Chapter 9 Muggle relations regulations

Ginny stared around the slightly messy livingroom, but did not find Harry.

She called again louder and in desperation, "Harry! I really need your help! Are you there?"

A dripping wet Harry emerged from a hallway next to the fireplace. He was clad only in a towel, as he had quite obviously just gotten out of the shower.

"What's wrong, Ginny?" he asked concernedly.

"I just modified the memory of a muggle after telling her that I was a witch!" she said very quickly.

"Alright, calm down, I'm sure it's not as bad as all that," the man with even messier hair than usual replied in an encouraging tone.

"It is as bad as all that, Harry!" she interrupted in exasperation.

"Who was it you hexed?" he asked.

"That Wallington woman that was at the door when you showed up the night before last," Ginny replied.

"Her? What on earth did she do to make you tell her you were a witch?" Harry asked soothingly.

"I...I lost my temper. She told the whole town that you and I...well let's just say that according to her, you had less clothing on than you do now..." the redhead trailed off, not looking at him as he laughed.

"You'll probably just be getting a warning from the Muggle Relations Regulation Office. I doubt they'll call you in for a hearing or anything, I'm sure this sort of thing happens all the time. Listen, I have to go to the ministry today anyways. I can stop by the Muggle Relations Department and clear this all up. Alright?" he suggested.

"Okay," she replied softly. "They'll listen to you...You're famous Harry Potter." She smiled weakly at her own joke while he laughed again.

"You'd probably have as much influence over them as I do, Famous Ginny Weasley with a best selling book, but I know how you feel about going to the ministry. I'll come over later tonight and tell you what I find out. I'll bring dinner," Harry offered.

"Alright," Ginny answered, glad that she had a friend like him.

"In the meantime, try and keep your mind off it. I'll see you tonight," the black haired man said.

"Thanks Harry. Bye," she said before pulling her head back into her own living room. An owl was sitting on her livingroom windowsill, a scroll clamped to its beak.

"Well that was fast," she said in an unimpressed voice, letting the large bird in. It dropped the letter, spread its wings, and swooped back out of the window.

Unrolling the scroll she proceeded to read,

Dear Ms. Weasley,

We have received intelligence that you performed a memory charm at twelve minutes past four this afternoon on a muggle.

Despite this being your first offense, you are being summoned to an official hearing for the violation of section 3 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy.

The hearing will take place on the first of November.

Best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Elven Tidmore

Muggle Relations Regulation Office

Ministry of Magic

"This is just BLOODY PERFECT!" she said out loud angrily, crumpling the letter in her hand and throwing it on the ground where Basil attacked it.

'Try and get your mind off of it,' Harry's voice replayed in her head. She would think about it some more when Harry arrived. He could probably get it changed to just a warning.

Basil was rubbing up against her leg now, the letter having been sufficiently mauled.

Collapsing into her armchair, she picked up the book. "Chapter ten...Hermione..."

Humming softly, Ginny entered her quarters. Her trip to the kitchens with Draco had been fun and generally enjoyable. The storm outside raged, and she was thankful to be safe inside the heavy castle walls.

She lay on the bed listening to the tempest for a while - one of her favorite things was thunderstorms - until she heard a slight tapping on the window.

Peering out, Ginny discerned a large barn owl clinging to the ledge and clutching a letter addressed to her. She struggled to open the window against the strong wind, retrieved the letter, and returned to her comfortable bed.

The handwriting, she recognized, was that of Hermione's and was almost certainly delivered from St. Mungo's. Eager to find out any news, Ginny tore it open immediately and began to read.

Dear Ginny,

I hope this letter finds you well, and prepared for your upcoming task. I'm writing from the hospital as you probably already assumed. I have good news and bad news. The good news is that they have found nothing wrong with me so far, much like the last time. However, the bad news is that there is still no logical explanation for why I'm vanishing. They've put a tracking charm on me and will be monitoring me in case it happens again. A part of me rather hopes that I do disappear so that they find out where I'm going and maybe will be able to fix whatever it is. Good luck tomorrow and be safe on the operation. I expect to see you when you return.

Best,

Hermione

Ginny sighed after reading the letter over twice. "Poor Hermione," she thought. "It must be so nerve racking to not know what's happening to her. I'd be at my wits end."

Setting the letter aside, she began to get ready for bed. It was only then that she realized that she was still wearing Draco's jacket. Curios, she put her hands into the pockets and felt around.

"Nothing," she sighed. "Well what did you expect to find anyways. If there had been anything it probably would have been some coins and bits of rubbish."

Walking over to the fireplace, she reached up and ran her finger down a column of the large house depicted in the painting over the hearth. The panel next to the grate swung open and a few seconds afterwards a house elf appeared.

"Please take this coat to Mr. Malfoy," Ginny instructed as she handed over the garment, thanked it, and shut the panel after it.

Only a few people at Hogwarts knew of this clever call system. She herself had discovered it during her seventh year as she was admiring the very painting she had just used. She knew there must be hundreds of these call points around the school, but she only knew of the one in her room. It had come in useful several times during her year as head girl.

Considering the task complete, Ginny went about getting prepared for bed. She showered, dried, and was just pulling her nightgown over her head when a loud knock came at her door.

"Oh bloody hell," she muttered, wondering who would be disturbing her so late. She went to the door and opened it to find her brother standing there.

"What's up, Ron?" she asked welcomingly, standing back from the door so that he could come in.

"I'm only going to take a second, Ginny," Ron said, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her tone now matching his.

"Nothing..." Ron assured her. "I just wanted to come up and say - Gin, we're going into a very dangerous situation and I don't want anything to happen to you. You're my only sister and I wanted to tell you that I love you."

Ginny hugged her brother tightly. Pulling back she reassured, "We're going to be fine, Ron. We can do this. I don't want you putting yourself in jeopardy for me. Okay? Promise me that if I get into trouble you will continue with your mission and let me handle the situation." She looked into his eyes, which were showing no signs of agreeing with her statement. "Promise me, Ron!"

"I promise," Ron murmured, wishing that he didn't have to.

"Good, because I wouldn't want anything to happen to you because of me. I love you too much," Ginny added.

With misty eyes, bids of goodnight, and a final hug, the siblings parted, Ginny closing the door behind Ron's retreating form. She leaned against the door and a few tears escaped from her eyes.

Before she could think anymore, another knock came at her door. Ginny hastily wiped the tears from her cheeks, thinking Ron must be back and not wanting him to see her cry.

When she pulled the door open, however, she was startled to see, not her brother, but Draco standing in the frame.

"How did you get up here?" she asked without thinking.

"You've been crying," Draco replied, ignoring her question and wiping what remained of her tears from her face.

"So what," Ginny said softly, noticing that he was wearing the jacket that she had just sent back.

"I just came to thank you for returning my coat," Draco continued, bowing slightly as he smirked in his usual fashion.

"Is that it?" Ginny asked, giving him a 'that's the only excuse you could think of' face.

"No," Draco replied smiling slightly, reaching out and tucking a loose wisp of red hair behind her ear.

"Well?" Ginny implored after a very long pause.

"You aren't normal."

Ginny raised her eyebrows.

"That's not what I meant. You rushed me," Draco shot back.

The redhead fought not to laugh. The Slytherin looked bemused and uncomfortable, something Ginny was sure he'd never experienced before.

"You're not like normal girls, Gryffindors, or anything. You can dish it out as well as I can, you don't take my crap, and yet you are nothing like me. You get angry, but you don't lose your wits like your brother. You're brave, but not self righteous like Potter. You're smart, but not insufferable like Granger. That's why I want your good opinion."

After a baffled pause, Ginny replied, "That doesn't really make sense..."

"I know," Draco said in a brooding manner, as if it were his brain's fault for thinking in circles. "Well, now that I said what I came to say, made an ass out of myself, and got another peek at you in your nightgown, I suppose I should be going," the blond said in an unreadable tone.

"I suppose," she answered half-heartedly, not even slapping him for the nighty comment. The truth was, she wasn't ready for him to leave.

Looking disappointed, Draco turned to leave her, but without thinking she pulled him back, reached up, and hesitantly covered his lips with her own. When they pulled apart finally, his expression was one of mild shock.

"I should trip over my words more often," he said softly before kissing her again.

His kisses were slow and searching, much different than Ginny had expected. Ginny took a step closer to Draco as he wrapped his hands around her hips and urged her forward.

She couldn't resist running her hands over his well-formed chest and resting them on his strong shoulders as he pulled her ever closer to him. There was definitely something very different about her than all his other women. There was a sweet innocence about her that seized and at the same time baffled him.

Someone clearing their throat near the end of the corridor brought the two out of their spell. Draco immediately stepped back from the redhead and put his hands in his pockets, clearing his throat loudly.

"Who's there?" Ginny called, slightly irritated by the unwanted intruder.

Harry walked out of the darkness and Ginny's heart sank. Who had she expected? Someone who would understand? At least it was him and not Ron.

If her brother had seen her kissing Malfoy he would have locked her in the dungeons for the rest of her life. She figured Harry would just yell at her. She searched his face apprehensively, The-Boy-Who-Lived wore an unreadable expression, but Ginny was sure that he would be angry.

"Malfoy," Harry acknowledged.

"Potter," Draco countered. He turned to Ginny, smiling genuinely and bowing slightly, "I wish you a pleasant evening." With that, he strolled out of Gryffindor tower as if it were perfectly natural for him to be there. Ginny looked after the blond young man until he was swallowed up by the shadows.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Harry giving a long, low whistle.

Ginny worked herself into a right state. "Come off it, Harry! What are you going to do? Go tattle on me to Ron? I'm twenty-one, you know, and if I want to snog-"

"I'm not going to tell your brother," the messy haired young man interrupted, smiling. "Who you get involved with is your business. But if you get hurt because you picked the wrong person to…um…'snog' with, Ron and I are going to pummel him."

Ginny sighed, then smiled slyly, "Like I wouldn't pummel him first."

"I'm sure you would."

"I'm sorry, Harry. I shouldn't have gotten all defensive. I thought you would be upset, considering he is who he is after all."

"Well I'm not saying I'm skipping through the daisies about it, but it's your life," Harry joked.

"I know," Ginny replied, "Someone needs to tell Ron that."

"He's just being a brother," he replied as he reached out and wrapped her in a brotherly hug. "And I'm just being a friend."

"By the way, you never put out like that for me," Harry smiled, as Ginny pinched his side rather hard. "OUCH! Alright, alright! I just came up here to tell you that you are going to do fine. It's going to be dangerous, but I know you can handle yourself."

"Thanks, Harry, but now I get to tell you my two-cents. Don't get cocky and go trying to be the hero again. You always get all the glory, leave some for the rest of us this time," she teased, knowing that The-Boy-Who-Lived didn't enjoy the fame he received.

"Do I ever have a choice? Even if you, Ron, or even Malfoy, were solely responsible for the success of the mission, I'd still probably get the credit. However, if fate keeps to its normal pattern, I'll be stuck with all the hard work anyways," Harry joked.

"Yeah whatever," she grinned. "Goodnight then."

Harry hugged her tightly again. "Goodnight, Gin. See you in the morning."

Hermione paced her room at St. Mungo's, having just owled Harry with the outcome of some of her tests. She had tried to sleep, but had given up. Her thoughts were hung up on the mission and the safety of her friends. More than anything she wished she were there to help them.

She looked at her bedside clock. It read 1:00 a.m. and she was sure they were all fast asleep.

Suddenly, she wasn't in her room anymore. Astounded, she realized that she was now standing in the middle of a huge hall. It seemed to be made entirely of stone, with the exception of a long red carpet leading to a dais where a magnificent thrown stood adorned with two huge golden serpents, their emerald eyes glowing as if alive.

The walls were lined with great black stone columns. Coiled designs of intertwining stone snakes replaced the traditional embellishments of Corinthian columns. Huge tapestries hung from the buttresses on the arched stone ceiling and when she looked at them more closely, she realized that each one depicted a different scene from the rise and reign of Lord Voldemort.

A lump began to form in Hermione's throat. She knew where she was, and that she was in serious trouble.

"Welcome back, Ms. Granger," a silky voice cooed behind her, deadly close.

Spinning around, Hermione's fear overtook her as she found herself standing face to face with Lord Voldemort himself, a malevolent grin fixed on his skeletal face.

"Oh right, like that part just helped me calm down," Ginny said sarcastically out loud.

Basil stirred in her lap. Harry wasn't back yet and she fleetingly wondered how much longer he was going to be.

I DID IT! I finally told you where Hermione was disappearing to...like most of you didn't already know, right? Anyways... Here's to my reviewers...

Kim Haha, I didn't even think about Lockhart when I wrote that part...but you're right...well they both deserved it! Unfortunately, witches can't just go around charming muggles, I mean, what would the neighbors say? So, Ginny isn't guilty about her actions, she's upset about the consequences. Thank you for continuing to review! )

Katie Moffat Yeah, I'm still sorry about making y'all wait though, however, my brain was just too frazzled with everything to edit the chapter and reply to reviewers. I felt I owed it to my readers to at least give an explanation though. I really hope that you think this chapter was worth the wait. Thank you very much for reviewing!

Gwenyvere I'm really glad you like it! Thanks for reviewing this, and my other story! )

Silver Dragon Mist Thank you for the review! I hope to keep pleasing.

TrinitYMalfoY527 This chapter sort of answered the whole "I did something stupid" thing. I just didn't think it was be logical that the ministry would just let muggle charming go unregulated. The sudden lack of the mystery man is b/c the last few chapters (including this and the next one) have all been on the same day...that goes for the timeline of the book too...hmmm...I wonder how many people I confused with that...oops...blushes

Iden's Garden I'm glad you like it! Basil does have a lot of human qualities...is he an animagus? grins devilishly...I don't know! )

Meredith To my most loyal reader I borrowed that sunset and storm from one I saw in Nebraska last August and I just knew I had to put it in a fic...so there it is! I'm not sure how well I'm doing the "next step beyond trust" part of the relationship...I mean they can't still go out of their way to antagonize each other right? But, I don't know if I can stick to mindless kissing and flirting for very long...mushy isn't exactly my thing. Of course, "I hate you, I love you, I hate you, I love you..." fics kind of get old too. I suppose I'll figure it out, I got a lot done on the body of the fic this weekend.

I truly enjoyed writing the whole scene with Mrs. Wallington, but I must admit, I couldn't just let Ginny get away with it, even if the nosy bitch (there's no other way to describe her) deserved it. )

I did love the darker feel of OOtP and nothing major in my plot has been affected by it. YEY! Again, I'm sorry about the delay, you were the primary person I was upset about forcing to wait. Thanks again for your wonderful reviews! )

Faith Akiyama Yes, a lot of people do think that Basil is Draco. My lips are sealed! I hope you do check back frequently, b/c I'm not wrapping this up until I have at least 20 chapters. I'm glad you enjoy it!