Keep Your Day Job

Keep Your Day Job

Prologue

Ginny Weasley was perfectly content, thank you very much. So her relationship with Michael ended badly, and her relationship with Dean seemed to end before it even began, but so what? There are other things in life besides boys, especially when they're being prats. Besides, she had other things on her mind. She was a month into her fifth year, and the weight of the upcoming O.W.L.S. was accumulating on her shoulders. She'd surrendered her role as Seeker on the House Team back to Harry, but this was fine with her. She much preferred Chaser, anyways. She spent much of her time practicing Quidditch or studying, although somehow she managed to squeeze in time to relax with her friends. She'd spent the summer growing even closer to her brother and his friends, not to mention Luna and Neville. When she returned to Hogwarts in September, she found herself a member of a tight-knit group of friends. Yet, she felt she had grown closest to Harry. She and Harry had spent many lazy summer nights at the Burrow, laughing and talking, or sometimes just enjoying each other's company in silence. Harry divulged all of the pain he held on to from losing Sirius, and Ginny listened intently. She never pushed him--just listened. Eventually he opened up, and stopped skulking around. Ron and Hermione were eternally grateful for this. In turn, Ginny told Harry all about her horrid first year, about how scared she had been. Harry reciprocated by listening to her purge all the awful memories. They found comfort and solace in one another.

And while the summer was filled with serious talks like these, it was also filled with laughter. Everyone tried to be as light-hearted as possible, considering the grim state of the world. Neville and Luna stopped by for visits often, and the six of them spent many days playing Quidditch or lounging around the Burrow. Ginny smiled as one particularly funny memory of Ron throwing Hermione into the pond and Hermione not speaking to him for two days afterwards popped into her head. She giggled under her breath.

"What're you laughing at?" Ginny snapped out of her memory and found a tired-looking Hermione quirking an eyebrow at her from across the library table. "Surely your Transfiguration homework isn't that entertaining?"

"No, I was just thinking about the summer," Ginny replied, pushing her notebook across the table and leaning back in her chair.

"Hmm...yes, we did have fun, didn't we?" Hermione said, a faint smile playing across her face. She eyed Ginny warily, then said, "You know, you really did a wonder on Harry."
"What're you talking about?" Ginny asked.

"Well, you know, just listening to him, letting him vent. It really helped him. He's been quite cheerful ever since school started." Hermione said, watching Ginny's face for a reaction.

"Yeah, well he doesn't have O.W.L.S. to worry about. Anyone would be cheerful," Ginny said, eyeing the pile of homework that lay on the table in front of her.

"I'm serious. You're a miracle worker," Hermione said. Ginny smiled faintly at this. "But..." Hermione started slowly, "I still can't help but think he'd be happier if he had someone in his life. He seems awfully lonely, even when he's surrounded by friends. It's really a shame you don't fancy him anymore." Hermione paused to let this last statement sink in.

Ginny stared at Hermione for a moment, and then her face lit up. "That's it! Hermione, you're brilliant!" Ginny stood up quickly and hastily stuffed her books into her bag.

"No," Hermione said quietly, staring at her lap. "It's obvious."

"It is obvious, isn't it? I can't believe I didn't see it before!" Ginny marveled, shaking her head. "We need to set Harry up with someone!" Hermione's head snapped up. "But who..." Ginny trailed off, leaving the library quickly.

"No, Ginny, that's not what I meant!" Hermione called, but Ginny was out of earshot, making lists of possible dates in her head.

"Completely missed the point," Hermione muttered and returned to her homework.