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Chapter Seventeen

Ginny sat on her bed with her knees to her chest, waiting for Hermione to return from her little late night rendezvous with her brother, again. Was she ever going to sleep in her own bed?

Ginny tried not to be bitter, but goddamn it, she was bitter. She wakes up in the middle of the night to find Hermione gone. Which is fine, but then she's not in the drawing room, or in the kitchen, or the third floor library, or Buckbeak's room, so then Ginny goes to wake up Ron and…

This is absolutely the last time that she is going to worry about them in the middle of the night.

She was bloody sick of it.

It wasn't finding her with Ron that bothered her...that was just…funny, really. It was finding Hermione sleeping with Ron, with Harry in the next bed, like one big happy family. The trio reunited.

Leaving her alone again.

Every time she allowed herself to believe that things would actually be different, that she was actually accepted…well, obviously, she just needed to stop trying. She had her own friends, boyfriends even. She had her own life, without her brother and Harry Potter.

Hermione quietly slipped into the room, jumping a foot when she saw Ginny staring at her, a look of utter guilt on her face.

…and Ginny was going to lead her own life just as soon as she tortured Hermione a bit for abandoning her. "Have a good night?" she asked coolly.

Like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar, Hermione sputtered. This in itself was suspicious. Hermione Granger was cool and collected in a crisis, never at loss for words, and she lied like a champ.

She was nearly, but not quite, as good at lying at Ginny, but, then again, Ginny was the best.

So, something else was up…something else she was hiding…like an early morning snog, perhaps? Ginny's eyes narrowed on her victim. "So, where've you been?"

"I, um….just ran to the loo…"

"Really, 'cause I thought that was you curled up like a little baby kitten in my brother's bed last night." Hermione looked like she was going to hyperventilate. Ginny went in for the kill. "So, when exactly did you and Ron become a couple?"

Hermione sighed, sitting on the edge of her own bed, across from Ginny. "We're not, honest."

Ginny gave a disbelieving snort. She couldn't believe this. How gullible did Hermione think she was? Disappointment turned Ginny's stomach sour. She had really thought that she and Hermione had had more of a friendship than this.

"Look, Hermione, you've been found sleeping with Ron three out of the last four nights and the fourth night, no one slept. You 'secretly' hold hands behind your back, you disappear together and yesterday your lips were blown up, like you used an engorgement charm, from what was obviously a vigorous snogging session. So, if our friendship means anything to you…."

"Ginny, please," Hermione pleaded. "All those things are true, but…"

Ginny gave her a scathing look.

Hermione swallowed and came to sit next to Ginny. "Promise me you won't say anything to anyone…not Harry…no one…"

She was using the magic words…not fair. Ginny nodded.

"…and you won't judge?"

Ginny's eyes widened….exactly what was going on between those two? "Yes, ok. Just tell me."

Hermione took a deep breath. "So, we have…um, you know, kissed a couple times…but we're not together. We're just…practicing." She grimaced, waiting for a response.

"Practicing…" Ginny all but screeched. "Practicing what?"

"Um…kissing and stuff."

Astonishment gave way to confusion which gave way to rage. "Are you telling me that my no good brother is snogging you, but won't date you?"

"No!" Hermione put her hands up. "Well, I dunno…I…it was my idea."

Ginny almost fell out of the bed.

"No, listen. I…Ron's not ready to be in a real relationship, per se. It's obvious…If I were to push him, he'd just run."

Ginny nodded. Wherever this was going, it had to be good.

In a rush Hermione spilled out, "So I figured if I offered to practice and we started, you know, snogging on a regular basis...with that and our friendship…he couldn't help but….fall in love with me?" she finished with a whimper.

Ginny blinked several times. "Are you joking?" It was obvious that she wasn't joking. The younger girl rubbed her forehead. She was developing a headache. "Let me get this straight. You want to be in a relationship with my brother, but not call it a relationship, because that might scare him?"

"Um….sorta."

"And you figure if you can keep it up, then he'll realize he—"

"Can't live without me."

"—and want a real relationship?"

"Yeah, that's the gist."

Ginny stared at her friend, trying to take it all in. "Well that's actually…quite brilliant, really. You sure have some stones. This could either work out fantastically…"

"…or be an utter disaster." Hermione worried her lip anxiously…looking for reassurance. Ginny actually felt sorry for her.

"Well, then," Ginny said brightly, feeling loads better for herself, at least. "Let's go get breakfast and see how this plan of yours goes."

"Um…shouldn't we shower first?"

"And lose that sexy bed rumpled look? Not on your life."

When Hermione and Ginny arrived at the kitchen, Ron and Harry were already eating and apparently it wasn't Ron's first helping.

This was not good.

"Ginny and Hermione down to breakfast after the blokes. The world's gone all wonky, hasn't it George?" Fred grinned broadly from the table and Hermione willed herself not to blush. Why should she blush since she was only a few minutes late for breakfast?

"I do wonder Fred, now what could be making our little Hermione and Ronald act so out of character?"

There was no stopping the blush this time, especially as Ginny pushed her into the kitchen chair next to Ron's, before rounding the table and sitting across from her, next to Harry.

Real subtle, Ginny. Hermione's glare told Ginny her help was not appreciated.

Hermione snuck a glance at Ron and found him looking at her with a light in his eye. She smiled back, shyly…oh my.

"Cat got your tongue, Hermione?" Fred called.

"No…that was Ron," his twin countered.

Hermione spit out the pumpkin juice had just taken a sip of.

"Shut up!" Ron gritted.

"Boys! That's quite enough." Their mother approached the table and sat, slamming down utensils and mugs. Her children exchanged wary glances.

Hermione felt Ron's knee bump hers and she smiled into the eggs that Dobby had brought her. Somehow, she didn't think that it was an accident. Ok, so maybe Ginny had the right idea after all.

"Morning," Harry called to his cousin as she entered and came up next to him. She was impeccably and inappropriately, in Hermione's mind, dressed in professional robes.

"Morning," she said distractedly. "Owls here yet?"

"Here you goes, Miss," Dobby hurried over and handed her a stack of letters.

"Thanks, Dobby," she sat next to Harry and leafed through the letters as Dobby set a plate of food and a mug of coffee. She looked up and smiled absently in thanks. Still reading, she reached over and waved her hand over the coffee, muttering something softly…the coffee became soft and frothy,

She looked up to take a sip and met Charlie's eyes staring at her from across the table. Adrianna replaced her cup and looked at his mug. Frowning she said, "You hate coffee."

"Of course, he likes coffee," Molly harrumphed, cutting her bacon with extra zeal.

Charlie shrugged. "I hate tea more."

"Charlie, you know how to fix it," Adrianna told him with a touch of impatience.

He pouted. "No. It doesn't taste right when I do it."

She gave him a long suffering look and waved her hand over his mug, changing its color and consistency. She went back to reading her letters.

Charlie had an odd look on his face as he hesitantly picked up the mug and took a sip.

Hermione wondered if he thought it was poisoned. She would.

Charlie took a sip with his eyes closed. He sighed. "Do you know how much I missed you," he whispered. Adrianna didn't look up from opening her letters, but she smiled slightly.

Hermione frowned into her breakfast. She couldn't get her mind wrapped around Adrianna…and it wasn't just the constant distraction sitting next to her, either.

If Adrianna was really what she said she was then why all the mystery? And what was with this intense relationship with Charlie Weasley? How does someone have a connection to so many people when they had only entered their lives six weeks ago?

Hermione knew that she needed to be more vigilant in her evidence gathering. Especially since it seemed Ginny had stopped trying. Maybe she should join forces with Mrs. Weasley…if she…if she could just concentrate on something other than the knee that was sending shivers throughout her body.

Adrianna was smiling at the content of a letter before she handed it to Harry. "Happy Birthday, love."

Hermione watched him carefully read the parchment and saw his face go pale, tears coming to his eyes. He got up and hugged his cousin, who smiled. "We still have the paperwork to sign at ten-thirty." She opened another letter.

Ginny looked to Harry with concern. "Harry, can I…" He handed her the letter, smiling broadly. Ginny went pale and looked over to Hermione. She handed her the letter.

Hermione gasped as she read it. Ron was reading it over her shoulder and exclaimed, "Wow, that's brilliant, mate."

"Brilliant," Harry repeated.

"You had yourself appointed his legal guardian," Hermione accused, causing a collective gasp from the rest of the table.

Everyone called out at once.

"No more Dursleys…cheers, mate," Fred called.

"A free man now," George laughed.

"Congratulations, Harry," Mr. Weasley said kindly.

Charlie looked at Adrianna with a lopsided smile. "You, a parent?"

Mrs. Weasley broke into the din with a loud bang on the table. "You can't do that…it takes months to petition…"

"Actually," Adrianna said, perusing another letter. She nodded and folded it, finally looking up she said, "It took six weeks."

Molly's whole body clenched tightly. She began to clear the table loudly.

Charlie leaned over to Adrianna. "You're not even trying to win her over."

She glanced at him briefly, piling her letters and opening the last envelope. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Hermione's head was starting to pound as Adrianna looked at the last stack of parchment and handed the top one to Harry. "Oh my god!" he gasped, his hands trembling. "How?"

His cousin smiled at him warmly. "You're welcome." She leaned over and kissed his crown, going back to reading the other pieces of parchment, carefully.

Harry was still gaping at the letter. Hermione couldn't stand the mystery any longer. She fled her chair and came over to stand behind Harry. She could feel Ron come up behind her. Her jaw dropped, "Oh my god."

"Holy sh…" Ron said.

"What!" the twins demanded in unison.

Ginny snatched the letter out of Harry's hand. "Oh," she breathed.

"Ginny," Fred warned.

"I swear if you don't…" George began.

"She had Sirius pardoned."

"Give me that," Arthur ordered holding out his hand. Ginny obeyed absently.

"Kingsley said it could take years, that it might not be worth the suspicions it would raise," Molly protested, white faced.

"I called in a few favors," Adrianna responded casually. "Don't worry, they won't link it to your Order."

"Those must be some favors," Mr. Weasley said absently, looking over the document carefully.

Hermione looked over to see Charlie's reaction. He didn't seem in the least bit surprised.

"Ok, guys, lets go," Adrianna announced. "I need you all dressed and down here in less than an hour; we have ten thirty and one forty five appointments at the Ministry and I have an eleven thirty."

No one moved. Hermione looked at her incredulously. She didn't honestly think that Hermione was going to go with her….

Adrianna looked at her challengingly. "You're not going to let Harry come with me alone, now, are you?"

Hermione clenched her fists. She hated the woman most when she was right.

"You can do what you want with Harry, but my children are staying here. Where it's safe."

"I certainly hope your Ministry is safe," Adrianna said casually. "They certainly are your children…but I thought they might want to know what Sirius left them in his will…"

Ron's face lit up. "He left us something, really?"

Adrianna nodded. "It's right here."

"Mum, you have to let me go," Ron pleaded. "Dad goes to the Ministry everyday. It's gotta be safe."

"Ronald!" Mrs. Weasley warned.

Ron crossed his arms and set his jaw. He was ready to dig in for a fight. "Mum, I'm not missing this because you are too stubborn to get along with Adrianna."

"Son," Arthur stopped him. "Molly." He gave has wife a beseeching look. "The children can Floo to the Ministry with me." He said it softly, a suggestion.

The struggle in Mrs. Weasley was obvious…but she knew what Hermione knew….if she fought this battle and lost…control of the family slipped away….but if she gave permission…it was a small loss, but she maintained her authority.

"Fine," Molly snapped and her children looked at her with shock, not understanding the reality of the situation. "What are you waiting for; do you want to make your father late for work?"

Harry and Ron ran off in a flash. "Thanks Mum," floated in their wake. Hermione started to walk after them.

"Ginny?" Adrianna asked the girl who was poking her eggs with her fork in a violent manner. "Are you going to get ready?" Ginny froze and her eyes flew to the older woman's. "Before your Mum changes her mind, please."

Ginny smiled and ran to the stairs.

"Isn't that just the thing? Those little pip-squeaks get all the luck," Fred gripped.

"Not like honest blokes like ourselves, who work for a living," George joined scowling at the stairs.

With one last look back Hermione ascended the stairs. She vaguely heard Adrianna say as she left. "Well, if you have any time today, I have something you two might really enjoy…"

Hermione rolled her eyes, what was she up to now?

Ron Weasley was bored. History of Magic bored.

He couldn't believe he had stood up to his mother for this. He had risked sudden death and a summer of magic-less toilet scrubbing, for this. When he could have rolled over, stayed home and spent the afternoon bettering himself…by Practicing with Hermione.

But no, his greedy deprived self had to go to Sirius' Will reading. Couldn't wait till they got home to find out. It wasn't like Sirius was going to leave them Grimmauld Place. He probably left Ron the stuffed elves heads or a pile of Petrified spiders. That was just his sense of humor.

The trip had gone down hill the moment that they had stepped through the reception area. Why had none of them realized that the last time they had been here had been the Department of Mysteries? Harry had frozen in front of the statue in the lobby and all Ron could think was….Bloody hell, Harry had fought Voldemort here two months ago.

Then, of course, all he could think of was that nine floors down Hermione had almost died. Hermione was hit by the killing curse and Hermione had almost died…

He didn't think he could make it stop the litany stop, but unfortunately he was wrong.

He should have known better than to underestimate Hermione. Because their next stop was the wand registry and instead of turning over her wand Adrianna flashed some sort of Diplomatic I Can Do Whatever I Bloody Well Want Card….

Only it wouldn't have said bloody because she was a sodding American…it would have said…Bloody hell, Ron didn't care what Americans said and he didn't give a shite actually. The point was it really pissed Hermione off….really, really pissed her off.

Only she went all prissy about it and 'In the Ministry of Magic One is Respectful' kinda thing…or maybe she just got the point that she needed to leave Harry and Adrianna the hell alone, because she didn't say one word to them. Hermione even managed to control her classic 'I'm-so-mad-I-could-spit face,' and look serious and serene to the outside observer.

Instead she started this constant running commentary under her breath…to Ron. Why not Ginny? He didn't know. Maybe because Ginny seemed to be completely over her Anti-Adrianna phase, smiling and entertaining Harry and his cousin with stories of Dad's escapades in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. Cheerfully, she asked Adrianna questions and generally looked like she was enjoying their little trip into hell. So, while the little trio had a grand old time, he held back and was attentive to Hermione's mutterings.

"Who does she think she is with her diplomatic privilege?" "You know, it would have been a sign of good will just to let them register her wand." "What is she hiding, anyway?" "I bet there is something up with her wand…it certainly doesn't look like any wand I've ever seen." "Do you think there is some really dark magical ingredient, like werewolf hair or vampire teeth…or a baby unicorn horn…I bet that's it…its really powerful…the darkest of magic."

With the last one Ron froze in the hallway and gave her such a look of disbelief and frustration…

"Fine, she's not a baby unicorn killer…but she is hiding something."

Well, at least with Hermione's incessant prattle it was virtually impossible to think about her dead or dying. Instead all he could think about was how he wanted to shut her up.

More precisely, the exact method of how he wanted to shut her up. Like by sticking his tongue down her throat.

Cripes, he was a pervert…but he had barely gotten the chance to taste the insides of her mouth the last time… and it had been amazing…and Practicing would most certainly have to include mastering that particular skill, wouldn't it?

So, as they walked through the halls of the Ministry, Ron pretended to be intently listening to Hermione all the while scouting for private corners that he could never actually use.

Urgh…how he wanted to push her against the wall right here. It was his new favorite thing in the world, but this time he wanted to pick her up, so her legs were….

"Ron," the object of his obsession hissed. "Are you listening?"

"Yes," he said as if it were obvious, though he had no idea what she had said. "You're right, it's highly suspicious."

She nodded, satisfied.

Luckily, the prattle stopped when they were lead into the Family Affairs Office of the Wizengamot and they sat down for the most boring five hours of Ron's life. All right it was forty-three minutes exactly…but why in the bleeding world would it even take that long?

Let them sign the damn papers, for god's sake. No one else wants guardianship of the boy…the Dursley's are going to be thrilled beyond belief and no one else should even care, in his opinion. It was Harry and Adrianna's business and no one else's.

Though, of course, he planned on keeping that particular opinion to himself. There were really important things on the line here…like Practice.

Ron figured out that if he leaned his head on his hand, with his elbow on the arm rest, he could stare at Hermione to his heart's content all the while looking merely bored to death.

He loved the way her thoughts played out on her face. Didn't need to be an Empath to see what she was thinking. Although Ron chose to ignore the eye rolls and frowns, instead concentrating on the moving features themselves.

When she was particularly annoyed at something that had been said, her brows furrowed and her lips pursed, making her adorably kissable. But his favorite was when she got this faraway, thwarted look because her features evened out and her lower lip protruded in the sexiest way possible.

He wanted to bite it, gently of course, and suck it into his mouth and run his tongue over it…. He could do that now. He had permission. They were Practicing. 'Practicing.' It was his favorite word in the English language.

Meant he could do whatever he wanted….

Whoa there, down boy…let's not get ahead of ourselves. The things he really wanted to do with Hermione couldn't be placed under the heading of they?

Exactly how far could Practicing go?

Was it just kissing, maybe a heavy snog? Ron knew that there were a lot of things included under the heading of a Snog in certain circles… a lot of wandering hands and his really wanted to wander. Then beyond that…he bit back a groan at the possibilities.

Ron purposefully reminded himself how much he cared for and respected Hermione. He shouldn't do anything with her that he wouldn't let someone…else… Blimey, if someone else did anything that he had already done with Hermione, he'd beat the shite outta them, even if they were dating.

…which Ron and Hermione were not. For the first time, he was disappointed at that.

No, Ron just…he just needed to concentrate on now…no future beyond the next Practice session. The future held too many awful possibilities and no thinking about other blokes with his Hermione, either. Those thoughts could only lead to no good.

Crap, this was the longest meeting of all time…

Then the meeting was over and Ron wished that it wasn't because Hermione had a whole lot of complaining stored up and now he couldn't stare at her quite as fully.

They made there way to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. That dim hallway would be perfect for a little….

They paused outside the cubical that read "Auror Headquarters." Adrianna turned to them and motioned them over. In a quiet, commanding tone she stated, "I've got a very important meeting and the four of you are going to have to wait here for a little while. I can't stress enough how important this is so I expect all of you to be on your best behavior, which means…" She looked pointedly at Hermione, "The litany of complaints will have to wait until later."

She scanned the rest of them, giving them each a private warning look. "…and no snooping and no touching strange objects and, no…" she looked at Ron, "Sneaking away because you are bored."

Great! This trip just got worse.

They were all tense as they walked past the rows of cubicles and came to an important looking oak door with a sign that read: "Flavian R. Carter, Auror Director."

Ron remembered his father talking about the Director…felt he was a bit of a stooge for Fudge…far too young to be Director…spent far too little time in Britain…

Adrianna knocked on the door and a burly, blond bloke, with a receding hairline came to the door, wearing crisp professional robes. "Miss Potter, I've been expecting you, please come in," he offered in a professional tone.

Ron felt himself get nervous as the five of them stepped into the large, opulent office. There was a heavy mahogany desk covered with various artifacts and surrounded by a half dozen arm chairs. The walls were lined with cabinets adorned with symbols and shelves of foreign appearing artifacts. On the other side of the room was a large oval table covered in maps.

Once he had closed the door the Director turned to Adrianna and his face transformed into a large, youthful smile. "'Drana, love, you look wonderful!" He embraced her warmly.

Adrianna relaxed noticeably the minute the door was closed, looking softer and less on edge them Ron had ever seen her. He hadn't ever realized that she had been on edge before. He wrinkled his brow.

"Carter," she said affectionately, as if greeting an old friend, which it seemed they were. "Thank you so much." She stepped back from the hug and leaned casually on a chair.

"Wow…look at you, twenty eight years old now. I knew you'd be the one to do it."

"Yes, well…" she looked away and then around his office. "Look at this, quite up and coming…or is it up and came."

He laughed merrily, giving the teenagers a grin. "Well, considering I got this job because every Auror based in Britain had too much of a connection to Dumbledore to make Fudge comfortable. That, and I'm good at the old smile and nod…very non-threatening. Pretend you're easily manipulated…I think I learned that one from you, actually."

She snorted, "Oh Carter, I think I forgot that one. I might need a refresher course."

Carter sobered. "Yes, well, speaking of my fabulous boss…" The man leaned on his desk and looked over at Harry. "So, he's been wrong about everything, then."

"I'm not exactly sure what he's been saying….but for the most part." She shrugged then gestured toward Harry. "So, you've obviously heard of my cousin, Harry. These are his friends, Hermione Granger and Arthur Weasley's two youngest, Ginny and Ron."

The man greeted them with hard handshakes, ending with Harry. "So, Harry, what is the real truth, then?"

Harry faltered, looking round at the others. "Um…well The Quibbler article was pretty accurate."

The Director sighed. "I see." After a moment he turned to Adrianna "…and you met Fudge, yes?" She nodded. "What did you see?"

"Insecure, liar, paranoid, self-serving, not so bright…you know, the obvious."

He frowned. "Well, that's lovely isn't it?" After another long thoughtful silence he straightened, and looking over at the Empath he said, "We had better get you to your meeting. You kids can hang around my office. I'll be back in just a bit."

As he walked her to the door Adrianna turned and said, "Please, guys, please don't do anything that will make Mrs. Weasley hate me more." With a last pleading look she left.

The four remaining in the room looked around uneasily. Hermione seemed fairly ready to burst with comments to make. Luckily, she had the sense to keep them to herself.

"Harry," she started softly.

Well, maybe not too much sense.

"…are you really sure about this whole guardianship thing?"

Harry's eyes whipped to hers. "Yes and…and it's done!" he snapped harshly, and then averted his gaze.

Fun. Fun. Ron threw himself into a chair.

Hermione was pouting again, distracting Ron with her lip. How he wished they were anywhere but there. He was finally able to do something about his fantasies and…She caught her lip in her teeth and gnawed on it….just like he wanted to do. When she sucked it into her mouth, he just about exploded.

He shot to his feet. "I need to go to the loo." He grabbed Hermione's wrist. "You know where one is, don't you?" He was already half way to the door.

"Um, ok," she stammered.

Ginny and Harry looked astonished.

"Ron, Adrianna said…" Harry called

"Don't be daft, that makes no…" Ginny said at the same time, Ron was already out the door and down the hallway. He didn't stop until he had found that dim hallway he had seen earlier and pulled Hermione into it.

Turning to look at her he grinned broadly, feeling absurdly proud of himself. He had done it. He was doing it. He was taking charge of these…urges in side of him.

"Oh, good, Ron, we really need to talk about this. What do you make of this Mr. Carter fellow? It's all…"

"Hermione, I didn't pull you out here to talk about Adrianna," he said with a lopsided grin.

She looked confused. "Why then?"

He leaned over her, backing her against the wall. He said huskily, feeling a surge of power, "I brought you up here because you're driving me crazy."

A hurt look came over her face. "You're taking her side, again," she accused.

"Hermione, I'm not taking sides. Actually, I couldn't care less of a sodding damn. But…" He touched her lower lip with his thumb, gliding the pad over the wet surface.

"Ron." She sounded breathless. She was looking up at him with melting chocolate eyes. "What are you doing?"

"What I've wanted to do all day…Practice…" He leaned down and kissed her lower lip.

"Ron, we're in the Ministry hallway." There was a hysterical edge to her voice.

He smiled against her lip. "Uh huh…" And he loved it. He sucked that amazing lower lip into his mouth, causing her to moan.

Now, this is how he wanted to spend the afternoon.

Harry stared in astonishment at the door that Hermione and Ron had just disappeared through. "I can't believe them," he said angrily, almost to himself. Hermione's surly complaining was one thing, but that both of them would risk….Didn't they understand how important all of this was to him?

"Yeah, Ron does have the lamest excuses in history. Pathetic, really. I mean the loo…he's taking Hermione to the loo. I'm ashamed to say we're blood related," Ginny said, looking around the room curiously.

"Probably dragged her out side to row again," Harry gripped. "If they cause a ruckus and get in trouble…"

Ginny snorted, "Please."

He looked at her width a wrinkled brow. "What, you don't think…oh my god…you don't think they're in the hallway snogging do you?"

She gave him a look that told him that was precisely what she thought. Then she went back to her careful perusal of the Director's desk.

"Shite," Harry muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes. How could they be so irresponsible? Well, yeah…but how could Hermione be so irresponsible?

"Wrock! Wrock!"

"Oops," Ginny quickly put down an odd, bird shaped statue that she had lifted from the desk.

"Ginny! We can't," Harry said, horrified. Had everyone gone completely nutters?

"What? When will we ever get to be in the Director of Auror Headquarters again? And besides…with the two of them out there doing whatever, no matter what we do…we look good." The look she gave him was both challenging and mischievous. Harry was starting to find he had a weakness for that look. "I won't touch," she cajoled. "See, my hands are behind my back."

He smiled at her with hesitation, not wanting her to know how easily she'd won.

"Hey, Harry look at this," Ginny pointed out the window. "Is that the Acropolis?"

Harry came over and peered out the picture window behind Carter's desk. The view was amazing. "Naw, that's the forum…I think…that's Rome…look, there's the Coliseum."

Ginny sighed. "Must be nice," she said wistfully.

"Traveling is awesome." Harry looked at the yearning look on her face and felt… "Someday we'll go to Rome."

She looked at him with surprise and laughed. "Oh, will we, now?"

Harry shrugged, looking out again, a small smile lighting his face. "It's not so hard. I'll take you."

He didn't know what possessed him to say that, but he meant it. He couldn't think of a better traveling companion. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw her looking at him strangely. It made him nervous.

He turned and started his own inspection of the room. He looked over the surface of the massive mahogany cabinets. They had the most amazing symbols etched on them and they were changing as he watched. For the first time, he regretted not taking Ancient Runes with Hermione.

'Course if Hermione were there and not out doing god knows what with Ron…

Harry's eyes found Ginny staring, transfixed at the maps scattered over the surface of the large oval table on the other side of the room. He came up behind her.

On top was a large and detailed map of Britain. Its title read "Britain Based Aurors." There were small blue circles moving ever so slightly, almost vibrating in place. Every once and a while, one would disappear and reappear in another city.

"Hey, look here," Ginny pointed to a cluster of dots in London. "'NT,' that must be Tonks and there's 'KS' and 'AM,' Kingsley and Moody…it's a good thing this isn't more detailed…they could see into Grimmauld Place."

Harry shook his head thoughtfully. "Naw, they couldn't, the Fidelius Charm …they'd probably disappear off the map all together. Maybe they'd show up there." He pointed to a place marked 'unaccounted for.'

"I hope not. That'd be awfully suspicious."

Harry noticed the other maps underneath that one. Couldn't hurt to take a peek. He leafed through them.

"Hey, no touching," Ginny teased.

A guilty smile crossed his face and he looked over at her…he didn't know what possessed him to do it, but….

"Touching, huh…" he began poking her on the shoulder and side. She giggled uncontrollably, unintentionally encouraging him.

"Stop! I'm ticklish!" she screamed.

His eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Oh, no…" She ran away from him to the other side of the table. She gave him a playful 'catch me if you can' look, that he couldn't ignore and lunged after her.

A few minutes of this and they were both breathless and laughing. Harry leaned on the table to catch his breath… "Hey, Gin, look at this." He pulled at a map from the bottom of the pile, whose corner caught his eye.

The heading read 'International Cooperation Auror Project- Romanian Division." His heart beat erratically. Somehow he knew there was something important here…He rolled up the top maps quickly, looking at the map in its entirety.

"Harry, what are you…?" Ginny asked at his sudden change, coming next to him and peering at the map. It was a large world map with multicolored circles scattered across it. The largest group was in Romania.

Harry's eyes found England…and a red dot labeled 'AP.' "Adrianna," he breathed.

Ginny shook her head, "That can't be, she's not British."

"No, look there are people from all over the world. They're color coded. See red's American, blue's British…looks there's a blue dot in England as well…" He trailed off. "… 'CW.'"

"That's not possible," Ginny said more intently this time and perhaps a little frantically too.

Harry looked at her. "It would be more dangerous than studying dragons."

"Harry, how could my brother be an Auror and we not know it? It's ridiculous," she argued.

He just shrugged. He'd seen a whole lot stranger things than that.

They heard the door knob turn and they both rushed to roll the other maps on top of the one they were reading. They turned just as Flavian Carter stepped back into his office.

Harry's heart pounded in his ears. He felt dread…Bloody hell, if they hadn't wanted them to look at the map then they shouldn't have left them alone with it. What did they expect?

"There you are. Sorry took so long," Carter said with a winning smile. "Here, come and sit." He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. "Where are the others?"

Harry gulped, as he sat, cursing his friends again for their marathon, 'loo' run.

"Just stepped out to the lavatory," Ginny said innocently, as she gracefully sat in a chair.

Harry looked at her in amazement. Three months in Japan and he couldn't control his emotions like she could. Maybe he should be taking lessons from her.

Luckily the Director just smiled kindly at them. "So, Harry. I hear you spent the summer in Japan. Lucky boy. Rare opportunity, you know."

Harry looked him over. "How do you know Adrianna?" He wondered if he'd get a straight answer.

The man smiled and put his feet up on his Mahogany desk, his pressed robs wrinkling carelessly. "My first overseas assignment. I was sent to save her…" He laughed. "Didn't quite work out that way."

Harry swallowed. "Why did she need saving?" Why did anyone in their family need saving? Seemed someone always wanted them dead. It was probably why most of them were.

"An old ex-Death Eater after the fall of You-Know-Who, well I guess the first fall….decided to go to the Colonies to start a new empire. We got intelligence that there was an Empath over there that he wanted to use to do just that. I suppose he wanted to create the days before the Great Massacre…

"He captured Adrianna. She was oh, seventeen at the time, still in school. Then I got captured trying to rescue her…not at all well done of me," he laughed to himself and Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I remember quite clearly, I was bound and he had an arm around your cousin's throat. He was taunting me about how easy it had all been and how effortless it was to control her. Then out of the blue she grabbed the wizard's hand and stabbed him in the eye with his own wand. Quite an actress, our 'Drana. Though, I think she was quite shocked when the wound killed him…"

There was a knock on the door and Director Carter righted himself, making himself presentable. He steeled his face in a hard director-like expression and called for the visitors to come in, but he winked at Harry and Ginny as he did so.

Adrianna walked in the door with an austere gray haired witch in pressed gray robes. "I really do appreciate this Madame Hopkirk and I'm sure…" His cousin faltered as she scanned the room and didn't see Ron and Hermione.

She had a particular set to her jaw, which Harry had come to find meant she was particularly annoyed at herself, probably for not scanning the room first. Adrianna recovered quickly and said, "I'm sure our young ladies and gentleman will prove themselves. As promised...this is my cousin Harry and Miss Ginevra Weasley. The others are…" She looked at Harry pointedly and gestured them over.

Damn them! Harry opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.

"They just stepped out to the lavatory, I'm sure they will be right back," Ginny stated with expert pleasantness, as she came over and politely greeted the woman.

Harry recovered and extended his hand as well. A small, but genuine smile graced the woman's face as she took his hand. "It is, of course, a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Potter. I'm sure that under your cousin's guidance you will quite live up to our expectations."

Great. Expectations. He loved those.

"Thank you again, Madam. I don't want to take up any more of your time. I know you have important meetings." Adrianna smiled at her in the way that she reserved for very important Witches and Wizards…those she needed on her side.

"Yes, I do. A shame I couldn't meet the others. I'm sure there will be another time." With that the woman shook Adrianna's hand and Apparated out to meetings places unknown.

Adrianna pressed the door closed with a click. "Where are Ron and Hermione?" she asked with a dangerous tone. "Oh, never mind." She closed her eyes in concentration.

Her eyes snapped open and she shook her head with irritation. "Ohh, they are so dead."

Special thanks to kjcp at CM for betaing this story