DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. I do however own the imagination that spawned this story about Harry Potter. Jealous much?
A week went by and the Weasley family started to get settled back into a state of normalcy. That is, most of them did. There were just a few little snafus' that still needed to be addressed. George had locked himself up in his room at the burrow and kept his shop closed. Everyone was getting worried about him, especially Harry. He seemed to be the only one that had caught George's slip earlier. For some reason George kept speaking as if Fred was alive. As his friends had once told him in his second year, hearing voices even in the wizarding world was a bad sign.
Charlie had permanently come back to England but he had yet to find employment. As such, he was constantly around which irritated Harry as Bill seemed to have set Charlie like a guard dog to keep an eye on Ginny. Charlie wasn't overtly bad or anything, it was just hard to find ways to get away from him even just to talk or steal a kiss. Harry was getting quite frustrated about this.
Percy was still Percy; he'd stop by to visit every few days after work and then be on his way. Ginny and Ron still hadn't fully forgiven him but they tolerated him for their mother's sake. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were ecstatic, and Arthur always told of his meetings with his son at work over dinner.
Bill reported that Fluer remained a bit ill and that he had insisted she see a doctor. She'd been refusing however, playing it off as nothing serious. Bill almost threatened to stay home from work and drag her there himself, but Mrs. Weasley talked him out of it. "It's just a touch of the flu Bill. She'll be fine. It's good she's staying away from others."
Ron was currently throwing a tantrum. There was no other way to describe it. He was just shy of rolling on the floor kicking and screaming. Hermione had told him she would have to leave for a while and when he'd asked why she'd reminded him about her parents. She had sent them to Australia to keep them safe from Voldemort, and now she needed to go find them and get them back.
Ron was NOT happy that Hermione was leaving. Since the kiss during the battle of Hogwarts, the two of them had grown closer and been nigh inseparable. Now that Hermione was leaving, Ron was almost inconsolable. Harry accidently overheard a bit of one of their conversations that morning. Well, overheard wasn't really the right word; more like been forced to hear.
"Ron, what is your problem!? I am only going to be gone for a week or two at the most!" Hermione said loudly. She was upset that Ron was giving her such a hard time about this.
"Hermione, a week or two in teenage years is like an eternity. And what if something goes wrong? Why can't I come with you!?" Ron replied in kind.
"I told you Ron! This is my responsibility. I have to do this!" Hermione answered.
"You don't have to do it alone though!" Ron retorted.
This same argument had been going on for a few days now and Harry was getting tired of it. Finally he just bust into the room and walked up to the both of them with a determined look on his face. When he got close, Ron and Hermione both turned to him but before either could speak, he did. "Ron, Hermione is quite possibly the smartest which of her age to ever have lived. Do you honestly think she can't handle a simple retrieval mission after all she's been through?"
"Of course she can, but..." Ron started but Harry had already turned to Hermione.
"And SINCE your so blasted smart, why can't you realize that Ron going with you may be beneficial and that you don't have to do it alone?" Harry asked her pointedly.
"Harry, it's not that simple..." Hermione protested.
"Really? Because the way I see it you're both being stubborn. Do you really like to argue THIS much?" Harry asked, using his arms for emphasis. "Hermione, Ron wants to go with you. He wants to help you find your parents and bring them home because he cares. Frankly so do I, but three is a crowd. He may be able to help speed you along in your search and I am sure you know his heart is in the right place." Harry told her. "And Ron, if Hermione says she can do something, she can do it. You know that better than pretty much anyone, so back off! If she wants you to go, she'll tell you. Now if you're going to keep arguing so loud, could you at least do it outside?" Harry demanded of them before throwing his hands in the air, turning about and storming up to Ron's room. He dropped onto his bed with his head in his arms.
Then there was Ginny. Harry didn't quite know how he felt about her, but he did know he'd missed her something fierce and every time he was with her he felt more... It was as if a missing piece of him had been found. He really wanted to talk with her about things, but with everything else going on, it was not likely to happen anytime soon. At least they'd be in school together. That's something right?
"Harry can you come down here please. You have mail!" Mrs. Weasley called up the stairs.
"Sure Mrs. Weasley! Be right down!" Harry shouted. He sluggishly got up from the bed where he'd been thinking for a good hour and a half and trudged down the stairs. As he passed Ginny's room he was tempted to knock, but thought better of it. Charlie was in the house after all. A quick glance at George's closed door told Harry that he still wanted to talk to George as well.
Harry stepped into the kitchen to the delicious smells of Mrs. Weasley's cooking. Harry was sure that if he was ever struck blind, he would still be able to pick out Mrs. Weasley's kitchen and find his way to the table.
"Your letter is on the table dear." Mrs. Weasley told him without looking up. She was stirring a pot while the knives chopped up the vegetables on their own.
Harry wondered why the letter hadn't been delivered straight to his window, but realized he had had the window closed and had heard a pecking sound but had been to immersed in his own thoughts to notice. He picked up the letter and noted with distaste that it was addressed from Draco Malfoy. What could he want?
Before Harry had a chance to open the letter, Ginny walked into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around Harry's midsection. "Hey you." she said with a smile and leaned up to get a kiss.
"Hey you." Harry replied and obliged her after a quick glance over to Mrs. Weasley to make sure she hadn't looked over. Ginny smiled at him.
"So what are we going to do today?" Ginny asked nonchalantly.
"Good question." Harry replied with a smile. "I don't suppose we can sneak away can we?"
Ginny giggled. "I doubt it. Watch." she told him and headed for the kitchen door.
"Don't be gone long Ginny. Lunch will be ready in less than twenty minutes." Mrs. Weasley said again without looking up.
Ginny walked back over to Harry and said, "See what I mean?"
"How does she do that? Radar?" Harry mused out loud.
"What's radar?" Ginny asked curiously.
"It's... never mind. I will explain it some other time. Want to play a quick game of exploding snap?" Harry offered.
"Sure, why not?" Ginny agreed.
--
Meanwhile, outside the burrow and back by the lake...
"Are you sure you want to come with me Ron? This isn't going to be a pleasure trip." Hermione told him.
"Yes I'm sure. I am not going to let you do this on your own Hermione and that's that." Ron replied. Hermione stared into Ron's eyes a moment before throwing herself into his arms and giving him a fierce hug.
"You are a really special guy, you know that?" Hermione asked him once they'd split apart.
Ron blushed a bit. "Good to know. I will file that away for a special occasion." Ron smirked. Hermione swatted his arm playfully. "So, when are we going to retrieve your parents?" Ron asked her.
"Well... I was actually going to go tomorrow morning..." Hermione admitted.
"Whoa!" Ron said, startled. "I didn't think you wanted to go that soon."
"Well of course I do. They are my parents after all. Wouldn't you do the same for your parents?" Hermione asked.
"Of course." Ron said without hesitation. "There is just so much to do. I need to pack..."
"I already packed for you." Hermione told him.
"Wait what?" Ron asked.
"Well, I sort of asked Harry to get some of your things together for me. It's all packed already." Hermione told him. She had been in charge of the luggage for almost a year while they were on the run, so Ron was comfortable with the thought of her packing for him by now.
"Alright, so then how are we going to get there? We can't use broomsticks for that long a flight, and no offense Hermione, but you're not a great flyer." Ron said.
"Thank you for pointing out the obvious Ron." Hermione chided sarcastically. "I have been in touch with Minister Kingsley and he has arranged a series of floo jumps to get us there."
"Floo jumps?" Ron asked.
"Well, yes. The floo network may be magically extensive but it still has limits. We will have to go from country to country until we get to the one we want. He put a lot of effort into this. Most travelling wizards use muggle means or use broomsticks and make short jumps. We are sort of taking a shortcut." Hermione explained.
"Why can't we just floo straight there or see a picture and apparate?" Ron asked.
Hermione sighed. "Because Ron, if you had paid attention during our apparating lessons you would realize that apparating beyond a certain distance in one shot can lead to serious complications. And the floo network is designed for travel to places you haven't been but it's still limited by distance. You can't just floo from here to Japan."
"Oh" Ron said, blushing slightly. "I will take your word for it." He moved in and bent his head down to kiss his girlfriend.
--
At the ministry of magic...
"This council is now in session. Would everybody rise." a functionary announced. The wizengamot rose as Kingsley Shacklebolt and his entourage entered the hall. Kingsley walked over and took his seat on the wizengamot. As temporary minister of magic, he was entitled to a seat in the proceedings. Today was the day he would finally get to go back to being an auror; head auror he believed. He was the next in command after all.
The man heading the wizengamot was Gilbert Brady, head of the department for the control and regulation of magical creatures. He came in last and took his place at the podium.
"Today, we are meeting to discuss some major issues. Due to the extent of the damage to the ministry as well as the pressing need to be on our way for relief efforts, I am going to ask that you bare with me as we move right along. The first order up for discussion is that of the post of minister of magic." There was a bit of muttering going on all of a sudden.
Gilbert raised his hand for silence and continued, "The post of minister has seen some dark times of late. The once capable Cornelius Fudge proved his inability during the rise of you-know-who. He has since seen his end at the hand of the death eaters. His replacement, former head auror Rufus Scrimgeour suffered a similar failing and a similar fate at those same hands." More muttering occurred but was quickly silenced.
"We are in dire need of true leadership and guidance from someone that will honor the post of minister of magic. We need someone capable of leading us through these dark times and restoring the ministry to its former glory. Therefore, I ask you all now to consider whom you would want for this position; someone who will lead us to a brighter future. I open up the floor for nominations."
Gilbert took a look around the room and noted a few hands rose. He took a few names. A nomination for Gilbert himself made him smile. He had hoped to receive a nomination.
Kingsley watched with a straight face. So far, three nominations had been given and not one of them would be worth the broom they rode in on.
"Yes, you have a nominee Mrs. Corlast?" Gilbert asked.
"Yes, I wish to nominate Kingsley Shacklebolt for the position of minister of magic." Mrs. Corlast proposed. Her short bun hair style had come loose in her excitement as she jumped up to name him. Kingsley smiled at the sight but inwardly he was not smiling. He had never wanted more than to keep people safe, and he knew he could do that best as head auror.
Kingsley raised his hand and waited to be called on. Gilbert came to him and Kingsley stood. "I appreciate Mrs. Corlast's faith in me, but I have never wanted to be more than an auror. I am sorry but I do not believe I am a worthy candidate." He took his seat.
"The heck your not!" Mrs. Corlast shouted as she jumped up from her seat. She was getting older and the effect was somewhat comical.
"You have been acting minister of magic for only a short time, and already you have done more than your predecessors. You are an auror and would be head auror which shows you as being quite reliable and capable. You worked closely with Albus Dumbledore and were a member of his secret order which fought at the battle of Hogwarts against you-know-who! What better candidate can there be than you? You are even humble enough not to think yourself worthy and to not seek power for yourself. That's the sort of person I want to see in the minister's chair; someone who will do the job for the job's sake and not his own image!" Mrs. Corlast finished.
"Aye!" another councilman shouted.
"Aye!" another shouted.
Suddenly the majority of the wizengamot was on their feat shouting "Kingsley! Kingsley!" and Gilbert was almost thrown back from the noise. It was obvious that the minority was still seated and Kingsley would have an overwhelming majority vote. Above the crowd Mrs. Corlast shouted, "VOTE!"
--
It was the next day that Ron and Hermione set off to the ministry. Harry accompanied them to see them off and to stop in and see Kingsley. He had received a letter asking him to come as well.
Mrs. Weasley had not been pleased with their plans to travel to Australia when she found out the night before. "You can't possibly travel to Australia by yourselves! It's too dangerous!" she'd protested.
Luckily Arthur had been present and had managed to diffuse the situation before Ron could say something he might regret. "I'm sorry Molly, but I have to disagree with you. Ron and Hermione are both adults and have done more in their short lives than most wizards who live to be two hundred. They are more than capable of such a trip. I am glad Ron is going along as well. It's always better to travel in company."
"But Arthur..." Molly pleaded. Arthur just shook his head.
"I'm sorry Molly but you're looking at things through the eyes of a mother and not from the eyes of a child. Hermione will do anything to save her parents and we have no right to try and stop her. Ron wants to keep Hermione safe and help her. If we were the ones in need, I am sure they would have been half way there already because there would have been no one to stop them." Arthur told her. Mrs. Weasley glanced at them and Hermione and Ron both nodded.
Mrs. Weasley had cried a bit but had relented. Mr. Weasley had wished them luck and taken Mrs. Weasley upstairs for the night.
It was very early when the three of them floo'd into the ministry. It was very quiet as it was too early for most folks to be coming into work. As Harry stumbled out of the fire he saw that Ron had done the same and Hermione was brushing ash off his clothing. Harry did the same for himself. As he cleaned up, he glanced over to the broken statue still sitting in the middle of the atrium. The fighting that had taken place in fifth year had destroyed it, and the additional fighting when the ministry had taken over had demolished it once again.
"Thank you for coming Harry." Harry jumped and turned to see Kingsley Shacklebolt standing behind them.
"Of course. What's up Kingsley?" Harry replied, trying to compose himself. Ron and Hermione stood there quietly. So far as they knew, they were simply starting their journey.
"I wanted to talk to you three for a little bit before we let Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Granger get on with their trip. I promise I won't keep you long." she told them.
Ron looked at Hermione and shrugged. "Of course Kingsley." Hermione told him.
"Follow me please." Kingsley led them to a small room off the main hall. In it was a plain table and three chairs, nothing else. Kingsley took a seat at the head of the table. Harry sat to his right; Ron and Hermione to his left. "I wanted to be the first to let you know before it comes out in the prophet that I have been made minister of magic permanently."
"Congratulations!" Hermione beamed at him.
"Yeah congrats, mate. Couldn't happen to a better bloke." Ron added.
Harry nodded and added his thanks as well. "At least now we know we have a competent minister of magic." he grinned.
Kingsley smiled. "Thanks for your confidence. Honestly it came as quite a surprise to me. I had simply wanted to return to being an auror. Still, destiny did not have that waiting for me I guess."
"Why wouldn't you want to be minister?" Hermione asked curiously. "It seems like quite a great job to me."
"It is, and many folk aspire to it and never get it. It's just that I joined the auror's so as to be able to save lives and catch those who would practice the dark arts. A desk job that deals with the public wasn't what I wanted." Kingsley explained.
Harry had been thinking as Kingsley spoke, "Well, what's to stop you from still doing that?" Harry asked.
Kinglsey glanced his way, "As minister I will be too busy with press releases, various functions and keeping the ministry running to play auror."
"Perhaps; perhaps not." Harry said with a smile. "I think I may have a solution to your problem. It may take a while though."
"Pray tell?" Kingsley beckoned Harry on.
"Well, you need to oversee things right now I'm sure, but you did mention you wanted our help with getting things on the right track. I would guess that Hermione would be the perfect witch for the job. She can handle quite a bit very quickly and she actually enjoys doing that sort of thing." Harry suggested.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "I have to find my parents! And then there's school..."
"So? You'll find your parents and then be back, and I thought you'd love to be an intern at the ministry and work for the minister for a bit. You can see that things are done right this time. When school starts you can still talk via owl post or be on call. This year with McGonagall's permission we can apparate off the grounds." Harry explained.
"Well..." Hermione stalled.
"It would truly be my pleasure to have you here Mrs. Granger. While you're interning you can be my personal assistant if you wish." Kingsley offered.
"I'm truly flattered, Kingsley, really... It's just..."
"Perhaps you'd be happier if I brought Mr. Weasley on as an intern for the department of sports and Mr. Potter on as an intern for the auror department?" Kingsley offered.
"I could really do that?" Ron asked quickly. Harry liked the sound of that as well. Kingsley smiled and nodded.
Hermione smiled. "I guess that changes things a bit. Alright, I am in... On the condition that all three of us be able to help with suggestions and can help supervise the rebuilding attempt." Ron shrugged and Harry nodded.
"Very well. I don't think I would have it any other way." Kingsley smiled. I will send you all a memo in a couple of weeks and give you time for your mission. Thank you."
Kingsley stood and the others followed him back out into the atrium and to one of the fireplaces. "I have set it up for you to be able to make multiple jumps in rapid succession. You'll be going to France from here and you will be guided from there. When you're ready to return home, see the Australian ministry and they will send ahead that you'll be coming. Any questions?" Kingsley asked.
Hermione and Ron shook their heads and said their goodbyes. Harry gave them both a hug and watched as one by one they disappeared into the emerald flames.
--
Author's Note:
Thank you to the two folks who have been kind enough to review me so far. I am enjoying writing this and I hope that more folks enjoy reading it. I hope more reviewers start pouring in...
So far you have seen many things happen that happen in other fanfics I am sure. I am trying to keep things continuous and canon so you will see a lot of that amidst the new stuff that's going to be coming up. Besides, who doesn't want to read about all those cool moments over and over again anyway? They are always a little different after all.
Note that I pointed out the limitations on apparation and the floo network. These limitations are canon. I know some authors have people apparating to Australia or using the floo network to go to Rome or what have you, but it's hardly that simple. Just as with science, magic has its limitations. If we remove those limitations and make literally anything possible, all magical wielders become gods and it messes up the story. If you wish to debate it, I would be happy to debate with you in reviews :-)
If you have any ideas of things to add, things I may have done wrong or just want to say good job or bad job please do so. Reviews keep me writing. Thanks!
