Parental Approval
Chapter 5
Parental Approval
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Ginny asked.
"No, definitely not." responded Harry. "I mean, they are your parents, no matter how much they mean to me. Their support means something. What if they're against the idea?"
"They won't be. Don't be silly. Mum has hinted at just this thing for years. 'Ginny dear, why don't you find a nice boy like Harry?' Or 'Ginny, love, I'm sure Harry could take you.' You're seriously worried about this? They'll be just happy to know who I've been seeing. They've been asking around trying to find out. Fred and George told Dad it was some wizard that's married with 4 squib children. Ron said it was a Muggle."
Harry chuckled as he apparated to the Burrow. He and Ginny arrived in the orchard and walked up to the ramshackle house.
"You know," she said. "I told them I was bringing my boyfriend by tonight and when they see you walk in, they'll know. You won't have to say anything outright."
They walked into the kitchen and learned that Ginny was correct. Mrs. Weasley grabbed Harry in a tight hug.
"Oh, Harry dear, I'm so happy for the two of you! This calls for a celebration! Arthur! Get out the best wine! The boys will be here in a bit. Oh, Ginny!" said Molly as she then grabbed her daughter.
"We aren't getting married, Mum, we're just dating!" Ginny protested.
"Oh posh." said her mum. "Everyone has to start somewhere…"
"Mu-u-um!" Ginny warned.
"Harry? Can I show you something in the shed?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Yeah. Okay" Harry replied with his face red and his eyes fearful.
"Harry" Mr. Weasley began. "As a father figure to you, I can't be more pleased with the relationship between you and Ginny." Harry visibly relaxed.
"She could certainly benefit from your influence on her life. You are a grounded responsible young man. That being said, as Ginny's father, I have to worry about it. You still have a target on your back and I don't want my only daughter getting caught in the crossfire. I know your record; however I also know what's going on at the Ministry. Until the spy is caught, you will still be in direct danger. Have you thought through all of this?"
"Yes, sir, I have." Harry replied. "The only ones who know about Ginny and me are close friends and family. That's the way I'd like to keep it, if I can. We haven't done anything publicly that we haven't done for many years. We remain strictly platonic as far as any outsiders can see."
"And privately?" Mr. Weasley asked. "Are you being as careful there?"
"Yes, sir" Harry replied confidently, his face flaming. "No one can see her arrive or leave since she has clearance to apparate directly into my flat. I keep the windows shuttered when I have any guests. I take every precaution available."
Mr. Weasley acquiesced. "Take good care of her, Harry. I know you wouldn't hurt her voluntarily."
"Thanks, Mr. Weasley. Yours and your wife's support mean a lot to me." Harry let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. The two men went back into the house, where Harry caught Ginny's eye and winked to let her know that he'd succeeded.
Dinner was a loud boisterous affair. Fred, George, Ron and Charlie had all arrived. Harry recieved lots of teasing, which he returned with enthusiasm. After the massive quantities of stews, bread, sausages, roasted potatoes, and many more bits and pieces were consumed, the group wandered into the living room to relax and visit. While Harry was sitting with Ginny at his side, he never took her hand or made any movement that could be construed as romantic.
"Say, Harry," Charlie began. "Are you any closer to rounding up the remaining Death Eaters?"
"We've made progress, but we're not close enough in my book." Harry responded. "We've kept them from organizing, so just small pockets flare up from time to time. It's only a matter of time before we get them all."
Ginny smiled at him proudly.
"Awww, isn't that sweet," said Fred.
"Ickle Ginny is in hero-worshiping mode," said George.
"My idol!" said Fred in a falsetto voice as he leaned his head against Harry's chest, fluttering his lashes.
"Shut it!" replied Ginny, "or I'll jinx you to London and back!"
"Fred! George!" warned Mrs. Weasley. "Leave them alone this instant! I swear you two could try the patience of Merlin. Harry, dear, can I get you something, another glass of wine, perhaps? "
"No, thanks though." Harry said. "I'm on call tonight." He stood up with a groan. "Which means I should really be going. Thanks for everything." Harry hugged Mrs. Weasley, shook Mr. Weasley's hand, pulled Ginny into a hug and whispered softly. "Will I see you later?"
Ginny nodded enthusiastically to which Fred and George guffawed.
"Oi, Potter, that's our baby sister you are scheming with."
Ginny glared at them, daring them to say any more.
Harry sniggered and said, "Well, goodbye, then." and disapparated back to his home.
Upon arriving, he heard a tap at the window and found Hedwig with a large frog in her beak.
"Nice hunt?" he asked her as she flew inside. She dropped the frog to the bottom of her cage and clicked her beak at him.
"Good, good." he said taking her clicks as affirmative. He heard a pop in the kitchen and went to see if his guest was who he was expecting.
"Ron, what are you doing here?' he asked.
"Needed to get away for a bit, though I wouldn't say 'No' to a pint, if offered." Ron replied.
"Help yourself." said Harry waving his hand nonchalantly towards his fridge. "Is Hermione still working?"
"Yep," Ron answered. "She's off at eleven. I've two more hours to kill. Mind if I stay here until then?"
"Suits me." Harry responded. "I may have to go, though. I really am on call."
"Fancy a game of chess?" Ron asked hopefully. He enjoyed beating Harry at the game over and over.
"Nah." Harry said. "I'd rather talk to you about something. It stays between us, though. You can't even tell Hermione, alright?"
"Sounds ominous." said Ron.
"It is," replied Harry. "Have you noticed that, for me, work has been, shall we say, dodgier, lately?
"Yes, now you mention it. Hermione even noticed how often you've been patched up. She's worried, mate."
"I think there's a reason for it. I don't have any proof, mind, but it seems as if the raids are expected. They know where we are hitting from, where and how we are arriving, and most of all, who is coming. We've changed our strategy in the field, we've done everything we can think of. It's like they are listening to our meetings…"
"Like Rita Skeeter?" Ron offered.
"Exactly! Don't think that hasn't come to mind." Harry replied.
"Extendable Ears?" Ron asked.
"Can't get through the Imperturbable Charm." Harry said. "I learned that from your mother."
"What about Fred and George? Can't they come up with, I dunno, a scrambler and decoder thing?
"Brilliant, Ron! That's what I'm looking for. 'Will it work well enough to protect my men?' is what I'm struggling with. I've taken the brunt of the hits, but there have been others injured and I can't allow that."
"Let me call up Fred and George right now and see what they think. They're still at the Burrow."
Ron grabbed the Floo powder and stuck his head in the fire. He took his head out and turned to Harry. "They'll be on their way over, unless you want to charm them in for apparating."
"Not in this lifetime." said Harry with a smirk. "They'll prank the whole place next time I'm gone. Just add their names to the book on the mantle, under 'Limited Access" then the Floo will be open for them.
"Ah, he's ready for more, I see," said Fred, stepping out of the fire, "without Mum around,"
"to censor our sentiments." said George.
"Yes, I feel the need for a rousing chorus of..."
The twins jumped around in circles, singing loudly, "The-Boy -Who-Lived got…"
"That's enough, guys!" Ron shouted over the twins. "This is serious."
"It'd better be serious." said George.
"Yeah, that's our sister…" said Fred.
"Quit taking the mickey for a minute, would you? Harry needs your help." said Ron pleadingly.
Harry just hung his head. This was exactly why he went to Ron and not the other two.
"Here's the deal," explained Harry and he proceeded to tell them what was happening at the Ministry.
"No problem, Harry." said Fred.
"We can have test models to you by the end of the week." said George.
"Thanks, guys, I really appreciate it." replied Harry feeling he could finally make some progress.
The next day, Harry explained his theory to Shacklebolt. Even though Harry was on the day's roster, he wanted to make sure his superior knew he was onto a possible solution.
"So, " Kingsley Shacklebolt began. "With these whatsits from the Weasley's, we can give orders and we'll hear the correct orders and outsiders will hear something different?"
"That's the gist of it," said Harry. "For instance, you say 'Meet at the Three Broomsticks' and the Aurors involved will hear just that, however those not involved will hear, oh I don't know, The Leaky Cauldron or something. If we're being overheard, we can have another squad in waiting at the fake location and round them up. The rest of us will be at the actual location for the intended raid."
"Excellent work, Potter." Shacklebolt said proudly.
"I can't take all of the credit, Ron and I came up with the idea. Fred and George are inventing it. They can be trusted."
"I know all about your school cohorts, Potter. That wasn't in question."
"Thank you, sir" Harry responded.
"If this works, said Shacklebolt, "you'll be the one to thank."
Harry nodded and went back to his desk. The filing and paperwork he'd been neglecting had finally reached a point of desperation. Harry spent the remainder of the afternoon filling out forms and filing.
Upon arriving home, he noticed that his door was ajar. He balled his fist around the end of his wand and went inside. He couldn't believe his eyes. There was Ginny, sitting on his couch, wearing a black leather…something. He wasn't sure what this get up was called, but he knew he liked it.
"Ginny? What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you." she answered in an almost feral tone.
Harry smirked at her. "And what if I'd been late or maybe had to work all night?" he asked playfully.
"I'm sure I would find something to occupy my time and you would have missed out." Ginny responded. "Anyway, there's a new club opening in Hogsmeade and I want to go. Get dressed and…"
"Ginny" Harry warned. "We've talked about this. We can't go out together like that. It wouldn't be safe."
"I don't care about 'safe'. I want to dance with my boyfriend. I want the whole world to know that we are together. I want…"
"To get yourself hurt." Harry finished for her. "Have you talked to Ron or anyone? Maybe we can make a group thing, and then no one will know…"
"NO" Ginny ranted. "What part of 'I want the world to know' slipped by you?"
"I want that, too, eventually," pleaded Harry wrapping his arms around her waist, "just not yet. Please? Just a while longer…"
Ginny pouted prettily, then laid her head on his shoulder.
"I'll make it up to you. I promise." Harry said softly.
"You'd better" she responded. "Do you mind if I go? It sounds really exciting."
"Not at all." he said. "Just, please be careful." At her frown, he added, "I know you're a strong witch and your Bat-Bogey Hex is tops. You can take care of yourself. Just be on your guard, okay? Promise you won't freeze up next time?"
With a quick kiss, she promised to be safe and left. Harry made himself some supper from the leftovers he'd saved.
"Just you and me, girl." he said lovingly to his snowy white owl. She nipped at his ear and settled in to be stroked.