Lay-Down-Harry
By Tom Kristal
Standard Disclaimer: All creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator(s) and are in no way connected with J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. The author of the following FanFiction does not in any way profit from the story and it is written solely for entertainment purposes only. Associated names, characters, places, items, and descriptions used in the following FanFiction are the copyrights and/or trademarks of the rightful owners. Rights to characters and their settings is neither claimed nor implied.
Author Notes: Another short chapter I'm afraid, but I found this part the most crucial aspect of the story (read down to find out!). Not long to go before this story is finished… Sniff… Once again, special consideration and thanks to 'XTimeGirlX' who has taken the time to Beta this story for me. I never realized how bad my grammar was until I had someone look over my work. I'm just that bad. Never mind… Enjoy.
Lay-Down-Harry: Chapter IV
After curtly nodding, Derek sent another appreciative glance at Ginny (much to her annoyance) and left the office.
Once Derek had left the office, allowing the doors to loudly bang behind him, Harry looked back with a shy grin. 'Don't worry about Derek, he's mostly harmless'.
'Mostly?' her eyebrows frowned.
'Well… he is an Auror after all. He couldn't exactly be 'entirely' harmless' he shrugged, 'He wouldn't be doing his job otherwise'.
'Oh really, Mr. Head Auror, Sir?' she laughed, patting him playfully on the chest.
'Temporarily the acting Head Auror' he corrected, abashed at her words.
'Oh please, Harry. From the way Derek acted back there, you practically run this place yourself anyway'.
'Well… in a manner of speaking'.
'Now that you mention it', Ginny said, looking up at the ceiling in a mock pondering position 'if I hadn't known better, you were channelling the spirit of Dumbledore for a second there… or maybe Snape'.
'Now isn't that below the belt?' Harry cried in mock outrage. 'Look, the only reason I'm here in the first place is because there was no-one else. Proudfoot is on vacation and Davidson is looking after his kid with Dragon-pox. I was the only one available with no pressing cases, nothing more'.
'Can-it Harry' she chided, 'you're here because you're good at what you do and everyone knows it'.
'Well it's a thankless job, but fortunately I've got a lot of Karma to burn off', Harry quirked in jest, but he couldn't hide his frown as he looked sadly across from her at his table full of paperwork.
'What is this all about, Harry?'
'It's…' he stammered, frowning slightly, '…it's just so frustrating, Ginny'. Letting it all out, he continued. 'I'm trying my hardest, I really am. And the more I try, the more things like this 'name' pop up. Not that I'm complaining about the job. I love it… mostly. But when it comes down to it, Ginny… I'm in this position because of a name. I'm sick and tired of names, Ginny. It may not seem much, but I've lived my whole life full of names and I know enough to understand what they truly are: a label. And one way or another, labels have dictated to me for my entire life. Whether it's this 'Lay-Down-Harry' persona or the 'Boy-Who-Lived' or the 'Chosen-One', or just plain 'Freak', it's just another way for people to put me apart from others. And because of those labels, I've been praised and vilified for most of my life'.
Harry took a deep breath.
'And now, because of that name, I'm here regardless of the fact that there are five other people who I can think of who are more experienced at this job than I. I have to constantly question myself whether I'm here because of my skills, or my reputation. But what I do know… oh, and I hate paperwork'.
Ginny looked sternly at him for a moment. She could tell that this had been gnawing at Harry for a long time. And it seemed so ridiculous at first consideration. But in a lot of ways, it was also very true. Harry had been marked with both praise and infamy before he could probably talk. Even she for the longest time had been enamoured with the story of the 'Boy-Who-Lived'. Memories of her dad telling her bedtime stories of the brave and noble 'Harry Potter' rose within her, and she felt somewhat ashamed now to know the brutal truth behind the myth. Whereas in certain circles he was a saviour; in reality, he was treated worse than a house elf. Titles had a different meaning to Harry. While others may have held such prestige as a badge of honour, he held it as something to set him apart. And the more names he was called, the more segregated he felt. Moreover, he knew that once an image had been built up, it was almost impossible to break away from it. Being either revered or despised, how could anyone possibly succeed in life if they were constantly scrutinized at every corner? Could an achievement ever be one's own?
And now Harry believed that the cycle had begun all over again… No wonder he had kept this quiet from her. He was annoying that way. Keeping an intent look at his solemn state, she decided to confide in him.
'You're a good man, Harry' she started. 'You're brave and stupid and as stubborn as hell, but I wouldn't want you any other way…'
Leaning closer, she continued, 'Forget the name, Harry. It's a silly joke someone has invented that means absolutely nothing in the long run. Reputation doesn't give respect, you can only earn it. And regardless of what you may think of the people around here, they all respect you. If they didn't, Derek wouldn't have acted like a chastised schoolboy the way he did. And there may be five other people who are more experienced than you, but none of them have your heart'.
Ginny forced Harry to look at her and his eyes widened at the overpowering gaze of affection she was pouring into him. She leaned closer into him on his lap and kissed his forehead, then his cheek, and then tenderly his lips.
'It's not going to be like it was before, Harry' she quivered, 'just in a different way, that's all. And you're more than a name, Harry. You are you and I love you for it'.
Finally, he gave her that crooked smile to show that he was finally done with his brooding for the day. 'Thanks, Gin. That's just what I needed to hear'.
She smiled too and they embraced even closer together, basking in their closeness.
'…You should have told me about this earlier' she said, snuggled into his shoulder.
'I know…' he replied, 'it's just that…'
'You didn't want to bother me?'
'Something like that'.
'Silly boy' she replied, 'what would you ever do without me?'
He didn't reply back.
After several long moments of pressing themselves together, Harry grudgingly broke the silence.
'So... Derek… did he really proposition you?'
Men!
She pushed back on him and hit him on the arm… hard.
'Oww!' he bellowed, rubbing his arm. 'What was that for!?'
'That's for acting like one of my prat brothers and trying to defend my honour after the fact'.
'I still don't understand'.
Ginny decided to hit him again.
'What was that one for!?'
'Do I look like I need protecting?'
Rubbing his apparently sore shoulder, he replied diplomatically, 'Apparently not'.
'And don't forget that, Mr.'
'Yes ma'am…'
'And how come I haven't seen this Derek guy before?' Ginny asked impatiently, snuggling into his neck.
'Derek has been around for quite a few years actually' Harry answered nonchalantly, whist he slowly began to leaf through his paperwork. 'He was one of the only junior Aurors that survived Tom's little coups on the ministry'.
'Really?' Ginny said in surprise, raising her eyebrows in apparent shock.
'Yeah, well… he was immediately discharged from the ministry corps after they found out that he was a Muggle-born; and once they started to distribute that magical theft propaganda, Derek was lucky enough to flee the country with his remaining family until this whole mess cleared through'.
'Was he one of the…?' Ginny asked tentatively, thinking of Harry's previous trouble with Aurors.
'Derek… No. He was one of the only few that were on my side during this whole debacle. I think he appreciated how I dealt with the 'Muggle-born Registration Commission' during mine, Ron and Hermione's little hiatus'.
'So… Derek's OK?'
'Yes, Ginny, he is' he said, placating.
'Well he's still a dick.'
Harry chuckled. 'At times… yes, but beyond the rough…'
'Very rough exterior', Ginny bantered sarcastically 'he's a very nice guy; wonderful with kids and small, furry animals'.
'Gin' Harry reprimanded lightly, raising an eyebrow.
'Oh, alright. I'll lay off him. But if one vulgar word leaves his mouth, he'll need to arrange witness protection from all the Bat-Bogey's coming out of his nose'.
Ginny sighed in remembrance of those dark times. Despite her words, she now grudgingly gave some new found respect to the seemingly dim-witted Auror. It was apparent that there was more to him than met the eye. She knew firsthand how hard it had been during those times. And she herself had been a classified pureblood. But even being a pureblood, the things that happened during that horrendous year alone at Hogwarts still chilled her to the bone. Something she had been severely tempted to never even let Harry know about. And as for Tom's final solution, she shuddered at the thought. From what she had heard from several other surviving victims of the past war, it was a wonder the Wizarding world hadn't collapsed on itself into extinction, yet alone allowed people like Derek to escape. It was just another reason why there were people like Harry still around in the world…
oOoOoOoOo
In her musings, she almost missed Harry discreetly lean back in his chair (with her still on his lap) and stretch his hand over towards to the desk draw. With expertise and slyness worthy of a Weasley, Harry skilfully managed to open the draw, remove something small and put it in his pocket. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that Ginny had been looking at him from the corner of his eye, she would have completely missed it.
Immediately thinking of her little rummage through his draws before he arrived and the discovery she had made, her mind suddenly clicked together in understanding.
The certain item hidden in Harry's top draw; the shifty look in Harry's eye that screamed with anxiety and a little excitement; the way his caresses were a little more tender than usual...
She knew exactly what was going on.
She knew exactly what was in that box. She didn't need to be Hermione to figure that one out.
She would have gasped, if only she knew that it would have given her away. In the depths of her stomach, she began to feel that long forgotten rush of giddiness she once felt when she had chased after Harry on a train platform when she was a child. It was really happening… and to think, she was only here for a courtesy call. As a result, beyond her calm exterior, she was riddled with nervous anticipation and something else more… carnal in nature.
A mischievous thought swarmed through her as desire drove her and patience failed her.
Without a word, she leaped up from Harry's lap and spun around, facing his shocked face. With the force only a woman with extensive Quidditch training could provide, she grabbed Harry by the arm and forcefully pulled him out of the chair.
'Harry… we've gotta get going really soon… before mum blows an artery' she said quickly without a pause while looking at her watch suspiciously.
Still surprisingly struggling with her firm grip, he looked down at his desk sorrowfully. 'Sorry, Gin. I would love to go right now, but like I said before: I've still got some paper work to do and if I don't do it now, there will be murder tomorrow'.
To be fair, Harry looked really bereaved at his confession, but Ginny wasn't having any of that.
'No excuses, Harry... Mr. Harry Potter needs to learn how to delegate' she said, shuffling out of the door, half dragging him along with her.
'But the paperwork..!'
'Delegate, Harry! Delegate!' she huffed, leading him out the doorway.
'Hey, Ginny!' he exclaimed, exasperated yet highly amused. 'I need my coat'.
'Not enough time, I ...' Ginny blushed before quickly correcting herself. 'We need to get going right now, before mum blows a cauldron at another late arrival.'
'But we will be at least an hour early' he whined.
Perfect. She thought.
oOoO (Derek's P.O.V.) OoOo
'Hey, Harry! Where'd you think you're going?' Derek called over to his disgruntled boss, who was being physically dragged along by his gorgeous shorter redhead.
'I'm ahh… taking the afternoon off early apparently…' He looked down apprehensively at the irate redhead tugging at his arm as he continued. 'Can you make sure that the important paperwork on my desk is done for me by morning?'
'Sure thing, boss'.
He could see Harry trying to reply in response, but before he could make a reply, the scary redhead with a lustful and determined look on her face continued to drag him along the far corridor towards the elevators. Rather quickly, the two had made it into the elevator and were gone before he could say 'Quidditch'.
All he could do was stare.
He looked around to see that he apparently wasn't the only one taking notice of the young couple's quick departure. While several had their heads poking out of their cubicle, some had just frozen in mid step, not even being discrete enough to look abashed.
'What are you all looking at …? You heard the man. Show's over…'
As if taken out of a trance, everyone busied themselves back to work and noise buzzed about the room once again. A few others discreetly walked into Harry's office to get the unfinished paperwork from his desk.
All Derek could do was look around in amusement with a huge smile on his face.
'What a guy…'
To be continued…
Author Notes (2): Just remember, FanFiction authors are paid in reviews, not in cash. Although cash would be handy (for writing more stories that is…) Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far.