This was inspired by Aerileigh's "A Malfoy Inspects a Weasley After a Fight" challenge, issued at The DG Forum and due May 9th, 2011. Soundtrack is Disintegration, by The Cure.

21. Divorce

"Ginevra – why not?" Draco braced his hand against the door frame. "We'll look after him. He'll be perfectly fine."

Ginny remained silent, her eyes fixed on the birthday cake she was icing with a large number 6.

"I will be there, Daphne will be there, we'll have house-elves... he'll be safe. He'll have fun." Draco paused, thinking. "We'll play Quidditch. And there's a lake. Daphne remembers a petting-zoo from when she was a kid..."

Her jaw became slightly tense, but Draco didn't notice.

"Besides, you'll get a full week to yourself," the blond added absently, his fingers playing with the keys in his pocket. "That way you and Wood can have some time alone together, without a kid to –"

Ginny's face flushed bright red, and Draco realized immediately he'd said the wrong thing.

Now that he thought about it, Julian hadn't mentioned Wood for a long time.

Draco's gray eyes swiftly appraised her face for signs of grief, but there were none. She was barefoot and wore a pair of old pajama bottoms that he recognized as once belonging to him. The flash of gold from her ring-finger surprised him, as it always did; it'd been years since he'd taken off his own band.

"Ginny."

She cringed as if he'd struck her.

"Fine. Take Julian. He'd love to go..." She paused, and Draco could see her profile outlined against the yellow kitchen tiles. "I know you're capable of taking care of him. I never said –"

"– I know," Draco cut in, feeling himself tense.

"Then don't make it sound like –"

"– I wanted to reassure you, for fuck's sake," he snapped, suddenly angry. No one else could...

Ginny's lips formed a tight line. She hadn't looked at him, not once.

Her magnificent hair was down in messy waves. Standing there in her small kitchen she retained a muted sort of beauty, like a wilted flower might. But her pale face was closed, like a window someone had boarded up.

Look at me.

Draco strode over to her without having decided to. He stood beside her, gray eyes seeking hers.

Ginny... Always – you always... This is not what I wanted either. This is not what I wanted...

"I'll pick him up tomorrow morning," Draco said quietly.

Ginny nodded almost imperceptibly.

There was nothing else they could say to each other.

Prompt: Divorce

Word Count: 397

Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Daphne Greengrass, Ginny Weasley/Oliver Wood (?)