Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter…unfortunately.
Setting: After the war, but before the Epilogue.
Summary: Harry and Ginny were once happy and in love, but after the war, things changed. And so did Harry. They live in a small rundown flat in the middle of London and Ginny spends most of her days at her minimum wage job at a small café owned by someone she once considered the enemy. But, like Harry, things have changed since their time at Hogwarts. With Harry's drinking problem and violent tendencies Ginny feels almost hopeless and is on the brink of giving up. But with the help of Draco Malfoy, she just might be able to salvage what's left of her vibrant and spunky personality.
…..
Ginny woke with a start, sitting straight up on the lumpy and uncomfortable couch. Her heart was pounding as she looked around for the terrors she expected to be going on around her. As she took in the familiar surroundings of her small London flat and realized her fears were only a dream, her heart rate slowly began to return to normal. With a relieved sigh she wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and then stood and tiptoed down the small hall towards the bathroom. As she passed the bedroom she once shared with her boyfriend Harry, she peaked in to make sure he was sleeping. As she expected he was sprawled out on their bed and sleeping hard. Ginny couldn't help but stare at the man she had once hoped to marry. The man who was once strong and courageous and had even risked his life several times to save the wizarding world. But looking at him now, he was no longer that man. All that was left was a hollow and desolate soul that yearned for love and attention and even cried out for help in small, meaningless attempts. But the most shocking change in Harry was his violent tendencies. With his over consumption of alcohol in an attempt to drown his problems, he had begun to take out his anger and frustrations on the only person he had left. Ginny was the only friend that Harry had left and deep down they both knew that she was only there because she wouldn't feel right leaving him to drink himself to death.
These days Ginny was afraid to even be around Harry. She never knew what kind of mood he was going to be in and she never knew what he was going to do if she struck a nerve. That's why she asked for extra shifts at her job at Malfoy's Diner. He needed the help and she needed the money and a reason to stay away from her apartment. Aside from their time at Hogwarts as enemies, the two were able to work along side each other and get their work done without trying to hex each other into another dimension. They had even taken to having conversations and joking around as they worked. Ginny hated to admit it but she was beginning to realize that maybe they were becoming and odd set of friends.
Finally, Ginny shook her head, returning to reality. She made her way to the bathroom and started her morning routine. At 6:45 Ginny was ready and left the apartment without even looking in on her sleeping boyfriend. She didn't want to take the chance of waking him up and starting a fight when she had to be at work in fifteen minutes. Ginny apparated to the diner and stood outside the back door and smoked a cigarette before entering the establishment. She had picked up the habit after starting work here at the diner. She hated to admit it but Draco had been the one to turn her onto her now favorite brand, Marlboro, full flavor. As she stood there she heard the familiar rumble of his truck entering the employee parking lot and she felt her heart begin to beat faster. Somehow, his arrival always made her a bit nervous. She didn't look his direction until she heard the truck door open and then close again. As she turned to face him she noticed his eyes taking in her entire form. She felt the blush grow in her cheeks but it was too late to turn away.
"Morning, Weaslette." He greeted her in his usual playful tone. He still insisted on calling her by the absurd nickname even after all these years.
Ginny still had her own nickname for him as well. "Ah, well if it isn't the infamous bouncing Ferret. Glad to see you made it on time this morning."
He smiled a genuine Malfoy smile. One Ginny had only been witness to a few times. "Just because you make it a habit to be here half an hour early, doesn't mean the rest of us have to give up our last few minutes of sleep."
"Sleep." Ginny scoffed. "Ha! As if. Tell me, who's the flavor of the week?"
Her knowing smile got to him and he found it hard not to retaliate. Instead he simply smirked and stamped out his cigarette with his shoe. Then, using his wand he unlocked the door and let Ginny in ahead of him.
"Since when do you have manners, Malfoy?" She teased as she made her way to the few lockers where the employees were allowed to keep their personal belongings.
His silence continued and Ginny eyed him as he flipped through some paperwork. He had been acting odd the last few days and Ginny was determined to find out why. Even though they had taken to being civil with one another, he still usually couldn't make it through an entire day without a snide comment or two about her blood traitor family or their lack there of money. But lately he seemed to be a bit friendlier. It was almost as if he was trying to act differently around her.
Without even thinking about it Ginny found herself in front of the coffee maker putting on a fresh pot. It was the first thing she did every morning for the last several months. They wouldn't be open for business until 8 A.M. and as usual the cook was late. While the coffee made Ginny went about her usual chores until she heard the coffee pot gurgle the last few drops of water into the pot. With a smile Ginny made her way to the pot and pulled two coffee cups from the cupboard below. She poured two steaming cups and put some cream into her own before taking the other to Malfoy.
When she walked into his office, his forehead was in his hands and he looked frustrate. Ginny smiled and offered him the cup.
Draco looked up, startled, as if he'd forgotten anyone else was there. "Thank you." He eyed the coffee skeptically.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "No sugar, I promise. Jeez Malfoy, you'd think after six months of bringing you coffee almost every morning that I might now how you take it."
"It's not sugar I'm worried about." He smirked as he took a sip. "Just making sure there isn't a love potion in there or something."
"Ha!" Ginny laughed. "As if, Malfoy. I can see your still conceded, at least that hasn't changed."
Draco frowned. "Changed? What do you mean?"
They both heard the back door open and close and a second later their morning cook, James stood before them.
"Morning." He muttered sheepishly. "Sorry I'm late Draco…the wife and kids as usual."
Draco shrugged and waved him into the kitchen. "I don't care, go on."
Ginny frowned at his unusual behavior. "What has gotten into you Malfoy?"
Draco sighed and leaned back in his chair. He pointed to the papers on his desk. "We're just running into the ground is what. We aren't making enough profits to keep us going. I don't know what else to do. We can't afford to let anyone else go. You're working double shifts as it is." He shook his head. "I'm just a little stressed is all. Am I acting that different?"
Ginny nodded. "Yeah, strange really. But I guess it doesn't matter. I can understand stress." She thought of Harry at home. He wouldn't rise until after noon and then he would start in on a new bottle. She let out a small sigh without realizing it.
"What about you, Red." Draco addressed her tone. "You don't seem your perky self either. Trouble in paradise?"
Ginny tried not to make eye contact and unconsciously scratched at her arm. She didn't realize she had moved her sleeve, revealing a very large bruise until Malfoy said something.
"What is that?" He looked appalled.
Ginny looked down, surprised at her forgetfulness. "Oh…" She stammered as she made to cover it up once again. "I hit it on a door way." She continued to mumble as she turned and scurried away, trying to find something to keep her busy.
Unconvinced, Draco followed Ginny out into the dining room and watched her as she worked. He knew she knew he was there but she didn't dare make eye contact.
"Weasley."
"Yes?" Ginny said, still going about her routine, taking the chairs down from the tables.
Draco found it hard to ask his next question. It wasn't in his nature to be concerned, but there was something inside him telling him that the bruise on Ginny's arm was not there by accident. "Are you okay? I mean…is everything okay at home?"
Surprised, Ginny looked up, her large brown eyes, wide with fear for a slight second met his and he knew he was on the right track. She tried to recover and act normal, but she wasn't fooling him. "Of course everything is okay, Malfoy. Why would anything be wrong?"
Draco sighed. "Ginny, stop it. I'm not stupid. That's not the first bruise you've had recently. Tell me what's going on."
Ginny shook her head and continued moving around, avoiding eye contact once again. "There's nothing going on Malfoy." And after a minute Ginny stopped and looked him square in the eyes and decided on a different tactic. "And since when do you care?"
Taken aback, Draco didn't know what to say at first. Finally he came up with something that made sense for a boss to say to his employee. "I'm just concerned because you are my employee. And anything that could affect your performance here is of my concern."
Ginny smirked at his well-played lie. "Well there's nothing to worry yourself with Malfoy." After that she took to working and avoiding him altogether. It was the end of her first shift and the start of her break when she realized that he wasn't leaving for the night. He, like Ginny would be staying to help the night shift.
Ginny wasn't surprised when he joined her at the small table out back to have a smoke while business was slow. They were both quiet for a bit, but it was Draco who finally broke the ice.
"I may not be the most caring person in London, Ginny, but I'm not as cold as I once was. And after several months of working with you, I've…started to notice things about you. Things that are different than they once were."
Ginny looked at him, her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Draco sighed and looked at her. "You're not the spunky little redhead I remember from Hogwarts anymore." He shook his head trying to think of what else to say. "You're quiet and withdrawn and…well…it's like you're not even happy anymore, Red. And why wouldn't I be concerned? I do consider you a…well, a friend I suppose."
Ginny was surprised to hear what he was saying. "Really? Hmmm."
She thought for a while before finally speaking again. "I don't know what to say Draco. I mean…things are so different now. Everything. I just don't know what to do anymore."
Realizing Ginny wasn't going to tell him the truth he sighed again as he stood. "Just promise me you'll tell me if you need anything, Red."
Ginny nodded. "Ok, I promise."
Draco turned and went back into the diner without another word. After Ginny's break, business picked up again and didn't slow down until it was nearly closing time.
When Ginny was finally finished with the dining room, she walked back to her locker and grabbed her things. She was almost to the door when Draco called her name.
"Yes?" Ginny said as she approached his office door.
He looked up and eyed her for a moment and sighed with a slight smile. "Have a good night Red. And remember what I said."
"Uh…yeah. I will." She stammered for a moment trying to understand what he was up to. "Good night." And then she was gone.
