/A.N - Welcome to my very first fic. It's been rattling about my brain for what feels like eternity. Please be kind whilst I sort out what I'm doing. Future chapters will be much longer than this one! - /

Chapter 1, Consequences

"If you've done something and you're ashamed to tell people about it, you probably shouldn't have done it."

The banging on the door was insistent. Ginny knew it wasn't going away, for neither love nor money, but she ignored it anyway. Whoever it was could sit out there until she was ready to get up, thank you very much.

She rolled over and pulled the covers above her head. The incessant banging continued.

Ginny groaned, "For the love of Merlin Harry, use your key!" She tangled her feet into the duvet and waited, eyes scrunched shut like a child.

Sometimes she did wonder what the point was of Harry having a key to their home, considering he woke her – and their children – numerous times, rolling in from work at the most ridiculous times imaginable. It made her sick with anger sometimes, most of the time, however, she barely noticed. Living with Harry, it seemed, simply made her tired, so what difference did losing a couple hours of sleep make? It was one of the reasons that she was considering leaving him.

Ginny sat up in bed. Her bed. In her flat. Not the ridiculously large king-size Harry had made her buy when they had gotten their house. The bedspread was blue, not white. Her room was hers, not theirs.

She and Harry had divorced three years ago. He didn't have a key. There really was someone at the door.

"Shitting hell!" Ginny threw the covers off of her body and ran out of the bedroom. The lounge floor was cold on her bare feet the fact that she had forgotten to pay her heating bill was evident. The room, to be frank, was bloody freezing.

The banging was still going strong.

"Yes, yes. I'm bloody coming!" Ginny called out, rubbing her hand over her face. She was not a morning person. They were evil and harsh and should be eradicated off the face of the Earth really.

Not that she was hung-over or anything.

There was one last bang as Ginny argued with the chain on the door, then she swung it open to see Draco Malfoy stood in the hallway. The morning really was not improving.

"Thank goodness, I thought you might be dead." Draco drawled, making his way into the flat. Ginny moved aside.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Charming as ever Ginevra."

Ginny exhaled, pulled her hair back and secured it. "Draco, it's a pleasure to see you here, in my home, unannounced, at the most horrendous hour imaginable. What can I do for you?"

"Whilst understandable," Draco replied, flicking his wand towards the kettle on the stove, "your sarcasm is unappreciated." He began to gather cups and ready them for tea, "Anyways, I'm not unannounced, I'm expected." Draco poured the water and extended a cup towards her.

Ginny took it, doing her best not to bite Draco's head off. It wasn't really his fault that she had stayed up with Luna and Neville last night and drank her body weight in white wine. Nor was it his fault that she had forgotten to drink any water last night, or that she had forgotten to brew, well anything that would make her feel less shit in that very moment.

So no, it wasn't Draco's fault, but it was getting harder and harder to remember that as he bashed about her kitchen.

"Draco, you'd think that, you know, if you were expected, I'd be, like, expecting you."

"Don't get smart with me Weasley, the fact that you're practically hanging off the face of the earth this morning is not my fault." Draco's face was grave but Ginny could see his amusement in the relaxed edges of his eyes. She sighed and sipped her tea. Draco glanced at the clock on the oven. "Shit, you'd best get dressed, she'll be here soon and I'm not convinced you should be opening the door in your delicates."

Ginny looked down at her old Holyhead jersey. The colours on it had faded significantly but it was still the comfiest thing she owed. He was lucky really that she had anything on at all.

"How I answer my own freaking door is my business, thank you very much." Ginny replied, moving around her kitchen to jam toast into the toaster. It was a toast sort of morning.

Draco grinned, "Regardless of who's business is who's, you should really get dressed. Seeing you like that will definitely make her uncomfortable, even if you are happy for the whole world to see the exact curve of your arse."

Ginny spread butter on her toast. "My arse is fantastic I'll have you know and who is this 'she' that has become a constant in our conversation?"

Draco stole the toast that was making its way into Ginny mouth. "Let's not fuck about now Ginevra."

Ginny frowned. "I'm serious. Who are you bringing round?"

Draco expression dropped, slowly. His entire demeanour changed and it put Ginny on edge. She shoved the last of her toast into her mouth and made her way back across the lounge to her bedroom. Draco followed.

"Pansy, Ginevra. We discussed this all last week!" Draco said, calling through the bedroom door Ginny had closed behind her. She pulled off her jersey and hunted around for clean underwear.

"I think I would remember discussing Pansy bloody Parkinson!"

"It was when we went to your brothers for dinner?"

Ginny pulled a t-shirt over her head. "I was wasted that night!" She pulled on her jeans.

"Ah, well you've agreed now." Draco said, "I can't exactly tell her she can't come, can I?"

Ginny pulled open her door. Draco was leant across the doorframe, one leg crossed over the other. She frowned. "What is is that I've agreed to do?"

Draco's ran his hand over his mouth. "Pans got evicted from her flat in York. She's moving back to London. You said she could rent your spare room."

Ginny's stomach turned over. There was no way she had been that drunk. Surely. She closed her eyes, desperate to recall some memories of that night. There had been wine. Hermione had told everyone that her and Ron planned on moving. Harry had told her about McGonagall offer. She had spent two whole hours talking to Draco about the lifecycle of stars.

It was there, wedged in with all the other memories.

"She's just got no where to go, Ginevra. Harry says we don't have room for her but she's my best friend. I don't know what to do."

"Draco, I have a spare room, she can come and live with me!"

Ginny swallowed, her mouth suddenly drier than she'd ever imagined it could be. Draco looked like he might be in pain.

"You aren't going to make me send her away, are you?"

Ginny shook her head, despite her instincts. "No. It's fine. I remember. She can stay."

Draco's smile was almost unnerving as Ginny pushed past him back into the lounge. She needed a lie down, more tea and something for the pounding headache that was tearing through her head.

There was time for none, as at that moment, there was a single, sharp knock at the door.

"That'll be Pans." Draco said, making his way back towards the front door. Ginny suppressed her sigh.

The wine had been a mistake.