After a few minutes, Harry felt a hand touch his shoulder. Looking up, he saw Amelia Bones smiling down at him. "Harry, would you please do me one favor?" she asked.
"What would that be, Minister?"
"If you ever decide to enter politics, please let me know. We can save the expense of an election if I just hand the job over to you," she said with a laugh. "That speech was marvelous!"
"I don't think you need worry about that, Minister. After this is all over, I'm going to build a big house for Ginny and myself, and then I'm going into hiding. I'll live life as a hermit. It sounds like it might be fun," he replied.
When the laughter subsided, Amelia give his shoulder a squeeze and, with a wave, followed Dumbledore out of the Great Hall.
Fred and George, always unable to let a good joke go, teased Harry about his plan to hide behind Ginny's skirts.
"He's not going to hide behind my skirts," Ginny said primly.
"Thanks, Gin. I knew you would stick up for me!" exclaimed Harry with relief.
"If he wants to hide behind skirts, he has to buy his own. I'm not sharing my clothes with him," she said with a smirk.
The twins and Ron laughed, Hermione and Molly scolded and Arthur tried to hide a grin. Harry stared at Ginny for a moment. Then, with a groan, he took a page from Hermione's book and banged his head on the table a few times.