Aftermath - Chapter 16 - The Date
The next day after Ginny's birthday party everyone was up bright and early for work, with only few slight hangovers as everyone kept control of their drinking. When Harry came downstairs, Ginny was in the kitchen in her pajamas, her wand out, flicking it this way and that as she helped her mother prepare breakfast. Harry watched in silence from the hallway leading to the stairs as she moved a stack of plates with a Hover Charm and then had them set on the table exactly where each person sat. After she finished she saw him standing there and smiled and he grinned back.
"In all the excitement yesterday I forgot I'm allowed to do magic out of school now," Ginny said with unsuppressed glee.
After breakfast Charlie made his goodbyes, saying he was off to Gringotts to see how the dragon was doing. Bill and Fleur left with him, making their goodbyes as they would return to Shell Cottage after work. As she hugged Ginny, Harry heard Fleur say to her, "It eez natural, oui? You will be fine!" Then Fleur gave Harry a kiss on the cheek and whispered, "And so will you! Au revoir!" Harry stammered his goodbyes and was sure his face was pink as Ginny looked at him with a big smile. Soon Harry was dressed for work. Ginny kissed him on the lips goodbye and told him to have a wonderful day. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mrs. Weasley and expected her to be scowling at this display of public affection, but instead she had a small grin on her face. Maybe she was softening up a bit now that Ginny was legally an adult.
At the Ministry Harry found an envelope on his cubicle desk. As he looked around he saw the other Aurors who were there also opening envelopes. Lucy was at her cubicle, pursing her lips and looking intently at the piece of thick paper that had come from her envelope.
"Pay day," she said, seeing Harry's puzzled look as he picked up his envelope. "May will end this weekend so we get paid on Friday when that happens."
"Oh," Harry said. In all that had happened the last few weeks he forgot he was getting paid. He didn't even know how much he was getting. He sat down and looked at the envelope. On it there was his name and department and in the corner was stamped "Department of Accounting, Ministry of Magic," over the stylized "M", symbol of the Ministry. He quickly opened the envelope, grabbed the thick creamy paper and scanned it.
Harry James Potter, Auror-in-Training, Auror Headquarters
Salary: 50 Galleons per month (half-pay of qualified Auror)
May 1998 – Gross Pay 43 Galleons 10 Sickles 12 Knuts (prorated due to starting employment on May 6, 1998)
Deductions
Tax – 4 Galleons 5 Sickles
Meals – 5 Galleons 3 Sickles 8 Knuts
Books – 12 Galleons
Mail – 1 Sickle
Ministry Services – 20 Galleons
Net Pay – 2 Galleons 1 Sickle 4 Knuts
Net pay is deposited into your Gringotts account on the last day of the month or on Friday if the last day is on a weekend. Any questions regarding this information should be directed to the Department of Accounting, Ministry of Magic, London.
Harry just stared at the paper. Fifty Galleons a month on half-pay and one hundred on full pay. That wasn't too bad. He was sure it would go higher in years to come. He wondered what Mr. Weasley made. It had to be higher than this. Of course, he had a lot more responsibilities than Harry. For years he had nine mouths to feed and many children in Hogwarts, plus he also had deductions taken from his pay. Then Harry looked at the deductions more closely. Yes, tax, he had been told about that, his meals in the cafeteria he knew about, and the letter he had sent to Hogwarts was one Sickle. Books? That must mean his Auror training books. Harry thought he was just borrowing them. Oh, well. The last one stumped him. Ministry services?
"Say, Lucy, what's this thing here in deductions 'Ministry services'?" He held out the paper and she looked at it closely.
"No idea," she said. "Usually means you've asked the Ministry for help and they have done something for you. Bloody hell, is that all you are getting after deductions?"
Harry felt a little embarrassed. How could he explain to her that it didn't matter and that he had piles of Galleons in a vault in Gringotts? "Yeah, isn't much, is it?"
She just shook her head. "I'd forgotten what it's like while in training. My Mum used to pack my lunch so I didn't have to spend money in the cafeteria. Well, not to worry. You can only go up. 50 Galleons a month is minimum salary."
"What's the maximum?" Harry asked.
She shrugged. "No idea. But I think the Minister gets quite a lot. So do Hogwarts professors if they've been there a long time. I had a friend in accounting a few years ago. She said Dumbledore was one of the highest paid in all of Britain. One thousand Galleons a month for being headmaster at Hogwarts."
"Wow," said Harry and it was impressive.
"Yes, very," said Lucy and then leaned closer and she whispered. "When he died, all that gold was sitting in his vault at Gringotts. Hardly touched it for fifty years, they say. Left it all to the school, for those who had nothing so they could afford to go to Hogwarts, for new equipment, and so on."
Harry knew Dumbledore had had a will and Harry had received something from it. He knew that most of Dumbledore's things had gone to Hogwarts but he had never pictured Dumbledore as being rich.
Just then he spotted Charlie George, whistling and looking happy. "Hello, hello," he said to all and everyone greeted him heartily. "Lovely day, isn't? Ah, Harry, got your pay envelope?"
"Yeah," Harry said. "Bit of a surprise. Something I don't quite understand."
He showed Charlie George the paper and pointed out the "Ministry services" part.
"That bloody Welsh!" Charlie George said through gritted teeth. "That's for us going around to your house in London and checking for traps and such. She got wind of it somehow and I told her not to charge you for that, but of course she ignored me. Afraid we can't do anything about it, Harry. I see she's also charged you for the books so you can keep them now. Typical Knut pincher, she is."
"No worries," Harry said and he knew Charlie George knew how much money he had in Gringotts, overhearing Percy talking to Harry in the cafeteria just a few weeks ago.
Charlie George looked at him and smiled. "Right. So, Ginny have a good birthday party?"
"Yeah, it was fantastic. She got loads of presents. Her brother Bill and his wife even gave her a Firebolt."
"A Firebolt?!?!" Lucy and Charlie George said at the same time, incredulous and sounding even a little envious.
"She's a great Quidditch player. Probably be captain for Gryffindor this year," Harry said with pride.
"Wish we had Firebolts," said Lucy glumly.
Charlie George snorted. "Been after the Ministry for years to get us decent brooms for our work. Too expensive was the word on Firebolts. Just get us a couple I said, so we can catch scum that tries to make a dash for it, and get back and forth to Azkaban faster. Can't Apparate out there, one of its protections. But nope. Welsh again, I bet."
"I've got one," Harry said and then quickly added as he saw their eyes widen. "I'm not going to be playing Quidditch so I can leave it here if anyone needs it for emergencies and for Azkaban and such."
"Not to worry, not to worry," said Charlie George. "It's yours, you keep it. I'll have another word with Welsh about it someday. So, Harry, off to class for some textbook work and then to Scotland this afternoon for some obstacle course work. Oh, and don't forget to vote at lunchtime."
"Vote?" Harry said in puzzlement.
"Yes, Kingsley's referendum on electing a Minister of Magic in the future. The vote is today."
Harry had completely forgotten about that. Apparently, so had the Weasleys and Hermione since no one had mentioned it at breakfast. He said so to Charlie George and before class he quickly went to Mr. Weasleys office to tell him.
"Yes, seems we forgot all about it," Mr. Weasley said. "Perkins reminded me this morning. I've just Apparated home and got back. Molly, Ginny and Hermione went to Diagon Alley to tell the rest of the family and to vote. There is a voting place in the Leaky Cauldron."
Harry lingered for a moment. "What do think about it? The vote, I mean."
Mr. Weasley pursed his lips and spoke carefully. "Well, it's what Kingsley wants, since he suggested it. I mean he could resign anytime he likes but it seems like he will stay the full five years if he knows there is an end in sight. Was never much for politics, Kingsley. Loved being an Auror and chasing Dark Wizards and all that, but hated the politics that goes on around here. So, I think we should vote in favor, so we'll know for sure we have someone with strength of character for the next few years so this place doesn't return to what it was like under Fudge."
Harry couldn't argue with that and said he would be sure to vote in favor. The morning dragged on as he and Charlie George reviewed all he had read so far on the history of dark magic. In particular they were studying about how Dumbledore had bested Grindelwald in 1945.
"Ever wonder why Dumbledore didn't kill him?" Charlie George asked.
"Because they had been friends," Harry said.
"Yes, we know that now," Charlie George said. "But back then there was a bit of an uproar when Dumbledore defeated him and he was still alive and sent to prison. Lots of folks were looking for revenge for all the things he had done."
"He's dead now," Harry said.
"Right," replied Charlie George. "Found his body in bed in his prison cell, died of natural causes they say."
Harry wondered if he should tell him and then just decided to. "Voldemort killed him. Thought he had the Elder Wand."
Charlie George stared at him for a few seconds. "I was warned not to ask you about the Elder Wand."
"You haven't," Harry said and then quickly explained how he saw a vision of Voldemort killing Grindelwald. "As for the Elder Wand I have no idea where it is now."
Charlie George quickly changed subjects and no more was said of Grindelwald and the Elder Wand. After a quick lunch Harry went off to the main corridor where many voting booths had been set up for the referendum. Many wizards and witches were there, lining up to vote, and so were several Aurors, checking to make sure no one used magic to stuff the ballot boxes or get in line twice. Harry saw Kingsley moving among the crowd, shaking hands and talking to many. He seemed his usual charming self and smiled at Harry and seemed about to come over to talk to him when he was stopped by a witch and the two began an animated conversation.
After Harry voted "YES" for the referendum to have future Ministers of Magic elected, he and Charlie George Apparate to the Auror training course in Scotland. But Harry's mind wasn't on his work and after tripping an Intruder Alarm in the mock up village and wandering off course into the swamp on an obstacle course run, Charlie George told him to take a break.
"Something on your mind?' he asked Harry as they sat on a bench and drank some tea from a thermos Charlie George had brought.
"Got a date this weekend," Harry said, not sure why, but he needed to talk to someone about this.
"Lovely," said Charlie George. "Where to?"
"London…maybe…I don't know where to go though. I guess a Muggle restaurant."
"Nonsense," said Charlie George and then he stood and reached in his back pocket and took out a wallet. As he opened it Harry could see a Muggle driving license and credit cards and a picture of his family. He saw Harry looking at the driver's license.
"Got my feet in both worlds," Charlie George said. "My Dad and I often drive off on the weekends to catch an Arsenal game. Ah, here it is."
He pulled out a small white card and handed it to Harry. Printed on the card was "Membership, The 10th Floor Club, London."
"What's this?"
"It's a dinner and dancing club in London. Members only. Very popular among certain wizarding circles. I went to Hogwarts with the head chef so he got me in. Bit pricey but you'll definitely impress Ginny."
"Brilliant!" Harry said, but then frowned and looked at the card. "There's no address."
"Just hold the card and Apparate and say the words, The Tenth Floor Club. You'll end up in the basement parking garage of this Muggle office building. Then take the elevator. It only has nine upper level floor buttons since the club is Unplottable. Anyway, get in the elevator, hold the card again and say 'The 10th Floor Club" and the button for the tenth floor will appear."
Harry gave him many thanks and he put the card in his pocket and they went back to work, Harry's mind more focused now.
That night in the Burrow after dinner all gathered around the wizard radio and listened to the news. As expected, the referendum on Kinsley's law was a close vote, but it passed by a thin margin.
Harry told Ron and Ginny and Hermione about the 10th Floor Club and they all seemed excited. After the girl's went to get ready for bed, Percy overheard Ron and Harry talking about the club in the living room. Percy put on a look of superiority and sat down across from them.
"That is an exclusive club," he said as if he dined there every evening. "You won't get in."
"I will with this," Harry said as he pulled out Charlie George's membership card. As there was no name on it Percy's eyes went all agog.
"How…how did you get a membership?" he stammered.
"Harry's famous," said Ron with a knowing look and wink to Harry, who had already explained who had given him the card. "Of course, they wouldn't refuse him membership. Have you tried to get in Perce?"
"Well, no, but I've heard there is a long waiting list, anyway, so there is no point in even trying" he said with disdain as if he didn't care if he ever set foot in the club. As he went upstairs Harry and Ron had a good laugh at his expense.
After goodnight to all, Harry and Ron made their way to bed. After changing into pajamas Ron sat on his bed and looked at Harry, who had just got under the covers.
"Your house at Grimmauld place, is it ready yet?"
"Yeah," said Harry. "I'm meeting Professor Flitwick in the morning and we'll do the Fidelius charm. He wrote that it's already Unplottable to Muggles since that doesn't change no matter who is living there."
"Right," said Ron, then he pause as if he had something he wanted to ask but was afraid. Suddenly he just pushed forward. "What are you and Ginny doing after dinner tomorrow?"
Harry was taken aback by this question. He had been plotting how to get away from Ron and Hermione so he could be with Ginny alone. But Ron was his friend and he would have to know eventually and he wasn't stupid enough to fall for any scheme Harry came up with so Harry just told him.
"Going back to my place. For the night."
He expected Ron to be angry but he just smiled. "Brilliant. Can we tag along? Hermione and I have barely had a minute alone since she got back from Australia."
Harry sat up in his bed. "But you won't be alone. Ginny and I will be there."
"It's a big house," Ron said as he now got into bed, seemingly satisfied. "I'm sure we can both find a quiet corner for a bit of snogging in privacy."
Harry just looked at him and knew he couldn't say no. "Sure, no worries. I'll get Kreacher to clean up a bit and get our old rooms ready."
"Great," said Ron, already yawning. "Goodnight."
After Harry said goodnight he lay in bed for a long time. He and Ginny wanted to do more than snogging and he wasn't sure how he'd feel doing that while her brother was somewhere in the house. His dreams were troubled that night, with visions of a very angry Ron and Charlie and Bill and George and Percy breaking down a door and seeing him and Ginny naked in a bed. "How could you?" Ron was saying, with tears in his eyes. "She's our sister." And then the Weasley men all picked Harry up and opened a window and tossed him naked to the street below. Just before he hit the pavement he woke up with a start.
It was still dark out. Harry looked at his watch. It was a little after 7 AM. He lay in bed for a half an hour, trying to get back to sleep but couldn't. Finally he got up, used the toilet, washed his face and brushed his teeth and went down to the kitchen. No one was there and it was quiet. He filled the kettle with water and lit the stove with his wand. Just as the kettle boiled Mrs. Weasley came into the kitchen from outside. In her hands she had some flowers.
"Morning, Harry," she said with a pleasant smile as she took a vase and put the flowers and water in it. "Up early for a Saturday."
"Yeah, couldn't sleep," he said. "Like some tea?"
"Yes, please. Time to start breakfast. Boys will be up soon."
As Harry made tea, Mrs. Weasley got out the pots and pans and food and began to cook.
"Where have you been?" he asked her as he sipped his tea and felt the warmth coming from the cup.
"Just off to see Fred," she said and Harry gulped and wished he hadn't asked.
"Sorry," he said quickly.
"Not to worry dear," she said as she began to add sausages to the hot skillet. "I go every morning and tell him what has been going on. Make sure his flowers are fresh. Might get Ron and you to mow the grass over there and trim the hedges tomorrow."
"Sure, be glad to help," Harry said and then thankfully Mr. Weasley came out of the bedroom and before long Ron and George were up and had joined them. After breakfast, Ron told Harry he'd be back at six and they should be ready to go by 7 PM.
Harry met Professor Flitwick at 10 AM at Platform Nine and Three Quarters at King's Cross Station. Harry had told him the location of the house in his letter and the professor had written back that since the house was only a 20 minute walk away it was the best place to Apparate and not attract Muggle attention. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley only consented to letting him go alone since he was meeting the professor. Harry had to promise them he would come straight back to the Burrow after he took care of things.
Harry had never been at the platform when it wasn't crowded with students and their luggage getting on the train and parents waving goodbye. It felt strange now, standing there waiting for Professor Flitwick, the platform empty and silent. He hadn't even been here last year and the last time he had been on the Hogwarts Express was when Malfoy had broken his nose. He was sure he would come and see Ginny and Hermione off on September 1.
Professor Flitwick arrived moments later and after greetings and catching up a bit they were soon in the dingy square where his house was. As they had walked the professor told Harry that the school reconstruction was going well and should be done in time for the memorial.
"The what?"
"The Hogwarts Memorial service," Flitwick said. "A ceremony to reopen the school and to honor the fallen in the battle. I think Kingsley and Headmistress McGonagall are planning it for early July."
Harry thought that was a great idea and Flitwick said that Harry would be expected to attend. A moment later they arrived where his house should be. It was there plain as day between numbers 11 and 13.
"I can see it now," Harry said. "Can the Muggles?"
"No, no," Professor Flitwick said. "Unplottable. Let's just ask this chap."
A teenager was walking along, dressed in torn jeans and a leather jacket, with long brown hair and an ear ring in his nose.
"Excuse me, we're lost," Harry said to him. "Looking for number 12 Grimmauld Place."
The boy laughed. "Don't be daft. Ain't no number 12, now is there? Look for yourself." He kept walking and Professor Flitwick muttered something about insolent teenagers under his breath.
"So, the only thing we need to do is the Fidelius Charm," Flitwick said. "I'll teach it to you and then you have to perform it."
"Me?"
"Oh, yes, if you what to be the Secret Keeper, you must perform the charm yourself."
"Exactly how does this charm work?"
"It's an incantation, Incognito Doma plus a distinctive wand movement. Also, concentrate on making the house disappear. We'll have to test it to make sure its done right. If I can still see the house, then we must start again."
Professor Flitwick showed Harry the wand movement which was like making a figure eight inside a square. When they were sure no one was looking he practiced this until the professor said it was good enough. Then Harry tried to perform the Fidelius Charm for the first time.
"Incognito Doma!" he said loudly as he performed the wand movement and concentrated on making the house disappear.
"No, sorry," said the professor. "I can still see the upper two floors. Try again, shall we?"
It took three more tries before Harry got it right and Flitwick could no longer see the house. "Excellent!" Then he took out some parchment, ink and a quill.
"Now write 'Harry Potter lives at number 12 Grimmauld Place, London.'"
Harry did as he was told and then handed the piece of parchment to Professor Flitwick. He looked at the parchment, read it, and then looked up.
"Ah, excellent, now I can see the house," he said. Then he used his wand to burn the piece of parchment. "Well done, Harry. Of course, now I know where you live."
Harry smiled, "No worries. You can't tell anyone else, anyway. Come inside?"
"So sorry, but I have many things to attend to at Hogwarts. Must set the exam schedule for O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's."
After some more small talk and Harry's thanks and a handshake, Professor Flitwick took a quick look around, saw no one, and Apparated away.
Harry went up the stone steps to his house and took out his wand, waved it over the locks and they immediately opened. As the true master of this home he could enter at any time he liked.
As soon as he stepped inside, the lamps lit up and all was there as usual, the elf heads on the wall, the curtained portrait of Sirius' mother, and the troll foot umbrella stand. Harry just shook his head.
"Lovely," he said in a slight sarcastic tone. "Not exactly a place to raise a family."
He walked straight to the basement kitchen and saw the filthy state the Death Eaters had left it in and cringed. Dirty dishes piled high in the sink with a fuzz of mold on some, bits of food everywhere, empty wine and firewhiskey bottles on the table and counter. He sighed and knew only one thing to do.
"Kreacher!" In a flash and with a loud crack the old house-elf Apparate right in front of him.
"Master Harry," he said with a deep bow and then looked around and Harry heard him sniff. "Old Kreacher is home at last."
"Welcome home," Harry said and then Kreacher flinched a bit. House-elves never expected words of kindness from wizards and Harry had the bad habit of thanking and praising them whenever he could. Kreacher looked at the state of the kitchen and Harry heard a distinct moan come from him.
"Seems like we had some unwelcome and unmannered house guests, Kreacher."
"Old Kreacher knows, Master. Tried to force Kreacher to stay and help them, they did. Tried to force Kreacher to tell them everything about Master Harry and his friends. Old Kreacher knew he would be safe at Hogwarts and went there right quick."
"Thank…" Harry started, and then stopped. There was a time when Kreacher would have told the Death Eaters everything he could about Harry's plans. In fact, Harry still felt a slight resentment for Kreacher's small part in the confusing events surrounding Sirius Black's death. He had told Harry that Sirius wasn't home when in fact he was. Harry took this to mean his vision of Voldemort torturing Sirius in the Department of Mysteries was true and in the end Sirius had arrived to help Harry and his friends and had died. Of course, the old house-elf had been off his rocker about the death of Sirius' brother Regulus, so Harry didn't feel too much resentment toward him.
"So, I have some guests coming tonight. What should we do first?"
"We? No, 'we', just Old Kreacher. Kreacher will clean and cook as always."
"Cleaning yes, but no need to cook, not till breakfast anyways. We are going to a restaurant for dinner."
That was a mistake. The old house-elf looked sad. "Kreacher's cooking is not good enough for Master, is it?"
"No, no, of course not, it's wonderful, but it's like a date and we want to go somewhere special and… you understand?"
"Master need not explain himself to Kreacher. But Kreacher understands. Will Master and his guests be spending the night?"
"Yes. So maybe tidy up the bedrooms first and the kitchen later."
"Yes, Master," said Kreacher who bowed low. Then with another loud crack he was gone and Harry guessed he was already upstairs in the bedrooms. Harry took a look around for the things they had left behind last fall after their hasty departure and found nothing, not to his surprise. All had be taken or destroyed, he guessed, whether to try to find some clue or in the Death Eaters rage against him. After a while Harry walked outside, saw that the square was deserted and Apparated back to the Burrow from the top step of number 12 Grimmauld Place.
The rest of the day seemed to go too fast. After lunch Harry took a nap, tired from waking up so early. With worried looks Ginny asked if he was ill and he told her no, just didn't sleep well. She grinned and said he better rest up for tonight and Harry knew there was a hidden meaning in that. He woke up around 5 PM and then showered and shaved, and prepared for the night. Ron arrived home at six and had to control himself and not eat before they got to the club. As he and Harry changed into their best dress robes in the bedroom, he looked at Harry and seemed a bit embarrassed.
"Say, Harry, you wouldn't know how expensive this place is, would you?"
Harry shrugged. "Don't know. A bit I guess. Listen, mate, don't worry about it. It's probably the only time we'll ever go there so let's just have fun and not worry about the price, okay."
"Yeah, just…I…oh, forget about it."
Now he seemed a little mad. "Ron, what's the matter?"
"Just, I feel like a fool every time you pay for me. It isn't right."
"You're my best mate and I've got loads of money and nothing to spend it on and…oh. Hermione, right?"
He nodded. "I want to treat her right and show her a good time, but I'm dead broke most of the time. George is hardly paying me anything and…and…just wish…"
"She told you she loved you, right?" Harry asked.
Ron grinned bashfully. "Yeah. Best words I ever heard in my life."
"Know the feeling," Harry said, thinking of Ginny. "So just forget about it. She loves you not because of money, but because of who you are."
"Yeah, reckon that part's right," Ron said as he nodded. "Sorry, just being a bit barking. I'm nervous that's all."
Harry stopped buttoning his shirt. He was nervous as hell, knowing what tonight meant. But Ron? "What are you nervous about?" Harry asked.
Ron looked toward the door and then started to whisper. "You know how I said I wanted to find time alone with Hermione for a bit of snogging?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, I think the girls have got something more in mind. Know what Ginny and Hermione have been taking to Fleur about all week?"
"Ah, yeah, I've got an idea." He knew what Ginny was talking to her about, but he had no idea Hermione had been in on these talks too.
"Yeah, well…I mean…I've never…have you?"
'No," Harry said very quickly and loudly. "Never."
"Good, good," Ron said. "No, I mean not good, I mean, bloody hell, they got me all in a twist here. I mean, Ginny's my sister and…and…but I mean I know she loves you and all so no worries, but Hermione is just, well, I mean she's so smart and I'm clueless and they've been talking to Fleur and she's French and you know what they say about French girls. I mean, nothing bad, but, oh, hell. I just mean those two got their mind set that this is happening tonight and I just…I don't want to disappoint her. You know what I mean?"
Harry grinned because he felt so relieved. "Yeah. Been on my mind all week."
"So, what are we going to do?"
"Just let it happen," Harry said, with a grin. "You do want it to happen, right?"
Ron grinned now, too. "Too bloody right I do. Can't stop thinking about it."
Harry put on his jacket. "Right. Then no worries. Let's go and have a good time and whatever happens, happens."
Ron and Harry waited in the kitchen for what seemed like forever for Ginny and Hermione. Mrs. Weasley bounced around them, making a fuss over their clothes and hair while George and Charlie made wise cracks at their expense and Mr. Weasley read the Weekend Prophet. Finally, the girls came downstairs and Ron and Harry were just speechless at how beautiful they looked. Ginny wore her new green silk dress and brown heels, her flaming red hair down and with her new necklace and earrings on. Hermione wore a lovely black dress with black tights and heels and she had her hair all slicked down like she had at the Yule Ball.
"Now everyone wait a moment," Mrs. Weasley said as she took out an old camera. They posed in the kitchen doorway and she snapped the photo and smiled.
"Have a good evening," said Mr. Weasley. "See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" said Mrs. Weasley and her smile fell from her face. "But…but…"
"They are all of age, Molly," said Mr. Weasley. "Don't you remember what it was like when we were their age?"
"Yes, but Arthur, we were…I mean….oh my word," she said and then sat down. Then she sighed and looked very sharply at Harry and Ron. "Be gentlemen."
George and Charlie snickered as Harry and Ron turned a bit red, but Ron and Harry felt much better after they heard Mrs. Weasley say to George and Charlie that it was time they had girlfriends, too. The girls quickly said goodnight and then all four were outside. The two couples looked at each other and then after a brief moment of obvious embarrassment they all giggled.
"Bloody hell," said Ron, shaking his head. "So, ah, how we doing this?"
"Well," started Harry. "Since Hermione has had the most experience Apparating with more than one person, she should take the card and do it." Harry held out the club membership card and handed it to Hermione.
"Right," she said. "Stand in a circle and hold hands. Good. Now everyone concentrate on the basement garage in the 10th Floor Club building. Ready? All right. The 10th Floor Club."
The card glowed for a brief moment and then they Apparated away. All four appeared in a hidden corner of an underground parking garage. They quickly got their bearings and found the elevator. Hermione returned the card to Harry as they waited for the elevator to come down. The door opened and they stepped in. Sure enough, the row of buttons for floors only reached nine. As Harry was about to speak, they heard a voice.
"Hold the elevator please," said a man, about 40, with dark hair and in a suit. He jumped on just before the doors closed. "Forgot my briefcase in the office," he said as he pushed the button for the 7th floor. No one said anything to him, just looked at each other and then the man asked them. "What floor would you like?"
Before Harry could stop himself he said. "The 10th Floor Club, please."
The man just looked at him funny. "Sorry, but there is no 10th floor in this building."
"What's that then?" Ron said pointing to the row of elevator buttons. Sure enough, a button for the 10th floor was now there.
"I…well…I…never knew that," said the man, confused, and he pressed the button for them and it lit up. They were silent for a moment and then the man noticed how well they were dressed and his eyes lingered on Ginny and Hermione. Harry could tell Ron was getting angry. "Going to a club, you said? On the tenth floor?" the man asked.
"Yeah," said Ron in a low growl. "Members only."
"Too bad," the man said as he let his eyes linger a bit too long on the front of Hermione's dress. Just then the door opened for the 7th floor.
"Off you go, mate!" Ron said and gave him a big shove. The man yelled and went flying and hit the opposite wall and the doors closed and they all had a laugh.
"Cheek of him!" Ron said with fury. "Staring at you two like that!"
"Better get used to it," said Hermione with a little giggle.
"Not likely," Ron said and then they were at the 10th floor. The doors opened and they all gasped a little.
They walked out into a very lovely restaurant. The floor in the center was sunken and on the raised level were many round tables with many patrons. On the far wall at the sunken floor level was a band, a pop jazz combo with drums, double bass, clarinet, saxophone, electric guitar, keyboards and a female singer. The music was soft and soulful and a few couples were dancing on the circular sunken floor level. Everyone was well dressed and seemed well heeled. To their immediate front a tall man was standing at a podium, dressed in a tuxedo. He glared at them with some distain.
"This is a members only club," he said in a surprisingly atrocious French accent. Then his accent fell away and he sounded like any working class Brit. "Blimey, it's 'arry Potter. Didn't know you were a member, mate."
"Yeah," said Harry holding up the membership card. The man took the card and waved his wand over it. The name "Charlie George" appeared on it in gold lettering.
"Oh, yes, Mr. George informed us someone would be using his card tonight," he said, the French accent back, as he checked a list on a piece of parchment. "Party of two?"
"Ah, no, four," said Harry.
The man paused for a second. "Of course. For you, no problem."
In a few seconds they were being led to one of the tables and were seated, Harry across from Ginny and Ron across from Hermione. Menus were brought and soon Ron and Harry were looking at the outrageous prices and both gulped. Harry had brought a lot of money, just in case, but this looked like it would cost the works. But he also knew Ron had brought all he had and he was sure Hermione had some cash too.
The girls were staring around and soon they spotted several famous people, some of them Quidditch players, others famous members of the wizard business world, and two of the members of the Weird Sisters rock band. After a few moments Ron spotted someone else and just snarled. "What's that git doing here?"
Harry followed his gaze and then sighed. "Malfoy."
The girls looked and they all saw him. His back was to them so he didn't see them but there was no doubt it was Draco Malfoy. He was with a young blond woman none of them knew and he was obviously on a date.
"Must have ditched Pansy Parkinson," Hermione said.
"Didn't I tell you?" said Ginny. "They had a big row last year and she ditched him. Seamus overheard it. Said she knew he had helped kill Dumbledore and that he was barking mad to have joined the Death Eaters and she wanted nothing to do with him. Said the school was ruined because of what happened. She was right about that for sure."
Harry had heard a lot of what happened the last year at Hogwarts from Ginny already but this part was news. "She seemed all set to turn me in when Voldemort attacked the school."
"She's a coward, that's all." said Hermione. "Slytherins are chosen because they will stop at nothing to get what they want, even turning in their best friend."
Ron was saying nothing, he was just glaring at where Malfoy was sitting. "Ron, what's the matter?" Hermione asked.
"I won't hurt him, I promise," Ron said, looking like he was getting ready to stand up. "I just want to throw him out the window. Maybe he can fly like his dead master."
Harry grabbed Ron's arm as Hermione and Ginny shot him anxious looks. "Not now, mate. You're not going to ruin this night!"
Ron relaxed as he saw the worried look on Hermione's face. "Sorry, just…he almost killed me and got away with it."
"You slugged him a good one for that, didn't you?" Hermione said as she took his hand.
Ron grinned, "Yeah, I did."
Then the waiter came and the girls finally looked at their menus and their eyes widened as well when they caught sight of the prices. "Ah, Harry, can we…?" Ginny asked, not wanting to voice her worries.
"No problem," Harry said. "Let's have fun."
They all ordered, and Harry could tell they were being conservative, which he was thankful for. He also ordered a bottle of wine and the waiter looked at him carefully.
"Everyone is 17, yes?" His gaze shifted to Ginny.
"Yes," she said evenly, not liking his look.
"Of course," said the waiter. "Just know if you are not, the wine will turn to water the moment it touches your lips."
Soon the wine and food came and they had fun. They ate and drank wine and danced a bit, Ron doing better than Harry since he had some practice at his brother's wedding. Some people came up to talk to them and thank them and a few others gave them dirty looks, which Ron and Ginny gave back, even after Harry told them to ignore them. Malfoy didn't speak to them, but he was clearly shocked that they were in this club. In the past he would have made some snide remark about Ron having to wash the dishes for a year to pay for his meal, but now he just ignored them and soon after he knew they were there he and his date left without a word.
"Good," said Ron after Malfoy got on the elevator. "Now that the air's a little cleaner I can breathe again."
Before long they were leaving and it was close, but Harry and Ron had enough money between them to pay. Before they left Harry asked the man at the front desk for some ink and parchment and he quickly torn off three pieces of parchment and wrote on all three. Darkness had fallen and soon they were in the square opposite Grimmauld Place.
Harry handed his three friends the three pieces of parchment. On each was written "Harry Potter lives at number 12 Grimmauld Place, London."
All three read it and then looked up and smiled when they could see the house. Then Harry burned all three pieces of parchment and soon they were inside his home.
"Those elf heads have got to go," was the first thing Hermione said.
"Yeah," said Harry. "Have to have a word with Kreacher about that."
They made their way to the kitchen to make coffee and tea and there was Kreacher, looking happy and proud. The kitchen was spotless and Harry couldn't help but thank Kreacher who flinched again but said nothing. He already had the kettle on as if he knew they were coming and had even made an apple pie.
"And there is some butterbeer and wine in the ice box, Master. The rooms are ready. Does master require anything else of Kreacher?"
"No, everything's fine, you may go to bed," Harry said.
"Breakfast, Master?"
"Ah, let's say 10 AM?"
"Very well, Master."
"Good night, Kreacher," Hermione said and Kreacher struggled a bit with his Black family pride, but then bowed low. "Good night, Miss Granger."
He strode off to the little room where the boiler was off the kitchen and was soon gone.
"You should give him a proper bedroom, Harry," said Hermione as the kettle boiled. "There is enough room in this house."
"Yeah, maybe," said Harry. "But I don't want to go too far too fast, you know what I mean. Very sensitive to position and status they are."
"And does he have to call you 'Master' all the time?' Hermione said as she started to get cups for tea.
"Ah, like I said," Harry replied. "Sensitive issue. Say Ron, grab that bottle of wine."
Ron grinned and opened the ice box and took out the bottle.
"Aren't we having tea?" said Ginny.
"Not when this is here," said Ron as he waved his wand and the cork popped out of the bottle. Then Harry waved his wand and four wine glasses came off the shelf and landed on the table. Ron poured for them all and then raised his glass.
"To Harry's home and no Mum and Dad breathing down our necks," Ron said.
"Too right," Harry said as they all clinked glasses together. Harry drank his down in one big gulp.
"Slow down," said Ginny as Harry's face turned a little red.
"Right, right,' Harry said, a little bit drunkenly. Then he looked at Ginny, leaned over and kissed her. She turned red and pulled a bit a way from him. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. "So, we'll be on the second landing and you guys can have the top floor. See you in the morning. Have a good night."
Hermione just looked at him with wide eyes while Ron looked a little flustered. "Yeah, see you in the morning."
Ginny was also looking at him strangely but then just stood and took his offered arm and said good night to the others.
"Oh, Ginny, just a sec," said Hermione and then she opened her bag. Harry just realized it was the beaded bag that could carry a lot of things. She reached in and pulled out a nightdress and a toothbrush and handed them to Ginny, who gave her thanks and then left with Harry. As they were walking away they could hear Ron. "How long have you two been planning this?"
Soon they were in the bedroom and Harry looked at her, a bit embarrassed
"Sorry about that," he said to Ginny. "I…well…I thought…I wanted to.."
She smiled. "You wanted get me alone and didn't know how to do it without being embarrassed?"
"Yeah," he said. "Mucked that up, didn't I?"
"Just a bit," she said. "Not to worry, Hermione and I had a plan anyway." Then there was an awkward pause and Harry just stood there looking at her and she was looking at him and then he just reached out and took her in his arms and they were kissing like they had never done before. After a few moments Ginny broke the kiss and came up for air. "Oh, Harry," she said breathlessly. "I want you. Now."
Harry's heart was pounding wildly in his chest and she grinned at him and said, "Unzip my dress."
She turned around and Harry's hand shook as he found the zipper and pulled down, smelling her beautiful hair and running his hands down the side of her body. She sighed and then said, "Turn around."
Harry did as she commanded and he could hear her take off the dress and then he knew she was taking off the rest of her clothing. He heard the bed squeak a bit and then he heard her say. "Turn around."
He did so and there she was in bed the covers pulled up to her chin and all her clothes were on a chair at the foot of the bed. "Your turn," she said with a lusty look and Harry needed no more encouragement and started taking off his clothes. When he got down to just his underwear he climbed into bed with her. He gasped as they hugged and kissed and she was completely naked and Harry marveled at how soft and wonderful she was. Just then they heard footsteps on the stairs.
"Hurry up," said Hermione.
"Walk slowly," Ron was saying, a little drunkenly. "I like the view from down here. You've got fantastic legs."
Ginny and Harry stifled a giggle.
"The view will be better in the bedroom," said Hermione in a sexy voice they had never heard before. "Unless of course you don't want to …you know."
"NO!" came a strangled cry from Ron and then they heard his footsteps pounding up the stairs. Hermione squealed and Harry guessed Ron had picked her up and soon the sounds of them were receding toward the top of the house.
Then rest of the night passed in what Harry could only call a time warp as time seemed to stand still. Harry had a slight panic at first realizing he had no protection but she told him not to worry as Fleur had given her something and she was well protected. Their first love making was fast, awkward and a little uncomfortable and Ginny didn't seem to enjoy it much but she told Harry not to worry that was to be expected. He was glad she was so patient with him. They made love two more times and both had such intense pleasure they didn't know it was possible and lay breathless for a long time afterwards and just held each other and finally fell asleep.
Sometime in the morning Harry woke up and looked at the ceiling. Wow, was all he could think. Just…Wow.
Ginny stirred and snuggled up to him. "Morning," she said as she kissed his neck and then her hands started running over his body. "Oh, Harry. That Auror training is doing wonders for you."
"Yeah," he said and he knew what she meant. He was leaner and fitter than he had even been in his life.
"I'm hungry," she said. "What time is it?"
Harry groped for his watch and found it on a nightstand next to the bed. "Nine thirty-five."
She kissed his cheek. "Sleep a bit. I need a shower and I'll see you in the kitchen, okay?"
"Yeah," he said. She got up and Harry saw her in the dim early morning lit that filtered through the window. She was pale and curvy and more lovely than he could ever imagine. She grinned at him shyly as she put on her underwear and then her nightdress.
"What?" she said as he continued to stare.
"I love you."
She said she loved him too and leaned over and kissed him again and Harry pulled her down on top of him and ran his hands over her body as they kissed.
"Later tiger," she said and then pulled away and then was gone. Harry just grinned and felt like all the bad that had happened in the last year was made up for with this one night.
After a while he slept again and when he awoke it was 10:25 AM. He got up to and put his underwear, socks, trousers and shirt back on and made his way to the bathroom. After he was done and opened the door, he came face to face with Ron.
"Morning," Harry said.
"Morning," he replied. There was an awkward silence. "Bathroom upstairs has no water," Ron said.
"I'll ask Kreacher to look into," Harry said. There was another pause. "Good night?"
Ron grinned. "Yeah. Amazing. And…and…you?"
"Yeah, amazing."
Then they both laughed and grinned. "Guess they are downstairs, talking about us already," said Ron.
"What?" said Harry with a bit of panic in his voice.
"You know girls, can't shut up sometimes, can they? You think they are not going to talk about this then you don't know women, mate."
"Yeah, reckon that's right," said Harry. "So…see you in the kitchen."
"Yeah," said Ron as he made his way into the bathroom.
True enough Hermione and Ginny were at the table drinking tea and talking when Harry walked in. Both were in their night dresses and were glowing in an odd way and Harry's ears turned very red as he walked in and sat next to Ginny.
"Been talking about us?" Harry said.
"Of course," said Ginny in a teasing tone. "Been comparing wand size."
Harry was so shocked his mouth just opened and he couldn't say a word. Hermione also seemed quite embarrassed. "Ginny!" she said as if scandalized. Then looked at Harry in panic. "We were not doing any such thing!"
"I'm just teasing," Ginny said, laughing. "Actually, we were talking about what to do the rest of the day."
"Stay here," said Ron as he came in the room. "It's Sunday and we are free in London and no one is chasing us and no parents are looking at us with dirty looks. I just want to relax for one day and go have a bit of fun and see some sights. Somewhere we don't have to pay too much." And they all agreed on that last part.
And so it was decided and as Kreacher appeared and seemed just a little mad they were late for breakfast, they all started planning the days adventure. Harry beamed with joy as he now truly felt his life was finally on track the way a normal person's life should be. Well, as normal as possible when you were a wizard and had a witch for a girlfriend, an elf for a servant, and a house that no one but you and a few friends could see.