enchanted | james potter

pov

" I'ma love you even though I'm scared, learnin' to be grateful for myself. "

It had been five months since Keira confided in Bradley. Five months since she found out about Lily's pregnancy. Five months since her and Lily had a proper conversation.

She saw her at Order meetings and they'd say hello, but they never had proper conversations. It wasn't intentional, it's not like Keira was going out of her way to avoid speak to her, they just never found themselves left with each other. They were always speaking to someone else or one would have somewhere to be, meaning they'd have to leave the meetings right after they ended.

Keira didn't know wether this was because of the distance between them or not, but she felt herself healing. She felt herself coming to terms with the strong emotions she held towards Lily and James, they weren't leaving, but she was coming to terms with it.

After telling Bradley more about herself and her past, they'd gotten even closer, after dating for over a year, they'd decided to move in with each other into Keira's apartment. It was spring 1981 and Keira was up for consideration for a promotion, to be head-assistant of the Foreign Affairs office. It was a huge deal and Keira was determined to get the promotion, none of the other applicants had the experience and credentials she did.

"Hey, Keira." Hannah Erling caught up to Keira who was walking down a hallway in the Ministry.

"Hey Hannah, what's up?" She asked smiling, carrying a pile of papers.

"So, I got ahold of the list of other applicants for the promotion," She started, Keira looked at her with widened eyes, "I'm not supposed to tell you, but promise you won't tell anyone else?"

"Promise." Keira replied quickly, both of them stopping in the corridor.

Hannah glanced both ways to check no one was around before speaking, "Okay, so there's three other people; Jim from your office, Audrey in the Auror Department, and Jason, he's an intern."

"An intern? How the hell is an intern applying for assistant head?" Keira asked, confused why he'd even be allowed to apply.

"Well, his full name is Jason Sterling, so I'm assuming he's the Senior Undersecretary's son." Hannah explained.

Keira's face dropped, the Senior Undersecretary was just under the Minister, that meant that Jason Sterling had a huge advantage, his father could easily make some promises to the head of department and get Jason that job, "Fucking nepotism." Keira sighed as Hannah gave her a sympathetic look, "Well, thanks for telling me, Hannah."

"No worries. But, they'd be stupid to not give it to you, you deserve it more than him." She tried to comfort Keira.

Keira gave her a grateful smile, "Thank you. I've got to get back." Hannah nodded before Keira walked off.

Mentally, she was screaming. She knew with the Undersecretary's son in the running, she was less than likely to get the job.

. . .

"I might as well just give up now." Keira said as she diced an onion, Bradley stood at the hob, drizzling oil into a pan.

"Why would you say that?" He asked.

"Because there's no way that old man isn't going to have a say in whether his son gets that job or not." Keira said as she continued chopping, but Bradley had turned to the side to face her.

"You never know, he might not care and this could just be that Jason guy getting cocky because of his surname." Bradley tried to reason.

Keira stopped chopping and turned to look at him as she shook her head, "That's not how the system works - this isn't a fair fight and it never fucking was. Pretty much all those men sitting on their high thrones in the Ministry didn't just make it there because they're good at what they do, they got there because of their daddies before them and them the ones before. There is absolutely no way in hell that promotion board is going to choose an application with good credentials over an important name." She ranted.

Bradley walked over to Keira, putting his hands on her shoulders. As she looked into his eyes, she felt the tension in her shoulders drop, her clenched jaw relax, and her fists fall, "I know the system is fucked, but have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe, you're good enough for the job. I know you think you've already lost it-"

"I have." Keira interrupted.

"But maybe you haven't. Things are changing and people are cracking down on the Ministry, they want people in there who know what they're doing and who can offer the most and best support while this war goes on. Maybe this time they'll focus on the integrity of their government over a pretty name. If they don't, them I'm sure all those reporters will give them hell for it."

Keira pulled him in for a kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck as they moved to her waist.

"I think you love me a bit too much." Keira said as they pulled away.

Brad laughed, "Not nearly enough."

(A/N; a bit of a short one, it's been a busy day full of homework :/)