:3 I hopes you likes it.
Chapter VII
Minister Kingsley turned in his chair to look at the two women in his office.
Hermione Granger stood tall and statuesque, her usual air of indifference around her. Ginerva Weasley stood - less confident and a bit battered, although she hid it well behind the anger that radiated off her.
One could cut the tension in the air with a slicing spell.
"Kingsley, Harry needs me. He loves me. I can make him better," Ginny spat, not bothering to hide her fury. Kingsley hid a wince. She had started off so promising and passionate as Chaser for the Harpies. Kingsley remained neutral on the Malfoy issue because he had been unsure of the details as Harry stayed suspiciously away from the subject every time it was brought up. The last few months were the strangest that Kingsley had seen Harry behave. The normally adept Head Auror had become somewhat erratic in behaviour switching from normal to distant in minutes and it had greatly affected his judgment. Kingsley had paid it no heed until it affected a major decision.
Harry had zoned out when his assistant had been handing him forms to sign and validated three ridiculous missions. The first got two Auror's burned so badly by Dragon Tamers they were accusing purely on a personal issue. The second was a bid to go after highly dangerous dark wizards that had been pillaging muggle towns. A minimal number of Aurors had been requested for the mission and Dickson's was the worst team to send. The whole thing had blown up and the dark wizards had ended up killing one of the team and leaving the other two to watch. Harry had come to his senses by then and had personally gone to deal with it. The Obliviators had been left with a lot of confused muggles and Kingsley had been left staggering under a mountain of paperwork. Thankfully Bill Weasley still did favours and the Curse Breakers hadn't made too much of a dent in the Department's budget.
The third one lost him a major case involving smugglers transporting magical creatures from the United Kingdom over to China to create dark potions. Unfortunately, they were not fully capable potions masters and had caused more unnecessary damage to themselves as well as civilians. There had been a major lead and Harry had signed off on it without making sure again that the right team was on it. Alexander's team had been reckless and rash. The situation had gotten so out of control that Kingsley himself had to step in to deal with it.
After the third incident Harry had gotten down on his knees begging for Kingsley's forgiveness. He didn't know what was wrong with him. Kingsley took into account the amount of stress he had been under as well as the recurrent fainting and gave Harry leave, not that Harry took any time off anyway. He placed Harry's second in command at the Head; Stintsky was loyal meaning he wouldn't try to take over Harry's position when he wasn't around.
Now he had a handful of Weasley and Granger and he couldn't help but wonder what the hell was wrong with Harry.
"As seen at St' Mungo's and previously you are unfit to take care of Harry. Or would you like a diagram of Harry's deteriorating condition?" Granger spoke calmly, an air of authority that Kingsley knew kept her subordinates in impeccable condition.
Ginny fumed but composed herself as best as she could before answering, "I know Harry isn't getting any better, but that's rich coming from you and brother. Neither of you were around for the last six months. You have no right to say anything about Harry's wellbeing at all when you're in cohorts with that blast ended unicorn arse of a- ,"
Kingsley cleared his throat quickly. However, Weasley had a valid point, though exaggerated and biased.
"That's where you're wrong, Ginny. Neville and I may have had no communication with him but that doesn't mean I don't know what goes on with Harry. Have you forgotten that I fought a war next to that man? You probably wouldn't remember since you were barely there," Granger replied cooly. What should have sounded like a childish taunt came out as a cutting comment. It didn't take much for Granger to hurt the ginger as she immediately riled at the comment. Granger was faster than Weasley however.
"Minister, how much longer must I suffer?" Granger asked with the slightest hint of pleading. Kingsley smiled; he had simply wanted to witness the tension between the two witches.
"Ms Weasley, I'm sorry but you actually have no right coming into my office while I have an appointment with Ms Granger. It is rude and many would consider it an offense. Please leave, Ginevra. This is not the time nor place," He said sweepingly and charmed the door open.
Ginny stood there stunned. Hermione did not glance at her once. She fumed and stormed out.
"Well, Hermione, as you were saying before the sudden interruption," Kingsley said.
"Minister, I wish you wouldn't do that, it takes a lot for me to maintain my composure around her lately," Hermione chastised with a slight grimace. Kingsley chuckled. "Sorry, sorry. Right, I'll chase her out a little faster next time," he said with a grin. Hermione smiled, she knew the playful side of Kingsley now and understood it well. He was brawns but had good observational skills as well.
"Harry isn't doing well. Neville and I had been wondering when to intervene with her care of Harry so we created the perfect opportunity. I do feel bad for coinciding Draco's schedule with Harry's appointment but they would not have met otherwise," Hermione explained to the Minister. She then proceeded to fill Kingsley in on the last few weeks. Kingsley sat and listened.
"I'll need to send Healers to check Harry's condition, I'm sure you can understand that, for official purposes. I'll have Stintsky put together a team for investigation. This does need to be kept under wraps; it would be easier that way. I may have to ask the Unspeakable for a few of their staff. They are the best at keeping their mouths shut, but annoying at the same time. I'll have a word with them and keep an eye on Ginevra. Thank you for the report. I'm worried about Harry," he told her.
Hermione gave him a sad smile. "We all are,"
Ron sat in his Mother's kitchen watching her potter around. Reed clung to her side talking animatedly as she listened intently. He told her about the newest story book set that Theo had gotten him. He took after Pansy in that aspect, obtaining knowledge on people, places, and facts. Ron did take some delight in the way he used his information; to blackmail people out of candy.
"Daddy, when are we going to see Uncle Harry again?" Reed asked suddenly. Ron looked at his son's worried face. His face fell. Reed and Hector had been good so far in not asking any questions about Harry in front of Draco. It seemed today that Reed thought would be a good time to bring it up. Ron stood and took his son from Molly's arms. "We'll see him soon son, but Uncle Harry is trying to recover from a bad illness that makes him act funny," Ron told him. "Is that why he left Uncle Draco sad?" Reed questioned. "We're not sure yet," he answered.
Reed squeezed his small arms around Ron. "I love you daddy, I know you miss Uncle Harry too," he said softly. Ron's eyes widened and he held his son closer.
Molly smiled at her grandson and son. She was aware of her daughter's behaviour lately but Ginny had been distant for a few years now and she knew little of her daughter's life nowadays. Molly wished her daughter would contact her at the very least. Her heart broke at the thought of her daughter's recent behaviour.
"Ron, why don't you take him home, it's getting late. I'll tell your father about everything when he gets home". Ron smiled gratefully at his mother.
"Then we'll be going. I'm sure Pansy'll appreciate the food. She likes your cooking, even though she doesn't say it to your face," he said before leaving via Floo.
When he landed in his own living room, Pansy was by the window. Reed scrambled out of Ron's arms and into her open ones. She scooped him up and kissed his face all over, making him squeal in delight. "Hello, my darlings. How are we today?" she asked as she tickled Reed's sides. "Grandma gave me cookies," Reed exclaimed happily. "I'm sure she did. Were they delicious as usual?" she asked. Reed nodded enthusiastically.
"Good, go and find Dippy," she told him.
The issue of Dippy the House Elf had caused a major row between Hermione and Pansy ending in a duel. However, Dippy had come to Pansy's rescue and given Hermione a real mouth lashing stating that she would not budge from Mistress Pansy's side. It was only then that Hermione had sat down with Pansy and listened to her side of the story resulting in an understanding and a tighter friendship. Ron stayed with Theo those three days. Both men knew when to stay away lest they be burned in their wives wake.
Ron sighed and circled his arms around his wife's waist. She tucked her head under his chin and breathed in the familiar scent of Molly Weasley's kitchen. It was a comforting smell that always made her better. "I'm glad I found you," he said against her head. She hummed in agreement; glad too that he had saved her from Goyle's crazed antics after the war. "I'm glad you gave me a second chance," she said.
'"Well, who could argue with a determined Obliviator threatening to eliminate all of memories if I didn't listen to what she had to say," Ron scoffed. Pansy laughed into his chest before breaking away. She tugged on his arm. "Come, let's enjoy the food your mother made. I think she's trying to make me fat!" Pansy said playfully.
"Even then I'd still love you, Pans,"
Well, here you go, have fun with it. A little PansyRon doesn't hurt anyone, I likes them. Reed means red haired in old English according to the internet.
