Chapter 3
“Good, you’re awake,” Harry said promptly, nodding at Ron and standing with the warmed plate and mug he’d had ready for at least an hour. Ron groaned.
“Harry, it’s nine am on the day after we’ve fought a bloody huge battle, for the second fucking time in a week. What could be so bloody pressing?”
Harry swept out of the room, ignoring Ron. “Always a joy in the morning, Ron,” Harry said. Harry heard Ron’s loud groan as he too joined them. They trekked up three flights of stairs and headed into Sirius’ old chambers. Ron followed behind him, watching as Harry flicked his hand to open the curtains.
“Fuck off, Harry,” a bleary voice protested from the bed. Harry half-smiled and went to perch on the side of the bed Ginny had slept in.
“I brought tea and breakfast.” Ginny let out a huge groan and Harry pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Need to talk to you.” She continued to grumble but did open her eyes to confirm what he was offering her. She scowled and leaned up to kiss him. “Good morning.”
“Morning, love,” Ginny responded, her voice gravelly, wiggling so she could sit up and take a sip of the tea before handing it back to him.
“Good morning,” Ron said loudly, scowling at them both and reaching to steal a piece of Ginny’s toast. Harry pulled himself up onto the bed and Ginny moved over, taking away the breakfast and tucking in, slapping Ron’s hand away as he tried to snaffle a sausage.
“What’s up then?” Ginny asked, mouth full of food.
Harry watched her, vaguely disgusted. “We need to talk about the locket.”
“The fake locket,” Ron said, stepping slightly closer. He eyed the bed with unease. Harry pulled the locket out of his pocket and opened it up, passing Ginny the note. “You have already showed us this.”
“I know,” Harry said impatiently. “But this is our only clue. We have to find a way to move forward.” Ginny looked up at him with sleepy, brown eyes and he leaned across to kiss her.
“Enough of that!” Ron complained, finally reaching the end of the bed. Harry rolled his eyes at Ron and stole his own piece of toast from the plate he’d made up for Ginny. “Pass me that bloody note, Ginny.”
“Didn’t know you could read,” Ginny murmured. Harry snorted and he received a wounded look from Ron.
“Just because you’re shagging her doesn’t mean you have to laugh when she’s not funny,” Ron said snidely, clearing his throat as he returned to the note. Harry watched him, a bit hurt, only turning when he felt a hand on his arm.
Ginny looked up at him earnestly. “Just so you know, love, shagging me is the exact reason you have to laugh at my sleepy, subpar jokes.” Harry snorted and stole half of a sausage. Ginny slapped his hand and he flinched away, stuffing the sausage in his mouth as she scowled.
“RAB,” Ron said, muttering. “There can’t be that many families with surnames beginning with B.”
“Boot,” Ginny offered, “Bagshot.”
“Bell,” Harry suggested, thinking of Katie. Ginny tutted, grabbing the note back from Ron, almost spilling her breakfast. She grabbed her tea from Harry, had a long slurp and passed it back to him.
“Who would be the only people to call Tom ‘the Dark Lord’?” Ginny asked.
“Death eaters,” Harry said, furrowing his brow, “but-”
“And who do we know were involved with Tom?”
“Lots of people,” Harry said impatiently, “so-”
“But whose house are we in right now?”
“Ginny, one more stupid, smug question and I’m leaving you,” Harry said, tugging the note back from her. She crumpled her nose up at him and continued to tuck into her breakfast. “We get it. You’re a genius. Just tell us what you want to say.”
Ginny shrugged, brushing her shoulder with a pretence of not caring. Harry rolled his eyes and tugged away her breakfast plate, only giving it back when she nodded insistently. “There’s a big family tree downstairs. Let’s go and look at that. Then at least we can rule one family out.” Harry jumped up. “Genuinely, Harry, if I can’t finish this breakfast, I won’t solve your mysteries anymore.”
Harry looked at her severity, smiled and sat back down, leaning his head on her shoulder. “Seriously,” Ron started, “did you two just suppress all this public affection for months on end and it’s all just bursting out now?”
“No, I’m just irresistible,” Ginny said, her mouth yet again full of food.
“What do you say to that, Harry?” Ron asked, his voice disgusted. Harry looked between Ron and Ginny with a wrinkled nose.
“He loves it,” Ginny said after swallowing her food. “Tea, please,” she said, holding out her hand. Harry passed her her tea.
Ron groaned in disgust. “Merlin, Harry, is this really what you want for the rest of your life?” Harry swallowed, turning to his girlfriend and smiling. She smiled up at him, passing him back her cup of tea. Ron made another noise of disgust.
Eventually, Ginny finished her breakfast and her cup of tea and she got up out of bed. “Is that Harry’s Quidditch jersey?” Ron asked, sounding as though he’d eaten slugs again. “Merlin, Harry, you’ve changed. Fifth year Harry wouldn’t have waited for some silly girl to finish her breakfast.”
Harry raised his brows at Ron, unsure how to respond. As usual, Ginny more than made up for his shortcomings. “Fifth year Harry had never seen a pair of tits.” Harry grinned, wider than he had in days, and barked out a laugh.
“I love you,” he whispered reverently, following her out of the room. She winked at him and led them down the hall. “You probably could have put something on that didn’t belong to me, though.”
“What’s the point in a boyfriend if I don’t get to wear your clothes?”
“Will I ever get my jersey back? Or my jogging shorts for that matter?”
“Depends how attached you are to having sex with me and not your hand.”
Harry closed his eyes briefly, practically feeling Ron’s discomfort coming off him in waves. “Please stop saying things like that in front of your brother.”
“Yes, please,” Ron said, pain evident in his voice. “Which room is this bloody tree in anyway?” They found it eventually and Kreacher was in the corner, muttering as he ‘cleaned’.
“Fuck off, elf,” Harry said, glad Hermione wasn’t here, turning to examine the family tree. “Can’t see anyone,” he declared.
“He’s right,” Ginny said miserably.
“What about one of these burnt marks?” Ron suggested, thumbing one of the burn marks.
“Well, that one is Tonks’ mum,” Ginny said, pointing to one beside Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy. “And that one is Sirius.”
“Who’s that one?” Ron asked, tapping at the one next to him. Harry furrowed his brow, remembering a conversation with Sirius.
“His brother. That one wasn’t blasted before.” Harry swallowed. “Sirius must have done it.”
“Dirty blood traitor,” Kreacher growled from the corner. Harry turned to him, raising his hand to blast him away.
“Don’t, Harry,” Ginny said softly. Harry restrained himself but turned away in disgust. “What do you know about this, elf?”
“Filthy blood traitor.”
A stinging hex hit Kreacher before Harry could even raise his hand. He found Ron looking furious. “Say it again, you nasty twat,” Ron growled.
“Tell us what you know, Kreacher,” Harry insisted, waving his hand and slamming all the doors shut.
XXX
A while later, the four of them staggered down to the kitchen. “Merlin, Harry, why don’t you just piss all over her?” George’s tired voice came from the table, where he was perched with dark undereyes and pale skin. Ginny immediately rushed over to him, looking at the gaping hole where his ear had been.
“I thought you’d still be in bed,” Ginny said, taking a seat and looking at him intensely. “How are you feeling?”
“Well enough to make jokes about Harry marking his territory,” Charlie commented from the sink, “so I’m sure he’s fine.”
“Fred’s at the shop, without me,” George said miserably. “I have to stay here.” Harry clapped a hand on George’s shoulder. George grabbed his hand suddenly and squeezed it. Ginny felt tears prick in her eyes and she had to look away.
When the touching moment was over, he reverted to his usual prick self, clearing his throat and saying, “So, Potter, do you wear Ginny’s clothes too?”
Harry rolled his eyes, accepting a cup of tea from Charlie and passing one to Ginny. “Yeah, I wear her knickers,” he said. Ginny grinned at him over the brim of her mug.
“Can you please stop talking about my sister’s knickers?” Charlie said with a groan. “If you hadn’t saved two of my brothers’ lives yesterday, I’d be making more of a fuss about this romance fest.” Harry stiffened and Ginny almost shot her brother a glare, but she knew he’d had no idea how it would affect Harry’s hero complex. Ginny clinked her mug against Harry’s so that he would look up and she blew him a kiss. His cheeks pinked.
“Harry,” Ginny’s mum said as she rushed into the kitchen, somehow carrying a basket of washing.
“How on earth can you still be washing? All our clothes burned away!” Ron asked incredulously. Their mum ignored him, focussing totally on her favourite child, who she had wrapped her arms around from behind and on whom she was dropping kisses. “Bloody hell, Mum, don’t smother him. He’s had enough kisses off Ginny this morning.”
“Thank you,” her mum whispered to Harry. Then, she stood, wiping her eyes. “Harry saved our wedding photo yesterday.” Harry’s relaxed mood from this morning had totally disappeared. Ginny mourned it, even as she also looked gratefully at the photo and other bits Harry had saved from the Burrow.
She was not surprised, however, when Harry stood suddenly from the table and stalked out of the room. “Got his knickers in a twist,” George commented. Ginny levelled a glare at him. “Alright, Mrs Potter. Put your claws away.”
“Ginevra, go and get dressed,” her mum said abruptly, her eyes moving from the door where Harry had left to Ginny’s outfit. Ginny nodded hurriedly, wondering whether her mother realised that she was essentially sending her after Harry. Her mother was a clever enough woman to know what she was doing, though.
She found Harry in Sirius’ room, his hand pressed against his forehead. “Harry, love,” she said softly and he didn’t turn. “I’m sorry-”
He rushed over to her, pressing his hands against her cheeks. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s me who can’t cope with ordinary conversation anymore.” She tried to disagree. “Gin, I – how can they not see – how can you not see – that it’s all my fault? Gin – your, your house!”
Ginny met his helpless eyes. “Harry, I can’t love you any less. Do you think you can love us any less?”
“I-” He genuinely looked completely helpless, as though he had no idea how to answer.
“I’d take you over 10 Burrows. I’d take you saving Bill and George’s lives over 100 Burrows.”
“But I wouldn’t have had to save them if Voldemort hadn’t come for me! I should’ve gone to Privet Drive like Dumbledore wanted.”
“Bill and Remus said there was no chance they would agree to that,” Ginny reminded him, “and, anyway, they would’ve come for me.” Harry finally met her eyes.
“Don’t you see, Gin? They’d have come for you because you’re with me!”
Ginny shook her head. “Eventually, they’d have come for me because of what happened in second year.”
“And how do you know that you didn’t get given that diary because of me?”
“Merlin, you’re self-centred.”
That made Harry pause, pull away from her and glare. She grinned. “What?” he asked.
“Not everything is about you, Harry Potter, and the sooner you realise that, the better. You can’t control anything, least of all how much we want to cling onto you.” She saw his throat bob. “And nothing could happen that could ever make me want to be with you any less.” Ginny cupped his cheek. Harry sighed into her, his arms going round her waist and pressing his head into her neck, no matter how much he had to bend down.
“Sometimes, I think I’m the most the selfish man in the world for keeping you.” Ginny snorted.
“As if you have a choice.” Harry hummed thoughtfully.
“I like it when you wear my clothes,” he said, a few moments of standing, hugging, later.
“You like having your stamp on me,” she teased.
“I suppose so.” Ginny tightened her hold on him. “We should go back down,” he suggested.
“Or we could stay up here forever. We solved a mystery this morning. I think we earned ourselves a nap.”
Harry snorted. “I don’t trust you in bed with me.” Ginny grinned, waggling her brows. “Nope, absolutely not. I’m putting my foot down.” Ginny let out a breathy gasp, pressing her body against his.
“I like it when you take control,” she murmured and he had to shove her away from him, scowling at her when she dissolved into giggles. His scowl turned upwards eventually and he tugged her back by her wrist, pressing a kiss to her neck.
“You’re a tease, Ginny Weasley,” he mumbled against her cheek as he continued to press kisses to her. Harry wrapped his arms tighter around her and Ginny pressed her face into his chest. They had hardly been there for two minutes when they heard a voice from downstairs, “Oi, Potter, get your mitts off Ginny and get back down here! There’s washing up to do.”
“Didn’t you make breakfast?” Ginny grumbled into his chest.
“Yeah, so they can fuck right off,” Harry said without malice.
XXX
“But don’t you remember?” Harry pressed Remus, an injured Bill watching on alongside Kingsley. “There was a locket!”
“I don’t remember but I take your word for it,” Remus said. “Perhaps I wasn’t here.”
Harry sighed. “Okay, I don’t remember. It was Ginny who remembered it, but she’s right, probably. There was a necklace we couldn’t open and it did have a snake on it, I think.”
Bill rolled his eyes. “Okay, so Ginny remembers.”
“Anyway, okay, the locket. What could have happened to it? Me, Ron and Gin have looked everywhere.”
“Everywhere?” Kingsley repeated. There was no tone to his voice but Harry felt his doubt anyway.
“We figured this out two days ago! What else have we had to do? We can’t go outside.”
“This is a big house, Harry, and I’m sure you’ve not looked in my room.”
Harry turned to look at Bill, unamused. “That’s because Ron told us he walked in on you shagging Fleur.” Bill only smirked so Harry knew he’d fallen into his trap. “Where else can we look?”
“Harry,” Remus sighed, “it’s very probable that we just put it in the bin. Or, if we didn’t, Sirius would have.”
“We can’t have!” Harry cried. “It’s – it’s too important for that.”
Remus narrowed his eyes at Harry. As he looked around the three of them, he felt the walls creeping in on him and he wished he’d brought Ginny and Ron too. “What is so important about some necklace?”
“I-” Harry thought about telling them and decided not to, for now. “Can you just trust me?”
Kingsley sighed heavily. “Of course, we can.” Kingsley shared a look with Remus. “And I’m sure we can come up with one theory about where it could have gone.”
Harry furrowed his brow at Remus and Remus let out a breath of a laugh. “Mundungus.”
XXX
“Is there nowhere else I can do it?” Harry grumbled as Mrs Weasley put water in his hair to try and push it down.
“No, even Harry Potter has to go to the Ministry to take his apparition test,” Charlie said with a grin.
“Fuck off,” Harry said under his breath. Charlie grinned at him as Mrs Weasley tapped the back of his head in reprimand. “What if I splinch myself? God, it’ll be all over the papers.”
Charlie guffawed. “Chosen One chops himself in two,” he said, imitating a newsreader’s voice.
“Wonder boy’s wotsits go for a wander,” Bill added, raising his mug in a cheers.
“Not if it’s up to me,” a low voice murmured into his ear, pressing a cold hand to his neck to make him hiss. He turned to find Ginny, again wearing his jersey but her own pyjama shorts, and glared at her even as he reached to wrap his arms around her waist. His cheeks were pink and he hoped nobody had heard her comment.
“What are you doing up?” he asked, a warm feeling spreading through his chest as he glanced at the clock and saw it was before 8am.
She cocked a hip and Harry stroked it lightly, pressing his face into her shoulder. “Did you think I wouldn’t come and see you off before your big test?” she asked, pressing fingers to his chin to make him look up at her. Harry blew out a breath. “Don’t be nervous. You’re fantastic at apparition.”
“We’ll see,” Harry said with a groan.
Ginny shrugged. “Let’s be honest. They’re not going to arrest you even if you apparate without a licence. They think you’re the only one who can kill Tom. They hardly want you locked up, do they?”
Harry shrugged. “He’s worried the Ministry are going to take the opportunity to recruit him,” Bill told Ginny, faux-surreptitiously.
“Or his face anyway,” Charlie added with a grin. “For some reason, they think a specky short-arse is good for public ratings.”
“He’s taller than you!” Ginny protested, even as Harry ignored him. “And I happen to think he’s very sexy.”
“Ugh,” Harry groaned, frowning at her. She grinned snarkily at him. “What have I said about saying things like that in front of your family?”
“That you love it,” she teased. He gave her a long-suffering look and she winked at him. “Are you sure I can’t come with you?”
“Yes, very,” Harry said, glancing at Mrs Weasley who was frowning at him. “Charlie is coming.”
Charlie stood up, saluting. “Are you ready for my bodyguard duties to commence, Mr Chosen One, sir?”
“You’re a wanker.”
“Harry Potter!” Mrs Weasley scolded, tapping him on the back of the head again. Harry cringed. Bill glanced from him to his mother. “I’ll forgive you for that language, this one last time, but not again.”
“Sorry, Mrs Weasley,” Harry said, blushing.
“Come on, Harry. It wouldn’t do to be late to your own recruitment process,” Charlie teased again. Harry rolled his eyes, leaned to kiss Ginny, and then let Charlie lead him to the floo.
Thankfully, the Ministry had given them an escort for the press-inundated trip from the atrium to the apparition test centre. The escort led them perfunctorily and said nothing as they left them. “Charming,” Charlie said chirpily.
“Are you always this bloody cheery?” Harry grumbled.
“Are you always this bloody grumpy? It’s a wonder Ginny puts up with you.”
“Well, she makes up for it when she’s in a mood,” Harry said, glancing around. Somebody was heading over to them. Charlie started to say something about Ginny but Harry didn’t hear as he was handed the forms to fill in by a smiling lady.
The next half an hour or so went rather quickly and, when Harry came out of the room, to be handed a licence, he nearly cried out with surprise. Charlie grinned at him, giving him a bear hug. “Let’s go get breakfast,” Harry said in the spur of the moment. “Let’s celebrate!”
“Sounds good,” Charlie said with enthusiasm. “The Leaky does a good full-”
“Mr Potter,” a boring-looking ministry official interrupted them, “Minister Scrimgeour wants to see you.” Harry and Charlie shared a look.
They headed together to see the minister and Harry refused to let Charlie leave, despite Charlie’s eagerness to do so. The minister sighed as he entered the office, five minutes after Harry and Charlie had been dropped off. He looked between them and pursed his lips.
“How can we help you, Minister?” Harry said, cocking his head with a fake smile. Charlie snorted, giving him a side glance.
The minster was less amused. “Did you pass your test?” he asked, taking his seat at his desk.
“Yes,” Harry replied, showing him the license. Scrimgeour nodded curtly. “Was that all? May I leave?”
“I have a question for you.” Scrimgeour gestured to the two seats at his desk but Charlie and Harry both ignored him. Scrimgeour ignored their rudeness. “The whole nation is invested in your relationship.”
“Is that the question?”
Scrimgeour didn’t respond. “The pictures of you and Miss Weasley by Professor Dumbledore’s body were very powerful.”
“I’ll let Ginny know to straddle me publicly more often.”
“Please do not,” Charlie chipped in.
“I would ask you to do an interview,” Scrimgeour said. Harry frowned. Charlie laughed aloud. “The Prophet would like to interview you about your relationship, to inspire the people.”
“My relationship with Ginny will inspire the people?” Harry asked incredulously.
Charlie snorted. “Only if you want the people to be whipped by their partners too.”
Harry scowled. “What on earth do you want me to say?”
Scrimgeour held out his hands. “Look, Potter, people are scared. People don’t know what’s going to happen next. If they are distracted by you, if they may gain some hope from the idea that you are willing to fall in love in this climate, then all the better.”
Harry looked at Charlie, who shrugged as though it didn’t matter. Harry swallowed, wondering if it did. “Well,” he tried to stall, his mind whirring, “I’ll have to talk to Ginny.”
“Whipped,” Charlie coughed.
Harry rolled his eyes. “Is that all?”
Scrimgeour shook his head. “No, Potter, unlike my predecessor, I am not only an errand boy for the Prophet.” Harry had to smile at the dig at Fudge. “I wondered if you would like to talk to Robards.”
“Robards?” Harry repeated.
“He heads up the Auror Office. I heard you are interested in a career there.”
Interest piqued in Harry’s chest. He really would like to visit the Auror Office. Charlie shrugged at him again, so they agreed, Harry ignoring whatever political agenda was fuelling this.
Scrimgeour walked him through the atrium, Harry groaning at the flashes of cameras from the press. This was what Scrimgeour wanted. A photo op of them walking together. Harry tried to put it out of his mind, tried to emulate Charlie’s cool attitude to life. He mentally shrugged like Charlie had earlier.
Both Harry and Scrimgeour ignored the questions called by the press, the minister simply holding up his hand in acknowledgement. They, along with Charlie who was looking around with interest, found their way, using the lift, to the Auror Office.
Scrimgeour made brief comments to many aurors who worked in cubicles, including Kingsley, as they were led to a closed-door office on the back wall of the workspace. Harry noticed that there were very few women in the office and he wondered how Tonks felt here, with her pink hair. Scrimgeour had hardly knocked before opening the door. “Robards,” Scrimgeour said curtly, not without warmth.
“Minister,” Robards said, jumping up. Harry glanced at him, an average-sized man of significant muscle proportion, with dark hair and intense eyes. A good soldier, Harry thought, as Robards shook Scrimgeour’s hand. “And this must be Harry Potter.” Robards put out his hand for Harry to shake, which he did. Respect grew for Robards as he also shook Charlie’s hand and asked to be introduced.
“Charlie Weasley,” he said, “bodyguard to the Chosen One here.”
Harry tutted. “He’s my girlfriend’s brother, sir,” he corrected.
Charlie harrumphed. “And here I thought we were friends.”
Robards nearly smiled. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Harry wants to be an auror when he leaves Hogwarts, Robards,” Scrimgeour said, clapping Harry on the shoulder. Harry gave Robards an awkward smile, which he returned warmly.
“Well, this isn’t the place to be convinced,” Robards said with a laugh, “unless you’re likely to be convinced by mounds of paperwork and general public disapproval, never mind the bloody press.” Harry swallowed. He’d never noticed anyone’s opinion of aurors, not really. It wasn’t as though it was really what they discussed in the dorms.
Scrimgeour laughed. “I thought Harry might like to come and take part in some drills with you.”
“The photographers could take part too,” Robards suggested with a quirk of a brow. Scrimgeour smiled wryly.
“Harry understands how it may help public confidence,” Scrimgeour said, nodding at Harry. Harry swallowed. He supposed he did. He was leader of the Order now. Did Dumbledore have to make press appearances for the sake of the public? He wished he’d been able to ask him more.
“I want to defeat Voldemort, sir,” Harry said honestly.
Robards smiled. “That, we can agree on.” The head auror nodded. “Yes, well, I don’t see why Harry shouldn’t join us. It may inspire other young men to join the fight.”
Harry frowned. “My girlfriend - Ginny – she’s pretty powerful too. Could she come?” Scrimgeour’s eyes lit up and Harry barely constrained an eye roll. Robards looked hesitant and Harry spoke before Robards could say no, “It looks like you could do with inspiring a few more women to fight too. I bet Madam Bones isn’t fond of her department being so male-dominated.” Harry hoped Hermione would be proud of him.
Robards met Harry’s eyes and laughed. “Okay, fine, bring the girlfriend. We’ll whip you both into shape.” Harry heard Charlie snort. Robards frowned. “Are you both of age?”
Harry shook his head. “No, but we both use wandless magic.”
XXX
“Robards’ face!” Charlie crowed as they sat across from each other in the Leaky Cauldron half an hour later. “Merlin, I wish I could be there when they see tiny Ginny explode with magic.”
Harry grinned. “Yeah, that’s gonna be something.”
Charlie raised his glass and Harry grinned, raising his own. “Cheers,” they said together.
“Thanks for getting me a beer,” Harry said, slurping down some of it. Charlie laughed.
“You’re more of an adult than me at times, Harry,” he said. “Just don’t tell Mum.”
Harry snorted. “I won’t.”
“So, what do you think of this with the aurors then? Looking forward to it?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Harry said, tucking into his steak and chips. “I feel better about going with Gin.”
“Turning up with your girlfriend to protect you,” Charlie teased. Harry rolled his eyes. “To be fair, I always feel safer with Ginny around.”
Harry laughed. “I always feel better about things when Ginny’s around.”
“Well, that’s a relationship for you, I guess,” Charlie said with a shrug. “It’d be odd to spend all your time together if you didn’t get on.” Harry nodded, sipping his beer. Charlie cocked his head. “Although, to be fair, Ron and Hermione…”
Harry let out a peal of laughter. “They’re not together, to be fair.”
“For now,” Charlie said with brows raised.
“I guess we’ll see,” Harry said. “Do you have a girlfriend?” he asked with a sudden curiosity.
Charlie smirked, shaking his head. “Stick to just one girl? Who do you think I am, Potter? Bill?” Charlie cocked his head again. “Saying that, I might stick to just one girl if she was a fucking veela.” Harry laughed and Charlie grinned, taking a big gulp of his beer. “She’d have to be a special girl to bring home to our family.”
Charlie smiled. “I guess that’s why you and Ginny are so lucky. You’re both already part of the same family.”
Harry swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded. “Thanks, Charlie.” Charlie winked at him.