Chapter 26 – Talking about the weather

In the morning Harry really wanted to make up. It was tiring to carry this bad mood with him. He didn't feel up to affront another surely difficult day at work without having received a parting kiss and a smile from her. Therefore, he got to the bathroom where Ginny was doing a morning routine (yes, there was a morning one too) made of some other moisturizer, brush, make up and God only knows what else.

She glimpsed at him but didn't utter any word busy in massaging a thick white cream on her forehead with some precise movement. She didn't look forbidding though and that was already half of the battle won.

Harry stood on her side looking at her reflection in the mirror pondering on what to do; any wrong word could set her off again and he decided not to risk it having a gift at it. He took then one of her many flacons on the sink, he poured some of the content on his hand and started to rub it on his face nonchalantly.

'That's hand cream, Harry' Ginny said repressing a smile.

He took another flacon, always casually from the hundreds, and tried for that one.

'That's not right for your skin type' she said 'Try this one' offering him a different bottle.

He took it and rubbed some of that pale blue ointment on his forehead like she had done, mockingly.

'You must go from centre to the sides' she said reprovingly but smiling this time 'Come here, I'll show you'

He leaned toward her and let her smear his brow how she thought best.

He met her gaze and locked it with his own, the touch of her massaging fingers awakening a desire that had already been repressed for a few days under her cold stares and lack of attention. Her lips were so close, half parted, tantalizing, asking only to be kissed. He gave in the urge and then he knew that there was something he could tell her that would never have been wrong.

'I love you; do you know that?' he said moving her sleek red hair behind her ear in a loving caress.

'I know…' she said smiling affectionately.

'You don't though' he said glaring at her, feeling that desire growing inside him steadily 'You have no idea'

She couldn't even imagine the deepness of his love for her. It was in every cell of him, it was everything. It made him breath, move, wish and suffer, the power that made him live. Nothing was possible without her and everything attainable through her. A love that was painful how strong it was, a sweet and bitter pain that would rage in him when he looked at her.

She lowered her gaze under his intense glare. He kissed her brow 'I live for you' he whispered.

He took his wrist and brushed his lips longingly on it 'I'd die for you'

He kissed behind her ear murmuring 'I'd go mad without you'

He caressed her smooth shoulders letting slid her nightie down on the floor revealing the dazzling paleness of her skin 'I'd do anything for you'

He followed with his tongue the curve of her neck savouring her skin inch by inch, causing a shiver in her body 'I'd kill for you'

He moved himself behind her looking at her reflection in the mirror, the sight of her naked skin, her flushed face, her moist mouth turned him on even more, annihilating everything but the longing to be inside her.

He craved to show her his love in the best way he knew how. It had always been difficult for him to express his feelings through words. But he could show her in a different way, he could show her that insane passion she was able to instil in him.

He slid his avid hands on her body being already in that limbo of heaven and hell preceding the actual intercourse, he could barely wait and as he was freeing himself from unnecessary garments a loud bellow sprang from downstairs 'Mum, do we still have some chocolate spread? I cannot find any!' it was Albus.

Fucking hell!

'Ignore it' he murmured in Ginny's ear that had turned instinctively toward the door.

'Muuuuum?!'

'Ignore it!' he ordered to Ginny that was clearly giving sign of awakening from the turmoil that was enveloping them only a few seconds before. Harry didn't have any intention whatsoever to drop it, they were already too far gone for him to stop now.

And as he was relieving her from her knickers a crush was audible from downstairs, some fast thumping up the stairs and another bellowing 'Mum, James dropped his glass and cut himself!'

Goddamn it! I'm going to kill! I'm going to kill!

Fighting the urge to attack and dismember two innocent boys, he threw a towel around his hips and made for the door telling her in a temper 'You stay here as you are, I'll be back in a second.'

He opened the door violently and shot a basilisk look to Albus who was instantly petrified.

'Can't you two just be quiet for two seconds for fuck's sake?!' he yelled.

'Harry!' Ginny's reproach came from the room.

He got his wand and closed the door behind him.

'James cut his hand…' Albus stammered following him already making for the kitchen.

'Eleven years in the muggle world didn't teach you how to use a plaster?'

He got in the kitchen and James was clenching his hand where from a predictable miniscule cut was pouring a single tiny drop of blood. The glass was on the floor shattered.

With a flick it was whole again.

'Give me your hand' he said sharply.

James started to suck his finger sulkily 'it's nuthing'

Harry fighting again the urge of kicking them both outside, hissed 'if it was nothing why call?! Now give me your hand'

'It was Albus …' James started saying polemical.

'Don't throw me under the bus! It was you…'

Harry interjected furious 'Hoy! Pack it in! Give me your hand right now or I'll chop it off. I can heal it even without the rest of the body attached to it'

James extended his hand promptly at which he performed a simple healing charm. That done, he shot a threatening look at them, so fierce even James flinched 'For the next half an hour I don't want to hear another peep from you two! Penalty of death'

He ran back upstairs as fast as he could and opening the door, he found Ginny sitting on the bed, fully dressed brushing her hair serenely.

'Noooooooo' he wailed in despair throwing himself at her side 'Ginny, please!' he begged trying to undo her shirt.

Ginny blocked his hands 'Harry, we'll be late for work'

'I don't bloody care. Ginny, please, I need it' he said pleading.

She smiled stroking his head tenderly 'You always need it'

'Now more than ever!'

She stood up leaving her brush on the mantelpiece and taking her handbag 'Harry, no. I need to go. Training starts in twenty minutes' 'I can do it in ten!' 'and I didn't get my breakfast yet' she continued ignoring him.

'Who's more important me or a bloody breakfast?' he asked disheartened.

'Right now, breakfast. I'm starving' and she left the room.

The shock prevented him moving from the bed for a couple of minutes. He was so close to having a wonderful start of the day and instead he got a full of frustration one.

Well, nothing he could do about it, or at least, there was always the Regina way, but he discarded it; somehow the age for that had passed.

He got dressed and dragged himself disconsolate downstairs where Ginny was finishing her meal reading avidly Witch Weekly for probably the 546th time.

He poured himself some coffee still not properly over the disappointment and walked toward the window to check the weather outside. Surprise, surprise… drizzling. Never mind, it was going to be sunny at work.

'Are we allowed to speak yet?' James asked belligerently.

'Yes, unfortunately you are' Harry answered absent minded his attention caught by an envelope on the windowsill just outside.

He got it and read the sender 'Ms Pennyworth', didn't ring any bell. Perhaps it was for Ginny. It must be her, there were very few people that could send them letters and he was sure to know all of them. She must have added somebody without informing him.

'Ginny, do you know somebody by the name of Pennyworth?'

A crush followed his question, James had broken another glass. Harry fixed it scowling 'That's the second in twenty minutes. Be careful, all right?!'

Ginny was in a total rush; she didn't hear his question as she was all busy shoving some papers in her bag. She kissed quickly the boys and then pecked Harry.

'Have a good day at work' he said half smiling half frowning. He didn't get exactly what he wanted but at least they had made up and he got his goodbye kiss. It wasn't going to be a totally negative day.

Seeing his expression, she smiled amused giving him another kiss 'I'll make myself forgive tonight, I promise'

No, definitely it was not going to be a totally negative day.

When she disappeared in the green flames, he looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was very late, so late he almost chocked on his coffee finding out. He let the cup on the table but then, remembering Ginny fixation about coasters, removed it hastily and putted in the sink. It was of the most importance not doing anything that could jeopardise her mood that evening.

He bade goodbye to the boys with another subtle threat on how to behave and a second later he was to the office, to the same unabated fuss that it seemed, if anything, increasing. He kept repeating himself that would have worn off eventually. At least now he was prepared. He wasn't twenty years before.

It had been a bit of a shock in his system. Of course, when in Hogwarts he was already famous but being a very confined ecosystem, he never really suffered that much from it, or better, it seemed so to him know looking back at that time. It was a kind of minor hassle to contend with compared to Voldemort. Only when he married Ginny he finally understood. While living with the Weasley nobody really bothered him, albeit it was only because the whole house was protected by intruders. He didn't know at the time, they explained to him later. Them, unlike he, had grasped the enormity of the growing popularity and they wanted to protect him until things would cool down a little bit. It had need several years to cool down, even if only slightly, years of nerve racking for Harry. He didn't know how to deal with it, now he knew. Well, more or less at least. The important thing was to remain aloof. Polite but detached.

He made a trip to reception to apologise for the incrementing task of sorting his mail.

The witch behind the counter, that could easily be Elisabeth/his mum's age, shook first, that day, his aloofness. After his contrite speech, he got back such an innuendo that caused him an instant flush and disabled his power of speak coherently for some time. It always took him by surprise when it did happen despite it wasn't seldom.

Going through the hall he was continually stopped by women of other departments with paltry excuses, all with mini summery dresses, all with the same purpose of showing him ample parts of their bodies or, if the occasion arose, rubbing on him as much as possible. He had never seen so many legs and breast exposed like those three days, no wonder he felt so aroused once at home.

He made sure to get the lift with another man. It did seem the wisest course of action since the combativeness shown in the hall. However, it didn't help. The bloke got the chance straight away to introduce himself, following him almost up to his office, bragging a good deal about his wasted skills and the enormous potential still unused by the Ministry, trying, at the same time, slyly to extort from him a promise to put a good word for him to the Minister. As if!

Carola in the meanwhile had framed the pictures of the magazine and they were all on her desk on plain sight. He didn't find the strength to oppose himself.

He left severe instruction to Elisabeth not to let pass anybody that day unless a valid business reason could be named and got into his safe zone, aka, his office.

On his desk an elegant small fuchsia box with a silk ribbon, no note, no anything, was waiting for him. He looked at it curiously and suspiciously. Elisabeth didn't mention anything about it, probably somebody else had left it there before her arrival. With his wand tapped on it several times, casting different kinds of revealing spells. One couldn't be too careful with these mysterious presents. The ministry was well protected but nevertheless, because of his job, he had many ill-wishers.

Wondering about the possible content he opened it carefully, his wand ready in case it was needed.

But it wasn't a dangerous object. Or better, on second thought, it was a very dangerous object. It was nothing less than a pair of non-existent, black lace knickers. So minimal that it brought one to reflecting on the need of wearing them, so small they were. There was also a note on thick square paper inside. It read:

To remember me by.

Xxx Julia

His ex-secretary. It was past one year since that embarrassing encounter when she had tried a very intimate approach and from then on, he had always dodged her as much as possible when crossing her path notwithstanding that she, absolutely undaunted by his refusal, always tried to trap him in "conversations".

Yet, that encounter the year before, brief has it had been, had left an impression and he realised that probably those were the very one she had that evening. And his mind pressed the replay button instantly.

My god women. And they talk about men.

He was sure than being harassed by a woman was one hundred time worse than the other way around. Because they really putted some actual brain in it. Even this Julia, that probably wasn't the cleverest of her sex, knew how to make you think about her against your will. Men were just physical. Period.

He was in reverie, keeping this piece of underwear, that had the only aim of letting one fantasises about what they were "covering", on the tip of his index and he sighed, he just wanted it to stop. It was so tiring and depressing. He made him feel really worthless. An empty worthless body but with a very active torturing imagination. Replay button again.

If I don't get a shag tonight, I swear, I'm going to die…

The corner of his eyes caught a figure looking at him from the door. He startled in fright letting the knickers fall on the desk.

'Hermione! Bloody hell! Is it not custom to knock?'

'The door was open' she said simply 'what have you got there?'

'A present from our dear Julia' he said disconsolately showing her the mystifying object.

'Your ex-secretary?' She asked retrieving it from his hand.

'Nice' she said disapprovingly but then observing them with a critic eye 'My god, she is tiny'.

'Yes, but she has got everything in abundance, believe me' he muttered wearily.

'I believe you.' She said primly giving them back to him 'Are you low?'

'Very'

'Why?'

He chucked the knickers with all the letters ready to be burned.

'Why?! Don't you see the situation I'm in?' he said pointing at the pile of letters 'this morning the woman at reception tried to get off with me and she could easily have been my mother! And I had to wait for a man to get the lift. That girl of the sport department was literally eating me alive with just the power of her eyes, I didn't trust to take the lift alone with her.'

Hermione roared with laughter 'Ron would be in seventh heaven if the situation was reversed'

'It is not flattering.' Harry said sternly standing up and walking about the room 'I'm being objectified. If I try to talk with somebody, I get back either an innuendo or absurd requests, all trying to ingratiate themselves. I cannot go anywhere without being asked for a dinner, a party, a drink, and even bloody weddings!' he continued getting upset 'All because of my name, all because of something I never wanted to happen in the first place. It's just as though, as a normal person, I don't matter at all…' he continued letting out all the frustration that those days of sick admiration had generated in him 'There is the me who freed the world from a dangerous wizard whom everybody is crazy about and the other me, the real me, who nobody gives a shit' he concluded bitterly.

She smiled sympathetic 'The people who get to know you, do truly care I assure you'

Harry let himself fall on the chair disheartened without answering.

Hermione got close to him and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder 'Don't allow this situation to get to you. It will fade fast enough' she stopped talking but seeing his demoralized face she added 'Harry you are a wonderful person. Full of astonishing qualities don't let this situation make you think otherwise'.

He placed his hand on her own and thanked her feeling slightly better. Finally, somebody to talk to, somebody with whom he could talk about of what was ailing him. He just couldn't do it with Ginny. He didn't want her to know what was happening. But then, thinking about Ginny, he recollected he didn't have to touch Hermione, let alone talk to her.

He let her hand go and dropping again in his despondency said 'I'm not supposed to talk to you. I'm sorry for yesterday but Ginny found out I had lunch with you and went mental. The magazine with our pictures didn't help. She held me a grudge for two days, I just managed this morning to make up'

Hermione nodded 'She found out, did she?' and then without waiting for an answer she added in a sad chuckle 'You were kind of obvious. She was bound to spot that something was amiss'

'What was I supposed to do?' he blurted out upset 'I couldn't…' he halted abruptly thinking 'I couldn't hug you or tell you how happy I was to see you or that I missed your friendship' He couldn't say any of those things aloud. He couldn't say anything of what was in his mind because of this uncomfortable situation. He left the sentence uncomplete.

They were silent for a while. Hermione was looking outside the window where the sun was shining blithely on the Thames 'It's always sunny in here…' she said pensively in the end 'It's nice'

'Yes, it's nice…' he answered sadly thinking how depressing it was to have to resort to the weather as a safe topic of conversation with her. He talked about the weather with strangers, with people he didn't care about, not with Hermione. Things were really changed.

'Anyway' she said and, shaking off the gloom and turning toward him, continued business-like 'I'm here for Lupu, there have been some developments that I think might interest you'

He gestured her to sit down, and they just talked about work for the rest of their interview.