MetaFic

The month of August was wonderful.

Except for the heat.

Ginny was almost five months along now, and the child inside her was causing obvious changes to her small frame. He mother warned her it would probably get worse. This had somehow failed to comfort Ginny.

And the heat.

It was just killing her. No matter how many cooling charms she cast on herself or had cast on her, she felt like a walking bake oven. She had said as much once before thinking, which had set off a long string of oven and bun jokes from Fred and George.

The single greatest positive was that her summer classes had ended. Professor Dumbledore had sent her an owl telling her the staff was satisfied with her progress, and pending a few practical exams, she would be joining Harry's year upon their return to Hogwarts.

The trip to Diagon Alley proved to be another challenge. Ginny refused to use the Floo, much to Harry's delight, even though her mother assured her it was safe. Finally Jeren had offered to drive Ginny and Harry to London, where they would meet everyone else.

After everyone arrived they marched on Gringott's. Ginny went with Harry to his vault. He reasoned that what was his was hers now, so she needed to know. She was well aware that Harry had money. She had been stunned when saw how much.

Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off to purchase their school supplies while Mrs. Weasley did some needed shopping. Jeren and Bill followed the foursome at a discreet distance.

The trip to Madam Malkin's proved the most interesting. The short seamstress immediately recognized Ginny's condition and set about creating robes that would grow with her.

The rest of the trip was uneventful. They spotted Draco Malfoy, who made a move to head their way, intent upon playing his favorite game, "Harass Harry," but he moved off when he saw that Bill was with them.

Upon returning to the Den, Sirius greeted them with the news that Dumbledore had sent them a letter. They could hear trilling coming from the living room, and they entered to find Fawkes sitting on top of a bookcase merrily singing away. Harry removed the letter from the leg the beautiful Phoenix offered, and Fawkes, with a quick fly around Ginny's head, disappeared out the window.

Harry read the letter. "Dumbledore wants me and Ginny to come to Hogwarts before everyone else. He's sent a portkey." Harry looked apprehensive as he showed everyone the thimble. "It's set to activate on the 28th at noon."

The next two weeks passed quickly. Ginny spent as much quality time as she could with Harry, since neither knew what the arrangements would be once they returned to school. They knew they would each have private rooms away from the other students, but for all they knew these rooms could be on opposite ends of the castle.

On the morning of the 28th, everyone gathered at the Den to see them off. Mrs. Weasley kept fussing over her daughter until Ginny finally asked her to please stop. Ron and Hermione looked anxious at being separated from their friends, if only for a couple of days. Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George all hugged their sister and wished them both luck. Remus informed Harry that he would be going on an assignment for Dumbledore and would be out of touch for awhile. Sirius was obviously hiding something, as he kept smiling and being vague about what he would be doing while they were at Hogwarts. Jeren promised to visit them both at least once while they were at school.

When the clock struck noon, Ginny felt the familiar tug and then found herself in Dumbledore's office. Harry had missed his landing again and was lying on his nose on the floor. After he gained his feet and steadied himself, Professor Dumbledore addressed the two of them.

"Harry, Ginny, welcome back."

"Thank you, sir," they said in unison.

"I have a few things to tell you, and then we shall go inspect your new quarters. First of all, as I explained in my letter, you will both be taken out of the Gryffindor dormitory and placed in private quarters. Secondly, while you may join everyone in the Great Hall for meals - and I heartily suggest you do - you may take your meals privately if you need. Now I should warn you, I intend to be truthful with the students about why you are both being restricted in such a way. You understand this may cause an unpleasant reaction among the other students?"

They both nodded their understanding.

"Good," the Headmaster continued. "Miss Weasley will be taking her practical tests this afternoon. I will be observing these tests. I would suggest that you, Mr. Potter, unpack yours and Miss Weasley's belongings while she is occupied. You will also need to name someone to replace you as Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team."

Harry nodded. "Yes, sir. I was thinking Ron for Captain, sir," he said softly. Ginny reached out and squeezed his hand. She knew how hard this must be for Harry. He smiled warmly at her.

"An excellent choice. Well then, shall we proceed to your new quarters?" Dumbledore asked.

Dumbledore led them to a part of the castle they had never noticed before. He explained that this area was where the staff had their rooms. The corridors leading to it were enchanted, he explained, to keep the students from finding their way in. Only staff, the head boy and girl, prefects, and invited guests could find this area.

He stopped them at a large wooden door. "These are Miss Weasley's new quarters." He opened the door and led them inside.

They found themselves in a cheerful room with a large fireplace surrounded by a couch and two comfortable-looking chairs. On one wall was a desk and near it a bookcase. There was a window that looked out into the forbidden forest. They passed through a door to discover a well-appointed bedroom and well as a small private bath.

"It's wonderful," Ginny squealed.

Dumbledore smiled at her. "It is one of the smallest guest suites we have. I'm sure the Minister wouldn't want you to be too comfortable in your exile from the rest of the school. You will also find it very lonely, as no others are staying in this wing but you and Harry."

"And I'll be staying...?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore moved to stand by the bookcase. "The next door down, Mr. Potter. You will find your room an exact mirror image of this one. Complete with a bookcase on this wall. Yes, a very fine bookcase indeed." He patted the side of the bookcase. "Well, I must take Miss Weasley to begin her tests. Harry, if you would begin unpacking, I promise to return her well before dinner."

Ginny followed Professor Dumbledore back to the classrooms.

Her first practical was the one she dreaded most. Professor Snape made her mix three potions simultaneously. After the test he checked them and pronounced them passable. Ginny has been surprised at how un-Snape-like he had acted toward her. She chalked it up to the fact that Dumbledore was observing and figured he would be that much meaner once term began.

Professor McGonagall looked at Ginny tightly when she entered the Transfiguration classroom, no doubt worried about what the effects of her situation would be on the reputation of both Gryffindor House and Hogwarts. Ginny performed the required Transfigurations nearly flawlessly and then showed the Professor what Sirius had taught her on the side. Ginny changed first the length of her hair and then the length of her fingernails. McGonagall was impressed but warned her not to try any more personal Transfigurations until after her child was born.

Professor Flitwick was excited to see her, as she was one of his favorite students. The tiny professor often maintained that Ginny should have been sorted into his House, Ravenclaw, and that he must have a talk with the Sorting Hat concerning its apparent mistake. Flitwick asked her a dozen questions about her summer courses and then another dozen about her unborn child. Professor Dumbledore had to clear his throat before Flitwick remembered why Ginny was there in the first place. Ginny performed not only the required charms but also a few that even the seventh-years hadn't mastered yet.

After they left the Charms room, Professor Dumbledore brought her to a room containing only two chairs and a desk. "As our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor has yet to arrive, I will administer your test myself. If you will please remain standing, Miss Weasley, we shall complete your final exam, after which you may return to your rooms."

"What will I be doing, sir?"

"First of all, Mr. Lupin informs me that you have mastered the Patronus Charm. I would like to see it, if you please."

Ginny smiled as she lifted her wand and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"

Silvery threads blasted from the end of her wand and quickly formed themselves into a silver duplicate of the Gryffindor Lion. It looked around the room and, finding nothing to attack, returned to Ginny's wand.

"Well done, Miss Weasley."

Ginny was about to mumble an embarrassed thank you when Dumbledore reached into robes, withdrew his wand and pointed it at her.

"Now Miss Weasley, defend yourself."

Dumbledore opened with a series of low-powered jinxes and hexes. Ginny deflected or dodged them all, though at five months pregnant she couldn't move as quickly as she wished. Dumbledore tried to disarm her, but again she managed to successfully defend herself and even returned a few spells of her own. After failing to defeat her with increasingly powerful spells, Dumbledore finally thundered, "Imperio!"

Ginny felt the overwhelming urge to sit down. It seemed reasonable. After all, she was tired, and she'd taken a bunch of tests that day as well as dueled with the Headmaster. The Headmaster, what was it about him again? Ginny suddenly realized she didn't really want to sit and started to fight. At last, after what seemed hours, she turned to Dumbledore and shook her head no.

"Most excellent, Miss Weasley. Full marks. I pronounce you fully qualified to take classes with the sixth year students. Congratulations."

Ginny smiled wearily at the Headmaster, who dismissed her and then, in his most grandfatherly voice, told her to go to her rooms and make Mr. Potter take care of her for the rest of the day.

Ginny thought that a wonderful idea.