Chapter 4: The Fight

"You can't possibly be going out again. I have Friday nights off now and you go out partying with Malfoy."

"I'm not partying with Malfoy. It's business, Harry. It was in the contract. Business dinners every Friday. You have business dinners all the time." She knew she was grasping at straws, but she also knew Draco wouldn't hesitate ripping up the contract if she didn't go.

"I'm not doing this with you again tonight, Ginny. It's different and you know it."

Harry shook his head leaving the bedroom. "Unbelievable! I'm staying at Ron's. Let's see if you can stumble your way to the bedroom tonight." Ginny's stomach lurched.

In the last three months, every Friday night was spent with Draco, Blaise, Marcus Flint, and Adrian Pucey. It wouldn't have been her first choice of people to socialize with but she was getting used to them. She had to admit, going out every Friday relieved a good deal of tension from her work week and from Harry. They were fighting almost every night, that is every night they saw each other.

"Miss Weasley, you look ravishing." Blaise grabbed her hips from behind as she walked over to their usual table.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you manners?" She slapped his hands off. Okay, she wouldn't be upset if Blaise was not there but she was fine with everyone else.

"Ginevra, about time you got here!" She caught Draco's gaze for an instant before she noticed his eyes wandering over her body. She blushed furiously as she took her usual seat next to him.

"Troubles with Potter again?" Draco's familiar drawl sounded in her ear.

"Sometimes a girl takes a little longer to get ready." She yelled out so the whole table was involved in their conversation.

"When are you going to leave that lousy tosser for a real man?" Blaise called to her.

"You can't possibly mean you, Zabini! I'm more of a man than you are!" Ginny sighed and leaned back. I can't keep this up tonight. The fighting was taking a toll on her and the thought of Harry venting to her brother or more likely just stewing over the fight leaving Ron to wonder what his sister had done was not helping the knots in her stomach.

"I'm calling it a night, boys." Draco stood with a yawn.

"Are you mad? The night's still young!"

"Weasley, see me out." Draco ignored Blaise's winking and put his hand on Ginny's back, guiding her out. Ginny was quite thankful though, if Draco was leaving then she could too.

"Problems with Potter." It was irritating that he knew what was wrong so quickly, but it was hard to not notice the bags under her eyes caused by late night fights with Harry and how irritable she was when she was headed home for the day.

Ginny just shook her head. "It's a mess."

Tears clouded her eyes. She wiped them away without him seeing, not realizing that she was this upset.

"He hates these nights. I hardly see him and when I do, we're always fighting. It's terrible. We'd be fine if none of this ever happened."

"Never apologize for succeeding. You're good at what you do. I wouldn't be thinking of merging with your company otherwise. You were right, Malfoy Industry is making a fortune."

"I don't think you've ever said anything so nice to me, Malfoy." Awkward silence filled the air.

Draco cleared his throat, "Come, Weasley, I'll walk you home. Potter will be excited to see you home early."

Ginny looked away. "He's not there. He's staying at my brother's."

Draco put an arm around her shoulders and shrugged, "I'll make you a cup of tea." He opened the door to her flat and made his way to the kitchen.

"So would you be this nice to my brothers or am I just the lucky one?" Draco handed her a cup of tea, sitting across from her on the couch.

"You aren't like the rest of your family. Your brother just makes it too easy. You give it right back. You've got… spunk." Ginny slipped off her cloak and Draco's eyes followed her legs as she uncovered them, "Not to mention, your legs are bloody gorgeous."

Ginny's eyes snapped up to meet his. "Umm I should let Harry know I'm home. Thanks for making me tea."

She mentally slapped herself, where was the witty retort? Draco was so close to her, making a different feeling ad to the knots in her stomach.

Before she could do anything, Draco stopped her, his hands gripping her shoulders tightly, her knees felt suddenly weak. His smell was intoxicating and she was too close for her own good.

"You've done good for yourself. From what you've told me, all this could have been done even if you weren't with Potter. Look at me." She lifted her eyes slowly connecting with his steel colored eyes. "If he wasn't in the picture, you would still be in this situation. You shouldn't let anyone hold you back." Draco's hands slid up to cup her face. Ginny grasped his cloak as he leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Not even if it is Harry bleeding Potter." His lips were brushing against her ear.

"Ginny! Are you home?" Hermione came running down the steps as Draco pulled away from her. "Hey, Malfoy..."

"Granger, congratulations on the engagement." He nodded respectfully, "I'll see you at the board meeting first thing Monday morning, Weasley."

She hoped her face didn't betray her as his piercing eyes flashed to hers before he shut the door behind him.

"See you, Monday."

Ginny escaped to her room right when Draco left, muttering something about changing clothes as she brushed past Hermione. She leaned against her door, feeling too riled up for what just happened.

"Why was Draco here?" Was the first thing she heard as Ginny stepped off the bottom stair.

"He walked me home after our Friday drinks. He had a few things to discuss with me. Is Harry coming home tonight?"

Hermione seemed to ponder Ginny's answer. "I think so. Ron said he was a bit of a mess. What's going on? He won't say anything other than, 'Malfoy,' when we ask him what's wrong."

Ginny sipped her tea deciding not to tell Hermione the truth. "There's nothing between Draco and I. I got too emotional tonight. Harry and I had a huge fight. Everything was just too much. I think Draco's just worried it'll affect my work. Nice guy, huh?" Ginny let out a quiet laugh.

Hermione gave her a reassuring smile, believing her lie. "I'm going to go kick Harry out. You two have a lot to talk about."

Ginny nodded.

"And, Gin, be careful around Malfoy. I know people who have been involved with him and they didn't do too well."

A loud pop filled the silence. Ginny put her head in her hands. She couldn't deny her attraction to Draco, every time he whispered in her ear a thrill went up her spine.

Harry still wasn't back two hours later. Ginny pulled the covers up around her face.

Her head was spinning. 'Don't let anyone hold you back,' Draco's words echoed in her head. Was that Draco's subtle way of telling her to break up with Harry? Ginny suddenly sat up when she heard her front door open slowly.

Wand at the ready, she slowly crept down the stairs.

"Ginny?" A deep voice broke the silence.

"Harry?" She asked back.

"I'm so glad to see you," he pulled her into a hug, cradling her head.

"We need to stop fighting." Ginny buried her head in his chest and nodded.

"I was miserable tonight," he told her, still not letting go.

Harry and Ginny had been sitting in silence for 20 minutes. Harry reached across the table, taking her hand.

"Gin, are you having an affair?" She looked up into his worried face.

Draco kept his shielded, rarely showing any emotion, but Harry had everything written on his. She could see the love he felt for her and how frightened he was at the thought of losing her.

"No, are you having an affair?" Ginny didn't believe that he was at all. Harry wasn't that kind of guy.

"Never." Silence took over again. Ginny was almost positive that Harry didn't care about any other questions.

"Harry, I just don't get it. I was supportive through all your Auror dinners, the days I only saw you for one hour, and the weekends I didn't even see you at all. Now that my job has become more demanding, you act like I'm being unfair. I have a set schedule at work and Friday nights I have drinks. You decided that you wanted Fridays off without even talking to me. Where's the support? What do you want me to do, choose between you and my job?"

Harry looked at his hands. "I just hate Malfoy, I don't trust him. I trust you, but going out with a group of guys, Slytherins no doubt," Harry shook his head. "I just- they're shady. They could take advantage of you."

Ginny shook her head violently. "When I've had too much to drink, Draco walks me home. And I can handle myself around those guys. They're harmless. I'm too valuable in the company for them to even touch me."

With that Ginny headed up to the bedroom. She had said all she needed to say.

"Do you like him? I mean to say, are you attracted to him…. sexually?" Ginny bite her lip, thinking of all the times her heart raced when he breathed in her ear or how her legs turned to jelly when any part of him touched her.

"No," she said firmly, it was the first time she had lied to him.