June 2006 – Eight years after the downfall of Voldemort

Percy looked over at Robards and Dawlish. "Do you have any idea what this is about?"

Robards shook his head. "No idea."

The three men entered the office area for the Minister of Magic. Hestia gave them a look of disgust that Percy found very disquieting before she said, "You may go in."

Kingsley sat impassively behind his desk. "Gentlemen, please sit down."

Once they had been seated, Kingsley looked down at a file on his desk. "A few months ago I authorized an investigation into the disappearance of Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley."

A frisson of fear travelled down Percy's spine at the coldness in the Minister's tone of voice. Robards seemed oblivious to Kingsley's tone of voice. "Why? We investigated it at the time and didn't find anything."

"Interesting that you mention that," Kingsley said. "I have reviewed the previous investigation and find that not much was done. There was every indication that they fled into the Muggle world, yet you chose to assign Williamson. You knew he hated having to deal with Muggles. His attitude is the reason he was forced to take an early retirement."

"Sir, we didn't have a lot of choices at the time," Dawlish broke in.

"Almost any other choice would have been preferable," Kingsley said witheringly. "Williamson didn't do any actual investigating. When we restarted the investigation eight years later, we picked up their trail. If we'd had that information then we might have found them sooner."

"We'd lost many Aurors in the war and many others were tied up in training the new group," Robards protested.

"Yes, the new group that included Harry Potter." Kingsley surveyed the men in front of him. "Gawain, I have received many complaints about your treatment of Harry."

When Robards made to interrupt, Kingsley erupted. "I did not give you permission to speak!

"You repeatedly and methodically denigrated the man responsible for ending the war. You denied him leave and cancelled his days off telling him he needed to make up for the time he spent with me." Glaring at the Head Auror, Kingsley barked, "Did I not specifically tell you that Harry was working with me and it was to be considered part of his training?"

Now pale and sweating slightly, Robards said, "I know he was helping you, but Potter had a habit of getting special attention. We didn't want him to think he could get away with whatever he wanted."

"Potter got special attention?" Kingsley asked in what was clearly a rhetorical question.

Nonetheless, Percy spoke up, "He did, sir! Professor Dumbledore always gave him a lot of leeway. Even Professor McGonagall broke the rules for him, allowing him on the Quidditch team during his first year. Potter repeatedly flaunted the rules and was rewarded for it. We wanted to make sure he understood that would not continue!"

"You were using the power of the Ministry to right schoolboy wrongs?" Kingsley asked incredulously. "If Harry received special attention, he deserved it. In his time at Hogwarts he faced Voldemort numerous times; he rescued your sister from the Chamber of Secrets, evaded a trap set by Ministry employees, and finally defeated Voldemort while on the run from a corrupt Ministry. This is the man who needed to learn his place?!"

Leaning across his desk, Kingsley glared at the trio. "Gawain, why did you allow this travesty to occur?"

"Weasley had some good points," Robards defended his decisions. "I've heard all about his attitude and he was rude and dismissive to both Ministers Fudge and Scrimgeour. I thought he needed to learn a lesson in humility."

"A lesson in humility?! What in the hell are you talking about? Have you ever even talked to him?" Kingsley stood pacing behind his desk. "Harry is one of the most humble people I've ever met. Obviously, he didn't complain to me about your treatment of him; that should have told you something. He never asked for special treatment. He gave away at least half of what he was awarded for defeating Voldemort. He didn't even want the Order of Merlin."

Turning he pinned Robards with a glare. "I understand that even after I gave specific orders that there would be no charges brought for any actions taken in defeating Voldemort, you investigated Harry for the use of Dark magic. Did you think I meant everyone except Harry Potter? Do you really imagine I would allow you to prosecute him?"

"Sir, he did use Unforgivables," Dawlish broke in.

"SO WHAT?!" Kingsley roared. "Many people used Unforgivables during the war. He never used the Killing Curse. Like many others, he did what he needed to do. He didn't go around indiscriminately attacking people.

"Time after time he went above and beyond to do what was expected of him. He did it even when he was being mocked and ridiculed by our Ministry. After he went on the run and managed to defeat the most dangerous Dark Lord in centuries, the three of you decide he's not good enough to be an Auror. If that wasn't ridiculous enough, you wouldn't allow him to take his girlfriend to the ball honouring him."

Percy opened his mouth, but Kingsley cut him off. "I don't want to hear it, Weasley.

"The three of you have made one mistake after another," Kingsley continued. "Robards and Dawlish, I am appalled at the mishandling of the Auror trainees. You have made no attempt to improve your training methods and you haven't kept up with the latest developments in law enforcement. You are both fired. You have until the end of the day to clear out your desks. Gawain, you will bring Proudfoot up to date. He will be acting Head Auror until I can make a full appraisal of the department."

"Kingsley -"

"No, Gawain," Kingsley said. "You have repeatedly made poor decisions as Head Auror. You have a history of rewarding your friends regardless of their abilities. I have been concerned about your performance, but I've let Amos handle it as the head of Magical Law Enforcement. I can't ignore this."

Turning to Percy, he said, "I don't know what to do with you. I gave you an opportunity to redeem yourself after some very poor decisions under my predecessors. I can't have someone so petty and unreliable working for me. You are fired as well."

July 2006 – Eight years after the fall of Voldemort

"How's your investigation going?" Hannah asked Seamus as he sipped his coffee.

"It's frustrating," Seamus said. While he never discussed confidential information, he did sometimes talk about some aspects of his investigations with Hannah and Neville. "If we'd pushed this hard eight years ago we could probably have found them, but starting so many years later it is difficult to find any recent leads."

"You'll find something," Hannah said. "You're quite persistent."

Seamus laughed. "I guess that has to come in handy for something."

"Well, if there is anything Neville and I can do, please let us know. We can help search or whatever."

"Thank you," Seamus said gratefully. "I will let you know."

"Please do, we would really like to help," Hannah reassured him. She reached out and patted his arm. "We don't see enough of you, Seamus. You've been so busy lately."

Another patron called out for Hannah, she nodded at the man and turned back to Seamus. "Just let me or Neville know, we'd be thrilled to help you."

Seamus watched her walk away as he finished his coffee. He never would have imagined when he first started Hogwarts that Neville would be the Gryffindor roommate he'd be the closest to. Dean had been his best mate the first six years at Hogwarts, but then his seventh year came along.

Dean had been forced to go on the run and Seamus found himself in the thick of Dumbledore's Army. While Dean was still one of his closest friends, Neville and the others with whom he'd shared that last year had a bond that was much stronger than friendship. Shame swept through him once again as he realized he'd not fought hard enough to find Ginny once she'd gone missing. Pushing aside the guilt for his past inaction, Seamus headed into the Ministry to see what he could do to rectify the situation.

Entering the Auror Department, Seamus headed into the small office he was sharing with Terry.

Terry looked up as Seamus entered. "Did you hear what happened?"

"What?"

"Robards and Dawlish were fired," Terry said with quiet satisfaction. "Proudfoot is the acting Head Auror."

"Wow," Seamus said. "The Minister really followed through. Proudfoot is good."

Terry nodded. "He's much more up on newer procedures and he doesn't have any hang ups about working with Muggles."

He handed Seamus a note from Proudfoot that stated he was aware of their investigation and to reiterate that anything they needed, all they had to do was ask.

"Excellent," Seamus murmured as he read the note.

"Pitts just sent an owl," Terry said. "He wants to see us."

A short time later they were in Detective Pitts' office. "Come in, gentlemen," Pitts said cheerfully.

"Did you find something?" Seamus asked eagerly.

Pitts nodded as he pulled up a screen shot. It showed Ginny walking down a street with a blond young woman who was pushing a young child in a push chair. The two were talking and laughing as they looked into various shop windows.

"Where and when was this?" Terry asked as he watched the images.

"Ipswich," Pitts replied. "It was taken almost a year ago."

He pulled up several other images – most of them were of Ginny, but there were also some of Harry. Sometimes they were together, other times they appeared to be with friends. "I used Ipswich as a starting point and found images in other towns nearby. They seem to be somewhere in Suffolk. I haven't found any deeds or property ownership, but I am still looking.

"Based on the frequency of their images in certain towns, I think they are most likely near Sudbury, Long Medford, or Lavenham. I'm concentrating on those towns and searching property records – nothing thus far, but I'm still looking."

"So you are fairly certain they are in England?" Seamus asked.

Pitts nodded. "I spotted Mr Potter at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmonds almost three years ago. I'm trying to go through hospital records, but it is slow going and I haven't found anything yet. I've seen them at several nurseries and some DIY shops."

"Mr and Mrs Weasley are very upset with me," Hermione explained to her mother tearfully as they sat out in the Grangers' back garden. "Last night after supper…it was horrid. They feel that Ron and I helped run Ginny and Harry off. Ron is…well, I've never seen him so upset before. I don't think it really occurred to him to try and accept his sister as a friend. Bill really laid into him for him for not being there for her.

"Ron has always had issues with being the youngest boy, but I don't think he ever thought about what his older brothers do for him. Bill and Charlie especially try to look out for the younger ones and Ron told me that it never occurred to him to do the same for Ginny."

"Why not?"

Hermione frowned as she watched a starling making a nest in their large oak tree. "He's always seen her as a tag along who got in his way. The twins used to tease him about playing with a girl, so I think he took that to heart. Now he's feeling he let his sister and his family down."

"I think he might have," Mrs Granger said quietly.

"He didn't mean to," Hermione defended him automatically before sinking back into her chair. "I'm afraid I may have influenced him as well. After the Chamber of Secrets, I never really gave her much of a chance. But, I never intended to them to leave."

Mrs Granger watched her daughter thoughtfully as she reached for her tea. "But you did intend to break them up."

"Yes," Hermione agreed.

"Why?"

"Ginny has always had a crush on the Boy Who Lived, not Harry," Hermione explained as if that explained everything.

"I seem to recall you being rather smitten with him yourself," Mrs Granger observed.

Blushing, Hermione looked down for a moment. "I had a brief crush on him my first year. He just seemed so amazing and heroic and he is, but as I got older I realized that while admired him, he wasn't what I wanted. We ended up with more of a brother/sister relationship."

"So you grew out of your crush, but you don't think Ginny did."

Hermione stared at her mother in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I know Ginny had a huge crush on the Boy Who Lived," Mrs Granger explained. "Molly told me about the bedtime stories and I saw Ginny blushing around Harry when she was younger, but I also saw a change in their relationship."

"What?" Hermione gave her mother a look of total betrayal.

Mrs Granger shrugged. "I'm sorry, dear, but it did change. Ginny was a typical silly schoolgirl when she first started Hogwarts, but I saw a change in her after her first year. I think she was truly affected by what happened."

Glaring at her mother, Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so. She blushed and stuttered around him for years. She's just not the kind of girl Harry needs."

"But it seems as though she's the one he wants," Mrs Granger pointed out gently. "Sweetheart, I know you love Harry like a brother and you wanted to pick out his prospective bride, but he has a mind of his own. I know you thought he fancied another girl, but once he made it clear he didn't, you should have taken him at his word."

She watched her daughter as she teared up. "Why were you so convinced she was using a love potion?"

Wiping her eyes, Hermione said, "It just seemed to make sense. Mrs Weasley had once told us a story about trying a love potion and the twins sold love potions in their shop. Several girls talked about trying to slip Harry a love potion and when he suddenly kissed Ginny in front of the whole house it made sense to me. He didn't talk about her the whole time we were on the run, but once they were back in the same house he was suddenly enamoured of her again."

"I can't imagine he would have found it easy to talk about her if you and Ron were so disapproving," Mrs Granger observed. "Hermione, you have held a grudge against Ginny since your second year. You need to get past that, or get used to not seeing Harry. I understand that Ron and his sister had issues – siblings don't always get along, but I always thought he was afraid Ginny would steal his best friend."

"She did!"

Mrs Granger raised an eyebrow and Hermione blushed. "Why couldn't you share him? Harry didn't have a problem when you and Ron started dating. Why couldn't Harry pick who he wanted to date? You will need to think about your actions and the results. For years you have thought she drugged him and dragged him away, but that is obviously not what happened. Your actions, along with Ron's and Percy's, helped chase him away. He chose to leave and you will have to come to grips with that."

Tears flowed down Hermione's face. "What can I do?"

"I don't know," her mother replied. "Molly told me they are hopeful they may find them. If they do, you have a lot of work to do. You've treated Ginny poorly – it doesn't matter if you don't like her. You didn't get along with Fleur at first either, but you learned to accept each other."

Standing, she patted her daughter on the shoulder. "Think about it, love. You can make this work, but you and Ron will have to change your attitudes."

Hermione stared out over her mother's well-kept garden which was quite a contrast to the Burrow. Could she really have contributed to Harry's decision to leave? She thought back to the end of her second year.

Thirteen-year-old Hermione was one of the first to awaken after being administered the Mandrake Draught. As she woke up, she looked around in alarm.

"Professor, it's a Basilisk! That's what's been Petrifying all of the students."

"Thank you, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall said warmly. "I understand that even whilst you were unconscious you helped your classmates figure out what was happening."

Pleased with the compliment, Hermione was gratified to learn that Harry and Ron had figured out what was happening. Looking across the hospital ward, Hermione was surprised to see not only Ron, but his also sister, Ginny, and his parents. That was odd. Had the Basilisk started going after Purebloods? Why would they be here? Had so much changed in the month she'd been Petrified?

Luckily for Hermione, Ron soon realized she was awake and made a beeline over to her bed. "Hermione! You're awake. Are you okay?"

Hermione nodded. "I'm fine." She looked around and realized that all of the people who had been Petrified were now awake.

"What happened?" Hermione asked as Ron pulled up a chair next to her bed. "Why are your parents here? And your sister?"

Ron rolled his eyes. "Would you believe it's all her fault?"

"What?!" Hermione looked back across the room at the rather shaken family. Ginny was already in her bed with her weeping parents at her side.

"Someone slipped an enchanted diary in her books," Ron explained. His face scrunched up in an effort to remember the whole story; honestly, much of what had been said in Dumbledore's office didn't make a lot of sense. "Apparently the diary was enchanted by You-Know-Who and she's been doing his bidding all year. She killed the roosters and she's the one who wrote the messages on the wall. She let the Basilisk out."

"So you figured out it was a Basilisk?" Hermione asked.

"No, you did that," Ron said a touch proudly. "Harry saw the note in your hand."

"I was coming back to tell you when…" Hermione's voice drifted away.

"I'm sorry," Ron said hoping Hermione wasn't going to get upset; he never knew what to do with upset girls. Ron shook his head angrily. "My stupid sister almost got both you and Harry killed. Harry and I went down there because we thought she was in trouble. I didn't realize she was the one causing it. I wouldn't have made so much of an effort if I'd known it was her fault."

Hermione's eyes were wide as she tried to take in everything. "So you went down to the Chamber of Secrets?"

Ron's eyes lit up at the excitement of a remembered adventure. "Me and Harry, we followed the spiders just like Hagrid told us to." He recounted his and Harry's adventure in the Forbidden Forest with the huge Acromantulas. He may have glossed over Harry's actions in favour of his own, but he was the one telling the story so he was allowed a little literary licence.

"So how did you figure out where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was?"

"That was all thanks to you," Ron said earnestly. "We saw your note about the pipes and Harry finally realized that the girl the Acromantula was talking about was Moaning Myrtle." Blushing slightly, he said, "I'm sure you would have figured it out much earlier, but we were left to our own devices and we aren't as clever as you."

Hermione blushed, pleased with Ron's compliments. "I'm so glad I could help." She looked over to where Madam Pomfrey was giving Ginny some sort of potion. Mr Weasley was fussing over his daughter while Mrs Weasley was watching her daughter with a mixture of concern and horror.

"So what happened in the Chamber of Secrets?" Hermione asked. She was a bit jealous that she had missed that adventure. To see a chamber created by one of the founders of Hogwarts – what an honour…that must have been incredible.

"Lockhart happened," Ron said in disgust. He quickly explained how Lockhart had faked his books and then ended up with his own memory wiped after trying to Obliviate Ron and Harry.

"He was only pretending? He never really did all of those things he wrote about?" Hermione was shocked. Professor Lockhart had seemed like such a larger than life hero. She had been so impressed with his bravery and clever solutions to problems. She'd read all of his books at least twice and hadn't noticed any inconsistencies. It was a bit disheartening. She blushed slightly as she recalled the crush she'd had on the handsome professor.

"No," Ron replied a touch smugly. "He was a fake." He shrugged. "Anyhow, I was stuck outside in the tunnel while Harry went through and got Ginny. It seemed like forever, but he came back with Ginny and they were both covered in blood and Harry had this big sword and the Sorting Hat of all things. They also had a phoenix with them, that's how we got out of the tunnels."

Hermione gasped. "A phoenix? It's a great honour to be acknowledged by a phoenix. It must be Professor Dumbledore's phoenix."

Ron shrugged. "Harry said the phoenix cried on him after the Basilisk bit him."

"The Basilisk bit him?" Hermione asked shocked. "I read that a Basilisk bite was immediately fatal."

Ron recounted Harry's tale as best he could remember it. Hermione listened in amazement her eyes kept going over to Ginny. "Why didn't she say anything?"

"I don't know," Ron said rather disgusted. "I can't believe her. Dad has told us many times not to trust anything that thinks for itself if you don't know where its brains are. She was so stupid…she writes in the stupid diary and then when Harry gets it she steals it back because she was afraid that it would tell him all of her stupid thoughts. She was whining about being lonely and everyone ignoring her." Ron shook his head. "She has roommates; she should have been able to make friends. Harry thinks she was going to tell us this morning, but I don't know about that."

Hermione felt a flare of anger. "So I missed almost a month of school not to mention a month in the hospital wing at the beginning of the term because your sister was lonely and wrote in an enchanted diary?"

Ron nodded. Before he could say anything else, his mother called to him. Smiling at Hermione he headed over to his parents.

Hermione lay there in silence digesting everything she'd heard. She couldn't believe all of this was because Ginny wrote in an enchanted diary. The younger girl should have known better, Ginny had been raised in the wizarding world, and she should have been able to resist its thrall.

Looking over at the smaller girl, Hermione shook her head in disgust. She'd hoped when Ron's sister came to Hogwarts they could be friends, but to her dismay Ginny turned out to be another empty-headed girl with a crush on the Boy Who Lived. Hermione honestly didn't know how Harry put up with it all. He never seemed to get angry with her, not even when she sent that incredibly embarrassing Valentine.

Before Ron and his parents left, they stopped by to see Hermione and make sure she was okay. Mrs Weasley seemed very apologetic while Mr Weasley seemed anxious to defend his daughter. A while later, Harry came in and as Ron had mentioned he was covered in blood. He looked around and to Hermione's displeasure he settled on Ginny and went over to talk to her.

The two talked for quite some time before Madam Pomfrey came and led Harry over to his own bed. Hermione was rather put out that Harry hadn't come over to check on her, but she would be able to talk to him in the morning.

"Hi, Hermione!"

Turning Hermione was happy to see Harry drop into the chair next to her bed.

"Harry! How are you? Ron told me everything that happened. Are you okay? Did you really get bitten by a Basilisk? How on Earth could you survive a Basilisk bite? Was that Professor Dumbledore's phoenix?"

Laughing Harry told her the same story Ron had told her the night before, but with a few more details. He described his encounter with the shadowy figure from the diary. Hermione was a bit sceptical about the whole encounter, but she listened to the story without interrupting.

"So this memory was forcing Ginny to do things?" Hermione asked in disbelief. She shook her head. "I don't understand why Ginny didn't just tell someone what was going on. She should have given the diary to Professor Dumbledore or even one of her brothers."

Harry's eyes widened. "The diary was a very powerful magical object. Somehow Riddle was trying to drain her soul and he was going to kill Ginny and come back to life."

"Harry, you can't bring someone back from the dead," Hermione said a bit condescendingly.

"I don't understand all of it," Harry admitted, "but Voldemort was a very powerful Dark wizard. Professor Dumbledore said that Voldemort studied all kinds of Dark magic and he said that it wasn't Ginny's fault."

"She should have told someone," Hermione objected. While this argument worked on Ron, Harry didn't agree so easily.

"She thought he was a friend of hers at first," Harry explained. "She talked to him and confided things to him. She didn't even realize at first that he was forcing her to do things. By the time she realized what was going on, she couldn't resist. His hold on her was too strong."

Realizing that continuing to argue the point would only anger Harry, Hermione nodded. "So what happened with the Basilisk?"

Harry launched into the story of his fight with the huge beast. Hermione tried to keep an open mind, but honestly a fifty foot Basilisk? She couldn't recall what the beast looked like, but it hadn't been that big, had it? When he held out his arm to show her where he'd been bitten, Hermione couldn't hold back.

"Harry, there's nothing there. Not even a scar. If you'd really been bitten by a huge Basilisk with foot long fangs, you would have a scar."

"I told you," he said patiently. "Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's phoenix, healed me with his tears." Before she could say anything, he asked, "How are you feeling? Are you better? I felt so horrible when Professor McGonagall told us you were Petrified."

Mollified by his concern, she smiled. "I'm fine, thank you. Madam Pomfrey will be releasing all of us this afternoon. Everyone's Head-of-House was in to work out a program to catch everyone up on the work they missed."

"That's good," Harry said. "Poor Colin, he missed most of his first year."

"We will be taking correspondence type courses over the summer. Professor McGonagall explained that they will send us the assigned reading and set any essays for us to work on. For the practical work they will bring us to Hogwarts so we can work on any work that needs a wand or special supervision. In a way I'm sorry I only missed three weeks," Hermione explained enthusiastically. "Can you imagine getting one-on-one instruction from our professors? I can't wait for that part."

Harry thought it sounded awful, but he didn't say that out loud. Instead he said, "That sounds like something you would like."

Madam Pomfrey bustled over to the two of them with a smile. "How are the pair of you doing?"

She had her wand out and was scanning them as they both replied they were fine. She nodded at Harry. "You seem to be fine, Mr Potter. Amazingly enough, the Basilisk venom did not appear to harm you in any way."

"I'm glad Fawkes was there," Harry said fervently.

"Indeed," the matron replied. "Phoenix tears are an extremely potent treatment, especially fresh Phoenix tears. He must have found you worthy to provide tears for you."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked curiously.

The matron transferred her gaze to Hermione. "Phoenixes are extremely intelligent and exceedingly particular as to whom they help. They don't provide tears for everyone who needs them. They somehow judge the person in need and if they find them worthy, they will cry in the wound. Mr Potter here, while he might have a bit of his father's trouble-making ways, also has a pure heart."

Harry ducked his head, blushing at the unexpected praise. He didn't see how what he did was all that special. Anyone who could have helped would have, right?

Chuckling lightly at Harry's modesty, Madam Pomfrey turned to Hermione. "You are free to go, Miss Granger." She handed the girl three vials of potion. "These are nutritional potions. Please take them for the next three days, you were given the nutritional supplement while you were Petrified and it is a good idea to complete the course."

Hermione took the vials. "Of course, Madam Pomfrey."

Hermione recalled something Bill had said the previous evening. He'd asked why she so readily forgave Ron for his actions under the influence of a Horcrux when he'd been seventeen and well aware of what the locket was, but she couldn't forgive Ginny when she'd been eleven years old and completely unaware of the diary's true nature.

She suddenly couldn't stand sitting still. Standing, she shrugged off the light jacket she'd worn and headed over to her mother's flower garden. Rolling up her sleeves, she pulled on her mother's gardening gloves and started pulling weeds. It had been one of her chores when she was younger and she liked to garden when she was trying to figure out a particularly difficult problem.

Looking back, Hermione realized that she'd been jealous that Harry was concerned about Ginny after the Chamber of Secrets. Flushing, she acknowledged that while she'd told her mother that her crush on Harry was only during their first year, that wasn't entirely accurate. She'd had a crush on him for most of their first two years and even once she'd gotten over her crush, she'd rather liked his dependence upon her. He always turned to her when he was in a jam or needed help with his schoolwork. She'd been the most important female in his life for most of their school years.

Sitting back on her heels, Hermione thought back over the years and realized that she had thought that she would always have a say in Harry's life. Was that why she'd reacted so badly to Ginny? With Cho, Harry had no idea what he was doing and he needed her help, but somehow she knew that Harry didn't need her help with Ginny.

She thought back to her tumultuous sixth year. It had been probably her worst year at Hogwarts – even worse than her third year when she'd argued with both boys. In her third year, she hadn't sorted out her feelings for the boys, but in her sixth year Ron had broken her heart.

Pushing those awful memories aside, Hermione recalled her interactions with Ginny. Had she really misjudged the girl? Had Ginny really changed?

For most of her years at Hogwarts Hermione had very little to do with Ginny; after all, the two girls didn't share classes or any interests in common. She did share a room with the younger girl while staying with the Weasleys over the summer, but after rebuffing Ginny's timid overtures of friendship Hermione had managed to basically ignore the girl.

At Mrs Weasley's request Hermione tried to offer Ginny some help with school, but Ginny seemed to feel she had things under control. That Hermione doubted, but she accepted the girl's assertions. The one thing Ginny did seem to look to Hermione for advice on was Ginny's crush on Harry.

Hermione did everything she could to discourage Ginny's crush on Harry. If she played up Harry's crush on Cho a bit or advised Harry to ignore the younger girl she did so with only the deepest concern for Harry. She truly didn't feel that a relationship between the two of them was a good idea. Harry didn't need a girl like Ginny in his life. He needed someone stronger and not so flighty. After everything Ron had shared with her about Ginny, Hermione knew that Ginny was not right for Harry.

Hermione felt very badly that she had let her own problems during her sixth year give Ginny the chance she needed to sneak into Harry's life. The fact that she had allowed her trials and tribulations with Ron to leave Harry open to Ginny's seduction was a difficult thing to swallow. Hermione felt the timing of everything was rather suspicious.

Hermione frowned as she thought back to that autumn. While most of her memories were dominated by her issues with Ron, but she'd been under the impression Harry had a crush on Luna. Looking back now, she realized with a sinking heart that Harry did pay attention to Ginny. Had she totally misread the situation?

After Harry had broken up with Ginny, Hermione thought he'd come to his senses. During the year that they had spent hunting down the Horcruxes, Hermione had done her best to open Harry's eyes to the type of person Ginny was. If she had to exaggerate slightly or intimate that Ginny had done things with other boys she shouldn't have, Hermione thought it was all for the best.

Therefore, Hermione was shocked to discover one week before heading back to Hogwarts for her final year that Harry and Ginny had reconnected and had started dating once again.

"What? When did this happen?"

Ron shrugged rather unhelpfully. "I don't know. Harry doesn't talk to me about her for obvious reasons. I know they play a lot of Quidditch together. She's Quidditch captain for next year and I think he's been helping her with plays and what not." He made a face. "If I hadn't seen them snogging by the broom shed I wouldn't have even known they had a relationship."

Hermione nodded absently, her mind racing. "Do you think it's serious?"

Again Ron shrugged. "I don't really know. I don't think he's really serious about her. He's starting Auror training in a few weeks. He's only actually taken her out once."

He looked over at his girlfriend speculatively. "You don't like the two of them together, do you?"

A bit surprised at his insight, Hermione found herself at a loss for words. After a moment, she shook her head. "No I don't."

"You don't fancy him yourself, do you?" Ron asked nervously.

"No, of course not," Hermione reassured him. "Harry is like my brother. I just think…Ginny is a bit too flaky and too much of a fan girl. I know she's your sister, but I don't think she's strong enough to be what Harry needs."

Ron considered this and nodded. "She's always had a crush on Harry Potter. When we were little she would read his story over and over and pretend she was getting married to him. Harry hates when people want to be his friend just for his name and this is my own sister doing it. It's so embarrassing. I don't want her following us around and I don't want her embarrassing him."

"I agree completely," Hermione said, pleased that her boyfriend was able to see the damage his sister could cause.

"I've tried to get him to see her as an annoying little sister, but obviously that isn't working," Ron said in a rather disgusted tone of voice. "I don't understand how he could find her attractive."

"Hopefully with him in London and her in Scotland, they will find other people," Hermione said.

Hermione knew that Ron didn't like Ginny, but she never really stopped to analyse why. When she was younger, she'd just accepted that Ginny wasn't a nice person, but now she wondered – had she misjudged the girl? Was she jealous that Ginny had waltzed in and taken up most of Harry's attention while she had been there for Harry for years and felt she deserved unfettered access to him?

"Everything looks wonderful!" Tilda said as she replenished the torn up bread for the ducks. "The children love feeding the ducks."

Ginny laughed. "There is also a group near the goat pen. I'm really glad we did this. Harry is having a great time giving tours of the gardens."

The hidden garden tour was going very well. Ella and two of her friends were helping Ginny and Tilda watch the children that were feeding the ducks and admiring all of the other animals. While Harry had taken the precaution of casting a spell on the lake so no child would drown, they would rather not rely on that.

"Mrs Evans, this is lovely!" Mrs Painter gushed. "I've heard many positive comments about your gardens and the children seem to love the animals."

"Thank you," Ginny said proudly. "Harry and I have been working hard to make sure everything looks good for the tour."

Mrs Painter nodded.

Ginny held out a package of wrapped shortbread. "Would you like some shortbread? Jamie helped me make it in all sorts of animal shapes. We have all of the animals on our property including the lions."

The older woman laughed. "Of course, you wouldn't want to forget the magical lions."

"Magical lions?" Ginny asked a touch nervously.

"Yes," Tilda broke in. "Jamie was telling my parents that the lions are magical and they guard the house."

All three women laughed, Ginny a bit less heartily than the others.

"He wants to name them now," Ginny explained with a smile. "He hasn't quite decided on the names yet. His current favourites are Nala and Simba."

Tilda smiled. "I always liked that film."

"Jamie saw it at a friend's house and he loved it," Ginny said.

"As much as I'd love to stay, I must check in on the other gardens," Mrs Painter said. "We are hosting an evening tea at the teashop if you are interested. Many of the home owners come and talk about the event. It's really our way of thanking everyone for their hard work."

"Thank you," Ginny replied. "If the children cooperate, we would love to come."

Seamus, Neville, and Hannah walked down High Street in Lavenham. They'd visited Sudbury and spent the previous Saturday exploring Kentwell Hall. The owners at Kentwell Hall recognized the picture of Harry and Ginny and identified them as Jenny and Harry Evans. They thought the Evans had purchased an older home and were restoring it, but couldn't recall where.

On Wednesday, the owner of Kentwell Hall called to say she remembered that the Evans had purchased a home in Lavenham. Seamus had arranged for Neville and Hannah to join him in Lavenham. Upon arriving in town, they'd discovered Lavenham was hosting a hidden garden event. Thinking it might be a good way to find the Potters, they joined the tour. When Seamus inquired, they discovered that the Evans had restored the Lavenham Priory.

"This is it," Hannah said pointing ahead. Looking at the brochure they'd been given when they started the tour, she read, "Lavenham Priory is a Grade I half-timbered house dating from the thirteenth century. It was originally built by Benedictine monks and spent some time as a hotel. The current owners have spent the past five years restoring the home."

"It's well kept up," Neville commented as they approached the gates which were guarded by two marble lions. "The lions are a nice touch. The landscaping is amazing; I can't wait to see the gardens."

As the three entered the garden, they were greeted by a teen who handed them a small flyer with an abbreviated history of the priory and a map. "Welcome to Lavenham Priory. You can follow the path; if you have any questions the owners are both here to answer questions."

"This is breath-taking," Hannah said after a few minutes of walking. "If Harry and Ginny really restored this place, they do great work."

"I wonder if they had some sort of guide in planting the garden beds," Neville commented. "They have a lot of healing herbs – many that are used in potions, actually. That was very common in older kitchen gardens."

They could hear a man's voice answering questions up ahead. "I think that's Harry," Seamus commented, suddenly much more alert. He scanned the groups around the garden. "I think Ginny is over by the pond. I can't see her very clearly, but I see the hair."

"I think you're right," Hannah said.

Seamus turned his attention back to the group in front of him. He couldn't see Harry as he was in the middle of the group. With a wave of laughter, the group cleared off. Neville and Seamus stepped up in front of Hannah.

As he turned to face them, Harry's jaw dropped. "Neville?! Seamus?!"

Harry's face went from shocked to resigned. Looking around to make sure none of his neighbours were around, he asked, "Are you here to arrest me?"

"What?!" Neville and Hannah were shocked at the question. Seamus hastened to reassure him. "No, mate. We have been looking for you, but you aren't in any trouble."

"That would be a first," Harry replied. He gestured for them to follow him to the gazebo. Discretely he motioned for Ginny to join them.

"What about Percy and Robards?" Harry asked. "They were searching for a reason to arrest me and my so-called friends weren't doing me any favours."

"They've been fired," Seamus explained. "Kingsley was furious when he found out they'd continued to investigate you after he told them you weren't to be punished for anything you did in hunting for Voldemort."

"A little late," came a voice from behind them.

The three turned to find Ginny watching them. Like her husband, she looked resigned and anxious. She moved into the gazebo. "It wasn't just them," Ginny said bitterly.

"Ginny, we know about Hermione's accusations. We also know they aren't true," Seamus said earnestly.

"Does she?"

"She does now," Seamus replied.

"Who's looking for us?" Harry asked as Ginny walked around her friends and joined her husband. Harry slid his arm around her shoulders as she slid hers around his waist.

"Kingsley reopened the investigation at your father's request," Seamus explained to Ginny.

"My dad – my parents are okay, aren't they?" Ginny asked anxiously.

"Yes," Seamus replied quickly. "I think he just wanted to know what happened to you."

"You actually spoke to them?" Arthur asked excitedly as soon as Seamus entered the Minister's office.

Glancing at the Minister who nodded at him to answer, Seamus said, "Yes, we spoke to them. They weren't exactly excited to be found. I think Harry is still waiting to hear what is expected of him."

"Damn," Kingsley said softly. "I never wanted to use him. I hope he knows that."

"Do they know you are here?" Arthur asked.

Seamus nodded. "Neville and Hannah stayed there. Ginny asked that we only let the Minister and you know – at least right now."

"It's probably for the best that my wife is spending the day with Percy's daughters," Arthur said ruefully. "I don't want to get her hopes up if things don't go well."

Looking straight at Seamus, Arthur asked, "Are they very angry?"

Shifting uneasily, Seamus said, "I think resigned is a better word. They were sure they were being hunted and they don't quite trust that nothing is wanted of them. Especially Harry." Turning to the Minister, Seamus said, "I think he wants to hear from you that no charges will be brought against either of them."

"Let's go," Kingsley said.

It took the three of them almost twenty minutes to arrive at the Potters' house as they'd had to Apparate to the edge of the village. With the number of visitors in the village, they didn't want to Apparate any closer.

"This is a lovely house," Arthur said as they neared the Potter home.

"Harry and Ginny have been restoring it," Seamus explained. "We heard about them at some of the other homes. Many people were very sceptical, but they've done a lot of work. Ginny said the event should be over by the time we returned so we will be able to talk."

"Dad!"

Ginny rushed out from the gazebo as soon as they entered the garden. With tears streaming down her face, she threw herself at her father. He was likewise overcome with emotion.

"Ginny-girl," he whispered as he folded her in his arms.

After several long minutes, she pulled back. "You're okay, right? You and Mum have both fully recovered?"

"We've both recovered," Arthur reassured her. Kissing her on the cheek he said, I am so sorry, love."

She smiled happily. "You didn't do anything, Dad."

"I wish I'd realized how badly they were treating you," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Once Kingsley spotted Harry, he hurried over to the gazebo. "Harry!"

"Kingsley," Harry returned nervously as he shook the Minister's hand.

"Harry, I am so sorry about everything that has happened," Kingsley said sincerely. "I didn't realize what Robards was doing."

Harry looked at him as if trying to assess his sincerity. "I probably should have said something."

Arthur and Ginny joined them and after a flurry of greeting, Neville and Hannah took their leave while the others gathered in the Potter's sitting room. Ginny brought in a tea tray and some of the shortbread biscuits she'd made earlier. Once everyone was settled, Kingsley asked Harry, "Can you tell me what happened?"

Reaching for his wife's hand, Harry looked at the other three. "It wasn't really one thing. I really enjoyed Auror training and I thought that's what I wanted to do, but…Robards hated me. It was like Snape all over again. He criticised and mocked me daily. I could have put up with that, but then he started cancelling my weekends off telling me that I'd spent too much time helping you."

"He was awful to Harry," Ginny said her eyes flashing.

"I can't apologize enough," Kingsley said. "I had no idea Robards would act like that. I knew he wasn't thrilled with the new crop of Auror trainees, but I didn't realize he was so jealous of you."

"Thank you," Harry said. "At first I figured it was just something I had to put up with. He was a git, but I liked the classes. When he cancelled my day off the morning of the first Hogsmeade visit I offered to quit, but Ginny told me not to."

"I didn't want him to quit something he enjoyed doing," Ginny said. "I thought Robards or Dawlish was just showing him who was in charge, but when it happened the day of our first Quidditch match we started wondering what exactly was going on. He visited me on a non-Hogsmeade weekend and everything was fine."

"Robards and Dawlish kept hinting that they were going to have me arrested for using Dark Magic. They interviewed Ron and Hermione – I think they interviewed a lot more people, but I know they interviewed Ron and Hermione. Hermione gets so flustered when talking to authority figures – I think she must have slipped up about me using the Imperius Curse at Gringotts. I know she wouldn't have said anything on purpose, but she isn't very good at thinking on her feet.

"Once they started hinting they wanted to arrest me and Hermione accused Ginny of using a love potion," Harry shrugged, "I didn't want to get arrested, but I certainly wasn't going to allow Ginny to get arrested either."

Even so many years later his pain was obvious. "I don't know why Ron and Hermione don't like Ginny so much. She kept trying to hook me up with Luna and both of them kept discouraging me from dating Ginny."

Toying with his shortbread biscuit, Harry continued, "I went to see Percy once my initial request to take Ginny to the ball was turned down. I overheard him and Ron talking about how it was inappropriate for me to take Ginny and they were trying to set me up with another girl. Ron was helping them somehow."

"I am so sorry," Arthur said. "I would have never had a problem with the two of you dating or going to the ball together. I don't know what those boys were thinking."

Harry nodded miserably. "I knew Ron had permission to take Hermione to the ball. I acted like I didn't, but I knew. I wanted…I just wanted to live my life – to go to the ball with the girl I loved. I was so angry at Ron. He was able to be with Hermione and date her, but I couldn't do the same with Ginny."

"When Hermione came up with her love potion theory – well, that was the last straw," Ginny said. "She actually broke into my trunk to see if she could find the potion she was sure I was using. She had Ron and Percy convinced and even George was wondering if I'd done something wrong."

"Once I saw Hermione at Grimmauld Place, I sent a message to you," Harry said to Kingsley. "Ginny and I had already talked about leaving, but I was hoping we wouldn't have to. When I couldn't get in touch with you, I wondered if maybe you were prevented from contacting me."

"I didn't get any of your messages until it was too late." Looking between both Potters Kingsley said, "I am so sorry I didn't realize what was happening. Please let me assure you that you are not going to be investigated or arrested. We have no plans to drag you back; we were just concerned about what may have happened to you."

Seamus leaned forward. "We know you went to Holland that night, what happened?"

Exchanging a look with his wife, Harry looked at Kingsley. "Could you invite Mrs Weasley and Bill and Fleur here? I think they should know what happened as well."

A/N: Thanks again to my wonderful betas StephanieO, and Arnel and my Brit picker Mark! Kentwell Hall is also a real place, it is a period home that has been restored. It inspired Harry and Ginny's journey. One more chapter to go!