I knew it! I knew It! thought Ginny angrily when she came home from the bookstore. Stupid Hermione and her shoulders!.
Ron was just walking in the door, when he saw his little sister pacing around the kitchen looking very angry. "Hey Gin…are you ok?", Ron asked noticing Ginny's distress.
"No! I'm not ok!" she shouted at him.
Ron quickly raised his hands in defense. "woe Gin! Calm down, what's you're problem?" He asked, looking very confused.
Ginny took a long breath before she answered. "I didn't get the job at the bookstore, so I've been going through interview after interview all day trying to find another job…" she said through gritted teeth, "but I couldn't find one…and it's all because of Hermione's ridiculous you-go-ahead-and-try-but-in-the-end-I-always-know-what's-best-for-you-shrugs! What am I going to do?!".
Ron was scratching his head now, looking even more confused and gave a slight chuckle. "Well I can't tell you what to do about the 'shrugs', trust me I've tried. But I can tell you that this is no reason to get all bent out of shape. Didn't Hermione mention an opening at the ministry?".
"that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid! I don't want to be a secretary! Ewww! Do you have any idea what kind of crap they half to put up with?" asked Ginny, not really hoping for an answer.
Ron looked very lost now. "Ginny, everyone has to pay their dues at some point in their life. Why don't you just deal with it?".
"Can't I just help you and George at the joke shop? " Said Ginny, a desperate smile on her face.
"George is barely able to pay me, he only needs one person helping him out. Just give it a try; you can always quit if it doesn't work out.", said Ron, patting her on the back encouragingly.
Ginny sighed in defeat. maybe it wouldn't be so bad, it's not like I'd be working for a psychopath or anything, She tried convincing herself with very little success.
The Ministry of Magic law Enforcement Department
"Do you have any idea how SEVERE THIS SITUATION IS?!" said a very loud and frustrated Harry Potter, who had just walked in from training a couple of new Aurors and was looking very pissed.
"I would just like some EFFORT put into this organization that has been functioning on EFFORT for decades. IS THAT SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND?!".
"er…y-yes s-sir…uh, Mr. Potter" replied the very timid young lady who was holding a clip board and shaking with extreme terror.
"Good, so you'll agree that it wouldn't be to much to ask that coffee should be waiting here on my desk when I WALK IN?!", asked Harry who was motioning his very expressive hands to the desk that was presiding in his office.
The poor girl, who was embarrassed beyond all measure, blushed crimson. "y-yes, sir…Mr. Potter".
"Great, you can go", he said, waving his hand in dismissal and slammed the door in her face.
"Incompetent secretary!" Growled Harry as he sat down to read his daily reports while taking gulps of hot scorching coffee.
He hadn't been able to sleep last night...more so than usual. Because of the damage he caused; he had been at meetings and late night patrol duties. And even when he did get sleep, he would only have nightmares of voldemort. Some of them would be about the malevolent wizard terrorizing muggles or worse....no, he wouldn't even think it. Those were painful thoughts, ones which he would avoid having to ever live. But no matter what the scenario, Voldemort was always there, mocking him, laughing maniacally, or giving him the most evil scowl, showing his merciless red eyes.
"Knock! Knock!" called a voice from outside Harry's door, while tapping on it lightly.
Harry put down his cup and started rubbing his eyes in agitation. "who's there?!" Harry called back, though he had a pretty good idea who it was anyway.
"It's you're Grandma! want to let me in?", said the voice sarcastically.
"or what?" said Harry, humoring the voice.
"Or I'll huff and I'll puff and…." the door opened to reveal Remus Lupin, "turn you're door handle clockwise".
Harry Swore under his breath, "gotta remember to lock the door next time", he grunted.
"You know your were suppose to say Not-by-the-hair-of-my-overly-scruffy-chin before I walk in" said Remus, as he sat down in the seat opposite of Harry.
"Hello to you to Remus" said Harry, poring more coffee in his mug.
"Hello sunshine", Said Remus, with a slight tone of sarcasm, "shave much? You're starting to look like a hobo".
"That's what I was going for, glad you noticed…what do I owe the pleasure?" asked Harry, picking up his reports, pretending to read them.
Remus raised an eyebrow at him, "what's with the formality? You know I'm sort of like you're second Godfather. How about a welcome hug?".
Harry stared at him as though he were out of his bloody mind, but then slowly the right side of his lip rose upward into a crooked smile. He walked around the desk and gave Remus, his long time friend, a simple hug.
"Ha! I knew there was a heart in their somewhere", said Remus, patting him on the shoulder.
Harry rolled his eyes but didn't reply to that comment. Remus knew the only time Harry hugged was when he was visiting him, Tonksor Teddy, and he made sure it wasn't in public. Harry never told him though that he also gave Mrs. Weasley hugs if he ever visited her. Ron and Hermione were for special occasions…which were never, ever since Hogwarts graduation.
Harry sat down again to face Remus who was glancing around the office. "I like how you decorated the place" he said, looking at the cut out photos and newspaper clippings of wanted death eaters and articles on Voldemort. There was even a small black and white photo of young Tom Riddle. Voldemort was consuming Harry's office.
"what, no flowers? You even have a vase but no flowers? Even Snape had flowers in his office", Joked Remus.
"Hate flowers" Harry lied.
"you hate everything…what don't you hate now a days except family and friends?" asked Remus.
"Coffee", declared Harry as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Remus scoffed. "Is that what the shouting was about before I came in here?" he asked, knowing the answer already.
"I wasn't shouting…" began Harry, realizing his blunder, "…that much" he added.
"You better control that temper of yours you know…" Remus warned.
"Or what? I'll get myself into some trouble…I already checked that on the list I think", interrupted Harry.
Remus shook his head, "no, no…I mean you might regret one day".
Harry sighed, "Trust me…that has already happened too".
"Has it? What do you regret?…is it about what happened last week?" asked Remus, suddenly remembering what he read in the daily prophet the other day.
Harry Shook his head, "No, I had my reasons for that…but none of it's important now".
"Not important? Harry you disobeyed rules, how is that not important?…do you know what the papers are saying about you?" asked Remus, a little disappointed by Harry's carelessness.
"Screw the papers! You know I don't give a horntail dragon's rear end about what they think of me" Harry exclaimed, waving his arms to show how much he really didn't care, "trust me that has been far from my mind since my fourth year in Hogwarts".
"I've noticed" he said, glancing another look at the ripped photos of voldemort, "you're mind is obviously somewhere entirely different…a place I don't want to be dragged into, and I don't think I can stand seeing it drag you there either".
"I know what I'm am doing Remus…unless you have any suggestions, please share them" said Harry, getting very irritated by the second "until then I'm doing this my way. I'm the bloody "boy who lived" therefore it's my problem, no one else's business".
Remus dropped the subject, noticing his best friends son getting way to worked up.
"fine, I'm sure Voldemort won't know what hit him" said Remus, raising his hands in surrender, "I hear you're assistant is quitting".
"yeah, I keep telling them to find one that can handle pressure…but apparently that's to much trouble", said Harry, waving his hand with indication, "they said they would find another one as soon as possible".
"do you know who they have in mind?" asked Remus.
"No, and I don't particularly care" said Harry offhandedly, "I mentioned it to Kingsley. He said he would ask around".
Harry would not worry about such an unimportant thing himself. Besides, Shacklebolt wouldn't dare let him choose his own employees. The first time Harry tried conducting interviews; the girl walked out sobbing by the time it was over. If he had a choice, he'd just rather have no assistant at all.
Why does everyone insist I need help doing my own job?! was the last thing Harry asked himself while catching up some more with Remus.
3 days later, Department of international magical incorporation
"Well Miss Weasley, it seems you are all that Hermione says your are and more…I could even offer you a higher position if you'd like" said Kingsley, looking at Ginny with great delight.
Ginny blushed bright red. She had know idea it would go this well. "No thank you Mr. Shacklebolt; I am just looking for a temporary job, you know, simple" she said, smiling gratefully.
"Call me kingsley, please, and I understand completely. But I got to warn you, this job might not be as simple as you think. There's a lot of…err…pressure you could say and you will probably be expected to keep up with demands more than you might think".
Ginny didn't have an ounce of fear in her. "Nah! I can handle anything, I played quidditch for a few years " she said proudly.
Kingsley chuckled, "yeah, so did he" he said.
Ginny assumed he was talking about her new boss. "um…if you don't mind me asking…but who will I be "assisting" exactly?" she asked curiously.
Kingsley looked surprised, "Oh! Did Hermione not tell you? That's great! That means I have the pleasure of informing you that your working for Harry…Harry Potter".
Shock, fear, and hate were the only feelings that came to mind when Ginny heard this.
