He stared at her for what felt like forever. Rikki couldn't pinpoint single emotion on his face. She leaned and with a shaky hand, poured herself another glass of wine. She didn't know how to sit still.

His eyes raked every visible bit of skin. She had bruises all over her arms from being grabbed and pulled around. Some almost healed some fresh. Some were clearly hand imprints, some looked like wounds from bumping into edges of furniture. He gulped as his eyes briefly rested on her neck with fading handprint across it.

He shivered, screwing his eyes shut briefly as he could only imagine what she was hiding under her clothes. George wasn't sure what to feel. The emotions were coming and going with every breath he took. One second, he was angry, the other he was heartbroken… It was constantly spinning rolodex of confusing feelings.

The only sure thing was the physical effects this revelation had on him. His temples were throbbing, mouth went dry, his tongue nearly stuck to the roof of his mouth, jaw clenched so hard it made his teeth hurt, chest heaving as his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach, beating so loud and fast that anyone within ten miles had to hear it.

"George…" she whispered as the silence was driving her crazy. He finally looked her straight in the eyes. "Say something… Please."

He pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes, throwing his head back. He was angry beyond belief; it was making his blood boil. It was slowly consuming him. "I will kill him," he muttered as he took a deep breath. He felt as if he betrayed her. How could he not notice? Surely there had to be signs of this going on. What did he miss?

She grabbed her wand and muttering several spells, covering her bruises again. He raised a brow at her actions, Rikki noticed, "I always left them… so he could see what he did," she explained quietly. George sighed, leaning for his own glass of wine, throwing it back at once.

He regretted not getting anything stronger. There's firewhiskey at the office, he thought, shortly contemplating to go and get it. But he figured that she wouldn't appreciate him getting drunk.

"If I see him near you… ever again, he won't leave in one piece. I mean it, Rik," he shook his head as she quirked her brow at him in disbelief. "Was… was that going on for long?"

"Around a year… Before we would only yell at each other," she admitted, running her fingers up and down the glass stem.

George squeezed the bridge of his nose, "What caused- ehm, the first…" he stumbled with the words, refilling his cup. He couldn't care less about the pizza.

"I- Well… We were arguing about his excessive drinking. Again. It was probably the first time I really threatened to leave. We both got angry. He blamed me for- for Fred. And the only rebuttal I had was to blame him for everyone's death," she mumbled. George twitched, hearing Fred's name.

If he were to be honest, he never understood them being together. It didn't make any sense. They were hardly friends in Hogwarts. They had nothing in common, besides surviving the war. He was trying to understand, after all it was two of his good friends. When he first found out, he was angry with Harry. He moved on so fast after losing Ginny. But everyone lost someone during the war, he tried not to judge how people coped with loss or trauma. They seemed to be happy together, which was everyone's goal when it was all over…

Shivers went down his spine as the thought of Ginny being in Rikki's place crossed his mind. Ginny was feisty, but so was Rikki. Spitting fire did not play any role in this.

Rikki raised herself on her knees and leaned to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her, biting back a bitter laugh. He found it ironic that out of the two of them, he was the upset one.

Draco clenched his jaw, watching Potter yap on and on during the department's Monday meeting. He looked like he had a rough weekend. He only hoped it's because she really left him.

He was tempted to stop by the Weasley store over the weekend to check but eventually decided against it. Maybe next weekend if she really left. He felt oddly invested. After all, he did owe her.

And that Friday incident did not pay it back. It barely scratched the surface.

He narrowed his eyes at Potter. He always bothered him. The way everyone was always obsessed with him right out of the gate rubbed him the wrong way, especially since he rarely did anything to deserve the unlimited adoration.

Of course, killing the Dark Lord was a great achievement, but it hardly was his own. Without Granger, he would be dead the first in Hogwarts. He was famous for his luck rather than his abilities.

Then Rikki entered the picture, confusing him even more. Their whole relationship was preposterous and the fact he dared to set a hand on her didn't help. Two wrongs don't make a right.

I didn't save her ass for her to end up with this mug.

He walked in carefully into the Great Hall. His heart was beating out of his chest.

It was over.

Voldemort was dead. But so were other people.

His eyes scanned the room as he stood by the door, almost scared to go any further in. He would lie if he claimed that he wasn't scared. The Dark Mark ached on his forearm. He was a Death Eater and everyone in this room knew it. Draco wasn't proud of it. Not anymore. 3 years ago, he would be so chuffed. But now? He sobered up, realized what is truly important. And to much surprise – blood purity wasn't it.

Nothing could prepare him for the state of the hall. Besides the rubble everywhere, there were bodies laid all down the length of the hall. Dead bodies. He gulped as a shiver ran down his spine, making him shiver.

His eyes met the stare of Professor McGonagall. She gave him a short nod with glassy eyes. A sense of relief washed over as she did not hex him on the spot. He jumped up when a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Let me have a look at the wound on your head, dear," Madame Pomfrey said calmly and ushered him to one of the tables.

He sat down and that's when he noticed the Weasleys. And Rikki. His eyes dropped to the ground. They were stood around 3 bodies. 3. Rikki was clutching onto another tall ginger with long hair, crying inconsolably. One of the twins was gone then, he figured. His heart sank a bit. He talked enough smack about Weasleys, but the twins were the most digestible and if one of them is gone… He felt truly sorry for them. He glanced at Rikki again. She stumbled into another ginger arms, burying her face in their chest.

He wished he could be there for her. It was like an itch. It had to be scratched.

But this time he knew he cannot.

When he heard her yelp and scream down the corridors, he did not think twice. Any loyalty to Voldemort was dead and gone by that point, he did whatever he needed to survive. Leaving her with Dolohov wasn't an option, he could only imagine what he planned for her. Death Eaters might have hated muggle-borns or half-bloods, but it didn't stop them from abusing them.

Madame Pomfrey said something to him, he just nodded absentmindedly, not paying attention. She left him with a pat on the shoulder.

He exhaled tiredly.

It was the only question of time till the new Ministry gets here and arrests him. He was still a Death Eater no matter what he did tonight. Draco hoped for the Dementor´s kiss, that would be the quickest way out of his misery. He looked up again, meeting the bright green eyes of Rikki Blake staring back at him. Something died inside of him seeing her face twisted in so much pain and sadness.

He had spent at least 3 years watching her. For no reason whatsoever. He just couldn't help himself.

"Malfoy, can I have a word?" Potter called after him as he was leaving the meeting room. Draco groaned, stopping in the middle of the door, forcing others to maneuver around him. He found it funny how everyone tried to avoid him like the plague and walk by him with the largest curve possible. If he cared, then it might have hurt.

"What is it?" Draco sighed, turning to him as he closed the door after the last person walked out. Potter pushed his glasses further up his nose. "Spit it out, I don't have the whole day…"

He glared at him, "Where is she?"

Draco raised a brow, amused. She really left, good on her. "Potter, how am I supposed to know where your girlfriend is? If you can't find her… Perhaps you need new, thicker glasses," he suggested, smirking. He was enjoying himself; prodding Potter was one of his favorite pastimes. Even more so when he knew something Potter did not. And now on top of all that, he can do it knowing he is the good guy for once.

"You talked to her last," he was relentless, "If you know where she went, tell me."

Draco laughed, "And why would I do that? If she did not tell you, then she does not want you to find her, and I will respect that."

Potter stared back at him without blinking, Draco could tell all the wheels in his head were turning, "I can send you back to Azkaban."

Draco almost felt bad for him, his blackmailing technique was laughable, "Good talk, Potter. Good luck."

Potter was either that dumb or that oblivious about his girlfriend that he couldn't even come up with possible places she could be. It didn't take a genius to figure she might be with the Weasleys. But Potter probably did not pay attention at school. He rarely ever did so it wasn't too surprising to Draco.

"George Weasley!" Rikki screamed after him as he tried to disappear in the small passageway behind the tills. She scoffed amusedly and went after him. He disappeared in his office, shutting the door into her face. She imagined this is what having a teenage kid feels like.

Rikki laughed as she opened the door, letting herself in, "You can't avoid conversation by running away, are you aware of that?" she cocked her dead to the side.

George slumped, disappointed in himself for not shaking her off, "I can always try," he shrugged, flashing a smile. The girl sighed, closing the door, and leaned against them. The more time she had spent with George the more of Fred she saw in him. That cheeky smile was one of those things.

During the week of living with him, she found several things already. He had the same annoying habit of opening creaking doors annoyingly slowly, trying to milk the creak to the last note – that made her eye twitch every time. He slammed everything; cabinet doors, plates, cups... He put both honey and sugar into his tea.

"George, I was serious… If you won't let me pay rent, then let me help around here," she crossed her arms across her chest, eyeing the ginger. "I just want to be useful and not a burden. Please…"

He leaned against the desk, mimicking her crossed arms, "You can cover shifts when we are short on staff…"

"But you are never short on staff!" Rikki protested.

"My point exactly," George rolled his eyes. "Look, you are busy enough. It's no big deal. The flat is mine so it's not like I am paying rent to anyone," he shrugged and started digging through a pile of papers. She stared at him with growing annoyance. She hated the feeling of being in a way or useless and he wasn't particularly helping right now. Her own job barely kept her busy, she had plenty of time and she would prefer spending it doing something rather than thinking. Thinking never let anywhere and only caused issues.

"Don't look at me like that," he glanced at her, raising his brow.

"Like what?" Rikki challenged him with a slight smirk.

George groaned. He wondered how she and Fred ever got along, they were both insufferably stubborn. Or maybe that's why they got on so well. He had a thick skull as well, but they put him to shame. But admittedly he was always quite jealous of their bond. He got along with her well too and they were quite close, but never as close as she was with Fred. They reminded him of an old married couple – the best of friends constantly bickering and teasing each other. She often rid him of Fred for a couple of hours, which was a welcomed break and he would love her even if only for that.

Rikki had her best puppy eyes on with the corners of her mouth slightly raised. She knew more than well what she was doing. He sighed again.

"Okay, but I'll pay you," he said, running fingers through his hair with frustration.

She rolled her eyes. "Absolutely not. That's not the point. George, get it through your skull, for Merlin's sake," Rikki whined, squeezing the bridge of her nose. "I just don't want to feel like a parasite. So, either let me pay part of the expenses for the apartment or let me help out here."

They stared at each other for a moment, she was determined to get whatever she wanted. Or well... she wasn't getting anything. She will be victorious in this.

"Fine. God, you are stubborn..." George eventually gave up, "25 galleons per month and I don't want to hear another word about it."

"George!"

"Shut it, this is my one and only offer," he shook his head determined to stand his ground. Rikki narrowed her eyes at him. It was better than nothing, she had to admit that.

She was just opening her mouth to say something when they got interrupted by a knock on the door. Rikki jumped aside before she got hit.

One of the workers stuck her head in, "Sorry to interrupt, but you have a visitor," she said briefly glancing at Rikki, before her eyes rested on frustrated George. He quirked his brow, visibly surprised.

"Who is it?" he asked, briefly glancing at his calendar, double-checking that he did not forget something.

The girl went bright red, making Rikki chuckle, "I- He- well..." she stammered, earning a cackle from George as well.

"I swear to god, if it's my brother again..." George laughed, shaking his head. He apparently got used to women's reactions to Charlie.

"That fine, I'll take it from here," a deep silky voice sounded from behind the door, making the girl jump up. Rikki gulped. It sounded awfully like Malfoy.

George's smile fell of his face, meeting the eye of the stranger in the hallway, as he took a deep breath. "Did you miss making fun of our family, so you came to catch up on lost time?" he asked, voice dripping in sarcasm.

"I heard you are supposed to be the funny one," he quipped back, "I came to make sure Blake is alright," he admits without further probing. Rikki clapped her hand against her lips, still standing hidden behind the open door.

George glanced in her direction briefly, before speaking again, "Why would you do that?"

"That's the least I can do after what happened at the Ministry last week. I owe her, Weasley, you know that," Draco walked further into the office. "Potter is oblivious to where she's at for now, but he will figure out if he manages to stay sober for long enough. Just tell me she's okay and I will go."

"She can tell you that herself," George nodded to Draco's right side. Rikki was standing there leaning against a chest of drawers perfectly hidden by the opened door. Draco widened his eyes at her, heat rushing to his cheeks.

"Draco," she pressed him a light smile, feeling the heat creeping up her neck towards her face. He always made her flustered, but they never been in much contact for her to experience the thrill and rush of his presence.

He gaped at her, "You've been here the whole time… Of course, you have," he muttered, shooting a nasty look at George, who just snickered. Draco rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He was embarrassed. "You are alive and kicking so I will head out."

George raised his brow at Rikki, flabbergasted by the scene the scene he was witnessing. He could cut the tension with a butter knife. Still undecided whether he loved it or hated it. The raven-haired witch glanced back, red splotches creeping up her neck.

Draco started to back out of the office, reaching for the door handle to shut the door behind his miserable existence. "Draco… Malfoy, wait," Rikki urged out, walking after him, "Fancy a coffee?"