Chapter Two
Owls, Owls...everywhere!
More letters arrive for the Ginny, Hermione and Ron. New opportunities are opening for the four friends.
The next few days were a mixture of excitement and angst for Harry. Although he had finally grown into the idea of being a professional Quidditch player he also was a bit anxious about his friends' career pro The next few days were a mixture of excitement and angst for Harry. Although he had finally grown into the idea of being a professional Quidditch player he also was a bit anxious about his friends' career prospects. He still felt like he was leaving Ron in a pinch by deserting their Auror plans, especially since Ron had not received any confirmation that he would be invited to the next class of recruits.
"If they don't choose me for this class, I guess I'll just work for George at the joke shop. He could use the help," Ron had said with a grin that didn't quite make it all the way to his eyes. Harry caught the hint of defeat in Ron's voice even if no one else did.
Hermione had applied to nearly every open position the Ministry had available. Although the Ministry had treated them badly, especially Harry, she had hope that newly-elected Minister Shaklebolt would try to set the Ministry back on course and she wanted to be there to help him in any way that she could. Kingsley had been there for Harry, Ron and her when they needed him – she felt a strong allegiance to him. Unfortunately, Harry had noticed that she had received not one job notification from the Ministry and, although she would never admit it, Harry could see she was starting to have doubts that she would land any of them. Harry was starting to feel a little responsible for Ron and Hermione's dry spell – hoping that their involvement with him against Voldemort, and all of the ensuing experiences, had not ruined their chances at good jobs with the Ministry.
Ginny was another story. She had tried numerous times to set up interviews with the Daily Prophet for their internship program for writer/reporter but had not received any return owls with interview information. She jokingly had mentioned owling Luna about a position with The Quibbler, but took Ron's tack of working for George until she could procure the job she really wanted. Harry was sure that Rita Skeeter was the cause of this snubbing but he had no way of proving it or any way of correcting the situation. Fortunately, he wouldn't have to worry about those particular problems much longer – new problems were just on the horizon.
Molly had just finished sending out the last of the invitations to the party they were putting together to celebrate Harry's offer from Puddlemere when three owls settled in on the kitchen windowsill each carrying a letter. Mrs. Weasley gently untied each letter from its owl, set out a bowl of water and gave each owl a treat before investigating to whom they were addressed.
"Hermione, I believe you have some mail, dear," Mrs. Weasley called upstairs. A flutter of wings announced another arrival on the kitchen windowsill.
"It's getting a bit crowded, eh fellows?" commented Mrs. Weasley as she retrieved the newest letter from the owl, giving him a treat as well.
"Move over and give the new gent a drink, fellows, he looks winded."
"Ginny, I believe you have some mail now also!" she called again upstairs.
"Oi, Mum – we were just having a bit of a fly out in the orchard. What's the fuss?" Ginny asked as she, Harry, Ron and Hermione all came in through the kitchen door.
"Blimey, where'd all the owls come from?" said Ron.
"Hermione and your sister seem to have received a bit of mail" responded Mrs. Weasley. Ginny and Hermione leaned over the table and picked up their letters just as a small ruckus broke out on the heavily occupied open windowsill. A small owl was trying to shoulder his way onto the sill to deliver yet another letter.
"Here now, what's all the fuss? You two," pointing to the two nearest owls,"I'll open this window and you can move over here until you are rested." She opened the window on the opposite side of the kitchen door and set another bowl of water for them to drink from.
"Harry, dear, would you see who that new letter is for?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Sure," replied Harry as he retrieved the letter, put it in his pocket, gave the little owl a treat and gently stroked the little owls head. Ginny gasped loudly, which nearly scared the little owl Harry was petting out of his feathers. Ginny collapsed into a chair that, luckily, was directly behind her. Her mouth made movements as if she were trying to talk, but she didn't make a sound. If Harry hadn't been so startled he may have joked about how she looked like a fish out of water, but he was quickly at her side and nervously asked,
"Gin…what's wrong? What's it say?" Ginny stared blankly at the wall, still making fish mouths. Harry caught the letter just as it fell from her grasp – that's when he noticed the emblem on the envelope. He quickly looked to the letterhead and knew, without reading, what it was. He scanned the letter quickly and confirmed his suspicions – Ginny had been personally invited to try outs for the Holyhead Harpies by Gwenog Jones who was not only the Harpies' captain, but Ginny's hero since childhood.
"Aw, Gin…that's brilliant!" shouted Harry but as he looked to Ron, Hermione and Mrs. Weasley to show them Ginny's letter he noticed Hermione was in a similar state, only she looked very close to tears.
Ron was kneeling on the floor in front of her gently holding her hands and softly telling her, "Everything'll be alright, love. You'll sort it out." Mrs. Weasley was gently rubbing Hermione's back and telling her that they would help her any way they could
"Mrs. Weasley, what's wrong with Hermione?" asked Harry.
"Well, it seems that Hermione has been offered three jobs with the Ministry – one of which she didn't even apply for. It seems she's in a bit of a quandry."
"Oh, I thought it was something serious."
"Harry, it IS serious!" choked out Hermione, nearly breaking down in tears.
"How am I supposed to decide between these jobs? I mean, one of them is a no-brainer. I didn't really want to work in the Department for Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, but if it was the only offer I would have taken it. But to be offered positions in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures AND the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? How am I going to choose between them?" Mrs. Weasley pulled away from Hermione and, as she turned to the stove to put on a kettle, noticed Ginny still sitting with a dazed look.
"Harry, what's wrong with my daughter?"
"Oh, yeah. I got sidetracked with Hermione. Here, take a look – she's been invited to try out for the Holyhead Harpies as a Chaser. She'd probably like to tell you herself, but she seems a bit gobsmaked, at the moment."
"Oh dear! No wonder she's out of sorts. It's signed by Gwenog Jones! I'll bet she'll want to frame this!" giggled Mrs. Weasley as she carefully refolded the letter and returned it to its envelope. Harry took the letter from Mrs. Weasley and as he tried to put it in his pocket he noticed that the letter from the little owl was still there. Taking it out, he looked at the address and the emblem,
"Ron, I think you may want to stay right where you are." Harry put his hand on Ron's shoulder to keep him sitting on the kitchen floor and handed him the letter with the Chudley Cannon's emblem on the front.
"What's wrong, Harry? Don't be so pushy!" replied Ron. Then he saw the bright orange emblem with the logo of two C's and a speeding cannonball.
"What would the Cannon's be writing me for?"
Harry was quite sure at that moment that Ron was the most oblivious person he knew. As Ron began to read the enclosed letter he took on the same blank look that Ginny had been wearing, only Ron was starting to make little squeaking noises like he would at Hogwarts when he would have nightmares about dancing spiders. Ginny had finally come round and was now looking quite quizzically at Ron.
"What's his problem?" asked Ginny.
"You're one to talk, missy," Mrs. Weasley said under a laugh. "I thought I was going to have to call St. Mungo's for you!"
"Yeah, you were pretty out of it!" stated Harry as he put his arm around Ginny's shoulders and pressed her into his chest.
"K..k..eep. S..ssss..start." mumbled Ron.
"What's he saying, 'Mione?" asked Harry. Hermione, who had been leaning over trying to read Ron's letter, albeit upside down, gasped and said,
"They've offered him the starting Keeper position! They say they are rebuilding the team from the ground up and they want "The King" as their Keeper!"
"Great Merlin's Beard!" roared Mr. Weasley as he popped out of the floo in a small cloud of soot. "My sons, the Quidditch Pros! Now we can have two sets of season tickets!"
"You mean three sets, don't you Arthur? Puddlemere, Cannons and Harpies?" asked Mrs. Weasley in the most innocent voice she could muster.
"Harpies? Who's playing for the Harpies? They only hire wit…ches.…..Ginny?"
"If I do good at the tryouts, Dad!" He rushed over and gave Ginny a great hug, "Brilliant!"
"Well, Hermione….what team did you get an offer from today?" chuckled Mr. Weasley, knowing Hermione didn't even fancy riding a broom, let alone play quidditch.
"Actually I was offered three positions – both on the same team," she smirked. She had calmed down considerably in the last half hour and had been mulling over her decision in her head. As Harry had insinuated, there really wasn't much to think over. The position at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures was exactly what Hermione had wanted but strangely, there had not been an open position at that department.
"Oh?" Mr. Weasley replied, curiosity heavy in his voice. "And what team would that be?"
"The Ministry of Magic team. Specifically, the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Department for Magical Accidents and Catastrophes." answered Hermione.
"Well done, Hermione! Have you decided which one you will take?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Knowing her, all three!" snorted Ron, now that he had regained his ability to speak coherently again.
"For your information, I think one of them is a mistake. I didn't apply for one of these jobs and I am not sure the offer is on the up and up. I didn't apply for it because there was no opening in that department. Unfortunately, it's the job I would love to have." Mr. Weasley caught Mrs. Weasley's eye and gave her a quick wink – she responded with a little smirk that she tried desperately to hide from everyone else in the room. Their interaction did not go unnoticed by their two youngest children.
"Dad, do you know something?" they asked almost in unison.
"It wouldn't be the offer from Magical Creatures, would it?" asked Mr. Weasley as innocently as he could.
"Yes, it is. Do you know something about all of this, Mr. Weasley?"
"Well, Hermione, your resume may have…accidentally…appeared on top of the department head's desk. Accidentally. Maybe. And…he may have been so impressed with S.P.E.W. and your work with the house elves that he may have opened up an extra spot in the office for you."
"Oh thank you, Mr. Weasley! Thank you, thank you!" was all Hermione could muster past the tears that were now pouring down her cheeks. In the blink of an eye she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him with all the strength she had, hoping that the gesture would convey just how grateful she was for everything the Weasleys had done for her, since she was unable, at the moment, to say it.
"Well, you're a crafty one aren't you, dad?" mocked Ron as he gave his dad a shoulder hug
"I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Where do you think George gets it from? And by the way, I think it's about time we end this "Mister and Misses Weasley" stuff. Please, Harry….. Hermione….call us Mum and Dad…. you're like our own children and you're part of our family."
Mrs. Weasley noticed that Harry looked a little uncomfortable, so she chimed in, "If Mum and Dad is a bit much right now, at least call us Molly and Arthur."
"I think we need to send out new invitations for a celebration for all four of you kids…for July 31st…whatcha think of that, Harry?" asked Arthur.
"Brilliant!"
The feeling you get when you drink hot soup on a cold winter's day…as it spreads through your whole body…warming every inch of you…inside and out? That's what Harry felt at that moment but it wasn't from anything that he had drank. And for the second time in his life, but not the last, he thought, "This must be what a real family is like. I think I could really get used to this!"