-Chapter 11: An Excellent Judge of Character -
Friday dinner came and so did Teddy Lupin. Everyone sat around the sitting room after dinner, Teddy played with Lennox while Hermione held Albus and Luna held James.
"Harry, there's something I want to discuss with you," said Hermione.
"What is it, Hermione?"
"I've put in my two weeks notice at the law firm. For a couple of weeks now I have been going through some of my old books and refreshing my memory on Wizard law. Now, I know it isn't your department but I was wondering if you could help me in getting a job in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."
"Hermione that is fantastic news! Of course I will help you! What made you decide to do this?"
"I honestly had no intention of ever returning to the Wizard world until I ran into you and we started having these dinners. And now Lennox is starting to exhibit some magical tendencies and after thinking about it for a while and asking my parents' advice about raising a magical child in the Muggle world I've determined it's not what is best for him. He needs to grow up with kids he can relate to."
"I thought you determined that a long time ago?" Ginny asked.
"What do you mean, Ginny?"
"One night you and I were talking and you said that you would never want to raise kids in the Muggle world because of how you were treated."
"You remember that?" Hermione's face lit up. She remembered that conversation. They were sorting pictures that they had taken while Ginny was staying with her for two weeks right before their two year anniversary.
"Yeah, of course," Ginny said with a smile.
"What was it that Lennox did?" asked Luna.
"Well I was working on some spells and I left my wand on the coffee table by accident. He picked up and started playing with it and before I knew it there were three books whizzing around the room. One of them nearly went through the sitting room window."
"He had three books in the air at the same time?!" Harry exclaimed.
"I know I couldn't believe it either. But I face another problem with that. I can't use a Muggle babysitter anymore now that he is starting this."
"Well that's simple," Luna said, "you'll bring Lennox here and then you can Floo to the Ministry so you don't have to worry about how to get to work."
"Luna, I couldn't ask you and Ginny to do that."
"It's fine, 'Mione," Ginny said, "it really wouldn't be any trouble. I don't do much during the day anyways. The only problem I see is that I won't be here for the first week of August and then I have to leave again at the end of September until May."
"What about England Quidditch? You going to try out again?" asked Harry.
"I don't know, I've got to think about it. That's not the problem right now though."
"You guys, really. I can find other arrangements," Hermione insisted.
"Hermione, who else are you going to trust your son to?" Harry asked. "If he's going to be making books fly around the room you can't just take him to anyone."
"I know but with Ginny leaving I don't want Luna to be here with three kids all by herself every day," Hermione said.
Lennox climbed up into Ginny's lap.
"Hi Ginny!" he said.
"Hello Lennox," Ginny said with a smile.
"Make plane fly!" he said, showing her his toy airplane. Ginny took out her wand and aimed it at the airplane. The plane started zipping around the room; Lennox squealed with delight and clapped his hands.
"Perhaps we should think about getting a house elf, dear," Luna suggested to Harry.
"I don't know. Maybe we should consider it," said Harry. He looked at Hermione who had a little bit of a disapproving expression then turned back to Luna. "But we would definitely make sure that if we do it is treated right. Vacations, good pay, all of that." He looked back at Hermione, she smiled.
Hermione looked over at Ginny. Lennox had fallen asleep in her lap.
"Ginny, did you use a sleeping spell on him?" Hermione asked.
"No, he just fell asleep."
"That's amazing. He's never that comfortable with anyone."
"I guess he likes me," Ginny said with a little laugh.
"He's got an excellent judge of character then," Hermione said, flashing Ginny a flirty smile. Ginny blushed.
"Speaking of sleep," Harry said, motioning to the corner, "looks like Teddy has tired himself out." Teddy was curled up on the floor, fast asleep. "I'll take him up to his room and put him to bed."
"Ginny has always been great with the twins. It's no wonder that Lennox has taken to her," Luna said, smiling. The clock struck nine.
"It's late. We should get going when Harry comes back down," Hermione said as she started picking up Lennox's toys and packing them in his bag. When Harry came back downstairs they said their goodbyes.
"I'll walk you out," Ginny said, standing up holding Lennox. They walked outside and Hermione got Lennox buckled into his car seat. Ginny opened the car door for Hermione. "I'm glad you've decided to get a job at the Ministry, Hermione. I can't wait to spend time with Lennox, maybe I can teach him how to ride a broom," Ginny laughed a little. Hermione smirked.
"That will be fine until you leave, after that I'm not sure."
"We'll figure something out. If Harry agrees to a house elf then that would help out tremendously."
"Yeah." Hermione had no idea what Ginny had just said. She was lost in her light brown eyes.
There was a silence and the two stared in each other's eyes until Lennox stirred a little and started jabbering in his sleep.
"Right, well, I better get going," Hermione said awkwardly. She slipped her arms around Ginny's waist and pulled her into a hug. Ginny wrapped her arms around Hermione's shoulders and caught a face full of brown hair. The smell of sweet peaches and summer air took Ginny back to those many nights spent with her body up next to Hermione's, their arms wrapped around each other and their legs intertwined. Hermione nuzzled her nose into Ginny's neck. She remembered summers at the Burrow, the smell of grass and dew as she and Ginny walked hand in hand to the river bottom and the sweet scents that lingered in the mornings they would wake up still embraced from the intense night before. Neither wanted to let go but Hermione broke away and got into her car.
"See you next Friday then, 'Mione?" Ginny said with smile.
"Of course. Have a good week Gin." Hermione smiled back. Ginny shut the car door and went back inside.
