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That's Life
Chapter 2
By: Aly
Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Ginny tried to decide how she wanted to look when she went to go meet Draco. She couldn't believe any of what Harry had said, besides him being good looking. But she could not see Draco Malfoy being friends with Harry. It was impossible.
'Oh well. Might as well at least see if he really has changed…plus maybe I can hook him for that date on Saturday with Liz. Maybe then she'll leave me alone.' She thought.
She walked over to her closet and looked through her clothing. Finally she decided on a black and white polka-dotted skirt with a yellow tank top and red flip flops. "It's the real me or nothing."
After brushing her hair and putting on a little bit of make-up and went to go meet Harry in front of his office building.
"It is..." he paused a moment and looked at his clock, "eleven forty-seven. You are late."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "According to my clock, and the clock up on the tower there, I am two minutes early. You may want to have you clock checked, Harry dear." Then she smirked.
Harry pretended to glare at her. "Cheeky. Didn't anyone ever tell you to look up to your elders?"
"Obviously not." They stood for a minute in an uncomfortable silence.
"So…um…shall we go in?" Harry asked.
"Might as well. It isn't everyday that I get to meet up with old classmates who tortured you and enjoyed it."
"Gin, I'm telling you he's different."
"And I'm telling you that it isn't possible. What I can't understand is that you think that he has. What if he's just tricking you?"
"That isn't possible. You haven't seen him in six years."
"Seven. I'm a year younger than you. Remember?"
"Oh yeah. Anyway, just stand here on the stair." He turned toward to wall, next to the staircase and tapped something on the wall and the stairs started to move. "Sort of like a lift, only not."
"I always have to think twice when you mention muggle things, until I remember you were raised as one."
Harry chuckled. "Yeah. Most people forget."
They reached the 23 floor and walked down a hall. From there Harry put his wand into a slot in the wall and some of the bricks moved away, showing another hallway. She followed him until he reached another area, where people where standing guard and he was given a tag with his name, picture, and other information on it and she was given a visitors pass. After that they were checked and Ginny was asked to leave her wand there. She had never been without her wand when she was in the wizarding world and hardly without it when she was in the muggle world. She almost felt exposed and naked.
"Harry, is security usually this bad?"
He only shrugged and continued down a hall and stopped at a door. "Here we go." And then knocked.
A tall blonde man opened the door and smirked. "Two minutes late. And you thought you could be on time."
Harry only laughed. "Yeah well, you know women."
Ginny looked up and at him and glared. "Excuse me?"
That was the first time Draco had noticed the girl behind him. He didn't recognize her at all, although she did look somewhat familiar. At the same time Ginny looked him up and down. He hadn't grown much since school, but he had been around six foot two inches when he had graduated. He had developed though. He was much more muscular and his hair wasn't as long or slicked back. It looked more like he just ran a brush through it after it was wet. He was relaxed, not as tense as he had been in school, and he was smiling. She had never seen him smile once at Hogwarts. It changed his entire appearance. He went from being merely good looking to being….well incredibly good looking.
He stuck his hand out and the smile stayed on his lips. "Hello. It's very nice to meet you. I'm Draco Malfoy. First of all, I'm sorry that Harry's dragged you into this, because I know he must have. And secondly, don't believe anything he's told you. I'm much nicer then he makes me out to be."
Ginny looked shocked, and her hand must have felt like a dead fish. Draco just raised his eyebrows and started to chuckle, waiting for her to say something. Nothing came to her mind.
"Yes I get this reaction a lot." And he laughed again.
"Well," Harry said, "I better be off. Have reports to write." And then he smirked at Draco.
"Do I get your name?" Draco asked her.
Ginny blinked and then shook her head as if getting out of a daze. "Oh. Yes. Of course." And then she shook his hand. "Virginia Weasley. But if you'd like, you can call me Ginny."
This time Draco was silent. 'Harry's been holding out on me. He never mentioned that Ron's sister had become…gorgeous.'
Ginny laughed. "A little shocking isn't it. I don't know what Harry was thinking when he wanted to introduce you to me…or vice versa. Maybe I should just go." She turned to leave and he grabbed a hold of her wrist.
His touch shocked her slightly, and he let go immediately after, as if he had felt the same thing. She looked up at him and gave a questioning look.
"You aren't exactly who I was expecting him to bring, but I'd like to at least get to know you before you leave. Who knows? Maybe we're meant for each other." And then he laughed shortly.
Ginny laughed slightly and shook her head. This was definitely not the boy she remembered. "I suppose I could spend some time getting to know you."
"How about we go out to lunch?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Not at a restaurant or anything like that. Maybe grab some pasties at a bakery and just sit at Hyde Park or something and eat."
"I adore pasties." She blurted out, and then blushed out of embarrassment. "Umm…I mean…that sounds great."
He smiled and brushed some of the hair out of her face. "Wonderful." He grabbed a jacket from a coat rack by his door and put his hand on the small of her back and led her out the door. "I have a break right now, if you don't mind."
His hand stayed on her back, and she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do. It was almost as if he had his arm around her waist…and it felt divine…but…all she could think to do was smile. "No it's fine. I don't have much of a schedule at the moment."
They passed security and she was given back her wand and their passes were taken away. Then they continued down the hall and out the door.
"Why is that?" He asked. "Or is a touchy topic, like you just got sacked or something."
She laughed. "Oh no. Much more exciting then that. Or at least I think so."
He waited for her to go on and she just chuckled and flipped her hair so it was behind her back again.
"I'm an actress."
He raised an eyebrow. "In movies? I swear I would have seen you before. I just saw the latest film….Newts of Fire."
"I'm a muggle actress to be more exact." She laughed. "And I don't do films. I try to do things on stage. I was just called back for Songs for a New World actually."
"Songs for a New World?"
"Oh it's this amazing musical. There really isn't a plot, because every song is its own story. And there are only four people in the entire show. Two girls and two boys. So of course it's very competitive, but I made callbacks for tomorrow. The music is just…" she sighed happily. "It's Jason Robert Brown. What more could you ask for?"
Draco looked very confused. "Umm…that's exciting."
She laughed and hit him softly on the shoulder. "I'll have to take you to a musical sometime. They're amazing."
"You mean those muggle things they do on things called stages where everyone miraculously knows all of the words and dance moves?"
"That would be it." She chuckled.
"Oh it sounds to die for."
She hit him again, only kept her hand on his arm. "It's wonderful."
"If you say so."
They walked down Diagon Alley and through The Leaky Cauldron, chatting a little bit about things they had done in the past seven years.
"You haven't really mentioned anything about what you do. All I know is that you work in the Ministry Building. So what do you do?" She asked.
He took a bite of his new pasty and shrugged. "Whatever I'm assigned to. It sort of varies."
"Oh well that's helpful." She took a bite of hers and then took a bite out of his. "I like yours better."
He rolled his eyes and laughed. "That's why you always get chicken. It's reliable."
"But that wasn't helpful. What section do you work in?"
"In the ministry?"
"Duh."
"Well…I kind of am a man of all work. I work with almost every different section."
"Hmm…sounds interesting. Can I ask what your working on right now?"
"Nope." He smiled and took a bite out of his pasty. "Mmm this is good."
"Oh you're a git."
They finished eating, Ginny glaring at Draco the whole time while he ate his chicken pasty, groaning and moaning at every bite.
She looked at her watch. "How much time do you have?"
"Practically the whole day. I'm sort of the boss of what I do."
"Oh you mean that thing you can't tell me about?"
"Yeah," he chucked.
"Have you ever been on a swing?"
He raised an eyebrow and pointed to one by the nearest playground. "You mean one of those things?"
"Yes, one of those things."
"Nope."
"Never?" She gasped.
"Nope."
"You deprived child."
"Well…yeah I guess I was one. I am a Malfoy after all. A Malfoy seen playing and having fun would have been a disgrace to the family. And by the time I broke away from family tradition and beliefs, it was too late. I'm much to big to swing."
"That's trash. No one is too big to swing." She grabbed his hand and pulled him off the bench. "Come on."
"No." He resisted. "I am not going to steal swings from poor innocent children."
"They're all in school right now." She looked him in the eye. "Come on. You know you want to."
He laughed. "Oh yes. It's always been a dream of mine to run around and play on swings with a Weasley."
"I knew it! Fancy that our dreams were the same." Her eyes twinkled.
"So you admit to dreaming about me?"
She smiled. "Nightmares or just dreams?" And then she pulled him to the swing. "Alright, the first thing you do is sit in the swing. You can do it. I have faith in you. Now, sit the swing."
He smirked down at her. "Sure. Go ahead and mock the deprived child." But he sat down.
"You don't look like a child to me, Draco. And just because your childhood wasn't the greatest, that doesn't mean you have to have a deprived adulthood as well. No one can grow up to be a normal person if they haven't swung before."
"Fine. So what do you do?"
"Push back with you legs and then pump." And pushed off.
"Pump?"
"You know. Go back and forth with your legs." He gave her a blank stare. "Just copy me."
He did that, and looked as though he was floundering around. She couldn't help but laugh at him.
"I do not see how this is funny."
She slowed down until she was at a stop. "Alright stop for a moment and we'll take a different approach."
He stopped and looked at her. "I'm a hopeless case."
"There is always hope. Always. Besides, you are under my tutelage. What more could you want?"
He laughed. "I see your point."
She grabbed his hand and he looked at her questioningly. "This will help. I promise."
He looked at her in disbelief. "You just want to hold my hand."
"That too." She grinned. "Now push off."
He pushed off, and after a few tries got a hold on the whole pumping process.
"That's it." She prodded. "Good job."
"I feel like a dog."
"You do have the eyes for it, but you aren't hairy enough. Sorry to break it to you."
The stopped, but still were holding hands. She twisted a little in her seat but kept looking at him.
"You look confused." He stated.
"Well, I have to admit that I guess I am."
"Because I'm a Malfoy who you've spent most of the afternoon with and actually enjoyed yourself?"
"Basically." She looked embarrassed. "I guess I just always thought of you being like the rest of your family. Following in years of tradition in the dark arts. Torturing helpless puppies and muggles. You know. All that stuff."
"Yeah I get that reaction a lot. Of course you don't act much like a Weasley."
"Oh? And how is it that Weasley's act?"
"You've made a life for yourself. You go out into an entirely different world and are just doing whatever you want."
She laughed. "Seems like pretty Weasleyish behaviour to me."
He looked at her oddly.
"You probably only saw one side of our family through the years. The poor family who has too many children for their salary, wears trashy clothing, second rate everything, including a family."
"Ehh…" He looked embarrassed.
"That's what everyone sees. Don't worry about it. If I cared I would have yelled at people long ago. Sure it annoys us that people see us as second rate, but we know different. Since we know we aren't, we don't really care and because of that we're free to do anything. Bill wanders around doing whatever he wants, Charlie works with Dragons, Percy works in the ministry and will probably be Minister of Magic one day, Fred and George have started a business, Ron works at Hogwarts and helps coach Quidditch, and I'm an actress. We just do whatever we want and whatever works."
"I suppose I never thought of it that way."
"You weren't ever raised to see things that way."
He was amazed by her insight. "I guess your right."
"Of course I am. I'm a Weasley." She grinned and jumped off the swing, pulling her with him.
They laid down on the grass and looked up at the sky, talking about their philosophies on life and what they thought about Voldemort and even things like love. It shocked the both of them how at ease they were with each other. They were still talking when Ginny looked at her watch.
"Crap! I've got a callback in two hours."
"Well that stinks."
"Actually it's a very good thing. I might get a job!"
"Well…I suppose it's ok then. I really enjoyed our day together."
"Yeah I did too."
"How about we do it again?"
"How about on Saturday?"
"As in, tomorrow?"
"Well, yeah. You see my friend and her boyfriend are going out to dinner and she's making me take a date. I don't really date a lot, don't ask why because there isn't a rational reason, and so if you'd like to go I'd really appreciate it."
"That sounds great Gin. I'd love to go." Then he smiled. "One date and I'm already meeting the friends, huh? When'll I meet the family?"
"Not ever. I think when and if I ever get married I'm eloping. I love them and all, but they are a lot to handle."
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back toward his chest and whispered in her ear. "So when are we eloping."
She giggled. "When I fall deeply in love with you?"
He kissed her cheek. "Fair enough."
"So where is your home? Or is that too personal."
"I have a house in Godric's Hollow. But I'll just be at Harry's if that's easier for you."
She thought for a moment. "I suppose. Although I'm taking you home."
"Wow. Aren't you a little feisty."
She elbowed him. "I meant your home. Me dropping you off there."
"Oh but I'd rather go to yours." He teased.
"Oh shut up."
~~~~~*~~~~~
After Draco dropped her off she ran into the house, magiced her hair up, and put on a lilac buttoned up shirt, a black skirt, grabbed all of her dance shoes and portfolio's and stuffed them into a bag then went to hop the tube.
She got there a little early and had time to warm up and stretch before the whole group arrived. There were twenty girls and fifteen boys there, and only four would be cast.
During the dancing she worked her butt off and then sang her heart out when asked to sing. She could feel the music as not just different notes, but as feelings and words and emotions and hoped she portrayed it the same way.
She would know whether she made the show by next week. Would be called if she made it, otherwise a letter would be mailed to her flat. She hoped it was the first.
~~~~~*~~~~~
Draco went back to work and went through the new reports, although his mind wasn't focused there, but on Ginny. He had had no idea that she was such an amazing individual until today. During school she had always seemed quiet. Maybe the acting training had changed her a bit, or maybe she had always been like this and no one had told him. He couldn't blame her for being shy around him, his father had tried to kill her in her second year. Bad feelings were well justified. He just hoped she wouldn't hold his fathers problems against him.
Harry walked into his office. "So, how was your afternoon?"
"It was great. Ginny's great."
"The bet is still on?"
"Sure. But this isn't going to be hard. I actually like the girl."
Harry looked shocked.
"What? You thought I wouldn't?"
"Does she like you?"
"I dunno." He looked down at his report. "I hope so."
"Wow."
"What? You tried to pick a girl you knew would hate me so that you'd get out of two reports?"
"Of course. What did you think I'd go and do."
"I think we're going to hit it off well. We have another date for tomorrow."
"Wow."
"Is that all you can say?"
"No, but it works for the moment."
"I've never met anyone quite like her, Harry. She's…wow."
"You're so…eloquent."
"How can you describe a woman who is incredible?"
~~~~~*~~~~~
That's this chapter. Would love to hear from all of you, so review! More coming soon, but faster if I get responses.
