Ginny hurried through the school halls, her robe billowing in a similar fashion to that of the late Potions Professor's.
It was her second month back at Hogwarts, where she stood in for Madame Hooch and taught pupils Flying classes. Apparently she was everyone’s favorite teacher.
So lucky.
Ginny stormed right to the Staff Room, where she saw just the person she had to talk to.
“Steph, please, you have to help me...” Ginny dropped herself unceremoniously next to the man on the lounge seat. “You are the only one I can trust right now, at least the one with brains...”
The man in question was none other but Stephen Cornfoot, who was currently teaching Arithmancy here at Hogwarts. He arched a brow at the red-head and sighed, putting away his tea.
He used to be in Ravenclaw and was one of the few nice people to Luna, when everyone else bullied or ignored her. That’s how Ginny also came to know him, through Luna, and now they were friends.
“Ginevra, are you telling me you actually agreed to go on that blind date?” He asked, eyebrow still arched, but his mouth splitting into a grin. “I remember you were the one who mocked me for weeks when I went to one.”
“Yes, yes, I know!” Ginny threw her hands up in defeat. This man was lucky she allowed him to call her by full name, if only due to him being a gentleman of the most proper manners the world has ever known. Draco Malfoy could never. “But now I warmed up to your fiancée, okay? Irelia can be sweet, unlike most of the snakes I know.”
“Well, yes.” Stephen puffed his chest proudly, his eyes twinkling in delight when his woman was mentioned. Irelia Zilberstein was a woman of class, once a Slytherin, but now one of the kindest beings he has ever known. “And so, you came to me because?”
“Well... Your fiancée knows Tracey well, right? Therefore, I thought maybe Irelia could mention me to Davis and then I might not get anyone crappy for my date...” Ginny said in an exasperated manner and looked out through the window. “Look, I just do not wish to go on a date with someone stupid or disastrous, like Seamus or Zacharias...”
“Parvati thought your brother was useless and now we have them married and living in India. Who says you cannot change your opinion on people who matured quite a lot since the war has concluded what, seven years ago?” Cornfoot asked and stood up, gathering his files from the table nearby. “I’ll talk to her, but I cannot promise anything. Just because Tracey got this business running, it doesn’t mean she is willing to cheat the system, even if she is a Slytherin through and through.”
“Bless you, Steph, you’re the best.” Ginny stood up as well and hugged him. “And Ron is a git, but war has changed him, you know... So maybe you’re right, but still... No Zacharias please...”
---
It was a beautiful Friday morning. Ginny had no classes to teach. Her Quidditch practice was yesterday. She slept so well during the night. No one could ruin her day.
The red-head picked up the Daily Prophet as she drank her coffee and looked at the front page. Immediately she spat out the drink and clutched at her chest, unable to wrap her head around the information that was written. A huge picture of three well-known people having the times of their lives in France, with the headline that screamed:
A triad the Wizarding World didn’t know they needed!
Just yesterday our reporters witnessed something really unexpected while in France. In Paris, they have met none other but the notoriously known Bachelor, he-who-was-reformed, the hottest celebrity in the current times, Draco Malfoy.
He was holding onto the waists of two charming ladies while enjoying the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower. And when the reporters were able to recognize the faces of the said ladies, they were in for a surprise.
The witches in question were Hannah Abbott , our recent new Unspeakable, and Megan Jones, the model for newest witches trends. Who would have thought that the Prince of Slytherin could be in cahoots with two famous Hufflepuff ladies?
But that is not all, my dears.
I, Rita Skeeter, was able to uncover even more. See, a little bird has whispered so happily to me that those three are in an official triad and that Narcissa Malfoy herself has actually approved of both brides-to-be.
So, sadly our hearts can no longer yearn for the Malfoy heir, because he is taken by not one but two ladies. Well, it’s a pity really, but none of us want Narcissa as an enemy, now do we?
That’s why we are left to wonder. Who’s next in line to be our so sought-after Bachelor?
We shall see, because there are quite a few handsome lads out there that we would want to get our hands on.
Am I right, my dearest witches?
Ginny brought out her wand and cleaned up the mess that she made, then she sent an 'Incendio' towards the Daily Prophet until it was nothing but a pile of smithereens, then she Vanished it.
The red-head sighed, got up and stretched. Well, here was her beautiful morning, ruined. Maybe the blind date tomorrow was going to make it all better. That is, as long as she didn’t get Seamus or Zacharias...
---
Nothing could prepare Ginny for this. She tried hard not to gape at her date. Somehow the woman suddenly felt very conscious of herself in a simple royal-blue dress.
The red-head didn’t wear this color on purpose. She didn’t know her date was going to be an ex-Ravenclaw.
She knew it wasn’t going to be Seamus. While on her way here, she saw him making out with some girl at Madam Puddifoot’s. Diagon Alley had all the restaurants conveniently next to each other for some reason.
Hence here she was, in a new cozy and romantic place, called 'Sakura Orchard'. It had these soothing oriental vibes and was owned by Keiko Tachibana, a girl from her year back at Hogwarts.
And yet, the person in front of her seemed like someone who would prefer the more high-end places. Of course, Ginny knew not to judge the book by its cover. Even if the said cover was the most attractive one in the whole Wizarding World.
“Atreus. Atreus Shaklebolt.” A deep husky voice spoke, and the man in question smiled warmly, going around the table and pulling out a chair for her. “Ginevra Weasley, am I right?”
He asked the question so close to her ear, Ginny felt all the warmth go straight to her face. She could forgive him for saying her full name. It sounded too good, coming from his lips, in that voice.
The witch sat down and could only nod, as she watched him go to his seat. When he asked her of her wine preferences and looked into her eyes with a gaze that seemingly drowned her, Ginny knew she was done.
This was it. She was in for something the red-head knew no way out of. Even if the man in question was the nephew of the Minister for Magic.