Chapter 10: Ginny's Job

When he awoke next, Harry was still extremely tired. All he wanted to do was sleep off the last day. Groaning, he turned onto his side only to exhale quickly as he felt a burst of pain.

"You might want to stay off that side, hon. It still has a long while before it fully recovers from yesterday." Hearing Ginny's soft voice made Harry's head even heavier and after he received a quick kiss on the forehead and heard an "I'll tell Dumbledore", he was asleep.

As Ginny left the Room of Requirement, she started to think of how her life had become the way it was. It amazed her that only a month ago she and Harry had started to get close. In just a few weeks of spending her days with him, she had grown closer to the boy-who-lived than she was to half her brothers. In all reality, Ginny didn't know how it happened so fast. I guess between training together, going on dates and walks tens of times, having only each other to talk to for weeks, and sharing a bed makes two people become pretty comfortable with one another. I'll have to talk to McGonagall about that, Ginny thought.

For some reason, whenever they slept in the same bed, the couple never had bad nightmares. They both would receive them as a result from actions of Tom Marvolo Riddle, yet they had reduced in strength and frequency when they were together. She wasn't too keen on the idea of giving up that comfort.

By the time Ginerva Weasely got to the Great Hall, the mail was arriving. A large majority of students were seen getting the Daily Prophet while a lone Neville Longbottom could be named 'the boy to receive forgotten home possessions'. Spotting Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor Table, Ginny made her way towards breakfast.

"Ginny!" Hermione shouted as soon as her friend took a seat at the table. After a quick hug and hello, Hermione turned her attention back to Ron. They were in the middle of a discussion, without arguing mind you, when Ginny felt eyes on her. Looking up, she saw the Headmaster was looking in her direction.

Well, I wanted to talk to him anyway, Ginny thought while nodding her head for Dumbledore to see. Ginny then bid her brother and his girl friend good-bye. Having barely been to the Headmaster's Office, it took her longer than she had expected; it was a big school.

When she finally got to the stone gargoyle guarding the office, Ginny realized she didn't have a clue as to what the password was. Luckily, Severus Snape was on his way out. They passed each other on the stairs, Ginny trying to avoid looking at Snape who was sneering down his crooked nose at her. Just as she thought she was clear, the potion master's mocking voice spoke.

"I see you can do something on your own. After not returning to your dorm last night, we would be left believing something is going on with you and Potter," Snape all but spat the last word; the name of her boyfriend.

By the red tint on Ginny Weasely's face, anyone who saw her could tell that was the wrong thing to say. "For you information, Professor, what I choose to do is my own business. But, yes, Harry and I are a couple and I was caring for his injuries last night in the Room of Requirement."

"Why, Potter seems to be rubbing off on you. Such a tone for an educator at a school. I believe that will be twenty points from Gryffindor." Before a reply could be made, Snape turned and swept down the stairs and out the stone gargoyle. When Ginny finally arrived at the door to Dumbledore's office, she had managed to get her temper down to a much more manageable level.

"Come in, Miss Weasely."

Somehow that man always knows who is at the door. Wonder how? When Ginny first entered, she was surprised at how the Headmaster still looked so strong. Albus Dumbledore seemed to look like a rock of hope and power, an everlasting warrior of the light. Then Ginny closed the office door. The man that suddenly looked flawless now looked totally different. An old man with a crooked nose from being broken so many times sat there. A man with his arm in a sling and many lines on his face sat at his desk. Albus Dumbledore went from a flawless wizard to a fragile old man, all in the time of two seconds it took to close a door.

Recovering from her initial shock, Ginny stated. "Um, Professor, I have a few questions and one or two requests."

Albus actually chuckled, "No need to be so nervous, Miss Weasely. As a matter of fact, I have a few questions of my own. However, why don't we let you start us off?"

Taking a deep breath, Ginny began, "Well, I'm not sure you know, but during the summer Harry and I became a couple. I ended up staying at his house for the end of break. Anyway, there wasn't a lot of space in Harry's room and the Durselys were hardly accommodating. We ended up having to share a bed. I promise we didn't do anything we shouldn't have, but for some reason, being in physical contact with each other kept both of our nightmares at bay. Oh yeah, we're also becoming adept at talking through our minds. Not a problem I hope?"

Ginny said all this very fast and as she talked, a blush slowly made its way up her face. Both reactions lead Dumbledore to chuckle. "Please calm down, Ginerva. I do not plan on reprimanding you or your boyfriend. In fact, I believe you are gong to be a great help for Harry. I trust you know the prophecy?" At the nod of Ginny's head the wizened man continued, "Well, I am under the presumption that love is Harry's 'power the Dark Lord knows not'. Unfortunately, Harry has no recollection of being loved and truly loving someone else. With your help, he might be able to develop that power quicker, if it is indeed the ability the prophecy speaks of."

Ginny's expression was one of a startled person hearing that they just got the job of their dreams.

Seeing her look, the Headmaster let out a laugh for the third time that day. "I imagine you will enjoy the job and I will permit you and Harry to share a room. However, I must get your parents' permission and a wizard's oath that you will refrain from any unsavory behavior."

"I'm sorry, Professor Dumbledore, but I just can't give you a wizard's oath." Noticing Dumbledore's surprised look, Ginny couldn't help but smile. "I can give you a witch's oath though. I thought that since you knew Harry liked girls and he liked me, you would have realized that I am a female and therefore a witch, not a male being a wizard."

Albus Dumbledore just smiled right back. "I see Harry has chosen a very excellent companion. You will find a room at the top of the Gryffindor Tower. Normally it is reserved for the Head Boy or Head Girl, but neither is from your house this year and shouldn't be a problem. It is a password protected room, but will automatically open for Harry, the Heir of Gryffindor. Once you two decide on a password you just need to tell the door and it will initiate the password protection policy."

"Thank you very much, sir," relief evident in her voice.

"You are quite welcome; although I am afraid I have some bad news as well. This will be quite a shock to Harry and I believe he will need much help after he is told."

As she stared at the old wizard before her, Ginny couldn't help but wonder what horrible act had happened. Diagon Alley was just yesterday, did Voldemort already begin another assault? "You see, Miss Weasely, that yesterday's battle was much more gruesome than you have heard. As a matter of fact, I suggest you look at the Evening Prophet tonight. Voldemort had someone snapping wizarding photos from the very beginning of the fight all the way until he got out of the alley. The Prophet was sent a copy and has put the pieces together in order to express in image what words could not.

It actually will take several hours to watch the battle in its entirety, yet it will take up several pages of the paper; each a half hour long. Back to the reason I brought this up. Harry, myself, and the Order of the Phoenix were very busy fighting yesterday. Pretty much every capable fighter was there. During the middle of the battle, Voldemort himself paid a visit." After noticing Ginny's scared expression, he rushed to comfort her with his words. "No, Ginny, he paid a visit to Harry Potter's relatives. He killed the Durselys and blew up many homes. Here is a photo taken by the muggle authorities while surveying the scene from above."

Dumbledore handed over a photo. Ginny let out a gasp as she looked at the picture. She could tell by the identical roofs that this was where Harry had grown up. The sad thing was to see an uncountable number of houses seemingly on fire. From the aerial shot, she could tell the flames held a message. It became clear to her that Voldemort was truly and fully evil. After all, who would right 'BOW TO DEATH HARRY' by setting innocent, defenseless people to their deaths?

"Unfortunately Voldemort sent a picture of this to the papers as well. You have your work cut out for you, Miss Weasely. If you need any help, please do not hesitate to ask for it."

Ginerva Weasely could only nod. She quietly stood from her chair and was about to leave the Headmaster's Office when Dumbledore spoke once again, "Oh, and Ginerva. Twenty points to Gryffindor for a job well done in taking care of Harry." With that said, Ginny left the room. Harry was not going to be happy about this news. It was entirely too clear that the only reason those particular people died was to send a message like none other, a message for him.

Well, I normally would jump at the chance to teach Harry Potter what the meaning of love is. After he hears this, well I might need to bring in some enforcements. As Ginny finished making her way to the Room of Requirement and her patient, she knew that she had more work cut out for her than Madame Pomfry. It's going to be a long night.