Part Two

Ginny huffed with exertion; her wand arm trembled but held steady as she levitated the pile of rocks up and off the path. She lowered them carefully and let out a satisfied breath. Across the path, Harry was moving a similar pile; he set his down next to hers and rubbed his arm.

"I'm going to need one of your mum's muscle potions when this is all done," he said, grimacing. "Want to take a break? I think I saw Ron and Hermione heading up to the castle. There's probably food involved."

Ginny shook her head. "I think I should keep going," she said. "There is a lot more to do before the school is ready for start of term. Since you are going to be here lecturing, we need to make sure you actually have a classroom to teach in."

Harry looked like he wanted to say something else, but he nodded instead. "All right then, I'll leave you to it." He looked up the path. "I'm, ummm, I'm going to get something to eat."

Ginny ignored the way her own stomach was growling. She nodded back. "You do that," she said. "I'm going further down the hill. I think the side path to the greenhouses is blocked." She turned that way and didn't see that Harry watched her until she had disappeared from sight before he walked slowly up to the castle.

It was quieter the farther Ginny got into the trees and she was glad for it. There was so much to do and this way she wouldn't be interrupted. She stopped when her way was blocked by a number of enormous branches and vines; apparently Professor Sprout's spells had done their job. She closed her eyes, thinking about the spells she would need to move and destroy living plants. When she thought she had them in mind, she opened her eyes and raised her wand.

"Helping with the cleanup, are you?"

Ginny whirled around.

Striding down the path, the closest thing to a friendly smile she'd ever seen on his face, was Draco Malfoy.

Ginny froze for a second. They were quite alone; she had been following one of the side paths and didn't realize how far she had walked. The last time she had seen Draco had been during the Final Battle, being hugged by his parents. They had not been arrested like some of the other Death Eaters, and Ginny vaguely remembered hearing a conversation between her father and Harry about why. She nodded stiffly.

"There is a lot to do."

Draco nodded back. "There is. Are you planning to come back to school for your final year?"

"Yes. I want to take my Newts. I have a lot to catch up on, since this past year. . ." she trailed off, worried for a moment about mentioning what it had been like at Hogwarts under the Death Eaters or what Malfoy's own role had been. But then she lifted her chin. "Since this past year, I learned very little of substance in several of my classes."

Malfoy didn't seem offended though.

"I think there are a lot of students in the same position," he said conversationally. "I, personally, was able to finish my education, although I have yet to sit my exams. I'll be back here from time to time for revising."

Ginny wasn't sure what to say to this. She had assumed that after the war ended, she wasn't going to have to see Draco Malfoy again. He was being pleasant, and that made her more nervous than if he had been acting like his usual boorish self. Still, he and his parents weren't arrested . . .

"That's . . . that's good," she said. "I umm, I think a lot of former students will be back from time to time. I know that, umm, Harry and my brother and Hermione, and some of the others are going to be here too. To give lectures and things."

Ginny thought Draco's mouth might have tightened when she mentioned Harry, but then he smiled again and she assumed she'd imagined it. "Hmm, that's not a bad idea. Maybe I'll ask Professor McGonagall if she would be interested in having someone with inside knowledge of the Dark Arts, someone reformed, of course, to teach that information." He shrugged modestly. "I very much regret my behavior last year, you know." He shrugged again.

"Oh, umm, yeah. That would be . . . interesting," said Ginny. For a second, she wondered what Harry would think about his former nemesis teaching Dark Magic and whether he would think it useful. "I'm going to help Harry plan his lessons," she blurted out, even though they had discussed no such thing. "He's got so much to do here, and with Auror training too. I'm trying to help him with . . . everything. "

"I'm sure he would appreciate any help you can give him," said Draco slowly. "He has a lot on his shoulders, Harry does. People expect so much from him, and he ends up doing most of the hard work himself, doesn't he?"

Ginny wrinkled her nose. "I . . . I think I helped him a lot, this past year. And I know he couldn't have done what he did without Ron and Hermione."

"True, true, I know they helped him somewhat, but when it comes right down to it, it's always Harry at the end, saving the day." Draco looked thoughtful. "The poor boy could use a break, someone to take on part of his many burdens."

Ginny nodded firmly. "Exactly," she said. "That's what I'm going to do. I know him better than almost anyone; I can figure out what will be the most helpful."

"That's a good thing, that you know him so well," agreed Draco. "You know," he said. "My mum saved his life. At the battle. She lied to the Dark Lord, at great personal risk. She told the Dark Lord that Potter was dead." He looked seriously at Ginny. "If not for my mum, the Dark Lord would have killed Harry right there in the forest." Draco gave her a grim smile. "He never even said thank you."

There was suddenly something less friendly about Draco's expression. "There . . . there has been a lot going on," said Ginny quickly. "I think maybe he's had so much on his mind, he didn't think about it. I need . . . I need to find out what else he needs, to take some of the pressure off of him. I'll ask him. And . . . I'll have him say thank you."

Draco smiled. "I know you will." He raised his wand and blasted away the tangle of vines in front of them. "I'll see you soon, Ginny. Enjoy the rest of your summer." He walked away down the path and Ginny turned and headed up to the castle to find Harry.

He was sitting on the lawn, eating a sandwich. Ginny sat down carefully beside him, trying to ignore how his eyes lit up when they saw her. "Where are my bother and Hermione?" she asked.

"Getting more to eat, of course," said Harry with a chuckle. He pointed at a basket. "I got you food. I knew you'd be hungry. Wouldn't let Ron have any of it."

His familiarity with her eating habits irked Ginny a bit, but she kept quiet. She was hungry, and she was a Weasley. It made sense for Harry to have gotten her food. She opened the basket and peered inside. "Thanks," she said.

"Did you get the pathway clear? I can't believe how much we've gotten done already. Hermione says that once the physical work is complete, there is a lot to do to make sure the magic is put back into the school too. I think she's most excited about that part." He looked fondly up at the castle. "I can't wait until it's all back," he said quietly. "First, and best, home I can ever remember." He gave her a small smile. "The Burrow is second, of course."

"Of course," said Ginny. "Fixing the castle must be more important to you than anyone. Because of that."

"Maybe not more than anyone, but it means a lot to me," Harry agreed.

Ginny nodded firmly. "More than most," she said. She looked at him. "And I bet it's important to be able to teach what you know to the students. When you come to lecture here."

"It is," Harry nodded. "I hope we never face a threat like Voldemort again, but the more students who are brought up learning about how to recognize and defend against the Dark Arts, the better."

"That's great, I agree," said Ginny. "And I want to be able to help you. With planning your lessons and things. I just talked to Draco, down the path, and he . . ."

"Draco Malfoy?" Harry interrupted. "He's here? Where?" His eyes swung around wildly and Ginny saw him pick up his wand.

"I think he left already. For now, at least," said Ginny. "We were just . . . talking. Down by the greenhouses. He . . . "

"You were alone with him?" Harry's eyes flashed and Ginny felt a jolt of annoyance.

"Yes, Harry. We were alone. He was not quite his normal creepy self. He agrees that you need help; you have so much going on. I told him I was going to be helping you plan your lessons and he knows a lot about the dark arts, from . . . before. But I think he's changed . . ." Ginny stopped talking when a furious look crossed Harry's face.

"And you believed him? Hell, Ginny, he put the Cruciatus Curse on you last year!" Harry's voice had risen and Ginny was glad no one else was close by.

"Yes Harry, I'm quite aware of what happened last year. I was here, remember? Doing all I could to help you and going to a school taught by a bunch of Death Eaters at the same time. We all did what we could to survive that year and now we are all picking up the pieces." Ginny tried to keep her voice calm but she couldn't quite mask her frustration. "Or is this just more of you being an overprotective git because . . . because of how you feel about me?"

Harry looked stricken. He opened his mouth but Ginny continued. "Draco told me his mum saved your life, the least you could do is tell him and him mum thank you. If you trust me."

Harry shook his head. "I do trust you, Gin. I just don't trust him. And. . . and it has nothing to do with my . . . feelings for you really." He took a deep breath and Ginny suspected he was lying. "But, that would be great of you, to help me. I'd really like that. And, if I see Malfoy I'll . . . I'll think about it."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Don't make this about me, please," she said. "This is about you."

Harry still looked uncertain. "I'll think about it," he said quietly. "I'll talk to Professor McGonagall too."

Ginny nodded. "Good then." She picked up the basket of food. "I'm going to eat this down by the path I was working on; there is still a lot to do down there." She turned and walked away, not seeing Harry's troubled gaze as he watched her walk away.

HPHPHPHP

After talking briefly to Harry, Ron couldn't find Ginny fast enough. She was still down by the greenhouses, and seemed to be in a particularly good mood. Ron was relieved to see she was alone. Even as he approached, he saw her blast away a particularly large tangle of vines, a look of glee on her face.

"It's satisfying, isn't it?" he asked her.

Ginny turned around and grinned. "I like blasting things."

Ron looked around and whistled. "And you got all of this cleared yourself? It must have been a lot of work."

Ginny shrugged. "It needed to be done. The castle still needs a lot of work before it's ready for the students and teachers."

Ron tried again. "And you've been alone this entire time?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "What did Harry tell you?" she asked.

Ron knew his sister well enough to recognize the warning in her voice. He also knew that he wasn't going to back down, not yet. He was direct with her. "He said you were talking to Draco Malfoy."

Ginny huffed. "So? It's not like it's the first time. I managed just fine last year by myself."

"No one's saying you didn't," said Ron, trying to keep his voice reasonable. "But now that Harry and . . ."

"Now that Harry fancies me he thinks he can be an overprotective git?" Ginny's eyes blazed with annoyance. "I assume you knew that."

Ron nodded. "I did," he said. "And I don't understand . . . I mean, you guys are kind of perfect for each other."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Like I told Harry already, I think of him as a friend. A really good friend, but that's it. I can't really even . . . imagine feeling differently." She looked at him. "I imagine it's how Harry feels about Hermione. Would you say they are perfect for each other?"

"No," said Ron quickly. "I get it, I guess. I mean, I don't, not really, but it's not really my decision to make."

Ginny gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Hermione is a good influence on you," she said.

Ron sighed. The conversation had not gone as planned. He thought that if maybe, he could just find the right argument, Ginny might realize that yes, she really liked Harry after all. He and Hermione had talked about it, when Harry wasn't around. Neither of them could really remember when Ginny had actually gotten over her childhood crush on Harry, but the two had been friends for so long, it felt odd that it had not become more. Unnatural was the word Hermione had used.

It also made things more tense between the four of them, which was what had led Ron to try to talk to Ginny alone.

He sighed. Best to let it go. Pushing Ginny would only make her double down on her insistence that she and Harry were just friends. To be honest, Ron had to believe her; she sounded certain of her feelings. Ron took a deep breath and went back to their earlier conversation.

"So are you going to tell me what Draco said?"

Ginny huffed. "Just that he's going to be back here from time to time, revising for his Newts. And that he regrets his behavior last year."

Ron snorted. "I bet he does. His family was among the first back to our side after Voldemort disappeared the first time. I'm not surprised they'd do the same thing again."

"Narcissa Malfoy saved Harry's life," pointed out Ginny. "I don't think she would have done that if she didn't at least partly regret supporting the Death Eaters." She shrugged. "Anyway, I can take care of myself around Draco. Right now, I'm more concerned about getting the castle in order. The physical rebuilding is hard enough; putting all the magic back in is going to take all our concentration."

Ron chuckled. "Yeah, Hermione has been pouring over spell books with Professors McGonagall and Flitwick. I think it's going to be harder than exams, to get this place finished."

Ginny nodded. "Well, I'll just have to work extra hard then," she said. "I . . . I know how important this place is to Harry. He told me himself. I think we owe it to him to make sure we do a good job."

Ron looked at Ginny oddly. Considering that she insisted that she had no feelings for Harry, she was certainly determined to do everything she could for him. He opened his mouth to ask her about it, but stopped. Best not to upset her again. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but upsetting Ginny felt like a particularly bad idea right now. He nodded instead.

"I'll be sure to do my part," he promised.