2004
Miles Bletchly was one persistent sod. His behavior bordered on clinically insane and Ginny Weasley seriously wondered why she ever dated him. She looked over her shoulder while hiding among the clothes hanging from the Christmas stand in the middle of the Daigon Alley.
Oh, yeah, that's why, he was also damn hot!
Seeing him strolling down the street, she unconsciously licked her lips, before remembering she broke up with him months ago as the relationship had no depth whatsoever. However he didn't seem to get a clue as he kept on seeking her out and it was starting to seriously get on her nerves. It was not that she was actually afraid of him but his insistence was starting to make her feel uneasy.
Blending in with the crowd was damn near impossible with the fiery red mane of her hair. It was sheer luck that brought Draco Malfoy onto her way. Although not many would think that at the sight of a Malfoy heir. She thanked Merlin as she accosted his elbow with no previous warning. Before he could shake her off in surprise and hex her arm off, she kissed his cheek affectionately.
"Malfoy! There you are!" she exclaimed. "I've been looking for you all over the place!"
"You have?" He raised a pale eyebrow in obvious doubt and slight amusement, only noticeable to those that knew him well.
"Of course!" She pulled him down to her considerably smaller height to hiss into his ear. "Play along! Miles Bletchly, you remember him, has been quite persistent in trying to convince me to rekindle our romance. To put it mildly, he's been obsessively stalkerish in his ways. And really, you could hardly call what we had for those five and a half weeks, a relationship. It was more a: 'Hey, you home? Wanna come over for a quickie? ' 'Sure, after I vacuum my flat. ' And despite the fact that he looks like a model, that's probably because he actually is a model, the sex was mediocre at best."
Even if Draco was planning on honoring her blabbing with an answer, she gave him no opportunity. Not questioning his willingness or unwillingness to listen, as they strolled on, updating him on the last year of her life with no filters and ease characteristic of best friends or an old married couple, seemed like a thing to do.
"It's not like I even want to date those idiots but there goes Harry, thinking himself in love with me, can you imagine it after all those years, picturing in his delusions we're some match made in heaven, destined to marry and pop out half a dozen brats. As If! And nothing would make my poor mother happier than another grandchild. Because six little horrors and two on the way is not enough! That woman! So, what am I to do but date idiots to discourage the two of them? Tell me, what am I to do?!"
The question did not warrant an answer as Draco was correct in his assumption. By that time she totally forgot about the delusional Miles's unwanted looming presence in the background and the both of them stopped in the middle of the crowded sidewalk. Ginny smiled slightly just looking up at Draco's soft blond tresses casually falling over his forehead, the tips almost at the corners of his silver twinkling eyes and his dark green scarf wrapped around his neck, his pointy chin hidden in it.
"I'm sorry. I talk too much, you know me," she apologized sheepishly, realizing she might have disclosed too much information that he didn't actually want to hear.
"I know," he confirmed pointedly but with no malicious intent. She bit her lip as sadness suddenly overwhelmed her where she stood. Looking away to gather her wits and swallowing a lump in her throat was not easy but crying out of the blue in Daigon Alley in front of Draco Malfoy was not an option. She didn't want this meeting to turn sour and awkward, especially as it was Christmas time, so she let herself indulge in a rare moment of misery that she usually trampled over as soon as it showed its ugly head and only then put a soft smile on her lips.
"And how have you been, Draco? You look good."
"I always look good," he answered mock hauntingly and still meant it. It was part of his charm. She grinned but didn't encourage the usual banter as she genuinely wanted to know what had he been up to. He gave in as she kept looking at him expectantly. They started walking again. "Nothing new really. Same old, same old. Certainly nothing as dramatic is happening in my life as in yours. You always had a certain flair for drama anyway. The company has been doing better; I might not have to sell after all. Or I might sell it anyway and start anew. Make something for myself. Yes, I thing I might just do that. I haven't discussed it with anyone yet. But I think I have been thinking about it for awhile. That's the first time I said it aloud, though."
He looked at her strangely, surprised at how a short time with her affected him and at simplicity with which his scattered thoughts formed into actual ideas.
"You should do it then. If that's what you really want."
"Maybe." He seemed to be lost in his thoughts for awhile and she let him.
"And how's your mother doing?" She asked out of politeness but at the smile it brought to his face, she was pleased with herself.
"Glowing. Absolutely glowing. She seems like a different person without father." That was a topic neither wanted to discuss. "She goes shopping, parties with friends, goes to dine out, throws enormous balls and nags with vigour, of course." He rolled his eyes and Ginny giggled at the uncharacteristic gesture. "It seems all mothers have the same illness that makes them want to marry off their offspring and have grandchildren. It's the only thing she seems to talk about to me. I already threatened to get some girl pregnant and she can have an out-of-wedlock grandchild. She was properly horrified but sadly not discouraged."
By the time he finished his rant, Ginny laughed so hard that tears were streaming down her face.
"Oh, poor Draco," she cooed and he glowered at her half-heartedly. They talked for awhile longer just catching up before Ginny realized she hadn't once caught sight of Miles. Nor did she look for him.
"So, where're you headed? Buying Christmas presents?"
"Well, I was supposed to be but I'm actually meeting Lovegood and Zabini for a coffee in five minutes."
"Oh. Well…" Once again she was overcome with sadness as the old and happier memories came back to engulf her. She saw Luna and Blaise all the time but it used to be all four of them. Now she hadn't seen Draco since the previous year Christmas party at the Ministry. And it hadn't been all four of them, just the four of them in a relaxed environment since Hogwarts, probably. She was longing, had been longing for a long time, she realized then, for their friendly teasing and easy camaraderie they used to have among them before everything went to hell and they were all forever changed. She wanted to have it all back, if just for an hour or so, so strongly that she dismissed all the suffering and the heartbreak it could cause. Draco watched her struggle with emotions closely. "Mind if I come with?"
"Of course. They're your friends too."
Upon entering the coffee shop, they witnessed a public display of affection and a frazzled waitress trying to take an order.
"Do you want to sit at this table? I'm not sure my innocent eyes should be exposed to this indiscretion?" Ginny's voice carried over two people at the table (and all the others at the shop) that untangled themselves from each other in surprise but no visible embarrassment. Blaise grinned at her mischievously.
"Don't lie Weasley, there has been nothing innocent about you, since you've been sixteen." Ginny laughed loudly, not offended at all, especially since it was true. Not that other patrons around them needed to know that. She could feel Draco's smirk behind her back and refused to turn around.
"Oh Blaisie, Blaisie. You should be thankful to me." She threw herself onto the chair nearest to Luna and winked at her friend as she started to shed her coat. Draco seated himself onto the only empty chair left at the table more gracefully. "Who do you think thought your girlfriend everything she knows?"
She put an arm around Luna and they both send him suggestive kisses among general laugher. A memory came back to Ginny. Of the four of them, her sixth year, sitting and joking just like that, at the Three Broomsticks, just that once, when they said to the universe, 'Screw you'. As if sensing her nostalgia, Luna squeezed her arm a little tighter and Ginny was grateful.
"Weasley, did you come just to wake up my appetite or something?"
"That's it, hope you don't mind." She looked at them pointedly.
"Of course not, "Luna reassured her. "We are a little surprised, though." Ginny waved her off.
"Oh, I just ran into Draco at the street, he mentioned he's meeting you and I invited myself over." The shortened version was all Ginny planned to say, knowing in advance Draco will feel it his duty to explain the story in detail.
"Ran into me?" he exclaimed indignantly. "More like accosted me. And for what! Miles Bleeding Bletchly!"
"Didn't you break up with him, Ginny?" Luna seemed genuinely concerned. She never liked a single person her friend dated. Her weirdness tended to come out of hiding in their presence. To chase them off faster, Ginny presumed. Not that she generally minded.
"I did! He keeps coming back for more. Guess I'm just that good." She smiled self-confidently as Blaise frowned at her. He liked her boyfriends even less.
"He's bothering you? What did I tell you about him? I said he's bad news. But do you ever listen to me, huh? No! You know better!" Draco watched with interest as Blaise and even Luna appeared genuinely upset and Ginny just rolled her eyes unconcerned.
"Blaise, if I listened to you, I'd never get laid. You say everybody is bad news." She turned to look at Draco. "He doesn't think anybody is good enough."
"Because you find the worst douche-bags on the planet!"
"They're not all that bad."
"Why'd you break with every single one of them, then?" Blaise liked to prove his point.
"I never said they were marrying material." She grinned at Blaise and he slumped back into his chair defeated by her stubbornness. She cackled madly, mentally awarding herself a point. Draco kept shaking his head at them.
The waitress finally came back to take their orders, encouraged by the slight lull in all the loud talking and laughing. Ginny ordered mulled wine, even years later knowing what everybody is going to order. Ogden's Finest for the boys and mulled wine for her and Luna.
That's why she was so surprised when Luna ordered Herbal tea when she was the one that showed Ginny the wonders of mulled wine.
"You feeling alright?" she asked as the waitress left to bring them drinks.
"Yeah, why?"
"You didn't order mulled wine. You love that stuff." She was staring her friend in her big blue eyes, looking for any sign of dishonesty. Ginny's mind turning a hundred per hour, the friends stared at one other. And suddenly she knew. A painful echo of a pang in her chest was immediately firmly crushed, put in a dark place, preferably never to be examined again.
"OH MY GOD! I'M GOING TO BE A GODMOTHER! OH MY GOD!" Her screams were heard all over the coffee shop as the startled traumatized waitress dropped a tray full of drinks and a deaf old man at the sidewalk jumped in fright. Laughing and exclaiming excitedly the long-time friends fell into a tight hug and didn't let go for a long time. Another round of drinks was served as Ginny and Draco congratulated their friends and Ginny kept repeating she's going to be a godmother."
"Who said you'll be my kid's godmother? Maybe I want better influence for my kid?" Blaise couldn't help but tease her. Nor could he understand his girlfriend's anxious worry when it came to telling her best friend, especially since Ginny seemed excited as ever.
"Pft, someone has to teach the kid the fun stuff. Who's better suited than me? Say what you want but I'm going to be the best godmother in the world." Ginny rubbed her palms together like a maniac and the other three looked at each other apprehensively. "Oh, the things I could teach a young impressionable mind."
"Weasley, pace yourself."
"Don't worry, Draco, there will be plenty of legally questionable things left for you to teach your godson or god-daughter." He was left to stare with open mouth.
"I…" Blaise wanted to tease him really bad but changed his mind at the look on his friend's face. He slapped him on the back.
"Well, of course. Weasley's right as much as it pains me to say this. We indented to tell you today and ask you to be our child's godfather. Of course, we planned to be much more subtle." He raised his eyebrows pointedly in Ginny's direction and she smiled sheepishly, mouthing a Sorry. "So, what do you say?"
Ginny impatiently poked him in the ribs with her elbow and earned herself a glare.
"Well, yes. Of course. If that's what you want, I'm honoured." Ginny kept on ginning.
"You don't have to ask me. I'll do it. I'll spoil the kid rotten." Then she remembered something. "Wait just a second! You wanted to tell him today. Before you told me?!"
"Guess they like me best." Now the permanent grin resided on Draco's lips. Ginny scowled.
"We were going to tell you tonight. You planned on cooking a dinner for us, remember?"
"You were going to cook?" Draco wondered sceptically.
"Well I'm not going to cook now." She crossed her arms over her chest in an exaggerated sulk.
"Thank god." Blaise sighed in relief and even Ginny had to laugh at that.
"So, when are you planning on making an honest woman out of your Baby Mama?" Draco wondered. Blaise scowled.
"You should ask the lady in question."
"Stop sulking, Blaise. I told you I'm not going to have a rushed wedding while pregnant. This is not the middle ages. When we get married I want a big party with live music to dance to, lots of alcohol, the good stuff of course, that I can actually drink and a capable nanny to babysit while I dance, drink, eat, get married along the way and sleep off my hangover in relative peace. Capisce?"
Blaise raised his hands as if to say: 'There you go. '
Before they left the coffee shop Ginny caught a few minutes alone with Luna.
"I really am happy for you, you know. You didn't have to put off telling me." Luna didn't pretend not knowing what Ginny was talking about. That's what Ginny loved most about her.
"I'm sorry, I just felt guilty." Ginny hugged her again.
"Please don't. I want you to be able to tell me everything. To share all your worries, all your questions and all your joy with me. I want to hear everything. I want to shop with you and knit with you. Okay, maybe not knit. And I don't want you to hide a single thing from me. You've been my rock and in at least some small way, whenever you need one, I want to be yours."
"I love you, Ginny," she whispered through her tears. "I wouldn't be alive without you."
"And I wouldn't be alive without you. We're even," she smiled.
"Ginny?" she called her gently, gathering her courage. She paused again.
"Yes?" she prompted, already fearing her words.
"Are you ever going to tell him?" Ginny swallowed staring wordlessly. "I think you should."
"I don't know, Luna. Probably not."
"He should know."
"He'll just fell guilty when there was never anything he could have done. Why should I burden him with it?"
"Because you are. Burdened I mean."
"Then why should he carry this too. And I made peace with it."
"Did you?" Did she?
"You shouldn't think about this. Especially not now."
"He should know," she simply repeated.