Chapter 4 – "Jealousy"

The next morning, Hermione slowly trudged into her office. She stifled a yawn and sunk into her uncomfortable desk chair. Immediately after leaving the cake store the day before, Hermione went to her office. She dove into her work and didn't come up for air until after midnight. That was only seven hours ago and there was still so much to be done.

Hermione flipped open her appointment book and closed her eyes, sighing despairingly. She had so many appointments that day that she hadn't even scheduled herself any time for lunch.

"Ms. Granger?" A female voice said.

Hermione opened her eyes and looked at the door. A tall woman, dressed in a Jean skirt that ended well above her knees and a tight, red sweater stood in the doorway. Her blonde hair fell in perfect ringlets halfway down her back. Hermione looked down at what she was wearing and suddenly felt embarrassed. She had on a baggy, black sweater and black pants that didn't exactly flatter her figure.

"Can I help you?" Hermione asked, shaking the thoughts of her wardrobe out of her head. There was no reason why she should be comparing herself to a complete stranger.

"Are you Ms. Hermione Granger?"

"Yes."

In two long steps, the woman was at the edge of Hermione's desk with her hand outstretched.

"I'm Ginger Jones," she said. Hermione shook her hand, glancing down at her appointment book to see if the name was written down. "I'm your new secretary?"

Hermione's eyes widened. "Secretary? But I never…"

"Mr. Welch hired me," Ginger explained. Mr. Welch was the department head of Hermione's and a dozen other departments.

"And how exactly were you hired?"

"I used to work in the owlry until Mr. Welch appointed me to be your secretary."

"Do you…do you have any experience as a secretary?"

"Well, no, not exactly, but I am very good with owls."

"I see."

Hermione had a feeling that it wasn't exactly Ginger's secretarial schools or even her ability to work with owls that got her the job. Mr. Welch was a known womanizer and had even attempted to flirt with Hermione until she had made it very clear that she was not interested by dumping ice water in his lap.

"So, what would you like me to start with?" Ginger asked.

"Um…why don't you get settled outside and I'll let you know if…when I need you."

Hermione managed a fake smile. Ginger flashed her perfectly straight, white teeth and strode out. Hermione couldn't help but notice her four inch, red, paten leather high heels. Hermione's own shoes were worn out sneakers that probably should have been thrown out several years earlier.

Sighing, Hermione looked back at her appointment book, wondering what she was going to do with her new secretary.

Ron stumbled into the kitchen, his eyes still half closed. He groped around in front of him with his hands as if he was blind, but really, he was just too tired to open his eyes. He had been up late watching more westerns.

"Good morning," Ginny said cheerfully.

Ron grumbled and squinted. She and Harry were sitting at the kitchen table, a long list of names in front of them. Three different vases, one short and green, one tall, thin and clear, and the other square and tinted white sat in the middle of the table, all with a dozen pink roses inside.

"Don't you think that's a little excessive?" Ron asked, opening the refrigerator door.

"We're trying to pick a centerpiece. Which do you like better?"

"What difference does it make? They're all the same flowers." Ron pulled out the carton of milk and began to chug it.

"Trust me, it makes a difference," Ginny stated matter-of-factly. Ron looked over at Harry who shrugged. He couldn't see what difference a vase made either. Ginny hit him in the arm. "I saw that look. Remember, this is your wedding, too, you know."

"Yes dear."

"Now, back to the list." Ginny picked up a quill pen. "We still haven't heard from…" She began to count the names that didn't have a check mark next to them. As she got to the last name, Hedwig soared through the open kitchen window, his wing hitting Ron in the face.

"Bloody hell," he mumbled wiping milk from his chin.

"Hermione's right, Ron, you are foul," Ginny commented as Hedwig landed on Harry's arm. Harry took the mail from his mouth.

"More response cards," he announced, handing them over to Ginny.

She began to flip through them as Hedwig nibbled on one of the roses.

"Looks like Great Aunt Mildred won't be able to make it," Ginny announced.

"Oh, that's a shame," Ron said sarcastically, putting the milk back in the fridge.

"I like Great Aunt Mildred."

"That's because she doesn't kiss you with her…"

"Oh! Hermione's response card!" Ginny exclaimed.

At the mention of her name, Ron began to walk out of the kitchen. He didn't want to hear Ginny talking about her even though she consumed his every thought. He had never stopped thinking about her since the moment she had jumped into his arms and their lips made contact.

"Hermione's in the wedding," Harry pointed out, stroking Hedwig's feathers. "Was it absolutely necessary for her to send us a response card?"

"It's common courtesy," Ginny replied, practically jumping up and down with excitement.

"And why exactly are you so excited? It's not like you didn't know she was coming."

"Yes, but now I know that she's bringing a date."

Ron stopped dead in his tracks. Date? Since when did Hermione…date? As she watched the color from Ron's face disappear, Ginny smirked. Sensing something was up, Harry reached to take the response card out of Ginny's hand, but she pulled it away and tucked it safely in her pocket.

"Do you know that there's a woman outside of your office doing her nails?" Ginny asked as she walked into Hermione's office.

"She's my new secretary, Ginger," Hermione answered, as she quickly scribbled down notes on a piece of parchment.

"You have a secretary? Since when?"

"Since this morning. Mr. Welch hired her?"

"For what? Her ability to do her nails?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I think it was for her legs."

Ginny took a peek out the door where Ginger had taken off her shoes and was beginning to paint her toenails. "Does she…actually do anything?"

"Besides her nails?" Hermione looked up from the scroll she was writing on. "No. I asked her to write a memo to Paige Nichols on the sixteenth floor and she ended up sending it to Nicholas Page on the sixth floor." Ginny sat down on the chair across from Hermione's desk. Hermione concentrated back on what she was working on. "But I will say that I've never had more male coworkers hand delivering messages than today."

"Gives you a chance to nab one of them to be your date for the wedding."

Hermione's head snapped up. "Date?"

"Well, I thought…"

"Appointment with Ginny Weasley at Betty's Bridal!" Hermione's appointment book squawked like a talking parrot. "Appointment with Ginny Weasley at Betty's Bridal!"

Hermione slammed her appointment book closed.

"Looks like we should go," Ginny said, standing, hiding a smile. Her plan was all falling into place. "We wouldn't want to be late."

"Wait…Ginny, what's this about a date?"

Ginny disapparated. Completely annoyed that now she had one more thing to worry about, Hermione shoved her appointment book in her satchel, slung the bag over her shoulder, and walked out to where Ginger had finished her toes and was currently applying a bright red lipstick to her puckered lips.

"Ginger, I'm going out for a while. I'll be back in about an hour. Maybe two."

"Ooh, would you like me to do anything while you're gone? Send a letter or two? Do some research? Write a memo? Organize your office?"

"No!" Hermione shouted. "Why don't you just…sit tight until I get back?" She gave her yet another fake smile, which she had been getting very good at recently, and disapparated straight to Betty's Bridal, which was right near Creative Creations. The store, which looked tiny from the outside, was larger than any store Hermione had ever been in. And the entire store was full of nothing but white wedding dresses. Ginny was working with a young store clerk who was helping her into a dressing room. Two dresses were already floating in midair in the small, mirror-lined room.

"I've narrowed it down to two," Ginny explained as she stepped into the dressing room. "As my maid of honor, it's up to you to help me decide which one is going to make me irresistible."

Ginny giggled as she closed the door.

"Trust me," Hermione replied, "Harry will think you're irresistible no matter what you wear."

"Speaking of wearing," Ginny said as she began to undress. "I thought we could find you a dress while we're here."

"But they only sell bridal dresses," Hermione replied as she began to look at some of the dresses around her.

"They've got bridesmaid dresses in the other room."

"Other room? Just how big is this place?"

As Hermione looked around, she noticed that there were plenty of downright hideous bridal dresses, but there were a number of downright gorgeous ones. One in particular caught her eye. It was a plain, strapless gown with a long train. She ran her hands over the soft fabric.

"They're the only bridal store servicing witches in the area," Ginny stated. "They have to be huge." As she droned on about all the different services they offered, Hermione wondered if she would ever get a chance to wear such a dress.

Reluctantly, Hermione let go of the dress and sat down on a bench outside of Ginny's dressing room.

"Anyway, let's get back to talking about who you're talking to my wedding," Ginny suggested.

Suddenly, Hermione was paying attention again.

"Ginny, I really don't think it's necessary that I bring a date."

"Come on, Hermione. Weddings are the most romantic event you can go to. Do you honestly want to go alone?"

"Even if I wanted to go with someone, who would I go with?"

"What about Jack from the magical gaming department?"

"He got married last summer."

"He did? Well, what about Michael from the history department?"

"Michael Delta? The man who has read every history book in the entire world and who spews annoying facts from his mouth like a leaky faucet you just can't turn off?"

"Sounds like someone else I know," Ginny said.

"I resent that!" Hermione retorted. "I do not spew annoying facts!"

"At least he's cute."

"Yeah, well there is that."

"And besides," Ginny said, smiling. She reached for the door handle. "Ron's got a date."

Hermione's jaw dropped. Ron had a date? Who could he possibly…

Ginny opened the door and stepped out.

"You like?" She asked, twirling.

Hermione tried to push the idea of Ron with some gorgeous woman on his arm out of her head and concentrate solely on Ginny.

"Ginny, you look amazing. I love it." The dress, with straps off the shoulder, had white pearls flowing in swirls down the front and back. The bottom poofed out much like a princess dress and fell perfectly at the right length to the floor. "It looks like it was made for you."

"But you haven't seen the other one. Just wait!"

Ginny disappeared into the dressing room, knowing full well that she had successfully planted the seed of jealousy in Hermione's mind.

"Can you believe that Hermione actually has a date?" Ron asked, pacing back and forth in the living room. He had been pacing for nearly half and hour and had yet to say anything. Annoyed, Harry sat on the couch, munching on a bowl of popcorn and trying to see past Ron as he blocked the television.

"Why is that so hard to believe?"

"Come on, Harry, she's…"

"Smart, beautiful, funny even though she doesn't know it, and not to mention that she's available." Ron stopped right in front of the TV and sneered at Harry. "Look, Ron, if you're jealous…"

"I'm not jealous."

He began pacing again.

"Could have fooled me."

"You're not helping, Harry."

"Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again. The only thing that's going to help you is if you talk to her. Tell her how you feel."

"No," Ron said, stopping once again in front of the television. "The only thing to do is bring a date myself."

Harry opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. He was torn between telling Ron what he knew about why Hermione left and letting them figure it out on their own.

"Trust me, talking to her will be much more beneficial," he finally said.

Ron was no longer listening.

"Know any single, drop dead gorgeous women, Harry?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, one."

"Who?"

"Hermione."

Ron scowled and walked away.