Chapter 4

Strike at The Ministry

Although Ginny was trying to dampen down her affection for Harry, she couldn't help but notice that everybody else in the house seemed to like him. Every time they saw him he was always offered something, asked something or started a long conversation with. She felt like that her family wanted her to be the one who was not looked upon as helpful or polite. It was time to go back to her normal self and show Harry what she was really made of.

However, she was still so easily embarrassed to be near him as she always did something stupid like squeal or make a mess.

One sunny morning about a week after Harry had arrived at the Burrow, Ginny was sitting at the kitchen table eating some porridge when Ron and Harry entered the room. The moment she saw Harry, Ginny accidentally knocked her porridge bowl to the floor with a loud clatterIt happened all the time as Ginny seemed very prone to knocking things over when Harry entered a room. And every time, she was just as embarrassed as the last (and this was always obvious because her face always glowed like the setting sun).

But Harry seemed so polite that he always pretended he hadn't noticed it and continued on with whatever he had been doing.

"Letters from school," said Mr Weasley, passing Harry and Ron identical envelopes of yellowish parchment addressed in green ink, "Dumbledore already knows you're here, Harry – doesn't miss a trick that man. You two've got them too," he added, as Fred and George ambled in, still in their pyjamas.

All the boys took their letters and began to read them thoroughly, (which would take them a few minutes). Ginny looked up at her father hopefully. It was the year that she would join a wizarding school and she was hoping that she would be invited to Hogwarts, like all six of her brothers and her parents.

Luckily, her father saw her face and exclaimed, "Oh yes! There is one for you too, Ginny! I almost forgot, how silly of me".

"Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year," Harry asked Ginny.

She nodded, blushing to the roots of her flaming hair, and put her elbow in the butterdish.

After cleaning her elbow, Ginny frantically ripped open her letter, eager to hear what would be said. She began to read.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Miss Weasley,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl no later than 15 August.

Yours sincerely,

Professor McGonnagall

Deputy Headmistress

"You got that later than I did," Harry said, "Mine had to be answered by the 31st July".

Ginny smiled but looked away. Looking down at her list of things she need for school, she realised that she would be getting it all second hand, especially the Gilderoy Lockhart books. The list read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Uniform

First year students will require:

Three sets of plain work robes (black)

One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.

Set books:

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi By Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them by Newt Scamander

Break With a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart

Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart

Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart

Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart

Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart

Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart

Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart

Other Equipment

1 Wand

1 Cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 Set Glass or crystal phial

1 Set Brass Scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

It was a lot more than last year and Ginny was unable to see how she would be able to get all of this stuff cheaply, even when they bought it second hand.

Meanwhile, Ron had been reading a letter from a friend of his.

"- and we're going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. Why don't we meet in Diagon Alley?" Ron finished reading the letter, "Let me know what's happening as soon as you can, love from Hermione."

"Who's Hermione?" Ginny thought and smirked at the thought of her, "It was a girl who Ron could speak to. Now that's a miracle."

"Well that fits in nicely, we can go and get all your things then," said Mrs Weasley, "What're you all up to today?"

"Well we were going to go up to the paddock and play some Quidditch," said Fred.

"Go on them. Just be careful!" allowed Mrs Weasley, "Don't be seen."

Harry, Ron, Fred and George walked out of them room.

"I'll be in my room," said Percy as he followed the other boys out.

Ginny was left sitting at the table by herself, like usual. Being the only female child in the Weasley family meant that she was always left out, and often asked to help with chores, (which she hates).

"And what about you, my princess?" Mr Weasley asked.

"I don't know, Dad," she sighed.

"How about you come to work me?" he offered, "Perkins is ill and I find it quite lonely in my office."

"Err... yeah... sure... It'll be fun... and different," she agreed reluctantly.

"Good. You won't regret this. I promise you."

Leaving her letter with her mother, Ginny made her way upstairs to get dressed. Pulling on her jeans, she realised what she had just signed up to; a day of sealing envelopes and conversations about muggles.

"Fantastic," she thought.

When she had got back downstairs, Arthur was already waiting by the fireplace with a smart black robe on.

"Ready, are you?" he asked.

Ginny nodded.

"Great, let's go!" he said and turned towards the fireplace producing a small sack from his pocket, "OK. Come here."

Ginny walked over to her father, who put his arm around her tightly.

"Hold on tight!"

They stepped into the fireplace and Mr Weasley took a pinch of glittering powder out of the bag and threw the powder into the flames. With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose almost as high as Mr Weasley, who shouted "The Ministry of Magic." As he did this, the flames engulfed them and they disappeared.

Whoosh.

Five seconds later, the duo appeared out of one the fireplaces in the Ministry of Magic. Ginny looked around. They were standing halfway down a very long and splendid hall with a highly polished, dark, wood floor. The peacock blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that kept moving and changing like some enormous heavenly noticeboard. The walls on each side were panelled in shiny dark wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into them.

In front of them was a fountain. A group of golden statues larger than life-size stood in the middle of a circular pool. Tallest of them all was a noble-looking wizard with his wand pointing straight up in the air. Grouped around him were a beautiful witch, a centaur, a goblin and a house-elf. The last three were all looking adoringly up at the witch and wizard. Glittering jets of water were flying from the ends of their wands, the points of the centaur's arrow, the top of the goblin's hat and each of the house-elf's ears, so that the tinkling hiss of falling water was added to the POPS and CRACKS of the Apparators and the clatter of footsteps as hundreds of witches and wizards, most of whom were wearing glum, early morning looks, strode away towards a set of golden gates at the far end of the hall.

Mr Weasley grabbed Ginny's hand.

"Don't let go. I don't want to lose you," he shouted over the noise of the commotion. They were pushed here and there as they made their way to the golden gates.

Occasionally, Mr Weasley waved or shouted at another Ministry worker, and a few times Ginny tripped over other feet. Eventually, they reached the golden gates and the security desk.

"Hello Ernie, good morning so far?" Mr Weasley asked.

"Good Morning Arthur. The Department of Magical Transport are on strike starting 12 o'clock remember!"

"Oh dear God! I forgot. Thanks for reminding me."

"My pleasure, and who have you got here then?" asked the man who peered over the desk at Ginny.

He was quite an old man, far too old to work in any other section of the ministry, and was wearing deep blue robes with the letters MOM inscribed on them in silver. Ernie also had a badge pinned to his robes that read Security. He had a big brown bushy beard but was bald, and he wore some rounded blue spectacles. He was considerably short for his age, this being one of the reasons Ginny had been unable to see him in the first place.

"This is Ginny, my daughter," Mr Weasley told him, still holding her hand.

"Hello there, Ginny. How old are you then?" Ernie asked in his high-pitched mocking voice. Ginny was astounded at the way he spoke to her and decided to give him a piece of her mind, much to her father's disgust.

"I'm 11 for your information," she said in a very rude voice.

"Woah! I'm sorry. You just didn't look that old," Ernie replied while Mr Weasley whispered in her ear to not be so rude.

Ginny glanced at him while he apologized and ushered her through the golden gates and into the atrium of the Ministry. Considering its size the atrium was not as busy as it could have been. It was built the same way as the corridor, just a bit larger.

"Over here," Mr Weasley pulled her daughter into the smaller hall beyond, where at least twenty lifts stood behind wrought golden grilles. Ginny and Mr Weasley walked into an almost empty, apart from 2 people, lift and stood in the corner.

"Right, we want second floor,"

"Okay Dad. What will we be doing anyway?"

"Oh, you'll have to wait and see," Mr Weasley smiled.

Within seconds, a voice resounded in the lift, "Level Two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizengamot Administration Services."

They were almost there and Ginny was already regretting the whole idea of coming with him.

They'd been at the office for 2 hours when a paper aeroplane flew in through the door and landed on top of the pile of envelopes that Ginny had just been labelling.

Mr Weasley picked it up and read it, his expressions changing from happy to shocked.

"Galloping Gargoyles!" he exclaimed, "I'm so sorry, Ginny. I have to go out. There's a toaster attacking some muggles in a shopping centre in Edinburgh."

"Finally, some action," Ginny thought while saying out loud, "Can I come?"

"No, this is too dangerous," Mr Weasley answered, "I'm so sorry, just stay here, promise me."

"But Dad..."

"NO! Now please stay here, and finish those envelopes," Mr Weasley bent down and kissed her on the forehead. Then spinning on the sport, he disappeared with an almighty CRACK.

"Great," Ginny said and she sat down behind her father's desk and reluctantly continued licking the envelopes.

Two hours later and Ginny had neither heard nor seen her father. She was beginning to get hungry, as it was 1 o'clock. She wasn't going to wait for him to return, as for her information, he could be away for another few hours.

She left the office and saw many ministry officials running all over the place.

"This is getting out of hand."

"This has to stop now!"

Suddenly, an almighty voice resounded from the atrium, "We want more money and better offices!"

Ginny looked down and saw some other ministry workers carrying picket signs. It was the Transportation strike. She'd completely forgotten. That's why her father hadn't returned.

Ginny almost cried. She was stuck now. There was no way to get home and she didn't know her way around the ministry. She was hungry and scared. The day was getting worse by the second.

Another ministry worker bustled past and accidentally knocked her over.

"Whoa! Sorry about that," he said and then looked at her, "Hey, you look a little young to be here! Who are you with?"

"Arthur Weasley, but he's out and can't get back," she mumbled, "because of them." She pointed to the atrium.

"Oh, so you must be Ginevra. Your father's told me all about you."

"Call Me Ginny please," she requested, "I hate being called that."

"Oh sure, sure Ginny. I'm Kingsley, Kingsley Shacklebolt," he introduced.

"Hi Kingsley, er, is there somewhere I can get something to eat round here?" Ginny answered.

Kingsley chuckled. "Sure there is, follow me," and he led Ginny towards the elevators.

This time, the lift went to the seventh floor and they got out. Here was a huge café full of witches and wizards. The room was walled with glass so the occupants could see all around the ministry of magic. The walls lining the outside of the building were magically enhanced to make it look like they were above ground, as the ministry was actually below ground.

"Now what do you want. It's on me, I don't expect you have any money," Kingsley offered.

"Erm, well what is there?" she asked.

Ginny was led over to the selection boxes and chose what she wanted. From that moment, she and Kingsley were great friends.

For the rest of the day, until her father arrived, Ginny was given a tour around the ministry and shown all the different departments. Shacklebolt was very friendly, and off duty. He was an auror and wasn't needed for much these days, as there were little dark wizards around since the time of Voldemort, a dark wizard famous for killing muggles, but stopped by the mere resistance of a mother and her baby, and the power of love.

Finally, at 7 o'clock, the strike finished and Mr Weasley would be able to return to the Ministry and collect his daughter. As the protestors made their way up to their offices, Kingsley and Ginny returned to Mr Weasley's office and sent an owl straight to him. They talked and talked about everything they'd been doing, everything they liked to do. Ginny had finally found someone who understood her and liked her for who she was. She was ecstatic to have him as a friend, and even more ecstatic to learn that Mr Weasley and him were friends too.

Eventually, half an hour after sending the owl, Mr Weasley returned to his daughter with an anxious look on his face.

"Are you OK? I've been worried sick, I'm so sorry I couldn't get back," he questioned.

"It's been fine, I've been hanging around with Kingsley Shacklebolt. He's a great guy," she said as she pointed to behind him.

Mr Weasley whizzed round and saw him.

"KINGSLEY! Old mate, how are you? Thanks so much for looking after her."

"Hey Arthur, Life's good. It's been a pleasure looking after her, she's a great girl, you're lucky to have her," he chuckled.

"Well we better be going Ginny, your mother will be worried," said Mr Weasley, "thanks again Kingsley." He held onto Ginny and the pair turned on the spot and with a CRACK they were standing outside the Burrow.

Mrs Weasley came running out.

"There you are; where have you been? I've been waiting for ages for you to come back! Are you alright? What happened?" she asked anxiously.

"Molly, its fine, there was just a little problem with the transportation department. We're here now and we're starving. What's to eat?" Arthur replied.

The three walked back into the kitchen of the Burrow and had something to eat. It was a better than Ginny had thought it could have ever been.

A/N: Thanks for reading, please review. Much appreciated. Thanks very much, JamesPotter1992

Next Chapter will be in DIAGON ALLEY. So Keep reading!