Chapter Two
Virginia Weasley paced around in her office. The frustrated editor of the school's monthly newspaper, the Hogwarts Herald, was currently waiting for her fellow schoolmates. They had all agreed to meet at 3pm to discuss the nominees for the contest.
At the thought of the contest, Ginny smirked proudly. She had to admit, it was a wonderful idea, and as Professor Dumbledore had said, a stroke of genius. If there was a contest just like that for muggles, why couldn't there be one for wizards and witches?
Suddenly, a group of panting students barged into the office. Ginny turned around nonchalantly.
"Guess you missed the 'please knock' sign, huh?" Ginny said with a stern face, but a smile playing at her lips.
"Sorry we're late Gin," Susan Bones said breathlessly.
Ginny shook her head, wayward flaming red tendrils of her messy ponytail flying about in the breeze. The students working for the Hogwarts Herald headed towards their discussion table, you know, the long oval ones that you see when muggle businessmen have their meetings. Ginny seated herself at the head of the table that was reserved for the editor. The other students followed suit.
Ginny eyes traveled down the long oval table as she scanned all the students. Susan Bones, Colin Creevy, Hannah Abbott, Lavender Brown, Terry Boot, Mandy Brocklehurst, Sally-Anne Perks and Jason Moon. Ginny smiled and started the discussion.
"The last edition of the Herald was really good. Well done everyone! Susan, that report you did on the dress code was a hit! You might want to start a fashion column in every edition!" Ginny praised with a wink. "Colin, the photos that you took of the Slytherin versus Ravenclaw match was really nice, but try not to get too close next time okay?"
Colin blushed at this comment, for when he had been taking photographs of the match. he had to stand on the field and had nearly been squashed by a Ravenclaw chaser who had come crashing down when she was hit by a bludger. Ginny continued down the line, trying to find nice comments to make about the reports the students did.
Finally, Ginny decided it was time to get down to some serious business.
"Well then, we have yet to decide who to nominate for the contest. One girl and one guy from each house. And since we have at least two members from each house here, there shouldn't be too much of a problem, right?"
Students around the table nodded in agreement as they opened their notebooks, pens poised and ready to take down notes.
"Let's start with Hufflepuff, Hannah, Susan? Any suggestions?" Hannah and Susan looked at Ginny.
"Actually, I would nominate Justin," Hannah said quietly.
Almost immediately, an image of Justin Finch-Fletchley popped into her mind. She envisioned the lanky dark haired Hufflepuff and nodded in agreement.
"Anyone wants to oppose? Well then, Justin Finch-Fletchley it is," Ginny said after making sure that nobody opposed.
The discussion went on this way, for a whole two hours until they have finally come up with a list of eight nominees, one girl and one guy from each house.
Nominees for the contest:
Guys:
Hufflepuff- Justin Finch-Fletchley
Ravenclaw- Landon McBrian
Gryffindor- Harry Potter
Slytherin- Draco Malfoy
Girls:
Hufflepuff- Lisa Hanson
Ravenclaw- Veronica Sullivan
Gryffindor- Hermione Granger (She had really changed quite a lot over the summer, mind you)
Slytherin- Pansy Parkinson
Ginny read through the list once again. Overall, she was rather pleased about the nominees, and she agreed with most of them, except the one about the pug-faced Pansy. But majority wins i guess, she thought to herself. Looking up, she faced all the students with a smile.
"I think we can pass this to Dumbledore,"
Everyone broke out into cheers and whoops of accomplishment. Ginny stood up and everyone immediately quietened down and faced Ginny.
"Good work everyone, you'd better be heading back to your dormitories now, it's late."
As everyone headed back to their dormitories, Ginny cleared up and folded the list of nominees into neat quarters. Ginny walked towards the Headmaster's office on the third floor. Reaching the statue, Ginny whispered the password (Jumping Chocolate Frogs) and stood back at the statue jumped to the side and let Ginny enter. Ginny knocked on the door and pushed it open. The old wooden door swung open with a load squeak as Ginny strode into the oh-so familiar and homely office.
"Professor?" Ginny called out.
"Yes, good evening Miss Weasley," Professor Dumbledore came slowly and cautiously down the steps, a twinkle in his bright blue eyes behind his half-moon spectacles.
"Good evening Professor," Ginny said respectfully, giving a small bow and a smile. "I've come to pass you the list of nominees for the contest, Professor," Ginny passed the slip of paper to the Headmaster. He nodded with delight.
"Thank you, Miss Weasley, you may return to your dormitory, and I will read this in private, good night." Ginny bade the Headmaster good night and stepped out of the room and sprinted towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
A/N: reviews? any takers?