A/N: so this is the intro chapter for a new multichap I am attempting! :) I have the plot all planned out, so updates will only be subject to my time schedule because work (but I anticipate once a week ish). I tried to set up some of the things that are to come, but there will be an auror/mystery element, plus Hermione and Ginny will start working and that should come in too. Also reminder that I don't own stuff ha. Let me know what you think!

Ginny and Hermione graduated in late spring 1999, over a year following the Battle of Hogwarts, as it had come to be known by the general population of the wizarding world. The ceremony was filled with tears, both of happiness and nostalgia, and some shed for those who should have been celebrating, but weren't. Although the knowledge of those missing was present in the minds of all who attended even before the proceedings had begun, Headmistress McGonagall made sure the names of the fallen graduates were not left unheard. Despite the slightly melancholy nature of the event at times, those in attendants, students and families, shouted with excitement as the last name was called and fireworks, care of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes, shot across the late afternoon sky.

That had been about a week ago, and since, Hermione had begun her work with the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, a title she took issue with, but with an indignant huff had accepted it, 'for now.' She'd start off as an apprentice of sorts, learning how things within the department, and the Ministry at large, worked and how to go about making change. While George grimaced at the idea, Hermione was elated that she would soon have more at her disposal to help the oppressed and sidelined than her knitting needles and multicolored wool.

The Auror Department had seen an influx of applicants after the war, starting the summer immediately after things ended. Ron and Harry had been among those first recruits, along with Neville, beginning their training late that summer. All three had a desire to finish what they'd started during the war, rounding up the last of the Death Eaters, although Harry's intentions seemed to make the position more permanent. They'd managed to capture some low level members of Voldemort's followers, who were, for the most part, cooperating in the hopes of leniency later on. Director Robards had indicated his approval of their performance, as much as one could with a grunt and an infinitesimal lifting of the corner of the mouth, and alluded to the idea that they might run point on a less high profile case in the near future.

Ginny, meanwhile, watched the skies for her official correspondence from the Holyhead Harpies, who had scouted her during the last three games of the Quidditch season at Hogwarts, Gwenog Jones finally breaking the silence after the third by telling Ginny to expect a letter come June that would be 'very important and interesting.' With a piercing look, the older woman had strode off, Harpies cloak fluttering behind her. Once the pitch had cleared, Ginny had vaulted over the front of the stands, eyes sharp looking for her favorite member of the crowd, when she noticed the shine of a pair of regulation auror boots in the back left corner, as far away from the now missing throngs as possible. It had become a sort of game between them, Harry switching up his spot each time he attended and Ginny sussing out his location at the end. The most difficult had been the day he'd cloistered himself among the teachers, who lingered long after the game to debate whether Hooch's calls had been accurate. The day Gwenog had approached, Ginny leapt from bench to bench, letting out a loud 'whoop' as she landed in front of Harry with a creak of the weather worn wood, quickly pulling the invisibility cloak from his shoulders and throwing herself into his arms. Harry's green eyes lit up at her excitement, having seen the masterful way she'd played and the recent conversation with the Harpies' coach, and buried his face in her neck, still sweaty from exertion, and whispered, "Well done Gin." After she filled him in, they spent the few hours before sunset snuggled beneath "their" beech tree, talking and sometimes not.

And so it came about, during the last weeks of June that Ginny sat at the kitchen table, silence pressing in, along with the muggy heat, as she waited for the letter to arrive, the ticking clock on the mantelpiece her only company. Her eyes glazed as the clock chimed four, the condensation from her cool glass of lemonade pooling on the worn wood table, running through the cracks, and dripping onto her bare freckled thigh. Just as she shook out her hair from it's tight plate, a mid sized tawny owl with bright yellow eyes swooped in and landed on the table in front of her, ruffling its tail feathers that dipped into the chilly water on the table. Ginny froze, eyeing the bird as it shuffled it's claws, before gaining its balance and extending a leg, laden with an formal looking envelope, emblazoned with the Harpies seal. Brown eyes locked with the wide, unblinking yellow orbs, as the owl fluffed its wings, slightly shaking its leg as if to prompt Ginny to remove the missive. Jarred into action, Ginny steeled herself and slipped the envelope from its place, summoning the bag of owl treats from the sideboard and tossing her companion a few, before slipping her slightly trembling finger under the lip and breaking the seal with a crack. Taking a deep breath, get ahold of yourself Weasley, she unfurled the crisp parchment and scanned it for the most important information… "…Congratulations on your selection as one of the potential new members of the Holyhead Harpies for the upcoming season…"

Ginny let out a shout, causing the owl to jump backwards in alarm, alighting out the window without a backward glance. Pulling the pane closed with a bang she bolted towards the fireplace and tossed a handful of floo powder into the flames, she shouted her destination, disappearing in a cloud of green smoke,

Striding through the quiet flat, she "Harry! Harry?! Harry- oof." With a grin, the young auror looked down at his girlfriend, her hair flying about her head, a piece of parchment clutched in her freckled hand, her face lit up with unbridled excitement, "What's going on Ginny?"

"I got a tryout with the Harpies!" she practically shrieked, throwing herself into his arms, chest heaving with excitement. Harry twirled her around in the thankfully open space of his front entrance, before pulling back and pressing his smile to hers. They broke apart when jubilant giggles bubbled up in her chest, her body humming with adrenaline, "I can hardly believe they want me."

Harry quirked a brow, eyes shining with happiness, "Well I certainly can, between your talent, drive, and the endless hours you put into training the team during practice, and then your private practices afterwards – yes I know about those – I can't see how anyone could be more qualified or deserving."

Ginny fought a blush, her mouth shifting to a smirk, "Quite the flatterer you are Mr. Potter. This had better not be an attempt to get into my knickers."

Placing a hand to his chest, false affront in his voice, Harry led Ginny to the kitchen, settling her onto a metal barstool, "Well I never! I am a gentleman."

Snickering, the red head reached for the basket of fresh fruit that Molly Weasley sent over once a week, polishing an apple on her yellow t-shirt and biting into it with a satisfying crunch. Wiping at the tangy juice that dripped down her chin, Ginny swallowed, "Sorry I'm early. I just got excited and no one was home."

Turning as he kicked the fridge closed, Harry placed two icy Butterbeers, twisting the corks out of each and offering one to his girlfriend, "No apologies necessary. I was just puttering around. Quite bored to be honest."

Ginny tossed the apple core into the bin sipping her drink, eyes bright with mischief, "So where are you taking me to celebrate?"