After the Battle

Chapter 8

We arrived outside Gringotts.

'What do you want to do first?', Ginny asked.

'Actually', Ron said, 'I was hoping Hermione and I could have some time alone?' He gave Hermione and awkward look as he said this.

'Perfect', Ginny said, grinning reassuringly, 'How about we meet here again at four?'

'Sounds brilliant!', said Hermione who was practically skipping with joy.

Ginny and I left and wandered down Diagon Alley. We decided to go to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes first to see George who had just opened up again, he had said that it's what Fred would have wanted much to Mrs Weasleys disdain. The whole of Diagon Alley had been surprisingly quiet which Harry and Ginny had presumed to be an aftermath of the war but having entered the shop they knew that, in fact everyine was simply in the shop rather than on the street. Harry and Ginny battled their way to the frint desk where George was looking happier than he had been in days.

'Hiya Harry, Ginny. Good to see you, on a romantic date are we?' Ginny looked at me, shocked. 'Haha, just kidding! The look on your face Gin, that was worth a million galleons. I touched a nerve I see.'

Ginny grinned, 'Just winding you up George, letting you have the satisfaction of the joke!' I smiled at her. It was good to see George making jokes again, he was clearly happier.

'That's my little sister, she's got the joking gene I see!' George exclaimed.

Ginny smiled at George, 'We'll be off now. Leave you to your customers, see you tonight.'

'Okey dokey then. Bye Gin, Bye Hazza.' George winked at me.

'Good to see you mate, and by the way, NEVER call me that again!' I chuckled as Ginny and I walked out of the shop.

Ron and Hermione were snogging in a doorway opposite. They didn't seem to notice Ginny or I. 'Bleurggggh', said Ginny, 'It's enough to make anyone puke isn't it, not just his little sister!'

I chuckled, 'Don't worry about it babes, just you wait until George hears about this.' Ginny's eyes lit up at the thought.

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering Diagon Alley but I was quite uncomfortable when we were in busy places due to the whispers and glances that followed me. I bought Ginny some chocolates in SugarPlums and some pretty parchment from Scribbilus. At four o'clock we met Hermione and Ron just outside Gringotts and decided to go for a quick drink before returning to the Weasleys. We ordered three coffees and a tea for Ron who moaned about the 'girliness' of the tea shop.

'Have you thought about what you're going to do now? Whether you are going to go back to Hogwarts or get a job?'

'I'm going to go back to Hogwarts. No question about it.' Hermione instantly piped up.

'I want to go back too', I replied, 'I was wondering if we needed to talk to McGonaggal?'

'Yes, I was thinking the same thing. We should go and speak to her on our way back to the burrow.'

'Wait, you guys are actually serious?' Ron exclaimed, 'We spent a year hunting horcruxes, breaking into the most protected buildings in the world and then we killed Lord Voldemort, and you lot think that going back to school is a good idea? We broke into Gringotts, merlins beard! Who wouldn't want to employ us?'

'That's not the point Ron, I don't just want to get a job because i'm the boy who lived, becasue I'm the chosen one. I want to prove that i'm just as good as anyone else who may apply for a job and not just some stupid teenager with a prophecy' I explained.

'Ok, fair point mate but I'm not going back to school. I was actually wondering whether George would let me work with him in the shop.' 

'Thats a brilliant idea Ron', Ginny said smiling, 'George would love that and Fred would have been so proud.'

'Thanks Gin', he said, eyes watering slightly, 'What are you gunna do?' 

'I want to go back to Hogwarts too', she said. 'I don't know what I want to do so going to Hogwarts means that I definitely get to do whatever I choose.'

'Ok then', said Hermione, 'That's decided then. Ron, do you want to speak to George before we go and see McGonaggal?'

'Yeah', he said. 'That's a good idea'. And I could have sworn that I heard him mutter, 'Just in case'.