Chapter 12

That night Ginny and Harry sat on the living room couch, both silent, staring into the blazing fire.

"Gin?" Harry asked softly, not taking his eyes off the fire.

"Hmm?" Ginny replied, not taking her eyes off the fire either.

"I really, really don't want Lavender as my secretary." He said, now making Ginny look at him.

"I know Harry." She said, not really knowing what to say to that. She knew he didn't want her for a secretary but there wasn't anything he could do. The job was final.

"I know you know, I just wish you could be my secretary instead of her."

"I would love to, but no one else can handle my father and his work like me." Ginny said, smiling softly at the thought of her father, who was in the kitchen helping her mother wash the dishes.

"I wish it wasn't that way, but I know how it is." He sighed, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees, his face in his hands. Ginny rubbed his back, placing a kiss on his neck.

"Don't stress about it luv, you'll get through it, I promise." She whispered. Harry nodded and craned his neck to look at her sideways.

"I love you Gin." He said, smiling at her.

"I love you too." She kissed him, pulling him back into her arms, resting her head on his shoulder.

"This is nice huh? Just sitting here, relaxing, listening to the fire." Ginny stated

"Yeah, it really is."

"Fred! George! How many times do I have to tell you not to pop up like that!" Molly yelled, breaking the silence and peaceful air that surrounded Ginny and Harry. Harry chuckled.

"So much for that." Ginny laughed and kissed him again, standing up, pulling him with her.

"Lets go to bed."

"I'm not going to argue."

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The next morning Ginny was swamped with work. She swore that every witch and wizard that worked at The Ministry had dropped off some kind of form of every kind onto her desk. She wanted to scream.

"Dad! I'm going to take a break!" She yelled through her fathers door, running a tired hand through her fiery mane.

"Alright dear! Just hurry back as soon as possible okay?" He yelled back, making Ginny stomp her foot and bite her lip from saying something rude back. She grumbled and hurried from the office to the spacious break room a floor below. She walked in, kneading the back of her neck and stopped mid-step when she saw who else was in the room. Lavender.

"Ginny? Ginny is that you?" Lavender squealed, running over to Ginny and hugging her. Ginny rolled her eyes and just stayed limp, not hugging her back. Lavender didn't even seem to notice. She pulled back, her face alight with giddiness and did a once over of Ginny.

"You look fabulous!" She gushed, her sickening smile never leaving her flawless face.

"Yeah." Ginny mumbled and walked past her to the cupboards to get a coffee mug. She heard Lavenders high heels click behind her.

"Well you don't seem so happy to see me!" Lavender pouted, leaning against the counter to stare at Ginny. Ginny snorted.

"Why wouldn't I be glad to see you?" She asked sarcastically, snorting in laughter as she filled her mug with coffee. Thanks to her Dad, all the break rooms in The Ministry were equipped with muggle coffee makers.

"You don't seem very enthused to see me that's all." Lavender said flatly.

"Well all your enthusiasm would have made mine seem boring, that's all." Ginny said, not looking at her as she sat down at the table, sipping her coffee. Lavender sat down beside her, staring at her intently.

"I know you worked for your Dad, some people told me. I would have come up to see you but I've been so busy, Harry keeps me busy all day long." Lavender gushed, twirling a brown curl between her fingers. Now Ginny looked at her.

"Oh really?" She asked, a cocked eyebrow shooting up into her hairline. Lavender nodded excitedly.

"Oh yes! He's great! I'm so lucky Kingsley gave me the job! I'm sure all the women that work her would have killed to be working with Harry! He's quite the stud if you know what I mean!" Lavender winked suggestively at her, and Ginny's eyes grew cold.

"Well it's a shame he gave the job to you. I know I would have, what's the word you used, oh, killed, to have been able to work for Harry." Ginny said in a low voice, catching Lavender off guard. But she quickly recovered and her eyes grew just as hard as Ginny's were.

"Jealous?" She countered, a smug grin on her face. Ginny snorted with disgust.

"You wish! I don't have to be jealous Lavender! I'm dating Harry!" Ginny stated angrily, standing up quickly. Lavender slowly stood, jealously clearly written on her face, and that quickly changed to disgust.

"Excuse me? Harry is dating you?"

"That's right. And you better stay away from him or else!"

"Or what? You'll get me fired?" Lavender stepped closer to Ginny in challenge.

"I can and I will. My Dad's the Minister remember?" Ginny growled.

"We'll see about that." And with that, Lavender strutted out of the break room, leaving a flustered and pissed off Ginny behind.

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Ginny sat behind her desk, digging her quill into a spare piece of parchment, letting out her anger since she couldn't scream at work.

"Ginny dear will you take thes..." Her father had just walked out of his office, and stopped what he was saying at the scene before him. "Ginny what are...?"

"Don't even ask dad." Ginny growled, snapping her quill down and standing up, facing her father. "What do you want me to do?" Arthur eyed her suspiciously for another moment, and then cleared his throat.

"Would you take these down to the Department of Magical Creatures please?" He said, handing Ginny a pile of forms.

"Sure." She said, taking the stack from him. "What are they for?" She asked as an afterthought.

"Mrs. Quiggle wanted me to register a few creatures for her. She said everyone is wanting them but they can't because it was against the law to have said creatures." Arthur started. Ginny quirked an eyebrow. "Lets just say these creatures were banned for a reason. St. Mungo's has had many patients with limbs gone. But people still want them for pets even if they are dangerous." He shrugged and headed back into his office.

"So then why did you agree to this then if they are so dangerous dad?" Ginny asked, not understanding why her father would agree to such a thing.

"Because you want to keep witch and wizard citizens happy Ginny." He said pointedly and Ginny nodded.

"Right. I'll get these to Mrs. Quiggle right away." Arthur smiled and closed the door behind him.

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"Molly dear what's for dinner?" Arthur asked later on that night, peeking into one of his wife's steaming pots. Molly clicked her tongue and waved her hands in front of her, shooing him away.

"It's a surprise Arthur! I'm cooking one of Ginny's favorite meals. You said she seemed to be stressing today at work. The poor dear!" Molly said sadly. Arthur kissed her cheek.

"Don't worry dear she's fine! Everyone gets stressed out sometime or another!" Molly smiled sadly and nodded.

"Evening." Ginny greeted as she popped into the kitchen, looking very tired. Molly immediately enveloped her in a hug.

"Good evening dear! How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine mum, really." Ginny said, hugging her mother back. Molly pulled back and eyed her then kissed her forehead.

"If you say so dear."

"What's for dinner?" Ginny asked, looking over at the stove and the charmed wooden spoon stirring its contents.

"Herb boiled chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green peas, and rice pilaf. And for dessert I made you your favorite chocolate pudding pie." Molly announced proudly, beaming from ear to ear.

"Oh mum thank you!" Ginny squealed, hugging her mother again. Molly chuckled.

"Of course dear, of course! Your dad said you had a stressful day so I made this for you." Ginny smiled at her mother in thanks.

"I'm going to go wash up." And she left the kitchen, walking up the stairs and into her bathroom.

"Harry?" Ginny asked when she walked in, seeing Harry standing at the sink, combing his hair.

"Oh hey Gin." He said, smiling shyly as if he had been caught doing something else. Ginny laughed softly and kissed him in greeting.

"What are you doing?" She asked, resting her head on his shoulder and watched him comb his hair.

"I just got out of the shower. I'm trying tame my hair for once." He stated, making Ginny laugh out loud.

"Harry, sweetheart, your hair is untamable, there is no way in taming it," Ginny stated, weaving an arm around his face with a sly smile, "And besides, I like it when it's wild, its sexy." She said, nibbling his neck.

"Then in that case I won't bother trying anymore." And he ran his hands through his hair, messing it up. Ginny smiled approvingly.

"There, now it's back. Now it's the real you again." Harry grinned and kissed her.

"Dinner smells amazing." He said, looking out the bathroom door. Ginny nodded.

"It's one of my favorites, mum made it for me since I had a bad day." Ginny said.

"You had a bad day?" Harry asked concerned.

"Yes, but lets not talk about it right now. After dinner I'll tell you okay?" Harry nodded.

"Ginny! Harry! Dinners ready!" Molly called from the kitchen.

"Lets go eat!" Harry chimed excitedly, and grabbed Ginny's hand, practically dragging her down the stairs to the awaiting meal.