Disclaimer: Usual applies; my brain ran out of its creativity in disclaiming steam.
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Chapter Eighteen: Solitude and ConcealmentThe declaration of love – rather like like – between Harry and Ginny had made headlines. No one really knew how to respond besides go on with his or her normal lives. Considering the major plans of the wedding were completed, Ginny could focus all of her attention on finishing her apprenticeship in journalism.
Sidetracks from Aurora's pre-marital problems had deterred Ginny from her goal of completing her education briefly, but an owl from the Classen family had asked for Aurora to return home. Needless to say, Ginny was quite glad Aurora was off her hands. As much as she loved the other woman like a sister, one could only stand so much nagging, whether on one's own life or the nagger's own experiences, for a short period of time.
In two months, Ginny had completed her dissertation for her journalism degree. It was now March, the lovely spring scenery was everywhere. Flowers were in full bloom with Ginny's owl suffering from allergies. When Mimi had her minor bouts of sneezing, it was impossible to send letters to people. Harry had been busy with his deskwork at the ministry's defense department, so the little pile named "Harry's Notes" was gradually multiplying in size.
No romantic excursions happened between the couple. Ginny was left wondering whether or not she and Harry were actually a couple. Certainly the notes were signed "with love", but to what degree was the comment true? Don't people in love usually do things together? Taking a deep breath, Ginny decided to write a letter to Harry informing him of her surprise visit. Ginny would have preferred for the surprise to actually be unexpected, but with ministry security, she didn't want a replay of what happened the last time she had visited.
Right after finishing the note, a rather destructible sneeze from Mimi reminded Ginny of her predicament. No matter how much she endeared the owl, allergy season meant no mailing season. Unfortunately, no potion master wanted to invent a potion for curing owlish allergies a no many animal postmen had the syndrome.
I suppose a more direct approach is needed . . .
Ginny went to her fireplace and used her wand to light up the hearth. Putting in a pinch of the communication powder, Ginny called Harry's name. Hopefully the ministry didn't have security checks for communicating via fires. To Ginny's rotten luck, the message had to be passed from the central office, to the defense department secretary, to the auror sector's secretaries, which finally transferred Harry Potter's personal secretary.
Getting though all the people was an annoyance. After the various news articles on Harry and Ginny's new relationship, random people Ginny had never met before wished her good luck for unknown reasons, or complimented her on her "nice catch". The response from Harry's secretary was delayed as she announced Harry was in a meeting with some person. Ginny waited patiently once again, so she would be able to get whatever identification, permission needed to enter the ministry building.
"Hello Ginny," Harry's head finally popped up in the fireplace. "How are you?"
I am fine other than the fact that I haven't spoken to by supposed boyfriend since the press conference. Letters are a form of transferring ideas, but hand written words are not great substitutes for oral communication . . . at least in the form of people relationships.
"I am doing great," Ginny lied. "I was wondering if we could have dinner together or something. I just finished my thesis for journalism and I wanted to celebrate. Four years of learning how to write is finally paying off. I am almost done. All I need is a full time journalism job, and I could be called truly independent."
Harry's face lit up at the wonderful news. Fixing his sliding glasses, the auror nodded fervently. "That's great! Why don't you come here in an hour? That would be near lunchtime. We can a grab a quick snack. Then spend the rest of the day doing whatever you want, and followed by finishing the outing with dinner. I'll wait for you at the entrance so you won't have to go through any of those hassles." Harry had made a face at the new security system.
Ginny nodded at the proposition. The plan would allow Ginny and Harry to at least act like a couple. At state of how their relationship was at now, priorities and values should be evaluated to see if a relationship is plausible at the time. An outsider would think Ginny and Harry are dodging each other since no one really took the initiative to plan a couple's outing.
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Ginny arrived at the ministry fifteen minutes early. Somehow news had gotten around that Harry was meeting Ginny so she was allowed entrance to the ministry building. So much for tight security . . . Walking the winding hallways to the aurors' office, Ginny had gotten many more comments on her relationship with Harry. Reaching the circular office of the auror's was a tremendous break. Those secretaries were too stuck up really take notice of Ginny. Looking around the room, the extraordinarily arrogant blonde and leggy secretary that was always around the Famous Triplet was nowhere in the room. The girl that Ginny had recognized as Harry's personal assistant waved to catch Ginny's attention.
"Just go through that door Miss Weasley!" the girl explained excitedly.
She must be new . . . No wonder she treats with such enthusiasm.
The redhead smiled in return and walked into the special room that separates the Famous Triplet from the rest of the aurors. Ginny looked around the familiar room. The flickering of light and the moving shadows seemed like Harry was in a meeting.
Ginny walked to the window and waited until the meeting would be over. Through the glass, one could see across the ministry property. The greenhouses for research on plants were right below the view. The people busy working in the cultivation area looked like busy bees around a beehive or ants hurrying home.
A loud jingling laughter interrupted Ginny's observations. She started at the creaking sound of an opening door. Jumping as though a guilty child was caught red-handed, Ginny whirled around to find a rather familiar blonde standing too close to her boyfriend. The redhead laughed embarrassedly, and excused herself.
"Sorry about interrupting your meeting," Ginny apologized. Her reply was forced and gradually got harsh. She turned to exit the office before anything could be said by Harry or implied by the offending Miss Blonde-and-Leggy.
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Ginny Weasley's thoughts were jumbled. Technically, she was supposed to feel betrayed by the scene, but somehow, the betrayal is nonexistent. The overly rational part of her conscious was trouncing the skeptical side in the rate of making excuses and reasons for Harry's actions. The lead of the pro-Harry sides, however, was quickly dropping. As time passed by, skepticism quickly took over Ginny's judgement.
Skeptical: the secretary is quite beautiful. She is smart, sophisticated, and of course, so many men that work in the sector turn their heads whenever the woman walks by. Compared to her, Ginny is a mere girl-next-door. While Ginny is a simple homely redhead wearing simple pants and blouse, the secretary was tall, skinny, voluptuous, and the business suit's short skirt was showing off her legs.
Rational: Well . . . now that you describe the situation that way, I can hardly rebut the assumption. Either way, I don't care how incriminating that had looked, Harry is a moral person. He wouldn't dare do anything wrong, such as cheating on Ginny or asking Ginny out when he already had a girlfriend.
Skeptical: Now you are sounding skeptical. I believe that is my job description. Considering you are sounding like me, I rest my case. Our Ginny Weasley is no competition to that Aphrodite.
Ginny groaned at the mini conversation between her mental angel and devil. It had to be unhealthy for a person to have so many voices in their heads. For one, the conversations going on would distract the host from actual events happening at the very second. In the case with Ginny, the poor disturbed and confused young woman ran straight into a person as she meandered through the streets.
"Geez, watch where you are going!" the annoyed voice shouted in return. "Ginny?"
Ginny looked up from her near re-acquaintance with the concrete. The piqued speaker was Draco Malfoy.
"Hello Draco," Ginny answered with a smile. "How has life been treating you?" The auror must have noticed Ginny's self-depreciating tone and the uncharacteristic concerned expression replaced the oh-I-met-someone-know face. Ginny looked at the taller man with a small grin. "Well?"
"Oh, life is fine," Draco replied. Ginny quirked an eyebrow, the idiosyncrasy of her and Aurora. A flash of pain flittered across the pale feature of the Malfoy heir. "How about you?"
"Oh, I am just perky. Why shouldn't I be?" Ginny asked noting the doubt from her conversation partner. "I finished my term paper for school. Now I am officially a grown-up with a skill to get money. I believe the Daily Prophet decided to give me my own column, which is extraordinary for a novice if what my professors tell me are true." Ginny continued to babble on about the latter moments of her educations.
" . . . so basically, if the school had a valedictorian, I would be it. You know the other splendiferous thing? Because of my achievements, I got a 500-galleon reimbursement from the school. It's given to help school get on their feet after school, but since I already got an early acceptance to the newspaper, I now have extra 500 galleons on my hands." The happy news and sense of completion pushed all the dreary thought of a certain black haired auror out of Ginny's mind.
"Congratulations!" Draco Malfoy replied. He was a bit dazed at Ginny's 10-minute rant about her journalism training. "I suppose you are here to celebrate with Potter?"
That was definitely the wrong thing to say. Ginny's newly gained joyful mood plummeted to the day's lowest point. Disappointment marred the smile on the lightly freckled cheeks.
"No, he was busy . . ." Ginny replied softly looking at the ground. Determined to make the best of her day, Ginny jerked her head up with a smile. "Do you have anything to do right now?" The former Slytherin shook his head uncertain of what to expect. "Good. Will you go celebrate with me? I feel like treating myself to a massive dessert."
"Are you certain you want to?" Draco asked smoothly. Ginny could tell he was a bit apprehensive. What did Aurora and him argue about anyway that is making a Malfoy un-suave? "I mean, it is going to be a lot of sweets. How are you going to burn the calories with your new desk job?"
"Um, spend the 500 galleons and the first months of pay for a house with a swimming pool and swim every day? Or possibly join one of those muggle fitness clubs that Hermione was talking about joining after having the baby. I think the membership is quite cheap. That should last me a couple months." Ginny laughed aloud at the exaggerated wince from Draco when she mentioned muggles. "So will you come?" Ginny's former enemy shrugged.
"To the fitness club or you little celebration?" Ginny glared at Draco. "Oh, why not? You only live once. Besides, we can join each other in misery. So which restaurant do you want to go to?"
"The Tea Cottage," was Ginny's dazed reply. How did Malfoy read me so well? Oh right, stupid aurors and their reading people training. No wonder there is an underground movement to get rid of aurors' psychology training. According to the radicals, the power of breaking minds is against human rights.
Ginny and Draco walked silently to the little pastry house enjoying each other's presence. Neither wanted to share their troubles yet.
The quaint little restaurant had a large area of land as its premise. However, a majority of the land was made into a garden. The aroma of herbs and flowers served as the air freshener if a pastry was burnt. The sun was bright in the sky so not many people wanted to be in the seats outside. The two misery companions went to a group of chairs deep amongst the greenery.
"So why aren't you celebrating with your family?" Draco asked after they ordered their dessert series and got their drinks. Ginny lazily stirred her tea.
"My parents don't care much for the journalism. After what the papers did to Harry, my mother definitely hated the whole crew," Ginny explained. "I like writing about the news and such. The gossip columns are not what I got my degree for. Besides, since I am not auror material, I might as well help the public be aware of their security level to help." Draco nodded and sipped his drink.
"Hermione and Ron are busy preparing for the new addition to their family. I have never seen Ron so uptight or Hermione so moody." Ginny's companion laughed heartily. "And my other brothers are quite busy with their own family life. I think Fred and George might have found two girls who might be able to save them from my mother's wrath."
"So the Weasley's do want a large family!" the blonde man exclaimed teasing Ginny. It wasn't like the taunts during the Hogwarts years. This was more like two best friends bantering each other without animosity. Ginny reached across the table and gave Malfoy a deserving smack. Draco shouted in pain and continually moaned and on and on about Ginny's strong hand.
"No wonder Aurora calls you a baby!" Ginny retorted. "You call that a hard hit?"
Draco never got to answer the question or defend himself since their first course of desserts was served. The appetizing strawberry shortcake was just sweet enough for the customers to want more desserts, but not so sweet that eating too much of it would cause a headache.
The conversation ranged from details of the wedding to Draco Malfoy helping Ginny plan out her life with a journalism job at the Daily Prophet. The little bought of silliness didn't last long when a rich chocolate mousse was served. Considering Draco Malfoy's weakness for chocolate has been famous to all present at Hogwarts during the sixth year Easter break, Ginny had great entertainment seeing her partner in crime wolfing down a second serving of the dish.
"I don't know how they stay in business," Draco complained after Ginny pointed out he should save some room for the other desserts. "Why would people come here to eat sweets and get fat? Of course, then they go and exercise compulsively to burn the calories. If doesn't make sense!"
"Draco," Ginny began while condescendingly patting his hand, "Just eat. You are now part of the population that believes desserts are the ultimate comfort food. Just eat and don't complain. Enjoy yourself while the limits aren't set."
The blonde auror glared at Ginny and snatched back his hand as though he might be scorched. Ginny was a bit shocked at the sudden movement, but the childish smile on Draco Malfoy proved otherwise.
"Limits aren't set?" he asked. "There are actually limits?"
Before he could begin another armchair philosophical speech on the logistics of the Tea Cottage, Ginny broke off into her own little rant.
"You know, Aurora and I would do this every week during the summer. Then she would plan for a long hike around the mountains the following day. When we get back from the outing, we would then go swimming. She actually calculated the amount of exercise needed to burn those calories." Malfoy quirked his eyebrow when Ginny mentioned his fiancée's name.
"Oh really?" Draco responded slowly. His frown was more evidence, as though he was glaring at something behind Ginny. The redhead turned her head to look in the direction the auror was glowering at.
Walking to the entrance of the Tea Cottage was a certain dark haired auror with a certain female blonde companion.
~*~finis for now~*~
I am just going to be evil and end right there. I am still in the middle of a 5-page research paper. The next project is a cultural analysis of a text, so yeah . . . it is going to be another while until I can get on with it. Hmph! I was hoping I would be able to finish the story soon.
Oh well, such is life.
Let's see . . . PERSONAL THANKS!
Ella Wood: Thank you, but I no matter what people say, my self confidence will always teeter.
Eclipse: Don't say that before you get the next chapter. This is supposed to be a turning point. You know, where life suddenly seems too complicated and very weak-minded people would want to run away. I had noticed the large Draco/Aurora parts, but it was hard to ignore since it's their wedding. Hopefully the following trial/tribulation (plural if I have more time) will fix this.
Rhiain: Thank you! But they are not too close right now. They might not be an item if Harry is still as clueless as the other gender like how he was in the Order of the Phoenix.
Arkaynn: Thank you for those lovely suggestions. Of course, that part illustrated the extent of my eloquence. And I'll keep those ideas in my mind for later chapters.
HopefulTears: Trust me when I say I have self-confidence issues. Not really in how I look – got too many people say I need to eat more. It's not my fault that's what family genetics gave me. Thank goodness I don't have to worry about that portion of my life. I go to a school where they pick the geniuses in the city and all my friends have an I.Q. of over 130. How do you think you would feel when you are amongst people who can crank out an essay the night before the due date and still receive a 99% while the paper I had spent days working on got a 86%? Writing has never been one of my strong points as I have discovered Chemistry ranks just as low . . . let's hope my AP scores will be higher than my SAT II scores.
But here is something my friends always tell me: we have a lifetime ahead of us. Don't spend too much time worrying and wallowing in the pity induced my low self-esteem and –confidence.
Lilia: Oh yes, coffee. My lifesaver when it comes to exams. Got to love it. I think I am going to get monthly orders for coffee beans when I go to college.
Punkin: Thank you! The press conference took me awhile to choreograph. I wasn't sure who the reporters would react after the "attack on the media" that happened earlier.
Aindel Druida: Bored? Join the club. Well, I am more of the boredom due to lack of sleep. The dog I am pet-sitting is quite a handful. A run at 7:30AM and a run 12 hours later then beg the doggie to eat her food.
Avalon: Yay! I made you laugh – or what I wrote made you laugh. I was out of school in late May. The weather here got to 100 around that time. Now I am in summer school at the nearby college. Considering I will be taking AP English Language next year, I thought I could brush up on my analysis skills during the summer. As for breaks, the 105 minutes of class each day is actually great. I do my homework and I usually still have half the day to do whatever I want.
Silver Witch: I will certainly read them! Just keep bugging until I do. My system of tracking what stories to read is as messy as government organization. I know it for one day, then I forget it again.
Hplova4eva: You are new! Welcome to the messy- lives of HP characters bandwagon. I don't really think this popular enough to be called a bandwagon but you get my point. ^^ Please continue to enjoy this fic and feel free to make suggestions anytime.
Thank you all, and need I ask what all writers ask? ^^
Happy summer,
Omni