I just want to have a look for one minute, you're going to spend an hour in here.
I am not. We both need to get our schoolbooks you know and your mother's waiting for us at Madame Malkins.
One minute, Hermione. I just wanted to check out those new Xracers, Hayver Haversham has taken over the company and he's the one who made the—
Ronald! We do not have time to look at stupid broomsticks all day. And he has a stupid name anyway.
Hmph.
What's you problem now? Oh you need one of these- ooh these look interesting…
We were supposed to be helping Harry.
I know Ron but we don't know where he is.
Oh, we don't know where he is so that's okay then.
I didn't mean it like that and you know it. But we got a letter from him didn't we, saying that he was all right.
Didn't say much. Just that he's fine- which doesn't mean a whole lot, that he can't tell us where he is- well there's a surprise, he didn't want us to get hurt- that stupid hero complex of his, he'll be in contact with us soon and blah, blah, blah. That could have been written by anyone. I mean it could have been written by a flobberworm, by you-know-who, by Snape for Merlin's sake.
It was his handwriting Ronald.
Would you stop calling me that?
I will when you stop being a prat.
I just can't believe we're going back to school while he's out finding horcruxes and fighting death eaters.
You know school is important too- here's your charms book.
Oh, more important than our best friend? More important than saving the world from a megalomaniac?
No, of course not. You shouldn't say things like that because you know I don't mean it that way. But knowledge is power and one day Harry might contact us wanting information that only we know about—'
You mean that only you know about and you're going to spew off half a textbook with words that he won't even understand in it.
Also, if he contacts us and tells us to meet him then we will go, straight away. Even if we are in the middle of class, halfway through our homework, eating breakfast in the great hall. We'll drop everything and go to him. Does that sound like I'm putting my schoolwork before everything else?
Well no, I guess not.
Then what is still your problem?
I don't know, I just feel like I'm missing something, that everyone else knows something I don't.
Everyone else knows lots of things you don't.
Very funny. I just mean that there's something funny going on. Just before I saw both Zabini and Parkinson walking past and they both smirked at me.
They are slytherins, they always smirk at people.
Not like this they don't. There was something strange about it, as if they knew something about me, or about Harry, that we don't know.
I hope that's just your imagination Ron because if they know something about Harry and they're smirking about it…
I know.
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You can meet them in a minute Ginny, stop fussing. You're growing so much it seems like I have to get you new robes every year.
You have never given me new robes mum. They've usually been worn by fifty million people previously.
Don't exaggerate, these ones are just like new. Ron and Hermione will meet us in here as soon as they've finished at the bookshop.
Which will be in about fifty million years knowing Hermione.
What did I say about exaggeration?
That it is a beautiful art and we should all use it.
You've been on at Hermione for ages, I thought you liked her.
I do like her. She was the only person I could talk to about Harry. But now she and Ron are obviously going to get together once they decide to stop bickering like they are already married and meanwhile forgetting about their other best friend who's off doing God knows what and …
Oh come here. Come on, it'll be alright, he'll be alright.
How do you know? I knew he wasn't going to come back to school but I just would have like to have seen him before he went and I know he broke up with me but it wasn't because he didn't like me it was just because he didn't want to see me hurt and all that noble stupidity.
That's just what he's like Ginny and you should be glad that he cares about you so much.
Not enough to say goodbye to me obviously. He wrote a letter to Ron and Hermione but not to me.
He asked how you were in his roundabout way.
Hmph. I just … Oh I can't talk to you about this.
About what?
Well about … sex and things.
Why not?
Because you're my mum.
And I was also a teenage girl remember. I know about these things, I met your father when I was very young.
Yes you told me about that.
So what is it about sex that you don't want to talk about?
The fact that we never did it even though I wanted to. How I would still like to do it with him when he gets back but I don't think he'll wait for me. How if I find out he lost his virginity to someone else I might chop off his head with one of those muggle swords. And wondering whether I should wait for him or see other people. There's someone in my year who I know fancies the socks off me.
Oh, well they are problems. However I think you are being a bit hypocritical by saying you'll kill him if he loses his virginity to someone else when you haven't given yours to him.
…… How … how, how … I mean …how…
How do I know that?
No, I mean … well I don't know where you've got that information from but—
Don't give me that, Ginny. I've been a mother long enough to know when my children are having sex. And let me remind you again that I was a teenager too.
You knew when all of us started having sex?
Yes, except for Ron who hasn't done so yet but I assume it won't be long now.
Who was the youngest?
Who do you think?
Bill.
Of course. I suppose I should be glad he's settled down, even if it is with…
Phlegm.
Her name is Fleur.
Who was second youngest?
I think it must have been you, although Charlie wasn't that far behind.
Oh wow. I beat Charlie.
You know, maybe we shouldn't be talking about this.
----------
So, any ideas?
Well I was thinkin' abou' Nymphadora Tonks. Yeh know she was an ex-auror so she'd know plenty of defensive spells and all tha'.
She won't do it. Albus already asked her before fifth year.
Well we're runnin' ou' of options Minnerva an' if we don' get someone soon they'll send another dolt from the ministry.
I think they're finding it hard to find someone even from there who are willing to do it. After what happened with Severus—
Hmm. Tha' still makes me so mad, even I trusted 'im.
Well let's leave that for a moment shall we? There was something else I wanted to discuss with you. Now I am Headmistress I can obviously no longer be head of Gryffindor and I was wondering …
Oh, yer jokin'. Tell me it's not wha' I think it is.
I was wondering if you would like the post.
It won' be the same withou' Harry.
Be that as it may, you should not have favourites when you're a head of house. You need to treat everyone equally. That is very important.
'Course I will. I know tha'. I jus' hope he's all righ'. Never did say goodbye.
He'll be all right. Mr Weasley and Miss Granger will still be here and I'm sure they'll keep in touch.
D'you have any idea where he's gone?
None whatsoever.
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I'm telling you she knows where he is but she's not telling for some reason.
We have to trust her judgement, Remus. If she's not saying anything then it will be for a good reason.
I just, I want to know that he's safe, you know.
We all do, but Ron and Hermione got a letter from him saying that he's fine.
That could mean anything.
It was his handwriting, love. Why would he say anything different.
I never put it past his relatives to make him write letters like that to us every three days.
Well he's not with them anymore. Did you know Minnerva asked me to teach defence against the dark arts again?
Stop changing the subject, I'm not too pleased with her at the moment.
Well I said no again, you'll be pleased to know. Anyway I'm supposed to be on the hunt for the illustrious boy-who-lived. I just wondered if she'd asked you too.
Not yet. She has to think about the parents of course. They didn't want me before so I don't see why they would want me again.
They might have no choice even Scrimgeour is finding it hard to find someone from the ministry willing to take the job. And this is when it's needed the most.
Are you thinking of changing your mind, dearest?
Well they need to be taught these things, Goddamnit. There is a war going on and they are all going to be involved whether they like it or not. Apart from those in Dumbledores Army most of them don't even know how to hold a wand properly.
They might start it up again now that it is needed so much.
Without Harry?
----------
Without Harry?
Well you taught a lot of it as well. There is nothing he could do that you couldn't find out from a book. And I'm a lot better than I was.
I suppose it is needed. But I don't know if we'll have so many people this time, once they know that Harry's not going to be there?
We could make a blow-up Harry – use it for target practice.
Oh come on Ron be serious, everyone would lose. Although it would be quite funny.
Ah ha, I knew there was an evil streak in you somewhere.