DISCLAIMER: I hope you got it by now that I dont own anything regarding Harry Potter..

NORMAL

Chapter 2

-

With aching hands and bleeding feet
We dig and heap, lay stone on stone;
We bear the burden and the heat
Of the long day, and wish 'twere done.
Not till the hours of light return
All we have built as we discern.

Matthew Arnold, English poet and cultural critic, Morality (st. 2)

„What do you think? Hermione? Hermione are you even listening? HERMIONE!"

"Huh? Sorry Ginny I didn't get what you were just saying..." Hermione said, finally snapping back to reality as the redhead shouted her name. She pushed some stray curls, that had freed from her bun, behind her ears while looking apprehensively around the common room to see if they had drawn some attention, but as no one seemed to mind them, she made herself once again comfortable in the armchair she sat in and concentrated on the girl in front of her.

"Really! I'd have never guessed after having to shout your name for five minutes to get your attention." Ginny deadpanned clearly annoyed.

"I was just thinking about the essay we have to write for Prof. Flitwick" Hermione tried to excuse herself.

"Right – while staring out of the window with that faraway-look? Cause I'm so gonna believe that!" then a grin spread across her face and she continued "You were thinking about Ron, weren't you?

Hermione immediately wanted to contradict her, but stopped herself. Ginny was practically handing her the perfect excuse on a silver plate – so why not let her believe what she wanted to believe? Therefore she just lowered her gaze and let her silence speak.

Apparently Ginny interpreted it just like she was supposed to and smirked.

"I knew it!" she triumphally exclaimed "But you know, you don't have to act like that, I think about Harry all the time too, that's nothing to be embarrassed about, except if.. Oohhhh! Hermione were you having dirty thoughts about my brother?"

"Ginny!" Hermione cried outraged before she could refrain herself, blushing profoundly "Of course I wasn't!"

Ginny scrutinised her for a while then sighted. "From that reaction I'm taking it that you and Ron still haven't done it... Poor Ron - must be getting quite impatient, but on the other hand he loves you, so he'll be a good boy and wait till the two of you are married."

For the second time that evening she choose to not contradict Ginny. It was easier to let her believe that she wanted to be married before having sex with anybody instead of having to explain why it just didn't feel right with Ron.

So she cleared her throat and changed the subject. "So what were you telling me before?"

"Oh! I think Harry's going to propose soon!" Ginny squealed excitedly, bouncing up and down in her armchair.

"What! Really?" Now that really was a surprise. It was obvious that the two of them would marry someday and have the happily ever after they deserved. But now? For Merlin's sake they were just 17 and 18! Not that it was strange to marry so young in the magical world, but with Harry having grown up with Muggles she thought he'd be more reasonable and wait till he was at least mid twenty before tying his whole life to one girl, even if that girl was Ginny.

"I know, I know! I can barely believe it myself! He has been staring oddly at me for some time and he kept looking at my hands, but I thought nothing of it, why would I? Well, anyway, do you remember how some weeks ago I tried Fleur's ring on? You know the one with the pretty blue stone?"

How could she forget? Ginny had flaunted it into everybody's face, exclaiming that she wanted a ring just like that one for her engagement. Thought, she hadn't thought Harry would take such a childish declaration seriously.

Noticing that Ginny was waiting for some kind of affirmation, that she could in fact remember said ring, she nodded her head and the other girl continued.

"Apparently he wrote Fleur asking her for the specifics of the ring. You know things like size, name of the stone, cut and all that. And why would he do that if he didn't want to purchase a similar one and ask me to become his wife?"

That seemed to be a rhetorical question as Ginny didn't wait for a response, but went on. "Oh! I always wanted a summer wedding! I hope he doesn't wait till graduation to ask me, because then all the planning would have to be done in a month. Mum would get hysterical, with such short notice, but I guess I could just pretend to know nothing and plan ahead..."

"Ginny don't you think you're getting a little bit ahead of yourself? Maybe he bought the ring as a Crimbo present or as a promise ring or something like that." She really hoped that was Harry's intention even if she highly doubted it herself. Still it is better if she doesn't get her hopes up, otherwise she'll be completely crushed if her wish doesn't come true.

"Nonsense!" Ginny dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand and asked instead: "Would you be my maid of honour? I thought it would be nice, you know, you being the maid of honour on my wedding and me being the one at yours. Oh this summer will be great!! With both of our weddings there will so much to celebrate..."

"Excuse me?!" Hermione shrieked "What the hell are you talking about? I'm not going to marry this summer! I'm not going to marry at all in the near future!"

Ginny just looked at her with her big blue eyes wide open. "What do you mean you aren't going to marry this summer? Of course you are! I mean, if Harry's looking for a ring for me, then you can be sure that Ron is looking for one for you. You know how they are, always taking all the big decisions together... Hermione are you alright? You're looking awfully pale."

"I... I'm sorry Ginny, but I don't really feel so good.. I.. I just... I think I just need some fresh air!" and with that she bolted out of the armchair, picked up her coat and scarf and hurried out of the common room and all the way to the entrance hall only slowing down when she finally stepped out of doors.

While all the way up in the Gryffindor tower a red haired girl still stared at the now closed portrait hole and wondered what exactly had just happened.

"Minerva you cant be serious!" he exclaimed. Of all the things he had expected to hear at this meeting, this definitely wasn't one of them.

Minerva just glanced at him, raising both of her eyebrows. "Kingsley, in all the years you have known me – when have I ever been anything but serious?"

"But... But why?" He asked astonished.

"I already told you, I'm getting old and after everything that happened in the last year.." she sighted trying to find the right words, "I just feel so tired. I thought that maybe it would pass, that after the war ended and Hogwarts was rebuild it would just go away, but it hasn't, and I just can't continue like this, it'll only send me to an early grave."

Kingsley exhaled loudly: "I understand, or at least I think I do, but why are you telling me this only now?"

"I promised Albus that I wouldn't abandon the school at its worst, closed and in ruins, that I would help rebuild it and make it open again in all its former glory. The school has been rebuild and opened, today was the first school day and everything went smoothly – I kept my promise, now I'm free to decide how to spend the rest of my life."

Seeing that Kingsley was about to interject something, she held up her hand, silencing him.

"Of course I'm not going to just pack my things and leave you to deal with everything, I'll be staying as long as I'm needed and maybe someday I'll even come back to teach. Honestly, I'm not sure I'll be able to stay away from the children for long."

"I see you put much thought into this.. You're sure there's nothing I can say or do to make you change your mind? We could look for a Transfiguration teacher, maybe things would be easier without that additional burden."

She smiled benevolently at him but shook her head. "By now you should know me good enough, to realise that teaching has never and will never be a burden for me. It is the only thing that is making all the workload I have to deal with at the moment more bearable."

"Well then if there's nothing I can do to keep you here, we'll just have to decide who's going to be your successor... I hope you have someone in mind, because as far as I can see there aren't any suitable candidates."

"Why yes, in fact I already thought of someone, and before you contradict me, I really gave it much thought, I would never be leaving, if I wasn't absolutely sure she's apt for the post."

Now that really piked his interest.. Who is it? And why can't she just come out with the name?

"Minerva please, would you just tell me who she is?" He finally asked her exasperated as her silence became just too long and her hesitant gaze slightly unsettling. Why is she so nervous about this?

"Poppy Pomfrey."

"Madam Pomfrey?" he repeated incredulously. Now he could understand why she had been hesitant.

"Yes."

"Are you serious?"

As Minerva only glared at him, he hurried to say: "But she's a healer! She doesn't know a thing about teaching and teachers and what the duties and responsibilities of a Headmistress are!"

"Kingsley you're forgetting, that, yes, Poppy is a healer, but she has always worked at Hogwarts, she knows all the students and teachers and attended every staff-meeting. Therefore she knows the school. Of course, there is still much that she has to be shown, but if she accepts the post I'd teach her all she has to know and gladly help her out whenever the need would arise."

"You got it all already worked out, haven't you?" He murmured slightly put out.

Why was she even bothering telling him all this like she actually wanted to hear his opinion? It was clear she wasn't asking for his approval – but requesting it. He finally understood why Fudge had always been so ill-tempered and frustrated after returning from Hogwarts - it seemed to have become a tradition that the schools' headmasters only consulted the current Minister of Magic out of obligation and not because they genuinely wanted to hear what they had to say.

Her prolonged silence was answer enough.

"So how you want to do it then?" He asked resigned, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Well, I'll be staying here till the end of this school year and in this time I would show her what her duties and responsibilities - as you put it - would be, that is, of course, only if she accepts."

"What about the hospital wing?"

"We'd have to get a half time help for this year and assume a new healer next year."

He nodded. "That sounds acceptable, though I wish you good luck finding a healer, they've become pretty rare.. Still, even if you really should be able to get a healer, what if Madam Pomfrey doesn't agree?"

"Then I'll be staying here till someone else that is just as adequate and actually agrees is found. I meant what I said before, I won't abandon the school. You really don't have to worry about me ever entrusting the school to someone who isn't fully capable to handling it."

"Very well. Thanks for informing me. If that was all I'll be leaving."

He was about to stand up when she spoke again: "Do you have further engagements today?"

"No, why?"

"I thought, if you haven't already other plans, you could stay here and have dinner with us. You know visit the library or take a walk around the grounds, its such a lovely September afternoon and you really should take some time off. I mean, if I'm tired with my workload I can't even begin to imagine how you must feel. I know you are younger, but you still have to rest sometimes too. And the house elves would be absolutely thrilled to be able to cook for our dear new Minister. So what do you say?"

Kingsley looked out of the window, it really was a wonderful sunny and warm September afternoon. Then he turned again and grinned at Minerva. "I'd say, that is a wonderful idea! Probably the only good one you had all afternoon long."

Her glare only made his grin cockier. "You know I didn't mean it like that."

As that didn't help and she only continued to glare at him he hastily left her office, calling over his shoulder: "Well then I'll be on the grounds if you need me!"

A/N: Please review!