Chapter 5

Reuniting

A candle throws its light into the darkness
in a nasty world so shines a good deed
Make sure the fortune that you seek
is the fortune that you need

Ben Harper "Diamonds On The Inside"

"Ginny?"

Through the haze of dreams, a persistent knocking sounded. Ginny rolled onto her side and opened her eyes blearily, looking at her small alarm clock. 7:02.

"Ginny? Are you awake?"

Who the bleeding hell interrupts people at 7:02 in the morning?! Ginny thought in irritation. She raised her arms above the covers, sighing as she stretched her muscles wearily. Three hours more...

"Ginny!" Lavender's voice rang through the door. "You have a visitor!"

What? Who? WHY?

"I'm not taking visitors at this time of day," Ginny called out.

"What?" Lavender replied. "I can't hear you."

"I want to go back to sleep!"

"I still can't hear you, Ginny," Lavender said, turning the knob. "I'm coming in!"

"Ugh! Fine!" Ginny grumbled, her voice muffled as she nestled back into the pillow. "Just don't expect me to answer any questions."

"Morning, Gin!" a bright and cheery voice greeted her. Ginny peeped over the covers to see Hermione next to Lavender. "How are you?"

"Hermione!" Ginny said, very pleased. "I'm alright, apart from throwing up all the time!" As Hermione's face wrinkled in disgust, Ginny hid a grin. "Sorry. How are you?"

"I'm alright," Hermione said, smiling. "Still missing a leg but I'm assured that my lizard-like re-growth qualities will kick in soon."

"Brilliant," Ginny laughed. She held her arms out to her old friend, yawning, and waited until Hermione had wheeled herself over the bedside and embraced her. "It's so good to see you!" she told her.

"Too right," Lavender piped up. "But I've got to get to work now; sorry, Hermione, I'd make you a cup of tea but unfortunately the science department is already angry at me for missing my first week."

Hermione blinked. "Science department?" she asked quizzically. "I thought you were going to be chasing up rogue magic?"

"Yeah, I am," Lavender said, adjusting her hat and checking her teeth in Ginny's full-length mirror. "In a science laboratory on the other side of London. A few Muggle scientists got hold of a few spells whizzing about and, I'm told, a few bodies of those killed by the Killing Curse, so..." She gave a delicate shrug. "I get to clear up that mess. I'll catch you two birds later. Bye!" She blew kisses to them before breezing out the door.

"Still a bundle of energy, then," Hermione observed.

Ginny cracked a grin. "Somewhat."

Hermione squeezed Ginny's hands. "So tell me what's going on with you."

"Nothing new!" Ginny sighed.

Hermione laughed. "How about work, then?"

"Ah," Ginny said. "Yes. When I was last at work, Dave was getting a bit closer to the truth regarding a politician's untimely demise, so that was keeping me on my toes." At Hermione's curious expression, she elaborated. "Dave has been investigating the death of a local politician named Harry Jenkins. Judging from the file, I'd say he was killed by the Killing Curse – he was staying at the same hotel that You Know Who infiltrated during his final attack, so it's highly likely that was the cause of his death. Only problem is, Jenkins was a high profile politician – treasurer, or something – and had a lot of money. So his family is very keen to find out how he died, and Dave is very keen to be the one who discovers how it happened, though I'm not sure why." She sighed. "It's getting harder and harder to lie to him."

Hermione nodded, looking thoughtful. "I don't really know what you can do, Ginny," she said. "Lying to a friend isn't easy or... well, it's not morally right, either. I really don't know what to suggest. I don't think I could lie to my friends." She shook her head. "I guess you've already considered the 'let him find out the truth and then memory charm him' plan?"

Ginny pulled a face. "I don't want to do that at all." She lifted her shoulders helplessly. "He's my friend."

"Anything more than that?" Hermione asked innocently.

Ginny frowned and yanked the pillow from behind her head, throwing it at the other girl. Hermione ducked and squealed. "Alright, alright, I'm sorry!"

"Mmm." Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Don't even go there."

Hermione adjusted a lever on the side of her chair. "Is Draco here?"

Ginny shrugged. "Maybe." Her stomach lurched; from the illness or the thought of him, she couldn't be sure. "Ugh, I feel sick again."

"Want me to grab you some flat lemonade?" Hermione offered. At Ginny's tired smile, she started wheeling herself toward the door. "Don't move. I'll be right back."

"Thanks," Ginny called after her before settling down again. She had no sooner rediscovered the position in which she had slept so fitfully before the phone rang. "Damn it! Hello?"

"Uh..." a timid voice ventured. "Ginny?"

"Yes," she said. "Sorry. I'm just tired. Who is this?"

The voice laughed warmly. "Sorry, Gin. It's Dave."

"Dave!" Ginny said, unable to keep the smile from her voice. "Hello! How are you?"

"I think the question should be how are you?" Dave replied. "Are you better?"

"Oh, yes," Ginny found herself saying before shaking her head. "Actually, no. Well... yes and no. I'm not still throwing up all the time but still feel like crap."

Hermione reentered the room. "Who is it?" she mouthed.

"Dave," Ginny mouthed back. Hermione made "Oooh!" noises before Ginny gave her the two-fingered salute.

"That sucks," Dave was saying. "I- ah, damn. Look, I've got to go but I'll call you up later in the day to check how ya goin', alright?"

"Yeah," Ginny said, feeling oddly pleased. "Okay. Thanks."

"No problem," Dave responded. "See ya."

"Bye." Ginny replaced the phone on its hook before shaking her finger at Hermione. "That's so juvenile, Herm!"

"Fun, though," Hermione pointed out merrily. "Can't complain about anything that's fun!" She set the glass of flat lemonade on Ginny's night stand. "There you go."

"Thanks," Ginny said gratefully, drinking from it. "Ah. Nothing quite like flat lemonade."

"I could bring in dry biscuits too, you know," Hermione pointed out.

"True," Ginny grimaced at the thought. "I can't believe how sick that potion made me."

"The one Susan gave you?" Hermione asked quizzically, wheeling herself slowly around Ginny's room. "Nice painting."

"Yeah," Ginny said. "The river Thames. And yeah, the potion Susan gave me. Turns out I'm allergic to leprechaun blood."

"Oh, no!" Hermione was instantly concerned. "Shouldn't you be at St. Mungo's? I can't believe she gave you a potion that you could develop an allergic reaction to!"

"Chances of allergy to leprechaun blood are one in five million," Ginny informed her. "I'm just lucky."

Hermione smiled. "Gee, I wish I were that lucky."

"Mmm," Ginny rolled her eyes. "Well, anyway, I didn't want to go to St. Mungo's. She gave me the allergy antidote and I'm taking that on top of a different potion to fix the stomach bug. Well, was," Ginny amended. "Technically, the bug is gone. Now I'm just sick because of the allergy."

"I wouldn't have thought an allergy would be too hard to treat," Hermione said thoughtfully. "I've read of lots of potions for reducing susceptibility to allergy attacks; even some where it gets rid of the allergy completely."

"Yes, but I had the bug," Ginny reminded her. "They couldn't give me a potion like that while I was still being treated for the bug. I've started the allergy antidote now..." She closed her eyes briefly. "It tastes worse than vomit flavoured Bertie Botts. But Susan assures me that I should be cured within the week. She felt terribly over it." She opened her eyes again to see Hermione watching her closely.

"Poor Susan," Hermione said finally. "She's had it a bit rough."

"Haven't we all," Ginny remarked. The phone rang again and she glared at it before picking it up. "Hello?"

"It's me again," Dave said hurriedly. "Just wanted to tell you that I miss you and you need to get your butt back to work before—oh, damn." Dave cut off abruptly, his voice changing tone completely. "Yes," he said in an official tone. "The Jenkins investigation. I—okay, then, I'll get back to you later. Thanks. Bye... Boss! How are you doing? Come in!"

The line went dead.

Ginny replaced the receiver, shaking her head.

"Dave again?" Hermione asked.

Ginny nodded.

"Short conversation," Hermione ventured.

Ginny broke out into a big grin. "But the funniest one I've had all week!"

Ginny awoke to the sound of sniffing and deep, rasping sobs. She sat up in bed, the hair on the back of her neck prickling. Beside her, Hermione stirred. Ginny looked at her bedroom door before reaching across to her nightstand and picking up her wand. The door swung open slowly at her whispered command, enabling Ginny to hear the commotion clearly. Hermione raised herself up on her elbows, looking inquiringly at Ginny.

"What's going on out there?" she whispered.

"I don't know," Ginny whispered back. A glance at her alarm clock revealed that this was happening at the ungodly hour of two o'clock in the morning. "I'm so sorry; I know you have to get to work early."

"Oh, that's alright," Hermione responded. "Are you feeling okay, or do you want me to go out? Only--" she pointed at her wheelchair helplessly. "Takes awhile to assemble."

"Yeah," Ginny said. "No, that's fine; I'll just go out and see who is making all the noise. You go back to sleep."

"Oh, please," Hermione snorted. "And miss all the excitement?"

Ginny smiled. She pulled back the covers, shivering at the blast of cool air across her bare legs. She swung her feet onto the floor, pulling herself up a little shakily. She slipped her feet into her moccasins and padded across the room to the door. She peered out around the frame, squinting in the gloom to make out two hunched figures on the stairs. Susan and Draco. Ginny moved out into the hallway. They looked up.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked in a hushed tone.

Susan, she could see, was crying. And Draco, it seemed, was doing his best to comfort her. "She's upset," he explained.

Oh, well spotted, Ginny thought callously. "Are you okay, Sue?"

Susan's only reply was a muffled sob. Ginny moved closer to the calamity, reaching out and brushing Susan's hair out of her eyes. Draco had an arm around Susan's back and was patting it awkwardly.

"Sue?" Ginny asked again. "Do you need anything?"

Susan gave a muffled gasp. "My ignorance," she moaned.

"Your ignorance?" Ginny repeated, concerned. "What's happened?"

Draco was mouthing something at her.

"What?" she mouthed back.

He mouthed something else.

"I've got no idea what you're saying!" she said, annoyed.

Susan looked up, brushing away more tears. "I've had an owl from Parvati Thomas," she said softly.

Ginny felt her stomach turn to ice. "Is it Dean?" she asked hoarsely.

"No, your precious ex-boyfriend is fine," Draco said coldly.

Ginny shot him a venomous glance.

"No," Susan replied. "It's Ernie."

"Ernie?" Ginny was confused. "What happened to him?" And how did Parvati know about it? Parvati had fallen pregnant to Dean Thomas straight after her seventh year and married him not long after. Five children didn't enable the former gossip and know-all of Hogwarts to get out much.

"Parvati saw him," Susan continued through hiccups. "She was out for some hen's night thing for a Muggle cousin of hers at a club in London."

"Okay," Ginny said. "And?"

"And she saw Ernie in the club," Draco supplied. Susan nodded. Ginny was still confused.

"So?" she asked. "What was he doing?"

"Kissing another girl," Susan said, staring down at her hands, watching them shake. "Snogging someone else senseless against a dimly lit wall in London's sleaziest nightclub."

"Oh, Sue," Ginny said softly. She sat down next to her on the stairs, squashed up against the wall. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Was he drunk?"

"I don't know," Susan said hopelessly. "Maybe?"

"What else did Parvati say?" Draco asked.

"Not much," Susan said, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Only that she saw him."

"Could she have been mistaken?" Ginny asked. Draco winced as Susan lashed out.

"How could she have been mistaken?" she cried angrily. "No one else in the world looks like Ernie Macmillan! It's highly unlikely that his identical twin was in a London nightclub rubbing up against some tart!"

"Sorry," Ginny said quickly. "I--"

"Forget it," Susan said flatly. "I'm going up to bed."

Ginny could only watch as she got up, accompanied by Draco.

"I'm alright," Susan told Draco, heading up the stairs.

"Yes," he said, "but I'm going to come up with you anyway."

"You don't have to!" she shot at him.

"Well, my bedroom is next to yours," he pointed out wryly. "So you could say I'm going that way."

Ginny hid a smile as she watched them disappear around the hallway corner and headed back into her bedroom. Hermione was still sitting up in the darkness.

"I heard everything," she said sympathetically. "Who would've thought Ernie Macmillan would cheat on Susan?"

"Bastard," Ginny agreed, clambering back into bed.

Ginny yawned and stretched. She'd reduced the mountain of paperwork required by the Ministry for her "Muggle World Excursion" from six centimeters high to merely two. It had only taken her three hours. She glanced at the clock. She figured an extra hour or so wouldn't hurt. She picked up her quill again. The phone rang.

"You never stop ringing, do you," Ginny asked the phone, staring pointedly at it before sighing and picking it up. "Hello, Ginny Weasley speaking."

"Ginny!" a warm voice said excitedly. "I haven't talked to you in so long!"

"Harry!" Ginny echoed his excitement. "Oh wow! No, you really haven't! How've you been?"

"Oh, you know," he laughed. "Struggling without seeing you every day."

"Oh, get on with you," Ginny replied, giggling. "What've you been up to?"

"Oh, please," Harry sounded exasperated. "What haven't I been up to might be quicker to answer! Anything and everything, Gin. The war is over but the clean up job is worse than a thousand Firewhiskey Shooter parties."

Ginny smiled. "How's life at the Ministry?"

"Never there," Harry said ruefully. "Always out cleaning up. It's boring. Well, except for the week I spent with the twins recently in New York."

Ginny laughed out loud. "Oh, Merlin, that's right; I'd forgotten you were going there to help them out for a bit."

"They complained the whole time," Harry replied good-naturedly. "They don't like New York, because no one understands their pranks. And they don't like New York people, because they get looked at funny if they tell them they don't drink coffee. Apparently George got thrown out of a café for asking for pumpkin juice – the manager thought he was drunk!"

"Typical!" Ginny couldn't help smiling at the thought of her older brothers. "How are they? I haven't seen them since they went."

"Yeah, they said the same thing," Harry agreed. "They're fine physically. I think they're just annoyed with the Americans. They can't wait to come back to their joke shop."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "And when do you suppose that will be?"

There was a pause. "Who knows?" Harry said finally. "I'm afraid I don't have all the answers."

"Too right, too right," Ginny said quickly. "Dad hasn't said anything about when he hopes the cleaning will be wound up either."

Harry snorted. "Your dad has no idea."

Ginny was shocked. "Harry, are--"

"No, that came out the wrong way," Harry interrupted. "I meant that he doesn't have any clue when it will be ended. I'm calculating in a couple of months' time at best, probably closer to six."

"So I'll be here awhile," Ginny mused.

"Yep." Harry paused. "You're still enjoying it, right?"

"Oh, yes," Ginny said. "Well, I've been sick, but--"

"You've been sick?" Harry interrupted again. "Are you okay?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yes," she responded. "I'm getting better."

"You're still sick!" Harry sounded horrified. "Should I come around?"

"No, no, no," Ginny protested. "Hermione's been to see me."

"Hermione!" Harry sounded scornful. "She's in a wheelchair! Do you need someone to carry you about, plump your pillows and fetch your drinks?"

"Blimey." Ginny was amused. "Do you want to be my manservant?"

"I don't want you to have to look after yourself," Harry replied. "I know how busy Lav and Sue are." He sighed. "Are you sure you don't need me to come? I think I'll come anyway, I haven't seen you in awhile."

"I'm fine," Ginny reiterated. "But I guess it would be nice to see you."

"You guess?" Harry teased. "Don't you know it?"

Ginny smiled. "Ah, of course."

"Did your dad end up finding another housemate for you guys?" Harry asked abruptly, changing tack. "He'd mentioned the possibilities to me awhile back but I never did find out exactly who got stuck with you lot."

"Stuck with our lot?" Ginny grinned. "More like we got stuck with him!"

"Him who?" Harry pressed.

"Him, Draco Malfoy," Ginny told him.

There was a silence before Ginny heard Harry laugh in relief. "You're joking. My god, I almost believed you for a minute there."

"I'm not joking," Ginny assured him.

"Really." Ginny could hear Harry's frown. "You're not messing with me?"

"No," Ginny sighed. "I'm not messing with you at all."

"That's insane," Harry said in a low voice. "Why the bleeding hell is Draco Malfoy living with you?"

"I've been through this already," Ginny said, not wanting to go into it. "Believe me. He's here and he isn't going anywhere."

"But he's so--"

"Mean; yes, I know," Ginny completed his sentence.

"Mean!" Harry sounded scornful. "There are things that Draco Malfoy could teach tropical diseases about being mean."

"Well, there's nothing that you or I can do about it," Ginny said. "Dad wasn't impressed when I asked for him to be transferred. I'm not trying again."

"Maybe I could give it a--"

"No," Ginny said firmly. "Leave Dad alone."

"But Malfoy is such a--"

"Bastard; yes, I know."

"Well, yes, but he's so horrible and vindictive and--"

"Likely to murder me in my sleep, I know!" Ginny finished for him. "Seriously, I'm over it now. I don't like it, and I definitely don't like him, but I'm over it."

"I'm not," Harry stated. "I think I should come and stay for a few nights."

"Where?" Ginny asked sweetly. "In his bed?"

"No, yours," Harry shot back.

"Yeah, right." Ginny blew a strand of hair off her face, playing idly with the phone cord. "Because that's a brilliant idea."

Harry laughed. "What am I, your biggest mistake?"

"No," Ginny said fondly. "Just my favourite one."

Ginny could sense Harry was smiling. "I hear you're getting pretty close to a guy at work."

"Who'd you hear that from?" Ginny asked, intrigued.

"Seamus Finnigan," Harry said.

"Seamus Finnigan?" Ginny repeated in surprise. "How would he know?"

"Apparently he's at the BDI working in your place while you're sick," Harry said. "Ran into him at Diagon Alley the other day. He said that you're all the other guy can talk about."

"Aww." Ginny couldn't keep the smile off her face. "Dave is such a tripper."

"Dave, is it?" Harry teased her. "Do I have some competition?"

"Oh, plenty of it, Harry," Ginny agreed. "You'll be fighting through the masses with a big stick just to get a glimpse of me."

Harry laughed again. "Ginny, I am definitely going to come and visit you very soon."

"Oh yes, when?" she asked.

"Now?" he suggested.

"Now?!" she repeated. "It's ten o'clock!"

"We used to stay up much later than that," Harry replied in a deep voice. "One moment." There was a click as he hung up, and then a pop as he apparated into her bedroom. "Ahhh. Perfect timing. In your pyjamas already." He advanced towards the bed, grinning at her. He held out his arms. "Do I get a hug?"

"Do you ever!" Ginny launched herself out of the bed and into his embrace. She hugged him tightly, reveling in the thrills it shot through her. "I've really missed you!"

"Have you?" he asked lightly, pulling back to look down at her. "I've missed you too." Quick as a flash, he planted a kiss on her lips. "Been awhile since I've done that!"

"Certainly has," Ginny replied, turning her face away from his slightly. "Can I get you anything?"

"I think the question should be, can I get you anything?" Harry responded. "You go to bed. I'll sit here and entertain you."

Ginny clambered back into her bed. She settled into the pillows, smiling sleepily at him. "I'm too tired for entertaining, Harry."

"That's alright," he replied. "I'll sit here and watch you sleep."

"You can't do that!" Ginny was scandalised. "How embarrassing!"

"I've done it plenty of times before!"

Ginny squirmed. "Yeah," she agreed slowly, "but--"

"Ah, I'm only making you jumpy." He winked at her. "You go right to sleep. I'll sit here awhile and make sure the evil Draco doesn't eat you during the night."

"HARRY POTTER! OH, MY LORD! IT'S BEEN FOREVER!"

Ginny smiled and paused in her breakfast preparations as she heard Lavender squeal and shout over finding Harry in the hallway of the house. Draco glanced up from his place at the table.

"Potter is here?" he asked quizzically.

Considering no one else was in the room, Ginny conceded that she had to answer him. "Yes."

"You look so fantastic! Oh my god!" she heard Lav gushing.

"Lavender." There was a pause. "Lavender, let go!"

"Why?" Draco continued. "I didn't hear the doorbell ring."

"Who said he rang the bell?" Ginny snapped. "Maybe he apparated like regular people."

Draco raised his eyebrow, smirking at her. "Or maybe he arrived in the middle of the night and spent a sordid night with you in bed?"

"Oh, please," Ginny mumbled. "Grow up."

Harry and Lavender appeared at the doorway. Harry and Draco immediately stiffened upon sight of each other.

"Potter," Draco said tightly. "Morning, Lavender."

Harry was ignoring Draco. ""How's the toast going, Ginny?"

"Good," she replied, smiling at him. "Very... toasty."

Lavender was bouncing around, very excited. "This is so cool! I didn't even hear you arrive! What time did you get here?"

"Last night, actually," Harry responded.

Draco shot Ginny a knowing look. She turned her back on him and started spreading margarine.

"Last night!" Lavender exclaimed. "Where did you sleep?"

"Just in Ginny's room," Harry responded.

Before Lavender could probe further, Susan arrived in the doorway.

"Oooof. Oh, Harry! Hi!" Susan hugged him enthusiastically before bustling into the kitchen. "Look here, girls! We three have got specially coloured envelopes from Neville and Hannah!"

"Ooooh," Lavender said. "It's not that time already...?"

"I think so!" They were squealing with excitement. Susan ripped her envelope open. "Ohh, look! It's the wedding invite!"

"Let me see!" Ginny and Lavender crowded around Susan, trying to read the invitation. "Edward and Sylvia Abbott, together with Grace Longbottom, are very pleased to invite you to attend the wedding of their daughter Hannah and grandson Neville on the twenty fifth of August... Oh, man! It's at the Abbott estate! That place is beautiful!" Lavender declared.

"It sure is!" Susan agreed. "Ah, bliss! How exciting!"

"That is extremely cool," Ginny stated. "I can't wait!"

Harry and Draco were both looking uncomfortable. Malfoy got up and muttered his excuses, leaving quickly. Harry shot a venomous look after him before reaching out for Ginny's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "I didn't kill him," he whispered.

Ginny grinned. "No, you did a good job," she whispered back.

Lavender was eyeing their clasped hands. "Is there something going on I should know about?"

"No," Ginny replied as Harry winked suggestively. Lavender went off into gales of laughter. Ginny smiled before spying Susan gazing out of the kitchen window. Her heart went out to her. "Sue, are you okay?"

Susan turned abruptly at her voice, smiling tentatively. "Fine, fine."

"But- Ernie..." Lavender trailed off.

"Ernie?" Harry was confused. Ginny dug her elbow into his side. "Ow?"

"I'm fine," Susan said brightly. "I'm off to work the Muggle way. Anyone want to come?"

"I will," Lavender said quickly, patting Susan on the shoulder. They left in a flurry of bags and perfume, shouting goodbyes to Ginny and Harry, who were left in the kitchen eating their toast. Harry raised his pumpkin juice to his lips, nodding to Ginny before sipping at it.

"Malfoy bought this, didn't he," Harry stated.

"Yes." Ginny was surprised. "How did you know?"

"There're no pips in it."