Disclaimer: I own . . . what do I own? Hm, only myself, and I don't what my parents say, but everything that is in my room. Even the dust that make me sneeze! You don't see Harry Potter copyrights on there do you? Good, because I don't own them.
Author's Note: Well, summer wasn't as relaxing as I thought it would be. Anyhow, one of my summer classes is over (thank goodness!) and the other only lasts two hours everyday. I probably will spend the rest of my time writing, reading, attempting to make my own website, or crocheting – in that order.
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Chapter Seventeen: Press Conference MemorabiliaThe group besides Hermione, Lavender, and Parvati had ended up in the office of the Minister of Magic. The pregnant Hermione was sent to the hospital wing, accompanied by her Hogwarts housemates/roommates, to get checkups on her unborn child to make sure the mess hadn't hurt the babe. Witnesses deemed lavender and Parvati innocent so they were able to walk free.
The novice aurors who were sent to treat minor magical scruffles had arrested their senior for causing a ruckus in front of the Leaky Cauldron. Mrs. Malfoy, Sirius, Remus, and Mrs. Weasley had been summoned to listen to the Minister of Magic lecture their not-so juvenile delinquents and to lecture the guilty party themselves. Most of the novices had been snickering, but the old Malfoy sneer, patented five hundred years ago by Nicolas Flamel, had forced all the young-uns to keep their mouth sealed in a line. What they didn't know was that Aurora would be training them as soon as she gets married. Malfoy protocol doesn't allow their women to do the dirty work unless there is some honor attached to it, so the poor girl was demoted, in Ginny's opinion to train disobedient youths. From the way the novices were acting, Aurora would definitely be the complete opposite of what her name means.
Ginny didn't like being in the MoM's office. The last time she had been in there was when her journalism project got herself in trouble with the ministry's security. She didn't hurt anyone, but the information she had gotten was actually top secret. This caused the onset of Percy driving everyone in the building bananas by complaining about how his littlest sibling, and also sister (a remark scoffed at by Ginny), had penetrated the security system.
"Miss Classen, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Malfoy," the minister began, "I am severely disappointed by the reported actions you have taken. All three of you are renowned aurors with topmost training in spell and curses. It was an unfair battle for those unarmed reporters and you three. But of course, you had your friends help in addition to your strengths!"
"Unarmed?" Aurora declared. "What do you call those cameras they were holding? If they are pressing charges, I will too. For stalking and harassment."
"I understand Miss Classen, that you haven't had a friendly relationship with the media, but that is no reason to put a highly powerful stunning spell on the poor man. The other reporter had three ribs broken due to your summoning spell. How are you to answer that?!" By now, the defiant look on Aurora's face had made the minister's face quite red. Ginny had wondered if the poor man had high blood pressure. He might suffer from a heart attack some time soon.
"Oppsy," Aurora replied casually as though those injuries were normal. Broken ribs might have been common for her, but that wasn't ordinary for reporters. The minister had turned his attention to Mrs. Malfoy silently wishing for the girl's temporary guardian to do something about her unruly future daughter-in-law. The older Malfoy only looked out the window with a disdainful and superior smirk. It had seemed no Malfoy was going to look up to the minister unless he or she was a Malfoy.
"I would like to speak with my aurors privately please," the minister began uneasily. Ginny was sure he wanted to yell at them without a prominent and aristocratic lady standing in an intimidating fashion in the room. Perhaps then, the minister would have the audacity to truly lecture his top aurors.
As soon as everyone was ushered out of their room the lectures had begun, only for Ginny. Mrs. Malfoy merely walked to a seat and sat down considering her immediate charges were being lecture by the minister. Mike and Carrie had been left alone while Ginny received three lectures from her mother, Harry's godparent, and Harry's quasi-godparent.
"I always thought you were the reasonable one," Sirius began. "Why didn't you stop them from being psychotic?" Ginny mentally rolled her eyes. She wasn't about to tell Sirius Harry had asked her to be his girlfriend, which caused her brain to freeze so she could analyze whether he had meant or he was being forced by Mike's insane twin.
"I wouldn't really call it being psychotic," Ginny replied instead. "They have always been hounded by the press. Thank goodness they have a security spell for their presence during their missions; otherwise the success rate would be a negative number!" Sirius had nodded in agreement. The parental side of him wanted to lecture Ginny more, but his dominating juvenile side had agreed with Ginny. The memory of how Lily and James's engagement had traveled through Europe had irked him as well as the memory of how the media had ruled out his innocence on the Pettigrew trial.
"It doesn't really matter," Remus answered stepping in. "I suppose it wasn't fair of us to ask you to control three full-grown and trained aurors who are actually nominated for the Unspeakable roles. Any how, I am just quite surprised at why you chose to join them."
"By means of self defense only. Besides, Mrs. Malfoy had specifically instructed for me to say nothing about the matter of the wedding and the craziness of the event until the press conference. I had to keep the reporters at bay."
"Mrs. Malfoy," Ginny's mother had grumbled. No matter how close the two families might be after the upcoming controversial wedding, Mrs. Weasley still had the grudge against the Malfoys. After all, they had sort of bought their way out of trouble again, only with the help of a third party that no one knows about.
"There is nothing wrong about the advice Mum," Ginny whined. She really didn't want to deal with family prejudices right now, especially when her best friend is about to marry into that supposed horrible family.
"If they had taken care of the problem better in the first place, none of this insanity would have happened!" Mrs. Weasley shouted in clenched teeth. Thankfully Mrs. Malfoy was taken to a different room by Carrie and Mike so Ginny could some private time. Whether that was good for Ginny . . . well, the definition of good has a wide spectrum.
"Now half of the world thinks my poor girl is marrying a Malfoy for Merlin's sake!"
"They do?!" Both Sirius and Remus exclaimed. "We were never informed of this magnitude of the situation. So what do they make of Harry?" Ginny had turned bright red. How she always gets placed on the spot? Why did Hermione have to go to the hospital wing now?
"Um, few magazines had thought Harry was marrying Aurora. I believe one had deemed Harry a homosexual with Aurora getting jealous of the attention her coworkers lather on each other."
"What about that kiss?" Sirius asked. Mrs. Weasley had chocked on her water, and all Ginny wanted to do was to dig herself a hole in the center of the earth and hibernate there until the end of the world.
"What kiss?!" The elderly woman demanded making Ginny groan softly. She desperately wished the worst on the three aurors that dragged her into the mess; the minister better be giving them hell. "You didn't kiss – kiss that – that . . ." Mrs. Weasley was shaking in trepidation. She really didn't want her little girl to be kissing some random person. As far the Mrs. Weasley knew, Ginny was not romantically involved with anyone.
"Harry and I kissed," Ginny answered bluntly. That had to have been the best solution. The news should stump her mother for five hours that only leaves Sirius and Remus to worry about. Perhaps after five hours, she won't be the only youth in the presence of the overbearing, parental figures.
The news had indeed shocked Mrs. Weasley. However, the added effect was Sirius and Remus getting stumped as well. Hmm, bluntness might just work to get people off my back! Ginny thought shrewdly. To Ginny's relief, Hermione had come back from the hospital wing. That had gotten all the attention off the poor younger Weasley.
"Oh Hermione!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "How is the babe? Nothing is wrong?"
"No," Hermione replied with an apologetic smile to Ginny. "I don't see why they made a fuss about it all. I was on the sidelines when everything went berserk. Carrie had enough sense to put a protective shield around me just in case a camera flew my way."
"Bless that dear girl," Mrs. Weasley gushed making Ginny wonder at how her mother could change personalities so fast everyday. "Oh my!" the soon-to-be a grandmother (again) cried out. "I suppose the minister is done speaking with them. Ginny, Hermione, come home with me. We'll leave Sirius and Remus alone to speak with Harry." The shorter, older woman had both on each side of her and walked towards the exit. "We should take Carrie and Mike as well. From what I have heard, poor Mike had an allergic reaction. I'll see what I can do to make him feel better. And that way, Mrs. Malfoy can be left alone with her son and his fiancée," Mrs. Weasley finished curtly causing Ginny and Hermione to discreetly shake their heads at their mother's continual dislike for Malfoys, even though one of the person she directed the dislike at was a girl she had once approved of.
Ginny was about to leave the room when Harry tugged on her arm. The bashful youth that was at Hogwarts returned replacing the world-renowned auror. Ginny noticed her was nervously twiddling his fingers while trying to casually brush his hair back. I wonder why he does that. The finger combs just make his hair stick up more. The overly rational part of Ginny's brain decided to retort of course. That's what's so likeable about Harry, the casual-messy look.
"What is it Harry?" Ginny asked with her voice somewhat shaky. Five years of idolizing the Boy Who Lived, four years of being close friends, numerous friendly chat session, and now Ginny Weasley chose to be nervous. And it all returned this morning.
"I wanted to speak with you alone," Harry replied. He had shot a look at hi surrogate parents. "Can you meet with me in one hour at the coffee shop? That should be enough time for Sirius to chew my head thoroughly while Remus cleans up the mess." Ginny couldn't help but laugh at Harry's expense. He definitely deserved to be mentally beaten by the elders. The lecture from the Minister of Magic would never accomplish its purpose since the man feared his aurors like how a mouse is afraid of a cat.
"Sure. One hour. Have Fun!"
~*~*~
Ginny waited patiently in the ministry café. Aurora wasn't too happy about Ginny not accompanying her for the rest of the afternoon so she made a cheeky comment about the meeting with Harry.
"Don't take too long," Aurora began. "I know there are years of pent up emotions to let out so don't forget the press conference. The best man and the maid of honor should be present."
"Emotion?" Ginny asked with a suspicious glare, but the soon-to-be married woman had apparated out of the café.
There was still another 45 minutes of waiting until Harry would show up. Thankfully no reporters had decided to hobnob in the café so Ginny didn't have to put up with any black-eyed, swollen cheeked paparazzi. In the mean time, Ginny was flipping through some fashion magazines in hopes of deciding a maid of honor dress. The coffee had long run out. Ginny, exasperated with her coffee, walked back to the counter to buy another cup.
"I like this dress," Harry declared causing Ginny to nearly spill her hot drink.
"The green one? Why does everyone choose a green dress for me?" Ginny whined. "I would look like a walking Christmas ornament!"
"I don't know about anyone else, but green is my favorite color. Also, the theme of the wedding seems to be green."
"Of course it is, it is the color of your eyes," Ginny retorted. "So many of your admirers had complimented on your lovely, emerald green eyes that mirror your emotions like the clear waters of an untainted mountain spring." Ginny finished the dramatic romanticism with an exaggerated sigh.
"Exactly, so don't you want a dress just like that?" Harry replied. "Though I am not sure if you want the mirroring part." The redhead put down her coffee and rolled her eyes.
"I don't know. It might be 'as green as fresh pickled toad'. Wouldn't want that too happen." The joke on the scandalous Valentine poem shocked Harry. Ginny didn't talk about her first year at Hogwarts often due to the bad memories that will forever be etched in her memory. Being brain washed by Tom Riddle and nearly killing three students was not something that should be brought up in daily conversation.
"Should I be hurt by that?" Harry teased back. The return to the flirtatious streak would not be good for Harry, not when he had unofficially asked Ginny out just a few hours ago. The little warning bells in Harry's head were setting off the wrong warnings.
"So what did you want to speak with me about?" Ginny asked dragging the conversation away from choosing a dress for her. She had enough of the fusses about wedding clothing.
"About this morning," Harry began. Ginny's mood had gone from happy-perky to near-depression in the span of .5 milliseconds. "I want to apologize for putting you on the spot this morning."
Oh here comes the "sorry Ginny, I only like you like a sister speech" or that one about "I like you, but you are not my type. Wonderful, this is going to come out of Harry Potter's mouth. Let's see, do I have enough money to pay for therapy fees after this ordeal? Hmmm, it shouldn't matter. The consultation fees and various other payments Aurora and Draco are going to pay should cover most of the psychoanalyst fees. Besides, if the amount does exceed what I have already, Aurora is going to pay for all of it until I am deemed normal. She did say she would pay for psychotherapy fees due to the Harry Potter Syndrome.
"It's alright Harry. The spell Mike put on you did that. Don't worry about it. Fred and George have done worse. I cannot believe they picked on Seamus in my sixth year so much that I had to breakup with him just to keep my twin brothers from sending prank mails to him," Ginny comforted Harry and herself by bringing up the past. "So I'll see you at the press conference? Aurora warned me to tell you that tardiness from the maid of honor and the best man will not be tolerated."
"Wait," Harry called out. "But I did mean what I said." Ginny blinked rapidly trying to comprehend what the emerald eyed man was implying. "You know, I have liked you since a long time ago. While at Hogwarts, all your brothers were so protective of you that I was afraid asking you to go out with me would mean suicide. Besides that, I was also afraid how you would handle my proposition. Ron had said you were my number one fan, so I wasn't sure whether or not you like me for me, or like the million other woman on the streets that want my social status as well as money from the job and family heritance. Seriously, people knew more about me – even now – than I would ever find out myself." Ginny was stunned at the revelations.
"Ginny? Are you all right?" Harry questioned with worry mirroring in his eyes as many admirers had described. Ginny nodded. "I was babbling wasn't I?" another nod. "Are you sure you are all right?" nod. "You know, if you keep on doing that, Aurora is going to murder me." That gave Harry a loud slap on the shoulder. "You are not mad at me are you? Violence is not a great solution, just remember that."
"Shush Harry. You are such as oaf! There is nothing wrong with me. I am just a bit shocked," Ginny explained. Seeing the more distressed look on Harry's face, Ginny prayed to all holy beings that make sure she doesn't faint. The pounding sound of her heart echoed in her head and she was quite sure her pulse could be seen at her neck.
"So you knew of my Harry Potter obsession before I even got to talk to you?" Ginny asked in a small voice. The presence next to her suddenly felt quite overwhelming, maybe she would faint. "If you did like me, why didn't you just ask or something?" Harry's face had a pink tinge to it.
"When I did gather up the courage, I had heard from people you liked Seamus. So I thought your earlier reaction to my name was just a phase and since you got used to my presence, the new and exciting situation was gone . . . then you went on with your usual life and crushes." Even as Harry said things aloud, he knew the excuse was stupid. Ginny had thought the same and light smacked Harry in the back of his head.
"You ARE an oaf," the young Weasley replied with a wide smile. "That was sweet and very considerate, but you are such an oaf."
"Does that mean you like me back?" Harry asked lamely. He was prepared for a smack in the face for refusal, or a gleefully happy girl hugging him back. The over-rational reaction was not one Harry Potter was prepared for. It actually felt like he was standing in front of the firing squad rather than the person the question as proposed to.
"Of course I like you back. If I did, the 'sorry' speech would have been given." Ginny was no longer apprehensive. The reality of everything suddenly sank in and the girlish giggles were released. "Oh my goodness! I can't believe it," Ginny shouted while giving Harry a tight hug. So the gleefully happy response was there, but no what. Should Harry kiss her, buy her a drink, or hug and swing the poor girl around until she was dizzy.
"So . . ." Ginny began. "Was I supposed to say 'yes Harry, I'll date you'?" Even though the phrase was said in question form, the meaning was there. That was when Harry actually responded. Without a moments notice, Ginny found her in Harry's arms for the second time that week. This time however, they were kissing in public, but that didn't really matter to the newly formed couple.
After a few minutes, the lovebird finally stopped.
"Aurora really had a bad influence on you," Harry remarked making Ginny more confused in a dazed state. So what? Harry is a good kisser. "You drink coffee. The American had corrupted you, you- you- you coffee drinker!" Okay, so the Boy Who Lived was not as perfect as all the romantics believe. Being weird is actually a good auror quality – just take Mad Eye Moody for an example.
~*~*~
"Everyone, please quiet down," the moderator of the press conference had announced. The Malfoy Manor's main drawing room had been filled with chairs for reporters, and those chairs were all seated with people as well.
"We shall begin from this side of the room," the moderator pointed to the northeastern corner.
"Excuse Mr. Forn," Mrs. Malfoy cut in. "I believe my son and his fiancée should make their statements before the questioning begins." The man cowered and blushed. With a shaking nod, voice amplifiers appeared in front of the group.
"Good evening ladies and gentleman," Draco began. "I am sure everyone is quite anxious to find out who my fiancée is." Nods from multiple reporters had encouraged him to continue. "The truth is, the lucky, or unlucky lady is not much of a mystery. Had you not made so many false and illogical assumptions, the identity of my fiancée is quite obvious."
"Just get on with it!" an irate reporter urged. The Malfoy heir merely sneered at the man.
"As I was saying, I will tell you the identity of my fiancée. I assure you will find the answer at the end of the night." Complaints were heard and the Malfoy's body language had answered any doubts as to why they were aristocratic and deserved respect.
"Draco, it isn't nice to tease them," Mrs. Malfoy interrupted. As much as she enjoyed teasing the media back, groups of irritated former Gryffindors near the back of the room were tapping their foot impatiently. Mrs. Weasley didn't put in a lot of effort to conceal her dislike of the situation. For one, people believed her little girl was going to marry a Malfoy. And two, the little girl arrived at the Burrow hand in hand with Harry. If that scene got out, people are going to believe little Virginia Weasley is a scarlet woman.
"Very well," Draco replied in his spoiled brat's bored voice. "There is no grand unveiling, but my beautiful fiancée stands to my right." Camera flashes were mainly aimed to his right; however, there were two women on either side of him. On the right was obviously Aurora and on the left was Ginny. A less intelligent photographer had taken a picture with Ginny as the center of attention.
"Is there a reason why my picture is being taken?" Ginny pointed out with Harry hugging her closer to give a hint: People, Ginny Weasley is with H. Potter, not D. Malfoy.
"What do you think you are doing? The other right!" This proclamation led the entire room to burst in laughter and the photographer put his down in shame. Just as the hall quieted, his complaints were heard.
"He said 'right'. How was I supposed to know whether it was his or mine right?" One last glare from Draco Malfoy had brought silence back.
"Questions?" Draco asked to redirect the topic to his upcoming wedding.
"When will the wedding be?" one of the reporter asked, and so the questions had began. All the important people of the wedding were introduced: the groomsmen, the bridesmaids, and –of course – the couple that aide the marrying couple. The standing order had been choreographed so that the best man and the maid of honor could have their pictures taken together.
The conference must have been the shortest one in the history of press conferences. Considering the actual marrying couple was not as controversial as it was believed to be, just revealing the identity of the fiancée was enough to make the situation un-tabloid worthy. In conclusion, a small reception was held for less formal questions, the ones that were not related to the wedding itself.
"Is it true that Miss Weasley refused Mr. Potter's proposal to get to know her better?" a reporter had the nerve to direct that attention to Harry and Ginny. He had been one of the poor paparazzi that were attacked by three skilled aurors. Ginny and Harry had been standing with the marrying couple, and three glares were directed towards the imbecile. It seemed the aurors were shocked how a person could still be as annoying as they were before getting a couples of ribs broken and an eye socket bruised.
"Are you two dating?" another reporter had asked. Ginny was the only person that was passive enough to answer the questions to send the reporters away.
"I never refused Harry, and yes we are dating."
"Miss Weasley," the reporter from Teen Witch began. "What do you feel about Mr. Potter being named at the most eligible bachelor for the fifth year in the row?"
"He is eligible!" Ginny exclaimed smile. The reporter had then looked at Aurora.
"I will utter no comment on this on the account of self preservation," the female auror declared with a bite. "However," Aurora's tone had softened, "I will say Draco is the most eligible." That had earned laughs from the entire group as the Malfoy heir kidded his fiancée with a threat. The question was then repeated to Draco.
"Oh yes, Potter definitely needs that title. He has been getting too desolate, the number of females surrounding him has been decreasing as well as his ego."
"You know you love me Malfoy," Harry said turning to his coworker when the reporters decided to interrogate the older generation: the Malfoys, Mrs. Weasley, and the surviving half of the Marauders.
"Oh I am absolutely entranced by you Harry," Draco replied sarcastically. "I just want to keep you by my side for the rest of my life, but too bad Mother and Father dislikes you. Else I would be marrying you rather than this potpourri of ideas here."
"Sorry Draco," Ginny cut in, "Harry is on my leash while you are on Aurora's." The comment made the men indignant while Aurora and Ginny high-five the wittiness of the remark.
"Miss Weasley?" a voice asked interrupting the fun time for the two couples. "Are the rumors true about your pregnancy? Also, is the child's father Mr. Potter?"
"What?" Ginny and Harry questioned with shock.
"How did that rumor even begin?" Harry asked. One reporter was about to respond. "No, don't answer that. Ginny and I have not gone that far with our relationship. I would like you to tell your sources to not invent rumors, at least not without reasonable basis." The tone Harry used made the reporter skitter away.
~*~ finis for now ~*~
Omni's Rambles: It seems this piece of work dragged out far longer than I had planned it would. This creates some major problems on my brain since I am not satisfied with any chapter I have written. Maybe it's phase of self-depreciation, but I seriously think this is turning out to be crappy.
Well, not that I am done beating myself up, it is "Thank You" time.
HopefulTears: Yay! You have an account! I'll be sure to read your fics once I get used to my summer class. Icky literary analysis paper for each night gets tough on my comprehension skills.
The Dragon Guardian of the Sea: I am sorry I confused you. If you want any sort of clarification, e-mail me the questions and I'll respond as best as I can explain things. I had noticed the prank part was a bit confusing even as I wrote it, but the words still wouldn't come out right. Sorry, I am going to change when I am intelligible.
libra071988: Thanks! Hope to see you back for this chapter. ^^
arkaynn: Thanks! I'll reload each chapter as I am getting in touch with the beta for this story after, oh two months. I know, very bad, inconsiderate me. It wasn't long enough? Oh boy, my poor fingers let alone my head. Hmm, that request is going to be hard to respond to. I can't promise the chapter will get longer. They were on their way of getting shorter . . .
Avalon: Oh, Harry and Ginny was forced to pretend was because of the odd logic in the mind of Aurora. If Ginny and Harry acted like they were together, the press wouldn't say Aurora was marrying Harry, or Ginny was marrying Draco, or the heterosexual relationship between Harry and Draco. The forced relationship was a supposed harmless way to proving the press wrong. It doesn't make sense to most people, even to me at this minute, but it did make sense at some point in time . . . ^^ I miss my brain.
Rhiain: THANKS! Oky, done exclaiming, I am now calm. I need to read your story, what's the title? Oh right, as you probably have noticed, there wasn't quite a lot of struggle for the two to get together . . . not too much action.
Saima: Thank you for answering that poll. I was serious about the poll! That was for those who didn't care. Anyway, good to see that the progression is not horribly slow. ^^ However, I believe this chapter moved too fast. I need to find the middle ground.
Punkin: No need to apologize. School is nuts and go against all that's life. Not really, but I don't like it right now. I haven't gotten my AP results yet so I get pretty squeamish when the subject is brought up. One test I had thought I had done well while the other was absolutely horrible. What the curriculum had focused on was only one third of the test. *wail, breather, calm* Now the dating obstacle is done. ^^
lil kawaii doom: Thank you, I like that too. A wandy version of the truth potion whose name I cannot spell right now. ^^ Get them plastered, hmm. Now that is an idea.
Ella Wood: I didn't get my finals back either, but the grades were very satisfactory. ^^
Aindel: Sorry about your computer. I think all technology are moody and only choose to work for people at times convenient for them. Seriously, the machines are taking over the world. There is a story behind the cooking part. It was inspired by multiple cooking disasters that my friend and I have endured. Luckily we didn't get burned . . . too badly.
Silver Witch: Your advice helped a lot. But the burning sensation on the cheek is quite distracting. *makes funny face* I am glad your computer is fixed, I think I am getting too dependent on mine. There is absolutely no way I can survive my English class without it.
Perhaps more people can read and review. I am a bit disappointed at the decrease in feedback . . . oh well. Such is life: fairness is overrated. Very well, hopefully you enjoyed the chapter.
With happy thoughts,
Omni