Author's Note:It's been awhile since I've done this so I'd forgotten how to submit. Of course all credit for the characters and magical settings in this story goes to JK Rowling. Her brilliance is an inspiration to us all. This story may start slow, but I have all the chapters already written. I always hate incomplete fanfictions, so I always finish before publishing the first chapter. Unfortunately I did not have a beta reader so please forgive any mistakes. Also, please comment. We all need the encouragement
Chapter 1: Magic be-gone
I killed the witch in me. At least that's what I like to say. I watched my entire world shatter—a war fought in my home, in my school; and over what? Magic. The word tasted like rotten fruit in my mouth. I suppose the witch in me will never die. Especially when I use magic daily—for healing mainly, but also menial tasks such as cleaning, and coffee. That makes me a hypocrite doesn't it?
A much-changed Ginevra Weasley sat behind the wheel of a small car. Her patience with traffic waned as she fiddled with the wand in her pocket. If only I were still a witch, she thought to herself. Even though she carried her wand everywhere, Ginny chose to live a Muggle life. She hadn't seen Harry, Hermione or anyone since the war ended. She didn't even visit the Burrow except at Christmas time. Being around magic hurt too much. She'd watched her classmates die in a green cloud of unsurpassable power. They never even had a chance to live. And why? Magic. No one seemed to understand her need to escape the past. Even Harry, who'd suffered more than anyone, remained a wizard. He said that was who he was, and no matter what he thought of magic, he couldn't change who he was. She pushed a lock of Weasley-red hair behind her ear, and caught her reflection in the rearview mirror. She felt so different now. Shorter hair had nothing to do with the change. She still had deep brown eyes—haunted eyes, red hair, too many freckles to deal with and all her other physical features. But Ginny sat in the driver's seat of a car, wearing Gap blue jeans and a cheap T-shirt. To the passerby she looked entirely liked a Muggle.
And that's how she chose to live her life, as a Muggle nurse who barely got by. She lived alone in a London apartment. She took the tube, ate at McDonalds, and used pounds instead of galleons. As simple as her life sounded, Ginny actually felt like she was making a difference—one person at a time. Technically her job was as a nurse at a small clinic, but something had called Ginny to help the homeless and the poor who took residence in London's street. There her heart found comfort and peace. Everywhere else she felt miserable. But every time she helped someone, the world reminded her that one person could make a difference.
Finally traffic moved. Ginny pulled into a parallel parking spot outside a small homeless shelter. She walked into the door, smiling at the familiar faces. "Do you have anything for me to do today?" Ginny asked hopefully.
"Of course we do Gin," Bob Harris, a gentle man with a quiet voice smiled at her. "You're our biggest volunteer. We would never turn you away."
"Just tell me where I'm needed."
"We have a little boy with a cold, and a couple people with allergies. Oh, and there's a crazy man but I doubt you can help him," Bob gave her a sad smile. There was always so much work to do, and so many people in the homeless shelter.
Walking into the room, Ginny heard a little boy coughing. Sitting next to his bedside, Ginny offered the warmest smile. "How are you today?" He coughed in response. Pulling out a stethoscope and a thermometer Ginny went to work. "Sounds like you have a case of the flu Joey." Ginny sighed; she'd been hoping he just had a cold. Now she would have to get him into a clinic for a prescription. Or she could always do a small healing spell. No, Ginny stopped herself, You're giving up magic. But the boy obviously felt terrible.
Breaking into her contemplation, a familiar bitter voice reached her ears. "I know who YOU are," the man standing behind her said. She didn't turn around; she had no desire to acknowledge his presence. She thought maybe if she pretended he wasn't there, he'd disappear. "That bloody red-hair and goody-two shoe nature is unmistakable."
"Malfoy," Ginny lapsed, admitting she knew him, "Could you please hold on a minute? I'm with a patient." She still didn't turn around. She kept reminding herself that he wasn't really there.
"HOLD ON! HOLD ON A MINUTE!" Draco seethed. "I'VE BEEN DENIED HELP FOR OVER FIVE YEARS! I WILL NOT HANG ON TO ANYTHING FOR ANY AMMOUNT OF BLOODY TIME."
"What the bloody hell are you talking about," Ginny forgot her language, and denial of his existence and turned around. Immediately her mouth dropped, and the sight of him shocked her. His hair hung limply around his shoulders, his pale skin looked ashen; his robes were dirty and tattered. He simply could not be the poised Draco she knew.
"I'm talking about me! Just like I always have Weasley. Selfish Draco has returned to the mortal world. All should beware," he rambled.
"What happened to you Draco?" Ginny stood up. She was simply aghast at his change. He simply couldn't be well. The nurse inside picked up on the signs immediately.
"What do you mean what happened to me? Nothing happened to me of course. I'm Draco Malfoy—richest bastard at Hogwarts."
She wanted to hate him. But she couldn't. Too much pity overwhelmed her. "You aren't well Draco."
"Brilliant observation Weasley! Ten pointes to Gryffindor! ALWAYS BLOODY GRYFINDOR!"
"What's going on in here," Bob finally popped his head into the room. "Oh you found our crazy man did you Gin?"
"I'M NOT CRAZY! And do you even know who this woman is? I think not! She's a WITCH! A bloody mudblood-loving WITCH. I bet she has her wand in her pocket right now don't you Gin?"
Ginny looked away, tears stinging in her eyes at the memory of her hatred for Draco. She couldn't hate someone that pathetic. And he was right about one thing; her wand was in her pocket.
"Do you want me to call someone to take him?" Bob offered.
"No," Ginny wiped away a tear. "I'll take care of him. Even if he is a jerk, seems I have a heart for those too."
"Sometimes I think your heart is too big Ginny," he smiled at her.
"No such thing Bob," Ginny smiled then looked at Draco pretending not to know him. "Sir, would you kindly come along with me?"
"SIR! Bloody Weasley! Don't act like you don't know who I am."
"That's not the point. The question is whether you would like to stay at this homeless shelter OR leave with me?"
"Does leaving mean I have to go back to your bloody burrow with all those crazy red heads?" Draco almost seemed to have momentarily regained his senses till he randomly started screaming "RED HEADS!"
"I have an apartment," Ginny said quietly. "And if you don't come along now I'll leave you here."
"Ginny Weasley? An apartment? How'd you afford that, did you turn whore or something? Anything to get me away from these bloody Muggles."
She led Draco outside, to her little Chevy Malibu, which he gaffed at. After a few moments of harassing her about driving, he finally got in the car and they headed off. From the first few minutes Ginny started driving it was evident Draco had never been in a car. Every little movement startled him, and he spent most of the ride screaming that he was dying.
Hope you like the first chapter of my story. I'm going to go ahead and put up Chapter 2. If it looks like people are interested I may put up chapter 3 tomorrow or the next day. Thanks for your time!