Professor Ginevra Weasley
Disclaimer: I am in no way related nor do I own Harry Potter characters. All recognisable characters belong to JK Rowling, Warner Bros. etc. I am however the proud owner of the plot :)
Things you should know:
This takes place 11 years after the end of the Second Wizarding War
Harry and Ginny did not date in sixth year or after the war but the "crush" days of course still exist :P
A/N:First of all I have to apologise for the long hiatus. Life happens, no other excuse. I'd like to thank the lovely people who reviewed once again especially those who did so when there seemed to be no hope of an update. I especially want to give a shout-out to whitneyg26 :)
To Héla: Who's always there
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Harry stared at Ginny as she slept. Her warm even breaths eased him, made him feel alive. She was impossibly perfect while she slept. Not that she wasn't while awake, but something about the way her small round face remained still and her cheekbones soaked in the light made Harry want to stare. He knew at any other time of day he would feel self-conscious. Right now ... he allowed himself to feel proud ...and a little possessive. She was his. That statement combined so many emotions of admiration, joy, protectiveness and above all love, that he never tired of saying it to himself in the first few moments of the day. For the rest of the day, there would be several different ways of exchanging affection (some more hidden than others considering their position at the school) but at the beginning of the day, he could always count on a bout of honesty with himself.
Almost as though in response, Ginny snuggled closer into him. As she moved closer to Harry, he could feel her hands finding their well-fitted niche at the top of his chest. He seemed to think that part of his body would forever have the shape of her hands like a clay maker's forms. Over the past two months, it had become her hands' home much like her feet seemed to be attracted to his ankles like a magnet. Right on cue, Ginny wrapped her feet around said parts more firmly, eager to enjoy the last few moments of proximity.
Harry smirked as he knew that she was awake by now, no longer simply reaching out through her subconscious. He reached out and deftly placed a lock of hair behind her ear and moved his hand towards her own. She silently grabbed hold of it with one hand. With her eyes still closed, Ginny used her other hand's forefinger to slowly but surely trace patterns on Harry's pulse. She began with a slow up and down movement, always with a feather-like touch, and then began to make inconceivable patterns.
Harry was always mesmerised when she did this. He didn't know where she had learnt to do this or why it affected him so, but Merlin was he glad for her talent. Harry stared at their joint hands as she repeated the movements blindingly slowly, knowing instinctively when to press his skin. It was possibly the most innocent thing they did and yet it held him in rapt fascination.
As Ginny ceased her tantalising movements, she mumbled incoherently, a small contented smile on her face, rubbing her eyes but still keeping them closed.
"Morning," she whispered.
He smiled down at her and then turned and looked around at the room.
"I never noticed but you can see traces of the Burrow in here," Harry whispered.
"The room is charmed to adapt to its owner," Ginny replied contented, still with her eyes closed, snuggling further into Harry's chest.
"Feels like home," Harry answered focusing on something in front of him.
Ginny opened her eyes and looked up at him, trying to understand what he meant by that. Harry simply looked down and gave her a content smile. She could have sworn his eyes held a promise.
"What have you got planned for today?" She asked, choosing to indulge in her early morning fantasy secretly.
"Lots of work things," Harry replied distracted.
Ginny felt his warm fingers mimicking her earlier movements, only this time on her hipbone, somewhere both of them had discovered together, was a place she was very sensitive.
"What are you doing?" She asked chuckling as she saw him, squinting his eyes with a focused look on his face.
"Counting freckles," Harry answered, not looking up.
Ginny laughed, "That's going to take you a while."
"It's ok. I don't mind."
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Ginny had finally managed to get out of bed, however begrudgingly so. She was making her way to her office, humming to herself and skimming a few letters in her hand. The cold February air seemed to do nothing to affect her mood as a small smile was perpetually attached to her lips. It wasn't until she bumped into a few sixth year Gryffindors that she awoke from her reverie. Thank Merlin she had learnt how to control her initial fluster and blushing over her relationship with Harry. Otherwise, she would have turned into a beetroot encountering students with the thoughts that had been going through her mind.
"Good morning ladies," she greeted in a chipper way.
The girls blushed slightly but returned the greeting.
Odd, Ginny thought. Female students weren't normally intimidated by her. She rounded the corner but as soon as she did she caught them continuing their conversation?
"You think she heard us?"
"No I don't think so. Merlin she's lucky."
"I don't think luck has anything to do with it Beth."
"Oh well alright. But you've got to be lucky to be born as pretty as she is."
"Professor Potter doesn't strike me as the type to only go for pretty girls."
"No but it can only help, can't it?"
"Alright I'll grant you that."
"I just wish I got noticed like her is all. Tristan won't even look at me."
"I keep telling you he's not going to notice you if you shy away from him. You have to be yourself. If you do, he wouldn't be able to ignore you if the Giant Squid was clutching onto him for dear life."
Ginny chuckled. Ah the grand cycle that was teen angst. This little mini-Ginny had her own mini-Hermione. Things would work out well. She knew the boy they were referring to. Quite popular if she remembered well. She distinctly recalled the woe-begotten girl of the two excelling at duels. Ah well, Ginny thought. Fate had handed her a very nice slice of life. Maybe it was time to start the Duelling Club again, let some students shine where they could. Yes she thought, as she kept on walking, no one ever said improving the students' education couldn't have separate benefits.
What always amused her is how students seemed to be in awe of her relationship with Harry. Of course, they tried to hide it at first, going to great lengths to not show any change in their behaviour. However, students were students and they always loved a good gossip tale. It was a sort of hushed secret amongst those in the castle though. Ginny was just thankful most people seemed to be genuinely happy rather than bitter or out to cause trouble. The few that did could never find any proof as she and Harry went out of their way to act completely professional when not in their own privacy. That of course didn't mean that they didn't indulge in a few risky endeavours now and then. She smirked as she recalled their last foray in which they had nearly been caught if it weren't for Harry's trusted Invisibility Cloak.
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Harry was in one of his lessons with the sixth year Gryffindors speaking about Horcruxes. He hated giving this lesson but at the same time felt it was one of the most rewarding. After all, he had always promoted the fact that Defence Against the Dark Arts was not a subject to be taught half-heartedly or with clipped versions but it needed to be explained in its entirety. Lucky for him, his best friend happened to make the effort that bit easier by writing a book about the subject. Only Hermione could manage to find the most intricate yet interesting examples to make what would otherwise be a gruesome lesson one of the most anticipated.
"Professor Potter?" One relatively small student raised his hand from the back of the class.
"Yes Mr. Franklin."
"I'm... I'm not sure if this is inappropriate of me to ask... but after all that we've learned about Horcruxes... I was wondering.... when one is possessed or becomes emotionally attached to a Horcrux, are the... well... are the effects permanent?"
Harry folded his arms and looked straight at the student. "Well what do you think Mr. Franklin? We've been on this topic since the beginning of the year. Quite justifiably as it is a crucial part of your studies of the Second Wizarding War for you NEWTS. That being said, you're almost experts in the area. Merlin knows you've surprised me countless times with your questions and you all know how difficult it is to surprise me."
A low chuckle could be hard across the room.
"You're sixth year Hogwarts students. You've got all your basics in magic. All that's really left of your magical education is adding a refined touch. I'd like you to try to answer this one yourself... as a class."
A blanket of silence surrounded the students, as all of them looked surprised. Professor Potter was never the most conventional of educators but no one had been expecting this.
Helga Tindon, one of the more outgoing of the Gryffindors turned to Guy Franklin. "Well what exactly do you mean? Do you mean becoming emotionally attached or do you mean actually being a Horcrux?" She gave a sly glance towards Harry, praying beyond all prayers that it wasn't the latter Guy was referring to. Professor Potter may have made it abundantly clear that it was inevitable they would be discussing private experiences of his during some of the lessons, but that didn't mean they had to prod and poke into every bit of the poor man's past... there were enough books about that.
"I mean becoming emotionally attached," Guy answered.
"You mean like Slytherin's locket?" a blonde boy not too far off from Helga asked.
"Yes exactly."
"Well that's silly. We've got living proof right in this room that the locket doesn't have permanent effects." Leave it up to raven-haired Zoe Thompson to not beat round the bush, Harry chuckled inwardly. A seemingly haughty girl on first impression, she was a Gryffindor through and through and actually had a heart of gold.
"Zoe," a blonde girl next to her chastised her. Anne Milkins was probably the most popular girl in Gryffindor and Zoe's best friend. "Use some segue will you?"
"No, that's quite alright Ms. Milkins," Harry moved forward into the midst of students. If I wanted privacy, I wouldn't have taken this job of all jobs. Besides this isn't about me, this is about Horcruxes. Now you're on the right track. You've all read about the haunting effects that Slytherin's locket can have on its wearer, deep desires, fears, anxieties... any sort of well-hidden feelings erupt once it is worn for a long time. Now the question that Mr. Franklin has intelligently put across is, when can one say that those effects have ceased?"
"I think it's a bit like any important life-changing experience isn't it?" Harry heard the sneering voice of Hector Burke. How that boy, a descendant of the infamous owners of Borgin and Burkes, came to be a Gryffindor, he would never know, but he couldn't deny the boy had a certain honourable flare about him. That didn't mean that constant sneer didn't aggravate Harry's nerves once in a while.
"Care to elaborate Mr. Burke?" Harry turned around to face Hector. Normally, the boy liked to keep to himself, never one to mix wholeheartedly with the other Gryffindors. He never really seemed unhappy in his house but there was clearly some animosity whenever the descendant of one of the most infamous sellers of Dark artefacts walked into the room.
Hector leaned forward on his desk. "Some dark artefacts Professor Potter are mislabelled. They were not created with the intention of wreaking havoc but came to be associated with such darkness through... unfortunate circumstances. Slytherin's locket is one such artefact. Its power over the wearer was through no fault of the locket itself but rather of the piece of dark and disgusting soul that resided within it. The same goes for someone who is emotionally attached to a Horcrux. Once the emotional attachment is removed, the individual may revert back to whatever state of grace they were... more or less. The experience will always be remembered and future decisions will be affected. However, a man who has touched an evil object does not make him evil. Am I right, Professor?"
"Quite," Harry tersely replied.
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Ginny was making her usual rounds of the castle. She liked to have a feel of what was going on by having small conversations with the students or catching up on the eavesdropping of the portraits. In a castle as big as Hogwarts, rumours and gossip served more informative than official records. She was passing through one of the more deserted corridors when she suddenly felt a strong arm around her waist. She couldn't help but let a small squeal of surprise as she felt herself being pulled back into a broom closet.
She had no doubt who had just pulled her so abruptly, so she quickly turned around as soon as the door closed and looked up into the emerald eyes of Harry Potter.
"Harry! You can't keep doing this."
Harry barely let her finish her sentence before he captured her mouth in a kiss.
"I'm a Professor," he smirked, "I can do anything I damn well please."
Ginny pushed her head back, arching her eyebrow and giving him a challenging smirk.
Harry gave her a fake exasperated sigh, "Fine... Boss." He reached down and gently began kissing the pulse point on her neck, knowing how sensitive she was there.
"I'm Harry Potter. I can do anything I damn well please," he countered cockily.
Ginny couldn't help but laugh at him but pressed her hand on his chest to look up at him.
"No but honestly Harry. Someone might have seen you."
"Half the school knows anyway. The other half are probably deaf and blind; not suitable candidates for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"You're making a mockery of my professionalism," Ginny replied indignantly.
"And you're making a mockery of my attempt to kiss you. Now shut up," as he swooped down to kiss her neck once again.
Ginny finally found herself giving in. She couldn't resist him for very long when he kissed her like this. She directed his mouth to meet hers, losing herself in the familiar taste.
After a few moments, she heard him mumble but through her content haze she barely registered what he said.
"Huh?" she groaned as she tilted her head as he slowly began peppering kisses down her jaw bone.
"Distracted are we Professor Weasley?"
She could feel his smirk against her neck. Cheater.
"I said - Besides your family already knows, so does Teddy. Who else matters?" he reiterated.
Ginny let out a small moan, "What's your point?"
With his head still dipped, he moved the top of her robes slightly aside, and kissed her collarbone, "No point. I just love you is all."
Ginny suddenly pushed him back and stared straight into his eyes, checking to make sure he wasn't playing a joke.
Harry simply smiled back at her as he cupped her cheek.
Ginny's eyes softened.
"I love you too," she replied softly.
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Ginny wandered up the stairs leading to her office dreamily. She opened the door and closed it behind her softly, still wrapped up in her own thoughts. However, the second she turned around and realised who was in her office, her face broke out into a grin.
"Hermione!" She almost screamed. The brunette had a matching grin on her face as the two hugged.
"This is a lovely surprise," Ginny began, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here on official Weasley business," Hermione replied.
"I see. You mean Ron wants to know how things are going with Harry?" Ginny replied as she leaned against her desk.
Hermione closed her eyes ready to give her a long indignant rant but then quickly huffed defeated, "Oh fine. But I am insulted you didn't consider I was the interested party. I am a Weasley too after all."
"Of course!" Ginny exclaimed with a flippant wave of the hand, "And as a Weasley, you have certain rights, such as the guaranteed birth of a red-haired, freckled terror and prying into business which is not your own," she nodded solemnly.
"You're in a jolly mood," Hermione quipped.
"Am I? Must be the lack of parental complaints regarding Hagrid's classes this week."
Hermione folded her arms and stood straighter. "I don't appreciate being treated like a simpleton."
"Draco Malfoy will marry a Muggle before anyone mistakes you for a simpleton Hermione."
Hermione glared back at her sister-in-law and Ginny quirked her eyebrow questioningly.
"Well? Ginevra, I haven't got all day."
Now it was Ginny's turn to glare. "You won't have many days left at all if you call me Ginevra again."
"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed in that patented tone of hers.
"Oh alright, alright, don't get your Nargles in a twist. I just had a particularly good run-in with Harry is all," Ginny replied dismissively.
Hermione scrunched up her nose, "Maybe I didn't think it through when I came asking about you two."
Ginny laughed heartily, "Merlin Hermione. Ron would be proud! He's turned Little Miss Granger into a pervert."
"I am NOT! Take that back this instant," Hermione almost screeched.
"Convince me your mind didn't whiz off to the gutter and I might," Ginny replied enjoying her best friend's outrage especially after Hermione muttered, "Bloody Weasleys."
Ginny chuckled, "Commonly accurate as your assumption was..." she trailed off raising her eyebrows suggestively while Hermione cringed.
"... It's not what I was referring to," Ginny continued.
Hermione quirked an eyebrow in interest, "Oh?"
Ginny looked down, blushing, "He told me he loved me."
Hermione blinked at the statement and continued to stare.
Ginny seemed a little affronted. "Hermione? Come on, it's not that extraordinary."
Hermione snapped out of her haze. "No, no. I'm sorry. It's not that. I'm very happy for you both. And it was the natural progression. We've been expecting it."
Ginny stared at her disbelieving and then rolled her eyes at Hermione's all-knowing ways.
"Oh come off it Ginny. You've got him wrapped around your little finger," Hermione stated as though it were the most obvious of assumptions, "It's just the twins have won again."
"Won?" Ginny asked. The look of confusion, however, quickly turned into a dark stare, "You all deserve to be dipped in Dungbomb Potion."
"Oh you're one to talk, Miss High and Mighty Headmistress. You made bets about Ron and I all the time before we got married."
"That's different. You two are just begging to be mocked."
Hermione huffed, "But what I don't understand is how the twins won two bets in a row. Are you sure Harry isn't tipping them off?"
Ginny stared dumbfounded at what Hermione had just asked. "If I had any doubts that you were completely converted to Weasleyhood, they just flew off on a broomstick."
Hermione smiled lovingly at the red-head and went to put her arm around her shoulder. "Come on you. Let's go get a Butterbeer and you can tell me everything."
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A/N: I know i don't deserve it but please leave a review :)
