Veritaserum Doesn't Lie

Chapter Two

*

Hogwarts Headlines and a Letter

Ginevra Weasley sat at her dining room table with the music playing and her red pen in action. She only had twenty more papers to grade! 160 were already sitting in a pile, marks all over.

The window was open, letting the sun pour in with the fresh air of summer. But, as she soon realized, it also let a large phoenix to join her. It belonged to her old Headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Dear Ginevra Weasley,

I am writing to tell you that Draco Malfoy and several Death Eaters once helping Voldemort have attacked Hogwarts. Our dear Defence Against the Dark Arts professor was killed in action.

I am now asking you to become part of a Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching team for next year. I have yet to decide who will be your partner, if you agree, that is. Our school could use your wonderful teaching skills as well as your skills as a fighter of the Dark Arts.

Please reply by owl as soon as possible. I hope you agree to join us.

Albus Dumbledore

She had never met the professor but had heard of him from Ron and her other brothers. Apparently, he was not the youngest but was very talented. She would have to think long and hard about this. It was inviting and she did miss Hogwarts and England and especially the freedom of using magic openly.

~*~

Harry set down the bags from the book store in Diagon Alley and went to the barn owl sitting on the small table by the window. He took the letter from his leg and the owl flew away.

Dear Harry,

I am sure you have heard of the attack at Hogwarts and Professor Himolton's death. We are now in need of a Defence teaching team. I would be honoured if you would agree to be a part of this two person team. I have yet to decide who the second teacher shall be.

Please send a reply as soon as possible.

Albus Dumbledore

Harry was quick to agree. Maybe a thousand students would get his mind off the one thing he had been thinking about for so long.

~*~

After several letters to her family, Ginny finally agreed. She turned in her resignation papers to the principal and sold all her things, knowing accommodations would be provided. She had one month. All her time was dedicated to selling her furniture and car and packing. Dumbledore promised the 'Magical Movers' would be at her house on August first to transport her clothes and precious items to Hogwarts. The one thing he 'didn't know' was who would be her partner.

He did, in fact, know who would. Everyone but Harry Potter and Ginevra Weasley knew. And they were all happy about it. Finally, Harry would stop complaining about life without Ginny and Ginny would stop complaining about the differences between Harry and her new boyfriend, Colin.

There were many reasons she was excited about this change. And one was that she was given the perfect opportunity to break up with Colin.

They went out to dinner the night she planned to tell him. It was late in July. He talked about the car dealership where he worked and she tried to listen, though her mind kept drifting to Hogwarts. Finally, dinner was over and they were walking through Wingfield Park downtown.

"And so the guy finally bought the car and..." Ginny cut him off. If she had to hear another word about that bloody car dealership, she would throw a fit!

"Colin, I have to tell you something," she interrupted.

"Well, can it wait until I'm finished?" he asked.

"It's important and I need to tell you before I loose my nerve," she replied.

"Fine," he agreed.

"I'm moving back to England."

"What? Why? Why didn't you ask me about it?"

"Because this is my life and it was my choice. I've been offered a position to teach at my old school and I've accepted. I'm going home."

"It's not that easy, Ginevra!" he said angrily. Here, everyone used her full name.

"Colin, it is that simple. I leave on the first of August and I'm not coming back. I wanted that position when I went to school there and the professor was...well, he's unable to return and I've been offered a team teaching position," she explained. He didn't know of magic or much about her life before coming to Reno and she wasn't about to explain it now.

"When did this happen?"

"Over a month ago. I've been talking to my family about it..." Her sentence was cut short.

"Why didn't you talk to me?" he demanded.

"Colin, I didn't talk to you because this was my decision and mine alone! I already knew your opinion. And also, I knew that if I left, which I am, I wasn't going to attempt keeping a long distance relationship with you. You are not in this. I'm going home and I'm going without you and you better accept that because there's nothing you can do about it. I leave this country, this life, in two days."

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"Yes, Colin, I am. I think we both knew that this relationship would never work out and I think it's pointless to try. I'm going home without any connections from this life. I've spent five years here and I want to spend no more."

"Fine! It's over!"

With that, he walked away, expecting to make her mad but a smile crept onto her face. Thank Merlin he agreed!

~*~

His trunk was packed, his furniture with Ron, and his heart was already at Hogwarts. He collected his trunk and the few spare things he was unable to stuff inside and climbed into the fireplace. After a last goodbye, he threw down the powder and disappeared into flames.

Dumbledore greeted him in his chambers, where he landed. He led him through the tour of his chambers, which Harry liked immediately. There was a comfortable lounge with large red couches and chairs and a mahogany table with four chairs. The next room was his bedroom, complete with a king size bed with a red comforter set and gold trimming. Anyone who entered this room would know he had been a Gryfinndor. There was a desk facing the window and a large wardrobe. All the wood matched. He was in love with this.

He would have to set up his classroom in the next month but that would not be difficult. His office was large and already full of defence things, which he could use. He found the Foe-Glass Mirror in a cupboard and brought it out.

"Albus," Harry began. The moment Harry graduated Dumbledore had asked that he be called Albus. "Have you found the other team member?"

"I have, indeed, but I shall save that surprise until dinner. I look forward to seeing both your reactions," replied the old man.

"Is it a male or female?" Harry asked.

"You shall see, dear boy, you shall see," Dumbledore told him, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "But now I must go see this other professor. I will see you at dinner."

Dumbledore left a confused Harry. He walked down the hall, very happy about his plan. It had worked perfectly! He had to wait a few moments before one of his other favourite students appeared before him, looking much more grown up than she had before. She arrived by portkey with three men, a trunk and a box following.

"Hello, Ginny. It's very good to see you again," he greeted her.

"Hello, Albus. It's wonderful to see you again as well," she replied.

He gave her the same tour. She seemed very happy with the rooms. They were decorated with oak furniture and red and gold fabric. She was shown to her office, which she would share with Harry. But she had yet to learn that.

"Is the other professor here?" she asked once the tour was over.

"Yes but you shall meet that person at dinner," said Dumbledore. "Which, I believe, is being served in about five minutes. I shall meet you there, I suppose, or would you like to walk with me?"

"I think I'm going to put on some robes first. I'll see you there, Albus. Thank you," she told him. He left, feeling quite proud of himself.

Both Harry and Ginevra, or Ginny as she had agreed to being called once home, put on robes and descended the many stairs to the staff room, where they would eat for their first night. Ginny arrived first and took a seat next to Professor Sprout. She was welcomed by everyone, including Snape, though his greeting was not exactly warm. Finally, a last member of the staff entered and her jaw dropped.