A Different Beginning

Chapter LXIX - Dodging Questions and Discovering Answers

The holidays seemed to have flown by and now it was almost time to leave the manor and to head back to school. Ginny was a bit nervous since she had missed almost half the year and she wasn't sure how other students were going to react to her randomly reappearing. She also wasn't sure how she was going to explain things about what she had been doing. Or why she had changed so much especially in physical appearances, her growth spurt had after all been extremely huge. But at the same time, she couldn't wait to see Colin, Luna, and Dee again. She had missed them terribly and even though she had received long letters filled with crazy things, it hadn't been the same. She missed her best friends. She missed talking and chatting and hearing stories and telling them everything. Emma had been a good friend and Ginny had come to love her like an older sister but it wasn't the same. She missed her best friends.

She looked up when the knock sounded on her bedroom door. She stood up and began to pack again, not wanting to be caught lost in her thoughts. "Come in."

Sirius opened the door and grinned at her. "Not packed yet? Just what have you been doing in here, Gorgeous?"

Ginny grinned. "Thinking. How are you doing?"

He shrugged and closed the door behind him before going to take a seat on the bed. "Pretty good. Lex and I are on a great footing now. She has this thing though about not letting me name the baby. I don't know why. I mean I thought that Bunty Black was a great name."

Ginny laughed. "Sirius, do you remember when we talked about your daughter loving you?"

He grinned. "Yeah, yeah, yeah so Lex said. I think it's cute though."

"You can think that all you want, but there is no way in hell that Lexy is going to let you name your baby Bunty. That's an absolutely ridiculous name!"

Sirius grinned. "I suppose it is. Listen Ginny, I uh, I wanted to talk to you about something before we head back to school. Lexy says that I should do it now while it's on my mind."

Ginny stopped what she was doing and took a seat on the bed next to him. "Sure, what's up, Sirius?"

"Well ... I mean, I don't think that I have to say it ... but you're important to me. I love you and I see you as a goddaughter in a way. I said as much after that talk we had about what a prat I was being over the whole 'me being a dad thing'. But I was serious about it. I know, that doesn't happen to often ... but I meant it, you mean the world to me."

Ginny smiled. "I know you were. I love you too. When I had thought that you had died ... it was hard to take. Other then Bill and Charlie, you're my favourite big brother. But don't tell Gred and Forge."

Sirius laughed. "Not if I value my own life! Thanks and I guess you can say we did connect kind of quickly - mostly because you were a sweetheart who just accepted who I was and everything that first day in the garden of the Burrow. Anyway, back to what I was saying; it's because I love you and because you matter so much to me that I want to share with you something that you've given me, or something that you made me realize I'm lucky enough to have."

Ginny glanced at him quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"I'd like for you to be godmother to my daughter."

Ginny gasped in surprise. "Wow. Really?"

He nodded. "After I left you on Christmas Eve and I was lying in bed with Lex we were talking about it and Lexy agrees. We would both be really honoured if you would do this for us. I've never felt close to anyone like I do to you. The only other person who has ever ... Lily-Love - I used to flirt with her and tease her and have long talks with her too. But it's different with you because ... you're so much younger and I don't even know what it is exactly, but you're special, Gorgeous. I don't know if you have a godfather or not but I feel like I'm yours sometimes almost as much as I'm Harry's and I want my daughter to have someone special looking out for her. I think that that someone should be you. I wouldn't trust anyone else with her life."

Ginny blinked back tears before she wrapped her arms around him. "Oh, I'd love to be!"

Sirius sighed in relief. "Good, for a second there I thought that you were going to say no."

Ginny laughed. "No way! But as the newest Black's godmother I forbid you to call your daughter Bunty."

Sirius laughed. "Lex already has. Hey Gin, what do you think of the name Eugenia?"

Ginny rolled her eyes as she returned to her packing. "Lexy really has her work cut out with you, you know that, right?"

Sirius placed a puzzled look on his face. "Whatever do you mean? I'm as innocent as a newborn baby!"

Ginny laughed and scooped Midnight into her arms to cuddle. "Yeah right, innocent my ass!"

Sirius grinned. "Your ass is innocent? Now that I don't believe!"

"Sirius!"

He laughed. "Alright, alright, I'm going. Hey Gorgeous?"

"Hmm?" She asked as she placed Midnight back down on her bed.

"Just to inform you, James is going to be godfather but I haven't asked him yet."

Ginny smiled. "Surprise, surprise. I think that's wonderful. He'll be really pleased."

Sirius grinned. "Yeah, but unlike him I'm not going to stumble my way through it."

"What do you mean?"

Sirius grinned. "Nothing, just memories." He stood up and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I don't know if I told you, but you're incredibly beautiful. I can see why Harry almost swallowed his tongue when he saw you return. And what's this I hear about a bellybutton ring?"

Ginny laughed. "It was Emma's idea but I'll admit, I secretly wanted one and didn't put up that much of a fuss. Mum flipped out when she saw it!"

"I can imagine! Just how many surprises did you accumulate in New York?"

Ginny grinned sheepishly. "Only one more, I uh, I got a tattoo."

Sirius goggled at her. "What?"

She blushed scarlet. "I haven't told anyone else about that! You can't tell anyone!"

"Where?"

"What?"

Siriu s grinned. "Where is the tattoo?"

She blushed deeper and placed a hand over her inner thigh. "Here. It's a Hungarian Horntail."

He laughed. "Man! Harry is going to die when he sees that!"

She grinned. "I know! He doesn't know about it yet, I'm ... well I'm waiting for the right moment! Do you think he'll like it?"

Sirius grinned. "Oh, I really think he'll like it! You wild woman!"

She laughed. "It was Emma's idea and at first I thought no way, but then I just ... well, I thought about how Harry would react to it and ... I wanted it."

Sirius laughed. "I cannot wait to tease Harry about this one. Tell me when he sees it, Gorgeous, because I have got to know how he reacts to that one!"

She blushed. "I can't even believe I just told you about that!"

He shrugged. "It's me, babe, I'm easy to talk to!"

She grinned. "I guess so."

Sirius kissed her cheek again. "Alright, I have to go make sure I've got all of my stuff, Lex and I are leaving earlier then you so we can get settled in our quarters again."

Ginny nodded. "Alright, oh, and Sirius?"

"Hmm?" He asked as he placed his hand on the door. "If you tell anyone about this I'll have to sick Gred and Forge on you."

Sirius laughed. "You think that they could actually take me on?"

Her eyebrow rose slightly and her grin flashed. "Maybe, maybe not. But if they can't, there's always bat bogeys."

Sirius paled slightly. "The stories I've heard from Bill and Charlie are enough. See you later, Gorgeous."

Ginny watched him leave with a grin. She really loved him sometimes, he was almost as cool of an older brother as Bill and Charlie, except there was one good thing about him. Unlike Bill and Charlie, he was more godfather; therefore he didn't pick on her quite as much. She grinned to herself and continued her packing.

***********

While Ginny was talking to Sirius, Harry was doing some last minute packing and he found himself lost in thought about what had happened between him and Ginny. It had been intense and something that he had never expected from her. He couldn't stop thinking about it or how they had shared their magic. His thoughts had continually been brought back to that night and even though he had been busy with other things, it was Ginny and Christmas that was on his mind. Especially the memory of when they had shared magic, and other things; but the magic ... he felt like he could still feel her power inside of him. They hadn't spoken telepathically since she got back and he wanted to, just to see what it would be like if she was in the same room when he spoke in her mind. He also wanted to see how it would affect their magical bond. The only thing that he knew for sure was that it was intense and he felt like she was permanently a part of him now in a way that he couldn't even begin to explain.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his bedroom door. He figured that it was his mum but he was surprised when he called out for them to come in and looked over at Draco.

"Draco, hi."

Draco nodded. "Yeah uh ... Potter can I come in?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah sure." His eyebrow lifted in surprise when he closed the door behind him. "Got something on your mind?"

"Yeah. Listen ... your mum she ... I don't even know how to start this."

"What's up, Draco? You'll find that I can be a good listener." Harry replied.

Draco managed a small smile. "So I've been told." He sighed. "Alright, Lily talked to me after that little scene I made on Christmas. We talked about a lot of things and I found myself opening up, more then I thought I could actually. Anyway, the gist of it is ... she told me to talk to you and to trust you."

"And you're just willing to do that now?" Harry asked.

Draco shrugged. "You said so before, I need a friend. Look, Harry, I just ... I'm a pretty easy going bloke once you get to know me and I know that I used to strut around the castle acting like a BFD, but I'm not. I had a bad childhood and I witnessed a lot of things that my father did and others did; things that I would love more then anything to forget. But I can't forget them. I'm not making excuses for the way I acted ... I mean, hell, I was a prat and I know it, but I'm trying to make up for that now. It's because of those things that the one girl I really like wants nothing to do with me."

"You said that your father raped and killed Delilah's mother. Is that true?" Harry asked as he looked at Draco closely.

Draco nodded. "It is. I saw it all happen. I was about eight. No one can prove it though, Father gets away with everything."

Harry nodded and took a seat on his bed. "Alright, why don't you start from the beginning Draco. If you want me to be your friend then you have to trust me; with everything."

Draco let out a deep breath. "Okay."

By the time that Draco was finished, Harry couldn't believe what he had heard. Lucius Malfoy was even a bigger snake then he had ever imagined. Draco had told him tales of murder and rape naturally but he had witnessed over four murders, been beaten by Voldemort himself, and had suffered emotional abuse from his family. The latter Harry had figured out on his own; Draco was hardly going to admit to experiencing emotional abuse. He had lived a hard life, one that constantly surprised Harry every time he thought about it because he still remembered the cocky little jerk Malfoy had started out as. He also knew that Draco was taking a big step by telling him all this and he was ultimately telling Harry that he wasn't changing sides and that he trusted them with his life. He knew that it was one of the first signs of Draco moving forward. He made a point to tell his father that it might be time for Draco to learn everything.

"Wow, I don't even know what to say to this." Harry replied calmly when Draco had finished. "How does one even comment on it?"

Draco shrugged. "I don't think you're exactly supposed to comment on it. I don't even know what the hell I expected you to say!"

Harry sighed. "I don't know what to say, but I do know that it was hard for you to just tell me all of that. Draco, do you know what your father did with the bodies of those people he killed?"

He shook his head. "No, I don't, but I assume that he got rid of the evidence. I overheard the house elves talking once and they mentioned something about transfiguration before burial."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense. I remember in fourth year when the imposter Moody killed Barty Crouch and transfigured his body into a bone first."

Draco nodded. "Well, he'd probably do something like that."

"Yeah. Listen, Draco, we've uh, we've kept you in the dark a lot and you know it. I mean, we weren't really sure if we could trust you for the longest time. I did do Legilimency on you, but still we couldn't be too sure you know?"

"I get that. I was a really big jerk and not to mention my father's record isn't exactly pearly white."

"Yeah, well I don't believe in the sins of the father. Lucius Malfoy is more then a prat and if even half of what you just said is true ... well, hell ... he's going to have a lot to answer for one day."

Draco snorted. "Do you think he'll actually be caught? He escaped from Azkaban!"

"Yeah with Voldemort's help! Do you honestly think that your father is smart enough to escape on his own?"

"No, I guess not. He's impulsive is what he is and his ego is ... pride is a big issue with him."

Harry nodded. "Good to know, it might come in handy at one time." He sighed. "Draco, you do know that when it comes down to the final battle you might -"

"Have to kill my father," he interrupted. "Trust me, I know that. I don't know if I will be able to do it but at the same time I know that if I have to I'll be ready. Does that make any sense?"

"Yeah it does. I know how you feel."

He nodded. "Alright, well I'm going to go find the rest of my stuff. I'll talk to you later on the train."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I'm going to find out about telling you all those secrets."

Draco grinned. "You really trust me? After all of the crap I did?"

Harry grinned. "It's in the past. I always trust my friends."

Draco smiled as he opened the door. "Thanks for that."

Harry grinned as Draco left his room and the first thing he did was head to his parents' bedroom. He usually just walked in but he stopped with his hand on the handle; now that his parents were back together it was probably better to knock. He didn't want to walk in on anything that he didn't want to see. He heard James yell out come in so he stepped inside.

James was standing in the middle of the room buttoning up his shirt. His jeans were undone and his hair was wet. "Morning Harry, all packed?"

Harry nodded. "Pretty much. I need to talk to you for a minute."

"Of course, what's going on?"

Harry sighed and plopped himself down onto the bed. "Draco just came and talked with me, a long intense talk about his past."

James' eyebrow rose questioningly as he finished getting dressed before searching for some socks. "And? That's a good thing right? It means that he took Lily's advice and looked at you as a friend and that he's willing to fight against Voldemort and his father."

Harry nodded. "Yeah and that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I think he should know Da, about the Order and about Snape. I think this is a big step towards proving himself and he needs something ... something to hold onto, to help him prepare. There's going to be a final showdown between him and his father. He knows it and I know it, he needs to be prepared."

"Isn't that what the DA is for?"

"It's not the same thing and you know it. He needs to know what's going on. We've kept him in the dark long enough."

James nodded. "I think that you're right. I'll mention it to Dumbledore because it's ultimately his decision. He's head of the Order. There's only so much I can do."

"Alright, I guess that's it for now then."

James grinned. "Remember what I said on, uh, well the day that I was in your room."

Harry grinned at his father's embarrassed look. "The day you found out that I spent the night with Ginny?"

"You spent the night where?" Lily asked as she stepped out of the bathroom.

Harry blushed. "Uh, Gin and I were talking and we fell asleep in her room."

Lily nodded. "Uh-huh ... I don't want to know. I think it's probably safer."

James laughed. "Good idea, love. Do you remember what I said, Harry, about your mother?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, you think it's going to start today?"

James nodded. "Aye I do. Listen, we're stopping at headquarters this morning before we go to the train station. Dumbledore has something to talk with us and Lily wants to rejoin the Order." He replied before turning to glare at his wife.

Lily shrugged as she pinned her hair up out of her face. "Yes I do. If you think for one moment that I'm going to sit around here and not do anything when my son is the sole focus of some prophecy, think again, James."

James sighed. "I'm not going to argue, I know that you have a point."

Harry nodded. "Alright, well, I'll just go grab my stuff. Da, if we're stopping at headquarters, does that mean that Dumbledore already has a certain degree of trust towards Draco."

"Aye, I think he does. But we'll have to see right?"

"Right."

Harry left the room wondering just how more intense this entire day was going to get.

********

The stop at headquarters led to some interesting questions. First of all, Dumbledore was there and he explained to Draco very quickly what the Order was and why he was being informed. Draco was thoroughly surprised at this, though he did admit to knowing a bit about it or what it had been about in the first war. He asked to join but Dumbledore told him he had to wait until he turned seventeen. He was also very impressed with the fact that it wasn't only Harry that trusted him. The craziest thing was when Snape showed up and the news came out about just what role he played in the order of things. Harry wasn't sure what happened after that, but everyone seemed to disappear and through no fault of his own he somehow ended up alone in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place with Snape.

Snape was busy pacing back and forth around the table as Harry glanced around wondering if there was any way that he could sneak off without being noticed. His hopes were dashed when Snape whirled around and sneered at him. "So, Draco knows everything now, Potter? Who saw that it was fit to inform him? You!"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, he knows everything. Dumbledore told him everything because we trust him. Dumbledore believes him and so do I, though I guess we can't trust Dumbledore's judgment completely since he does trust you. "

Snape sneered. "Enough! The last thing that I want is to listen to your moaning and groaning! You're just like your father, all ego and conceited. I've had Dumbledore breathing down my back because the mighty Potter has been complaining that I've been grading you unfairly. It's hardly my fault that you're a horrible potions student!"

Harry stood up, his eyes flashing in anger. The last thing he wanted was to sit here and listen to that foul-faced git screaming at him. "I'm good at potions! My O.W.L. grade proved it yet you continue to give me low and unreasonable grades! My potion is usually the same as Hermione's if not better yet she gets an O and I get an A or D! It's not fair and you know it!"

"Harry, why are you yelling? You're going to wake up Walburga's portrait." Lily replied as she stepped into the kitchen. "That's the last thing any of us need at the moment!"

"Sorry Mum," Harry murmured as he sat back down.

Snape on the other hand was staring in shock. He couldn't seem to take his eyes off of Lily as she moved towards the stove and made herself a cup of tea before taking a seat next to Harry. "L-L-L-Lily?"

Lily nodded. "Yes Severus?"

"How is this? You were dead?"

Lily shook her head. "No I was in an extremely long coma."

Harry snorted and Lily smacked his head gently. "Sorry."

Snape glared at Harry. "And you knew this, Potter, and didn't find it fit to tell me!"

Harry shrugged. "Why would I tell you anything, especially that my mum was alive?"

"Why you little - ?"

"SEVERUS!"

"What?" Snape exploded.

Lily glared at him. "Why should Harry tell you that I was alive? Since when have you ever cared about me in any way? I stood up for you against James in school but you never showed me any respect. I've also learned exactly how you treat my son first hand and from stories. Harry is not James and I think that you've taken a childhood hatred too far. Get over yourself." She turned to Harry and smiled. "Come on, sweetheart, it's time to go to train station now."

Harry nodded and stood up. "Alright." He took his mum's hand and led her out of the room, leaving a shocked Snape standing in the kitchen. "Why do you suppose he went crazy like that?"

Lily shrugged. "I'm not sure. Let's not dwell on it. We have other things to worry about, like reporters."

"Do you really think that there's going to be a lot of reporters there?"

James nodded as he came down the stairs. "I know there is. I already heard from King that there's been a leak about Lily as well as the fact that the Boy Who Lived's girlfriend just returned from New York."

Harry groaned. "Are they going to bring her into this?"

James sighed. "Harry, you're famous! You always have been and I've shielded you from the spotlight to the best of my abilities but you're almost a man now. You have to deal with them even if it is only running away and saying no comment. I know for a fact that there's going to be a swarm of them at the train station."

Harry nodded and didn't say anything else about it. They took ministry cars to King's Cross station. It was only moments that they were out in the open when reporters swarmed in. James swore angrily at the sight of them.

"Shit, Lily get back in the car, come on, this is the last thing that you need right now!" James exclaimed.

Lily sighed. "It's now or later, James, and I'd prefer to get it out of the way."

James nodded and took her hands in his bringing it to his lips. "Alright."

Ginny fought her way towards them and grabbed Harry's hand. "I didn't want to let you face the dogs alone."

He grinned. "Thanks, I don't think that it's going to be too bad though; at least I hope not." He kept a scowl on his face as they headed towards the platform.

"Lord Potter, Lord Potter, do you have a statement to make for the Daily Prophet on the fact that Lady Lily Potter has finally awakened from her coma?" A blonde reporter asked with large white teeth.

A skinny reporter with buck teeth and huge glasses moved forward next. "Mr. Potter, is it true that James Potter never informed you that your mother was still alive? The viewers with Mars Magazine are dying to know!"

Rita Skeeter stepped forward. "Harry, is it true that Healer Dolan kept your mother's life a secret all of these years? That your father aided him in this? How do you feel about this?"

James placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Ignore them, Harry. Their like vultures and won't stop no matter what you say."

"Lord Potter, is it true that you never told your son that his mother was alive?"

"No comment," James replied as he pushed his family forward.

"Mr. Potter, is it true that your girlfriend went off to New York and had an affair with a musician?"

"Mr. Potter, is it true that Ginevra Weasley is two-timing you with Viktor Krum? How do you feel that two of your past girlfriends had an affair with the international Quidditch star?"

Harry glared at the reporter and Ginny's hand tightened in his but it didn't stop the firing of questions.

"Mr. Potter, how does it feel to know that your mum is alive and well?"

"Mr. Potter, how angry were you when you learned of your mother being alive?"

"Mr. Potter, how angry were you when you learned of your girlfriend's deceit?"

"Mr. Potter, is it true that you're engaged?"

"Mr. Potter, is it true that Hermione Granger is having your lovechild?"

Then as if a switch turned the questions were peppered towards Lily.

"How do you feel about this, Lady Potter? Are you upset that your husband never informed your son or the public about your condition?"

"Lady Potter, how do you feel about coming back and discovering that you're going to be a grandmother?"

James growled and the reporters turned to him.

"Lord Potter, does your wife know of your affair with Rita Skeeter?"

"Leave my family alone!" James demanded and stood in front of his wife as the questions returned to Lily. "We have no comment!"

"Lady Potter, is it true that Sirius Black betrayed you years ago and was the cause of you to lose so much of your life?"

"Lord Potter, how do you feel about the fact that your wife is alive and well after all these years?"

"Lord Potter, how do you think that -"

"ENOUGH!" Harry exclaimed angrily as the reporters swarmed in around him. Ginny clung tightly to his hand as Lily and James stood behind him. They had lost Draco, Hermione, and the rest of the Weasleys somewhere when the reporters had come in. "I'll answer your damn questions!"

James placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Harry -"

"No Da, I have something to say." He turned to look at the huge group of reporters. "First of all, where on earth do you get such ridiculous information? Okay, yes my mum is alive and NO I didn't know! I was angry at first but I've accepted it as something that I would have done had I been in my father's position. Sirius Black is NOT the reason my mother was in a coma! Hermione Granger is NOT pregnant and especially NOT with my lovechild! Hermione Granger was NEVER my girlfriend! I'm NOT having a baby so my mum is NOT going to be a grandmother! My Da did NOT have an affair with Rita Skeeter! Ginny is NOT having an affair with Krum OR a musician and NO I AM NOT engaged!"

One of the reporters snorted. "Like we're supposed to believe that," he murmured to the woman next to him.

"It's the truth," Harry demanded. "Something that vultures like you know nothing about!"

The blonde woman from before smiled. "We only seek to discover the truth, Mr. Potter. So you accept the fact that your father never told you that your mother was alive?"

Harry nodded. "Aye I do, as I understand why he did it. I was angry at first but I get it now."

"Really, Mr. Potter? Are you sure that you're not just giving false facts to maintain your family's reputation?"

Harry let out a sound like a growl. "NO I AM NOT!"

Ginny looked at Harry in surprise. She had never expected him to sit there and tell a reporter anything, other then telling them off of course. And where had the reporters come up with such ridiculous things? Her having an affair with a musician and Viktor Krum? She stifled a giggle at the thought. They must have tried to dig things up on her since she was dating the Boy Who Lived. She had never really thought about herself being in the spotlight before. She stopped for a moment to think about it but it didn't make her that uncomfortable. She loved Harry and she knew that as long as she did there would be stories about her but she could handle it. She smiled to herself then and moved a bit closer to Harry, grinning when his arm wrapped comfortably around her waist.

James' hand was still sitting on Harry's shoulder but his grip was tightening. The questions they were firing at his son were ridiculous and they were making him angry at every word. How dare they even come up with such garbage? But this was definitely the most vicious attack that he could remember. Reporters had always been after Harry but he had shielded him most of his life. The only thing that he could think of was that Healer Dolan had obviously let quite a bit slip after they had left the hospital and he planned to have a little word with the man. But where had they come up with this stuff about Ginny? He sighed; who knew for sure but right now he just wanted to get his family the hell out of here.

Lily on the other hand, was smiling inside. She was pleased to see her son take charge the way he was, though she had to admit, some of the questions had really given her a jolt. Such as the one marking her as a grandmother. She hardly felt old enough for that to happen especially when Harry had mentioned wanting a brother or sister. But when she thought about it, Harry was only one year younger then she and James had been when they married. It was something she would have to think about. She shook the thoughts from her head and turned her attention back to Harry and the reporters.

"Mr. Potter, since you're in the state of answering questions, do you have any comments for Witch Weekly about what happened in the Department of Mysteries in June with You-Know-Who?"

Harry glared at them. "First of all his name is Voldemort! Learn to say the name! Fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself! Second of all, he's a blood thirsty psycho killing maniac, what more do you want to know?"

"Mr. Potter, what do you think of He Who Must Not Be Named and his idea of Limpieza de Sangre?" One of the reporters asked. "Is it true the Dolores Umbridge spoke of this purifying of the wizarding world, with you last year?"

Harry snorted. "Dolores Umbitch, sorry, Umbridge, is a fool and purifying the wizarding world? Don't you think that Limpieza de Sangre is a little bold on old Riddle's part considering he's a half-blood himself? By and by - Riddle is Voldemort."

There was a gasp in the crowd at this and one of the reporters stepped forward and turned their attention to Ginny. "Miss Weasley, what do you think about this? Didn't you yourself play a role in He Who Must Not Be Named's mission when you were merely eleven? We're you aware that he was a half-blood?"

Ginny pushed the magical microphone away from her face. "I think that Harry has a point. Tom Riddle is nothing more then a half-blood who thinks he's better then everyone else. Blood is not important whether you're pureblood, half-blood, muggleborn - who cares? It only makes him more of a prat because he does care!"

"Why do you constantly call him Tom Riddle?" One of the reporters shouted out.

"Because it's his name," Harry replied. "Lord Voldemort is a nickname that causes fear in people's hearts so I think that everyone should call him by his given name. Tom Marvolo Riddle."

Rita Skeeter stepped forward. "So basically, Mr. Potter, you're saying that the world should call You-Know-Who, Tom Riddle?"

Harry nodded. "Yes I do. Dumbledore thinks so too and has been saying it for years."

"Mr. Potter, what do you have to say about the rumours going around about Miss Weasley and her affairs?"

"I'd like to say that it's all lies. Ginny is my girlfriend and she's not with anyone but me."

"Mr. Potter, is it true that you and Miss Weasley are engaged to be married because she's pregnant with your child?"

Harry's eyebrow rose in surprise. "Well, that would certainly be news to me." He grinned down at Ginny. "Got anything that I should know?"

Ginny laughed and kissed him softly. "Nope."

Harry grinned and turned back to the reporters. "Ginny is not pregnant and no we're not engaged. We might be someday, but not now."

"Harry, I have one more question?" Rita Skeeter called out.

Harry sighed. "Last one as I have a train to catch."

Rita Skeeter smiled. "How does it feel to know that you just probably made Tom Riddle a very angry man?"

Harry's face hardened. "I think that it might show the world just what a coward he really is. That's enough questions." He held Ginny's hand tightly in his and they headed onto the train.

"Alright, Harry, you have a lot of explaining to do!" Ginny demanded.

Harry grinned. "Whatever do you mean?"

"You talking to reporters? And without cursing any of them? Are you sick?" She asked, placing her hand on his forehead in mock concern.

Harry laughed. "No, just tired. It was time for some questions to be answered." They found a compartment with Neville, Luna, Colin, and Demelza and he grinned when Ginny squealed in delight and ran into Colin, Luna, and Demelza's arms. He felt his mirror heat up in his pocket and he whipped it out. There was a frosty message written across it.

I'm proud of you for that. Message me later, Da.

He grinned and slipped it back into his pocket hoping no one had noticed before he turned his attention back to Ginny.

Colin was gaping at her. "Look at you! Shit Gin, you're a total babe!"

She laughed. "Thank you, I think! Merlin I missed you guys so much!" She hugged her friends again.

Demelza grinned. "We have so much to talk about!"

Ginny nodded. "You can say that again - the question is where do we begin?"