Author Note: I decided I would give this a whirl. First of all, Ginny lives somewhere in London. Everyone is still magical except there is no Hogwarts. Hermione is a neighbor and no one knows Harry Potter.

Chapter One

A Delightful Dinner

"Oh Hermione! Please say you'll come!" Ginny Weasley sat on her bed, tugging the sleeve of her best friend, Hermione Granger. Hermione looked at her, understanding her dilemma.

"You have to come! I'll be the only girl there except for mum! Besides," Ginny added with a glint in her eye, "Not only will there be many very good looking boys, there will also be my brother." Hermione gaped at her.

"How can you even suggest that?" Hermione said, a flush coming to her cheeks.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Come off it Hermione, I know you like Ron and he likes you too!"

Hermione sat, deep in thought for several minutes. "Oh," she sighed, "If it's all right with my mum."

Ginny squealed with delight. "I already asked her and she said yes! You have to go home and get dressed! Be here at seven!" She said, handing Hermione her wand and shooing her out the door. Ginny collapsed on her bed.

Ginny Weasley was the daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley. Her father, though still working in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts section of the Ministry of Magic, had been appointed as the one to give all the new Auror's their Welcome feast once accepted into the ministry. Year after year Ginny had attended welcoming feasts for the newcomers. This time she was not going to be the only girl in the house! Why hadn't she thought of inviting Hermione before?

Although Ginny had eyed some of the young gentlemen in the past, she had been too young to show any serious interest. This year was different. Ginny was almost 18, and though Arthur still didn't want to think that she should be showing any interest, her mother knew that over the last year, Ginny had took a big step from childhood to womanhood.

Being the youngest and only girl of seven children, Ginny had created a strong friendship with her neighbor, Hermione Granger.

Hermione arrived an hour early to help prepare. She was dressed in robes of Dark Purple and her unruly hair had been more than likely magicked to where it was sleek and shiny. Ginny herself had dressed in the deepest shade of green she could find in her closest. The fabric clung to her soft curves and showed off her figure nicely. Ginny looked into the hall mirror. She had put her fiery red hair up in curls on top of her head.

"How many are here?" Hermione asked. Ginny thought for a minute, counting everyone up in her head.

"There are seven aurors, ten of us, including you, and two official aurors from the ministry. So that makes nineteen in all!" Hermione gaped at her.

"Do you know their names?" she asked as they made their way to the living room.

Ginny laughed, " Dad seemed to tell us everything except that."

They waited several minutes until her whole family had gathered into the living room.

"Ok," her father said, "lets go."

Ginny sat at the large table that seated all nineteen of them. After the speeches the two Ministry aurors gave, everyone settled down for a delicious dinner. Ginny looked at each of the young men one at a time.

If she remembered correctly, there was a Mr. Clees, Mr. Wargrave, Mr. Culmington, Mr. Claythorne, Mr. Seton, Mr. Lombard, and Mr. Potter.

She took a bite of food, listening to Hermione talk to Mr. Clees. He seemed to fancy her, unless she was mistaking his flirting. Her eyes darted over to her brother Ron, who was looking sulkily at Mr. Clees while carrying on a conversation with Mr. Claythorne. Ginny held back a giggle and looked down at her food.

When she looked up, she found herself starting into startling green eyes behind round glasses. She felt a blush creep up into her face and tried to push it down. Oh, this young man was very handsome. He couldn't be any older that nineteen though. He had beautiful green eyes and very messy raven hair. She gave him a soft smile, which he returned. She tore her eyes away from him when Hermione tugged at her elbow. She leaned close to whisper in Ginny's ear.

"They are all so handsome!" she giggled. "And Mr. Clees is very flirtatious."

"And Ron is very jealous!" she whispered back. Hermione sent her a look but Ginny paid her no mind.

"You only have one daughter Mrs. Weasley?" she heard a voice across from her inquire, and her head almost jerked up.

"One girl," responded her mother, "and six boys."

Ginny carefully turned her head.

"It's rather a shame," the Mr. Potter continued. "I'm sure the neighborhood young men had wished that you had provided at least a dozen."

Ginny could not help it. She found herself looking yet again into a pair of teasing, but kind eyes. Her face reddened as she quickly dropped her eyes from the gaze of Mr. Potter's and listened to her mother reply, "Ginny is quickly becoming an attractive young woman. I am sure that my husband will soon have to guard the front door." Everyone's laughter followed her mother's comment.

Ginny lifted her chin a bit and her head gave a nod. If they were having fun at her expense, then she would not spoil it by responding. She looked directly across the table at Mr. Potter. "And are you from around here Mr. Potter?" Her smile was confident.

"I do live here in London." Came the reply.