THE DAILY PROPHET:
Ginny Weasley, the voracious red haired chaser is set to appear in Florish and Blotts this week to mark the release of her first book, "Red hair, hand me down robes, you must be an international quidditch star". Weasley, the youngest of seven children was enlisted by the Holyhead Harpies just months after finishing Hogwarts - five years later she remains a fan FAVOURITE. Even if you don't follow quidditch, you'll love her biography which divulges how she managed her climb to the top, growing up as the only girl to six boys, "Let me tell you, from twelve, once a month, they were all terrified of me" and the mischief she got up to at school, "And so I hexed him...you can't let that sort of thing fly, he was burping budgies for weeks" and much more. The book is priced at 4 Galleons and the Flourish and Blotts exclusive includes a personalised signature and signed limited edition Holyhead Harpies poster. First come, first serve on Wednesday 12th 2 pm.
Ginny leaned back into the squashy armchair, she sat in one of Tom's private parlour's at the leaky cauldron sipping a slightly too hot tea and deliberating over ordering some crumpets so you didn't have to go to this signing on an empty stomach when there was a crash just behind the closed door. It burst open to reveal Tom the barmen in a flushed sort of disheveled state, "Sorry to disturb you, Miss Weasley, I'm just going to escort this Mr - " Ginny peered round Tom to see a familiar face looking back at her.
"It's quite alright Tom, this isn't a crazed fan. Or is it?" She raised a mocking brow at the pale and distinctly disgruntled man behind Tom. "I've been known to follow Quidditch Weasley, but as you're well aware I don't support the Holyhead Harpies of all teams." He shot back. Tom looked bewildered between the two of them before deciding that this behaviour must be common between the two and took a cautious step back. "Well if you're sure…Another pot of tea perhaps?" Tom directed the question at Ginny but kept glancing warily at the newcomer. "That would be lovely, thank you. Come in, won't you?".
Draco Malfoy had changed very little in appearance since school. He was tall and handsome, with the same combination of high cheekbones and defined jawline that left him looking the same kind of gaunt by choice that he always had. One thing that different was the white blonde hair that he no longer slicked back to death, now he left the Malady's Magic Mousse alone his hair tussled out over his forehead in curls though the sides and back were shaved. Appearing too, as per usual, was one of Draco's crisp, expensive and well-tailored suits. "How've you been slimeball?" Ginny said as she returned to her armchair.
"Not bad Weasley, not bad. I saw in the Prophet about your signing today and I though surely not. Not the smallest of the many, many, many Weasleys – I wasn't sure you lot could read, to be frank. Let alone write a book." Ginny gave a small chuckle, "You mean best-selling book Draco. You're not here simply to mock my considerable success, why are you here?" He flushed lightly at that. "Fine." He sank down in the empty chair opposite. A light tap on the door signaled the second pot of tea arriving and after a quick but polite interaction between Ginny and Tom, the door once again closed leaving them quite alone. "You were saying?" Ginny prompted.
Draco gave a heavy sigh, "I told my son we were friends. Much to my disappointment, he's a huge Holyhead Harpies supporter and I was trying to impress him. He's four, I never thought he would make me follow through on it." Ginny grinned. "You've come to ask me for help Draco! A Malfoy asking a Weasley for a favour. Who'd have thought it!" Draco stirred sugar into his tea. "Yes, well, I've gotten myself into quite a mess…" He looked sullenly into his tea. "I'll help you Draco." He looked up suddenly, genuinely surprised by her words and found her smiling lightly back at him. "More for him than for you though." Draco gave a small smile, "Of course."
Her biography as predicted was a huge success. Flourish and Blotts sold out of stock during her signing and there were hundreds more sold by owl order service, it was an exhausting and exhilarating day meeting and greeting fans and family members, nothing like the rush of being out on the pitch but a new sort of exciting and wonderful. She bid farewell to the staff at Flourish and Blotts, thanking them for running the day and stepped out into Diagon Alley.
She glanced toward the Leaky Cauldron but instead started up the road toward the bright orange front of Weasely Wizard Wheezes. She stepped through the door and heard the bell jingle over-head and was greeted by an onslaught of colours and noises and puffs of smoke. "Sorry, we're closed!" George called from the back of the shop. "Even for your little sister?" George stuck his head around the corner, "Yes, especially for her."
He threw a red and yellow ball at her and she caught it with a chaser's ability, it exploded in her hands into a cloud of gold glitter. When it cleared she saw in her palms a miniature lion meowing and curling up on her hand. "Like it? I'm calling them Gryffindor growlers, what do you think?" Ginny laughed and stroked the tiny cat with one finger, "Hardly a growler is he?" George jumped onto the side by the till and swung his legs, "No they're not particularly fierce." He laughed and shrugged. "Ron about?" Ginny asked inspecting a display near her. "No, he's at the Hogsmead store today, so glad he decided to help out. Wait! Your signing! How did it go?!".
Ginny laughed, "It was amazing. Had an unexpected visit before though that though, I was just having a tea in the Leaky Cauldron, you'll never guess who it was?" George screwed up his face like he was thinking hard, and then said, "Well gee Gin, who could it be?" She waved a middle finger at him, "Very funny but seriously, it was Draco Malfoy." Shock actually crossed George's face, "What does that Slyther-shit want?". "He told his son we were friends to impress him. His son expected proof.". George grinned, "I hope you told that slimy prick where he could shove it." Ginny averted his gaze, his grin slowly faded, "Gin, you're not actually gonna help a Malfoy, seriously?". "It's not his son's fault he was awful in school."
"Be careful okay?" She crossed and placed the lion carefully on the counter and gave George a hug that he readily returned. "I will. Also, I need one of your child friendly gift boxes." George smiled and jumped off the counter, he waved his wand at the lion muttering a charm and with a pop it disappeared. "Okay but no discount for Malfoy's kid."