MetaFic

Ginny fought a courageous battle against Madam Pomfrey. Ginny was determined not spend the last three weeks of term stuck in the infirmary, no matter what the medi-witch said. After three days of constant battle, Madam Pomfrey finally threw up her hands, declaring Ginny one of the most difficult patients she'd ever treated, and allowed her to leave.

Harry met Ginny at the infirmary doors. "How are you feeling?"

Ginny smiled at her husband. "Miss me, Mr. Potter?"

"Like mad, Mrs. Potter."

Ginny laughed and hugged her husband. She gave him a light kiss, careful of her still-tender lower lip. "I'm fine, darling."

Harry gave her a crooked smile. "Okay, just from now on, please leave the dangerous adventure stuff to me, will ya? That's supposed to be my forte after all."

"Jealous?"

"Absolutely not! So how's Daphne?" Harry knew the pain of the Cruciatus curse first hand.

"She's better. I promised her if Madam Pomfrey hadn't released her by tomorrow I'd come rescue her." Ginny looked up her husband. "Harry, if she hadn't followed Malfoy..."

"I know, love. I know."

They were silent for a moment, allowing the dreadful thought of what might have been to pass. Finally Ginny broke the silence as they started walking back to their rooms. "So what's going to happen to Malfoy?"

"That's up to the Ministry to decide, I suppose. I'd say it doesn't look good for him. Especially after Goyle spilled everything he knew to the Aurors."

"I heard Ron broke Malfoy's jaw."

Harry chuckled. "More like shattered it to million pieces. It's a good thing Sirius was with us, or Ron might have beaten Malfoy to death then and there."

When the couple entered their rooms they found visitors waiting for them. Ron, Hermione, Sirius, Lupin, and Dumbledore were sitting in their little family area. Dumbledore was cheerfully bouncing Melinda on his knee while Katie supervised from over his shoulder. Melinda was laughing happily.

"Ah, just the two people we wanted to see," said Dumbledore when he noticed their presence. He quit bouncing Melinda, who immediately snuggled into his lap and started to doze off.

Ginny took the sleeping infant, and she and Harry settled into the couch, which had been vacated by Ron and Hermione. Harry looked at Dumbledore. "What can we do for you, sir?"

"Actually, Harry, it is what I can do for yourself and your family. You see, we still haven't discussed where you and Ginny will be living this summer."

"I just assumed we'd be staying at the Den or the Burrow over summer," Ginny said.

"And were the threat of Voldemort not hanging over you I would agree whole-heartedly. As it stands Voldemort will be more desperate than ever to kill you both. It is the only way he can re-secure his followers, you see."

"So what do you suggest we do, Professor?" Harry asked.

"I would suggest that you both stay here over the summer."

Ginny and Harry looked at each other. Finally Harry said, "But students aren't allowed to stay at Hogwarts over summer break."

"No, Harry, they are not, but staff members are."

"Staff members?" Ginny and Harry both asked in unison.

"Of course. Don't you see," chimed in Hermione, "under wizarding law you're both considered adults because you're married and have a child."

"Exactly, Miss Granger," the Headmaster affirmed. He turned back to Harry and Ginny. "I would like to extend an offer of employment to both of you."

Harry answered. "What would we be doing, sir?"

"You, Harry, will be assisting Mr. Lupin, who will be taking over as Keeper of Grounds and Keys. I expect the Quidditch pitch to be in perfect order by next term.”

"And me, sir?" Ginny asked

"You will be assisting Madam Pince in the library. She asked me to hire someone to help her update the catalog. She's afraid of some of the books in the restricted section. They sometimes bite, you see."

Ginny looked at Harry. They came to a wordless conclusion. "We accept," they both said.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore rose from his chair. "You will be assigned a new living space, which will include a proper nursery and a room for Miss Bell. Also, I have already arranged for you both to have the last two weeks of summer off so you may visit your families. Now if you will excuse me, I believe there is a delightful custard cooling in the kitchen. I need to get to it before Severus eats it all."

*****
When the final week was almost over, Ginny and Harry invited all their friends to their new rooms for a going away party. They gave Katie the day off, and she elected to visit George at the joke shop he and Fred had opened in Hogsmeade.

The women passed Melinda around between them, which the small girl found vastly amusing. The men talked about Quidditch, drank butterbeer brought up from the Three Broomsticks, and enjoyed a general camaraderie before they all were forced to part for another summer.

On the night of the leaving feast Ginny and Harry went to the Great Hall to join their fellow students. Hufflepuff won the House Cup, mostly on the strength of their steady all around performance academically and on the Quidditch pitch.

After the feast Ron and Hermione joined Harry and Ginny in their rooms for a quiet evening of companionship before they had to leave the next morning. Harry lost three games of chess to Ron, and Hermione talked everyone's ears off about what she thought Ginny should do to make the library better organized.

On the day of leaving, Harry and Ginny went with their friends to the Hogwarts Express. They hugged Hermione and Ron and said their good-byes to everyone else.

Finally the train was loaded and the conductor blew his whistle. As the locomotive began to pull away, Ginny reached out and took Harry's hand. They stood on the platform and watched until the last car was out of sight.

Harry turned toward Ginny. "Ready, Mrs. Potter?"

"Ready, Mr. Potter," she replied with a broad smile.

They started back to Hogwarts to begin a new life together.