When she woke up, the first thing she noticed was the hard floor, and how uncomfortable she was. Then she noticed Lucius starting to get up himself, and that his knees were black with ink. He stood and moved to the bed, where he pulled the covers back. Ginny lifted up on her elbows, and looked down at her own knees, also black. She didn't really notice, or maybe she just didn't care, that they were both still naked.

"Shit," he said, turning to her. "You're awake. I was hoping to get you in bed before you woke."

"How long were we asleep?"

"Not very. Maybe 45 minutes. But I have to go." He came to stand by her side and lifted her up easily. Then he laid her in the bed, pulling the covers up tight. Ginny watched him go back to the sitting area and start to get dressed again. The bed was very comfortable, and she began to feel drowsy again. Outside, the morning light was warming.

"Go where?"

"Go pretend you're not here, and that this isn't happening. Go live my life." He muttered a spell to clean up the ink, and crouched to pick up the diary, which he set back on the table. "Not that I don't want to be with you," he said, swiveling back to face her, looking afraid he had offended. "But there are a lot of things that need my attention, Narcissa and all…"

"I understand," she mumbled, falling back to sleep.

"I'll be back today. And your lunch will be here soon, so don't worry."

"I'm not worried."

And for once, it was the truth.


When she woke, after a short nap, there was a bowl of soup and a beautiful salad on the desk. She slid out of bed and slipped on a robe she found in the wardrobe. It was really like staying in a very nice hotel, with therapy provided.

But is this really therapeutic? a voice in her head nagged. Or are you just here to fuck a man you've been obsessed with for the past ten years?

It is therapeutic, she nagged back. It really is. He wants to help me move on, and no one else has ever even tried.

But why?

At that she pushed the voice to the back of her mind, and sat down to eat.


After she finished lunch, Ginny's eyes wandered to the diary that was still lying on the desk. Hesitant, she reached out to touch it, and then pulled it closer. It really was very nicely made, and must have been quite expensive. Blushing, she turned through the pages she had written earlier, and traced her finger down the line that the quill had left when he pulled the book away. She thought for a moment of picking up the quill to write something new, but decided against it, opting for a shower instead.


Narcissa was sleeping again, after her private Healer had made his daily visit and poked and prodded her for well over an hour. The man brought Lucius into the hall as she rested, and gave him more bitter news.

"Only a few days, I think. I'm truly sorry."

Lucius just pressed his lips tight together and nodded stiffly once. The Healer put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder and then turned to go.

Lucius peeked back into the bedroom, and found Narcissa still sleeping. He took comfort in the fact that she hadn't yet noticed him leaving her for Ginny's room, and hoped that if he keeps his visits sporadic and short enough, she never would. Shutting the door, he made his way to the other wing.


She felt a little stir crazy as she waited for him to return, and began to second guess the whole plan. Maybe it was better if she really did just go to the beach, or to a nice hotel somewhere far away. Then she wouldn't have to lie, or deal with the emotional implications of all this once she had to return to her job and life and friends. Ginny glanced at her wand where she had abandoned it on the coffee table, and considered putting it back in her pocket.

What do you think is going to happen? the voice pestered. If you're afraid he'll hurt you, you should go.

He won't hurt me, she insisted.

Why not?


It had been a long walk through the Manor for Lucius; he had never cheated on Narcissa before, never hurt her in any way, and yet as she lay dying he was abandoning her for some girl who had appeared on their doorstep. But the only thought worse than that of what he was doing was the thought of having no one to go to at all. With a heavy heart, he entered Ginny's room.

She was lying stretched out on the bed, reading a book. As he entered, she glanced up only momentarily, smiling but seeming not to care about his presence. He glanced around: the dresser was open and she had clearly rummaged through the clothes there (it was enchanted to provide clothes to fit the guest), a towel was lying near the bathroom door, and dishes were haphazardly stacked next to the diary, which was lying open.

"Didn't feel like writing anything?"

"No."

He went to sit down.

"What are you going to do to me now?" she asked, rolling over onto her back, still engrossed in the book.

He looked at her, hair hanging off the edge of the bed, shirt creeping up as her arms rose above her head. She truly did not seem to care that he had come.

"If you don't want to be here, Ginevra, you are certainly free to go."

At that she finally shut the book and rolled her head to look at him.

"I do want to be here." She noted that he looked pale, more so than usual, and saw pain in his eyes. "Do you want me to be?"

"Unfortunately."

"How nice to be unfortunate."

"Don't misunderstand. Narcissa is just very sick, and I feel bad for leaving her that way. But I can't…I can't resist."

Ginny rolled over onto all fours, staring him down.

"Resist what?"

He looked at her, unable to ignore the burnished shine of her hair, and the glint in her eyes.

"You." Lucius began to stand, and she sat back on her heels.

"Which part of me?"

"Your breasts."

She pulled her shirt over her head, and threw it to him. He caught it, and stared.

"And?"

"And your hair." He moved forward again, and pushed a strand behind her ear. "And how soft your skin is." He put his mouth next to her ear, and kissed it lightly. "And the way you moan."

She pushed her chest towards his, and he reached around to unhook her bra. As it fell away and he pulled back to remove it completely, she looked up at him through heavy eyelashes.

"What am I doing here?" she breathed, even as he pushed her back and began to unzip her jeans.