One-shot: Harry/Ginny
Title: The Halloween Project
Words: 1500
Rated: PG-13
Characters: primarily Harry/Ginny and family, including Ron/Hermione, Neville/Hannah, George/Angelina, and Luna
Summary: How do a school project and the help of his friends cheer Harry up at the most depressing time of year?
Author's Note: Originally written for the October Challenge at chest_monsters
Even though all three children were at Hogwarts, Harry carefully opened the door to, what he and Ginny called, 'the children's bathroom'. It was rare for Ginny to have an early meeting at The Daily Prophet, but when she did, Harry was evicted from their bathroom.
"Merlin's beard! You look horrible! Gray hair and dark circles under your eyes! You need hair dye and glamour charms . . ."
"Shut it!" Harry growled at the mirror.
"What crawled up your arse and died?"
Harry's "Silencio!" brought blessed silence. Harry never understood James' delight in listening to the mirror's swearing.
Harry got ready quickly, kissed Ginny, and Apparated to the Ministry. He was surprised to find Dennis Creevey waiting in his office.
"Hi Harry! I hope you don't mind Ron's letting me in."
"That's fine, Dennis. It's always good to see you. Don't you have classes, though?"
"Neville's teaching my first years today. I'm going to mind his seventh years' independent projects later."
"What can I do for you?"
"I always have my classes do in-class projects the week before Halloween to give them a bit of a break."
"Yes, I know. My children love you. A professor who doesn't give homework for an entire week? I think you're their favorite." Harry chuckled.
Dennis beamed. "I know you're busy so I'll get to the point. Would you be the special project this year? Come to Hogwarts as a guest and let the students ask you questions."
"Dennis . . ." Harry groaned.
"I know you don't like it, Harry, but the students don't believe you could do everything the textbook says when you were their age. They would learn loads from you. I can't tell them much, because I wasn't old enough to be in the D.A."
"All three of my children are in your classes! Ginny and I have always tried to tell them the basics and skate over the horrible things."
"Harry, please do this. People are forgetting. The students think you were on some exciting adventure, and their lives are boring. They need to know. Promise you'll consider it?"
Harry sighed and reluctantly replied, "Okay, I'll consider it."
***
"Ginny!"
"Yes," Ginny hustled to the foyer. "Harry, you look upset! What's wrong?"
Harry held open his arms and engulfed Ginny. She ran her fingers through his hair as he breathed in the scent of hers and held her.
"Dennis wants me to be this year's D.A.D.A. project."
"That wasn't why you were in a strop this morning."
Harry sighed. "No, I was tired from the full moon."
"Thinking of Remus?"
"Yes, but it's more than that. I never like this time of year anyway . . ."
"I know, love." Ginny caressed Harry's cheek tenderly.
"When I saw the moon, I realized I used to remember Remus at every full moon, and I haven't even looked at the moon in six months."
"Love, you've been busy. You haven't forgotten Remus just because you didn't think of him on a particular day."
"Maybe I have forgotten. Dennis said the students don't believe what they've heard about the War. We always meant to tell the children more, but have found ways to procrastinate."
"Why don't you accept Dennis' invitation?"
"Because I hate being a spectacle! So many others did more than me or just as much. I may have been the only one who could stop Voldemort, but I certainly couldn't have done it alone!"
"I have an idea. I'm meeting Neville for lunch tomorrow, so I'll get him to help with Dennis. This could work . . ."
"Are you going to tell me the idea?"
"No, I'm going to cheer you up."
"How?"
"I'll show you . . ."
***
When Harry and Ginny Apparated to Hogwarts, they were stunned at seeing the boars at the gates. Each clutched a large jack-o-lantern in its jaws, which was struggling to escape.
Ginny burst out laughing. "That's brilliant Charms work!"
"That might be our children or nieces and nephews who did that!" Harry griped.
"I'm guessing Professor Flitwick, but if it's our kids, I'm even more impressed." Ginny giggled.
"Actually, my kids made those. James' and Albus' jack-o-lanterns are inside."
"Neville!" Ginny hugged her friend. Harry raised a hand in greeting.
"Professor Flitwick let students make animated jack-o-lanterns for Charms."
"Why'd we never do that?"
Neville laughed. "It was Dennis' idea. His Halloween Project is catching on."
"Did your students do a project?" Harry asked.
"My first years grew the pumpkins . . ."
Ron, Hermione, George, and Angelina arrived with a pop.
"Since Luna and Hannah came earlier, we're all here. Shall we?" Neville gestured towards the open gates.
***
The Great Hall was transformed into a tiered auditorium, packed with every student and professor in Hogwarts. Harry, Ginny, Neville, Hannah, Luna, Ron, Hermione, George, Angelina and Dennis sat at a table in front.
As Dennis tried to get everyone to settle down, Harry whispered to Ginny, "This is your plan to cheer me up?"
Ginny whispered back, "They rearranged classes for an afternoon seminar so it didn't drag out all week. This will be good, you'll see. Shhh." Ginny winked at Harry and grinned. Harry sighed.
Dennis began, "Students, we are privileged to have such distinguished war heroes here."
George snorted. Angelina glared at him. "They will tell their story, and you may ask questions afterwards. George, will you begin please?"
George discussed using the shop to support the war effort, and his and Fred's work for The Order of the Phoenix.
Angelina shared about being on the run as a Muggleborn. She spent most of the war with her mum in Spain, not knowing if her friends and family were alive.
Hannah, Neville, Ginny, and Luna talked about having Death Eaters as teachers. As they shared about the torture and the students' attempts to fight back, there was not a sound in the entire auditorium. Luna also talked of her kidnapping and imprisonment.
Harry spoke about each year he was at school, with others chiming in their portion of the story as needed. When Ginny shared about fighting off Voldemort's possession throughout the year, Lily yelled out, "You were so brave, Mummy! I love you!" James and Albus started the students cheering for her. Ginny began crying, and Dennis had quite a time restoring order.
Harry hugged Ginny, then continued sharing more than ever before about the events leading to Voldemort's death. He had everyone's rapt attention. Ron and Hermione told their part in Harry's trials. When they finished, no one moved or even whispered.
Dennis broke the silence. "Any questions?"
A small girl stood, squeaking, "Mr. Potter, I'm Muggleborn and wondered what happened to your cousin, and your aunt and uncle?"
"Dudley, Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Vernon survived the war. Uncle Vernon died of a heart attack a few years later. I attended his funeral where Dudley and Aunt Petunia both apologized to me. Aunt Petunia died a few years after Uncle Vernon. Dudley and I have never become close friends, but we do keep in touch. I attended his wedding. Dudley and his wife just had their first child and sent me a picture."
An older boy got up. "Mr. Potter, my dad said your boggart was a professor?"
Harry chuckled weakly. "That's not me." He smiled at Neville.
Neville blushingly stated, "My boggart was Professor Snape. When Professor Lupin taught us about boggarts in third year, he had me put boggart-Snape in my Gran's dress to work the Riddikulus charm." Everyone laughed.
George piped up, "Snape was mean. We weren't lucky to have professors like Dennis and Neville." The panel chuckled. Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother.
Albus Potter stood saying, "I want to thank all of you for everything you did. None of us had any idea." There were murmurs of agreement. Albus blushed and shifted on his feet, "So . . .um . . .thanks." He sat down. Many students called out thank you's to the panel. Harry smiled.
James Potter stood up and asked, "I know Mum's sixth year was absolutely horrible, especially with no Quidditch, but was there anything students could do for fun?"
Harry whispered to Ginny, "Of course, our son would ask about having fun." Ginny giggled quietly.
Luna answered, "Oh, of course, we had fun! Neville and I snogged a lot for practice, until he realized he fancied Hannah, who he later married, but there was plenty of snogging and even shagging going on amongst all the students!"
Neville and Dennis put their heads in their hands as the students and the rest of the panel roared with laughter.
"I'm sorry, Neville, am I not supposed to talk about your sex life?"
Neville's ears were bright red, but he was laughing, as Hannah leaned against him and giggled helplessly. Harry and Ginny were laughing so hard tears were streaming down their faces.
Harry breathlessly chuckled to Ginny, "You were right, love, I have definitely cheered up."
Words: 1500
Rated: PG-13
Characters: primarily Harry/Ginny and family, including Ron/Hermione, Neville/Hannah, George/Angelina, and Luna
Summary: How do a school project and the help of his friends cheer Harry up at the most depressing time of year?
Author's Note: Originally written for the October Challenge at chest_monsters
Even though all three children were at Hogwarts, Harry carefully opened the door to, what he and Ginny called, 'the children's bathroom'. It was rare for Ginny to have an early meeting at The Daily Prophet, but when she did, Harry was evicted from their bathroom.
"Merlin's beard! You look horrible! Gray hair and dark circles under your eyes! You need hair dye and glamour charms . . ."
"Shut it!" Harry growled at the mirror.
"What crawled up your arse and died?"
Harry's "Silencio!" brought blessed silence. Harry never understood James' delight in listening to the mirror's swearing.
Harry got ready quickly, kissed Ginny, and Apparated to the Ministry. He was surprised to find Dennis Creevey waiting in his office.
"Hi Harry! I hope you don't mind Ron's letting me in."
"That's fine, Dennis. It's always good to see you. Don't you have classes, though?"
"Neville's teaching my first years today. I'm going to mind his seventh years' independent projects later."
"What can I do for you?"
"I always have my classes do in-class projects the week before Halloween to give them a bit of a break."
"Yes, I know. My children love you. A professor who doesn't give homework for an entire week? I think you're their favorite." Harry chuckled.
Dennis beamed. "I know you're busy so I'll get to the point. Would you be the special project this year? Come to Hogwarts as a guest and let the students ask you questions."
"Dennis . . ." Harry groaned.
"I know you don't like it, Harry, but the students don't believe you could do everything the textbook says when you were their age. They would learn loads from you. I can't tell them much, because I wasn't old enough to be in the D.A."
"All three of my children are in your classes! Ginny and I have always tried to tell them the basics and skate over the horrible things."
"Harry, please do this. People are forgetting. The students think you were on some exciting adventure, and their lives are boring. They need to know. Promise you'll consider it?"
Harry sighed and reluctantly replied, "Okay, I'll consider it."
***
"Ginny!"
"Yes," Ginny hustled to the foyer. "Harry, you look upset! What's wrong?"
Harry held open his arms and engulfed Ginny. She ran her fingers through his hair as he breathed in the scent of hers and held her.
"Dennis wants me to be this year's D.A.D.A. project."
"That wasn't why you were in a strop this morning."
Harry sighed. "No, I was tired from the full moon."
"Thinking of Remus?"
"Yes, but it's more than that. I never like this time of year anyway . . ."
"I know, love." Ginny caressed Harry's cheek tenderly.
"When I saw the moon, I realized I used to remember Remus at every full moon, and I haven't even looked at the moon in six months."
"Love, you've been busy. You haven't forgotten Remus just because you didn't think of him on a particular day."
"Maybe I have forgotten. Dennis said the students don't believe what they've heard about the War. We always meant to tell the children more, but have found ways to procrastinate."
"Why don't you accept Dennis' invitation?"
"Because I hate being a spectacle! So many others did more than me or just as much. I may have been the only one who could stop Voldemort, but I certainly couldn't have done it alone!"
"I have an idea. I'm meeting Neville for lunch tomorrow, so I'll get him to help with Dennis. This could work . . ."
"Are you going to tell me the idea?"
"No, I'm going to cheer you up."
"How?"
"I'll show you . . ."
***
When Harry and Ginny Apparated to Hogwarts, they were stunned at seeing the boars at the gates. Each clutched a large jack-o-lantern in its jaws, which was struggling to escape.
Ginny burst out laughing. "That's brilliant Charms work!"
"That might be our children or nieces and nephews who did that!" Harry griped.
"I'm guessing Professor Flitwick, but if it's our kids, I'm even more impressed." Ginny giggled.
"Actually, my kids made those. James' and Albus' jack-o-lanterns are inside."
"Neville!" Ginny hugged her friend. Harry raised a hand in greeting.
"Professor Flitwick let students make animated jack-o-lanterns for Charms."
"Why'd we never do that?"
Neville laughed. "It was Dennis' idea. His Halloween Project is catching on."
"Did your students do a project?" Harry asked.
"My first years grew the pumpkins . . ."
Ron, Hermione, George, and Angelina arrived with a pop.
"Since Luna and Hannah came earlier, we're all here. Shall we?" Neville gestured towards the open gates.
***
The Great Hall was transformed into a tiered auditorium, packed with every student and professor in Hogwarts. Harry, Ginny, Neville, Hannah, Luna, Ron, Hermione, George, Angelina and Dennis sat at a table in front.
As Dennis tried to get everyone to settle down, Harry whispered to Ginny, "This is your plan to cheer me up?"
Ginny whispered back, "They rearranged classes for an afternoon seminar so it didn't drag out all week. This will be good, you'll see. Shhh." Ginny winked at Harry and grinned. Harry sighed.
Dennis began, "Students, we are privileged to have such distinguished war heroes here."
George snorted. Angelina glared at him. "They will tell their story, and you may ask questions afterwards. George, will you begin please?"
George discussed using the shop to support the war effort, and his and Fred's work for The Order of the Phoenix.
Angelina shared about being on the run as a Muggleborn. She spent most of the war with her mum in Spain, not knowing if her friends and family were alive.
Hannah, Neville, Ginny, and Luna talked about having Death Eaters as teachers. As they shared about the torture and the students' attempts to fight back, there was not a sound in the entire auditorium. Luna also talked of her kidnapping and imprisonment.
Harry spoke about each year he was at school, with others chiming in their portion of the story as needed. When Ginny shared about fighting off Voldemort's possession throughout the year, Lily yelled out, "You were so brave, Mummy! I love you!" James and Albus started the students cheering for her. Ginny began crying, and Dennis had quite a time restoring order.
Harry hugged Ginny, then continued sharing more than ever before about the events leading to Voldemort's death. He had everyone's rapt attention. Ron and Hermione told their part in Harry's trials. When they finished, no one moved or even whispered.
Dennis broke the silence. "Any questions?"
A small girl stood, squeaking, "Mr. Potter, I'm Muggleborn and wondered what happened to your cousin, and your aunt and uncle?"
"Dudley, Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Vernon survived the war. Uncle Vernon died of a heart attack a few years later. I attended his funeral where Dudley and Aunt Petunia both apologized to me. Aunt Petunia died a few years after Uncle Vernon. Dudley and I have never become close friends, but we do keep in touch. I attended his wedding. Dudley and his wife just had their first child and sent me a picture."
An older boy got up. "Mr. Potter, my dad said your boggart was a professor?"
Harry chuckled weakly. "That's not me." He smiled at Neville.
Neville blushingly stated, "My boggart was Professor Snape. When Professor Lupin taught us about boggarts in third year, he had me put boggart-Snape in my Gran's dress to work the Riddikulus charm." Everyone laughed.
George piped up, "Snape was mean. We weren't lucky to have professors like Dennis and Neville." The panel chuckled. Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother.
Albus Potter stood saying, "I want to thank all of you for everything you did. None of us had any idea." There were murmurs of agreement. Albus blushed and shifted on his feet, "So . . .um . . .thanks." He sat down. Many students called out thank you's to the panel. Harry smiled.
James Potter stood up and asked, "I know Mum's sixth year was absolutely horrible, especially with no Quidditch, but was there anything students could do for fun?"
Harry whispered to Ginny, "Of course, our son would ask about having fun." Ginny giggled quietly.
Luna answered, "Oh, of course, we had fun! Neville and I snogged a lot for practice, until he realized he fancied Hannah, who he later married, but there was plenty of snogging and even shagging going on amongst all the students!"
Neville and Dennis put their heads in their hands as the students and the rest of the panel roared with laughter.
"I'm sorry, Neville, am I not supposed to talk about your sex life?"
Neville's ears were bright red, but he was laughing, as Hannah leaned against him and giggled helplessly. Harry and Ginny were laughing so hard tears were streaming down their faces.
Harry breathlessly chuckled to Ginny, "You were right, love, I have definitely cheered up."