One and Only

Chapter Thirty-nine

As Hermione made the schedules, teachers started talking about the N.E.W.T.s more and more. The N.E.W.T.s would be held the week before they graduate and then they would graduate on the Saturday, that ball would be Friday and they would get to leave that Saturday after graduation.

April ended swiftly and it turned to May with only a month and a half left until N.E.W.T.s and only a few days left until Ginny's birthday, May 10th. (a/n: I know her real birthday is in August but as I mentioned in the last story, this is how I wanted it to be like:)

Hermione had both members of her staff after interviewing them both she decided that they would be good to work in R and H Books.

Ron decided to hire Susan after interviewing her and Smith going on and on about how she would be perfect for the job. Neville also got a job there. He would have his own Herbology column. Ron thought it added something different to the paper. He also found a Ravenclaw, and two Hufflepuffs that would do the spell columns and Padma and Justin gave him the names of a few people who might be interested in working with the ads. He was still looking for more reporters and photographers when he got a surprise, one Wednesday morning.

A letter fell down on top of his plate followed by two more, and then another two. He opened the first one and then the others. Hermione picked them up when he was done and read them, then passed them along to Harry and Ginny. McGonagall walked over, to make sure that the editor of the Prophet was not bothering Ron again.

"Is Mr. O'Connell bothering you again?" McGonagall asked.

"No, just the opposite." Ron said. "They're from people from the Prophet who quit and they want to apply for a job at the Magical Gazette." McGonagall smiled.

"That's what doing the right thing gets you." She said, pleased.

Later that day Ron wrote back and set up appointments with all of them on Friday to interview them for the position.

On Friday the early staff meeting went off as normal but after Ron went to his office to prepare questions for them. Soon there was a knock on the door and Smith entered with a tall brown-haired man following who looked about in early 20's.

"Ron your first interview is here." Smith said. He had been very grateful that Ron gave Susan the job so he was starting to be nicer.

"Thanks Zacharis." Ron said, managing a polite voice as well. "Come in, have a seat." Ron said. He gestured to the chair in front of him. "I'm Ron Weasley." Ron said, holding out his hand.

"Sean Harris." Sean said, shaking his hand.

"So Mr. Harris." Ron started, trying to be professional. "You've worked at the Daily Prophet for 5 years?" Ron asked.

"Yes, ever since I left Hogwarts." Sean answered. "But please call me Sean."

"Alright Sean. And your department was Photography?" Ron asked.

"Yes." Sean answered.

"And I understand that you heard about he Magical Gazette and wanted to apply but was there a specific reason that you left the Prophet?" Ron asked.

"I can't tell you how many times I've seen my photos messed with to bend the truth of the articles." Sean said. "I heard about what you did when the editor was complaining and I saw my opportunity to standup to the editor and my younger sister goes here and she sent me a copy of the article written about how you stood up to the editor. I thought that it would be a paper to work at that I could have my pictures in." Sean said. Ron thought that the interview was going good so far.

"Alright, do you have any sample pictures?" Ron asked. Sean pulled out a portfolio of pictures showing all the ones he took. All in all they were good. "Well I just have one more question." Ron said. "Can you be at the Magical Gazette on June 25th?" Ron asked.

"Seriously?" Sean asked. Ron nodded.

"Good reason for coming and good photographer, you've got the job." Ron said.

"I'll be there Mr. Weasley." Sean said.

"Call me Ron." Ron said. "Welcome to the Magical Gazette."

The rest of the meetings went similarly until Ron had three more reporters and two photographers all together. After the last meeting, just before lunch there was a knock at Ron's door and he thought that odd because he had already done the five interviews. He granted the person permission to enter and Smith came in.

"What's up?" Ron asked.

"Well I was just wondering if you found a replacement for next year. One of the sixth years is going to have to take your place and it's getting closer to graduation." Smith said. Ron hadn't even though about that. Naturally he would have picked Ginny but he thought that she would have enough on her plate already with coming home on the weekends and such. He decided that he probably should consult the rest of the staff, since it was only fair that everyone got to pick their new editor. He told Smith this and they headed out to the offices.

"Alright, well it's been a good year and it's getting closer to the end of it and well I need someone to take my place. I also want to let you all know that your welcome to jobs at the Magical Gazette once you graduate. So instead of me picking I thought that it would be fair if we all voted on a sixth year to take my place. So write down a name on a piece of parchment and we'll count up the votes." Ron went inside his office and grabbed a cap off his desk before borrowing a piece of parchment from Ginny and writing down the name of a person who he thought showed great responsibility in the paper. He collected the votes in a hat and had Ginny tally them up.

"Colin." Ginny announced with a smile. Everyone cheered for Colin and he looked overjoyed. Ron went over and slapped him on the back.

"If it was anyone, I'm glad it was you." Ron said. He had placed his vote for Colin. "You're going to do great as an editor."

"I learned from the best." Colin said happily.

After congratulations towards Colin, Ron talked to Colin about the things he would need to do for next year and what his jobs would be. Colin got up to leave to go for lunch when Ron finished.

"Congratulations." Ron said.

"Thanks." Colin responded with a smile. Everyone was gone for lunch as Hermione and Harry came in.

"So how did the interviews go?" Hermione asked.

"Great!" Ron said. "I have 3 new reporters and 2 new photographers and Colin is next year'seditor."

"So everything's set?" Hermione asked. Ron nodded. Hermione took a deep breath. They had a couple of weeks before they would leave here and go off with their own lives. Ron saw Hermione's apprehension and wrapped her in a hug. She rested her head on his chest.

"We've got each other, we're going to do fine." Ron assured her. Ginny and Harry smiled at them. Harry took Ginny's hand and gave it a squeeze to let her know that he was there for her. Ginny squeezed back to let him know she was there for him as well. The four of them went down to lunch.

Since Ginny's birthday was the Friday after and the Hogsmede trip was the next day they planned on getting her birthday presents then. Hermione had a semi-idea of what she was going to get Ginny, as Harry knew he would need Hermione's help getting something and Ron had no idea.

"So Gin, what do you want for your birthday?" Ron asked.

"A unicorn." Ginny joked. Ron, Harry, and Hermione chuckled.

"And what else?" Ron asked, in desperate need of some idea.

"I dunno." Ginny said, I guess some muggle books or some clothes but you can't really get them in Hogsmede so maybe something from Madam Sabrina's. You could ask Hermione to help, she's good at picking these things out."

"Alright." Ron said, finding no help in that. He supposed he would have to look with Hermione's help.

"I'm going to hang out with Fred and George tomorrow so you lot can pick out my gifts." She said with a smile.

The next morning Hermione woke up and then woke Ron up. After their typical morning routine of kissing they got up to get dressed. Hermione changed into a jean skirt and dark blue short sleeve shirt with light pink writing. She slipped on a pair of white flip-flops and tried to get her hair to look the same way when Ginny did it. Ron changed into a pair of khaki shorts and a green t-shirt. He put on a cap then waited for Hermione to finish with her hair and make-up. She did manage to get it looking like when Ginny did that then she pushed sunglasses over her head and walked with Ron to breakfast.

In Hogsmede Ginny went to go to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, where Fred and George made her work while Harry led them to the jewelry store. He looked around, with Hermione's help and found a pair of earrings that were in the shape of hearts with her birthstone in them.

"Where now?" Ron asked.

"Well I was thinking about what she said about wanting muggle books and clothes." Harry said. "And well what if we went into the bookshop and then Apparated to our apartments and then we could go into the city and get her what she wants?" He watched Ron and Hermione's reaction. They looked at each other.

"Well if it's for her birthday." Ron said.

"Yeah." Hermione agreed. "She'd do the same for us." The three of them went to the bookshop. Harry left his bag from the jewelry store on the couch and the three of them went to the back room to Apparate away with out anyone seeing. They Apparated to the hallway in between their apartments when they were out of sight. Harry led them down all of the stairs, which were a lot since they were on the top floor, and down onto the busy muggle filled streets. They were surprised to see several of their schoolmates out in the muggle city but then they recalled Fred and George telling them how they used to leave Hogsmede all the time. They supposed that they just Apparated to The Leaky Cauldron. They ignored the rest of their classmates for now, on a mission.

Hermione took the lead and led them to a shop that sold muggle books. Hermione got Ginny, To Kill an Mockingbird and Skybreaker (the sequel to the book Airborn she was reading.) and Ron picked out two titles that looked interesting, So Super Starry and Pride and Prejudice (Hermione's suggestions but Ron did think they looked interesting.) Then they followed Hermione to a clothes store that Ginny had bought a lot at over the summer. Harry got Ginny a gift card and just as Hermione was turning to leave she saw the cutest Coach bag that Ginny would love. She knew that she could find a knockoff one sold by a street vendor that would be so much cheaper so she went to find that purse. Her search was short-lived. She found it right away at a street vendor she also saw a pair of gorgeous knockoff Gucci sunglasses that she had Ron get for Ginny. They paid for their purchases and headed back to the apartments. Hermione resisted the urge to look inside the apartments at the furniture but she knew it wasn't fair to do that without Ginny being there. They went back to the bookstore and locked up before going to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. It was packed with people wanting to buy gags. Ron, Hermione, and Harry pushed their way to behind the counter where Ginny was unhappily taking care of customers. Hermione took over for her so that Ginny could take a break. Ginny rushed over and gave Harry a hug.

"I better have damn good gifts for having to put up with this all day." Ginny said. Ron and Harry laughed.

"Where are Fred and George?" Ron asked.

"We're right here." Fred said.

"We were just in the lab trying to cook something new up." George said.

"Lab?" Ron asked.

"Yeah." Ginny said. "They had their own 'lab' here to mix up potions and such for experiments."

"And you left Ginny to do this by herself?" Ron asked.

"She had it under control." Fred said.

"Yeah we trust her." George said. They looked over at Ginny who was in Harry's arms.

"You better watch yourself Potter." Fred said, narrowing her eyes.

"Don't touch her in our company." George said with the same look. Harry backed off because they looked like they were going to hurt him.

"Anyways we want you two to be groomsmen at our weddings." Fred said.

"But Ron don't think you'll get away with that getup you wore at the Yule Ball. Nice clothes that we're gunna pick out." George said. Ron scowled at them.

"You want me to be a groomsmen?" Harry asked.

"As long as you keep your hands where we can see them you can escort our sister down the isle." Fred said.

"And plus your like a brother to us and you helped us get where we are today." George said. Harry smiled.

"And Hermione and Ginny Angelina and Alicia want you two to be bridesmaids." Fred said.

"They said that they already have bridesmaids dresses picked out and when you guys are home from school they'll show you along with Fleur and Alison and Penelope." George added.

"Alright." Hermione agreed from the counter where she was quickly taking care of customers. Fred and George changed places with Hermione since the four had to head up to the castle. Ginny and Harry decided to go up to their own room while Hermione and Ron went to go wrap the gifts.

a/n: PLEASE REVIEW! I'll update A.S.A.P but I'm not sure when that's going to be!

Kylie