Disclaimer: I'm going to be lazy/honest, I don't own anything you recognize, that goes for everything I write from now on.

Chapter 2

A METHOD TO MY MADNESS

One year after Harry's graduation from the Academy....

It was a wet, despairingly cold, bitter winter Monday. Okay maybe it was officially spring now but if you looked outside you were liable to shoot the calendar company.

It was on this day that Harry woke up with the worlds worst hangover to discover two facts, 1.) it was Monday, and 2.) he had been drinking on a Sunday. He was a big believer type of man but, it seemed wrong to drink on that day. He muttered "Screw it," and he added with bitter satisfaction, "Ron was ten times as drunk as I was."

His third discovery of the morning was that he was late. He was supposed to be at work 8:00, just to be early and get a good case if you needed a new one. Gladys, the women you ran the filing and sorting room was temperamental. Harry couldn't blame her, she had to get there at 8:00 no matter what. If you were brazen, you showed up at 8:30. Harry didn't fit either category, he was late, on Mondays at least. He tried to be on the time the rest of the week, it was easier then because he was busy during the day, slept well, and remembered to set the alarm.

On today's most recent late day he was really screwed. Not only did he have to pick up a new case, but a new partner. Hermione and Ron were put together, they offered to let him join them, but he really didn't want to interrupt on their, well you could almost call it happiness. They weren't necessarily together, but everyone got the message they were almost exclusive when Larry Cartwheeler asked Hermione a little more friendly than necessary for a stapler, when Larry came back to work a week later, it was clear that Ron had gotten his message across loud and clear. A snit-bit of that happened goes something like "Ron, when I'm finished with you, it will take a cardiologist to get your testicles out of your brain."

"Oh yeah Hermione, you think you so tough, I'll just call up McGonagle and post that one test you got, dare I say it, a less than perfect score on?"

**SMACK!!** "Ron, I can't believe you! You promised that you would never bring that up, not even my parents know about that!"

"You hit me?!?! Hahaa, you hit like a girl!"

At this point Hermione stormed into what began to be called, the inferno, their office.

Hermione, embarrassed by the whole situation took it out on Ron, causing what they are infamous for, a row. The one lasted two cases long. The office quickly realized that to stay unscathed both emotionally and physically, you follow Harry's league and steer clear.

If fact, by taking the job, Harry had hoped everyone would realize how normal he really was. They realized it, and the fact that he was smooth and cool, about everything. It seemed nothing could set him off, even when a Death Eater was rounded up and hauled into the office for questioning concerning some where abouts of a clan of Death Eaters.

" I saw your parents dead body, I saw the dark lord fall, I saw him rise again, more victorious, I'll see him again."

Ron, whose ears were as red as a tomato muttered,"Yeah you'll see him, burning in the 7th circle of hell."

What nobody realized, was that that moment had bothered Harry more than he would let on. Why would he show his anger? What would be gain? Except more torment. He just repressed it along with the other bullshit he had to deal with and moved on to the next retarded thing to come along his way.

So yes today was important. He got a new partner. As he aparated he wondered who the hell it would be. He had looked at the list of recruits, and hoped, oh god did he hope that it wasn't Colin Creevey's brother, Dennis.

He had apparated right into his chair of his giant cubicle/office. It was sealed off from the other ones so that is was private and it was noise proof to keep things, confidential.

"Ahhh, Harry Potter, so glad you could grace us with your presence." Said Mad-Eye Moody, he had been demoted or promoted (depending on how you look at it and who you talked to) to a office manager/trainer/general advice guy. " YOU! MISSED! YOUR APPOINTMENT!, but it's no matter, here, at the end of the list is someone you know, Harry Potter, meet your new partner, Virginia Weasley."

Harry didn't intend to gasp. It was, well it was a shock. Who would have said, oh by the way, your going to be working with your almost ex-girlfriend, Minister of Magic's daughter and your best friend's sister. He was going to have to look out for her. If anything happened to her, well... Harry couldn't even bring himself to think about what her brothers would do to him....

Ginny, for her part took the news calmly, at least it was some one she knew. But she did know that she was going to have to work hard to prove herself the way she did for Quiditch. He was easy on her at first, but later realized that she could handle herself, hopefully it wouldn't be as difficult to let him simmer down this time around.

"Well, okay, Gin, I mean, Virginia," Harry stammered but was interrupted by the woman herself.

"Harry, call me Ginny, none of the fancy bull you clearly are uncomfortable with. And just another thing, please don't baby me, I can handle myself."

"Okay Ginny, "Harry smiled," I won't baby you" Inside was shaking himself, I don't think so.

Harry proceeded to take Ginny around the office, as they walked past the inferno, she asked "They found their own room to kill each other in?"

It took Harry a moment to realize what she was talking about, then he he