Chapter Twenty-Eight

"So, we've got a job for you," Dennis said, "and it looks like a good one."

Ginny poked at her salad, something she only ordered when she was out with someone she didn't know very well. "Lay it on me, Dennis," she said. "It's been a while since I did any photography."

"Hermione said you'd been taking an art class," he countered. "Maybe you haven't been taking photos, but you have been in the area. Anyway," he continued, "we want to do a series on international wizarding art, past and present. It's going to be a long assignment collecting information; we want to send you out for a year. But…" Dennis looked sly. "I hear you're a kept woman now. You might not want to go and rough it."

If it wasn't for the barely-hidden laughter in Dennis' voice, Ginny would have smacked him. "Shut your mouth," she chuckled, pointing her fork at him threateningly. "Is the Prophet paying for the trip?"

"We'll give you a stipend," Dennis said, slicing neatly through his fish. "It doesn't sound like much now, but I'm sure you could talk to Colin about the photography section ponying up a few more Galleons for you."

"I'm sure whatever will be fine," Ginny said. "As long as traveling expenses are covered I don't think it'll be a problem. I don't like living very large on the road."

Dennis frowned slightly. "Won't you be traveling with Harry?" he asked. "I mean, not that we won't be happy to cover your travel expenses, of course, but you seem a little concerned about paying your fare over Portkey stations and whatnot."

"Can't I use Muggle travel ever?" Ginny asked petulantly. "Like boats or trains. And no, I don't think I'm going to travel with Harry at all. He doesn't really get art, if you know what I mean."

Dennis nodded. "Good," he said. "Now, the dates as far as when we'd like you to leave are open, somewhat, and you'll probably spend a year abroad, so we want you to have time to set everything in order. Maybe Harry can come visit you in some beautiful, exotic location or something. I wouldn't want to ruin your marriage."

Ginny choked on a sip of her wine. Setting her glass down, she coughed again before croaking, "We are not married." She waved her bare left hand around in front of Dennis' face, raising her eyebrows. "I don't know why you're so convinced that Harry and I are inseparable."

"Sorry for believing in love," Dennis chortled. "Working in journalism has given me rather a hankering for happiness."

Ginny laughed too. "You're mad, you are," she said. Pausing, she felt the smile fade from her face slightly. "Honestly, Dennis, I think things are moving toward the end with Harry and I. I'm not the kind of girl for long-term things, you know?"

Dennis rolled his eyes, and Ginny appreciated his lightness. "Don't I know it," he said. "You do a few great assignments for us, and then, just as we're ready to give you a permanent column, you take off and never call us again."

"Sometimes I wish I'd stuck around," Ginny said ruefully. "That job was great for me, I just knew Harry wouldn't be happy if I were always traveling around and things. He wouldn't have wanted to go with me; he loves being an Auror and living here in England."

"Maybe it's just that you two are too different," Dennis offered, finishing off his chips. "Not that I'm at all qualified to offer relationship advice, but my girlfriend and I get along because we're both interested in the same stuff. If she wanted to travel, I'd of course be fine with it, and I'd probably annoy her to no end with asking to come along."

Ginny chuckled with Dennis, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. She needed to talk to Hermione. She had to tell her what had happened a month ago, what was happening now. Suddenly, she wanted to be as far away from the too-perceptive Dennis as she could possibly get. Shuffling through her purse, she fished out her pocket schedule and pretended to double-check something. "Damn," she said. "Dennis, I'm sorry, I'm afraid I have to cut this off short. I go into work earlier than I thought and George is going to need me."

Dennis grinned knowingly. "All right," he said. "I'll eat a bit faster and Apparate you over to the shop. But," he added more seriously, "think about it. I can tell you need a change, Ginny."

As her front door closed behind her, Ginny finally breathed a sigh of relief. George had been surprised to see her, but after Dennis had left, she had explained the situation and he'd gotten a laugh out of it. Briefly, she hoped that Harry would take her news about the job as well. She realized as she raised the ward on the door that she'd made her choice without even speaking to Harry - or to anyone - about the opportunity. Thinking she probably deserved some interesting news in her life, Ginny decided to call Hermione.

"Well, look who it is!" Hermione said, white noise crackling in the background. "Things have been rather dull without your intrigues lately."

"I know," Ginny said apologetically. "I've done my best to bring you a really good one this time; I think you'll probably faint."

"Then maybe you should wait to tell me," Hermione said, "as I'm on my way back to work. I've just had a bit of air; it's been a rather interesting day for me."

"Should you perhaps tell me first?" Ginny asked. "That way you'll be more steeled against fainting."

"I think I'll tell you at our next Weasley get-together. Which, by the way," Hermione added, "Ron's going to call soon. So you don't have to worry about waiting in suspense."

"I'll do my best to be strong," Ginny said sarcastically, and she heard Hermione's ill-disguised snort in response. "Well, are you quite ready to hear my news yet?"

"Are you pregnant?" asked Hermione rather abruptly.

Ginny frowned. "No," she said. "At least, not that I know of. Why do you ask?"

"We've just been waiting to hear it is all," Hermione said. "You've both been so quiet and calm lately that I think everyone just assumed you were doing the 'glowing with happiness' thing in your own quiet and restful house."

Ginny laughed. "I'm not even sure I know what that means," she said. "In any case, I'm not pregnant. But…" She paused for a moment, trying to draw out the suspense and rattle Hermione a bit, but her friend didn't speak. "I am going round the world again!"

There was a silence that made Ginny feel uncomfortable; maybe she shouldn't have said anything, just left in a month or so without any word. "You're the first person I've told," she added, trying to elicit a response out of Hermione.

Her friend's laughter rang out over the phone. "Ginny, darling, you don't need to pacify me," she said, "and I know that's what you're trying to do, so don't argue. That's wonderful! Is it with the Prophet again?"

"Yes," Ginny said, "which I'm sure you knew, since Dennis told me you tipped him off about how interested I suddenly am in art."

"Well, maybe I did a little," Hermione admitted. "I thought you would love the assignment, and I couldn't just let it go to someone unqualified. You're much better for the job, you know. And," she added, "now that you've got Harry to go with you, I'll feel much better about you being in all those dangerous cities."

Another silence, this time on Ginny's end. She should have anticipated this; why on earth did everyone assume that she would take Harry with her? Probably because you live together, said a very reasonable voice in her subconscious. "Hermione," Ginny said slowly, "I don't think Harry will be going with me."

Instead of asking her "Well, why on earth not?" like many more irritating people might have, Hermione instead said only, "I hope he'll be all right with that. You know he worries about you, Ginny."

"I know," Ginny said. "I might not go alone; maybe I'll take someone from the paper, but I don't know. I'd rather try to find someone who knows a bit about art, I guess … Maybe they could help me figure out where all the best artifacts are and such."

"Well," Hermione said, and something in her voice made Ginny suddenly very nervous, "maybe you could ask Oliver!"