Disappointment Chapter Twelve
Harry's party provided a good time for everyone there, except for Harry. Luna saw this and knew the reason for it. However, Draco also saw it and he wondered what it was that upset Harry. He didn't mix with the others and showed little happiness when he opened his gifts. He looked around to see everyone else and they were all enjoying themselves, though Luna did appear slightly worried about something. Draco thought it was about Harry as well.
Draco asked his mother if he could stay one more night so that he might ask Harry something private. She questioned this but, Draco got to stay one more night, just like Luna was. He wanted to cuss Luna for her timing, but then figured she may be able to get through to Harry better than he could. Besides, she probably knew what the problem was and maybe needed help getting it across. Draco didn't know what to say if this is what she needed him for, but would try to help figure it out.
Once the party was over and the guests all left for home, Harry, Draco and Luna cleaned up the sitting room and then went to Harry's to try and learn what the problem was and what he needed to do to, either correct it or get past it.
Once seated, Draco was able to start the ball rolling by asking Harry, "Hey Harry, can you tell me why you were down so far at your party? I mean you so far gone, even the twins couldn't get you to laugh. Is something bothering you that we can help you with?"
Harry was ready to snap at Draco, talking to him like he was a friend, but controlled himself by saying, "It's no concern of yours Draco, or yours either Luna. Just drop it and I'll be alright."
"You know me better than that, Harry Potter. Now, just because they sat together, doesn't mean there is anything between them. Besides, it's like I told you, if you would tell her how you feel she may surprise you. But if you keep letting it go on, then something will come about from it."
Draco thought she was talking about Hermione, and he saw her and Fred getting along quite well. "Luna, were you watching what I was watching? They looked quite comfortable together."
Luna thought she was fighting two simple boys, "Why do males always make something out of nothing? There was nothing going on between them that said anything other than good friends."
"Oh, so sitting on a guys lap is nothing to worry about? Or whispering in his ear or holding his hand the entire time they are here is nothing to worry about?"
"Who are you talking about? Ginny did not sit on Neville's lap or hold his hand during the party. She whispered in his ear, but it was just to ask what he got for Harry. She was worried she got him something someone else already got him."
"Ginny and Neville? I thought you were talking about Fred and Hermione? Why would Harry worry about Ginny and Neville? Doesn't he like Hermione?"
"Male logic is so unlike what real logic is like. Why would Harry be interested in Hermione? She has been with Fred her entire first year, but nothing serious, just really close friends. Harry likes Ginny , but doesn't know what to say around her. He wants to get close to her, but he doesn't know how to get there. He gets near her and then he blacks out what he wanted to say to her."
"You both know I'm right here, don't you? I am not that lost in thought, as you well know Luna. Yes Draco, I like Ginny, but can't carry on a conversation past twenty words with her."
"Look Harry, if you want to get to know her, find out her likes and dislikes and start there to work up to other interests. If she is at all interested in getting to know you better, she will open up to you and maybe you could open up to her as well. Why do you find it so hard to talk to her in the first place?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because I never felt this way before, or I feel sick to my stomach when ever I'm around her. Maybe it's because I was alone all those years by myself, with no one to talk to. I have never felt this way about anyone before in my life. Why I can talk to Hermione and Luna so easily and not Ginny, is baffling. If this continues on the way it is, I may lose my ability to work my magic like I do. She will always be on my mind and that will kill any edge I may have."
"Harry, Ginny is just like me, in a sense. She is willing to hear what you have to say and maybe even suggest something to help you out." Luna hated lying, but if Harry lost his abilities because of something this silly, it could get him killed. She knew that Ginny was so strong willed, that if Harry approached her with his problem, she could tell him to grow a set of balls, like she did when Harry backed off from Snape and Dumbledore. Ginny knew Harry was strong in magic, but felt he needed to grow a backbone and stand up to people.
However, she also knew that Harry could not go on like this much longer before he started to lose his abilities. She dropped her attempt to go any further with Harry, but thought she might be able to get Draco to help her somehow.
When they left Harry's room for bed, she stopped Draco before he went to his room, "Draco, can we talk for a bit before calling it an evening?"
"Sure Luna. Where do you wish to talk?"
They were just passing the Library, so she pulled him in and they took a seat. "Draco, I need you help to get Harry over this silly thing he is having with Ginny, and Ginny isn't helping out any by her taking up with Neville. I don't think she likes him like that, but I believe Neville feels differently about her. In fact, I would say he may be falling in love with her. He grew up without his parents, like Harry did, but he did have his Grandmother to show him what caring for someone meant to a person. Maybe she took it a little further than she should have with his Uncle doing what he did to him, but Neville survived the fall into the bushes. I need you to keep Harry from thinking about Ginny, and I'll do what I can to get Ginny to see where Neville is coming from. I don't want to see anyone get hurt and I see Neville getting into something that could do it to him."
"Luna, Harry hardly even knows me, so why should he listen to anything I have to say?"
"It's a good way to start a friendship. Just take it slow and try not to talk about Ginny around him."
"What happens if he starts up with her?"
"Follow along and try to change the subject slowly so he doesn't get suspicious. He's not too happy about Ron right now, so try and draw his attention there. Believe me, no one is too happy with Ron right now. You could even get the twins to help you, as they love to aggravate him. This will probably take a while, so don't try to rush it."
"I think Harry is going to be tied up for a couple of weeks what with cousin Tonks filling in for him in the Wizengamot. But maybe that could be good, because I think I could help him with some ideas for cleaning it up. Yes, that could work in our plans. OK, I'll help you, because I really do want to be Harry's friend." and they ended the evening with that.
Draco asked Harry if he could go with him the next morning for the Wizengamot. They had to be disguised so they could get in,but Draco joined Harry on the trip. Luna left that morning for home, but asked to be updated as to what went on in the meeting.
They talked about what to expect when they got there and Draco told him what the order would be about issues ongoing and ended. Current status on other projects. Financial issues they may have. Then there would be the open floor for new issues.
It went exactly as Draco said, but when the open floor began, Tonks stood up and was about to speak, when another person stood up and aimed his wand at her. A green beam of light headed right for her, when another beam of light struck the green beam and absorbed it and took it over everyone's head. Then the one who fired the green beam lost his wand and was tied up by a length of rope. No one saw where the second beam came from or who tied up the attacker, except for Draco. Harry's little twitch with his hands told him what saved his cousin, but he couldn't say anything right then.
Tonks turned and faced the head speaker, "Is this the way all new members are greeted in the Wizengamot?"
Amelia sat as the head speaker for this meeting and wanted to scream at the accusation Tonks just threw at her. However, she held her tongue and instead answered, "We here in the Wizengamot wish to apologize to our newest member and the House of Potter for what just happened. We will take care of this. Now did you wish to ask something before this happened?"
"Yes, I did. Mister Potter wishes to know what kind of rights are set up for the House Elves in the service of wizards?"
"This is the House of Potter's primary concern?"
"Oh no, it is not, but it is the one that will take the longest if there are none in place?"
"The governing of House Elves is set by the family that owns them, however, there is a limit to the punishment handed out to them."
"Then it is the wish of the House of Potter to change that entire outlook on House Elves. They are sentient beings with the chance to live a long and pain free life like wizards. They should not have to feel any pain for something that may not have been there fault. They should not have to fear any pain for anything they do. The House of Potter sees Elves as human and perhaps even more so than humans. Elves have been around longer than wizards and it was we humans that took away their rights to live as they wished when we betrayed them. Because of that, they are now reliant upon us to survive."
There was bickering back and forth between those who agreed to what Tonks stated and those who were against it, but when it came time for it to take a vote to make it something that needed to be added to their agenda, Those behind Tonks and House of Potter won out with 80% of the vote. Now Tonks needed to sit down and find someone to help out making a law that could be accepted for the good of both Elves and Wizards.
Before the group broke up for the day, The name of the person who tried to hit her with a spell was brought to Tonks. His name was Emmett Pembroke and he had the mark of the Death Eaters on his left arm. He was taken to the cells on the basement floor and would stand trial for his actions at the next meeting.
Once everyone was back home, Tonks yelled out, "OK, who was it that fired that spell that saved me?"
Harry wasn't going to say anything, but Draco couldn't keep it to himself, "Why are you so mad Cousin? You didn't want to be saved?"
Tonks turned and faced Draco, "Who said I was mad? Did I say I was mad or upset? I just want to know who to thank for saving me?"
Draco added to his original statement, "Well then, Harry did it in his own way. It was so sneaky, no one knew who shot the spell. He was brilliant."
Tonks turned to Harry to see him standing there all stoic, like nothing happened. "Did you do it, Harry?"
"I couldn't let you take something for me, Tonks. I thought something like this might happen, so I was watching for any sudden movement from everyone. When I saw this Pembroke bloke stand up, I was ready for what ever happened."
Tonks didn't get a chance to go to him to hug him, as Sirius was already pulling him into a hug, "Harry, I don't know how to thank you for saving Tonksie. She may be a pain where I sit, but she is family and I do love her." then he got hit in the head with the pillow Tonks threw at him.
She did finally get to Harry and hugged him for saving her. The spell was not determined, but the green color definitely told them it was meant to kill, or hurt her badly. No one saw Remus standing back and mouthing the words Thank You, as well. He didn't know why exactly, but he didn't want to see anything happen to Tonks.
Then the floo flared up and Luna came running out from the flames and went right to Tonks for a hug. "Daddy told me what happened during the meeting and I want to thank you on two counts. One for being so brave after the attack, and one for bringing the House Elves plight to focus and getting them to at least listen to what you have to say. Do you need any help with your statement for their rights? If you do, Hermione and I would love to do it. She said it wasn't right that they are working in Hogwarts for nothing."
"Well, that isn't entirely true, Luna. They have a place to stay and a job to do, which is one of their primary needs. Another is also provided because they feed off the magic from the school, or the people within it's walls. However, what ever you decide will also include them in the wording." Harry answered.
"Harry, you know they're there because the house they belonged to rejected them and they had no other place to go. Hogwarts brings them in and gets free labor from them. Would you work under those conditions? I don't think so, so why should they?"
Harry knew better than to argue with Luna, because he was fated to lose to her. Luna never lost an argument if she felt she was right. It just so happened that Harry felt the say way as she did, but had to at least give Hogwarts a chance for some sort of righteous concern for the Elves. He knew it wasn't the school as it was Dumbledore that hired the Elves for the kitchen. The school just supplied them the magic they needed to survive.
Luna then excused herself from Harry and Draco as she had to get home. She said it was for her dad, but in reality, she had to talk to Ginny. Not to try to change her mind, but to help her with the rights for the house elves. She would be asking Hermione, but she had no way to get hold of her. Hermione would be by later to talk to Fred..
Luna went right to the Burrow, but when she got there, Molly told her that Ginny was off somewhere with Neville. She thought that Harry may have lost his chance with Ginny. However, she did find out that Hermione was there with Fred, so she went in to talk to her.
Hermione and Fred were just talking, and when she entered the room, George started to take interest in their talks. He took a seat next to Luna and took her hand. Luna smiled at George and squeezed his hand to let him know she was pleased he took the seat. Then she started in, "Hermione, I need your help. I could use Ginny's as well, but since she isn't here we'll have to start without her. Harry and Tonks got approval to present a law to protect the rights of the House Elves. We have two weeks to draw one up for her to present it to the Wizengamot."
The excitement in Hermione's eyes shown bright as she talked with Luna about the law Luna wanted her to write. She felt that Harry must have faith in the girls abilities to let them draw up the law for Tonks. Fred and George knew they lost the girls for however long it took.
An hour later, Ginny returned and joined the girls in the task. Hermione was mostly there for the language of the law, Ginny the ground rules of the law, and Luna for the presentation of the law.
Hermione had to make sure the law could not be used as a dual edged sword, where someone could take it and make it work against the elves. Ginny had to use the law in use right now, to change it to a more elf friendly law. Luna had to tell Tonks how to approach the subject with sensitivity and style.
It took a week, but when it was done, the girls took it to Harry to show him the draft. He had Sirius and Remus look it over as well, and after a few tweaks, made the final draft and presented it to Tonks. Tonks took it to Amelia Bones who read the presentation and congratulated Tonks on a fine piece of work, but when Tonks gave the honor to the girls, Amelia had to reread the draft. "You mean to tell me that a twelve and two eleven year old girls wrote this? Does Harry have anyone with him that is not extraordinary? Ginny must have used her knowledge of the Ministry and Hermione her books. Luna must have used her knowledge of her dads paper. Please pass along my compliments to them and to keep their career options open for when they are through school. They have a job waiting for them when they are through."
Tonks was proud of everything that had to do with Harry and the students that work with him. Letting the girls know what Amelia said about them got them all cheery and happy. Molly heard the praise that was given to Ginny and covered her tears at how proud she was of her. Even Percy's making Head Boy was out weighed by Ginny. She was so proud of her, she went to the floo and contacted Arthur to pass on what she heard. Arthur already knew and planned a special something for her.
The next step for Tonks was to wait for the right moment to present the legislation to the Wizengamot. It would be as difficult a task to get it passed, but she hoped the Potter influence and the cleansing of the DEs in the ministry would help immensely. For her first two weeks working for the Potters, or Harry in any case, was proving to be a pleasure. Her first day and someone tried to kill her, but Harry told her he would protect her, and he did just that, and then she made it a point to pressure the meeting to correct the weakness she saw in the council. Wands were not allowed in the chamber, yet Pembroke had one in his possession and tried using in on Tonks before she even got a chance to speak.
Just getting to know Harry's friends was a plus. she didn't know what to expect for the next several years as she filled in for Harry in the Wizengamot, but she looked forward to it and perhaps even being added to the Auror Corp.
Disappointment-}
The rest of the summer for Ginny turned out great after her father took Ginny to visit the training camp of the Hollyhead Harpies and meet Gwenog Jones. Ginny got to show Gwenog her abilities on a broom and the promise she showed on the Quidditch Pitch. Ginny was still rough around the edges, but at Eleven years old she showed a promise to the Beater/captain of the Harpies. She promised Ginny she would be looking in on her while she played for her school team at Hogwarts.
Then there was the time she spent with her friends, especially Neville. She liked being around Neville, as he was funny in his fumbling trying to impress her. She liked him, but not in the way that Neville wished she was. He was looking for a steady girl friend, and Ginny was just getting to know Harry's friends. The list she kept had Luna, Hermione and Neville on it, but she saw where Harry and Draco were starting to become friends and knew she had to try and become friends with him as well, but it would be difficult. Malfoys and Weasleys were never close, and Lucius Malfoy hated her father almost as much as he hated the Blacks and Potters. Draco did seem different, but that all could be a facade to lull everyone in to a false friendship and then turn on them. It was too early to tell, but it wouldn't stop her from trying to be friends with him.
Another thing that Ginny liked was the way Fred and George backed her against Ron, their unbearable git of a brother. Ron was still full of himself because of what Harry did for him, even though it stopped working for Ron when he let it go to his head. To this day, he thinks it was Harry that took away his ability to use mind magic. It was his way of thinking about wandless and wordless magic. He didn't know of Occlumancy and Legilimency. Ron would never be the strong wizard he thought he would be.
Ginny, Fred and George continued flying that summer and Ginny learned from them as much as they could teach her, but she was close to their prowess on the broom, so their teaching soon became a learning experience for them as Ginny began showing them things they didn't even know they could do. No one knew at the time what this would mean for the Quidditch team the next year, as Ginny would be joining the team. She didn't know that Draco Malfoy would also be joining his house team. Ginny was going to try out for a chaser spot, and Draco for the seeker spot.
Luna and Hermione were constant visitors to the Weasleys, but Ginny didn't fool herself thinking it was to see her. But the time they spent together was fantastic. Yes they spent time with Fred and George , but it was equal to the time she spent with Her.
The one thing she did not like about this summer was the time she spent with Harry, which was practically none. With Harry trying to get Tonks set as his agent in the Gamot and trying to train her.
Draco and Luna seemed to be taking up a lot of his time as well. Luna was always telling her about the time she spent with him and Draco. Ginny didn't think she was the jealous type, but her feelings were coming to a boil when it came to Harry Potter. It was the one big reason she continued to see Neville, because he actually cared how she felt. It was George that sat her down one evening to talk about it, "Ginny, can I ask you something and be serious for just a brief moment. It won't take too long, I promise."
"This doesn't sound like you George. Are you sick or something?"
"Don't get me started, Gin. You know once I start to laugh, I'll never get through what I have to say to you. Now, are you having strong feelings for Neville?"
"How should my feelings for Neville be of any business of yours, George? I like Neville and he likes me. That's all you need to know."
"Is it now? I wonder how a certain messy haired boy would feel if he knew this? I have heard it through a proper source that Harry likes you."
"Well, when I hear it from Harry, then maybe I'll believe it. But he has not shown any sign of his liking me and have you seen how often he has come visit me?"
"Is that how you measure feelings, by their visits? You know how busy Harry has been setting up Tonks for his Proxy in the Wizengamot. You know how hard he has worked for the House Elf law for their protection. How he is trying to build the connection he has with Sirius. It doesn't leave much time for anything else. But it doesn't mean he stopped his feelings for you. You have lived in a house full of love, your entire life. Harry has never seen love of any kind until he started Hogwarts. He doesn't know how to express himself. Are you going to hold that against him as well? He tried showing you how to work his magic. He showed you how to be a better witch by training you. Yes, he did it for all the students that wanted to learn, but he didn't try to get them all to use his certain type of magic. Just you, Hermione and Luna. Sure he did it for Ron, but that was to get him off his back."
"He also tried to teach you and Fred?"
"You're right, he did. But doesn't that show you anything about who he cared for? Luna and Hermione are like sisters to him and the Weasleys are like family to him, with you being just a bit more than that."
"How do you figure that?"
"How much time did he set with you to try and train you?"
"What are you getting at George? You were with me and Harry when ever he tried to teach me. It must have been five or six hours."
"Right, and how long has he done it for Fred and I? Maybe an hour. Hermione, maybe two hours. Luna was not even an hour, but that was because she didn't want to learn. Ron was about fifteen minutes, and it worked for him, because his head is empty most of the time. Now he is so full of himself, there isn't room for anything else in there. OH LOOK! Here comes Hedwig, bearing news from our friend. How much you want to bet it's for you?"
Ginny didn't answer the bet. She was busy waiting for Hedwig to land and to get the letter she carried. She got the treats ready for her and a drink of water for her.
Hedwig came through the open window and landed on the table. She held her leg out to Ginny and watched as Ginny untied the string that released the letter into her hand. Hedwig then took the treats offered her and took a drink.
Ginny looked for the names on the letters to see if she got one. George was handed the first one for him and Fred. Then one was set on the table for their Mum and Dad. Then Ginny sat down and opened the letter meant for her.
Dear Ginny:
Before I get too far into this, I want to say I'm sorry for taking so long to write. Between your trip to Egypt and my schedule for setting Tonks up in the Wizengamot, there aren't enough hours in the day to do it all.
Now, as you already know, the meeting allowed our petition to go forward for the House Elves. It is going to take some time for the senior members to go over the information contained in the letter.
Sirius and I have come to an understanding and I have accepted him as my Godfather. We have gotten closer, but he knows if he fails me for any reason, I'm out of here. Remus is doing his best to keep Sirius straight. He is looking forward to getting back to school. He enjoyed teaching and he got only one complaint about his condition, but the student told the parents to stay out of it because Remus actually taught them something.
Now I'm going to touch on a subject I shouldn't. I don't know if you know it or not, but Neville's parents are in St. Mungos in the incurable maladies wing. Ginny, please don't hurt him as he is having major problems accepting things because of his parents. He can't see how they could be alive, yet not able to talk with them. I believe this is why his magic is so weak. I asked him to get a new wand, but he thinks his fathers wand should work great for him. If you are careful, you could help his confidence immensely.
Tonks wants me to tell you thank you for your help with the law she submitted. Yours, Hermione and Luna's help was so appreciated. I guess you already got the praise from Amelia, and your dad. Now for me, it was a great piece of work, but if it doesn't work, don't feel it was partly your fault. We are attacking a law that has been in place for ages. However, it is telling the families that have one that we are monitoring the care of our friends. Dobby wishes he could show his joy you gave him. He knows as you do now, that it may not work, but just trying to help the Elves is something that has never taken place. So, Thank You very much for taking the time to do your part in trying to help us. You can be sure, I will be looking for more from in the future.
Your friend:
Harry
George walked away when he saw the tears in Ginny's eyes. He didn't know if they were because of the letter, or what it didn't say. Harry was such a poor person for showing emotions. George didn't think Harry knew what each of them meant.