Chapter 11 - Acronym Revision and Selection Endeavors
May 29, 1998
The week following their dinner with Andromeda Tonks passed in a steady rhythm that was both grounding and strangely normal. Each day began at the crack of dawn, Ginny slipping quietly out of bed and into her trainers before the house was fully awake. She'd started her early morning runs as a way to clear her head and prepare for Quidditch. Harry had joined her before, but recently, Harry and Ron had decided to join her every day.
Harry, she suspected, was preparing himself for Auror training. His determination was evident in the way he pushed himself. Ginny was already beginning to notice a difference. He wasn't as rail-thin as he'd been after the battle; a month of eating Mum's cooking would do that. He'd gotten stronger, too. When she'd started her runs after returning to the Burrow Harry had barely been able to keep up with her, in no small part to his deteriorated health. But now, less than a month later, she was the one struggling to keep up with his longer strides.
Ron, on the other hand, seemed more motivated by the realization that his upcoming search for Hermione's parents would take him far from Harry—and from the structure they'd built together over the past year, and was trying to spend as much time with his best friend as possible before leaving. And if she thought Harry's strides were tough to keep up with, Ron's were damn near impossible.
"I'm not saying I've decided for certain to join the Aurors or anything," Ron explained to them one morning after a particularly rain-drenched run. "But it's either run with you or go through all that research with Hermione first thing in the morning."
By the time they returned, red-faced and sweaty, Hermione would already be awake, bent over stacks of parchment and books in the sitting room. She'd taken on the task of studying Ted Tonks' research into mind healing with her usual fervor. Ginny watched as, little by little, Hermione's project began to overtake her side of their shared room, spilling papers, parchment, and textbooks first over her small desk, then Hermione's makeshift nightstand, then into ever-expanding piles on the floor.
After breakfast, Ginny's world shifted to the familiar rhythm of Quidditch. The first few mornings, it was just her and Harry—passing drills, racing, or working on precision maneuvers. Demelza joined them at the beginning of the week, however, and became a regular fixture the rest of the time. Ginny realized just how much she missed her best friend; how much she missed the normal parts of having friends when they weren't trying to undermine Death Eaters.
Demelza Robbins was fun—always had been. It's why they'd gotten along so fabulously at school. Demelza was a whirlwind of sass and sharp-edged loyalty, and Ginny couldn't imagine life without her. Blunt and unapologetically opinionated, she never hesitated to call things as she saw them. With her around, Ginny found herself laughing more than she had in months, caught between Harry's dry sarcasm and Demelza's teasing.
"Are you sure you and Ron don't want to come back for one more year, Harry?" Demelza had asked, her voice teasingly hopeful. "If all we have to find is another Chaser…" she trailed off meaningfully.
Harry had laughed from atop his broom. "If I went back just to play Quidditch I'd never pass my coursework," he said, wiping the sweat-drenched hair from his eyes. "I'd just skive off to hang out with Ginny."
"So Quidditch and snogging your girlfriend isn't enough? What else are you looking to do with yourself?" Demelza said. A mischievous grin had flashed across her face. "Not to try and sway you from your oh-so-noble calling, but snogging opportunities will be hard to come by with you at the Ministry and Ginny at school. Owling each other takes time and it's not like Ginny can just live with her head in the Floo every night."
Ginny's heart had sunk when that realization was voiced, but a thoughtfully determined look crossed Harry's face and he'd assured Demelza that they'd "figure it out."
Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione would Disapparate to Hogsmeade after breakfast and spend the mornings at Hogwarts, combing the library for resources that might aid in their trip to Australia and fill in any potential gaps or questions they had regarding Ted's research. Harry sometimes joined them after Quidditch if Demelza was there, leaving her and Ginny to their own devices.
Harry had made it clear he wanted Ginny to have time with her friend without feeling like he was hovering. He knew she and Hermione got on well—great, even—but they had very different interests. Ginny didn't mind; while she loved the lazy afternoons spent walking the orchard paths with Harry, she knew how important it was for them both to not be entirely consumed by their relationship, especially with the time they were going to spend apart in the next year.
And Demelza made that easy. They spent their time together sprawled out in the grass, talking mostly about who they thought might make the Gryffindor Quidditch team, or who might not come back the following term.
Evenings brought everyone back together. Ron and Hermione would return from Hogwarts, dusty and tired, with Harry in tow if he'd joined them. Dinner at the Burrow was a crowded, chaotic affair, with Percy, Charlie, and George around the table most nights. Bill and Fleur often stopped by, too, bringing a sense of normalcy that was still tinged with the hollow sting of Fred's absence.
It was a week of quiet rebuilding—not just for the Burrow and Hogwarts, but for themselves. Ginny felt the pieces of her life clicking back into place, and while they didn't fit perfectly yet, she could see the shape they were forming. And every evening, as Harry caught her eye across the table with a soft smile meant just for her, she was reminded that they were building something together.
"Maybe we're running ourselves a little too hard," Demelza said that Friday afternoon, flopping back onto the grass after a particularly grueling keepaway session. "I think my fingers have stopped working. Want to take a break this weekend?"
"Yeah, sure," Ginny answered, wiping sweat from her brow. "Mum has a big dinner planned for Sunday anyway to send off Ron and Hermione, so I'll probably be pulled into preparing for that."
"We could invite Luna over, doesn't she live nearby?" Demelza asked in between sips of water. "Maybe get all the girls together tomorrow? See how everyone's doing."
Ginny grinned. She hadn't seen her dormmates since before Easter when her family went into hiding. "That sounds brilliant. I'll invite Hermione, too. I know she's wrapped up in her research—"
"Which—while I understand—I still think is mental," Demelza interrupted.
"I'm told it comes in handy during revision," Ginny pointed out.
Demelza snorted skeptically.
"Anyway. Since she's coming back next year it would be good for her to get to really know everyone first," Ginny continued. "She'll probably be dorming with us if she's not made Head Girl.
"She should take a minute before she leaves anyway," Demelza pointed out.
Ginny nodded. "We can floo-call them before you leave and I'll owl Luna tonight." She frowned as a thought occurred. "Do you think they'll be bored around here? Maybe we should meet them in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade."
Demelza shook her head swiftly. "Not a chance. One: they've always wanted to see this place," she said, counting off on her fingers. "Two: your mum's cooking is better than anything we'd get anywhere else—"
"You're not taking advantage of Mum's compulsive need to feed everyone," Ginny interrupted.
Demelza waved her off. "Three—and this is most important—it took me three days to convince my mum to sign off on meeting Maddox at the Leaky. And I'm still not convinced she didn't have me tailed. The only reason she lets me out of her sight here is because she knows Bill set up the wards personally."
Ginny laughed. "Is she still talking about poaching him from Gringotts?"
Demelza nodded. "Poaching, stealing…Honestly, now that she knows it's possible to rob Gringotts she really might give it a go." She stood up and stretched. "She's been trying to convince him to switch over for a while," Demelza said, shooting upright. "But now that she knows Bill set up the wards for most of the Order of the Phoenix…" She shook her head in disbelief. "Ginny, he could make a mint working for Mum's company now."
Ginny grinned and swelled with pride for her brother. Demelza's mum ran a private security consulting company called HexShield Solutions. They provided ward installations, curse-detection, and security management for private companies and some wealthier families. HexShield was far from the only company in that line of work, but they were specifically notable for hiring regardless of blood status and declining contracts that required anti-muggle intentions.
"You told her that Weasleys can't be swayed with money, right?" Ginny asked teasingly. "Look at my dad, look at Charlie!" She laughed as Demelza rolled her eyes. "Weasleys follow their passions. The twins were more excited with opening their shop than they were with the money that came in." She noticed, wistfully, that her heart ached just a tiny bit less at the mention of the twins than it had the days before. "Bill loves curse-breaking. He loves travelling. I'm betting he and Fleur go off somewhere for a few years once everything calms down here."
Demelza shrugged. "Honestly, I wouldn't blame them," she said. "That sounds fantastic."
"Although," Ginny mused thoughtfully. "I'll bet they stick around once they have kids."
Demelza shuddered. "Can't imagine Bill doing all that curse-breaking stuff with a baby. I'll tell Mum not to lose hope forever."
Ginny reached out a hand and let Demelza pull her to her feet. "Speaking of—once it gets a little warmer we can see about going to Shell Cottage for a swim," she said.
"Fucking yes," Demelza swore excitedly, pumping her fist. "But tomorrow. Here."
"And we can all work out a way to convince your mum that we'll be secure if we go to Hogsmeade or the Alley."
Ginny met Harry by the Burrow's fireplace that night before heading to Andi's for Friday dinner. She smoothed out her hair compulsively, acknowledging that it was a wasted effort to do so before going through the floo network.
"Are you okay, Gin?" Harry asked, his hand at her elbow. She could have melted at the sight of those green eyes burning with concern. "You look nervous…or something. I think you were worried last week, too."
Ginny chewed her lip, kicking herself for not hiding it better. It was stupid, really. "Of course I'm nervous," she muttered.
"What? Why?"
Ginny steadied herself. "It's like having dinner with your family," she said.
"What? But she's related to you, right? Through your grandmum," Harry said.
"Sure. But it's your mum and dad she has pictures of in her house," Ginny pointed out. "Your godfather was her favorite cousin. Her grandson is your godson." She sighed. "I'm never going to get the chance to meet your parents and know if they approve of me—"
"Ginny!" Harry tried to interrupt. "I—"
Ginny powered on. "So I really want Andi to like me," she finished. She could feel her face burning hot with embarrassment. "I know how important Teddy is to you. I know how important last week was for you. I don't want to be the one who messes—"
"Gin. Hey, that's—," Harry grabbed her arms and pulled her to face him. "My parents would love you. One of the few things I know about parents—good parents—is that they want you to be happy. Your parents taught me that. And mine would love you because I love you."
Ginny stared at him, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, fighting back tears that would undoubtedly ruin her makeup and all the effort she'd put into looking presentable for her boyfriend's sort-of-god-aunt. Harry so rarely said things like that aloud, not so spur of the moment, not without putting hours—days sometimes—of thought and care into the words. But to hear him say them so freely…
"What's that look?" Harry eyed her worriedly. "Is that good? I don't even remember what I said, it just all came out."
Ginny rolled her eyes so hard she worried for a moment they might fall out of her head. She wanted to smack him upside the head, but even then his grin stopped her in her tracks. Harry always seemed to know exactly what to tell her to get her out of her own head. Worried? Make her feel lovestruck. Too lovestruck? Make her feel annoyed.
She felt a smile force itself past her annoyance. "I love you," she whispered.
He slipped his arms around her. "Is that why you were so worried? You should tell Andi that. It'll probably make her entire week."
Harry was right, of course. Andi had looked torn between laughing and crying when Ginny had admitted as much. She settled on taking Ginny's hand across the table and giving it an encouraging squeeze.
"Ginny, dear, of course I like you," she said sincerely. A playful grin lit up her features. "I'm not certain if you're aware or not. But the Blacks are not known for hiding what we think of people. The Tonkses, even less so."
Ginny let out a sigh of relief that she wasn't aware she'd been holding.
"Things got rather repetitive while Dora, Remus, and I were holed up here," she explained, continuing their conversation retelling the previous year. She had a mischievous look in her eyes. "And I must admit we indulged in a bit of gossip to pass the time."
Harry looked dumbstruck, as if he couldn't believe it, but Ginny just laughed. "Anything interesting?"
Andi laughed. She leaned back in her chair, looking dramatically thoughtful. "Well, let's see…oh! Both Dora and Remus were distinctly aware that your mother was trying to set her up with Bill."
"Oh, Merlin," Ginny groaned, hiding her face in her hands. She'd forgotten about that.
"Dora told Remus she hadn't even considered it until Bill was attacked by Greyback," Andi said furtively. "She found him rather good-looking after that for some reason."
Harry winced. "Poor Remus," he laughed painfully.
"Oh, people let that man get away with far too much," Andi warned playfully. "He learned quite a bit about the students during his time as a professor. And he picked up quite a bit from working with your brothers on Potterwatch."
"From them or about them?" Ginny wondered. It was rare for anyone to have something juicy on Fred or George.
"Oh, both, my dear," Andi said with a grin. "But I'd like to hear from you, Ginny. Now that you can be assured that I like you and—for whatever it's worth—approve of you, tell me a little bit more. We know Harry wants to be an Auror. What about you? What do you want to do after Hogwarts?"
"I'm keeping my options open," Ginny said. She chewed her lip and glanced nervously over to Harry. He was watching her quietly, waiting for her to take the lead. There was a smile on his face and such overwhelming belief in his eyes. "But," she watched Harry's eyes widen in surprise and excitement, "I want to play Quidditch."
"Professionally?" Andi asked, sitting up. Ginny suddenly found herself wishing she was better at reading Andi's thoughts.
"Professionally," Ginny said with a nod. She looked up, straight into Andi's eyes, and held her gaze with all the conviction she could muster. She'd never told another soul outside of Harry, and was still nervous about admitting it aloud, but she found herself desperately wanting Andi's approval.
"Really?" Andi asked excitedly, leaning forward. "Are you that good?"
"I—I think so," she said meekly.
"She's amazing," Harry said confidently, with just the slightest hint of defensiveness. "Best I've ever seen on a broom."
"Are you? Fantastic!" Andi exclaimed. She clapped her hands together. "I love Quidditch."
"Really?" Ginny asked, relief flooding through her.
"Absolutely! Most brilliant sport there is," Andi said emphatically. "Propper young women from 'Ancient and Noble Houses' are strongly discouraged from getting involved in anything as 'lowly' as Quidditch."
Ginny frowned and realized that as long as she'd been at Hogwarts she'd never seen a girl play for Slytherin. She nodded.
"So as you can imagine, as soon as I was blasted off the family tapestry, I dove into all the things I was not allowed to do," Andi said conspiratorially. "Went to Muggle restaurants and bars, wore Muggle clothes, got tattoos, smoked—"
"Smoked?" Harry goggled.
"Yes. Awful habit. Best avoid it yourself," Andi advised. She turned back to Ginny. "But most of all, Quidditch. Now, I'm absolutely dreadful myself, but I had Ted teach me how to play, and I fell in love with the game. What's your team?"
"Holyhead Harpies," Ginny declared, holding her chin high.
"Montrose Magpies," Andi offered, almost vibrating with excitement. "Oh, I'm thrilled to have someone to talk Quidditch with. Remus and Dora never cared much for it. I can only hope Teddy takes after Ted and me."
"Yes!" Ginny all but shouted. "Any time you want. Ron is a diehard Cannons fan," she laughed as Andi blanched. "And this one," she jabbed her thumb at Harry, who gave her a helpless "who me?" look, "Just likes, 'to play the game for fun.'" She rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Harry," Andi tutted playfully, shaking her head in mock disappointment. "What would James say?"
"Did he have a favorite team?" Harry asked, his voice suddenly earnest, a raw eagerness in his expression that tugged at Ginny's heart. She'd seen that look before—the desperation for any scrap of connection to his parents.
"Falmouth Falcons," Andi said with a tone of fond bewilderment. "Your grandfather got him tickets for his birthday every year. We could never understand what it was about the Falcons he liked so much. They are such a violent team and that was not James's style at all." She shrugged helplessly. "I think he may have just liked falcons."
Ginny chuckled, her mind already forming a mental image of someone that looked remarkably like Harry excitedly chatting about birds and trying to explain his unusual choice. "Sounds about right," she said, shaking her head with a grin.
Andi laughed softly, and Ginny hesitated for a moment before steering the conversation in a more serious direction. "Andi," she said, her tone dropping slightly. "Do you know of any healers who are good with curse wounds? Someone discreet who wouldn't make a fuss?"
Harry stiffened beside her and shot her a wide-eyed look, but Ginny ignored him, keeping her focus on Andi. "Harry's been dealing with something that hasn't healed properly, and I just thought—well, you might know the right sort of person to help."
Andi's brow furrowed in concern as she turned her attention fully to Harry. "A curse wound?" she asked, her voice calm but tinged with worry. "How long has it been giving you trouble?"
"It's not that bad," Harry muttered, his shoulders hunching slightly.
Andi gave him a look that could rival Professor McGonagall's. "I'll decide that after I see it."
Harry blinked. "You?"
"Yes, me," Andi said, a touch of amusement softening her expression. "Curse wounds are something I'm quite familiar with."
Ginny's eyes lit up. "You'd take a look?"
"Of course," Andi said, already standing with her wand in hand. "Let's have a look now, and if it's something more complicated, I can arrange for more thorough treatment at my clinic where we won't be disturbed."
Harry hesitated, glancing at Ginny, who gave him an encouraging nod. He sighed, unbuttoning his shirt to reveal the still-blotchy bruise and jagged cut on his chest.
Andi leaned closer, her expression turning serious and professional. "Hmm," she murmured, her wand tracing carefully over the mark as she muttered diagnostic spells. "Yes, I see…this is," her brow furrowed and her face darkened, "what curse caused this?"
Harry hesitated for a moment, his eyes distant and refusing to meet her gaze. She could see them flickering between pictures in the dining room before landing on little Teddy in his bouncing chair.
"The killing curse," Harry muttered softly.
Andi's wand jerked away slightly and her gaze snapped up—first to the scar on Harry's forehead and then to his eyes.
"This was…him?" she asked after a long moment. Harry nodded, and she grew thoughtful again. She began muttering softly, mostly to herself, but Ginny could make out a few words. "Twice. Unprecedented." She glanced back at Harry. "How long have you had this?"
"He's had it since the battle," Ginny supplied. Harry shot her a look of annoyance. "Don't look at me in that tone of voice."
Andi murmured again, her wand waving in increasingly complex patterns. "The bruising is unusual. The killing curse usually leaves no marks. This looks…" She hummed thoughtfully. "It looks remarkably like an injury I saw in my Muggle Residency. A young man came in with his pectoral muscle torn completely off the bone. Bruise just like this."
"Is that what this is?" Harry asked tentatively.
Ginny watched Andi work with a newfound respect. She had expected her to know someone, but finding out Andi herself was so skilled—and so willing to step in without hesitation…Andi was a steadying presence, and Ginny could already see Harry relaxing under her care.
"How's your range of motion?" Andi asked, stepping back. "Any noticeable reduction?"
Harry shrugged and shook his head, but Andi only frowned more. She had him perform a few movements. She had him push his arm against her hand. Then, standing arm's length from a wall, she had Harry place his palms against the wall and perform slow, standing push-ups.
Ginny watched his face intently, looking for any sign of stiffness, but knew that Harry was quite practiced at this point in controlling his reactions to pain and discomfort.
"Well that's certainly not the injury," Andi said with a nod. "I don't detect any lingering dark magic either. The cut at the center looks quite similar to the scar on your forehead, though that's hardly unexpected. But I'd like to get the bruising and swelling more under control so I can get a better look at it."
Harry shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny. "Is it…is it going to take long?"
Andi smiled kindly. "No, but it would have been better to treat it sooner."
Ginny shot him an "I told you so" look, and he colored sheepishly.
"Curse wounds are rarely straightforward," Andi explained. "And your situation is…unprecedented. I'll brew a salve that should help with the swelling of the bruise. It'll take a few days to fully heal, but I'm confident we can sort it out."
"Thank you," Ginny said sincerely, her hand resting briefly on Harry's arm.
Andi patted Harry on the shoulder. "You're family, Harry. James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Dora, Ted—they would all haunt me if I didn't help you."
"I think they'd be more cross with me that I didn't ask you sooner," Harry admitted.
"Yes. But all the same," Andi grinned. She gave him a sympathetic look. "I know there are many people who failed you growing up, Harry. But part of this—coming of age and taking responsibility for yourself—means knowing when to ask for help."
Harry looked ready to explain himself, but she silenced him with a perfectly-practiced look of motherly annoyance.
"There are people who rely on you now, Harry," she said, glancing first at Ginny and then down to Teddy, who had watched everything with wide-eyed fascination. "Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of those people."
Harry nodded reluctantly, then turned to Ginny and mouthed, "thank you."
Ginny felt like she'd just conquered a Dark Lord of her own. Her chest swelled with a mix of triumph and relief. Harry, who had stubbornly faced down Voldemort, Death Eaters, and unspeakable horrors, had finally conceded to something as simple—and as monumental—as letting someone help him.
She had spent weeks watching him downplay his pain, brush off his injury, and bury his concerns. It had driven her mad, not because she wanted to control him, but because she loved him too much to let him keep hurting himself like this.
Now, watching him submit to Andi's care, even begrudgingly, felt like proof that he was starting to trust her in a way that went beyond just words. It was a victory, yes, but it wasn't just hers—it was his too.
Harry was looking at her now, a hint of sheepishness in his green eyes. Ginny fought the urge to laugh. Even in his embarrassment, there was gratitude. The stubborn git had finally realized she wasn't nagging—she was fighting for him. They were all fighting for him.
"You know," she said lightly, unable to resist twisting the knife a little, "I'm starting to think you should listen to me more than you let on."
Harry's ears turned pink, and Andi chuckled softly. "Oh, he's not alone in that. Potter men are known for being stubborn, but they know when they've met their match. With redheads especially."
Ginny raised her eyebrows, smirking as she leaned closer to Harry. "Hear that? It's practically genetic. You don't stand a chance."
"That must be why Ron and I get on so well," Harry teased. Ginny smacked his arm playfully. Harry groaned but grinned despite himself. "Remind me again why I love you?"
Ginny grinned back, leaning in closer. "Because I'm brilliant."
Andi's laugh was warm and approving as she gathered her things, her diagnostic spells still working their quiet magic over Harry's scar.
When Andi straightened, she placed a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder. "You'll be fine, Harry. I'll have the salve ready by the weekend."
Ginny squeezed Harry's hand as Andi stepped back. She couldn't help but feel victorious again, not just for getting Harry to accept help, but for seeing him surrounded by people who cared for him the way he deserved. And as much as she wanted to gloat, she knew better than to press her luck too far.
As the last remnants of dessert disappeared, Andi rose to gather her things. Teddy let out a tiny yawn from his perch, his hair shifting from a playful turquoise to a soft lavender as his eyelids drooped. Andi smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of his head before excusing herself to put him to bed.
Ginny and Harry began cleaning up the remnants of dinner, but Andi waved them off with a firm shake of her head once she returned from Teddy's room.
"I will assure your mother you offered to help clean up," she promised knowingly, drawing a cross across her heart. It took only a few more rebuffs before Ginny and Harry finally gave up.
"Goodnight Andi," Harry said, glancing at Andi. "Thanks for dinner. And for…well, everything."
"Of course, Harry," Andi said warmly, and enveloped him in a quick, but secure, hug. "You're always welcome here. Take care of each other."
Instead of the quick, polite goodbye Andi seemed to expect, Ginny stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her in a firm hug. Andi stiffened for only a moment before softening, her free arm coming up to return the embrace.
"Thank you," Ginny murmured, her voice thick.
Andi gave her a gentle squeeze before stepping back, her smile teary. "Anytime, Ginny." Andi hesitated for a moment, her expression turning uncertain. "Actually, Ginny," she continued cautiously, "I was wondering if I might reach out to your mother for tea sometime—if you think she'd be up for it."
Ginny cocked her head, her curiosity piqued. Then, as understanding dawned, her features softened into a warm smile. "I think that might be exactly what she needs right now," she said.
May 30, 1998
"It's official, Malfoy is a cockwomble," Vivienne Greaves declared. She shrugged off her leather jacket and bundled it into a makeshift pillow before flopping down into the grass of the Burrow's Quidditch pitch.
"How was that ever still up for debate in your mind, Greaves?" Demelza asked. She sat down beside her with a packet of crisps and adjusted her sunglasses, leaning into the sun.
"He talked so much shit about your family for years, Ginny," Vivienne explained, flicking her short black hair out of her eyes. "But your mum is this secret badass, your dad is the nicest bloke I've ever met, all your brothers are fit—"
"Excuse me?" Ginny sputtered, struggling not to spill her butterbeer. "Which brother is this?" She cast a wary glance Hermione's way, but she didn't seem concerned. In fact, there was a pleased gleam in her eye.
"All of them," Jocelyn Fairweather insisted. She sat up suddenly and gave Ginny a look like she had two heads. "Do you really not know?" She glanced around helplessly. "Hermione, tell her."
"Please no," Ginny begged. "I know I've teased you before. But please."
Hermione chewed her lip, seemingly fighting a grin. "I can't speak to all of her brothers," she began.
"Then don't," Ginny deadpanned.
Vivienne chuckled and reached for a butterbeer. "I'm just saying. After all the shit he talked, it turns out not only is your family way cooler than his—"
Jocelyn raised a bottle of lime-green Sylph-Spritz. "Here here!" She took three huge gulps, causing her fine, ash-blonde hair to stand on end for a moment. She shivered as the bubbles ran through her.
"But you have this great house and an awesome, supportive family, and he gets all shitty because you don't eat Mermaid Caviar and Unicorn Horn Fondue or whatever," Vivienne said.
"I think it had more to do with the fact that his whole bloody family were Death Eaters," Demelza added with a poignantly-timed spit.
"Well fuck them then, too!" Jocelyn declared bluntly. Ginny glanced at her sideways. Jos was not usually one for bold declarations. "They can enjoy their Hippogriff Quiche in Azkaban."
A comfortable silence fell over them, sitting together in the sun, listening to the breeze and the birds.
"I'm so glad I got your floo-call yesterday. I've been bored out of my mind," Jocelyn said with a sigh. Beside her Vivienne murmured her agreement. "Mum grabbed me from Hogsmeade the night of the battle and we ran off to my cousin's place in Kilkenny. Hunkered down with the wireless waiting to hear what happened."
"Disapparated for my grandmum's cottage in the Cotswolds," Vivienne volunteered. There was a hint of regret in her voice, maybe something like shame. "We've been locked up tighter than Filch's arsehole since then.
Ginny blanched.
"Gross," Demelza muttered.
"Mum and Dad wouldn't even let me out to go to the funerals," Vivienne said, anger in her voice. "I tried telling them that if the Minister was there then nothing would happen, but…"
"Doesn't mean much, does it," Demelza muttered. "Not after the year we've had."
Ginny nodded. Their world had gone to shit with the assassination of the Minister for Magic, a former Auror and someone exceedingly well protected. A week without Voldemort would hardly have been enough time to accept the change for most people.
"I wish I'd stayed," Vivienne said, her voice bitter.
"No you don't," Hermione whispered.
"You weren't of-age," Demelza said. "McGonagall wouldn't have let you stay anyway." She swirled her drink thoughtfully before taking a sip. "Mum almost lost it when I said I was staying. Dad still might try to sue her."
"For what?" Ginny goggled.
Demelza rolled. "For respecting her of-age daughter's wishes," she said sarcastically. "And because he's a plonker."
Ginny frowned and shot Demelza a sympathetic look, which she returned with a shrug. Demelza's parents had gone through a rather acrimonious divorce during their third year, and it seemed that even the threat of all-out war hadn't made them much more civil with one another. She supposed it didn't help that Demelza was still so much more like her mother than her father.
"He's still your dad though," Jocelyn said.
Demelza winced, and conceded her point with a nod. Jocelyn's father had been killed during the first war before Jocelyn was even born. Like Harry, everything she knew about him had come second-hand. It made Ginny appreciate her own parents that much more, seeing how they'd stuck together through every difficult moment and supported one another when they were at their worst.
"I thought Luna was joining us," Hermione said, turning to Ginny.
"She said her dad isn't doing very well," Ginny said, remembering the letter she'd received the night before. "Azkaban was…"
"Do you think she feels bad that he turned us in?" Hermione asked.
"He what now?" Jocelyn gasped. "Xeno Lovegood turned? On Harry bloody Potter?"
Ginny winced. That part wasn't exactly public knowledge. "He didn't have much choice," she said quickly.
"The Malfoys had Luna locked up at their manor," Hermione explained. "Ron, Harry, and I freed her, Dean, and Mr. Olivander when we were taken there by Snatchers."
"What the shit?" Demelza goggled, she wheeled around on Ginny. "You didn't tell me that part."
"I say again: fuck the Malfoys," Jocelyn declared, her bottle of Spritz raised high again. There were murmurs of agreement all around.
"It's too bad Anya and Cora couldn't make it today," Vivienne said, clearly pushing for a subject change.
"Studying for their sixth-year catchup," Demelza sighed.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Of course that gets your attention," Demelza said with a roll of her eyes.
Hermione stiffened defensively, but Ginny caught her eye and nodded with a smirk. "She doesn't mean anything by it," Ginny assured her.
Demelza looked confused for a moment before realization dawned on her. "Oh, yeah. That's just what we do," she said. "Give each other shit, you know?" Hermione eyed her warily. "Are you telling me Harry and Ron never took the mickey out of you for all the studying you do?"
"They usually just complain," Hermione mumbled sheepishly. "Didn't stop them from trying to copy my essays though."
"Boys," Demelza and Vivienne said together with a roll of their eyes.
"Cora and Anya are Muggle-born, too," Jocelyn said. "They managed to go into hiding last year. Not exactly sure where. But unless they want to be behind a year they've got a lot of work to do this summer. Like what happened with Hannah Abbot the year before."
"They're cramming a whole year into three months?" Ginny asked.
Demelza shrugged. "Guess so," she said. "Anya said they might have some extra tutoring, too, once the term starts just to make sure they're not behind."
"I'm surprised you didn't go that route, Hermione," Jocelyn said.
"Too much to do this summer," Hermione said with a sigh. "And I wouldn't be able to sit my N.E.W.T.s right away so I figured I might as well…" she trailed off with a shrug.
"Not looking forward to those," Vivienne muttered. "Especially Defense, with the way the Carrows taught it."
"Or didn't," Ginny quipped. Vivienne nodded disappointedly.
Demelza sighed dramatically. "Mum said she'd help me catch up," she said. "But I don't know how much time she'll have these days."
"She must be really busy."
"Lots of new clients," Demelza said with a nod. Her face went sour, "All of a sudden refusing to work those Muggle-baiting jobs is in vogue and everyone wants to hire her. Bloody hypocrites."
"Are you still looking to join her after we graduate?" Jocelyn asked.
Demelza nodded. "Maybe not right away though," she said. "I want to show her and Dad that I can make it on my own merit, you know?"
"I'm considering dropping Defense," Jocelyn admitted, picking at the hem of her shirt awkwardly. "I know it's probably not my smartest idea given everything we've been through, but…" She shook her head. "I never really wanted to take N.E.W.T. level Defense anyway, and when the Carrows required it."
"You shouldn't force yourself to take something you don't enjoy," Hermione said. There were murmurs of agreement all around. "I learned that my third year."
"The time turner thing?" Ginny asked. Hermione nodded with a grimace.
"Time turner? What time turner?" Demelza asked.
"Bit of a long story," Hermione muttered, shifting awkwardly.
Demelza threw her arms up. "Merlin, were you three ever not getting into shit?"
Hermione frowned thoughtfully. "I suppose I never really thought of it that way. We just always seemed to be in the thick of it."
"Who do you think the new Defense Professor is going to be?" Jocelyn asked. "Can't be all that many qualified people left."
"I bet Bill could do it," Ginny said offhandedly. "I think he tutored for Defense some after his seventh year because their professor did such a piss-poor job." She shook her head.
"Think he'd tutor us?" Demelza asked hopefully.
Ginny frowned. "He might not have the time. He's worried about getting back in Gringotts's good graces," she admitted. "Fleur might be able to though."
"She was a Tri-Wizard Champion," Jocelyn nodded.
"Fleur will be looking for work, I'm sure," Hermione pointed out. "But Harry could tutor you. He's not doing anything really until Auror training starts."
"I bet Harry's excited for some one-on-one tutoring sessions, right?" Demelza said teasingly. She dropped her voice to a comically-low octave, "Here, Ginny, try to Expelliarmus my wand."
Hermione snorted loudly, and butterbeer came pouring down from her nose. She descended into a fit of coughing laughter.
Ginny grinned, glad to see Hermione able to relax around her friends. She knew Hermione hadn't had the best luck with friends outside Ron and Harry and would be struggling otherwise in the coming year if they weren't there.
"Do you think the position is still cursed?" Jocelyn wondered.
Ginny glanced at Hermione, who collected herself and shrugged. "Curses can last after a wizard's death," Ginny said tentatively. "That's why Bill was in Egypt, after all. But that also means those curses can be broken more easily without the wizard there to reaffix them."
"Guess we'll find out," Demelza said warily.
"Professor McGonagall is already interviewing teaching candidates for a few different positions," Hermione said.
Demelza's eyes lit with realization. "That's right, you've been going to Hogwarts all week," she said.
"What are you doing at Hogwarts?" Jocelyn asked.
"Research on memory charms," Hermione said with a grimace, but it slowly morphed into a wry grin. "It turns out all the precautions Madam Pince took actually ended up protecting the Library more than most other parts of the school. The shelves are enchanted to resist physical and magical damage, there are anti-fire wards, weather and environmental protection wards, self-repairing charms that fix minor book damage…she even showed me a cataloging spell that allows her to maintain a living inventory. It's really quite spectacular."
"Then why in Merlin's left nut did Pince always give us such a hard time?" Vivienne wondered with an exasperated groan.
Hermione shrugged. as a thoughtful look fell across her face. "Probably the same reason Filch wanted everyone to clean the trophies by hand."
"What do you know about cleaning trophies?" Demelza asked. "Have you ever gotten detention?"
"I've been friends with Ron and Harry since first year," Hermione pointed out.
"Point: Hermione," Vivienne said with a nod.
"So…" Jocelyn began. She looked anxious. "How—how does it look?"
"Hogwarts?" Hermione asked. Jocelyn nodded.
Hermione seemed to chew her words carefully. "Rough," she said, finally settling on an answer. "I feel guilty not helping but…"
Vivienne gave Hermione a sympathetic look. "How much help would we really be anyway," she sighed.
"You're talking to the woman who successfully broke into and out of Gringotts," Ginny said, grinning as Hermione blushed. "On a dragon."
Vivienne chuckled. "Okay, fine. But the rest of us?" she shrugged helplessly. "I think we're better off figuring out how we're going to pass N.E.W.T. Defense with the way last year went. Merlin, we're going to have a few new professors, aren't we?"
Hermione nodded. "Defense, Magical Theory, Transfiguration," she offered. "Professor McGonagall told me Hogwarts has never had to hire this many new staff members. I think she's even started looking for a new Potions Master."
"Really? No Slug Club?" Demelza asked, her eyes shining hopefully.
Ginny bit her lip. As annoying as some of that had been, she'd gotten to meet Gwenog Jones because of Professor Slug's connections. And those connections might come in handy if she were really looking to make a name for herself professionally.
Hermione shrugged. "He says he's going to stay the year to make it easier for Professor McGonagall, but Professor Slughorn is definitely looking to retire again."
Ginny breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that the others hadn't noticed.
"Oh!" Hermione shot up. "And History of Magic."
"Binns retired?" Vivienne asked. "How does a ghost retire?"
"He didn't," Hermione said, leaning close. "He's just…gone."
Vivienne goggled. "Really? Why? How? Where?"
Hermione shrugged. "No one has seen him since the battle," she said. "But a blast destroyed his office. Professor Flitwick thinks that was enough to get him to…move on."
"Cora's going to flip!" Jocelyn exclaimed. "She always said he was wasting the class with all goblin rebellions. There's so much he never bothered covering that is really critical. Especially for Muggle-born students."
"Well I hope his replacement is a bit more progressive then," Hermione muttered.
Demelza grinned. "And alive," she said. She glanced at Vivienne, "You still looking to join the Department of Magical Research and Development after we graduate?"
Vivienne nodded. "Yes, there are some internships that I had thought about applying for this summer. But I don't know what's even left of that department anymore," she said mournfully.
Hermione seemed to perk up. "What's that?" she asked.
"They do a lot with advancing magical knowledge, developing new spells and magical devices," Vivienne said, "things like that. They work with a lot of other departments so there is usually a lot of opportunity to collaborate."
Hermione looked thoughtful. "And you, Demelza? You said you wanted to work in private security?"
"Mum runs HexShield. They specialize in magical protection services," Demelza explained. "They do everything from personal security to warding for private properties—basically, they make sure no one's getting in or out without permission. They have a whole team of HexWeavers who craft these multi-layered, complex wards. A lot of retired Aurors or Hit Wizards end up in the private sector."
"What about you, Jocelyn?" Hermione asked.
"I've always loved Herbology," Jocelyn said, her voice full of enthusiasm. "But lately, I've been thinking about how I could take it further—how I could make plants not just useful, but magical in a more therapeutic way. I want to blend the art of plant-growing with healing—creating gardens that are not just pretty but also help witches and wizards who suffer from magical ailments, like the after-effects of curses or spells gone wrong." She shrugged slightly, her eyes lighting up. "Imagine having a space, a garden, where the plants don't just look good—they've got magical properties to heal, soothe, or even just help people feel more at peace. It'd be like a sanctuary."
"You should've heard Jos and Neville talking about it all last year," Demelza said teasingly. She nudged Jocelyn's shoulder. "I thought the two of them were going to shag about a hundred different times."
"Neville never made a move," Jocelyn said with a sigh. "Too busy leading Dumbledore's Army with Ginny."
"Really?" Hermione asked.
Ginny felt a stab of guilt as she nodded; she'd told Harry all about her year at Hogwarts under Snape and the Carrows. She'd told her parents, too. But she hadn't shared with Hermione or her brothers. A part of her assumed that Harry would tell them himself, except…Harry had barely spent a minute away from her ever since they'd returned to the Burrow.
Guilt turned into a grin. She shared a sympathetic look with Hermione, only to find a similar grin on Hermione's face. No regret, concern, or jealousy. Just an acknowledgment of how things were changing.
Vivienne grinned teasingly. "Oh yeah, there were a ton of rumors. No one who knows either of them would believe it," she shrugged, "but you know how that stuff goes."
"You and Neville?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Oh, come one Hermione," Ginny rolled her eyes. "That would be like you and Harry."
"Ew," Hermione blanched, but her hand shot to her mouth. "Sorry, Ginny. I didn't—"
Ginny was already laughing. "Don't worry, Hermione, I get it," she said between giggles. "It's just funny to think about."
"What about you, Hermione?" Demelza asked. "What are you looking to do after Hogwarts? Other than becoming Minister for Magic."
Hermione's eyes lost focus and her brow furrowed as she considered the question. "I don't know yet. There are so many things I'm interested in," she said. "I love research—"
Ginny couldn't hold in the knowing snort. Hermione shot her an annoyed look that Ginny supposed she'd become even more familiar with over the next year.
"I love magic history, magical creatures, all of that," Hermione continued. "And I could see myself working in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."
"Like with that spew stuff?" Jocelyn asked.
"It's S.P.E.W. actually," Hermione corrected, sounding out each letter individually.
"That's an unbelievably unfortunate acronym," Jocelyn said. "Couldn't you change it?"
"I had already made the buttons and everything," Hermione said, a blush coloring her cheeks. "But I'm also thinking about more than just House Elves. There are a lot of non-human magical creatures that are treated quite unfairly. Especially after Voldemort."
"You'd need a new advocacy group name then," Demelza pointed out.
"I've been thinking something like 'Better Lives for Overworked Beings,'" Hermione mused, picking at the label on her bottle of butterbeer. "Overlooked Beings, maybe."
Demelza snorted. Hermione gave her an affronted look. "Hermione, that's B.L.O.B.—blob."
Hermione's eyes went wide and her face went red. "That was just one idea," she muttered.
"What else you got?" Vivienne asked.
"Society for the Liberation and Integration of Magical Entities," Hermione said, her head held high.
"That's slime, Hermione," Demelza said. Ginny and Vivienne chuckled lightly.
"Defenders of Underrepresented Non-human Gentlefolk?" Hermione offered with just a pinch less confidence.
Demelza's brow furrowed for a beat. "Dung?" she goggled. Jocelyn sputtered and Ginny's hand flew to her mouth to keep from laughing too loudly.
Hermione groaned and fell back into the grass. "Looks like I'll need to put together an Acronym Revision and Selection Endeavor."
"Merlin, Hermione, that spells 'arse'!" Demelza groaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose. Vivienne snorted loudly.
Ginny collapsed into a fit of giggles. "Hermione, how are you so bad at this?"
"I have other strengths," she mumbled. "Maybe I'll have someone else do it for me."
"The famous Hermione brain I've heard so much about finally makes an appearance!" Vivienne laughed.
Hermione chuckled ruefully and sat up straighter. "Part of me also wants to continue fighting for the rights of Muggle-borns. It's...important to me. Maybe it's selfish, but…especially now, you know?" She paused, almost as if unsure of how much she wanted to share, but then gave a small shrug. "I guess we'll see where the future takes me. I'm just not ready to settle on any one thing yet."
"You're going to be Minister by the time you're forty-five," Jocelyn said assuredly, flopping back onto the grass. "Mark my words."
"What about you, Gin-Gin?" Demelza asked.
"I dunno yet," Ginny said feigning nonchalance with a shrug. She cautioned a glance at Hermione, wondering if she'd figured things out or if Harry might have shared her plans. But Hermione only nodded understandingly, still lost in thought herself. "I'm keeping my options open."
Next time: Chapter 12 - A Weasley Sibling Sendoff
AN: Hello again! Decided to post this one early since it's a bit of a lighter, less-going-on chapter. Really just wanted to focus a bit more on Andi and Ginny's friends since they'll be showing up more down the line. Someone asked why Ginny might be nervous about meeting with Andi, so I hope this shed some light on that.
We've almost reached the end of what I call the "reconciliation" period after the Battle of Hogwarts. Next comes "task based recovery." I'm really excited to get that in front of everyone that's followed along and reviewed since the start of this. I feel like the Harry Potter universe is so untapped when it comes to world building and possibility, so I'm excited to get rolling with that.
As always, read and review, and let me know your thoughts!