A/N: I apologise for taking so long to update. A bunch of stuff has happened since I posted Part 3 and unfortunately my head was too full of issues to string together more than two words, so I waited till I was back down south before I wrote this installment. Here is the long awaited Part 4. ENJOY!

THE JOURNEY HOME

Chapter Four – Ministry Of Magic

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Ginny arrived at the Ministry of Magic early the next morning. The Atrium was already buzzing with activity and hordes of robed witches and wizards were flocking towards the lifts. Ginny pushed her way through the crowd and approached the security desk. The watch wizard was hidden behind a copy of the Daily Prophet and she had to clear her throat to get his attention.

"Oh, sorry. Name?" he asked, folding his newspaper roughly and shoving it under the desk.

"Ginny Weasley. I'm here to see Nymphadora Tonks, Auror Headquarters, Department of Auror Training," Ginny recited.

The watch wizard scanned his list. "Ah yes, you're expected. Wand, please." Ginny pulled her wand from her pocket and handed it to him. "Eight and a half inches, ebony and unicorn hair?" the wizard questioned, reading from a slip of paper he had taken out of the odd machine Ginny's wand was now balanced on top of. She nodded in confirmation.

"Right, now you take that," he handed her back her wand, "and I keep this," he pushed the slip of paper onto a brass spike, then reached for his newspaper and disappeared behind it again.

"Right," Ginny muttered. She glanced around the Atrium slightly apprehensive about joining the now thinning crowd of people at the lifts.

"Ginny? Ginny Weasley is that you?"

Ginny spun around and came face to face with someone she didn't recognise in the slightest. "Erm, yes?"

"Ginny it's me Colin, Colin Creevey."

"Oh, Colin, of course. Sorry my minds been everywhere lately." Ginny smiled. Colin had definitely grown up. "So, what are you doing these days?"

"I'm a photographer! Would you believe it? All those pictures at Hogwarts actually paid off. I work for the Daily Prophet, mostly taking pictures to accompany Rita Skeeter articles, but I do a bit for the Quibbler now and again as well."

"The Quibbler? Isn't Luna Lovegoods dad the editor of that?" Ginny asked, beginning to lead the way towards the lifts.

"Well yes, Mr Lovegood used to be editor, but he fell ill a year or two ago and now Luna runs the magazine," Colin replied.

"Are you and Luna, um, quiet close?" Ginny asked, trying not to smirk.

Colin went pink and smiled shyly, "engaged, as a matter of fact."

"Oh, congratulations!" Ginny gushed.

Colin beamed, "it was just last night, I've been dying to tell someone."

The lift doors clattered open and a group of important looking wizards stepped out and forced their way through the crowd.

"That's Elphias Doge," Colin gasped, reaching for his camera, "Ginny I've got to go. See you later." He ducked into the crowd in hot pursuit of the fleeing group of wizards and Ginny was shepherded into the now empty lift by three young, giggling witches.

"Hold the lift!" a voice bellowed and Ginny was shoved into the back corner to make room for the new arrival. The witches immediately ceased their giggling and began whispering amongst themselves. Ginny felt a tad nauseous as the lift lurched upwards.

'Level Seven, Department of Magical Games and Sports, incorporating the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club and Ludicrous Patents Office." A cool female voice declared as the lift doors opened.

"This is our stop," one of the young witches announced sadly. Her friends both gave a soft groan and followed their friend out of the lift. Just before the doors closed the first witch turned back, "bye Harry."

Ginny eyes flicked to the lifts only other occupant, whose head had only snapped up briefly at the sound of his own name and had now returned to the scrolls in front of him. The lift doors clattered open again and two wizards stepped inside.

"Greetings and salutations, Potter," the taller of the two addressed Harry and then turned toward the back of the lift, "Miss Weasley, a rare treat to see you round these parts, visiting your father are you?"

"No actually Riggs, I'm here on my own business," Ginny replied. Riggs nodded and turned back toward the doors, which had opened to let a few memos fly in and were now clattering shut. Ginny caught Harry's eye and he stared blankly at her for a moment before returning to his scrolls. Tonks had obviously not told him they would be working together. "Yes, I'm here at the request of Nymphadora Tonks," Ginny elaborated unnecessarily, her eyes still focused on Harry. "Seems she wants me to accompany her new batch of recruits on their first mission." The scrolls in Harry's hands toppled to the floor. Ginny flashed a satisfied smile 'that got him'.

"You alright there, Potter?" Riggs asked.

"Fine," Harry replied quickly. The doors clattered open again and Riggs and his friend stepped out.

"Good day to you both." Riggs waved and the door creaked shut.

Ginny stared fixedly at the wall and said nothing to Harry as he piled the scrolls back into his arms, fully aware he was shooting her confused looks trying to catch her eye.

'Level Two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizengamot Administration Services.' The doors clattered open and both Ginny and Harry stepped out. Harry began striding down the hallway and Ginny jogged slightly to keep up. Harry pushed open the oak doors with his back (as his hands were full) and waited for Ginny. She gave him a small smile which he did not return.

"Tonks office is on the right just through the other set of doors," he nodded to the doors on the other side of the room, "tell her I'll be there in a minute." He frowned still looking confused and strode off through a path in the mass of cubicles, disappearing into one in the furthermost corner. Ginny sighed and headed towards the doors, dodging one or two memos as she went.


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It was a little uneventful, but I hope you liked it anyway! Just FYI: Ginny, Harry & Ron, whose points of view I'm telling this story from, don't know what happened to Hermione, all they know is that she disappeared. So I can't write about it until one of them finds out, but don't worry I will tell you before the end of the story. Thanks for reading & please review!