Balloon

She was standing across from him, big brown eyes dominating her face. A toothy smile curved her lips, which only emphasised the gaps in her teeth. Her hair was a vibrant shade of orange-red, and there were freckles sprinkled across her nose and cheeks. Her dress was big and slightly worn – certainly nothing like the tailored robes he was wearing – and clutched possessively in her hand was a string leading to an impressive red balloon.

Draco eyed the balloon covetously. He tugged on his father's robes and demanded one just like that girl's. Lucius glanced down at the scrap of a girl, and then lifted his eyes to the red-haired man standing beside her. Draco did not understand why his father got angry and scolded him for wanting such worthless things.

He never did get a balloon.

It had been almost twenty years since that day. Draco had almost forgotten about it, but the moment he saw the man at the stall with his colourful balloons bobbing overhead, it all came rushing back.

For reasons quite inexplicable to himself, Draco made his way over to the stall and asked for a balloon.

"Which one would you like?" the man asked in a jolly voice – the kind of voice that made the blond cringe.

"I'll take the red one."

"Alright."

Money and balloon were exchanged. Draco walked back to the park bench, and only then did he realise the absurdity of his situation. Here he was, twenty-five years old, and holding a red balloon.

"Aren't you a bit old for balloons?" an amused voice said from behind him.

Draco turned his face and saw a woman with orange-red hair grinning back at him. Some of the freckles had faded on her cheeks, and the gaps had definitely filled up in her smile, but it was still the same toothy grin, and there were those same big brown eyes.

"Call it fulfilling a childhood wish," he said dryly. "Or insanity. Take your pick."

Ginny sat down next to him. "It's a nice balloon."

"Thank you."

"I knew a girl who had one just like it."

"What happened to it?"

"It popped."

He laughed. "Well, I'll try not to get too attached."

"You won't." She smiled up at him. "It was never really about the balloon, you know."

Draco frowned. It would be much later before he'd realise what she meant.

Prompt 25: Balloon

Words: 398