When she arrived at the restaurant, she informed the Mater de that she was there to meet the minister. He smiled in that way she never could trust before turning toward the back of the dining room. She followed silently, hands holding her clutch so tightly that her knuckles were white.
When Harry saw her, he stood automatically. He barely registered the movement when he sat down after she was seated. She was stunning. It was a moment before he realized she was wearing green. He clenched his jaw.
"Did you have to do that?" he asked irritably.
"Do what?" Ginny asked defensively. This was not how she imagined the evening would start. She had hoped the insults would wait at least until the first course arrived.
"Wear green. Why do you have to make him present even when he isn't here?" Harry stared at his menu too hard to actually be reading it.
She rolled her eyes. "I wore green because I happen to like it and because Luna thinks a I look good in it. Do you have to do that?" she asked, mocking his tone.
He sighed. "Do what?"
"Act like a child," she answered innocently. "This is a business dinner, unless I read the invitation incorrectly. If I did, I had better be leaving now, before the misunderstanding goes further…" she let her words trail off and moved as if to stand up.
He laid the menu down. "No, this is business dinner, and I'm sorry about my comment on the dress. You look fantastic."
"Thank you," she relaxed and picked up her menu.
After they had ordered, they sat there looking around the restaurant in silence for a few moments.
Finally, Ginny sighed. "Look, this is ridiculous. What is it you needed to discuss?"
Clearly disappointed that the evening took a serious turn so soon, Harry cleared his throat. "There is considerable weight being placed on me to stop this experiment with the school from going any further and I am interested in keeping you from getting hurt. It's changed a lot around here since you left. I understand what you're trying to do, but the people just aren't ready for it. Trust me, I only want what's best for you and what's best for them. Why don't you come work for your brother with the aurors for a while. Maybe in a few years you can try again, but in the right order."
Ginny set her water down very carefully, trying to maintain her composure. Before she could speak, the waiter arrived with their food and she decided she was grateful for his timing, the last thing she wanted to do was to cause a scene in public with the minister who fancied himself in love with her. Who knew what he would say to the reporters?
Once the waiter had stepped away, she took a measured breath. "First of all, this is not an experiment. We have a plan and we are going forward with it. There is nothing the ministry can do to stop us. Secondly, I understand that things have changed, but I'm not a fool. I believe that the people are ready for this. I believe that they need it. Third, I have no interest in being an auror, now or ever. It simply isn't what I want to do. Fourth, just what, exactly, would you consider the 'right order' or rebuilding the school?" She couldn't keep the offended tone out of her voice when she asked her question.
Harry had been about to take a bite and put his fork down. "You should have come to me first. You should have publicly sought ministry approval. You should have made all of you intentions known in a public forum and allowed input from others. There should have been a campaign for support before you ever set foot on the campus. These things have to be done slowly, cautiously, openly, and subtly."
She sighed and took a bite. By the time she had swallowed, she had regained enough control to respond. "Not all of life is politics and not all of politics is undercurrent. You do your job remarkably well, I will be the first to admit that. The problem is that you don't understand the subtlety we are employing. Sometimes, being straightforward and blunt is more manipulative than any hint could ever be. If we waited for permission, if we waited for approval from the public, we would be admitting that we have doubts, that we need support. We do not. If we showed any doubts we would be showing weakness. The school cannot stand on weakness. If we believe in what we are doing so strongly that we are willing to make it our lives, that we are willing to go forward so brashly, so sure of ourselves, than others will believe in us as well. That is what the people need now, belief, belief in themselves, belief in others, belief in life. By being strong and confident we free them to be the same. Wait, Harry, you'll see. It may be rocky, but not so bad as you think unless you make it so. If you support us now you will be demonstrating pride in your people. You will in no way be playing the subordinate. We will not be dictating to the ministry, we will be working under its rule. Read the laws. Hell, you can still come out on top if you want. You can spin this so the ministry looks like the heros. I'll help. Just tell everyone that the reason you didn't sell or use the property was because you were waiting for this day. You knew that when the time was right the school would be rebuilt and you were simply ensuring that future without overstepping your bounds, allowing the people to heal, allowing the people a source of pride in themselves, governing yourselves to remain within the boundaries of your authority. The people will love that."
Harry swallowed slowly. "You really don't get it. The school cannot be rebuilt. There are other factors that must be considered. Where is your faculty going to come from? You cannot simply draw out the top members of each field, the rest of the society will suffer their loss. Where will funding come from? The Malfoy and Zabini accounts will only take you so far. How will you handle the logistics of enrollment? These are only some of the minor concerns. There are a lot of powerful figures in politics who have been counting on using the educational system to their advantage. If you rearrange everything, reset it all back to Hogwart's, you will make strong enemies. I simply cannot allow you to so drastically change the delicate political climate of postwar Britain."
Ginny closed her eyes. Pulling her napkin out of her lap and placing it on the table, she said as politely as she could. "Our faculty will come from wherever we find willing teachers. Our funding is not your concern, neither are our logistics. As for enemies, we will meet them when they challenge us. Please do not align yourself to be one of them. We are going ahead as planned. Nothing you or the ministry can say will stop us. I appreciate your concern, but I don't believe there is anything more to be said on the matter." She began to rise.
Harry was standing before she was. "Please, understand, Ginny. This is just business. If I could make it any other way, I would. I wanted to have this dinner as friends, hoping to avoid some unpleasant encounters that must ensue of you continue as you apparently insist on doing." He smiled and extended a hand to help her up. "Can we agree not to let this hamper out personal relationship?"
She took his hand and stood graciously. Whatever her answer would have been, it was never heard. As soon as she was standing, before he had released her hand, what seemed like a thousand flash bulbs went off as countless reporters took pictures of them. He sheepishly brought his free hand to the back of his neck, but did not release his hold with the other.
"What brings you two out tonight?" one reporter shouted.
Before she could answer, Harry stepped in front of her. "It's just a dinner between friends. Please, allow us some measure of privacy!"
Ginny's blood began to rise as she heard his words and the slight tinge of anger in them that she knew was fake. She knew Harry. She knew he wasn't surprised to see them. She knew his words were carefully chosen to make sound like he was trying to deny without denying that it was a date. She knew he was doing this only to upset Draco. She knew he knew it wouldn't help him any with her. It was the only reason he would risk it.
Grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around to face her, she bit out through clenched teeth. "You have effectively destroyed any personal relationship you hoped to protect." Not trusting herself to say anything to the reporters, she pushed past them as quickly as possible and apparated as soon as she was on the street.