AN: Hello everybody! This chapter is a little bit different but I hope you like it, I decided to venture in to other perspectives but still advancing the story. So this time we have both Ginny and Hermione's input. I am hoping to put Ron and the Weasley's into the forefront a bit more, depending on where I take the story next. So hopefully this was a good warm up!

-MP-

Chapter Fifteen: The Ministry

Ginny strolled through the corridors of the Ministry, each wall decked in the deep green tile which reflected the light just enough to see. She had put her return to work off for as long as she could, but unfortunately as a journalist for The Daily Prophet. They were never short of work that needed to be done, so she had sent the children to her Dad for the day whilst she tackled her first assignment as a court reporter.

The Wizengamot were gathering to discuss a bill on werewolf rights and their access to the wolfsbane potion, as it was still highly expensive and due to prejudice many people were unable to access it. Her head wasn't fully in work mode just yet, so she was thankful that she knew she would run into Hermione today. She was passionate about equality, and Ginny hoped to grab a minute to vent about everything that had been going on.

She continued to walk down the long corridor until she came to the 'Grand Court Room' the largest of three courts where either major crimes or legislation was discussed. Big events such as these meant the presence of the Wizengamot was required, and as she pushed open the door she was greeted by the familiar sound of chatter and the sight of dozens of maroon cloaks as everybody found their seats and got settled in for the day ahead.

Press seats were on the left after Ministry officials, each seat would have the required attendees initials in a glittering gold font. Ginny scanned the room to track her seat down, and when she did, it gave her an immediate sense of relief to find she was going to be next to Hermione for the day's session. She drew in a long, steadying breath before she pulled out her notepad and quill from her brown leather handbag and sat down.

"Morning Gin." Hermione greeted her warmly, whilst maintaining her focus on the podium at the centre of the room.

A loud voice boomed over the crowd interrupting Ginny's reply, it was from the Minister himself Kingsley Shacklebolt using a sonorous charm to make himself heard.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wizengamot. I am afraid there is a delay in the proceedings scheduled for this morning. Court will be in session in 30 minutes."

Hermione sighed exasperated. "Why do these things never start on time? I assume we can hope for a 9:30 start, then." She dropped her hands to her lap emphasising her displeasure at the announcement.

"You're just restless Hermione, you always are at these things." She flashed Hermione an amused look when she wrinkled her nose. Hermione gave her a light, teasing, shoulder nudge in retaliation.

"You want to get out of here faster too!" Hermione added, making Ginny laugh.

"You're right there, sometimes I really do regret my transfer from Sports Editor to Law Enforcement." She looked wistfully up at the ceiling, reliving her younger days of Quidditch matches and front seat reporting.

Hermione cast a glance at the crowd which showed no signs of settling, then to Ginny. She watched her for a second, her redhead friend was still staring upwards wearing a slightly dazed expression, her chin supported by her hand but most notably the undercurrent of worry still shone through. Like it ebbed from deep within her. "Ginny… is everything okay?"

She sighed lengthily, needing to shift the weight she was carrying on her shoulders. She knew nobody around was listening to their conversation, not really anyway. "I'm worried about Harry."

Hermione didn't seem surprised to hear this but pressed Ginny for more details regardless.

"Since you and him brought… you know what back. I don't know.. he just seems a bit preoccupied. He's hardly home."

"Well…" Hermione breathed. "He's not.. you know… drinking or anything again is he?" She questioned gently, slightly afraid of the answer.

Ginny seemed startled by Hermione's question. "Oh God no!" She retorted defensively. "No, this is something else Hermione. I know it."

Hermione fell silent pondering Ginny's words. "What did he tell you about you know what?"

"Not much honestly, he said it was something you two found in Minerva's office and he was keeping it safe for her. So I really don't know what's got him all twisted." She gestured in an annoyed sort of her way, her eyes searching her friend for an answer.

Hermione kept the same neutral expression, and her thoughts shielded with occlumency but she knew she had to say something to comfort Ginny. To stop her prying too deeply into what was going on. She was straddling a line between her two friends, and it was deeply uncomfortable. "Gin, I think his feelings are just all over the place with what's going on. One minute Minerva was dying and we were preparing to say goodbye and then we shifted to this whole different scenario with her losing her memory."

"I understand that Hermione." Ginny pressed. "But I know him, there is something else going on and he's just not telling it to me."

Ginny twisted in her chair to face her friend, her brown eyes glistened with the beginning of tears. "I don't know what's going on with him, but I don't know if I can go through it all again. The late nights, the constant worrying, jumping at the arrival of a late night owl… watching him leave through the door and wondering if it's going to be the last time."

She rubbed away an escaped tear quickly. "My heart can't take it."

It was Hermione's turn to sigh heavily this time. Right now, she wanted to throttle her best friend for his thoughtless actions and she badly wanted to take some of Ginny's pain away. "I'm sure wherever his head is right now, it's not too much to worry about. I think he's just having trouble processing it all, as well as providing Minerva with so much support. It's a lot for anyone really."

Ginny opened her mouth to respond when the booming voice sounded from overhead again. Kingsley had called the room to order and proceedings were about to begin, she desperately wanted to continue the conversation but Hermione looked at her apologetically before she focused her attention on the room instead. Ginny huffed, crossing her legs and picking up her quill. She knew there was something else going on, and she was determined to find out what that could be.

-MP-

The morning's court proceedings had gone by without a hitch, Hermione was confident in her delivery of her bill on Werewolf rights and Wolfsbane access. She had come up against derision as she expected, but after several hours of tussling back and forth between her office and the Wizengamot. They had agreed to hear further evidence in the future, including the opinions of werewolves themselves.

Feeling a sense of relief wash over her, she immediately left the Wizengamot and returned to the main corridor. After saying her goodbyes to Ginny who had to return to her office, Hermione set her sights on tracking Harry down, and as the Wizengamot and Aurors shared a corridor it wouldn't take her long to find him.

He was the Lead Auror of his own team, the Auror office had a regimented structure where employees could move up the ranks if they demonstrated the right aptitude and drive to do so. When initially employed that made you a recruit, the other positions available in increasing seniority were trainee, investigator, detective and then Harry's position Lead Auror.

Hermione had quickly reached the main double doors, made of polished mahogany with dozens of wanted posters plastered over them. So anyone who wished to enter was greeted by many rough, angry looking wizards which snarled menacingly at each visitor in turn. Hermione decided to ignore them and pushed open the door to reveal the large open plan office space, divided into groups for each unit and a separate desk for the Lead Auror to make use of. Luckily, she clocked Harry at his desk so she strode briskly over to him to get his attention.

"Harry!" she whispered bossily at him. Harry had been leaning back on his chair, his legs crossed lazily over as he examined a small box which was probably evidence in a case he was working on. He looked up to find Hermione standing over him with an unmistakably angry expression.

"Hermione?" He said in surprise. "This is unexpected?" His wide eyes doing nothing to hide his shock from seeing his best friend in the middle of a work day.

She frowned at him, deepening her annoyance at her friend's inability to sense other people's feelings which always seemed to strike at the worst times. Harry however, had swapped his shocked expression for one which was much more confused. "Your wife!" She breathed hastily down at him.

"Oh.." He replied simply.

He stood up and gestured to Hermione to follow him, he led her to one of the interrogation rooms at the back of the office which were not currently in use.

The interrogation rooms were overwhelmingly dark, the walls and floor were a type of grey that sucked the joy from deep within you, and the only furniture in the room was a table with the two metal rings for handcuffs to be attached to and three cold metal chairs to sit on. Neither of them paid the room any mind choosing to stand to continue their conversation.

"What did Ginny say?" Harry asked, taking a much sterner tone.

Hermione began to pace up and down agitated. "She was asking me about the you know what this morning, before court started."

Harry's confusion did not abate and just like the beginning of this conversation with Hermione his expression did not conceal it. "I don't know why… it's not like I'm sat at home talking about it all the time or something." He ran his fingers through his messy black hair causing it to spike up even more, jutting out at awkward and variously haphazard angles.

"Well you would have to actually be at home for that to be an issue!" She bit back at him.

Hermione stepped forward closing the gap between herself and Harry, her anger flaring, flushing her face a scarlet red.

"a – and!" She interrupted as Harry tried to argue back, interrupting his voice with her own louder words.

"She doesn't know what it is, but she is adamant you're hiding something and let's be honest. We both know she's right!"

"It's fine…" Harry began to say when Hermione's louder voice drowned out his own completely.

"No it's not Harry. She's your wife!"

"I bloody well know that Hermione!" He shouted back.

"Then why are you fixated on some silly wooden wardrobe instead of your focus being on your wife and kids?" She didn't shout this time, her voice relaxing back to a normal volume, but Harry noted that she sounded just as fierce.

Harry exhaled slowly, he lifted his hands and let them fall to his sides. "You know why Hermione! I don't think anything that has happened to Minerva has been a coincidence, and if that cabinet can give me any answers then I will damn well pursue it."

Hermione scowled at Harry, her fists balled up momentarily with frustration. "For goodness sake Harry this isn't the same as when we were in school. There is nothing bigger at play here. Minerva is just ill. That's it!"

She stopped pacing and walked over to stand in front of her old school friend. She knew that he still struggled with what happened when they were kids. She could see the memories playing back in his eyes sometimes, or when there was a busy conversation but instead he looked lost, going inward into himself instead.

What struck her when she looked into his eyes now, was that he didn't seem lost. It was fiery determination that danced in them reflecting back on her own. He didn't waver, or raise his voice again, instead, looking directly into Hermione's golden brown eyes and spoke resoundingly. "I am not asking for you to believe me. By Merlin, you haven't in the past and I'm not asking you to now, but I have to look into this. I've figured out how to enter and seal the wards safely so I can start to look at the memories, and no Hermione. I'm going to keep my wife and children out of it because I don't know what any of it means yet. if it means anything at all but if there is even the slightest chance that I can help Minerva then yes- I am doing it."

She let her friend go, understanding that she wasn't going to win this battle. Her face pleaded with Harry to see sense, but that rapidly became futile. She took a step back and her eyes wandered over Harry again, deciding she should get back to her own work.

"Fine, I can see you're determined on this, but please Harry at least tell Ginny something. She deserves that at least."

"I will." He agreed, finishing the conversation between them. He watched her turn to leave the room and he slipped his hands into his pockets and hung his head.

Hermione paused and chewed lightly on her lip, debating whether to say anything further but as she so often did, the nagging feeling within her convinced her to. "I get that this isn't really any of my business, but I was there when you were away Harry. I saw Ginny struggle and try to hide what she felt from all of us. Please, just don't put her in that position again – she really doesn't deserve that."

"Also, Ron will probably kill you." They both smiled lightly for a fleeting second, he nodded in agreement before he watched silently as Hermione left the room, leaving him to his thoughts. Perhaps, he wasn't seeing the situation clearly, and with his past he certainly had reason not to. It was that line of thought which annoyed him the most, he understood the darkness and difficulty he faced in his past, but many others experienced the same too. Did they struggle to navigate through their own thoughts and feelings so many years later? Or was he just weaker than the others? The idea he was nothing more than damaged or crazy weighed heavily on him, because more than anything, he wanted something good to come out of everything he went through.

He understood the wizarding world was a peace because of what he and the Order did. Except, he had an inescapable feeling that he only survived to hurt those he loved around him. The last thing he wanted was to hurt his wife again, he had already done so once and the very thought he had done it again gave him a churning, sick feeling in his stomach. But similarly, it was the same intuition and hypervigilance that he needed to harness to look deeper into Minerva's situation regardless of where it led.

With that, he shook his head roughly as he steadied himself to leave the room, to greet his team and jump back into his work day. He wiped the dampness from his eyes and inhaled deeply, grounding himself just enough to hang on for the rest of the day.

-MP-