Gwendolyn sat in her small cubicle in the hustling, bustling Daily Prophet building. She sat before the muggle contraption, feverishly typing out the article of her interview with Chudley Cannon quidditch player, Ron Weasley. Her hands were shaking as she thought about what he would think when he saw it, when he saw her again. Gwen knew what she would be thinking. Her heart would pound like a Thoroughbred before him, just as it always had when she was near him during Hogwarts. She knew he barely remembered her - she was Ravenclaw and he was a Gryffindor. They rarely had class together.

Once her article was finished, she printed it up, added it to Ron's file, and dropped it off with the young fact checker, fresh from Hogwarts. Gwen slipped a few galleons into the folder, along with a note of welcome. It was her first day and she probably didn't know that they didn't serve lunch.

Sitting back down at her desk, she hastily began to write another article she recently had with Minerva McGonagal, new Headmistress of Hogwarts. Minerva had been keen to clear Dumbledore's name as soon as possible, to tell the public the truth. Gwen had always liked her, even if she had been a rather strict teacher. The woman knew what she was doing and was eager to teach it. Minerva did not know it, but Gwendolyn held her former professor up in very high respects.

As she donned on her red trench coat, her colleague approached her while she headed for the door. Lennard Wilkes, a two-year veteran at the Daily Prophet, had been tagging along with her to lunch and offered to walk her home nearly every night. It was sweet, but Gwen had her eyes set on Ron Weasley.

Dropping her bag onto the counter with a thud, she sighed deeply. Taking out leftover brownie from the previous night, she warmed it with a flick of her wand. Nestling herself into her bed with her two dogs, Gwen knew that she could never date Ron. She knew he was single by the way he said you couldn't call him a boyfriend or a husband, but it wasn't policy to date clients. Although she knew many of her single colleagues did it, but it didn't stop her from imagining about what it would be like.

-

"So I hear you had an interview today," Harry teased, sitting at the counter top with his hand laced between Ginny's fingers.

"Yeah, it was nothing major."

"I also heard it was with Gwen Appariggio," he added, his smirk growing.

"You know her?" Ron asked, intrigued. He flicked his wand as a knife began spreading grape jelly on his toast.

"Honestly, Ron, don't you know anyone from another house besides Slytherin?" Hermione stood from her seated position in the adjoining living room, having heard their conversation. "She was in our year, in Ravenclaw."

"You're kidding." His mouth was agape, full of bread.

"Because I just make this stuff up," Hermione repressed the urge to smack herself in the forehead.

"I had an interview with her once; cute little thing, if you ask me," Harry said, earning a hard pinch on the arm from his girlfriend. But he only winked and kissed her cheek.

"She's not bad, I guess." Ron leaned against the kitchen counter tops, thinking about his interview. "I've never had an interview before; I don't really know what is considered normal and what's not."

"They're supposed to pry into your personal life," Hermione said, almost viciously. "Anything more than that and it's not normal."

"She seemed completely professional with me in my interview," Harry added.

"Yeah, mate, mine too," Ron looked at her, puzzled. "You make her sound like she's the next Rita Skeeter, H'mione."

But the witch didn't say anything more, leaving their presence with a huff.

Ginny heaved a sigh and hopped off her chair, releasing her hand from Harry's. "I'll go talk to her."

The two men looked at each other, sharing cocky grins. Harry dropped his gaze back down to his breakfast of eggs seasoned with salt and pepper while Ron shoved the remaining crust of his toast into his mouth.

"I can't say she's changed, she was never hideous," Harry suddenly said, scooping up his eggs. "Took a liking to Transfiguration, that's basically all I know about her. Other than Hermione, Gwen was one of McGonagal's favorite students."

"Harry, it's not like I'm suddenly going to ask her to Hogsmeade or something," Ron said, scoffing.

"'M just saying. I know Luna hasn't been returning your owls."

"How do you know about that?" There was a sharp bite in his tone again.

"She told me, Luna did. We're friends," Harry looked back down at his breakfast. "She said she just needs time to think. Her and Xenophilius want to take a trip around the world to look for Crumple Horned Snorkacks. Luna said she didn't want to have a long-term commitment."

Ron sighed deeply. "Strike number two."

-

Later that afternoon, when he returned from another quidditch practice, Molly handed him a letter. A handsome brown feathered owl flew to him on the table, ruffling his feathers as if to let him know he had delivered it. It was a simple letter, the envelope revealing a woman's curvy script. It read, 'To Mister Ronald Weasley', with his address written beneath it. On the back, the Daily Prophet seal sat on the tip of the triangle.

"Who's it from, Ronnie?" asked his mother, as she dried a dish beside him.

"Gwen Appariggio I reckon, she said she would owl me when she was coming over to show me the article."

He heard his mother give a sigh of recognition as she returned to the kitchen. Harry's words repeated over and over again in his mind as he broke the seal, about Luna and about how he knew Gwen. He had no reason to think anything more of Gwen than a pretty witch with some similar personality traits of his own; Ron never was one to rush into relationships.

The letter read,

'Ron,

Sorry about all the formalities. The Daily Prophet as strict policies to contacting it's clients. I guess it still has a few bugs to sort out.(Ron could almost feel her grin.)

Anyway, I wanted to inquire with you when the best time would be for me to come to your home and get your approval on the article. It's printed and ready; set to come out tomorrow. I'm free from now until Saturday, seeing as tomorrow and Friday I have off.

Get back to me as soon as possible. I have a feeling you'll like the article.

Best,

Gwendolyn Appariggio'

Ron folded the letter back into the envelope, rising from his seat to retreat to his bedroom, eager to write his replying letter. He sized his excitement of seeing her up to the article about him she wrote. He had never been in an interview.

'Gwen,

Don't worry about it. No one is perfect.

Seeing as it's only four in the afternoon, I see no reason for you not to come over today. My mother would love to have another over for dinner if you're interested. I did tell you that I had a big family, a big family who loves adding more people.

Can't wait to read it. I'm sure it's great.

Ron.'

He sent her owl back to her along with his companion letter, hoping she got it in time to make it for dinner. Gwen was fun to be around, and Ron was sure she'd be happy to see Harry again. Ron watched the retreating bird, it's brown feathers becoming nothing more than specks in the distance within minutes. His worries of her not receiving the letter in time evaporated on the spot.

-

Gwendolyn nearly jumped for joy when she read his letter. She quickly composed herself, desperately hoping her schoolgirl crush on Ron Weasley would disintegrate in the time that she spent with him tonight. Gwen never expected to see him on a professional basis again - most of the time she rarely interviewed people. She was much more of a hard-hitting reporter, hungry for the next scoop, wanting to replenish the public when they were publicity starved.

She wrote back on the same piece of parchment that it'd be fine, and she'd be over as soon as possible. Jumping into her closet, Gwen quickly scanned her clothes for something casual to wear. In her head, she told herself she still had to look professional, but she knew in her heart that she wanted to look good. She settled with a pair of black jeans, a simple, white shirt, a purple vest, and a pair of small, ankle boots. It was winter in England, the air freezing and chilly, although the snow had not yet fallen. Gwen donned on her favorite red trench coat before she stepped out of her flat.

Apparating into the walk up to his home, she held tomorrow's issue of the Daily Prophet in trembling hands. Rapping on the front door with her knuckles, she waited patiently. A hustle and bustle could be heard from the inside as she heard many voices congregate around the door.

As it opened, four bright heads of red hair appeared before her, tagging along was a grinning, soot-colored mass of locks. Ron, George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Harry stood before her, all grinning.

"Gwen, come in, come in, you must be freezing," Ron ushered her in as his parents, brother, and best mate all clamored around her.

"Hello, dear, I'm Molly Weasley, this is my husband, Arthur. We're Ron's parents."

"And I'm his very single brother," George interjected, making her laugh.

Gwen grinned and nodded at them before she saw Harry. "I know you," she veered in his direction, walking into his open arms. Gwen turned and hugged Ron as well, much to his surprise.

"Come into the living room, please, it's much nicer in there," spoke Molly again, eager for everyone to leave the small space of the foyer.

The small group of wizards brought Gwen into a room filled with mitch-matched furniture, a blazing fireplace, and an overwhelming feeling of home. Gwen felt immediately relaxed in their humble abode; it was a home meant for a large family teeming with love.

She took a seat across from Ron on a small couch, as Harry sat next to her and George aside Ron. Molly stood next to Arthur, who sat himself down in a comfy, cozy chair, adjacent to each couch.

"Let me introduce myself," she said, laughing at herself. "I'm Gwendolyn Appariggio, please call me Gwen."

"Let's take a look at that article, shall we?" spoke Harry, peering over her shoulder at the newspaper in her hands.