I actually took only two weeks to write this... I think... yeah, sorry about the lack of updates, but life is life

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"Hungry, Malfoy?" she chirped and walked towards him through the archway, leaning her briefcase against the wall and coming closer. "I can see you drool from here."

"I didn't hear you come in," Draco replied.

"I apparated into the hall," Pansy explained, coming closer to watch them fence as well. "She's becoming quite good."

"Yes, she is," Draco nodded gloomily.

"Draco, dear, you cannot keep going like this," Pansy said in her most shrink-like voice. "You are unhappy and she is unhappy."

"I made her unhappy." Draco sulked in the manner of a four year old.

"Yes, now you have," Pansy agreed.

"I should have let her die," Draco's mood was not altered by Pansy's agreement.

"No, I don't think you should have done that," Pansy disagreed.

"Well, she is unhappy because she is alive," Draco continued in the same sulky manner.

"No, Draco, that is no why she is unhappy," Pansy's voice sounded tired like she was. "She is unhappy because she thinks that you are unhappy."

Draco frowned, "What?"

"Draco, dear, don't make me repeat myself," Pansy rolled her eyes. "She thinks that her presence is bothering you, and that's why she is unhappy. And also, I think, because she slapped you."

"She is feeling remorse?" Draco's eyes lit up at the idea. "Pansy, are you sure?"

"It's my job, Draco."

"No, you cannot be right."

"Draco, damn it." Pansy sighed, "How short-sighted are you? She is unhappy because of you. Now go, fix it."

At last Draco's eyes left Ginny's fighting form, and he turned to face Pansy.

"Fix it? How?" he frowned, "Are you saying that I should kill her?"

"You are stupider than Crabbe, Malfoy," Pansy made a face. "Do I have to tell you step-by-step how to make a woman happy?"

Draco grew angry.

"I've made plenty of women happy."

"Yeah, the little Weasel as at the top of the list," Pansy spat back.

"Watch what you are saying, Pansy," Draco's male ego was obviously injured by the harsh implication.

"Okay," Pansy was now insulted as well. "If that's all, I'll go to my room and sleep. You can moor over your evil doings by yourself."

"Parkinson," Draco growled in warning.

"Malfoy," Pansy imitated him perfectly.

"Don't try to play mind games with me, Pansy," Draco advised her.

"I am not playing any games with you, Drakie," Pansy's voice was dripping with honey. "But I see that you don't need me out of all people to help you figure out your relationships. I shall go."

It was more than obvious to Draco that if he wanted to get something out of her, he would have to apologize. That's what she was driving at, and he, despite his ego injuries, truly needed her help. It was not that he was bad with women, rather the opposite, but Ginny was… well, Ginny was different, and he did not know what she thought or what was he to expect from her. His mother was not too willing to help him with the issue when he asked her about the time she was spending with Ginny. And now Pansy, whose advice he would usually trust, was offended by him. To Draco, the choice was clear, he would either apologize to his childhood friend and ask for her help, which he knew would flatter her, or he would have to stand where he stood before she came in and watch the love of his life fe- wait, love of his life? Draco's thought process came to a halt- when did he become so involved with a woman who… He leaned his forehead against the cold window sill as to clear it, and Pansy, who was watching him halfway towards the door returned.

"Draco?" She asked softly.

There was no reply.

"Draco," Pansy came closer.

The witch was uncertain of what she should do. Of course, she watched the Weasel and the Malfoy struggled with their feelings for each other for about a month now. Actually, she saw the love budding within the Malfoy since the beginning of the trial. She did not need to be an experienced head-healer, though it helped, to know what was going on, or rather not going, between them. They still interacted at dinner and breakfast, but regardless of what they had before, it seemed forced and unnatural. Pansy saw the pain in their eyes that they were oblivious to, and tonight, seeing Draco watching Ginny fence compelled her to make her decision to help them. Yet, it's hard to help someone who does not want your help.

"She loves you, Draco," Pansy continued from behind him. "God knows why, but she loves you. You have to stop being a prat about it, though, or you will lose her."

Draco, still leaning against the window, listened to her words falling on him as refreshing rain on a hot August day.

"You have to stop this nonsense now," Pansy carried on. "You have to stop making both of you unhappy."

"How can you be so sure?" Draco whispered from his place by the window.

"Sure? Sure of what?"

Draco did not reply.

"Well, along with the rest of the wizarding world, I saw you kiss in that courtroom," Pansy replied, guessing on what he was driving at. "She wouldn't have kissed you if she had not had any feelings for you, Drakie. Maybe some other would, but not her."

Draco heard her talk but he made no sound as to indicate that he was listening.

"Oh stop sulking Malfoy," Pansy muttered, trying yet another tactic to goad him in the right direction. "You are not five anymore. Here, in the adult world, we solve our problems instead of ignoring them or moping around."

"Like you did, yeah?" Draco went into the offensive directed at her past relationships, and though Pansy knew that it was only his ire speaking, she felt pain swell in her chest at the remark.

"Do you have to make the same mistakes I did?" Pansy's voice gained in volume. "Ah! Why are you so stupid Draco? Why can't you see the obvious?"

Pansy came near to crying, and so she turned around, balling her hands into fists of anger.

"I see the obvious," Draco turned around too, "You are just making up illusions. There is nothing between the Weasley and I."

Pansy almost laughed at those words.

"I am sure," she snorted. "Had a great reason to rescue her, then…"

Draco knew that what he said was false. He also knew that she knew that it was false.

"Fine, Pansy," he raised his hands in defeat. "Why don't you tell me how to 'fix it' then?"

Pansy heard the sarcasm in his voice, but on the other hand, she knew hat he could use the advice she had to offer, and so she gave it:

"How about being nice to her? Instead of always telling her that she is anorexic, or bad at whatever she is doing at the moment? It's very immature of you, Draco."

"Great idea, Pans," Draco agreed sardonically. "Why don't you fall in love with her too?"

Pansy thought it needless to point out that he just admitted to loving Ginny.

"Because I don't fall in love with any of the Weasleys on principle."

Draco stifled a snort. "Yeah, of course you don't."

Pansy gave him a short, pained look, but quickly regained her composure.

"I also suggest that you spend more time with her," she went on with giving him advice. "Take her out sometime, buy her a gift. Give her some attention; I am sure that after her life with Potter, she will be starved for it."

"Take her out," Draco sneered. "Nice one, Pans, and then we can all get arrested. Maybe we'll even get cells close together in Azkaban."

"You are stupider than you look," Pansy sighed tiredly. "If you haven't noticed, the Weaselette doesn't look like a Weasley anymore. No one will recognize her. Besides, you must take her out at some point. You cannot keep her inside for the rest of her life- that'd be like rescuing her from Azkaban just to lock her up in a nicer cage."

She did not want to add that her life probably won't be long if Draco doesn't do something about it. Soon.

"It's too risky," Draco objected.

"Yeah, because stealing her away from the dementors wasn't," Pansy remarked coldly. "You stole a golden apple from the Garden of Hesperides and noq you keep it behind a glass wall just so you can look at it."

Draco gave her a rare, but sad, smile at the analogy.

"Well, Draco," Pansy was done schooling him for the night, "You are old enough to know what you are doing. I hope you won't let your golden apple rot."

And with that, the dark-haired witch exited the room, leaving the Malfoy and his scattered thoughts behind.


"And the Malfoy loses again!" Ginny exclaimed, victoriously grabbing the snitch away from

"You cheated," Draco sulked.

"I did no such thing and you very well know that," she retorted, jumping off her broom and completing some sort of a weird victory dance.

"When did you learn to be such a good Seeker?" Draco inquired, slightly hurt from having lost to Ginny yet again.

"I used to steal my brothers' brooms back in the day and then fly on them for hours. Eventually, one gets good at that sort of thing," Ginny explained with sneer. "I actually wanted to become a professional Quidditch player for a while at Hogwarts."

"Me too," Draco confessed.

Ginny chuckled.

"And you think that they'd take you? You won what, three games out of ten?" she teased him lightly

"I am tired," Draco quickly conjured up an excuse. "Unlike you, I am not an ex-prisoner who spends all her time doing what she wishes in a luxurious mansion while a handsome young wizard fends for her in the cruel world of law."

"Handsome?" Ginny scoffed good-naturedly. "Is your ego clouding your vision, darling?"

"Of course not, darling," Draco kissed her nose lightly. "Rather, it sharpens my perfect vision."

"Does it really?" Ginny chuckled, burying her hands in his hair. "Why don't we see if it helps you catch the snitch?"

Draco's eyes glittered at the challenge, and the two of them rose into the air. They chased around, looking for the snitch, with neither finding it immediately. Then, Draco spotted it by a tall oak tree and quickly flew towards it, with Ginny tailing him behind and catching up to him. Draco was almost there. He stretched out his fingers and they brushed against the snitch, grabbing it and enveloping it in his palm. That was when he heard the shriek behind him and he quickly turned to see Ginny falling down from the 30 feet height. It felt as if it switched into slow motion, and it took forever for her to fall. Draco heard himself screaming, and flying down to catch her…


Draco awoke with a start. He sat up in his bed among his satin sheets, breathing hard. The dream he just had, in which he and Ginny were carelessly flying around- and then she fell. He remembered it clearly. The feeling of loss, so much graver than the one he felt at the court that day.

Draco was never the one to give fortune telling much credit, but the dream introduced a sense of fear. It was an early morning, maybe around five or six, when he hurried to the library to find a book to explain it. Yet, he felt like he needed no explanation.

He sat down in one of the armchairs near the hearth where two or three coals were fighting a losing battle for their life, still shaken by the vision. Draco pondered the implications of the dream: 'She was not in any danger now, was she?' He saved her from a certain death, and though she was unhappy as Pansy said, there was no immediate threat, right? Draco was getting another migraine as the fear from his stomach moved to his head.

"Can't sleep?" a soft voice that was coming from the other armchair by the hearth startled him.

Draco nearly jumped when he realized that the subject of his thoughts was curled in the armchair next to him. The appearance charms that she had to renew every morning were not renewed yet, and so the mane of her red hair formed a halo around her hand as it was illuminated by the fire and the few freckles that reappeared on her face. She was still not the same Ginny Weasley, for the charms that altered the shape of her face were stronger, but the change in her hair was enough for Draco to grow hot under her the calm gaze of her brown orbs.

"No," Draco said, and was about to remark upon her hair when Pansy's words came to his mind, and so he followed his sense of tact.

"Me neither," Ginny confessed, tearing her eyes away from him and staring sadly into the fire.

They sat in silence for a while, and Draco wished he could break it, yet he did not know how. He had the urge to ask her what was wrong, or whether she was mad at him, but he did not. He was not sure why he didn't, but his contemplating was disturbed by her soft voice once again:

"You know, I am sure I can leave now."

Draco was astounded by her words. As if she sensed it, but failed to understand why, Ginny continued:

"Pansy and Luna taught me all those appearance spells and I am sure I could apply them on my own. I could move out of the country and find a job or something. I wouldn't be a burden to you anymore. Or even live with Luna and Blaise, she offered, you know."

Draco opened his mouth couple times to speak and closed it. No sound came out from between his pallid lips.

"I wouldn't tell them who rescued me even if they were to find me," she went on, avoiding his intense gaze. "I am sure I could fend of Veritaserum, even the Imperius."

"Do you want to leave?" Draco choked out, feeling as if all his insides turned into ice. So Pansy was wrong in the end, she was not unhappy because he was unhappy. She was sad because she did not want to be near him. He swallowed with effort.

Ginny was caught off guard by the question.

"I-I mean., well-" she stuttered, finally stealing a glance at Draco who was ghastly pale.

"I won't stop you if you want to leave, Ginny," Draco said almost tenderly.

It was his last chance to try and fix whatever it was between them, and Draco was simply not willing to let it slip. It was now or never. Draco's urge to make peace wit her grew greater after his dream, but it was the necessity that compelled him say it.

"But," he continued, standing up and coming around to face her, his eyes intense on hers, "I don't want you to leave."

The room spun around Ginny. She spent many a sleepless night pondering what his reaction would be like, and to tell the truth, she hoped that he would not let her leave, although that seemed almost impossible.

"I cannot stop you," Draco's voice acquired a certain sound of defeat and desperation. "But you are not a burden. I am sorry for how I treated you these past weeks…" Draco thought that the apology would be painful, that his ego would hurt afterwards, but on the contrary, he felt better.

Ginny could not believe her ears. Was it the same proud Draco Malfoy that was now almost kneeling in front of her by the hearth and apologizing for his past deeds?

"Draco," it was the first time she used his given name to address him, and it gave him hope, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have slapped you on that train station. I was just so worried and then I didn't know how to apologize, and-" that's when Ginny broke into sobs that she kept buried inside her chest since the time she cried on his shoulder in Azkaban.

But unlike back then, Draco did not hesitate to take her into his arms as she cried.

"Oh, Ginny, why did you attack him?" Draco sighed once she calmed down a bit.

"I already told you," she said, looking at him with her tears shining in her eyes. "I did not want to be with him. He is going to ruin our world, and I was ready to die after killing him."

"But the deed was unfinished," Draco pointed out. "You did not kill him. There was no reason for you to die."

"I was sentenced to death for what I attempted to do," Ginny explained. "Even if I failed, it was the intention that got me the punishment."

"I couldn't have let you die," Draco murmured as she snuggled closer to him.

"I know," Ginny agreed, finally feeling safe in his arms. It seemed that all wrongs were forgiven and that everything bad was behind them. The two of them fell asleep together in front of the hearth where they were found in the morning by Crabbe who was slightly surprised at the change in Ms. Amelia's hair.


"Are you sure that this is a good idea?" Ginny asked Draco as they were about to enter the theatre in Diagon Alley together.

"Yes, I am absolutely certain," he replied impatiently for she had asked him the same question about fifty times before they departed from the mansion and a few more times after.

"What if someone recognizes me?" Ginny inquired in whisper.

"They will not," Draco replied tiredly, pulling her towards the door.

The two of them entered the dining-theatre in Diagon Alley, and it can be said with an amount of certainty that many heads turned to take a better look at the woman on Draco Malfoy's arm. She was wearing a black dress that contrasted with her now-blonde hair nicely. It hung from her shoulders on spaghetti straps, coming down just bellow her knees. Draco liked it especially, for it hung to her curves fabulously. After Draco made peace with Ginny, the latter was striving. She regained some of her weight from before Azkaban, and her overall joyful nature appeared to be coming back. The night at the theatre, she was radiant, if rather nervous. He, himself, was wearing black, fitted robes to match her and he got quite a few appreciative looks as well.

Since their reconciliation by the fireplace, Draco and Ginny entered a new phase in their relationship. Much to the other family members' delight, the two of them appeared happier and more content. The whole atmosphere in the Manor changed as they started spending more time together, and exploring the reasons for the mutual attraction. Sometimes they would go flying, or play chess or just talk, and Narcissa and Pansy watched them closely, also glad that Draco became more stabilized and started to relax rather than working long hours at the office.

But today was special. It's been two months since Ginny's rescue and one month since their reconcilement. They were not 'officially dating' as they avoided giving a name to what was between them, but at the very least, they were friends.

As they made their way to sit down at the reserved table for two, Ginny caught a pair of light blue eyes looking at her wonderingly. Remembering what Narcissa told her about this sort of situations, Ginny stared blankly back for a few seconds. She might have held the stranger's gaze longer, had it not been for the fact that the clear blue eyes were paired up with a head of flaming red hair. Ginny nearly stumbled as she realized that Percy Weasley was sitting at one of the tables with his wife Penelope. No, she certainly was not ready for this.

Draco sensing her tension, followed her eyes, and quickly figured out what the matter really was. He steadied her quickly and led her to the table he had reserved a week ago. They walked automatically, their minds on the same thing: 'Did Percy recognize her?'

The question heaved on their minds all night long. Draco and Ginny ate mechanically and watched No Exit as it was being performed on the stage. The implications and consequences of Percy recognizing her, loomed over them, and even though it seemed that their attention was on the play, in their minds they both were analyzing the situation.

Draco was also kind of mad at the Weasley (he never bothered to figure out which is which) for ruining such a promising evening. At the manor, before they left, Ginny was excited about going out, and he was overjoyed to comply with her wishes. Of course, she was afraid that they would recognize her, but neither of them expected one of her brothers to be there. On top of everything, for the last couple of weeks it felt as if Ginny was forgetting about what she'd been through, but now that was destroyed as well.

The play dragged on and on. In fact, it could not have been longer than an hour, but in their minds it took millennium for the actors to take their bows. Finally, they did. That was when Draco grabbed Ginny's hand, hoping to leave early to avoid any likely encounters that may end badly. The two of them rushed out of the theatre-dining room, and were almost at the cloak rack when a familiar voice interrupted them:

"Oi! Draco!"

Draco turned around to see his boss and his wife coming forward, following them from the dining room.

"Jim," Draco said coolly, hoping that the man would get the hint. He did not.

Jim and his wife came closer, smiling brightly at them, and the door behind them opened as the other attendees were about to take their leave as well.

"You remember my wife, Mary, don't you?" Jim introduced his companion, suggesting to Draco that he should do the same.

"Yes, of course," Draco nodded, forcing the smirk on his lips to appear as a smile. "This is my cousin, Amelia Malfoy."

Ginny smiled uncertainly, and Jim and his wife shook her hand.

There was a pause, and Draco decided to use it for escape:

"Well, we are kind of in a hurry…" he begun, but never got to finish.

"Percy! Penelope! Over here!" Jim, oblivious to Draco's most honest desire to leave, called to the Weasleys.

"You cannot leave," Mary interjected. "Jim had been trying to get your attention all night long. Mr. Weasley is such an important guest."

Draco felt Ginny next to him tense even more.

"Is he?" Draco muttered.

"Of course," Jim rejoined the conversation now that Penelope and Percy were slowly making their way towards them. "Mr. Weasley was dying to meet you."

Draco's faintly raised one eyebrow.

"Seeing as you were Ginny Weasley's advocate," Jim continued to explain. "She was his sister, you know. He was interested in meeting you since I mentioned that you worked for me."

"Ah, I see," Draco felt trapped. Probably not as trapped as Ginny, but trapped nonetheless.

"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," Jim motioned to them as they finally made it over, "This is Mr. Draco Malfoy and his cousin, Amelia Malfoy."

Penelope shook her hands with both of them, and Percy followed the manner. Ginny felt lifeless as her brother shook her hand. She watched him closely for any sign of recognition as he held her small hand in his palm. He gave her a slight, polite smile before letting go off her hand. Wait, was it just her, or did he hold her hand a little longer than it was necessary?

Draco, who was watching the exchange closely, while small-talking with Jim, Mary and Penelope, relaxed a little for it appeared evident that Percy did not realize who Ginny was.

And then, when Ginny too thought that she was out of danger, something she thought to be a new thought flashed in Percy's eyes, making them shine brighter. He squeezed Ginny's hand that was still lying in his palm, for she was too taken with the course of events that she forgot to take it away, while looking at her with those strangely shining eyes. And then he spoke:

"Ms. Malfoy, have we met before?"


Thanks to the everyone who's bothered to read this! And now to the reviews:

fwakes47- He kinda did show her, huh? Well, here is the update ;)

PinkMusicalCherry- People make mistakes... the Weasleys too

AAMRNluver16- They are all confused about who they are with on this. I mean, on one hand it;s their daughter, and on the other, it's their friend. Not an easy choice...

Dracoginnylover24- Thanks!! Hope you liked this chapter too.

miss devil's kiss- So you see Ginny as a blonde? Hehe

Alexandria J. Malfoy- Yes, I suppose it does get kinda fluffy

lakewater- I LOVE Pansy. She is like my favorite Slyherin... hehe

writerchick1- So? Did he 'fix' it the right way?

koolgirl1993- I think you'll have to wait for Pansy's story. It's coming up way later on.

dristi- How's the suspense now? ;)

gineveramalfoy1894- Yup, Draco is in love. And so is Ginny. They are bound to be rather silly xD