This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter universe, which are trademarked by J.K. Rowling. I do not claim ownership of these characters nor the locations such as Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, etc. that are Rowling's creations.
I thank Rowling for the universe she has created that allows me to do something like this for my own entertainment and, hopefully, the entertainment of the readers.
"Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley," the smartly dressed man at the door announced formally as the couple stepped inside, arm in arm as they entered the vast and glittering ballroom.
"I wish they wouldn't do that," Harry muttered as they walked further inside, many heads having turned to see them at the sound of the greeter's voice. "There really is no sense of subtlety in the Wizarding world, is there?"
Ginny giggled. "Relax, Harry," she said, poking him playfully in the arm. "He does that for everyone. Besides, in a place like this nobody even cares that much, everyone's a dignitary. Anyway, imagine how hard it must be for the guy at the door to stand there all evening shouting people's names and not being able to join the party."
Harry shrugged at that, admitting that it did sound like a rather tedious job to be stuck with.
"Harry, Ginny," Ron called over to them, grabbing their attention as he led Josephine towards them, the young woman dressed in a beautiful and simplistic gold dress.
"Hey Ron, Josephine," Harry said as they got into hearing range.
"Oh, Josephine, you look fantastic," Ginny gushed, causing the younger girl to blush prettily.
"Thanks Ginny," she said with a small smile. "You look incredible too. I just love your dress, who made it?"
Ginny was about to answer before Harry spoke up, puffing his chest out dramatically. "Ron, absolutely splendid to see you good fellow," Harry said exuberantly, shaking his hand enthusiastically. "I must say, you look absolutely dashing in that suit."
"Thank you, good sir, as do you," Ron replied, quickly catching on to the joke. "Might I inquire over the maker of that fine suit you're wearing? Italian, if I'm not mistaken."
"Indeed," Harry replied, ignoring the exasperated look he was getting from Ginny. "Of course, Italian is always the finest and most in keeping for an event such as this." It was at this point that both he and Ron broke down in laughter, dropping the act they were putting on as their respective dates looked at them with amused yet exasperated looks.
"A little bit of advice," Ginny said to Josephine. "Never let yourself get stuck alone with these two."
"Aww, you don't mean that," Ron pouted, drawing a scowl from his sister that made him quickly rethink his position. To divert any possibility of a fight between the siblings Harry quickly lent in and placed a kiss upon Ginny's cheek, forcing the scowl into an unwilling smile.
"Seriously though," Harry said, turning back to Ron and Josephine. "The two of you look great."
"You too man," Ron said, giving Harry a soft punch to the arm.
"Boys," Ginny said to Josephine in a stage whisper, rolling her eyes and causing Josephine to let out a little giggle. "Come on Josephine, let's go get some champaign, I think I saw a waiter walking round with a tray of glasses."
Ginny quickly led Josephine away through the crowd and soon they were out of sight, the ball room getting more and more full as more of the attendees were ushered through the door.
"You and Josephine look good together," Harry noted, catching Ron's attention. "How are things going with you two?"
"They're going well," Ron nodded confidently. "I mean, she's a wonderful person. She's so nice and sweet, and really understanding. I try not to let my frustrations at work intrude on our dates but when it does she is so good about it and I always seem to end the evening completely stress free."
"I can imagine," Harry said, grinning suggestively at Ron.
"Not that," Ron admonished him. "Well, sometimes that," he corrected himself, a small smile crossing his lips. "But, you know, that's not the important thing about a relationship, is it. I always thought the physical part was so important but now I see that as long as you've got the emotional part the physical part will come on its own."
"It's hardly a surprise this is your first serious relationship," Harry mused. "If you are really serious about a girl then sex is a secondary issue. Although it is nice when your girlfriend is good at that too, like mine is."
"Harry, that's my sister you're talking about," Ron told him, pulling a face at the very idea.
"I know," Harry replied, spotting the girls talking some distance away, champaign glasses held in each hand. "I just wanted to see if I could slip that in without you noticing."
"Right," Ron said warily, glancing over to see Ginny and Josephine making their way back. "Listen, don't tell Ginny what I've said, okay. This is going really well for me and I don't want to mess it up by getting too many people involved."
"Ron, Ron, Ron," Harry said, shaking his head despairingly. "Everything you've told me, Ginny already knows."
"How?" Ron demanded, eyes wide, glaring at Harry accusingly.
"Ron," Harry chuckled. "Why do you think Ginny had Josephine come get drinks with her?"
"Hey, we're back," Ginny announced as she and Josephine reached them, the girls handing their respective dates a glass of champaign. Accepting his glass, Harry kissed Ginny softly on the lips, before pulling away to see Ron's astonished expression relax as Josephine kissed him on the cheek.
"Did you girls have a nice chat?" Harry asked, glancing discretely at Ron as he spoke.
"Oh, you know, girl stuff," Ginny told him, her eyes glittering mischievously. "And what about you two?"
Harry gave her a joking shrug. "Guy stuff," he replied, earning himself a grin from his girlfriend.
"Let's go," Ron said quietly to Josephine, taking hold of her arm and lightly applying pressure. "We're just blurry shapes to them now."
"Are you sure?" Josephine asked worriedly, glancing at the couple and noting that they did seem to be rather oblivious to the world around them. "Shouldn't we tell them we're going?"
Ron shook his head. "Trust me, they've been going out for two years, I've seen this before," Ron warned her. "They could go on like this for hours, better to just leave them to it."
Conceding to his superior knowledge on the subject Josephine allowed Ron to lead her away, the couple wandering aimlessly through the mass of people arm in arm as they watched out for anyone they knew.
"Ron, Josephine, there you are," Hermione said happily, appearing before them in her beautiful silver dress. "How are you?"
"We're good, Hermione," Ron replied, smiling at her. "You look really nice tonight."
Hermione blushed. "Thank you, Ron," she said. "You look very handsome tonight too. And Josephine," Hermione turned to her, eyeing up her outfit. "That dress is wonderful, and it suits you so well."
"Thank you, Hermione," Josephine said, starting to get used to the compliments but still loving them when they were directed at her. In particular she appreciated them coming from Hermione, the usually bushy haired girl having always been really nice to her since the very first day they'd met.
"Ah, hello there," a big man appeared behind Hermione, his tall stature complimented by incredibly broad shoulders. "Hermione, why don't you introduce me to your friends."
Hermione smiled, although both Ron and Josephine could tell it was a bit forced. "Of course," she said sweetly, her experience as press secretary keeping her voice positive. "Ron, Josephine, this is my date tonight, Cormac McLaggen."
"How'd you do," Cormac said politely, shaking hands with each of them.
"Cormac works in the Department for the Care and Control of Magical Creatures," Hermione continued.
"Senior Undersecretary to the Deputy Head of the Department for the Care and Control of Magical Creatures," Cormac added, puffing himself up proudly at the title.
"Yes," Hermione said. "Anyway, this is Ron Weasley, the Political Strategies Director, and this is his date Josephine Fairchild, who works with the independent wildlife group 'Run Free' campaigning against magical creatures being unfairly kept in captivity."
"Pleasure to meet you," Ron said politely as Josephine smiled at him.
"Fairchild?" Cormac said thoughtfully. "As in Cliff Fairchild, the man who murdered Bellatrix LeStrange?"
Josephine looked down at the ground. "Yes, he's my father," she said quietly.
"Oh," Cormac said dumbly. "Right." He turned to Hermione. "I saw Bertie Filbert back there, why don't I introduce you," he said, glancing with slight concern at Ron's thunderous expression.
"Alright," Hermione said tightly, somehow managing to restrain herself. "I'll be with you in a moment." Cormac grunted before he moved off into the crowd, people parting before him as he approached. As soon as he was out of earshot Hermione turned to Josephine. "I'm so sorry," she said frantically. "I never thought he'd say something like that."
"It's alright, Hermione," Josephine said quietly, waving her off. "It's not your fault, don't worry about it."
"What are you doing with a guy like that?" Ron said loudly, still glaring at the back of Cormac's head. "What an idiot."
"I'm sorry, Ron, I didn't know he was like this," Hermione told him, desperate for him to understand. "I just needed a date for this event and Demelza said she'd heard he was looking for one too." Hermione looked behind her sadly. "Now I see why."
"Ron, it's not her fault," Josephine said quietly, placing a hand gently on his arm. Looking into her eyes Ron seemed physically calmed.
"Sorry," he said quietly, thanking Josephine for her steadying presence. "And sorry to you too, Hermione," he continued. "I know it's not your fault he's such an arse. Just, you know, don't let Demelza set you up with anyone ever again."
Hermione smiled at that, but her good mood was quickly ended as Cormac called for her. Glancing over her shoulder to where Cormac was waiting, Hermione sighed.
"Again, I'm really sorry," she said to Josephine as she walked off towards Cormac, well aware that behind her Ron was no doubt still glaring at her date.
"What a wanker," Ron muttered under his breath. "I can't believe he'd say that to you. Who does he think he is?"
"Senior Undersecretary to the Deputy Head of the Department for the Care and Control of Magical Creatures," Josephine recited cheekily, causing Ron to bristle. "It doesn't matter," she soothed, trying to calm Ron down.
"Doesn't matter," Ron repeated. "Yes, Josephine, it does. That he'd even have the nerve to say such a thing, and at an event like this when you're here as my guest."
"Ron," Josephine said firmly, trying to slow him down mid rant. "Yes, what he did was wrong. But lets not let him ruin the evening. His opinion means nothing to me, yours does."
Ron seemed to visibly deflate as her words got through to him. "You're right," he admitted. "Who cares what he thinks?"
"That's the spirit," Josephine replied, a smile back on her face. "Look, there's Neville, why don't we go say hello?"
"Alright," Ron said, letting the matter go as he took her arm and led her through the crowd, smiling at people he recognised as he went.
"Hey, there he is," Harry said excitedly as he caught a glimpse of his target through the crowd. "Finally, I thought he'd never turn up. Come with me Ginny, there is someone I want you to meet."
"Who?" Ginny asked, but Harry didn't answer, instead choosing to lead her through the crowd as he tried not to lose sight of his target. Eventually Harry found himself face to face with his friend, a small circle of space having formed around him and his date.
"Griphook, so glad you could make it," Harry said, shaking the goblins hand as he grinned back at him. "I'd like to introduce you to someone," he said, moving to let Ginny step forward, still holding firmly onto her hand. "This is my girlfriend, Ginny Weasley," he introduced, smiling at the slightly surprised Ginny. "Ginny, this is Griphook, a good friend of mine. We've been working together a lot recently on the new finance council."
"Yes, I remember you telling me," Ginny replied, turning to Griphook. "It's very nice to meet you, sir."
Griphook nodded respectfully back. "Likewise," he replied before turning to his date for the evening. "Let me introduce to you my mate, Nexsyl. She has been with me for over thirty-two years now."
"It's a pleasure," Harry said politely.
"Yes, Harry here is the Communications Director for the Ministry," Griphook introduced. "Although when we first met he was just going off to Hogwarts for the first time."
"Yes, that's true," Harry agreed. "I never would have expected that I'd have ever even ended up talking to you again Griphook, but I'm certainly glad that things turned out that way."
As Harry finished speaking it was heard from the door that the announcer welcomed the Minister and his wife to the ball, prompting everyone's attention to turn away from whatever they were doing to see them.
"Excuse me, Harry," Griphook said politely, taking hold of Nexsyl's hand. "I must thank the Minister for his invitation. I hope to see you again before the night is over."
"As do I," Harry replied as Griphook led his mate away and soon they disappeared into the crowd of bodies, the goblins standing far shorter than the other guests. Mere minutes after Griphook had left, Neville appeared, Alea holding onto his arm wearing a beautiful cream coloured dress.
"Hey Harry, Ginny, how are you doing?" Neville asked as he reached them, his face slightly flushed as he smiled widely.
"We're doing great," Harry told him. "We were actually just speaking to Griphook, have you seen him yet?"
"No, we hadn't even heard he'd arrived," Neville replied, glancing around as if he would suddenly just appear. "I heard he was bringing his mate with him."
"Nexsyl," Harry confirmed. "Yes, she's with him. Griphook's just talking with the Minister at the moment, but after that I'm sure he'd love to see you."
"Harry," Ginny said, nudging him in the side, but she was cut off as Ron and Josephine reached them.
"Hey guys, how's everything going?" Ron asked as he smiled at them.
"Great," Harry replied. "Although we were a bit surprised to find you'd left us back there."
Ron shrugged. "When you two get like that there is nothing and no one that'll get your attention again," he said simply.
"Ron," Josephine said quietly. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"
Ron looked around, puzzled by what she'd said, but Harry and Neville caught on.
"Oh, right, that's what you were going to say, wasn't it?" Harry asked Ginny, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face. "Ginny, this is Alea Reed. Alea, this is my girlfriend Ginny Weasley."
"Oh, and this is my girlfriend Josephine Fairchild," Ron said quickly, trying to cover up for the fact that he'd completely forgotten that they'd never met before.
"Pleasure to meet the two of you," Alea said politely. "I honestly thought the boys were never going to introduce us."
"Yes, well, that's why they need us, isn't it?" Ginny joked. "We need to hang around to keep these guys from hurting themselves too much." Neville seemed rather taken aback by the idea but both Harry and Ron just nodded reluctantly. "Anyway, Alea, you work in the Wizengamot, don't you?"
"Yes, I do," Alea told her. "Actually it was on Wizengamot business that I met Neville, although it was Harry I was actually doing business with. What do you do?" She asked, turning to include Josephine in the question.
"I work with 'Run Free'," Josephine told her, getting a nod of recognition. "My dad wanted me to go into sales like he did but my heart just wasn't in it."
"I make potions," Ginny spoke up. "My company are quite small but we're really proud of the quality of our potions. We're starting to grow quite a bit now so hopefully we'll one day be an international supplier."
"That's fantastic," Alea said, really interested by what was being said. "Do you do any exporting or are you just UK based for now?"
"For now, we're just UK," Ginny answered, the two woman getting lost in their own conversation as other conversations sprung up around them.
"I've got to go," Neville said, his expression grim. "My grandmother's here and if I don't spend enough time with her I'll never hear the end of it." Neville shook his head. "And I thought she was bad when we were at school," he muttered as he wandered off.
"Hey, look, the Minister is free," Ron said, pointing to where the Minister had seemed to extricate himself from a conversation with a member of the Wizengamot. "Let's go over and say hi."
"I can't," Josephine whispered, glancing around to make sure no one else could hear their conversation. "He's the Minister for Magic, and he's my boyfriend's dad. I can't talk to him."
"Sure you can," Ron assured her. "He's a very reasonable man. He doesn't have any problem with Harry going out with Ginny." Josephine looked over at Harry questioningly, to which Harry gave her an encouraging nod.
"And what about your mum?" Josephine continued, moving slightly to hide behind Ron as the Minister and his wife stepped closer. "She's not going to like me."
"Sure she will," Ron told her. "Believe me, she'll love you. I tell you, you come with me to talk to them right now and she will send you a box of homemade chocolates at the first excuse she can think of."
"It's true," Harry told her. "When she first met me she sent me Halloween chocolates."
Josephine glanced nervously from Harry to Ron and back again before finally giving a small nod. "Okay," she said quietly, seeming to be surprised by her own daring as she did. "I'll come with you, just don't leave me alone with them."
Ron chuckled. "Of course I won't," he said, giving Josephine a small peck on the cheek. "Harry, you coming?"
"No thanks," Harry said, glancing through the crowd. "I haven't seen Dennis yet so I'm going to try and find him."
"Alright, see you later," Ron replied, waving him off as he went searching for his deputy. Taking Josephine by the arm, Ron confidently led her forward through the crowd, making a bee-line straight for his parents.
"Minister, Mrs Weasley," Ron said respectfully, drawing the tiniest of smiles from his father. "I'd like to thank you for the invitation to this gathering and hope that the year to come is a fruitful one for both yourself and your family."
"And you thought you hadn't taught him any manners," the Minister joked, his wife slapping him on the arm. "The sentiments are returned, Ron," the Minister said, smiling widely as his gaze drifted to Josephine, who seemed like she wanted to be anywhere but where she was at that moment. "Who have we here?"
"Ah, yes," Ron said, turning to Josephine with a smile. "Minister, Mrs Weasley, I would like to introduce my girlfriend and date for the evening, Josephine Fairchild."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir, ma'am," Josephine said quietly, having to fight the strong impulse to give a bow or a curtsy or something.
"Josephine Fairchild," the Minister said thoughtfully, Josephine preparing herself for the inevitable mention of her father. "You work for an animal rights group, don't you?"
"Yes, sir," Josephine said quickly, incredibly relieved to find herself mistaken. "I work with 'Run Free' on ensuring magical creatures do not live lives in the captivity of irresponsible owners."
"A noble cause," the Minister said approvingly. "Well, feel free to check out our place any time, all we've got are the chickens. Unless of course they are magical creatures and no one has told us about it."
"No, sir, chickens aren't magical," Josephine said with a small smile.
"Are you sure?" the Minister asked cheerfully. "Because I eat the eggs they lay and my wife has assured me time and again that only a magical being could ever satisfy a Weasley boy's hunger."
"And I stand by that claim," Mrs Weasley said, giving her husband a look to stop talking. "Believe me, Josephine, you'll find out soon enough. That boy next to you is the worst."
"Hey," Ron said indignantly, gaining a look from both his parents. "Okay, fine, it's true, but couldn't you have just let her find that out for herself?"
The Minister chuckled. "Josephine, would you mind if I stole your date for a few minutes?" he asked. "I need to speak to him on Ministry business."
"Of course," Josephine said quickly, knowing better than to stand in his way but looking absolutely terrified at the prospect of being left alone with her boyfriend's mother. The Minister gave her a reassuring smile before leading Ron a distance away, finding a quiet corner to speak where they could still see their respective partners.
"So, Ron, how are you doing?" the Minister asked, regarding his son with interest.
"Em, fine," Ron answered awkwardly, wondering where the Minister was going with his train of thought. "Sorry, sir, didn't you say there was Ministry business you had to talk to me about?"
"I did," the Minister agreed. "And I lied. I just wanted to see how you were doing." The Minister glanced past the crowds to where his wife was speaking with Josephine. "She seems nice," he said, nodding approvingly.
"She is," Ron agreed, following his fathers gaze as he took the opportunity to marvel in his girlfriend's beauty. "By the way, thanks for slipping in that bit about her job," he said gratefully. "She gets a bit insecure about her work so to know that the Minister is aware of her job and supports it is a real boost for her self-esteem."
"That's good," the Minister agreed. "I didn't quite get her job right though, did I? I mean, Harry mentioned to me some time ago of what it was but the details escape me."
"Wait, why were you and Harry talking about Josephine?" Ron asked in confusion, turning to face his father fully.
"Didn't you know?" the Minister said, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Harry and I get together every so often to talk about the rest of you."
"You do?" Ron asked, even more amazed. "Why?"
"Well," the Minister said absently. "He's going to be my son-in-law one day so I thought it would be a good idea to have some bonding sessions of some kind. It's fun."
"You seem really confident that Harry and Ginny are going to get married," Ron mentioned, looking back to the crowd but unable to locate either Harry or Ginny.
"And you think they won't?" the Minister asked with a chuckle. "I bet you twenty galleons that they'll be married by the time I turn 55."
"Dad," Ron said, his confusion only increasing. "You're 58."
The Minister chuckled. "Nothing gets past you, Ron," he said. "How about they get married before I turn 63 then, hmm. Five years."
Ron shrugged. "I'm not sure it'll take five years, they're pretty close already," he said. "How about this. You give me twenty galleons if they are engaged by the time of the next Ministerial election."
The Minister raised his eyebrows in surprise. "That's just two and a half years," he said. "You're that confident?"
"I am," Ron nodded, holding out his hand. "Do we have a deal?"
The Minister looked at his hand and chuckled. "Alright," he said, shaking Ron's hand. "If they get engaged before May 25, 2011, I'll owe you twenty galleons." Ron smiled as the Minister released his hand and the two of them turned back to observing the room.
"How is it going between the two of you?" the Minister asked suddenly, his gaze again finding where his wife was talking animatedly with Josephine Fairchild. "This is getting pretty serious now. You've been together for over a month."
Ron shrugged. "Things have been going well," he replied. "Josephine's great, she really is. I know you'd like her if you got to know her."
"I'm sure I would too," the Minister said softly, allowing a comfortable silence to fall between them.
"You know Harry asked me that same question," Ron spoke up suddenly, remembering the earlier conversation. "Is this another thing you've been discussing behind my back?"
The Minister chuckled. "Nope, not this time," he said, a smile on his face. "That's just a result of the fact that both me and Harry care about you, and want you to be okay."
"You've never asked about any of my previous relationships," Ron pointed out. "What's new with Josephine?"
"None of your previous relationships lasted this long," the Minister countered.
"That's not true," Ron argued. "There was…" he stopped as he thought for a name, suddenly realising that there were no names to grasp. "Okay, maybe you are right," he admitted, surprised by the fact. "But just because I've never been in a relationship this serious doesn't mean I'll screw it up."
"I know, Ron, I know," the Minister said placatingly. "I agree with you. Your mother was my first serious girlfriend. As was Fleur with Bill and Angelina with George and I am sure Harry with Ginny. It's just in my nature as a father to look out for you. It doesn't mean I don't trust you."
They fell silent again, Ron touched by his father's words more than he was either willing or able to say. "Hey," the Minister said, clapping Ron on the shoulder. "Lets go back to our woman before they do something we'll live to regret."
Ron laughed. "That's another thing," he said, walking with his dad back towards the girls. "I had promised Josephine I wouldn't leave her alone with you."
The Minister looked amused at that. "Well, just a word of advice," he said as they came close to their partners. "Think of something I'd have wanted to talk to you about, fast."
"Hey Dennis, Lizzie, there you are," Harry greeted as he squeezed through the crowd and approached the young couple. "How are you doing?"
"We're good, Harry," Dennis replied, a true beaming smile on his face as he walked around with an elegantly dressed Elizabeth Durand on his arm.
"We're fantastic," Lizzie gushed, her blonde curls bouncing as she walked. "This time last year I was stuck in my dormitory because I wanted to spend the time studying for my NEWT's. I can't believe I'm here now. All in one year."
"It's amazing the things that can change in a year," Harry said with a smile. "Hey, I bet it's days like this that remind you why you put all the hard work in that last year at Hogwarts."
"Yes," Lizzie agreed. "On the other hand Celestina Warbeck is at the party, and she spent her entire career at Hogwarts campaigning for theatre groups."
"Wait, is Warbeck singing tonight?" Dennis asked. "I heard they had a really big name to perform for the Minister."
"The Minister's wife is a big Celestina Warbeck fan," Harry informed him. "Up until quite recently they never had the money to afford tickets to her concerts so the Minister asked her to perform as a personal favour."
"Aww, that's sweet," Lizzie said with a sigh. "That's true love right there."
"Careful, that's your boss you're talking about," Dennis warned her.
"You're my boss too," Lizzie pointed out. "And I sleep with you."
"Maybe you've had enough to drink," Harry suggested, Dennis taking the opportunity to slip the glass of champaign out of her hand while she was distracted.
"Cho," Lizzie cried out excitedly, beaming out at the older girl as she approached and gesturing for her to come closer. "Cho, you look fantastic."
"Thanks Lizzie," Cho said with a smile, quickly taking note of the lack of inhibitions that Lizzie was demonstrating. "I'm sorry to be such a downer on the party but can I speak with Harry for a moment?"
"Sure," Dennis said, nodding them away as Lizzie gave a groan of disappointment.
"Hey, Dennis," Harry said over his shoulder. "Hit her with a sobering charm, she'll thank you in the morning." Harry grinned as he turned away, although the grin quickly fell from his face. "What's going on?" he asked Cho quietly, mindful of the guests surrounding them.
"Remus wants to see you," Cho told him, allowing her voice to rise slightly as they exited the ballroom and reached the corridors of the Ministry. "He didn't mention what it was about."
"Is he in his office?" Harry asked, knowing Remus had turned down the offer to move into Amos's old work space after his temporary promotion.
Cho nodded. "He said he's sorry to call you away but he needs you and Hermione to help him."
"Have you got Hermione?" Harry asked.
"I was just about to after I filled you in," Cho informed him as Harry stepped into the lift, Cho stopping short of stepping inside.
"Hey, Cho," Harry said suddenly, stopping the lift door from closing as he took in her appearance. "You look good tonight, are you joining the party?"
"Daphne, Demelza, Colin and I are manning the phones whilst you guys are at the ball," Cho informed him. "We're all dressed up so we won't look out of place when we come to speak to you."
Harry nodded. "You've got a date then?" Harry asked, a grin creeping across his features.
Cho blushed slightly. "Technically, Colin," she admitted. "But he only asked me so he could get his family off his back about not having a girlfriend. Since we are not part of the party ourselves it makes very little difference."
"Sure," Harry said with a knowing smile, frustrating Cho to no end. Harry stepped back, allowing the doors to start closing before he stopped them again. "Can you do me a favour?" he asked, a frown threatening to sneak onto his face.
"Harry, you're my boss," Cho reminded him, causing him to break out in a smile.
"You're right," Harry replied, getting a grip. "Could you please tell Ginny where I've gone?"
"Of course," Cho replied. "Anything else."
"No," Harry said, slowly stepping back to allow the doors to close again. "Just… take your time. Enjoy the party while you're there." Harry briefly glimpsed Cho smile at him before the lift took him up and away, whisking him ever further from the festivities and into the nearly dead Ministry offices.
Walking past his office Harry gave a quick greeting as he walked past Colin's workstation, the senior assistant looking incredibly bored as he manned his phone, almost looking like he'd relish the prospect of doing some work.
By the time Harry reached Remus's office he'd passed Demelza too, as well as bumping into Parvati as she went the other way, clearly having only just stopped in from the party like he was doing.
"You called?" Harry said in greeting as he arrived at Remus's open office door.
"Yes," Remus said tiredly. "I did." He gestured for Harry to enter. "I'm sorry to have to take you away from the party but I'm afraid something's come up. Is Hermione on her way?"
"Cho just went back to get her," Harry told him, eyeing Remus curiously. "What's the issue?"
Remus seemed to think for a moment, glancing past Harry before deciding that he might as well start without Hermione. "It's an issue about Charlie Weasley," Remus informed him.
"Another one or the same one as before?" Harry asked, wondering how an issue from over two months ago could have resurfaced at such an inopportune time.
"A new one," Remus told him. "Although I suppose they are related." Remus sighed as he reached the point of contention. "There's no easy way to say this," he said eventually. "Charlie's gay."
Harry blinked in surprise, having not expected that in the slightest. "And?" Harry asked, suspecting there was something more to it for him to be called up.
"A reporter phoned Charlie up in the middle of the night and asked him questions pertaining to his sexual preference," Remus told him, prompting Harry to groan. "We don't know who it is but they are likely to take it to print for tomorrow morning."
"I suppose that's why you need Hermione," Harry reckoned as he rubbed at his eyes. "Did Charlie confirm the reporter's thoughts?"
"In a way," Remus hedged.
"No, Remus, you're not quite getting what I'm asking," Harry told him. "Did the reporter ask 'are you gay?' and did Charlie say 'yes'?"
Remus shook his head. "The reporter did ask the question," Remus admitted. "But Charlie didn't say 'yes'. He didn't commit to any answer, positive or negative, which of course leads the reporter to believe that he is gay."
"Is he?" Harry asked. "Because if he isn't then we just tell him to say so."
"He's gay," Remus told him confidently. "I talked to him over the phone, he quite freely admitted to it."
"But he didn't make it public knowledge," Harry repeated. "The Minister has been very clear about reporters getting involved in his family's private lives. We can have this reporter on a harassment charge at the very least."
"Well, that's what I've brought you here for," Remus informed him. "The Minister passed a bill imposing stiff penalties for people deemed to have gone beyond the call of duty in their reporting to the lengths of harassment. I need you to find it so we can wave it in this reporter's face and show him why he shouldn't mess with the Minister's family."
Harry nodded. "I suppose this will be in the storeroom," he said, starting to back out of the office.
"That would be the best place to start," Remus shrugged. "If it's not there then the likelihood is it's probably kicking around in somebody's office somewhere. Perhaps your's or Neville's."
Harry nodded as he turned fully to leave the Muggle Liaison Office, giving Hermione a silent greeting as they passed each other in the corridor, Hermione heading to Remus's office while Harry made his way to the store room. Entering the dark and empty room, Harry sighed tiredly as he went about searching through the files, hoping against all hope that he'd find the bill quickly so he could return to the ball downstairs.
"It's not here," Harry announced from where he was crouched before the shelves in the storage room. "It's all about quality control of potions ingredients down here."
Hermione hummed under her breath, flicking through files at the opposite shelf. "You might want to have a read over those," she suggested. "It could be useful for Ginny."
Harry grunted. "Not this stuff, I don't think," he muttered, reading over a file and shaking his head in disbelief. "I didn't even realise we had to make laws about most of these things. You'd have thought common sense would take care of them." He sighed, putting the file back and standing up straight. "How are you getting on?"
"Nothing yet," Hermione told him, flicking through files with her glasses perched on the end of her nose. "Are you sure it's in this section?"
"No," Harry responded, moving over to the next shelf and pulling out a massive file, taking it to a nearby table for him to read through it. "I have no idea if it's even in this room. I just figured this would be a good place to start; files labeled under the heading 'personal' or 'private' would be in this area."
"What else would it be under?" Hermione asked offhandedly.
"'Harassment'," Harry replied tiredly, flipping through the pages of the file before him. "'Press', although that would be around here too. 'Minister', 'Family'."
"'Minister's Family'," Hermione suggested with a grin. "You're basically just hoping to stumble across it, aren't you?"
"Yep," Harry replied, still flipping through the pages of the file before him. "Have you got a better idea? Seriously, anything to get us back to the party is fine with me."
"You could search through the storeroom log," Hermione suggested. "Everything that's filed in here has to go in it."
"Have you seen the log?" Harry asked, looking over at her as he shut the file before him, the noise reverberating throughout the room. "It would take me years to find anything in that, and we don't even know what the thing we're looking for is actually called." Harry sighed as he rubbed at his eyes, trying to summon up the willpower to keep searching. "Have you any news about the reporter?" he asked.
Hermione shook her head. "I've asked Michael to look into it," she told him, grabbing his attention. "I felt bad dragging him from the party but we needed his help, so…"
Harry looked at her sadly. "He was at the party, was he?" he asked gently, getting a nod in response. "Alone?"
Hermione bit her lip, shaking her head as she kept her gaze focused on the files before her. "He had a date," she said simply, her voice slightly higher than normal. "A fellow reporter, I think he said."
"Are you okay?" Harry asked softly, his full attention focused on his friend.
"Of course," Hermione responded promptly, although not convincingly. "I broke up with him, after all. He has every right to go on dates with other people."
"That makes sense," Harry nodded, knowing Hermione was trying to rationalise things to try and convince herself it wasn't a big deal. "Still, it must have been hard for you to see him with another girl so soon after you broke up."
Hermione scoffed. "It's been a month, Harry," she said, her voice angry. "I shouldn't be feeling like this. I don't even like Michael like that, maybe I never really did."
"Then why are you feeling like this?" Harry asked, genuinely confused as to what his friend was thinking. "Was it the girl? Was she unpleasant or something?"
Hermione shook her head. "She was fine," she replied, the anger flooding out of her as she sunk into the seat opposite Harry. "There was nothing wrong with her. Nothing. It's just… she reminded me how I've been on my own ever since Michael and I broke up."
"That's not true," Harry argued. "Didn't you bring a date tonight too? Cormac… somebody."
Hermione snorted derisively. "McLaggen," she finished for him. "He's not my boyfriend, I just needed a date for this event and he was the only one available. I'm really starting to wish I hadn't come at all."
"I suppose it's not easy to see Ron with Josephine," Harry said after a moment, knowing by Hermione's reaction that he had correctly located the root of her problem. "I understand it's difficult that you have to hold your tongue on how you really feel."
"Difficult doesn't even begin to describe it," Hermione said with a scowl. "I just can't believe my luck that when I finally realise that I actually like the stupid knucklehead he happens to get involved in his first ever serious relationship."
"Yeah," Harry agreed thoughtfully. "It's awfully ironic." Hermione scowled at him. "Hermione," he said softly, worried by how she was likely to react. "Perhaps what you need now is to just meet new people."
"But I love Ron," Hermione said miserably.
"I know," Harry admitted. "But maybe there is someone out there you might love even more."
"And if there's not?" Hermione asked.
Harry shrugged. "Ron's going out with Josephine at the moment," Harry told her. "Maybe that won't last though. If they do break up and you still feel that way about Ron then that's your chance to tell him." Hermione looked uncertain. "It can't hurt to try."
Hermione smiled slightly at that. "I suppose not," she admitted. "Maybe I'll think about it." They sat in silence for a few minutes, not saying or doing anything.
"You know what," Harry said, going back to the shelf and replacing his file. "I can find this on my own, why don't you go back to the party?"
Hermione laughed. "Thanks, but no thanks," she said, going to find a new file from the shelves. "The fact that I'm doing this is the only excuse I have to avoid Cormac all night. The guy's insufferable."
"What's wrong with him?" Harry asked interestedly.
"He's so full of himself," Hermione complained. "He's basically spent all evening telling me how great he is, talking about all the important people he knows and what not. And what he said to Josephine was really uncalled for."
"What did he say?" Harry asked.
"He asked if she was related to the man that killed Bellatrix LeStrange?" Hermione told him, causing Harry to suck in a breath in surprise. "I thought he'd just made a mistake, you know, said something he was thinking before remembering that it was socially unacceptable. I mean, that's forgivable. But I don't think that was the case."
"Why not?" Harry asked, his attention now completely turned away from the files.
"Well, I'd just introduced him to Ron right before then," Hermione told him. "And afterwords he couldn't shut up about how Ron got preferential treatment because he was related to the Minister. I think he said it just to get one up on Ron."
"That's ridiculous," Harry said angrily.
"That's what I saw," Hermione argued back.
"No, I believe you," Harry said hastily. "But that guy is such a piece of work. How did Josephine take it?"
Hermione sighed. "She seemed okay," she said sadly. "You can imagine that it hurt her but she seemed to take it very well. She even forgave me for it."
"Josephine's a good girl," Harry told her, watching her for a reaction. "She would have known you had nothing to do with it."
"I know," Hermione replied. "I know she's a good person. I like her. I just… I just wish I didn't, it would make things much easier."
"Things will get better," Harry promised her. "You'll see."
Hermione sighed tiredly in response. "I hope you're right," she said sadly, turning back to the shelf before her. "I hope you're right."
"Harry Potter," the announcer said loudly as Harry re-entered the ball room. Sparing a moment's glance for the man who'd been standing there for several hours, Harry started to move further into the room, eyes on the look out for his prize.
"Cho," Harry said urgently, spotting her walking past him, nearly missing him in the great throng in the hall. "You have something for me?"
"From Michael," Cho told him, trying to keep her voice light so as not to raise any suspicion as she handed over a tiny scrap of parchment.
"Is it a name," Harry asked, slipping it into his pocket without reading it. Cho nodded. "Alright, good work," Harry said, glancing around the crowded hall for any familiar faces. "I'll get it to Hermione and she'll do her thing."
"Anything I can do?" Cho asked.
Harry bit the inside of his mouth thoughtfully as he glanced around the ball room again. "You know what, go get Colin and bring him down here," Harry suggested. "There really isn't much for him to do up there, he might as well enjoy the party a bit."
"Alright," Cho said, smiling widely as they made their way back to the door. "I'll get him to come down."
"Good girl," Harry said with a grin, ignoring the indignant look on her face as they reached the door. Pausing as he made to walk through them, Harry turned to the announcer.
"Hey," he said, surprising the man who had been standing professionally by the door. "I might be coming in and out a few more times over the course of the evening, you don't have to call my name every time I do."
"I understand, sir," the man said politely, bowing respectfully to Harry.
"Right," Harry said, slightly uncertain if he'd gotten his message through as he exited the room. Walking towards the lifts to the Ministry offices Harry bumped into exactly the person he wanted to see.
"Hey, Hermione, I've got something for you," Harry announced as he saw her coming, holding the small scrap of parchment up in the air as they approached each other. "It's from Michael."
That caught Hermione's attention. "A name?" she asked as she reached him, snatching the note from his hand.
"I haven't seen it but that's what Cho said," Harry replied. "I was just going back to the party for a moment, do you want to join me?"
"Sure," Hermione responded, a small smile on her face. "This guy's a rookie, he'll cave quickly. I can spare the time."
Harry smiled back, gesturing for her to walk with him as he made his way back to the ballroom.
"Harry Potter and Hermione Granger," the announcer proclaimed as they walked inside, clearly having ignored Harry's earlier advice.
"Oh god," Hermione groaned, cringing at the volume of the man's tone. "Please tell me Cormac didn't hear that."
"Well," Harry said, his eyes on the crowd. "That isn't him there is it, fighting his way through the crowd."
"Oh god," Hermione moaned as she spotted him, the burly man standing tall above most of the other guests. "I've got to run. Good luck with the files, Harry."
Harry nodded, a slight smile on his face as he watched Hermione dart into the crowd, quickly and effectively disappearing. Not wanting to be caught by McLaggen himself, Harry decided it was time to move on, slipping through the crowd as he tried to relocate his date.
"Harry, where have you been for the last few hours?" Griphook asked, appearing suddenly before him as the crowd parted with the goblin's presence. "You look troubled."
"It's nothing, Griphook," Harry waved away, although he had to admit he did feel quite anxious and unhappy with the way the evening had progressed. "I've just been trying to find a file in the Ministry, it's been a rather difficult couple of hours."
"And I assume by trying you mean you still haven't found it," Griphook said, catching onto Harry's phrasing with an understanding nod. "I hear you. It's rather unfortunate that you've been pulled away from such a great gathering."
"You're enjoying yourself then?" Harry asked, smiling at the goblin before him.
"I must admit that I am," Griphook agreed. "Most people here are too nervous to hold a conversation with but I've spent much of the evening talking with Mr Longbottom. It's surprising how little I knew about him considering the hours we spent together in that meeting room."
Harry chuckled. "Do goblins hold events like this?" he asked interestedly, genuinely curious about goblin society.
"Nothing like this," Griphook denied. "We have gatherings occasionally to celebrate the birth of a new goblin or the pairing of a goblin and their mate. Much like weddings and christenings for humans."
"That's something I've always wondered," Harry said, getting really interested in the conversation now. "The pairing of a goblin and their mate, is that a special ceremony that announces them as a mated pair or does it just… happen, and they have the ceremony as a sort of celebration after the fact?"
"That depends," Griphook said thoughtfully. "There are many goblin families that view the ritual as much the same as a wedding. The goblins are separate before and then mated after. But fundamentally it is not a necessity in goblin culture."
"Goblin courtship is very formal," Griphook explained, looking equally as immersed in the discussion as Harry was. "There are very strict rules in how you approach a potential mate, and also how you respond to an approach by another goblin. The whole process is about respect and honesty. A goblin will talk and listen to a potential mate, and eventually, usually after a very long time communicating, both male and female goblin will decide they are willing to spend the rest of their life with each other. At this point the female goblin moves into the male goblin's lodgings, and from that point on they are considered, in the eyes of goblin law, a mated pair."
"Wow," Harry said. "That sounds fascinating, and probably quite a bit better than how humans choose their life partners."
Griphook shrugged. "To each their own," he said. "Goblin courtship has its own problems. It is not uncommon for a goblin to find themselves mated and then find they were wrong in their choice of mate. And because of the deep respect we hold for the courtship process we are subject to cases of unrequited love from one goblin harming another goblin's prospects of finding a mate. While I certainly don't approve of certain human forms of dating there are merits to a more liberal system than the one we goblins hold."
"Has there ever been any thought to modify goblin courtship?" Harry asked. "If you can see the problems then aren't there ways to help resolve them?"
"There are things we could do," Griphook conceded. "On the other hand, bringing through legislation on the acts of love is an incredibly tricky thing to do."
Harry nodded in agreement as they fell into a comfortable silence, man and goblin having a strangely familiar bond for creatures of different species.
"Can I ask you something?" Griphook said suddenly, getting a positive response. "Please, feel free to stop me if I go too far, but, how long have you and… my apologies, I've forgotten her name."
"Ginny," Harry supplied, catching on to the general direction Griphook was going with this.
"That's right," Griphook said, giving Harry an apologetic grin. "How long have you been courting Ginny?"
Harry blinked in surprise at the question, but answered it anyway. "Just over two years," he replied. "Two years, one month and ten days to be exact."
"And Ginny, she's your…" Griphook looked at him questioningly. "Mate?"
"We're not married," Harry replied quickly.
"But you are living together," Griphook continued.
Harry shook his head. "Why, is that weird in goblin culture?"
"It's not particularly unusual for a goblin to court another for over two years," Griphook told him. "I made Nexsyl my mate after just seven months and sixteen days, but I was an incredibly impulsive young goblin and I was incredibly fortunate that Nexsyl turned out to be what I thought she was."
"You still think it's unusual though," Harry said, knowing from Griphook's tone what he had yet to say.
"Living together isn't quite the same thing in human society as it is in goblin," Griphook commented. "Given that many goblins mate after only a year or two of courtship I am slightly surprised to find that you've not gone through with the slightly less meaningful act of living with your chosen other given the length of your courtship."
"It's not, I mean," Harry stuttered, not entirely sure how to respond. "What are you suggesting?"
Griphook sighed. "I fear I may have overstepped the bounds of our particularly relationship," he said regretfully. "I apologise for the intrusion."
"No, that's alright," Harry said, his brain spinning as Griphook's words echoed throughout his head. "You haven't overstepped anything. In fact, you've given me a lot to think about."
"I'm glad," Griphook said. "But please remember, I am a goblin. My understanding of human relationships is perhaps not the best one to rely on." He gave a short jerk of his head. "Your assistant is coming."
Harry turned to face Cho as she strode up to him, her elegant dress shimmering in the candle light. "Colin wants you to know he checked through the documents in Ron's room," Cho told him without preamble.
"Anything?" Harry asked, knowing the answer even before Cho shook her head. "Alright, well, thank Colin for me." Harry sighed as he rubbed his face with his hands. "I've got to get back up there," he said tiredly. "Cho, could you find Ginny and tell her what's happening? And please, apologise for me."
"Of course, Harry," Cho replied, quickly walking off into the crowd.
"Well, Griphook, it was nice speaking with you again," Harry said, turning back to the goblin. "Duty calls."
Griphook nodded his understanding. "Good luck with whatever it is you're trying to find," Griphook told him. "And try not to worry too much about what I said."
Harry chuckled slightly under his breath. "I think it's a bit too late for that," he said, looking sideways at Griphook. "You've given me a lot to think about."
"Charlie, you made it," the Minister said in relief, having been pacing the length of the office in agitation whilst he was waiting. Also in the office stood Remus, waiting patiently to the side of the room as he stayed out of the Minister's way, and Molly Weasley, sitting upon one of the sofas looking quite strained with the way the evening was turning out.
"Yes," Charlie said as he walked into the room, shaking hands with his father before his mother was able to engulf him in one of her trademark Molly Weasley hugs. "One of the dragon keepers was returning to England to see his family so he took me back with him."
"Well we're glad you are here," the Minister said sincerely, carefully prying his wife off her son, calmly sitting her down again. "Although we wish it was under better circumstances."
Charlie shrugged. "What are you going to do?" he asked rhetorically, although by the way his father shifted he realised there was more to the question. "What are you going to do?" he asked, more seriously.
"I've called Harry and Hermione back from the party to look into this," the Minister told him. "Hermione has been trying to find out who it was who phoned you last night while Harry has been searching for any piece of legislation around that we can use to appropriately punish this guy for coming near you."
"Dad," Charlie moaned. "You shouldn't have done that. Harry and Hermione should be at the ball, celebrating the new year, not stuck in their office trying to find a way to screw this reporter."
"If it helps I think Hermione was relieved to have an excuse to leave the party," Remus said softly.
"And Harry?" Charlie asked, turning to address everyone in the room. "I'm pretty sure he had different plans for this new year than what he's undoubtedly doing right now."
"That may be the case," the Minister admitted his voice firm. "But no one harasses a member of my family. I've made it perfectly clear to the media time and time again that they need to stay away but again and again there always seems to be someone who sticks their nose where it doesn't belong."
"I thought we were done with this when we got rid of that foul Skeeter woman," Molly sniffed, tears of anger welling in her eyes. "The lies she printed about Harry and Ginny, unbelievable."
"That's not what you said when you first found out," Charlie reminded her, a small smile forming on his face.
"Well, yes," Molly spluttered, her face reddening in embarrassment as she recalled her initial reaction to the story. "That may be so but that was before I knew Harry, before I was aware of what a fine young boy he really is."
The Minister and Charlie exchanged knowing smiles, amused by the infatuation the Weasley matriarch had developed for their youngest's significant other. Unnoticed off to the side of the room, Remus couldn't help but smile, a feeling of intense pride rising in his chest as he heard the words spoken about his best friend's son.
Suddenly they were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Enter," the Minister called, his face turning serious as Hermione walked inside, nodding respectfully to all those present. "What have you got for us, Hermione?"
Hermione took a second to compose herself before she started to speak. "The reporter in question is William Pickle, a recent Hogwarts graduate working with Magician Weekly," she told everyone. "I've spoken with him at length and have impressed upon him just how seriously we are taking this breach of privacy."
"And?" the Minister asked.
"He seems genuinely sorry," Hermione replied. "He's just a kid. It wasn't until I read him the riot act that he really realised just what sort of trouble he was in."
"Remus?" the Minister asked, turning to his friend. "Off the top of your head, what do you think we'll be able to do to him?"
Remus took a second to respond, thinking over his answer carefully. "A fine," he said simply. "I could not say how much but for a recent graduate even a small fine will make life more difficult for him, make him think twice about doing it again."
"There is no way to sentence him to any time in jail?" the Minister asked, to gasps from his wife and protests from his son.
"Not for a first offence," Remus said simply.
"Dad, don't do this," Charlie begged with him. "The guy's just a kid. Just give him a slap on the wrist and move on. This isn't a big deal."
"This is a huge deal," the Minister argued, his anger starting to come out in his voice. "Whether you are gay or not is not his business and it is your right to tell people if and when you so choose. To report this for the whole country to see is a direct violation of that right."
"But he won't," Charlie said softly, his eyes softening as he listened to the passion his father spoke with. "He won't print a story about it because you'll stop him. You'll give him a slap on the wrist, we'll move on and I'll retain my right to tell who I want when I want."
The Minister nodded slowly, taking in the words his son spoke. "Hermione," he said, bringing the press secretary's attention to him. "Go back to that kid and give him another good telling off," he said. "Then tell him that we are imposing a small fine on him and that if he does something like this again we will not be lenient."
"Yes, sir," Hermione nodded, leaving the room quietly as everyone pondered the sentence the Minister had handed down. With a sigh, the Minister turned back to Charlie.
"You know this isn't the end," he said tiredly, looking sadly at his son. "The kid will have talked to other reporters and there will be nothing to stop them from printing the story. Your sexuality is going to be called into question."
"I know," Charlie said quietly, glancing from his father to his mother, noting the sadness they looked at him with. "But I think I'm ready to tell people now."
"You are?" Molly blinked in surprise, having not expected her son to have admitted to that.
"Yes," Charlie replied confidently. "The people closest to me, they already know. I don't care if strangers know that I'm gay so I might as well come out and say it."
Molly choked back a sob, looking up at her second son with pride shining from her eyes. Unable to contain herself for a moment longer, she got up and rushed towards Charlie, embracing him fiercely in a hug Charlie returned softly.
Glancing over his mothers shoulder, Charlie's gaze met the Minister's. The Minister was smiling proudly as he looked at his son and in that one shared look the years apart seemed to disappear for good.
"Good evening everyone, let's keep this brief, as I'm sure everyone is eager to return to the party," Hermione said, stepping up to the podium and looking down at the very smartly dressed reporters sitting before her.
"Before you start," Sophie interrupted, standing up in her pale pink dress. "I'd just like to say that you look absolutely gorgeous in that dress."
"Thank you," Hermione said with a smile. "And may I say that all of you look either beautiful or handsome this evening. Even you, Donald." There were chuckles as Sophie sat down, allowing Hermione to proceed.
"This press conference was called for one simple reason and it is in reference to the story that a reporter called up the Minister's second son, Charlie, with questions regarding his sexuality," Hermione announced. "The reporter in question will receive a fine and has been given a strict warning that a repeat offence will result in even harsher punishment."
"Hermione, can you tell us who the reporter was?" Clint asked.
"I could, but I'm not going to," Hermione responded. "I've talked to the reporter and it is my opinion that he or she has fully understood the gravity of their actions. I feel that there is no need to take this further than that."
"Hermione, while it was clearly wrong of this reporter to call Charlie up," Sophie said. "Is there any truth to the reports that Charlie Weasley is in fact gay?"
"Usually I wouldn't answer that question," Hermione replied. "But today is a special case. Charlie Weasley has asked that I announce that the rumours are true and that he is, in fact, gay."
"Who was aware of this?" Donald asked.
"I can't give you all the names," Hermione told him. "But Charlie had already told his family and closest friends. In his own words, 'The people closest to me already know'. While it is none of our business the subject of anyone's sexuality I would like to congratulate Charlie on the courage of having me announce this. We live in a society that has famously shunned people that have different views in the past so it should always be celebrated when someone has the courage to be true to themselves no matter who may judge them."
"That will be all," Hermione said, moving to pick up her notes before remembering she didn't have any. "The countdown is fast approaching so I'd like to wish all of you a happy new year."
As she stood down from the podium she received many 'happy new year's' back as the reporters returned to the party, ready to usher in the next twelve months.
Harry searched through a shelf near the ground as he knelt before it, flipping through files and folders he had kept there.
"I'm really sorry about this," he said sincerely, glancing over at the other occupant of the room.
"It's alright," Ginny replied from her perch upon his desk, quietly watching him work as she sat there. "It's your job, you've been asked to do it by the Minister of Magic. I understand."
"You shouldn't be up here," Harry said sadly. "You should be down at the party, celebrating with everyone else."
"I don't want to celebrate with everyone else," Ginny replied, leaning forward. "I want to celebrate with you."
"Me too," Harry admitted. "But I still need to find-"
"But nothing, Harry," Ginny cut across him. "I'm not going to stop you from doing your job but I am going to spend the last few minutes of this year with you."
"It won't be fun," Harry warned her, his gaze flicking between his girlfriend and the files on the shelf before him. "You'll enjoy yourself more downstairs."
Ginny shook her head, a small smile crossing her face. "No, I won't," she denied, getting Harry's full attention. "I didn't get to spend last new year's with you, or the one before that. Believe me Harry, there is nowhere I'd rather be right now than with you."
Harry smiled at that, revelling in the warm feeling that grew inside him at those words. "Me too," he said softly, sharing a look with the girl before him that only they could understand.
"Hey, Uncle Harry," a voice called from down the corridor, surprising both the occupants of the room.
"Hey, Teddy," Harry called back, smiling as his godson approached quickly, clearly eager to see him but trying his best to hide it. "I see your parents were able to convince Professor McGonagall to let you out of Hogwarts for the night."
"Yeah," Teddy nodded, reaching Harry before he even noticed Ginny was in the room. "Hi, Aunt Ginny."
Ginny smiled, touched that the young boy had taken to her as an aunt. "Hi Teddy," she replied warmly. "Have you enjoyed the party?"
Teddy shrugged. "It's been alright," he said uninterestedly. "I mean, there is hardly anyone my age that I know, except for Victoire and her brother and sister. Plus my dad's been up here for most of the evening as well."
"So you've been spending your time with your mother?" Harry asked, sifting through a few more files on the shelf.
"Yeah," Teddy said tiredly as Harry suddenly let out an exuberant shout.
"Got it," he cheered as he pulled out the file, opening it up to read the summary with a delighted grin on his face. "Typical, I search for this all evening and it's been sitting in my office all along."
"What is it?" Teddy asked curiously, craning his neck to try and read over the edge.
"This, Teddy, is the document that allows us to fine people for harassing members of the Minister's family," Harry told him. "Actually it extends to family members of any Ministry worker so it covers you too."
"Hurray," Teddy cheered sarcastically. "Why were you looking for it?"
"It's a long story," Harry explained, closing up the file and placing it on the edge of the shelf next to him. "And I'm not even sure I'm allowed to tell you."
"Okay," Teddy shrugged, having not actually been that interested in the first place.
"What are your plans, Teddy?" Ginny asked, her smile noticeably wider now that Harry was able to devote his full attention on her. "Are you going back to find your parents and head back to the party?"
"Well, that's what I wanted to do," Teddy replied, making a face. "But my mum told me that she was going to kiss dad at midnight so I decided I was better off finding someone who wasn't going to do that."
"Well I'm afraid that you've come to the wrong place," Harry told him, glancing at Ginny with a smile. "And I'm pretty sure most people will tell you the same."
Teddy groaned, his head flopping against his chest.
"How about you go see Victoire?" Ginny suggested. "She'll be in a very similar situation as you."
Teddy looked hesitant. "I don't know," he said edgily. "Victoire's a girl, she'll probably want to kiss someone at new year too."
"Probably," Harry agreed, a knowing smile on his face as he looked down at the awkward teenager. "But there aren't many boys her own age for her to kiss, are there? And I don't think she'll be comfortable kissing a total stranger."
"I know what you are trying to do," Teddy warned Harry, his serious expression looking out of place on his young face.
"Well," Harry said, slightly taken aback by being caught out. Then again, this was Remus's child. "It is true, and we both know you like her." He said bluntly. The Sirius method, as Remus had coined it.
"Uncle Harry," Teddy hissed, eyes wide as he glanced worriedly at Ginny.
"She already knows," Harry said, waving him off easily. "She's my girlfriend, I don't keep anything from her. You'll learn that when you get older."
Teddy shifted nervously, glancing between Harry and Ginny worriedly. "She won't want to kiss me," he said quietly, clearly uncomfortable to be leaving himself bare before them. "She's really beautiful and amazing, she wouldn't want to kiss a guy like me."
"You say that," Harry said. "But I don't think you give yourself enough credit. Personally I think she'd be really glad to be asked to kiss at midnight."
"You think so?" Teddy asked, his eyes betraying his fears. "What if she says no?"
"Teddy, it's new year's," Harry said extravagantly. "It's the best opportunity you could ever get. You should go down there and kiss her. If she kisses you back, then great. If she says 'dude, what the hell are you doing?' you can just say it wasn't you, it was new year's."
Teddy continued to look nervously up at him. "You really think that would work?" he asked quietly, to which Harry gave an emphatic nod. "And you?" he asked, turning to Ginny.
"I think," Ginny said slowly, choosing her words carefully. "That Victoire would love it if you kissed her at midnight."
Teddy watched her, looking for any signs of deception before turning back to Harry, who was still smiling broadly. "Okay," he whispered softly, nodding his head. "Okay, I'll do it. I'll kiss Victoire."
"There we go," Harry said, patting Teddy on the shoulder. "Now, you better get back to the ballroom. It's almost midnight and you wouldn't want to miss the end of the countdown."
With genuine childlike fear in his eyes Teddy hurried away, scampering down the corridor at a pace that could only just be describe as less than a run. Watching him go, Ginny leaned on Harry's shoulder, standing there long after Teddy had run out of sight.
"That new year's line," Ginny asked suddenly. "Did you ever actually use that before?"
"Once," Harry admitted, looking down shamefully. "The girl I said it to slapped me afterwords. To be fair I was quite drunk, that probably was the best course of action."
Ginny chuckled, shaking her head at Harry's story. "We should get down there too," she said, taking hold of Harry's hand and starting to lead him towards the door. "We wouldn't want to miss the countdown."
Harry stopped her quickly, taking her hand in both of his as he turned her to face him. "Before we go I'd like to say just one thing," he said softly, looking gently into her eyes. "Earlier today I was talking with Griphook about goblin society and he made a point that's been gnawing at me ever since."
"What was it?" Ginny asked, taking her other hand to his as she held on to him.
"Ginny," Harry said softly, building up his courage. "Would you like to live with me?"
Ginny's eyebrows raised in surprise. "That's a big step," she replied evasively, looking down at their clasped hands. "Are you sure we're ready for that?"
Harry gently freed one of his hands and used it to tilt her face up towards his, looking deep into her eyes. "I think we are," he said softly. "We've been going out for over two years now, I think we know each other well enough."
"I agree, I feel like I know you better than anyone," Ginny replied. "But this is an awfully big step. I've never done this before, with anyone."
"I know," Harry admitted. "Me neither, but I don't think that should stop us." He sighed gently as he took in her beautiful face. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. I can't imagine what my life would be without you, I just know it would be unbearable. Every time I come home to my empty flat I cry a bit inside that you're not there to greet me. Just the idea of waking up every morning to see your face, getting home from work and seeing you reading a book or watching the latest quidditch match, makes me want to be able to call your home my home too. So what do you say?"
Ginny had been watching him intently, tears slowly welling up in the back of her eyes as she listened to him speak. As he finished a smile passed over her face, the tears in her eyes threatening to overwhelm her in her happiness.
"Yes," she whispered thickly, the emotion overcoming her. "Yes, move in with me. I want to wake up with you every morning and go to sleep with you every night. I want to be able to wait up for you when you are working late and spend my time with you when you're not. I want to live with you."
Harry smiled, a joyous smile filled with more happiness than he could imagine. A quick thought popping up in the back of his mind, Harry checked his watch, smiling as he looked down at the ticking hands. "It's almost midnight," he noted.
"You couldn't have timed it better if you'd tried," Ginny laughed tearfully, her cheeks flushed as she smiled at him.
"5…4…" Harry started to countdown, his eyes rising to meet Ginny's. "3… 2… 1." The one came out as no more than a whisper as Harry's lips met Ginny's, the emotions the two of them felt being shared in a breathtaking kiss as a distant clock chimed twelve.
Elsewhere in the Ministry others shared in similar kisses to bring in the new year. Husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, even a few friends engaging in the act as secret feelings showed themselves for just the tiniest of moments. Even the goblins and centaurs invited for the event got into the spirit, enjoying the human tradition with their partners as they celebrated with their interspecies friends.
Back up in Harry's office, Harry and Ginny gently broke apart, the magical kiss eventually coming to an end as they stared into each others eyes.
"Happy New Year Ginny," Harry said, smiling as he kissed her softly again.
"Happy New Year Harry," Ginny replied, pulling him back in for another kiss. "Now lock the door."
With a grin Harry flicked his wand at his office door, locking and silencing charms coming up as they embraced passionately, truly kicking off the new year in style.