Ginny stared at the necklace sitting on her bed, waves of confusion and anger rushing over her body. She stood there a moment, shaking slightly until the waves overpowered her. Collapsing onto a pillow, Ginny let out the tears that she had been holding back ever since she had seen Harry and Alex snogging.
This isn't right! I'm going to be in his sodding wedding! I can't love him!
She lay there for a while, silently sobbing away her emotions, until an idea popped into her head.
What I need is a job. A job that will keep me busy and from seeing Harry. I have to get over him.
XoxoX
Harry banged his head against the pile of paperwork, cursing as he did so. After all the training to be an Auror, most of the job was to sign parchment. That is, until a case came along that he was allowed to take.
"Are you signing the papers with your forehead? If you like, I could transfigure your head into a quill, it would probably be less painful."
Harry lifted his head, glaring at Tonks. "Would you like me to transfigure your arm into Remus's head? That way you can look at him all the time."
Tonks raised an eyebrow at Harry, taking a seat next to his. "Now you don't go getting into my relationships, and I won't go getting into yours."
"I have nothing to hide." Harry crossed his arms.
She held up her hands in defeat. "Okay, okay. You have nothing to hide. However, I find myself pondering why you were banging your head against a table."
When Harry glared once again, Tonks smiled. "I'm kidding with you," She said. "I don't even think I would really want to know the answer."
She handed him a pile of forms from which she withdrew from her bag. Harry groaned, kicking the table. "More forms? Merlin, I'm going to quit!"
"Oh, calm down. These aren't forms, they're an assignment."
Harry sat up immediately, snatching the forms from Tonks's hands, almost making her fall out of her chair.
It took a few minutes while Harry read the first page of his assignment. The more he read, the more his fist clenched around the file. "You've got to be kidding me," he whispered in an annoyed way.
Tonks patted his shoulder. "Good luck, kid."
XoxoX
The next couple of days were busy for Ginny. She spent most of her time trying to find a job amongst the Ministry, but nothing fit her wanting. It was a cold Wednesday morning that found her waiting for a job interview as a Secretary. She was sitting in a small chair by the examining room when she heard a voice.
"Ginny Weasley, aren't you the busy one?" A tall man with dark-brown hair swept through the hall, hands clad with a few folders.
"Busy? I'm not busy!" It took a few moments for Ginny to recognize the wizard as the one she had met at the pub. "Jack?"
He grinned, shaking his head. "No, Charlie. Of coarse it's Jack! Jeeze woman, what have you been doing? My bushy-haired co-worker says you've been drowning in job interviews."
Ginny shrugged, straightening her file that was sitting on her lap. "I can't go on my whole life living off of Hermione and Ron. I need a job."
Jack flopped down in the chair adjacent to her's raising an eyebrow. "And you haven't found one measly job out of twenty?"
"No, it was eighteen! Hermione really needs to learn to actually work on her patients instead of talking."
"Oh, but we do work. Here, let me see your file. I'm on break at the moment and, from what Hermione says, you could use the help."
She shrugged, handing over the folder. "Don't go looking through anything personal."
Jack grinned, stretching a bit as he shifted through her file. After a moment, he said,"Y'know, you should try to get into Auror school. You have top marks in DA DA. It's the best time of the year, actually."
Ginny bit her lip, pondering the choice. "Why's that?"
"Because there's a big case going on right now. Apparently there's rumors of a dark wizard in the United States. Important people were killed by him, so they've been keeping it quiet here in England. The chief Aurors are thinking about picking one of the best trainees to become a junior Auror because they need more wizards on stand."
"Junior Auror? What's that?"
"I want to say assistant, but they're one step above that. They get to help normal Aurors with cases."
Ginny smirked. "Oh, sounds fun. I get to 'assist' an Auror."
He finally looked up, smirking back. "Let's look at your options, Miss. Weasley. You sit in a dodgy old office, typing report papers for some old wizard who has lost the ability to hear correctly in his left ear, or you try out for the position of Junior Auror. It's a simple choice."
She ignored the first option completely. "Do you really think I should try? I mean, what if I don't get Junior Auror?"
"Then you go on to complete the normal training. You'll be a real Auror in a few years."
Ginny hesitated. "Well . . . When are the tryouts?"
"Actually, it's kind of a training thing. An Auror trains you until he thinks the trainees are ready. Then the chief executives choose a witch and wizard. Each are trained separately." Here Jack paused, knowing what she was going to ask.
"Why are they trained separately?"
He chuckled, handing her folder back. "Imagine that you are a bloke. You have just started to train when a beautiful blonde witch catches your eye. She's wearing tight shorts, a sports bra, and--"
"Okay, okay, I get the point. You guys are so . . .hormonal!" She whacked the top of his head with the folder.
"Yes, we are aren't we?" He rose, pointing down the hall. "I'd hurry if I were you. Training starts tomorrow, so you have to sign up today."
Ginny nodded. "Right. Erm, thank-you. Thanks for helping me find a suitable job."
"Will you repay the favor?"
"Sure . . ."
"Let me take you to dinner this Saturday." Jack tilted his head to the side, crossing his arms. "You owe me."
Ginny bit her lip. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that's such a good idea. It's just . . ." She thought about telling him the truth. The truth being that she was still in love with a certain engaged wizard, to whom she promised to be in a wedding. However, the words were halfway to her mouth before she forced them back down.
"If in fact I do choose to be a trainee, I won't want any, erm, distractions. You understand, right?"
Jack smiled. "Ginny, I mean as friends."
She hesitated, mouth opening to answer.
XoxoX
"Hey."
I looked up into a pair of shining eyes . . . eyes of the one whom I loved. She wasn't supposed to be here tonight.
"What are you doing here . . . it's too dangerous." It killed me to see her look this way. It was all for me too. She was grieving for me, scared for me, loving me. It was too much, she had to leave.
"Look," her glossy hair fell past her shoulders, glinting in the sunset. "Peter is dead. It won't happen again! I can help you defeat Tom . . . we can do it, together."
My eyes closed and I reached blindly for her hand. "No. I can't let you do that."
Even with my eyes shut, the waves of anger were apparent. They pushed against my feeble barrier, grinding their way into my soul. No! I can't give in, just can't . . . Won't let it happen again . . .
"Why not? You let Ron and Hermione fight, but not me? For goodness sakes, even my mother is fighting! I'm no baby, no matter what you do or say!"
Jesus, she's tearing me apart. "I know you're not a baby. Forgive me if I gave you that impression."
Stamping her foot, she tore her hand out of mine. "Well, you've got a helluva way in showing it."
"You just can't fight sweetheart . . . you can't . . ."
The waves of anger were subsiding; I can do this, I had to stay strong. Giving in would be as bad as handing her in to Draco Malfoy himself.
"Don't call me sweetheart . . ." She sniffed, turning her back to me.
Sighing in frustration, I reached past her, producing a bottle of Fire Whiskey. Though I never liked the stuff, it seemed to help calm the nerves in dire situations. Predicaments such as these.
"You shouldn't drink," she said, petite fingers closing around the top of the bottle. Oh god, her touch is intoxicating.
I reluctantly released my grasp, staring into the fire once again. "And you shouldn't be here."
The slight pressure on my left side told me she had sat down. "Of all people . . .I would think that you would know what it feels like to be locked up."
Crash.
She had thrown the bottle of Whiskey. It exploded onto the floor, spewing bits of glass and it's contents across the floor. She didn't even flinch.
"I'm keeping you away for different reasons then Dumbledore did me."
Her hands had moved to cup my face, turning it towards her. No. Don't do this to me . . .
"And what reasons are those?" It came in a whisper, so close to my ear, and yet so far. I started to breath unevenly as her stare penetrated my barrier again. It was ripping away, the bricks of my mental wall slipping through my fingers like water. I can't bear it . . .
"I--" Her face was dangerously close; darn it, move! Too late, she's won . . . The barrier had been destroyed. In it's place, a new wall stood. One that she had made unknowingly . . . One that I had tried to hide; to forget.
"You can't fight . . . as long as I'm in love with you."
With the barrier gone, there was nothing holding me back. I closed the remaining space between us, kissing her for all she was worth. She startled me when I felt the same emotion returned, if not more.
I read somewhere that everything happened for a reason. At first I laughed, for this could not be true. Why had I been chosen as the one Voldemort wanted dead? Why did my parents have to die? Why did Ginny have to be captured by Wormtail? But now, being here with Ginny, I have to admit that I finally agree.
Ginny and I were supposed to meet tonight. If not, I would not have told her how I have come to feel.
XoxoxoX
I rolled over, reaching into the pocket of my jacket, which was hanging on the arm of the couch. After a moment, my hand found the package that I had been looking for.
"Here, Gin . . . This is for you."
She looked at me curiously before taking the tissue-wrapped present. As she opened it, a hint of silver caught the dim light that came from a lamp beside them.
"Harry, you . . ." She trailed off as she saw what was engraved on the silver heart which was attached to the necklace.
I looked into her eyes, which were flooded with happiness and confusion. "It's just in case, you know . . . if I don't come back."
The brims of her eyes filled with tears. "I don't have anything to give you! What if I don't come back?"
I shook my head. "But you will come back, Ginny." I grasped her hand tightly, forcing her to look me in the eye. "Promise me you'll stay at the Burrow. Promise me you'll stay safe."
Her other hand tightened around the necklace. "I promise."
A/n: Oy, huge wait there! I'm sooooo sorry, school has been really hectic! For my bachelor fans out there, the next chapter is almost done. It should be posted later this week.