Snatches of Time

Chapter I

“Ginny, you have to buy dress robes. End of story,” Molly said, dragging her daughter into the dress robe shop at Hogsmeade.

“Mom, can’t I just wear my old robes? I really don’t need new ones. They are dressy enough.”

“No they are not! Your brother is running for Minister of Magic, and you want to wear your musty old second-hand robes to his campaign dinner? Ginny, where is your mind?”

She replied, “Anywhere but here,” staring at the racks of robes of all color and styles.

“Could it have killed you to do something with your hair?” Molly asked, sifting through a rack.

“Yes, and I’m to young to die. Can we hurry this up? Here, this one’s nice. Let’s get it,” Ginny said pulling out a robe of mint green.

“With your red hair and pale complexion, you would look like a backward carrot,” Molly said scoldingly, taking the robe from her and hanging it back up.

“Why do I have to go in the first place? Ron doesn’t have to go. Heck, you didn’t even tell Bill or Charlie!”

“They know! I just didn’t say that they had to come. And Ron is in America. I don’t expect him to drop his studies and come to listen to Percy make a speech.”

“But you expect me to?”

“Ginny, you are leaving work for one day.”

“How about this one?” Ginny pulled out a somewhat low cut light blue robe.

“Well, it does have a nice style. Let’s have you try it on first,” Molly said, guiding Ginny to dressing rooms.

Two hours and ten robes later, Ginny and Mrs. Weasly emerged from the shop, with the pretty blue robe, and Ginny’s moneybag considerably lighter.

“Have a good day. Make sure that you eat dinner to tonight, you have been losing weight recently,“ Mrs. Weasly said concerned, and kissed Ginny on the cheek motherly before she apperated back to the Burrow. Ginny sighed as she walked down the road to West Hogsmeade, where stood the office of Dragon Publishing.

“What a waste of a half of vacation day.” Ginny thought as she strolled into the office.

“Hey Ginny. The boss said to send you into him when you came in,” said Merry, the gossipy receptionist

“Thanks, Merry. Did he say what he needed?”

“No, sorry. He looked quite worried though,” Merry said over a copy of The Quibbler that boasted the head line “Ten Ways To Hex Your Boss With Out Being Caught”.

“Ok, thanks, see you later.” Ginny smiled at her and turned to the right hall, the opposite way from her small, but homey office.

“Great, what did I do now? Probably didn’t use the right font on the last press release, no doubt,” Ginny thought sarcastically. She rapped strictly on the door that read “CEO - Dragon Publishing”

“Come in,” he bellowed from the inside. She quickly steeped into the large office, shutting the door behind her. The architecture was modern and always impressed her every time she saw it. Everything gleamed; the desk, chairs, and book cases were made polished and reflective steel. The occupant was leaning back in his high-backed black leather chair; his perfectly polished shoes sitting on top of “important” papers on the desk; his arms were crossed behind his head and his eyes laid idly on Ginny.

“You asked to see me, Mr. Malfoy?” Ginny inwardly cringed at the name.

“Miss Weasley. Is this your article here in Witches Weekly?” He picked up a recent copy of the publication from his desk. His voice was haughty…overly haughty, seeming like he was trying to disguise another note in his speech.

“Yes, Mr. Malfoy, that is what the by line says. I thought you knew I was working as a free-lance writer as well as your Public Relations chair?”

“I know that Miss Weasly, but why doesn’t your work that you write for this company this well written and witty?”

“Well sir, I try and put my best effort for this company.”

“What I am saying, Miss Weasley, is that I think you are a spectacular journalist, and I want to place you in a job for a new magazine we are launching. Take a seat, Miss Weasly.” He gestured to an industrial looking steel chair that looked cold and hard compared to the luxury of his leather chair.

“What is this magazine about? What is the target audience?” Ginny asked, watching him pull a packet of Muggle cigarettes out of an inside pocket of his crisp suit.

“ Twenty-something young witches and wizards; we are calling it Phoenix Feathers. It will include everything that young people can look to for entertainment, fashion, night life, sex advice, current events, witty editorials…which is where you come in.”

“Editorials? Are you sure, Mr. Malfoy?” Ginny was skeptical of this whole arrangement. ‘Why me? Hasn’t he hated me and my family since our Hogwarts years?’

“You have potential, Weasley and going against all of my instincts, I’m giving you this job, if you except it that is, which you should.”

“Will I have to move?”

“No, the main office will be here in the Dragon Publishing building. You can keep your office if you would like.” He said, lighting up a cigarette.

Ginny winkled her nose at the smell of the smoke and tried not to look disgusted. “Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. You won’t be let down.”

“I better not be, or else you are out on your little rear end.” He said, taking a drag on his cigarette, and blowing the smoke up into the air above his head.

“One more question Mr. Malfoy. Who is the editor-in-chief?”

“Me of course. Who else would you think could do the job?” He let another cloud of smoke out of his mouth and smirked at her.

“Oh, well, thank you again.” She pulled herself from the chair and started to exit the office.

“Oh Miss Weasly, tell you brother that I will be at this campaign dinner.”

“What? You’re supporting my brother?” Ginny turned and gave him a puzzled expression. ’Since when did Malfoys support any cause other than that of the Dark Lord?’

“Who else is there to vote for? That idiot Fudge? I think not.” He tapped his cigarette in the ash tray on his desk and took another puff.

“Alright, I will send that message along. Have a good day Mr. Malfoy.”

“Miss Weasley… call me Draco,” He said almost coldly instead of the friendly way one usually says that phrase.

“ If I am calling you Draco, then you call me Ginny,” Ginny answered back just as coldly. ‘Does he think he can scare me?’

“Get back to work Ginny,” Draco said pompously, and blew another puff of gray smoke into the air.

“Ginny, what are you doing?” A voice said behind Ginny.

“Nothing…,” She said a little to innocently.

“Were you going to wear my blouse with out asking me?” Hermione asked with her hands on her hips.

“No I wasn’t! Your just paranoid,” Ginny said, closing Hermione’s closet door.

“Then why are you in my closet?” Hermione’s voice had a hint of laughter behind the fake anger.

“I was looking for one of my shirts.”

“Okay, so why did you have the hanger with said blouse on it in your hand?”

“Just admiring it…,” Ginny replied hiding a smile behind her hand.

“I catch you in the act, and you still won’t confess!” Hermione walked over to Ginny and ripped the hanger from her hand.

“I know. I want to wear it though.”

“No, because I was planning on wearing it tonight on my date.”

“Ohhhh, with who? Hermione, why didn’t you tell me?” Ginny now took the hands-on-hips stance.

“It’s just with Harry. We were both not busy tonight, and we haven’t had a lot of time to really talk in a while, so we decided to go out and have dinner,” Hermione said nonchalantly, pulling an outfit from the closet.

“Well, how is his relationship with that Cara girl going?”

“Nowhere. They broke up Monday. That was when I ran into Harry in Diagon Alley. He seemed really upset by it.”

“Oh that’s to bad. I have some news for you, Mione, but it’s good.”

“Oh really, what is it?” Hermione asked, sitting down on her bed.

“Dragon Publishing is starting a new magazine called Phoenix Feathers. Draco told me today he wants me to be the Editorial writer!”

“How can you stand working with that greasy, pompous little git, and since when was he Draco?” Hermione replied, wrinkling her nose.

“I don’t know, but this is a great opportunity for me! I don’t care if he is the Editor-in-chief!”

“He’s the editor? Oh Ginny, I would have shot myself already.”

“Oh for goodness sakes. I know you, Harry and Ron have this silly rivalry since Hogwarts, but he is a fair boss, and the pay is good. It’s something I love to do. What else do I have to ask for?”

“A new boss?” Hermione asked.

“Ha-ha. I think it will improve my people skills,” Ginny replied, smiling.

Hermione just rolled her eyes, and opened up her closet to search for an outfit.

Brit words: tosser: someone who is stupid or very annoying.

git: someone who is dumb. Basically the same thing a tosser.

Chapter II-

“Is Hermione there?” Harry asked as he sat in central London traffic, on his Muggle cell phone.

“Yeah just a second, Harry,” Ginny said, turning to called up the stairs for Hermione.

“Wait Ginny. How are you, anything new? I haven’t talked to you in a while.”

“I know. Well have a new job as an editorial writer for a new magazine.”

“That’s spectacular! Are you glad to get away from that tosser, Malfoy?”

“Actually, I’m still working for him. He’s editor-in-chief.”

“Oh really? That’s disappointing.”

“Not exactly. He doesn’t bother me.”

“Hey, tell Percy that I’ll be at this campaign dinner.”

“Will do. Have a good time tonight, Harry. I’ll let you talk to Hermione now.” Ginny ran up the steeps to Hermione’s room.

“Harry’s on the phone for you,” she said, covering the mouthpiece.

Hermione steeped across the room, adjusting her skirt.

“Hey Harry,” Hermione said coolly.

“Hey, Mione. Just calling to say I might be a little late. The traffic is horrendous today.”

“This is why I moved to Hogsmeade, where no one drives cars…. Well frequently anyways.” She laughed.

“I’m really sorry. I’ll ring you when I’m about ready to apperate to your house.”

“Okay, see you then Harry. Don’t worry about it.”

“Thanks. I’ll see you soon. Bye,” Harry said, and then hung up.

“Well, what’s up?” Ginny asked, curious about the conversation

“He might be late he says, which is a good thing, because I need some time to fix my hair properly.”

“Just be like me; don’t worry about it!” Ginny smiled, pulling on her unruly mass of red tresses.

“I can’t be a confident as you. Even if you rolled around in mud and then went out, you would still look beautiful.”

“No, I don’t think so. You have brilliant hair, you just need to learn the right charms to fix it, and here there is this curling charm I just learned,” Ginny said, opening a copy of Bewitching Hairstyles.

“Why do you have this?“ Hermione asked

“I needed some ideas for the campaign dinner.”

“I think I’ll just stick with a bun…”

“What are you trying to do? Win a Professor MacGonnagall look-alike contest?” Ginny rolled her eyes at her friend.

“No! I just, I don’t know. Fine, I’ll try your curling charm.” Hermione took the magazine from her, defeated.

“Okay, I’m leaving now before I get zapped with any misfired spells,” Ginny joked, covering her head with her arms.

Hermione stuck her tongue out at Ginny and continued to work on her hair.

Ginny answered the door, just to see Harry standing on the door steep, looking quite handsome in a hunter green sweater and khaki trousers.

“Hi Harry. You are looking rather handsome tonight. Come in. I think Hermione will be down soon.” She said opening the door wider, letting him in.

“Thanks, Gin. What are you going to do with you night alone?” Harry asked, shoving his hands into his pockets and steeping into the foyer.

Ginny ushered him into the sitting room. “Just that, more than likely, spending it along. I might take a walk up to the Three Broom Sticks later.”

“So what’s this new magazine all about?”

“Well it’s called Phoenix Feathers. The target audience is 19-30. It will feature entertainment, editorials, fashion, night life, sex advice, things like that.”

“Sounds like a big opportunity for you! To bad Malfoy has to own it.”

“He isn’t as bad as you guys think he is. He may be pompous, impatient, rude, stuck up git, but he is fair to me and the other employees.”

Hermione came down the stairs, wearing a simple black dress with a red lace shawl draped over her shoulders. Her hair was down and in ringlets, thanks to Ginny’s curling charm. She carefully walked down the stairs to the lounge where Ginny and Harry were talking.

“Wow, Mione, you clean up well,” Harry smiled at her as she approached

“You too Potter! It’s good to see you.” She kissed his cheek and hugged Harry, smelling his nice cologne.

“You better have her home before five o clock in the morning now son,” Ginny said impersonating her father, shaking a finger at him.

“I promise, that’s a pretty strict curfew though…” Harry laughed.

“Have fun you two.” Ginny smiled as they apperated.

‘How long has it been since I had a date?‘ She sighed as she pulled out some parchment and a quill.

Dear Percy,

Hey, how are you? I am quite well myself. I have a new job as an editorialist for a new magazine Dragon Publishing is putting out, so I am quite happy. I was just speaking with Harry today and he informed me that he is coming to your campaign dinner. Also, surprisingly, Draco Malfoy also said he would be attending. Anyways, have a good day, and remember that I am behind you all the way!

Your loving Sister,

Ginny

She also sent letters to her mother and Ron telling them of her new job. When that task was done, she donned her cloak and took a stroll to the Three Broom Sticks for a warm butter beer.

“I’ll have the chicken alfredo.” Hermione replied, and handed the waiter the menu.

“Thank you. Your meals will be up shortly,” The thin waiter with a fake Italian accent and a handle bar mustache said.

“I’m considering moving to Hogsmeade. London is just to busy for my liking. I’ll just apperate to the Ministry everyday,” Harry said, taking a sip of his red wine.

“I apperate to the lab. It’s rather efficient.”

“How has the research been going, by the way?”

“It’s a little slow right now, but I think we are right on the verge of having a breakthrough.”

“That’s great. Imagine, you being the one to cure MinKinn’s disease!”

“I know. It’s really exciting. So how has the Ministry work going?”

“Well, the American Secretary of Magic isn’t backing off on the exports policy, but somehow we’ll work things out.”

“I hope so. I’m tried of reading it in the Daily Prophet everyday!”

They talked lively about every topic from racing brooms (not Hermione’s favorite topic), to Witch’s Weekly’s recent expose on Harry and Cara (not Harry’s favorite subject.). Afterwards they went for a stroll in Hyde Park together.

“Harry what are you looking for?” Hermione laughed at Harry. He was craning his neck up, his eyes to the night sky sparkling with stars.

“Nothing in particular. This is the darkest place in the Greater London Area. It’s ideal for star gazing if you don’t want to go out to the country side.”

“Then why don’t we take an excursion out there?”

“I don’t know. I love this park, even if it is full of Muggles. Oh look, Hermione, a shooting star!” He pointed to the sky.

“Make a wish,” replied Harry softly. Hermione shut her eyes softly, and made her wish.

“What did you wish for?” He asked feeling like a teenager again.

“If I told you, it wouldn’t come true,” Hermione said, offering him a smile.

“How convenient. Here, take my hand.” Harry said holding his hand out to her.

“What are we doing? Where are you taking me, Harry?”

“You’ll see.” He smiled in the darkness as they apperated.

“Harry James Potter, where on this green earth are we?” They were standing on top of a large hill overlooking a small town with orange lights a flame in the windows of the quaint cottages.

“The country side, near Bath. Hey, you have to live while you can! You asked me why I didn’t go out here to see the stars, so here we are.” He smiled at her under the moonlight, his face shining with happiness.

“Simple pleasures of life…” Hermione replied as she sat down in the cold grass.

“And the funny thing is, I haven’t felt this good about life in ages. I’m glad I ran into you at Diagon Alley. We need to go out more.”

“How about next Saturday? My choice of location, however,” She replied as Harry sat next to her.

“So you can think of something better than this Granger?”

“Oh, I’m not saying this wasn’t fun. Of course it was. I was thinking of visiting another one of our good friends who happens to be all alone in America…”

“I just owled Ron the other day. I’d love to go visit him.”

“Great. I’ll send him a letter tomorrow.”

“Life is good when you guys are around. It’s like perfection, Ron, you and myself. It’s been written down that we be friends since the beginning of time.” Harry put his arm around her.

Hermione just smiled under the moonlight, and sat closer to her best friend, still smelling his wonderful cologne. She stared up at the sky and couldn’t remember how long it has been since has felt so happy.

Chapter III

Ginny’s night started out with an innocent butter beer, leading to pint after pint of mead. She drank alone until Rosemerta escorted her home at closing time.

“Ginny, here we go. Hermione will be home soon. You should have taken a potion, Ginny,” Rosemerta said sighing and covering Ginny up with a blanket. Ginny was sprawled haphazardly, laughing wildly.

“Hermione is with Harry…she won’t be home. They are probably shagging like dogs right now. I’m…I…I’m fiiiiine! I’m, a…a…a…big girl,” Ginny slurred.

“Take care of yourself, Ginny. I’ll see you later,” Rosemerta said and flicked the lights off in the lounge where Ginny was laying. Ginny passed out soon after fully dressed in her jeans and boots.

In the morning, Ginny awoke to Hermione’s muggle stereo blasting cheesy love songs from some one-hit-wonder American boy band. She rubbed her throbbing head and got up from the sofa.

“Hermione, will you shut off that poor excuse for music?” Ginny shouted up the stairs.

“What’s that Gin?” Hermione shouted back down.

Ginny stomped up the stairs, barged into Hermione’s room and clicked to music off. “I said, turn off that poor excuse for music!”

“What’s your problem? I know you not a morning person, but you’re never this evil.”

“I have a hang over,” She replied moodily, rubbing her throbbing her head.

“Why didn’t you take that potion? We have some in the cupboard.”

“I wasn’t expecting to drink. I was just going for a butter beer, and I guess somehow I started drinking mead.”

“Mead? That stuff has a 90 proof! No wonder you were so drunk!”

“I know. Do we have any headache potion?”

“Yeah, it’s the blue bottle,” Hermione called as Ginny walked down the hall to the bathroom.

Draco Malfoy woke up in a strange room that wasn‘t his own.

‘Oh Merlin, who did I have a one night stand with this time?‘ Draco thought. He looked to his left. The bed was empty, offering no clue. He got up, stretched his tall, and quite naked frame and started to get dressed. As he was buckling his belt, he saw a familiar figure leaning against the doorframe.

“Hey Samantha.”

“Hey Draco,” She said and then took a draw on her cigarette.

“Are you still on birth control potions?”

“Yeah, don’t worry about. I think we used a condom too. I’m not sure. For once I think I was more drunk than you,” Samantha said, chuckling. She leaned against the doorframe. Her face still held the remnants of make up from the night before.

“I thought you weren’t allowed to drink on your shift,“ Draco said, sitting back down on the bed, putting on his socks. Samantha was a bartender at the Three Broom Sticks.

“I was off when I saw you drinking with that Ginny girl. For a minute I thought you were going to take her home.”

“I almost slept with Ginny Weasley? Oh god, I must have been drunk.” Draco rubbed his temple wondering how he could have been so foolish.

“She looked just as lonely as you did.” With that statement, the memories came flooding back to him a hazy fog of last night’s drunken revels.

“Well, well, Draco Malfoy. I didn’t expect to see you here,” Ginny half slurred. She was only a little tipsy.

“What did you think I did? Sit at home drinking from expensive crystal brandy decanters?”

“And smoking Cuban cigars. That is exactly what I thought.” Ginny smiled and took a sip of her wizard’s ale.

“Well, I was lonely so I came down here to see if I could take someone home for a drunk fuck.”

“Drunk fuck? What a lovely term. Doesn’t one night stand sound better?”

“Not to me. Because DF is exactly what it is.”

“I haven’t had a one night stand since I first got out of Hogwarts.” Ginny replied, sounding nostalgic.

“And who was that with? Your hero Potter?”

“I really don’t think that it is your business Malfoy,” Ginny hiccoughed in Draco’s face, getting angry.

“Your face is looking quite lonely to me.”

“Yeah, is it?”

“And you’re lonely. You give it away….especially your eyes.” He whispered silkily into her ear.

“Well I’m right in front of you. You have never noticed me until you were drunk off your rocker?”

“That isn’t true. I think you’re sexy. I watch you everyday, jogging down the side walk in your high heeled shoes.”

“If you didn’t scream at me every time I’m late, maybe I won’t have run!” Ginny was getting hostile.

“Hey, my memories lay out side that window. I can see the of Malfoy Manor from that top floor window.” Draco wasn’t sticking to any subjects.

“Oh poor baby Draco. You had a childhood full of expensive robes and summer holidays in Italy. I feel really feel bad for you.”

“You bring the worst out of me Ginny Weasley. If it’s not me, then it’s you.”

“Hey Draco, I’m off my shift. Do you want to have drink with me?” Samantha said pulling on his arm.

“Just remember that Ginny. It’s not me, it’s you!” Draco shouted as Samantha dragged him across the pub. Ginny called a waiter over and asked for another pint.

“I did almost sleep with Ginny didn’t I? Thanks for saving me,” Draco said fixing his hair with the comb he always kept in his pocket.

“It wouldn’t be that bad for you would it? I mean Ginny Weasley is a pretty girl,” Samantha replied, lighting up another cigarette and taking a long draw on it and sighing.

“She is but she works for me,” Draco said, frowning.

“Oh bad idea.”

“Exactly. I have to go. I have lots of work to do on the new magazine. I’ll see you later Samantha,” he said picking up his cloak, closing her bedroom door behind him, letting himself out.

A knock came to the door and Hermione got up to answer the door.

“Good afternoon Hermione. How are you?” Ron replied from the doorway, smiling widely.

“Oh god Ron, where did you come from? I thought you were in America!” Hermione squealed and hugged her friend. Ginny hurried to the door.

“Ronald Weasley, why didn’t you tell us you were coming home?” Ginny laughed and kissed his cheek, her hangover gone from her mind.

“I wanted it to be a surprise. I was just at the Burrow. When I heard that good ole Percy was running for Minister of Magic, I had to come home,” he said has he walked into the living room.

“It looks like a bunch of girls live here!” Ron laughed, noticing the near tidy and homey atmosphere, along with hairbrushes and assorted fashion magazines on the coffee and end tables.

“You’re very observant. Hey, guess what?” Ginny replied happily, feeling like a child.

“I don’t know, what Ginny?”

“You are looking at the editorial writer for the new magazine, Phoenix Feathers!”

“Oh Ginny, that is brilliant! That’s what you’ve always wanted to do.” Ron hugged his sister.

“I know. Hey Mione, why don’t you ring Harry and tell him apperate here if he isn’t busy,” Ginny offered.

“Good idea, Gin.”

“That was my next stop. You guys were the closest to Hogwarts.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Hermione asked, dialing Harry’s number.

“Nothing. You’ll see later.” Ron smiled knowingly, looking at his two favorite girls in the world.