Hiding in Plain Sight (A Hinny Fanfiction)

Lockhart With Skills

Chapter 12

Harry's shaking of Ginny's shoulder became progressively harder with each lack of response he met.

"Gin, wake up. We've got to catch a train back in Munich,"

"Dun wanna."

Harry thought Ginny was always beautiful, of course, but this morning's visage stretched his belief. Her red mane had somehow bunched itself on top of her head like the nest of a particularly lazy bird. And then there was the drool. When she regained a bit of her faculties, that's what she sensed first. Her eyes went wide. She rose to a seated position and wondered if it was too late for a Disillusionment spell. It was. Harry tried to pretend he didn't know what she was worried about, but his upturned mouth betrayed him.

"It was a long day, alright?" she stated as she fell on top of her head and grew an even deeper shade of scarlet. "Where are we going?"

"Italy. Turin. The bloody sheet. We can talk about it on the train. But we need to get moving."

Ginny took a longing glance back on her pillow. "I need to take a shower," she pronounced.

"Yeah, I know," he said with a smirk, then deftly spun out of the room and avoided the pillow that was thrown at him.

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When Ginny finally emerged, Harry and Matilda were leaning together at the breakfast table conspiratorially, even with the sound of her steps on the wooden stairs. She cleared her throat and they split apart. She turned and observed that Harry had already brought their luggage down.

"Good morning, Ginny! How did you sleep?" Matilda asked. Harry hid his mouth with his sleeve and Ginny pressed her lips together.

"Fine, thank you," she stated as she walked around the table, flicking Harry in the back of the head along the way. An array of baked goods was deposited around the table, but she moved straight for the coffee pot. She picked up a coffee mug, considered it, then pulled one of the beer mugs out from the bar instead.

"I was just telling Harry about how it feels like a new day in Hammerschmidt. And not because the sun just came up."

Ginny couldn't help but make a little shudder. She understood that once word got out, the village would celebrate Grindelwald's death. The whole Wizarding world as well. She just couldn't bring herself to join them, especially if they found out what role she had to play in the affair. The reluctant hero. At least she knew somebody with whom she could relate.

"But now it's up to you, Matilda. The village has the opportunity to bring magic back to Germany. You don't have the memory of Grindelwald stalking you anymore," Harry told the older woman. He turned to Ginny, who was still standing at the bar and looking off into space. "I told her about the library and maybe bringing back some magical education to Hammerschmidt."

"It's a lovely gesture, Harry. But you're correct; we need to take this opportunity for ourselves. Maybe the Muggles will listen to us now. Ve can work together."

Harry reached over and covered her hand with his own. "We'll help however we can, but we have some things to take care of in Britain first."

"Yes, of course. Please let us know if ve can do anything. Ve can't go and fight, but I'm sure the village would like to do something for you."

A flare of light caught Ginny's eye from the front window. Then there was another. Harry and Matilda were turned away from it, so they continued their conversation. Ginny padded over to the nook of the glass, one hand holding her mug and the other resting over her wand pocket. Her heart sank.