A week after the repairs had begun the dormitories had been rebuilt so that people had a choice to stay in the tents or sleep in the castle. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had chosen to stay in the tent along with Neville and Luna. Harry had been surprised; most people had chosen to stay in the tents rather than the castle. People needed to feel together, Harry thought as he watched people walk from one table to the next one night. He understood, thinking of how he needed his friends with him.
The Quidditch pitch had proven difficult for only the four of them to do. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were feeling a bit resentful towards Hermione for choosing something so large. Neville's group had come down the help the prior because they were waiting for the new plants to come in before they could do any more work in the greenhouses.
"I think we're done for the day!" Hermione called from the top of a section of stands. "We only have ten minutes until it's time for dinner!"
Harry had noticed it getting dark, but continued to work without mention of it. He was determined to focus everything on making sure that the stands were repaired perfectly. If something were to happen in a match, they'd be to blame.
Ginny walked up to Harry as he wiped sweat of his brow with a towel, she had an annoyed look on her face.
"I thought Hermione's idea was good at first," she muttered to him as they walked toward the tent.
Harry smirked, "Yeah, I don't think she realized what she was getting us into when she volunteered us for this."
"I blame Ron; he's obviously affecting her mental state."
Harry burst into laughter as they reached the tent.
"I'm going to get a shower before we eat," Harry told Ginny, walking into the tent as Ginny sat down on the bench.
"Want some help?" she said, smiling as shock crossed his face.
"I think I can manage on my own, but I'll let you know if I ever do." He kissed her quickly before ducking into the tent.
As he was walking into the sitting room he noticed Ginny and Neville having a very quiet discussion, only to quit talking as he entered. He stopped for a moment, looking at them. Ginny had a scared look and Neville looked alarmed. Before he could think anything about it, Ginny smiled brightly and walked over to him, grabbing his hand and leading him outside.
"Where's Neville?" asked Hermione as they sat down.
"He's not feeling so well," said Ginny.
All conversation dropped as they began to eat, famished from working so hard with only sandwiches for lunch.
"Hi, Harry," said Cho, who was walking towards Seamus, who was still at the tent next to them. She smiled brightly at Harry, flipped her hair, and sat down next to Seamus.
Harry just looked at her, then Ginny—who was glaring at her plate—and then back to Cho.
Deciding that eating, and not talking at all, would be the best decision at this moment; he focused on the pork chop in front of him, not looking up.
Hermione and Ron left first, saying they were so tired from working that they needed to sleep. Luna excused herself, fixing a small plate for Neville and said goodnight. Harry was extremely tired, so he decided that he would go to bed as well, choosing to believe that the others were sleeping.
"I'll be there in a minute; I need to shower." Ginny said, grabbing her pajamas.
Harry lay in the bed, struggling not to fall asleep until Ginny returned. Thinking of Ginny, he remembered the conversation he had walked in on earlier that day. What had they been talking about? Harry assumed it was something to do with Neville and Luna, giving his panicked look. He let it go; hearing Ginny walk in, all thoughts left his mind.
Her side of the bed dipped slightly, and the lights were extinguished.
"I love you, Harry," she whispered as she covered up.
Harry rolled onto his side so that he could pull her against him. "I love you, too."
The next morning, as the group walked toward the Quidditch pitch, Hannah walked to meet them.
"Harry, McGonagall said to give you this," she said, handing Harry a piece of rolled up parchment.
Harry unrolled it with curiosity.
Mr. Potter,
I would appreciate it if you would come to my office at ten this morning. I have some matters that I must discuss with you.
Professor McGonagall.
P.S. Dumbledore always did enjoy Lemon Drops.
"Thanks, Hannah," said Harry, handing the note to Ron and Hermione to read.
Ron looked clueless, but there was something on Hermione's face that showed she was not surprised by this at all.
"What do you know about this, Hermione?" Harry asked, shoving the note in his pocket.
Hermione's eyes flickered and Harry saw Ginny flash a knowing look at Hermione flowed by a slight shake of her head.
"Am I about to find out why the two of you disappeared for two hours the other day without telling me or Ron?" Harry turned to look at Ginny, who was glaring at Hermione.
"We don't have to tell you where we're going every time we decide to walk somewhere." Ginny said, flaring up.
It wasn't Harry that responded to this, but Ron.
"Are you mental, Ginny? We spent the last year being hunted and constantly worrying that we were going to be captured, and at the same time we were all so scared for you lot here that we hardly ever slept. We were always ready for an attack. You think that just because Voldemort is dead we can all just forget that?"
Harry stared at Ron. It was the first time he'd ever said Voldemort's name.
Ginny's face paled, it was almost as white as Hermione's.
"I'm sorry, Ron," Hermione whispered, grabbing his hand. "We didn't think of it like that, we just wanted to talk to McGonagall about something, but we didn't want to tell you."
Ron pulled away from Hermione, walking away towards the stands and began to work on the section he had left the day before.
Hermione started walking back to section of stands, deciding to give Ron time to cool off before trying to talk to him.
"Harry, I didn't know, I'm sorry," said Ginny in a small voice.
Harry knew that she had no idea what happened last year, except what she had heard from others and from a few stories Hermione had told her. It would not be fair to her for him to get mad over something that was accident. Ginny looked upset and Harry was mad at Ron for not letting the whole thing go.
Harry leaned forward to kiss Ginny, wanting to calm her down. He felt Ginny relax as he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her as tight as he could.
Ginny pulled back to look at him. "Why aren't you mad?" she asked, pushing his hair out of his eyes softly.
"Because, for one, I don't want to fight. Two, because I love you, which means that there's nothing that comes between us." Harry said, kissing her again.
"Do you really mean that?" Ginny asked, looking down.
"Of course I do," he said noticing the time on his watch that was stroking Ginny's hair.
"I've got to tell—"
"Ginny, I'm sorry, I've got to go. I'm going to be late for McGonagall."
He kissed her cheek and began jogging up to the castle.
As he made his way through the castle, Harry realized how much work everyone was putting in. The walls looked as though they had never seen the battle. The portraits were hanging on the walls again, and they all yelled out as Harry rushed past them. The courtyard had never seen better days, as far as Harry cold tell. The trees had been replanted, and, Harry assumed with the help of magic, sat tall even though a month prior they were broken and burned. Maybe they had gotten them out the Forbidden Forest, he thought as he passed through the clock tower entrance.
"Lemon Drops," he said, trying to catch his breath as he walked up the spiraling staircase to Professor McGonagall's office.
He knocked on the door quietly.
"Come in, Potter," said a loud voice.
Professor McGonagall sat behind her desk. The office was exactly how Harry remembered it from all the times he was there with Dumbledore.
"Have a seat," she motioned to the chair in front of her.
Harry sat down, feeling like he'd rather be back at the Quidditch pitch; he wasn't sure why he was feeling so reluctant about talking to her.
"I have a few things to discuss with you, but they can wait a moment. I want to know how you are doing."
Harry paused before answering. He wasn't sure of what to tell her. "I'm fine," he replied.
"You never could lie to me, Harry. But I shall not press the matter, if you so wish. I want to talk to you about a job offer," said McGonagall, watching his reaction.
"A job offer?" he repeated.
"Yes, as you know, the Defense Against the Dark Arts post is open, and I cannot find anyone to take it. I cannot think of anyone who would be more appropriate for the job, all things of your . . . past considered."
Harry did not know what to say. "May I have some time to think about it?" he asked, suddenly feeling that the office was far too small.
"Of course, I did not expect an answer today. I shall one by the end of the week, though. You would be given your own quarters, and a pay of four-hundred Galleons a month. Just think about it and let me know when you reach your decision."
Harry stood, wanting to find Ron and Hermione. "Thank you, I will let you know as soon as possible."
"Harry?" McGonagall called as he reached the door.
He turned to look at the witch who was smiling at him. "Yes?"
"Thank you," she said.
"For what?" he asked, confused.
"Everything," she said before walking out into her private quarters.
As he walked out of the castle, Harry found himself imagining being a Hogwarts Professor.
Would he be able to do it? He had, in a way, already taught Defense in his fifth year as a student; but, this was different. Would he be able to teach his friends? The same people who had fought beside him in the battle. He would be over them, he would be their professor. He laughed as he thought of teaching Hermione and Ginny.
He sighed.
This was what Ginny and Hermione had been talking to Professor McGonagall about a few days prior.
Would it be so bad? You'd see Ginny and Hermione every day. You'd be with your friends and the girl you love. He thought it to himself as he inhaled the smell of the summer grass.
What about being an Auror? He had wanted to be one for years, now he had the chance. Would he give it up to be a professor? He and Ron were going to join together, would he be able to tell Ron he'd changed his mind? For what? Ginny would be leaving in a year anyways. Would it be so bad to only see her on holiday and Hogsmeade weekends?
Mind spinning, he arrived at the Quidditch pitch, only to find Hermione and Ron having a rather nasty row. Hermione fired of a hex at Ron, who fell sideways to dodge it, and she ran off in the direction of the tent, tears on her face. Ron stood, cursing, and walked up towards the castle.
"What happed?" he asked Ginny, who was staring at Ron's retreating figure.
She turned to look at him. "Ron told Hermione not to put something somewhere, she yelled to quit controlling her, and then she fired at him. Honestly, I don't know what has gotten into them," she said, putting her wand back in her pocket and sat down on the grass.
"Ginny, you've been acting a bit strange lately. . . . Is everything okay?" Harry asked, sitting down next to her.
Ginny turned to look at him with an odd expression.
"What is it, Ginny?" he asked.
"Harry, I need to tell you something. But please, please hear everything I have to say before you get mad. Okay?" she looked at the ground.
Harry nodded and folded his arms, watching her. This wasn't going to be good, he could feel it.
"Last year, when you left, I felt so lost. I didn't know how I was going to deal with losing you, again. But I dealt with it, and I came back to Hogwarts. It wasn't the same place. We were forced to practice the Cruciatus Curse on people in detention. When we refused, we were tortured for it."
At this, Ginny pulled up the back of her shirt to show Harry thin scars across her sides and back.
"Oh, Ginny. . . ." Harry tried to grab her hand, but she pulled away.
"It got worse as the year went. We started staying in the Room of Requirement at times, just to avoid other people. And I don't know what I would have done without Luna or Neville. They held me together when I thought I was going to fall apart. You weren't here; I didn't know where you were, or when you were going to come back. I knew you hadn't been killed or captured, because it would've been in the papers, but I was so scared. Well, Neville and I became each other's support system through all of this. And . . . one day I was really upset, I'd been caught trying to sneak some first years out of the dungeons and I was caught. That was where the scars came from. They didn't think the Cruciatus Curse was a good enough punishment."
Ginny had tears pouring down her face. Harry hated seeing her so hurt and upset. Every bone in his body was aching to kill the Death Eaters that did this to her.
"And I went back to the Room of Requirement and Neville was there. I don't know how it happened. One minute were sitting on a sofa, and then . . . I—we—somehow we kissed. And I regretted it immediately when it happened, and I know it was wrong. It was worse than any form of torture, knowing what we did. I'm sorry, Harry! I. . . ." she stopped, seeing the look on Harry's face.
"What?" he said quietly, feeling as if he had been hit with the Killing Curse again.
