Disclaimer: First, I'm not JK Rowling, and I owe all the characters, except for Julia, to her. I own nothing related to Harry Potter, etc. Secondly, the basic plot and some characters in this story are loosely based on those in the HBO comedy series 'Sex and the City" created by Daren Star. I am also in no way affiliated with the television show or anyone associated with its production.
A/N: Hey all! This is my first "published" fan fiction ever, so I'm very excited that you are reading it. I started writing this story over a year ago, and it is only now ready to be viewed by other's eyes! This story brings together two of my favorite things: Sex and the City and Harry Potter. Hopefully there are some others of you out there with the same odd taste as me! Please tell me what you think.
**********
Ginny paced around her Noting Hill flat and thought about the events of the past few days. She thought getting her own column at "Witch Weekly" was the answer to all of her prayers. No longer would she have to write about gardening and report to a witch older than her great-grandmother. However, now that she had the chance to show off her glowing writing skills, she was at a loss for ideas.
She walked into her bedroom and fell onto her bed. Think Weasley! Think! Rubbing her temples, she remembered back to the moment when her boss told her that she would be replacing Thelma Rolling as the weekly dating columnist. She got butterflies in her stomach and felt like the sky was the limit for her new project. It was just like the feeling you get when you start a new relationship. You are floating on a cloud and can't imagine what could ruin this wonderful new thing you've just found. Suddenly, it hit her.
Ginny raced into the living room and jumped over to the desk. Biting her nails, she tried to think of the perfect opening sentence.
*****
New relationships. There's nothing better, is there?
*****
"I got it!" Ginny yelled to her friends at Mike's Café the next morning, as she sat down next to Hermione in their favorite booth by the window.
"Oh my gosh! Are you serious?" Hermione grabbed Ginny's hand in excitement.
"Yeah! Well, you know how we're all been waiting for Thelma to leave for quite some time."
"'Quite some time my ass! That woman got married six years ago! How long can a mother of two write about singles life in London?" Luna interjected. The girls gave her a slightly disapproving look while trying to suppress laughter.
"As I was saying," Ginny continued, "Thelma finally switched to the Home and Garden department. Gus called me into his office yesterday morning and told me I was the next 'Hot Witch in the City' girl!"
"Well congratulations! I can't think of anyone who deserves it more." Jules smiled at her friend and took a sip of her tea.
"I have the perfect way to celebrate!" declared Luna. "Tonight I'm treating all of you to a fabulous dinner! There's that new French place in Diagon Alley I've been dying to check out. The chef used to be the executive chef for Beauxbatons. People always said the food was amazing there." She whipped out her date book and flipped it open. "How's eight tonight for everyone?"
"Sorry I've got to take a rain check." Hermione said, looking slightly agitated. "Harry owled me this morning. It's the fifteenth, and that means I have to go to a karaoke bar and make a complete fool of myself once again."
"Why do you guys have this ridiculous ritual? Why don't you just shag already and get past all this pretense?" Luna winked at Hermione and sipped on her white tea.
"We have the ritual because we would never get together if we didn't! He's gone all the time at away games, and I'm always wrapped up at work. If we didn't have a plan, we'd never see each other. " Hermione shot Luna a dangerous glare and continued. "Also, as you very well know, we won't just 'shag already' because we are friends! I won't ruin that no matter how badly all of you want us to."
"Fine. I'll drop it. I just want you to know that I feel you're passing up the best sex of you life! Don't blame me when you shrivel up and get stuck with one of those lame wizards who can't even tell his wand from his magic stick, if you know what I mean."
"Ok, ok." Jules interrupted. "Can we drop all talk of 'magic sticks' until nightfall. I have to go deal with children in about an hour, and this is not the prepping I need."
"Oh yeah! I forgot that you were meeting your new family today." Ginny smiled faking enthusiasm. They all knew that Jules meeting new clients today meant endless ranting tonight about the snot-nose brats who had made her day a living hell by puling out every practical joke known to wizard kind. Today didn't look promising, as she was going to be teaching Draco Malfoy's children. Obviously, everyone was a little worried.
Jules glanced down at her watch and nearly jumped out of her seat. "Oh my god! It's already eight-thirty. I have to go. Owl me about tonight, alright Luna?"
"Sure, sure. Later!" Luna yelled at Jules walked out the door and into a phone book to Apparate.
"I better get going too." Hermione grabbed her briefcase and coffee and headed out the door.
"Tell Harry I said 'Hi!'" Ginny yelled after her. Hermione nodded and was gone. Ginny turned to Luna and whispered, "By the way, how do you know Harry would be the best sex Hermione ever had?" Luna looked up, grinned, and winked.
*****
However, does anyone really know the best way to start one? Sure, there's the ever-so-popular love at first sight bit, but everyone knows that most relationships have a few more bumps in the road.
*****
Jules walked up to the large brick townhouse and took a deep breath. She checked the address, climbed up the stairs, and rapped on the large golden doorknocker.
She heard small footsteps then a loud swishing sound. Suddenly the door flew open to reveal a small house elf in a very large burlap sack. It pointed its long brown finger to the left.
"Fifth door on the right." it muttered, and then scampered off toward what appeared to be the kitchen. Jules walked down the hall slowly, her heels clicking as she walked along to marble floor. She took in the surroundings. It was nothing new. She had discovered that all the houses she taught at were pretty much the same. She never saw and rarely communicated with the parents, except for the occasional note as to how much the children could eat, or when they could play outside. She was always greeted by a house-elf with a frighteningly blank expression. (She never shared this tit-bit of information with Hermione, however) Last but not least, she always taught children who were unaware of how lucky they were, but at the same time, how unlucky. They never had any contact with other children, let alone their own parents. She always tired to help them prepare for the social scene at Hogwarts, but somehow, they always had problems adjusting. They also always seemed to have initial problems with her. They felt that their tutor was someone to be toyed and messed around with. She never got a break the first day. She had to work for their approval, but she was getting good at it.
Jules finally came to a large wooden door with children's drawings taped to the outside. She stopped before going in, taking deep, calming breaths. Nerves had suddenly overwhelmed her. The weeks leading up to this day had been filled with mild fear over what the children would be like. She never had gotten on well with Draco, especially in her school days. He always made her look foolish at prefect meetings and tried to override her authority with other students, even though she was a year ahead of him. Luckily, they never had many classes together, as she was a Ravenclaw, as well. However, he never ceased making her Hogwarts days a little unbearable. Taking another deep breath, she got her nerves under control and reached for the doorknob. As the door opened, Julia saw something that almost made her fall backwards. She had prepared herself for chaos, for evil, ill-tempered brats. She had prepared for the worst. She could have never prepared for what met her eyes. The children, Draco Jr. and Bella, were sitting at desks on the far right wall. They were both writing furiously on what looked like work parchments. She walked over to them, as they glanced up to meet her eye. She bent down to their height and smiled.
"Hey guys. I'm Ms. Vaughn, but you can call me Ms. Julia, all right? I'm going to be your new tutor." The children gave each other sideways glances then grinned back at her.
"Hi Ms. Julia!" they said together as they stood up, walked around their desks and gave her a hug. Jules almost fainted.
"What are you guys working on?" Julia walked them both back around to their seats and glanced at their parchments.
'It's homework out last tutor gave us. She told us to finish it before our new tutor came. We are so sorry we don't have it done!" Draco Jr. cast his eyes down in shame while Bella broke down into tears. Julia couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Um…" She bit her lip and looked around the room. It was immaculate. There were shelves filled with colorful toys and elaborate gadgets, lined up in perfect rows. The large blue area rug that covered the hardwood floor was perfectly centered in the room and showed no sign of mistreatment. The walls were perfectly painted with stripes of blue and cream, and the children were perfectly dressed. There were no stains of any kind, anywhere. Julia had to remind herself to keep breathing. Where the hell am I? This isn't right. These are not Draco Malfoy's children!
*****
Meanwhile, in a far less perfect workplace, Hermione threw down the stack up books she was carrying and slumped into her chair. She was drained from all the research she was doing for her presentation. God I hate elections. She thought as she spun around to look at the clock. Why can't they just keep the same government forever, then I won't have to keep explaining who we are to them over and over and over. This was the third time Hermione had to make her presentation to the House of Commoners about the wizarding world since her appointment to the position of Muggle Liaison to the Minister of Magic. Suddenly a familiar white bird swung into her window.
"Hey Hedwig! What do you have there for me?" She took the letter off of his foot and carefully opened it up.
Krazy Karaoke. 9:15. Be there or be square.
She smiled, gave Hedwig a treat, and sent her off. Hermione grabbed her cloak and Apparated to her apartment. She figured she would still have time to freshen up before heading out for a night of humiliation.
*****
"Alright boys!" Luna shouted to the line of workers in front of her "We have two days until the opening and I want this place to shine!" She walked over to the bar, jumped up on the counter, and watched as the men scurried around making last minute repairs on the building. Her lips formed a small grin as she thought about how she had gotten here.
Ever since her father had died 2 years earlier, Luna had been wondering what to do with all her inheritance money. She already had a steady paycheck from running "The Quibbler", so she knew she wanted to put it towards something special. For months she had pondered how she would spend the money. Considering all of her interests, Luna finally came up with the idea of running a business. It hadn't taken long to decide what kind of business she wanted after that.
Two months later, construction started on The Hex; a nightclub for wizards in their twenties and thirties. Luna had worked countless hours fixing up an old warehouse and turning it into a hopping club. Now the opening was less than forty-eight hours away, and she couldn't wait.
*****
Meanwhile, Hermione walked into a far less hopping bar south of St. James preparing for what was to come. She wore her favorite party dress: red, strapless, cut just above the knee with a slit that came up a bit farther. As long as I'm out, I may as well attract some male attention.
Just then she spotted Harry at the bar. She waltzed over and did her best runway walk. Harry laughed, stood up, and grabbed Hermione's hand. She spun around so he could get a good look at her.
"It's been way too long, Ms. Granger." He leaned in and gave her a huge hug.
"It certainly has Mr. Potter. My, my, have you been working out?" Her smile widened.
"Perhaps. Why? Are you jealous?"
"Of your manly muscles? Of course! I want to look just like you!" They instantly fell back into their rhythm and were completely comfortable with each other's company. Hermione never realized how much she missed hanging out with Harry until he was back. "Well I just have to say that I blew off dinner with my girlfriends to be here, so we had better make this count."
"You have girlfriends?" Harry mocked. "What happened to the days of our good old threesome: just you and the boys."
"Me and the boys grew up! Besides, twenty-something woman need their girlfriends to talk about … well, girl stuff!"
"Fine. Fine. But just so you know, I am open any time to talk about your period! Then you wouldn't need those ratty old girlfriends."
"Harry!" Hermione blushed as she smacked him with her handbag. "See, this is why I need girlfriends!"
"Whatever you say." Harry looked toward the stage, then back at Hermione. "Should I go sign us up to sing next?"
'Whoa, whoa! Let's wait a little bit. I need some alcohol in me before I make a fool of myself."
"Ok, one drink, then it's us on that stage!"
*****
Sure, once in a while, you get that perfect meeting. It lures you into a false security sometimes, however. You start feeling as if nothing could ever go wrong, and may even start to think that question no girl likes to admit she's thinking, "Is he it? The person you've been searching for?"
*****
"Table for three please." Ginny told the hostess as she looked over her shoulder, hoping to see her friends.
"That will be about 30 minutes." the witch told her with a condescending air.
"I don't think you understand. The newest sex columnist for Witch Weekly and the soon-to-be owner of the hottest wizard night club in London would like a table for three." Ginny looked to her right and saw Luna decked out in her nighttime finest. What she didn't see was Luna slipping the hostess five galleons.
"Right this way." After grabbing three menus, she led them to a table near the back.
"Actually, I'm a dating columnist …" Ginny trailed off as the hostess left them to their table with an angry huff.
"See! One just has to know how to deal with these people." Luna said, opening up her menu.
Ginny stood up to look for Jules. She spotted her coming in the door, but Jules didn't look at all like expected. Her hair wasn't frayed. Her clothes were in perfect condition, and she had a rather large grin on her face. Jules raced back to the table and gave her friends each a kiss on the cheek, then sat down.
"You are never going to believe the day I had!"
"Why? What happened?" Ginny said, preparing for the stream of complaints to come pouring out.
"I am now the tutor of the most well-mannered, well-behaved, cleanest, smartest kids in the entire world! It was like I was in an alternate universe. I don't know what Draco did to those children, but it was almost scary. Their room was immaculate, and when I got there, they were doing homework. Homework! Can you believe that? I didn't even find any dungbombs in the closet!"
"Is that a bad thing?" Luna said, chomping on a breadstick.
"I'm not sure." Jules said, biting her lip. "I guess now that I think about it, it was a bit unnerving." Ginny almost died.
"So now we complain when things are too good. What is wrong with us? You've just had the best start to a teacher/student relationship ever, and you still aren't happy."
"I don't know what it is about them. It is just a little too freaky."
*****
Other times, you start off horribly. You spill pumpkin juice on your dress, you say the wrong thing, and you embarrass yourself. This is not always the end of the road, though. I have seen too many compatible people cast each other aside by crying over spilled potion.
*****
Three hours, seven shots of tequila, four shots of vodka, a mudslide and a cocktail Harry found particularly humorous, (apply named "A Long Hard Comfortable Screw") later, Hermione finally felt ambitious enough to get up on stage. Grabbing Harry by the arm, she stumbled over to the DJ.
"Maybe this isn't such a good idea, Herm. You've had a lot to drink." Harry tried to pull her back into a chair, but she wouldn't budge. She turned around quickly, and fell against him. He almost lost his balance as well, having had a few drinks himself.
"Harwy," Hermione slurred, while trying to stand up, "yer sush a good friend! Ya know what all my friends say we should do?" She put her hands behind his neck and arched backward. She almost fell over, but Harry caught her just in time. She started laughing hysterically. Harry couldn't help but laugh a little himself. He hadn't seen Hermione this drunk since the night after graduation from Hogwarts. However, if there was anyone who needed to get a little drunk now and then, it was Hermione.
"Maybe," Harry whispered calmly, while trying to get her into the nearest chair, "we should get you home. I think you've had enough excitement for one night."
"No!" Hermione stood up quickly but fell back down even faster. "I don't want to be alone Harry! I'm really … um …" She motioned for him to get closer, then whispered in his ear, "Drunk!"
"I can tell, Herm. Now, let's get out of here." Harry chuckled, as he wrapped his arm around her body and hoisted her up so she could walk. He took her into the nearest bathroom, and they Apparated back to Hermione's apartment.
Harry helped her back to the bedroom and changed her into her nightshirt.
"Thanksha bunch, Harwy. You know wha? I love you so mush, Harry! You're my best friend. Did you know that?" She looked up him very seriously and then fell backwards onto her bed.
"I know, I know. I love you too. Now, I'm going to get you some water, ok?" Harry started to head to the kitchen, when Hermione grabbed his arm.
"Don' go! I need you to stay with me." She smiled and patted the bed beside her.
Eight Hours Later….
Hermione opened her eyes and was instantly blinded by the sunlight. All of the sudden, her head felt like it was going to explode. "Urrggg…." She rubbed her temples and rolled over to look at the clock. Eight-fifteen. Great, I'm already late for breakfast. She rolled over to face the window, and then she saw him.
*****
"Oh my god. Oh my god. OH MY GOD!" Hermione raced into the coffee shop, slammed her purse down on the table, and slid in next to Julia. She was shaking, had a pounding headache, and was still processing what she had just seen.
"Calm down. Deep breaths: in and out." Ginny rubbed her hand and tried to act patient, while inside dying to know what had happened.
Hermione looked down at her hands and blinked a couple of times to make sure she wasn't dreaming. "I think that I, um …" She looked up at her friends. No one was moving. "I … um, think that I slept with Harry."
"Oh my god!"
"Are you serious"
"Was it hot?" Luna leaned forward, intrigued.
"I don't know! I guess it was. The truth is that I don't really remember! I just got completely smashed last night, and he took me home. Then this morning I woke up in bed with barely anything on and him beside me. What else could have happened?" Hermione leaned forward and covered her face with her hands. "Oh god, how could I have let this happen? What is he going to think of me?"
"Its all right sweetie. We all knew this would happen eventually." Ginny cast the other two sideways glances. "Who knows? This could be the start of something great!"
"It could be the end of something great too." Hermione took a sip of Ginny's latte and wanted to cry.
*****
And sometimes new, great relationships start because of a brand new pair of shoes, which got me thinking: what is the best way to start a new relationship?
*****
Luna Lovegood invites you to
The Hex! Grand Opening Tonight!
The hottest new wizard nightclub in London
September 17, 9:00 PM
*****
Reporters surrounded Luna, but all she wanted was a stiff drink and to see her friends. She knew she had to be the gracious host, but what was the good of owning a club if you couldn't party a little. "I'm sorry everyone," she sighed, "but I'm going to have to give the rest of the interview later." After shaking some hands, Luna headed toward the only redhead in the place. She went through the round of hugs and congratulations, and then let out a huge sigh. "I'm so glad you guys are here! Isn't this fabulous!" They all nodded and smiled, knowing how proud Luna was. "Let me get you guys all drinks, on the house."
"That's ok." Ginny said after spotting the cute bartender across the room. "I can get them! What does everybody want?" She asked looking straight past her friends, trying to get another good look at him. She had just purchased the most perfect pair of Prada pumps and had a little more bounce in her step tonight.
"None for me. Thanks. You know what happens when I get liquor in me." Hermione said sarcastically, faking a smile. The truth was she was mortified about what had happened and nervous of the fact that she hadn't heard from Harry since. She still wasn't exactly sure what had happened, but Harry keeping quiet was making her suspect the worst.
"I'll have a martini." Julia said, checking her makeup.
"Cosmopolitan for me. Oh, and Ginny! His name is Josh." Luna gave Ginny a little smirk as she walked off toward the bar.
"Excuse me!" Ginny rapped on the bar with her purse, waiting excitedly for Josh to come by.
"Yes, ma'am. What can I get for you tonight?"
"Can I have a Cosmopolitan and a martini for my friends, and a gin-n-tonic for me."
"Really? I would have taken you for a vodka girl." He smiled and started to mix a drink.
"Is that so? I can't say that I'm too fond of vodka. Plus, gin has always had a special place in my heart."
"Why's that?" he asked.
She put out her hand and put on her most quirky grin. "My name's Ginny." She giggled a little.
Josh put the drinks on the counter and gave her a smile. "That has got to be the worst joke I have ever heard."
"Thank you very much!"
"How long have you been peddling that one?"
"Oh, about 6 years." They both laughed, and Josh forgot about everyone else at the bar, much to the dismay of his co-workers.
Back on the other side of the club, Hermione was sitting alone at a table watching Julia get a little crazy on the dance floor. Luna had left to finish her interviews, and was now talking to a group of twenty something guys on the second floor. Maybe I should have gotten that drink. She sighed and looked at her watch. It was only 11:15.
Hermione was about to get up and leave when she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. "Would you like to dance?" She was in no mood to deal with drunken guys slobbering all over her tonight. She was too depressed.
"Look. I'm really not in a good mood right now, and I don't feel like acting like a perky little slut just so you can feel me up on the dance floor and have something to fantasize about all night. Ok?" She hadn't meant to lash out. It wasn't this guy's fault that she was upset. She swung around to apologize when she found herself face to face with Harry. "Oh my god! I'm so sorry. I didn't, or what I mean to say is, I wouldn't have-"
"Hermione, I understand why you're upset. Why don't we go outside and talk? It's a little more peaceful out there." She nodded, still a little taken aback. Harry took her hand and led her out of the club. Once they were out on the street, Hermione only felt worse. She couldn't look up into his eyes, or she knew she would start to cry. Suddenly she couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Harry, I don't know what to say about the other night. I don't know what happened and I don't know what we are going to do about it. I don't know if this is going to ruin out friendship, but I don't want it to. I've analyzed all the possibilities of what could have happened, and what each scenario would mean to our friendship, and none of them have good outcomes. I don't want to lose you Harry, but we can't pretend like whatever happened didn't happen, even though I don't even know what that is. " She paused to take a breath and Harry laughed. All of the sudden, she was outraged. How could he be laughing about all of this? This was their friendship, their lives! "Harry! This is no time to laugh. This is serious -"
"I'm sorry, Hermione! It's just … I don't know. Sometimes you just surprise me and remind me why I love you so much. I mean, no one else would analyze various scenarios of what us having, or I guess not having, sex could do to our friendship and -" He paused as he looked at Hermione's now very surprised face.
"Wait. What did you just say?"
"About what? That you surprise me?"
"No, about … about you …" She couldn't say it. She couldn't believe what he had said. He couldn't have said that, because it would mean too much. Sure they'd said it before, but for some reason it felt so different this time. Suddenly, she saw realization come to Harry's face. He realized what he had said too.
"You mean … I mean … Wait. Did I just say I loved you?"
"Yes, I'm pretty sure you did."
"Well, then I guess that's one less thing I have to worry about doing later."
"What are you talking about?" Hermione was worried about what was coming next.
"Ever since … well, since we, you know." Hermione winced as she realized that they had done what she feared. "You know what I mean." He took a deep breath and prepared to explain. "I guess I started to think about you in a different way. I always thought it would be weird when, or I guess, if we ever did that, but it wasn't. I know you don't remember, and I feel really bad that I sort of took advantage of you in the situation, but I wish you did remember. Hermione, it was so amazing. It just felt … I couldn't explain it. It was just right."
"Harry, I - "
"No. Let me finish. Well, after that, I got freaked out, as I now know you did. However, I came to the realization that I do, well … I do love you. There, I said it. I love you. I love you, Hermione Granger. I really do, and I'm a complete ass for not knowing that until now. Ok. So, I did it. The pressure is off me. I said it." Harry let out a sigh of mild relief, and then instantly took on an air of complete terror. Hermione knew he was waiting for some kind of response, yet for once, she was at a loss for words.
"I have no idea how to respond to this." Hermione looked up into his eyes, and suddenly felt something she couldn't explain. It was like a veil was lifted from her eyes, and she could see clearly for the first time. She looked at Harry, and didn't see the Harry she knew. She saw a new one: a Harry that loved her. He loves me. She thought to herself, trying to process everything he had just said. All of the sudden, she knew exactly what she had to do. "Actually, you know what? I do have a response to that." Exactly two seconds later, she grabbed Harry's neck, pulled him down to her, and kissed him. He's right. This does feel right.
Back inside, Julia saw an open barstool and ran to it. She was exhausted from all the dancing and more than a little tipsy from all the martinis she was getting on the house. Josh looked up from talking to Ginny and half-heartedly asked her if she needed anything.
"No. No. I wouldn't want to keep you." Julia quipped, as she began rummaging through her purse looking for her lip balm. Then she noticed Draco Malfoy sit down beside her.
"Well, well, if it isn't my new nanny. How were my children? Perfect little angels, aren't they?"
Julia's stomach fell a little at the sight of Draco. She was hoping to keep her distance from him for as long as possible. "First of all, I prefer the term tutor. I'm not there just to baby-sit. Secondly, yes, actually, they were quite, well, perfect." Julia was getting irritated by the apparent disappearance of her lip balm and by the man sitting next to her.
"Well, I should hope they were perfect. I put a discipline charm on them so that they wouldn't give you any trouble till I got you to sign my nice little binding contract. Now that you're stuck with us for a year, you'll be seeing the real Draco and Bella tomorrow. Good night!" Draco gave Jules a large sarcastic smile and stalked back over to his wife, who was sitting in a dark corner looking in a very large mirror and applying massive amounts of make-up. By the looks of her, she could have done with putting on a little more.
Julia could have killed him. She ran over to Ginny and tore her away from Josh. After she explained what Draco had told her, Ginny couldn't help but laugh. "I guess it isn't that much of a surprise. A man that vicious could never produce children that perfect. At least you don't have to be freaked out anymore! You get to have the start that you had wanted."
"I know, and I'm still bitching about it. We girls never are happy, are we?"
"I guess not. Now if you don't mind, I have to get back to my cute bartender." Ginny hiked up her dress slightly and sauntered back toward the bar. Jules ran to tell Luna good-bye, and then went home to ponder how her real relationship with the children would start.
*****
Ok, you got me. Trick question. As most of us already know, there really isn't a "best way" to start a new relationship. However, we all know that no matter what happens, girls are never satisfied with the way events unravel. The truth is, however, that no matter how a relationship starts, it doesn't define the whole relationship. After all, a great start could lead to disaster or even reveal a lie, and a horrible start could end up with the best sex of your life! No one really knows for sure, but we will all keep contemplating the possibilities until we are hoarse. That's why I have this job of writing about it! As I continue to write this little article, I hope that we can share experiences and stories with each other. This is one new relationship that I hope will end as well as it is starting. Until next time, I'm hot witch in the city Ginny Weasley and you are now officially my new best friend.
*****
Ginny placed her quill on the table and looked down at her finished work. She couldn't help but smile. She picked up the parchment, rolled it up, and owled it off to her editor. Breathing a sigh of relief, she went off to get dressed for her date. Ginny had another new relationship that was now requiring her attention.