Based on the Harry Potter Series By J. K. Rowling
Chapter 32 “ Ginny’s Contribution
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“Benton, come in here, please,” Prime Minister Brian Thompson called from his parlor Tuesday morning. Jeffery Benton, Thompson’s personal, private secretary, cringed each time he heard his ‘boss’ call out like that. Why can’t he use the intercom like everyone else? Jumping up, Benton walked the eighteen steps from his office to the parlor; he had done it so many times that he had started counting the steps. I’m sure there’s a psychological description for this obsession, he thought, taking the last few.
“Yes sir.”
“Jeff, go find Kingsley Shacklebolt, please. I’d like to see him for a moment.”
“Certainly, right away.” Lazy sot, call the bloody security desk yourself!
A few minutes later, Benton rapped on the partially closed parlor door. “Sir?”
“Yes Jeff, just a moment.” Thompson finished a hand-written note, sealed it in an envelope, and then tossed it onto a fairly good sized pile of other hand-written notes and letters stacked in his ‘out’ basket.
“Yes, is Shacklebolt still on the night detail?”
“No, sir, he’s been, uh, sacked, sir.” I suppose you want me to go track him down at the unemployment office.
“I see. Ring that idiot in charge of security and have him drag his arse in here. And Jeff, tell him to be here in ten minutes or I’m giving Shacklebolt his job! And call Shacklebolt; I want to see him today, this morning, preferably.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.” How nice, someone else for the PM to yell at. Benton mused as he walked back to his office and placed the two calls.
Shift Chief Finley managed to make it to 10 Downing Street in his allotted time, but only because he was applying for a position at the Parliament building when his pager went off. Running the three blocks to Downing, he was met by a smiling Benton watching a clock on the wall.
“My, my, Finley. It’s a good thing you keep fit, isn’t it?”
“Bugger off, you poof. Let the boss know I’m here.”
“Now, now. Let’s be civil.” Benton led Finley, slowly, into the hallway outside the parlor and knocked on the door. “Pardon me, sir, Chief Finley’s here to see you.”
“Thank you, Jeff, please close the doors as you leave.” Then pointing to Finley, Thompson said, “YOU! Sit there.”
Four minutes later, Benton heard the parlor doors open and Finley leave the building. Although he could not hear the exact words that had been exchanged, the volume was satisfying enough. Then Thompson’s head appeared in Benton’s door.
“Jeff, arrange my schedule so that I have one hour for lunch and tell the kitchen to serve for five. Upstairs, too.”
At eleven fifty-five, Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived at 10 Downing Street escorting a panicky Ginny Weasley.
“Miss Weasley, you’re the one who instigated this. Why are you so nervous?” Kingsley was amused by her last minute questions on protocol and etiquette. He was also curious about why she slipped away from Hogwarts without telling anyone.
“I don’t know, I guess Saturday’s visit was so unexpected that I didn’t have time to think about. It’s also my first job interview.” Sorry, Kingsley, but you don’t need to know any more than that right now.
The agent manning the front entrance saw Kingsley approach and opened the door for both visitors. Entering the foyer, they shed their coats, hats, and gloves and proceeded through the metal detector; Jeff Benton was waiting on the other side.
“Good morning Mr. Shacklebolt. And you must be Miss Weasley.” Benton held out his hand which Ginny shook. “You will be lunching upstairs today. Please follow me.”
The upper Floor of the house contained the private living quarters for the Prime Minister and his (or her) family. Much like the White House in the United States, it was not open to visitors, or even to most of the staff. Shacklebolt knew that no one outside of a few personal friends ever visited up there, but he suspected Thompson had chosen the private quarters due to the nature of the conversation that would take place.
Benton escorted them to a small sitting room across the hallway from the dining area and instructed them to “please wait here.” Ginny sat down, but then immediately rose again to try to calm her nerves. The aroma of butter and sautéed onions wafted through the air, mixed with the warm bouquet of beef burgundy, was making Ginny’s mouth water. After only a minute or two, they heard voices and footsteps approaching, then Rebecca ran into the room and straight to Ginny, wrapping herself around Ginny’s legs.
“Hello, Becca! How’s my girl today?” Gently unwrapping Rebecca, Ginny crouched down to the child’s level. Holding out her hand, as if she were expecting a formal handshake, Ginny laughed and shook the child’s hand solemnly.
“I see you weren’t joking, Brian.” A new voice said as the rest of the lunch party arrived. Looking up, Ginny saw the Prime Minister and a woman, she assumed was his wife, watching her and Rebecca. Standing and holding on to Rebecca with her left hand, Ginny extended her right hand to Mrs. Thompson.
“Hello, Mrs. Um, Mrs. Prime Minister?” After “hello,” Ginny realized she didn’t know the proper greeting for the moment.
Laughing, not to embarrass Ginny, but to put her at ease, Brian introduced his wife. “None of that ‘Prime Minister’ talk up here, Ginny. When you’re on the second Floor you’re family. This is my wife, Mary.” The two women shook hands; Mary Thompson gave an unusually firm grasp, looking carefully at Ginny. “And I’m delighted to see you again.” Thompson held out his hand, too.
“You created quite a stir around here yesterday, I understand.” Thompson joked, looking at Ginny. “The security detail was not at all happy, with either of you. But don’t worry, Shacklebolt has his job back.”
“What?” Ginny exclaimed. Kingsley had not told her that he had been sacked due to Ginny’s visit the day before. Releasing Rebecca’s hand, Ginny brought both of hers up to her face in surprise. “You didn’t tell me that, Kingsley. I’m sorry.”
“No, no, none of that, Ginny. We’ll talk it all out over lunch. It smells wonderful up here. Of course, if Mary were cooking it would smell even better.” Leading everyone across the hall to the dining room, Thompson held a chair for Mary as she sat; Shacklebolt did the same for Ginny. Then the two men sat; Rebecca maneuvered her way into her own chair.
“Well, I was surprised and delighted to receive your note yesterday, Ginny. I can’t imagine how it got all the way to my person desk.” Thompson glanced to Shacklebolt who had a ’who, me?’ expression on his face which caused Thompson to chuckle.
“But that’s not a problem.”
Ginny was feeling more at ease as the conversation went on, but she knew that, eventually, two subjects would be brought up: the job and wizards. When Thompson rose and closed the two doors she assumed that the second topic was imminent, and she was correct.
“Mary, there’s something you need to know about Ginny and Shacklebolt...” Over the next fifteen minutes, Kingsley, Ginny, and the Prime Minister told Mary their secret. Her face remained expressionless until they finished.
“Brian, are you serious?”
Brian recognized the tone of her question, his wife hadn’t believed a word he’d said.
“Yes, of course I am. Shacklebolt, please convince my wife.”
Kingsley was reluctant to use magic here, though he had expected it, so he proceeded. Taking out his wand he transformed the small floral arrangement at the center of the table into a vase of roses, then into pot of impatients, and then back to their original form. Mary Thompson’s eyes were wide open; when viewed together with her mouth, which was gaping also, her face was comical and her husband laughed politely. Kingsley and Ginny were having trouble suppressing there amusement, also.
“Well, Mary, there’s my secret. Can you live with a witch watching our daughter and a wizard guarding me?”
Mary’s eyes were still wide, but she had managed to close her mouth and nod her head. “How? I mean, what, when did this happen?” Her question was understandably incoherent.
After a few more minutes of explanations, Mary saw that Rebecca had climbed into Ginny’s lap and that was, really, all she cared about. “Ok, Brian. Um, we can talk about this more later.” The look Mary gave her husband said they would definitely talk about this later. “I’d like to ask Ginny some questions. Brian, why don’t you ring for lunch while I interrogate the witch?” Her words were hesitant, but her voice was warm and accepting.
The remainder of the lunch conversation spoke about the duties and responsibilities Ginny would have and exactly what was expected of her. The only real catch was getting Ginny a security clearance, but Thompson told Shacklebolt to “arrange that, and bring any problems to my immediate attention.” Kingsley nodded, he knew exactly what that would mean for the poor bloke who would cross the Prime Minister’s path.
When Ginny told Thompson that she would be available seven days a week, he questioned her about school. Telling him that there had been an incident at school which required the temporary closure, Ginny hoped she had covered up the truth adequately. Twice she saw Shacklebolt throw her warning glances.
It was well past one o’clock when they finished eating and talking. Ginny hadn’t realized how hungry she was or how satisfied she could be. Saying good bye, Ginny held Rebecca long and firmly, not allowing her to wiggle away; but the child would not have tried anyway. There was a peacefulness between the two of them that Ginny was just coming to understand. Now she had to go back to Hogwarts and face Harry.
“Harry, I received word from Scrimgeour that Hogwarts will not be reopening until these ‘problems,’ as he calls them, are resolved. He also instructed me to place the faculty on paid administrative leave, and he made sure you were mentioned. Finally, he specifically named this school a place that he did not want open to the public, so I have to chase everyone out except Filch and myself” Moody was tired from lack of sleep and was beginning slur his words.
“Ok, Moody, I’ll close up and go to...” Harry suddenly realized that he didn’t have a place to go. He was sure Ron and Hermione would let him stay upstairs at their place, but Ginny would be going back to the Burrow. And he didn’t want to be away from her. What Harry did not realize was that for the past two nights, with Ginny and himself in bed together, she had been using a healing technique on him which she had learned from Olga Windshine. The only outward sign of Harry’s “treatment” was the peaceful sleep he was enjoying as never before.
“I guess I’ll be at the Burrow, if the Weasley’s don’t mind.”
“Sure, Harry. And listen, please warn Hermione again about that note, would you?” Waving an affirmation, Harry left Moody’s office. Arriving at his own room, Harry had just started packing when Ginny Floo’d in.
“Hi Harry!”
“Hey, Gin, I got some bad news. Moody’s has to kick everyone out of school. Do you think I could stay at the Burrow?” Harry was expecting an immediate “Yes” from Ginny, but didn’t get it.
“Can we stay here in town, Harry? Ron and...” Harry was shaking his head, cutting Ginny off.
“No, I don’t mind asking, but I think they need the time alone. Anyway, that would be a problem if the school stays closed for any length of time and it wouldn’t take much for your parents to realize that there is one spare room and two people.” Harry saw the disappointment on Ginny’s face and hoped she would volunteer some additional information about why she did not want to go home.
“Harry, I, um, I decided to leave Hogwarts. I’m not coming back if the school reopens.”
Not sure what to expect from Harry, Ginny saw only a curious look on his face.
“Why, Gin? You only have a few months left, what will you do?” As soon as Harry asked the question, he remembered the Muggle Prime Minister’s offer. “Are you thinking of working in London?”
Ginny’s eyes brightened. “Yes, Harry. In fact, I, um, I met with the Prime Minister today. I’ll start next Monday. Harry! I’m so excited. My first job; working for one of the most important men in the world.” As Ginny spoke, though, she saw Harry’s face falling. Not by much, just enough to tell her something wasn’t right. “Harry, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Gin. I’m happy for you, but you still have to move back to the Burrow.” The tone of Harry’s voice told Ginny something was wrong.
“Harry, what is it? I can tell something about this is bothering you. You’re not one of those chauvinistic men who want their wife to stay home and have twenty babies, are you?” Harry now looked more irritated than upset. “I didn’t think so. What is Harry?”
“Ginny, I though this was going to be a mutual decision between us. Now you’ve gone and made a commitment without me.”
Harry’s definitely irritated., Ginny saw, maybe even rightfully so. “Harry, come back to the Burrow with me. You know you’ll always be welcome there.”
“Oh, sure, Ginny. Come on, are your parents are just going to look the other way when we sleep together? How can you think that?” Harry’s voice was starting to rise.
“Harry! We are NOT sleeping together.” You are SO pig-headed, Harry.
“WHAT? Then how do you explain the past few nights? Usually when two people are next to each other in a bed, with their arms and legs around each other, it’s called sleeping together!”
“HARRY, THIS IS NOT ABOUT SEX! I’m not in bed with you for that reason, Harry, I’m trying to help you.” You’re such an arse sometimes, Harry.
At this point both their voices were raised and neither would back down enough to regain control of their emotions.
“So now you’re here to help me? WONDERFUL! Are you planning to ‘HELP ME’ the rest of our lives together? Is that what I am to you, someone to help?” Harry was almost screaming at Ginny, who was becoming just as emotional. But Harry had not learned that Ginny expressed some of her anger with tears, not by raising her voice.
“OH, SHUT UP HARRY, You know that’s not what I mean,” Ginny said, choking back a sob.
“Then why are you trying to ‘help’ me?”
“Harry, you don’t understand...”
“No, I guess I don’t, so just sod off, Ginny. Floo me when I’m someone you want to love, not someone you want to help.” Harry walked around Ginny and out of his room, slamming the door behind him. It only took Ginny a moment to regain her composure, but by the time she walked into the hallway Harry was gone.
Sitting on the sofa, Ginny thought, They’re the same thing, Harry.
“Hi Harry, what’s...Harry? Is something wrong?” Ron knew something was definitely wrong; Harry would not have walked right into his house, unannounced. It was not like him.
“Yeah, Ginny and I had a row. Look, Ron, I’m taking off for a while. Hedwig can find me if you or Hermione need anything.” Harry looked as despondent as Ron had ever seen him.
“Wait, Harry. Why not hang around for a while? Hermione will be home any minute and we can do something together.”
“No, I think Ginny’s coming by and I don’t want to see her.” Harry cursed, walked to the fireplace, and Floo’d to St. Mungo’s before Ron could stop him.
Percy’s conditioned had not changed since Harry saw him two days prior. Sometimes his eyes would appear to be focusing on something, other times they had an empty stare. Likewise, Percy’s speech had not improved; the only word he could say with any clarity at all is “Severus.” And that was uttered with the voice of a dead man.
Pulling up a chair between Percy and Peter, Harry thought about his row with Ginny. It seemed so petty now, but he was furious that Ginny was staying with him to help him. Why can’t people just leave me alone?
Harry didn’t hear the room door open and the voice, soft though it was, startled him.
“Harry, what are your intentions?”
Harry knew the voice but refused to turn around. “Go away, please.”
“Ginny was helping you, Harry, as part of a treatment I prescribed for you. That part is true, Harry, she is trying to help you, but not out of pity, out of love.”
Harry was still sitting, shaking his head.
“Harry, understanding this is a part of love and growing together. Ginny told me how you felt like a child in an eighteen year old body. That is, in many ways, exactly what you are. However, you cannot force emotional maturity on yourself any more than you can force physical maturity. Look at Ron and Hermione. How many years did it take them to fall in love? Six? Seven? And they led fairly normal lives.”
“Your love for Ginny is both complete and immature. I know you can feel the frustration of that reality. Your capacity to love her will never be bigger than it is now because it is truly complete. However, your ability to love her still has to grow and mature, and that simply can’t be rushed. That’s why you feel so happy and so lonely with her at the same time. Ginny’s love for you helps, but it is not enough to fill that huge void in your life, the one created by your parent’s deaths, your friend’s deaths and the neglect you experienced as a child; but you want her to.”
The door opened behind Olga, but Harry neither saw nor heard Ginny and Ron come into the room. Still sitting between the two patients, Harry had lowered his arm and was just holding Percy’s wrist.
“Harry, do you want to feel the way you do right now?” Seeing Harry shake his head “no” was exactly what Olga was hoping she would see. “Good, Harry. You just took a big step forward.”
“How’s that going to make Ginny love me more?”
“It isn’t, Harry, it’s going to allow you both to love each other more.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Harry, love is not Ginny doing this, or Harry doing that. Love is Harry and Ginny together. When was your happiest moment with Ginny?” Olga asked this question knowing the answer and knowing that Harry knew the answer.
“Ron and Hermione’s house, when you cleaned out those curses. We were together in my mind.”
“That’s right, Harry. And do you remember what I said to you when you were together?”
Harry suddenly turned around, his face flushed bright red with embarrassment, and saw Olga, Ron, and Ginny watching him. Ron had a goofy, embarrassed look on his face but Ginny’s eyes, though full of tears, bore into him. Harry suddenly felt like he was being drawn into her, the way he had the past few nights when she held him.
“Harry, that is what you have to look forward to in a life with Ginny. A complete union of body, mind, and soul. Isn’t that what you want?”
Harry couldn’t take his eyes off of Ginny, but he nodded.
“Good, Harry, it’s what she wants, too. Why don’t you and Ginny go sit on the sofa a bit and have a talk? I’m going to check on our patients and Ron’s going to get something to eat from the cafeteria because he’s hungry.”
“Hey! Don’t you go reading my mind, Olga.”
“I didn’t need to, Ron.”
“Ginny, you will need to increase Harry’s therapy to twice a day. I underestimated the extent of his depression. I must apologize to you; you did understand him better than I thought.” Their eyes met and Ginny’s contained no smugness or lingering hostility.
When would you like to resume your lessons?”
“Would Thursday be good for you?”
“Yes. Is ten o’clock a good time?”
Ginny nodded and smiled at Olga while she wrote the appointment in her calendar.
Sensing Ginny’s thanks, Olga added, “You’re welcome, Ginny.”
“Ohhh, stop doing that!”