Chapter 2- Getting started

Most of Ginny's friends had not been at her graduation celebration, since they spent that time celebrating with their own families. The next two weeks, however, consisted of many social events before real life set in. Harry and Hermione had stayed during this time and Ron was in and out.

This was her true group of friends. In fact, Hermione and Ginny confided in each other about everything. Ginny was the first to be informed of her big brother's relationship with Hermione, and, in turn, Hermione was usually the first to know of Ginny's relationships, if not the only person to know.

It was true that she had a crush in her first year on Harry, but she had long since forgotten about that, unless her dear, sweet older brothers decided to remind her. It was the summer after her third year that she finally decided to recognize that it was a silly school-girl crush, and that she only liked him because he was Harry Potter, not to mention her brother's best friend.

"So," Ginny said coming into the kitchen fully dressed, "what are you going to do today?" She looked up at the trio.

"Well, these two have decided that they need some 'alone time'." Harry stated bitterly.

"Don't be so upset Harry. You know what 'alone time' means, don't you?" Ginny gave a devious look over the top of the newspaper.

Harry reciprocated with a sly grin, "no what?"

"It means, Mr. Potter, that they haven't had a good snog in quite some time." Ron, who was in the middle of taking a drink of milk, spit it all up and went completely red in the face.

"GINNY!" Ron shouted amid the roar of laughter coming from Ron's so called best friend. "That's not what it means! It's, it's just that... well we haven't really seen each other in a month, and I wanted to take Hermione out on a date."

Through this entire conversation Hermione maintained a dignified expression. "Settle down, Ron, she doesn't really mean it, do you Ginny?"

"Whatever tickles your fancy Hermione," Ginny attempted to say with a straight face. Only Harry really got the innuendo behind the statement. Hermione accepted it as a retract of her previous statement, and Ron, knowing he wouldn't be able to get a real apology out of Ginny, surrendered to avoid any more embarrassment. "Well, Harry, I have an interview in about an hour, but perhaps we can go to Diagon Alley for a while after that?"

"Sure, sounds good to me." Something in Harry jumped with joy at the fact that he might get to spend the day with Ginny. What am I thinking, Harry scolded himself. It's Ginny. He made his mind leave the strange thoughts he had, and went upstairs to get ready. Ron followed Harry up the stairs and went to his room to make sure he had everything ready for that day. This left Hermione and Ginny to have a girl talk.

"So, is there anyone new in your life," Hermione questioned.

"No, not since I broke up with Kyle. I just haven't seen a point, you know?"

"Yeah, it's not all it's cut out to be, unless it's the right one," Hermione stated with a gleam in her eye.

"Has Ron given you any permanent magical hair dye yet?" Ginny had an evil smirk spread across her face.

"No, why," Hermione thought it was a strange question.

"Well, you know Mum was originally a blonde, right?"

"No!" Hermione seemed shocked. "But... but hold on, why did she dye it."

"It was kind of her way of showing her devotion, and becoming a Weasley."

"Well, what does that have to do with me," Hermione said casually, averting her eyes.

"I don't know, let's think. Why would Hermione get hair dye from my brother?" Ginny just rolled her eyes and started laughing.

"So does that mean you should dye your hair black?"

"What?" Ginny asked completely serious.

"You heard me."

"Yeah, but I don't know what you're talking about. You know that I got over that stupid crush years ago.

"True, but I think his is just beginning," Hermione had a sly grin on.

"Right, Hermione, Harry has a crush, on me."

"Didn't you see the way he was looking at you?"

"You mean the way he looked at me like a little sister, yeah, for years."

"Oh, come on Ginny. Don't be so oblivious to what's going on."

"Look who's talking, how long did it take you to admit to liking Ron? Six years?" Ginny hoped that this would end the conversation, but Hermione was too persistent for this.

"So learn from my mistake. Trust me Ginny. Even Ron thinks Harry likes you."

"Okay, so I'll keep an eye out, but it's not like anything is going to happen. I'm not just going to start liking him because he may or may not like me. Besides, I like just having him as a friend."

"But Ginny, you're perfect for each other."

"Oh, are we now. I believe it was you who said that Dean and I were perfect for each other as well. Look how that one turned out." Hermione started to put on a pout.

"Just promise me you'll keep an open mind."

"Fine, fine, I'll think about it, but that doesn't mean that anything will happen."

The girls then changed their topic to more simple things, like the interview, how Hermione's work was going and such.

***

Two hours later Ginny found herself walking down Diagon Alley with Harry. She had just gotten a part-time job in the department of Improper use of Magic. She was to be Malfalda Hopkirk's new secretary and Harry was helping her celebrate.

"We need two banana splits with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, extra whip cream, and as many cherries as can fit. Oh, and Ginny did you want anything," Harry said jokingly while paying the cashier for the ice cream.

"Thanks Harry," Ginny said when she had controlled her laughter.

"So, what are you going to do, now that you have a job?"

"Go home, and sleep? Is that the right answer?"

"Well, the muggle answer would be that you're going to Disneyland."

"Alright, then I'm going to Dizzyland."

"No, no it's, oh never mind," Harry began shaking his head and laughed. "Really, didn't they offer you a full-time in your dad's office?"

"Yeah, but then people would think that I just got the job because of him, and I'm going to start the Auror program too."

"Really?" This made Harry happy. That meant that he'd see her a lot more often. "When do you start?"

"The program or the job?"

"The program."

"In a month."

"What about the job?"

Ginny paused and thought for a moment, then stated nonchalantly, "in a month."

This began a whole new fit of laughter emitted from Harry. He felt so comfortable with her, and he wondered why he had never seen her like this before. Ginny's hair seemed so soft, and Harry just wanted to reach out and feel it, but knowing she might find this to be strange, he restrained himself.

Ginny, on the other hand, had completely ignored everything Hermione had told her. She kept going on about how excited she was, and saying that she had to go get her books. Ginny was just rambling like nothing was different, and as if they had been friends forever. Well, they had, but that was besides the point.

The afternoon went too quickly for Harry, especially since in two days he and Ron would be going back to their apartment in London. It would be at least another month until he saw Ginny again. I have to find out when her classes are, he reminded himself.