Chapter 1- Job Interview

Ginny bit her lower lip nervously and let her gaze stray over the people that busied themselves in Diagon Alley. It was a bright and warm summer day, and the air smelt of honey toffee and lemon pie. The war and its gruesome events seemed an eternity away.

Eventually Ginny returned her gaze to her best friend. They'd talked about their plans for the future, and Ginny felt more than a bit relieved about having finally been able to tell someone about it. It was odd that the person who had always insisted on finishing school, the person who had always been so eager to learn, the know-it-all, the very same Hermione Granger agreed with Ginny on not returning to Hogwarts. Only a few years ago Ginny would have thought this to be impossible but after everything that had happened during the war she knew people could change, and the Final Battle three months ago had changed them all. Some of them to the core of their very being, some only scarcely. Ginny wasn't sure if she belonged to the former or the latter group. She didn't know much right now, only that she wouldn't return to Hogwarts.

She took another sip from her peppermint tea, staring at Hermione who sat across from her, drinking her own cup of tea. They had chosen a small café that had reopened only a few weeks ago since the owners were muggleborns and had to go into hiding during the terrible months of war. They'd chosen this place for their meeting because it was situated in the middle of Diagon Alley which would allow them to reach their job interviews - that were to take place in the magical part of London - by foot.

"I'd have never thought that you wouldn't finish school," murmured Ginny, still watching her friend in disbelief.

"Me neither," Hermione said with a sigh. "I just feel that I need to work…I need to do something useful. After all I've seen during the war, I don't feel ready to return to school as if nothing ever happened. This war has left quite a few scars on me and they haven't healed yet. I'm not sure they ever will."

She'd voiced exactly what Ginny was thinking.

"I need something that gives my life a new meaning. I'd always thought that my relationship with Ron would work out…but…" Her voice broke and she took another sip from her tea.

Ginny gave her friend a sympathetic smile, still unable to believe that Ron and Hermione had broken up after the Final Battle. She'd been so sure they'd marry and make ten little red heads, but back then she'd also thought that Harry and she would have a chance at becoming a couple after the Final Battle. She pushed those unwanted thoughts away.

This wasn't the time to ponder about missed chances and wasted years. She'd struggled with her post-war depression long enough, it was time for a new beginning.

"So you think I'm doing the right thing?" Ginny asked, staring at the page with the job advert in her hand. It was crinkly because she'd crumpled it and thrown it into the rubbish bin before retrieving it after having changed her mind.

"I guess we just need to find out. I'm not even sure if I'm doing the right thing, but working in the Ministry has always been my dream. I mean, I'm a bit sad that there isn't a vacant position in the Department of International Magical Cooperation…but maybe I can switch the departments later," said Hermione.

Ginny smiled. "Working in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes might be interesting, Mione."

"I just hope I'll get the job."

"I'm sure you will." Ginny stared at the advert in her hand again. "It won't be easy for me to make the team though. They'll probably hate me considering that they're forced to accept a girl in their team because of the law."

Hermione frowned. "The Ministry wants to enforce gender equality in Quidditch with the new law."

Ginny snorted. "The Wizarding World in general and the Quidditch league in particular don't give a damn about equality. That's the reason why the Holyhead Harpies exist. Having an all-female team was the only chance for women to play professional Quidditch."

"This will change now," said Hermione.

Ginny gave her a skeptical look. "I think the male players will try to make our lives hell."

"Why do you want to become a professional Quidditch player if you believe that it's going to be hell?"

"I've always wanted to play Quidditch," Ginny said, wondering again if it was a good idea. "And I won't let anyone ruin that for me."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "I'd thought you want to vex your parents and Harry with your decision. After all, the team you want to play for is the most brute team of the league and consists of former Slytherins."

"You forget Cormac McLaggen, he was a year above you in Gryffindor," Ginny said.

"Don't be silly, Ginny. McLaggen is more Slytherin than most Slytherins. He's a slimy git," said Hermione, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

Ginny let out a laugh, shaking her head. "Maybe."

"So do you want to vex Harry and your family with your decision? You could have tried out for the team Harry and Ron are playing for."

"I don't want to vex them. I just want to show them that I'm not a stupid child and that I don't need to be told what to do. I'll be seventeen in a week. I want to be treated like an adult," replied Ginny hotly. "If I'd play for the Chudley Cannons like Harry and Ron, I would remain the little sister for all my life. And it wouldn't be good for me and Harry to see us too often."

"I guess you're right." Hermione smiled at Ginny before chancing a look at her watch, her eyes widening. "Ohh...I've got to go or I'll be late!"

Ginny and Hermione got up and hugged each other, before leaving the café in different directions.

The sun kept shining and Ginny enjoyed feeling the sunrays on her skin. She'd chosen a light summer dress for the occasion, knowing the reputation of the team and hoping that showing a bit skin might improve her chances to be accepted. Usually she hated women that used their female charm to get what they wanted, but she needed a job and playing Quidditch was all she wanted to do. She would have to change into her Quidditch clothes anyway if the team expected her to demonstrate her abilities, so it didn't really matter what she was wearing now.

She stopped, staring uncertainly at the page in her hand. She'd ripped it out of a Quidditch magazine earlier when she'd made up her decision to apply for the advertised position. Now while she was striding through Diagon Alley, which was almost completely restored to its former splendor, she wasn't so certain if becoming a member of this team was a good idea. But it was her last chance to become a professional Quidditch player this year; most of the teams were already complete. Only the Falmouth Falcons were still searching for a Seeker. They had refused to abide by the new law of the Quidditch Federation up to now. The new law stated that every team had to have at least one female team member to increase the number of women in the league. The Falcons were known for their brutality and wanted to remain an all-male team but now they had to follow the order of the Federation.

Ginny knew that being an unwanted member in a team might get hard, but she was determined to try it. During the Final Battle three months ago, she'd realized that life was too short to spend it with things that she didn't like. She wanted to enjoy her life and forget what had transpired in the last few years. The images of the war were still vivid in her mind. Maybe everything would have been easier if Harry had been at her side but after the Final battle he'd told her that he didn't want a relationship at the moment and that he needed time. She'd waited for him the last two years. How much more time did he need?

She arrived in front of a small pub where the interview for the position would take place. She hoped that there weren't too many other candidates. Her chances to get the position were minimal anyway, considering who the members of the team were. She sighed and gathered her courage before entering the pub. It was almost deserted except for a few men at a table in the corner of the room. She recognized them at once and new doubts began to rise.

Slowly she approached the table, realizing in relief that she seemed to be the only candidate. The other women were probably too frightened to be in a team with all those oafs, but she'd grown up with six brothers. If she knew one thing, then it was how to handle oafs.

The six men lifted their heads upon hearing her high heels on the floor boards. The surprise and shock written across their faces amused her, making her feel more comfortable. She let her gaze wander over the men who were all at least two years older than her. There were the Slytherins Miles Bletchley, Adrian Pucey, Eric Montague, Christopher Warrington, Marcus Flint and the only former Gryffindor Cormac McLaggen. Ginny didn't like him, so he wasn't better than any of the snakes. Hermione was right, he was a slimy git. Only watching his arrogant expression made her want to punch him in the face but she refrained from doing so; that would reduce her chances for the position even more. Flint, the captain of the team, rose from his bench, watching her inquiringly.

Ginny felt very tiny all of a sudden and it got even worse when the rest of the team rose to their feet. They were all at least six feet tall – more than a head taller than her. She looked like a fairy among a bunch of giants. She reached Flint's chest - it was almost ridiculous. They probably wanted to intimidate her with their taller frames, but she wouldn't let them.

"Weasley?" asked Flint, eyeing her critically, a lazy smirk appearing on his face. Ginny was startled when she noticed that his teeth were straight. His hair was longer and he was even more muscled than in school. She had to admit that he looked quite agreeable, more than agreeable even, but she banished the thought immediately. She'd heard of the reputation of her team mates and knew that she would have to be careful around them - they were known playboys after all.

Confirming the rumors, they were practically undressing her with their eyes like starving wolves, but she guessed her choice of dress wasn't helping.

"I'm here to apply for the position as Seeker."

McLaggen let out a snort. "You?"

"Cormac," said Flint in a warning tone. "And why should we choose you?"

"Because no other girls wants to be in the team and you'll lose your license if you don't have a girl in the team by tomorrow, because if I remember correctly, and I'm sure I do, that's the deadline to send the list with the team members to the National Quidditch Federation." Ginny narrowed her eyes at the men that were still leering at her body.

"Come on, Marcus. Just to see that delicious body of her naked it's worth to give her the position," said Adrian Pucey.

Ginny gave him a pitiful look. "Dream on, Pucey. Hell freezes before anyone of you guys will see me naked. I know your reputation and I won't be your next victim."

Flint chuckled, but his dark brown eyes still held no joy. Ginny could only call them guarded, as if he was too afraid of showing his true emotions. "We're nice guys. You don't have to worry."

Ginny raised her eyebrows, crossing her arms. "I'm not worried."

"Good, I want to see you play. Our Quidditch pitch is in Falmouth. We will apparate there," said Flint.

She was a bit startled that it had been so easy to convince them of giving her a chance, but she guessed they were quite desperate. She'd probably been right when she'd said that no other woman wanted to become a member of their team. She followed the men out of the pub but then it occurred to her that she couldn't apparate.

She watched how the guys began to disapparate one after one. As soon as it was only her and Flint left in the alley, she grabbed his arm, causing him to turn around and watch her inquiringly. She hated to admit her little problem. "I'm not allowed to apparate yet," she said. Flint raised his eyebrows. "You're not allowed?"

"I'm not yet of age."

Marcus stared at her in mild surprise, his eyes skimming over her body slowly. He'd thought that she was older, since she didn't look like a girl of sixteen. She looked like a woman – a woman he wouldn't push out of bed, but as it was she was too young for him. He was quite sure that she'd chosen the dress to get into the team, wanting to convince them with her nice curves.

"Do your parents know that you're here?" he asked, his dark eyes watching her knowingly.

"No," she said through gritted teeth. "That's not your business, is it?"

"It might become my business if your parents don't let you play and then we don't have a Seeker."

"I'll turn seventeen in a week, so this won't be a problem. The season starts in September after all," she said.

Marcus nodded, his face turning very serious. "If you become a member of this team I expect you to act respectful towards me as your captain. Your cheekiness has to stop."

Ginny suppressed a snide retort and gave a forced smile instead. "Sure."

"We've got to go," said Marcus. "We'll apparate side-by-side."

Ginny nodded, eyeing the tall man beside her suspiciously. She jumped when she felt his hand around her waist, but she was prevented from snapping at Marcus when she felt the familiar pull of apparition. To Ginny's utter anoyance she had to admit that she liked his warm hand on her waist, though she wasn't sure why.

Marcus smiled to himself in satisfaction when he released her waist, seeing the fire in her brown eyes. A spitfire she seemed to be. He'd only heard of the legendary Weasley temper so far, but he was sure to get a show quite soon.

Ginny followed Flint across the training pitch toward a small house that had the motto of the Falmouth Falcons in huge silver letters above the door.

"Let us win, but if we cannot win, let us break a few heads." Ginny shook her head. "You've taken your motto quite seriously those last few years if the number of injuries in games with your participation is any indication."

Flint grinned, leaning down to her until his mouth was close to her ear. "Scared?"

Ginny let out a snort – admittedly not her most lady-like noise – and gave Flint an insulted look. "Never."

Marcus opened the door of the house for her and let her enter. The rest of the team was already there, sitting on the benches, waiting for them.

When the door to the room closed and she was alone in the room with her possible team mates, a small shiver ran down her spine. She didn't show her anxiety though. "Where do I change?" She opened her bag to fetch her Quidditch clothes.

"Here, of course," replied Adrian with a smirk, exchanging a meaningful look with Eric Montague.

Ginny stared at them incredulously but she turned away when the men began to pull their shirts over their heads. She faced a locker, feeling herself blush as she listened to them opening their belts. God, what had she gotten herself into? But she was a Weasley and she wouldn't let them scare her away. She took a deep breath before grabbing her wand and casting a Disillusionment Charm around herself, preventing the team from watching her getting changed that way.

"Clever wench," she heard Miley Bletchley whisper and she smiled to herself.

When she'd changed into her Quidditch clothes, she removed the Disillusionment Charm and turned around to the men who were already dressed in their dark grey and white robes with a falcon on the chest. Hopefully soon she'd be allowed to wear such robes, too. She followed the team towards the pitch, feeling nervousness rising in her.

"Where's your broom?" inquired Marcus, his dark eyes piercing into her, his black hair already slightly dishelvelled from the wind.

Ginny blinked at him. "I don't have a broom."

McLaggen and Christopher Warrington snickered, giving her derisive looks but she forced herself to ignore them. She couldn't ruin her chances to make the team by hexing those morons.

"I don't mind if you ride my broom." Adrian gave her a lewd grin, holding his backup broom out for the red head to take. Ginny rolled her eyes, taking the broom from him. "Don't get yourself too excited Pucey, I'll never ride that special broom of yours," she retorted, causing the rest of the team to roar with laughter.

"Never say never," said Adrian with a wide grin, running a hand through his short, blond hair.

Ginny suppressed a sigh. This would get more difficult than she'd thought.

"Already having second thoughts?" McLaggen asked triumphantly.

"You wish," hissed Ginny, mounting her broom and rising into the air. At once she felt more confident, forgetting about her worries. She watched how Marcus and the rest of the team rose into the air, hovering a few feet in front of her.

"Adrian, Montague and I are Chasers, Warrington and Miles are the Beaters and Cormac is our Keeper," Marcus told her. Ginny nodded her head to show that she'd listened to his explanations, though she'd known this information before.

Marcus held his hand up, revealing the Golden Snitch that he was holding between his thumb and forefinger. "If you manage to catch the Snitch within an hour and don't fall off your broom or get yourself killed by the Bludgers, you're in the team. Montague will play the opposing seeker, so don't let him get the Snitch before you." He gave her a cold smile.

Ginny looked at Montague for a short moment before inclining her head to indicate that she was ready. Montague was far too tall and muscular for the role of Seeker just like the rest of the team. Ginny was pretty sure that she'd catch the Snitch before him.

Marcus released the golden ball but Ginny didn't get the chance to pursue it since she was forced to dodge a Bludger thrown her way by Warrington.

He and Miles seemed to be determined to kill or at least injure her seriously through the course of the game, as they were throwing Bludgers at her incessantly.

Despite being occupied with keeping herself unharmed, Ginny caught sight of the snitch a few feet behind Montague's back. She knew that she could never reach the Snitch before him and he would notice if she started to race towards him. She had to distract him and there was only one way to do that. She pushed the handle of her broom down, making it hurtle towards the ground as if she'd seen the Snitch far below. Montague started to follow her and she could see the rest of the team watch her curiously. She saw the ground coming closer and just before hitting the pitch, she pulled out of the dive and rushed towards the Golden Snitch that was still hovering where it had been moments before. A minute later she held the fluttering ball in her hand, grinning and showing her catch to the surprised team.

"That was a Wronski Feint. She did a Wronski Feint," said Adrian, his blue eyes wide in surprise.

"She did," confirmed Marcus, a satisfied grin curling his lips. "Congrats for making the team. The training starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. You better be on time."

Ginny smiled all over her face, watching her new team mates triumphantly. She'd shown them what she was capable of and she'd never been more proud of herself. Now there was only one more problem to face before being able to enjoy her new life as a professional Quidditch player: Telling her family about her new job.