A/N: I continue to own nothing except additional characters and plot. And I wanted to say that I didn't edit chapter one very well so this one should be a bit better.

Chapter Two: Grave News

Before she knew it, it was 1:00 and it was time for Ginny's lunch break. Ginny looked up from her desk where she had been carefully editing for more than an hour. Malfoy was still reading the Handbook. From what Ginny could see he was almost halfway through, for it was quite a thick book.

"It's one o'clock and I usually take a lunch break for an hour and a half, so you can do whatever you like for the time being," she told him.

Malfoy marked his place, stood up and stretched his lean figure. "All right then," he said, "I'll see you later."

He walked out of the office and down the hall. Ginny watched him go for a minute then sent her friend Hermione Granger a Patronus asking her to meet in the Three Broomsticks for lunch. Within a few seconds she got one back that said, "Be there soon."

Ginny gathered her traveling cloak and her article, left her office and crossed over to Dolly Skeeter's cubicle.

"How's the article going dear?" Dolly asked chewing away at her gum.

"I just edited, but I think my Editing Quill might be getting old, would you check it over for me?" Ginny asked.

"Of course, dear, I'll look at it over my break," Dolly said giving her wide grin. Dolly had a large mouth and whenever she grinned you could see all of her white square teeth. She didn't even have any red lipstick on her tooth.

"You're a doll, Dolly," Ginny smiled and knocked on Luna's office door which was right next to hers.

"Yes?" Luna's voice called from the other side.

"It's Ginny."

The door opened and Luna came out with a smudge of dirt across her forehead. Ginny pointed at it.

"I suppose the interview went well?"

"Oh, yes, he gave me one of the plants so I can get really detailed in my article."

"Good. Want to come to the Three Broomsticks with me and Hermione?"

"Yes, I'll meet you there. I just need to clean up a bit."

Ginny Apparated to Hogsmeade, the village below Hogwarts, and she suddenly remembered vividly going into Hogsmeade on the weekends with her friends. In the village people were milling around, bustling in and out of shops. Ginny walked up the street a little ways and turned into the Three Broomsticks. The pub was filled with people all drinking butterbeer and talking with other wizards.

Ginny spotted a bushy haired woman and went over to her.

"Ginny!" Hermione said standing to hug her. Once they separated Ginny sat down and said, "I presume Rose and Hugo are with Ron?"

"Yes," Hermione beamed.

"How are they?"

"Very lovely, thank you. Their already showing signs of magic ability! Ron was so excited, he told everyone at work."

Then Luna came in and sat with them and the aged Madame Rosemerta took their order. Ginny ordered a salad and Luna, a bowl of onion soup.

"So," Hermione said, "How's everything at Charm?"

Ginny looked at Luna, then back at Hermione.

"Actually that's why I asked you to have lunch. See, we got a new intern and er, it's Draco Malfoy."

Hermione looked taken aback. She ran a hand through her bushy hair and opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again.

"His desk, is going to be in my office for a week, then he'll get his own office," Ginny continued.

"Wow," Hermione managed to breathe.

"I know, I was quite surprised he was interested in writing, especially about gardens," Luna said airily, slurping her soup.

"So…I mean what's he like now, was he rude to you?" Hermione said looking dead at Ginny.

"Well," she started. She was beginning to say that a lot, "He er, didn't say anything rude at all actually and he seems to have changed I guess."

"I would have never thought you would end up working with Malfoy. I don't even think Trelawney would see that one coming."

They all laughed remembering how odd their old Professor was about seeing the future.

Ginny, Luna and Hermione spent a while talking then finally, Luna looked at her watch and said, "Ooo, we better go, Ginny."

Ginny reached into her purse to grab some coins but Hermione said, "No! No! I'll get it Gin."

"I asked you to lunch, I'll pay."

Hermione often insisted on paying for Ginny but she was an adult now and had been for awhile so she had to constantly remind Hermione that she could handle things on her own.

Hermione, Ginny and Luna left the pub and Apparated their separate ways. Once Luna and Ginny were back in the building they didn't have to worry about being forcefully brought back. Jason had cleverly put a charm on everyone so that if they ever went overtime on their lunch break they would be automatically Apparated back to the office. This had only happened to Ginny once; while she was on a date and that didn't go very well.

Luna went back to her office and Ginny to Dolly.

"Looks good to me! I think it's ready for Joe!" she grinned.

"Thanks Dolly."

Ginny went into her office to check on Malfoy. He was in there reading, still. She was surprised at how determined he was to keep reading.

"Hey, Malfoy. I'm back. Er, how was your lunch break?" she asked standing in her own doorway.

"Good, thanks, yours?"

"It was good. Thank you. I'm going to the other side of the office to the printers. Would you like to tour the building? I'm sorry I didn't ask earlier."

"Sure, Weasley."

Ginny turned towards Dolly. "Could you give him a tour Doll? I'm going over to Joe."

"Sure Gin," Dolly grinned and headed with Malfoy down the hall.

Ginny couldn't believe she had forgotten to give him a tour. Maybe being in charge wasn't so great after all.

-:-

It was almost time for Ginny to go home when a paper airplane memo flew through the open office door. She thought it was for her but it flew over to Malfoy who was reading again.

Malfoy looked confused as the memo hovered in front of his face.

"It's a memo for you. It's probably from Jason. Go on and open it," Ginny reassured him.

Malfoy unfolded the paper and read it over quickly.

"He said he wants to see me."

"Okay. You remember where his office is?" he nodded. "Good. Er, it's time for me to go so when you come back would you mind locking my door before you leave?"

"Sure."

"Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Bye," he said.

Ginny put on her traveling cloak, grabbed her purse and went into the lobby where she Apparated to her apartment not far from work. The place was covered in Intruder Charms but would only let up for residents, the charms could also see through disguises. All visitors had to announce themselves and use the stairs.

Ginny threw her cloak and purse on the couch and went into her room. Her barn owl Diddle, squawked and fluttered her silken wings. Ginny opened her bedroom window and opened Diddle's cage but just as she was about to fly through and eagle owl knocked her back in. Diddle squawked angrily at the owl and flew back through the open window in a huff.

Ginny recognized this eagle owl. Harry had given it to her parents three years ago. She took the rolled up parchment from its beak and read it:

Ginny dear,

I'm sorry to present grave news but your father has been badly hurt. You know he's getting old and he shouldn't be rooting around so much. He was bewitching a Muggle artifact and it backfired. Your father wound up on his back and had to be taken to St. Mungo's.

Ginny, if you would please come to the Burrow and we can go see you're father in the morning. The Healers say things aren't looking well.

Love, love, love,

Mum

Ginny's grip tightened on the parchment as she read further. She looked up at the eagle owl when she was finished and as if on cue he flew out the window. Ginny prayed and prayed that her father would be okay. She immediately grabbed her wand from the couch and Apparated thinking determinedly in her head, St. Ottery Street, Catchpole.