Notoriety
Chapter 8
Notoriety
Harry sat with Ron in the living room. He was very glad to be home. The trip was a success and his visit with Charlie was a relaxing break. Charlie knew of a pub that, like the one he and Ron went to in London, even Harry Potter could go unnoticed. If he was recognized, it was with a wave rather than open stares.
"How's Charlie," Ron asked, "and the kids?
"They're great," replied Harry. "Marina is as beautiful as ever. The kids are getting so big. They loved the presents we sent."
"Have you talked to Ginny since…you know?"
"No. Should I have?"
"Dunno," said Ron defensively. "It's weird, you know?"
"What's weird?" asked Harry.
"She's got another new job, right?"
"That's not weird, Ron. That's normal." Harry chuckled.
"That's the thing, though. It's not the type of job I'd expect from her. She's a columnist at 'Witch Weekly'. I never knew she could write. It makes me wonder how well I know my sister."
"Don't worry about it. I hope she finds what she wants. She can't be happy flitting from job to job."
A small Scops owl came zooming in the room, fluttering precariously with a note in its beak. Harry couldn't help but laugh at the little bird's antics.
"Come here, you idiot!" Ron shouted as he struggled to catch the bird. "Pigwidgeon, come back here!" Harry reached and grabbed the owl out of the air easily.
Ron took the letter and began to read. All of the color drained from his face.
"Bad news?" asked Harry.
"No, no" Ron said rapidly. "It's fine. It's just…I'm going to KILL my sister."
"What did she do?" Harry prodded with a smirk. He couldn't help but be entertained by the dynamics of sibling relationships.
Ron poured two large glasses of firewhiskey and handed one to Harry.
"It's a bit early for this, isn't it?" Harry asked. "What did Ginny do that's got you in a state?"
"Harry, mate…" Ron began. "You'd better sit down."
Harry did as he was told and looked at Ron expectantly.
"Harry, mate…" he began again, and then sighed heavily. "Harry…"
"Just spit it out, Ron. We've established that I'm Harry," he said as he pointed to himself, "and we're mates." He gestured between the two of them. "What's the rest?"
"Let's just say I know now how Ginny got the job at Witch Weekly." Ron said resignedly.
"What does that have to do with me?" Harry was confused.
Ron sighed again. Harry could tell his friend did not want to say what was bothering him.
"Ron? What is it? Just tell me, mate."
"She…" Ron started again. "She…" Ron took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. "Harry, it seems my sister has given an exposé to 'Witch Weekly."
Harry looked at Ron dumbly.
"She gave an interview about your relationship."
Ron called Hedwig over and asked her nicely if she would go and get them a copy. He tied a small pouch to her leg with the money inside.
Hedwig was back in just a very short time. Harry hadn't moved from his chair by the fireplace. He seemed to be frozen in place.
Ron took the package from Hedwig, who seeing her master's distress, landed on his shoulder and rubbed her head against his cheek affectionately. Harry mindlessly petted her, his face white with dread. Ron handed Harry the drink he'd put down. Harry drained it in one large swallow.
Ron looked at the front cover and sighed again.
"Let me see." said Harry dully.
It was Harry's turn to sigh as he looked at the front cover and saw his own picture staring back at him. The headline read:
NOT A BOY ANYMORE
An exclusive look at Harry Potter by the girl who stole his heart.
Harry groaned aloud. "It couldn't be that bad." he thought aloud. "Just get it over with." he told Ron and his friend found the page.
Not A BOY ANYMORE
An exclusive look at Harry Potter by the girl who stole his heart
We've all read and heard about the Boy-Who-Lived. Join us now for an exclusive interview with Ginny Weasley. Ginny has been the steady girlfriend of the most powerful wizard of our time for the past nine months. She shows us the real boy-who-lived, behind the scenes and between the sheets.
WW: Thank you for talking to us. The entire wizarding community is captivated by Harry. What are we not seeing?
Ginny: Harry is complicated. He comes with a truckload of excess emotional baggage and in spite of everything he's been through; he's really just an ordinary man.
WW: Ordinary? You've got to be joking! Give examples, please.
GW: He's the biggest neat-freak. His dirty clothes are folded in the hamper! You can't get his attention away from any quidditch match. I could parade around naked. If he's listening to a match, he'd never know! Much less watching one!
WW: I take it him seeing you naked is not a new thing…
GW: Hardly. I was his first, you know. Who'd have thought Harry Potter would still be "Untouched" at his age! However, I feel it is my duty, here, to tell you we are no longer seeing each other.
WW: Really? What happened?
GW: It was a mutual decision. Harry is a great guy, don't get me wrong. He's just not the one for me.
WW: Why is that?
GW: You won't believe this, but Harry Potter has to be the most boring person on the planet. I grew up hearing of all of these adventures he's been on and wanted a piece of the action. Since "THE DEFEAT", mostly all Harry does is go to work and come home. I'd have to drag him out anywhere.
WW: There must be something keeping him home. What's that like…you know…?
GW: Actually, that part was amazing. Harry is the most considerate lover. He jokes that 'sex is like an oriental meal. It's not over till you both get your biscuits.' I finally understand the term spontaneous combustion.
WW: Tell us something, he wouldn't want us to know, just between us girls.
GW: He has the most amazing tongue. With his lack of experience when we first got together, I would have never guessed. He's a natural…
WW: So….does he prefer to give or receive?
GW: Funny you asked that! Both, actually.
WW: Why is that funny?
GW: Well, I wasn't going to tell you this…but…(giggles) it is strange. I've always heard how shy he is and that it is almost impossible to get him to open up. Let's just say where there's a will there's a way…
WW: What's the secret? And while we're at it, what does it have to do with what we were talking about?
GW: What we were talking about IS the secret. How do I phrase this? Let's see…when he is on the receiving end and it after reaches its natural conclusion, he truly talks! He'll tell me anything, his hopes, his fears…
WW: Wait just a minute. The-boy-who-lived, He who defeated You-know-who has fears?
GW: Of course he does. We all do. He is afraid of being alone, of being, I don't know, unloved, maybe. But, don't let him catch you saying You-know-who. He hates that.
WW: One last question, any regrets?
GW: Maybe. I don't know. He's not going to be pleased that I spoke to you, that's for sure. I won't say that it was a dead-end relationship. It wasn't. We were just both wanting different things at this time in our lives. I don't regret dating him. I guess no one lives up to their press clippings.
There you have it, straight from the mouth of the woman who shagged, and nearly bagged the Boy-Who-Lived.
"How could she do this???" Ron exclaimed. "She just…she just…Oh.Bloody Hell!"
Harry sat there quietly. His face felt on fire. He wasn't sure if it were anger or embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, mate." Ron offered.
"I think I need to be alone." Harry responded dully.
"Do you need anything?" Ron asked.
Harry shook his head and headed out toward his balcony. As he opened the glass doors, he heard shrieks of dozens of women standing below his balcony. He closed the doors quickly.
"There's people! Out there!" he stammered. Then it hit him that he'd lost his sanctuary and he groaned.
Ron raced to the balcony and looked out. "WOW!" Ron exclaimed. "Got your omnioculars? The twins won't believe this!"
Harry glared at his friend. "I'm going to work." he said. Lock up, will you?" and he apparated to his Ministry office.
"Potter!!!" he heard upon his arrival. He winced. "This can't be good." he thought.
His superior stuck his head in the doorway. "Come with me, please." said Shacklebolt politely. Harry hated it when his boss went all polite on him. It meant that he had a tentative hold on his temper. He followed Shacklebolt down the hall to the atrium. They hid behind a large plant. "Tell me what you see, Potter." ordered Shackelbolt.
"People, sir." Harry responded.
"What are they holding, Potter?"
"They are holding a magazine, sir."
"Why would there be people crowding into the atrium holding a magazine?"
"I expect they are waiting for me, sir."
"And why would all of the 'people' be waiting for you?"
"That would be because my ex-girlfriend gave an interview, sir."
"My office, Potter, NOW!" he ordered. Harry followed him to the office.
"Sit down, Potter," he said calmly. "I need to get this straight." Harry nodded.
"Okay, your ex-girlfriend gave an interview. Did you know about this?"
"No, sir." Harry said equally as coolly. "I found out about it just this morning. I'd never have let this happen if I'd known!"
"How many days do you have coming?"
"About fifteen left" Harry responded.
"Take them immediately. I want you out of here and take your fan club with you."
"I'm suspended?" Harry asked.
"No, not suspended. I'm putting you on emergency leave as of right now. If that isn't enough time, then I'll see what I can do about getting you a temporary transfer on the continent. I hate to lose you, Potter, but my hands are tied. The Minister is raving mad over this and he wants action. I'm sorry, Harry," he continued softly. "I wish there were another way."
"I understand, sir." Harry said as he bowed his head in shame and walked back to his office to clean out his desk.
His squad was waiting on him to return. They all had copies of the magazine, ready to tease Harry about it. His colleagues took one look at him and backed off immediately.
Harry left without saying a word to anyone.
Harry apparated back to his flat. He threw himself down on the couch with a groan. His best friends popped into his kitchen.
"Harry! Are you alright?" asked Hermione gently. Harry didn't respond. Ron handed him a pint. Harry sipped it slowly.
"Want to try the pub, mate?" Ron offered. "Toss back a few?" Harry just glowered at him.
Ron and Hermione departed, after trying fruitlessly to cheer him up, leaving him to stare aimlessly at the fire. Ginny arrived shortly after they left.
"Hello, Harry," she said tentatively.
"What are you doing here, Ginny?"
"I wanted to explain…"
"There's no explanation necessary. Now if you'd excuse me, please?" he said as he headed toward the stairs.
"Harry!" she shouted at him. "Wait!"
He paused on the steps. "I've had a really bad day. I don't want to talk about it. And I specifically don't want to talk to you." he stated, and then continued up the stairs. Ginny followed.
"Harry, don't be angry with me. They said if I would give the interview, I'd have a leg up on getting the post. This is it, Harry. This is my dream, to write and be published, to see my name without 'daughter of Assistant Minster Arthur Weasley' attached to it. Can't you understand that? I got the job, if you care."
"For how long this time?" he asked, not bothering to hide the scorn in his voice.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Ginny, in the 9 months we've been dating, you've had 12 jobs. Forgive me if I don't jump for joy that you've landed another one."
"That's not fair and you know it!" she shouted.
"Not fair? Oh please. What's not fair is that my life has been turned upside down. There are people outside my window, I can't go to work, I can't go anywhere!"
"Why can't you go to work?" she asked.
"I'm on emergency leave. There were too many people waiting for me at the Ministry, so to get rid of them, they got rid of me." Ginny gasped. "If the fifteen days I've been saving isn't enough, I get shipped off to the continent. So congratulations, Ginny. I hope your new job is worth it."
"I am so sorry, Harry. When I agreed, I didn't think…"
"No, you didn't." he retorted sharply.
"Let me finish, please. I didn't think it would lead to all of this." She waved toward the window. "I thought men liked to be praised for their prowess. I mean, I know you are a very private person, and are more than a little angry. I knew you would be to a certain extent. But if the right girl read the article and wanted to get to know what a wonderful man you are, then it was worth it."
"Good night, Ginny." Harry stated.
"May I come up?" she asked hesitantly.
"Why?" Harry asked. "Planning on a follow up story? I don't think so. Good night."
The next morning, Harry got up and made his tea. He took the cup to the balcony and went out. Immediately he heard shrieks and screams of "There he is!" He quickly retreated back inside.
He spotted the cupboard under his stairs and stared at the door. With a heavy sigh, he crawled inside, closing it behind him. He sipped his tea without a sound and calmed himself in the familiar setting, undisturbed.