Title: Harry Potter and the Ring of Power

Author: Martine Lewis
Genre: Drama, Romance, Angst
Warnings: sexual situations, violence
Rating: M
Setting: Post DH

Ship: H/G
Summary: After a year in Auror training, Harry resumes his relationship with Ginny and is sent on a special mission.

Author's Notes: This story is completely written however, editing takes a long long time. So, if you begin reading, you will get it all, I just don't know how long it will take.

Also, I would like to give a special thanks to my beta ZephyrDragon for her hard work and patience with me.

Oh! And let's not forget that I don't own Harry Potter and the Potterverse. It is all property of JK Rowling.

PRELUDE – May 3, 1998 – the day after the Battle of Hogwarts

Harry woke up that afternoon sore and hungry, but rested for the first time in a year. He opened his eyes and put his glasses on. A plate of sandwiches was waiting for him on the bedside table next to his four poster bed in Gryffindor tower. He ate, got dressed, and descended the spiral stairway to the Gryffindor common room. It was empty except for Ginny who was sitting by a window, looking outside at the people who were already busy repairing the castle.

"Ginny," he called softly, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of her.

She was even prettier than when he had last seen her, the previous night. She looked up at him sadly.

"I thought you were dead," she said, her eyes as dry as when he had broken up with her the year before. "I really thought you were dead," she said again in a whisper.

Harry could not help himself. He went to her, took her in his arms, and kissed her passionately like she had done on his last birthday. He had wanted to simply kiss her again for so long. The smell of her was intoxicating. The feel of her in his arms was making his head spin, and his body responded in ways that were both painful and pleasurable at the same time.

"Ginny… I – I," he began in a whisper, his cheek against her head, holding on to her as if his life depended on it.

But what he was about to say, Ginny never knew, as the portrait behind them opened. Harry and Ginny reluctantly let go of one another and looked at the entrance. Professor McGonagall had walked in, followed by Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"There he is, Minister," said Professor McGonagall, showing Harry.

"Mr Potter," said Kingsley formally. "Can I have a word?"

Harry gave a curt nod. Kingsley indicated a chair by the fireplace, which Harry took. Ginny returned to her window while Professor McGonagall departed, closing the door behind her.

"Harry, while you were sleeping," began Kingsley, taking the chair in front of Harry, "I offered all who fought in the battle special permission to begin Auror training even if they didn't obtain their N.E.W.T.s. You see, the Auror Office suffered heavy casualties during the war, and we do have quite a few Death Eaters on the run… I know you've always wanted to be an Auror, Harry, so I think it's only fair to offer it to you as well."

"Er..." began Harry. "I would love to join the Aurors, sir."

"In that case, I will make the arrangements. We know you have been... away for the better part of the year, but due to our dire need, we would like you to begin training in two days…"

"Two – two days?" interrupted Harry.

He had been on the run for almost a year and he didn't know if he really wanted to be thrown into something else without having a chance to rest.

And there was Ginny.

He turned to look at her. She was already looking at him from her window. He did not want to go so quickly. He wanted to spend time with her and his friends, and have a normal life for a change. But being an Auror was all he had ever wanted to do, and he didn't know if he would ever get another chance at it, or if he would ever pass the N.E.W.T.s to get in at a later time.

"Go, Harry," said Ginny quietly, as if she had read his internal debate. "Go… We will all be here when you're done with training."

Two days later, after a night spent talking with Ginny about the ordeal of the last year, and sharing quite a few kisses in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room, he left her behind and entered a life of extensive training where 'normal life' and 'time' lost all meaning.