PhoenixSong.net :: A Harry/Ginny Fanfic and Fanart Archive

Author: parakletos

Story: Twelve Months

Part: 29: Preparations

Rating: Teens

Setting: Pre-OotP

Status: WIP

Reviews: 28

Words: 7,086

Progress Notes: I've only just started the chapter and progress is, unfortunately,very slow.

Updated: October 26, 2008, 5:40pm

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29: Preparations

It was early, far too early for Ginny’s liking. And as if to prove her point, even in central London, Harry’s bedroom was still in complete darkness. Of course, that was probably due to the Obscuration Charms he’d applied to them because, whether it was three in the afternoon or three in the morning, central London was always lit up like a Christmas tree.

But despite the ungodly hour, like the tap, tap of an insistent owl at the window, her bladder demanded that she leave the sprawled embrace of her fiancé and brave the not-so-comfortable temperatures of a flat where the central heating wasn’t on unless another ice age was threatened.

And so, with great reluctance, and after another five minutes of increasingly painful denial, she did just that. The clock on her side of the bed told her it was just gone five and in another hour or so, both of them would need to be up and planning their day. The room was not cold, but after leaving the shared warmth of Harry’s bed, the air felt chill against her naked skin. As she finished in the bathroom, she contemplated having a shower to get an early start to what was bound to be an eventful day, but as she looked at the ring on her finger, a smile brightened her still-sleepy face and she decided to return to her future husband.

As she snuggled under the duvet, she grinned as she felt Harry’s warm hand snake across her stomach. She waited with growing anticipation to see if it would rest there or whether it was merely a precursor to bolder, more intimate explorations of her body. But to her disappointment, his hand did not move and the gentle snore that followed indicated that he was still lost in the land of dreams. For a moment she considered using her feminine wiles to rouse him, but as she brushed ‘innocently’ against the intended focus of her attentions, its size told her that he too would be waking soon without her ministrations.

She rolled over onto her back, pulling the twelve-tog duvet up to her neck, anxious to regain as much of the warmth she had lost in her trip to the bathroom as possible and return to her rudely interrupted slumber.

They had been emotionally worn out from the events of the day so it was still early when they had retired for the night. But the desire to celebrate their engagement was far stronger than the need to sleep, and it wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that they had allowed their sated bodies to surrender to the then-undeniable requirement to rest. But try as she might, sleep would not come again, and despite her now-practised efforts to quiet her mind, she found herself wondering what else the next few months held for her.

Initially, of course, they had to inform the rest of her family. She did not foresee any difficulties there other than her mother’s desire to start planning the wedding as soon as possible. Even her father had, thankfully, come to accept the inevitable and would raise few, if any, objections. No, the difficulties would begin to arise once the information became public knowledge.

Fully aware of the feeding frenzy that would accompany their news, they had, upon returning to the flat, tried to contact Penny and Percy via the Floo Network to discuss both the content and mechanics of releasing a statement to the press. When they discovered that the couple were not at home, they settled for second best and sent Hedwig with a message asking Percy and Penny to contact them as soon as they returned. Thankfully, when Percy’s head had appeared in the fireplace, he had interrupted nothing more interesting than an Indian takeaway and a few bottles of butterbeer.

Upon Percy’s suggestion, it had been agreed that Harry and Ginny would meet with all the staff at 3W the following morning at eight o’clock to make sure that they were prepared for the inevitable media onslaught. During the conversations, Ginny had noticed how insightful and excited Percy had become once the discussion had begun. She reflected that, for a brother who had spent most of his school life with his nose stuck in a book, he appeared to have a very good understanding of people’s motivations and how the news should best be handled.

This was the thought that now occupied Ginny’s mind as she contemplated her own future, not just as Mrs Potter, but in fulfilling her desire to play Quidditch rather than act as a manager and agent. When she had discussed the matter with Harry he had only been encouraging.

“Playing wouldn’t be the problem, Ginny; it’ll be finding someone to replace you as my manager. And let’s not forget that Shalma wanted you to take her on as well.”

And that had stopped the discussion in it tracks. Who would they trust to look after the both of them, let alone Shalma? Now, as she replayed the discussion between the four of them, she began to see a solution to her problem. Could Penny and Percy take over the managerial duties that she currently performed for Harry? They could certainly be trusted, and Penny was far better at running an office than she was. Plus, Percy would be in his element as the gamekeeper turned poacher, taking on the stuffed shirts that were causing them so many problems.

They didn’t need to rush into anything; after all, the season still had more than two months left. That would give them plenty of time to ensure a smooth hand-over, enabling her to begin training in preparation for a full trial during the summer. She knew that the coaches at Puddlemere were aware of her talent at school, and that Harry would find it easy to request a trial at the Vikings – if he remained at the club- but ever since she had first ridden a broom, she had wanted to play for the Holyhead Harpies.

She knew that he would be disappointed if they weren’t on the same team but, given the Harpies poster that still adorned the wall in her bedroom, he wouldn’t be surprised. She also knew that it wouldn’t cause any real problems in the long term; he had always encouraged her to be her own witch and she knew that ultimately she could count on his full support.

The satisfaction that she felt in solving that particular conundrum faded as sleep continued to elude her. Frustrated at her inability to fall asleep, she rolled over so that she was facing him. As she watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest, she found herself wondering what she had done in a previous life to end up engaged to Harry Potter. There had been so many ups and downs in their relationship, not the least in the last six months, that she often wondered why Harry put up with her. But here she was, wearing his ring, lying in his bed and about to announce their forthcoming marriage to the world.

She looked at the clock by the side of the bed again; although it still far too early for her liking, she was determined not be listening the dawn chorus alone. Plus, it did seem a shame to waste the time that they had together. Planting a soft kiss on his stubbly chin, she slipped her hand over his still sleeping form. To her delight, she discovered that her earlier assumption was incorrect and the way was clear to wake him in the most intimate way possible.

~*~

“Mum?” called Ginny as she poked her head into Harry’s fireplace. “Are you up yet?” She tried to make her voice sound as upbeat as possible so that her mum wouldn’t assume the worse. The loud crash and the scurrying of feet told her that she hadn’t succeeded.

“Of course I am, dear,” came her mother’s distant but nonetheless concerned reply. A few moments later her mother’s anxious face appeared in the flames.

“Is everything okay, Ginny dear?” Concern filled every syllable of her mother’s question.

“Everything’s fine, Mum.”

She met her mother’s worries with a contented smile.

“More than fine, actually. Can you stretch to having two more for breakfast? Only Harry and I have some news.”

She watched as several very contrasting emotions flashed across her mother’s face.

She’s trying to decide whether I’m about to tell her I’m pregnant or I’m getting married … or both.

“Not a problem,” her mother replied, her voice betraying her unease. “I’ll go and rouse your father.” And without saying ‘goodbye’, she disappeared from view.

Ginny pulled her head out of the fireplace and turned to Harry, who was standing behind her trying, but failing, not to laugh.

“You were right; she does think you’re pregnant,” he laughed. “By the way,” he added with a smirk, “when are the kittens due?”

Ginny gave him a sardonic smile.

“I’d keep that sort of remark to yourself, Mr Potter, unless you want to be neutered.”

Harry covered his groin with both hands and put on his best horrified expression.

“No thanks, Ginny, I’d like to keep the family jewels intact if I can.”

His look of horror was replaced with a wide grin and she found herself laughing along with his buffoonery.

“Well,” she said getting serious again, “they’re up. Are you sure you want to do this?”

He nodded.

“As soon as I turn up for training, people will see my ring and then all hell will break loose. I don’t want your mum and dad to find out third hand. The same for the rest of the family.”

He paused for a moment and then added:

“Are you sure that Ron will be there?”

Although Harry wasn’t as close to her brother as he had been, she knew that it was important to him that he was able to tell Ron in person rather than have him find out from a stranger, or, worse still, from the press.

“I think so,” she replied.

Then it was her turn to be nervous.

“You did send those notes to everyone else, didn’t you?”

He reached out and grasped her hand, pulling her to him.

“Hedwig is probably delivering the last one about now,” he said as he gave her a reassuring hug.

She stayed in his embrace for a few moments, enjoying the comfort and security it brought. Last night she hadn’t a care in the world, caught up as she was in the euphoria of their engagement and the passionate celebration that had ensued. Even the discussion with Penny and Percy hadn’t dampened her good mood. This might have been because, whilst Harry had attempted to talk to his brother-in-law to be, she had stood out of sight of the fireplace discarding her clothing and treating Harry to his very own burlesque show. But now that she had left the comfort of their bed, the reality of what they were about to face was becoming more real to her. The impending onslaught that their announcement would bring had the ability to overwhelm them if they weren’t careful and that frightened her.

“Do you think that Hermione will be able to make it to the office?” Ginny asked.

She was sure that it felt strange to Harry to be doing something as major as this without his bookish friend on hand to examine every angle to death, but part of her was glad. Although Hermione was her friend too, in her view there could be no Mr and Mrs Potter if the trio remained as important to Harry as it had through his years at Hogwarts.

He planted a kiss on the top of head and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

“I think she’ll be okay, she normally finds a way. And besides, I’m sure her curiosity will ensure that she’s there to hear it all first hand.”

She wriggled out of his embrace and, taking his hands in hers, gave him a wink and a smile.

“Let’s go then.”

She walked towards the fireplace, but as she grabbed a handful of Floo powder, she turned and added with a smile:

“Be on your best behaviour: no spraying, please.”

And with that, she tossed the powder into the fire and stepped into the green flames.

~*~

When they arrived at The Burrow, they were greeted not by the usual organised chaos that accompanied Molly as she prepared breakfast for her family, but the sight of Ginny’s parents sitting at the kitchen table clutching steaming mugs of tea whilst they carried on a whispered conversation. They were so deeply occupied by their conversation that Ginny was able to Summon the tea pot from the work surface where it sat wrapped in its ‘World’s Best Mum’ tea cosy. This was followed to the table by three mugs and a bottle of milk. As the teapot landed, her parents looked up and greeted the new arrivals with a cautious nod.

Puzzled by their less than enthusiastic welcome, Ginny turned to Harry for reassurance but was met with an equally quizzical expression. He shrugged his shoulders at her before taking a seat at the table. She attempted to communicate with him using her Legilimency but his only response was to send her back feelings of love and reassurance.

Somewhat disgruntled, she sat down next to him resisting the urge to kick him for his non-verbal response to her. As they were pouring their drinks, they were joined by a very sleepy Ron who looked even less pleased than normal to be up before midday. He sat down with a yawn before claiming the spare mug and helping himself to a cup from the pot.

Everyone watched intently as he added milk and three heaped spoons of sugar to the liquid before stirringly it rigorously. Slowly becoming aware that he was the centre of attention he looked up.

“Sorry, guys,” he said, trying but failing to stifle another yawn, “I was an official observer at the Cannons game last night, didn’t get home before one in the morning.”

There was an awkward silence as Ron slurped his tea and Ginny began to regret their decision to announce everything so formally. As she started down at her mug, it was her mother that broke the silence.

“Well, Ginny, Harry, what do you have to tell us?”

She could see that her mother was bracing herself for a shock. Despite her parents support during her earlier pregnancy scare, she knew that being told her only daughter was pregnant and unmarried would not be welcomed by her mum. Ginny looked to Harry who nodded that she should proceed.

“We’re engaged, Mum,” she said and held out her left hand to show off her ring.

In an instant, the awkwardness that had dominated the proceedings so far disappeared as quickly as if someone had cast a Banishment Charm on it.

“Oh, Ginny, that’s wonderful!” declared Molly, a beaming grin on her face as she rose to envelope her daughter in a hug.

Arthur stood, his smile not as broad as his wife’s, but his pleasure was just as apparent. He held out his hand to Harry.

“Congratulations, Harry,” he said as he shook the younger man’s hand. “I know that we’ve had our ups and downs over the last six months, but I know now that you love Ginny as much as she loves you.”

He paused for a moment as if the effort of continuing to be so positive towards Harry was an effort.

“Welcome to the family,” he finished as he let go of Harry’s hand. There was an awkward pause during which both of them looked around the room uncomfortably.

“Thank you, Arthur,” Harry finally managed to reply. Further embarrassment was avoided by Molly’s effusive questioning of her daughter.

“So,” Molly asked Ginny, “was it romantic? Did he get down on one knee when he proposed?”

Ginny turned towards her husband-to-be, who laughed before speaking.

“No, Molly. We were in my vault at Gringotts and Ginny proposed to me.”

As they had predicted, Molly Weasley looked horrified.

“Ginny! What were you thinking of?”

Before her mother could build up a head of steam, Ginny stopped her.

“That Harry was going to do what I’d asked him to-”

“And that was?” interrupted her mother, impatient for more details.

“If you’d let me finish, you would know by now,” she replied, more forcefully than she intended.

“Sorry, Ginny, it’s just that…well, continue, please.”

“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted,” she replied, glaring at her mother. She felt Harry’s hand on her shoulder and his presence in her mind calming her down. Taking a deep breath she pressed on.

“Harry had agreed that he would wait until August before proposing again and I decided that I didn’t want to wait that long. And besides, yesterday was Leap Year’s Day.”

She folded her arms across her chest and waited for her mother’s response. As if sensing that this was neither the time nor the place to talk about the etiquette of marriage proposals, her mum remained silent. Ron, however, with a sense of timing and delivery that would impress the most seasoned of comics, broke the tension that was threatening to build.

“I see Ginny’s starting as she means to go on, Harry,” said Ron with a smile. “It’s a good job you’re the Most Powerful Wizard Alive,” he joked, “otherwise I think you’d have trouble with her.”

His remark earned him a Basilisk-level stare from his sister, but he merely shrugged his shoulders at her and returned to slurping his tea.

The initial excitement of the announcement over, Mrs Weasley rose and, pulling out her wand, began breakfast. Soon the five of them were back together at the table chatting and eating as Ginny and Harry told them more about the proposal. Throughout the conversation, Ginny could see that her mother was itching to ask about the details of the wedding but Ginny was determined to have that discussion another day.

In the end it was Ron who asked the question his mother had wanted answered.

“Have you decided when you want to get married and where?”

Ginny bristled with indignation and made a point of looking at the clock as if she could avoid answering by announcing a pressing engagement. Harry came to her rescue. Recognising that it was his mother-in-law-to-be that was more interested in his reply rather than his friend, Harry addressed his answer to her.

“No, we haven’t actually. It’ll probably be in the summer, after the season is over, but as there’s still a chance that I can make the England team, we might need to wait until August.”

“And,” Ginny added quickly before her mother could respond, “we only want a small wedding, close friends and family only.”

“Ginny,” replied her mother, irking her daughter with her patronising tone of voice, “there are a great many people who would love to be invited to your wedding. It’s not often a Weasley girl gets married, especially-”

“--Especially not to The Boy Who Lived,” added Ron with a mischievous grin.

“We know that, Molly,” said Harry quickly, “but we have discussed this and it has to be that way or everything will get out of hand. It’s either that,” he paused for dramatic effect and then added with a smile, “or we elope.”

~*~

It was funny, thought Harry as he surveyed the chattering witches and wizards of him, how things never really turn out how you thought they would.

In the few moments of peace that Ginny had afforded him last night, his main concern about today was how Ginny’s parents would react to their engagement. In particular, he was worried that the rapprochement he had had with Arthur would prove to be no more than temporary and that when his blessing was sought for the marriage, Harry would find the man less than willing to do so.

As it had turned out, Arthur, although nowhere near as pleased as his wife, nonetheless made it clear that his daughter was marrying Harry with his blessing. No, what was making him more nervous was standing in front of the employees of 3W knowing that his announcement was going to make a significant and possibly unpleasant impact upon their lives. It was clear to him that, in the coming weeks and months -- and possibly years -- anyone who worked for him or Ginny or was associated with them, would be seen as fair game by the press. And in announcing their engagement, Harry and Ginny were asking the employees to put up with a great deal.

The idea that they should have eloped, regardless of Molly’s reaction, had never seemed more attractive.

At the back of the room the fireplace flared the customary green as it disgorged Hermione Granger into the room. She stood quickly, brushing the soot and cinder from her robes before searching for Harry. Once their eyes made contact, she smiled warmly at him. Nodding in greeting, he turned to address the others.

He felt in some ways like a general addressing his troops, and to some extent that was true. They were going to war; it would be him and Ginny together with the Weasleys and a few others against the rest of the Wizarding world. It wasn’t just Barnabus Cuffe that they were fighting against, or even the corruption within the ministry. No, as they waited patiently him them to start, he realised that, as it became clear that he was prepared to let a Quidditch team go to the wall or be subject to a hostile takeover, the Prophet and therefore Cuffe would have a field day. And once again, the Wizarding public would line up to join in the vilification of their former saviour.

“Thank you all for coming in early this morning, and welcome to Percy and Hermione as well. We’ve called you all here for two reasons; firstly, Ginny has asked and I have agreed to become her husband, and secondly-”

“Hang on, Harry,” said Hermione. “What do you mean Ginny asked and you agreed?”

“Yesterday was Leap Year’s Day,” answered Ginny with an ill-disguised smirk, “so I did the asking. That way we didn’t have to wait until August when Harry could ask me again.”

Harry wasn’t sure if others were able to pick up the intonation in Ginny’s voice, but it was clear that she was taking great delight in having finally secured her position as the most important witch in Harry’s life. It wasn’t that she was being vindictive; it was just that he could tell that she wanted to show off her ring to the whole world. The fact that she had done the asking made it even more special. He supposed that someone who was less secure than he was would feel threatened by Ginny’s propriotorial approach, but he couldn’t care less. As far as he was concerned, they had been as good as married for a long time and it made no difference to him who proposed to whom. And if Ginny wanted to boast that she was going to be Harry Potter’s wife, that was fine by him too.

“Which ever way round you want to look at it, we’re engaged to be married and we wanted you to know before you read it in the press.”

There was a brief pause and Percy took the opportunity to add his congratulations.

“Let me say how pleased I am, Harry, that Ginny has chosen such a fine person as your good self for her life-long partner. I was overjoyed when your owl arrived last night bringing your good news.”

“Thank you, Percy. If we can be as happy as you and Penny, then I’m sure we have some great years ahead of us.”

“Yeah, well done, mate,” declared George. “That’ll keep our mother off our backs for a little while longer.”

“Congratulations to both of you,” beamed Hermione. “You didn’t mention anything about this in your last letter, Ginny. When did you decide to propose?”

“About ten seconds before I did.”

“And where were you when you did it, somewhere romantic?”

“Harry’s Gringotts vault.”

Hermione made to ask further questions but before she could continue, Harry spoke.

“The next few weeks are going to get a bit tricky. The press will go overboard about the engagement and I’m sure Ginny will come in for a fair bit of flack. We’ve also got other problems brewing with Cuffe and both Puddlemere and the Vikings that I won’t go into for the moment, but you all need to be prepared for when the shit hits the fan.”

“What sort of problems?” asked Hermione.

Harry glanced at Elspeth and the other staff before turning back to Hermione to reply.

“They are a bit long and complex, and now is not really the time to discuss them.”

“And,” added Ginny, “we need to sort out other stuff before the press release goes out.”

Harry could tell that Hermione was disappointed, and he felt a little guilty that she was no longer privy to the machinations that had become part and parcel of his existence.

“So,” asked Harry, turning to Penny, “did you manage to cobble together a press release?”

“With Percy’s assistance, yes I did, manage to cobble something together. He also had a number of very useful suggestions which I think it would be in your best interests to listen to.”

“Okay, Percy,” responded Harry, “we’re all ears.”

“Yes, speak, O Wise One,” said Fred.

“Amaze us with your wit and wisdom,” added George.

“Shut up, you two,” shouted Ginny. “Merlin, do you two have to prattle on like three-year-olds all the time?”

“Three-year-olds?”

“Three-year-olds?!”

“I’ve have you know, almost spouse of our partner, that we are three and three-quarters if we’re a day.”

They made to continue, but the combined stares of Harry, Ginny and Penny succeeded in silencing them.

“Thank you, Harry, Ginny. Firstly, I think we need a photo to go with the press release, preferably more than one so each publication can have its own. I’ve selected a few from those you forwarded to me; all I need is your agreement.”

Ginny looked over to Harry. “That’s okay; I don’t see a problem with that. Do you, Harry?”

He nodded his agreement. “No, sounds fine to me. Ginny, can I leave it to you to select the best ones?”

Her agreement came in the form of a gentle nod and smile.

“Ok, that’s settled; go on, Percy.”

“Secondly, you will be asked for interviews, which I think you should decline.”

“Decline?” asked Ginny, “I’m all for staying away from the press, but aren’t we supposed to be taking this opportunity to get our point of view across first, rather than rely on a bunch of lazy hacks who will rehash whatever crap they dished up last time?”

Percy nodded. “Eloquent as ever, my dear sister, but if you allow me to continue, you will see that there is method in my madness.”

“So you admit you’re mad then?” said George.

“‘Bout time,” added Fred.

“When Pinky and Perky have quite finished...”

“Sorry, O Wise One. Please forgive our trespass against you. We will don the hair shirt and undertake a pilgrimage to your place of birth, walking only on the second and fourth toe of each foot and - “

The rest of their nonsense was lost as Ginny’s patience ran out and she cast a Silencing Charm.

“Thank you, Ginny. Now, as I was saying: Instead, you should let the interview go to the highest bidder with the proceeds going to a charity of your choice. You also get to vet the questions to make sure they are not too intrusive.”

“I can’t say I’m enamoured with the idea of talking to the press,” said Harry, “but needs must, I suppose. Anyhow, I can see how it would make sense. Go on.”

“And finally, you need to cultivate your own press contacts. I know it sounds a bit manipulative, but everyone needs a ‘pet’ journalist that you can use for your own ends. You give then exclusives every so often and, in return, you can ensure that when someone else is printing rubbish about you, you can counter it.”

“How do you suggest we go about doing that?” asked Ginny.

“Well, the whole exercise with the exclusive article can be used to vet the journalists. They can be made aware that if this goes well, there will be other exclusives.”

As the discussions continued, Harry noticed Hermione hanging around in the background. It was a testimony to how much their relationship had changed over the last six months that she was no longer prominent in helping him formulate his plans. He knew that was partly because he now spent so much time with Ginny; in fact, she had effectively replaced both Ron and Hermione as his closest friend and co-conspirator. But as he watched the others in the room volunteer their own ideas and suggestions, he realised that the role normally played by Hermione was also being filled by Penny and, it appeared, by Percy. He also had the Weasley twins’ brains to pick and, of course, his own solicitor, Malcolm Simons. He wondered whether the role that Hermione had always fulfilled would be one that he needed her to fulfil these days.

After a while, he noticed that there was a lull in the conversation and that attention was focused on him. A quick glance at the clock on the wall told him that he needed to leave or he was going to be late for practice.

“Thanks for coming today,” he began. “There is still a lot of planning to do, but I’ll leave that to Ginny to coordinate with you as I have to get off to practice.” He turned to Ginny and asked, “Is that all right with you, dear?”

“Isn’t that what you pay me for?” she said with a smile.

“According to the last set of accounts that I saw, I am not paying you anything,” he said with a laugh.

“Well, you need to bring yourself up to date, Mr Potter,” she replied, broadening her smile into a grin. “Because the latest set of accounts has a new item entitled ‘Director’s Drawings’.”

“That explains a lot. I wondered where all references to Madam Malkin’s had gone. I’d half expected to walk past and find it all boarded up.”

He swayed to avoid the obligatory playful punch that she aimed at him before grabbing her arm and pulling her close to him for a kiss.

“Don’t have too much fun without me.”

“I’ll try, but I’m sure that Percy will make us all behave.”

He headed towards the door leading to the shop where he could safely Apparate and left Ginny to lead her brothers and Penny into her office for more detailed deliberations. As he approached the door, he noticed Hermione waiting there for him, her arms folded and a wistful expression on her face.

As he drew close, her expression changed, and the knowing smile that had been his companion, especially in his early years in Hogwarts, let him know that all was well. By the time he had reached her, her arms were open and she drew him into a friendly hug.

“You’ve changed, Harry,” said Hermione with a smile as she let go of him.

“For the better?” he asked, returning her smile.

“Yes, for the better. Did you think that I’d say anything else?”

“Well, it was you, me and Ron for such a long time...”

“... and now it’s you and Ginny.”

“Yeah, I suppose it is. I realised when everyone got here this morning, how few people were here that I was friends with at Hogwarts. I barely see Ron any more and I haven’t seen you in ages. Where did it go wrong, Hermione?”

“It didn’t go wrong, Harry. There is nothing wrong with you and Ginny taking time together. Merlin knows you’ve had little enough time for that.”

“But I didn’t mean to do it to the exclusion of my friends.”

“But you didn’t,” she replied with a wry smile. “Some of us chose to move away.”

“I always wondered why you’d done that.”

“I did it because I thought that I needed a life away from all that I’d been living for the last seven years. You know, out of your shadow, no longer part of the Golden Trio, away from all the attention. But you know what I found, Harry?”

“No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“That I never was in your shadow, all that was in my mind. Yes, you were the one that got rid of Voldemort, but Ron and I and everyone else are recognised for the part they played. And I found that wherever I went, and whoever I spoke to, I was always that Hermione Granger. Running away from you and Ron was only running away from myself. I am whom I am, and I’m proud of the part I played.”

“You were never in my shadow, Hermione. How could the brightest witch in my generation be in anyone’s shadow?”

“I know it sounds silly now, but it’s something we all have to work through; Ron and I, and, I suspect, Ginny, as well.”

He was unsure how to respond to her. Experience had shown him that he always underestimated the effect he had on people and it seemed strange to him that his closest companions in school would find it difficult just being his friend.

“Look, Hermione,” he said awkwardly, “I have to go now or else I’ll be late, but it would be good to get together sometime and catch up. You can tell me about uni, and why you decided to come back to work at the Ministry.”

“That would be good, Harry, when would you suggest?”

“I know Penny and Ginny are trying to arrange a get together at The Burrow in the next couple of weeks, do you want to pop over then? I’m sure we could find a chance to slip away for a bit.”

Hermione looked disappointed at his suggestion, and he wondered if she felt slighted as he hadn’t invited her to dine at one of the many restaurants that appeared in the society pages of the Prophet. He wished he could take her out for a meal but, given the events that were about to unfold, there was no way he could do that.

He watched as her eyes betrayed the internal battle between her oft-suppressed emotions that wanted the affirmation that his taking her out into public would bring and her knowledge that such a meeting would be a gift to their enemies. In the end logic won but, from the expression on her face, it was a close call.

“Okay, Harry, it’s a date,” she replied eventually.

He leaned forward and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll make sure that you get an invite,” he answered as the clock on the wall chimed the half hour. “Look, I’m sorry, Hermione, but I must dash.”

“Sure, Harry. I’ll see you soon, then.”

And, with that, Harry left the offices and a soft pop later he was gone.

~*~

Ginny looked over her shoulder and watched Harry head towards the door. Throughout the morning she had been aware that Hermione had felt somewhat on the periphery of events. She found it hard to suppress a feeling of satisfaction that the relationships that were important to Harry now were not the ones on which he had relied in Hogwarts.

Although she and Harry had shared a bed for his final two years at school, the support they gave each other was more emotional than practical and, although she was party to a lot of the discussions that went on, she had been happy to sit and listen. She supposed that it was partly because she didn’t quite believe that she was the one that Harry had chosen. In fact, even today, she found it nothing short of amazing that he had chosen her above all others.

As Harry drew close to the door, she noticed that Hermione was waiting for him. She wondered if Hermione was about to make a scene but when she saw them embrace she knew that Hermione had accepted the new status quo.

She led her brothers and Penny into her office and, after closing the door behind her, drew her wand and sealed it tightly. She then cast a variety of silencing spells and charms so that they couldn’t be overheard before taking her place behind her desk.

She looked up and noticed that the others were looking expectantly at her. It was a strange position to be in; after all, hadn’t she spent most of her life being the baby of the family and not being allowed to do what she really wanted to? And yet, here were three of her brothers looking to her leadership. If the matter that they were going to discuss hadn’t been so serious, she would have laughed.

“Let’s begin, shall we? If it’s agreeable, I’ll sum up where I think we are and then I’ll turn things over to Percy to give you the details.”

When the others nodded their approval, she continued.

“There are a number of rather important things going on in the Wizarding world which some of you are aware of and some of you are not. More specifically, there are moves afoot within the Quidditch league to take over the various teams, and Harry and I have been asked by certain parties to get involved. We have declined to do so and that has, to say the least, upset a few people.

“I won’t go into the details just now, but you need to know the truth because what you will read in the press over the coming weeks and months will be mainly lies and it will paint Harry and me and, by association, my family and this company, in a very poor light. I’ll now turn the floor over to Percy, who can give you a bit more detail on this.”

As Ginny nodded in Percy’s direction, her brother smiled at everyone with uncharacteristic nervousness before taking a deep breath and starting to speak.

“Ginny has alluded to the unfolding events in the Wizarding world, specifically in the world of Quidditch. It is important that you know the details of what is going on because the press is, as Ginny said, going to go to town on this.

“Barnabas Cuffe, proprietor of the Daily Prophet, has been using various third parties and a number of offshore companies to try to take over one or more of the Quidditch teams in the league. The two teams he has targeted are Puddlemere United and the Valia Vikings. You will note that both these teams are connected with Harry, something we believe is not coincidental.

“For some time now, we have been aware that Cuffe has been controlling things behind the scenes in the Department of Magical Games and Sports and also in the league. He has also done his best to control Harry and Ginny. Thankfully, both are made of sterner stuff than he had imagined and, following his failure to blackmail them, he has turned his attention elsewhere.

“He is now engineering a takeover of either Puddlemere or the Vikings to try to put Harry in an invidious position so that he loses people’s goodwill and trust. He hopes Harry will end up being thrown out of the team and will no longer be a threat to him.

“We have, so far, been unable to find any proof of the web of corruption that Cuffe has woven, at least, proof that will stand up in court. We do, however, know that the means by which Cuffe is taking over the teams is in direct violation of league rules. Because he is the owner of the Daily Prophet, he cannot own 10% or more of any of team and thus be able to influence the agreements that are negotiated with WWN.”

“The Prophet doesn’t broadcast the games,” said Fred, a puzzled look on his face, “so how can that cause a problem?”

“A fair question and one that I shall attempt to answer. It’s taken a while, but we’ve been able to establish that the company that owns the Prophet has, via a number of shell companies, built up a controlling interest in the Wizarding Wireless Network. We don’t have the hard evidence to back this up, but the circumstantial evidence is compelling. The key point is that if he owns 10% or more of the team, then he is in the position to influence the contract negotiations in favour of his preferred bidder. . It doesn’t matter that there are no other bidders; all that matters is that he can affect the team’s decision to accept or reject the offer that they are being made.”

“So we can’t get him for corruption, but we can get him for conflict of interest?” asked Ginny. “What good will that do?”

“In itself,” said Penny, “not a lot. Given the control he has over things, he’ll probably escape with a rap over the knuckles. But what it will give is a chance for some other part of the Ministry to conduct an investigation in his affairs.”

“That,” added Percy, “is assuming that we can ensure that none of his cronies are involved. If that is the case then we should be able to find all the evidence we need.”

“And if we can’t?” asked Ginny.

Percy turned to Penny who, after a brief pause, gave Ginny her answer.

“Then we better hope that Harry has enough money to buy a desert island for us all to live on because no where else will be safe.”

~*~

A/N: Thank you for your patience, those of you who have been waiting for this chapter; I hope it’s worth the wait.

Thanks to Dave, Michelle and Sherry for the beta work on this and to Treowe's LJ friends for support when suicide really did seem painless.

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