Hearing the doorbell of her flat, Ginny opened the door and let Tonks and Remus in.
"Remus, Tonks, it's nice to see you. Harry warned me only one hour ago about that dinner".
She was really intrigued. Instead of using an owl, Harry had used the muggle mobile phone that he had given to her. It meant, she knew, that the planned meeting was supposed to be a secret. But obviously he hadn't wanted to tell too much on the phone either, maybe because he was not alone. He'd only asked her if she was ok for having dinner outside with some friends, and she had agreed.
Tonks smiled. "Sorry for the short notice, Ginny. But as you know, Harry was out of the office all day with most of his team, because of another inexplicably murdered werewolf. So when I learnt some disturbing news this afternoon about another case we are on, we decided to organise that dinner. I agreed with Harry that we would come to fetch you with Remus, and then wait for him at Hermione's and Sirius' place. It must look as if we only have a friendly dinner, but we have things to discuss with them".
Ginny frowned, as she often did when Hermione was involved. "So if I get it right, you, Harry, Sirius and Hermione are going to talk about work using my presence and that of Remus as a cover, so you can pretend later that you didn't talk about work ?" she said, a bit of sourliness in her voice.
"You've got it" answered Tonks. It had come out a little more sharply than she'd wanted to, but she was both too tired and too worried to have any patience with Ginny's childish possessiveness as soon as Harry's free time was concerned.
"And why Hermione and Sirius ?, Ginny went on. "Are they Aurors now ?" For the hundredth time, Remus wondered if Ginny, who used to like Sirius when they all lived lived at Grimmauld Place, now resented him because Hermione had chosen him instead of Ron, or if it was rather because he, by choosing her, had brought her even closer to Harry, adding family ties to those of friendship.
"Yes", replied Tonks. "Or at least Sirius is. He applied for it a few weeks ago. It's just unofficial until we have dealt with the situation I was talking about".
"A few weeks ago ? And it's already done ? What about the training ?"
It was Remus's turn to feel a bit annoyed by Ginny's untimely belligerence.
"Ginny, Sirius when he was ten had already seen more dark magic than you'll probably do in your whole life. And in spite of where he comes from and all what happened to him, he never turned to darkness. I don't think he really needs extra training. Do you ?"
"And what about Hermione ? Does studying mouldy old scrolls about the Veil qualify as auror training ?"
"Come on, Ginny, you know as well as I do what a feat it was to bring Sirius back. And Hermione only took that job at the Department of Mystery for that one purpose. Now it's very likely that she will joint the Auror Department too. She has all the required qualifications".
"Besides, she will be part of the expedition that is planned", added Remus, and Tonks shot him a reproachful look. Now it would take them at least ten minutes of explanations to appease Ginny's eternal jealousy towards Hermione.
"If she goes with you, why shouldn't I, then ? I don't see why I wouldn't make as a good job as an Auror as she would".
"For Merlin's sake, Ginny, you're a quidditch coatch !" Tonks snapped, feeling her maternal family's temper suddenly take over.
"Oh of course, how stupid of me to choose such an useless occupation, especially when compared to brillant Hermione's set of skill !"
Ginny was on the verge of tears now, and Remus, in spite of his annoyance, felt sorry for her. He knew for himself how hard it was sometimes to see Tonks take risks without him.
"Tonks didn't mean it that way, you know it", he said gently. "You could have applied to work with Harry, just to be with him all the time", but you were right to choose the carrier you loved best for yourself".
This was technically true, even if Remus doubted Ginny would have succeeded the exams. Like her brother Ron, Ginny had proven that she could be dangerously susceptible to the dark influence of the horcruxes.
"After the war, I too considered continuing to fight alongside Tonks by joining the Auror forces, but in the end, I realised that teaching was my true calling. I'm happy I have resumed my position at Hogwarts, even if it's hard sometimes to see Tonks go on a mission when I stay at home. But we can't have it all, Gin".
"Why not ? I fought in Dumbledore's army, and at the Prophecy Hall, and during the battle of Hogwarts !"
"It's not the same now", Tonks chimed in. "We were under constant threat and everyone had to learn how to defend themselves. Now, we are the ones who attack, in order to end all what is left of the Death Eater's network. It's the job I chose, as Harry did, but not you, and not Remus".
Ginny sighed and nodded sadly. But she was not fully convinced yet.
"What about Hermione ? Why should she go if she's not an Auror yet ?"
"There are two reasons. First, we need her as a consulting expert."
"In what ?"
"Goblins' laws and customs. She might be born in the muggle world, but she knows more about Goblins' law than any of us. You know her way with books. She only has to read something once to always remember it".
"I can't imagine why juridical hair splitting can be of use against the Dark Forces, but I suppose you'll explain. What is the other reason ?"
There was a pause, and Ginny realised suddenly how strained they both looked.
"The particular risks that Sirius is about to take", answered Remus grimly.
Apologies for the little fit of Weasley bashing. More action will come rather soon.