AN: Harry Potter and friends are not my creation and no matter how rich I get or how much I beg, they'll never be mine.

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She was here again. She came every so often, always nervous and never talking to people. In school she had been so lively and outgoing. She was always surrounded by her friends, laughing and smiling. She had a wonderful smile . . .

Draco turned back to his drink as tried to shake off the thought of that Weasley girl. Malfoys didn't like Weasleys; never had and never would. Or so everyone thought.

Draco Malfoy frequented the bar often. He needed time away from work and away from those who looked down on him because of his family's history. The war had ended and in its wake the Malfoys were left on the bottom rung of society. Not that they had lost any money; Draco could buy anything he wished for. But society as a whole shunned him as it had the other former Deatheaters. He was just fine with that. It was nice to be alone.

But the Weasley girl. For some reason he couldn't stop thinking about her. Not like there was any way he could even be with her. Other than the fact of his and her family ties, she was married to Potter. They had gotten married right after she left school. Draco read about it in the paper. To everyone it seemed like a fairytale match made in Heaven. But then why was she here so often? And why was Potter never with her? Truly it was no problem of his . . . .

Something made him stop in thought. A tear, very tiny and almost invisible, slid down her cheek and into her drink. He got up quietly and slid into her booth. She didn't notice right away because her head was down. He cleared his throat to get her attention.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Her tone wasn't what he had expected. It wasn't angry or snide. She was merely questioning.

"You look really upset. Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with. It's really no big deal." She smiled a little and wiped her eyes.

He didn't want to press anything. Not that she would tell him if anything was wrong. Maybe if she felt more comfortable she might let him in on her secret. For now, he decided to make small talk.

"So, I see you here a lot." he said. "Do you always come here alone?"

She shifted in her seat.

"Yeah, I do. That's just like me though, right? A loser with no friends? Your family was always right."

Shocked at what he was hearing, Draco couldn't answer right away.

"That was just a load of shit my parents talked. And yeah, I guess I did too, but I like to think I've grown up. Changed for the better." He gave her his dashing smile. She almost laughed, but it sounded more like a tiny sob.

"I guess I'm just feeling a bit down. It feels like I have no one to talk to," she said. "Which is why I was so surprised that you were the one to ask me how I was."

She picked up her glass and took a long drink. Before she drained it, Draco signaled to the waitress for another two glasses. He looked back at the Weasley girl, Ginny. She was really beautiful despite her sadness. Her long red hair fell to the table as she looked down again. She was wearing a long-sleeve turtleneck and a long black skirt. He wanted to reach out and comfort her, but years of his past ways held him back.

"So how's Potter doing? You two are doing well?"

At the mention of Potter's name, Ginny looked up, a bolt of fear in her eyes. The look was gone within a second, but Draco had seen it.

"Everything's wonderful." she beamed. "Just as I'd always imagined."

"Okay." Again, he refused to pursue the conversation. He knew something was wrong, but he didn't want to push her away. Not as he was making friends with her.

"Oh my goodness!" she cried. "Look at the time! I really have to get going."

She rose to leave and he got up to follow her. He walked her to the door and out onto the street.

"It was really nice talking with you." she said. "How surprising is that?"

"Not so much." he said, sounding mock-offended.

Ginny laughed again, another tear crawling down her cheek. Draco gently wiped the tear from under her eye and was surprised to find his finger covered in makeup. He rubbed the space around her eye and soon a little purple started showing through. When she realized what was happening, Ginny pulled away.

"Don't!" she cried.

"He's hitting you?" Draco yelled. "Bastard!"

"Please," she said, "it's not your problem. Just leave it be."

She turned on her heal and disappeared into the night, leaving Draco stunned and angry.