Chapter 2: Replacement

The whole family was cramped in the Burrow's small living room. They were there for Charlie's birthday dinner. It was his thirty second birthday. Everyone was here. Bill and Fleur with their daughter Jacquelyn. Charlie and Dianna and their children; John, Bridget and Delaney. Fred and Angelina with their baby Oliver. George brought his girlfriend of the week; Jamey. Ron and his fiancé (finally) Hermione. Ginny was sitting on Harry's lap to save room. As a child this room seemed humungous, now with eleven extra people it seemed as big as a closet. Everyone was sitting around eating cake and laughing. Ginny looked around and smiled, realizing that this time last year this would have never happened. The war only ended in January with a bloody battle. Luckily, only few lives were lost. Unfortunately, the entire Lupin family was killed: Remus, Tonks and baby Ella. Percy was also killed. Dear, Percy.

After Ginny's sixth year Percy decided to put his family before work for once and came back to them. The next day he was found dead with the dark mark hovering over his house. That was the only Weasley life taken by the hands of Voldemort.

Ginny snapped back to reality at the roaring laughter of a joke Fred just told. She felt Harry's hands on her back and sat back onto his belly, resting her head on his shoulder. His soft lips pressed to her temple in a gentle kiss. He only acted like this in public. Behind closed doors he was nasty and all they did was argue. He would storm out then come back later with an "I love you, Ginny" and a sweet kiss, and as expected, she would let him back.

Ginny's eyes fell on a certain blonde haired little girl.

"Jacquelyn!" She exclaimed. Everyone in the room turned sharply to look at her with wide eyes.

"Sorry, but I got very excited. I just remembered that someone's birthday is coming up." A big smile came over the girl's face, apparently very excited that someone remembered.

"YEP! 12 days. That's less than two weeks. I'm going to be six!" The girl was very bright. She knew how to read by the time she was four. At the age of six she was doing long division. Fleur boasted that it was from her side of the family, but everyone just ignored her. There was a clanging noise from the corner of the room. Ginny looked up to look at the time on the ancient grandfather clock.

"Ten thirty? I have to go. I've got work in the morning." Saying her goodbyes she walked around the room giving everyone a kiss on the cheek. In the brisk December air she turned her head to look at Harry. His raven hair was quickly becoming sprinkled with snow. The tip f his nose was slightly red and his eyes looked more green than ever. He was probably one of the most beautiful people she knew. He was so…cold though. Ever since Remus's death he hasn't been the same. He used to be so affectionate, now he was calloused and rough. Never showing emotions.

Just then he looked at her and smiled. A real smile. Times like these Ginny realizes why she's stuck around for so long. He must love her.

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A harsh sound rang through Ginny's flat: her alarm clock. She looked at the time, even though she knew it, five fifteen. She shimmied out of bed and walked towards the bathroom and looked in the mirror. She looked at her reflection. She thought she was pretty. Yea, she was a little chubby, but some cushion never hurt anyone. She dusted on some concealer and eye shadow. She got her teeth and hair brushed. She used a simple spell to make her hair stick straight. When it was straight her hair reached just between her shoulder blades. She brushed her part to the right side, and swept her bangs to the side. She walked back into her bedroom and to her closet. She picked out a simple black skirt and green silk top. She decided to apparate today, maybe get in some overtime.

Walking in she saw the office completely packed full of people. She pushed her way to her desk. She wondered what was going on until she realized the date. December 13. They were holding interviews for new reporters while Caroline was on maternity leave. She plopped down in the over stuffed chair and looked around at the room.

"Excuse me gentlemen, I will call you up in alphabetical order. You will hand me your wand then walk through the doors to your left." Ginny said with authority. "Addison, Thomas." A piggish looking man walked up. His head was small and round with a slightly upturned nose. He had a bald spot at the top of his head that shined in the light. He handed her his wand and she felt the heaviness of it. She placed it on a scale and then handed him the receipt. He walked into the room rather uncertainly. Ginny knew at that moment he wouldn't be getting the job.

Ten minutes later the man walked out and wiped the sweat off of his forehead. He handed Ginny his receipt which she put in a little file cabinet then handed him his wand. She once again felt the weight and wondered what was in there.

"Adrian, Carl" She said…and repeated the procedure with a rather handsome man.

An hour later she was starting to lose hope. She saw a flaw in each of these men that her boss will surely not pick. The last three names were read out with boredom; sure none of these men will get hired. She looked down at the list and paused before the next name. She looked up, shocked to see his name on the list. Standing in the corner was a man with silver blonde hair. His angled features from school had matured in the past six years since he's graduated. All in all, he was handsome.

"Draco Malfoy." She said trying to keep the quiver out of her voice. He walked up and when he saw her put a small smirk on his face. He handed her wand and it was s light, one of the lightest today. She handed him the receipt.

"Thanks, Ginevra." He said confidently and strode into the room with his head held high. Ginny just knew this was going to be the man that got hired.

All of the interviews were done by three o'clock. Mr. McGregor strode out of his office looking tired but relieved.

"I think I made the best choice and decided to hire Mr. Malfoy. Please call him on Thursday morning to inform him."

"Yes sir."

"Ginny. Take the rest of the day off. Buy something for your niece's birthday. It's coming up is it not?"Taken aback, Ginny just nodded weakly and gathered her things and got out of there before he changed his mind.

Walking around Hogsmeade Ginny was pondering her boss's decision. Was it best? Is he really qualified? Ginny wasn't really paying attention and ran into someone. She felt herself falling and then stop. Two arms were wrapped around her, stopping her from hitting the hard, snow covered ground. She mumbled an apology to the person in front of her then turned around to see who had caught her. She turned and looked into a pair of silver eyes. His eyes were beautiful. She looked down and looked at his thin lip. They were a medium shade of pink and his cheeks were a little rosy. The tips of his ears though, were bright red.
"Thanks" She whispered as he let go of her.

"Any day." He whispered back. He turned to walk away. She called after him and he turned around surprised.
"You got the job." A smirk graced his features. It wasn't a snide smirk as it was in school, more of a self satisfied smirk. He turned slowly and walked away. Ginny then resumed shopping thinking about how interesting it was going to be working with Malfoy.