Redemption

Chapter Three

She had never really got out much into these damn Ministry engagements before now, but this one seemed to be heading in the direction of something important, or at least, something more interesting than usual. She loved her job, and usually she loved the parties and publicity that went along with it. But the Ministry functions were always way less satisfying - full of balding stuffy old men and croaky witches in stuffed bird hats.

But this evening she'd made a night of it - she'd had a bath, invited Hermione over, told Ron to stay the Hell away, broke out teh good wine and picked out her clothes with particular care. Even Hermione seemed to be enjoying being pampered.

"It feels really good," she said happily, lounging around on Ginny's plush leather sofas and sipping the expensive Rosé, "just to be out of that damn house. I was starting to feel like a full time bottle-come-food-despenser-come-toy-box-come-entertainments-manager. The sooner I'm back at work, the better."

"I'd have thought you'd have had enough of looking after people for a while," Ginny mused.

"I've had enough of looking after kids! But when September gets here, Little Gin'll be in school and I can go back to Mungo's!" she raised her glass.

Ginny raised her bottle - she'd always been a beer-girl. "Hear, hear! To St. Mungo's!" They clicked the glass togather and took three heavy gulps each. Smacking her lips, Ginny sighed.

"I sense an untold secret," Hermione smiled. "Come on, tell all."

Ginny shook her head. "It's nothing," she lied.

"Liar."

"Fine," she relented. "There may be someone going tonight who I may have my very selective eye on, all right?"

Hermione giggled. "Who?"

"An Auror. His name's Reggie Fellmort. Nice bloke, I'll introduce you."

"So," Hermione asked, after a satisfyed nod. "What are you wearing? Time's getting on - we should change."

Ginny smirked, and pulled of a long, flowing robe of scarlet silk from behind her bedroom door.

"Ginny, all that's good for is sleeping in!" Hermione hissed, scandelised. Ginny grinned.

"That was precisely what I was aiming for..."

Ron was barely able to stop himself telling Ginny to turn straight around and get changed. But Hermione nudged him - very hard - in the ribs, and he was distracted half by pain, and half by his wife. She was giggling.

"How much have you had to drink already?" he asked, smiling, as they entered the Ministry Entrance Hall. Hermione just grinned, put both her hands behind his head and kissed him.

"Not nearly enough," she said, grabbing hold of a glass of complimentary Champagne from a passing Elf, adorned with a Ministry-stamped pillowcase, the plight of the Elves temporarily forgotten. "Here, drink, you've got to catch up with me and Gin."

Ron gave his sister a look of disbelief. She shook her head.

"I'm fine - I've been on beer. Plus 'Mione could never handle her drink." Ron laughed, and spent the rest of the evening steering Hermione away from Elves with alcohol.

"Ginny," she felt a hand on her elbow, and turned around. Neville was standing there, clean and suited, next to a short, blonde-haired witch with gorgeous brown eyes and a big smile. She grinned.

"Wow. Hey Neville - I knew where successful but..."

The woman blushed, sliding her hand around Neville's slim waist.

Ginny held out her hand. "Ginny Weasley. I was at Hogwarts with Neville."

"Marie Hundson. Pleasure to meet you." She seemed sincere - something unusual in Ginny's line of work. "I take it I meet with your approval?"

"I'm not worth seeking the approval of," Ginny said. "But if you want it I'd be all too happy to give it."

"Good," Marie smiled. "C'mon," she added to Neville, who looked blissful. "You can buy me a drink," and she led him off. He shot Ginny a grin before he ducked his head and whispered something into Marie's ear, making her giggle. Ginny felt another hand, this time on the small of her back, and she turned again. Why did people always have to sneak up on you at these things? But she wasn't annoyed for long.

"Hello," Reggie Fellmort said, smiling. Ginny grinned, shaking her fringe out of her eyes to see him better.

"Evening," she said brightly. "How's it been?"

"Ghastly," he smiled, mocking. "You know what these things are like. Can I introduce you to some people?"

"My pleasure," she said lightly. "Always happy to meet people at the Ministry..." He laughed. She wasn't sure why, but she liked it.

He kept his hand on her back, and led her over to the buffet table. Food always tended to distract her, but she ignored the table - she'd get something later. Reggie introduced her to Felius Mugwort, Grevious Naliger and Henry Leggings, as well as a black haired witch called Neiva Droger. Aimless small talk ensued, before Ginny turned to Reggie.

"I've got someone I'd like you to meet too," she said quietly, pulling him away with polite nods to the others, gripping his hand. Finding excuses for physical contact was easy at these things. She found Hermione and Ron at a corner table. He had his wife on his lap, cradling her and laughing at her murmurings.

"Ron, this is Reggie Fellmort, Reg, this is my brother, Ron Weasley. And that was his wife Hermione... but she appears to have had a little too much to drink." Ron looked faintly embarrassed at the state of his wife but Reggie just smiled knowingly.

"Understandable at these things. Boring, aren't they?"

"You're telling me," her brother said emphatically, and he went off into a long rant about how bloody annoying these bloody work dos are, and how hard tried to bloody well get out of it. Reggie just agreed, giving Ginny occasional sidelong glances.

"Ronnie," Hermione gushed suddenly, her arms clinging around Ron's neck and her eyes not focusing very well. "Ronnie, can we go home? I miss my babies, I want to see my little babies... Oh, hello Big Gin..."

Ginny blushed. "I wish I was Little Gin," she said to Reggie. He laughed again.

"Can we go?" Hermione continued, leaning in very close to Ron. He winced, but grinned. "I need my little babies home. I need them to be at home. I need to be at home. I want to go to bed. Can we go to bed when we get home? The kids're at Molly's... we can go to bed..."

The meaning of her sentence, having transmuted into a brand new and, to Ron very appealing, meaning, Hermione blearily tried to undo Ron's tie. He blushed.

"That's it, I'm taking her home. I told you not let her have any wine, Ginny," but he wasn't really annoyed, in fact he looked like her was thoroughly enjoying himself. He stooped, gathered up his wife in his arms and carried her towards the exit, muttering, "well... least you'll be able to tell this as the story of how your fourth niece or nephew was conceived. Bye Ginny."

Ginny and Reggie laughed as soon as they were out of ear-shot. Ginny slipped her hand into Reggie's and led him over towards the fountain. They sat on the shallow ledge next to each other. Ginny crossed her leg, her gown rippling lightly.

He held up his glass. "So... to...?"

"To..." Ginny smiled. "To marriage, and all the opportunities it affords."

Reggie chuckled. "To marriage. To... Ministry gatherings."

Ginny nodded, and repeated, "Ministry gatherings... To... making Ministry gatherings bearable..."

Ginny smiled softly, looking at his mouth with a new hunger. After a few too many seconds, she looked up. Reggie was still smiling at her. She leaned forward, breathed next to his mouth and brushed her lips against his ear.

"That was your cue, Reg," she said quietly.

"Ah," he smiled, nodding. "Got ya..."

She felt his breath on his mouth, his knee touching hers... then, just as she was closing her eyes, his nose scuffing hers, her gaze flickered over the silvery water below them, and she spotted a reflexion that made her jolt back as if Reggie carried a live electrical current.

Two green eyes, ruffled black hair, and an arrogant, self-assured smirk. Harry Potter.