Which Witch?

"'Six people are needed for this event. Yes, we want you and 5 friends to become famous. So, all you wizards and witches between the ages of 15 and 18, send us your owls!' That sounds great, no?" Ginny Weasley was poring over the beauty section of her all time favorite magazine, Witch Weekly. "Hermione, quit being a bookworm. Please tell me you're interested!"

Still no response. What's with her? "HERMIONE!!" Ginny yelled at the top of her lungs as she closed her friend's book with a bang.

"Huh? What...modeling...huh...yeah...sounds good to me...ask your brother," a dazed Hermione replied. Urgh!

***

"Ron, can I borrow Pigwidgeon?" Ginny climbed into the common room on Sunday afternoon.

"What for?" Ron asked from a chair near the fireplace, where he and Harry sat playing wizard's chess.

"Not that it's any of your business whatsoever; I'm signing us up for Witch Weekly's modeling crew. I need to send the letter by tomorrow."

"WHAT? Rewind! First, it is my business as it's my owl. Second, you think I'm going to dress nice and prissy for a magazine, do you? No way. Besides, what do you mean by us?" Ron yelled, red in the face.

"Well, I need six people. Me, you, Harry, Hermione, and..." Ginny trailed off.

"And...," Ron asked, a smug look on his face.

"Oh, Harry. You agree don't you?" Ginny asked.

"Sorry, Ginny, but I have to take Ron's back on this one. I'm not dressing in any stuffy outfit for some guy blasting away moving pictures," Harry said rather huffily.

"Take Ron's side on this one? You always take his side!" Ginny practically shouted.

"Why do you care so much? It's not like you even have six people to sign up!" Ron bellowed back, red in the face again.

"Ever heard of mix-and-match?"

"Fine. Sign us up. It's not like you'll win."

"I will. You'll see," Ginny said furiously, striding out of the room towards the Owlery.

Harry felt a guilty squirm in his insides for letting Ginny down.

***

Ron, Hermione, and Harry had a slight conversation about the modeling matter on Monday. Ginny hadn't talked to them since Saturday, since Ron and she had the whole yelling incident.

"Oh, get over it, Ron," Hermione snapped. "You can't always take over her life. For God's sake, she's fifteen. She's got a life she doesn't want you to control. Give her space. Besides, what's the need in being so upset if you don't even think Ginny will win?"

"I know, but they're announcing the winners tomorrow. What if she does win?"

"How bad can it be?" Harry asked. "And I think Hermione's right. We overreacted. In fact, I'm talking to Ginny right now." And he mounted up the stairs to the girls' dormitory. "Ginny?" he called softly.

"Oh. It's you, is it?"

"I'm sorry for Saturday. You know, the whole modeling thing."

"Yeah, I guess I shouldn't have been so stubborn. Oh well, what are the chances of me winning?"

"Yeah, I understand. Hey, who'd you put as your fifth and sixth people? The Giggling Gossipers?" Harry asked, referring to Parvati and Lavender.

"No one."

"Oh. Well, no hard feelings, right?"

"Right."

"Okay, well, bye," Harry said, getting up.

"Bye. Oh, and Harry? Good luck with Cho!"

"Thanks!" Harry replied. He walked down the stairs, glad that Ginny was finally over him. "And now, to bed," he said to himself cheerfully.

***

Ginny walked around the lake on Tuesday morning around six-thirty. She loved being up early on November mornings. It was a very cold and cloudy day, but Ginny felt warm under her thick cloak. The winner's for the modeling contest would receive a one year contract, and it could be extended. She really hoped she won. She fell into a daydream. It wasn't exactly about a person.

I just wish that maybe during my modeling, that is if I win, I'll meet someone who would like to get to know me for who I am, and not as Ron's little sister or clever Hermione's and famous Harry's friend.

The thought brought a smile to her face.

***

Draco Malfoy was exiting the Slytherin common room. He liked to get up early, especially during the winter. No one would believe that on cold crisp mornings like today, he liked nothing more than being in a patch of trees he found while exploring at night once. He walked toward the secluded trees. He thought about how everyone hated him. And why wouldn't they? After all, he always wore a know-it-all smirk that would make anyone frustrated. His cold gray eyes were filled with malice. And his insults could break a heart of stone.

Why doesn't anyone realize that all these things I do are covering my own insecurities? Don't they get it? Sure I hate muggle-borns, but only because they hate me. I know it's all my fault, but if I ever revealed my true self, people would think it had an evil purpose. Only three people--three idiots, more precisely--appreciate me: Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy what's-her-surname. I just hope that one day someone could understand me for who I am. But until then, I can't change too suddenly.

High above, an angel heard the pleas and wishes of the two teenagers. "They should have what they so desperately want. They will become each other's allies and supports. That is, if they're ready."

***

Malfoy looked at his watch. It was six-thirty. Who would be walking around the lake at this hour? He thought, referring to a figure hidden beneath a black cloak. As he drew nearer, he realized the person had red hair.

Ginny turned around suddenly. She saw a boy approaching. Who would be up at this hour? She wondered. The only thing she could see was that the person had white-blond hair.

***

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Miss Weasley," Malfoy said, a smirk playing across his face.

"Sod off, Malfoy," Ginny said, not in the mood to be irked.

Malfoy ignored her. "What were you doing? Spilling your problems to the giant squid? Oh, but he's not here. When did he leave, one minute in?"

"Malfoy, don't you get it? Do you have no purpose in life but to bother others? I really do not want to talk to you. Do you think I ever have? Anyway, what I do is none of your business. Your pointed nose does not belong in my life! Besides, what were you doing? I don't see Pansy around" Ginny said heatedly, at the verge of breaking down.

"Temper, Weasel. And your freckled muskrat-like nose doesn't belong near me," Malfoy said, keeping his cool.

"Just leave me alone. I really don't want your idiotic attitude to deal with on top of the whole modeling..." Ginny trailed. She didn't want to get into the issue with anyone, let alone Malfoy.

"Modeling, huh? Scarhead, your Weasel brother, and Mudblood mad at you for it? Why? It's not like any of you will win. Your faces would break the camera. I will win," Malfoy sneered.

"You, Malfoy," Ginny retorted, "have no one to sign up besides your hideous self."

Harsh, this Weasley is. Just like her older brother. "Get a life, Weasel. Cut your puppet strings." Malfoy leered, walking away.

Ginny wondered why Malfoy just didn't understand that being nicer would solve plenty of his problems. He's not all bad. Everyone has some niceness in them. He just needs someone to help him take off his mask.

***

"Okay, everyone. It's time!" Ginny exclaimed. The winners for the modeling contest were to be announced now.

"Hello, all you young people with your ears glued to the radio," the host for the radio show Witching Hour announced. "As you probably know, the winners for Witch Weekly's modeling contest have been chosen. Many of our contestants did not put six people, so we decide to mix and match a bit. Most entrees came from Hogwarts, so this might be a chance to mingle with other houses, so all our winners come from Hogwarts. Anyway, without further ado, our first winner: Cho Chang. Our second, third, fourth, and fifth winners: Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter."

Ginny screamed. "Oh, my god! Oh, my god! I can't believe this! We won, we won. This is so totally awesome!" Ginny did a little dance with Hermione, who was just as excited. Ron and Harry, who were looking a little less enthusiastic, waited for the last winner.

"And the last winner is, drum roll please..."

***