Story: Broken But Brave
Chapter Twenty Two: Far More Beautiful

The two girls returned to find their husbands engrossed in a fierce match Who wizarding chess. Hermione could not help but wonder how on earth did Ron get a magical chessboard in this place.

"King to E2," Harry commanded as the king piece moved across it's position to the ordered position. Ron smirked.

"Knight to E3," he ordered clearly and the black piece moved to the alloted position. "Checkmate!" Harry groaned. He was stuck and this was not the first time in an hour. Ginny smiled and walked over to them. She sat herself on the arm of Harry's armchair.

"Rook to E5," Ginny instructed. The piece in question looked at Harry with a questioning look. Harry nodded and it moved forward. It was Ron's turn to groan. He muttered something under his breath as Harry pecked Ginny on the cheek for helping him. Hermione was about to try and help Ron (though she knew he would not accept his help) when the grandfather clock ticked, it's gong resonating throughout the house.

"Oh my Merlin! It's ten already! Ron, we must go to the ministry!" Hermione exclaimed, jumping up and down. Ron looked up at her with a frown.

"Hermione, you're my boss so I ask you a day off, bye," Ron said, turning his concentration back to the chessboard.

"Oh no you don't! I am not giving you a day off! You are supposed to collect the reports from the aurors who searched for Harry yesterday, make a proper and neat report with your signature and present it to my undersecretary. Do you understand?" Hermione asked, pointing a finger at Ron who whined. Harry and Ginny snickered.

"Oi, I bet even you have that muggle office of yours," Ron shot back at the snickering pair who lost their snickers.

"You forgot," Harry said.

"We forgot," Ginny corrected.

"No, you."

"What do you mean by that, Harry? You are my co-worker!"

It was Ron's turn to snicker but a glare from Hermione silenced him.

Harry sighed. "I resigned yesterday knowing full well that I won't survive but here I am."

"Oh. Good," Ginny said. The three of them raised their eyebrows at her but Hermione instantly shook her head as if she was trying to snap out of something.

"RONALD WEASLEY! YOU ARE COMING WITH ME TO THE MINISTRY NOW!" she shouted. The fancy vases around the drawing room shook slightly.

"Ssh, Hermione! If Mrs Black hea-" Harry started but was cut off by the lady, rather, the portrait in question.

"FILTHY BLOOD TRAITORS IN THIS PURE HOUSE! HALF-BREEDS!" the 'ruddy portrait' as Ron liked to call, started screaming. All four of them groaned.

"I thought that charm would work, Harry. Maybe you're getting too old for auror charms," Ron teased, grinning like a monkey. Harry shrugged in response.

"Now, who wants to silence her?" Ginny asked, looking sweetly at a sweating Harry.

"Err. . .umm. Fine! Stop those gorgeous eyes of yours. 'Fraid they would make me do anything," Harry muttered, getting up slowly. Ginny winked at him as he left, a smirk plastered on his recovering face whilst Ron looked surprised and Hermione beamed.

"Are you telling me?" Ron started. "That you both fought not twenty four hours ago?"

"I never told you, dear brother. It was Hermione who told the erratic tale of our love," Ginny replied, smirking. Ron snorted in response. Hermione stomped her foot to gain his attention.

"Alright, fine! I'm coming with you! Stop shouting like this, okay? You are too bossy for your own good," Ron mumbled, exasperated. Hermione frowned.

"Excuse me, Ron. If I wasn't bossy, how would you get your lazy body to move around and work like an head auror? I think it's time for your demotion. Perhaps, Harry would do a better job at being the head auror. Just wait till he joins the ranks," Hermione said. However, she did not the get the expected response from Ron.

"Ruddy brilliant! I was waiting when you would demote me!" Ron exclaimed happily. Ginny laughed at Hermione's expression. "I'm getting tired of those damn paperwork!" Hermione rolled her eyes at his laziness.

Mrs Black's screaming subsided and the trio assumed that Harry's job was done.

"Right, better get going," Ron said, glancing at Hermione when Harry came back into the drawing room. Hermione nodded vigorously.

"Come over to our house tomorrow. . .on second thoughts, since it's a weekend, Mrs Weasley is hosting the family dinner at The Burrow. I think she and everyone else would love to welcome you both back. You have never been like yourselves these part decade, almost. They would love to meet you again and have a chat. They have been missing you, so please do come," Hermione requested. Ginny looked down.

"I don't know, Hermione. I-I need time," Ginny stuttered, looking guilty.

"We," Harry corrected, "We need time to sort out everything but we will make sure to visit The Burrow soon. Thanks for the invitation, Hermione, Ron. Do give our love to Mr Weasley and Mrs Weasley and of course, to all the others and Rose."

Hermione nodded. After a round of goodbyes, the duo left Grimmauld Place via apparition.

As soon as they left, Ginny turned to Harry. "Were you telling the truth?" she asked. Harry looked confused for a moment then understood what she implied. He smiled before answering.

"Yes, Ginny. I want to sort out everything between us, make everything right. I want to start anew with you, if you so desire," Harry replied softly. Ginny smiled and nodded.

"Firstly, let's sit down," Harry said and motioned towards the sofa. "I have been standing for too long, I'm afraid I would faint," Harry joked, chuckling lightly. Ginny raised her eyebrows. Nevertheless, they sat down on the couch. Ginny gently laid her head on his shoulder. Harry tried his best not to wince but failed. Immediately, Ginny sat up straight.

"I'm sor-" she started but was cut off by Harry placing a finger on her lips.

"I need that," he whispered and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She smiled lightly before laying her head on his shoulder gently again. They sat in compatible silence for a few minutes before Ginny spoke up.

"I think Kreacher wanted us to live in The Potter Manor. You know, he was cleaning the whole Manor when I arrived there. He predicted that it would be used."

"Well then, let's satisfy his wish. Besides, I badly miss that house," Harry reminisced. Ginny nodded lightly against his shoulder.

"Me too. Harry, I want to work."

"No, Ginny. You don't have to. You need rest after I made you go through everything this past decade. I am going to work and earn back everything that we donated. Later, we can live a very happy life and provide everything to our children, that is, if you want to have children. . ." Harry left the sentence hang in the air as his eyes looked at anywhere but her.

"Of course, Harry! Why would you think I don't want little ones running around at the Potter Manor? And I want to work until we have enough money to settle down. I can't simply sit in the house, staring at the wall!" Ginny exclaimed. Harry chuckled lightly before placing a small kiss on her hair. "Do you think I could rejoin The Harpies again? I might have a chance. . ."

"Yes, Ginny. You are a great Quidditch player! I'm sure The Harpies are waiting for you. Alright? But I think I am going to take your advice seriously. . .err - no puns intended," Ginny laughed. "and work in the muggle world."

Ginny looked at him. "Smithson and Co.?" she asked. Harry shook his head.

"Nope. I don't particularly fancy a few people there."

"Who?" Ginny asked. Harry sighed.

"I don't know if you know her but I think your probably do. Her name is Kathy Chamack and she's a year older than me," Harry started. Ginny raised her eyebrows, sitting up. "She might have err. . .had an eye out for me." Ginny visibly fumed. "And she err . . . tried to err. . . lock lips with me, once," Harry stuttered, "but I backed away and ran away before she did anything more than coming a feet near me!" he quickly added, noticing the angry look on Ginny's face.

"How dare she?! She's one idiot who I called best friend!" Ginny exclaimed, angrily. She turned sharply to him, her eyes narrowing. "You are NEVER returning to Smithson and Co. Potter!"

"Yes, dear. Besides, she's too old for my taste," Harry replied. "And you are far more beautiful," he continued. Ginny's face softened and she leaned in, closing the gap between them. Harry could only get three words out before his lips were sealed, "Far more beautiful."

That's it for this chapter. I hope you liked it! Very sorry for the delay! I had a writer's block and on top of that exams! How I hate them! So yeah.

I need a suggestion from you guys. Should end the story with an epilogue or should I write more about their healing process? Whichever opinion gets the most number will be followed! Your opinion matters a lot to me, so do tell!

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x