[HP] Three thousand days of innocence

In the stunned silence that followed, only Ron asked incredulously, "What?"

Meanwhile, Malfoy's family lawyer didn't seem to notice anything amiss; he continued to his feet and said, "Giles Montgomery - hello, I say!" He turned to Lucius in astonishment. "If you don't need my services, I hope you will let me know in advance, Mr. Malfoy!"

Lucius waved him off casually, not even bothering to look at him.Still, he was staring at Ginny so hard that her hairs stood on end.

"Miss Weasley," said Kingsley, his dark face darkened with anger. "Please come here."

Ginny's legs were shaking violently, and her knees were trembling. Perhaps it was because of some hidden force, she still walked out of the auditorium and came in front of Draco.Draco never took his eyes off her. "The law stipulates that defendants can choose who will defend them at trial." She tugged at her sleeves and said tremblingly. "There is no legal limit—"

"Miss Weasley, I really don't understand why you continue to promote the rules and regulations of the Auror office." Kingsley scolded angrily. "During this week, your boss provided me with evidence that you may have visited prisoners in St. Mungo's illegally, and now you announce that you will defend him in the murder trial?" Kingsley shook his head. "At best, this is a serious conflict of interest. At worst... Merlin, I don't even know what to say."

"A moment of confusion," said the dark-eyed wizard next to him.It was the man she and Ron had met after their amnesia treatment. "Miss Weasley, do you realize that you are not a trained lawyer?"

"I know," Ginny replied, pursing her trembling lips.

"You're the Auror who found and arrested this man?"

"Yes, sir."

"Okay." The wizard straightened his robes and looked at her in confusion. "I don't see how we could allow this to happen, Kingsley."

"Me too." Kingsley agreed, and the other Wizengamots also murmured agreement. "Miss Weasley, you are an Auror in uniform and a representative of the Ministry of Magic. The Wizengamot hereby denies your—"

"If you may, Chief Wizard," interrupted Ginny, "that's no problem." Without hesitation, she plucked the shiny Auror badge from her robes and threw it on the ground. "Before I came this morning, I put the letter of resignation on Mr. Porter's desk. This is my notice."

Kingsley leaned back in his chair, eyes wide open, shaking his head in disbelief, but before he could speak, Ron's voice rang through the courtroom. "No!" he yelled, standing up, and Ginny turned to look at him. "Ginny, what are you doing?"

"I'm preventing a disgusting miscalculation," she recited, loud enough for the Wizengamot and the scattered audience to hear, and she practiced the words for a week. "Only I have knowledge of Mr. Malfoy's disappearance, mental illness and current state of mind. Under our laws, only I can provide him with the defense he requires, and I have the right to do so."

"She's crazy," said Ron angrily, thumping back into his seat. "She's crazy, she's talking nonsense—"

Ginny's heart sank, but she turned to face the Wizengamot again.John and Simon sat in the back watching her firmly, she hadn't seen them before.Simon noticed she saw them and grinned at her.John raised his clenched fist in support, as if she was doing the right thing.The affirmation they exuded, their trust, their confidence in her and her abilities — she was definitely doing the right thing.

"I've made up my mind," Ginny announced. "Nobody can change that."

"It's very unusual," another official said. "But I think—if she's no longer a Ministry employee..."

"Are you really going to choose this witch to defend you, Mr. Malfoy?" Kingsley asked.

There was a moment's silence before Ginny turned to look at him.Draco met her gaze, and his eyes said what he couldn't. "I will not entrust my fate to anyone else," he said softly.Ginny's heart was pounding violently in her chest, and she refrained from smiling at him.

"Despite my better judgment, I'll allow it," Kingsley said, tapping the gavel. "Miss Weasley, I just hope you know what you're doing."

"You don't have to worry about me," she said.Her heart is actually not as confident as her tone.

The Wizengamot left the courtroom one after another, and after Draco was sent back to his cell, John and Simon struggled to squeeze past the wizards who had come to watch the proceedings. "Good job, Ginny," John said, putting his arms around her. "here you go."

"My heart is still pounding," she admitted shyly.

"I was a little worried, dear," said Simon.He looked inexplicably nervous and kept looking around the room. "That's it, stick to it and wait and see."

Ron walked up to them, still shaking his head disapprovingly. "You're totally crazy," he said darkly, frowning.

"You must be Ginny's brother Ron," said John, holding out his hand. "I have long admired your name."

Ron shook his hand warily. "You must be Malfoy's roommates," he said, looking from John to Simon. "I've heard of you too."

"Let's have tea together someday," Simon said. "Johnny?"

"We really have to go, we've had too much lunch on a weekday," John said tactfully, but the uncomfortable look around them made Ginny suspicious. "Ginny, keep in touch. See you at court Monday?"

"Okay, take care," she said.They left the courtroom with the others after saying goodbye to her and Ron.Lucius Malfoy and Giles Montgomery were also among those leaving, and the lawyer was still complaining about being excluded.Lucius' eyes met Ginny's.He simply nodded and turned away arrogantly.She has his approval.She didn't know how she won it, but she had it.that's enough.

"Before you open your mouth," said Ginny, seeing that Ron seemed to be going on with his tirade, "I know what I'm doing. I'm going to do it with my eyes open."

"You gave up a promising career as an Auror so easily?" he cried in disbelief. "Ginny, you're one of the best Aurors around today - I should say you were, but I just can't -"

"I never wanted to be an Auror," she said. "Don't you understand? I'm an Auror because of Harry, and the many benefits the job has brought me."

Ron sighed and followed her a few paces as they left the courtroom. "Well... I know you won't change your mind," he said half-heartedly. "But I still strongly disagree with what you've done."

"You're right about one thing. I won't go back on my word."

"Then I'm the only Auror in charge of the case," he said thoughtfully.

"How do you feel?" Ginny said over her shoulder. "Getting all the credit without having to work. Lucky you."

"Haha, that's funny," said Ron, trotting after her. "Ginny, I will not participate in your defense."

"Nobody made you have to participate. I'll handle it myself."

Ron sighed again, and they walked in silence to the Department of Mysteries floor. "Will I be there when Harry finds out?" he asked finally. "I want to see him—"

"Ginny!"

"Ah," she said softly as Harry emerged from the elevator at the end of the corridor. "Looks like your chance has come, Ron."

Harry strode forward, clutching a crumpled piece of parchment. "What is this?" he cried, waving the parchment in front of her.

"My notice," said Ginny. "I resigned."

"But—but you can't just resign!"

"Actually, I can." She replied coldly, crossing her arms across her chest. "I'm not satisfied or happy with my job. I'm going to look for work elsewhere."

"You're helping Malfoy," said Harry, panic in his voice.He pointed at her with a trembling finger. "I have known for a long time that there is something weird between you, I have known for a long time."

"What does that have to do with you?" Ginny said defiantly. "You're no longer my boss, and you're no longer my boyfriend. You shouldn't be interested in my life. You weren't interested, anyway."

"Ginny," snapped Ron.

"Okay," said Harry surprisingly calmly, dropping his arms. "so be it."

"I'm glad you finally figured it out."

"If I'm called to testify against Malfoy - which is quite possible - I won't hold back just because it's you."

"I didn't expect that from you," Ginny said, but she felt a little nervous.Harry's words are golden words to the wizarding world.How is she going to contend with it?

No, that's what Ginny used to say, she told herself firmly.He no longer dictates my life.I won't let him do that.

"I'll see you in court," said Harry, with a look on his face that indicated he had declared war.

"See you in court," Ginny said too.She didn't want to stay here any longer, so she said goodbye to Ron and went back the way she came.

The detention room returned to normal again—Ginny was used to the quiet and empty environment here, with only flickering torches to accompany her, not the way it was during the trial.Normal people - ordinary British wizarding citizens - don't belong here, it's just dark and dank, silent and lonely.This place can only accommodate a few people.When she reached the entrance to the holding cell, she showed the guards her Ministry of Magic credentials without thinking twice.

"You don't have to show us this again, Miss Weasley," said one of the guards. "You shouldn't have shown us."

"Oh—you're quite right," she said blushing hastily.She tore the paper into pieces and stuffed them in the bottom of the bag. "Can I still go in?"

"Of course, you are his advocate." They opened the door and let her in.

Draco was standing at the door of his cell waiting for her as she walked past, as if he had anticipated her visit.He immediately stretched out his arms to her from between the bars, and she took his hand and kissed it passionately, thankful that his anti-magic barrier hadn't returned since he went to the hospital.

He seemed to read her, though, for he murmured, "They're coming tonight to recast the spell you told me. The one that keeps you from me."

"They will," she said bitterly, and kissed his hand again.She had always liked the long, strong fingers of his hand, the graceful movement of them.He withdrew his hand from hers, and Ginny hurriedly opened the door, rushed inside, and fell into his arms.He was the only solid and unshakable factor in her life, but even he was showing signs of collapse.There was a madness in his eyes that hadn't been there a month ago, a week ago; she didn't like the way he held her in despair.

"I hope you don't mind." She smiled at him. "I can't stand the thought of that lawyer defending you."

"Mind?" he replied with a smile. "Not at all. If I knew you wanted the job, I'd have given them your name."

"But you heard what they said," she said softly. "I'm not trained. I've never done anything like this, I don't know—"

"I have confidence in you." He said, stroking her back, leaning over and kissing her lightly on the forehead. "You'll do just fine."

Ginny buried her face in his chest again and took a deep breath.His trust in her made her feel guilty.She doesn't know what she's done to deserve this.

"May I confess?" he asked after a while.

"You can tell me anything."

"I thought—I might have remembered something important."

She looked up in surprise. "What's up?"

"I don't know. One piece—furniture. A kind of cabinet, I think." He frowned and closed his eyes, as if putting together a picture in his head. "I remember what it looked like - yes, it was a long low cabinet with two hinged doors. I knew it had some meaning, but I didn't know why."

"Try to remember, like you did with that photo in the bedroom," she said eagerly. "This relates to an accusation against you, but that's all I can say. If you remember anything—"

"Yes," he said, looking at her almost eagerly. "I have two new memories since the last time I saw you. The locker, and then on the train...someone got invisible?" He chuckled. "It's totally unreasonable."

"It makes sense to me," said Ginny, remembering Harry hiding under the Invisibility Cloak and spying on Draco on the Hogwarts Express. "Think again. Play around with the different elements in your head—you'll remember."

"I keep telling myself that." Draco rested his chin on her head, hugging her tightly. "I've remembered a lot of things - it may not be a lot for you, but for me, eight years of not remembering anything - it's a lot."

"Don't give up on the memories," she said. "You remember what happened so that I can help you."

"Of course." He said softly, bowing his head and kissing her so hard that she almost couldn't breathe. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you".

"I love you too, showy," she murmured against his lips. "Rest weekends. Sleep, meditate, do whatever you need to do."

"You too, Kim." He let her go reluctantly.

She left the Ministry an hour later, the evening sun was blinding.In her arms was a plain box containing some of her personal belongings from working in the Auror office.It was a shock that she left the office where she had worked for five years so quickly.Danny O'Connell and Angelina Johnson are saddened by her loss and have promised to write to her soon.The other Aurors just watched her pack up, betrayed faces.

She is now unemployed.Ginny sighed, and trudged back to the apartment, leaving the box at the door.She took off her heavy scarlet robe, glad she never had to wear the damn thing again, and tossed it into the laundry basket in her bedroom.

"And so begins the rest of my life," she announces to the empty apartment.She likes this sentence.For Draco's case, she still had a lot of research and preparation to do this week - but she was going to put it off for a while.Ginny has an important appointment in Kenmare at the moment.She picked up a light jacket and purse and went out the door.

Ginny walked towards the huge stadium that the Kestrel Quidditch team called "home" bathed in sunlight.There was a faint cry, and she looked up to see about twenty figures in emerald green training robes, riding brooms through the air.

"No, left! Left!" A sharp whistle pierced the sky. "McNamara! Don't you know left and right?"

Ginny climbed up to the nearest stand just in time to see a Chaser go awry.Coaches flew into the ranks, gesticulating wildly, instructing them.After he finished speaking, he disbanded the team. At this time, the goalkeeper of the Kestrel team noticed Ginny and flew towards her.

"Weasley!" he cried, waving his hands happily. "How are you?"

"Very well, Wood." She stood up. "I heard Katie Bell say you're short on the team?"

Oliver Wood landed on the stand in front of her, panting. "Yes." He nodded. "Dinsmore had a collision last month and our replacements are not up to par. We need some fresh blood."

"I also need a new job," she said. "Maybe we can work it out together."

"New job?" Oliver said in surprise. "Aren't you—"

"Not anymore." She didn't elaborate.

"The coach would certainly like Charlie Weasley's sister to come," said Oliver thoughtfully. "As far as I know, you played well..."

"I just want a tryout," Ginny said. "I don't need any guarantees to get this position."

"I'm going to discuss it with the coach," Oliver said. "We'll be out of the country for the next three weeks, but when we get back—"

"It's okay," Ginny said seriously. "I don't have much time for the next few weeks anyway."

"Okay." Oliver shook her hand firmly. "I'll arrange it."