Ginny Weasley; captain of the Holyhead Harpies, former girlfriend of Harry Potter, youngest child and only daughter to the woman who finally managed to kill Bellatrix Lestrange. She was almost as famous as The-Boy-Who-Lived himself. And yet she lived alone in a small flat in London, hadn't visited her parents since Christmas, and her only social interactions involved yelling at her teammates and sharing the occasion smile with the barista at her local muggle coffee shop.

She used to be popular, the life of the party, happy, charming, a society darling. Key words being; used to be. Up until Ron and Hermione's wedding she and Harry had been a normal, happy couple. They'd even lived together. But when Ginny stood behind Hermione that day and looked across at her boyfriend standing dutifully behind her brother; she ran away from it all. Bags packed by morning, note on the counter, ran away. She found her own flat, and threw herself into her Quidditch career without pausing to wonder what exactly had terrified her so much about the future that had once been so close at hand.

Xxx

"Extra hot, extra shot cappuccino!" the barista said loudly into the bustling café. Ginny's head perked up as her order was called out. If there was one thing the muggle world had figured out; it was coffee. Tucking her book back into her purse, Ginny went up to the counter and took the steaming hot coffee into her chilled hands. It was November and the ground was delicately painted with a frost just strong enough to permeate her woolen mitts.

"Thank you," she muttered to the handsome coffee boy, who smiled brightly at her as was their usual dance. Blushing softly, Ginny spun around to leave, almost colliding with the tall man standing behind her,

"Careful," he reached to steady her and Ginny glanced upwards,

"Zabini?" she narrowed her eyes, positive it was the former Slytherin,

"Merlin, if it isn't the little weasel herself, all grown up," Blaise Zabini's voice was a deadpan of disinterest.

"What in Merlin's name are you doing here?" Ginny frowned, she couldn't remember what side of the battle Zabini had ended up on,

"It's a coffee shop Weasley, I'm buying a coffee,"

"Ha ha, I meant, on this side of London," Ginny took a sip of her coffee and felt herself relax as the muggle elixir slid down her throat and warmed her like a mug of butterbeer.

"Buying a coffee, it's the one thing these people do manage to get right,"

"Oh, right, well okay then, I'm leaving now," Ginny awkwardly sidestepped, wishing she hadn't started that mockery of a conversation to begin with.

"That's a lovely idea Weasley," still completely monotone Blaise turned to order his own coffee as Ginny walked out into the cold, open air, sorely missing the scarf she'd so naively left in her flat.

That was really stupid, why didn't you just walk away? It's Zabini, you never used to talk to that git.

Maybe because I'm an idiot

Sounds about right Weasley, get your head on straight

Was he always that good looking?

Yes, and we never cared before, and we don't now

Right, sorry.

Did you just apologize to yourself?

Oh umm yeah, sorry.

You need a friend.

I don't want one.

I didn't say 'you want a friend' I said, 'you need a friend' you talk to yourself too much

Shut up.

She wasn't crazy; just lonely. Careful not to burn her tongue on the coffee Ginny continued to sip slowly as she walked towards the closest visitor's entrance to the Ministry; the owner of the Harpies was holding a meeting with her to have a conversation about sponsors, and their lack of. Something that Ginny felt didn't concern her in the least. The door of the phone booth was frosted over and Ginny absentmindedly drew a heart on it as she dialed and then spoke to the automated voice. The air warmed substantially as she was lowered into the ground and Ginny watched as her little frost heart vanished.

Wand weighed and visitors badge safely adhered to her coat, Ginny trudged over to the elevator, internally begging not to run into any member of her family who would question her about her absence at family dinners. People still stared, she hadn't been headline news since last season's victory and yet every third or fourth person turned their heads her way and ogled her shamelessly. You can't hide from the past Ginny, you were a part of something so iconic that you will never be anonymous again.

I know, now I just sort of wish I put makeup on.

Trying her best to ignore the watching eyes, Ginny elongated her steps and hurried towards the office of Ms. Emma Bosshart; owner and sole manager of the Holyhead Harpies. It had shocked everyone when Gwenog Jones had turned down a management position offered to her after her retirement several years ago. Ever since, the team had struggled financially; donors unhappy with the lack of fame the team held, despite their obvious talent – Rich people don't want faceless talent, they want someone whose head they could stick on a magazine, like Krum.

"Miss Weasley, pleased you could make it," Emma quipped, smoothing out stacks of paper on her desk, she motioned that Ginny take a seat. An evidently excited and nervous Emma Bosshart reapplied her lipstick before sitting down in her own chair and turning to her captain,

"I moved the Harpies from Holyhead to London for one reason Ginny, money, something we now magnificently lack," Emma placed her fingertips together and sighed, "I will not face the shame of having to move the business side of this team back there, not when there is still so much potential right here,"

Ginny wished she'd had more coffee, hardly two sentences in and she already felt like going to sleep. Finance was not her problem. Getting the quaffle through a hoop was – slightly different areas of expertise in her humble opinion.

"Focus Ginny, I know you hate this, these meetings, but this time is does concern you, I've received a proposal from a very well-funded man who would be willing to make a deal with us, given, that he receives something in return,"

"If you want the money, give him whatever he wants and let me go home," Ginny shifted in her seat as if making reading to leave but Emma's glare held her in place,

"Well, I'm glad that's the attitude you'll be brining into this, I'll invite in our potential investor then so we can discuss the terms,"

"Sounds fantastic!" Ginny's forced enthusiasm did not go unnoticed as Emma stood up and opened her office door to let in the gentleman waiting in the hall.

"Why don't you come in Mr. Zabini," she said perkily. Ginny froze in her seat, that little liar, he wasn't just buying coffee, he should have said something.

Does it really matter that he didn't confess this oh so horrible thing to you?

Okay fine, it's irrelevant.

"Thank you for inviting me here today Ms. Bosshart," no longer monotone, Zabini's voice was the epitome of charm,

"It is I who should be thanking you, please take a seat" Emma smiled, Ginny couldn't help but notice the slight colouring in her bosses cheeks and her frown deepened. Ginny ground her teeth as Zabini seated himself in the chair beside her.

"Now, why don't you update Ms. Weasley on your proposal so we're all on the same page before moving forward," Emma was still smiling more than strictly necessary.

"Of course," Zabini turned to Ginny but she refused to make eye contact, "Alright then, I have recently invested in a magazine that has even more recently had a fairly major sales downfall, it is one investment in many but I am hoping to make it quite lucrative, if you participate in my sales scheme and we are successful, then I will quite happily donate all the money you require to keep the Harpies headquarters here, if we do not succeed, then you have lost nothing," Emma nodded happily, Ginny knitted her eyebrows,

"What's the scheme?" she commented dryly, her interest only mildly piqued,

"The thing that truly sells a magazine, is a unique story, a magazine with sole rights to a story everyone wants to hear will always be a bestseller, hence, we give my magazine a story, something only it can tell,"

"Get to the point, Zabini, what's the story you want to sell" Ginny tapped her foot, wishing to be curled up at home with a book and a blanket,

"London's new power couple, Ginny Weasley and Blaise Zabini," Ginny finally made eye contact with Zabini as shock rippled through her body.

"Pardon me?" she squeaked,

"Fake a relationship with me," Zabini didn't even bat an eyelash.