Author's Note: I hope you guys like this chapter…it's extra-long, just for you!

Chapter 12: Gits Getting Along

"Ginny-girl, that's wonderful!" Mr. Weasley exclaimed, ruffling Ginny's hair affectionately as his wife enveloped her in a hug.

"My Ginny, a Hogwarts professor!" Mrs. Weasley said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

"Oh, Mum," Ginny sighed, "Don't cry! You've been crying so much lately!"

Mrs. Weasley chuckled and swatted her daughter teasingly on the arm. "Tears of joy are different from regular tears, dear!"

"Here, you sit down and I'll get you more tea. Tell us all about the arrangements," Mr. Weasley said. Ginny sank into a chair and rested her elbow on the kitchen table.

"Well," she began when her father had set a steaming mug of breakfast tea down in front of her. "I interviewed three weeks ago."

"Three weeks!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "Why in Merlin's name haven't you said something before now?"

"Oh," Ginny shrugged, "I was planning on mentioning it at the welcome-home dinner, but…well, a lot of things happened that night."

Her parents nodded understanding. "Well, there's never a bad time to tell good news," Mr. Weasley said.

"And was the interview very difficult?"

"It was all right," Ginny said, swallowing a gulp of tea. "I kind of got the feeling that McGonagall really wanted to give me the post but just needed to make sure I was qualified."

"Minerva always liked you," Mrs. Weasley mused. "Said you had spunk."

Ginny laughed. "Professor McGonagall said that?" She still couldn't get used to the idea of calling the stern woman anything but Professor. Her mother nodded.

"The pay's quite good," Ginny continued, sipping more tea. "And it includes a room and most meals as well."

"You'll be living at Hogwarts, then?"

"Yeah, except for most weekends. I have to be available for nighttime emergencies and patrols, and once a month or so I'll have to be on-call during the weekend."

"And Draco's all right with that?" Mrs. Weasley asked hesitantly.

Ginny nodded. She didn't mention that Draco would be able to stay over at the school one night a week. She had a feeling that wasn't something her parents wanted to have to think about.

"How are Ron, Harry, and Hermione doing?" Ginny asked after a pause. "Are they settling in all right? I haven't spoken to any of them much since they got back." She had seen the trio twice since the welcome-home dinner, both times at family meals. But she hadn't really spoken to any of them. She and Ron were still acting coolly toward each other, and Hermione was always at his side. And Harry. Despite his insistence that they could try to be friends, he seemed to be avoiding her. She sighed.

"Yes, I think so," Mrs. Weasley said, looking at Ginny searchingly. "They've just been resting mostly."

"I'm sorry Draco hasn't been coming to the dinners, by the way," Ginny added. "I think he just feels a bit strange. He'll get over it though," she finished confidently.

"Well don't push him too hard, Ginny," Mr. Weasley replied. "He just needs time to figure things out on his own."

Ginny nodded. Her dad was probably right. At least, she hoped he was right. She and Draco had been acting totally normally around each other since their less-than-loving night following the welcome-home dinner. In fact, Draco even seemed slightly more attentive and affectionate than usual. Things were normal between them, with one notable exception. They carefully avoided discussing Ron, Hermione, and especially Harry.

Ginny frowned. For the past three weeks she'd been walking on pins with everyone – Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco – and she was determined that it wasn't going to go on any longer. Her resolve strengthened, she took a last gulp of tea and magicked it clean with a quick flick of her wand.

"Is Ron upstairs?" she asked.

Mr. Weasley nodded. "In his room."

"Thanks for the tea," Ginny said, giving her parents quick pecks on the cheek.

She took the stairs two at a time, but paused when she reached Ron's upper-level room. The room was filled with memories of her and Draco; it was strange that it was Ron's again. She heard voices inside, and with a quick knock, opened the door.

"Ginny!" Hermione shrieked. Ginny caught a glimpse of a very shirtless Hermione sitting astride her brother and almost retched right there and then.

"Bloody hell!" she exclaimed, throwing an arm over her eyes and turning around as quickly as she could. "You could at least put a bloody locking charm on the door!"

"You could bloody well knock!" Ron countered over the sounds of frantic dressing.

"I did knock!" Ginny insisted. "Actually, we can talk later, I'll just go," she added, trying to locate the doorknob without taking her hands off her eyes.

"Well you've already ruined it," Ron muttered. "Might as well say what you have to say."

"You can turn around now, by the way," Hermione added.

"Are you sure about that?" Ginny said, peering hesitantly out from behind her hand-shield. "That first glimpse nearly blinded me…I don't think my eyes can take another dose of horror."

"We are so, so sorry, Ginny," Hermione said, and Ginny saw that her face was bright red. "I really should have put a charm on the door, but I was stupid and just forgot."

Ginny couldn't help chuckling a little at the older girl's absolutely mortified expression. "Psh," she said, waving it off, "I grew up with six brothers, remember? Trust me, I've seen worse. Never out of this one," she gestured to Ron, "which is particularly horrifying, I'll admit, but still. Nothing I can't handle."

"However, I would like to know what exactly is going on here," she added. "Are you two together now? I won't say I'm surprised, Harry and I were taking bets on it in my fifth year."

"Well, yes, we are dating, as you can see," Hermione said sheepishly.

Ginny snorted. "Oh, I saw alright," she quipped.

Ron, who had been silent up to this point, snorted. Hermione giggled a little nervously. And suddenly all three of them were laughing uncontrollably, and Ron was actually wiping a tear from his eye. Ginny collapsed into the desk chair.

"I think, Ron," she managed to gasp between bouts of laughter, "that there ought to be some sort of penalty for corrupting your little sister in this manner."

"Oh, you were corrupted long ago," Ron replied. "By bloody Dean if I remember correctly. You know, I don't think we Weasley brothers intimidated him as much as he deserved." He sighed reflectively.

"Trust me, Dean Thomas and I never got anywhere near what you were just doing with little miss prim over there," Ginny said.

"Hey!" Hermione cried, throwing a pillow in Ginny's direction.

"But, like I said," Ginny said quickly, "Hardly the worst I've seen."

"Oh, do you remember when we walked in on Bill – ?" Ron said, a wide grin on his face.

"With Olivia – ?" Ginny added.

"In Charlie's bed!" Ron finished, bursting into a second round of uncontrollable laughter. Ginny covered her face and gasped for breath as she convulsed with silent laughter.

"Wait, wait, wait," Hermione said, eyes wide, "Bill had sex with someone in Charlie's bed!"

Ginny nodded, still trying to control herself. "And then Charlie cursed him so he couldn't ride a broom for two weeks!"

"I think you can imagine where that curse was aimed," Ginny managed to say.

"Oh my," Hermione said.

Recovering herself, Ginny saw that for the first time since their fight, Ron was smiling at her with genuine warmth. Another bubble of laughter welled up inside her as she realized that against all odds, walking in on one of her brothers having sex was actually having positive results. The tension between them was gone.

Ginny decided to go for broke. "I think we might need to have 'the talk,'" she said, and Ron snorted. "Maybe over dinner tomorrow? I was thinking you guys could meet Draco and me at the Leaky at six?"

Hermione's smile faltered just a little, and she glanced nervously at Ron. But Ron just regarded Ginny seriously for a moment, head cocked to one side. "You're trying awfully hard to get me to approve of this whole thing with Malfoy," he said. "If I recall correctly, when you started dating Dean you told me to go shove my approval where the sun don't shine." Ginny grinned at the memory. "Whatever happened to that?"

She shrugged. "He's important to me," she replied. "And you're my brother. I want you to at least attempt to get along."

"You're in love with him, are you?" Ron said, "How long have you been…together…anyway? Isn't it a bit early for him to be 'important to you?'"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Three years, Ron."

Ron sighed heavily. "Well. I'm going to think he's an absolute git until the day I die, but if this is as serious as you say, then I guess I'll have to learn to tolerate him."

Ginny nodded. "That's all I'm asking. Hermione?"

"I'll come," the older girl said. "Should we ask Harry to come along, or…?"

Ginny hesitated. "I thought that might be good," she said slowly. "What do you think?"

Ron and Hermione exchanged significant looks. "I'll ask him," Hermione said. "He's been keeping things kind of close to chest lately," she added. "But you know him…."

"He broods," Ron finished. "It'll be good to get him out into Diagon Alley."

"Where is he now, by the way?" Ginny asked.

"Went for a fly," Ron explained.

The were quiet for a moment. Then Hermione, looking thoughtful, broke the silence. "When you said earlier that we needed to have 'the talk'…what did you mean?"

Ginny looked at her friend, shocked. "Oh, you know," Ron said, "'the talk'…like about sex? That parents give their children?"

"Oh! That!" Hermione said, "I've never heard it called that."

"What in Merlin's name did you call it?" Ron said, incredulous.

"Oh, I don't know," Hermione replied. "My parents never called it anything. It just was." She reflected for a moment. "I wonder what Harry did about that."

"What d'ya mean?" Ron asked curiously.

"Well, you know," Hermione said, "parents are usually the ones who give…'the talk'…and I doubt his aunt and uncle were forthcoming about the topic. I just wonder if…you know…he knows what's what."

Both Ron and Hermione turned simultaneously to look at Ginny.

"Hey! Don't look at me!" she said. She stood and went to the door. "I don't know anything about it," she added, giving them a sly grin as she left the room.

Ginny dropped the bomb as soon Draco came home from work that evening.

"Hey," she said, looking up from her paperwork as he walked through the door and set his briefcase on the kitchen table. "How was your day?"

"All right," Draco replied, leaning down to kiss her on the forehead. "I filed six different reports incorrectly, and Rickins was really on my case about it, but not nearly as bad as it was when I got to Rainiers." He sighed and flopped down beside her on the sofa. "How was your day? Just working on lesson plans?"

"Not yet," Ginny replied, gesturing to her papers. "Just looking over the enrollment lists, trying to figure out what in the world I got myself into." She laughed. "Anyway, I went back home today and told Mum and Dad the good news. They were thrilled, of course. I saw Ron and Hermione as well – walked in on them shagging, actually."

Draco's eyes widened and he put his hands to his ears. "Wait, wait, wait," he spluttered, "No details. Granger and your git of a brother in any kind of compromising situation is not an image I want to have in my head. Bloody hell!"

Ginny laughed and stretched her legs comfortably across his. "Well," she added, as nonchalantly as she could, "You're going to have to stop referring to him exclusively as 'my git of a brother' because we're having dinner with them and Harry tomorrow."

Draco sobered immediately and narrowed his eyes at her. She smiled innocently. "Absolutely not," he said. "I am not subjecting myself to an unbearably awkward hour of lunch with those three do-gooders."

Ginny pouted and scooted closer to him, draping her arm around his shoulder. "Awww, come on…it's only one hour, and it's important to me."

Draco rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. "You can spend as much time with them as you want – I'm letting you do that, aren't I? And that's more than most Slytherins would do, let me tell you."

Ginny scowled at him. "Well I'm not a Slytherin, so you're going to have to do better than that, mister."

"All right, all right, don't get worked up," Draco said, "I don't want to fight about this. But I'm not going. I'm sorry. I don't enjoy their company, and they don't enjoy mine. It's a waste of time, Ginny."

"Look, Draco," Ginny began. "You're part of my life, and so are they. We've been avoiding talking about them for weeks now, and it's getting ridiculous. Ron's my brother, and if Ron can ever get his bloody act together Hermione's going to be my sister soon. They're family, Draco. Can't you at least try?"

"Your brother and Granger I can sort of understand," Draco replied. "They're family, and even though I don't necessarily understand it, I respect your desire to be extremely close to your family. But Potter? Why in Merlin's name do I need to try to get along with him?"

"Because he's my friend! And whether you like it or not, he did just save the entire Wizarding world. Can't you respect him for that? I know you don't like him, but…."

"Look, Ginny," Draco said, his voice rising with exasperation, "not liking him is not the issue! Merlin knows I think he's a right git – prancing around like he's better than everybody else – but I could at least tolerate him if it wasn't…if I wasn't afraid…." He stopped short, pursing his lips as though physically keeping the words in.

Ginny looked at him curiously, hoping he would continue, but when he didn't she sat up straight and swung her leg around to straddle his thighs. "Hey, hey, hey," she said soothingly, taking his face between her hands, "Talk to me. If it wasn't for what?"

"It's nothing," Draco said, looking determinedly at a point above her right shoulder.

"We can talk about this, Draco," Ginny insisted. "You just have to articulate what the problem is. What are you afraid of?"

"It's nothing," he repeated.

Ginny sighed wearily. "Then will you please come to the dinner? I give you leave to hate every second of it. Just please come…for me?"

Draco met her gaze. "Well what else am I supposed to do when you make that impossibly sad face?" He rolled his eyes, and Ginny grinned.

"Thank you," she said, tilting her neck to kiss him deeply. He returned the kiss, but just as she was about to move things farther along, he pulled away.

"Well, we should start making dinner, don't you think?" he said lightly, nudging her off his lap and standing.

"Mmm, good idea," Ginny agreed. But she knew that they were leaving issues unresolved, and she wondered how long it would take for them to come bubbling to the surface.

The next day found Ginny waiting a little apprehensively at a back table in the Leaky Cauldron. She'd found a relatively secluded spot and had ordered five pints.

"Ginny!"

Ginny turned to see a waving Hermione, holding hands with Ron and weaving between the tables.

"Are these for us?" Ron said, sliding into the booth and immediately taking a gulp of ale.

"Yeah," Ginny affirmed, returning Hermione's greeting hug. "Where's Harry?"

"Oh," Hermione said, rolling her eyes and waving a hand as if it was a very long story. "He said he can't make it. Apparently he's got an interview or something."

"An interview?" Ginny replied, taking a sip of her own ale. "For what?"

"Won't tell us," Ron explained. "I think he's worried that giving me details will just start me lecturing him again about not taking Shacklebolt's offer with me."

"Oh, Ron," Hermione said, "You shouldn't be so hard on him."

"Wait, wait," Ginny interrupted, "You got an offer from Shacklebolt? To what, join the Ministry?"

"The Aurors," Ron said shortly.

"Wow, Ron! That's amazing!"

"Apparently I'm the only one who thinks so," Ron grumbled. "This one's not taking it either," he said, jerking a thumb at Hermione, who rolled her eyes.

"Well I considered going back to Hogwarts for a while. You know, to finish my N.E.W.T.S.," she said, turning to Ginny. Ron shot her a significant look at the last bit, and Ginny grinned. "But I decided that I'm taking a job at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. You know I've always been really passionate about house elves, specifically, with S.P.E.W. and all…I just can't turn it down."

"Well that's really great, Hermione," Ginny said, touching her friend's arm. "I'm really pleased for you."

"Thank you," Hermione beamed. "But I was telling Ron that he really shouldn't be so hard on Harry. I think he's just really exhausted. He'll join the Aurors after he has a little bit of a rest, I'm sure of it. He's not going to be able to live with all those dark wizards still being out there." She punctuated her statement with a determined nod.

Ron sighed theatrically. "I know. I just don't fancy going through training without him, that's all. Where's Malfoy, by the way? Decided not to come, has he?"

"Well don't get too excited," Ginny said dryly. "He's heading here from Gringotts when he gets off work."

Just then, Ginny spotted Draco coming into the pub. He was dressed in an impeccably fitted suit, and Ginny watched amusedly as two witches at the bar gave him the once over and retreated, giggling, behind their hands.

"Hey, sorry I'm late," Draco said, giving Ginny a peck on the cheek and sliding into the booth beside her. "Meeting went a little long. Where's Potter?"

"Had an interview," Ginny said. Draco didn't ask anymore questions, just nodded. "So," Ginny added, turning back to face Ron and Hermione across the table. "What does everyone want to eat?"

"Do they still have that…oh, you know, that meat pie thing here?" Ron said.

"No, they got rid of it," Draco replied easily, scanning the menu.

"What!" Ron said incredulously, "That was the best thing here!"

"Couldn't agree more," Draco answered, looking up with a resigned smile. "I used to beg my mother to let me get it everytime we came to Diagon. But when I came here last week for lunch, they told me they took it off the menu."

"It's a bloody shame," he and Ron said simultaneously. Draco smirked, and Ginny watched in awe as Ron grinned back widely.

"I would recommend the fish and chips, though. It's hardly a substitute, but it's not half bad," Draco said.

"All right," Ron said, standing to order at the bar.

"I think we need another round," Draco said. "I'll come help you. What would you like to eat, Hermione?"

Hermione looked rather taken aback at Draco's politeness. "Umm…," she said, running her finger down the menu. "I'll just have the salad? With dressing on the side?"

Draco nodded and turned to Ginny. "Gin? Turkey club?"

"As always," Ginny confirmed, grinning and raising her eyebrows at him. She could tell he was trying hard to get along with Ron and Hermione, and it made her chest swell with appreciation. Draco shrugged and gave her a quick wink as he followed Ron to the bar.

As soon as they walked into their apartment and shut the door behind them, Ginny pounced on Draco, tackling him to the floor.

"You," she said, planting kisses on his lips to punctuate her words, "Are. The. Most. Amazing. Wizard. And. Boyfriend. Ever."

"Mmm," Draco said, kissing her back vigorously. "If I'd known I was going to be rewarded, I wouldn't have been so reluctant to go."

Ginny laughed, moving her kisses to his neck. "I know you didn't want to go, but it means a lot to me that you made an effort. And I think it went really well, too!"

"Hey, haven't I told you never to doubt my charms?" Draco teased, rolling over to pin her beneath him.

"Yes, you have," Ginny said. She looked him straight in the eye and smiled. "Thank you," she said seriously.

Draco smirked in that irresistible way of his. "You're welcome."

The next few days went by too quickly, and before she knew it, Ginny's suitcases were packed and she was heading off to Hogwarts.

"You go settle in," Draco said, kissing her deeply, "and then tomorrow we can have dinner and I'll sleep over, how's that?"

"Okay," Ginny said, "Sounds good. I'll see you then. Don't let this apartment become a pigsty while I'm gone," she added.

Draco snorted. "It'll be a lot cleaner now you're moving out, trust me."

"Hmph," Ginny said, making a face. "Well, I'd better go. I've got three jumps to make, and I have to be there by nine."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Good luck!"

Ginny left the apartment feeling half-wistful, half-giddy. She'd always known that the job at the International Academy was a temporary thing, but this professorship at Hogwarts? This could become her permanent career. Exhaling, Ginny held on to her suitcase and made the first Apparition.

"Mindy here will show you to your rooms. Take the next half hour to settle in. Our first staff meeting is at nine forty-five."

"Thank you, Minerva," Ginny said, standing and shaking McGonagall's hand.

"This way, Miss Weasley," said a plump young house elf at Ginny's knee. Ginny followed Mindy down the stairs, charming her suitcase to levitate a foot behind her.

They walked down two flights of stairs and through several hallways, and Ginny was hit with a wave of nostalgia. She hadn't walked through this castle in over four years. Finally they arrived before an oak door with a disproportionately large doorknob right in its center.

"After you, Miss," Mindy squeaked. Ginny opened the door into a spacious room; the walls were panelled with dark wood, and the floor was a soft burgundy carpet. A small sofa and two armchairs stood around a coffee table in one corner, and there were several bookshelves and a dresser against one wall. At the back of the room was a large, luxurious-looking canopy bed. Ginny grinned.

"The door to the left leads to the loo, Miss," Mindy explained. "And that pulley there," she said, indicating a cord hanging near the sofa, "rings a bell down in the kitchens. If you need any assistance with cleaning or would like to eat in your rooms instead of in the Great Hall, any of us elves would be happy to help. You may ring at any time."

"Thank you, Mindy," Ginny said.

"If there's nothing else, I shall let the young miss get comfortable. Goodbye." And with that, Mindy left the room.

Ginny spent the next half hour inspecting her new room and unpacking her suitcase. She made a mental note to go into Hogsmeade and buy a teapot and cups. She didn't want to bother the house elves every time she wanted a late-night mug of tea.

When the clock on the wall said nine thirty, Ginny headed down to the Great Hall, setting up quick locking wards on her way out.

The hall was already milling with witches and wizards, some of whom Ginny recognized from her own time as a student here. She spent a good amount of time chatting happily with Madam Hooch, and she saw Trelawney talking animatedly to an uncomfortable-looking Madam Pomfrey across the room.

At nine forty-five, Professor McGonagall clapped her hands for attention. "Hello, hello," she began. "And welcome to our new term here at Hogwarts. As you all know, this is a very important year for us. It is our first term since the defeat of the Dark Lord, and as such, it is our duty to usher in a new era of safety and learning. I trust that all of you will take this duty very seriously. Unfortunately, many of the students who will be coming into our care this year have experienced a great deal of suffering during the past four years. Many of them have experienced terrible loss and overwhelming fear, and some have even been physically abused by Death Eaters within these very walls. It will be our job to care for these students, and so we will spend much of the morning outlining the practices that I hope and expect you will implement to help these students deal with what they have been through."

She paused to let the import of this speech sink in.

"But first," she continued, smiling for the first time since she had begun speaking, "There are a few new faces joining our staff this term. And I expect that they will need all the help they can get," she added wryly. There was a ripple of laughter around the room, and Madam Hooch patted Ginny good-naturedly on the shoulder.

"First, Mr. Tiberius Green will be taking over my previous position of Transfiguration professor." Ginny turned to clap politely for a squat, bearded man dressed in green robes to match his name.

"Secondly, we have Miss Ginevra Weasley joining us in the post of Charms professor." Ginny grinned widely and gave a little wave as the other professors clapped for her.

"And lastly, as more recent addition to our staff," McGonagall continued, but suddenly, Ginny wasn't listening. Trelawney had shifted a little, and Ginny had caught sight of the man standing behind her beside a towering Hagrid. He was staring straight at her, his bright green eyes wide with surprise.

Through the haze, Ginny heard McGonagall confirm what she was too shocked to process.

"The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor will be filled by Mr. Harry Potter."

Author's Note: CLIFFIE! Were any of you expecting that as you read the chapter? Thank you guys so much for the amazing reviews of the last two chapters – we have some very passionate shippers out there :) Keep 'em coming! Also, I go back to school in two days, so the next chapter might take a little longer to post…more reviews would be a great motivator though, nudge nudge :)