A Letter and A License
At breakfast the following morning the main topic of conversation was the upcoming trip to retrieve Hermione's parents. The itinerary called for them to leave at ten Thursday evening which would have them arriving in Canberra at eight Friday morning. Molly sat nervously fingering the hem of her flowered apron. She wasn't thrilled by the three of them running off again, less then two weeks after they had come home, but she couldn't begrudge Hermione wanting to see her parents or wanting her closest friends to be with her. Ginny however could begrudge Harry for leaving again so soon and, short of getting him to stay, had lobbied to be included. This was met by a no from Mrs. Weasley, delivered in the type of voice that only mothers possess, leaving no doubt in any of their minds that the topic was dead.
Their conversation was interrupted by an owl flying in through the window. It flew straight to Ginny, landed on the table and dropped its letter in her lap. Then with one mighty push of its wings it lifted back into the air and departed. There was no need to tell the others who it was from, they'd all seen enough of them over the years. She broke the seal and began to read.
Miss Weasley,
We do hope this letter finds you well. You will be pleased to know that classes at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are scheduled to resume on Monday the 18th of May. The Hogwarts Express will depart from Platform 9 and 3/4 at 9 a.m. However due to the uniqueness of this situation you may make your own travel plans, should you desire. Additionally, due to recent events and the unscheduled interruption of the school year the length of the term will be extended one week.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress
for The Board of Governors
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Ginny looked at the others, "No this isn't fair! It's not like I have to go back for my O.W.L.S. or N.E.W.T.S." She looked at her mother, "Couldn't I just skip it and go back next year?"
Molly took the letter from her daughter and read it herself. This development suited her perfectly as it would put an end to any talk of Ginny joining the others. "No, I think it would be best if you finished the full term."
Harry sat quietly trying to find something to look at anything other than Hermione and Ginny. He was very much aware that they were both staring at him. One worried that her friend might now decided not to travel with her. The other upset that they would, once again, be denied time together. He decided the only safe course of action would be to excuse himself from the room. Walking to the mantel he took a pinch of flue powder. "I guess we'll have to talk about this when I get back. Right now I've got an appointment to keep." Tossing the powder into the fire he stepped in after it and said "Ministry of Magic."
He stepped out into the atrium, fully aware that all he had managed to do was make more trouble, yet relieved to be removed from the situation. Looking at his watch he realized he was more than an hour early. Taking a deep breath, and looking around, he decided to see if the Minister for Magic had time to answer a question for him. He crossed the hall and entered the lift. Reaching Level One he entered the lobby and approached the receptionist. He recognized her as Mary Cattermole, the witch they had rescued from the Muggle-Born Registration Commission hearing. When she saw him crossing the room she jumped up and ran to give him a hug.
"Thank you so very much! I knew all along it must have been you."
Over the past days Harry had become comfortable with this reaction. He placed his hands on her shoulders and smiled at her.
"You're very welcome. We couldn't save ourselves and leave you to the mercy of that toad. How's Reg doing?"
"He and the kids are doing fine, thank you."
"I'm very pleased to hear it, please tell them I wish them all the best."
"I will, but I'm sure you didn't come here to chat with me. What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if the Minister might have a few moments to spare."
At that moment Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped out of his office. He crossed the lobby extending a hand to Harry.
"Harry good to see you, I'm just off to a meeting but I think I could spare you a minute or two. Thank you Mary I can handle it from here."
She nodded to the Minister and gave Harry one last hug before returning to her desk.
Kingsley extended his arm indicating to Harry that he should join him as he walked.
"I take it that you wish to discuss something."
"I do Minister, I was wondering about the Dursleys. Are they still in hiding?"
"No Harry, they've been released from our protection. Number 4 Privet Drive suffered, what the muggles called, a gas explosion shortly after you left. Made our job easier really, the family not being home when it happened they could just rebuild, didn't need to worry about changing identities or anything like that. Of course you uncle wouldn't have anything to do with it. Insisted he could never face the neighbors after that. We've set them up with a new place near Slough. Mary can get you the address if you'd like, but I was under the impression that you didn't want anything more to do with them."
I don't really, at least not my aunt and uncle, but I would like to see how Dudley is getting on. I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling that I should."
They had reached Kingsley destination and he paused to shake Harry's hand once more. "If you have a feeling then you should follow up on it. Have a good day Harry."
"Have a good day Minister, thank you."
Harry stopped to retrieve the Dursleys new address from Mary before heading to his apparition test.
He was greeted at the testing center by the same old wizard who had scheduled his appointment. Glancing around he noticed there didn't seem to be anyone else in the room and wondered if this one old wizard was responsible for all apparition testing and training. Lost in his thoughts he almost didn't hear what he was being told.
"Now Mr. Potter, it is no secret that you have been apparating all around the country side for the past several months. Being unlicensed this activity would normally be frowned upon and could be construed as grounds to deny you a license. However owing to the great service you have provided the wizarding world, indeed the world in general, the Ministry deems that these indiscretions can be overlooked. Follow me please."
Harry smiled to himself, "Yes sir, thank you sir."
The old wizard led him into an empty room about the size of his old bedroom at the Dursleys. "Mr. Potter, this is the only room in the entire Ministry from which you can apparate, or into which you can disapparate. Your task is really quite simple. At Hogsmeade Station there is a small banner hanging from one of the lamp posts. You are to apparate there and return with the banner. Are these instructions clear?"
"Yes sir"
"Good, then off you go."
Harry stood in the center of the room and pictured Hogsmeade Station. Spinning on the spot he was sucked into the suffocating tube and found himself standing on the familiar platform. He had never seen it without the clouds of steam billowing from the Express and the crowds of students jostling each other as they hurried from or to the train and he thought how different it would be in just a weeks time when Ginny returned to finish the term.
From somewhere deep in his mind a little voice shouted at him, "That's right she'll be back here in week and you ran out on her this morning. You can face down the Dark Lord but you won't even look your girlfriend, the woman who told you just last night she loved you, in the face. What is wrong with you?"
He pushed the voice back and promised himself that he would make it up to her somehow. If she'd let him. She'd have to let him, wouldn't she? What if she wouldn't? The only thing he was sure of was he wouldn't find the answer here. Looking around he noticed an orange banner with the Ministry Seal hanging from the third lamp post. He grabbed it and returned to the small room.
"Well done Mr. Potter, well done indeed. Never thought you'd have a problem of course. Now if you'll just give the banner I'll give you your license."
"What? Oh ya, here you go."
Harry handed over the banner and took possession of his apparition license with out even bothering to look at it closely.
"Sir, could I use this room one more time?"
The old wizard smiled, "Of course, most people do."
"Thank you sir."
Harry disapparated just outside the gate to the Burrow, he was calling for Ginny even before he pushed it open and started to run across the yard.
She met him at the door. "What is it? Did you get your license?"
"Ya I did, but look, Ginny I'm really sorry for running out on you this morning."
"Don't be silly, Hermione and I were about to trap you in a game you couldn't win."
"That's not the point though, is it. You're my girlfriend and she's my best friend, we should be able to talk things out. Ginny, I really feel like I need to make this up to you."
"Well you're here now. We can all talk during lunch." The impish grin returned to her face, turning to enter the house she winked at him over her shoulder, "Don't worry you'll get the chance to make it up to me. By the way, is walking behind me as scenic as flying behind me?"
He smiled as he followed her through the door. "Ya it is really."
"What is really?" asked Ron.
Harry blushed, "Great to have an apparition license," and quickly changed the subject to the upcoming trip and Ginny's return to school.
A brief discussion found a simply if somewhat chaotic solution to Harry's dilemma. He would leave with Ron and Hermione as scheduled on Thursday and help to track down her parents. Come back to the Burrow on Saturday and see Ginny off to school on Monday before returning to Australia to rejoin the others and help with the move.
Hearing all this Ron chimed in, "Blimey Harry, even with magic all this travel could kill you. We'd better make the most of our last days together mate."
For his effort he was met with a "Ronald!" and a smack on the back of the head form Hermione.
After dinner that evening Harry excused himself from the others and left to visit the last of The Battle of Hogwarts victim's families. Ginny walked him to the gate and he asked her if she'd join him tomorrow for a visit with Teddy. She immediately answered yes, gave him a quick kiss and sent him on his way.
A misty fog hugged the ground the following morning as the two of them set out. Neither cared, they were thrilled to have an entire day of leisure to themselves. Walking hand in hand they laughed and talked, loosing all sense of how far they had travelled, after walking more then two miles they apparated to the Tonk's cottage.
Andromeda met them at the door holding Teddy. Harry took him from her and carried him into the parlor, taking a seat on the settee. Ginny sat next to them letting Teddy hold her finger as she watched Harry make faces for the amusement of his godson. The day slipped quickly away and the sun was setting sooner then seemed possible by the time Harry and Ginny said their good byes. Thanks to Andromeda, who thought ahead and sent a Patronus to let the Weasleys know the two of them were safe with her, they felt no need to rush and apparated only as far as Ottery St. Catchpole. Hand in hand they walked through the village and back to the Burrow.
