READY TO RUN
Wow, I guess I created a lot of suspense with that last chapter! Thanks to everyone who takes the time to review, it is greatly appreciated. I'll tell you this much: Ginny's in for a wild ride! Read on, compadres!
CHAPTER THREE: HARRY'S RETURN
Of all the people in the whole of London, she just had to run into Harry. It was her luck, wasn't it? Ginny took a deep breath and struggled not to stutter when she spoke.
"Harry. What an enormous surprise," she said, her voice bright.
"Ginny." Harry flashed a wide grin and hugged her. His long, lanky limbs had filled out since his teen years, she noted, and felt more than nice wrapped around her. Snap out of it, Gin, she scolded herself.
"It's so great to see you! I haven't laid eyes on you since your wedding." He'd always found it odd that Ginny had married Draco, even though his reputation had taken a serious upturn after the defeat of Voldemort. Harry would be hard pressed to admit it, but he'd always carried a small place in his heart for Ron's little sister. There was something about her charming innocence that touched him. It always had. He noticed that she'd grown up quite a bit, hair longer, slightly taller, chest…Stop right there, he warned himself. She's a married woman.
"How is Draco, by the way?" The question burned in Ginny's ears. She remembered that Ron had mentioned some time ago that Harry was going on a mission and would be cut of from contact with the rest of the wizarding world, and that was right around the time her marriage was ending. It was no surprise that he wouldn't have heard that her marriage had ended.
"He's…we're divorced. Have been for three years," she said quietly.
Heat rose into Harry's cheeks, but she didn't notice. If hadn't known better, he'd say his heart soared. But of course he did know better; there was no way that he could be with Ginny. Instead he turned to sympathy. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. I've been on this mission for a few years."
"I know," she said conversationally. "I remember Ron saying something about that. Are you between missions now?"
"No. Now that this one's over, so is my career."
The blunt statement struck Ginny like a bolt of lightning. "What do you mean, over?"
Harry looked around and realized they were still standing in the middle of the street. "Come on, let's go for a drink at the Leaky Caldron and I'll tell you all about it."
Once they were seated with an Ogden's Fire whiskey each, Harry began to explain. "This last mission took me halfway around the world—I can't really go into details because it's level five classified—and I saw a lot of depressing things. Wizards gone bankrupt, children starving in the streets, and I was there to make sure they didn't cause any trouble for officials. That's what my job had been reduced to. I couldn't take it anymore—so I announced my resignation, owled Ron, and here I am." He paused to take a drink, winced at its strength. "And you?"
Ginny shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I—"
Harry reconsidered. "If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to." Poor kid, he thought. She's really shaken up over Draco. Stupid bastard. He never liked the guy, even after it came out that he was a spy for Dumbledore. Something was wrong with his personality.
Ginny swallowed. Another memory came flashing back to her, shaking her up. It was about two years before the divorce, when they first started having problems.
Ginny unlocked the door to their house and stepped through, placing the groceries on the kitchen counter. She saw Draco sitting in the living room, half asleep on the sofa. Hoping to surprise him that she was home early, she tip-toed over and kissed his check, then below his jaw. He stirred, and opened his eyes. Slowly, a smile spread over his lips, and pulled her down on the couch.
"Hello to you too," she said after he finished a steamy kiss.
"Mmm. You smell so good," he mumbled. "I haven't seen you in days."
"I know, meetings, press conferences. I had a story in Muggle London today. Then there's your hectic schedule as well. Shall we make up for it?"
"I think we shall."
He unbuttoned her blouse slowly, showering kisses down her neck and over her breast. She moaned out, "I love you."
"Me too," he said quickly, trying to work the button on her slacks.
"Draco," Ginny said breathlessly. "Let's make a baby. I want a baby." She began to unlatch the top button on his robes, but he jerked back, away, leaving her half undressed on the sofa. He rolled to the floor, and heaved himself up.
She sat up, quite a bit shocked. "Draco, what—what's the matter?"
He shook his head, saying nothing, and retreated to the bathroom. She heard the faucet running a minute later. She re-buttoned her blouse and stood in the doorway, watching him splash cold water on his face.
She crossed her arms and waited while he dried his face. "What was that about?" she asked sharply.
"What was what?" he pushed past her.
"Don't you walk away from me. I want an explanation. I think you owe me an explanation." Ginny followed him into the kitchen where he searched the refrigerator for a beer.
He turned quickly. "I don't want children, Ginny. I thought I made that clear a long time ago. It isn't in the cards, so get used to it."
"Ginny? Did you hear me?" Harry frowned and reached across the table to take her hand.
"Yes—yes I heard. It's just…" she broke off. Should she tell Harry about these haunting flashbacks? She hadn't seen the man in eleven years, but what did that matter? He was an old friend. And she needed a "familiar stranger" to talk to.
"Can I ask you something, Harry?"
Harry was a little surprised at how forthcoming Ginny was. He remembered her as a shy teen why blushed whenever she spoke. But he liked this new Ginny, this woman, and he was looking forward to catching up with her.
"Sure."
Once Ginny started talking, she didn't stop until she'd finished. Well, nearly finished. She didn't feel right telling him about wanting a baby, so she left it out. She spoke of the first part of her marriage, and how it fell apart, the bitter divorce. She felt a little guilty venting to him in this way, but she couldn't help it. She hadn't been able to talk to anyone else.
And he listened. He nodded, and he understood. She wouldn't know how much until much later.
When it was getting late, they finally settled their tab and Ginny said goodbye to him, planting a quick, chaste kiss on his cheek. He announced that he was on his way to Ron's, and she wished him luck.
"Did you tell them you were coming?"
He smiled, "They know I'm home, but I didn't mention I'd be by so soon. It'll be a surprise."
"Good luck with that. Hermione will have a fit over the guest room. You know how anal she is."
He winked. "I'll take my chances. Goodnight, Gin."
"Goodnight, Harry."
I know I always say this, but it's still true: This took a long time to write. Mostly 'cause I've been busy, but others because I'm lazy. Cheers!