It took all of Ginny's willpower to roll over and turn off the muggle alarm clock that her dad had repaired for her. 'Repaired'. Ginny snorted, more than likely the thing was empty on the inside and ran solely on magic. Ginny made to sit up and immediately regretted it. She couldn't remember everything she had had to drink, but she had clearly had too much of it.

Ginny laid back down on her back, groping around for the bottle of hangover portion she knew was in her nightstand. The motion nearly caused her to lose what little she had in her stomach. Ginny finally found the small bottle and downed it in one go. "Oh, thank Merlin." Whispered Ginny fervently. The relief from the potion was immediate.

She racked her brain as she got ready, trying to remember just what had happened the night before. Her and Ernie had finally closed their case on the gang that had produced most of the potions and poisons that Voldemort and his death eaters had used. She grinned at the thought. In the 8 months since the Ginny's admittance to the auror corps, she had fought in several battles, seen the end of the war and now she had closed her first case. It had been a big deal for her and Ernie and they had gone out to celebrate. She remembered being at the Leaky and then at some muggle establishment, but after that it was nothing but a blur.

She sighed and set about finishing up. Ginny knew she still looked a bit pale (which was saying something for her) and peaky. She decided that she didn't really care. Ginny figured that Robards would let her appearance slide a bit in light of her recent solve, and set off for the Ministry.

Stepping into the auror's office, the first thing she saw was the pale caricature of Ernie MacMillan.

" 'Lo Ginny." Said Ernie miserably.

"What's the matter Ernie, no hangover potion this morning?" Asked Ginny. Ernie groaned in response. "Suz wouldn't let me. Says its my punishment for missing the toilet when I was throwing up last night."

Ginny clucked in sympathy. Yet another reason she generally avoided significant romantic entanglements. Too many expectations.

"Well, I know that Mills keeps a secret stash on her desk. I'd go beg some off her."

Ernie perked up and looked longingly over at Mills desk, which was currently unoccupied.

"Yeah, maybe I will. Robards wants to see us right away, but maybe I can –"

Ernie was cut off by a yell that originated from the direction of the Head Auror's office.

"WEASLEY, MACMILLAN, MY OFFICE NOW"

Ginny winced. That did not sound like a happy yell.

"Soooo, I'm guessing that this isn't about what a great job we did on our case?" Asked Ginny, hoping she was wrong.

Ernie, if anything, looked even more pale. "Ginny I just remembered-"

"NOW, YOU TWO." Came Robards tell again.

Ginny and Ernie looked at each other before hurrying over to the office. They found Robards pacing inside his office. He looked up at their entry, angrily gesturing with his wand to slam the door behind them.

Ginny looked over the Head Auror. Gawain Robards was a survivor. An auror after the likes of Mad Eye Moody. He had fought against Voldemort for the entirety of the war and had suffered for it, losing his left hand and many friends. He was straight forward and seemed almost incapable of deceit. The epitome of a fighter made into a leader. And now he looked angrier than she had ever seen him. He didn't invite them to sit.

"What were you two thinking?"

The question was quiet. Deadly. Ginny definitely preferred the shouting. Ernie had started shaking but Ginny didn't understand what the big deal was. So, they had gotten a little drunk. If that were an issue, then every auror alive would be joining her for this lecture.

"Sir." Ginny began, "I don't see what the big deal is. We had just closed a major case after months of work. We just needed to let off a little steam!" Ginny finished somewhat heatedly.

Robards just stared.

"So, you definition of letting of some stream is picking a fight with a bunch of muggles and then cursing them in the middle of the street?" Asked Robards.

And suddenly the memories were back. Or flashes of them. A large angry man, drinks spilling. Then out in the street, spells flying. Bodies on the ground.

"We…no..oh no no no nonono" Ernie was murmuring,

Ginny stood there stunned. It couldn't have happened. No. They didn't drink that much did they? She never lost control like that! Had she had just thrown their careers away? 8 months as aurors. Her and Ernie had probably just set the record for shortest auror tenure in the history of the department.

"I should throw you out on your asses. Hell, I should bring charges against you. Do you realize the damage you've done? We just finished a war meant to show that the ministry would not stand for the magical abuse of muggles. And its even worse given your father's position, Weasley. Do you realize how fragile we are right now? If this gets out it could undermine EVERYTHING that we have FOUGHT FOR!" Gawain finished with a yell.

This was too much for Ernie, who leaned forward and vomited straight onto the floor of Robards office.

Robards watched with disgust as Ernie vanished the mess.

"Get out of my office MacMillan. Now." Said Robards softly. Ginny stayed behind as Ernie hurried out of the office. "Sir, I just want to say how sorry both of us. We would…we would never have done something like this…I'm sorry sir, I can't tell you how ashamed I am, and I know Ernie feels the same." Ginny said, near tears. She prided herself on not being an easy crier, but the emotional rollercoaster of the morning was proving almost too much.

Robards grunted in response.

Taking it as a sign of encouragement, Ginny pressed forward. "Sir, did you say that this hasn't been reported yet?"

Robards eyed her critically, then nodded grudgingly. "The Prophet hasn't found out yet and we may be able to keep it out of the papers. It's the only reason you're still allowed in the ministry employee entrance."

Ginny blanched at that.

"If, IF, we can contain this disaster, you may yet keep your job. Now get out of my sight. I'm tired of seeing your face. I'll send a message when a decision has been reached."

Ginny wobbled back to her desk in a haze. Robrads hadn't told her she had to leave the office, so she was going to wait right there. She figured it might be the last time she was allowed, so she would enjoy it while she could.

Ernie joined her. They didn't speak. The rest of the day was spent in a cloud of depression. She mostly ignored the other aurors that came to offer their condolences. And glared at the aurors that came to have fun at their expense.

It was near the end of the day and Ginny had become positive that Robards was intentionally letting them stew. She couldn't fault him for it. They deserved it, she thought dejectedly.

Finally, after what felt like years, an owl swooped overhead, dropping a letter on Ginny's lap. Another landed on Ernie's a moment latter.

"Must have thought we went home." Rasped Ginny. It was the first thing that she had said in hours, and despite the hangover potion, she still wasn't fully recovered from the night before. She wondered how poor Ernie was dealing with his hangover.

Ernie stood from his seat and offered his hand to Ginny to help her up. She ignored it and stood on her own.

Ginny took a deep, steadying breath and looked over at Ernie.

"Are you ready?" She asked.

Ernie nodded, though Ginny thought he still looked a little green, and together they started over towards Robards office. The walk past the large, postered covered cubicles and desks made her realize just how little time she had been an auror. Ginny hadn't even decorated her cubicle. Seven years at Hogwarts, two long years of training at the auror academy, a year as a trainee, and it was all going to be for nothing.

The walk to Robards office may have taken an eternity. It seemed that the door got farther away with each step that she took towards it. And then she was there. Ginny's heart was beating out of her chest. She couldn't breathe. Ernie reached forward and rapped on the door, and together they waited.

"Enter." Came Robards call.

Ernie and Ginny shuffled into the room, heads hung and fearing the worst.

"Sit"

Ernie and Ginny sat.

Robards looked them over, contemplating. Then he spoke.

"You will both remain in the department as full-fledged aurors"

Ginny couldn't believe her ears. Relief poured through her body and her limbs seemed to go slack. Ernie leaned back in his chair with a breath that seemed to come all the way from his toes.

"You were both lucky. DMLE officers were able to smooth things over and obliviate all the muggles involved. The Prophet never found out, and neither did the heads of the ministry. We got very very lucky."

Ginny chanced a grin at Ernie who smiled back weakly.

"You two, however, are not going to get off so easily. I'm taking you off all your active cases. You'll both serve a two-week unpaid suspension, and when you come back you are on close personal protection until I say otherwise." Said Robards evenly.

"Close personal protection? You mean Babysitting." Groaned Ginny.

"Do you have a problem with that Weasley?" Asked Robards icily.

"Ah, no sir, I meant Babysitting! Yay!" Responded Ginny weakly, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her voice. She knew that this was a best-case scenario for them; if things had gone differently she would be on her way out of the auror's office for the last time. The thought did make her appreciate the assignment a bit more.

"Sir, have you decided who we will be assigned to protect?" Asked Ernie, shooting a warning glance at Ginny.

"Yes, MacMillan, and you and Weasley here will be taking alternating shifts, so I suggest you say goodbye now." Said Robards. Robards sat back down and began pulling some parchment towards him, probably to write a memo regarding their suspensions.

"Sir, can I ask who we will be assigned too?" Asked Ernie.

Robards looked up with a small, cold smile.

"The worst detail I could find." Robards paused to let that sink in.

"Harry Potter"