 after his father Charles abdicated, the regiment had been known as the King's Guard. William's son, George at age 5, was next in line of succession to the throne.<br/><br/>Professor Jordan was always amazed at the level of discipline of the King's Guards. They reminded him of the stone warriors who guarded Hogwarts. He'd never seen them active, but heard they were quite busy during the last wizarding war.<br/><br/>At West Carriage Rd., they turned into Hyde Park and headed for South Carriage Rd and eventually north on Park Lane and back home in Paddington. Tyre would take a shower and prepare for dinner and a concert at the Royal Festive Hall. The London Philharmonic was performing and Professor Jordan was quite interested in seeing them perform. It was always a pleasurable experience.<br/><br/>For dinner, Professor Jordan had invited a friend, Nathalie Woodbridge of Brent Park. She had also been a Slytherin when Tyresius was a student there. They had been friends forever and maintained their friendship. They both knew it would never be anything more than that and both were fine  with their relationship.<br/><br/>Professor Jordan dressed in a dark Armani suit with black bow tie. He hailed a cab to meet Ms. Woodbridge at The Cut near Southwark. They planned to walk to the Royal Festive Hall from the restaurant. At no time during the evening's affair did Professor Jordan think once of Hogwarts or the upcoming school year. It was his summer break and he took full advantage of it.