Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, everything you recognize belongs to J.K. Rowling. Just having some fun with her delightful ideas!

AN: This is my first fic and I'd love any feedback! This fic is in progress, but I'm several chapters in already. I'll be updating about weekly. Thanks so much for reading!

Changing Scenery

Chapter 1: Boredom

Hermione Granger was bored. She tapped her fingers irritably on her desk. She'd finished all her work - not for the day or the week, but all the work that she had set out to accomplish when she started at the Ministry of Magic. There would always be more work to do, of course, but she had overhauled the department which would do it and there was no real need for her to personally oversee the work anymore. She had been responsible for restructuring and staffing the renamed Department for Magical Creatures. She had finished the work she'd started with S.P.E.W., and she was wise enough now to see the naivety in her initial project. In addition, she'd worked to rewrite the legislation regarding other magical creatures like werewolves and centaurs to make it more inclusive and less demeaning. It was an uphill battle, but her staff, mostly young and Muggle-born, worked hard at it.

With all the work she'd put in to make the Department functional and fair, she had essentially written herself out of a job. There were now plenty of people equally committed to fair treatment of all magical beings and she no longer had to be at the forefront of every campaign, using her influence and name to get people to pay attention. Hermione had already begun, discreetly, to look for a replacement. She hadn't announced her resignation yet because she didn't want to deal with the fallout from various interested parties, not the least Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had stayed on as Minister of Magic after the war.

A knock on her door interrupted her decidedly negative thoughts. "Come in," she called.

A familiar face poked around the door. "Hey there," Harry said, smiling.

Hermione straightened in her chair. "Harry! Come in, sit down! What brings you here?"

Harry strolled in, hands tucked in his pockets. "We had a lunch date, remember?"

Hermione looked at her watch in a panic. "Merlin, I didn't notice the time! I'm so sorry!" She stood and grabbed her cloak off the back of her chair.

Harry laughed. "You never remember. That's why I always come ten minutes early."

Hermione blushed and then shrugged. "You know me too well."

Together they walked out of the Ministry and into Diagon Alley. It was the Ministry lunch hour so most places were busy; they chose a less popular cafe off the main road to sit and eat. After ordering they began chatting.

"How's work?" Harry asked, leaning back in his chair. For all that he was seated comfortably, he had still chosen a table and seat that afforded him a view of the whole restaurant and the door.

Hermione blew a strand of hair out of her face. "I'm thinking of resigning," she admitted.

Harry leaned forward, his eyebrows raised. "Really? What prompted this?"

"I'm bored," she said, going for honesty. "Everything I wanted to do at the Ministry is either done or in the capable hands of my staff. All I do anymore is supervise."

Harry smiled wryly. "I can see why that would be unsatisfying for you."

"Exactly. So I think I'll resign. Felicity McAllan is more than able to take my place, and I think she'd enjoy the challenge of running a department. I'm just not cut out for paperwork."

Harry nodded. He'd met Felicity a few times when dropping by the department to visit Hermione and she'd seemed like a very competent witch. "So what will you do instead?"

Their food came, giving Hermione a moment to think. After they'd each taken a few bites, she responded.

"I'm not entirely sure. Nothing sounds appealing, and it's hard to go job hunting while trying to keep people from realizing that's what I'm doing. I've sent out a couple feelers, but nothing yet." She sighed. "Anyway, what's new with you?"

Harry shrugged. "I just wrapped up a big case, so I'll be doing paperwork for a week. And I hate paperwork almost as much as you do."

Hermione laughed. "I'm sorry for your suffering. At least being an Auror is exciting more often than not."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "You'd be surprised. Honestly, mostly it's just minor things and domestic complaints."

"Sounds like you need a change of job as well."

Harry shrugged. They chatted inconsequentially until they'd both finished eating.

As Harry helped her with her cloak, he sighed. "I'm going to hate myself for this, but you should talk to Malfoy."

Hermione turned, flipping her hair over her collar. "Malfoy?"

"He's looking for a liaison for some of the magical creature communities," he explained.

Hermione quirked a brow. "And you know this how?"

He shrugged, his hands shoved in his pockets. "Aurors hear things."

Hermione looked at him askance. "I'll consider it."

He blew out a breath. "Okay. I'll see you this weekend?"

Hermione nodded. "Of course."

When she got back to her office that afternoon, she looked at the stack of paperwork that had somehow accumulated in her absence and groaned. Shrugging out of her cloak, she resigned herself to another late night.

The next morning she arrived in the office before everyone else, as usual, feeling tired. Tired, more like dead exhausted. She sipped from the cup of coffee she'd bought on her way in as she walked to her office. The paperwork she'd finished the night before had not alleviated her boredom; rather, it had affirmed her decision to resign as soon as possible.

As she went through another batch of forms that needed her signature, the first people started trickling in, most popping by to say hello.

"Morning, boss," Felicity said, poking her head in the open door.

"Felicity! Good morning, come in, I wanted to talk to you about something," Hermione said, indicating the seat in front of the desk.

Felicity dropped neatly into the more comfortable of the two chairs that sat in front of Hermione's desk, knowing from long experience that the other chair had a loose spring that Hermione purposely didn't fix.

Hermione waved a hand to close the door and put up silencing charm.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Felicity looked curious, but not apprehensive.

"How do you like working here?"

"At the Ministry?"

"In the Department."

Felicity looked thoughtful. "I like it here. The work is interesting and fulfilling."

Hermione considered her answer before asking her next question. "Why did you decide to work here?"

Felicity's eyes shuttered. "My cousin is half werewolf. He lives up with the pack in Scotland now, and he's happy there, but back when he was a kid, he wasn't allowed to attend Hogwarts. He got his letter, but at the time he was living in a wizarding town in England and they weren't...receptive to the idea of a half-werewolf among the students."

"How was he educated, then?"

"When the Alpha of the pack in Scotland heard, they offered to take him in. They have a werewolf tutor who teaches the kids living in the pack. His mother, my aunt, couldn't get rid of him fast enough." She grimaced.

Hermione sighed. "I wish I hadn't heard stories like that before."

Felicity nodded. "I visited him every summer growing up, and I still get up there now and then. He's happy, but I didn't like the thought that some prejudiced wizards drove him from his home and very nearly kept him from learning magic." She blew out a breath. "Why do you ask?"

It was a similar story to what Hermione had suspected, and it confirmed her belief that Felicity would make an excellent Department Head. She had the drive and the motivation to want to keep pushing against the obstacles, and the organization to keep the department running.

"I'm thinking of resigning, and I want you to take over for me," Hermione said simply.

"Oh!" Felicity's eyebrows rose. "Why?"

"Because you're competent, organized, driven, and passionate and would make an excellent head of this department," Hermione replied, knowing that she wasn't answering the question Felicity had really asked. "Does the position interest you?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Excellent, then I'll plan on naming you my successor."

"Well, thank you then." Felicity looked a little stunned.

"I'm not stepping down yet, but I will soon. I haven't put in my official resignation, so I would prefer if you would keep this to yourself until I announce it."

Felicity nodded. "I understand."

"Brilliant. Now, how are you coming with the Prouhurst case?"

Felicity shook her head as if to clear before replying. "Good, I should have the paperwork for you by the end of the day."

"Perfect. Well, have a lovely day." Hermione smiled and waved a hand to open the door. Sounds filtered back in from the hallway and office outside.

"You too, and, thank you again." Felicity grinned.

Two days later, Hermione was putting the finishing touches on her resignation - she wasn't planning on handing it in until next week, but she wanted to have it written out - when her door was flung open. A harried-looking Auror she vaguely recognized stood there, panting.

Hermione stood. "What is it?" The last time something like this happened, they'd found an illegal unicorn-breeding facility.

"They didn't say, only said to come fetch you and to make it fast."

Hermione nodded sharply. "Give me two minutes."

The Auror stepped outside, and Hermione hastily packed up her office. The parchments on her desk went into a locked drawer, she grabbed her cloak and purse, and then scrawled a hasty note for Felicity, which she sent winging through the office with a wave of her wand.

"Right, let's go."

The Auror Side-Apparated her to a run-down looking house in the countryside. It looked like it had once been a grand house, but neglect and time had reduced it nearly to ruins. Aurors were swarming around the house, securing a perimeter. Hermione also noted the distinctive white robes of Healers from St. Mungo's on several of the people waiting near the door. Those near the door noted their arrival, and a figure in dark robes rushed forward.

His face soon resolved into the familiar features of Harry, set into hard lines. Hermione privately thought of it as his "game-face."

"Harry, what's going on?" Hermione asked, walking with him back towards the doors.

"We received an owl this morning from a neighbor who claimed that he'd heard strange noises coming from this house. Two Aurors were sent to investigate and when they looked inside, they immediately called for backup." His tone was grim, and Hermione grew worried.

"Harry, what's inside?"

He ran his fingers through his already-disheveled hair. "Come on, I'll show you."

Harry led her inside, two Aurors following them. The inside of the house was as decrepit as the outside, and very little light penetrated the gloom that seemed to hang in the air. He led her up two flights of stairs and down a long corridor. Hermione noted that the banister was shiny, and that they weren't kicking up any dust from the thick carpets as they walked, despite the cobwebs that hung in the corners.

"The place was meant to look abandoned," Harry explained as they walked, "but the kitchen was well-used and there's a bedroom on the first floor that was perfectly clean and clearly lived in."

They stopped near the end of the corridor, between two facing doors. Both looked as if they were opened regularly, because the handles were clean, and no cobwebs had gathered in the corners.

Harry turned to face her. "We called the Healers, but they haven't been allowed up yet. We don't want to move him, and we wanted you to take a look first, to confirm."

Confirm what? But Hermione knew her question would be answered momentarily.

Harry gave her a last look before pushing open the door to the left. Inside was clean, the room filled with light from a window which had clearly been enchanted, because it showed a bright blue sky and it was overcast outside. There was no furniture besides a large bed and a wardrobe. A mirror hung on the wall opposite the bed.

They walked quietly toward the bed, the two Aurors staying in the doorway. Hermione looked down at the figure lying on the bed. A beak took up most of the pale face, the only visible part of the body, which was topped by white-blond hair, two wings were partially extended behind the shoulders, and Hermione was sure that if she could see the hands and feet, both of which were currently under the bedcovers, that they would be clawed. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she knew exactly what lay on the bed.

Hermione nodded at Harry and gestured toward the door. They walked back out into the hallway, and Harry quietly closed the door.

"He's a Veela," she said.

"That's what we thought. Wait, he?" Harry frowned.

"Yes…" Hermione began.

"I thought there were no male Veela," one of the other Aurors interjected.

"They're rare, not non-existent," Hermione said. "I'm assuming you didn't check the human parts?"

"We didn't want to risk disturbing…him. The only thing we've done is release the magical bindings that were on him when we arrived," Harry said. "How do you know he's male?"

Hermione frowned at this news, but answered, "Female Veela only have white wings. Male Veela have wings ranging from silver to black."

"Are males always so bird-like?" Harry asked.

Hermione shook her head. "They look like humans most of the time, just like females. Veela only transform, partially or completely, when stressed."

"So how do we get him to transform back to human? And wake up?"

Hermione frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not sure he's asleep. He could be unconscious from stress or trauma – his mind could be protecting itself – or he could be injured, or he could just be ignoring us."

"And how do we determine that?" one of the other Aurors asked.

"The Healers could run a very simple diagnostic to tell whether he is conscious or not. Any other tests of his health would be more complicated. Veela physiology differs from human physiology. They may only be able to tell if he is injured but not how."

Harry ran a hand through his hair. "Okay. Peters," he said, addressing one of the Aurors, "you go get a Healer."

"What about transformation?"

"Veela transform when they are stressed. A partial transformation can be done consciously or unconsciously. Based on the fact that you found him bound in an abandoned-looking house in the middle of nowhere, I'd say it was an unconscious transformation. A full transformation can only be done with effort and is always intentional," Hermione said, falling easily into what Harry thought of as her "lecture-mode."

Harry rubbed his temple. "So until he wakes up, or stops ignoring us, he won't or can't transform back."

"And you won't be able to figure out who he is," Hermione added, finishing his thought.

"Great," Harry sighed. "So we have an unknown, stressed-out male Veela who has experienced unknown trauma."

Hermione nodded sadly. "That's about right." She glanced around the hallway and saw the other clean door. "What's in there?"

"Just a bathroom. As far as we can tell, the only people living here were the Veela and the man living in the bedroom downstairs," Harry replied.

Hermione growled. "Did you catch him?"

"Yeah. He's been in holding since this morning, but he won't say anything."

The arrival of Peters with a Healer ended the conversation.

"So, who is the patient?" the Healer asked.

"We're not sure," Harry said.

"A better question would be what," Peters muttered quietly.

Harry frowned at him but didn't say anything.

The Healer looked at the door, at Harry, and then at Hermione. "What is the patient?"

It was Hermione who answered. "He's a Veela."

The Healer's eyebrows flew up. "A male Veela?"

Harry nodded. "And he's…unresponsive. We need you to run a basic diagnostic to determine mental awareness and to determine if he's injured in any way."

The Healer frowned. "I can run some diagnostic spells, but I'm not sure how accurate they'll be."

"That's fine. Do what you can," Harry said, opening the door.

The three of them, Harry, Hermione, and the Healer, walked to the bed. The Veela lay there in the same position as before. Only the movement of his chest indicated that he wasn't dead. The Healer pulled out his wand and flicked it. Glowing threads appeared over the Veela, and the Healer considered them. He moved his wand, manipulating the threads. Harry and Hermione waited patiently. Hermione watched the Veela, noting that his eyes didn't even flicker beneath his closed eyelids.

Finally the Healer waved his wand to banish the threads. He turned to them, keeping his voice down as he informed them of the results. "He appears to be in relatively good health. The diagnostic didn't indicate any injuries, and there is no recent spell residue, which suggests that no spells have been cast recently on or by him."

"And will he wake up soon?" Harry asked.

The Healer held up his hands helplessly. "I found nothing which would be keeping him unconscious. He will wake in his own time."

"Could we cast a Renervate?"

The Healer shrugged. "You could, although I'm not certain what effect it would have on a Veela."

"Would it hurt him?" Harry pressed.

The Healer shook his head. "No. You are free to try."

Hermione put her hand on Harry's arm when he raised his wand. "You might want to take him somewhere else before you attempt to wake him. If this environment stressed him enough to cause a transformation – and we don't know why he transformed yet – then it might be wise to move him to a neutral environment before waking him if you want him to transform back."

Harry nodded and gave a quick swish-and-flick with his wand. The figure on the bed rose, the covers falling away. As Hermione had suspected, his fingernails and toenails were claws. He wore a simple pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt, his feet bare. Harry carefully levitated the Veela through the door and out into the hallway. The two Aurors moved out of the way, their faces betraying only mild surprise at seeing a floating body. They've probably seen much stranger things.

Hermione followed as their odd little group walked down the stairs, Harry carefully keeping the Veela level. The Aurors and Healers waiting in the entry hall stared and Hermione knew that they must have made a strange picture.

When they got outside, Harry turned to her. "We'll have to Apparate."

"Where are you taking him?" Hermione asked.

"There's a Ministry safe house not too far from here. It should be a neutral environment, no matter who he turns out to be," Harry said wryly. "I'd like if you came along."

Hermione tilted her head, considering, before she nodded. "I suppose." She knew that Harry would likely need her expertise when the Veela woke up.

"Right, I'll have to Side-Along you and him. Take his arm," Harry ordered. Harry kept him aloft as he took a firm grip on the Veela's left arm.

Hermione took a grip on the Veela's right arm, feeling a strange tingle as she did so. She looked down in surprise, noting a quick flicker of the Veela's eyes beneath his lids.

Her last thought before the pull of Apparition was, Well, I certainly can't resign now.