Hey everyone, how you doing? I'm sorry, again, about the wait. But here is the end result of much work while I was on holiday and this morning...

Disclaimer: I wish.

Enjoy!

Goddess of Fire

Chapter Four: The Worst Day In My Life

"Giiiiiiinniiiiiiieeeeeeeeee…"

I groaned, rolled over and buried my face into the pillow.

"Giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnniiiieeeeeeeeee…"

Why the hell is someone insistently dragging out my name like they're some ghost haunting me?

"GINNY!" Ghost Guy said sharply, surprising me enough to practically jump out my skin and, therefore, fall out of the bed.

"Well serves you right," Ghost Guy snorted, only when I wrenched my eyes open it didn't turn out to be Ghost Guy at all, since it was actually Harry.

"What d'you want?" I groaned.

"What do I want? Absolutely nothing!" he said cheerfully.

Huh? You mean you woke me up at –what time is it?- SEVEN IN THE MORNING FOR NOTHING!

Why I oughta—

"Besides, you told me that under no circumstances was you allowed to sleep beyond seven in the morning and that if I did let you then I would be placed under a Bat-Bogey hex,"

I blinked, trying to process this information.

"I did?" I asked blankly.

"Yep,"

"Really?"

"Uh huh,"

Here comes the big question.

"Why the HELL would I do something as stupid as that?"

Harry gave me a 'have-you-got-amnesia-or-something' look. It's a look that is very commonly used in the morning, especially when we were at Hogwarts and it was the Monday morning after a party or something. Ahh, those were the days.

Goddess, I sounded like an old Granny just then!

Bad Ginny!

"Maybe," Harry began, "because you have a very important meeting today,"

Ever get the feeling that you've just crashed into a brick wall at 90 mph in an old, beat up Volkswagen that was in fashion when Harry's parents were just entering Hogwarts? Yeah, that's exactly the feeling I got when I heard those words. Today was the day that THE meeting was taking place. THE meeting of all meetings. King Meeting, as such.

Are you getting the enormity of the meeting here? Cos I could go on…

No, I think you got the point now.

"OH MY GODDESS!" I shrieked, leaping to my feet and consequently tripping over the bed sheets that were wrapped around my legs. Harry grabbed me before I became reacquainted with the floor. Oh, what would I do without him?

Okay, lets face it; I wouldn't even be alive if it wasn't for Harry Potter.

"Its not today, there must be some kind of mistake, there is no possible way it could be the 16th of August already!" I babbled, clenching at my horrifyingly messy hair. "I mean, its not, is it? Harry, tell me it isn't!"

Harry just looked at me, all amused by my panic, which I may have to kill him for, and patted my arm sympathetically.

"Sorry, Red, but it's the 16th today,"

"Yes, but it's the 16th of July right?"

I was groping at straws now, but seriously, I was desperate.

"No, Red, it's the 16th of August," Harry replied bemusedly. "2001," he added, before I could say anything else.

I groaned, dropping my head into my hands in miserable defeat. Today was gonna be hell.

"It's okay Ginny, I'm sure everything will be fine," Harry said reassuringly. I responded with several well chosen curses that made the green eyed Boy-Who-Lived flinch before making his escape as I started, rather ungratefully I admit, throwing my Jimmy Choo shoes at him.

Its early morning and I know its gonna be the worst day of my life; what d'ya expect me to do?

Also, if you're wondering what the hell Harry was doing in my bedroom, well, it actually isn't my bedroom. Its Harry's spare room, seeing as I'm camping there while Callie's American cousins take over our flat for the week.

Nice, huh?

The things I do for my best friend…

It took me fifteen minutes to cool down, have a quick shower and get dressed in my most expensive navy blue dress robes. By the time I had finished straightening my hair with a handy charm I had read in Witch Weekly, it was twenty minutes past seven.

Upon entering the kitchen, I found Harry reading the Quibbler and drinking some coffee. Every so often he'd let out a laugh at some ridiculous notion Luna Lovegood, who had taken over the magazine, had made up.

"Good morning," I greeted grudgingly.

"Morning Ginny," he replied, finally wrenching his eyes off the picture of a fluffy, hairy purple thing. "Feeling more awake? Or d'you want a coffee?"

"Coffee would be nice," I conceded, sitting at the breakfast counter.

Harry, I have to admit, was an excellent flat mate. He didn't leave any dirty socks around, didn't play earth shattering loud music in the middle of the night, and was always very considerate.

What baffles me is that he hasn't even got a girlfriend!

Seriously!

"Here you go," Harry said, putting not just a coffee in front of me, but several pancakes with chocolate sprinkles as well, just how I like it.

"You'd make an excellent boyfriend, Harry," I said as I attacked the pancakes without much dignity.

"Thanks Gin," he smiled, "But my life's busy enough without the added worry of a girl bossing me around," he paused, "Or showing me off like a prize," he added.

Awww! Poor Harry! All that fame must be tiring!

"But, hey, I'm happy single so what does it matter?" he added brightly.

"Well, as long as you're happy, Harry," I sighed, looking at him worriedly. No one deserved happiness more than Harry. "I gotta go pick up my notes from my place. I'll see you later okay? Or are you staying at Hogwarts?"

"Nah, I'll be back before you. Any detentions I manage to hand out will just have to dealt with by Minnie," he grinned.

I laughed. "Alright, see you later,"

I apparated to my shared flat with a quiet pop. As such, I went completely unnoticed due to the fact Callie and Colin were screaming at each other so loudly I'm surprised the neighbours hadn't started banging on the door.

"What the hell!" I exclaimed. I saw Hannah, a fourteen-year-old brunette and Leo, her sixteen-year-old brother, sitting in the hallway, watching the two old friends fight through the living room doorway with stunned expressions. "What's going on?"

"I dunno, we woke up when we heard them yelling, and that was fifteen minutes ago," Hannah said, her hazel eyes wide.

"And they've gotten louder since then too," Leo added.

Oh, Jesus, this is just what I need on the morning of a big BIG day, isn't it?

"What are they arguing about?" I asked.

"When we woke up it was about housework and such. It didn't seem so bad then, since, y'know, they always argue," Hannah replied, "But somehow it progressed to Callie's love life, and she got really pissed about something Colin said…I don't know what though,"

"Is it true she switches guys every week?" Leo asked.

Oh JESUS! How the hell am I suppose to answer this one without getting Callie in bad light?

"Er, well, uh, I suppose so, but, I mean, she never leads anyone on, just, y'know, goes for the guys who don't care," I stammered out.

Leo let out a low whistle, running a hand through his rumpled black hair. "Shit, that girl gets around,"

Hannah hit her brother on the arm. "Shuddup Leo!"

I rolled my eyes, then sighed. Well, as resident peace maker, I was going to have to do something, wasn't I?

"WHAT COMPLETE BULLSHIT! You have PLENTY of time! Why is it that I do all the work around here and still maintain a social life when all you do is work, come home and mess around on your bloody PS2!" I heard Callie shriek.

I felt it might be inappropriate to mention that Callie enjoyed playing the PS2 almost as much as Colin did.

"You think that's all I do? Who does the washing around here? Who has to do the food shopping with Ginny every Sunday because you're stuck in bed with a hangover? WHO LOOKS AFTER YOU AND CLEANS AFTER YOUR MESS? I DO!"

I finally stepped into the room. Callie was standing near kitchen doorway, still in her oversized, baggy black t-shirt she wore to bed, her usually soft features hard as she glared at Colin. Colin glared back, his fist clenched at his sides like he really wanted to hit her and also still wearing nothing but boxers. His hair was sticking up all over the place. It seemed they had started arguing only minutes after getting up.

"And d'you know what? I'M SICK OF IT!" Colin continued, "I'm sick of you thinking its okay to go out every Saturday night and get drunk! I'm sick of you fluttering your eyelashes at every decent looking guy walking past and looking all smug when they start drooling after you! I'm sick of you never showing any gratitude for anything, either, especially for me and Ginny, when we always have to trip over ourselves to keep you happy and alive!"

This is worse than I thought.

And, seriously, WHY are you getting me involved?

"You are a ungrateful brat who acts like a fucking SLUT and if it wasn't for me or Ginny, I have no doubt that you would've ended up on the streets selling your body for five galleons an hour!"

Behind me, Hannah gasped. Leo swore.

No way.

This ain't Colin. No way would he say that.

No bloody way.

Callie froze. She looked as he had slapped her. Her blue eyes were wide with disbelief and anger, but also something else that I couldn't identify. And then, quite suddenly, her eyes were filled with tears, tears that spilled over and fell soundlessly onto the rug.

I hadn't seen Callie cry since her parents were killed in our sixth year.

"Thank you," she spat out, "Thanks very much. Now I know exactly how you feel," she snatched up the nearest glass sitting on the coffee table and hurled it at Colin. Usually her aim is excellent; she was, after all, a chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but the glass shattered upon contact with wall behind Colin, spraying him in glass bits.

And she simply let out a sob as she pushed past me and her cousins, slamming her bedroom door shut.

The only thing I have to say right now is…holy shit.

"What was THAT?" I cried out. Colin looked at me as if wondering where the hell I had come from. "What, I'm gone for two days and you already managed to have the worst argument I've ever seen you have!"

Please note that I have known them since first year and trust me when I say they were arguing then as well.

Only Colin has never made her cry.

Neither has Callie riled Colin up so much he would actually say those things.

"Stay out of this Ginny," Colin said flatly, walking past me and, like Callie, slamming his bedroom door shut behind him.

"Ginny?" Leo said wearily, breaking the silence that had occurred for the last minute or so. I turned to him. "D'you reckon its safe to be in the same house as them right now?"

That, Leo, is a very good question.

I walked tiredly up the front steps of my work building. It was only eight o'clock, but it felt like six p.m. or something. At any rate, this was shaping up to be an overall crap day. And it was four hours to midday.

"Hey, Ginny!"

I turned to see Katie Bell, a former Gryffindor and chaser, and my colleague, rushing up the steps. I waited for her to catch up and together we walked inside.

"How's it going Katie?"

"Alright. I bumped into Oliver Wood yesterday, we're going out for dinner tonight. Sort of catch up time," she said with a smile. "What about you? Because, no offence or anything, you look a little worse for wear,"

"No offence taken. Y'know Calyx and Colin—"

"Who doesn't?"

"—and their arguments can be, y'know, expected—"

"Erm, duh springs to mind here,"

"—it's, just, well, Colin made Calyx cry,"

"WHAT?" Katie gasped.

"Yeah," I sighed, "They were screaming the house down when I got there this morning. It was serious stuff, Katie, he called her a slut and basically implied that if it wasn't for us, she'd be a prostitute by now."

I moodily jabbed the 'up' button next to the elevator.

"That's…that's horrible! It doesn't sound like Colin at all!"

"I know," I said as we waited for the elevator to empty. We walked in, Katie pressing the 'floor three' button impatiently. "Although she was laying it in thick about him not helping out around the house a lot. Which is totally bogus, Colin does a lot of stuff around the house, and he so does look after Callie, running around after her, making sure she comes home at night instead of drinking too much and ending up with alcohol poisoning or something."

The door slid open on floor three, and we stepped out, avoiding the large amount of memos, build like paper airplanes, that flew in.

"I don't want to take sides though," I continued, "Callie was upset, seriously upset. I knew Colin was angry, but did she really deserve that?"

Okay, Ginny, now's a nice time to shut up and not pile all your problems onto Katie.

"Sorry," I mumbled, "You probably don't wanna hear this."

"No, its okay," Katie assured quickly, "I mean, you need to talk to someone and the people you usually talk to are kinda the subjects of this, er, discussion…or, well, monologue, or, well, whatever."

I laughed.

"Okay, thanks, Katie," I smiled thankfully.

"Anyway, we're good friends, aren't we? What's a good friend for if you can't complain to them?"

"Agreed," I grinned as we walked into our department. Alexander Bones, our boss, immediately swooped down on us.

"Oh good, you're here. I didn't think you'd be able to get out of bed in time Weasley. You're both going to be on standby for when our guests arrive so that you can take them to the board room, got it? Meanwhile, Weasley, make sure I have all the necessary files on my desk before nine. Bell, you ready for your presentation? Practice on Weasley for a while of you need to- my office will be mostly free all morning, so you can practice there. Okay? Got it?"

We stared at him as if he was mad. Which, I mean, heeeeelllooooo, duh, of course he is.

"Well?" he demanded.

We, obviously, continued staring.

"MOVE!"

Trust me when we say, we moved.

"I'll get the coffee!" Katie exclaimed, "Meet you in your cubicle?"

"Definitely!" I called over my shoulder as I ran ahead, crashing head first into Seamus and I rounded the corner.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed in his thick Irish accent, grabbing me before I could topple to the floor. "Careful there Gin,"

Typical.

I'm just so clumsy, aren't I?

"Thanks Seamus. You all set for the meeting?"

Seamus puffed out his chest importantly, "I, Ginny, am going to be chauffeuring people to the board room. Isn't that great?"

I laughed at his sarcasm. "Yeah, so are me and Katie,"

"Well, I guess I'll you see around then," he said with an exaggerated wink before rushing off, obviously realising that he needed to be somewhere. Or, wait, no, its just Bones yelling "FINNEGAN!"

Huh, figures.

I stumbled into my cubicle, suddenly remembering that I had sorted out all the files Bones needed last night, and thank God too, since that would've taken an hour, tracking down all the files and documents I needed. Jeez, what would Bones do without me anyway?

Y'know, it's just occurred to me that you people ain't got the faintest clue as to where I work. I mean, geographically, you all know its in Diagon Alley. What you don't know is that I work in a newly established company called Magically Enhanced Communications, better known as the MEC. Ever since Harry defeated Voldemort, muggle things have been introduced to the Wizarding World. More and more people are wearing Muggle clothes instead of robes, and people like my company are introducing technology.

MEC develops computers, mobiles, TVs, radios etc that are ten times better than the latest technology in the muggle world, with added magical properties. It's seriously cool stuff. I work in the Financial Benefits Department, which meant us lot were constantly sweating over numbers. Fun, huh? Not. It can be seriously dull work at times.

This meeting, however, was going to the meeting that we would try to convince the Entertainment lot to sign a deal and start producing stuff for TV and shit, as well as websites.

Basically, if the deal isn't made, technology isn't going to make it. Full stop.

Are you seeing the enormity here?

"Ginny, Mr. Bones wants the meeting agenda!" called Josh Andrews, the errand boy of our department. I snatched up the offending folder and handed it to Josh, who grinned in gratitude and rushed off again.

Only seconds later, Katie walked in with two cups of coffee.

"CAFFEINE!" I yelled, lunging forward and grabbing the polystyrene cup. I gulp down the scolding liquid.

"Whoa, cool it," Katie giggled, "You're done with the files, aren't ya?"

"Uh huh," I managed between gulps of coffee.

"Oh, good, lets go raid Bones' office then,"

As soon as we entered the enormous, plush carpet covered room, Katie began snooping around the draws.

"Hey, aren't you meant to be practising your presentation?" I frowned.

"Eh, I've got it down pat, no problem. I'll run through it later, but it'll only need one time, and we've got an hour and a half in here," Katie said with a shrug. I sighed, I mean, c'mon, we're talking popular, confident, sweet Katie here. Everyone loves her cos she's good looking, athletic, smart and…nice.

C'mon, any girl that's nice and good looking in a power hungry world is enough for a guy to go, hey, I want you.

"So, what you looking for?" I asked.

"Plans for next year," she replied, sifting through a pile of papers. She let out a sigh as she placed them back on the desk and attempted to open a draw. It was locked. After whispering 'Alohomora!', she wrenched it open.

"Plans for next year? As in…?" I trailed off, hoping for some elaborations.

She ignored me.

Huh! That's nice!

Suddenly Katie let out an excited squeal, grasping a thick folder in her hand.

"What's that?" I asked wearily. I mean, c'mon, she found it in a locked draw, who knows what the evil Bones is planning? Perhaps taking over the company? Shortening lunch breaks? Or just plain, old fashioned world domination?

…I hope he isn't planning on dropping my salary.

"This, Ginny Weasley, is the folder that contains everyone's employee contract. And with 'em is next year's salary, who's gonna be fired and who's gonna be promoted," Katie said with flourish, flipping through the folder and taking out two sheets of parchment.

This girl is utterly mad.

"Ooooooh! Look, Ginny! I'm gonna be transferred to the Research Department in September! And…hey, man, that's a nice salary,"

At that point, my dear friends, I panicked.

She was going to be transferred? TRANSFERRED! Nooooooo! She can't be! Who's going to be there to gossip with? Who am I going to complain to about Colin and Callie's fights? WHO'S GONNA LEND ME A SHIRT WHEN I SPILL COFFEE ON MINE?

Which, by the way, happens at least once a week.

I was about to open my mouth and say all this, perhaps burst into tears in the meanwhile for good measure, when Katie said something else.

"Oh dear,"

Considering she was now looking at my contract, I was getting particularly worried.

Oh dear what? Are they dropping my salary? Cos, y'know, if they are I am so totally quitting and getting a job as a barmaid selling firewhiskey to dodgy, smelly, battered drunks.

Or maybe I'll just stay at home, do all the chores and Callie and Colin can work. Cos that way they'll bring in the money and won't have any more arguments about housework. Hmm, I could adopt a kid while I'm at it too, and end up a full-time mother, like my Mum.

BAD BRAIN! What on Earth am I thinking!

"What?" I demanded.

"Erm, Ginny, don't blow a casket, okay?"

That doesn't sound all too good.

"Okay," I said slowly.

"Theyregonnafireyouinseptemberwhichithinkistotallybogusbecauseyoureagreatsecretaryandpleasedontblowanythingup!"

I blinked.

I'm sorry, but did you get any of that?

"Rewind and repeat," I sighed.

Katie looked extremely nervous.

"They're…er…gonna fire you in September,"

Now, to blow a casket or not to blow a casket?

"Weasley, Bell, its nine thirty. Get your asses downstairs and start bringing up the guests," Bones barked as he walked into his office. Luckily, I had just finished mending the last of the ripped files. Part of my "destroy Bones' office" mission statement.

As you can probably guess, I totally blew a casket plus several more caskets.

"Alright, we're coming," Katie said, grabbing my arm and pulling me past Bones before I could start yelling at him or something. Which I was so NOT going to do! I mean, maybe snarl at him, spit out a few insults before announcing that I quit, but so not yelling.

"Look, Ginny, lets just get through today, okay?" she said with a sigh.

I nodded. But as we reached the front doors, it didn't seem I was going to have to be all formal.

"Colin! What are you- oh, hey! Blaise!" I exclaimed.

Colin actually didn't look like he had just had a huge argument with his best friend and called her a slut in the process, but was beaming at me. Blaise, however, seemed bored and uninterested and had obviously been told rather sharply to get his ass down here. But he smiled at me anyway. My knees involuntarily faltered.

That smile will be the death of me.

"Hey Ginny," Colin greeted, "I gotta do the photos for Daily Prophet,"

"Nice. Blaise, how've you and Draco been?"

Liquid blue/black eyes settled on me. "Alright. Draco's been throwing diva tantrums…he wanted to stop by your place for dinner last night. I think he enjoyed Leona's cooking too much,"

I snorted in disbelief. "You lie,"

"Nope," he grinned.

"Seriously?"

"Yep,"

I burst out laughing. Draco Malfoy wanted Callie's food! He could have anything he wanted…and he wants Callie's homemade stuff!

Maybe today won't be too bad.

Not now that Colin and Blaise are here to keep me entertained.

Although, I have one issue. How the hell am I supposed to concentrate if Blaise keeps smiling at me like that?

Oh Goddess.

I'm screwed.

Wow, that was the longest chapter in the whole story so far, but it may not count as this is only the fourth chapter. Anyway, I personally don't really like this chapter, and I'm sorry about now having much Blaise and absolutely no Draco, but I will make up for that in the next chapter, okay?

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate it.

And do me a favour, okay?

Keep reviewing.

Please.

Til next time!

Chiya