Chapter 16 – Being on the front cover of Witch Weekly is like winning the Quidditch World cup

If the previous night hadn't ended so deliciously for Harry, he would have found difficulties in relating with James the next day. As it was, however, every resentment on Harry's side had evaporated fast under the effect of having spent his energy in such a positive activity, and he felt in a very good mood at dinnertime. As a matter of fact, beside the fantastic pre-sleep encounter, he had managed, surprisingly, to get an amazing one in the morning too (he had taken the chance to get a shower with Ginny with the pretext of being late), and, despite being really more than half an hour late in the end, that was always a guarantee of a very smiling and full of energy day, no matter how many dark wizards or difficult teenagers try sobering it down.

What the day before seemed the worst of offences now seemed positively negligible.

Therefore, he was unusually chatty in the evening and brought back the conversation on the envelopes containing the business proposition.

'So, did we decide on anything? What do you think?' He asked cheerfully once they were eating at the kitchen table 'We could go for a classic one with the Daily Prophet or should we be loyal to the dear old Quibbler?'

Ginny, who for the same reason as Harry was in a very good mood too, answered 'Luna would be happy if we would decide for the Quibbler'.

Luna, after Hogwarts had had a lot of different occupations, she had worked abroad many years in explorations parties or as magical creature's tamer. She had a knack with animals, and Harry was the opinion she could have made a proper career out of it, but at one point she decided to drop her nomadic life and started to collaborate with the father for the Quibbler. She never married despite having had a vast collection of relationships with men one more bizarre than the other. She had a daughter of seven years old, Stella, fruit of one of those failed relationships. Ginny had confided Harry that the father wasn't aware of having a daughter. Harry had been very surprised in discovering it and thought it quite odd, however, as everything surrounding Luna was odd the surprise had lasted only a second.

The child was a mini-Luna. They resembled each other very much in character and looks. Both living together in a world of their own made of impossibilities and oddities. Harry had the same feeling of bewilderment in speaking to her as when speaking to Luna. Once, when Stella was five years old, they had been there for a visit. As soon as he got in, with a great air of conspiracy, the child took his hand and led him to a corner. Upon a quick, furtive glance around to make sure they were safe from pry eyes, Stella whispered in his ear eagerly 'Mummy told me about Voldemort' she said without the flimsiest of a tremble 'I know why he was so wicked.' She added her big blue eyes set on him, exactly in the same funny way as her mother had, almost without blinking. A sure forthcoming of some bizarre revelation. Harry didn't suffer any disappointment as she continued in the same conspiratorial tone 'He didn't drink Gurdyroot infusion before to go to bed. It makes you wicked. Mummy told me' and then saddening considerably 'It's a pity you had to kill him. You could have just offered him a cup and you would have made peace'

Harry, at loss for words, stammered that the next time another Voldemort would have crossed his path he would have kept it in mind. That seemed to pacify her instantly and she trotted away happily looking for Lily.

Luna and she were very close, living together with the father, in the same house than he, Hermione and Ron had almost brought down so many years before.

Luna and Ginny were still very good friends and many times they had been visiting her bringing Lily to play with Stella.

'No, not the Quibbler!' James exclaimed almost in alarm. He had been very unsettled by Harry's cheerful mood; he was expecting to be in a lot of troubles for his behaviour of the previous night and couldn't believe his luck in being able to have the whole thing overlooked. Therefore, he was slightly less sulking than usual 'You won't be taken seriously otherwise!'

The Quibbler hadn't changed the character of its publications. It still had the most unusual contents.

'All right. What do you think Ginny? Have you got any preferences?'

'Well' she started cautiously in saying 'Witch Weekly has sent us an interesting offer. They would like an interview with both of us and they would take pictures as well. They have very good photographers. We could get some nice pictures of us'

'Witch Weekly?' Harry interjected taken aback 'With all the magazines we can choose from you suggest that one?'

Because of an article published by that magazine many years before they almost broke up, Harry couldn't forget it and always had a grudge against it despite Ginny was a subscriber and was very often seen browsing it for recipes, beauty spells and trifles of that kind. Out of curiosity he perused it once and, despite was full of nonsense under his point of view, it had been interesting to see everything under a woman prospective. He had been reminded of when Ginny told him that women analyse every gesture, thought and feeling and judging by the magazine it seemed true. There was an article, and a long one it was, that would debate on the terminology used by men with women if they were serious in their intention. He had read just the firsts three lines. The column with the witches' letters asking for advice, however, had made himself laugh silly. Ginny attracted by his hilarity and seeing what was causing it, pried it from his hands with a crossed expression.

'It's for women' Albus retorted with a disgusted grimace.

'If it's only for the photographers we could hire them, we don't need to go there to have them taken' Harry said very unwilling to choose that one.

'It's not only for that…' she said wavering 'It is…. I've always wanted to appear in it' she said, almost in a whisper, blushing a little, concentrating very hard on her salad.

'Do you?' Harry asked very much surprised. Ginny had never showed any interest in that direction, and he had always thought her to be totally indifferent to the whole matter of popularity and appearing on magazines 'Why didn't you ever tell me?'

'You always seemed so against the whole thing' she said bashful.

All this blushing and bashfulness in Ginny was so new for Harry he didn't know how to interpret it. It seemed as though she really cared for it and was a bit ashamed in admitting it. He didn't particularly relish in the idea but sensing all her eagerness for it, he put his grudge aside. The desire of making her happy was stronger than any hard feelings.

'I guess it can be done. It is indifferent to me which one we chose'

'Dad!' both his sons boomed out outraged, but Harry didn't even hear them as Ginny stood up and, still with a charming blush on her cheeks, went to kiss him 'Thank you, you are sweet. I'll write to them tomorrow.'

James and Albus were still complaining loudly and as soon as Harry awaked from Ginny's kiss and realised, replied stern 'If your mum care for it, it will be done, and I don't want to hear any grievances from you two! We are, all of us, giving her a hard time the minimum we can do is to comply when she asks for something.'

The boys crossed their arms darkly, united this time in their sulkiness. But Harry was unmovable.

Ginny looked just lovely when blushing.

The next day, at work, he was in a very important meeting with the Minister and all the heads of departments when a knock at the door announced Elizabeth.

She approached him and lowering her tone she told him 'Harry, could you come a moment please?'

'Can it wait?' he asked disgruntled. The meeting was a crucial one, he didn't like to absent himself or being disturbed.

'I just received an owl from Ginny. It's written urgent on it'

He almost overthrown his chair in the haste of leaving the room, mumbled an excuse and followed Elizabeth quite concerned. If Ginny were writing to him at work and a letter of that kind especially, it could only mean that something important had happened and it could be only about the baby. He was already in a fit of panic when, opening the scroll, he read:

Harry, Witch Weekly just answered! They want us to do it as soon as possible! Can you take Friday afternoon off? Please, say you can and answer asap!

Xxx,

Ginny

Harry stood a moment in disbelief with the scroll in his hand.

'That's all?' he thought furious looking behind the scroll in case he was missing something, but no, that was all.

Elizabeth was still there in front of him with a full of concern expression, surely with the same preoccupation he had before reading the letter.

'Is it everything fine?' she asked.

Harry snorted very annoyed 'Yes, everything is fine beside the fact that my wife turned quite silly all of sudden' he answered taking a quill she was offering him. He wrote "ok" on it, wrapped it close and gave it back to Elizabeth who was smiling sweetly.

'Well, how not to understand her. I've always dreamt to be on Witch Weekly and surely you'll be on the front cover.' She said divining the content of the scroll. That morning Harry had recounted her the whole thing.

'Is it such a big deal?'

'Probably not for you but for a woman it certainly is' and seeing Harry's blank face, she added 'a bit like winning the Quidditch World cup'.

Harry widened his eyes in surprise 'Really?' but then his mind returning on the meeting he continued 'Well, it's anyway not a good enough reason to disturb me at work.'

Tonight, she'll get a piece of my mind!

When in the afternoon he was getting back home he was ready to give it to her but as soon as he opened the door, she welcomed him with the same blush as the evening before, a broad smile and a very affectionate kiss. All Harry's proposition started to waver.

'Oh Harry, I'm so excited! Thank you!'

'Yes, ok, but you alarmed me quite a lot' he said trying to revive the irritation of the afternoon 'I thought something bad had happened with the baby, and I was in an important meet…'

'I know, I'm sorry but I needed a fast answer' She tailed him off with enthusiasm, the blush even more marked 'I love you very much, do you know that?' as she kissed him again.

Ok, for this time and only this time, I'll overlook it.

He was ready to throw himself on the sofa with a cold drink when, entering the living room, he found Hermione there, sitting comfortably with a magazine in her hands.

He restrained himself just in time on the edge of blurting "what the heck are you doing here?" and instead he said, 'Hey Hermione, what's up?'

'Hi Harry, everything fine, and you?'

'Fine' he said while trying to attract Ginny's gaze. Meeting it he raised an eyebrow enquiringly.

'I'm getting myself something to drink. Ginny, could you come a sec?'

As soon as they were safe in the kitchen Harry closed the door 'What is she doing here? Didn't we agree…'

'I know' she interrupted 'but I really wanted to chat about the interview and the only girls with which I can do it freely are either Hermione or Luna. I thought that Luna probably wouldn't have entered my sentiment'

Probably not. He couldn't see Luna excited to be on the front cover of Witch Weekly but not even Hermione for that matter. He pointed it out to her.

'Of course, she is! It's Witch Weekly! Who wouldn't?' she said barely containing her glee 'Well, apart from Luna obviously' she added as an afterthought.

'Ok, all right' he answered perplexed. It didn't seem to him that Hermione could get excited for something of that kind but as well, until two days before he thought the same in regard of Ginny

'What would I suppose to do though? I don't want to have any share in this conversation. And it's awkward' he added.

'That's why you will go for a run' she said with a sudden fixed smile.

'You know I can't'

'Go in the wood where we went on Sunday, nobody will disturb you there, and it's a sunny day, you'll enjoy it'

Chased from my own house.

But then, reflecting on it, he relished in the idea to be in the open and in a safe spot. He wondered how he didn't come to think about it before. It was a perfect occasion to relax and have a breath of fresh air.

As he was getting ready, he could hear a flow of nonstop talking coming from downstairs all seasoned with a generous dose of giggles. Harry was flabbergasted. Never and ever, he would have thought to hear this kind of interaction coming from Ginny and Hermione, the less giggling women he ever met. It had to be a very big deal this Witch Weekly interview. At least in the female sphere. He started to doubt about his decision, it didn't seem something that could decrease the pressure of media, quite the opposite as a matter of fact. But it was too late to back away. Not now that Ginny was so into it.

Going down the stairs another indecision sprang up in his mind. How to say goodbye to Ginny. Usually he would kiss her, but could he do it in front of Hermione knowing what he did? Wouldn't have showed insensitivity from his part?

He scowled. He hated this. Before her declaration there wouldn't have been any problem whatsoever.

He would have kissed Ginny without worrying at all and perhaps, in his recklessness, he would have kissed her too.

He wanted her friend back. There were so many things he longed to share about the Ministry, the decision taken, the changes of plan of actions, people coming and go. She would have been able to give him excellent advice, but no, he had to worry over how to say goodbye to Ginny.

All this indecision turned out to be totally needless, however. Ginny did barely raise her eyes on him all taken by the chat. They were cosily wrapped up on the sofa, picking avidly carrots and celery's sticks from a bowl (Ginny didn't approve of junk food and that and fruits were all the snacks one could get in the house).

'….they have such a good photographers! Did you see in the last edition the pictures of Camilla Briand? She looked divine!' she was saying brightly to Hermione when he announced he was about to go. She interrupted her talk just to say, 'Pick up the kids before getting back, would you? They are at the Burrow'. And then she resumed her talking to a Hermione as excited as herself.

The evening was lovely. They were getting a very nice summer with long intervals of sun between the usual English rain. Perfect for sport in the open air and day out during weekends. Harry had missed his exercise. He was doing it at home but what he really liked about it was to be out and free with his own thoughts. The countryside was still lush and, despite during the day it was starting to be quite hot, in the evening was still cool and pleasant. The chances to be alone and undisturbed was priceless. He needed to store some serenity because he knew that this interview would have required a lot of forbearance from his part. He was getting ready to do something that he had always avoided at all costs, thinking to improve the uncomfortable situation he was in, but he had started to understand that his plan would have probably backfired. Ginny seemed so happy however, he didn't feel like ruining it for her.

When he got to the Burrow, James and Albus attacked him again with complains about the interview.

'Can't you do it for the Daily Prophet instead?' Albus asked snivelling.

'Mum is getting so silly' James retorted vexed.

'I agree with you both, but she is very excited about it. It's the only time my popularity is making somebody happy' he said as a put-down to James 'Let's bear with it and in a couple of days everything should be over'