I apologize for the slow updates. My editing was process was stalled due to some writer's block and transition issues in this story as well as an idea for a separate story gnawing on my mind. While there are other stories that I have played around with in my mind or started, this one wouldn't seem to let go until I put down something on paper. So, to keep from losing my own mind, I went ahead and started the next story. It seemed to do the trick as far as clearing some space to think about the story at hand, so I am back and fighting for Severus and Ginny's ending. Updates will still be slower than I'd like due to a few errors I am finding in consistency and the already mentioned transitions, but hopefully that will clear up as well.

BTW, thank you readers for all the comments left on the story. I am glad people are enjoying it and hope I can continue to keep you enthralled. It is amazing to see people favorite and follow this. Thank you so much!

And now we continue...

Lucius turns his back towards me and stares into the fireplace pensively. His face is blank and masked, but I can see his mind is exploding with too many thoughts. We may have had our share of problems in the past, but he is still my closest friend.

"So, you've fallen in love with Narcissa," I state unemotionally. "Could be worse." He gives me challenging look, so I joke, "It could have been a Muggleborn."

He lets out a small chuckle, breaking the tension that has settled in his shoulders. Slumping a little, he shakes his head. "Not a chance."

We stand in silence for a moment before I walk away to one of the chairs next to the fire. He follows silently and takes his seat as we continue to sip on our alcohol quietly.

"Come on," he finally says, rubbing his face. "Out with it. I know there are million questions burning on your tongue, so ask away. No point in hiding anything now."

I take a second to choose my words carefully. "There is nothing wrong with loving your own wife," I simply state. He gives me confused look before I add, "Though cheating on her for two decades is a funny way of showing it."

"I told you, we did love each other for a time," he repeats. "But then I thought there was something more out there."

"Something more?"

"We knew we were going to be married for years beforehand," he explains. "You remember our days back at Hogwarts. I wanted to explore the female population before I was tied down for good. Knowing I would be forced into a marriage before I was twenty made me want to see what else was out there."

I think back to our early friendship. It was true, Lucius was very much the lady's man. Nearly every girl was head over heals for him and he dated only the most beautiful of the pureblood witches. It seemed like he had a new lady in his bed every month. Even as young as I was, I could comprehend he had it good.

"As the time drew closer for us to wed, Narcissa and I thought it would be beneficial to properly court and see if we could turn our situation into a real relationship," he went on. "We found ourselves very compatible and very much in love. Things were good for a while."

"What happened?"

He shrugs and shakes his head. "My political career was taking off, my father's demanded that I become more influential in the Ministry, we the struggle to conceive and then Draco's birth, and on top of all that, the Dark Lord just started his rise to power. Narcissa didn't agree with my choices to join the inner circle and thought I was jeopardizing her and Draco's safety. It all just got to be too much. Arguments led to grudges, grudges led to silences, and then eventually we became the one thing we didn't want- two strangers stuck in a miserable marriage."

"And so you took on lovers?" I try to keep my tone neutral, but a note of scorn creeps in causing him to scowl.

"For someone who has never experienced the quarrels of marriage, you sure are judgmental," he remarks. I give him a pointed look, so he sighs and replies. "Yes, shortly after Draco was born, I started seeking companionship elsewhere. It was at the height of the Dark Lord's reigns and he encouraged such pleasure as long as I didn't soil myself with less pure witches. By that point, Narcissa had produced our required heir and wanted nothing to do with me."

"Your wife doesn't strike me as one to allow other women to play in her garden, even if she doesn't tend to it herself," I remind him.

"It wasn't like that," he clarifies. "It wasn't something we talked about, it was just a fact. She confronted me a few months after the first affair began and made it clear that she would not be shamed in our circle or allow our son to know of our problems. As much as I disliked her, I still had my honor and wouldn't dream of dragging my family's name through the mud. So, it became an unspoken understanding- I would continue however I pleased with discretion and allow her the same freedom as we continued to pretend to the rest world."

"If she's also been having affairs for years, why are you suddenly so bothered?"

"I never really knew for sure," he explains. "She would run off to our chateau in France or the property in Ireland, but house elves report never seeing another man. I thought she was just being clever by conducting her affairs in places I couldn't send spies to. I couldn't really blame her, I did the same thing with my paramours. But then last week, I found this."

He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a letter. I take the letter delicately and read it over meticulously:

My Darling,

We have been apart for far too long and I am sorry for that. Our youth may be gone, but I know the love is not. I am not sure a love like ours can be completely extinguished, even through trials, tribulations, and time. No matter what happens in our daily life or the mask I put on, my heart is only for you.

For years, I thought this was just a phase, a trist, a period of exploration. We were so young, so foolish. I thought our hearts would realize the mistake we were making. But life continued on and we sprinted down this path, a path of parallel demise until the only thing left was this distant yearning.

We will never be those naive lovers again, but I think it is for the best. I do not ever want to be so careless and carefree with my heart again. That is why I continue to offer myself to no one else but you. There is no one else in the world I would rather be with than you.

But I feel like we are so far apart now, that I wonder if I will ever feel your touch, your embrace, your breath again. The years have taught me to be patient, but there is only so much more I can take. Your love is all I want, so do not deny me a minute longer.

I write again to plead for your return to me. It has been far too long since we have been together, as friends, as lovers, as companions. Deep in my heart I believe you will come back for good, but my faith wanes a little with each passing day. I can only hope it is sooner rather than later, lest I go mad. So do not delay any longer; come back into my arms!

Waiting for you,

Narcissa

I read it over several times before finally looking up a Lucius. His face is grave and defeated. No matter how you look at it, one thing is clear- Narcissa is in love. Not just in love, but desperately, truly, deeply, madly in love.

"You see," he says sadly. "She isn't just involved with someone, she loves him. My wife. My WIFE! Pining after another man."

"Have you found out who he is?" Knowing Lucius, he has probably thrown an obscene amount of money at private investigators and connections to find this man. I hold my breath for his response.

"Not yet," he sneers in disgust. "There is not enough information to go off of in this letter. From what I have gleaned, she has known him for a long time. Perhaps an old friend from her childhood? One who moved out of country but seems to visit fairly often. My guess is he comes back under the guise of visiting family or doing business and that is when she meets up with him." I let out a little sigh of relief, but he doesn't seem to notice. There is no telling what Lucius will do to this man when he does find him, but I hope for Narcissa's sake that Lucius is unsuccessful.

"It looks like he is also married," I point out. Lucius clearly doesn't follow, so I read, "'We continued down this path, a path of parallel demise'. That would suggest that they are both at risk of being caught because they are both married. It sounds like this started out casual and just developed over the years."

"Outrageous!" He shouts throwing his empty glass at the fireplace. I stare back calmly as he rages on. "Love? How can you possibly love if the agreement is purely physical? Equating sex with love is preposterous. Do women not know how to separate their emotions from the equation?"

"Have you never fallen in love with one of your paramours?" I ask seriously. "All those women and you never once felt anything more than just a physical attraction?"

"I am a married man," he states plainly. "Falling in love was never an option. If feelings start coming into play, then lines become blurry and then suddenly you are talking about a messy scandalized divorce splashed on page three of the Daily Prophet. Life is easier when you keep it simple. It is better to end things before it gets out of control."

"You can't choose who you fall in love with," I remind him. "Merlin knows how much easier life would be if that we were given the choice. Are you really going to fault her for falling for a man who gives her the emotional support that you cannot provide? She has yet to fault you for seeking physical comfort over the years."

"That's a lie," he declares. "She may not have said anything, but there is a look she gets. It is almost like she knows when I am lying. If I didn't know any better, I would say she is a greater Legilimens than you because I don't even feel her penetrate my mind."

I smile slightly from behind my glass. The idea of Narcissa being an accomplished Legilimens has crossed my mind before. The fact that she lied to the Dark Lord and lived to tell the tale was only confirmation that she was the one who taught Draco his Occlumency skills back in his sixth year. I always assumed Lucius knew about Narcissa's hidden talents, so I never thought it pertinent to bring it up. Now, I internally laugh that he has no idea she has probably been invading his mind without his notice for years.

"I'm sure that isn't what she was doing," I lie coyly. "Maybe the guilt is just written all over your face."

"Guilt would imply I felt that it was wrong," he retorts. "I'm not the one who fell in love with a fuck buddy."

"Fine," I relent holding my hands up in surrender. "So what now? Hunt down down her lover and teach him a lesson? Confine Narcissa to the Manor to never seek out her lover again? Confront her about her wayward affections?"

"No," he sighs sadly. "That would only push her further into his arms. I still want to know who this wizard is that dared to steal my witch. It seems my only option is to keep an eye on her until a more agreeable option presents itself."

"Forgive me, Lucius, but why not forget about him and focus on her?" I suggest lightly. "There was obviously something that drew her to this man that had nothing to do with money, power, or availability. If you want her back, then wouldn't it be wise to prove you are worthy of her love?"

He sits for a moment and thinks over my suggestion. His defeated attitude still remains, but I can see a light come back into those icy grey eyes. Giving a small shrug he agrees. "You mean try to woo her back? It does seem to be an option. Maybe she will see my changed heart and know the love we could have again. I have to make her see why I am the better man. I have to have her."

"Just slow down for a moment and think this through," I warn him. "This is not a quick fix. It will be a long drawn out process. Rushing into this with no planning would be foolish. Too much aggression and she will not respond favorably. And even after careful planning, consideration and execution, you must understand that even then, she may not be ready to forgive you so easily."

"You know how I like a good challenge," he smirks arrogantly. I give him a pointed look, so he retracts slightly. "She has every right to reject me, but I will never know if I don't try, right?"

"Then I wish you luck in your endeavors," I conclude standing up and setting my glass on the table. I pull a pinch of Floo powder as Lucius stands as well.

Anxiously he asks, "Rushing off so soon? You fill my head with dreams of grandeur and then leave me alone to fail?"

"Only you know Narcissa well enough to form a realistic plan," I explain. "If you should require assistance, I will be more than happy to help, but the majority of this task you must complete on your own. Just as I must return to the castle and continue to plan my upcoming nuptials. By the way, I suppose I should ask now if you and Narcissa would agree attend said ceremony? For moral support?"

"For anyone else the answer would be no," he teased. "But to pass on the opportunity to have you owe me a favor would be foolish, so my answer is yes. Hopefully, this will give me a chance to start my plan to win my wife back."

"So glad I can be of service," I retort sarcastically. "Until next time?"

"Indeed," I hear him respond before the green flames send me back to the castle.

Hermione's advice to take each day in stride was the best thing she could have told me. It is easier than I thought it would be and I find myself calmer with each passing day.

It seems she also held true to her word and talked some sense into Harry. It has been a week since I receive the letter, but he has not sought me out and keeps a safe distance away from me during class and practice. Even Snape seems to be on the same page as I have not had another degrading conversation about rules. In fact, the few times I have see him on the halls or at meals, he doesn't even acknowledge my presence as he sweeps by.

The rest of school has noticed that Harry and I are no longer together, but they seem to have enough courtesy to not talk about it in front of me. The whispers stop as soon as I walk into any room and the stares are rather uncomfortable, but I can handle it. Especially since they have yet to hear about my engagement.

The weekend finally comes around and it is the first Quidditch Match of the season- Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff. Harry and I had two practices since I hexed him, but we stayed far away from each other on the field. I think Ron might have had something to do with that since he and Harry practiced at one end of the pitch while the other chasers and I were at the other.

Our team gets ready in bright spirits before the match. As I lace my boots, my eye catches Harry watching from afar. It takes all my effort to ignore him completely. My anger has only subsided slightly, so I know if he tried to speak to me, my wand would be ready for a fight. I can hear the crowd starting to cheer as the rest of the team begins to walk to the field.

I glance in the stands and see Hermione and Luna waving and giving encouraging smiles of good luck. For the first time in a week, I feel completely at ease. I am in my element now, and nothing, not even my fight with Harry or my anxiety about the upcoming wedding, can distract me. The outside world no longer matters; it's just me, my broom, and the Quaffle.

Madame Hooch finally blows the whistle and I immediately go for the ball with my other two chasers, Dennis Creevey and Lola Nilmah. We make a great team as we weave in and out of beaters, bludgers, and the opposing team. In the first few minutes, we score three times and my spirit feels like floating. The crowd is feeding my ego.

Hufflepuffs are great competitors in Quidditch. The play tough, but fair so the game is always a good challenge. This year they have stepped up their game and before long we trail by two goals.

Ron is doing a decent job blocking Quaffle as best he can, but it is obvious the Hufflepuff Chasers have some new moves. Dennis and I continue to steal the Quaffle and take shots, but their keeper has improved as well. Each shot on the goal is met with a fierce defense as the game quickly rolls downhill with the Hufflepuff chasers continuing to score.

With each passing minute, my nerves begin to fail and I start hoping for a quick end to this game. I look around to see if Harry has even spotted the Snitch. He is floating aimlessly, watching me. Yelling over my shoulder, I tell him to get his head in the game. I know I am close enough to hear, but he doesn't seem to be listening. Frustrated, I fly up on one of the Beaters.

"Send the next bludger to Harry," I command. "Maybe if something starts flying in his direction, he'll get his head out of his arse and start looking for the damned Snitch." My team mate gives an apprehensive look, but he knows better than to question my judgment.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, a dark bludger is sent directly at Harry, narrowly escaping another broken arm. He looks around wildly as I scream at him, "Look for the fucking Snitch, you moron!" He sends me an angry scowl and flies to the other end of the field.

Within a few minutes, he snatches the golden snitch, winning only 40 points ahead of Hufflepuff. The crowd cheers ecstatically as we land, but I am still frustrated with Harry. As we start back to the locker room, I see the Beater apologize to Harry ahead of me. He turns back to me with pure rage in his eyes.

"What the fuck, Gin?" Harry shouts. The entire team stops walking to watch what is about to happen. "Trying to get me knocked off my broom? If you want to be a seeker so bad then you should have challenged me for my spot."

"I don't want your damn position," I snap back. "I only had him do it because you had your head in the clouds instead of in the game. They were nearly a hundred points up before you decided to start looking for the Snitch!"

"I knew where the snitch was the whole time," he argued. "Ernie had no idea where it was, so I was waiting in hopes that we would steal back some of the points. In case you forgot, you lost our house eighty points this week alone. But forgive me for trying to get them back. Maybe if you weren't so focused on my Seeking abilities, you could have scored a few more points for the team!"

My face burns hot under everyone's gaze. It was a clever strategy, but I'm certainly not going to admit it to him. Besides, he was just being arrogant. Before I can come back with a snarky comment or pull my wand, a voice calls my name at a distance.

"Miss Weasley!" Everyone turns to see none other than Professor McGonagall walking calmly towards us. Swearing under my breath, I vanish my wand back in my robes in hopes that she doesn't notice how close I was to hexing him again.

"Miss Weasley," she repeats brightly, not noticing the tension thick in the air. "I'm sorry, but I forgot to let you know earlier that your detention will be held in my office after you have finished changing." I open my mouth to argue, but she gives me a stern look that keeps me silent.

She turns to the rest of the team and begins to congratulate each member with a compliment. They chatter away happily, so I go ahead and leave for the dressing room alone. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Snape standing in the shadows and I know he was watching the entire scene unfold.

Just when I thought things were going to be all right, Harry and Snape are standing by to remind me how wrong I am.

Damn girl was about to start another fight with Potter!

I had not intended to come to the match, but Minerva insisted firmly that I should attend this match since I will be missing the Hufflepuff Ravenclaw match in a couple of weeks. Secretly, I think she was trying to get me to be morally supportive of my future wife. Utter rubbish!

The match was considerably boring until I noticed Potter spotted the snitch but made no attempt to catch it. He was watching the match intently as though he were sitting in the stands, but was still glanced every once in awhile as if waiting for just the right moment to snatch it.

After a few minutes, I could tell his former girlfriend noticed his odd behavior by the way she began yelling at him from below. When he didn't respond, I literally watched her collude with another player to knock a bludger in his direction!

I had no idea the girl had so much gall!

But her plan worked and Potter decided to end the game right there. I knew it was only a matter of time before the pair would exchange words, so I made it a point to "insist firmly" that Minerva congratulate her winning team. Thank Merlin the woman is smart enough to pick up on my subtle hints. I'm not sure if she saw the girl ready to hex Potter again, but Minerva did manage to diffuse the situation easily enough.

Just when I think I am starting to get a handle on this whole situation, she becomes as unpredictable as a blast ended skrewt.