A/N: Wow guys, it's been a loooong time since I sat down and wrote a chaptered fic. At least, that's what it feels like. But for the past few weeks I've been writing this new story of mine, which I decided to treat you all too before I actually finished it. I normally never do that. But at this point, I only have one more chapter to write, so I figure that's ok. grins
As for the idea: I took/borrowed/used, what-have-you this: 'Ginny gets a summer job at Honeydukes and upon discovering this, Harry finds all sorts of excuses to visit and must find a way to tell her he thinks she's the sweetest thing.' from Sadi who can be found over at FictionAlley and I made this! The story deviates from that quite a lot as it's actually been in production for over oh I don't know, about two years. I can hardly believe it myself. But what with finishing my last year of school, I didn't have a whole lot of time on my hands to write - now, I do.
So without further ado:
The Sweetest Thing
Prologue.
"Oh I'm so nervous! What if we don't make a good impression?" A stout woman standing in the middle of Honeydukes Sweetshop asked her husband who was stacking shelves as she watched him.
Marvin Honeyduke looked down at his wife from the ladder he was standing on, a heavy box in his hand. "Don't suppose you could give us a hand here could you dear?" he asked as he struggled to keep the box in his hands. His wife bustled over and stood beneath him and steadied the ladder, still carrying on.
"What if no one answers our advertisement? It wasn't as showy as the other ones. I told you we should have opted for a flashing title and coloured lettering but you wouldn't listen to me. I said we should--"
Marvin was relieved when his wife stopped fussing upon hearing the bell above the shop door jingle in its merry little way.
"Oh my goodness! Look at me, I'm a fright!" she tittered as she brushed imaginary dirt from her apron that was adorned with the symbol that was their business. 'Honeydukes: Try them, then buy them!' was stamped across the front of it in neat, cursive script, a Sugar Quill overlapping the 'H'. Marvin smiled. He and Anna had designed the aprons themselves, many years ago.
"Anna dear, it isn't us that are being interviewed, remember? We aren't the ones that need to make an impression," he said, offering her an encouraging smile and she calmed herself down at once.
"Of course, of course. I'm being silly. Come in dear!" she called out as she walked toward the front of the shop where a girl who looked to be around age sixteen or seventeen was standing, looking slightly nervous, but in awe of all the sweets that surrounded her.
"Hello," she said, extending her hand and looking around at all the shelves covered from floor to ceiling in all the wizarding sweets that the Wizarding world had laid claim to. "I feel like it's been years since I've been here and it was only last May!" she said as she shook hands with both Marvin and Anna.
"What's your favourite sweet?" Anna asked her, taking on a serious expression that the girl wasn't sure was genuine or if she was having a lend of her. Either way, she knew how to answer.
"Why, Sugar Quills of course. As my brother always says, 'They're the best because you can suck on them in class and just look like you're thinking what to write next'. Of course, I rarely agree with my brother, but on this occasion, he's perfectly right," she said, looking Anna in the eye, a small smile on her face.
"Oh brilliant answer! Marvin! Did you hear that?" she asked him, looking positively thrilled at the girl's answer. "Is she hired?" she asked and began bouncing on her feet, deciding that she liked the girl very much already. The girl hadn't missed this either but was trying to control her excitement. It didn't look as though she was going to have to pull out all of the stops for this job.
"Control yourself dear," Marvin answered, smiling first at his wife then at his likely to be new employee. "Why do you want this job?" he asked her, very interested in her reply, due to the fact that her last one had clearly surprised him.
"Why?" the girl asked, as though it were a stupid question. "Honeydukes is the one shop that everyone, young and old, good and evil, tall and short, fat and thin--I think you understand what I'm trying to say." She began again. "I think Honeydukes has a sort of distinct feel about it. Who wouldn't like to work here? I'd love to be the envy of all my friends and family - anyone would. I think it would be a privilege to work here, after all, not many people can say that they work at Honeydukes can they? That is of course, assuming that I am a suitable candidate for the job." she finished, biting her lip as though feeling she'd said too much.
"Young lady, you've certainly convinced me!" Marvin said as he laughed heartily at the pleased look on the girl's face as she took in the praise for her comments. "Tell me, did you rehearse that, or did you come up with it on the spot?"
"On the spot sir," she said, a pleasant smile upon her face.
"I assumed so," he said as he looked down at what she was wearing for the first time.
She was dressed in a faded pair of blue jeans, the left knee was almost completely through and he noticed that they seemed far too long for her as he couldn't make out her shoes properly, except for the toes which were badly scuffed. On the top half of her body, she wore a plain t-shirt, blue in color and he wasn't quite sure, but it seemed to be two sizes too big for her. The girl noticed him looking her over and smiled, somewhat awkwardly.
"I would have changed, only I thought I might have some competition for the job," she muttered, looking uncomfortable.
"What you have on is fine. I was just thinking about my childhood actually. You remind me of me when I was your age," he said as he went glassy eyed for a moment.
"Ignore him when he gets like that dear," Anna said as she handed the girl a Mint Humbug and popped one into her mouth at the same time.
The girl didn't want to ignore either of these people. They were just lovely and she dearly hoped that they would hire her, if not; she would come back often because of how generous and kind they were. She could just tell by looking at them that they had many interesting stories to tell. She hoped to hear at least one of them. She had taken to wandering around the shop as Marvin and his wife spoke in hushed whispers behind the counter of the shop, shooting her glances. When she caught Anna's eye, she smiled and Anna smiled brightly back at her.
She stopped by a display of Sugar Quills and smiled gently. If she got the job, she'd buy her brother a box to say thank you. She didn't know where she'd come up with her comment, but she was mighty proud of herself though she couldn't take all of the credit. As far as her brother was concerned, Sugar Quills would be good enough recognition.
"Well this all seems to be in order," Marvin said looking at his wife for her approval. She was smiling widely, her cheeks ruddy as she beamed at the girl in front of them. Marvin nodded his consent to her and smiling more widely and clasping her hands together, his wife spoke.
"After some careful consideration, we've decided that...you've got the job! Congratulations dear!"
"Thank you ever so much! I knew I was right for this job the moment that I saw the advertisement in the Prophet." The girl answered, her chin held in the air slightly, seeming to be trying to give herself a professional air but she was grinning which ruined the otherwise perfect effect.
"Can you start on Monday?" Marvin asked, feeling slightly wary that they had decided the first person who applied for the job.
"I certainly can!" she said excitedly and seeming to remember she was a professional, she dropped her smile and added. "I mean...that would be...fine," she said and Marvin laughed.
"No need for fancy words here. Just be yourself. We wanted someone young to work with us over the summer as we aren't as young as we used to be and this old place could do with some sprucing up don't you think?"
"I come here every Hogsmeade visit and I love what you've done with the place. You aren't going to spruce it too much are you?" she asked, biting her lip and looking worried.
"Don't worry, nothing too drastic," Anna answered, giving her husband a very hard stare. One that said quite plainly that he was to run any restorations by her first.
"I think everything is order. We shall see you Monday dear,"
"I look forward to it," the girl called as she practically skipped toward the door and had opened it with a jangle of the bell before Marvin called her back.
"Forgive me young lady, but what is your name?"
The girl clapped a hand to her forehead, clearly embarrassed though she shook it off immediately. She spoke again, a wide smile on her face. "Oh how silly of me. I should have introduced myself properly. I'm Ginny Weasley."
A/N: Not to be the pesky author, but it would be nice if you guys reviewed, it's always nice to find out what people think of what I'm writing and I'm especially proud of this story, so feedback would be lovely. Thank you. )
