Chapter 1: Homecoming
She stood looking up at the new and improved Burrow, it had been four years since she had been back. During that time her father had received promotion after promotion in the Ministry and now was the Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department. As a result her family had been able to update the Burrow.
Her family had enjoyed other successes in the past four years: Bill also received promotions as a cruse breaker, he and Fleur were living happily in Paris with their two children. Charlie had returned to his dragons after helping round up death eaters for two years in England, rumor had it he has fallen in love with a girl in Romania.
Percy was married to Penelope, they unexpectedly eloped much to the surprise of everyone (Although their are thoughts he did this to avoid teasing and taunting from his brothers). He and Penelope both worked in the Ministry, Percy was part of the Wizengamot court and Penelope worked in the Department of Improper Use of Magic.
George and his wife Angelina were enjoying raising their son Fred and running the joke shop, they have also expanded and set up a store in Hogsmeade and Paris (that Bill checks on). George was never really the same after Fred was killed in the Battle at Hogwarts, he had the same sense of humor and fierce loyalty but he seemed to have aged.
Ron and Hermione were happily married, Ron spent three years as an Auror but was now a scout for the Cannons, his favorite Qudditch team (they were actually winning know, thanks to Ron). Hermione worked at a high level position in the Ministry and loved being a mom to Hugo and Rose, their two children.
Then there was Ginny. Ginny stayed after the Battle at Hogwarts for a few months. She helped with the rebuilding of the school and gave testimony after testimony about the role she played for the last few years, including what happened in the chamber. She had a very difficult time accepting the lost of Fred, the change in George and all the other friends she lost. Mostly she felt she lost Harry.
Before Harry left on his mission with her brother and Hermione he had ended their relationship, saying it was for her own safety. Ginny trying to be strong said she understood but really she was heartbroken. He didn't love her, and it was very clear that nothing would ever start, restart or grow for them. So after the battle ended and she completed her role in the recovery, Ginny left. She traveled to America to continue her studies and enrolled as a graduate student in Charms and Spell Development.
For four years she studied and did not return home to visit. Not visiting wasn't her intention but her heavy school and work schedule made it impossible to go home, even for Christmas. She sent owls, spoke to her family through the fire and got her family to visit her as much as possible. She was even polite and sent Owls to Harry, but he was apparently bust.
After the fall of Voldemort, Harry became a full time Auror and had stayed in the career to help arrest the remaining death eaters. He was a high-ranking Auror and led many missions that were splashed all over the papers as huge successes, he was still their hero. The papers also speculated that their were only two remaining death eaters at large: Avery and Travers. It was rumored that after Harry captured the remaining two he would retire.
Fate is fickle, conveniently the day Ginny returned home, Harry announced the capture of Avery and Travers.
"Ginny!" Molly screamed running down the stairs to embrace her daughter, "Welcome home Ginny dear, I have missed you so much. You are not allowed to leave anymore!"
Ginny smiled, allowing her self to be buried in her mother's warmth and smell, "I've missed you too mum, I promise not to go anywhere anytime soon."
"Come in, come in, I was just finishing dinner, you are far to thin and tired, have you been taking care of yourself.." Molly rambled on, she was thin a bit, too thin for Molly's opinion, we'll fix that she thought as she helped her daughter levitate her belongings into the house.
Ginny walked in to see Ron, Hermione, their children, Percy, Penelope, George, Angelina and their son Fred at the dinner table waiting for her. She smiled as they all cheered for her and yelled welcome home. Hugo, Rose, and Fred screaming "Auntie!" all came running over and tackled her as the grown-ups in the room laughed.
She saw her father walk into the room, pried herself loose, she ran over and hugged him, "I've missed you all so much, it's be ages!"
"Welcome home, Ginny" Arthur said giving her daughter a long hug, "I can't wait to her all about your travels."
"Yes dear we all want to hear about her trip, but she must eat and probably wants a moment to freshen up!" Molly said, coming back into the room.
"Yea, I need a shower," Ginny sighed, even through it only took her 1 day to complete long distance apparation she felt like she was be caught in a dust storm in the middle of July.
Ron snorted, "That would be a first."
Hermione playfully slapped him, "Ignore him, he is just grumpy because Hugo threw-up on his favorite Cannon's shirt."
"He wouldn't have thrown-up if he George didn't leave his puking pastries laying around," Ron shot a death look at George
George grinned widely.
Ginny laughed as she turned to leave the room, noting to grab her wand, something about the look in George's eye said she should check the shower for any tricks.
She made her way up the stairs to her room, her trunks were stacked around the room. Her room still smelled the same, and looked the same. Her Gryffindor tie hung around her bedpost and pictures of her friends scattered the walls. She could hear her family laughing and chattering downstairs as her mom clanked pots and pans in the Kitchen, The Ghoul upstairs banged loudly on the pipe and scuffled across the floor of the attic.
It was good to be home.
She opened up her trunk and pulled out a change of clothes to take with her to the bathroom. As she pulled them out a letter with the Hogwarts seal fell to the floor. Grinning she picked it up and opened the letter:
Dear Ginevra Weasley,
I am pleased to congratulate you on your accomplishments and please that you have accepted our offer to become the new Charms Professor for the upcoming school year.
The school term begins September 2nd, and the first week for faculty to return is August 25th. As a new professor you will be expected be at Hogwarts on August 1st. This will allow you time to establish yourself in the castle or find living arrangements in Hogsmeade. This will also provided you time to plan your curriculum, review were Professor Flitwick has left off and work closely with the staff that remains in the castle during the summer, myself included.
I look forward to seeing you, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me at anytime.
Hope you are well,
Headmistress Minerva McGonagall
Ps. We must also catch up over lunch once you are settled in the castle.
Ginny hadn't told anyone about her decision to teach, she knew they thought she would find a job in the ministry. It was going to be a surprise and she was looking forward to the look on their faces.
But first a shower.