I'll Always Remember You

By Duck Goddess

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter bla bla bla.

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Chapter Nine – Happiness and Jealousy

Ginny sat nervously in the Auror Headquarters, waiting to see if she could enter Auror training. She chewed on her bottom lip as the person before her left the office in tears.

"Weasley, Ginevra!" the voice called. She stood up, took a deep breath and walked inside. The Head of the Auror Office had grey hair with streaks of brown. He looked kind but Ginny knew he was firm when he had to be.

"Hello, Ginny," he greeted pleasantly.

"Hi, Remus," she said, grinning.

"I want you to know that just because you know the Head it doesn't mean you get in easy," Remus said, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Well, Remus, don't you know me? Just look at my achievements," Ginny said, handing him her OWL and NEWT scores.

"An O in Defence, an O in Transfiguration, an E in Charms and an E in Potions. Very impressive," Remus commented, smiling.

"So do I get in? I mean, you taught DADA in sixth year and you were the Head of Gryffindor so you should know me," Ginny said pointedly.

"Welcome to Auror training, Ginny," Remus said, holding out his hand.

"Thanks, Remus. Oh, are you coming to Ron and Hermione's wedding? Although it might not be on now, considering the progress they've made," she said dryly.

"Yes, I should be going. It's next year, right?"

"It should be. They haven't done anything yet. It's driving Mum nuts," she said, laughing.

He smiled.

"So, do you remember Harry yet?" he asked.

"Kind of. Hey, as much as I'd like to stay and chat, I have to go. Bye!" she called and she left the office.

"She's so much like Lily," Remus muttered to himself, "She'd better hurry up with the memory. Harry's too much like James to go out with anyone else."

Ginny walked down the corridor. She was so pleased that she didn't even realize that she crashed into something human-like. She lost her balance and fell on the floor.

"Ow," she moaned.

"Are you alright?" the man asked. He had blonde hair and green eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry I bumped into you," she said apologetically, standing up. He looked familiar somehow. Then she realized that she bumped into him when she was searching for Harry's gift.

"I bumped into you at Hogsmeade!" Ginny cried.

"Yeah, I'm a clumsy person," he said sheepishly, "How did you know?"

"I have a good memory," Ginny said, smiling. Then she marveled at how ironic that statement was.

"Right. You're Ginny Weasley, right?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said, frowning. How did he know her name? He seemed to read her mind as he said, "Your hair gave it away."

"Oh right," Ginny said, relieved. They laughed.

"I'm Zacharias Smith," the man said, holding out his hand.

"I'm Ginny Weasley, even though you know me already. Damn the hair – I'll never be able to hide my identity," she joked, shaking his hand.

He laughed. Ginny noticed that he had a very nice laugh – sort of similar to Harry's.

"So, entering Auror training?" Zacharias asked.

"Yeah. Remus was really impressed with my grades but I guess being friends with the Head really helps," Ginny said, grinning. He laughed again. He seems nice. And his looks aren't that bad, she thought.

"Yeah, I'm in my second year of Auror training," said Zacharias, "Listen, do you want to have lunch with me?" Ginny's jaw dropped. Say yes! her mind screamed.

"Sure," she replied casually.

"Great!" Zacharias said enthusiastically, "Let's go then!"

Although Ginny was usually very observant, she didn't know that Harry was standing a few metres away from them. He looked like he was going to kill someone soon.

Harry spun around and walked up to Ron, still reliving the scene he had just witnessed.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked, seeing the look on his friend's face.

It seemed like Harry was too incensed to speak. His face just turned redder and his eyes were narrowed.

"Er, take a deep breath, Harry. That's what Hermione always does when she's pissed," Ron said nervously. This man did kill Voldemort after all.

He led him over to some chairs and sat down. When Harry finally spoke, he said something Ron didn't exactly want to hear.

"Ginny's going on a date with Zacharias Smith," Harry said breathlessly, as if he still couldn't believe it.

"WHAT?" Ron bellowed, causing a few people to look over at them curiously. He glared at them and they quickly went back into their own worlds.

"That bloody git," Ron hissed furiously, "What happened?"

Harry told Ron about what he just saw and he swore violently.

"Are you still in love with her?" he asked quickly.

"Ron, I've told you before. Of course I am!" Harry said, blushing, "I just can't believe that she would go out with that damn bastard! Remember his Quidditch commentaries? Ginny hated him! He's taking advantage of her memory loss and going out with her since she doesn't know him! And she was just beginning to remember me…" Over her, my arse, Ron thought.

"Harry, Smith didn't even know she lost her memory. Maybe he thinks that Ginny thinks that he's changed. But he's still a damn bastard," Ron said hastily, seeing the angry look on Harry's face.

Ginny waltzed into her flat, sighing happily as she remembered her date. Zacharias was…perfect. He was smart, charming, funny and good-looking. Luna looked up from the report she was writing and raised an eyebrow.

"Who's got you into a lovey-dovey mood?" she asked.

"Zacharias Smith," Ginny replied with a coy smile.

"WHAT?" Luna yelped.

"Why? Do you know him?" she asked quickly.

"Er, sort of. Listen, let's get Hermione here. She'd like to listen," Luna said, panicking.

"Okay," Ginny said, shrugging. She Apparated to Hermione's house and came back a few seconds later with Hermione beside her.

"You went out with Zacharias Smith?" Hermione said incredulously.

"What's wrong with that?" Ginny protested.

"Do you even remember what he was like at Hogwarts?" Luna asked.

"No. I don't remember anyone at Hogwarts I haven't met, remember?" Ginny said bitterly.

"Oh, Gin. I'm sorry," Hermione and Luna said in unison.

"It's okay," she said quietly, "Anyways, what's wrong with Zach?"

"Oh, you're on nicknames, now," Hermione said under her breath.

"Let's just say he wasn't very nice," Luna said, recalling all the times he called her 'Loony Lovegood'.

"He's changed," Ginny said firmly, "And as my best friends, I thought you would support me."

Hermione and Luna exchanged looks.

"Look, Ginny, we just don't want you to get hurt," Hermione said gently, sitting down on one side of her.

"Yeah. We're sorry," Luna said, sitting down on the other side of her and putting her arm around her.

"It's okay, guys," Ginny said, smiling.

"Now, as best friends, we need to know what happened," Hermione said.

"It was wonderful. We went to this restaurant – I forgot the name – and he was so sweet! We talked and talked…he's really funny! He's not that ugly, either. Anyways, he paid for the meal and he kissed me! He said that he wants to go out with me again and that he'd see me at the Ministry!"

"Kind of forward for a first date, don't you think?" Luna said dryly. Hermione gave her a look.

"What?" she said defensively.

"That's great, Gin!" Hermione said with a fake smile, "You can see him at work!"

"I know! Oh, I can't wait till I tell Harry!" Ginny said happily. Hermione and Luna exchanged dark looks.

"Oh, he'll be so excited!" Luna said sarcastically. Ginny didn't catch it though.

"Oh yeah, I have something to tell you guys," Hermione said, "Ron and I finally planned something!"

"That's great!" Ginny said enthusiastically.

"Yeah, so can you guys meet us at The Leaky Cauldron tomorrow at 6:00? We'll be going to muggle London to get dresses and stuff," Hermione explained.

"Sure! I've never been to muggle London before," Luna said, staring off into space.

"I'll just go after Auror training. Hey, I have to go tell Harry. Bye!" Ginny said and she Apparated. Hmm…Luna thought, frowning.

Ginny appeared at Harry's flat and smiled at the sight of him.

"Hey!" Ginny cried. He looked up and smiled.

"Hi, Gin!" he said happily. She frowned. There was something about the way he acted. It seemed like he was pretending to be happy.

"What's wrong?" she asked, sitting next to him.

"Um, tough day at Auror training," Harry said quickly.

"Oh. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, fine."

"Okay, do you know Zacharias Smith?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, I know him," he replied darkly.

"What do you think of him?"

"He's…alright."

"That's good!" Ginny said happily, "It would be terrible if you and Ron hunted Zach down and killed him."

"Oh, yes, it would be terrible," Harry said, imagining Ron and himself beating him up. He inwardly smiled.

"I met him today at the Ministry. He seems really nice. He said that you were in his class at Auror training," Ginny pressed on.

"Yup," he merely said.

"He's so sweet," Ginny said, sighing happily. It took all of Harry's will power to not confront Zacharias Smith and tear him apart.

"Mmm."

"Oh, yeah, did Ron tell you that we're going to get our clothes for the wedding?"

"Yeah, he told me. Listen, I'm really tired, Gin. I'll see you tomorrow, eh?" Harry said, lying through his teeth.

"Okay, bye," she said and she kissed him on the cheek before Disapparating.

I'm over her, I'm over her, I'm over her, he chanted in his head. Harry groaned. Why did life have to be so hard for him?

Hermione and Luna quickly Apparated back to Number 10, Godric's Hollow. They found Ron lying on the sofa, snoring.

"Ron, wake up, you stupid prat!" Hermione ordered, shaking him.

He opened his eyes and closed them again.

"I'm not in the mood for sex, Herm. I'm really tired," Ron said, oblivious to the fact that Luna was there.

Hermione turned a deep shade of scarlet.

"For Merlin's sake, Ron, I'm not asking for sex!" she said exasperatedly. He finally opened his eyes and sat up.

"Sorry, Luna," he said graciously.

"That's quite alright, Ronald," she replied serenely.

"Anyways, Ginny went out on a date with Zacharias Smith!" Hermione said.

"I know," Ron said wearily.

"You know?" she said incredulously, "How?"
"Harry told me. He saw them," he said simply.

"Poor Harry," Luna said sympathetically.

"What are we going to do?" Hermione said frantically, "Harry's heart's going to break even more and Ginny will be too bloody busy snogging Smith so she won't notice!"

"I know," Ron said grimly, "It's horrible, isn't it? We have to get them back together."

"I think we should just leave them," Luna said unexpectedly.

"Why?" Ron asked as if it was the craziest idea in the world.

"Well, you're Ginny's brother and we're Ginny's best friends. Like she said, we should be supportive of her decisions. If Smith makes her happy, we shouldn't try to break them up. And if they're really not meant to be together, they'll break up on their own," Luna said wisely.

Ron and Hermione considered this for a moment.

"I guess you're right," Hermione said reluctantly.

"It doesn't mean that I can't beat him up if he hurts my baby sister," Ron growled.

"Oh, you can beat him up. I don't like him anyways," Luna replied.

"But what about Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I guess we have to accept the fact that maybe they're just not meant to be. I mean, Harry broke up with her in fifth year because of Voldemort. When Voldemort was finally dead, Ginny lost her memory," Luna speculated.

"No. They're meant to be. They'll be together later," Ron said confidently.

A/N: Review, please!