Disclaimer: I give all credit to J.K Rowling, I own nothing and she owns everything. I am merely borrowing the characters I love so much! The plot is the only thing remotely close to being mine! I also want to give credit to all other authors whose stories I've had a chance to read! So to all of you…. a big thanks!
A/N: just a note, Mad –eye is over seas and Dumbledore is in Europe. They left at the same time, was at the same place but separated due to other commitments. This is one insignificant detail that none of you readers should worry about. It doesn't make a difference to the story. Just wanted to get it straightened out for my own personal idiosyncrasy, I hate it when things aren't clear. Anyways, read on. =) Thanks.
TO: Kyrissaean, pril, shippie, HPnLOTRrox, jenn48, Lourdes, Potteranne, Satoriste, Hpfreak8, sunshyne8 i'm hpfreak8, koonelli, Sarahamanda, MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus & katc, thank you all for taking your time to review. =)
Crushes, lifts and gingerbread witches."Ginevra Weasley!" exclaimed a female voice at the door.
Ginny smiled and turned around to the voice of her very best friend (possibly other than Hermione) and office mate, Devon Grier.
"Ahh…Devon" sighed Ginny jokingly. Devon was a couple of years older than Ginny and she worked as the accessories director for Witch Weekly. They had developed a friendship for the past several years, finding many things in common, one very big one being that Devon was the baby of the family out of 5, she being the only girl. So naturally she and Ginny had lots to talk about. There were lots of other qualities that they shared, she was very nice and polite, straightforward but not to blunt. She was the perfect friend for Ginny; they complemented each other in all the ways, but Ginny, being the girl that she is, did feel a bit of envy for her friend. Mainly because she was beautiful, gorgeous as a matter of fact. Don't get her wrong, Ginny could hold her own, but who could compete with a girl that had a brief stint in modeling, was damn good at it, had all the men and wizards alike at their beck and call was polite and down to earth as ever nonetheless. This is the main reason Ginny liked her; she could have all the things in the world, but didn't use such ways to get it.
"Is that all I get??" Devon asked hurt.
Ginny broke her smile and turned towards the door to envelope her friend in a hug.
"Of course not, you!!" Ginny she said with a smile she could no longer hide.
"I haven't been back for 30 minutes and here you are paying me a visit already!" Ginny said playfully, breaking the hug and moving towards her desk. " Now what do I owe this pleasure of a visit?" Ginny asked raising her eyebrows questioningly. She knew Devon, there was something that she was dying to talk about.
Devon closed the door and moved towards the armchair on the opposite side of Ginny's desk.
" I've been dying to talk to you about something." She said.
Ginny smiled inwardly. "And what…would that be?"
"Two words…. Ryan West." Devon said not being able to contain her jubilation.
Ginny blushed. She should've known, the biggest gossiper in this side of London was in her office. But Ginny was resolved in doing what she said last night.
'He's only a Quidditch player.' She said to herself, maintaining a very calm demeanor that even surprised her.
Devon froze and looked at Ginny like she had grown another head.
"You're joking right?"
"What? He's just a guy Dev." Ginny said getting up and going to her file cabinet looking for something that didn't exist.
"Ginny!" Devon exclaimed.
"I know I have to work with him, Matilda owled me during the holidays." She said looking up from the cabinet "No big deal." she added nonchalantly.
Devon sat there a bit put off. She didn't know why she denied her excitement about working with him with her friend, all she knew was it felt familiar.
"Dev, are you ok?" Ginny asked when she noticed her friend going a bit pale.
SilenceShe was getting worried; she didn't know that Devon felt so strongly for Ryan West.
"Ok… well, I'll leave you then" she finally said getting up making her way to the door.
All Ginny could say was "Ok." She too was a bit confused, she found Devon's actions a bit strange.
"Oh and by the way…" she said almost halfway through the door, "He's coming to meet with you today"
'What?!?' screamed her head.
Devon continued "Ryan West, he's coming by to meet with you at lunch."
Now it was time for Ginny to go pale as her friend shut the door.
Ginny couldn't move, all the blood in her body had rushed to her stomach making her feel queasy.
'Merlin, did I just hear what I thought I heard???' she asked herself and looked at the back of her door.
When she got her composure back, which took a good 30 seconds, she rushed from behind her desk towards her door in search of the bearer of the news. Ginny didn't have to go far, for when she opened the door of her office, Devon was waiting on the other side, in front of her, sporting a knowing smile.
"I knew it." Was all Devon said as she ushered a paling Ginny back to her desk and closed the door.
Early Morning at Harry's
"Corbin, how you doing mate?" Harry asked the head in the fireplace.
"I'm good Harry, I'm glad to see you're taking it easy." The head said back.
"Well, you know how it is, enjoying the time I have left until Dumbledore gets back. Listen, I have a favor to ask you, thanks for getting back at me so quickly."
"Anytime Harry, what can I do for you?"
"I need an address."
"Ok, where to?" Corbin asked curiously at the vague favor.
"I need the address to the headquarters for Witch Weekly." Harry answered.
Corbin answered with a sly smile before saying "Alright then Harry, I'll send that to you right a way. Just give me a couple of minutes to get everything ready and I'll send Train over to you."
"Thanks mate, I appreciate it. Ok. I'll let you get back to work. Ministry work is busy stuff."
Corbin smiled at his friend "You got that right."
And with a pop the head in the fireplace disappeared.
He was lucky that Corbin worked at the Ministry, at the Department of Magical Buildings and permits. He had access to all magical buildings in this side of Europe and knew that his friend wouldn't hesitate giving Harry a little help. He knew he was a busy man but he was the only one Harry could ask for Ginny's workplace that wouldn't yield suspicious outcomes.
He couldn't very well ask Ron or Hermione or the rest of the Weasley clan, no, it was too early. Too early for what, Harry really didn't know, he just knew that he'd have to make his own way, and Corbin was the beginning of it. Harry met him just before the demise of Voldemort, his girlfriend at the time, Susan Bones, was a prisoner of the war. Harry had pushed her out of the way of a death eater's curse in one of the raids that set some of prisoners free saving her life. She panicked in the midst of it all and caught the attention of one of the death eaters. Corbin having helped the Aurors during the war saw the whole thing and the rest was history. Corbin was very thankful to Harry for if he wasn't there at right place at the right time his wife now, could've been lost to him forever. From then on they developed a great friendship and to this day they keep in touch.
Harry got up from in front of the fireplace and looked around for a sign of Hedwig. It was early in the morning and he surmised that she was probably sleeping in her cage.
"Ok… breakfast" Harry said to himself making his way to the kitchen. He got used to being served breakfast at the Weasley's that relying on himself for food once again was a hard task to embrace. He found some eggs and bacon in the fridge and started frying his breakfast when Hedwig flapped her way into the kitchen.
"Hungry too eh?" Harry asked the sleepy owl.
The owl answered with a loud hoot.
"Ok, ok. I'll make enough for the both of us." Harry laughed.
Bacon and eggs in plate and orange juice in glass, Harry prepared for his breakfast when he was interrupted by a light rapping on his window ledge.
He peaked to see a large gray owl waiting to be let in.
"Well, hello there Train." Harry said opening his window and letting the owl in.
Unfastening the note that was attached. He gave the owl a piece of bacon earning him a hoot from Hedwig.
"Hey! We share around here." Harry said to his owl that wasn't listening.
"Thank you Train. Here you go." Harry said while fastening another note to the owl that said his thanks to Corbin and best wishes for Susan. " Give your Corbin this, ok." The owl gave Harry a nip at the fingers and flew towards the ministry back to his owner.
Harry closed his window and went back to his place at the table with note in one hand and a growing anticipation in his stomach.
"HOOOT" said Hedwig.
Harry shook his head and smiled. He smiled like a silly boy that just got a date for the Yule ball.
'Whoa! Easy there Potter, all you have is an address.' His conscience kindly reminded him.
Harry feeling a bit silly, finished his meal and made his way to his room to get ready for the day he is about to have.
Back at the office
"Oh Merlin, please, please tell me you're joking" Ginny said to her friend while she was ushered back to her desk.
"Answer me this first missy. Why would you not tell me you liked him???"
"Who said I fancied him??" Asked Ginny getting her color back; amazed at how her friend quickly caught on.
"Oh save it, Gin, I know you!! You wouldn't have had to do that little charade if you didn't fancy him!" Answered her friend happily.
"Oh, I don't know Dev. I guess…" she trailed on, she didn't know what she guessed. Ginny was still trying to explain it to herself let alone trying to explain it to the inquiring woman in front of her.
Devon gave her a smile "Well, to answer your question, I am not joking I'm dead serious, he is coming. This afternoon so…expect him to be here."
Ginny slowly got her composure back, as she sank into her office chair. She looked at her friend surprisingly. "How..how…?"
"Ginevra Weasley. You told me!" Devon answered.
"Huh?" Ginny didn't remember such an occurrence, she didn't even realize it until now.
"If you didn't act so suspiciously and oh so nonchalantly at the mere mention of his name, I wouldn't have known. You might really feel that way for other celebrities that we encounter, but this is Ryan West, he's very special and the mere brush of his name told me that you…fancy…. him…….a lot." Devon said matter-of-factly.
Ginny shook her head at her friend, "You could be a bloody detective you know."
"Yeah, I know, but where's the fun in that? No boys." Devon said sheepishly. "Well, you better get ready then, he'll be here soon." She added.
"Yeah, thanks for the warning." Ginny said smiling to the retreating back of her friend.
"Glad to be of help Gin. Have fun" Devon said winking before shutting the door.
Ginny slumped into her desk. 'Fun indeed', she thought. She didn't know why she felt like this. It was like she was in an emotional roller coaster. She felt like she was ten again having a silly little crush on some boy. Except that this boy was not a boy, he is the man all the girls want, and Ginny is going to work with him, one on one and he's coming, today, to her office.
"Oh crickets." she groaned out loud. Why didn't anyone warn her that this would be a lot more complicated that she thought it would.
'Because it wasn't complicated until you made it complicated. Crushes could do that to situations.' Her head shot back.
Ginny buried her face in her hands. "I need coffee." And with that, she got up to get some.
Somewhere outside of Witch Weekly's Headquarters
Harry was standing in front of a beat up old magazine stand that housed the entrance to Witch Weekly's Headquarters. A nice old lady sat on a stool in the shed. She eyed Harry suspiciously as her eyes looked him up and down.
"How could I help you sir?" She asked.
"Yes, Hello" Harry nodded to the old lady. "I was wondering if you could direct me to Witch Weekly?" He asked warily.
The old lady's features softened and she even gave Harry a nice smile. "Ahhh… are you a visitor?"
"Err…Yes, I'm here to visit Ginny Weasley."
"Oh, another one." She said grinning. "Well, the entrance is the door behind me, go in and shut the door behind you. When Clarissa asks you who you want to see just tell her and she'll direct you to that floor. You'll find Ms. Weasley there." The old witch finished.
"Thanks." Harry said, although a little confused by what the lady meant about her first statement, he opened the rackety door that opened up to what looked like a muggle lift and shut the door. A clear voice echoed through the enclosure.
"State your name and business please." The voice asked.
"My name is Harry Potter and I'm here to see Ginny Weasley." He answered.
There was a pause and then the voice was heard again. "Please exit and proceed to the desk and acquire a visitor pass. You will be redirected from there. Thank you."
Harry complied and exited when the lift door opened and what he saw was a big white reception area, well, to describe it, to be honest it looked quite girly. When he stepped out it seemed all the women in the reception area stopped to look at him. Harry smiled and continued on his way to the reception desk.
"Hello, I was told to get a visitors pass. I'm here to see Ginny Weasley."
"Well, Hello there Mr. Potter." Said the witch at the desk batting her eyelashes dangerously at Harry. "Here you go, Ms. Weasley is on floor 5." handing him an id card that said visitor on it.
"You can go back to where you came from and go from there." She added.
"Thanks very much" Harry said going back to the lift. He didn't want to know how she knew his name beforehand, but he is Harry Potter and it wasn't unusual to have such things happen. With his id card clipped to his shirt and his hand grasping a wrapped cellophane bag that contained 2 gingerbread witches that Harry picked up for Ginny in one hand he got to the lift and pressed 5.
He was pretty proud of the gingerbread witches. Harry was walking by a store that sold them and the bread figure reminded him of Ginny because of its red hair and really bright smile, so he picked up 2 to give her as a snack.
Meanwhile, back in the office
Ginny was frantically searching for her favorite green pen not knowing where she had left it.
"Oh Merlin please let me find it! Its my lucky pen!" She said to herself ducking under her desk, thinking she might've dropped it there. Just then she heard a knock at the door, thinking its Devon to bug her more about her meeting with a certain Seeker, she asked getting up from under her desk…
"Hey Dev, have you seen my pen, I seem to have misplaced i…." She trailed on at the sight of finding not Devon, but Matilda Clary-Hill standing by the door accompanied by a man, and not just any man, it was Ryan West.
A/N 2:
So what do you think?? Heehee…please review it will mean a lot =)
