Harry Potter and Responsibilities

Rated T

Disclaimer: Everything in this is based of Harry Potter, copyrighted by J K Rowling.

A/N: A quick note:I was going to make that last chapter longer but I wanted to ease in to the bigger chappies slowly (last one was my biggest yet! I'm getting there!). Lastly, thank you Erik's Other Lover for catching up like you promised! This is also for you.

Chapter Twelve

One Hell of a Monday

When Harry woke up Monday morning, he realized there would be no bustle to get everyone ready. Only one Weasley was off to Hogwarts.

Teddy was fussing in his crib by the time Harry had actually sat up and put his glasses on, and Harry took him out of his crib before he woke Ron and took him down to the kitchen.

Using his wand, he heated a bottle for Teddy, sleepily patting the baby's head to keep him from crying out. It was just sunrise, and there was at least another hour before anyone had to be up. The train didn't leave until eleven o'clock, of course.

Just as Harry sat down at the table, bottle at hand and Teddy now squirming, he heard soft footsteps on the stairs. Without looking he knew who it was.

"Ginny, you're not very good at sneaking," Harry growled softly, trying to keep Teddy from squirming. Eventually he fell into the soft rhythm of feeding.

"Damn Aurors," Ginny murmured without Harry looking. She came up behind him and put her arms around his neck, kissing the top of his head. "Good morning."

"Morning," Harry greeted, shifting the bottle. Teddy's eyes were wide, focused somewhere past Harry. "How did you know I was up?"

"I heard something small squeaking down the hall," Ginny told him with a laugh. She placed her hands on his shoulder blades, massaging them lightly with her thumbs. Harry sighed lightly. "You know, this kid's going to think the world of you."

"I hope so," Harry said. "I want to be just like Sirius. Well, you know what I mean." Teddy finished off the bottle and Harry held him out to Ginny.

"Oh, so I do the dirty work?" Ginny asked while pushing her hair onto one shoulder and snatching up a cloth.

"I'm going to go change," Harry replied. "Just burp him and bring him up to Ron's room, please." He touched her cheek and then turned up the stairs.

Walking into Ron's bedroom, Harry shook his friend awake.

"Ron, can you keep an eye on Teddy for a little bit?" Harry asked. Ron, bleary eyed and sleepy, looked up at Harry.

"If you're out to shag--"

"No, Ron, just saying goodbye, all right? Please, he just ate so he'll be content for a bit." Harry walked over to his trunk as he said this.

"Fine, just don't give me a reason to hex your--"

"Thanks, mate," Harry said as he buttoned up his shirt. He pulled on his trainers in time to hear Ginny knock on the door. Harry hastily put Teddy in his crib and waved at Ron, pulling Ginny down the hall with him.

"Where are we going?" Ginny asked when Harry took her out the back door. Without speaking he pointed to the broom closet. Ginny, catching on, took him by his hands and led him into the dark hut.

As soon as the door shut, Harry traced the line from Ginny's ear to her chin with the tips of his fingers. Ginny closed her eyes and leaned against the wall, her hands unworking the buttons Harry had carelessly just done.

Running her hands along his chest, Ginny opened her eyes. Harry leaned down and kissed her, placing his hands on the small of her back. He pressed her up against the wall with his body, parting her lips with his tongue and using it to caress hers. Ginny pulled herself as close to him as she could, reaching for his belt.

Just then, there was a tapping at the door. Harry let out a frustrated groan, hoping there wouldn't be two angry parents, or worse, two angry brothers at the door. Buttoning a few buttons on his shirt, he opened the door. A tawny owl, weathered and old looking, hovered near the entrance with a letter. A big "M" was embossed on the seal.

"The bleeding Ministry," Harry growled, snatching up the letter. He read it aloud to Ginny.

"Dear Potter, oh, Merlin, that means it's Mitchell.

You are needed at the office ASAP. Don't ask questions. Don't argue. Failure to do so may cost your job, though I would hope you do ignore this, thus you are out of my hair.

Nicole Williams, Kingsley Shackelbolt, and I will be waiting for you.

Sincerely your loathe-mate,

Lionell Mitchell."

"Oh, no, that means you can't see me off on the train," Ginny said. Harry looked at her painfully, kissing her forehead.

"I'm really sorry, Ginny," Harry told her. "Listen, I'll make it up to you. Owl me your first Hogsmeade visit and I will be there. In fact, Teddy and I will be there." Ginny smiled, but her eyes still held that disappointment.

"I understand," she replied. "You go get ready. I'll owl Mrs. Tonks for you to tell her you got called in so Mum will take Teddy home."

"That's right! I was supposed to take him home this afternoon! I swear, if Mitchell does this again, I will personally turn his boxers into a Blast-Ended Skrewt." Ginny kissed him just under his neck, causing his anger to die down.

"Just go, Harry," Ginny said. "I'll take care of everything." She smiled up at him, and Harry knew she was an angel.

"Do me a favor. Take that hoodie you like from my trunk and take it to Hogwarts." Without taking time to explain, he pulled her into a quick, bone crushing hug then stepped back, apparating to the Auror's office in the Ministry building.

"Oh, no, Potter's here," Mitchell sighed from next to Nicole's desk. She jabbed him with her wand. Harry, wishing it had gone off, turned to Kingsley Shackelbolt, who was seated at Nicole's desk.

"Not to be rude, Kingsley, but since you're a friend I have liberty to say this had better be important," Harry said, ignoring the looks from Mitchell. "I had to leave my godson with Ron. You know how that might turn out."

"I'm sorry you couldn't see your girl off to school," Kingsley said, chuckling. Harry's tense muscles relaxed. "But this was more important."

"We got a call today from a man in Norway." Nicole's tone was grim. "He reported three wizards who were holding a missing witch. The lead says they had her in the woods, cursing her and raping her in He-Who... Lord Voldemort's name." Harry crossed his arms.

"A missing witch?" Harry asked. "Who?"

"Girl by the name of Audrey Coben. About five years older than yourself. Actually, you might have gone to school with her, Potter. Very sweet girl, prefect for two years." Mitchell had a smug smile on his face, one Harry wanted to whipe off so badly.

"So you want me to investigate," Harry sighed.

"Not quite, Potter," Mitchell sang. "Tell him the dream team idea."

"Lionell, you have two seconds to shut the hell up and let those in charge tell me what I need to do before I drop a ferret in your pants." Harry cleared his throat.

"Well, Harry, we figured that maybe you could round up your old D.A. mates for this number," Kingsley said. "Ron and Neville Longbottom, seeing as Ms. Granger, Ms. Weasley, and Ms. Lovegood have all gone to school." Kingsley sat back.

"Neville and Ron and me," Harry stated. "Sir, Ron said he didn't want to join with m--"

"We just want them for one assignment." Nicole's voice was slow. "We heard all about the war and you three. United, amazing. Divided, you conquered. You in the back, Neville on the front line, and Ron to back you up. Just this once." Harry sighed.

"Give me until tomorrow morning to get them," he said. "I'll go see Neville today and Ron tonight. Anything else for the good of the order?"

"Yes, there is one thing," Nicole replied. "Button up your shirt, Potter." She giggled, looking over at Mitchell.

"Sorry about that, I was, ah--"

"Say no more," Kingsley said. "Just take care of young Ms. Weasley and get back here tomorrow morning."

A/N: I'll cut it off there, only because it's such a great line to leave off on. Thanks for all the reviews thus far, and by the way, Audrey is not an OC, well, not really any way. You'll have to find out who she is on her own, however, "Coben" is not her real last name, her last name is just unkown. And on that note I leave you to pick up some Chinese and watch a movie tonight. More chappys later!!!