Chapter 4
"WH-who" stuttered Ginny, feeling her spirits sink drastically.
"Harry Potter, you know him of course, Hermione told me you two were on the Gryfindor team together in Hogwarts. So I thought it would be a good idea to give you a chance and was hoping you both would get along well" Kingsley said, not noticing the look of horror on Ginny's face.
"Um…yes, but I'm not sure that…I mean we just" Ginny just couldn't seem to get out an entire sentence at that moment.
"You wouldn't beleive the trouble I have finding secrataries for him....he's not a exactly a people person, you know" he whispered, his hand to his mousth as though Harry were listening.
Before she could say anything else someone entered the office. "Sir, someone is demanding to see you right now", the young man said, Who Ginny had the feeling might be an Auror; even though he looked extremely young -younger than she was even- with dirty blond hair.
"Now? Tell them I'll be there in a second" he said standing up suddenly, motioning for Ginny to follow him out the door. "Now I'm sure Harry will be just thrilled to see an old friend again; you don't worry about a thing" he said, patting her on the shoulder.
"But…but I" Ginny stuttered clumsily.
"Now, Now, I have complete confidence in you" he insisted, "Jim could you show Miss Weasley to the department of magical Law enforcement please, Mr. Potter will be waiting there" he asked the boy politely who nodded and motioned for Ginny to follow him.
But before Ginny could protest Kingsley had already treaded down the stairs to his supposed guest.
You know…if I didn't know any better, I'd think that was all planned, she thought suspiciously.
They began walking down the corridor. Ginny glanced every once in a while at an open office, seeing many different witches and wizards. Eventually she couldn't distract herself any longer and was immersed in deep thought.
Why Harry Potter? Of all the Sorcerer's in this world, why him? I mean of course I knew seeing him in the building would happen eventually, but I thought it would only be a near passing glance. I was just planning on avoiding him as usual, but this was not planned at all. I don't want to deal with this! Hermione better be home…because I will murder her.
"So you're Harry's new secretary eh?" the boy asked casually, breaking Ginny out of her thoughts.
"Assistant", Ginny corrected, "I guess you could say I am".
The boy chuckled, "Good luck, every secretary he's ever has quit".
Ginny was surprised, "you mean he's never fired anybody?"
The young Auror laughed again, "No, but it's not because he doesn't have the heart to, he just likes to 'get rid' of employees his own way".
"And what is that 'way' exactly?" asked Ginny, getting more and more nervous by the second.
He grinned at her. "It depends on the person…the guys at work like to bet on how long one will last, I've won 3 times and I'm new here" he said proudly, "we even bet on each other; everyone thought I would be gone in a week! Can you believe that?"
Ginny couldn't help but laugh. "So how long do you think I will last?" she asked.
He stopped walking when they reached the elevators, "usually I give them a month…but with you…I'd say until Christmas".
3 months? I hope I can last today!
The department of magical law enforcement
"Hellooooo! What the turd is this?!" asked Harry rudely, pointing at a report he just received.
"A file" said an Auror, looking at Harry worriedly, "why, what's the problem? Is something inaccurate?" he asked, getting very nervous, knowing Harry's "keen sight" well.
"No! Look at this smudge! Didn't I tell everyone to eat during lunch only! I can't read this and ignore the ketchup smudge that is so obviously there! How can I read when all I am seeing here is your lunch on the Report! See it?! See it?!" said Harry, pointing at the word "Cauldron" which had a very small but visible red smudge on it.
The Auror pretended to examine it, while trying very hard not to retort back. "Yes sir, I see it…would you like me to wash it out for you", he asked, regretting it entirely.
Harry grabbed his front collar forcefully and brought his face up nose to nose, giving him a very mean glare, "What did I tell you about..."
Harry froze; his nose was tingling…a lot. He dropped the Auror who fell backwards to the ground, surprised that he hadn't been lectured yet.
Harry stood there; his nose was sniffing the air. He looked like a dog that was searching for a specific scent.
"Something wrong Sir?" he asked, looking very confused now. No one had ever seen anybody sniff like that before.
Harry stood a little longer, his long, rather large, nose stretching higher in the air. He stopped suddenly, looking outraged.
"Who has them?" he said through gritted teeth.
"Um…has what?" the Auror asked.
"Who has them?!" Harry repeated more loudly, getting everyone's attention. Heads started popping out of their cubicles to see what he was yelling about this time.
"I really don't know what you're talking about" said the nervous Auror.
"What am I talking about?! I'm talking about Flowers! What did I say about bringing them in here?! Or about wearing Flower scented perfume!" shouted Harry, now eyeing all the women.
All the women Aurors started sniffing there armpits, looking at each other as though one of them were wearing it.
"Harry, nobody is wearing any perfume or have any flowers", piped up Neville Longbottom, whom Harry tolerated more than anyone.
"Neville, I know a flower when I smell it! If I even find one bud in here I will…." Harry begin, but was interrupted when the entrance door behind him opened.
"Hey Harry! Shacklebolt told me to escort you're new 'assistant'. She's a little nervous so don't be too hard on her k?!" said a voice Harry Recognized as Jim's, the newbie Auror.
But before Harry turned around, he sucked in a very long breath. A familiar strong flowery aroma that he had smelled before, filled his nostrils like smoke…sweet sensuous smoke. He sighed, letting the smell wash over him like water. He hadn't smelled anything like this sense…
"Oh no"
***
They were at the entrance now. Ginny could hear a loud voice coming from within the door.
Jim chuckled knowingly. "Looks like you came just in time, sounds like Harry's telling someone off" he said, shaking his head like he couldn't believe it, "well let's go in shall we?"
He slowly opened the door, bowing slightly for her to pass through. Ginny stood there, well, there's no turning back now, she told herself as she stepped in the room.
The first thing she saw was a lot of heads sticking out of cubicles, looking at her curiously. Then she turned strait ahead. There was a man who looked like he had fallen to the ground and not by accident either. But Ginny, more than anything else, noticed a tall man with jet black hair, and large hands. His back was turned and Ginny could see the familiar phoenix wand sticking out of his back pocket.
"Hey Harry! Shacklebolt told me to escort you're new 'assistant'. She's a little nervous so don't be too hard on her k?!" called Jim.
She sucked in a breath as he began turning around. His front was facing her now; his eyes wide with surprise, horror, joy, anger and sadness all in one expression. She saw how much the same he looked, but also noticed a great change. His eyes, of course, still emerald green, his face thin, including his body structure, his nose was bigger and longer, and his eyes showed dark bags under them, which his glasses magnified slightly. Ginny sadly thought that he really did resemble a toad…a very worn and miserable looking toad.
As all these emotions shown on his face, it finally settled down to one emotion that Ginny did not expect. His eyes were glazed over now, it was an expression of pure shock.
"What's he looking at?" someone asked.
"He looks ill" another added.
Whispers irrupted throughout the room. Eventually they turned back to Ginny seeing that Harry was in fact looking right at her. Ginny was blushing, rosy cheeks showing now more than ever. Isn't Harry supposed to be angry by now?
"Gees, you'd think know one here had a life" said Jim, rolling his eyes. He quickly walked over to Harry, making sure his boss hadn't suffered from a stroke. "Helloooo! Earth to Harry! Are you there! You look funny." he said, waving his hand in front of Harry's face.
"Wha? Oh um…yeah, I m a…what?" said Harry, as though he hadn't heard a thing.
"I'm trying to introduce you to you're new assistant, Ginny", said Jim, speaking directly in Harry's ear.
Harry just stood momentarily until it seemed he was coming out of his trance. "Woe! What the…" Harry swore loudly, shaking his head like there was a fly inside it.
"What the devil are you all staring at?! Back to work!" Harry ordered. He was now showing a lot of anger, the one emotion Ginny was waiting for.
Harry turned to Ginny once again looking menacing and ready to kill. He quickly grabbed Jim's sleeve and dragged him to, what Ginny assumed to be, Harry's office.
Poor kid, why is he mad at him? Ginny asked herself, he didn't do anything wrong.
***
Harry's Office
"What's going on Jim?!" Harry growled, slamming him against the wall, "what is this?"
Jim just looked at Harry with innocent confusion. "That's Ginny Weas…"
"I know who that is Jim…I'm not blind!" Harry roared, "I mean why she here?!"
"You know her? She was hired as you're new secretary, didn't they tell you?" asked Jim, holding on to Harry's hands which were keeping him to the wall.
"MY WHAT?!" Harry shouted, eyes wide with fear "No! I was not informed of this…who hired her?!"
"Shacklebolt, you know? Your boss?" Jim finished.
Harry slowly let him slip to the floor. He looked very irritated, and was taking long breaths to calm himself.
He was pacing around his office now, massaging his neck, his thoughts roaming elsewhere.
This is not good, there destroying my plan, my well thought out plan. How am I supposed to kill Voldemort when…she's just sitting outside my office door! I can't let this happen, I've worked to Hard! I'll just go to Kingsley's office and ask him too…no that won't work, I promised I wouldn't fire anybody unless for good reason…dang it! I'll just have to get her to quit like the other ones…No Problem!
***
Ginny was sitting outside Harry's office, putting her ear to the door, anxious to know what they were saying. All she heard was Harry throwing a fit about how she should have never been hired.
She was fuming in side, I can't believe that jerk thinks I m not qualified! Ginny said to herself, kingsley said himself I was over qualified!
Not able to take anymore of his ranting; she opened the door carefully, revealing Harry towering over Jim and pointing and accusing finger at him.
"Harry, Ginny's seems really nice…what do you not like about her?" asked Jim
"Everything, that's what, she has a loud mouth, and she can't shut up, is stubborn, hard-headed, and won't take orders from anyone…especially me! and…and…and her hair is to RED! It will distract everyone!" Harry said.
"Well I am sorry my hair isn't up to par with your standards Mr. Potter, would you like me to wear a hat from now on?" asked Ginny, sarcastically, her arms folded and brows furrowed.
Harry was startled when he saw her come in, but recovered quickly, and growled. "And the runt sasses! I don't need that here!" Harry yelled, clutching at his hair.
"I do not 'sass'!" Ginny shouted back, "and I am not a 'runt'!"
"See!" said Harry, looking at Jim but pointing his thumb at Ginny.
"Stop this now!" said a low firm voice behind Ginny. She turned around and found Shaklebolt Kingsley looking at the both of them with utter disappointment.
"Harry, did you not ask for a secretary and didn't I say whom ever I picked would be good? Are you questioning my judgment now?" asked Kingsley, looking at Harry sternly.
"Of course, no sir, but I…." said Harry.
"Well, your friend Hermione, I believe you know her as 'the brightest witch in England' as you put it your self, highly recommended her to me saying she could "handle anything, including any demand Harry Potter gives her" said Kingsley, putting a hand on Ginny's Shoulder, who started blushing from head to toe, "and I think you should give her a chance…in fact I order you to".
Ginny never felt more wanted then she did now, that was for sure. She even was willing to forgive Hermione for not telling her about Harry...almost.
Harry gave Ginny a scowl, but stood in front of Kingsley like a soldier ready to take orders. "Yes Sir, I guess I…have no choice" said Harry, looking like a very pissed off dog.
Kingsley went from firm commander to nice guy once again. "Great, I know she will be a big help around here…you take care Ginny" he said as he bent his head down to whisper something to Ginny, "and don't let him get to you…he doesn't mean anything by what he says….most the time".
With that he nodded to Harry and Ginny and left the office, his one hand waving to them from behind.
Ginny watched him leave for a second longer before a rough hand was placed on her head. It forced Ginny to turn her head to look directly at Harry, who had a very evil scowl on his face "OK Weasley, lets show you to you're desk", he said through clenched teeth.
