Prompt: Guilt
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Considering the amount of time they'd spent together recently, Ginny felt guilty leaving Draco alone. But Sunday dinners at the Weasleys are Sunday dinners at the Weasleys, she thought, and longer standing institutions will fall before mum will let me skip, or before Harry welcomes Draco's presence.
She sat at the table, mildly listening to her mother discuss wedding plans with Angelina, while her brothers and Harry debating the upcoming quidditch season. Her father slipped into the seat next to her and whispered, "You look a bit distracted luv, anything on your mind?"
Startled out of her thoughts, she shook her head and smiled. "Nothing Daddy, I've just been busy lately. It's a change to just sit and listen for a bit."
Arthur pulled his daughter close to him, squeezing her with one arm. "I hope your brother isn't working you too hard. You tell him that you need some time off, time to enjoy yourself."
She rested her head against his shoulder, leaning into him, finding peace where she always had. "It's nothing like that Daddy. But how about you and mum? Now that you're retiring, are you planning to take some time to enjoy yourself?"
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Draco wouldn't say that he felt guilty about eating Ginny out of house and home, but he felt, perhaps indebted. Guilt is saved for much greater things, he thought.
That morning when they'd gone their separate ways, Ginny was chagrined to not be able to even offer him some toast. She was heading to her parents' that day, and admitted that their time together in the evenings had prevented her from running basic errands. He felt not guilt, but perhaps like he should do something nice for her. That was how he now found himself in the muggle village near his cottage, roaming through the grocer's aisles. He picked up the staples that he knew they both enjoyed, whole wheat bread, breakfast tea, real maple syrup. He added the sharp cheddar that he particularly enjoyed, and a crate of satsumas to snack on, as well as a pint of a peppermint gelato he thought she'd enjoy, and a bottle of drinking chocolate to share.
It wasn't much, little enough that he could still carry the packages and not want to use a spell to shrink them. However, it was enough that he could assuage his, not guilt, but perhaps new feelings.
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A/N: 398 words
Sorry about being a bit spotty lately - I'm fighting a bit of a stomach flu. Please stay patient, I'm truly committed to finishing this.
Thank you for your reviews & for reading!
