A/N: I don't own nothing, folks! Everything belongs to the great J.K.R.! Well, here goes…
Chapter1: Prologue
"Harry!"
The voice bore into him like a drill. Eighteen year old Harry Potter groaned and opened his eyes to his blurry bedroom.
"Harry!"
Silently cursing himself for ever giving Hermione the key to his Hogsmeade flat, Harry slowly got up, his head pounding, and reached for his glasses and the Hangover potion Kreacher must have left for him sometime during the night.
"Bloody hell, Hermione! Keep it down, will you?" he shouted, grimacing as he took the potion. It's almost worth giving up Firewhiskey to avoid drinking this, Harry thought ruefully as the potion began taking effect.
He and Ginny had reveled the day before, in celebration of her leading Gryffindor to a thumping victory over Ravenclaw and ensuring that the Quidditch Cup remained with Gryffindor for the sixth year running. That wasn't the most exciting news, however. Halfway through the game, Harry had noticed a pair watching the game intently and taking notes using a Quick Quotes Quill. Harry had assumed them to be journalists and had braced himself for prying questions when they approached the pitch after the game, as he celebrated with Ginny and the team.
They, however, had turned out to be talent scouts and had specifically come to observe Ginny, having heard of her ambition to play professionally. Having been favorably impressed by her flying, they asked her if she would be interested in trying out for a few of the teams. Ginny looked as if she couldn't believe her ears and it took a grinning Harry nudging her for her to squeak out an excited "Yes!"
The whole team had been more than excited at the news and what followed had been the best after-match party Harry had ever attended at Hogwarts. Butterbeer and black market Firewhiskey had flowed freely and by the time Harry made it to his house, hardly able to walk, it was 3 in the morning. Now it was barely 8 on a Sunday morning and Harry couldn't imagine what Hermione was doing there so early.
Harry entered his living room to find his bushy brown haired female best friend sitting on the sofa, her face typically buried in a book. She looked up as Harry came in, frowning as she took in his appearance.
"Where's the fire, Hermione?" Harry asked grumpily, as he entered his messy living room. At least it wasn't as messy as Ron's room at the Auror Academy, he thought as he remembered Hermione entering it once and nearly having a seizure at the clothes and books lying all over with Ron and Harry lying in the middle having a game of chess.
"I wish you would find the time to clean up once in a while, Harry." Said his bushy-haired friend disapprovingly, looking at the pile of dishes lying in the sink. Harry grinned at his friend's predictability.
"So, how come you're here, Hermione? Not that I'm complaining, but isn't this a bit early to be picking on my cleaning skills? It would have been the same had you come a couple hours later too, you know."
"Oh, I know you guys prefer living in a pig sty rather than a house," she shot back. "I really should bring Molly here; she's set you both straight."
Harry winced at the thought of what Ron's kindly mother would say if she could see his house. Ron had always made sure to clean up his room whenever she visited and she'd only come to Harry's once to see that he was settling down well.
"Ouch, that's a low-blow! Seriously though, how come you're here? Is everything at the Ministry O.K?"
Working at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Hermione had been striving hard to push through several laws to ensure better working conditions for house-elves and get representation for were-wolves and goblins at the Department. Harry had often helped by discussing the reforms with reluctant Wizengamot members, as they seemed more inclined to listen to his views.
"No, everything's fine at the Ministry. Well, except for the people who still think House-Elf Legislature is a joke," she scowled briefly. "No, its something else. I'm not sure how you're going to take this," she sighed.
Whatever it was, Harry hadn't seen her so nervous since she'd asked him to talk to the Wizengamot about elf rights. While Harry was averse to throwing his weight around, he firmly believed that the situation with the elves needed to improve and completely supported Hermione in her pursuit. Well, except for S.P.E.W., he thought ruefully.
"Well, I better wait for Ron and Ginny to get here," she continued. "I'm sure they're- Ah, this must be them!" she exclaimed, as Harry's fireplace erupted with emerald green flames.
Harry watched as first Ron and then Ginny, both with typical Weasley-red hair stepped through the fireplace. Ron, tall with a long nose and freckles all over, stumbled as he came through while Ginny, petite with a smattering on freckles on her nose, landed gracefully and dusted herself off.
"You've got to teach me how you do that," Harry muttered, as he welcomed her with a kiss while Ron greeted Hermione.
"A professional chaser never reveals her secrets, Potter!" she shot back, her brown eyes glinting with mirth.
"Ginny!" Hermione gasped. "Did you say a professional chaser? You got scouted!" She squealed and ran to give Ginny a hug while Ron whooped with joy.
"My sister's a professional Quidditch player! I'm gonna be famous! Ha!" he exclaimed gleefully.
"Ron, I might be wrong, but I reckon taking down Voldemort might already have gotten you a little famous," Ginny said, as Harry and Hermione laughed.
"Yes, well, that brings us to why I called everyone here today", said Hermione, her expression anxious. "You see, Chocolate Frogs Inc. just launched a new batch of Chocolate Frog Cards… featuring us!"