Chocolate Biscuits

Four years later

March 1st

Work

12:00 PM

You honestly believe that Mum wouldn't find you in four years time and owl you to me?

I'd expected better of you.

Hiding in the attic, of all places.

12:01 PM

I faintly remember owling you to Dan, which would explain the mud on your cover, but then again, you deserve mud after what you did.

It's been four years.

12:03 PM

A lot of things have changed in four years.

Like my handwriting, for instance.

I no longer cross my Ts.

They look so pretty uncrossed.

12:06 PM

I'm hungry.

12:10 PM

'Weasley.'

'Oh Merlin no.'

Malfoy became Head of the Charms Department.

Malfoy.

I was doomed the moment I realised I had to work at the Ministry for a year to help pay for my Healer training, and even more doomed when I realised that I had to go to Malfoy and convince him that I would be the best to be his secretary out of a record of 1567 witches that applied for the job.

'Most people would've sacked you for that,' Malfoy says smoothly, leaning against the doorpost. 'You can thank –'

'I thought I'd done your report already,' I interrupted, annoyed, glaring up at him through my fringe.

12:11 PM

Oh! I have a fringe now.

It's pretty.

Luna recommended I did it, really, and though I don't trust most things that come out of Luna's mouth, she was having a rather clear moment then.

Well, she did hug the begonias later on, claiming several Wossies were in there, but that was after she'd cut my hair.

12:12 PM

'Weasley?'

There was suddenly a large face hovering in front of mine, and I jumped back in my chair.

12:13 PM

It's a sport, jumping in chairs.

I'd like to see you try.

12:14 PM

'Weasley?' Malfoy said again, looking thoroughly amused.

'I hate you,' I replied calmly. 'What's the matter?'

'It's lunch, Weasley.'

12:15 PM

What's with the Weasley all the time?

12:16 PM

'I gathered, Malfoy.'

12:17 PM

Hee, I'm so witty.

12:18 PM

'Then why aren't you down there with Potter and the He-Weasley, enjoying a nice cup of tea and a chat?'

I froze.

Er, I hadn't seen Harry properly in about three years.

Sure, there were the Weasley Christmas parties, and the occasional Weasley wedding (Charlie, Percy (who would want to marry Percy, anyway?) and Bill had now gone off and married someone) where I had a clear view of Harry, but he always managed to make some horribly vague excuse and then he'd leave.

12:19 PM

Three years.

He's awful.

I hate Harry.

12:21 PM

Realising Malfoy probably didn't know about the whole Harry-avoids-Ginny-at-Weasley-gatherings business, I looked up at him with a glare, fully prepared to tell him to mind his own business.

'I don't like tea.'

12:22 PM

I've yet to teach my mouth to work at the same time as my mind.

Four years of my mind shouting 'NO, DON'T!' haven't paid off the slightest.

Bloody mouth.

12:23 PM

Malfoy smirked.

Bastard.

'Weasley,' he said smartly, 'I didn't think you were the one to pass up some quality time with the Boy Who Lived To Annoy Everyone At The Ministry, since you are dating, and all.'

'I'm not dating him,' I said, angrily, and Malfoy quirked one eyebrow.

'You're not?'

'Deaf, too?' I prompted, and Malfoy let out a long, suffering sigh.

'Weasley, it's lunch. If you're not gone in ten minutes, I will eat your hat.'

'You – what?'

12:25 PM

I could've sworn Malfoy said 'I will eat your hat'.

12:26 PM

I don't even own a hat.

12:27 PM

'Why would you want to eat my hat?' I asked, flabbergasted.

'Eat your –' Malfoy started, then burst out laughing. 'I'm not even coming near your hat, Weasley, that's disgusting. Just go and eat lunch.'

And he was gone.

12:29 PM

Since Malfoy's not eating my hat, what did he say?

12:34 PM

'WEASLEY!' Malfoy shouted.

I nearly fell out of my chair.

12:35 PM

Does he have to be so loud?

I mean, it's only a flimsy wall that's between us, not half a Quidditch Pitch.

12:36 PM

'WEASLEY!'

'I'm going! Going! Look, threshold, meet Ginny Weasley's left foot!'

This only prompted another 'WEASLEY!' and I shouted back 'MALFOY!' and it took a while before Malfoy had enough of the shouting back and forth and threatened to sack me if I went on like this.

12:37 PM

He says that about four times a day.

It's getting a bit old.

12:38 PM

Anyway.

I left Malfoy alone after that, and took the lift down to the Hall.

Out of all the Weasleys, I was the only one who still worked at the Ministry. Dad had retired several ages ago, and Percy still sauntered in now and then, but was really too busy doing Things Percy Does to work here permanently.

Fred and George still have their joke shop, Bill's managed to start living in France with Fleur, Charlie's probably doing dragons again –

12:39 PM

Ew, not that sort of doing.

You are still disgusting.

12:40 PM

And Ron plays professional Quidditch for the Cannons. He's really the best Keeper they've had in ages, and he keeps sending me loads of tickets to their games.

I appreciate it, really.

That Seeker of theirs is ad –

12:45 PM

Not watching where I was going, I ran head first into the fountain, and successfully drenched myself.

'Bloody fountain,' I said loudly, attracting the attention of several by-passers.

12:47 PM

Apparently, someone toppling into the fountain isn't any shock to the Ministry.

12:48 PM

I think it should be.

That thing that's supposedly a house-elf is horrible enough.

But maybe, you get used to its ugliness after a while.

12:49 PM

Aw, poor house-elf.

12:50 PM

I patted the elf's ear, muttering, 'It's all right,' when there was an amused laugh from my right side. I spun around (splashing more water onto the ground) angrily, but my mouth sort of stopped working.

Ron and Harry stood there at the entrance; it was Ron who was laughing his head off, of course. Harry merely flushed, but bit his lip to stop himself from laughing.

'Oh, go on,' I said, rolling my eyes, and Harry lost it. I managed to get out of the fountain (I swear those coins are magical) in the end, with some help of Zacharias Smith, who happened to be passing.

'Thanks, Zacharias,' I said and he waved his wand. My robes were instantly dry, and I gave him a grateful smile. I suddenly realised Ron and Harry had both stopped laughing.

'I'll see you later, then,' I told Zacharias, and he flashed me one of his infamous grins (the boy was awful, he had half the Charms Department after him) before leaving.

'What are you two doing at the Ministry, anyway?'

'We were going to visit Neville,' Harry answered.

12:53 PM

Oh, sure, you visit Neville Longbottom every once in a while, I wanted to say, but refrained, breathing out softly through my nose.

So Harry didn't like me.

I could get over that.

I mean, it's not like I love him, or anything.

12:54 PM

Well, I do, but that's beside the point, because he doesn't love me.

It's really no fun being all alone in the Love Department.

The walls are pink.

It gets rather depressing.

12:55 PM

'Great,' I managed, stepping aside. 'He's probably in his office, doing that report on the Mimblus Whatsits.'

Ron, still a bit red in the face from laughing, patted my hair and disappeared in search of the lifts. Harry stood still where he was, looking at everything and anything but me.

'Harry?'

'Ginny, there's something I want to –'

My heart fluttered insanely for a moment, but I managed to tone it down a bit.

'You'll be late,' I cut him off, coldly. 'The lifts are over there, it's the fourth level.' Harry looked like he wanted to say something else, but he shook his head, then offered me a smile. 'Thanks, Gin,' he said, before striding off after Ron.

12:56 PM

I hate Harry.

I hate hate hate hate hate hate Harry.

Author's Note: Uhm. Look, a window!