Author's Warning for this chapter: There is mention of a slash (m/m) couple in this chapter. There is no direct contact between the two, but I want everyone to be warned. Don't like it; don't read. I have warned you!- LB
********************************************
"Minister, you have a call on your private floo network!" The Minister's secretary called from the other room.
Ginny Weasley shook her head. She didn't think she would ever get used to her new secretary, Lori. She was a vivacious, pink haired underground punk rocker. She was a lot of fun, but she had some oddities that were not usually seen in the secretary of the Minister of Magic, or any executive offices for that matter.
Ginny turned her chair around and opened her private floo network.
"Ginny, dear, how are you today?"
"Fine, Mum. How is everyone at the Burrow?"
"We missed you at the last family dinner. Could you come over tonight? Ron has a surprise!"
"Mum, don't try to use the guilt trip tactic on me. It is not going to work. I had business that had to be done; so, I stayed and did it. As for tonight, I can probably come over for a bit. However, I was here very late last night; I need some sleep. What time would you like me there?"
Molly gave her a smile and said, "Just after five, can you do that?"
"I can try, Mum. I can try."
"Very well, give your dad a kiss for me."
"Mum, you know I cannot show favoritism."
"He's your father, Ginny. Give him a kiss for me."
"Fine."
Molly signed off with a hearty wave and Ginny closed her private floo.
She flipped the chair around and began rifling through several stacks of parchments. Ginny gave a sigh and began reading through a proposed law change for magical creatures throughout the United Kingdom.
After 15 minutes of reading, Ginny sat back in her chair and, using both hands, rubbed the sides of her head.
She looked up at the magical clock her parents had given her when she had first moved out of the Burrow. It was burgundy and gold, of course, and chanted 'Go Go Gryffindor' on the hour, every hour. Come to think about it, the clock was really quite annoying actually.
As the thoughts were running through her mind, she actually took a good look at the clock. It clearly stated, 'You're late!'
She looked at the muggle clock and realized it was already three quarters past five. Ginny hastily grabbed her cloak, told her assistant she was gone for the day and went to her fireplace. She picked up a handful of floo powder and headed for the Burrow.
She arrived, gracefully, on her feet and without a lot of soot on her clothes. She still gave a wave, with her wand, over her clothes with a cleansing spell. It was pretty much habit by now.
After she had been elected Minister of Magic, she had been required to attend 'politically correct' classes. Rule number one was always look your best. It makes people have more confidence in you. Who knew?
Ginny was pulled out of her thoughts by her mother.
"Ginny Weasley, that better be you coming out of that fireplace. You do realize that you are over 45 minutes late! We are already eating. You might be the Minister of Magic, but we eat when I say so, young lady!
Ginny rolled her eyes. She was forever going to be five in her mother's mind.
"Hi Mum! Yes, it is me. I figured you had already started eating. Sorry, I got caught up in some paper work. I can wait until you are finished; I don't want to interrupt."
"Ginny, get in here and eat. You look like you could use a square meal." Arthur Weasley, Ginny's father, said.
Ginny laughed and headed into the dining room. She greeted her family with a smile.
There was Bill, her oldest brother, and his wife, Cara. Bill was a curse specialist for Gringotts, the Wizard Bank. He had once worked in Egypt, but now worked in the London offices on Diagon Alley. His wife was his secretary. That was how they met and they still liked working together. They were one of those rare couples that could keep business and pleasure separate. They had three children: Bill Jr., 11; Jill, 8 and Sally, 2.
They were a cute family, all redheaded with freckles dusting their pixie-like faces. Bill still had his long hair, much to his mother's chagrin; but Cara seemed to like it. And so it stayed.
Bill Jr. was at Hogwarts to the pride of the entire family. He was the first Weasley in 200 years to be sorted outside of Gryffindor; he was a proud Ravenclaw, smart as a whip with a quick tongue to match.
Jill was a prankster like her twin uncles. She was forever getting into trouble and, by proxy, getting her dad in trouble. Bill Weasley was like his father; he loved to have fun even when his wife did not.
Sally was a walking and talking toddler that kept Molly Weasley amused to no end. Sally was currently on a 'knock-knock' joke phase. Sometimes, it was funny, and sometimes not. You had to take the good with the bad and laugh no matter what; otherwise, you would hurt Sally's feelings.
Charlie, the Dragon keeper, was there as well. He was with his significant other, James. They were a cute couple that exemplified the fact that opposites attract. Charlie was redheaded and fair. James was raven haired and olive toned. Charlie was outgoing. James was introverted. Charlie liked to work outside and sweat. James had to have every hair on his head in place. Yet, their relationship worked and they both were very happy.
Charlie still lived in Romania, but Apparated home two or three times a month; his schedule at the Dragon Colony was extremely hectic. James, on the other hand, worked in a castle near the Dragon Colony. He didn't talk about his job usually, but Charlie had mentioned that he worked with a famous vampire.
Charlie and James were currently trying to adopt two small children, two little girls that had been abandoned after a Fairy Ring Meeting in the Forbidden Forest. They were half human and half fairy, aged four and two and loved Charlie and James immensely. There names were Andrea and Allison, however; they were affectionately called Andie and Allie.
Andie and Allie pushed out of their chairs and ran to Ginny when they saw her. Ginny gave them each a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. Before they were allowed to do anything else, James reminded them that they needed to finish their dinner and that they could talk to Aunt Ginny after dessert.
Percy was finally there after years of self imposed exile. During his time away from the family, he had married a muggle girl named Rose. She had accepted the family very easily and really had helped Percy relax. Rose was a cute brunette and fairly short with a page boy haircut. Her eyes were a piercing blue and complimented her fair skin. Rose had small lines around her eyes from her constant smiling. They only made her more endearing. Molly and Arthur had loved her immediately and welcomed her with open arms.
They had one child, a girl, named Annabel Lee, like the famous Poe poem. Apparently, Rose had become pregnant while she was working on her Master Thesis in Literature History. She had liked the name and the rest is history.
The twins were there too. Fred was there with his wife, Brennan. She was a witch that was several years younger than Fred. Shoot, she was several years younger than Ginny. She had been a Ravenclaw and was very intelligent. In fact, they had met when Fred and George had hired an accountant to help with the financial side of their incredibly successful joke shops.
They lived in Southern England on the Isle of Wight. They had a huge home on the beach. Since all the children had left home, Molly loved to visit during the summer.
Fred and Brennan did not have any children and they did not want any. Brennan joked that she had a child already and that his name was Fred. Fred just nodded. It was true.
George had, to the shock of everyone, married Hermione. They had run off, just after the war with Voldemort was won, and married in Jamaica. Of course, the reason for the hasty marriage had appeared six months after the wedding; his name was Daniel. Fred had harassed his brother about this for ages.
Daniel was smart as a whip. At the age of four, he could write in complete sentences and hold serious discussions on Quidditch with names and dates. His Uncle Ron was very proud of him. Daniel was a wonderful combination of George's capricious nature and Hermione's seriousness. He had George's red hair and Hermione's nutmeg eyes.
Ron was not at the table.
As Ginny sat down at the table, she asked, "Hey, where is Ron? I thought he had a surprise! I want a surprise! You promised a surprise!"
Arthur smiled at his only daughter. It was nice to see her smiling and joking. She had been so stressed lately. She always seemed so far away and lonely.
"He flooed about twenty minutes before you arrived and said they were running late."
"They? Anyone I know?"
"I have no idea. He refused to say anymore. He said to expect them in time for the after dinner discussion. You'll be staying for that, right? Molly inquired.
"I want to. I really do. But, I need to go back to the office for a few more hours. I have about six more amendments to read through and that is not even considering the fact that I have to approve the curriculum for Hogwarts. I'm sorry, but I only have an hour to spare. Can't we just enjoy the time I am here and let me do what I need to do? Please…"
"Ginny, you cannot expect to work all the time and have a life. You have got to get out and meet people. You need to remember that family is important. You need to remember that friends are important. You need to remember that you work to live, not live to work! I know I instilled better values in you than this workaholic life you are living."
When Molly paused to take a breath, Arthur jumped in, "Molly, please…she is here. Let us enjoy the time we have and not turn it into shouting match."
However, Ginny was already standing and walking out of the room.
"Sorry Mum and Dad, it has been a long day and I just can't deal with this right now." Everyone at the table saw the slump in her shoulders and the tears in her voice.
A few minutes later, Ginny had flooed back to her office and began reading through the stack of papers. She eventually fell asleep, using the parchments for a pillow; she was in the same position when her secretary arrived the next morning.