So Ginny didn't write back to Harry. It was possibly the hardest thing that she had to decide on in her life but Draco was ultimately right. She needed to stand up for herself and put her foot down. She got another letter from him that day after deadline to write him back. This one was short and to the point.

I'm so sorry.

I love you Ginny. Always have, always will. I'll always be here if you need me.

That was it. And it completely brought her to tears. But between Charlie always wanting to cheer her up, and Draco telling her she did the right thing, it wasn't as hard as she thought it would be. It seemed like it was harder for Ron and Hermione, who were completely conflicted. Harry was their best friend, after all, and after the whole tiff died down, Ron was put back on the same Auror missions as Harry so he was forced to be around him again. Ron came back after a long weekend chasing down a Dark Wizard in Switzerland to tell them the state of Harry.

"I've never seen someone so…quiet. He's a bloody mess; it's really quite pathetic. He wouldn't talk to me or Auror Bradley about the plans and he only opened his mouth to say incantations. I'll tell you what though, he must be using his anger at himself to power his curses because I have never seen them so spot on before. He's like a lost, sick puppy. It's bloody dreadful."

Hermione was also very concerned with Harry's well being. And since Hermione wasn't bloody to Ginny, she felt even more obliged to help her best friend. Of course she thought that Harry hitting her was wrong and unforgivable…but it had been a couple of weeks now and it was obvious that he needed someone to be there for him. Ginny wasn't, by any means, holding her back from visiting him, but Hermione just felt guilty about doing it. But, after Ginny had told her multiple times that it was okay, she finally decided to floo over to Grimmauld Place. This first visit seemed to break the tension in the Burrow and Ron also went over to check up on his friend every once in a while. Ginny wasn't going to be with Harry anymore, that much was clear, but she didn't want him to be completely cut off from his friends and the people he loved. He just needed to be cut off from her.

Things at therapy were getting much better as well. Her bond with Draco, especially after the whole letter incident, was growing stronger by the week and they were able to have easy conversation now. They were even starting to joke around with each other about certain things, much to Dr. Bloomberg's pleasure. The witch's goal was to help all her patients love life again and to her it seemed that Ginny and Draco were making that happen for each other. Ginny, taking the greatest blind leap ever, decided that Draco needed to be seen in public again and get out of his manor. So, towards the end of one of the therapy sessions, she took a deep breath before diving in, head first.

"Draco, what are you doing after this is over?"

"Heading back to manor, like I usually do."

"Well how about we go into Diagon Alley and grab something to eat?"

Draco's entire body froze. "What are you playing at?"

"W-what do you mean? I'm not playing at anything-"

"You know I haven't been in public since the war!"

"I know. I-I just thought that it would be good for you. You're helping me get over my problems. This would help you get over some of yours. Please Draco? You need to get out. You can't hide from society forever. Look…it's almost been a year since the Dark Lord has fallen. People are moving on. You should too."

He stared at Ginny, trying to decide if she had any ulterior motives. Her eyes showed nothing but genuine concern for him. He had to admit, he DID need to get out but he wasn't sure if he was ready yet. And with Ginny? Sure, they had grown to become somewhat friends, but he wasn't sure how things would be between the two of them outside of therapy. If people say them together, which they most likely would, what would they say? Ginny and Harry's breakup was very personal and most of the wizarding world assumed that she was still with The Chosen One. What was he even saying? People might not even assume anything romantic was happening between the two of them. But if they did…would Draco even mind? Well…no… He shook his head, whipping the thought from his mind. 'No. Don't think about her like that. She just ended things with Scarhead. She's a Weasley, I'm a Malfoy. That's just…wrong.' Draco looked back at Ginny to see that the witch was watching him carefully, waiting for his answer. He took a deep breath.

"Sure. I'll get something to eat. BUT…it needs to be a place where a lot of people won't be. Oh! And dim lighting. I really don't want to see anyone. Really."

Ginny squealed as she clapped her hands together. "YES!"

As soon as Dr. Bloomberg announced the end of the therapy session, Ginny jumped out of her seat and grabbed Draco's hand to heave him out of his seat. His entire body went stiff as he felt her hand inside of his. He internally cursed his body for reacting in such a drastic manner. It was just because he was a teenage boy. Nothing more.

The witch dragged him out of the building and went to walk down Diagon Alley when he suddenly planted himself where he stood. He should be Apparating home right now. His nerves were kicking in as Ginny turned to see why he had stopped. She could tell by the panic in his eyes that he was second guessing the entire thing.

"Draco?" She let go of his hand and took step closer to him. He gulped audibly.

"I can't do it." He said in barely a whisper and she had to take another step so she could hear him.

"Come again?"

"I can't do it."

"Why? Draco you're so close. It's just around the corner. Only ten more steps-"

"I can't do it Ginny. I'm not ready. People will whisper, point, gawk…"

"But I'll be with you the entire time. Please?"

She reached for his hand again but he pulled away, knowing the type of reaction his body would make. She looked genuinely hurt by his move. She looked into his gray eyes to see genuine fear. He wasn't ready. There was nothing she could do.

"Okay…okay. We don't have to go out. Maybe next week though?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

"Just think about it Draco. It would help you heal. It would help you move on." Then, under her breath, "it would help me move on too."

He sighed. He knew that Ginny needed him, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it right now.

"Just think about it?"

"I will."

"Okay."

And then Ginny did something that she had never done before. She hugged him. She took a step foreword and wrapped her arms around his neck. Draco stood there for a moment, frozen, before reacting to what had just happened and slowly encircled her waist. He brought her closer to him, making it a more intimate hug. He buried his face in her hair, sniffing her scent. She smelt like strawberries and freshly cut wood. It was, in all honesty, an intoxicating aroma for the wizard. He whispered in her ear before pulling away from her.

"Thank you Ginny…for caring."

And before she could even respond, he had pulled away and Apparated back to Malfoy Manor.