Jason and Romina

Ch. 4

There was a sharp tapping at the kitchen window. Ginny looked up from the Witch Weekly magazine that she was reading and smiled at the sight of the speckled Horned owl. As she strode over to the window in order to let the owl in, she called, "Harry! Spock is here!" The next thing she heard was a loud thumping followed by Harry jogging into the kitchen with a grin plastered across his face.

"Letter from the kids?" he asked unnecessarily. Ginny nodded while she untied the parchment from Jason's owl. She looked up at her husband, a playful glint in her brown eyes.

"Me first!" She turned away from Harry and began to open the letter.

"Hey, hey, hey! No fair, I've been waiting to see which house Juliana was sorted into for ages!" he complained while standing behind Ginny and looking over her shoulder. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Ages, honestly, Harry. She was only sorted last night," she sighed exasperatedly.

"Well, it felt like ages. Just read it out loud, all right?" he grinned and he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. Ginny turned her head to grin up at him.

"I was planning on it, Mr. Potter. Settle down," she said in a mother-ish tone. She cleared her throat professionally and began to read:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Guess what! Jules got into Gryffindor! Rod said we should throw a party, but then Rachel smacked him and said that it was time for bed. Jules said that she had a good first day. She especially enjoys Herbology. Anyway, enough about the little pest. Just kidding, Mum! -Harry busted out laughing at how his son correctly guessed that Ginny would scold for teasing his sister. Ginny gave Harry a look that silenced him immediately-Ben is going to start us practicing Quidditch really soon! I'm really excited. I can't wait to dust off the ol' Beater Bat! Neither can Rod. He actually got his out and started swinging it at Rachel like the madman he is. He said it was to sharpen up her reflexes for Seeker practice. Rachel said he was an idiot. Oh, and, Dad? Do you know anyone with the last name Ma-Ginny broke off there, her eyes wide. She stepped away from Harry and finished the letter silently to herself. Harry narrowed his eyes at her.

"Ginny, what does the rest of the letter say? What's wrong? Are Jason and Juliana all right?" He reached for the letter, but Ginny kept it away from him. There was not trace of playfulness in her manner, now.

"Harry," she began warningly, "If I let you see the rest of this letter you have to promise that you won't get angry." He met her serious gaze with an equally grave expression.

"Ginny, give me the letter," he said quietly, although not at all gently.

"Promise you won't get angry."

"No, now give me the letter," he was getting very annoyed with her uncooperative behavior.

"Not until you promise me that you won't get angry!" she replied shrilly, stamping her foot impatiently.

"Dammit, Ginny!" he bellowed, "Give my the bloody letter!" He pulled out his wand, pointed it at the parchment in Ginny's hand and shouted, "Accio!" Ginny made a frustrated noise as the letter slipped out of her hand and flew into Harry's. Harry immediately found the reason why Ginny didn't want him to read the rest of the letter. His eyes darkened underneath his round spectacles and his hands began to shake.

"Now, Harry," Ginny began in a soft, pleading voice, "It could be a different Malfoy..."

"Oh, right," Harry interrupted sarcastically, "As Malfoy is such a bloody common name!" He snorted.

"Well, Romina sounds like a nice enough girl..."

"She's a Malfoy," Harry snarled, "I will NOT allow my son to be corrupted by Draco Malfoy's spawn." He tossed the letter onto the table and folded his arms in an imperialistic fashion.

"For God's sake, Harry, you don't even know the girl," Ginny snapped, annoyed Harry's stubbornness. Harry laughed hollowly.

"I know that she's a Malfoy and that's proof enough to know that she's not good enough for my son." He glared at the letter as if Draco Malfoy himself had signed it. Ginny clicked her tongue loudly and folded her arms as well.

"You're being impossible," she hissed, "You won't even give her a chance! Maybe Jason could invite her over for Christmas..."

"IT'LL BE A COLD DAY IN HELL WHEN I HAVE A MALFOY UNDER MY ROOF!" Harry bellowed, face red in anger. Ginny winced, but stood her ground.

"Why are you being so prejudice against a girl you hardly know?" she yelled back.

"Because Draco Malfoy has wanted me dead since first year! Because he and Pansy were both followers of the man who killed my parents and thousands other innocent people, wizard and Muggle alike! And because it just seems too much like a plan to get to me by having their little girl warm up to Jason. Have you forgotten how much the Malfoys hate us? Bloody hell, Ginny, we had to use the blasted Fidelius Charm when Jason was a baby because we were so afraid that the Malfoys wanted to avenge their Dark Lord! Or have you forgotten the hell we went through because of the Malfoys?" He fixed her with a penetrating bright green stare. She dropped her eyes to the floor.

"No, Harry," she whispered, "I haven't forgotten. I remember living in constant fear. Fear for you, fear for my parents, fear for our baby. I remember both Sirius and Remus worrying that history would repeat itself, that Neville would betray us like Pettigrew betrayed your parents. But you know what, Harry?" Ginny raised her eyes and looked steadily into his, "Romina didn't cause us that fear. And I trust Jason to treat whatever relationship he may have with her cautiously and respectfully. We can write to him and tell him to be wary, but we will not tell him whom he can and cannot date," she chanced a grin, "We didn't let Ron tell us what to do, did we?" Harry cracked a lopsided smile at the memories of sneaking into broom cupboards and empty classrooms in order to escape the wrath of an overprotective big brother.

"C'mon, Harry, give her a chance. At least accept the fact that Jason may like her," she pled while slipping her arms around his waist and nestling her face into his neck.

"I'd like to make you happy by saying 'yes, I'll change my mind completely and like her,' but I can't. We can't compare our relationship to his with Romina. Remember, your family liked me. Ron was just being a prat and he knew it. I won't write to him and forbid him from ever seeing her again, but I AM gong to keep a close eye on them," he stated grumpily. Ginny shook her head morosely.

"Harry, they're at Hogwarts. You can't keep an eye on them," she sighed.

"Like hell I can't," he grumbled, "I am the famous Harry Potter, am I not?" Ginny laughed out loud at his sarcastic proclamation that he could do anything. Harry usually pointed out his fame when things seemed ridiculously impossible.

"Oh, look, an owl," Ginny announced, hoping to distract Harry as a pompous barn owl flew in through the open window.

"It's from Hogwarts," Harry informed her. Ginny pulled out of Harry's embrace in order to receive the letter. Harry peered over her shoulder as she opened it:

Dear Mrs. Virginia Potter,

As you know, Madame Poppy Pomfrey has served Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for many years as the only nurse on staff. She has announced just yesterday that she wishes to retire from her practice and take a long vacation in Majorca. It has come to our attention, Mrs. Potter, that you have a basic training in medicinal magic. We here at Hogwarts would be honored to have you join the staff as the new school nurse. If you should choose to accept this offer, Madame Pomfrey will be delighted to train you for your first month on the job in order to prepare you for whatever injuries that may befall our students. Please send a reply by return owl.

Sincerely yours,

Professor Hermione Weasley, Deputy Headmistress

P.S. Ginny, please say you will! It will be so much fun to be working with you!

"Well," Ginny said, staring at the letter incredulously. She was speechless at the offer given to her. She had always wanted a chance to use her medical training. And to be working with the kids, besides? Ginny couldn't think of anything better. But still, there was something that kept her from accepting the offer right away, and she knew what that something, or rather, someone was....

"So, you're going to take it, right?" Harry asked excitedly. His green eyes were shining and he grabbed Ginny's hands, crumpling the parchment between them.

"Well, I don't know. It's a wonderful opportunity. And I'll be close to the kids, but..." she trailed off, looking away from Harry, hoping he didn't notice that her eyes were beginning to fill with tears.

Harry looked at her concernedly. "But what, Gin? What's wrong?" he asked. She whipped her head back around to face him. Harry was startled to see that she was crying.

"It's just...I'll be at the school all year 'round. I wouldn't be able to come home at night in case there was an emergency, and I d-don't want to leave you all alone!" she cried into his shoulder. Harry smiled a bit at her concern for him.

"Gin," he began softly, "you really should take the job. You'd be with the kids. You'd be able to keep an eye on Jason."

"Harry, I don't want to spy on him," she protested wearily.

"You don't have to," Harry replied, "Just keep an eye out for him in case Romina isn't the innocent little sweetheart you seem to think she is." He pulled his wife into a tight hug. Ginny sighed contentedly.

"But I don't want to leave you," she mumbled quietly into his shoulder. Harry chuckled quietly and kissed the top of her head.

"I'd come to visit you," he whispered gently, kissing her forehead. Ginny grinned.

"All right, then," she sighed, "But only if, you promise to visit me everyday and treat me to dinner at the Three Broomsticks." Harry laughed.

"Sounds good to me," he said. Ginny titled her chin and let Harry kiss her properly. After about a minute of the mild intimacy that they rarely got when the kids were home, Ginny pulled away.

"I'd better write and let them know that I want the job," she smiled at Harry. Ginny summoned a clean sheet of parchment, and inkwell, and a quill.

Dear Professor Granger...