It's Never Two-Sided

AN: No, I'm not dead, and neither is the story. Don't expect regular updates, though; I'm a more-than-full-time student at the moment, and have a lot of extra-curricular work. I'll continue whether or not people review, but a few kind words are always apreciated.
Also, this is going to be Halle/Ginny/Draco in the end, with variants thereof throughout. This chapter is mostly Halle/Ginny fluff, and some general plot explication. Just in case anyone doesn't want to read that. There *will* be more Halle/Draco, and smut, in later chapters, but nothing too heavy for awhile. Silly me, making them get to know each other before they fuck...

Chapter Fourteen: Fourteen Stops Later

“So,” Halle started as she and Ginny climbed onto the Knight Bus. They had taken the floo in the Gryffindor common room earlier that morning and were going to be at Gringotts at its ungodly opening hour of four-thirty in the morning on a Saturday. “Why exactly did you spread the rumour that we're dating?”

“It's more convenient and expected than having to come up with a new story every time,” Ginny replied, taking a seat toward the back.

“But couldn't we have come up with a better overall excuse? As in, something we both agreed on?”

“I thought you were okay with it.”

“It's not that I'm upset with the story as much as you could have discussed it with me. I am your girlfriend, after all.”

Ginny chuckled. “I'll change it if you want.”

“No, leave it; it'll look too suspicious if you do. I mean, I already played along.”

Ginny just nodded, and neither said anything more until they were dropped off at Diagon Alley.

~*~

“Lady Black and Ms. Potter,” a goblin announced, holding the door open for Ginny and Halle to walk through.

“Excellent,” a senior goblin greeted them from behind his desk. “Have a seat, please. I'm glad we can get this out of the way so early.”

“Thank you for seeing us,” Halle replied.

“I understand that you, Ms. Potter, are acting as Lady Black's witness and... personal advisor?”

“I'm here as a witness and a friend; I will give advice if I feel it necessary, however I am not professional in any manner.”

The goblin nodded. “Good answer. You have been emancipated, so you may act as a witness in the proceedings, but you are not licensed for anything,” he reiterated, scratching down notes. “Very well, shall we begin?”

“Yes,” Halle and Ginny chorused.

“Very good. The first matter is the official transfer of the Black heritage. You have already accepted the transfer, but there is some slight ceremony to be held, for which Ms. Potter will be Witness. Kogmlin!”

~*~

They went through several small ceremonies, involving three signet rings, one for the Lord and one for the Lady and one for whomever was the Head of the House, all three of which were currently Ginny. Halle signed several parchments, said a witnessing incantation over several others, and helped Ginny with a quick review of her new assets, one of which caught her eye more than the others.

“It says here there's a 'Wizarding Legal' motorcycle in one of the vaults,” Halle said. “What does 'Wizarding Legal' mean?”

“That means that it is legal for a Wizard or Witch with a relevant license to own and operate the machine, as long as no Muggles are aware of it's existence or magical qualities.”

Halle looked at Ginny. “That would make it a lot easier to get around.”

“I don't even know what a motopsycho is, let alone how to drive one.”

“I do, and I could go get a license without any problem—I mean, a Muggle one. Would that work?”

“A Muggle Class M* vehicle license would be sufficient in this case,” the senior goblin confirmed.

Ginny nodded. “Can we get it out of the vault today?”

“Absolutely, Lady Black,” the goblin answered. “We'll have it taken out for you, unless you wish to retrieve yourself?”

“No, I don't think we'll have enough time today,” Halle said. “We can come back later and look through them, but we need to make several more stops today and make it back in time.”

Ginny nodded. “If you could have it brought up, Mr. Gonshak?”

The senior goblin nodded, and his assistant left to perform the task.

~*~

After another half hour of paperwork, signatures and incantations, Halle and Ginny were escorted into a small antechamber, in which the motorcycle that had been in Halle's dreams for as long as she could remember was waiting for them.

“I'll just shrink it; it would be too awkward to try to get through the crowds,” Ginny said, taking out her wand.

“Hey, you can do that?”

“Of course; it's just a simple shrinking charm.”

“I mean, you're too young, Ginny.”

“I'm emancipated; you saw the paperwork.”

“So am I, but I'm still not allowed to do magic!”

“That's because you're not of noble blood. The Potters are an old line, and rich, but not noble.”

“So, as a noble, you're allowed to do underage magic?”

“Only because I'm the Head of the House. I'm responsible for anyone in the line underneath me, I have to be able to use magic.”

“And I don't?”

“That's not my call, Halle. I'd put you as equal, but I don't even have any real political sway yet, especially if we want this kept secret.”

Halle nodded. “Speaking of which, it's going to be chaos out there. I brought my invisibility cloak, if you'd like to use it.”

“We won't both fit.”

“We don't need to. I've got that lovely hole in my ear, remember?”

“Oh. Alright then.”

~*~

It was one in the afternoon when they left Gringotts, and four by the time they made it to the nearest CBT office. They had taken a short detour to a secluded lot so that Halle could practice actually driving the bike, which she took to like she had taken to a broom. It was currently non-magic, as the owner had to touch their wand to the engine and say the keyword to activate it, but that was perfectly fine for their purposes.

When it was finally Halle's turn, she showed them the proper Muggle paperwork that they had picked up while at Gringotts, and was given the written test first. After that she had to take a number, and wait another half-hour before taking the practical exam. She managed to pass both, and was almost grateful to her relatives for inadvertently forcing her to study. Almost. Then she remembered that they'd locked her up in a cupboard and starved her for most of her life, which made her remember that neither she nor Ginny had had anything to eat yet, and it was nearing three.

So, after buying two helmets, and having Ginny enchant them with the most strenuous protection charms they knew, Halle drove them to a secluded restaurant, where they most adamantly did not have a date. And it most certainly was not romantic in any way when they figured out how to fly Sirius' motorcycle, with Ginny clutching to Halle only because she was afraid of falling off and Halle glad for the younger girl's closeness only for the warmth, of course. Not for the slight flutter it put in both girls' hearts; no, not at all. And the extra time they took, both flying and riding, was only to give Halle some extra practice.

And if they returned rather late, well, too bad.


*I'm using the American Licensing system, because I don't actually know exactly how the British one works. If you do, please enlighten me, and I'll fix it.