Veritaserum Doesn't Lie

Chapter Three

*

The Other Professor

Harry froze the moment he saw her red hair shining in the sunlight still coming into the room. Her jaw dropped in awe. All the other professors, save Snape, smiled contently.

"Albus, is he the other professor?" Ginny asked.

"Why, yes, Harry will be your fellow Defence professor," Albus said before taking another bite of chicken.

"You mean to tell me that I have to deal with him all the time from now on?"

"If that is how you should like to say, then I suppose so. But you have separate quarters so your sleeping time should be without him," he explained.

"I can't believe I have to work with Potter," Ginny said as he sat down.

"It's great to see you again as well, Gin," Harry said. Inside, his heart was shattering yet again but he tried not to show it.

"Don't you dare call me that you pompous...jerk!" she hissed.

"Miss Weasley, I think I may have been wrong about you," Snape said. Harry glared at him coldly. The three didn't notice the other professors sniggering behind their water goblets.

"Severus, I suggest you stay out of this feud," said McGonagall. Though inside she was actually laughing, she looked as serious as ever.

"Perhaps you're right, Minerva," Snape agreed. He had known of this little plot and planned to enjoy watching these two have a go at each other.

"Potter, why don't you just not look at me or talk to me throughout this meal?" Ginny suggested, stabbing her mashed potatoes with her fork.

"Fine," he agreed.

The meal passed. Whilst Harry walked solemnly back to his quarters, Ginny's stomps could probably be heard in the Divination tower. The slamming of her door nearly shook the Astronomy Tower. Harry certainly heard it.

"So I see Miss Weasley has yet to forgive you," said Albus from behind Harry. Harry stopped and turned.

"You could have told me she would be my partner," Harry said. He waited for Dumbledore to catch up to him.

"So you could refuse my offer?"

"So I could be a bit more prepared for that!" Harry told him.

"Dear boy, one can never be prepared for seeing someone lost again," Dumbledore replied.

"Or at least so I wasn't embarrassed in front of all the staff!"

"That probably would have happened regardless," Dumbledore said. Harry walked with him in silence until they arrived at his door. Harry bid the Headmaster goodnight and went into his chambers.

He sat for a while, thinking of what had just happened. His dream had just come true! Sort of. He hadn't dreamed of her being that cold and angry.

~*~

Ginny fell onto her bed as soon as she entered her bedroom. Why hadn't Dumbledore told her?

Because he knew you wouldn't come, said her conscience.

Yes I would have! She replied silently.

No you wouldn't, said her conscience.

Yeah, I know. But I would have good reason not to!

Really? And what would that be?

He cheated on me! I don't want to see him again!

Is that true? asked her conscience in a voice that told Ginny it already knew that answer.

No.

Before another thought could cross her brain, her bedroom door opened. She shot up.

"What are you doing in here?" she demanded of the man standing there.

"May I come in?" Harry asked.

"No you may not! This is my bedroom, Potter!"

"Ginny, we shared a bedroom for a year and a half, remember?" Harry asked.

"That was years ago, Potter! Get out of my bedroom! Come to think of it, how did you even know where my chambers were?"

"I went through the second door in the office. We share it, remember?"

"Right. Well, you still could have knocked!"

"I did!"

"When someone doesn't answer, that usually means they don't want to be disturbed!" Ginny went on. He leaned against her door. "I said get out!"

Harry straightened and went into the lounge, with Ginny following.

"Now what do you want before I hex you?" Ginny demanded, pulling out her wand.

"You know, if you hex me every time I try to talk to you, it's going to be a very long year," Harry told her. "May I sit?"

"Fine. But don't get comfortable. Now just spit it out!" she ordered, still standing with her arms now across her chest.

"Can we talk without you yelling everything? Please, Ginny?" he asked. She paused for a minute.

"Fine," she said calmly.

"I'm sorry...about that night."

"You shouldn't be sorry about that night. You should be sorry about all the ones with her."

"Ginny, that wasn't true! After Hogwarts, I never saw her, ever," Harry told her.

"Veritaserum doesn't lie. People do. I don't believe you. Now, is that all you want?"

"Far from, Ginny, very far from," Harry replied.

"Well then spit it out!" she demanded, a bit calmer than last time. But her Weasley temper was still obvious.

"I can't just spit out every day of the past five years! I can't just spit out every feeling I've had all these years! It's impossible. But, since you don't want to hear it, I suppose I'll leave. But first, hear this. I missed you, Ginny. I missed you a lot. Ask anyone and they'll tell you that. And personally, I'm glad I'm working with you because I couldn't stand it much longer." He stood and went for the door.

"Now, goodnight and I hope you sleep well," he said as he shut the door. He didn't see the tears Ginny had been forcing back. She went back into her room.

"Damn, Potter, I missed you too but I can't just forgive you! Veritaserum doesn't lie!" Ginny sobbed.

~*~

The next morning, they both got breakfast from the kitchens. Ginny sat in the empty classroom to eat it, trying to muster the courage to go find Harry. Finally, she sent the plate back downstairs and went to knock on his door.

"Who is it?" asked his husky voice. Ginny was about to walk away but she forced herself back.

"It's Ginny," she said. She heard footsteps racing for the door. It opened to reveal Harry, hair still a disaster and robes barely on. "I think we should probably get started on the curriculum. Thirty days isn't really that long."

"Right. I'll be right out...unless you want to work in here?" he suggested.

"The classroom will have more space."

With that, she walked back through the classroom and into her quarters. She collected a few pieces of parchment, copies of textbooks, and a few quills. Five minutes later, both were sitting at one of the desks looking through the textbooks and discussing the first year curriculum and nothing else. Harry couldn't help noticing how her hair still cascaded down her back, catching the sun's rays. Her eyes were exactly how he remembered them.

~*~

"Ronald Weasley!" Ginny called into the Burrow the instant she felt solid earth beneath her feet. She heard more than just Ron's feet pounding through the house. Within seconds, she was enveloped in her mother's arms.

"Oh, I'm so happy to see you! You've been gone far too long, Ginny, dear," said Mrs. Weasley.

"I know, Mum. And I'm glad to see you too! You look great," Ginny replied.

"Oh, codswallop! You are the one who looks great!" Mrs. Weasley said, just as Ron dismounted the stairs.

"Sis! You're home! We've been expecting you!" said Ron. He was staying at the Burrow temporarily with Hermione while their flat building was being renovated. But in return, he got his sister's piercing eyes and crossed arms.

"You knew, didn't you?" she demanded. He smiled weakly. "Ronald Bilius Weasley! You knew he was going to be my partner and you didn't tell me? You little git!"

"Gin, really, I'm sorry. Albus asked me not to tell either of you who your partner was! If I could have, I would and you know that!" he replied.

"You should have told me regardless of Albus! I am your only sister and you're supposed to protect me!" Ginny shouted.

"I think it's Harry who needs to be protected, Gin," said Fred from the kitchen.

"Sod off, Fred!" Ginny yelled toward the kitchen before returning her kitchen to Ron. "You are my brother and you had a duty to tell me if I was supposed to be partnered with my cheating ex-boyfriend!"

"Gin, don't jump to conclusions," Ron said.

"Veritaserum doesn't lie, Ron!" Ginny shouted.

"Both of you! Calm down! Ginny, Ron promised Albus he wouldn't tell either of you and get used to it. None of us were allowed to tell either of you," said Mrs. Weasley.

"So you knew, too?" Ginny bellowed before grabbing a handful of Floo powder and throwing it at her feet. "Hogwarts, Weasley chambers," she said clearly and disappeared in green flames.

~*~

Harry and Ginny made up the curriculum every day for two weeks and got through the third years. They still had a lot to do. They spent a little time decorating the classroom, though they argued over it. Eventually, one would agree to the other and the argument would be placed in the past.

At night, without letting the other know, they pulled out various pictures of their days as a couple and placed them around their rooms. Neither could sleep at night. They both just sat wondering about times past, present and future. The what-ifs were overwhelming. During dinners in the staff room, they did not speak to each other. They would cast an occasional glance at each other but nothing more.

"So, Harry, Ginny, how's the new curriculum going?" Albus asked the two one night at dinner.

"Oh...great," replied Harry at the same time as Ginny said, "Really well."

"We're up to the fifth years, now," Harry said.

"No, we finished them today, remember?" Ginny asked.

"Oh, yes, we're starting on the sixth years tomorrow," Harry corrected himself.

Albus seemed pleased. At least they were doing something besides arguing.

~*~

After dinner, Harry walked down to Hagrid's hut. Since he couldn't fit in the staff room, he didn't eat there. And he certainly didn't mind; at that hour, he preferred to be watching his flobberworms. Harry saw him watering his pumpkins.

"Hagrid! Good to see you!" he shouted. The large man stopped, looked over and smiled. As soon as Harry was close enough, he pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.

"Been wonderin' when you'd come down ter see me!" Hagrid exclaimed.

"I've been trying to get away for days but Ginny demands that we work on the curriculum from dawn to dusk," Harry said.

"Don't worry 'bout it, 'arry. It's fine. Jus' glad yeh finally did! Come in fer some tea!"

They went into the little hut. Harry sat in the chair while his friend made tea.

"So, how's workin' with her been?" Hagrid asked.

"Painful. All we talk about is work. She was furious when I tried to tell her I was sorry about that night and that it wasn't true."

"How d'you feel, 'arry?"

"I'm still as much in love with her as I was the day she left. But she doesn't feel the same way."

"Maybe yeh need ter try an' talk ter her again," Hagrid suggested.

"Yeah, and come back after she casts the bat-bogey hex on me! Not to mention with my legs locked!" Harry told him.

"Just try, 'arry. Yeh never know with women. Just go up ter her chambers and try."

~*~

As soon as dinner was over, Ginny went up to her chambers to take a shower. She needed the refreshing feeling of water going down her back just then. She finally got out and went to find her pyjamas in the wardrobe. As soon as she went past the door leading into her lounge, however, she jumped and screamed.