The sequel is finally here! This is actually the third version I wrote (scrapped two because it had become less about Ginny and Draco than I had intended). All of your favorite characters are back (by popular demand) and they actually play bigger roles in this one. A few questions have yet to be answered and they will be, in time. So here it is, a lengthy first chapter. Warning: I completely disregarded Deathly Hallows and Half-Blood Prince for both the first and the sequel. Anyway, read, enjoy, review!
From the reception desk on the thirteenth floor, Hermione watched Draco and Ginny with disgust. Look at them, she thought. Looking giddy and so damn cheery while exchanging loving gazes across Draco's desk. Just what had she been thinking, condoning Ginny's decision to enter a relationship with Draco Malfoy? Granted it was a secret relationship, but it just wasn't fair or right for them to be together. She couldn't voice her concerns to too many people. After all, Ginny and Malfoy had only disclosed their love affair with a select few. Society tended to frown upon illicit sexual affairs. Hermione sneered one last time at the open door to Malfoy's office before turning to face Harry. "It's not right, Harry. How can they flaunt their affair three feet away from her office? It's downright disrespectful, I tell you. It hasn't been so long since Draco broke off the engagement. Don't you think people just aren't ready to see that?"
Harry sighed and silently prayed for patience. He was one of the select few Hermione could complain to. Unfortunately for him, however, he didn't share Hermione's opinion and often became annoyed whenever the subject popped up. "I think this is less about Draco and Ginny and more about you and Ron."
"What? Me and Ron?" As if offended, Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm just concerned about a friend. But while we are on the subject of Ron..." Harry sighed again, already knowing what she was going to ask next. "Do you think he's dating that girl?" The question had been asked numerous times and although his answer never changed, Hermione continued to ask on a regular basis.
"She has a name, Hermione. Besides, she isn't just a girl. She happens to be one of the richest women in the muggle world. And now one of the most powerful women in the wizarding community as well. And for the umpteenth time, Ron and Victoria are not dating. If you don't believe me, then why do you keep asking? Or, better yet, why don't you just ask them yourself? You may not feel comfortable asking Victoria, but Ron is your friend."
"But Darrius says-"
"What does Darrius know?" Harry interrupted. "What makes him an expert on their relationship?"
"So they do have a relationship!" Hermione accused.
"No, you're not listening. I'm trying to tell you no one can give you a definite answer to your question aside from the people involved. Talk to Ron, I'm sure he'll set you straight. And this isn't what I came over here for. I wanted to ask you if-" Harry suddenly stopped and smiled brightly at something behind Hermione. Hermione arched a brow, intrigued as to why Harry's mood had done a complete one-eighty in a split second. She turned around to quench her curiosity and rolled her eyes when she spotted Catherine Bennet-Price walking towards them, rubbing her right temple and smiling rather timidly in return. "Hello, Catherine. Are you all right? You look a little tired."
"Only a little? Good, then I look better than I feel." She started to walk past them, but stopped when she saw Draco's door open. "He's in there? Bloody hell, I was hoping he was out to lunch so I could just drop this off with Ginny. I'll just bet she's in there, too."
"I'll bring it in for you," Harry offered.
"Would you? Thanks, I owe you big time. Does anyone have any aspirin?"
"Bad day? Get it out. Venting always makes me feel better."
"Hmm, it depends on your definition of bad. I'd say tough is more accurate. I just got out of two back-to-back meetings with my father and the Department of Muggle Artifacts and the Department of Mysteries. I've got another meeting in a few minutes with the Department of Muggle Relations and he's going to be there. Malfoy, not my father though I do suppose he'll be there as well. I've been avoiding him, Malfoy again, since...well, you know. The wedding that never happened." Catherine hesitated before handing her files over to Harry. "Make sure he signs those. If he asks you what they are for, tell him to call someone at the main office. And by someone I mean anyone but me."
"Got that. I'm going out to lunch now. Would you like me to bring you anything?" Hermione rolled her eyes again. Could Harry be any more obvious? He reminded her of a lost puppy following a child around, more than willing to perform tricks in hopes that the child will become its new owner.
"No...but thank you for offering. Well, maybe some aspirin. Yes," Catherine decided. "Some aspirin would be just perfect right now."
"Yell at me."
"What?" Both Hermione and Catherine eyed him wearily.
"Yell at me," he repeated. "You look really down and depressed and yelling at me usually makes you feel better. So go ahead and yell at me."
"Okay. Here goes." Catherine took a deep breath and pointed to Draco's office. "Get those damned papers to Malfoy, signed, and back to me. Sometime this century would be nice, Potter. Why are you still standing there? Move it!" Catherine smiled up at Harry. "You're right. Yelling at you does cheer me up. Considerably." Harry and Catherine grinned at each other for a moment, long enough to several of their coworkers on the floor arching their brows.
"Excuse me," Hermione said appalled at the hallmark card worthy moment unfolding before her very own eyes. "But are you two actually getting along?" That wiped the grins right of their faces and returned Harry's attention to her. Catherine turned to leave but Hermione stopped her. "Hold on a second. Do you think Ron is seeing that new girl?"
Catherine's brows furrowed together. "Which new girl would that be? Victoria?" At Hermione's nod, Catherine shrugged. "Victoria and I aren't exactly friends and I don't know Ron all that well. She should be up here any minute, so you can just ask her if you want."
"Er, no, no. No thanks. That would be too awkward." Catherine eyed her suspiciously. "That is to say, I don't know her very well. Or at all, really. It would feel awkward to ask."
"Right...Why don't you just ask him out already?" When Hermione gaped at her, Catherine shrugged. "This is the twenty-first century. If women can wear pants and work at high paying jobs alongside men, then women can most certainly ask men on dates."
"You-you-you knew?" Hermione sputtered.
"What? That you fancy Ron? Uh, yeah. Doesn't everyone know?" Bidding her goodbyes and thanking Harry once more, Catherine tossed her long raven colored hair over her shoulders and walked back into the conference room.
"She knew? Does everyone know, Harry? Is it that obvious?" Worried, Hermione turned to Harry for reassurance. But he was already gone, off to do the favor Catherine had asked of him. Angry that everyone was involved in a staff meeting, and in a relationship, except for her and anxious over what Catherine had just revealed, Hermione went in search of Lavender. At the elevator, she caught up with Ginny instead. "Ginny! When did you get out?"
"Get out? Of what?" Ginny asked as she pushed the down button. "Are you going to lunch now? I'm going, too. Draco decided to give me two hours off, while he's at that meeting."
"He didn't want you there to take notes?"
"He doesn't need notes. He has a photographic memory. He only asks me to stay sometimes so we can be in the same room more often. He says he just enjoys being next to me. But he can't afford any distractions today. Apparently, the meetings today are of the utmost importance. Key staff only," Ginny explained.
"Key staff. Right." Left out again, Hermione, she thought bitterly. She shook that thought out of her head and stepped inside the elevator with Ginny. "I was actually just on my way to see Lavender, so we could go to lunch together. Harry's coming, too. Want to join us?"
"Sure. It'll be like a Hogwarts reunion. All we're missing is Ron. Maybe I should-"
"Lavender," Hermione reminded her.
"Oh. Right. She's still not over that? Honestly, it feels like they broke up eons ago."
"It was a year ago. And they dated for nearly ten years," Hermione pointed out. "Maybe you and Draco have been focused on each other a little too long. I expected you to notice something like that."
"Something like what? How am I supposed to know Lavender is choosing to hold a grudge? I mean, Ron's over it." Ginny shrugged. "But I guess you could be right; different people heal differently and some just heal faster than others." The elevator doors opened then and Lavender popped in.
"Hiya! Just the people I was looking for. Rita's?" Lavender asked. "For lunch," she explained to Ginny. "The café up the street is called Rita's. It's one of our favorite places to eat."
"I don't care, anything but Rita's," Hermione responded. "That girl Ron's seeing likes Rita's."
"What?" Outraged, Lavender stomped her foot. Ginny rolled her eyes at how immature Lavender was acting and had been acting ever since Ron had dumped her. Or maybe Lavender had always been that way and she just hadn't noticed until recently. "I'm never eating there again!" Hermione nodded in agreement.
"That's stupid. You're going to give up eating at your favorite restaurant because Victoria eats there? She shops at many of the same places you do and I'm sure she has used one of the Ministry's many bathrooms before. Are you going to stop shopping and using the bathroom because there's a possibility she's been there before?" Ginny asked.
"Ron dumped me for her! I have a right to hate her! Just because she's rich and smart doesn't make her any better than me. And I can't believe she'd flirt with a nearly married man!" Lavender whined. Ginny greatly disagreed with Lavender's comment, but chose not to say anything. Why hurt her feelings by pointing out that Victoria possessed two of the qualities Lavender dreadfully lacked?
"You two were dating, Lavender. Marriage and dating are two very different things."
"Who's side are you on, Ginny?"
"I'm not choosing sides, I'm just trying to be fair and objective."
"Well, that damn wench needs to fall into a pot of boiling oil. Imagine her stealing your boyfriend. I'm sure you'd be singing a different tune then. The damn slut," Lavender continued. "Disrespectful, spoiled prat! Taking whatever she wants and leaving the rest of us with crumbs!"
"We're hardly destitute because of her," Ginny replied dryly. "I haven't seen anyone of us living in a cardboard box or digging through a trash can for food lately."
"She stole my boyfriend, she stole Hermione's promotion, contributed to the break up of Malfoy and the Minister's daughter-"
"So did Hermione," Ginny interrupted. And me, she added silently. She still felt a tiny twinge she recognized as guilt whenever Draco and Catherine's relationship was brought up. "Besides, it's silly of you to blame a single person for what was surely a complicated break up. And Victoria didn't steal anything, Ron or her job. As far as we know, she and Ron aren't together and she was hired because the Ministry felt she was the best person for the position."
Lavender chose to ignore her. "She wasn't at all happy with Ginny's engagement to Matthew, she's damn near irresistible to men, she's-" Just then, the elevator doors opened once more and Victoria Wellington entered. An eerie silence filled the elevator. All four women looked straight ahead, each feeling awkward. Ginny began to fidget slightly while Hermione shuffled her feet and coughed once out of pure nervousness. Lavender began to examine her fingernails in hopes of appearing nonchalant. Only Victoria seemed to be at ease. She was so at ease she even turned to smile at Lavender and Hermione.
"I know you were just talking about me," Victoria commented breezily. "You can continue, if you'd like. Gossip and envy are just another form of flattery to me."
"Shouldn't you be heading upstairs? You know, to your meeting?" Hermione snapped.
"I know exactly where I am heading, but thank you so much for your false concern. I'm actually on my way down to Ron's office. He left his watch at my house yesterday. He left so late, he must have forgotten it." Unable to resist, Victoria held up a silver watch for them to see. Ginny could feel Lavender's temper broiling and prayed to God she didn't do anything stupid, like turn Victoria into a newt. How would they ever explain that to the Ministry? The elevator thankfully stopped again. "Then again, it might have been early and not late. Well, this is my stop. Nice seeing you again, Ginny. Party tonight, remember."
"Er, right. We'll-I'll be there," Ginny quickly corrected. Once Victoria was out of the elevator, Lavender and Hermione glared at Ginny. "What?"
"I cannot believe you are friends with her! She's the other woman, Ginny!" Lavender shrieked.
"Ron did not cheat on you. And can we just stop talking about Victoria? I swear you obsess over her more than any adversary or enemy or whatever your relationship is to her should." The rest of the elevator ride was silent, with Lavender choosing to give Ginny the silent treatment until she apologized for her comments. When they finally reached the lobby, Lavender marched straight out the front door of the Ministry without even waiting for Hermione, whom she had decided to remain on speaking terms with since she also hated Ron's new girlfriend.
"Whoa!" Harry said when Lavender nearly collided with him. He fixed his glasses and then looked over at Ginny and Hermione. "She seemed angry."
"That's the understatement of the century. Another Victoria rant," Ginny sighed.
"Oh." Understanding Ginny's misery completely, Harry took her arm in his and led the way out. "Rita's?"
"No!" Hermione nearly screeched.
"Ouch. My ears, Herms, my ears. What's wrong with Rita's?"
"Just forget it!" Hermione left in a huff leaving Harry and Ginny alone.
"What was that all about?"
"Another Victoria thing. We should follow them before they think we've ditched them or something. Looks like they're heading for Bradley's Grill. Draco and I love that place! We go there every other day for lunch, pretending it's a business affair of course."
"Of course. You seem happy," Harry commented.
"I am. I just wished my happiness didn't come at the cost of her happiness."
Harry shrugged. "Everything comes at a price. And I saw her today. She seemed perfectly fine to me. A little apprehensive of seeing Draco again, but fine. Except for that headache. She asked me to get her some aspirin. Actually, I offered to get her some aspirin. Hopefully, it will make her feel better. That's where I was before Lavender bumped into me. Getting the aspirin. I haven't delivered it to her yet because she should be in another meeting right now. Poor girl. Her father's working her to death. And so soon after the break up. I suggested she take a vacation, but did she listen to me? Of course not, she'd rather yell and spit at me. Not that I mind her yelling at me, as I often find myself yelling at her back instead of-"
"Harry, you're blabbering. If I didn't know any better I'd think you-"
"Isn't that Matthew?" Harry cut her off, glad for the distraction.
"Where?" Ginny turned her head in every direction and still couldn't find him. "Where?"
"Over there." Harry took her head in his hands and faced it towards Bradley's Grill. Ginny's face lit up and she all but ran the rest of the distance.
"Matthew!" She shot into his arms, taking him by surprise, just as she had hoped.
"Ginny! What a surprise! A pleasant one, of course. Come, you must join me. I'm supposed to be meeting up with Victoria here, but I hear she's in a meeting?"
"Yes. It should last about an hour or so. I'm so glad-"
"You're Matthew Dellworth, aren't you?" The paparazzi surrounded them and began to instantly take pictures. "Isn't that you're fiancée? When's the wedding?" Matthew flashed his pearly whites and kissed Ginny on the cheek before muttering 'no comment'.
"We have to talk," he whispered in her ear. "In private. Wait here while I get us a private booth in the back. Harry's welcomed to join us." He was gone before Ginny could respond. Five minutes later, they were being served champagne by a waiter dressed in a white shirt, black vest, and black slacks.
"I didn't realize Bradley's Grill served champagne. Or that the waiters wore tuxedos with a matching bow tie," Ginny remarked. "I thought it was more of a barbecue place. You know, grilled food. Hence the name."
"It's amazing what a net worth well over a billion dollars will get you these days. But that's not what we need to discuss. How long is this charade going to last?" Matthew asked.
"What charade?" Ginny tried playing dumb.
"The charade of our being engaged!" Frustrated, Matthew tossed back his drink. "It was fun at first, I'll admit that. But now it's just gotten fucking annoying. Every time I turn around, there's the paparazzi, hounding me about a wedding that's never going to happen. And do you have any idea what kind of ramifications this has had on my personal life? I can't even be seen with another girl without some nosy reporter writing about how I'm cheating on you. It's ruining my reputation, I tell you."
"Oh." Not sure of what to say, Ginny nibbled on her lower lip a little. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize. You should have said something before. I know this must be cutting into your love life-"
"I didn't say all that." Matthew flashed her a grin then, a genuine boyish grin he would never share with the paparazzi. "I have a fine love life, you see. I've found many girls like a man who's off the market. The point is, I hate reading about myself in the paper every day. I know they'll write about me regardless because of my money, but I'd prefer to read about something other than my never-going-to-happen wedding. We'll have to stage a break up soon. A public one. That way, all the papers will know it's finally over. You and Draco can come out in the open and me and...well, we'll have to see, won't we? How's Catherine doing?"
"I haven't seen her today. Harry has though. Isn't that right, Harry?"
"Yeah. She's doing fine."
"Not so chatty now, are we?" Ginny murmured. Harry glared at her.
"Well, when I saw her this morning, she seemed better." Matthew's mood lightened considerably when Harry's eyes narrowed.
"You saw her? Where?" Harry demanded.
"At the Ministry. Where else? The girl practically moved in there after the break up. Why so interested?" Matthew wiggled his brows and sent Harry a sloppy, amused grin.
"No reason," Harry replied stiffly. "But why would you ask how she's doing if you've already seen her for yourself?"
Ginny didn't like the direction the conversation was going and decided to intervene before things got out of hand. "We need to get her back on the dating scene."
"Excellent idea, Ginny! I was just going to suggest we force her to attend Vicky's party tonight. I have a feeling she'll be asked on a date," Matthew said.
"Why? Are you planning to ask?" Harry tilted his head to the side, as if challenging Matthew.
Matthew held up his hands in mock surrender. "I was merely suggesting that a pretty girl like her shouldn't have any trouble finding a date."
"Er, can we get back to that public break up?" Ginny quickly intervened before either boy ruffled the other's feathers. She had the feeling they were competing for Catherine's affection, but she couldn't be sure. No one was ever sure with Matthew, he hid his true feelings so well. And Harry was, well, Harry. Former love of her life, the golden boy. She just couldn't imagine Harry falling for Catherine or vice versa. They enjoyed fighting too much for anything romantic to happen.
"Yes. The break up." Matthew quieted down when the waiter returned to take their orders. Once their food was served, he continued once more. "It'll have to be messy or else they'll spend weeks writing about a possible reconciliation. And we'll have to make sure to immediately hook-up with other people, for the same basic reason. Make everyone think we ended it because we were already in love with other people. That's where Draco and Catherine come in."
"You want me and Draco to go public before-" Ginny started.
"You're going to make pretend to be dating Catherine to get a couple of reporters off your back?" Harry interrupted. Sensing trouble brewing, Ginny instantly tried to shift the focus back to her.
"Draco and I cannot go public so soon after their wedding fiasco. It would look so wrong. Just imagine the scandal. They'll be writing about it for days. Years even! And poor Katie will be so embarrassed and angry-"
"Who said we'd be pretending?" Matthew ignored Ginny completely.
"Using the lonely and vulnerable. Like taking candy from a baby, right? You corporate raiders lack morals." Disgusted, Harry shoved aside his untouched lunch.
"Do you even know what that term means? Corporate raider," Matthew clarified.
"Yes. I was raised as a muggle, after all. I've read all about your company in the papers. The hostile take-overs, forced resignations, massive lay-offs. You're quite a character. Quite a character indeed," Harry nodded.
Matthew's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits and Ginny could hear his teeth clenching. "I was not responsible for any of those deals, most of which took place when I was a mere child. Think about it, Potter, we're around the same age. I'm actually a little younger. Do you honestly think anyone would have allowed me to take over anything at the age of five? The sandbox, perhaps, but certainly not a multibillion dollar corporation."
"And what about the deal in India just a few months ago? Outsourcing to places with cheaper labor. I hope you're proud of the children you're working to the grave."
"I didn't realize you knew so much about current events." Ginny smiled in a fruitless effort to lighten the mood.
"Not well enough, apparently." Matthew grinned suddenly and even chuckled, as if mocking Harry. "Outsourcing? We're paying our workers in India the same amount they would get paid in the United States, nearly one thousand percent more than what any competitor would be paying them. And with that extra money, families can afford what we consider necessities but in India are considered luxuries such as food, clothing, shelter, and health services. Just last month, over eighty percent of those of whom we employed were immunized against disease causing agents super powers like the U.S. and Great Britain eliminated decades ago. Eight hundred children didn't go to bed hungry and three hundred were enrolled in school for the first time in their lives because their families could finally afford it. Am I proud of that? Damn right I am."
"Are you two through trying to belittle each other? This little pissing match was completely unnecessary. Men and their egos. Merlin, who cares about any of this anyway? Katie is going through a really rough period in her life and she told me herself she isn't interested in dating anyone at the moment. Fred and George have been hitting on her since the day I introduced them with no luck whatsoever. I'm surprised Ron hasn't made a go in that direction. Tall, slim, and gorgeous; isn't that every man's type?" Ginny looked from one man to the other and sighed with relief when Harry took the cue to change the subject.
"Ron's a little preoccupied. With a certain raven haired, green eyed goddess who has been working with us for, what, six months now?" Before anyone could respond, Hermione and Lavender barged in, with security attempting to restrain the both of them.
"I'm telling you, we know these people. Ask them!" Lavender elbowed the security guard's arm away, sending it flying to smack Hermione on the nose, knocking her down into the booth next to Matthew.
"Sorry," Hermione mumbled, glaring at Lavender.
"It's alright, Bruce," Matthew assured the guard. "I know them. They can join us." The disgruntled guard had barely stepped out when Hermione and Lavender all but pounced on Ginny.
"Why did she have Ron's watch?" They both demanded.
"Who had who's watch? I thought Katie was she and Victoria was that girl. Have you swapped their nicknames then?" Ginny asked.
"Get with the program, Gin." Exasperated, Lavender used her fingers to comb her hair back. "And just answer the bloody question. Why was Ron's watch in her bony hand?"
"And how did it get there?" Hermione added.
"And why was she taking time out of her meeting to deliver it?"
"And why didn't Ron notice the watch was missing in the first place?"
"And how-"
"Stop." Ginny held up her hands, palms up, and shrugged. "All I know is that was definitely not Ron's watch."
"It wasn't?" Lavender clapped with glee.
"Are you sure? How can you be so sure when we were so far-" Hermione started.
"I know because that was Draco's watch. He took it off while we-er, that's to say, Victoria hosted a party yesterday to which Draco and I were both invited. I noticed he removed it and placed it on Victoria's mantle, but I was then distracted by another guest and forgot all about the watch. I asked her about it this morning and she said she was going to deliver the watch herself. She was just pulling your chain," Ginny explained. "Besides, why would Ron need a watch anyway? He's never on time. Nor does he try to be."
"I suspect you were at the party." Lavender nodded at Matthew. "Did you see who left the watch? Can you confirm what Ginny is saying?"
"I actually wasn't at this party."
Annoyed, Lavender rolled her eyes. "Well, why not?"
"Why not? Let's just say I was busy elsewhere, with other people. If you catch my drift," Matthew responded, tongue in cheek.
"I thought you were dating Ginny." Lavender licked her lips and rubbed her hands together, eager for any new gossip. "So you were cheating on her last night? Are you hearing this, Ginny? Why aren't you slapping him or anything?"
"He meant he was working, not having sex. Since I happen to know my boyfriend isn't a sex worker, there isn't anything to get dramatic over. And if you don't believe what I am saying about Ron, just ask Harry. Ron left with us last night."
"Et tu, Harry? You're taking her side?"
"Stop being so melodramatic, Lavender. This isn't about choosing sides. She invited me to a party and I wanted to go so I went. She hasn't done anything hateful towards me. In fact, she's been very sweet. I happen to like her and just because you two hate her doesn't mean I have to stop being friends with her. I don't have to choose between you and I would hate to be placed in that awkward position. And before either of you tears my head off for what I just said, Ron did in fact leave with Ginny and me last night. He was so tired, he fell asleep on the living room couch. My living room couch," Harry added.
"Yes! So he didn't have sex with that whore!" Hermione and Lavender grinned at one another. Matthew cleared his throat.
"That 'whore', as you called her, happens to be my sister. Not by blood," he quickly added when everyone gaped at him. "No, it's more like since we grew up together, she feels like my younger sister. The point is, do not disrespect her in my presence. Especially not in a restaurant she and I co-own."
"She owns this place? Unbelievable. Not only did she take our favorite restaurant away from us, but now she's taking away any option of nourishment whatsoever. What the hell are we supposed to live off of?" Fuming, Lavender even slammed her fist down onto the table.
"Sugar and carbohydrates. The girl's so skinny, she probably doesn't touch any food containing either. I'll bet you a hundred galleons she doesn't own a stake at an M & M's shop," Hermione replied.
"Actually, she does. And she's considering buying up Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. I think she already owns licorice wands." Matthew couldn't help but grin at their moans. "I honestly don't see what the problem is. Didn't you and Ron call it off for good months ago?" Matthew arched a brow at Lavender and waited for her to nod. Then he pointed at Hermione. "And you, you've never even dated the guy. What do you care if he and Vicky are dating? It's their business."
"He's my friend," Hermione argued.
"And mine as well. And Harry's. And Ginny's brother, yet you don't see Ginny intervening. They aren't dating, but if they wanted to, it's their choice."
"You just don't understand!" Lavender stomped off in a huff.
"I better go with her. Make sure she's alright." Embarrassed, Hermione bid her goodbyes and then dashed after Lavender.
"Ginny, what's up?"
"Huh?" Ginny looked at Matthew, confused by his question. "The sky? I don't know. What are you asking me?"
"I set up the perfect fight and you back off."
"What fight?" Ginny decided to try to play dumb. She knew exactly what he was talking about, but she wasn't ready to go through with his plan.
"The my cheating on you fight. The idea was perfect. You were in England partying with Draco, I was in New York partying with someone else...Instant break up. Now they think I'm a workaholic and that we're still getting married. I'm surprised they didn't ask for the date."
"I'm sorry. I didn't catch your cue and it was such a sloppy cue, too. They could have easily found out you actually were at the party and you don't seem like the cheating type," Ginny pointed out.
"True, but they can just as easily find out you two lied about Ron. We all know we left before him. Heck, he outlasted Johnathan who is almost always the last to leave any party. And we have absolutely no idea where he slept."
"Wherever he slept, that's his business," Harry said defensively. "Those two just need to move on already."
"Agreed." After a few moments of silence and none of them eating, Matthew put his knife and fork down and just gave up. "They've ruined my appetite." Matthew stood up and stretched. "I think I'll head back to New York. With Vicky gone, someone has to be there to keep things in order. You two stay, enjoy yourselves. And don't worry, Gin." He sent her a sly smile as he pulled out a credit card. "I'll pay this time."
When he was gone, Harry really let loose. "Merlin, I hate that guy."
"Really? I didn't notice." She tried to eat some more. "I don't understand it. You used to hate her. Now all of a sudden you like her?"
Harry jerked a shoulder and didn't even pretend not to know who she was referring to. He figured it was past time to reveal his feelings and since he couldn't reveal them to Catherine herself just yet, Ginny would have to do for the moment. "I never hated her. I explained all of that at the wedding-that-never-happened."
"I didn't go, remember?"
"Right. The gist of it is, I never hated her. We just tended to rub each other in the wrong way and we ended up arguing. I like to think of it as sexual tension."
Ginny snorted. "Sexual tension would involve her wanting to get involved with you. Which she doesn't. Nothing against you personally. She just doesn't want to see anyone right now. Something about independence, not needing a man to make her happy."
"I'm aware she doesn't need me. I just don't want her to need Matthew either. The guy collects women like notches on a bedpost. He'd stomp all over her and I don't know if I can watch her breakdown again like she did after Draco dumped her. The girl was weeping in my arms and I couldn't do anything for her but let her cry..."
"Careful, Harry. It almost sounds as if you feel you had just as hard a time as she did. Which you most certainly did not. Honestly, Harry, I'm not sure where these feelings of yours are coming from but-"
"Catherine! What a surprise to see you here!" Harry exclaimed. Ginny eyes rounded as she turned around. And sure enough, there was Catherine, looking annoyed and lonely.
"Iam glad to see you, but shouldn't you be at a meeting right now?" Ginny asked as she waved Katie into the seat next to her.
"Iwas at the meeting, until my father kicked me out. You two ordered already? Whose plate did this once belong to? It looks great."
"He kicked you out? Why?" Confused, Harry handed her his fork.
"Thanks. Well, according to him, I was acting like a stuck-up, spoiled brat. Whose was this? I wouldn't want to anger anyone by enjoying their meal."
"It was Matthew's, but that's not important since he already left. Why would he say something like that?" Harry demanded.
"Because I poured a cup of water over Draco Malfoy's thick head, that's why. What is this?" Disgusted a little by the taste, Catherine pushed the plate aside. "Matthew must have a stomach lined with titanium metal if he can stand the spice in that stuff. It looked delicious, but it tastes like jalapeños laced with hot sauce of the Thai variety and Indian curry. "
"You poured water...Why?" Ginny looked up just in time to catch Draco's arrival. She frowned at him and gestured with her hands for him to leave. Draco arched a brow, as if asking her why. Ginny pointed, as discreetly as possible, to the seat next to her. Draco's gaze shifted and Ginny could practically hear him mentally cursing his luck.
"The guy dumped me at the altar. Do I really need a reason? And what are you doing?"
"Er, nothing. Tell us what happened." When Katie began her story, Ginny motioned once again for Draco to leave. He shook his head. Ginny glared at him and scrunched up her nose in disgust. They continued for several minutes, with both exchanging childish gestures, before Catherine finally caught sight of him.
"What the bloody hell is he doing here?" She looked from Ginny to Harry, but Harry didn't seem to have a clue what she was talking about.
"Who?" Harry looked over his shoulder and did a double-take when he spotted Draco. "Great, just great. Have you no control over your boyfriend?"
Ginny opened her mouth to answer, but Catherine, not knowing about Draco and Ginny, thought Harry had been asking her that question and luckily beat Ginny to an answer. "He's not my boyfriend anymore. You were there, you know what he did."
"Er, right. Sorry." Harry looked to Ginny for guidance, but she was too busy wringing her hands. He rubbed his eyes once before getting ready for battle. "Are you just going to stand there or are you going to join us, Malfoy?"
"I think I'll join you," Draco drawled. He walked over to their table and stood beside Katie.
"Yes?" She hissed acidly. "Can I help you?"
"Yes. A towel would be nice. To dry my face and hair which, thanks to you, are wet. A new suit would also be greatly appreciated, to replace the one you ruined. But at the moment, that seat is all I am asking for."
"There's a seat right there." Katie pointed to the open space beside Harry.
"You want me to sit next to Harry Potter?" Draco shook his head as if mortified by the suggestion. "That would look like we're actually friends, which we are not. Or like we are on a double date, which we most certainly are not."
"And sitting boy-girl won't make it seem like a date?" Katie rolled her eyes heavenward at his logic. "Why don't I just leave? That would solve everything. Or better yet, why don't you leave, seeing as how you invited yourself over."
"No!" Ginny protested. "I'm sure we can work something out." Katie sent her a bland look before shifting to get up.
"No!" Harry restrained Katie from walking away. "Just...sit next to me. We can share a meal, the four of us. We can act very civilized. And you two have to work out your problems. You do work together."
"Who cares if we get along? I refuse to sit here and take any of his abuse."
"What if I can promise you he won't say a single foul thing to you?"
"Since when can you make promises on my behalf?" Draco scowled at Harry and then flinched when Ginny stabbed in the thigh with a fork. "Bloody hell! Fine, fine. I, Draco Malfoy, promise to try my best not to say anything foul to one Catherine Bennet-Price."
"I don't believe a word he says." Katie stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest and stared Draco down.
"Then believe me. If he says anything hurtful, I'll punch him for you. Just stay and try to work things out. Stay for me," Harry pleaded.
"If Potter so much as looks at me as if he's about to punch me-" Draco was silenced by yet another stab from Ginny. He glared at her, but got the hint and remained silent as they waited for Katie to make up her mind.
Katie pouted for a moment. Then she gestured Draco aside and stood up. For a moment, everyone thought she was about to run out, she appeared so tense. But she did eventually move over to sit next to Harry. "Do you know who I saw just a minute ago, Ginny?"
"No, who?" Ginny and Harry sighed. She was trying, they thought thankfully.
"Pansy Parkinson. She seemed-"
"And just how are we supposed to move on when there's a huge elephant sitting in the middle of the table?" Draco interrupted.
"Excuse me?"
"We're supposed to be working things out," Draco pointed out. "So I suggest we forget about Pansy and focus on why you poured water on me."
"Because you were being a jerk, that's why. You asked me how I was doing, as if we were friends. And then you had the audacity to ask me where I was last night!"
"I did no such thing! I asked you why you weren't at Victoria's party. She invited you, after all. And that is an entirely different question from questioning your whereabouts. I couldn't care less where you were last night. I was merely pointing out how much fun you missed out on by choosing to be petty."
"Draco," Ginny groaned.
"You know bloody well Victoria and I don't get along. And she didn't exactly invite me. Harry did. Isn't that right?" They all looked at Harry.
"Er, yes, I did invite her."
"Really? As a date?" Draco couldn't help but smirk. So Harry had finally grown some balls and was making his move, he thought.
"Er..." Harry blushed a bright shade of red.
"Stop trying to embarrass poor Harry. It wasn't as a date. He just wants me to get out more. He's actually concerned about me. Right, Harry?" Katie didn't even wait for him to respond. "Besides, weren't Matthew and Johnathan there last night? I'm trying to avoid them. Or maybe it's just one of them. I'm kind of hungry, but I don't feel like ordering anything." Without thinking, Harry shoved his plate in front of her. Katie smiled at him and began to eat. "Mmm. This is boatloads better than what Matthew was having. I must confess, I hate mushroom. I only eat it because my father adores it so much and I wouldn't want to hurt his feelings. I have a feeling whatever Matthew ordered had mushrooms in it. Along with the spicy Thai hot sauce and Indian curry."
"You're avoiding them," Ginny prompted.
"She also said it might just be one of them. Maybe she just doesn't want to run into her ex," Draco mused.
"Draco!" Ginny lightly punched his arm.
"Who told you I used to date him?" Katie demanded.
"Pansy," Draco answered just as Ginny responded "No one." They both glared at one another.
"And just who told Pansy?"
"Who are we talking about?" Confused, Harry looked from Katie to Ginny to Draco. "Which of the two did you date?"
Katie waved all of that aside. "It was years ago. Eons, really. I haven't really spoken to him since then. Okay, so that's a lie. I have spoken to him, with increasing frequency lately. It's just that we've seemed to have lost touch over the years. He's been busy, I've been busy." She shrugged while Harry drummed his fingers on the table, which could have been deciphered as a sign of annoyance.
"Really?" Lapping up Harry's jealousy bit, Draco decided to stir things up a bit. "According to Pansy, you two were practically married. Until your father caught on to what was going on. Then he yanked you back to his side, introduced us to one another and hoped nature would take its course. Pansy also says he's still hung up on you. And that you may still be hung up on him."
"I didn't know you subscribed to gossip." Katie jutted out her chin defiantly. "As for what you heard, it's partially true. And partially not true. My father didn't yank me anywhere. I left on my own accord, for personal reasons I refuse to go into. And my father didn't introduce us; we bumped into each other in the mail room."
"Did we?" Draco shrugged. "It all seems so hazy and distant to me now."
"Of course it does. Men hardly ever remember tiny details like how they met their fiancée. Or former fiancée, I should say."
"Don't make sweeping generalizations about my sex. You don't know all of us. You know, you should go to Victoria's party tonight." Katie arched a brow at Harry. "No, seriously, it will be a lot of fun. She's renting out a hotel. From herself, I suppose, considering I suspect she owns the hotel."
"A hotel? She's closing down an entire hotel to host a party?" Katie snorted. "Leave it to Victoria Wellington to go over the top with her damn parties."
"Forget about Victoria. You'll have fun. Lots of your friends will be there."
"Like who?"
"Well, there's me..."
"As fascinating as you are, I can't spend the entire night with you. That would be a date, not two friends who just so happen to be attending the same party."
"Call it a date if you want, I don't care."
Katie leaned in and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, surprising everyone at the table. "A date in a hotel? That's just asking for trouble."
"I can control myself if you can," Harry taunted.
She considered for a moment. "Alright. Here's the deal. We go together, but this isn't a date. We can leave separately and we don't have to hang around each other all night. If you see someone else you'd rather spend time with, go ahead and leave me."
"Don't think so," Harry shook his head. "This isn't a date, on that I agree. But if I take you there, we leave together and I walk you to your door. To make sure you get home safe. That's the right thing to do. And I will never leave you by yourself. That's just plain rude. Deal?" Harry stuck out his hand and cocked a brow when Katie hesitated.
"Deal, Golden Boy. What's your address?"
"Are you picking me up? I love aggressive women." He wrote down his address on a napkin and then slid it over to her.
"Then you'll love this." Katie stood up and yanked him by his tie so that he was up beside her. "I am heading back to work and since my job is to supervise you, I kind of need you there in order to do my job."
"At your service, as always."
"You're only at my service when it benefits you. After you." Catherine gestured for him to walk ahead.
"No, no. Ladies first."
"That's an old and tired tune, Golden Boy. You go on ahead. I insist." Much to Harry's delight, she shoved him ahead a pace. "I wouldn't want you watching my back as I walk away."
"But you have such a lovely back, Kitty." He shoved her ahead a little to which she responded by punching him in the gut. "Ow! What the bloody hell was that for? I didn't shove you that hard."
"Please," Katie sneered. "You shove like a pansy, Golden Boy. I punched you because you called me Kitty. I absolutely abhor that nickname. It's such a pet name and we are definitely not dating."
"Of course we're not. If we were, I would have called the police on you for domestic abuse."
"Oh, that's rich. And what would you tell them, hmm? That your girlfriend who's about half your size hit you? Don't make me laugh, Potter."
Harry whirled her around by her arm and had her pressed up against him, eyes blazing. "They'd believe me after spending five minutes with you. You can be such a-"
"Complete that sentence and I swear to you, you'll be missing a very valuable body part," Catherine warned.
"And now she threatens!" Fuming, Harry let go of her. Katie was so caught off guard, she lost her balance. She reached out for Harry just as he reached down to pull her upright again, causing it to appear as if he had been dipping her. "A simple thank you would be nice."
"Thank you for what? It was your fucking fault in the first place, you damn prick! Get your grubby paws off of me! And where's that damn aspirin you were so hell bent to buy me?" Catherine barked.
Harry threw it at her retreating back. "There it is. I aimed for your head, but I figured the combination of your hard-head and enlarged ego would soften the blow."
Catherine glared at him as she picked up the bottle. "How dare you! Who throws things in a public restaurant? Children and fools, that's who! So which are you, Golden Boy? Never mind. When we get back, I'll make sure you end up reorganizing my filing cabinet!"
Harry gasped, outraged by her words. "You can't do that! I'm not your bloody personal assistant! We're not finished! Come back here!" Harry jogged off after her, without so much as saying goodbye.
"Did you see that?" Amazed, Ginny could only stare at the seats once occupied by Harry and Katie. "It's very peculiar. Why, if I didn't know any better, I'd think they were flirting just now. But that can't be right. Since when have they been interested in each other? And what about that fight? Harry said their fights were filled with sexual tension."
"I'd have to agree with him on that. I swear, I could hear the air sizzling around them. Maybe they shouldn't be left alone any time soon. I just wish I knew when this happened. Where are you going?" Draco watched as Ginny stood up and stretched. He smirked up at her. "Have I ever told you how much I loved your body?"
"I'm sure it's come up at some point." Draco stood up beside her and leaned down as if to kiss her. Ginny jerked away and patted his cheek instead. "We're in public. Anyway, I think I know why we haven't noticed. According to Hermione, we've been concentrating so much on each other this past year that we haven't even noticed what's been going on around us. I would have to agree with her based on what I've seen so far."
"But I don't see-"
"I have to go. Can we discuss this some other time?" Ginny blew a kiss over her shoulder and dashed off. She threw her arms over her face in an attempt to dodge the paparazzi.
"Ginny, who was that man you were with? And why did he just leave with another woman?"
"Where's Matthew?"
"When's the wedding?"
"Who designed your dress?"
"Who will be attending?"
"No comment." Ginny smiled politely and ran back into the Ministry's building, where she knew they would follow but security wouldn't let them get too close. After a few more hours of scheduling meetings and deciding on how to fix all that is wrong with her life, she decided she needed some rest. She went into the floor's apparating room and within seconds, she was lying down face first in a bed.
"That woman is driving me bonkers!" Ginny groaned when Harry walked in.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny propped herself up on her elbows so she could get a better look at him.
"I could ask you the same question. Things go sour with the oh-so-perfect Matthew Dellworth?"
"Ha, ha. Very funny. You know very well I haven't stayed there in ages. Answer my question."
"Answer mine."
"I asked you first."
"And so you did. I have to wait for the she-devil-in-heels, remember? The damn wench. After she hits me in a public establishment, she then has me organize the entire floor's meeting notes."
"She actually made you do that?" Ginny thought for a second. "But she's the only one who went to the meeting on your floor. And she never takes any notes."
"Exactly!" Ginny didn't see a problem, but chose not to respond. Their convoluted relationship wasn't something she wanted to decipher just then. Harry held up two shirts. "Purple or red?"
Ginny wrinkled her nose. "She'd hate both."
"Wonderful! I'll go with red, House pride and all." Harry tossed the purple aside and stripped off his work shirt.
"Harry! I'm in here, you know!"
"I noticed. If it makes you uncomfortable, leave."
"I shouldn't have to leave. This is my bloody room!" Harry slanted her a look. "It is!"
"Right. Since I don't want to get into the technicalities of it all..." He tossed the shirt he'd just removed over Ginny's head. They both heard the doorbell ringing in the distance. "Get the door, will you? Before the sight of my bare chest sends yet another unsuspecting woman into a sexual frenzy the likes of which the world is not yet ready for."
"You've been spending way too much time around Draco. That was such a Draco Malfoy comment." Ginny stood up and answered the door, only to find Catherine standing at the threshold. Ginny mentally scolded herself. She knew Catherine was coming over yet she still managed to walk right into another awkward situation which could only result in her having to lie. You've been doing a lot of that lately, she thought.
"Ginny? What are you doing here? And looking all disheveled."
"I was just taking a nap."
"But don't you live in New York, with Matthew? Your fiancé. Is he okay with you sleeping in other men's beds?" Katie asked incredulously, as if she already knew the answer. Of course she knows, Ginny thought. They've dated before, haven't they?
"Er, yes. That's to say, I wasn't sleeping on Harry's bed, but in a guest bedroom."
"Who's bra is that, the one in the basket there? Golden Boy doesn't strike me as the type to allow strange women to leave their undergarments in his flat. And I don't believe he's seeing anyone. The bra just behind you." Katie pointed to Ginny's laundry basket. Ginny mentally kicked herself. Hadn't Harry told her a thousand times to fold and put away her laundry immediately after she did it?
"Er, that would be mine."
"I see." Katie stepped inside and eyed the room silently. "Are you telling me you're cheating on Matthew Dellworth with Harry Potter?"
"No! That's to say, I would never cheat. Just look at me. Do I look like the cheating type?"
"No," Katie decided after a moment.
"I could never hurt a fly, you know? Why would I cheat on Matthew anyway? He's gorgeous, he's smart, he's funny, he's-" Ginny stopped once she realized that about summed up everything she could have possibly found attractive about him. "Well, I don't have to tell you, do I? I mean, you dated the guy, after all."
"Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about that-" Katie started.
"Kitty! How lovely to see you!" Harry grinned when she scowled at the nickname. "That's a step forward. You didn't even hit me that time."
"I'm saving all my punches for when more people are watching. Public humiliations are far more interesting than private roastings, wouldn't you say? I find it odd you choose to do your laundry at Golden Boy here's flat, Ginny. I'm sure Matthew has servants to do all that for you back in New York."
"Maybe she prefers doing her own laundry. Or maybe she prefers using magic to do it, magic which cannot be performed in front of muggle servants," Harry answered.
"Or maybe you two are having an affair. Old flames are hard to put out, you know."
"So are you saying you're expecting for you and Draco to get back together?"
Katie visibly stiffened. "That flame," she said through clenched teeth, "had never ignited to begin with. And how did this turn into another 'look at Catherine, she got dumped big time by Draco Malfoy' moment?"
"No one turned it into anything, except for maybe you." He couldn't resist adding one last remark. "Kitty."
"That comment made no sense considering you brought up his name." She punched him in the arm. "And don't call me Kitty!"
"I think I'm just going to go," Ginny said to no one in particular.
"You call me Golden Boy," Harry shot back.
"And how is that a bad thing?"
"How is Kitty a bad thing?"
"Okay. Well, don't mind me." Ginny apparated with a small pop and moments later, she was in front of another flat. She pulled out her spare key and once she was inside, made a beeline for the bedroom where she laid down on another bed. This time, she instantly fell asleep. Draco found her that way an hour later, hair tied into an efficient pony tail running down her back, shirt and slacks rumpled, and face slightly flushed from whatever dream she was having. He considered just letting her sleep a while longer. He tugged off his tie as he pondered his options. Then a wicked smile crept along his face.
"Once a Slytherin," he muttered gleefully. He ran across the room and jumped on top of the bed, sending Ginny flying off over the edge.
"Ouch!" Ginny rolled onto her back, clutching her stomach and groaning.
"Fire! Fire!" Draco yelled. Ginny didn't budge. Draco frowned. "I said there was a fire. Why aren't you moving?"
"Nice try, Malfoy. You've already pulled that one on me." Ginny opened an eye and smirked up at him. "In New York when I was being evicted nearly two years ago. What is it they say about old dogs and new tricks?"
"The saying is 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' and it doesn't apply here. You have to admit, my method of waking you up is one of a kind."
"And painful." Ginny reached an arm out so he could help her up. Draco obliged and the instant he took her arm in his, she tugged him down with her.
"Why, you sneaky little..." Ginny giggled at him and he could feel his lips quirk at the corners. "You're so cute, you can get away with murder."
"You're the cute one," Ginny corrected.
Draco instantly sneered. "I am not cute. A manly handsome, yes. But a feminine cute? Never."
"I'm the one looking at you and I say you're the cute one."
"You have freckles. Freckles are adorable."
"We were talking about cute, not adorable. Therefore you lose, I win." Ginny stuck out her tongue.
"That's very mature, Ginny, very mature indeed. And you would be right except that the words adorable and cute belong in the same family of adjectives. You know, words you would use to describe puppies and kittens group. And therefore you lose, I win." Draco pulled her up against him and nibbled on her lower lip. "I can think of more productive things to do with our tongues." Ginny sighed and parted her lips for him, already feeling light and giddy. Then she remembered Hermione's words earlier and jumped back nearly a foot, as if she had been burned. "What's the matter? You just ruined a perfectly good shag-I mean, kiss. Well, kiss that would have eventually led to a shag. Don't deny it, you know I'm right."
Ginny chose to ignore his cocky sexual remarks. "Hermione said something earlier that I feel is at least partially true."
Draco sighed and sat down on the side of the bed. "Alright. Now that I am seated, what nonsense was she spewing at you today?"
"It isn't nonsense, it is fact! And I already told you about it earlier. But if you would just listen to me more often-" Ginny protested.
Draco held up a hand. "No need to get defensive. I haven't heard what you had to say yet. And I didn't mean to criticize you or your story in anyway. I apologize if that was unclear." This was still new to her, Draco Malfoy apologizing and admitting his faults. She tried to focus on the task at hand, difficult considering the Adonis that is Draco Malfoy was sitting in front of her. Draco eyed her curiously. "You were saying?" Ginny snapped back to reality. Yes, she had a hot boyfriend, but what she had to say was more important than that, she reminded herself.
"Er, right. Hermione. She says we've been so focused on each other, spending so much time together, we haven't really caught on to what's been happening around us."
"So much time together," Draco repeated. He reached out for Ginny's hand and tugged her down so she was sitting beside him on the bed. "What time would you two be referring to? The time we spend in the office working? Because that, my dear, does not count as 'time together'. Neither does sex."
Far from amused, Ginny attempted to tug her hand away from his, but to no avail. "Oh? And why doesn't sex count?"
"That's physical. We don't actually get to talk. And afterward, we're so tired from working and sex, we just fall asleep. Then we wake up in the morning, get ready for work, prepare breakfast, and head back into the office. That isn't 'time together'. 'Time together' would be like a date. Which we have never gone on even though we've been dating for nearly 40 weeks now. Merlin, that sounded like a pregnant woman. Get it? How far along are you?" At Ginny's blank stare, he shook his head. "Forget it. The point is, since you don't want anyone to find out that you and Matthew lied about your little, excuse me, major engagement to the entire world and since you don't want anyone to know we hooked up while Catherine and I were still together and since you just generally don't want people to know about this relationship, we've been sneaking around as if we're having an affair. Which we no longer are. I'm single, you're single. There's attraction, there's chemistry, there's desire, there's love...What else could a relationship possibly need?"
"It's not-"
"That simple," he finished. "So you've told me. Over and over and over again. I just can't see why you can't at least move in with me."
"We can easily be caught."
"You practically live here already." Draco pointed to his closet. "Check inside, I'm sure not everything in there is from the men's department. And that." Draco pointed to a green silk robe laying haphazardly on the love-seat by the fireplace. "Definitely not mine. And what do you know, it fits you! Not to mention it looks great on you. Have I got an eye or what?"
"This is hardly a laughing matter nor is it the time for-"
"No one is laughing, darling. I was only saying I know how to pick out clothing that will look nice on you. It's because I know your body so well. I was hoping to get to know it even better sometime today. Right now would be nice." Draco waited a beat. Ginny merely tapped her foot, as if growing impatient with his games. "Fine, fine. No sex. Got it now. As I was saying, that sofa looking thing by the fireplace...If I recall correctly, which of course I do, you made me buy it. That's your sofa."
"No, it's not. If anything, it's my love-seat. Sofas are larger. But since the love-seat is in your flat and it was purchased with your money, it is yours."
"No, because I bought it for you. What the bloody hell would I need a love-seat for? I didn't even know what it was until you corrected me. I only bought it because I thought you wanted it."
"I did. I mean, I do. It's still yours." Ginny stubbornly jutted her chin out. She stood up and walked over to the closet. She pulled out a simple green cocktail dress and laid it out on the bed. Draco smirked and opened his mouth to speak. "Don't you dare say another word. I'm not living here. I live with Harry. Er, Matthew if anyone aside from us asks."
"Us? Oh, you mean the Chosen? That's what I'll call the few who know about our relationship from now on: the Chosen. You know, if a certain someone were to dump a certain someone else who they are only pretending to be dating, then that certain someone and I could date openly and spend more time with one another. Because after all, relationships require time and we have very little time."
Frustrated, Ginny took off her shoe and flung it across the room. "You make it seem as if it is so easy," she yelled. "As if it is so simple. Break off my fake engagement to Matthew and then just tell the world I am dating one of my closest friends' ex-fiancé. Yeah, I won't totally come off as a bad person. I'll probably come off smelling like a bloody flower. A sodding daisy perhaps."
"I would go with a red rose. Because of the hair," Draco mused.
"Ugh! You're not listening to me!"
"I am listening. It's pretty hard not to listen when you're yelling about two feet away from me. I am listening," Draco repeated. "And I have been listening to your fears all along. I just don't agree with what you perceive the consequences of our going public will be."
"I am not yelling."
"Your face is red. Lovely shade, but a sure sign you've been working yourself up. As much as I love arguing with you, having you throw shoes across the room, and you screaming at me at the top of your lungs, we really must get going. There's a difference between being fashionably late and being rude to our hostess. Do you require my assistance to put on your dress?" Ginny's glare made him smirk. "Right. Then you'd better get going."
"I liked you better when you quoted Shakespeare."
Draco grimaced. "One night of drinking in excess and my bad boy image is forever shattered. But as it just so happens, I do have a quote for you. 'I love you the more in that I believe you had liked me for my own sake and for nothing else.'"
"That was lovely. Which of Shakespeare's plays was that one from?"
"None. It was Keats." Draco studied her in her dress for a second. He took her by the hand and spun her around. "I have another for you," he said as he drew her to him. "'Now a soft kiss-Aye, by that kiss, I vow an endless bliss.' Keats again."
"I'm with a poet. You should write me a love letter one day. I imagine it would be the most beautiful letter any woman has ever received." Ginny rested her head against his chest. Draco rolled his eyes.
"That last quote was supposed to be your cue to kiss me. And I have never, nor will I ever, write any woman a love letter. That's not my style at all." Draco shuddered. "Can you honestly picture me writing you a love letter? Besides, all of those quotes are borrowed. Even if I were to write a love letter, and that's a big if, it wouldn't technically be my letter. Can I get that kiss now?"
Ginny stood on her tip-toes and waited for him to lean forward. Just when his lips were a fraction of an inch away from hers, she dropped back down onto the balls of her feet and patted his cheek instead. "Nope. Write me that love letter and then you'll have all the kisses you want. Until then, I'm being frugal with my kisses." Ginny walked over to the closet. Draco frowned for a second before following after her. He reached over her and pulled down a silver box with a green bow and handed it to her. "What's this?"
"Shoes. I saw them on my way to Victoria's yesterday and I thought you'd like them." When Ginny smiled with pleasure, Draco didn't grin as he usually did. Concerned, Ginny tried to soothe the frustration she registered in his eyes.
"You're always buying me things. You're the world's best boyfriend. It's no wonder Katie hates you for leaving her," Ginny gushed as she slipped on her shoes.
"Right. We better get going." He pulled out his wand and retrieved Ginny's from her jacket pocket. He tossed it to her from across the room.
"Hey!" Ginny barely caught it, teetering on her shoes and falling back against the bed in order to catch it. "If you're goal was to get me into bed-" When she looked up, he was gone. "Uh-oh. He must be angrier than I thought." Worried about what she could have said or did that upset him, she picked up her purse and the bag she had packed before stepping outside to apparate into the room Victoria had gotten for her at the hotel. She threw down her bags on the bed and had barely taken a step out of the room when two arms wrapped around her waist. She smiled when she caught a whiff of the cologne she knew could only belong to one person. "Twice in one day, Matthew? I think that's the most we've run into each other in one day since we met. People might say we're in love."
"I believe you're right about that. Eager for our fight? I know I can't wait." Matthew took her arm in his as he led the way to the hotel's ballroom. "Here's the plan. We have to work our way up to a good mad. Maybe you can hang around Draco all night, smile at him, flirt with him, have him buy you a drink. Then, get out a piece of paper, write something down, and give it to him. I don't care what you actually write, but we're going to act like it's your phone number. Let him whisper something in your ear and giggle. Then I'll walk over, appearing to be a little annoyed by your behavior. We'll discuss it for a while, before I start to raise my voice. Then you'll get annoyed that I don't trust you. We'll part ways, trying to avoid a scene. About an hour or so later, have Draco dance with you. A slow dance would be most appropriate," Matthew contemplated. "Yes, a slow dance. Wait for a slow dance. Make sure you two are pressed up against each other. He could lean down or you could stand on your toes so it looks like you're about to kiss. Then I'll take you by the arm to a far corner. We'll hiss at each other for a while before I say something that really stuns you. Then you can start yelling, accusing me of things. I'll accuse you in return. Bring up as many women as you can think of that I've been linked to in the past. Link me to Victoria and Catherine. No, stick with Catherine. Hone in on that one. Say you don't want to ever see me again, I'll concur and then you can run off into Draco's arms. He'll be your rebound, Catherine will be mine. It's perfect."
"Er, right." Ginny didn't think it was perfect at all. She hated creating scenes, but she had to remind herself she had boxed herself into her current position. Had she gone with the truth...This way is better, she quickly added as an afterthought. "How do I know when to start?"
"I'll walk by you at the bar. That's your sign to move over to Draco and set the plan in motion. By the end of the night, we'll be single and ready to mingle."
"What makes you think you can get Katie to go out with you? She seems very out of the dating loop."
Matthew sent her a look. "You doubt my skills?" Ginny opened her mouth to speak, but they had already arrived at the ballroom's entrance and, as expected, the paparazzi were waiting for them. "Damned nosy photographers. At least Vicky's managed to contain them to this one area. There shouldn't be a single photographer in there, though there will be undercover reporters or moles at the very least. There always are. I don't know how they get in." Matthew shook his head and tried to shake off his mood. He returned his attention to Ginny and his master plan. "Look a little absentminded. As if you don't really want to be here and your mind is somewhere else," Matthew whispered.
"Matthew! Ginny! When's the wedding?"
"Has the date actually been set?"
"Will a date ever be set?"
"Are you two married already?"
"Who's designing your dress?"
"Who's invited?"
"How does Lane feel about this? How does Victoria feel?"
"Victoria and Ginny are very good friends," Matthew assured. "We haven't secretly married, but we do plan on getting married some day. We're just enjoying each other's company right now, knowing that marriage isn't so far in the future for us. I haven't seen or spoken to Lane in two, nearly three years. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a party to get to."
"Kiss her!" A photographer yelled. Soon, they were all chanting it.
Matthew sent the photographers a cheeky grin, shaking his head. Before he knew it, Ginny had pulled his face down and had her tongue in his mouth. Shocked by her boldness and fearing someone from inside the party, particularly a jealous Draco, was watching them, he put his hands on her shoulders and gently pressed down. Once she had let go of him, they entered the party, both gasping for breath. "What was that about?" Matthew demanded.
"They wanted a kiss, so I gave them a kiss," Ginny shrugged.
"They wanted a photo for tomorrow's gossip column!" Matthew removed his arm from hers and raked his hand through his hair. "Damn it, that kiss wasn't in the plan! In fact, it could shatter all of our plans. You just made it look as if we're happy to be together."
"As if you didn't. 'Victoria and Ginny are good friends' and 'we do plan on getting married some day'? Comments like that make it seem as if we were still very much a couple."
"I didn't want them to think Victoria and you hate each other because the truth is, you don't. And if we break up, you would still be invited to her parties. If I allowed them to continue thinking there's any animosity between you two, it wouldn't make any sense for you to even be seen anywhere near Victoria. And we've been saying we plan on getting married since I made the announcement at the Winter Ball. The fact that we haven't set a date and yet we continue to insist we want to get married and carry on our relationship as if nothing is wrong would make our fight all the more believable." Ginny couldn't argue with his logic.
"I'm sorry. It was a spur of the moment kind of thing and-"
"You're dating someone else, for Christ's sake! And here he comes now." Matthew and Ginny stopped as Draco approached them. "Here's to hoping he doesn't break my nose."
"We need to talk. Now. Alone." Draco didn't wait for Ginny to answer. He took her by the hand and pulled her to the bar. "What the bloody hell was that kiss all about?"
"I-He-The photographers wanted a kiss," she answered meekly. She could tell by the lines in his face and the heat in his eyes he had already decided to be angry with her. Anything she said now would probably only matters worse.
"And so you just kissed him? What kind of logic is that?" Draco ordered a vodka on the rocks and waited for his drink to arrive before continuing. "Did you think I wouldn't find out? What do you think they were going to do when you kissed him? Play patty-cake followed by a round of Go Fish? The photo was obviously for tomorrow's paper."
"I know. I'm sorry. But Matthew and I have to keep up appearances. I didn't think you'd mind-"
"Wouldn't mind?" Draco had his vodka and then turned away from her to face the party. "And why should I mind? We're only dating. Oh, wait. Correction, we don't date. We have sex. And only about nine other people in this world even know about that."
"I could sense you were upset before we got here. I think now you're only searching for a reason to argue with me." Ginny crossed her arms and waited for him to face her. When he didn't, she felt her heart twist a little. Was he so angry he couldn't even bare to look at her? She tried to shake that thought off and ordered herself a cosmopolitan. When she brought her glass to her lips, his hand wrapped around hers and removed the drink from her grasp.
"You don't make sound decisions under the influence of alcohol. And since you aren't making good decisions while sober tonight, alcohol would just be disastrous right now."
"Oh, is that so?" Ginny turned to face the crowd as well. Because if she had to look at the side of his face for even a second longer, she was going to punch him. Or at the very least kick him. And that would most definitely create an unnecessary scene. "Well, excuse me, but since we aren't dating you have no say in what I do. If I want to get drunk and shag with random strangers, that's my business."
"The only reason we aren't dating is because you insist on making our relationship only about sex."
"I was under the impression we loved each other. You've only told me as much about a million times since that day in Matthew's office."
"I have not! I am as frugal with those words as you are with kisses. Then again, you freely kissed Matthew tonight and you aren't having sex with him. Though according to you, I could be wrong about that."
Ginny looked over at him, fists clenched in outrage. "You fucking bastard. Fuck you for making me sound like a damn whore. I wonder what that says about your taste in women considering you like having sex with me and you were the one who asked me to move in with you just about an hour ago." Ginny reached for her drink and tossed it back like it was water. "I wouldn't have to kiss Matthew if you would have just ended your engagement when I asked you to. But being the stubborn brute that you are-"
Draco whirled around and grabbed her by her arms, forgetting they were at a public party. "Don't you dare try to pin this on me. I chose you in the end, no matter how long it took me to reach my decision. You continually mock and undermine the turmoil I went through in reaching a decision. It would have been morally wrong for me to choose you because of the means by which we came together, but it would have been morally wrong to choose her because I didn't feel for her what I feel for you. And when I did choose you, I suggested that we come clean to everyone, but you vehemently disagreed. And maybe you were right, and it might not have been the best time to reveal anything right after I had just ended things with her. But it's been a year! If you want to continue to lie to people, then you're the insensitive one here. So don't try to make me out to be the brute."
"Are you suggesting that I'm a brute? I'm sorry, but I wasn't the one having sex with two different women at the same time. I wasn't the one who cheated on my fiancée. And I certainly wasn't the one who had trouble deciding between love and obligation!"
"Need I remind you who chose to continue an affair with an engaged man? And if you really think me to be so low, perhaps it would be better if we parted." His cool tone and aloof expression were more of a slap in the face than his actual words. But Ginny was far too involved in the argument to back down now.
"Fine. Let's part then. You keep everything you've bought for me. Isn't it convenient I live with Harry? I won't even have to move a single thing. And don't expect me to show up to work tomorrow. Or the next day. Or any day at all. You can start looking for a new secretary because I'll just go work for Katie. At least she will appreciate me."
"Malfoy's not appreciating you? What a shock." Draco and Ginny both froze at the sound of Catherine's voice. Their eyes widened and Draco instantly let go of Ginny. He placed his hands in his pockets and Ginny began to nervously bite her lower lip. How much had she heard? They both wondered.
