A/N: This ficlet follows the events of my post-HBP continuum I refer to as the Trickverse. "The Insomniac's Blade" takes place a week after the events of "Comfort and Joy", and the Second War has ended halfway through what would have been Draco's seventh year of schooling. It should run for four or five chapters.

Standard disclaimers apply.

Chapter One: A Long December

Lee Jordan seated his hat on his head and put one gloved hand on the back door of the Burrow. "Well, let him know that if he changes his mind, he's welcome to join us at the Dragon's Claw."

"Of course," Ginny murmured. "Thank you so much for coming, Lee. I think George really appreciates it, even if he doesn't show it right now."

Lee smiled gamely as he opened the door. "I hope he comes back to us soon. We miss him. We miss them both." The fresh snow squeaked under his boot. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year," Ginny echoed, closing the door behind him.

"It was so nice of him to come," Molly said from the table. "I do wish George would've gone with him. He could use some fun."

We all could, Ginny added mentally as she surveyed her houserobe-clad mother and the way the older woman was hunched over the cup of tea Ginny had brewed her. She could hear quiet, solemn voices wafting from the living room.

There was a knock on the door. Ginny rushed forward to open it, her eyes already darting around for the scarf or other object Lee must've left behind, but the small smirk that was growing on her face died when she revealed Hermione Granger on the doorstep. "Happy New Year, Ginny," Hermione said brightly, but the look on her face said another thing altogether. Yes, I'm back again, the hardness around her eyes said, and no, I'm not interested in debating it, so don't bother asking me to go away, the thrust of her jaw added as the girl stepped into the kitchen uninvited and began to take her boots off.

"Hermione," Ginny greeted dully. "Happy New Year." She had vainly hoped that Hermione would give poor Ron a break tonight. She would've been doing a favour to the entire family by staying home, really. Their rows were so loud that they disrupted the entire household. She couldn't understand why Hermione would choose now to visit every day after Ron had spent the last six months hating her, but figured it had something to do with the loss of her brother's wand arm in the final battle. No wonder Ron was so angry to see her; Ginny would be angry too if an enemy kept dropping in to pity her, doubly so if she was unable to hex them in response.

"Happy New Year, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione sang out as she breezed through the kitchen. She didn't need to ask where Ron was. He was always in his room.

Hope sparked in Molly's eyes. "Hello, Hermione dear," she answered, sounding much more animated than she had a moment ago.

Ginny was about to move away from the door when there was a further knock on the door, very light. She opened the door once again to reveal a handsome eagle owl with a small letter in its beak. It dropped the letter at her feet and took flight abruptly. She picked the envelope up gingerly (it had fallen in some melting snow), found it was addressed to her, and tore it open.

Dear Ginny, the letter read in an unfamiliar hand that was sprawling and angular,

I regret that our last meeting did not end well and hope that this letter finds you in better spirits.

Confused, Ginny skipped to the bottom of the letter and found that the signature was obscured by an oversized D and M. At the sight of it, her heart leapt into her throat and she darted a surreptitious glance over her shoulder to ensure that her mother had turned her attention back to her novel and tea. Ginny shoved the letter and envelope into her pocket and strolled out of the kitchen into the living room, where Arthur was talking with Bill and Charlie over Butterbeers, and George and Percy were playing a halfhearted game of Gobstones. Percy was squirted right between the eyes and he chortled, glancing over at George. George smiled weakly, trying to appease him. It was a heart-wrenching sight. "Does anyone need more to drink?" she asked, more loudly than necessary so that her voice would remain even. Everyone shook their head, taking minimal notice of her. That probably meant her cheeks weren't flaming. That was something, at least.

"Do you want to play Gobstones, Ginny?" George asked, shifting position. Beside him, Percy deflated a bit.

"Maybe next game," she replied hurriedly before George could get up. "I'll be back in a bit." She skipped lightly up the stairs and only realised as she passed Ron's room that she couldn't hear any shouting. Maybe one of them had finally thought to cast a Silencing Charm. Once safe in her room, she let out a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding and dug into her pocket for the letter, not sure if she wanted to continue reading it. His mere mention of Christmas had inflamed her. Steeling herself, she smoothed out the letter and read on.

I would still like to buy you a new wand, so please let me know when you are available to go shopping. She had to admit that whatever she thought of him right now, she was eager to rid herself of Bellatrix Lestrange's wand. Sometimes she thought it had absorbed some of the Death Eater's malevolent personality.

I have a small favour to ask of you. Pansy Parkinson has been at my house for three days now, and she refuses to leave until another guest arrives at the Manor. I know this sounds bizarre, but I would be indebted to you if you could come to my house as soon as you can and stay until Pansy takes her leave. Neither of us has slept in days, and I fear that I might kill her if she stays much longer, much as I don't fancy returning to Azkaban.

She's coming back, I have to go. Please consider.

Yours &c,

Draco Malfoy

Ginny raised an eyebrow in disbelief. She wasn't sure what kind of game he was playing, making as if he were a prisoner in his own home. Perhaps it was a mentality he hadn't quite shaken yet, even though he had probably been released for a month now. Besides, he was mad to think she'd ever willingly be under the same roof as Pansy Parkinson and she certainly didn't want to see him! It was something she'd tried to put out of her mind, her inane impulse to deliver Christmas treats to his house, hoping for…well, she wasn't even sure what. Boredom at home had been her main motivator, mixed in with pity that he was all alone for Christmas. And then the embarrassment of finding out he'd already gone to bed, and realising that he wouldn't want her charity in any case! It had only gotten worse from there when he'd come down and fussed over her, as if she needed to be taken care of, and made the grand gesture of offering to buy her a new wand. It had been a stark contrast to life at home, where she was an integral cog of the machine but by no means celebrated. Then she'd realised that Draco was showing her more care than Harry ever had, even under the Amortentia, and he'd made a bitter remark about having no friends left at Hogwarts that jolted her as it had been a while since the two of them had been true enemies.

And then he'd kissed her, just a peck on the cheek, he'd meant nothing by it, but – oh, she was so stupid! – in that moment of emotional vulnerability, she just hadn't been able to let it go. He'd mortified her for it, too, making sure to turn the whole thing back on her. After the debacle that was her crush on Harry, she'd made a solemn vow to herself never to put herself out there for that sort of ridicule again. A fat lot of good it had done!

Ugh, she knew she shouldn't have started thinking about it again! But now she had a perverse desire to Floo over to Malfoy Manor, to prove that nothing was out of order. She'd just been in a strange frame of mind, that's all, stressed out over the holiday, and for a moment she'd thought he was…someone else. Yes, she'd go. She wouldn't be gone long. Besides, it wasn't like there was much to do here besides wait for Ron and Hermione to take their row public or force George to play more Gobstones.

Naturally, it wouldn't do to run down to the living room and yell "Malfoy Manor!" in front of her family. Ginny pretended to retire early in sympathy with George and then had to bide her time with a book until everyone else followed suit, tired of pretending at revelry. Hermione must have left without incident at some point. During the wait Ginny vacillated between answering Draco's summons or slipping into bed and forgetting about the whole thing. Finally, the Burrow was as quiet as it ever got and Ginny crept down the stairs and across the living room to where the fire was beginning to wane. She tossed in some Floo Powder, stepped into the emerald flames, and cried, "Malfoy Manor!" before she had a chance to re-evaluate her decision yet again.