Chapter 2 – Starting Over

It was an unusual morning at the Burrow. Unusual because it was quiet.

Ron had left with Hermione for Australia, George had decided to go back to the flat he had shared with Fred over the shop in Diagon Alley, Bill had taken Fleur back to Shell Cottage, Charlie was in Romania and Percy had gone with his dad to the Ministry.

This left Ginny as the only one of the Weasley offspring left at home. Her mother was busy clearing up after breakfast so Ginny was left alone, for the time being at least, with Harry.

She sighed and gazed at him, happily staring into his green eyes, while he played with her hair. Harry was sitting on the sofa in the living room, with Ginny lying down, her head in his lap. Harry was twirling her hair round and round his finger, and then letting the curl unravel, before doing it again.

"You're going to make my hair curl doing that you know!" she teased him!

"Well if I do you can always straighten it using one of those straightening charms! You witches have it so easy. Did you know muggle girls have to use hot pieces of metal to iron their hair straight?"

Ginny looked amused at this thought, she grinned but let Harry carry on.

"What shall we do today?" he asked.

"Well I thought that maybe we could just have a lazy day, you know, go for a walk, a fly, or maybe…" she grinned menacingly at him, and turned over so that she could reach him properly. Suddenly she lunged at him, arms reaching for his sides as her fingers found just the right spot to tickle him, he screamed out so loud that Errol fell off his perch.

Looking indignantly at the pair Errol took flight briefly to get back to his perch. Once there he hooted loudly and tucked his head back under his wing.

Harry was, by this point squirming on the floor, hardly able to breathe, with his girlfriend on top of him showing no mercy as she tickled him even more.

"Stop…stop…or…I'm…going…to…pass…out!" he gasped.

Ginny let him up and allowed him to catch his breath. She took a step back and stood shyly looking up at him, feigning innocence as he tried to think of a way to get her back.

"You wouldn't tickle poor defenceless little me would you?" she asked coyly.

"Just you wait missy!" he promised with a look of mischief in his eye. "Right, we going for this walk then or not?" and with that the two of them joined hands and made to walk out of the living room and into the kitchen.

Harry stopped when he realised that he could hear voices in the kitchen. There wasn't supposed to be anyone home except Mrs Weasley and the two of them. He motioned for Ginny to keep quiet, and he stood listening in to the conversation.

"…won't be safe to enter until at least Christmas." Said a voice that sounded familiar.

"But surely Arthur, with the ministry working on it, you will be finished sooner than that?" said Mrs Weasley.

"No Molly, neither Minerva nor myself want the Ministry involved in the repairs, even now we are not sure if the Ministry is safe enough to trust with something as important as this. No it's got to be us. I know there aren't many of us, but we have been looking for trustworthy volunteers."

"The Entrance hall has taken a real pounding and most of the defensive spells securing the castle have gone. It's going to take a while to establish what protection remains. Maybe even muggles can see the place!" added McGonagall.

"Well we know for certain that one still works. I already tried it out with a couple I met just outside Hogsmeade, they looked completely bewildered when I asked if they had seen a castle around. Said something about barren wilderness and wildlife conservation. Then walked off. Quite rude if you ask me!" Mr Weasley sounded quite offended as he finished this statement.

Harry allowed himself a glance into the room and saw Mr and Mrs Weasley standing in the room along with Professor McGonagall.

"The crux of the matter Arthur," started McGonagall, "Is that Hogwarts will not be open as soon as everyone thinks. We just can't do it!"

"What about the children's education though, they can't all be sent to other schools, surely?" asked Mrs Weasley in surprise.

McGonagall sighed. "That's certainly an option, but not one either myself or the board of Governors are happy to consider just yet. We did think of running evening classes and weekend schools for as many students as possible, but that will take an awful amount of setting up, and we are desperate for teachers."

"Well we'll help out," volunteered Mrs Weasley. "In any way we can."

"Thanks Molly," said McGonagall, "Now, the reason for my visit. Arthur told me about the Ministry and Harry. I know he's of-age now but I think we really need to be careful about what he tells them. If they're going to start asking him lots of questions about You-Know-Who, we need to make sure he isn't giving out a list of how-to's to any potential dark wizard wannabe."

"I think I'm a little smarter than that!" Announced Harry storming into the room, Ginny hot on his heels.

"We know that Harry," said Mr Weasley in a pacifying sort of tone, "We just think that maybe a member of the order should be with you to make sure that the Ministry treats you fairly.

"Isn't Kingsley Minister though?" asked Harry.

"Well yes," answered Mr Weasley "But he can't oversee every little thing the ministry does you know, and we just want to be sure. Don't worry I'm sure it will be fine. It's not like you're going to be put on trial after all."

Harry allowed himself a tiny smile; Ginny put her arm around his waist and murmured,

"I'll come with you if you want."

"That would be great, I'd really appreciate that." He replied.

"That's settled then," said Mr Weasley. "The Ministry is expecting you this afternoon then, in my office for an informal chat. I'll come back to pick you up just after lunch."

Harry nodded his agreement and Mr Weasley smiled. He leaned over to his wife to kiss her goodbye before striding towards the fire, picking up some floo powder and stepping into the flames.

McGonagall made her goodbyes and exited in the same way, cheerfully waving goodbye before disappearing.

Harry couldn't help notice that Mrs Weasley still looked worried, and he doubted that it was to do with the ministry.

"Are you ok Mum?" Asked Ginny.

"Yes dear, I'm just a little upset, that's all. Nothing to worry about, I just always thought Hogwarts was indestructible, and now…" Mrs Weasley seemed to choke on the last few words. Harry felt a pang of sympathy for her; after all the castle was the first proper home he had ever known.

"Don't worry Mrs Weasley, I'm sure that Hogwarts will be rebuilt soon enough. It doesn't matter that it won't be finished tomorrow, I'm sure it will be ok."

Mrs Weasley smiled at this. She wiped her eyes then changed her tone. "You know Harry, seeing as how you're probably going to be spending a lot more time here for a while…" she eyed her daughters arm wrapped around him, "…you really should call me Molly!"

Harry grinned and nodded as Ginny tightened her grip around his waist. He brought his arm up and wrapped it around hers, feeling her midriff sent a tingle through his body and he quite liked the feeling.

Mrs Weasley picked up her clock and marched swiftly out of the room before anyone could say another word. Ginny turned to Harry and said

"Well at least we know what we are going to do today then!" Harry chuckled and they walked out the back door and into the garden.

"Fancy a quick walk?" asked Ginny, taking Harry's hand.

Harry just smiled and nodded as Ginny led him through a gap in the trees to find a narrow path leading off towards a beautiful open meadow, with a few trees penning it in.

"This was one of my favourite places when I was little" said Ginny "I wanted to share it with you!"

Harry was astounded by the place. It seemed to catch the sun perfectly, but also provide shady patches amongst the trees if you wanted them. He could see a homemade swing hanging from one of the branches, and Ginny ran to sit on the seat.

"Push me?" she asked him, and Harry gladly gave her a small push in the swing so that she moved about half a metre away from him.

"Harder than that then" she said as he pushed her a second time, this time she rose slightly higher. She leaned back in the seat, allowing her hair to fly with her. Harry thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in his entire life. Ginny tilted her head back as the swing came back towards Harry, and as she neared his face, she kissed him softly.

No sooner had Harry tried to kiss her deeper, than she swung away on the swing, giggling out loud. Harry feigned a look of mock disappointment and looked down at the ground. Ginny laughed even more and gracefully leapt off the swing and turned to face him.

She took a couple of steps forward and put her arms around his waist.

"Aww, you poor little thing." She cooed, "Here this one will last longer," She kissed him again, taking his hands and pulling him back towards the swing. Still kissing she sat him down on the seat, then climbed on top of him, leaving the ground with a gentle push so that the swing slowly started to move. Harry thought that this moment lasted for years. The two of them entwined together, gently swinging in the breeze.

Not a long while later, Ginny heard the voice of her father echoing down the path towards them. The two of them stood up from the swing, and with linked hands walked out of the clearing back up towards the burrow. Harry seemed to tighten his grip as they neared the house.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine." Said Ginny encouragingly. Mr Weasley smiled at the two of them and passed them both a travelling cloak that he had obviously just collected from inside.

"The minister has given us permission to use the staff entrances today, so we don't have to worry about using the visitors entrance. Quicker this way, less public." Mr Weasley said with a hint of concern in his voice.

"Why do we have to worry about being public dad?" asked Ginny.

"Well there are hordes of reporters everywhere, just dying to spot Harry first. Somehow the word got out that the Ministry wants to talk to you, and now so do all of them. Story of the century they're calling it. Don't worry though, the ministry isn't letting anyone inside, just to make sure. Kingsley has managed to persuade the press department to let him speak to you himself too."

Harry looked slightly pale at this and gripped Ginny's hand even tighter. Ginny squeezed his back to show her support as they stepped into the kitchen and up to the fire, taking a pinch of Floo powder as they approached. Mr Weasley went first, followed by Harry then Ginny.

Stepping out the other end, Harry surprisingly kept his footing relatively well, as Ginny appeared and looked for him she looked pleasantly surprised that he didn't seem to have fallen or stumbled out of the fireplace.

"Looks like you're getting the hang of this!" she said smiling at him.

Harry looked pleased with himself and winked, taking her hand and following Mr Weasley across the atrium and towards the golden lifts going up to his office.

There was the usual flutter of paper aeroplanes flying round the lifts and out into the corridors, one such plane followed the three of them down the corridor towards Mr Weasley's office before taking a sharp right turn into a crowded office area and landing smoothly on a harassed looking Percy's desk. At this commotion, Percy looked up and spotted his father, sister and Harry walking along the corridor. He raised his hand in mute greeting as they passed, and Harry smiled in return.

Harry had never seen Mr Weasley's new office before and was surprised by how much bigger and more welcoming it was than his old 'broom cupboard.' The room was still lined by filing cabinets but these ones were not overflowing, there was a huge enchanted window that was showing a bright sunlit blue sky with a few little birds flying around lazily. In the middle of the office was a huge polished oak desk with a number of comfy looking office chairs surrounding it. The desk was still littered with bits of muggle artefacts in various states of being dismantled, obviously his change of job hadn't changed his hobby of taking muggle things apart.

The new Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt was already there, sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk holding a mug of coffee and a messy file full of papers. He stood as they entered and shook Harry by the hand with both of his, real pleasure showing on his face. Harry too showed a look of true liking for this man. As far as Harry was concerned, this was the best man for the Ministers job.

"How are you Harry?" asked Kingsley.

"I'm well thank you Minister." Replied Harry still shaking his hand.

"Please, don't call me Minister, Kingsley will do fine!" said Kingsley in his deep voice.

He motioned for them all to sit down and Mr Weasley walked round the desk to sit in his own chair. Ginny was looking round the office, taking in it's size compared to the old one. There were four of them sitting in it with enough room for at least as many more again.

"Now Harry," started Kingsley opening the file to show a messy pile of hand-written letters and newspaper cuttings, "I'm sure that you are aware of the attention the press are giving you, and since you've been more or less impossible to get hold of by them, they have been hounding me instead, trying to find out where you've been hiding." He handed over a few of the papers for Harry to read.

"But I've not been hiding…" said Harry in response,scanning the article on top, which had the headline 'Potter a recluse? – Where is our Hero Hiding?' Kingsley smiled and held up his hand.

"Yes I know, but we tought it would be best for you if we make sure that the press can't find out where you have been staying. So in effect the Ministry HAS been hiding you!"

"I wondered why it had been so quiet." Commented Ginny. "And why everyone has been coming and going through the fire, and why no one has been able to Apparate or Disapparate. From round the house."

Kingsley Nodded

"Even Ron and Hermione decided to travel by portkey" she added in realisation.

Kingsley smiled in a kind of apology and cleared his throat, clearly nervous of what he was planning to say next.

"The reason I wanted to speak to you Harry was I have a proposition." Kingsley shifted in his chair and looked directly at Harry. "I promise that I will do everything in my power, to keep all this press attention off you if you will agree to grant one interview and one interview only. This interview will be broadcast on the WWN and printed in the Daily Prophet. After this we will speak no more of the events at Hogwarts and you will be left to live the rest of your life out as you wish!"

Harry looked shocked. Whatever he had expected today, he had not expected that. He was not sure if he wanted to talk about the battle, and certainly didn't want to talk about all the people who had died for him. Lupin, Tonks, Fred, even Snape. It was all so hard to deal with and he wasn't sure that he could explain it all that well. He felt nervous too about McGonagall's comments earlier. He didn't want to give anyone ideas, or advertise Voldemort's secrets to any Death Eaters still at large.

Harry felt slightly sick, but knew that unless he did something, the attention would never go away. He would be followed and hounded by the press everywhere he went, come to think of it so would Ginny. How were they supposed to go on a date with the press watching their every move? Harry took a deep breath, let these thoughts swim through his head before he put out his hand and felt for Ginny's. Finding it he gave it a squeeze and spoke;

"I do the interview for the Wizarding Wireless Network, and they print the same one in the Prophet?"

Kingsley Nodded

Harry sat there thinking for a moment longer. Mr Weasley watched him with interest through his horn-rimmed spectacles. Ginny added her other hand to Harry's and stroked the back of his.

"Ok, I'll do it, but one condition…" Harry began, Kingsley raised his eyebrows, "The reporter is anyone, and I mean ANYONE, so long as it isn't Rita Skeeter."

Kingsley laughed out loud, a deep booming laugh and Ginny squeezed Harry's hand as she too smiled. Harry looked at her and she was glad to see, he smiled back, looking somewhat relieved.

"That's settled then." Beamed Kingsley "I'll set up the interview in our Press suite for next week. I'll send you an owl with the details" with that he stood up and made to leave. "Thanks Arthur, I'll see you in Hogsmeade tomorrow morning then, and we can look into that job we discussed."

Mr Weasley nodded and shook hands with the minister.

"I'll send you a memo later on and let you know where we think." Mr Weasley said as he followed him to the door.

"By the way Harry," Kingsley said over his shoulder as he was leaving the office, "There's a job for you here with the Auror department when you've finished your NEWTS. If you want it that is!" and with that he turned away and walked out of the office.

A/N: Well everyone, that's chapter 2. I hope you liked it. At the moment I'm trying to tie up all the loose ends I spotted from DH, and then I can get into some of my really fun ideas. In the next chapter I'm planning on a visit to Diagon Alley, and some sort of a service of remembrance for those who died in the battle.