This is chapter two, enjoy
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She didn't know why she had agreed to do this. It wasn't her idea to go to the silly reunion; it wasn't even her graduating year. It was Draco's. It was Hermione's and Harry's and Ron's, but it wasn't hers. She would know the people there, but she was never really friends with them at school.
She was only going because Hermione had talked her into it. Hermione had sat her down and jammed the pros and cons of the Hogwarts ten year reunion down her throat, and to tell the honest truth, Hermione had made it seem like a good idea.
So the Malfoy's RSVP parchment informed the organizers that two of them would be attending the event. Molly agreed to look after the boys for the night, so all Ginny had to do was organize something to wear.
She designed her own dress and robes, and then designed one for Hermione, just as she promised that she would. And now she stood, only an hour before the reunion, in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom.
Ginny had never been a vain person, but she liked the fact that even after three children, she still had a beautiful figure. Almost anything that she wore would show off her figure. Including the dress she was wearing at the moment.
She had designed it especially for the reunion. She knew that if she had to spend a night in a room full of people who were more than likely living ideal lives, then she would have to be wearing something spectacular. Something to make heads turn and jaws drop.
Ginny had to stop and slap herself. That was the second time in a short time span that she had said her life was not ideal. It wasn't completely true. She did have an ideal life, she had a great family, she had three gorgeous sons, she had a great job and a beautiful home.
She just wished she had better luck in her love life.
Pulling her hair off of the back if her neck and twisted it up, pinning it into a messy yet elegant hair style. She looked good. Completely ready to take on a room full of Hogwartians.
"You look beautiful" the voice from the doorway startled her. She turned to see Draco as he came into the room, tying his old green and silver slytherin tie. He looked good in just basic black pants and a white shirt. But Ginny always thought that Draco was a gorgeous man.
"Thank you" She smiled softly. "You look very handsome" Draco stood beside Ginny, looking over her outfit. He had to admit that his wife was a very talented dress designer. The dress she wore hugged her curves, proving to him for the millionth time that Ginny was a beautiful woman.
Sitting on the bed to tie his shoe laces, he watched as Ginny applied some very simple muggle make up. They both knew that she didn't need it. She was beautiful just the way she was. She didn't need that muck on her lips, because her lips were already a luscious red, she didn't need eye shadow, because her eyes were already bright and sparkling. Even after all of those years of marriage, she was still the most beautiful woman in his world.
"What are you looking at?" She asked, Draco snapped out of his thoughts. Ginny had turned and was leaning against the table which held her cosmetics. A soft smile played on her lips. Draco couldn't remember the last time that Ginny had genuinely smiled around him.
"I was just thinking how lucky I am to have a woman like you in my life" He told her truthfully, but he knew he had probably said something wrong already, because Ginny lost her smiled.
"I am I still in your life Draco?" She asked. Draco sighed; he could feel a fight coming on between them.
"Of course you are still in my life, you are my wife Ginny" Draco replied.
"You say it like you own me, like I am nothing more than a possession to you" Ginny accused. Draco sighed; he was now sitting in the calm before the storm.
"Ginny, Lets not fight, please, lets not fight" He begged, she sighed.
"You are right, I am sorry." Ginny replied, turning back to her make up. Draco stood and moved to the door. "I am thinking of moving out"
Draco stopped abruptly and turned back to his wife. Had he just heard her correctly, did she just say that she was going to be moving out?
"What? Why?" Draco asked. Ginny turned to him.
"Can you look me in the eye and seriously tell me that we are still truly married. If I am not sleeping at my mothers, you are sleeping on the couch, that isn't a marriage Draco, it is hell, we can't go on like this for much longer. I can't go on for much longer." She explained.
"So, that is it, you are just going to move out......Are you asking me for a divorce?" Draco asked. He didn't want to hear the answer to that question. He didn't want to know if she wanted a divorce, but he knew that the time would come when he would have no chance but to hear the answer.
"I want a trial separation, not a divorce" She replied. Draco smirked.
"Is there a difference?" He asked bitterly.
"Of course there is a difference, I am just going to get my own place to live and then, after a while, maybe I can move back in" Ginny replied.
"Are you going to take the boys with you?" He asked. Again, he didn't want to hear the answer, it was bad enough that he was likely losing his wife, but he didn't want to lose his sons to, they meant the world to him. It was one of his biggest fears that he would lose all of his family and then he would be alone.
"I think they are old enough to decide, if they want to stay here with you, then that is ok." She replied. She thought she was doing the right thing, but even as she spoke, it didn't feel right.
"Ginny, if you move out, I don't think that we will survive that." Draco said truthfully. He didn't think that distance between them was the answer. They were already so emotionally distant; there was no reason to add physical distance.
"Well, what do you suggest, us staying here, fighting everytime that we see each other? We are doing ourselves damage, we are ruining our relationship, and worst of all, we are hurting the boys." Ginny reminded him. Draco nodded, not quite knowing how to react to it all.
"Do I get a say in weather you stay or not?" He asked. Ginny looked at him.
"I am not sure, I think not" Ginny replied.
"Why not, I am suppose to be your equal in this relationship, ten years ago we made a choice, we took vows that promised we would split all decisions and not do anything till both parties agreed. And now..." He reminded, Ginny sighed.
"Ten years is a long time, we are not in the same place that we were back them, and some times some decisions have to be made individually." She replied.
"Not big decisions like this, you are not the only one to be effected by this, you are effecting Zeke and Xander and Saxon. And you are effecting me. Ever thought that you moving out would be doing your sons more damage than you staying?" He asked. Ginny shrugged. She had not thought of that possibility, and truthfully, she didn't want to think of that.
"I don't know, I haven't thought of that, I just know I can't stay here with you Draco...." She tried to explain.
"You are being selfish!" Draco exploded. Ginny looked down at her shaking hands. They were trying to avoid a fight, but the fight was beginning now.
"I am being selfish, what about you, you are selfish to" She yelled back.
"What? I am not selfish; I am trying to save our relationship"
"But for whose sake. You are trying to save us for your own sake" She accused. Draco shook his head.
"For the sake of our sons, or have you forgotten them, just like you have forgotten baby Avril" Draco replied. He watched as Ginny took three easy strides across the room and slapped him hard across the cheek. He recoiled. Never before had either of them raised a hand in anger to each other. His mind reasoned with him that he deserved it for what he had said, but it didn't stop the shock that was rising in his body.
"How dare you, she was my daughter to, and I loved her with all that I have, I still love her, you have no idea how much I still love her. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her, that I don't think about how she would be growing up" She cried, tears running down her cheeks, making her make up run.
Draco honestly regretted what he had said; he should not have said something like that, especially about Avril. He had no doubt in his mind that Ginny loved their daughter as much as he did. He was just so angry. He wished he could take it back. He hated the fact that he had caused her so much pain just by a few words.
"Gin, I am sorry" He whispered, reaching out to take her arm. Ginny shrugged him off.
"I am going to move out tomorrow, Draco, I think it is for the best." She replied, rubbing her cheeks clean. Draco looked at his feet, he wanted to try and talk her out of leaving, but he knew that he wouldn't really get anywhere.
"Ok, if that is what you think is best" He replied sadly. Maybe it was for the best.
"I have to do my make up again" She sniffed.
"I'll leave you to it, I'll wait downstairs for you" Draco replied. Ginny nodded and turned back to the mirror
"Ginny" He said as he reached the door.
"Yes?" She turned back.
"I miss you already" He said softly. Ginny sighed, and locked her eyes with his.
"I have been missing you for a while now Draco"
~*~*~*~*
It felt strange to be back in the great hall. Well, at least it felt strange to Ginny; it had been nine years since she had been to the great hall. (Draco worked there, so he didn't find it weird at all)
Looking around the room, Ginny had one last though of turning and leaving. All of Draco's graduating year was there, dancing and chatting in small groups. She didn't want to be there, she didn't want to face them.
"Hermione is over there at that table. Shall we go join them?" Draco asked politely, Ginny looked across the room to where Hermione, Ron and Harry were all sitting and chatting.
"Yes, lets" Ginny replied, she let him lead her across the room and pull out a chair for her at their table. Ginny and Draco had decided to be as normal as possible. They didn't have to have the whole school knowing that things were not ok between them. They wanted one last night of make believe before she moved out the next day.
"Ron, Harry, how are you?" Draco asked as he sat down at the table. Harry and Ron, who were both wearing their Gryffindor school ties, smiled at him.
"I am great" Harry replied. It still amazed him that he was able to be friends with Draco Malfoy, especially after everything that happened between them at school.
"I am good to, but I think that it is time for the three of us to go and make a dent in the free bar" Ron suggested, standing and indicating to the bar that had been set up in the corner. Harry grinned and stood, and then Draco, after looking at Ginny quickly, stood and joined the boys.
Ginny watched him go. She was ok with Draco having a drink with the boys, because if he wasn't around, there would be less a chance of them fighting.
"Ginny, thank you so much for this dress, it turned out perfect" Hermione smiled, indicating to the simply black dress that she was wearing. Ginny smiled when she realized that she had tied a Gryffindor tie around it as a sash.
"Well, you know I enjoy making clothes for you Hermione. I just hope that one day I get to design your wedding dress" Ginny replied, nudging Hermione in the arm. Hermione had not dated very much in the last ten years, and it didn't seem very much like she would start dating any time soon, she was just too obsessed with her work.
"Ginny, you are as bad as my mother" Hermione laughed. "How is your marriage going?"
"I would prefer not to talk about it at the moment, but I was wondering if I could stay at your flat for a little while, at least until I can find a place of my own?" Ginny asked.
"What, you are moving out? Is it over between you and Draco?" Hermione asked. Ginny shrugged.
"I asked him for a trial separation, just to see if it helps any" Ginny replied. Hermione nodded. She was so sad that things were not working out between Draco and Ginny. Over the years, Hermione and Ginny had formed a very sisterly relationship, and Hermione had even formed a close friendship with Draco. Hermione had seen first hand how great they had been together, and now it pained her to see them splitting up.
"Yes, well, sure, you know that you can stay at my place, my home is always open to you" Hermione replied.
"Thank you, you are a great friend" Ginny smiled and squeezed Hermione's hand. Hermione smiled sadly, it was hard for her, because Hermione could tell that not only was the relationship being torn apart, but Ginny was being torn apart to.
"Um, hello Ginny" The voice interrupted the tender moment between the two friends, Ginny looked up at the person who had spoke.
"Neville Longbottom, oh my, look at you, you look great" Ginny smiled, standing to hug Neville. Neville smiled at her. Neville and Ginny had dated for a few weeks while they had been in Hogwarts together, and even after they broke up, they stayed great friends, but then Neville seemed to disappear, and Ginny had not heard from him in about ten years.
"It is actually Doctor Longbottom now Gin" Neville replied. Ginny smiled and hugged him again. "Well, I am not a medical doctor, but a doctor all the same. I have a muggle doctorate in environmental science. Hello Hermione" He smiled, moving to hug Hermione. Hermione smiled and hugged her back.
"Wow, so you disappeared into the muggle world. No one really knew where you went, I even heard that you died" Ginny replied. Neville smiled.
"Well, I got accepted into a few horticultural courses at a muggle university and decided to settle down there instead of in the magic word. How about you, I heard you married Draco Malfoy" Neville smiled.
"Yes, ten glorious years" Ginny lied.
"It is really good to see you again Gin." Neville replied. Ginny smiled. "Would you like to dance?" He asked, holding out his hand for her to take so that he could lead her out to the dance floor.
"I would love to"
~*~*~*~*~
"Hey Potter, who is that dancing with my wife?" Draco asked. He held a glass of whiskey in his hands and indicated to the dance floor where Ginny was dancing with some one.
"That is Doctor Longbottom" Harry replied, downing some of his own whiskey. Draco took a good look at the man dancing with Ginny.
"Doctor Longbottom? How the hell did Longbottom become a Doctor?" Draco asked. Harry and Ron both shrugged.
"I was thinking something like that to" Ron replied, downing his own whiskey.
"He is a plant doctor apparently" Harry said. Both Ron and Draco looked at Harry oddly. It was highly possible that the boy who lived was on the freeway to tipsy-ville.
"They look very cosy" Draco replied. He watched as Neville dipped Ginny playfully. She was smiling and giggling. Draco had not seen her so happy in the longest time
"Well, they were friends back at school" Harry replied. Draco nodded. Ginny had told him stories over the years of just how close she and Neville were at school.
"Go and cut in if you feel so uncomfortable about it" Ron suggested. Draco nodded and put his glass back onto the bar.
"I think that I will" Draco replied, moving across the room to where Neville and Ginny were dancing. He tapped Neville on the shoulder.
"Could I cut in?" Draco asked politely. Neville stepped back.
"Certainly Professor Malfoy" Neville smiled. Draco smiled to.
"Thank you Doctor Longbottom" Draco nodded, and then pulled Ginny into his arms.
"What are you playing at?" Ginny hissed in her husband's ear. Draco just tightened his grip on her.
"I am not playing at anything, is it wrong for me to want to dance with my wife?" He asked. Ginny laughed.
"Are you jealous? Are you jealous of Neville Longbottom?" Ginny asked. Draco looked at her.
"What, no!" He replied, they kept their argument low so that the others that were around them could not hear their fight.
"Then why did you do that? Do you trust me around other men?" She asked, anger and hurt were evident in her voice. .
"Why would it matter? It is not like you are going to be my wife for much longer" Draco replied, more to himself then to her. Ginny felt like slapping him again.
"I can't believe you are bringing this up here" Ginny replied. Draco just narrowed his eyes at her.
"Well, it is not like we can talk about it a home" Draco replied, still holding her tight to him. Ginny was about to reply when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I suggest that you talk outside, you are beginning to get a little to loud for this room" Hermione told them both. Ginny nodded and together, the three of them left the great hall. The walked down the halls together silently.
"Right, now you can fight as much as you want to." Hermione replied. But neither Ginny nor Draco said anything. They were both just standing, looking at the floor between them.
Hermione looked around. This hallway seemed very familiar, but Hermione couldn't place why. Her eyes kept searching the hallway. There was something about this hall, there was something about the door that they all stood in front of.
Hermione smiled when she worked it out.
"Ginny, give me your wand" Hermione asked, holding out her hand. Ginny looked at her like she had gone crazy.
"Why?" She asked her friend, Hermione just held out her hand. Ginny sighed and handed over her wand. Hermione then turned to Draco.
"Wand" She stated clearly. Draco reached into his pocket and handed it to Hermione.
"Good, now you can't magically curse each other." She replied, placing both of the wands into her handbag. "Now fight"
Hermione stood and waited for the two of them to start fighting. But they didn't say anything to each other.
"The sooner you to fight, the sooner you can get over it, so fight, please" Hermione begged. Ginny looked up from her spot on the floor.
"We don't get over it any more" she mumbled. Draco looked at her, and never before had the truth hurt as much as her statement did.
"And whose fault is that?" Hermione asked. Draco and Ginny both looked at each other.
"What are you looking at me for, it is not my fault" Ginny exclaimed.
"So you are saying it is my entire fault?" Draco retorted.
"Well it is not all my fault" Ginny replied.
Hermione watched them fight and then moved to the other side of the hall. Silently, she opened the door and then turned back to them.
"All I am saying is that I don't like fighting with you" Draco had just said. Ginny smirked.
"Then why do you pick fights with me all the time?" She asked.
"That is not all my fault either, you pick fights as well" He hissed.
"Forgive me" Hermione mumbled, and then shoved them both into the room she had just opened, she slammed the door shut.
Soon Draco and Ginny stopped yelling at each other and started to scream at the now shut and locked door.
"Hermione Anne Granger, let us out right now" Ginny yelled, slamming her fists against the closed door.
"Come one Hermione, this is not funny" Draco added.
"Your marriage dying isn't funny either Draco. Stay in there and sort out your problems. I will be back in a few days" Hermione replied.
"A few days, Hermione, you can't do that!!" Ginny screamed. Hermione chuckled.
"Have fun you two, and try not to kill each other." She replied, and then turned and left the hall.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Inside the closet, Ginny was still pounding her fists on the door and screaming for Hermione to come back.
Draco looked around the room, and couldn't help but smile.
"Ginny, look where we are" He told her. Ginny sighed and turned to look around the small room.
It was the storage closet.
Their storage closet.
"Damn you Hermione" Ginny sighed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Please review.
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She didn't know why she had agreed to do this. It wasn't her idea to go to the silly reunion; it wasn't even her graduating year. It was Draco's. It was Hermione's and Harry's and Ron's, but it wasn't hers. She would know the people there, but she was never really friends with them at school.
She was only going because Hermione had talked her into it. Hermione had sat her down and jammed the pros and cons of the Hogwarts ten year reunion down her throat, and to tell the honest truth, Hermione had made it seem like a good idea.
So the Malfoy's RSVP parchment informed the organizers that two of them would be attending the event. Molly agreed to look after the boys for the night, so all Ginny had to do was organize something to wear.
She designed her own dress and robes, and then designed one for Hermione, just as she promised that she would. And now she stood, only an hour before the reunion, in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom.
Ginny had never been a vain person, but she liked the fact that even after three children, she still had a beautiful figure. Almost anything that she wore would show off her figure. Including the dress she was wearing at the moment.
She had designed it especially for the reunion. She knew that if she had to spend a night in a room full of people who were more than likely living ideal lives, then she would have to be wearing something spectacular. Something to make heads turn and jaws drop.
Ginny had to stop and slap herself. That was the second time in a short time span that she had said her life was not ideal. It wasn't completely true. She did have an ideal life, she had a great family, she had three gorgeous sons, she had a great job and a beautiful home.
She just wished she had better luck in her love life.
Pulling her hair off of the back if her neck and twisted it up, pinning it into a messy yet elegant hair style. She looked good. Completely ready to take on a room full of Hogwartians.
"You look beautiful" the voice from the doorway startled her. She turned to see Draco as he came into the room, tying his old green and silver slytherin tie. He looked good in just basic black pants and a white shirt. But Ginny always thought that Draco was a gorgeous man.
"Thank you" She smiled softly. "You look very handsome" Draco stood beside Ginny, looking over her outfit. He had to admit that his wife was a very talented dress designer. The dress she wore hugged her curves, proving to him for the millionth time that Ginny was a beautiful woman.
Sitting on the bed to tie his shoe laces, he watched as Ginny applied some very simple muggle make up. They both knew that she didn't need it. She was beautiful just the way she was. She didn't need that muck on her lips, because her lips were already a luscious red, she didn't need eye shadow, because her eyes were already bright and sparkling. Even after all of those years of marriage, she was still the most beautiful woman in his world.
"What are you looking at?" She asked, Draco snapped out of his thoughts. Ginny had turned and was leaning against the table which held her cosmetics. A soft smile played on her lips. Draco couldn't remember the last time that Ginny had genuinely smiled around him.
"I was just thinking how lucky I am to have a woman like you in my life" He told her truthfully, but he knew he had probably said something wrong already, because Ginny lost her smiled.
"I am I still in your life Draco?" She asked. Draco sighed; he could feel a fight coming on between them.
"Of course you are still in my life, you are my wife Ginny" Draco replied.
"You say it like you own me, like I am nothing more than a possession to you" Ginny accused. Draco sighed; he was now sitting in the calm before the storm.
"Ginny, Lets not fight, please, lets not fight" He begged, she sighed.
"You are right, I am sorry." Ginny replied, turning back to her make up. Draco stood and moved to the door. "I am thinking of moving out"
Draco stopped abruptly and turned back to his wife. Had he just heard her correctly, did she just say that she was going to be moving out?
"What? Why?" Draco asked. Ginny turned to him.
"Can you look me in the eye and seriously tell me that we are still truly married. If I am not sleeping at my mothers, you are sleeping on the couch, that isn't a marriage Draco, it is hell, we can't go on like this for much longer. I can't go on for much longer." She explained.
"So, that is it, you are just going to move out......Are you asking me for a divorce?" Draco asked. He didn't want to hear the answer to that question. He didn't want to know if she wanted a divorce, but he knew that the time would come when he would have no chance but to hear the answer.
"I want a trial separation, not a divorce" She replied. Draco smirked.
"Is there a difference?" He asked bitterly.
"Of course there is a difference, I am just going to get my own place to live and then, after a while, maybe I can move back in" Ginny replied.
"Are you going to take the boys with you?" He asked. Again, he didn't want to hear the answer, it was bad enough that he was likely losing his wife, but he didn't want to lose his sons to, they meant the world to him. It was one of his biggest fears that he would lose all of his family and then he would be alone.
"I think they are old enough to decide, if they want to stay here with you, then that is ok." She replied. She thought she was doing the right thing, but even as she spoke, it didn't feel right.
"Ginny, if you move out, I don't think that we will survive that." Draco said truthfully. He didn't think that distance between them was the answer. They were already so emotionally distant; there was no reason to add physical distance.
"Well, what do you suggest, us staying here, fighting everytime that we see each other? We are doing ourselves damage, we are ruining our relationship, and worst of all, we are hurting the boys." Ginny reminded him. Draco nodded, not quite knowing how to react to it all.
"Do I get a say in weather you stay or not?" He asked. Ginny looked at him.
"I am not sure, I think not" Ginny replied.
"Why not, I am suppose to be your equal in this relationship, ten years ago we made a choice, we took vows that promised we would split all decisions and not do anything till both parties agreed. And now..." He reminded, Ginny sighed.
"Ten years is a long time, we are not in the same place that we were back them, and some times some decisions have to be made individually." She replied.
"Not big decisions like this, you are not the only one to be effected by this, you are effecting Zeke and Xander and Saxon. And you are effecting me. Ever thought that you moving out would be doing your sons more damage than you staying?" He asked. Ginny shrugged. She had not thought of that possibility, and truthfully, she didn't want to think of that.
"I don't know, I haven't thought of that, I just know I can't stay here with you Draco...." She tried to explain.
"You are being selfish!" Draco exploded. Ginny looked down at her shaking hands. They were trying to avoid a fight, but the fight was beginning now.
"I am being selfish, what about you, you are selfish to" She yelled back.
"What? I am not selfish; I am trying to save our relationship"
"But for whose sake. You are trying to save us for your own sake" She accused. Draco shook his head.
"For the sake of our sons, or have you forgotten them, just like you have forgotten baby Avril" Draco replied. He watched as Ginny took three easy strides across the room and slapped him hard across the cheek. He recoiled. Never before had either of them raised a hand in anger to each other. His mind reasoned with him that he deserved it for what he had said, but it didn't stop the shock that was rising in his body.
"How dare you, she was my daughter to, and I loved her with all that I have, I still love her, you have no idea how much I still love her. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her, that I don't think about how she would be growing up" She cried, tears running down her cheeks, making her make up run.
Draco honestly regretted what he had said; he should not have said something like that, especially about Avril. He had no doubt in his mind that Ginny loved their daughter as much as he did. He was just so angry. He wished he could take it back. He hated the fact that he had caused her so much pain just by a few words.
"Gin, I am sorry" He whispered, reaching out to take her arm. Ginny shrugged him off.
"I am going to move out tomorrow, Draco, I think it is for the best." She replied, rubbing her cheeks clean. Draco looked at his feet, he wanted to try and talk her out of leaving, but he knew that he wouldn't really get anywhere.
"Ok, if that is what you think is best" He replied sadly. Maybe it was for the best.
"I have to do my make up again" She sniffed.
"I'll leave you to it, I'll wait downstairs for you" Draco replied. Ginny nodded and turned back to the mirror
"Ginny" He said as he reached the door.
"Yes?" She turned back.
"I miss you already" He said softly. Ginny sighed, and locked her eyes with his.
"I have been missing you for a while now Draco"
~*~*~*~*
It felt strange to be back in the great hall. Well, at least it felt strange to Ginny; it had been nine years since she had been to the great hall. (Draco worked there, so he didn't find it weird at all)
Looking around the room, Ginny had one last though of turning and leaving. All of Draco's graduating year was there, dancing and chatting in small groups. She didn't want to be there, she didn't want to face them.
"Hermione is over there at that table. Shall we go join them?" Draco asked politely, Ginny looked across the room to where Hermione, Ron and Harry were all sitting and chatting.
"Yes, lets" Ginny replied, she let him lead her across the room and pull out a chair for her at their table. Ginny and Draco had decided to be as normal as possible. They didn't have to have the whole school knowing that things were not ok between them. They wanted one last night of make believe before she moved out the next day.
"Ron, Harry, how are you?" Draco asked as he sat down at the table. Harry and Ron, who were both wearing their Gryffindor school ties, smiled at him.
"I am great" Harry replied. It still amazed him that he was able to be friends with Draco Malfoy, especially after everything that happened between them at school.
"I am good to, but I think that it is time for the three of us to go and make a dent in the free bar" Ron suggested, standing and indicating to the bar that had been set up in the corner. Harry grinned and stood, and then Draco, after looking at Ginny quickly, stood and joined the boys.
Ginny watched him go. She was ok with Draco having a drink with the boys, because if he wasn't around, there would be less a chance of them fighting.
"Ginny, thank you so much for this dress, it turned out perfect" Hermione smiled, indicating to the simply black dress that she was wearing. Ginny smiled when she realized that she had tied a Gryffindor tie around it as a sash.
"Well, you know I enjoy making clothes for you Hermione. I just hope that one day I get to design your wedding dress" Ginny replied, nudging Hermione in the arm. Hermione had not dated very much in the last ten years, and it didn't seem very much like she would start dating any time soon, she was just too obsessed with her work.
"Ginny, you are as bad as my mother" Hermione laughed. "How is your marriage going?"
"I would prefer not to talk about it at the moment, but I was wondering if I could stay at your flat for a little while, at least until I can find a place of my own?" Ginny asked.
"What, you are moving out? Is it over between you and Draco?" Hermione asked. Ginny shrugged.
"I asked him for a trial separation, just to see if it helps any" Ginny replied. Hermione nodded. She was so sad that things were not working out between Draco and Ginny. Over the years, Hermione and Ginny had formed a very sisterly relationship, and Hermione had even formed a close friendship with Draco. Hermione had seen first hand how great they had been together, and now it pained her to see them splitting up.
"Yes, well, sure, you know that you can stay at my place, my home is always open to you" Hermione replied.
"Thank you, you are a great friend" Ginny smiled and squeezed Hermione's hand. Hermione smiled sadly, it was hard for her, because Hermione could tell that not only was the relationship being torn apart, but Ginny was being torn apart to.
"Um, hello Ginny" The voice interrupted the tender moment between the two friends, Ginny looked up at the person who had spoke.
"Neville Longbottom, oh my, look at you, you look great" Ginny smiled, standing to hug Neville. Neville smiled at her. Neville and Ginny had dated for a few weeks while they had been in Hogwarts together, and even after they broke up, they stayed great friends, but then Neville seemed to disappear, and Ginny had not heard from him in about ten years.
"It is actually Doctor Longbottom now Gin" Neville replied. Ginny smiled and hugged him again. "Well, I am not a medical doctor, but a doctor all the same. I have a muggle doctorate in environmental science. Hello Hermione" He smiled, moving to hug Hermione. Hermione smiled and hugged her back.
"Wow, so you disappeared into the muggle world. No one really knew where you went, I even heard that you died" Ginny replied. Neville smiled.
"Well, I got accepted into a few horticultural courses at a muggle university and decided to settle down there instead of in the magic word. How about you, I heard you married Draco Malfoy" Neville smiled.
"Yes, ten glorious years" Ginny lied.
"It is really good to see you again Gin." Neville replied. Ginny smiled. "Would you like to dance?" He asked, holding out his hand for her to take so that he could lead her out to the dance floor.
"I would love to"
~*~*~*~*~
"Hey Potter, who is that dancing with my wife?" Draco asked. He held a glass of whiskey in his hands and indicated to the dance floor where Ginny was dancing with some one.
"That is Doctor Longbottom" Harry replied, downing some of his own whiskey. Draco took a good look at the man dancing with Ginny.
"Doctor Longbottom? How the hell did Longbottom become a Doctor?" Draco asked. Harry and Ron both shrugged.
"I was thinking something like that to" Ron replied, downing his own whiskey.
"He is a plant doctor apparently" Harry said. Both Ron and Draco looked at Harry oddly. It was highly possible that the boy who lived was on the freeway to tipsy-ville.
"They look very cosy" Draco replied. He watched as Neville dipped Ginny playfully. She was smiling and giggling. Draco had not seen her so happy in the longest time
"Well, they were friends back at school" Harry replied. Draco nodded. Ginny had told him stories over the years of just how close she and Neville were at school.
"Go and cut in if you feel so uncomfortable about it" Ron suggested. Draco nodded and put his glass back onto the bar.
"I think that I will" Draco replied, moving across the room to where Neville and Ginny were dancing. He tapped Neville on the shoulder.
"Could I cut in?" Draco asked politely. Neville stepped back.
"Certainly Professor Malfoy" Neville smiled. Draco smiled to.
"Thank you Doctor Longbottom" Draco nodded, and then pulled Ginny into his arms.
"What are you playing at?" Ginny hissed in her husband's ear. Draco just tightened his grip on her.
"I am not playing at anything, is it wrong for me to want to dance with my wife?" He asked. Ginny laughed.
"Are you jealous? Are you jealous of Neville Longbottom?" Ginny asked. Draco looked at her.
"What, no!" He replied, they kept their argument low so that the others that were around them could not hear their fight.
"Then why did you do that? Do you trust me around other men?" She asked, anger and hurt were evident in her voice. .
"Why would it matter? It is not like you are going to be my wife for much longer" Draco replied, more to himself then to her. Ginny felt like slapping him again.
"I can't believe you are bringing this up here" Ginny replied. Draco just narrowed his eyes at her.
"Well, it is not like we can talk about it a home" Draco replied, still holding her tight to him. Ginny was about to reply when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I suggest that you talk outside, you are beginning to get a little to loud for this room" Hermione told them both. Ginny nodded and together, the three of them left the great hall. The walked down the halls together silently.
"Right, now you can fight as much as you want to." Hermione replied. But neither Ginny nor Draco said anything. They were both just standing, looking at the floor between them.
Hermione looked around. This hallway seemed very familiar, but Hermione couldn't place why. Her eyes kept searching the hallway. There was something about this hall, there was something about the door that they all stood in front of.
Hermione smiled when she worked it out.
"Ginny, give me your wand" Hermione asked, holding out her hand. Ginny looked at her like she had gone crazy.
"Why?" She asked her friend, Hermione just held out her hand. Ginny sighed and handed over her wand. Hermione then turned to Draco.
"Wand" She stated clearly. Draco reached into his pocket and handed it to Hermione.
"Good, now you can't magically curse each other." She replied, placing both of the wands into her handbag. "Now fight"
Hermione stood and waited for the two of them to start fighting. But they didn't say anything to each other.
"The sooner you to fight, the sooner you can get over it, so fight, please" Hermione begged. Ginny looked up from her spot on the floor.
"We don't get over it any more" she mumbled. Draco looked at her, and never before had the truth hurt as much as her statement did.
"And whose fault is that?" Hermione asked. Draco and Ginny both looked at each other.
"What are you looking at me for, it is not my fault" Ginny exclaimed.
"So you are saying it is my entire fault?" Draco retorted.
"Well it is not all my fault" Ginny replied.
Hermione watched them fight and then moved to the other side of the hall. Silently, she opened the door and then turned back to them.
"All I am saying is that I don't like fighting with you" Draco had just said. Ginny smirked.
"Then why do you pick fights with me all the time?" She asked.
"That is not all my fault either, you pick fights as well" He hissed.
"Forgive me" Hermione mumbled, and then shoved them both into the room she had just opened, she slammed the door shut.
Soon Draco and Ginny stopped yelling at each other and started to scream at the now shut and locked door.
"Hermione Anne Granger, let us out right now" Ginny yelled, slamming her fists against the closed door.
"Come one Hermione, this is not funny" Draco added.
"Your marriage dying isn't funny either Draco. Stay in there and sort out your problems. I will be back in a few days" Hermione replied.
"A few days, Hermione, you can't do that!!" Ginny screamed. Hermione chuckled.
"Have fun you two, and try not to kill each other." She replied, and then turned and left the hall.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Inside the closet, Ginny was still pounding her fists on the door and screaming for Hermione to come back.
Draco looked around the room, and couldn't help but smile.
"Ginny, look where we are" He told her. Ginny sighed and turned to look around the small room.
It was the storage closet.
Their storage closet.
"Damn you Hermione" Ginny sighed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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