Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter…unfortunately.

Setting: After the war, but before the Epilogue.

Summary: Harry and Ginny were once happy and in love, but after the war, things changed. And so did Harry. They live in a small rundown flat in the middle of London and Ginny spends most of her days at her minimum wage job at a small café owned by someone she once considered the enemy. But, like Harry, things have changed since their time at Hogwarts. With Harry's drinking problem and violent tendencies Ginny feels almost hopeless and is on the brink of giving up. But with the help of Draco Malfoy, she just might be able to salvage what's left of her vibrant and spunky personality.

Finding Normal AgainChapter 3

When Ginny got back to her flat she plopped on the couch, her mind buzzing with everything happening in her life. Harry, her current boyfriend and the love of her life, was sitting in a muggle jail awaiting the opportunity to get out. Ginny had the sudden urge to pick up the phone and find out where he was and find out information on when he would be able to come home. But then again, the more she thought about it, the decision to let him sit sounded like a good one. She was finally angry with Harry. For every bruise he had put on her. For every time he had cursed at her. For ever hex and spell he had used against her…his own girlfriend. He had used the Cruciatus curse…the torture curse.

The more Ginny thought of all the horrible things Harry had done to her, the angrier she grew. If she called her mother she would be welcome back into the Burrow with open arms. They would be glad to see Ginny had finally left the abuse she had been living with for nearly six months. Of course they knew what was going on. It hadn't taken long for Molly Weasley to figure out where the bruises were coming from. Especially when Ginny had stopped coming by as often. It had been almost two months since Molly said Harry wasn't allowed at the Burrow. Then he was banned from Ron and Hermione's flat and finally from Shell Cottage. Ginny was still allowed at all of her family's home's, but she wouldn't go where they wouldn't allow Harry. Harry was family. He always had been. Ginny always tried making excuses for him. He's going through a rough patch. He needs his family most of all she would plead. But time and time again they told her to leave him and he would find help in his own way. Ginny was stubborn though. She wouldn't leave Harry to do what she feared most likely to happen. Death. One way or another she knew it was inevitable.

A phone ring brought Ginny from her thoughts and she didn't have the energy to get up and answer it. She let it ring and ring. It was probably Malfoy, calling to convince her to leave Harry and…

Ginny's eyes widened. Draco Malfoy had kissed her. It wasn't just an ordinary kiss. Ginny felt the emotions pouring into her from Draco's embrace, all the things he wanted to tell her but didn't know how. For what seemed like eternity he had held her close and showed her what it was supposed to be like when someone cared for you. When someone genuinely cared for you.

When Ginny finally got up to answer the phone, it was too late and the answer machine was picking up the call. It wasn't Draco calling though. She registered the slight disappointment she felt when Harry's voice came over the machine. He was able to get out now. He left the information for the bond company and told her how much it would cost and then he hung up.

It was way more than Ginny could afford and this actually made Ginny relax a bit. She was actually, for the first time in several months, able to relax and feel safe in her own home. She didn't have to worry about waking up to Harry cursing at her and to his abuse. She could go to sleep in her bed and sleep peacefully.

Ginny heard her stomach rumble and she realized she hadn't eaten at all today. She had slept most of the day and food hadn't been on her mind. With a sigh Ginny went into the kitchen and fixed something simple to eat. A sandwich would suffice for now. As she stood at the counter she noticed her purse sitting on the edge. It appeared that it had been rummaged through and she hadn't bothered to look for it when she left for the diner this evening. Looking in the opening, Ginny saw a small piece of parchment sitting on top of the rest of her belongings. Ginny put down the butter knife she was holding and picked up the parchment with Draco Malfoy's home phone number and address on it. Ginny mentally slapped herself. How could she have been so stupid? She remembered vaguely the day Malfoy had written the information down for her to have when she was at the restaurant and he wasn't there. It was for situations when he was needed at the diner, so that Ginny could get in contact with him quickly. Now she knew how Harry had found the information.

Stupid me. Stupid, stupid Ginerva Weasley. What is wrong with me? Ginny chided herself as she finished making the sandwich. She kept looking down at the phone number from the corner of her eye. Like it was going to disappear or something. No. She shook her head at her outraged thoughts. You can't call him. You wouldn't even have anything to say. With a sigh Ginny sat at the kitchen table and devoured the sandwich in minutes. She was surprised she hadn't noticed her hunger earlier. As she got up to put her plate in the sink she walked passed the piece of parchment and it fluttered off the counter and into the floor. Ginny scurried to pick it up and tucked it safely in her pocket, her hand wrapped tightly around it. With a frown she stalked into the living room and sat on the couch. She flipped on the television and tried to ignore the phone number that seemed to be burning a hole in the pocket of her muggle pants.

She flipped and flipped and flipped through the channels, not even paying attention to what was on, but mentally arguing with herself about calling Malfoy.

No! Absolutely not! Ginny turned the television off and just sat, staring at the blank screen. Her heart was beating faster and faster as she eyed the phone sitting beside her on the end table. Finally she pulled the number from her pocket and picked up the receiver. She held it for what seemed like hours. So long that it scared her when the phone rang in her hands. She pushed the answer button and put the phone to her ear cautiously.

"Hello?" She said it in barely a whisper. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she prayed that it wasn't Harry on the other end.

"Um…Ginny?"

It was Draco's voice and Ginny almost jumped out of her seat she was so happy to hear his voice. She was so excited she almost forgot she was needed to say something.

"Oh…hello." She had no clue what to say to him. She hadn't realized how happy she would be to hear his voice.

He didn't speak for nearly a minute and Ginny's heart started hammering again. "Well, I'm not even sure why I called."

Ginny smiled at his nervousness. She had never known Draco to be nervous. "Actually, I was just about to call you."

"Really?" He sounded relieved and almost happy.

"Yeah. But I'm not sure why either." She admitted.

Ginny heard a deep chuckle on the other end and decided she liked the sound. "Well, now that we've got the awkwardness out of the way." Draco continued. "Um, I wanted to apologize for tonight."

"Oh." Ginny thought about the kiss they had shared and shook her head. "Don't apologize, Draco."

"Why not? I clearly crossed the line and wouldn't feel right without apologizing."

Continuing to shake her head, Ginny spoke. "It's not necessary. I mean…I don't know how to explain myself, but I don't want you to apologize to me."

"Oh." Draco was quiet for a moment. "What do you want, Ginny?"

Ginny let out a shaky breath and decided to go for it. "Coffee."

"Pardon me?"

"Coffee." Ginny said again. "I want Coffee. Is there anywhere open now?"

"Um…" She could tell he was thinking hard before he finally answered. "I have no clue actually. I'm still at the diner. I haven't exactly been doing much work."

Ginny smiled. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Twenty minutes later Ginny found herself staring at the employee entrance to the diner for the second time that evening. Her heart was pounding and she was finding it hard to go in. She didn't know what was going to happen when she did. She had already made the decision not to go bond out Harry…that much she was sure of. But she had no idea what she was going to do about Malfoy. She wasn't sure what she wanted to come of this. All she could do was go in and talk to him and hope that she somehow found the answer she was looking for.

"Oh come on, Ginny, grow a pair." She said to herself and then opened the door.

The lights were still on and Ginny slowly made her way to the office where she found a pacing Draco. He walked the length of his office, back and forth, mumbling to himself. His desk was still piled with paperwork. Ginny smiled as she watched him. When he finally noticed Ginny in the doorway, he had to do a double take and he stopped abruptly, obviously feeling like a moron.

"How long have you been there?"

Ginny smirked. "Long enough."

Draco narrowed his eyes playfully. "I don't like that."

Ginny shook her head. "I didn't overhear anything embarrassing if that's what you mean."

Draco sauntered back to his desk and sat down with a smile on his face. "Good. That would be horrifying. Of course I don't know that I could top the arse I made of myself earlier."

Ginny smirked and moved to lean on his desk. "I told you not to worry about that." Ginny looked at his paper-covered workspace and changed the subject. "Why are you still here?"

Draco sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Well, apart from finishing tonight's numbers, I've been trying to figure out what to do about the diner's profits. Or, the lack there of." He smiled up at her and Ginny found it hard not to pull him into an embrace and promise him those things would work themselves out.

Ginny furrowed her brows in concentration and suddenly had several questions for Draco. The first being merely curious. "I'm sorry for being so nosey, Draco, but why are you worried about money? Aren't you the Heir to the Malfoy millions?"

"Ah…the question of the century." He crossed his arms over his chest and continued. "Haven't you heard that I've been disowned by my own family?"

Ginny was shocked at this news. "But why?"

Draco sighed. "Because I didn't want to continue Voldemort's work after he was destroyed. My parents, along with several others wanted to continue on and finish what he started. But I didn't want to. Therefore, I was disowned. Banished, if you will." He shrugged. "All for the better if you ask me."

Ginny looked at him in awe. Obviously there was a change in the man that sat before her. A major change from the boy he had been in school to the man he was now. But Ginny had no idea his life was that different now. It made more sense to her now, that he had spent so much of his own time in the diner, serving the customers, taking orders and cleaning. The old Malfoy never would have done such things. He would have paid someone else to do it. Before she hadn't taken notice to anything. She was so caught up in the life she had with Harry, that she didn't have the time to wonder about Malfoy and why he was actually talking to her. Why he had even hired her for that matter.

"What?" Draco asked, eyeing her and making Ginny realize she was staring at him.

She looked away suddenly, shaking her head. "Nothing. Coffee?"

He nodded. "It should be made." He stood to go and retrieve two cups.

Ginny sighed and sat down across from Draco's seat and the pain in her side and head suddenly returned. Ginny bent over, her face in her hands and she could feel the throbbing in the back of her head. She hadn't even taken the time to look at it properly. All she knew is that there was a large lump on the back of her head and at the moment it was hurting so bad it was bringing tears to her eyes. She tried hard not to let the tears fall but she couldn't hold them back. She leaned up to wipe them as Draco walked in with the two cups of coffee. He didn't hesitate to set them down and kneel down in front of her.

"What's wrong?" He wiped at the tears as well and Ginny looked at his concerned face.

She shook her head, trying to cover her face. "I'm sorry. I just…my head." She shrugged. "It hurts."

Confused, Draco asked, "What do you mean?"

Ginny dried the rest of her tears and looked at him, scared to tell him the truth. "Well…last night. Harry…" She couldn't finish.

Draco's face went rigid. "Oh. I mean…do you want me to look at it? I'm pretty good at healing, maybe I can help it along."

Ginny could tell he was holding back his anger. With a shrug she showed his where the knot on her head was and she heard him curse under his breath.

"Ginny." He barely whispered as he ran his thumb lightly over the knot. Then he pulled out his wand and murmured a couple different spells. Ginny felt a tingling sensation where the knot was and suddenly the pain was gone. She felt her head and the knot was gone. She smiled up at Draco and she saw the pain in his face as he looked at her. His hand came up to her cheek and his thumb brushed across her still red and puffy face.

"I just don't get it." He breathed out. "Why would someone do something like this?" He shook his head. "I couldn't bare to hurt someone so beautiful."

Ginny felt the blush rising in her cheeks and looked at the floor, Draco's hand falling to his side.

"Where else do you hurt?"

Ginny looked up again, ignoring her embarrassment. She pulled up her shirt, revealing the large bruise on her side where Harry had kicked her. Draco growled his frustration and his hands fisted at his sides. His face was rigid as he looked at the bruise that covered Ginny's entire side. It took him several seconds before he could speak calmly.

"Are any of your ribs broken?"

Ginny shook her head. "Just bruised I think." She shrugged slightly, unsure. Maybe they were broken.

Draco kneeled down again at her side and placed a hand on her side. "Tell me if it hurts. I'll try and be gentle."

Ginny nodded as Draco pushed gently on her side. He moved his hand around, probing and rubbing. Ginny sighed at his touch. She could feel the irritation of the bruise but nothing more.

Draco sighed and pointed his wand at her side. "Maybe some swelling, but I can fix that."

Moments later Ginny felt the same tingling sensation she had felt in her head and the pain was gone. She breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in the chair, her eyes closed. It wasn't long before she peaked at Draco who was watching her intently.

"Sorry." He said, rising and moving back to his chair where he took a large drink of his coffee. Then he handed Ginny her cup which she took gratefully.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"And thank you for healing me." She said, making eye contact with him again. "You don't know how much it means to me."

"Ginny…" He trailed off, unsure what to say. "There's so much I want to say right now. I just don't want you mad at me. Mostly I don't want you to leave again."

Ginny shrugged. "Say what you want. I'm not going anywhere." She stood and walked over to his side of the desk and leaned back against it. She was only inches away from him now.

His eyes roamed her face for answers to silent questions.

Ginny sighed and said what she knew he wanted to hear. "I'm not going to get Harry."

Draco's face lit up. "You're serious?"

Ginny nodded. "I don't know what I'll do if he gets out on his own. I mean, I'm sure he will do anything to get out and come home. And then I'm sure he'll want to know why I didn't come get him."

Draco was concerned again. "Why don't you move?"

Ginny laughed at this. "With what money?"

"Right." Draco said falling back in his chair. "Then what?"

"I have no clue." Ginny took a drink from her now cooled coffee and scrunched her nose at it. She did notice that he remembered her cream and this made her smile.

"What?" He eyed her curiously.

Ginny shook her head. "Nothing."