Before We Grow Old

Chapter One

07:46

Ginny pushed open the door to the coffee shop in Diagon Alley, enjoying the tinkling sound of the wind chimes which blew in the breeze. The smell of strong, black coffee which always lingered here, no matter what else happened, drifted out to her. She smiled.

"Morning, Cho!" called Ginny, happily to the owner of the shop as she hung up her green coat on the pegs next to the door. From the back of the shop, the once-slender form of Cho Chang, now heavily pregnant, walked from the kitchens, wiping her hand on her apron.

"Hello, Ginny," she greeted the younger girl with a smile, all pervious grievances from Hogwarts forgotten. "Did you have a good time last night?' Ginny nodded eagerly.

"Yeah, I did. Harry took me to a showing of Les Miserables in the West End. It's a muggle musical… he's really into those at the moment!" She made her way behind the counter, where she slipped on an apron and began to set up the coffee machines. "How much longer?" she asked absent mindedly as the water tank began to boil.

"Any day now," she smiled. "Don't worry, Ginny. I'll be back at work before Quidditch season." Ginny nodded, and flipped the switch for decaffeinated coffee. "Thanks," said Cho gratefully as she sat down.

"Cho, what time did you get up this morning?" Ginny asked, concerned. Cho frowned, sipping the coffee.

"I don't remember, I think maybe three? It's the baby's fault. I can't sleep properly with it."

"Dudley should help you," Ginny said sternly.

"Dudley is a muggle, and knows nothing about magic. He couldn't help with this even if he wanted to. Which he does," she added hastily at seeing the Weasley glare. She levered herself out the chair, and made her way to the door to flip the sign over. "Get ready, Ginny. Looks like a busy day."

x

x

12;39

"I'll have a cappuccino for me and a rocky road... and whatever you'd like for yourself, Weaslette." Malfoy grinned across the counter at his friend as she scowled back at him.

"I told you, Draccie, don't call me Weaslette. And I can't take my break now, Lavender hasn't shown up yet." Draco rolled his eyes as Ginny prepared his order and her lunch. "How's work?" she asked over the sound of the coffee machine.

"Not bad," he shrugged. "Your brother's giving me hell. He insists on being treated by me, no one else. It's ridiculous." The blonde scowled as Ginny passed him a tall coffee glass.

"Maybe he has a thing for you, Draco?" she joked, ringing up the food. "That's four sickles and eight knuts, please." She held her hand out, and he dropped five sickles in her palm.

"Keep the change, Ginny'" He winked at her, before scooping up the food and heading to their usual table.

"Hello there, what can I get you?" asked Ginny Weasley, thinking longingly of the food at the table in the corner.

The door flew open with a resounding crash, and Lavender stumbled into the shop before waving at Ginny. She hurried behind the counter, tying her apron as she went, and Ginny went happily to where Draco was sat.

"So, do you like him?" she asked, sitting down and grabbing her roll. Draco flipped her off. "Seriously, Malfoy, Charlie has a real thing for you. Although it might be more to do with the fact that your name literally means dragon..."

"Oh, hush you," Draco shook his head at his best friend, picking delicately at a marshmallow with his long slender fingers. "If you really must know, there is someone I like." He became very interested in his food.

"Who?" Ginny breathed, barely keeping her squeal inside her, eyes wide.

Draco had never really thought about how odd marshmallows really were. They were like soft honeycomb.

"Draco!" whined Ginny. He looked up, and his eyes met hers. "Who is he?"

"It can never happen," Draco said to the marshmallow. "He's with this girl who really loves him... and he loves her."

"Do I know him?"

"Yeah, you do." Ginny racked her brains, trying to think of who it could be. There was Neville, who was with Luna at the moment but really very rocky, so she didn't think it was him. Then there was Zabini... But he wasn't with anyone, a fact Draco kept drilling into her head. That left Seamus and Dean but they were with each other, definitely not a girl, and her brothers. She sighed deeply.

"Ok, which one?" Draco looked confused. "Which one of my brothers is it?" Draco laughed.

"None of them. Trust me; you'd know if it was one of them. You won't guess. The thing is... he went out with his girlfriend last night, and I met him when he got back to his flat. And, I might have kissed him. Just once!" he added, hastily, seeing the look on her face.

"Did he kiss you back?" Draco nodded and closed his eyes, a grin spreading across his face slowly.

"And he was brilliant." His eyes snapped open as the third chair at their table was scraped back. "Hey Blaise," he grinned. Blaise Zabini smiled back at him.

"Wotcher, Draco, Ginny" He tipped his hat at the red head as he sat down at the table. "What's new?"

"Draco his eye on a new guy," said Ginny teasingly. Blaise looked unimpressed.

"I know. And trust me; this is not new, just refurbished. He's been in love with the guy since first year." Blaise grabbed his muffin and bit into it messily, as Draco thumped his head down onto the table.

"Blaise..." he moaned." Just shut up, will you?"

"Shan't," Zabini retaliated, talking through a large mouthful. Ginny wrinkled her nose at him, before looking at her watch.

"I need to get down to the office quickly, we have a team meeting today to discuss try outs for next season. I'll see you guys later." She dropped a kiss on Draco's head, nodded at Zabini and left, only just remembering her coat. The two boys watched her go.

"Are you ever gonna tell her it's Harry?" asked Blaise. Draco shook his head.

"No. I respect her too much."

Lavender listened in, a cruel smile on her scarred face.

A/N: Thanks to ProvidingTheAnswerToTheRiddle for beta'ing this for me. You rock hun, go check her stuff out, it is fantabulous.