MetaFic

She hadn't meant to eavesdrop.

She was supposed to have been sitting with Harry, along with Ron and Hermione, until Madam Pomfrey returned. But Professor McGonagall had told her to come to the Headmaster's office as soon as Harry showed signs of waking up.

She hadn't meant to stand outside the Headmaster's door and quietly listen to the conversation inside. And she wouldn't have except that the sound of her own mother's voice made her pause before knocking.

"Then he'll come live with us," Molly Weasley said, her tone challenging anyone to argue with her assertion.

"It's not that simple, Molly. The charm that hid Harry so well requires a living family member, related by blood." Ginny could clearly hear the exhaustion in the Headmaster's voice.

"Albus, couldn't Harry stay at Hogwarts over the summer?" Professor McGonagall's voice this time, full of worry.

"I'm sorry, Minerva, but the Ministry will not make an exception even for Harry."

"Then what will we do?" Ginny was startled to hear Professor Lupin's quiet voice. She suddenly realized how much she missed her former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

"Harry will stay with me, and we'll go under Fidelius," the gruff voice of Sirius Black spoke. Ginny smiled, remembering how Harry's Godfather had finally been cleared after Peter Pettigrew's capture on Halloween night.

"You forget that Malfoy has developed a way to break the Fidelius," Professor Snape hissed back to Sirius.

"Well if you've got a better idea!" Sirius snapped back.

"Those Dursleys. How could they ever–" her mother's voice began to rise in anger.

Her father tried to console her mum. "Molly, dear–"

"So they're truly dead?"

"I'm afraid so, Remus," the Headmaster's tired voice intoned. "Friday evening I received their letter disowning Harry and stating their wish for him to not return to their home. I suppose the wards around the house fell shortly after. The muggle newspaper claimed it was a gas explosion, but my sources tell me nearly a dozen Death Eaters attacked within moments."

Ginny bit her lower lip to keep from crying out. Poor Harry, she thought, now he doesn't have any family left. Professor Lupin's voice broke her out of her thoughts.

"Has anyone told Harry yet?"

"No," replied Dumbledore. "I was going to tell him yesterday after the students returned from Hogsmeade." The room was silent for what, to Ginny, felt like an eternity, and then Dumbledore's voice rang loudly. "Perhaps Miss Weasley could give us an update on Mr. Potter's condition?"

She flushed a little as she stepped into the Headmaster's office, embarrassed at having been caught listening to what was obviously a private conversation between the adults. "I'm sorry to disturb everyone, but Harry's begun to wake up, and Professor McGonagall did say you wanted to know when he came around." She looked steadily into the Headmaster's eyes.

"That's quite all right, Miss Weasley. We were just finishing our discussion." He raised his eyebrows questioningly at her, and she noticed the comforting glint of humor return to his.

"I'm just wondering – I'm sorry sir, but I couldn't help but overhear – is Harry going to be safe?"

Ginny watched as several emotions played across the old Headmaster's face. Had she been older and more experienced she would have been able to read them for what they were. Sadness for, and a fierce pride in, one of his best students.

"Truly, Miss Weasley, I do not know. I have some ideas, but without a living blood relative, the protections he has been under no longer exist. I promise you that I shall do everything in my power to protect Harry." He gave her another long look, and Ginny started to feel a little uncomfortable. "I'm very proud of you, Miss Weasley. Your actions yesterday saved many lives. I've known wizards and witches three times your age who would not have reacted as decisively as you did when faced with such a grim situation."

Ginny looked at down at her feet. She didn't feel proud or even good about what she had done. She felt sick. Still, Dumbledore had given her a compliment; it would be rude not to respond. "Thank you, sir," she mumbled at her feet.

"Well," Dumbledore finally said into the awkward silence that followed, "I need to speak to Mr. Potter, and then I shall address the school. You all understand what I'm asking of you?" Everyone except Ginny nodded. "Good." He looked at Ginny again. "As your mother and father are both here at the moment, perhaps you would like some privacy with them." With that the Headmaster rose from his chair and left the office.

The others all filed out one by one. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin both smiled at her and squeezed her shoulder reassuringly as they exited. Even Professor Snape cast her an almost respectful look as he swept past her.