Wow. I'm beginning to even suprise myself at how fast I finished this chapter. Thanks for all of your suggestions; just because I didn't use all of them this chapter doesn't mean they won't be used in the future. :) for some reason i think there's something different about this chapter. I'm not sure what it is, but if any of you figure it out I'd love to know. please keep reviewing, it keeps me writing. enjoy!
Harry had to find other ways to bide his time now that Ginny was gone. He wrote a lengthy reply to Kingsley; he would begin training in the auror department next week. Kingsley was very happy to hear that Harry would be joining his staff. As the new Minister of Magic he was kept busy. People wanted their questions answered. They wanted to know what he was going to do as the new Minister. Yet Kingsley was taking it all very well. He was calm and collected and Harry respected him for his composure.
Teddy was becoming very active. He crawled all over the place, cooing and admiring colorful objects. Whenever Harry had music on he danced and sang along. Harry took a wizarding picture of him and put sound to it. He framed it and placed it on a ledge in Teddy's room. After copying it multiple times he sent to the Weasley's and Ginny.
For the time being Ron and Hermione were still staying at the Burrow. They too were invited to join auror training beginning at the ministry next week. They accepted and the trio were glad to be remaining together. The summer had separated them more than they would have liked and here was their opportunity to reconnect.
Harry kept himself busy, but his mind always seemed to wander back to Ginny. He wondered how she was doing. She was head girl for Gryffindor even though she hadn't been perfect in her 6th year, due mainly to the fact that Death Eaters were running the school.
They kept in touch by owling each other every chance they got, but Ginny was up to her ears in work. She had to catch up for all that she had missed last year because of the unsatisfactory teachers, while also juggling her head girl and quidditch captain duties.
As Auror training continued it intrigued Harry more and more. He was finally getting the hang of it and the excellence that was in him was beginning to show. The trainers had begun to get worry about the alleged Chosen One, but as he mastered the technique they were pleased, and all doubt was gone. The days went by faster as the trio chattered about memories revolving around Hogwarts.
"Remember that time when…"
"Yes! And when…"
It never seemed to end because there were simply too many memories. It reminded Harry of school though as they got shushed for talking and threatened to be separated if they couldn't control their tongues. He would grin and laugh, glancing over to watch Ron and Hermione's similar faces.
As the semester went on Ginny's letters seemed more and more desperate. She was overwhelmed with all that she had to do and Harry worried about her. She didn't know how she was going to manage all her work. Harry was missing her to the point that he had to contain himself from telling her to quit school and come back to him. He knew how selfish that would be and he would never want that for Ginny. So instead he tried to reassure her that all would be well and give her as much advice as he could, but he could only do so much.
Harry sighed as Moose tapped on the window on the apartment. Teddy toddled over to the window pointing up at the bird; while Harry opened it and pulled the owl inside. It was from Ginny.
Harry,
I want to start by telling you that I love you so much and by no means am I trying to say that we are over. This summer with you was heaven, but being apart changes everything. I miss the romance and the stuff we did for each other. It's not your fault, or mine for that matter that we can't do these things anymore, but I think we should reevaluate. In other words, right now something else on my list is too much and I think we should take a break. At least until we get to see each other again. I still love you, but things have changed.
Ginny
Harry held the paper between his fingers for quite a while longer, reading and rereading the same few sentences. He knew that they had been struggling a bit, but was it really enough to call their relationship off? Was it enough to return back to the "friends" stage that they had been in for the past seven years of their lives?
Teddy tapped Harry's leg and held his arms up to him; asking to be carried. Harry obliged, picking the child up. But even Teddy could tell that Harry was a wreck.
His flying emotions turned to emotionless as the days passed. He didn't go to auror training, and the only thing he did seem to do was take care of Teddy. He had decided that nothing was going to change with Teddy, because it certainly wasn't his fault that Ginny and Harry were no longer together.
After missing training for a week Hermione and Ron came and knocked on Harry's door.
"Harry, we're worried about you. Open up!"
"C'mon mate, we just want to talk."
Eventually Harry gave in. They were his friends after all.
"Harry, what's been going on?" Hermione asked. "You haven't been at training for a week and we haven't heard from you or anything."
"I've been busy," Harry said.
Hermione's eyes scanned his apartment. It was a mess. Clothes were on the floor, dishes were piled up in the sink, and it didn't look like Harry had showered in a while. Turning away from him she quickly went to check on Teddy.
The baby lay asleep in his crib. His room remained clean. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't deny the fact that she had been worried about him. Walking back into the living room Hermione saw Harry with his face in his hands.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked.
"Ginny broke up with him," Ron said.
"Oh. I guess that would explain a lot," she said. "Harry I'm so sorry. Why didn't you come talk to us about it?"
"Well you're friends with her too. I didn't know if that would really be fair."
"Harry we'll always be your friend. You can come talk to us about anything!" Hermione approached him and pulled him in for a hug. "C'mon, we're going out. But first, you're taking a shower."
Hermione went into action. She dropped Teddy off with Mrs. Weasley and briefed her in on what was going on. Then she went back to Harry's apartment to find him all nice and clean. His hair was washed and sort of combed. His jeans hung off his hips and his green t-shirt brought out his eyes.
"Where are we going?" Harry asked. Though he looked much better than he had when they had arrived earlier; you could tell he still had a long ways to go before he could get over Ginny.
"We're not going anywhere if you don't get shoes on!" Hermione said pushing Harry's gray pumas towards him.
Ron was as clueless as Harry as to where they were going. They walked through the city. The weather was beginning to get cooler, especially since it was evening. The leaves were turning colors, and a few had already fallen. Hermione, who tended to get cold easily, was bundled up in dark jeans, dark gray ballet flats, a black pea coat jacket, and a kelly green scarf. Her hair was tied back in a curly ponytail and her simple make-up lead to believe that they weren't going anywhere special.
She led them to a small restaurant on a street full of shops and boutiques. It was a Thai restaurant decorated with bamboo, golden statues, Asian music, and an aroma of yummy food. Harry and Ron's face were a little questionable.
"Why are we here?" Harry asked quietly in Hermione's ear.
"You needed to get out of the house and there wasn't any food at your apartment."
"Yes, but why here?" Ron asked.
"My parents used to take me to eat at all different kind of places when I was young because they wanted to broaden my horizon; and this kind of food just stuck with me. It's really good."
They still looked doubtful, but followed the hostess as she seated them at a booth near the back.
"Is there more to your plan?" Ron asked while Harry was in the restroom.
"Of course; I could never just leave it at dinner," she grinned mischievously.
"So what else do you have in mind?"
"Oh I don't know. Maybe you and Harry could go to a bar or something. I think he needs to get out and have some fun; take his mind off of Ginny."
"You don't want to come?" Ron asked.
"I don't know. I think that's more of a guy thing."
"It's kind of a best friend thing too," Ron replied.
"You know what? I think I might go check on Ginny. I know she was the one that broke up with him, but I didn't ever think that maybe she's a wreck too. It is a Friday night after all; she won't have any classes."
"Okay," Ron said. It was all he had the chance to say considering that Harry came and sat back down.
"Have any suggestions Hermione?" Harry asked, scanning the menu for something that looked good.
"Pad Thai is great. It's skinny noodles and chicken with peanut sauce that's to die for."
Already his spirits seemed to be up a bit. He had smiled and everything. Hermione just hoped that tonight would remind him that Ginny wasn't everything and that he could move on from her if he just focused his energy elsewhere. Meanwhile Hermione really felt the need to check up on Ginny. She was sure that Ginny wasn't quite as sure about her decision to break up with Harry as she had made it sound in her break-up letter to him.
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